University of Virginia Library

Council Pledges Equality;
Condemns Recent Incidents

By ANN BROWN

A group of black students
representing the Black Student
Association last night requested that the
Student Council take immediate action
toward eliminating racism from the
University.

"The issue with us, with me at least, is
racism at the University of Virginia,"
stated Willie Ivey, a third-year student
and Council representative from the College. Ed
Saunders, an engineering student called for a
declaration from the Council to the effect "that
racist activities here...are not going to be
tolerated by the Student Council or any other
student organization," and added. "You do it
now."

Mr. Ivey voiced dissatisfaction with past
efforts of the Council in this matter, saying,
"Everybody is coming out with platitudes and
no action." Clarence Cain, a second-yearman in
the College warned that if immediate action
were not taken, "You will be faced with the
black students at this University and I can
guarantee that there won't be a whole lot of
rhetoric."

Not Tolerated

Chris Kerr, representative from the College
said that he thought it necessary "to state as
emphatically and dramatically as possible that
certain things will not be tolerated."

The Council recessed briefly, during which
time a declaration was drawn up. The question
was called immediately without debate and the
statement was approved with three abstentions.
The declaration reads as follows:

"We the Student Council, as representatives
of all students, express our deep revulsion and
disgust with the racist behavior of certain
members of the University community which
occurred this past weekend as well as the
fundamentally racist nature of the University of
Virginia.

"We cannot condone in any way these
conditions. Therefore, we commit ourselves
both as individuals and as a group to do
everything within our power to make all
members of the University welcome. In
pursuing this goal, we will explore every
potential source of pressure at our disposal to
bring about the equality which has so long been
missing from this institution."

Two incidents which occurred during the
weekend, the waving of the Confederate flag
during the football game and the expelling of
several black students from a party at the
Kappa Sigma fraternity, were specifically
discussed. Mr. Ivey commented that with the
waving of the flag, "a great disservice was done
to all black students as well as to the players on
the field."

The Council approved a motion which
voiced support of the policy recently issued by
the Student Affairs Office. The ruling will ban
all flags or pennants at University Athletic
events. It will be enforced by the Security
Guards responsible for checking tickets and
student identification cards at the gates.

If a student should bring a flag into the
stadium, he will be asked by a student usher to
put it away. If he does not comply, he will be
asked again by a representative of the Student
Affairs Office. In any case, a student who
brings a flag into a sporting event will
automatically be tried by the Judiciary
Committee.

Kappa Sigma Fraternity

Mr. Ivey commented upon the incident in
which a member of the Kappa Sigma fraternity
allegedly asked him and a number of other
students to leave the house. Concerning the
member involved, Mr. Ivey said, "From my
perspective, he represented that whole
house...and that's the only way I'm going to
look at it."

Addressing the Council, one black student
stated, "There are things you can do to control
these attitudes." The Council then discussed
and voted on a two-part resolution dealing with
the Kappa Sigma incident and with the entire
fraternity system.

It was moved by Carl Biscoe, a
representative from the School of Graduate
Arts and Sciences, that "the Student Council
censure Kappa Sigma Social Fraternity of the
University of Virginia for allowing an
atmosphere to exist which would foster and
condone such racist incidents as the one
occurring on September 25 at a social function
at this house." This motion was tabled until
after the Inter-fraternity Council has an
opportunity to meet on the question.

The second part of Mr. Biscoe's motion was
passed unanimously. It stated, "We further urge
all governing bodies having jurisdiction over this
particular incident to take decisive action in
this matter so as to prevent such incidents from
occurring in the future."

Viable Alternatives

Mr. Kerr proposed that the matter of racism
at the University be taken to Mr. Shannon. In
discussion of this motion, Steve Edwards,
College representative, stated that Mr. Shannon
should be presented "with some alternatives
that he is able to do something about." At this
point, the majority of the black students,
including Mr. Ivey and Mr. Cain, left the
meeting room.

The motion was approved and Mr. Shannon
was later contacted to arrange a meeting with
him yesterday afternoon. Council members and
other interested persons arranged to post
notices of the rally in the dorms.

In other business, the Council voted
unanimously to have a new edition of the
"Ounce of Prevention" booklet printed,
excluding the abortion referral telephone
numbers. The vote also provided that a supply
of the old booklets be kept to be distributed
upon request. The abortion referral numbers in
these copies will be struck out.

Willie Ivey Reads List of Demands to President Shannon

Black Student Association Organized Rally to Focus Attention on Racism