University of Virginia Library

Chabot, Rinaca Discuss
Growth And Council Roles

By BEVERLY DOWELL

Jim Rinaca And Phil Chabot

Presidential Candidates Debated Issues In WTJU Broadcast

Student Council presidential
candidates Phil Chabot and Jim Rinaca
debated ideas about effective Student
Council representation, the proper role
for committees, expansion and a
transportation system last night over
WTJU radio.

Moderator Fred Heblich started the
debate by asking each candidate his
"strongest plank."

Mr. Rinaca called for "student
involvement" of many groups of students
at the University including graduate
students and fraternity members, and he
said that 'it is a shame that such groups
are not involved in student government.'

Mr. Chabot said Student Council and
University governments have "an essential
flaw because they do not have adequate
power." He suggested a University Senate
as one means of gaining power. "We must
make administrators
again," he added.

Responding to Mr. Heblich's question
about favoring established channels, Mr.
Rinaca said he did "believe in working
through the University committee
system" but pointed out he had also
favored University Tuesday activities
when the students felt they were "forced
to take action."

Chabot Favors 'New Channels'

Mr. Chabot explained he favored
forming "new channels."

"We should have ad-hoc groups
working on solving problems and once
they are solved the committee should
dissolve."

Mr. Rinaca also stressed there were
"lots of mediums for effective
organization" with student support.

Replying to a question on Council's
effectiveness, Mr. Chabot said, "Student
Council's only power is to advise,
influence and lobby, but you can take
this form farther—by getting support from
faculty and alumni as was done for
University Tuesday."

Mr. Rinaca agreed that Student
Council did not "have power" but
pointed out the "idea for a University
senate has been turned down three
times."

Rinaca Sees Concept As Problem

When asked if the University senate
would be an issue next year, Mr. Rinaca
replied "the problem is the Senate
concept. It would still be powerless."

Mr. Chabot said, "It has to be an issue,
being powerless depends on how you go
about it."

Mr. Chabot added he hoped "to see
authority drawn back from the president
to the faculty and students." Mr. Chabot
said, "the committee ducked the issue on
the question of optimal size for the
University by not asking at what point
did it cease to be an institution of higher
quality."

Mr. Rinaca said he thought it was
"reasonable to accept up to 15,000 and
yet maintain the ideals of the
University."