University of Virginia Library

Amphitheater

Students, Faculty Unite In Protest

By JEFF DICKERSON

CD/ Jim Brunetti

Gov. And Foreign Affairs Prof. Dante Germino Spoke Yesterday On The Amphitheater Renovation As Students Solicited Signatures

More than 200 students and
faculty turned out yesterday
afternoon in McIntire
Amphitheater to demonstrate
in favor of regrassing the area
and removing the existing
parking facilities.

Govt. and Foreign Affairs
Prof. Dante Germino told the
crowd that restoration of the
amphitheater to its original
place in University life "would
give us an added sense of
continuity with our past, and
an assurance that at least some
familiar landmarks will
withstand the onslaught of the
bulldozer sometimes
mistakenly called 'progress.'"

Mock Trees

During the activities, billed
as the "Greening of the
Amphitheater Day," some
students made mock trees out
of balloons which bore the
signatures of students
supporting the restoration of
the 50-year old structure.

As part of a concerted
campaign designed to show
support of proposals to restore
the amphitheater, more than a
dozen faculty members
conducted classes there in the
morning.

In his mid-afternoon address
Mr. Germino warned that the
University's concern for
practicality is taking priority
over the concern for aesthetic
values.

'Tomorrow The Lawn'

"Are we to allow functional
architecture and parking lots to
overwhelm us all?" he stated.
"If so, the watchword will be
'Today the amphitheater,
Tomorrow the Lawn.'"

Following Mr. Germino, a
four-piece brass ensemble
performed. University Traffic
and Parking Committee
member Lynn Ivey, who has
been a leading figure in the
campaign to restore the
amphitheater, listened to the
ensemble and said that the area
was "near perfect"
acoustically.

Critics of the proposals to
return the amphitheater to its
original use as a facility for
drama and formal University
functions have charged that the
structure has poor acoustics.

Mr. Ivey called yesterday's
demonstration "a roaring
success." He said it "showed
how wide-spread support is for
the removal of parking."

"After regrassing, we will
sound out in support for it's
use. If the parking is not out
by next September, the
committee will press for the
removal of the cars," he added.

The only trouble in
yesterday's demonstration
came when Dean of Students
Robert T. Canevari requested
that participants quit
throwing frisbees.

Plastic Toys

Mr. Canevari said that the
Security Department had
received numerous complaints
from car owners who claimed
that their cars, parked in the
amphitheater, were being hit
by the plastic toys.