University of Virginia Library

Faculty To Support Shannon
In Any Amphitheater Decision

By CHRIS KOHAN

Overturning a 1965
resolution to recommend
faculty parking in McIntire
Amphitheater, the Faculty of
Arts and Sciences yesterday
approved by a vote of 48 to 33
a motion to support University
President Edgar F. Shannon Jr.
in any decision to regrass and
possibly restore the
amphitheater.

According to the motion,
sponsored by Govt. and
Foreign Affairs Prof. Dante L.
Germino, the faculty gives its
"full support" to the president
and stresses the necessity of
amphitheater renovation.

It states "The expansion of
the University has intensified
the need for green space in the
central area of the Grounds
and by virtue of its space and
location, the amphitheater area
is inviting for many as a place
for academic and cultural
activities conducive to a greater
sense of community."

The motion also asks that,
should the President decide to
renovate the amphitheater,
adequate parking "be found
for those persons displaced
from the area."

Mr. Germino described the
possible restoration as
"something to be left up to his
(Mr. Shannon's) judgment.
This motion does not intend to
pre-empt his right to make the
decisions."

This action negates a past
faculty resolution sponsored
by History Prof. Thomas T.
Hammond and adopted March
31, 1965, which strongly
advocated the spreading of
gravel in the amphitheater and
criticized the movement to
prevent parking as "expensive,
exasperating, frustrating,
and time-consuming."

Advocates Parking

Mr. Hammond yesterday
reiterated his sentiments
against the parking
prohibitions. "I love grass, but
I doubt if it will do much good
in the amphitheater."

He said it was rarely used
for University events, "except
to pass out Ph.D. diplomas
after graduation ceremonies."

Mr. Hammond also
explained, "The University
community contains many
people who hate grass–who
murder grass under the hard
soles of their shoes."

Art Prof. William C. Seitz
suggested eliminating either the
amphitheater or the parking,
but not allowing them to
coexist. "It's shocking to see
cars in the amphitheater–it's
like taking a Gothic church and
turning it into a brothel."

In response to speculation
that the amphitheater might
again be used as a theater,
Drama Prof. David W. Weiss
observed, "As a theater, it's
not practical as a performing
theater for drama."

Posthumous Award

In other action, faculty
members approved
posthumous awarding of a B.A.
degree to College fourth-year
man Houston Beaumont, who
was killed in an automobile
crash April 20.

The faculty Committee on
admissions policy also
announced that it would ask
the Admissions Office to pay
more attention to academic
qualifications in admitting
students to the University.