University of Virginia Library

Hayes, Berkeley Also Comment

Woody Calls Editorial 'Not Valid'

"We don't have anything to do
with faculty housing," the
Chairman of the University's
Housing Committee said yesterday
in response to yesterday's editorial
in The Cavalier Daily.

T. Braxton Woody, chairman of
this committee said that it was
"news" to him that his committee
was responsible for safety standards
in any type of faculty housing.
(The information that the faculty
apartments in question were under
the jurisdiction of the Housing
Committee was provided by the
Housing Office Monday.)

The issue in question is the
proposed plan issued by the
Housing Committee sometime ago
which would force all Student
housing to install sprinkler systems
if students were living on the third
floor.

The editorial in yesterday's
Cavalier Daily questioned this
ruling on the grounds that it does
not apply to faculty apartments.

Mr. Woody said that yesterday's
editorial was not valid because the
analogy between student and
faculty housing was not
"necessary." The Housing
Committee's decision has nothing to
do with faculty apartments.

Ed Hayes, President of the
Interfraternity Council said
yesterday that "It is absolutely
incomprehensible to me that the
University would pass a ruling that
exceeds the state regulations and
which affects property it does not
own and yet does not apply this
ruling to its own property.

"The faculty apartments are not
the only buildings in question, the
University owns several other
buildings that ought to be affected
by this ruling. There is an obvious
double standard in operation here.

"Fire safety is important and I
am sure all landlords would be
willing to improve their safety
conditions I know fraternities
would but sprinkler systems are
unnecessary and impractical.

"I favor the immediate
retraction of this ruling," he said.

Francis L. Berkeley, Jr.,
Executive Assistant to the
President, explained yesterday the
background behind the jurisdiction
of the Housing Committee.

" 'The Spicer Report,' issued in
the late 1950's, established the
Housing Committee with the
definite purpose of protecting
students from exploitation by
outsiders in the search for suitable
housing," he said.

"This committee has never been
concerned with protecting faculty
members. This was not under the
original charter of the committee,
Mr. Berkeley said.

Mr. Berkeley added that he had
definite views on the subject but
did not feel that he had a right to
disclose them at that moment.

Ralph Main, Assistant Director
of Housing, had "absolutely no
comment" on yesterday's editorial.
Chester Titus, Director of Housing,
was unavailable for comment.

Speaking on the ruling itself,
Housing Chairman Mr. Woody said
"I'm opposed to it." He explained
however that he had no say in the
final vote because as chairman he
could not vote except in case of a
tie."