University of Virginia Library

Evans Tired, 'Not Disgusted;'
Williams Meets Changing Role

By Jay Steer
Cavalier Daily Staff Writer

Student, Administrative Leaders Faced Myriad Of Problems During Their Terms Of Office

Outgoing Student Council President Rick Evans, Dean of Student Affairs Alan Williams

Co-education, the changing role
of fraternities, and the black recruiter
were just a few of the
myriads of complex issues which
confronted D. Alan Williams in his
first full semester as Dean of Student
Affairs.

Mr. Williams, a former Assistant
Provost at the University and administrator
at George Mason College
in Northern Virginia, took over
this position last July 1 from
B.F.D. Runk. To illustrate the
changing nature of the position, Mr.
Williams began his tenure by
changing the name of his office
from Dean of the University to
Dean of Student Affairs.

Range Of Duties

University President Edgar F.
Shannon described Mr. Williams'
refined range of duties before he
assumed office: "Mr. Williams will
deal with matters relating to
student government and discipline,
dormitory and student counselling,
student health, placement, and financial
aid. He will also be concerned
with affairs relating to women
students through the office of the
Dean of Women.

"In addition, Mr. Williams will
serve as an advisor to foreign students,
the intramural athletic
program, and the University
Union."

On such issues as co-education,
the black recruiter in the
admissions office, and car rules, Mr.
Williams brought to the Dean's office
a long-standing liberal record.
It was hoped by many people that
Mr. Williams would be able to
perform with results as consistent
as those compiled by him while he
was at George Mason College,
where, he, among other things, personally
organized and published a
successful study on a proposed Residential
college system.

Threat To Fraternities

Fraternity men returning from
summer vacations on September of
last year were greeted with a move
on the part of the Housing Committee
which seemed a threat to their
existence. The $100 deposit which
was required of first-year men on
their second-year dorm rent was
seen by many as an attempt to
dissuade first-year men from joining
fraternities.

Although the sprinkler system
controversy was resolved by a rescinding
of the Housing Committee
motion by T. Braxton Woody, it
illustrated the need for fraternities
to change which Mr. Williams foresaw
early in the year when he told
The Cavalier Daily that fraternities
"must make three basic changes."

He said the first, "fraternities
must open up and expand their
membership." Secondly Mr.
Williams suggested that many fraternities
need new houses or at least
need to remodel their old houses."

Mr. Williams finally suggested
that fraternities must adjust to the
changing nature of the University.
Fraternities must become more involved
with the University community
as a whole."

On the issue of co-education Mr.
Williams, always a hearty supporter
of full co-education at the University,
disclaimed, in an interview
with The Cavalier Daily yesterday,
responsibility for any part of the
Co-education Committee report
which reorganized the need for girls
at the University.

Rejects Praise

Mr. Williams rejected any praise
for the successful efforts of the
admissions department in hiring a
black recruiter. He also said that
this was not his domain.

Many cannot help feel, however,
that Mr. Williams' personal influence
did add a great deal of momentum
to these liberalizing movements
at the University.

But at the same time Mr.
Williams felt that the issues that the
University will become more aware
of as the rest of the year passes are:

- Living conditions in the
dormitories. This entails parental
rules (girls-in-dorms), and student
control of living arrangements.

- Co-education. The results of
the Woody report are still being
processed. Most major student organizations
have come out in favor
of the admittance of women to the
University, although specific plans
have not been worked out. The
implications of coeducation must
be considered.

Black Recruiter

- The black recruiter. Attracting
a more diversified student body
must be one of the main concerns
of the Admissions office. As the
University grows in national reputation,
it should be able to attract the
best from all backgrounds.

- More effective communications
between students, the administration
and the Board of Visitors.
The first semester saw several near
confrontations on this issue and the
semester to come should see more.