University of Virginia Library

Now Faces Student Vote

Alderman Dorms Constitution Ratified

By Stefan Lopatkiewicz
Cavalier Daily Staff Writer

Acting quickly on a final
agreement reached between a group
of student leaders and the directors
of the Housing Office, the
Alderman Road Committee, in its
Monday night meeting,
unanimously ratified the proposed
constitution for a new system of
government for the upper class
Alderman Road dormitory
complex.

Agreement on the final form of
the constitution, which establishes
the Alderman Residence Council,
was reached earlier that day in a
session involving Richard Snyder,
chairman of the Alderman Road
Committee, Edward Hayes,
chairman of Counselors, Hal
Collums, vice-chairman of
Counselors, Jim Kelly, chairman of
the Men's Residence Council, Pete
Rogati, president of the Alderman
Road Social Organization, and
Randy Ross, all representing the
student position, and Chester R.
Titus, Director of Housing, and
Ralph E. Main, assistant housing
director, representing the
administration.

"Personal Voice"

The proposed system of
government, which is expected to
bring, in the words of the student
group, more "personal voice" for
the Alderman Road residents in
their dormitory life, must be passed
by a majority of at least three-fifths
of the area's upper class residents in
floor elections which will be held
through next Tuesday evening.

In anticipation of questioning
by the Student Council as to the
new organization's status within the
student community, Mr. Ross
commented, "We really do want to
work with Student Council, and
not against it. I feel sure that the
new Alderman Residential Council
will apply for recognition and abide
by all of the Student Council's rules
concerning student organizations.

"We've tried to make it clear -
part of the constitution was even
worded to this effect - that we're
only concerned with dormitory
living. There is no intent here to
infringe on Council's territory.
We'll do as much as we can to
cooperate. But we can't, and won't,
surrender the right to make our
own rules."

Two-Part Council

The projected system of
government for the dormitory
complex envisions a two-part,
unified Alderman Residential
Council, as opposed to the more
disjoint, three-part form of student
administration now in effect in the
area. The proposed constitution is
thus divided into two sections.

Part one establishes the
Alderman Legislative Council,
which shall have the power to
"enact all legislation necessary to
maintain the best interests of the
residents of the Alderman Road
dormitories."

The Legislative Council is
structured to have more power than
the current Alderman Road
Committee, which is a subordinate
body to the Student Council. The
new Council will be independent of
Student Council and its legislation
"concerning visitation rules,
personal conduct and social
activities" shall not be subject to
veto by the Director of Housing.
Mr. Titus has veto power over all
decisions made by the present
student organization.

Student legislation concerning
matters covered by the terms and
conditions of the dormitories may
still be vetoed by the housing
director, but this move may now be
appealed by a two-thirds vote of
the new Legislative Council, in
which case a student-administration
committee shall be formed to
decide the appeal.

In addition, legislation, enacted
by the Legislative Council, which
violates the established policy of
the Student Council shall be subject
to review by that body, according
to the new constitution.

Elected Officers

The Council shall be composed
of two representatives of each
dormitory floor. In addition, its
two top officers, the president and
vice-president, will be elected by
the residents at large, as opposed to
from and by the membership of the
elected council, as is currently done
by the Alderman Road Committee.

The present Alderman Road
Social Organization (ARSO), which
has worked during the past year to
bring social activities to the
dormitory area, will be superseded
by a Social Activities Committee,
which will be a subordinate body of
the Legislative Council and will be
headed by the Council's
vice-president.

ARSO Disbands

At the Monday night meeting of
the Alderman Road Committee,
ARSO voted unanimously to
disband itself to make room for the
new organization.

Part two of the proposed
constitution establishes the
Alderman Judiciary Council, which
shall be invested with "the power
to try all offenses by students in
the Alderman Road Dormitory
area."

The Judiciary Council will, if
ratified, supersede the current
Men's Residential Council, but its
powers will be greatly expanded.