University of Virginia Library

'Died Three Weeks Ago'

Rapid Coeducation Opposed

By Tom Adams
Cavalier Daily Staff Writer

When asked a question about
coeducation of the University at
Tuesday night's meeting of the
Student Council, Edgar F. Shannon
replied that he was glad to have the
question because "apparently coeducation
was forgotten three
weeks ago Saturday."

Student Council representative
Charles Murdock asked Mr. Shannon
why the University couldn't
accept a first-year class 50 per cent
female during the first year of
coeducation in the college instead
of phasing women in by accepting
as many as expansion makes room
for. Mr. Shannon replied that since
the college was currently male, it
would seem only natural to phase
in coeducation.

"Bad Break"

He added that it would be a
"bad break" for male applicants in
future years if this plan were
adopted. Mr. Murdock objected,
saying that while it might be a "bad
break" for one half of the male
applicants, the current proposal
would certainly be a bad break for
"nine-tenths of the female applicants."

Mr. Murdock then asked if a
change in the coeducational report
would have to go through the
Board of Visitors. Mr. Shannon
replied that it would but added "I
wouldn't suggest anybody going
back to monkey with the Board."

Mr. Shannon announced the
creation of a black studies program
in the College of Arts and Sciences.
He said that this "ethnic studies"
program would result in an interdepartmental
degree in "Afro-American"
studies with over 30
courses a student could choose
from for degree credit.

Prepared Statement

In his prepared statement for
the Student Council, Mr. Shannon
listed recent actions taken by the
University to attract more disadvantaged
students. Apparently this was
in reply to a similar list of Student
Council actions in their letter to
Mr. Shannon last week.

Bud Ogle asked Mr. Shannon if
his remark that the transitional
program could be funded without
using student fees was a "subtle
way" of telling the Council that
their plan to raise the Student
Activities Fee by $2.50 was not a
good idea.

Mr. Shannon replied that "levying
a free on students for a specific
purpose" was a departure from the
Council's past policy.

He said that he had some
reservations about the student
body's willingness to pay for the
program. "You set a precedent," he
said, "though for a good purpose,
for levying fees for specific purposes."

Mr. Shannon added that he
thought "more discussion" was
needed on the subject. Walker
Chandler replied, "What we are
saying is that the discussion has
taken place and the plan now only
needs to be institutionalized to go
into effect."

In other business at the Tuesday
night Council meeting a motion by
Bud Ogle was tabled for a week. It
read "It shall be the policy of the
University of Virginia that the
arrest, indictment, trial or conviction
of any person who refuses to
obey a directive of the Selective
Service System based on conscientiously
held beliefs, shall not be
considered with respect to any
application for admission or readmission.

The above statement shall be
printed in all University catalogues."

Two other motions by Mr. Ogle
passed unanimously. The first asked
the Faculty of the College of Arts
and Sciences to allow one reporter
from the Cavalier Daily, the Virginia
Weekly, and radio station
WUVA be allowed to attend college
faculty meetings as observers.

Mr. Ogle's other motion asked
that employees from the library be
invited to the Council's next
meeting to "discuss problems."