University of Virginia Library

Shannon Defends Rallies
Outlines Founder's Day

By Corbin Eissler
Cavalier Daily Staff Writer

"There has been no rally,
demonstration, or meeting that was
out of order" said President Shannon
of the recent activities of the
Coalition, in an address given to the
University of Virginia Club of
Washington Tuesday night.

Mr. Shannon opened his talk by
saying "because of some recent
newspaper articles, particularly
those which use the word 'Demonstrations'
and 'Demands' in headlines,
there seems to be, outside the
University, some confusion and
concern over what has happened
there in the last two months."

He added, "I can not speak for
what may be happening there this
minute because no one knows what
may suddenly be done by a handful
of 'activist' 19-year olds in a
student body of 9,000 intelligent
and concerned young people." But
Mr. Shannon then prefaced his
"planned remarks" by clarifying
three points related to the demonstrations,
designed to clear up this
"confusion."

Orderly Activities

His first point was that none of
the activities have gotten out of
order. "The students are still
handling these matters very well."

Secondly, he said "the University
has a long tradition of student
freedom." To this he added "many
of the proposals made in the last
several years by our students...have
recently been granted because of
evidence of the willingness of the
students to administer these powers
responsibly."

His third point was that the
"courteous letter" sent to him by
the Student Council contained not
demands, but "proposals for which
my endorsement was requested."
To this he added "half of the
proposals were, as a matter of fact,
already University policies in effect
to insure equal opportunity for
black students, and disadvantaged
students and employees."

Mr. Shannon closed these remarks
by saying "so long as
University students follow the lines
of effective communication we
have jointly established, and do not
interfere with the rights of others, I
and all others on the faculty and
administration, will be considerate
of their views."

Sesquicentennial

"The theme of the Sesquicentennial"
he said, quoting Mr.
Jefferson, "is 'the illimitable freedom
of the human mind.' " As part
of this program, "some dozen
visiting scholars and writers of
eminence have accepted invitations
to give lectures, engage in panel
discussions, and visit classes.

"Founder's Day" he said, "will
be devoted to The University in
Public Service." The Founder's Day
Address will be given by "a
University graduate who is now a
leading opposition member of the
British Parliament." In addition ten
alumni will be invited as special
guests "who are current or former
Ambassadors. Among them is the
dean of American diplomats, David
K.E. Bruce.

"Other alumni to be honored"
said Mr. Shannon, "are four recent
cabinet members, twenty-one members
of Congress, nine Federal
judges, seven governors of states,
and the retired Director of the
National Institutes of Health."

Mr. Shannon then noted that
"earlier this year the Democratic
and Republican caucuses of the
United States Senate elected two of
our Law graduates. Senators F-
ward M. Kennedy and Hugh D.
Scott, to be respectively the Democratic
and Republican whips.

"Just as we are asking others to
come and consider with us the
future of man in society" he said,
"we also must use this perspective
in our planning for the future of
the University.

"For instance, there are occasional
complaints from students
and others about the growth of the
University. The University has
doubled in size in the last ten years,
and may well double again in the
next ten."

In answer to this complaint. Mr.
Shannon said "if the University is
to discharge its responsibility...to
provide quality education that does
not discriminate on the grounds of
race, religion, sex, or national
origin, and if it continues to attract
out-of-state and foreign students...
there is no alternative to growth in
size."

University Advancement

Mr. Shannon concluded his
address with a brief survey of the
economic position of the University.
"Much of the University's
advancement the pace of which
has so noticeably quickened in the
past three years is owing to the
progressive leadership of Governor
Godwin and the forward thrust of
the economy and the outlook of
Virginia.

"The permanent private endowment
of the University now stands
at a market value of approximately
$87,000,000" said Mr. Shannon.
This money, apart from state
support, is not all from Virginia, as
"over 80 percent of this endowment
has been given by Alumni
residing outside the Commonwealth."