University of Virginia Library

New Speaker Sought;
Phillips Unavailable

By Rob Buford
Cavalier Daily Staff Writer

In yet another turn of events in
the coalition's search for a speaker
for their Founder's Day rally Monday,
it was learned yesterday that
the Rev. Channing Phillips will be
unable to appear at the University.

Mr. Phillips, a Washington civil
civil rights leader, had been booked
to speak here by his agent in
Boston who was unaware of a
previous engagement in Detroit.
The agent Phil Citron, told coalition
leaders that Mr. Phillips was already
contracted to appear at a benefit in
Michigan at the first of the week.

Late last night it was still unknown
who the replacement
speaker for Mr. Phillips would be.
Comedian Dick Gregory was originally
slated as the featured speaker,
but he has been confined to a
Chicago jail cell. Rally organizers
remain in touch with Mr. Citron and
hope to know soon who will be
speaking at noon on Monday.

Meanwhile, leaders of the coalition
were still making final plans
for the other major phase of their
Counter-Sesquicentennial-Non-Celebration.
On Sunday evening the
group will sponsor a
"Non-Banquet" fast on the Lawn.
Scheduled to begin at six p.m. the
event is intended to coincide with
the official Sesquicentennial Banquet
which is to be held at Monticello.

Speaking for the coalition, Robert
Rosen told The Cavalier Daily
of some of the plans for Sunday's
fast. The affair, which is billed as
black-tie, is open to all who may be
interested. Mr. Rosen said that he
hopes that many people will come
even if they do not choose to wear
formal attire.

Mr. Rosen stressed that the
point of the occasion is serious. "It
is to satirize what is going on. They
will be wining and dining up there
(at Monticello) while other people
suffer."

At seven p.m. the will
present a series of prizes, the first
of which will be the Alexander
Hamilton Award, given to the person
who has done the most to
thwart Jeffersonian principles. "We
will give almost as many awards as
the University does," Mr. Rosen
said. The Aaron Burr Award is to
be presented to the individual "who
is most out of step with what is
going on around him."

An award of Meritorious Service
will also be given. Mr. Rosen stated
that "several nominations have
been made including the name of
the Chicago Police Force."

The S.I. Hayakawa Straight Talk
Award will go to that person who
has made statements recently which
"come closest to the point." Possible
recipients, said Mr. Rosen,
tend to fall along all points of the
spectrum - "everybody from SDS
members to administration officials."