University of Virginia Library

Dorms Heckle Marchers;
Wagon Runs Over Student

By Donn Kesser and Marvin Weiss

Amid shouts of "Win the War" and
verses of "Dixie" the participants in the
Peace March Tuesday evening encountered
opposition to their activities from
residents of the Alderman Road and
Observatory Hill dormitories.

After having marched from St.
Thomas' Church and through the University
grounds and the fraternity area, the
demonstrators marched to the area of
Watson and Webb dormitories.

After singing a few verses of "We Shall
Overcome," it was reported by residents of the
dormitories that one of the leaders of the
march walked to the front of the Watson
dormitory and asked the residents of the house
who were lining the balconies to come and join
the march.

'Win The War'

According to the reports of a few counselors
in Watson, some of the dormitory residents
replied with chants of "Win the War" and verses
of "Dixie." As Confederate flags were waved, a
trumpet was heard playing "Charge."

Counselors stated that they "rushed to the
area from where we thought the trumpet was
and asked the resident to cease playing the
instrument. We also requested that if the
residents wished to protest the march, they go
downstairs instead of leaning over the railings."

The counselors then stated that the residents
of a few dormitories went to the sidewalk area
in front of Watson Dormitory where the chants
of "Win the War" opposed the verses of "We
Shall Overcome" coming from the marchers.

Dangerous Confrontation

"I looked down from the dormitory," said
one of the counselors in Watson, "and realized
that a dangerous confrontation was in the
offing. There was only about 10 feet
separating the two groups.

"We (the counselors) then went to the
residents and asked them to go back to their
dormitories. After a while, the marchers moved
on and the residents either went along with
them or went back into the dormitories."

Before the peace wagon had reached the
Alderman Road dormitories, a near disaster had
been averted by the quick thinking of an
unidentified student.

Student Hit

As the demonstration moved up Rugby
Road one student, Jeff Lorber, was struck by
the tractor pulling the wagon. Mr. Lorber, a
member of AP fraternity, was marching along
with the wagon when in his words, he was
distracted by something.

The oversized tractor tire ran over Mr.
Lorber's foot and dragged him beneath the
tractor. Mr. Lorber believes that a fraternity
brother quickly pulled him from under the
moving tractor, although he is not sure who.

The injured student sustained bone chips in
his ankle and expects to be on crutches for at
least one week. He also suffered bruises on his
legs and stomach.

It was also reported yesterday that sometime
during the peace march Tuesday the
demonstrators had smashed a police car.
Charlottesville police, however, said that none
of their cars had been involved.

An officer at the University's Department of
Security said that he had not heard anything
about the affair. When asked if anyone else at
the Department might have any information, he
said, "I doubt it. If one of our cars was
destroyed, I'd know. I mean, we don't have
that many cars."