University of Virginia Library

Protesters On Rotunda Steps
Hold Counter-Convocation

By Jeff Ruggles

"What we seek is not good faith or
good intentions, nor the equality of
opportunity - we seek nothing less than
the visible movement toward equality of

results."

These were the words of Reynold
Levy, the main speaker at the counter convocation
held at the same time as the
University's Sesquicentennial events yesterday
morning. He was speaking on the
steps of the Rotunda to an audience which had
gathered in support of Share the Commonwealth
Day, a day promoted in answer to the
University's "self-congratulatory" Commonwealth
Day.

Attempted Procession

Some of the participants first gathered
together at the Cabell Hall end of the Lawn, in
preparation for a procession from there to the
Rotunda. Although a few of them had signs and
many had buttons, their march could not
compare with the pomp and orderliness of the
procession the other way.

The marches were supplemented at the
Rotunda by others to form a crowd of about a
hundred, which increased somewhat as the
speech went on.

Racial Imbalance

Mr. Levy, a graduate student in the
Department of Government, spoke fairly
briefly on the University and its policies. He
stressed the University's racial imbalance, citing
the fact that although Virginia is 22% black, the
University of Virginia is less than 1% black.

Speaking of this, he said: "[The objective of
visible movement toward equality of results] is
our goal not only because a whole generations
of blacks in this state have been denied a decent
education and have thereby indelibly suffered,
though that would be reason enough, but
because the absence in substantial numbers of
our black brothers and sisters from the
University deprives us all - the entire
educational community - of a more meaningful
and relevant education."

He also said, "There is considerable evidence
that the blame for racism . . . is not to be
apportioned equally."

Mr. Levy also mentioned academic freedom
at the University, or in his view, the lack of it.
He spoke on faculty members who were denied
promotion, despite sufficient credentials. Mr.
Levy also paraphrased in reference to the
University's Tennyson scholar, President
Shannon, some lines from "The Charge of the
Light Brigade:" "Theirs is not to reason why,
theirs is not to make reply, theirs is but to do
or die."

Discussion Groups

At the end of Mr. Levy's speech, the group
split up into three discussion circles which
spread out on the Lawn. These dialogues lasted
until the University's convocation recessed, and
the dignitaries marched back up the Lawn; then
the spectacle of the parade proved to be to
much competition for the groups, and they
broke up.

Photo By Ted Putziger

Sign-Carrying Protester

Demonstrated Against Convocation