University of Virginia Library

Council Takes Steps To Prevent Bias
In University - Owned Facilities

By Bryan DeLaney
Cavalier Daily Staff Writer

Continuing its efforts to investigate
and eliminate discriminatory practices at
the University, the Student Council
Tuesday night took several steps in that
direction.

Several weeks ago the Council
attempted to legislate a policy whereby
discriminatory organizations would not
be allowed to use any University facilities
for any purpose. Although such action
was not actually within the powers
allowed to the Council, these efforts have
apparently encouraged the University to
examine its own policy.

After some deliberation the Council
recommended that the new University
regulation should read:

"Although attendance at an event can be
limited in several ways, such as 'Members Only'
or 'faculty and students only' it cannot be
limited specifically by race, color, religion,
national origin or sex.

"The only organizations that are
discriminatory by sex and yet are permitted to
use University facilities are those societies based
on communal housing. In September 1972,
when the University becomes fully
co-educational, student organizations including
honoraries in the University that discriminate
by sex will no longer be permitted to use
University facilities."

The Jefferson Society and ODK were two
organizations specifically mentioned during the
Council debate. It has been alleged that these
groups do discriminate on the basis of sex.

Repeatedly this year cases of racial
discrimination and numerous problems arising
from this have been reported to the Council.
Two recent incidents that were related include
the reported harassment of black students by
University police and a confrontation between
a group of black students and a group of white
students which is alleged to have occurred over
the past weekend.

Available Steps

It was decided Tuesday night that the
Council should, through its Equal
Opportunities Committee, endeavor to
investigate such incidents and take all available
steps to eliminate the causes.

In light of the recent accusations regarding
improper campaign activities by Council
member Scott Stephens and possibly other
members of the Jefferson Party, Maryann
McDermott, representative from the Graduate
School of Arts and Sciences, requested that the
Council make some arrangements to investigate
the circumstances surrounding the recent
election in order that each Council member
might determine for himself what exactly did
happen.

It was the feeling of the Council that their
efforts should not be referred to as an
"inquiry" or "investigation" as this would
probably be misleading and not reflect Miss
McDermott's true purpose. Mr. Stephens stated,
and several members seemed to agree, that
"Our illustrious newspaper turns everything
around and any announced 'inquiry' or
'investigation' will be an open trial."

Concerned Parties

The Council will make efforts to invite all
concerned parties to attend the next regular
meeting so that the facts may be discerned.
This meeting will be held on Tuesday, January
5 in the Honor Committee Room at 7 p.m.

In order to eliminate some of the problems
which have arisen during the recent elections
Councilman Bill Fox proposed that the Council
By-Laws be changed in order to provide specific
guidelines for future elections. This question
will be discussed at the next meeting.