University of Virginia Library

Authority Questioned

Group Studies Student Conduct Code

By JIM MASSEY

The Committee on Student Rights
and Responsibilities, a direct result of the
May 1970 student strike and resultant
Board of Visitors - drafted Code of
Conduct, formalized plans for this fall at
a meeting on Monday.

According to Daniel Meador,
Chairman of the committee and Professor
of Law, the group decided to focus their
efforts on the question of "What should be the
procedures and processes for formulating the
Standards of Conduct at the University?"

To investigate aspects of this question three
sub-committees have been appointed. The first,
chaired by Charles Majors, of the Legal Council
Office, will prepare a report on the "legal
authority of the Board of Visitors in relation to
the governance of the University."

Sub-Committees

The second sub-committee, chaired by
Joseph E. Gibson, Associate Professor of
Commerce, will prepare a report "describing
the existing procedures and groups involved in
administering the Standards of Conduct". This
committee will look into the role and authority
of such groups as the Alderman Road Council,
the First-Year Resident Staff, the Judiciary
Committee and the Honor Committee.

The third sub-committee, chaired by
Graham C. Lilly, Associate Professor of Law,
will "collect a representative sampling of the
procedures and arrangements at other
universities for Student Codes of Conduct".

Code Rejected

The Committee on Student Rights and
Responsibilities was formed, at the urging of the
Board of Visitors, after the Code of Conduct
was rejected by students in a University-wide
referendum.

The Board of Visitors drafted and voted
through the Code of Conduct in reaction to
student strikes at the University in May, 1970.

In September 1970 Student Council issued
set of specific point-by-point objections to the
Board of Visitors' Code of Conduct. The
general sentiment of the Council was expressed
by Council member Judy Wellman, "the
administration should look at the causes of May
1970s disorders, and not just make more laws."

The issues involved in the Code of Conduct
controversy touched on deeply felt political
philosophies of those involved. A September
25,1970, Cavalier Daily editorial stated, "our
concern is whether or not students will be
allowed to govern themselves."

'Set of Rules'

The editorial went on to say, "The concept
of devising a set of rules whereby a community
can govern itself is only natural. To allow one
segment of that community, the Board of
Visitors, to impose their own set of values upon
a much larger and important segment of the
community is only perverse."

The editorial suggested, "any one from
'outside' the University community will find it
impossible to dispense justice to students
imbued with Jeffersonian ideals of fairness."

Last year's University-wide referendum had
only advisory power and the Code of Conduct
remained and is still in effect.