University of Virginia Library

Canevari Notes 'Illegal' Car Problem

Pranks, Vandalism Discussed By Runk

By Jim Dollney
Cavalier Daily Staff Writer

Referring to the undergraduate
drivers over which he administrates,
Robert Canevari
said the biggest problem with
undergraduate drivers are the
ones with illegal cars.

In his position as assistant
dean of the University Mr. Canevari
assists Dean Runk in the
areas of fraternities and motor
vehicles.

Under present regulations no
undergraduate may maintain or
operate a motor vehicle unless
he holds a prescribed grade point
average for the preceding semester
of his residence in the University.

Violators of this regulation
may be subject to suspension
from the University although in
the past it has been the policy of
the administration to suspend students
only after the second offense.

Mr. Canevari pointed out that
operators of "illegal" cars usually
trip themselves up by commission
of minor traffic violations.
During the interview he
was careful to describe his role
as one of administrating, not
enforcing.

He said that there were exceptions
made for men with legitimate
reasons to have cars. "Too
often," he said, "men are reluctant
to approach this office and attempt
to make their cars legal."

Recently a dual-sticker car
registration plan was proposed,
which called for secondary car
privileges for students without the
presently required grades. The
plan would restrict cars with
secondary stickers from operating
in the city.

Mr. Canevari said that he saw
problems in the administration
of such a plan, but was otherwise
unopposed to it. He was
careful to add that he interpreted
his position as assistant
dean to be primarily on the administrative,
not the policy-making
level.

He felt that the problems involved
in fencing, lighting and
guarding the lot on which such
secondary sticker cars would be
required to park might make the
plan unworkable.

In an interview yesterday afternoon,
B.F.D. Runk, Dean of the
University, made note of the
number of complaints his office
receives concerning pranks on
the part of students.

He made particular reference
to a recent case in which some
of the pledges of a University fraternity
cut down a tree on the
Sweet Briar campus and brought
it back for use as a Christmas
tree.

Speaking of similar cases on the
Grounds, Mr. Runk explained
that, because of the destructive
nature of the acts, he did not
consider them pranks.