University of Virginia Library

$100 Dorm Deposit
Rescinded By Shannon

The following is a statement issued by President Edgar F.
Shannon, Jr., late last night concerning the controversial decision of
the Board of Visitors to require all entering undergraduates to put
down a deposit of $100 on a room in the dorms for their second year.

For many years dormitories at the University have been
constructed with proceeds from sale of the University's
revenue bonds, which must by law be repaid from student
rental receipts. Last spring the Board of Visitors adopted a
resolution requiring the deposit of $100 by each entering
undergraduate student, to apply to his dormitory rental in
the second year or to be forfeited should the student decide
to live elsewhere than in University housing. This measure
was adopted with reluctance but deemed necessary because
of vacancies in the dormitories. A less desirable alternative
for many students would have been for the Board to have
invoked the standing provision for a second year of residence
in the dormitories.

Improved occupancy of the dormitories this fall has
resulted in a material increase in rental receipts.
Consequently, the requirements established by the resolution
adopted last spring are not now needed and I have taken the
steps necessary to have them removed. Official notice of this
action will be sent by letter to each of the students involved.

The $100 which was deposited by each student will be
applied to his dormitory rental in the second semester of the
current academic year. The funds have been invested and
each student will also be credited with his portion of the
interest earned.