University of Virginia Library

Grad School Favors
Coalition Proposals
With Ad Hoc Petition

A petition circulated by an
unofficial "ad hoc" committee of
Graduate Arts and Science students,
which expresses support for
the proposals of the Student
Coalition and the Student Council,
was delivered to President Shannon
yesterday with more than 200
signatures on it.

John O'Connor, a member of
the Graduate English Club, formed
the committee along with Brian
Hampton, president of the Graduate
Government and Foreign
Affairs Club, and Paul Gaston,
president of the Graduate English
Club.

The petition, which was unsolicited,
was posted in Cabell Hall for
three days, last Thursday, Friday,
and Monday. The 200 signatures
represents between 20 and 25 per
cent of the student body in the
graduate school, according to Mr.
O'Connor. Mr. O'Connor stressed
that, since there are many graduate
students who do not have classes in
Cabell Hall, the response does not
accurately reflect the "great concern"
the graduate students have
for the demonstrations.

The actual petition was drawn
up by the three committee members
and reads: "We, the following
members of the Graduate School of
Arts and Sciences of the University
of Virginia, support in principle the
goals of the Student Coalition and
the Student Council to achieve
desegregation at the University.

"1) We agree racism in the
University and the State of Virginia
must be eliminated. We believe that
the University must free itself from
the hypocritical, token attitude
towards racial harmony.

"2) We further feel that the
Legislature of the State of Virginia
should raise the minimum wage
scale for all non-academic University
employees in the State and
allow the University of Virginia the
option of raising its own pay scale.

"Now is the time for the
Legislature, the Board of Visitors,
and the Administration of the
University to act."

"President Shannon was very
personable but didn't say anything,"
Mr. O'Connor reported. He
also emphasized that the "petitions
speak only for the individuals who
signed it, not for the clubs as
political units."