University of Virginia Library

By Board Of Visitors

Candidate Condemns
Censorship Threat

In letters to Governor-elect Linwood
Holton and Editor Robert Cullen of The
Cavalier Daily, Skip Edelson, Charlottesville
attorney and candidate for the
United States Senate, has condemned the
"Board of Visitor's implied threat to
impose censorship on the editorial policy
of The Cavalier Daily."

Mr. Edelson, in his letter to Mr.
Cullen, said: "Students and faculty
members should view with disdain this
move by the Board of Visitors, whether
or not they agree with the editorial policy
of The Cavalier Daily. It is an example of
an irresponsible movement afoot in this
country to silence lawful dissent.

'Blustering Bullying'

"The Board of Visitors has allied itself
with the blustering bullying of Spiro
Agnew and the somewhat hysterical
efforts of Attorney General Mitchell to
intimidate legitimate and lawful dissent in the
television, news, and radio media.

Unamerikan Actions

"The Board of Visitors must be prohibited
from pursuing their actions which are unamerican
and which violate the principles of Mr.
Jefferson in all respects.

"All too often we have seen so called
responsible state officials actually attempting to
incite disorders in order to curry political favor
or to create false issues. The state of Virginia
has been proud to have campuses open, free
and conducted in an orderly and proper
manner."

Letter To Governor

In his letter to Governor-elect Holton, Mr.
Edelson said: "I am most disturbed by recent
actions of the Board of Visitors at the
University of Virginia during which the
President of the Student Council was insulted
and implied threats of censoring the student
were made."

"I earnestly request that you examine the
membership and actions of this Board to-determine
if they are acting in good faith and
for the best interests of education.

Peoples' Property

"One must remember that the University of
Virginia is not the property of the Board of
Visitors but the people of Virginia. I believe
that the young students are reacting to
the problems of their day as they see them and
their lawful activities should not be intimidated,
or suppressed.

Heed Young

"I think it would behoove us all to pay more
attention to our young people. When we
disregard the initial negativism our generation
has toward the style, dress, and manners of
these youngsters, we find that they pose
questions of great depth. They challenge us
with these questions which go to the heart of
(the) matter. Matters of war and peace,
decency, kindness, true morality, are not easy
questions to answer. Hypocrisy is not easy to
defend.

Overlook Embarrassment

"But I think in our maturity we can
overlook our own embarrassment, and get to
the heart of the matter with these kids, because
they are ours, and because they will have to live
or die in the world we build."