University of Virginia Library

William & Mary Cancels
Plans For Growth Protest

By PHIL KIMBALL

The Student Association of the
College of William and Mary recently
cancelled plans to stage a demonstration
protesting a proposed enrollment increase
before state legislators in Williamsburg.

The protest was originally planned to
coincide with the Burgess Day Luncheon
on the Commons in Williamsburg which
many legislators attend annually.

The rally was cancelled after
administration officials explained in a
meeting with the Student Association
president and other student leaders that a
demonstration at the luncheon would
jeopardize budget allocations which
would effect not only the increased
enrollment but also the present student
enrollment.

'Counter-productive' effects

An administrative assistant warned
student leaders that the protest might
have had "counter-productive" effects.

The proposed increase in enrollment
was announced earlier in conjunction
with plans for a new dormitory complex.
The plans for the complex were tied to
the 1972-74 budget requests which were
based on a seven per cent increase in
enrollment figures.

The budget accounted for the
admission of a freshman class of 1,151 in
1972, an increase of 264 over this year's
class.

In a release issued prior to the
decision, President Thomas A. Graves
explained that the increase was planned
as part of the budget in 1970, before he
took office. He also explained that, "the
estimates were in keeping with prior
College projections under a restricted
growth pattern."

The pattern aimed toward a total
enrollment of 5,000 with 3,800
undergraduates.

Firm Opposition

The student senate emphasized that
cancellation of the demonstration did not
reflect a change in the attitude of the
students by issuing a resolution stating,
"this body maintains its firm opposition
to the enrollment increase."

Several alternatives to staging the
demonstration were reviewed although no
course of action has been decided upon.
The Student Association president
proposed that several students testify
before state legislators at the
appropriations committee meeting of the
General Assembly which is to take place
after the first of the year.

Other proposals included staging a
demonstration directed toward the
administration rather than the legislators.