University of Virginia Library

Year-In-Review

'University Tuesday' Protests Growth

By PHIL KIMBALL

Student opposition to University
expansion reached a climax this semester
as the Student Council sponsored a
"sleep-in" on the Lawn and a day of
demonstration to protest continued
growth.

Last minutes efforts by President
Shannon to pressure Council into calling
a halt to "University Tuesday" proved
futile. In an open letter to Mr. Shannon,
Council President Tom Collier stated the
reasons behind the Council: decision to go
ahead with the demonstration.

"Our efforts to secure an open and
critical examination of these problems
have been met with nothing
save assurances by your spokesmen that
someone, somewhere in the University's
bureaucracy, was also concerned." the
letter stated.

Physical Facilities

Council also felt that the Future of the
University Committee, which has been
charged with the purpose of driving
enrollment the projections through 1980,

would neglect physical facilities in its
concern for the academic development of
the University.

Demonstration Success

Although an estimated 500 students
took part in the "sleep-in" Monday night,
activities Tuesday were sparsely attended.
The "study-in" and "eat-in", which were
designed to show how continued growth
would overcrowd facilities, were regarded
as failures. Despite this, Council felt that
as an expression of student protests, the
demonstration was a success.

Racial tension among University
students flared up after a confrontation
of Black and White students took place
over the display of a Confederate flag at a
football game on Homecoming Weekend.

In another incident the Afro-American
Student Association demanded a public
apology from the president of the Kappa
Sigma fraternity after a Black student was
allegedly thrown out of an open party by
a fraternity brother.

Representatives of Black University
students had an opportunity to discuss
their grievances with Mr. Shannon after a
protest rally took place in front of
Pavilion VIII. The representatives
expressed their disappointment that Mr.
Shannon had not put forward any
concrete proposals to put an end to racial
prejudice at the University.

Flag Ban

A ban prohibiting the display of all
flags at athletic games except college
pennants and National and State flags was
immediately placed in effect after the
Confederate flag incident. The ban was
later rescinded after it was declared
unconstitutional by state Attorney
General Andrew Miller.

Reports of molesting of women
students in the area surrounding the
Mumford-Gwathmey dormitory area
prompted an investigation into proposed
outside lighting. Even though nothing
more concrete was given than the
assurances that the issue would be looked
into, the Security Department increased
its patrols in the area and established a
special phone number for emergency use.

The proposed construction of a state
penal institution in Louisa County
sparked angry indignation by students
and faculty as well as residents of the
Green Springs area where the facility was
planned to be constructed. Even though
federal funds for the project have been
blocked by the Fourth Circuit Court of
Appeals, Governor Linwood Holton made

assurances that the institution will still be
constructed.

Director of University Development
Richard L. Godine died Nov. 29 from a
cardiac arrest and complications resulting
from a gunshot wound. Mrs. Caroline
Godine pleaded guilty to charges of
involuntary manslaughter in the
unintentional death of her husband.