University of Virginia Library

University Seeks Attitude Change

By Donn Kessler
Cavalier Daily Staff Writer

"There are two ways of changing
society. The first way is to change the
attitudes of the people and to hope that a
change in attitude will bring a change in
behavior. The second way is to change
the behavior itself and the society and
then hope that peoples' attitudes will
change." Perhaps changing the behavior
of the people is the important thing."

These were the words of a member of
the Rotch Committee in an interview
with The Cavalier Daily. They perhaps
summarize the reasoning behind the efforts of
the University administration, the Student
Council, and some members of the student
body to bring more black students to the
University.

Perhaps the initiative was taken by President
Shannon in his answer to the Rotch Committee
report on black recruitment. In that letter, Mr.
Shannon stated that "Black students are
welcome here. Small-town and rural students
are welcome here..."

Fourth In A Series

But actions speak louder than words. In the
area of action, the administration has also
worked to get more black students in to the
University, although, as one member of the
Rotch Committee said.

"As well as I can see progress is being made
although we are not sure if it is moving fast
enough. We will have to wait and see what
happens in this year's recruitment."

The first perhaps the most important area
where progress has been made is in the
Admissions Office in regard to black recruitment.

The first step the Admissions Office took to
reform its recruitment procedures was to
inform the Alumni Associations of their desire
for qualified black students. The results of this
message were indicated in a recent copy of the
University of Virginia Alumni News (published
by the Alumni Association) which reaches some
19,000 Alumni of the University in various
local chapters.

Exclusive Parties

It is these local chapters which tended in the
past few years to recruit prospective students
through exclusive private parties and dinners.

Emest H. Ern, Dean of Admissions, has
noted, however, that this method of recruitment
has slowly diminished from the scene.

Another reform in the recruitment policy is
an attempt to change the image of the
University in the eyes of high school guidance
counselors and secondary school students.

'Elitist Image'

William Rotch, chairman of the President's
Committee on Education and Employment
Opportunities, Obligations and Rights, told The
Cavalier Daily in an interview that in talking to
high school counselors at summer school and
with black high school students, he discovered
that the image of the University was "an image
of a highly selective 'elitist' institution, and not
a place where a black student, is left to his own
devices would want to go."

In order to change that image, the
Admissions Office last fall and again this fall
has had meetings at the University with
guidance counselors from state secondary
schools. Many of these counselors were from
predominantly black high schools. As Mr. Ern
told The Cavalier Daily, "These counselor
contacts are long term projects. It is the
counselors who help to form the picture of the
University in the minds of the students. If we
can show these counselors the true picture of
the University, we can reach the students."

Mr. Ern stated that this counselor "rapport"
also helped the University to overcome the
state law that prohibits the use of state funds
for advertising the University to secondary
school students.

Maintaining Rapport

This rapport is also kept up with the
guidance counselors after disadvantaged black
or white students are admitted to the
University. Mr. Ern stated that this helps to
support the University's claims that qualified
students from any background can be successful
at the University.

Another area in which the Admissions
Office has tried to attract or at least not to
discourage black students from the University is
with the application for admission. The
University still asks on the admission application
the race and religion of the applicant, a
question many schools of higher education have
deleted from their applications.

But about these questions the application
explains that the University does not discriminate
with regard to race, color, religion, or
national origin; and that the information they
request is only to inform the federal government
of their work in equality of opportunity
for education and employment.

Private Funds

The University also has obtained private
funds and tells the prospective applicant on the
application form that if he cannot pay the $10
application fee, he may be considered eligible
for $10 to be contributed for him from this
fund.

The Admissions Office has also reformed its
procedures on admissions of disadvantaged
students. As Mr. Ern stated, "We cannot
evaluate a disadvantaged student in the same
way we would any other applicant.

"Certain other intangible factors have to be

considered in his record resides his college
board scores. Some of these factors are lack of
opportunity and his guidance counselor's
recommendation. With some students we take a
chance. But many schools are now doing this
and we are willing to look at the student who
might not have the mean SAT scores but may
be a good risk."

Perhaps the most important reform in the
Admission Office is the inclusion of black
recruiter in the person of Mrs. Elizabeth
Johnson. Mrs. Johnson is assisted by John
Thomas and George Taylor, both of whom are
students. All three recruiters are black and all
are part-time assistants.