University of Virginia Library

Tedium Reigns At VPP Convention

News Analysis

By Neill Alford III
Cavalier Daily Staff Writer

The tedium of personal rivalries,
which crawls into the convention rooms
of most political parties firmly
entrenched in a position of power,
smothered the Virginia Progressive Party
convention on March 30.

More than 100 students crowded into
the meeting at its beginning, talking
sociably but warily eyeing other potential
candidates as they took their seats.

Nominations having been opened for
the office of President of the Student
Council, the names of Tom Collier and Alan
Botsford came in rapid succession. The group
was only too willing to close the nominations at
that point.

Mr. Botsford then briefly discussed his
qualifications and goals for Student Council,
closely following the "success formula" which
the VPP employed in the elections last fall.

Alan Botsford

Council Treasurer Is VPP Candidate

He mentioned the lack of communication
between the State legislature and students and
declared that he felt the administration does
not "deal truthfully" with students. He also
recommended equal student representation in
the University Senate and increased admissions
for minority students.

Having heard no unconventional or
unexpected ideas, the assemblage next heard
Mr. Collier's speech. Mr. Collier discussed
racism at the University, the danger of too
rapid growth of the University, and
communication between faculty and students
and among students themselves.

Still no surprising new ideas having
blossomed forth, the group quizzed the two
candidates on issues of their own choosing. But
ideological consistencies gave no sign of
disappearing.

The candidates left the room, and members
began a vehement debate on their abilities and
efforts on Council. Personal friends of each
candidate doggedly reiterated belief in his
ability.

The debate dragged on. After more than an
hour, even the most ardent debaters appeared
to weaken, and finally a vote selected Mr.
Botsford.

Mary as the nominee, and Stu Pape then
received nominations for the Council vice
presidency, and party members settled back to
listen. Mr. Pape discussed the growth of the
University, and Miss McDermott busied herself
in an explanation of the advantage of a female
carrying student opinion to the Board of
Visitors.

Neither candidate varied significantly from
the standard VPP ideology in his remarks
during the discussion period. But a vote rapidly
brought the issue to a close with the selection
of Mr. Pape.

Eight candidates, several of them first year
students, ran for nominations for Council seats.
Members by now were aware of the outcome of
the Jefferson Party convention, and after

this time VPP candidates' speeches took
place in a relatively relaxed atmosphere.

As the opportunity to express opinions on
various issues slowly wended its way down the
long line of candidates, members could be seen
beginning to fidget as the hour hand on the
clock crept on its way. A vote finally selected
six of the eight as the party candidates.

The attendance gradually dwindled to fifty
persons, and yawns and restlessness became very
much in evidence. Three candidates for the
Judiciary Committee, having expounded an
unvarying sameness of views, finally received
nominations by acclamation.