 | The Cavalier daily Friday, May 14, 1971 |  |
VPP Votes For Dissolution,
Sees Need For New Energy
By Terry Jasperson and
Richard Jones
Cavalier Daily Staff Writers
In a motion last night first suggested
by Jeff Kirsch, president of the Virginia
Progressive Party, the VPP voted in favor
of dissolving by a vote of 14-9.
Mr. Kirsch expressed his belief that a
new party will be created that would
provide the University with an
organization which would promote new
innovative ideas and delve into the far
reaching problems of the University.
The VPP was established as a liberal
party, with set goals to meet. Mr. Kirsch
said, "What it means to be liberal has now
changed. I want to start again moving to new
ideas of the progressive and in order to do this
we must sever ties with the past."
Fraternity Domination
The party was formed in order to end the
fraternity domination in politics, to put basic
ideologies into the University politics, and to
end the era in which "the guy with the nicest
suit won the election."
Preceding the vote heated discussions arose
over the reasons for disbanding. Chris Kerr felt
that "it would be a large joke for the people
who voted for us." Mr. Kerr added that people
would consider the new party "a new name for
the same people."
Lost Ability
Ken Lewis stated that "the party has lost its
ability to lead. VPP was performing a lot. It's
not anymore." Other persons felt that there is
widespread dissatisfaction because the VPP was
a means of getting elected.
Mr. Kirsch stated that "a new party would
mean new input, new ideas, new people, and
new support. The new ideas to be explored are
the University Senate, establishing the
Birdwood tract into a separate residential
college, and changing the whole idea of
education."
"I don't think the VPP can accomplish these
goals now. The people are too limited." Mr.
Kirsch added.
"I want to make it clear that I do not feel
that the VPP is bad or that it has failed in any
way, but times have changed and there is a need
for more input into the system; and I do not
feel that VPP can supply that need," he said.
A member of VPP said that "this move
would get some people off their asses." He
added, "We should create a power vacuum."
| The Cavalier daily Friday, May 14, 1971 | |