University of Virginia Library

Debates To Meet Princeton
On Subject Of Co-Education

A debate concerning coeducation
will be held by the University
Debaters and the Princeton
University Debate Team at 7
p.m. on October 6 in Gilmer Hall
auditorium.

Concern about the question began
at the University on April 8,
1967, when the Board of Visitors
authorized President Shannon to
appoint a committee to investigate
the need for coeducation.
The Student Council included the
question on its ballot last spring.

At that time, a little over 50%
of the voting body favored coeducation.
A larger percentage favored
the establishment of a coordinate
women's school.

Hal Lassiter, Vice-President of
the Student Council, felt that the
issue should be aired in order to
better acquaint students, faculty,
and administration with the issues.

The Master Planning Committee
suggested a debate and contacted
John Cody, president of
the Debaters. A number of
schools were contacted and
Princeton was the first to accept
the invitation.

Mr. Lassiter explained that coeducation
cannot be fought, since
the enactment of the Civil Rights
Act bars all discrimination. At
Virginia, resistance to coeducation
occurs largely in the first two
years of the College of Arts and
Sciences.

He called coeducation a "vital,
living issue", and mentioned the
"sweeping trend of coeducation,"
pointing out its handling at Duke,
University of North Carolina,
and the University of Pennsylvania.
Time Magazine has commented
on the problem of coeducation
throughout the country.

At present, Yale University is
considering a merger with Vassar.

Doors will open at 6:30, and
due to rush, the debate should
run only an hour.