University of Virginia Library

Students, Burglars
Find Cold Welcome
At Colonnade Club

The Colonnade Club, one of the most
established institutions at the University,
has been the focus of a series of incidents
recently.

Last Tuesday evening marked the first
scheduled meeting of the Board of
Directors of the Student Colonnade Club, a
member of that body reported.

The Board meeting took place in the Club's
building, Pavilion VIII. It followed the meeting
of the Student Council, with fourth-year
college representative Charles Murdock presiding.
A spokesman for the group said that a
constitution had been drafted and new
members admitted to the Student Colonnade
Club.

Earlier in the evening the club had its
constitution accepted by the Organizations and
Publications Committee of the Student Council.

According to accounts received, the meeting
was discovered by Robert J. Harris, former
Dean of the Faculty. Several minutes later two
University policemen arrived at the Colonnade
Club only to find that the students had
disbanded.

The police did, however, find Mr. Murdock
in his room on the awn and talked with him
there while a small crowd of onlookers gathered
around. The police warned Mr. Murdock that
non-members were not allowed to be in the
Colonnade Club.

Earlier this year, the Colonnade Club was
burglarized and seven oriental rugs, a University
class chair, and a blanket, altogether worth a
considerable amount, were stolen.

The incidents look place during the late
evening hours on weekends in May, July, and
November. Little progress has been made in
determining the burglar(s).

On November 7 Professor John Graham,
the President of the Colonnade Club, sent a
letter to D. Alan Williams. Dean of Student
Affairs, in which he said in part: "A number of
club members have indicated to me that
students are using, in one way or another, the
Colonnade Club. Some have simply appeared in
the building, others have used the shower and
billiard room."

"At the most recent meeting of the Board of
Governors on November 3, 1969. I was
instructed by the Board to indicate to you the
very strong feeling that students should not
enter the club for any reason other than an
emergency . . . I, therefore, am writing to
request your cooperation in this matter."

When asked to comment on the Student
Colonnade Club. Mr. Graham called it a
"wonderful joke," but said that he wished it
would meet somewhere else besides the
Colonnade Club. He also said that plans are
underway to lock the doors of the club
overnight, to keep both students and burglars
out of the club.

The Colonnade Club is essentially a faculty
club. All new faculty members above, and
including, the rank of Assistant Professor are
invited to join, as well as a few people from
outside the University. No students are
permitted to join.

The Club, which has an extremely long
tradition at the University, uses Pavilion VII,
which is leased from the University. There are
no other ties to the school: the club is a private,
independent organization.