University of Virginia Library

Assembly Proposes Committee
To Improve University Relations

By Ira Steingold

A proposal to establish a new
committee that would improve
communication among faculty, students,
and administration was presented
Monday night to the Assembly of
Professors at the University.

A ballot will soon be sent to each of
the members of the Assembly so that
they may vote on the proposal.

The proposed Committee on
University Relations would serve "as a
forum for informal discussion of long and
short-range questions as they affect the total
academic community of the University." The
committee, as proposed, would not have the
power to issue any statement in the name of
the Assembly, but would be able to make
proposals to the Assembly.

Dante Germino, president of the Assembly,
expressed a "favorable" attitude towards the
proposal made in the annual meeting of the
organization. He said that the greater the
opportunity for communication between the
faculty, students, and administration, the better
relations in the University community will be.

Although the committee will not be able to
express its views in the name of the Assembly,
it will provide a place to discuss issues
pertaining to the University.

The Assembly of Professors at the
University is a faculty organization composed
of the 900 professors and assistant professors at
the University, in order to allow the faculty to
come together as a body and act as an advisory
board to the administration in those areas that
concern the faculty.

Although the Assembly is not a part of the
official structure of the University, it has been,
according to Mr. Germino, beneficial to the
faculty.

One of the most important committees of
the organization is the Contractual Relations
Committee. This committee, which is chaired
by Charles Woltz of the Law School, is
composed of representatives from each of the
school in the University.

It is concerned with faculty problems such
as fringe benefits, medical benefits, promotions,
and leaves of absence. This committee is,
however, "low keyed" as far as exerting
pressure on the administration is concerned,
Mr. Germino said.

If the proposal to establish the new
committee on University Relations is accepted,
the Assembly would involve itself with
problems other than those of the faculty.