University of Virginia Library

Less Than 500 Sign Petition
To Represent First-Year Men

By Tom Jenks

Petitions circulated in the
first-year dorms two weeks ago by
First-Year Committee members
had, as of Monday, still not
received the required number of
approximately 500 signatures, it
was found a the First-Year
Committee meeting on Monday.
The petition ask for a proposed
constitutional amendment to
placed on the December Student
Council elections for ratification by
the student body. Although the
amendment was to elect a first-year
man to the Student Council and
there are nearly a 1,000 first-year
men in the college alone,
committee members apparently had
a difficult time obtaining even the
minimum number of signatures.

With an average of eleven
members absent at recent meetings
and an average of two members
present at sub-committee meetings,
the First-Year Committee has had a
problem in obtaining a quorum for
business; however, the Committee
has managed to undertake a great
deal. The Girls in the dorms
Committee has circulated a poll to
survey the first-year men's opinions
of allowing women in the
McCormick and Alderman Road.
Dormitories. The poll contains
questions which reflect the usual
objections to women in the
first-year dorms - questions such as,
"Are you mature enough to handle
the responsibility; compared to
second-year man?" and "Would a
change in policy damage the image
of the University?" There is also a
space on the poll for any comments
which someone might feel relevant
o the matter.

An interview with Chester Titus,
Director of the Housing
Department, has been arranged by
the Houding Committee in order to
discuss complaints and desired
improvements in the first-year
accommodations on the Grounds.

A motion was also made and
passed in which the First-Year
Committee formally endorsed the
Student Council's actions in regard
to combating racial discrimination
in area barber shops.

In a final action of Monday
night's meeting the Committee
formed a liaison with the Alderman
Road Committee that is to
composed of three members of
each. The purpose of this union was
not fully explained at the meeting.