University of Virginia Library

Bill To Curb Student Riots
Introduced To Assembly

By Peter Shea
Cavalier Daily Staff Writer

In a statement made Tuesday,
Hurrison Mann, a delegate to the
Virginia General Assembly,
announced that he will seek
permission at the special session of
the Assembly to introduce special
legislation aimed at curbing student
and faculty demonstrations on
college campuses throughout the
state.

Mr. Mann (D-Arlington) a
Democrat from Arlington County
said that the legislation would provide
for the immediate dismissal of
"student and faculty agitators"
who take part in "riots, sit-ins,
demonstrations and other foolishness."

Trend To Disruption

Mr. Mann said that he feels that
such prohibitory legislation is
necessitated by the current trend
across the country towards student
and faculty disruption of the educational
system. He added that,
although he is aware of the events
this past week at the University, his
proposed legislation was not
prompted by the demonstrations
here but by the turmoil in the
colleges in general.

Although he realizes that
demonstrating is one method of the
expression of free speech, Mr. Mann
said that such disturbances were
rapidly becoming a "violation of
the rights of others," namely that
of receiving an education.

The legislation would call for
the immediate dismissal of all participants
in demonstrations even
when the administration of the
individual schools made no move to
prosecute the offenders on their
own. Mr. Mann's proposal would
also call for legislative control of
faculty salaries.

This addition would enable the
state to outlaw not only faculty
participation in the demonstrations
but also support for the demonstrators
by "dissident faculty
members."

Proper Channels Used

When asked to comment as to
whether the demonstrations that
have occurred this week at the
University would come under the
proposed legislation, Mr. Mann
noted that, since the movement has
been conducted peacefully and
since the organizers have tried to go
through the proper channels, the
events here would not be covered
by the ruling. However, should the
demonstration "get out of hand,"
the participants would be subject to
punishment, he warned.

When asked to clarify "getting
out of hand," Mr. Mann said that
this would include any sit-in, occupying
of a building, rioting, boycott
of classes, or any other "breach
of the peace."

Supports Wheatley

When asked to comment on the
situation at the University, Mr.
Mann said that the sparse information
he received through the
news media was not sufficient for
him to judge the issues. Upon
further questioning, he said that he
did not support the movement to
force the resignation of C. Stuart
Wheatley from the Board of Visitors.

Mr. Mann characterized Mr.
Wheatley as "an able former legislator
doing an able job. Although
he sat on the other side of the fence
politically ten years ago, he should
not be judged today on his views of
ten or fifteen years before." His
views in the past "just don't matter
today," Mr. Mann claimed.