University of Virginia Library

Candidates Debate Expansion, Abortion Laws

By JIM MASSEY

Candidates for the Virginia House of
Delegates and State Senate addressed the
issues of University expansion, women's
rights, legalization of abortion,
para mutual betting, welfare work
requirements and the role of the legislator
and the University at a University Law
forum held here Wednesday.

Participating House candidates were
Democrats Daniel Van Clief and Thomas
Michie, who currently hold seats in the House,
and Republicans Darden Towe and Joseph

Wright. Mr. Towe is an insurance salesman and
Mr. Wright is a City Council member.

Participating Senate candidates were
Democrat J. Harry Michael, who is currently a
member of the senate, and Republican John T.
Camblos, who is currently Commonwealth's
Attorney for Albemarle County.

While none of the candidates stated he
would, if elected, vote to halt increase or
decrease expansion, each voiced his feelings of
anxiety at the current crowding crises. "(The
University) has now expanded too fast with too
little order." stated Mr. Camblos.

Mr. Wright stated that orderly growth
should be held foremost in mind and that "if
the situation calls for it, I would slow
expansion in order to assure an orderly
growth."

Noting that each year the number of
students who come to the state of Virginia is
exceeded by the number of students who seek
education in other states by 10,000, Mr. Michie
emphasized that the state of Virginia has a
responsibility to expand its educational
facilities. "We must keep in mind our goal of
increasing admission of Black students and
women," he stated.

Concerning women's rights, Mr. Michie
stated that the new state constitution
guarantees no discrimination on the basis of
race, creed, color or sex. "However," he said, "I
have talked to women here who feel very much
discriminated against."

Commenting on male chauvinists, which he
said, his wife feels he is one, he stated, "I'm
sure there's a lot of us 'male chauvinist pigs'
around who don't realize it."

The issue of para-mutual betting drew from
Mr. Camblos the response that, "It's going to be
awfully hard to convince me that this is all
good". "West Virginia has parimutuel betting,
and the ex-Governor is in jail for stealing," he
stated.