University of Virginia Library

Council Poll Shows Student Dissatisfaction

By Philip Kimball
Cavalier Daily Staff Writer

The results of a survey of "Student
Attitudes and Opinions" at the University
indicate that "Student Council must
increase the scope of its activities to
include students with minority interests,"
according to Kevin L. Mannix. Student
Council President.

A comprehensive survey based on a
questionnaire distributed to 358
randomly selected students in all schools
of the University demonstrated that 34
per cent of the student body does not
think that Council 'accurately reflects
general attitudes and concerns of
students."

Personal Goals

This survey also showed that a
majority of students (41.1 percent to 30
per cent) disagreed with the statement that
Council "serves as an effective agency for
achieving my personal goals in relation to my
concerns as a student."

The study was conceived "as an attempt to
view student attitudes and opinions in
comparison to the attitudes and opinions of
members of the Student Council" in order to
discover the extent of the Council's
"representativeness."

Miss Annette Gibbs, Assistant Professor of
Education and Charles F. Longino, Jr.,
Assistant Professor of Sociology assisted Mr.
Mannix in the formulation of the questionnaire
and the compiling of the gathered data.

Five Categories

Questions asked by the questionnaire were
divided into five categories: the Council's role
as a representative of students, tactics for
achieving change, University policy issues,
direction of Student Council involvement, and
general questions.

A summary of the questions dealing with
Council's role as a representative organization
of students showed that the students
questioned felt that "while Council is
important, it is not as representative as it
should be."

The survey indicated that 76.7 per cent of
the students "would non-violently demonstrate
to achieve important goals" in which they
believed but that "strikes and demonstrations
should occur after attempts at solutions
through the system have failed." Student
Council opinion closely matched that of the
survey with 80 per cent of the members
agreeing with the statement.

Questioned on University issues, 84.4 per
cent of students surveyed said that the size of
its student enrollment should be limited while
Council members unanimously believed in the
same action.

Over half (55.2 per cent) of the sample and
77 per cent of the Council members agreed that
student conduct regulations should be made
only by the students themselves.

Student Interests

The survey demonstrated that students want
Council to become involved in international
and national issues where student interests are
at stake and that "have a direct effect on the
students."

The environment, race relations and the war
in Indochina were the three principal national
issues which concerned students and Council
members alike. Also of concern to both was
crime and violence, and population growth.
When ranked in order of importance by both
students and Council, both groups held similar
opinions as the degree of importance of
each issue.

Mr. Mannix stated that he felt the Student
Council accurately reflected the opinions and
beliefs of the student body.