University of Virginia Library

Court Blocks Move Granting Bland 4-Year Status

A federal court ruled Wednesday that
Richard Bland College at Petersburg, a
predominately white school, must remain
a two-year college.

Bland may not become a four-year,
degree-granting school because such a
step would, in the court's opinion,
perpetuate a state-supported dual system
of higher education which is racially
identifiable.

The plan to make the school a
four-year college was opposed by white
and black plaintiffs, who believed that
the move would threaten Virginia State
College, which is only five miles away.

The plaintiffs did not receive a court order
which they sought requiring the merger of the
two schools and preparation of a plan by the
State Council of Higher Education to
desegregate all state-supported colleges.

But neither the General Assembly nor the
College of William and Mary, with which Bland
is affiliated, has the power to make the school a
four-year institution.

Judge John D. Butzner Jr., of the U.S.
Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals, wrote the
opinion. U.S. District Judge Robert R. Merhige
Jr. signed it, and District Judge Walter E.
Hoffman dissented.

The decision is favorable to Governor
Linwood Holton, who opposed Bland's
expansion in desegregation plan which he
submitted to the Department o Health,
Education, and Welfare in December. In his
report, Mr. Holton promised to ask the General
Assembly to incorporate Bland into the
two-year community college system.

HEW officials, who are opposed to Bland's
expansion, reportedly do not favor Mr.
Holton's plan, but they did not say so before
the case was decided.

Del. W. Ray Smith of Petersburg, who
worked to make Bland a four-year institution,
made no immediate comment on the decision,
saying that it is "too important a matter to
make a statement on without first knowing
fully what thy ramifications are."

The case was argued before the court on
March 17. The defendants included Mr. Holton,
the State Council of Higher Education, the
Board of Visitors of William and Mary, the
president of Bland, and the Virginia State board
of visitors.

Judge Butzner noted in his opinion that "a
radically identifiable system of higher
education exists in the state today." He found
that Virginia State has made progress in
recruiting white students and teachers since
1964, and that "escalation of Bland would
hamper Virginia State's efforts to desegregate
its student body."

Wendell P. Russell, president of Virginia
State, said "we feel this is a proper ruling and
extend to Richard Bland a hand of friendship
and helpfulness. I think both colleges can grow
and be helpful to each other.