University of Virginia Library

Lawn Rooms Selection Revealed
In Housing Office Interview

By Tom Jenks
Cavalier Daily Staff Writer

Out of the 150 third-year students
who applied to live on the
Lawn next year, 47 were accepted.
Many of those who were accepted
stood in a long line in front of the
Housing Office most of the night
Tuesday in order to be the first to
turn in their applications for the
rooms of their choice.

How were these 47 students
chosen? To find out, The Cavalier
Daily held an interview yesterday
with Ralph Main, assistant director
of Housing.

Mr. Main, to begin with, emphasized
a paragraph in the Lawn
application form which reads:
"Students assigned to Lawn rooms
enjoy a distinction earned by their
academic performance and personal
record; the nature and quality of
leadership in University life is a
major consideration in making
selections."

"The three categories of questions
on the application that
students are asked to fill out are all
in character with that statement,"
Mr. Main said. "That is, students
are selected for their academic
standing, their contribution to the
University, and their good reputation
on the Grounds."

The three categories that Mr.
Main mentioned are Honorary organizations
(academic, national,
University, and professional), University
service (publications, athletics,
student government, University
Union, and the Counselling
program), and social and recreational
activities.

Students who will be candidates
for graduation the next year and
who wish to reside on the Lawn
must submit an application to the
Housing Office. That application is
either approved or rejected by a
committee of students that is
selected each year by the three
chairmen of counselors.

Housing Office Review

A list of 47 students and 20
alternates approved to live on the
Lawn are chosen by this student
committee and submitted to the
Housing Office for review. "It is
very seldom that the Housing
Office does not approve the list,"
Mr. Cardwell said.

The 47 students are then assigned
rooms on first come first serve
basis. "The student committee
consists of athletes, engineers, College
students and generally a wide
range of students who are in
positions of leadership at the
University," Mr. Cardwell said.

Criterion Of Service

Mr. Cardwell also said that
service to the University is the main
criterion in the selections and that
grades are not a major consideration
except in cases where there are
two equally qualified applicants
tied for a position on the approved
list.

Both Mr. Main and Mr. Cardwell
emphasized the honor associated
with living on the Lawn, as
expressed in a statement made on
the application form. It says:

"In accepting the assignment
they assume an obligation to so
manage their living as to enhance
the general reputation and good
name of the University in the eye,
of the public, since the Lawn rooms
are constantly in the eye of the
public. Details of the special obligation
are left quite properly to the
good taste of the residents."