University of Virginia Library

First-Yearmen Protest Refrigerator Penalty,
Pay Fine To Housing Director With Pennies

By MEG VINSON

University first-year
students Richard E Schmidt
and Don J. Pearson yesterday
paid a $15 fine for failing to
register their refrigerator 24
hours after its installation in
their suite. Housing Director
Ralph Main was paid the fine
in a plastic bag which
contained 1500 pennies

When Mr. Schmidt applied
for his registration on Oct 9 at
the Emmet House Business
Office, he was informed he
would be fined $15 for late
registration. Three other
students occupying the same
suite were fined $15 for the
same reason.

The two students went to
the bank and had the Notary
Public witness then counting
out 1500 pennies An "official
statement of intent" was
written and signed by the
Notary Public and the two
students.

The introduction stated that
"Don Pearson and Richard
Schmidt do hereby attest and
pledge on our honor as Virginia
Gentlemen of the University of
Virginia: that said payment
will be made in U.S currency
in the exact form of one cent
pieces, totaling 1500 one cent
pieces, or fifteen dollars U.S
currency."

The two students decided to
send the money in this fashion
because they considered it
"symbolic of a lot of hard
earned money."

Mr. Main sent the men to
the Business Office, where they
were told to count the pennies
and place them in rolls.

CD/Saxon Holt

Students Pay Housing Fine With 1,500 Pennies Collected in A Bag