University of Virginia Library

Letters To The Editor

Editor's Reply Angers Student

I do not intend to prolong
debate over University Union
practices in past years: Few of your
readers, I imagine, have been
edified by this "in" discussion,
marked as it has been by personal
references to students no longer in
the University.

Your editorial note appended to
the recent letter of Mr. Shipley,
however, requires comment. The
editors of your paper have an
ethical obligation to use the potent
weapon of the editorial note with
scrupulous fairness. Your response
to the Shipley letter, I submit, was
name-calling and an egregious abuse
of the editorial prerogative. We
have, I hope, seen the last of such
rebuttals to the letters appearing in
your columns.

Old Vs. New

Your personal vilification of
George Shipley in your editorial
"University Union" does not hide
the main issue of old University
versus new U.

The cause of the Union's dismal
performance this year is a failure to
recognize motivation factors or the
value of the political carrot stick.
Mr. Shipley would make a first-year
man a "committee assistant" and
throw in a room on the Lawn if he
would help set up chairs for an
Union concert.

Mr. Shipley understood the
mechanics of getting a job done and
encouraging competition among
Union members — because that
meant performance. From the tone
of your editorial Clay Spencer was
left holding the proverbial bag
because he could not supposedly
corrupt himself.

His appreciation of the
individual is fine if it is combined
with political savvy. Mr. Shipley's
Union most assuredly served the
University which means the
individual student and professor
while staying within the bounds of
the budget.

However, I'm sure the argument
of old University versus new U will
continue. But as for me, I side with
John Kegler (a very old University
person) who used to say, "Fuck
you. I don't need your love because
I'm an aristocrat."

No More Spirit

I fully realize that the dilemma
faced by the Honor Committee
Monday night involved conduct by
a number of students. I also
remember the eternal war between
students and machines from my
days in Bonnycastle House. Still, I
submit the following questions to
Mr. Morris and the Committee:

1) Does the Committee still
consider "stealing" an offense