University of Virginia Library

Plea Fails To Halt Demonstration

We see in this language no hint
that the present preoccupation with
increasing enrollment will end. We
see no suggestion that any credence
is being given our contention that
the physical facilities that are or
will be available are inadequate for
the present student body. We
perceive no recognition that the
future 'physical and budgetary
exigencies' that you mention
already exist."

'Academic Excellence'

Mr. Collier's letter added that
the Council believes that the
"University's ability to expand in
enrollment is inseparable from its
ability to maintain academic
excellence. The latter goal, we feel,
cannot be reached without giving
paramount consideration to
physical limitations.

"In recent years, these
limitations have been given but
slight consideration. While your
new charge would certainly be an
improvement over the present
situation, if the committee
undertakes its secondary role with
vigor, we have neither assurance nor
indication that it will attempt to do
so, nor that it will be allowed to by
narrower-scope committees on
fundamental decisions concerning
facilities. And we have no
intimation that if the committee
plays its secondary role with the
vigor required, any
recommendations that are not in
accord with present policy will be
given effect."

'Growth Crisis'

The statement continued, "It is
to accent the need for such concern
and consideration that we originally
scheduled University Tuesday...We
believe that such a demonstration
as this is still necessary to spur the
Future of the University
Committee to do what it might do
under your charge and to indicate
to members of the General
Assembly and to the University's
overall administration, as well as to
the citizens of the Commonwealth,
the crisis created by growth."

"The University is suffering now
from the effects of precipitous
growth," the letter concluded. "It
will, we are convinced, suffer more
if the enrollment projections
confirmed by you, by the State
Council for Higher Education and
by Governor Holton are put into
effect. Our actions on University
Tuesday will demonstrate this.
They will reaffirm our dedication
to the excellence of the
University."

Sunday Meeting

Mr. Collier and a number of
Student Council members met with
the President and the
Vice-President Sunday afternoon at
which time President Shannon
again requested that the
demonstrations be called off.
According to Council members
present at the meeting, he re-stated
his opinion that the demonstrations
would be construed as irresponsible
disturbances and warned the
students that, should the protest
get out of hand, the organizers
would face possible disciplinary
action, taken by the University
through the Judiciary Committee
and other channels.

'No Gain'

The President told the students
that the scheduled demonstration
would not gain anything and might
make conditions worse. He also
reportedly noted that problems
could be created by outsiders who
might take part in the protest.

Finally, President Shannon
warned that the decision to carry
out the scheduled protests would
seriously lessen the atmosphere for
serious discussion at the University.

After the meeting, Mr. Collier
said that he hoped President
Shannon would recognize Council's
arguments for the necessity of the
demonstrations and that he would
not use the demonstrations as an
excuse for severing the newly
created lines of communication
between students and his
administration.