University of Virginia Library

Letters To The Editor

Bully For Your Niece, Mr. Gorham

I would like to take issue
with Mr. J. Arthur Gorham III
and his comments about our
"Lewd U".

First of all, bully for your
niece –or, rather, your opinion
of her sex life. But let her run
it herself.

I have taken a moment as you
suggested, and I realize that
your veiled threats of
damnation and your
holier-than-thou attitude are
completely unfounded.

Think back to the time you
were in school. Did you go
during Prohibition? If not you,
did someone in your family?
Can you tell me honestly you
didn't take a drink? A lot of us
Virginia Gentlemen–and many
physicians, besides–think that
smoking dope is less hazardous
and more fun than drinking.

Tell us about your school's
and fraternities' fight songs.
Didn't they contain material
relating to the pleasures of
booze and sex?

Lots of people in my
parents' generation have stated
that people at college then
engaged in sex as much as we
do, but it was a much more
private thing. As a result,
people ended up making love
in the back seat of a Dodge
with the doors locked hoping
no one would find them. I
prefer the more relaxed
atmosphere and the greater
honesty of cohabitation. "How
long can obnoxious disc
jockeys continue to play
recordings nationwide extolling
drugs and urging to 'bang the
whole gang?" As long as
people continue to buy them
under the free enterprise
system.

I, and I'm sure many
Virginia Gentlemen (and
Gentlewomen) besides myself,
believe that I'd rather be free
and honest and that this is how
I'll save myself.

Sin?

I would like to reply to Mr.
J. Arthur Gorham III, who
appears to be of the opinion
that his morality should be
thrust upon the entire
University community
because he considers it to be
right. What right has he to
decide whether or not two
young people should sleep
together? Who is he to say that
University coeds should not
have access to the pill? Since
when does the fact that some
couples cohabit and the fact
that there are many university
women who take the pill (not
necessarily all students, either
... or unmarried women, for
the matter) mean that the pill
is being distributed "willy
nilly", or that all students who
are using them (and/or
cohabiting) are
indiscriminately taking part in
sexual activities?

Also, Mr. Gorham, I would
like to point out that our
generation has not invented
anything new, and that in
every generation there are
those from the previous
generation who stand shake
their fingers and scream "Sin!
Sin!" at the young.

This country was founded
on the concept of individual
freedom and religious freedom,
and the right of each man to
do as he wishes as long as he
doesn't infringe on the rights
of others. Those students who
are "licentious" hurt no one
but themselves. How can they
touch your niece, for example?
If she really believes in her
code of reality, the actions
of other students will not
affect her.

As for the "mass
distribution" of the books and
films you mentioned, it is true
that there is much
pornography and otherwise
sexually oriented literature on
the market. But again, our
generation has invented
nothing new: your generation
had it, and so did the one
before it.

My roommates and I are not
familiar with any of the
books/films you mentioned, so
they could not be as widely
read as you implied. Because
some read them does not mean
all read them.

I do not consider society
debauched and those around
me licentious but then it is
indiscriminate sex I find
repulsive and degrading, not
sex in general. It is up to the
participants to make the
decision to bed or not to bed,
and no one else has any right
whatsoever to enter into the
question and attempt to force
their decision one way or the
other.

Whether or not you or I
agree with their actions is
irrelevant, because they are
free to live as they like, just as
we are. It cannot be any other
way, or our society would not
be free.

Chauvinism

Since my arrival at the
University, I have become
increasingly alarmed over the
chauvinism displayed to an
excess by the various
organizations of this school. A
prime example is the yearbook,
which has chosen for its name,
"Corks and Curls." This title
implies that the University's
only activities involve liquor
and women.

Such is not the case. Many
of us prefer not to consume
liquor or spend our evenings
chasing females in pursuit of
minor physical pleasures.
Instead, we would rather
remain sober and indulge in
intellectually stimulating
pursuits, such as novels, ches
the classics, art, and eve
contemplation.

I acknowledge the fact that
there are those who are her
for purposes other than
education. I do not believe
however, that the yearbook
should choose a title which
reflects the goals of those few
or of any minority.

A title is therefore needed
along the lines of "Atman" in
the Hindu thought, or some
other expression of universal
unity.