University of Virginia Library

A Matter Of Priorities...

It is something of a pity that new students
to the University must form their first
impressions of this institution at the one time
in the year when the word "institution"
seems particularly fitting. In the week at
hand you will be obliged to listen to many
people tell you all about your new life at the
University, information which is alternately
helpful and confusing, essential and
superfluous. It is the week in which you will
see the University in its most bureaucratic
state and the people around you in their
friendliest, most reserved, well-mannered
poses. It is, as the wise and witty Dean of the
College, Irby Cauthen, puts it, "The week
which reduces weak men to tears and strong
men to laughter."

Yet it is also the week in which many of
your most lasting friendships will be made
and many of the goals for your college career
established. These are, to our way of thinking,
the two most important aspects of your
orientation to the University. The first is the
easier of the two: personal alliances come
naturally as long as we allow time for them.
The second what to do with yourself now
that you're in college requires a bit more
conscientious thought.

The broad spectrum of University life
demands that each student determine his own
set of priorities. It's not really important what
those priorities are (above the level of
Frisbee-throwing, that is); what is important is
your pursuit of them once they are
established.

For the student earnestly seeking a good
liberal arts education, the University has
enough qualified professors and
well-organized curricular programs to give you
just that. While it is true that library facilities
here are, for some, less than adequate, and
certain departments and schools are not as
mature as others, we doubt the enterprising
student will ever feel "stunted" by the
University's shortcomings. And those of you
who have had a sound secondary school
education should find the transition to college
courses surprisingly easy to make.

But those who think that the yellow brick
road of academia is the only path open to
them at the University are mistaken. There
are many ways to constructively spend your
time here outside the classroom, and we feel
the student who dedicates himself primarily
to athletics or University organizations or
community service is in no way discrediting
himself or the University, but merely
expressing himself in the way best suited to
his talents and ambitions.

During this hectic, frustrating, exciting
week of tears and laughter, we hope you will
take time to think beyond the deluge of
bureaucratic data being programmed into you
and seriously consider what you–not your
parents, not your counselor–want to get out
of your college experience. And then, next
week, when the University settles into its
normal routine, we hope you will begin to
explore those areas which most interest you.