University of Virginia Library

S.O.S

The Student Opinion Survey which
Student Council has mailed to a random
sample of University students is noteworthy
for two reasons. First, it gives the entire
University an indication of what some of us
have known for some time. That Larry
Sabato is the Council workhorse, and one of
only two or three Council members who has
the initiative to do more than pitch platitudes
at their weekly confabs.

Second, it gives students an opportunity to
let it be known how they want their money
to be spent, or if, indeed, they would rather
spend it themselves. As the information
cannot help but be beneficial, we strongly
urge all students who receive the rather
lengthy survey to take the time to complete it
carefully and return it immediately in the
envelope the Council has provided.

There are some shortcomings, however, to
this questionnaire, and respondents would be
wise to consider them before completing it.
You will, unfortunately, find several of the
questions to be too expansive, poorly
constructed, and difficult to answer exactly as
you would like. For instance,
"extra-curricular activities, athletics, social
life, rewarding friendship, and loyalty to
college traditions" are all lumped together in a
question asking for your opinion as to their
importance "in the college experience." How
does a person who acknowledges the value of
some of these areas, such as athletics, social
life, activities, and friendship answer if he also
has serious questions about the value of some
of the traditions?

Moreover, the phrase "loyalty to college
traditions" is vague. Which traditions?

Furthermore, how can the average student
who has been only moderately interested in
Student Activities allocations answer a
question asking whether too much or too
little is being allocated to various
organizations when he does not know what
their relative needs are–or what factors
influenced O&P's determination of each
allocation?

While we regret that the phrasing of some
of the queries was not as well thought out as
we would like, and the possibility exists that
the survey will raise as many (if not more)
questions than it answers; it can, nonetheless,
be helpful in discovering how students feel in
general about some very important questions.
If respondents stay away from flippant and
gut reactions in answering it, the S.O.S.,
imperfect as it is, should prove enlightening.