University of Virginia Library

Back To Sleepy Lethargy

We are indeed pleased with the Board of
Visitor's selection of former Governor Mills E.
Godwin as Mr. Shannon's successor as
President of the University. The Presidency of
the University of Virginia has traditionally
been a final resting place for aging and
worn-out politicos; thus in keeping with that
tradition we feel that there could not have
been a better choice at the present time than
Mills Godwin.

We were a little worried at first that Mr.
Godwin still had a bit of that fighting spirit
left in his blood when he announced last
February his intention to run for governor.
But in the opening weeks of the campaign we
have become thoroughly convinced that he
should have been laid to rest years ago.

Mr. Shannon always has been a fish out of
water here at the University, instituting such
revolutionary ideas as blacks, women and
supporting the demonstrations against the war
in '69. Deep down these insane positions
which he took were really only accepted by
but a mere minority of misfit students and
faculty – lackeys to a man who were really
out of touch with what people really felt in
Charlottesville.

Mr. Godwin, on the other hand, has not
come up with a new idea in decades. He never
seemed to lose touch with what the alumni of
this University really stood for – crew cuts,
skinny ties, panty raids, and the Star Spangled
Banner – it seems that Mills Godwin will fit
right in.

Mr. Godwin is a relic of by-gone years as
are all retired politicos. But so is the
University, although during the Shannon
years the University more resembled a side
show for freaks and weirdos than the
respectable gentleman's breeding school it was
meant to be.

Indeed, Mills Godwin plans to send this
University back to the halcyon days of sleepy
lethargy that once permeated these hallowed
Grounds. Bravo, Mr. President. Welcome
Aboard.