The Cavalier daily :: Wednesday, April 28, 1971 :: University of Virginia Library

There's a new little VPP poster
now, placed above each of
Presidential candidate Tom Collier's
posters. The Collier poster features
a message about the importance of
electing Collier, signed by about 70
"student leaders" who support
Tom.

And then there's the VPP
production. Short and sweet, it
announces, in effect, that to cast a
ballot for a candidate because of
the people who support him is the
ultimate sin.

There are a couple of loopholes
in this. One, of course, is that
Collier's opponent is running on a
party ticket: All his campaign
literature has "Vote VPP" or the
party's name on it in letters larger
than the candidates' names. If
you'll forgive the expression, this
sounds like the pot calling the
kettle black: We, the VPP seems to
be saying, can announce that party
members, and whatever they stand
for support our candidates. But it
is wrong for Tom Collier's
supporters, and whatever they
stand for to announce their
backing.

Furthermore, it's a shame that
whoever created the VPP poster
didn't bother to read the text on
the Collier poster. It talks about the
importance of the Presidential
office and why Tom Collier is best
qualified to hold the post. Then it
says, "for this reason we support
his candidacy, and urge you to vote
for him."

Now, that doesn't sound like a
blanket endorsement by friends of
Collier, nor do the signers seem to
be the sort of people who would
sign that kind of poster. Certainly,
the VPP was distressed by seeing
the names of many of the
University's most prestigious
students on the Collier poster. But
it seems that these students are
chiefly concerned with electing the
man who, on the basis of his record
and abilities, can do the best job in
a very important office.

Now isn't this what counts?

Cliff Weekstein
College 4

'Facemen'

Dear Sir:

I suppose the election for
Student Council President is by
now a foregone conclusion. Mr.
Collier has received the
endorsements of student leaders of
every description, with the
exception of Mr. Mannix, whose
support of Mr. Botsford is a
dubious blessing at best. Posters
backing Mr. Collier constitute a
virtual Who's Who of Big Men on
the Grounds.

These individuals are men who
have risen to power on the basis of
the traditional politics of the
University, i.e., knowing the Right
People, saying the Right Things,
and, resultantly, garnishing all the
Great Big Honors. A number of
these gentlemen have done a great
deal for the University, but that
does not dismiss the fact that they
have done so within an aristocratic
system, strikingly reminiscent of
the old Byrd Machine of Virginia.

The traditional politics of the
University have been supported by
the fact that the entrenched power
structure, in control of both
political parties, has been able to
elect "Facemen" to Student
Council. These candidates, once
elected, have been exactly as
responsive to student needs as one
would expect.

This year, to the surprise of
nearly everyone, the handpicked
candidate of the VPP leadership
was defeated by the hard working,
but unspectacular Mr. Botsford.
The threat of such a candidate, who
owes nothing to the powers that he,
has created the great Endorsement
Campaign for Mr. Collier. Included
in this campaign, are several JP
leaders, including Messrs. Spitzer
and Edwards, both of whom were
ready to welcome Mr. Botsford
with open arms if he would accept
the nomination of their party.

It is true that many of Mr.
Collier's backers are disinterested.
But it is also true that many of
them are members of a
quasi-aristocracy for whom the
politics of the University are little
more than a game of prestige. These
gentlemen have presumed to
instruct the voters of the University
as if none would dare question their
judgement, let alone their motives.

Again, as I have said, Mr. Collier
will undoubtedly win. You can't, as
they say, fight Newcomb Hall. But
1, for one, am fed up with the
politicos, and I, for one, will vote
for Mr. Botsford.

Rick Gray
College 2