University of Virginia Library

SDS Request Approved

The SDS allocation was
approved by the following roll call
vote:

Yes: Mannix, Sherman, Lewis,
Waitzkin, Murdock, Gardner,
Finch, Harrold, Smith, Davis,
Morris, Doggerell, Wellman, Breslin,
Bishop.

No: Lockhart, Walker, Fox,
Robinson, Soden.

The same three students also
protested the allocation of student
funds to the Virginia Weekly,
claiming that its stated purpose to
bring constructive "social change to
this country" is a political
objective, and therefore it also
should not receive the funds of
students disagreeing with its
position. An argument from
another protesting student
contended that the "radical"
position of the Weekly was
unwanted by many students, and
that copies of the Weekly are often
left "languishing" in the racks.

Tom Breslin, representative
from the Graduate School of Arts
and Sciences, who served as
circulation manager for the Weekly,
disagreed, asserting that there was a
"great demand" for the
publication, often with up to
10,000 issues required.

"I think it's good to have a
newspaper that presents an
alternative viewpoint," commented
Ed Finch, representative from the
School of Law.

Sam Robinson, representative
from the School of Medicine said
that the University should have
expressions of "contrary opinions,"
but that "the views of the Weekly
are strongly contrary to many
students here and that those that
support its views should finance it
outside the control of Council."

Mr. Gardner replied that he did
not like the "CD's politics, or the
Journal of International Law's
politics...but I am willing to hear
their opinions in an open forum of
opinion."

The allocation was approved by
a 13-3 roll call vote, with Mr.
Gardner, Mr. Breslin and Judy
Wellman of the Graduate School of
Arts and Sciences, who are
members of the Weekly staff,
abstaining.

The issue of allocations to the
Charlottesville Draft Resistance was
tentatively denied, mainly on the
grounds that the organization was
formed with the single purpose of
resisting the draft, which the
Council considered to be solely a
political action.

Debating the issue, Mr. Breslin
quoted Mr. Jefferson: "What
country can preserve its liberties if
its rulers are not warned from time
to time that the people preserve the
spirit of resistance?" Mr. Finch
countered that "the issue is not the
war or the draft, but the issue is
whether we should finance an
action that is illegal."

David Giltinan of the Draft
Resistance questioned whether the
group's distribution of 100,000
cards pledging the bearer to return
his draft card when all 100,000
cards have been pledged, is an
illegal act. He contended that it is
illegal to "aid and abet" the
resistance of the law, but that no
resistance exists until all 100,000
pledge cards have been signed and
the draft cards are returned, in
which case the resistance "rips off
the Selective Service and the
question becomes moot."