University of Virginia Library

No Elitism

the "inevitability" of
expansion here at
Charlottesville, etc., as if
industriousness and the
compilation of data were
somehow redemptive and
authoritative in themselves.
But no amount of
industriousness and no number
of committee and
sub-committee meetings can of
themselves answer question
one: Why Grow? Question
number two: Why now? And
question number three: Why
Here?

These three questions
involve qualitative judgments
and they require those who
answer them to engage in
philosophical self-reflection.
Let us hope they will be
considered again, and that the
entire community will be
encouraged to discuss them
publicly, irrevocable practical
decisions will have been made.
Let us do good, while there is
yet time.