University of Virginia Library

Catch-22

A closing Catch-22
proposition for you police
fans: think about Officer
Chaffin's predicament! He is
investigated about charges of
harassing black students. He is
ordered to refuse to participate
by his ultimate superiors, the
City and County
Commonwealth's attorneys.

Because of this, he cannot
testify and the situation is left
in doubt, so he is transferred
and he cannot clear (or dirty)
his name. Whether he is guilty
or not, this is unfair to him. I
hope he goes to the A.C.L.U.
for representation, because I
resent lower officials being
pushed around unfairly just as
much as I resent police
harassment of blacks.

It all seems like a dream.
The University wants to
investigate an officer to bring
about a just solution to a
problem, but it can't because
Mr. Haugh and John T.
Camblos (City
Commonwealth's Attorney)
won't let the officer testify.

Then Haugh wants to figure
out Security Department
jurisdiction via a hearing but he
can't because University
officials conspired to wipe out
his jurisdiction.

I wonder: Is this an attempt
at intelligent public affairs?

What I suggest is an open
investigation by a
student-faculty committee, of
the entire Security system at
the University. The University
Security Committee has failed
in its task previously, so an ad
hoc group ought to be created.
How about it, Student
Council?