University of Virginia Library

Presidential Report

raise wages, allow collective bargaining
and strikes, a full-scale
desegregation plan, a more diverse
Board of Visitors with black members,
no University recruiters to
schools that discriminate racially
— although the Administration
stated that no University admissions
officers went to segregated
school, Dean Ern admitted at
mountain Lake, September 1969,
that at least one segregated school
had been visited last year."

The report continues that last
year, President Shannon stated "I
do not see how the right to bargain
collectively will raise wages."

The report shows that guilt does
not only lie with administrators.
The students are also "to blame."
Last year, students attempted to
collect money for the Transition
Program.

"Despite concerted efforts in
the Engineering School less than
$10 was raised. In all, students
helped raise approximately $10,000
— a great deal for those who
worked but only approximately $1
per student. It is understandable
that the Administration sometimes
questions the degree of commitment
manifested by the student
body."

The report also indicates the
guilt of faculty members. "It seems
to be a blatant self-indictment for
the faculty to feel no responsibility
to take their own initiative in
combating University
racism faculty members often
spend their entire lives in the
comfort of Charlottesville. Yet how
often do reform proposals emanate
from the faculty:"

In the end, the report seems to
mirror the words of a former
student: "We live in a male,
upper-middle class, white Anglo Saxon
Protestant ghetto. We are
ill-prepared psychologically to live
in, much less lead, a nation and a
world threatening to explode from
the tensions of diversity."

One of the essential facets in
solving this 'problem' has been the
idea of a quota system. The report
states the need for such a system.

"Once again the University faces
a question of priorities. The same
Administration so eager to use
limiting 'quotas' for women is
unwilling to use target 'quotas' to
redress the racial imbalance at the
University.

"Federal courts require public
elementary and secondary schools
to meet 'quotas.' The Labor
Department now requires all contractors
to have 20 per cent
minority hiring and training programs.

"If the University is really
serious about efforts to provide
truly equal opportunity, it will
establish specific tangible goals to
work for and requisite programs to
make reality out of rhetorical
professions."

The goal for women seems to be
the same goal as for blacks
according to the report.

"The Council is not requesting a
quota — an absolute determined
number for a minimum or a
maximum. We are asking that the
Administration use goals and projected
enrollments in a positive
manner to promote equal
opportunity as readily as it
attempted to use projected enrollments
as a method to postpone
equal opportunity for women."

"The Board of Visitors met in
February to consider coeducation.
Alumni associations from far and
wide came to the Board petitioning
delay, postponement of decision."

"The Student Council argued
strongly for immediate coeducation,
attempting to dispel such
myths as "women will destroy the
honor system." The only individual
student allowed to appear before
the Board came to oppose the
Council's unanimous recommendations.

"The Board rejected the Council's
recommendations for immediate
coeducation and even the
minimal step to allow local women
to commute to the University. But
the principle had been accepted and
with the American Civil Liberties
Union's help the University will
provide equal opportunity for men
and women in two years."

The paper ends in a summary of
the situation at the University and
the tasks ahead.

"The critical tone of this report
is not meant to scapegoat or place
blame but to probe for areas of
needed improvement. They are not
hard to find. They will require a
total commitment on all of our
parts if we shall overcome.