University of Virginia Library

Support Decisions

opposing ill conceived plans
does not seem to support the
argument that the present
system is efficient. On the
contrary, it seems almost
designed to create opponents
to University policy at a great
cost.

At a time when higher
education is under attack from
all quarters it is necessary that
governance structures take
these considerations into
account. This University
cannot continue to pursue
policies that do not have the
support of all its constituents.
This University must,
therefore, develop a
governance structure which
provides the means for the
effective representation of all
its constituent interests.

While many more words
could be expounded on the
positive and negative qualities
of particular alternative
governance structures it is not
yet time to discuss them. We
must first agree that the
present structure does not
satisfy the University's current
needs. Once that is accepted,
alternatives may be seriously
considered by all. Without this
acceptance attempts to reach
conclusions, much less
implement them, can only be
futile.

A prominent member of the
faculty has said that this
University is not yet great
because it has not learned to
place the responsibility for
decisions in the proper place.
This failure may not only keep
us from being great, it may also
get us in serious difficulty.
Contemporary events should
show that we can no longer
afford to avoid that fact. We
must all find in this our
common interest upon which
we can work together to set
the structure right.