University of Virginia Library

institute established
for community research

by michael b. russell

Conceived initially late last Spring by
students and faculty, and planned
through the summer, The Virginia
Research Institute has begun to establish
itself as a clearinghouse for information
and research to serve the Charlottesville
community.

The VRI plans, with the cooperation
of students, faculty, and other interested
residents of Charlottesville, to gather
together, file, and publish the efforts of
the varied groups researching problems of
interest. Further, the Institute plans to
investigate problem areas where directed
research might benefit the community, as
well as encouraging and assisting students
and faculty in defining problems where
greater information might be valuable.

Basic plans have already been adopted
to gather and index all of the work done
by the numerous fair housing groups in
Charlottesville, and then research any
further outstanding weaknesses. Also the
Institute will soon begin a thorough
project on the governmental decision
making structures in the city.

While laying the plans for the VRI, the
Board of Directors contacted virtually
every organization involved or interested
in improving Charlottesville's racial,
educational, medical, legal, welfare, and
housing situations. After that the
contacted the local community leaders
who might profit from information
gained in the process of researching areas
related to their own interests. According
for the most part favorably inclined
towards the goals of the Institute.

Cooperation from a number of
to the Board of Directors, the responses
received from the people contacted were
faculty members has been secured.

These faculty members may direct
research, tempt to interest student
in working with the Institute by
choosing class projects which are related
tin the subject as well as the needs of the
Institute. One class in Sociology has
already begun and investigation of the
working conditions at the University.
Another major project which has been
underway for some time, is a project to
correlate the University's wage scales with
poverty in Charlottesville.

Besides its function as a clearinghouse
for past research, the VRI plan] to
expand its activities by investigating
problems around which a research project
might be built. The ultimate goal of such
actions would be to provide those citizens
and agencies interested in various
problems with research, factual and
analytical, concerning the subject
involved.

One such area is the court system in
Charlottesville, which a law student has
already begun to investigate, In addition
the Law school's student research groups
have indicated a willingness to cooperate
with the Institute.

At present, the Institute, whose
offices are located in the basement of St.
Paul's memorial Church, needs students
and faculty to help begin the actual
research work. Anyone interested in
helping, or who desires additional
Information should contact the Institute
at 296-2064.