University of Virginia Library

Pressure

In the ensuing days, the coalition
drew up its own 11 proposals,
held more rallies, held a motorcade,
and heightened the pressure on the
administration, the Board, Governor
Mills Godwin, and the state of
Virginia, and most importantly the
student body of the University not
only to take notice of the University's
problems but to act constructively
to bring about their
resolution.

Throughout its short history,
unnoticed by many, the complexion
of the coalition has been
changing. Often meeting with vague
promises or flat denials, rather than
commitments, in response to their
proposals, the coalition realized in
its frustration a need for a wider
base for action, more student
involvement, and near perfection in
their campaign. The coalition realized
that it could not perform
effectively as an elitist body.

As the SDS-SSOC, more liberal-activist
factions, and interested
students took seats on the coalition,
some of the more moderate
members began to drop off. Someone
on the coalition commented
that the original photograph that
was taken of the coalition on the
first Sunday night of its existence
and that is now posted on Robert
Rosen's door pictures a somewhat
different group of people than now
sit around the coalition's meeting
table.