University of Virginia Library

Sesquicentennial

"The theme of the Sesquicentennial"
he said, quoting Mr.
Jefferson, "is 'the illimitable freedom
of the human mind.' " As part
of this program, "some dozen
visiting scholars and writers of
eminence have accepted invitations
to give lectures, engage in panel
discussions, and visit classes.

"Founder's Day" he said, "will
be devoted to The University in
Public Service." The Founder's Day
Address will be given by "a
University graduate who is now a
leading opposition member of the
British Parliament." In addition ten
alumni will be invited as special
guests "who are current or former
Ambassadors. Among them is the
dean of American diplomats, David
K.E. Bruce.

"Other alumni to be honored"
said Mr. Shannon, "are four recent
cabinet members, twenty-one members
of Congress, nine Federal
judges, seven governors of states,
and the retired Director of the
National Institutes of Health."

Mr. Shannon then noted that
"earlier this year the Democratic
and Republican caucuses of the
United States Senate elected two of
our Law graduates. Senators F-
ward M. Kennedy and Hugh D.
Scott, to be respectively the Democratic
and Republican whips.

"Just as we are asking others to
come and consider with us the
future of man in society" he said,
"we also must use this perspective
in our planning for the future of
the University.

"For instance, there are occasional
complaints from students
and others about the growth of the
University. The University has
doubled in size in the last ten years,
and may well double again in the
next ten."

In answer to this complaint. Mr.
Shannon said "if the University is
to discharge its responsibility...to
provide quality education that does
not discriminate on the grounds of
race, religion, sex, or national
origin, and if it continues to attract
out-of-state and foreign students...
there is no alternative to growth in
size."