University of Virginia Library

Student Council Policy

Mr. Johnson had earlier written to President
Shannon requesting the position of the Student
Council regarding the use of segregated facilities
and received through Vice-President Williams'
office this explanation from Kevin Mannix:
"The position of the Student Council is that
organizations or officials representing or associated
with the University in any way should not
make use of any racially segregated facilities, no
matter what the circumstances are, for any
function which is connected in any way with
the University."

Having written letters for some seven
months and received only the reply from Mr.
Williams, Mr. Johnson on October 21 wrote to
Kevin Mannix, again explaining the situation
and relating the details of an unproductive
meeting with the Executive Committee of the
Washington Club held on October 8. In Mr.
Johnson's opinion, no member of that committee
agreed with his belief that the Club should
cease using the Country Club for its meetings.
The members of the Executive Committee did
not challenge the unproven allegation with
respect to the Country Club's policies and cited
its convenience and congeniality as well as the
lack of jurisdiction which Student Council had
in support of their position.

At that meeting with the Executive Committee
Mr. Johnson learned that as of January 1,
1971 the entire question will become moot, for
the Washington Golf and Country Club is
closing its doors to outside groups. The mootness
of the question is debatable, at least in the
opinion of Messrs. Johnson and Mannix, for the
Washington Club continued to hold their
November meeting there as well as planning to
meet at the Country Club in December.