University of Virginia Library

In Tuesday's attempt at
journalism you people ran a
page one article concerning
coeducation at the Jefferson
Society. It seems strange to me
that the student newspaper at
Mr. Jefferson's University
should print an article erring in
almost every other paragraph.

To begin with, the headline
suggests that we amended our
"By-Laws". Actually, what was
changed was Article 1, Section
1, part b of the Constitution,
not the By-Laws.

Secondly, the vote on the
amendment is incorrectly
stated to be "35-7". The vote
was in truth 39-7-1, not that it
is any public concern.

In the list of speakers
against the issue the name of
Mr. Benjamin F. Shaw, III
(College IV) was omitted,
leaving the impression that less
people were willing to defend
"chauvinism" than
"Liberalism". Also in that
paragraph, my name is spelled
incorrectly.

In the summary of the
critical side, the article leaves
the impression that the issue
rested solely on "chauvinistic"
and "raucous" arguments. I am
neither a beer-swilling drunk,
nor a social anarchist at our
meetings, and I resent the
inference.

The real question was the
desirability of voting for our
long-haunting issue of
coeducation at that time.
Naturally the force of
enlightened social opinion
would have shortly brought
about Hall coeducation on its
own, without arbitrary outside
pressure.

The article also stated that
"five women" were "under
consideration" for
probationary membership. This
too is in accurate, the actual
number is a matter only for an
executive meeting of the
Regular Membership.

Finally, the last paragraph
says that "all applicants
approved for probationary
membership must present a
speech passed by four-fifths
vote". According to Article VII
of the By-Laws, the speech
must muster at least a
two-thirds vote.

Whether or not these
inaccuracies are intentional,
I'm sure I speak for the Society
as a whole when I resent the
misrepresentation of our
organization to the student
body. Therefore, I must
request that corrections and an
apology be made in conformity
with the Jeffersonian quote
reprinted daily on your editorial
page:

"For here we are not
afraid to follow the truth
wherever it may lead, nor
to tolerate any error so
long as reason is left free
to combat it."

Howard MacRae
College 3

Photo By John Buescher