University of Virginia Library

Broaden Presidential Scope

In addition to challenging the
scope of the Honor System, Mr.
Murdock has challenged the nature
of the position of the President of
the College itself. He believes that
the President "as the highest
elected representative of the
University's largest school" must
take an activist position and
become involved in University
political affairs. According to the
candidate, the President should not
confine his efforts to the Honor
Committee, but should actively join
the crusade to right all the
wrongs that burden the
University.

Mr. Murdock is here advocating
a policy that could be exceedingly
important in this election. The
position of President of the College
is synonymous with that of
Chairman of the Honor Committee.
When we select an individual to be
President of the College, we do so
in regard to his ability to serve as
Chairman of the Honor Committee.
If we start electing the Chairman of
the Honor Committee according to
the candidates' views on the
transitional program, C. Stuart
Wheatley, and the advisability of
playing Dixie, then the Honor
System will irrevocably suffer. An
individual's political beliefs have
absolutely no relevance to his
position on the Honor Committee.
And selecting an individual as
Chairman according to his political
beliefs can only work to the
detriment of the Honor System by
subordinating questions of honor to
questions of politics. I feel the
position of Chairman of the Honor
Committee should remain above
political issues as long as the
Student Council exists as the
proper channel for political
opinion.

Mr. Murdock's candidacy thus
poses another salient question to
the student body. Do we want to
turn the position of Chairman of
the Honor Committee into a
political office? The student body
must give this question serious
thought. For Mr. Murdock's view of
the Presidency of the College has
significant meaning both for the
students' electoral decision and the
future of the Honor System.