University of Virginia Library

Committee Appointments

Student Council is now in the process of
formulating a list of student nominees to
serve on some of the sixty-odd University
committees. Although the Administration is
centralizing the machinery within their offices
that tries to run the University the committee
still plays a major role in advising the President
and formulating official University policy on
a wide variety of subjects.

Some of the committee are renowned for
their power and importance such as Rotch,
Housing, Calendar and Scheduling, and
Student Activities, all of which have student
members. There are others which do not
continually capture the limelight, but which
serve the University on interesting and
enlightening fronts. Some of the committees,
by their very nature, do not have any student
members, such as the Committee on Rhodes
Scholarships or the Danforth Fellowships, but
most of them whose activities affect the
general community are staffed in part by
students.

Almost every controversial issue that
occupies student attention could receive
official action through the committee
channels. For instance policies within the
dormitory could be changed within the
Housing Committee or complaints about the
direction of the Department of Athletics
could be funneled into the Athletic Advisory
Committee. In short the whole spectrum of
University concerns are covered by
committees of one sort or another. If they are
inactive, we all suffer.

Any student can be a member of a
committee, although the Student Council
sends a select list to the President with their
suggested student members for particular
committees. The President then may directly
appoint anyone he pleases or appoint Student
Council's nominee. However, though there are
eliminations for the committees, a large
number of students are able to serve in key
positions.

To be considered for appointment a
student should forward his name and desired
committee to the Student Council offices.
The names of all of the administrative
committees and their present membership are
listed in the University Directory. By no
means should students limit their horizons to
just the larger, more celebrated committees,
because not only these positions are more
difficult to procure, but also the smaller, less
publicly oriented committees, are often far
more interesting and entertaining bodies on
which to serve. Certainly, the Chapel
Committee under the able leadership of
former Dean Robert J. Harris is one of these.
The Arboretum Committee, chaired by the
former Dean of the University and noted
botanist B.F.D. Runk, epitomizes the ideal
committee that conducts its business
efficiently and pleasantly.

Students are warned, however, that their
acceptance of an appointment on a
committee should signify a willingness on
their part to perform the duties and attend
the meetings of that committee. Student
input on these committees is essential for
student interests to be best represented when
the Administration makes any decision. The
student who neglects his responsibilities is
doing a real disservice to his fellows.