University of Virginia Library

Untangling The Web

Of the issues raised in recent days, the
absence of a black person on the Board of
Visitors is conceivably the most pressing. At
the risk of isolating a single grievance among a
long list of complaints voiced by black
students—indeed, at the risk of deceiving
ourselves with the notion that the web of
racism can be attacked successfully with
anything less than full analysis of the problem
as a whole— we asked Governor Holton at his
press conference Tuesday what he plans to do
about the appointment of a black Visitor.

The question is not a new one. Neither is
the forbidding record of non-response from
officials, both in Pavilion VIII and at the
State Capitol. Governor Holton's reply to our
query—in effect, another non-answer—leads us
to choose between two unhappy conclusions:
(1) the Governor does not intend to make
such an appointment, or, worse, (2) he has
not even considered such an appointment.

While we are sorry if the Governor was
unprepared for our question and shocked that
he has not yet considered the matter in depth,
it is clear that others share the blame.

President Shannon and the Board of
Visitors ought to make it clear to Mr. Holton
that the appointment of a black Visitor is
essential if the University is to move beyond
its historical station as an institution run by
whites, for whites. At the same time members
of the Student Council must redouble the
efforts begun three years ago to eliminate
racism here.

"I would hope," Governor Holton said
later, "that we can follow the tradition of
toleration, trying to avoid the things that
handicap us in trying to solve the problem."
There can be no better way to begin than an
immediate search for a black Visitor.

The web of bigotry becomes increasingly
pervasive as administrators mouth empty
phrases about brotherhood and human
dignity, while they continue to shy away
from concrete steps toward improving the
atmosphere and removing the specter of
oppression. Mr. Holton has a good record in
Richmond for including black people in his
administration, but to judge from his
disheartening response the other day, the
pressure for a black Visitor must come from
Charlottesville. It's our problem, and it will be
solved only when the Governor learns it is his
as well.