University of Virginia Library

Coalition Goals Termed Laudable
Tactics Called Futile, Destructive

By George McMillan

The goals of the student
protests which have been registered
at the University during the past
two weeks are laudable, but the
tactics being used to achieve them
are futile if not down right
destructive. If continued the tactics
will thwart rather than expedite the
achievement of the goals they
support. On the one hand the
student protesters have
demonstrated in a peaceful and
orderly manner, but on the other
they have demonstrated an
intolerance for those who hesitate
to express their goals with the same
degree of vociferousness.

The early elimination of racial
discrimination and its every
consequence at the University
deserves the highest priority. The
University can and should do more
toward achieving this goal. We
would do the Commonwealth a
great service by initiating positive
and imaginative programs to make
an education at the University
attractive and feasible for black
people.

It is one's right and prerogative
to participate in a peaceful and
orderly demonstration designed to
dramatize the importance of the
issues mentioned above.
Furthermore, students must do
more than show their support for
these issues by participating in a
demonstration. They must have the
courage to speak out against racism
in their individual spheres of
influence.

At the same time in light of
the political climate of this state
and the fact that the University is a
state supported institution it is
questionable whether the
demonstrations which have been
held were the best methods of
achieving the eleven goals drawn up
by the Student Coalition. The fact
that Virginians in general probably
have an aversion to demonstrations
should not keep one from
demonstrating, but it should be a
consideration in evaluating whether
the demonstration will really aid in
the accomplishment of a certain
goal.

In an attempt to accomplish
anything one must take into
consideration the people with
whom he is dealing and the
techniques which are most likely to
be effective in changing their
attitudes. Demonstrations in this
state tend to polarize people of
different persuasions rather than to
draw them together.

Those planning the
demonstrations of the past two
weeks appeared more concerned
with 'making' a show of strength
than with propagating the goals
allegedly behind their action. This
is substantiated by the fact that at
the time it was first proposed that
demonstration be held, the eleven
proposals brought forth at the
demonstration had not even been
drafted.

The propriety of directing
certain of the eleven proposals
solely to University officials is
questionable if the purpose behind
their presentation was to
secure implementation Some of
them can be realized only through
action by the General Assembly
and it is to this body that these
proposals also should have been
initially directed. Because of the
uproar of the past two weeks many
tactics which would have gone
toward bolstering the underlying
goals of the student proposals were
lost sight of.

As to those demands or
proposals which were properly
directly to University officials, it
should be noted that their
attainment involves processes that
even with the highest priority
require considered discussion and
substantial time. Social reform of
the magnitude being attempted
cannot be accomplished within "a
week and a day."

The orderly processes of the
University have been moving
toward correcting racial injustices
which exist. An examination of the
published summary of the
University's actions in the area of
racial discrimination during the past
three years supports this
contention.

However, University officials
have not done all they can in this
area and there is no harm in
reminding them that they have not.
At same time, activity which
would make it more difficult for
University officials to take positive
action should be avoided. Newton's
physical law that for every action
there is an equal and opposite
reaction applies to the political
sphere as well. Thus, when a
student movement begins to appear
radical to those who have a vested
interest in maintaining the status
quo, they will use every counter
pressure they can muster to stifle
the voices which they feel threaten
them.

Actually, the administrators at
this University have proven
themselves willing to listen to and
implement student requests, for
example, the administrator's recent
approval of proposals calling for
vastly increased student control
over living and visiting
arrangements in the dormitories.
They must be approached,
however, in a manner designed to
make them receptive to the ideas
presented.

It is true that our administrators
are sometimes too evasive. An
example of this was Mr. Shannon's
reluctance to respond frankly and
in detail to questions presented him
at the Student Council meeting
which he attended last fall. All
things considered, though, Mr.
Shannon should not be used as a
scapegoat. He tries, even if it
sometimes appears that he is not
trying hard enough.

Other tactics employed by the
Coalition and its sympathizers are
also of questionable utility. The
passionate conviction held by some
Coalition members that those who
are with us are right and those who
are not with us are not only wrong
but also evil and callous will gain its
advocates more opponents than
adherents. Men should not talk of
liberation while allowing themselves
to become slaves to their own
intolerance.

One of the stated purposes of
the Student Coalition was to take
the issues at hand away from what
they called irresponsible students -
namely Students for a Democratic
Society (SDS) and its ilk. Members
of the Coalition argued that the
potential for disorders created by
the actions of SDS was their reason
d'etre. There seems no sense behind
the Coalition's trying to capture
credit or responsibility for the
movement from SDS when the
ultimate objectives of the two
groups were so similar.

It is unfortunate that the
students who initially gave birth to
the Coalition began to feel that
they were the sole moral saviors of
the University and as a result lost
sight of the practicalities which
could and should have been used to
accomplish the objectives for which
they had originally organized. As a
result the next logical step will
necessarily employ more force than
was originally contemplated or felt
to be desirable. Students who were
determined that their
demonstration be carried off with
coat and decorum are now
threatened with the use of those
very tactics which they feared were
so forceful as to spell doom for
their goals.

Many of the organizers of the
recent student protests have helped
create an atmosphere of excitement
and immediacy in which
consideration of issues has become
so hurried that actions are taken
now with far less deliberation than
would comprise the minimum
standard at any other time.
Responsible leaders on the Student
Council and other representative
student organizations should never
allow the goals which they are
striving to attain to be demeaned
by detrimental tactics. If proposals
are to command respect, they
should not be passed upon in an
atmosphere of intimidation.
Proposals, such as those drawn up
by the Coalition, must last because
they are valid and are deserving on
their own merits and not because a
majority has been coerced into
accepting them.

For the reason herein presented
it is hoped that the march of those
accepting to see their ends
implemented regardless of the
means used, will be tempered by
the doubt that their efforts will be
futile unless they manifest a deeper
understanding and a greater degree
of tolerance for those they are
attempting to persuade.