University of Virginia Library

A Good Thing

We have been pleasantly surprised at the
number of University administrators who
have been mingling freely with students of
late. Every Tuesday night two of the newer
additions to the University's administration
can be seen at Student Council meetings,
patiently listening to the often boring
proceedings of this branch of student
government. Annette Gibbs, Associate Dean
of Students, and Jerry Gardner, Special
Assistant to President Shannon, deserve some
sort of award for staying on the job after
working hours merely to get to know more
about student life on the Grounds.

Even President Shannon, who has been
sidelined with a volleyball injury, managed to
hobble over to a dormitory last week to hear
complaints and explain University policy to
the residents.

And that is not all. The Office of Student
Affairs is being flooded with students seeking
help for any number of problems, both major
and minor in nature. We remember the old
days when a student was thankful if he didn't
have to visit the Dean's Office. Now students
are voluntarily keeping D. Alan Williams and
his staff working hard. Although all students
are not getting everything they want over at
the Office of Student Affairs they are getting
attention, particularly to personal problems.
In addition to Miss Gibbs, Chester Titus is a
new addition to the basement of Dabney
House and, while he doesn't really have an
office yet, that has not prevented him from
becoming quite popular with the students
who have sought his aid.

Perhaps a dozen administrators have found
the time to help establish the University
Forum, which will have its first meeting next
Wednesday afternoon at 4 in the Newcomb
Hall Ballroom. Any student will have a chance
to meet many of the men who run this
University and exchange views with them in
an informal atmosphere.

At times over the past several years we
have felt that the administration of this
University was unresponsive to student
interests. And while communication among
all segments of the University Community,
including the administration, is not as easy as
it could be, administrators are making honest
attempts to do their share to remedy this
situation. We certainly hope their efforts will
continue.