University of Virginia Library

Letters To The Editor

Afro-American Studies Suffers

We, the members of the
University of Virginia Chapter of
the Black American Law Students
Association wish to express our
concern about the state of the
University's Afro-American Studies
Program. The absence of Blacks
from this university, in all but
subservient roles, for more than
one-hundred and fifty years has
resulted in the perpetuation of a
distorted image of Blacks. This
alone, absent the many other
reasons, evinces a compelling need
for an Afro-American Studies
Program at this university.

It this university is sincere in
establishing a progressive
Afro-American Studies Department
then more positive action on its
part is required. It is our opinion
that positive action includes
adequate financing, effective
organizational structure, and
competent personnel. Until such
time as the record shows that the
facts as stated by Mr. Baker (i.e. the
program is retrogressing,) are
different or otherwise we support
his position.

We urge this university to take
immediate action to implement an
effective Afro-American Studies
Program or dispense with its facade
of progressive liberalism.

On Parietals

The first imperative, in the
continuing saga of first year
parietals, is the restoration of the
right of the individual to make his
(or her) own choice. The only
conceivable constraint, by the body
politic, comes when the couple's
behavior is not publicly discreet or
infringes on another's rights. There
is a presumption in this
community, and I believe it to be
well founded, that we are discreet
Ladies and Gentlemen. Therefore,
outside regulation is invidious and
most worthy of the disdain of all.

The Administration has
exercised its elitist prerogative and
regulated the parietal hours of first
year students. I submit that this
action must meet the above
criterion. That is, it is incumbent
upon the Administration to show
beyond a reasonable doubt that the
social, academic and personal
privacy demands of the individual
student will be injured by the
decision of the First Year
Legislative Council, or by the
people themselves. As an
upperclassman in the first year
dorms, I have seen no Ground,
upon which the Administration can
stand.

Yummy?

I would like to relate a few
experiences to the University
community.

This weekend some friends were
here to decide whether or not to
accept admission to this University.
They, had many questions, several
of which concerned Food Service. I
had to answer honestly, being
under the Honor System. They ate
at Open Square Cafeteria Saturday
night, which was not one of Open
Square's better nights. Well,
somehow they got it down, and
they decided to eat lunch Sunday
at McDonald's before going home.

I think they enjoyed the
Steppenwolf concert. It was one of
the high points of this year, the rest
being largely vacations.

It is a pity that they didn't eat
lunch in Open Square with me
Sunday After almost finishing the
salad, I noticed an unexpected salad
dressing, wiggling its legs and
looking about as frightened as an
insect can. Perhaps I should be
writing to the SPCA, because this
poor creature had lost the hindmost
portion of its abdomen to some
sharp, straight object, probably a
knife. I hesitate to speculate on
what happened to that part of it.

I am truly sorry I don't know
what type of insect it was, but it
was not the common cockroach,
with which I have become more
familiar here.

As I said, I am sorry that these
prospective U. Students were not at
dinner with me. I think it would
have made their decision far easier.