University of Virginia Library

Letters To The Editor

Gardner Causes Election Debate

The incredible pretension of Mr.
T. N. Gardner's simplistic attempt
to characterize the candidates for
the presidency of the College is
outdone only by its inaccuracy. He
suggests that Messrs. Hodges and
Clement wish to brainwash "us into
thinking that we don't really want
any changes in the system."

As anyone who has been following
the campaign reasonably
conscientiously knows, nothing
could be further from the truth.
Both candidates campaigned for
their nominations on platforms of
immediate and responsible change
before it is "too late." Neither has
hesitated to emphasize the need for
such change. In some cases they
have preferred to wait for the
current Honor Committee's recommendations
before making specific
proposals which might undermine
them. Both have studied the system
intensely in order to gain as much
perspective as possible from which
to work toward the tremendous
alterations it demands.

The idea that Mr. Murdock
offers "an intelligent, thought-out
response to the clamor for change"
is preposterous. His decision to run
for the office was as half-cocked as
are the majority of his motions and
actions as a member of Student
Council. He decided to run much
too recently to have given the
system the study and investigation
so necessary for fulfilling the duties
of chairman. The anarchism on
which Mr. Murdock campaigned for
Student Council and the irresponsibility
which he has demonstrated
ever since have no place in an honor
system so sick and so in need of
thorough and conscientious reform.
No one committed to the preservation
of any sort of Honor
System at the University can
rationally support Mr. Murdock.

Memory

In case you haven't noticed, it's
really Spring. This is my second
year at Virginia, my second Spring.
I remember last year very well. Last
year there was a political campaign
going on with primaries in Indiana,
Nebraska, Oregon and California...

There was also a primary in
Washington, and about a dozen
students from the University went
up there to campaign. I and a friend
rode up there with another student
named Buck. I was really excited
because I would get a chance to
meet Bobby Kennedy. The day
before the election, a Sunday,
many of the students who had been
canvassing for two days were at
Congress Heights School in Anacostia.
That was to be Bobby's last
stop on his whirl through Washington.
We had been waiting a long
time. Bobby was late because one
of the cars in his entourage had bit
a dog, and he stopped. He stopped
may be because he wanted to do
something when probably nothing
could be done.

When Kennedy finally arrived at
the school, the people who were
planning the rally had lined us kids
along the inside of the rails which
bordered the steps leading to the
school. Buck was on the opposite
side of the steps with an improvised
sign that read, "U.Va. for Kennedy."
Bobby started walking up
the steps, wildly grasping the hands
that were thrust at him. But something
caught his eye. It was Buck's
sign. Bobby stopped, winked at
Buck and then really shook his
hand. He stopped, may be because
he remembered that he was once a
student at the University.

By June 5 almost everyone will
have left here just as it happened
last year. Everyone will be trying to
forget this semester. But I'll be
remembering everything that happened
last year. Now is the time we
should stop to remember one of
Virginia's most distinguished graduates.
How many Attorney Generals
have graduated from our Law
School? There should be some
memorial at Virginia to remind
those of us who want to remember
Robert Kennedy, may be because he
remembered us.