University of Virginia Library

The Happy Fable

When a community relies upon
the happy fable that an honorable
code ensures honesty, that community
is shaken when principle
succumbs to power. Student Council
elections have been conducted
on the theory that correct procedures
flow automatically from an
unwritten law, a belief which leaves
no room for administrative incompetence
or partisan election committees.
Today that theory lies
shattered. To say that tradition
broke down this once and we must
take appropriate measures to prevent
future mishaps is to endorse all
the irregularities in the recent
graduate school Student Council
elections.

We can no longer merely "say a
prayer and appoint a committee."
At a time when progressive members
of the Council call for reform
from the University administration
- call for the redress of existing
grievances instead of the simple
promise to try to do better in the
future - it would be hypocritical
for those same. Student Council
members to refuse to correct the
existing malfunctioning of their
own organization.

A detailed election code for the
conduct of future elections must be
written. But before that distant day
arrives, the Council should move
first, to replace the current election
committee with competent and
impartial administrators; and secondly,
to reschedule the graduate
school election in order that a
well-publicized, fair election be
held.