University of Virginia Library

The Alumni Shuffle

We are pleased to note that the Board of
Managers of the Alumni Association passed a
resolution on 20 November "urging all chapters
to avoid the use of any facilities which
might possibly cause embarrassment to any
alumnus of the University." This positive step
by the Association should be instrumental in
directing the decisions on the use of facilities
for general and executive meetings of the
local chapters scattered across the country. If
local chapters do not comply with the spirit
of the resolution, the parent Association
should take more forceful action to bring
these groups into line with official University
policy, for the actions of the local group
reflect upon both the University and the
whole Alumni Association.

The resolution was prompted undoubtedly
by the turmoil over the Washington Club's use
of segregated facilities for their meetings (see
article, page 1). Some chapters will probably
still meet in segregated facilities until the
situation becomes a "real" problem, i.e. when
a black man joins the local chapter. We
believe that the local chapters should immediately
search for desegregated facilities for
both a matter of official policy and principle
and so that blacks who are taking their
degrees from this University in ever increasing
numbers will not be discouraged from joining
in the affairs of a local chapter. When a black
joins a chapter that is meeting in segregated
facilities, and by his presence causes the
chapter to start a frantic search for a desegregated
place to meet, considerable embarrassment
often results for both the black and the
chapter. This situation should be avoided by
finding open facilities by the local chapter
immediately.

Many alumni chapters aid the Admissions
Department by holding meetings to which
high school students interested in attending
the University are invited. A chapter which
holds its meetings in segregated facilities will
only harm the University's efforts to increase
the number of black students currently enrolled.

We feel that since the University's alumni
are frequently leaders in their respective
communities they could use their influence to
desegregate the country clubs whose founding
members somehow felt that a "restricted"
club had greater status than an integrated
facility. There are strong logical arguments for
these alumni chapters to hold their meetings
where all graduates of the University will be
welcome. But in our opinion the moral
arguments far outweigh the pragmatic considerations.
Discrimination by race, religion or
sex is hideous and repugnant in an organization
which claims to represent the University.

The Alumni Association does and can
make many tremendous contributions to the
University through its work. However, it must
not close itself off from the students now
graduating from the University if it is to
survive in the long run and if it is to continue
to have a positive impact upon the University.
The addition of diversified youthful alumni to
the local chapters could be a pleasant educational
experience for all involved that would
not only benefit individuals but the University
as a whole.

The Alumni Association has been seen by
many students in the past year, including
ourselves, in a rather unfavorable light as a
result of some of the actions by local chapters,
"leading" alumni, and the central organization
during and after last May's unrest. The
Board of Managers is beginning to bring the
Association back into a more respectable
position by outward actions such as this
resolution and through individual meetings
with students and faculty in an effort to
become more closely attuned to the present
reality of the university.

We urge the Board of Managers to take
forceful action when necessary to keep the
Association functioning on an open level for
all of the University's alumni; black or white,
male or female.