University of Virginia Library

Letters To The Editor

Running A Sincere Race

I am writing this letter for
two purposes-to inform the
students of the college that I
am a candidate for the
Judiciary Committee, and to
explain why. It seems to me
that the University has reached
the point where a small group
of students is controlling the
student government. Not only
are they on the major
governing bodies, but, if their
campaign literature is to be
believed, on a number of
Student Council and special
committees as well. One
wonders how they manage to
attend all of those various
meetings and classes as well.

Reflecting on this state of
affairs, I decided to do what I
could to remedy the situation
by running for the Judiciary
Committee. I don't claim to
have any special
"qualifications" for the job,
but aside from my studies, I
am free from all commitments
except some volunteer work.
Thus I will be able to devote
more of my time and effort to
the job than would someone
with other responsibilities.

Finally, since disgust with
the politicization of student
elections is one of my main
reasons for running, I do not
intend to make use of the
traditional means of
campaigning, i.e., cluttering up
the grounds with a "platform"
or other posters, i.e.,, or
disturbing dormitory residents
when they would rather be
doing something else. Besides
having my name on the ballot,
this letter represents the full
extent of my campaigning.

Coalitions

I am somewhat of a
bystander in the political
drama commonly called the
Student Council Elections, yet
I feel that I have a few
necessary things to say. First, I
have been approached by both
sides seeking to elicit my
help-that is, Ed Wilson of the
December Coalition and Phil
Chabot and Dave Horan. This
is precisely the point. Wilson
told me all about the Coalition,
its purpose, which I will get to,
and its history which I shall also
discuss. He advised me to talk
to some people and to let him
know how I felt. Chabot and
Horan arrived one night with
tidings of a monster from the
north threatening party
machine politics in the
election. One thing struck me
as amusing. Here Chabot and
Horan sat telling me of the
unfair aspects of a coalition,
yet what were they doing but
forming a coalition. Hypocrisy!
At least Wilson was honest and
tried to hide nothing. I find it
very amusing that those who
cried loudest appear on a
poster together. The only
difference in the coalitions is
that the December Coalition
has received the support of Tom
Collier. Maybe it is Collier's
lack of support that has
bothered Chabot and Horan
the most? As to my opinion on
Collier's action, for what it's
worth, I find it deplorable. In a
position such as his, neutrality
would have been the only fair
stand. Yet, basically it is a
moral question of hopefully
little consequence.

I mentioned earlier the fact
that a purpose was stated for
the Coalition. Price estimates
of $75-$165 have been quoted
to me on the cost of running.
The exact figure is of little
import, for the cost is
prohibitive. This provides a
very good reason for the
coalition and probably explains
Chabot's and Horan's
contradictory action. The
other reasons supplied stressed
the mutual aspect between
Coalition candidates and the
diversity of interests they
represent, yet I have but one
more point.

Party politics is a despicable
system in my eyes. Each
person should stand on his own
merit before the electorate.
This is the one thing that the
candidates agree on.

Chabot and Horan told me
that's what they want and
Wilson told me the same thing.
The key difference is that
Chabot and Horan feel that by
the formation of the December
Coalition the individuals will
be lost to us blind voters. I
have more faith in my fellow
students who hopefully will
judge individuals.