University of Virginia Library

Colloquium

U. Forum: Attempt
To Grasp Issues

By Clay Spencer

One of the things which has
frustrated me most, since I have
taken on a role as president of a
student organization, is having to
deal with people who are in very
defined roles as administrators and
faculty members. In discussing
problems that exist in the University
with persons in official capacities,
the conversation invariably
tends to center around technical
aspects of problem solving. It is
understandable why this happens
with those who are concerned
primarily with operating the University,
but I usually always get an
uncomfortable feeling that no one
really grasps all the issues involved
in a particular problem.

It is difficult to get people to
talk about the purposes behind
what they are trying to do. You
have to push people to say what
they think a university and an
educational process should be. Yet,
it seems essential to me that an
understanding of some conceptual
goals be continually reached among
students, faculty, and administrators
and then constantly compared
to actual situations that exist here
in order to even define problems,
much less to deal with them intelligently.

This is what I see as the real
potential in the discussion groups
that will collectively make up the
University Forum. Administrators
and faculty members will be in
groups where either their personal
or official interest lies. But they
won't be there in any operational
capacities - only as interested individuals
with information. And, anyone
who is involved with this
school, in any way, has information.
If all you know about this university
is that it is screwed-up - you
have got information about an
aspect of life here that has to dealt
with. Where these discussion groups
go; how far they delve into the
problems they see existing; what
kind of recommendations they
make and to whom, is entirely up
to the individuals in these groups.
Right now, there are four general
areas for discussion groups to form
in: Academic Life; Social Life;
University Life; University Governance;
and University Relations.
The groups will first organize this
Wednesday at 4 p.m. in the ballroom
of Newcomb Hall. I would
love to see the entire University
community show up to participate
in these discussions.