University of Virginia Library

Misguided Enthusiasm

The Student Council's efforts to ensure
that University-approved housing for students
is provided on a non-discriminatory
basis are commendable and enjoy the full
support of The Cavalier Daily, but the recent
attempt to extend this policy to apply to
Charlottesville citizens who house students'
dates on weekends is carrying a good cause
to an absurd end.

There are two very different kinds of
"approved" housing involved here.

The first is the housing leased to students
on a continual basis. According to University
regulations, these houses and apartments
must be inspected by officials from
the Housing Office to make certain their
owners maintain standards of safety and
sanitation. The University publishes a list
of such approved housing, and students
who do not live in dormitories or fraternities
are required to select their lodging
from it.

The second kind of housing is that offered
by citizens of Charlottesville, for the
most part of the "little old lady" variety,
for girls visiting the University for a weekend.
A partial listing of such accommodations
is kept by the University Union. The
essential point is that these names are not
in any way recommended or approved by
the University or the Union. The list is
provided to students, mostly first-year men
unfamiliar with the city's accommodations,
as a service.

Certain members of the Council are
attempting to reduce this list to a handful
of names of those who would offer room
in their homes to any visitor, regardless
of race.

The folly of such an attempt should be
evident. Most of the ladies who take in
girls can use the $4 or so a night, but very
few must depend on this income. If forced
to operate on a non-discriminatory basis,
they either would cease taking girls or would
advertise on a non-University list, which
some entrepreneur could make money selling
or which the girls' schools could provide.
We cannot imagine one such lady—unlike
an apartment landlord—who would change
her views under such pressure as some
Council men threaten. It is of no little
significance that recent civil rights legislation
makes exception for the small rooming
house owner.

The Council narrowly defeated the proposal
Tuesday night, thanks to the efforts
of Messrs. Brown and Crump. We hope
that in the future its advocates can find
more productive causes to pursue.