University of Virginia Library

Hickman

At last night's Student Council
meeting, because of Mr. Murdock's
insistence upon hearing the entire
correspondence with Mr. Wheatley,
it became quite clear that Ron
Hickman has appointed himself
censor and editor concerning communication
between the Student
Council and outside bodies.

After first reading Mr. Wheatley's
reply to Student Council's
motion of February 25, Mr. Hickman
indicated that the rest of the
text he held was not relevant to the
issue because they were his own
comments and not Mr. Wheatley's.
The rest of the text was not read at
this time.

But when Mr. Wheatley's reply
was brought up under old business,
Mr. Murdock requested that the full
text of Mr. Hickman's letter be
read. Upon reading the letter a
number of the Student Council
members became noticeably disgusted
with the handling of the
matter.

Mr. Hickman, in defense of his
letter, indicated that he knew,
through a previous conversation
with Mr. Wheatley, that he would
not repudiate his past actions, and
thus saw fit to ask only that Mr.
Wheatley reaffirm his past position
of "equity" for all. And that his
intention in softening (or should I
say censoring?) Student Council's
specific proposals was to keep from
offending Mr. Wheatley so that he
might at least reply. Mr. Hickman
upon questioning from another
Student Council member, stated
that he had hoped Mr. Wheatley
would repudiate his past principles
and make a statement to this effect.

But Mr. Hickman is mixed up.
One doesn't say: "Reaffirm your
past position" and then expect to
receive a new answer - i.e. the one
Student Council had previously
made clear was the only acceptable
answer.

If Mr. Hickman was not able to
convey the correct message to Mr.
Wheatley after such great elaboration
by the Student Council members
as to what was to be sent, then
Mr. Hickman is incompetent. If, on
the other hand, Mr. Hickman was
intelligent enough to know what
the Student Council wished and
then did otherwise, he is not an
honorable gentleman and should
remove himself from office.

It is blatantly evident that in
either case Mr. Hickman is not
qualified to be on Student Council
and should resign.