University of Virginia Library

We'll Never Tell

One of a newspaper's major responsibilities
is to publish without, as the New York Times'
motto puts it, "fear or favor," all of the
significant news occurring within its particular
area of activities. Failure to do so makes a
newspaper liable to charges of somnolence,
favoritism, or both, and this newspaper would
hardly like to so tarnish its image unnecessarily.

Just so you're aware, therefore, that we
haven't got our heads in the sand, there was
an interesting addition to this weekend's
entertainment. It was sponsored by one of the
numerous student organizations around the
Grounds, and the organization reportedly
realized a substantial reward for its efforts.
Most of the people who participated had a
good time, especially those who were more
fortunate.

We have nothing against this kind of
activity, so long as it is carried out with due
respect for certain amenities and the sponsoring
organization does not attempt to
unduly maximize its natural mathematical
advantage. Such was the case this weekend,
and we commend the student group for
handling it in this manner.

Nonetheless, our opinion is not officially
shared by the powers that be in the state and
local government; the sponsoring organization
for this weekend's affair should have taken
this into account. It matters little that they
took precautions and made special arrangements
which may or may not have protected
them from personal liability. They were
running the risk of exposing the University to
official (albeit hypocritical) censure at a time
when the University, faced with proposed
budget cuts that would nearly cripple its
development, can ill-afford to sustain such
damage.

So we would hope that the sponsoring
organization will, rather than discontinue such
events, take further steps to insure that no
harm will come to the University through its
efforts; this organization, by the way, is
subject to a student governing body which, if
it takes its responsibilities seriously, will make
certain that this is the case.