University of Virginia Library

Open Communication

The Board of Visitors and I have
constantly sought to provide open
channels of communication. We
have regularly listened and
responded to Student Council
proposals. We also desire the
counsel of the newly appointed
University committees for which
the Student Council selected more
than 160 student members.

Disturbances, such as those
planned for Monday and Tuesday,
can only distract from the academic
commitment of the University and
from the serious work that must be
done on our committees by
members of the faculty and student
body, and endanger our prospects
for maintaining a creative and
innovative institution of national
stature. No matter what the intent
behind such actions, they will be
construed as irresponsible
demonstrations. I, therefore, call
upon you to abandon this hasty
project, and direct Student
Council's energies and leadership
into the constructive approaches
with which you made such a
promising beginning. This cannot
be done unless Student Council
gives full support to the student
members on the representative
academic committees through
which all planning is developed at
the University and continually
reviewed.