University of Virginia Library

Memorial Service

I would like to correct an unfortunate
error that has just come
to my attention. It was reported
that at last Tuesday's Student
Council meeting, at which I was
not present, the president remarked
that the recent memorial service
held in Cabell Hall for the late
Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King was
sponsored by the Graduate History
Club; and that the bulk of
the "credit" for the service was
mine. Neither statement is true.
The History Club had no connection
with the service; and,
furthermore, my role in assisting
with the plans for it was only a
minor one.

There are a number of individuals,
students, faculty, and administration
personnel, whose efforts
made the memorial service
possible. However, the nature of
the service makes it highly improper
that a list of "credits" be
attached to it. If we must speak
of credit at all, I would hope
that some might come to be reflected
upon the University community
for its honoring Dr. King,
not merely by memorial services,
but by concrete steps taken towards
those ideals for which he
lived and died.

In regard to this last point, I
would like to suggest that the other
groups within the University follow
the lead of Student Council
in enacting an absolute ban upon
any patronage of segregated establishments
in connection with
any University function. For example,
cannot the I.F.C. prohibit
such use of segregated facilities by
the fraternities? Likewise, is it
not possible that the administration
and faculty might in some way
initiate a similar policy? More
important is the question concerning
the paucity of Negro students
at the University.

Here it is imperative that the
University recognize its failure to
attract qualified black students,
and initiate necessary remedies.
Only when such steps are
taken will the memorial service
have the full meaning that those
involved in planning for it sought
to achieve.