University of Virginia Library

Letters To The Editor

Councilman Fioravanti Answers 'Irate' Letter

Normally, I would not consider
it my duty as a Councilman to
answer every irate letter attacking
Student Council. But, I offer this
reply in the interest of clarity.

Mr. Cass, in rebuking the elections
committee and myself has
centered his remarks around the
fact that I considered the extension
of voting hours an "inconvenience"
to my committee. He
charges irresponsibility and apathy.
But Mr. Cass was present
at our last meeting, and he
knows (but deleted in his letter)
that there were other reasons for
my committee's opposition to the
motion "to extend polling places
in the upcoming elections to as
many places as there were boxes
available, as well as the extension
of the time in which boxes in
residential areas remained open."

My statements actually included:
1.) the fact that students were already
offered redundant opportunities
to exercise their privilege
to vote in classroom areas, as well
as residential areas. 2.) Voting is
possible on two consecutive days
and is heavily publicized, so that
any student really wishing to exercise
his privilege to vote would
do so. 3.) In light of the redundant
opportunities to vote, as well
as the heavy publicity, anyone
not exercising his privilege, either
did not wish to vote, or was not
present at the University for two
consecutive days. I concluded my
remarks at Tuesday's meeting by
telling Mr. Calvert that I would,
however, add several more ballot
boxes to insure that my intention
was to obtain maximum participation
in the coming elections.

I would appreciate Mr. Cass'
directing his attacks, in the future,
to accurate and complete facts.

I hope I have helped clarify
this matter, and naturally I welcome
any questions from interested
parties.

Paper Polemics

Student Council's recent recommendations
for the study of The
Cavalier Daily's operations are incomprehensible.
These suggestions
seem to imply a value judgment
in the quality of the newspaper.
Whether or not The Cavalier Daily
is a good newspaper should not
be the concern of the Student Council.
Whether or not the CD should
include any national news or
whether or not it is truly a "student"
newspaper are beyond the
scope of the Council. Student
Council control over the finances
would seem only to sacrifice some
of the independence which makes
for a free newspaper. I sincerely
hope the Council reconsiders this
deplorable resolution.

Dubious Remarks

Whatever good intentions Mr.
Don Bellomy may have had in
speaking to the Sceptre Society
Wednesday night, his remarks were
uncalled for and, in some cases
where he isolated specific fraternities
and individuals, in extremely
poor taste. The effect of his speech
was to alienate almost everyone
present.

It became painfully apparent as
Mr. Bellomy attacked the caucus
system (and then digressed to include
the IFC and the counseling
system) that although he claimed
not to advocate a "fraternity-independent
split", in his mind this
split was already an unbridgeable
chasm.

My intention in writing this letter
is not to debate the veracity
of Mr. Bellomy's accusations of
inequality in the caucuses or to
defend the IFC and the counseling
system, but rather is to point
out that the University Party is
not, as one could have easily inferred
from Mr. Bellomy's speech,
an organization of independents
who wish to combat the fraternities
which have usurped their
rights.

Although I am not a member
of the University Party, the impression
of the organization which
I have derived from friends and my
own fraternity brothers who are
members of the University Party
is that this is a place where any
student of the University can come
to be represented on an equal
basis and without prejudice. The
platforms and performance of the
organization seem to bear me out
on this, especially the fact that
three of the five candidates for
Student Council offered by the
University Party in the coming elections
are fraternity men.

It is a shame that in one evening
one person could do so much to
cripple the image of fairness and
equality the University Party has
worked so long to gain.

Student Strike

I see that the SSOC is attempting
to organize a student strike
for Friday, April 26, to protest
the draft, riots, and the war. I
would encourage all to ignore this
ill-conceived, immature, and inappropriate
effort to disrupt the
functioning of the University.

A strike is a legitimate and
honorable means of protest only
when it is directed against the
organization responsible for the
grievance. A University strike
might be aimed toward improving
University employment practices,
for example.

One could more creatively vent
one's frustrations with current
events and policies by active participation
in the appropriate pressure
group, community relations
group, or political party, or by
writing members of the Congress.
If anyone doubts the effectiveness
of this last item, let him only
consider the defeat in the Congress
of firearms legislation, favored by
a great majority of citizens, but
opposed by an energetic letter-writing
campaign sponsored by the
National Rifle Association.

Kennedy and NAACP

I would like to reply to Mr.
Patrick McCarthy's letter concerning
the flyer encouraging Kennedy
volunteers to join in the local
NAACP chapter's voter registration
drive. There is no association
of Kennedy and NAACP
forces now, nor was such an
association contemplated. The fact
that the NAACP is politically
neutral organization was made
quite clear at the organizational
meeting of the registration drive
and all students working in the
drive and all students working in
the drive are refraining from any
form of campaigning—including
the wearing of buttons.

Working on voter registration
was one of the basic tasks planned
for the Kennedy group as it was
for those supporting Senator McCarthy.
When we received word of
the planned NAACP drive, it
seemed quite natural to volunteer
our help. The flyer was simply
the technique used to contact those
interested in our group and inform
them of the project. I regret
the misinterpretation of the flyer,
but as I have stated, there is no
question of NAACP endorsement
of any candidate; if the flyer is to
be read as anything further than
a communication to our volunteers,
I hope it may be interpreted
as an indication that the individuals
supporting Senator Kennedy at this
University are willing to join other
students and townspeople who are
involved in an effort, transcending
politics, to help all our citizens
secure their rightful force in the
life of the community.

Individual Speaking

With regard to the views expressed
by Don Bellomy at the
Sceptre Society caucus Wednesday
night, I am concerned that
the feelings of one individual might
be misinterpreted as the official
view of the University Party, or
the opinions of its membership or
candidates. As Mr. Bellomy said
himself, he spoke as an individual,
not as a representative of the U.P.
As the Party has stated and demonstrated
many times, we
welcome all students, independents
and fraternity men alike, and we
seek to represent the interests of
the student body as a whole.

Filth Factors

I have frequently had the chance
to use the study and restrooms
on the first floors of two Alderman
Road dormitories—Webb and
Tuttle. Being a highly impressionable
first-year student, I am distressed
at seeing so much writing,
scribbling, and artistry all over the
walls of these rooms. It seems that
some of the gentlemen who also
use these rooms find it entertaining
to draw ugly nude women and
scribble little captions such as
"Mother" under the pictures.
Others who come in seem to enjoy
substituting captions or adding
new filth, thus enhancing the total
effect of the scenario. These little
pictures and sayings are not isolated
either, I might add. But
they form a sort of mural around
the walls of the rooms.

Being told without asking (or
even wanting to know) that someone
or something bites or eats is
at the least annoying. More to
the point, I am led to wonder
about the level of intelligence and
maturity these college gentlemen
have attained who like to draw little
pictures on bathroom walls.
Furthermore, it would be embarrassing
to have a visitor to the
University see all these crude drawings
on the walls. I don't think
that it is asking too much to have
the University employees try to remove
or cover up the present
restroom artwork. Also, if those
who now scribble and those who
are contemplating such manifestations
were to cease and desist,
I should think that the atmosphere
of the rest and study rooms
would be much improved. Thank
you.