University of Virginia Library

Distorted View

Mr. Saunders' article (11/1)
"End Elitism...Expand" is based on
a distorted view of liberality. He
argues: "The University of Virginia
as a state University, has very
definite obligations to the
constituents of Virginia. Namely
that of educating these individuals
who are qualified for a higher level
of education." The obligation lies
with the state generally. The
individual university's responsibility
to educate is confined to its
"academical village."

Where physically and
environmentally feasible, the
University should expand.
However, not only are we
overcrowded, but there is no place
to expand on the central Grounds.
As is done in decentralized primary
and secondary educational systems
to alleviate overcrowded
conditions, an entirely new state
university should be built. The
American ethos of bulldozers, steel
and concrete have limited
application—that is, expansion
cannot be infinite in a finite area.

Lastly, there is nothing
"criminally deficient" about the
University of Virginia whose
admission standards are higher than
minority peoples typically score.
Eliteness based on academic
excellence is similar to merit in the
civil service system. The
discrimination is proper.
"Congruent level of student
enrollment" of proportionate
representation of the different races
and classes of people within the
state would be a naive admissions
policy requiring the selection of
applicants irrespective of past
achievement, i.e., randomly. It is
absurd to contend that liberality is
prima facie violated by the lack of
such representation or that all state
residents cannot matriculate at the
university of their choice.