University of Virginia Library

The creation of the Jefferson
Party was inevitable; and it had to
be this semester, no later. To most
students who were at the University
last year, the reason for its
formation is obvious: in the two
Student Council elections of the
1968-69 year. Sceptre and Skull &
Keys combined saw only two of
their candidates win out of nine
vacancies, whereas, the UP/VPP
independents staged a coup and
gained seven Council seats. In late
spring, there was much internal
debate as to whether the two
fraternity caucuses should merge -
as they could not feasibly exist as
separate political entitles. Hence, it
was to no surprise that the Student
Study Committee's charge was to
formulate a single party, now called
the Jefferson Party. It is a fair
assumption that the party's membership
will consist of the residuum
of non-progressive students, that is,
the ever diminishing conservative
minority at the University. Joel
Gardner, in his recent interview
with The Cavalier Daily, asserted
that "The party will, we hope, not
be dedicated to any particular
philosophy, but will reflect the
beliefs of its members." Recognizing
that the membership of "the
party will not be seeking to
nominate people that we believe to
have extremist views, such as Tom
Gardner," it may be reasonable
projected that the Jefferson Party
will not seek to nominate liberals
either. Their alternative is to
support candidates "right of center,"
for undecided moderates are
generally residents in absentia.
However, the most accurate indicator
of the Party's direction lies in
its leadership - case in point:
President Joel Gardner. Mr. Gardner,
in his several columns, gives us
little or no evidence where he
stands on an array of issues
confronting the University, other
than his unsubstantiated criticism
of the ideals set forth by student
leaders. Suffice it to say that Mr.
Gardner's views are not within the
liberal mainstream of the University
as depicted by his two unsuccessful
candidacies to Student Council. He
deserves praise, however, for his
consistent efforts to offer an alternative
view point - for governments,
even on a college level,
require close scrutiny. To YAF'ers,
Young Republicans, and other
conservative factions, I hope you
find the Jefferson Party to be a
suitable unifying political organization.