University of Virginia Library

Shannon Blasted For
Racial Issue Evasion

By Robert Rosen

Mr. Shannon's "initial thoughts"
on matters that have been before
him for years are rather dismaying.
It is especially dismaying in view of
the moderation of the eleven
proposals, one of which was so
"moderate" that it was already in
effect, namely, the recruiting at
discriminatory preparatory schools.
(The presence of certain University
officials on this schools' Board of
Trustees is of course another
matter). It is dismaying that the
President of this University does
not feel it politic or wise to admit
that simple racism is no longer the
issue, that it is now a question of
institutional racism, of trying to
undo the errors of the past, of
bringing the black man into American
society.

Social Comment

It is dismaying that the Administration
which prides itself so very
much on aping Harvard and Yale
does not see fit to ape those
illuminative institutions in other
ways such as the one at hand. Both
schools have seen it to be their
public duty and sense of right to
institute a transitional program like
the one Mr. Shannon assured us was
beyond the unassisted resources of
the University. It is a real commentary
on a society which spends
$125,000 for a new track, $25,000
to re-seed a lawn, $25,000 to study
the Ginko tree, yet cannot "find"
funds to help human beings badly
in need of help. In view of the
racial situation in this nation, what
primary is there that takes precedence
over bringing the black man
into the community at large? Is it
the study of Ginko trees?

'Dragging Our Feet'

It will be argued by the
Administration that funds appropriated
by individuals on the
legislature, such as those I have
mentioned above, cannot be diverted
to other uses. But let the
Administration inform the public as
to exactly what they plan to do
with one grant of $87,000 given
recently no-strings-attached, by one
alumnus. Let us see what the
priorities are, which projects take
precedence this time. Unlike Yale,
we are dragging our feet.

Sub-Standard Reply

Ordinarily Mr. Shannon is a
master at excusing his Administration
from any "guilt" of racism.
But if that same energy which he
and his staff spent in the past week
on a truly sub-standard reply can be
directed to creative efforts to solve
real problems, it would not be
necessary for undergraduates to
spend their college days demonstrating.
Mr. Kingman Brewster, of
Yale, a figure in whom Mr.
Shannon refuses to see any meaning,
has solved the problems Mr.
Shannon now faces. He has led his
community, not followed it.

First Rank School

The Administration has done
great things for this University. It is
Mr. Shannon's ambition to make it
a first rank school, and this is
rapidly beginning to materialize
thanks to the President's extraordinary
efforts in this area. But
the first rank schools lead not alone
in scholarly work, but also in the
moral work of the nation. Let us,
by all means, ape Yale. Beginning
with Kingman Brewster.

But until this is done, it will be
necessary for the liberal community
to "prod" the Administration with
every weapon at its disposal.

President's Doing

It is a dismaying, unfortunate
turn of events that the President
refuses to recognize the urgency of
the needs of the black community.
It is a dismaying turn of events
which is solely the President's
doing.