University of Virginia Library

Faits Accomplis

The VPP, its members and its
platforms, have consistently pushed
for the reforms which today either
are faits accomplis or "obvious."
The VPP began the effort with
regard to student participation and
university-wide reform.

The VPP's members and
candidates, by and large, have
worked hard to familiarize
themselves with the issues, and have
shown their concern by working
with University and Student
Council related activities. This
familiarity and effort cannot
usually be seen in the JP
candidates.

As to Mr. Weir's charge that the
"Virginia Progressive Party seems to
be content in going around in
circles ending the war in Vietnam,
freeing Angela Davis, and enlarging
the already bulging Student Council
bureaucracy," he indeed misses the
point. Yes, the VPP has signed the
People's Peace Treaty in an effort
to end the war because the
members felt this should be done
and that it is a legitimate interest of
students (since we're the one's that
must fight, if for no other
reasons!). As far as Angela Davis is
concerned - though I'm sure that
members' opinions differ, no party
opinion poll or stance has ever been
taken. And I feel the VPP must
forfeit the right of feeding the
bureaucracy by itself! Of course a
bureaucratic structure is somewhat
necessary, but the responsibility for
its functioning belongs to people,
not parties (and again the VPP has
not taken a stance on
bureaucracies). Mr. Weir...?

Many of us have become
disenchanted at times with the
party structures and the parties
themselves, but they do serve a
useful purpose. The financial
support is invaluable and the idea
of "tickets," (if the candidates
agree on general ideas and
directions) help a great deal in
campaigning and voting. Also, it is
important for the candidates to be
responsible to somebody for their
actions, and often the student body
as a whole is not aware of their
actions.