University of Virginia Library

Letters To The Editor

Compulsive First—Yearmen Mutilate Lawn

Every day since the beginning of
school, whether it be 11 o'clock or
4:30 in the afternoon, I have
noticed a seemingly compulsive
drive of many students to walk
across the lower Lawn in front of
Cabell Hall. In one 15 minute
period last week (10:45 to 11:00),
I saw almost 50 people cut
diagonally across the Lawn from
the corner toward the Registrar's
Office to the corner by Wilson Hall.

With some of the political
groups around the Grounds now
raising cries of discrimination and
other intimating intimidation, I
think there's one area in which all of
us can agree—and that is the beauty
of the Lawn. In my three and
one-quarter years here, I have seen
the dedicated men of Buildings and
Grounds try to sod the Lawn
numerous times; and as most of
you can attest, their work is all
in vain due to the thoughtless
people who walk across the
Lawn—especially when it is not
even necessary.

As far as I can tell, the majority
of the people committing what I
consider a crime in my book is the
first—year class; and I have this to
say to you. When winter rolls
around and you're down in the
dumps for various reasons, you
might just try walking down the
Lawn, admiring all the work one in
the Spring and summer and all the
inherent beauty—and just see if it
doesn't give you a spiritual boost.
It's mighty nice to be able to see
green grass and white colonnades and
beautiful shrubbery all around
during exam time, or during the
first of February when you return
realizing that you've got all that
work to face again.

After your four years are up,
you might not ever see the
University again if you live as far
away as I do; and by the time you're
thirty, I'll bet your class won't
remember too many things about
this great place. But there's one
thing I bet you do remember—and
that's the Lawn. So if you're going
to be this persistent in tearing up
the Lawn by walking on it, please
wait until after I graduate on June
4th so that I can always remember
how beautiful it was during my
four years here. Thanks a million!

Close Road

Why must the last remaining
spot of beauty and serenity at the
University be defiled by one of
man's most commendable
technological achievements? I
sympathize with the inhabitants of
the new dorms as to their distance
from classes, but surely they realize
the beauty that once was the Lawn.
A few more weeks of riding and
parking bicycles on the Lawn will
so obliterate this area that the most
astute environmentalist may be
misled as to its potential.

Recalling how moral suasion has
proved ineffective in the past, I
urge the Student Council and/or
the Administration to ban bicycles
from the Lawn. In addition I urge
the closing of the road between
Clark and Monroe Halls (the Law
and Graduate Business Schools,
respectively) to automobiles,
leaving this area for bicycle parking.

Double Check

We still hear complaints from
students about missing volumes
from Alderman Library, yet we fail
to gain the cooperation of those
students in our efforts to reduce
the losses.

Since the instigation of the
computerized check-out system,
and the installation of a physical
Door Check a few years ago, losses
have been appreciably reduced.

However, there still seems to be
a misconception of the purpose, or
necessity, for the Door Check. A
few hyper-sensitive individuals feel
it is a reflection upon the Honor
System, or even upon their personal
honor.

To clear up this point; the
primary function of the Door
Check is to compare the call
number on the book with that
written on the check-out card.
Being only human, those at the
check-out counter are prone to
error. If the numbers do not agree
it means you get charged out with a
wrong book, which in turn means
that you may be fined for the
non return of a book you never
charged out! It's just a double
check.

All Library patrons, students
and faculty alike, should realize
that the main purpose of all library
activities is to render the best
service possible. We cannot do so
without your wholehearted
cooperation.

Not A Retreat

To clear up any
misunderstanding anyone might
have had it ought to be pointed out
that the Virginia 5 were and are not
connected with the University
Republicans. They acted on their
own. The University Republicans
support their actions but did not in
any way instigate them. Though the
Chairman of the University
Republican Club was involved as
one of the five, some members of
the five do not belong to the
University Republican Club. As a
matter of fact it now appears that
only two will be brought up before
the Judiciary Committee. When the
University Republican was printed
this was not known. This letter in
no way is meant as a retreat from
our open support for the people
who waved the Stop Expansion
banner but is meant to clear up the
misconception that some may have
had. Those who waved the Stop
Expansion banner at Scott Stadium
are individuals and their actions
were in no way connected with the
Republican club here.

Code Exception

In a recent adventure to a local
restaurant i.e., "Expresso" I found
it very distasteful—not the food,
but the idea that the management
would not allow my friend and me
into his restaurant. The reason we
were rejected was "no dogs
allowed." The dog in this instance
was neither my friend nor myself,
but my seeing eye dog.

In this land of "Virginia
Gentlemen and academic scholars it
appears that the public is very
ignorant to the fact that under the
public health law, seeing eye dogs
may accompany their master in
"any food establishment."

To be rejected in the manner
that we were was not only rude,
but thoughtless, and just one more
example of the treatment we have
been receiving throughout the
community.

David Toporek
Grad. School, Special Ed.

—Ed.)