University of Virginia Library

Students Opposed Creation Of U. Union

Holly Smith
Cavalier Daily Staff Writer

The University Union (not to be
confused with the politically
oriented Union of University
Students) has had a history marked
different from that of the average
college student union.

"A stepchild" is the term
Newcomb Hall Director John
Herring uses to describe the
organization. He explains that most
colleges and universities have been
built within the last 100 years, a
time in which the concept of a
student union was well established.
These institutions naturally assumed
that a student union would not
only exist, but be a major element
in the students' lives. Thus large,
adequate facilities were built to be
a vital center for student
extracurricular activity. Because
the University of Virginia is a
comparatively older institution, its
Union has developed in a more
hap-hazard fashion, actually having
to battle student resentment along
the way.

YMCA

During the late 1800's and early
1900's the YMCA, operating out of
Madison Hall, was the focal point
of student social activity outside of
fraternity life. In 1933, because of
financial and administrative
reasons, the YMCA board and the
University administration together
drew up the plans for a "student
union" with offices and facilities on
the first and third floors of Madison
Hall.

Rather than a comprehensive
organization which catered to most
student needs, the student union
instead filled the gaps, performed
the actions and services not already
provided for by the existing dance
societies, service clubs, or special
interest groups.

Hostesses

Hostesses worked with the
student union officers in organizing
tea dances with girls' colleges,
dancing classes, running the
information bureau, lost and found,
and approved housing lists. Tea was
served every afternoon for boys
who wanted to drop by.

In 1959 the Union moved into
the newly-built Newcomb Hall. The
construction of a student activities
building had been supported by the
University President and
administrators, but strongly
opposed by the majority of
students, who felt such a structure
would encroach upon the
fraternities realm of social activity.
The Student Council recommended
the building not be built; a Cavalier
Daily editorial called it a "multi
million dollar white elephant."
"Ping-pong Palace" was another
favorite label the disgruntled
students placed on the structure.

Stigma

The stigma attached to the
building began to wear off and the
University Union itself became an
organization dominated by
fraternity men, gaining in
importance when it took over the
operation of the artist and concert
series from Student Council.

Although technically all
undergraduate and graduate
students automatically belonged to
the Union, there was a strict
procedure for becoming involved in
the Union Planning Board. First
year men who wanted to be part of
the Union could join the First Year
Committee which was assigned
jobs, such as putting up posters or
exhibits.

Elections

Those men who showed
initiative or creativity and had put
in a considerable amount of work
(as shown by their "hour cards")
were elected to one of the standing
committees, the Artist Series,
Blood Drive, Cavalier Christmas
Fund Drive, Exhibits, Films, Fine
Arts Festival, Region IV
Conference, Social Activities or
Travel Committee, during their
second year.

Third year men were eligible to
be committee chairmen or Union
officers, the chairmen being
selected by the four Union officers
and the Newcomb Hall Director.

That was the Union of the past,
This year Union President Clay
Spencer, exercising his power to
alter the structure of the
organization, opted to dissolve all
the committees as they stood.

(Tuesday's article will explain
the Union's new four-part
structure. There will be meetings
Monday through Thursday evenings
in each of these areas; areas
described in the Union poster being
distributed today.)