University of Virginia Library

On Racism

There is, of course, no way to appraise
the value of yesterday's rally in front of
Pavilion VIII. That things were said, issues
raised, and grievances aired means little in view
of the fact that virtually every point touched
upon has been made before The University,
which proposes to foster an atmosphere of
learning, appears incapable of educating itself
in the most elemental lessons of human
relations. Indeed, if there is profit to be had
from understanding the mistakes of the past,
we have much to consider and perhaps much
to gain.

Following two precipitous incidents last
weekend-one at Scott Stadium, the other at a
fraternity rush party-the Black Student
Alliance (BSA) drew up a list of grievances
citing specific instances of systematic and
individual racism in almost every aspect of
University life. The list is long. The protest is
valid. The implications are frightening.

BSA cites first "the neglect of thoroughly
active and effective recruiting procedures of
the Admissions Office, as reflective by the
disproportionate number of black
undergraduates." While this year's figures are
unavailable, and while few would deny some
initial credit to Admissions for (at least) the
seed of a larger effort to attract black
students, the hard reality emerges just the
same: in a state where approximately twenty
percent of the citizens are black, the
enrollment of black students at the
undergraduate (or graduate) level hovers close
about the mark of three or four percent. That
is not good enough.

The absolute absence of black
administrators in responsible positions is
another of BSA's charges which is not subject
to dispute. The time for the appointment of a
black member of the Board of Visitors has
been upon us for years. No amount of
sweet-talking alters that fact; no platitudes, no
profound regrets, no carefully worded
apologies can delay the moral imperative.
President Shannon has an obligation to begin a
search for such a Visitor and recommend his
or her appointment by the Governor at the
earliest day possible.

The nearly total absence of black professors
is another complaint well justified. Moreover,
BSA notes the remarkable scarcity of black
University professionals "including the
Athletic Department, U.Va. Hospital, and
University Security.' This, coupled with the
gross underpayment and exploitation of
non-professional workers in a community
where the University - mark it - is the
undisputed arbiter of terms and the setter of
pay scales, is an intolerable abuse.

Racism among local landlords has long been
coming here. In spite of impressive disclaimer
on all off-Grounds housing lists concerning the
exclusion of those who discriminate, we are
convinced the University must exert the full
force of its considerable influence among the
people who seek to profit from renting to
students. All or none should be more than a
written rule; it must be one of actual practice.

Further, the list includes an item
condemning the University's insensitivity to
special problems created for black students by
recent expansion. Such difficulties extend to
financial aid, of which there is never enough,
and housing, where experience indicates
prospective black tenants-unable to secure a
dormitory room-receive low priority from
the racist landlords already mentioned. Also in
the context of the Charlottesville community,
BSA rightly chides the University for its failure
to plan and finance a community relations and
cultural center.

Finally, there is "the uni-cultural University
atmosphere as reflected by social function,
culture programs, concerts," and the absence
of a single African language course. The
specious contentment that these things will
appear only as black enrollment increases is
absurd. A community which engineers itself
solely along the lines of Wasp preference will
continue to exclude and discourage black
applicants and students.

So here we are. The list was read and
presented to Mr. Shannon, who then invited a
few students inside to talk. According to one
member of the group, Mr. Shannon failed to
convince the black students present that
concrete steps were being taken to
eliminate racism and systematic racist
abuses of the sort described. The black
students listened and then walked out.

The outcome is uncertain, but those who
please themselves with the notion that this
week's flare-up will detach itself and pass
quietly away court disaster. Whether the
results prove positive or not depends largely
on the response BSA elicits, not only in
Pavilion VIII, but all over the Grounds. The
black students are quite serious in
determining to improve their lot here by
focusing attention on racism wherever it
exists. We join them in that goal.