University of Virginia Library

Bureaucracy

In the short time I have
spent here as a first-year
student, I have been
continually impressed by the
generally warm atmosphere of
the University. Even though it
is a large institution,
friendliness seems to be the
rule rather, than the exception.
For this I am grateful.

Recently, however, some
friends of mine had an
experience which, though
seemingly trivial at first glance,
carries with it a number of
disturbing implications. In our
dormitories you are allowed
one refrigerator per room. My
two friends, not knowing each
other before they arrived here,
had the misfortune of each
buying a refrigerator.

As two refrigerators are not
allowed in one room and the
girl next door did not have
one, they placed one of them
in the room next door. As
directed, they obtained
refrigerator permits for five
dollars apiece.

On the twenty-ninth of the
month they received a notice
to report to the Housing
Office. There a Mr. Paul
Williams informed them that
the computer said they had
two refrigerators in their room.
After the situation was
explained to Mr. Williams, he
told them that one of the
refrigerators would have to be
registered in the name of the
occupant next door and a new
permit purchased.

Dismayed at the prospect of
having to spend a senseless five
dollars, they asked him simply
why couldn't the name on the
registration be changed? But he
was adamant. "Chalk it up to
experience" was his final
comment.

One of the first symptoms
of an over burdened and over