University of Virginia Library

Letters To The Editor

Harriman's Speech A Political Harangue

I should like to commend the
John Bassett Moore Society for
International Law and the Student
Legal Forum for sponsoring the
appearance of Ambassador William
Averell Harriman at Cabell Hall on
December 4. It was a serious
attempt to bring an experienced
and knowledgeable voice on
Russian Affairs to the University. 1,
for one, looked forward to a
first-hand report on our relations
with Russia.

Unfortunately, Mr. Harriman
had other ideas. After a short talk
on the background of
Russo-American relations from the
pre-Second World War period, he
began an unceasing attack on
President Nixon and his
administration on everything from
the economy to his gradual
withdrawal of troops from Viet
Nam. Harriman capped it off with
the remark, "If Humphrey had
been elected President we would
have already been out of the war."
He wrapped up the speech with
several more partisan remarks.

Instead of being enlightened on
Soviet American relations, I found
myself listening to a political
harangue. It is disappointing that a
man of Mr. Harriman's stature
would stoop so low.

Volunteer

In these hectic few weeks before
Christmas you will hear the sounds
of this season growing in increasing
crescendo. What you probably
won't hear are those dissonant, less
pleasant sounds of life that are just
as real - but so often lose out in the
competition for our hearing.

There is the sob of neglect of an
11 year old boy in a family of six
deserted by his father.

There is the sigh of resignation
coming from a 31 year old mental
patient, neglected for the last seven
years by family and friends.

There is the simple frustrated
cry of an 18 year old girl who has
just failed Junior English for the
second time.

These and many other less
pleasant sounds cry out for our
attention from this community.

On December 8, 9, and 10,
Madison Hall, the Office of
Volunteer Community Service is
conducting its second formal
registration. Won't you consider
your second semester schedule now
and join with more than 600 other
students who are volunteering two
or three hours a week to make this
world a nicer place to listen to.
Return the OVCS Questionnaire
this week.

Average
Professionals

In your Thursday editorial titled
"The Athletic Future", you
proclaim that a conscious effort by
the University to capture the ACC
football championship could only
promote athletic professionalism
here at the U. Your people seem to
believe that as long as we have a bad
team here at Virginia, people will
think that our minds are on
learning, not sports. This is a rather
weak argument considering such
schools as V.M.I. which are able to
always field a bad team while not in
any way promoting an image of
academic greatness (your people
must have had in mind schools such
as Johns Hopkins & MIT).

Be that as it may, Virginia
probably already possesses as
professional a collegiate football
program as the average major
college. All that is lacking is results.
We have the cattle, but their
bloodline isn't perfect. At this
point, it seems we have two
possible directions (1) Sell the farm
and get into a most "respectable"

In either case we should stop
promoting the mediocrity which
presently prevails. If we have a
good team, the money will flow
into the fill of the U. If we drop the
program, then we will save all the
bread that is wasted now. With the
money obtained from these
ventures, maybe somebody will
find a way for every student at
Virginia to take part in that "rich
educational experience", that you
speak of so often.

Although I seriously doubt that
money can buy the academic
reputation that Virginia wants so
desperately, an attempt to do so
seems better than continuing to
insist on poor teams so that people
will think that we here at Virginia
have our noses in a book and not in
a jockstrap.

Attention
Scavengers

Without making any
accusations, I request your
assistance in attempting to locate
Mary Baldwin signs which have
been disappearing by midnight
requisition for the past several
months. It became a serious matter
to us over this last weekend when
14 signs disappeared. The cost to
the college is $30.00 per sign, so
therefore it becomes a costly
matter.

Knowing of the value to the
young men in having a trophy from
Mary Baldwin College hanging in
their dormitories, we request that
any signs you might find be
returned to Mary Baldwin. No
questions will be asked. To
eliminate the possibility of this
problem getting out of hand, please
do not make an issue that might
backfire.

Thank you for your
cooperation.