University of Virginia Library

Student Allocations

There have been more criticisms and
charges of bias this year over Student
Council's proposed allocations to University
groups than in any year we can remember. As
evidenced from the mail that we have
received, many students, especially those in
the School of Law, believe that political
considerations played heavily in deciding just
who would receive how much. Law students
are most unhappy about the cut in funds
suffered by both the prestigious Law Review
and the nationally recognized Law Weekly.

We are more troubled about two allocations
that will be studied by the whole
Council tonight. First of all, if the Student
Council is to abide by the rules of allocation
set by the Student Activities Committee in
conjunction with the Board of Visitors, they
will not give the politically oriented Students
for a Democratic Society the one hundred
dollars presently set aside.

The legal hassle that resulted from the
forty-nine dollar allocation last year would
seem to indicate to us that a repeat
performance by Student Council is just not
needed. We believe that although the SDS is
not active in political campaigns and although
it can push progressive changes at the
University, its political nature precludes. It
receiving any funds from the Student Council.
Since there are only limited funds available to
University organizations, we believe that the
provision to withhold funds from political
groups is a wise one that should be followed.

Secondly, there should be no question that
the Charlottesville Draft Resistance should
not receive any of the $700 that could be
given to it. The Student Council which
represents a state-supported institution has no
business supporting a group dedicated to
breaking the law. Unfortunately, the Student
Council's Committee on Organizations and
Publications which hears all requests for funds
and budgets all of the money felt that this was
a question that was ambiguous and "touchy"
enough to be resolved by the whole Council.
We think that the case is very clear cut; the
Draft Resistance group should not receive the
money.

We do not see it as a political issue. The
question is not whether we as individuals
support the activities of the Charlottesville
Draft Resistance, but whether the University,
as a state institution, can or should. We
believe that it should not. If the Student
Council allocates the money, it will be giving
financial support to people who are contemplating
breaking the law of the land. We
question the power of Student Council to do
this and are sure that if the money is
allocated, Student Council will face forceful
legal action.

We urge the Student Council to act
reasonably in this matter allowing reason and
not emotion to govern.