University of Virginia Library

Participation

At his meeting with college newspaper
editors Governor Holton hit on two major
points that are of vital concern to students.
One is student participation in the rule
making process, and the other is student
communication their omnipotent rulers, the
Board of Visitors.

The failure of the Student Council to fight
Board's power to impose rules on the students
in September was fatal. The Council won a
few minor battles over wording, but lost the
war of who has the right to make rules. This,
plus the less than whole-hearted support for
the Union of University Students'
referendum, indicates that students are not
willing to battle the Board and the
administration over the right to impose rules.

It is unlikely that students will ever be
given sole power in the rule making process,
but it is likely and desirable that they be given
a voice in this process. Mr. Holton said that
everyone has a legitimate interest in rules, and
we believe that students are best qualified to
defend students' interests. We urge the Board
and the administration to keep that in mind
in the future when conduct rules come up for
review and revision. The lack of student
participation in the formulating of the present
Code of Conduct was a shameful example of
authoritarianism and neglect for student
opinion. It shouldn't become the general
policy.

Student interest could also best be served
by having student members on the Board of
Visitors. The appointment of the "little
banker" to replace his "big banker" father on
the Board resembles the English custom of
hereditary seats in the House of Lords. But
it's a start.

Until the governor decides to appoint
more students to the Board, even as
non-voting members, the best way to serve
the students' interests in the University would
be by taking the governor's advice and
opening a channel of communication with the
Board of Visitors. The contact between the
Board and the student body is almost
non-existent. Certainly the Board has no
trouble serving the interests of the
administration and the taxpayers, but how
they can serve, or even be aware of students'
interests when they have so little contact with
students is a matter of question.

The governor's policy of appointing recent
graduates to the Boards is a good start.
Younger members are more apt to be aware
of what actually goes on at the universities.

Most important, though, is for the Board
to communicate with the students, even if
and when there are students on the Board. We
urge the Board members to accept the
governor's advice and begin holding informal
meetings with students, and we urge students
to show interest in working with the Board,
should it prove receptive to this advice, to
establish a meaningful dialogue between all
parties involved in pursuing the best interests
of the University.