University of Virginia Library

Rooms Switched

According to Mr. Sherman, of the 22 black
first-year men living in the dorms, three had
white roommates who switched housing assignments
the first day, one had a roommate who
switched after two days, and three more arrived
at the University to find that their assigned
roommates had switched rooms sometime
during the summer.

The adopted motion read:

"Due to Council's concern that solely racial
considerations have entered into Housing Office
room change policies in the past, we urge Mr.
Ralph Main, Acting Director of Housing, to
publicly state Housing Office policy concerning
room changes and include such in the Terms
and Conditions.

"We also ask that the Housing Office not
penalize those affected by past discriminatory
actions and that no room changes be granted
until written statements from both roommates
have been presented to the counselor and the
Housing Office.

"Furthermore, we ask that a two week
waiting period be mandatory before a housing
change may be made. We feel that racial
prejudice should not be considered valid reason
for a room change."

There was considerable debate over the
Housing Committee motion. Ron Hickman
expressed fear that, by forcing white and
black students to live together when one of
the two was opposed, it would create
additional, unnecessary friction between them.