University of Virginia Library

Community Communication

(68)There will be a need for quick and efficient
communication among members of the Birdwood community,
since if genuine inquiry begins to be carried on, the various
classes, task forces, research groups (or whatever other
designation a course may use for itself) should be eager to
invite other members of Birdwood to sit in on and/or
participate in various reports, seminars, lectures, and activities
of the class. Let the media building therefore have some rooms
open 24 hours a day with Ditto machines, Mimeographs, and
unlimited supplies of paper, Magic Markers, and thumbtacks,
so that notices for any and all activities no matter how
spontaneous, can be instantly produced and tacked to the
kiosks in the plaza.

(69)There will be a need for the usual types of counseling
and information that all undergraduates are entitled to,
regarding academic programs, careers, choice of major, nature
of certain extracurricular activities, and so forth. Let this need
be viewed, like other of the "problems" at Birdwood, as an
opportunity to enhance the spirit of community and to
facilitate the growth of personal relationships. Regard every
member of the Birdwood community as potentially an expert

in something—or at least possessing some information useful to
other people. (I have an equestrian sister who once memorized
the winners of the Kentucky Derby, but this is not exactly the
kind of knowledge I have in mind.) Devise a way of making
known a person's particular knowledge—a system of
brightly-colored signs, shapes, and symbols (no words) for
placing on individual doors to indicate the occupant's (1)
major field, (2) year in the University, (3) geographical origin,
(4) membership in certain organizations or activities, (5)
special capabilities or hobbies (guitar, chess, tie-dyeing,
film-making, etc.). A plaque the shape of a book might serve,
for example, as the sign indicating a major field, with some
sort of arbitrary color scheme to indicate the specific area of
specialization: green for environmental science, red for Asian
studies, white (tabula rosa) for behavioral science, and so forth.
Simple state-shaped signs would serve for geographical
origin—enabling a student to drift along the sidewalk scanning
doors for a person to consult about, say, the summer job
situation in Philadelphia or the driving time to Atlanta.