University of Virginia Library

Usurping Power

The Executive Committee continued that
"in usurping to itself the power to make
politically involved pronouncements and policies,
the Council has committed a serious
injustice against at least a large minority of
students to whom the so-called Vietnam
Moratorium is an unwise and, indeed, morally
reprehensible action. For this act of injustice,
the Student Council is deserving of censure and
even removal by its constituents, the students.
We minimally demand that the pertinent
resolution be rescinded."

"Such a decision," the Executive Committee
continued, "should be made only by a student
referendum, and then only as a statement of
opinion - not a denial of the right of any
student to attend class if he so desires."

In reply to this, Steve Squire, chairman of
the committee for the Vietnam Moratorium,
said, "I believe that the bulk of the student
body opposes the war, but that they are not
quite sure what to do about it. Here is one of
the most burning issues of the day: men are
dying and the nation is spending huge sums of
money."

Mr. Squire added, "The Student Council
acted within their proper channel of communication
in asking the President of the University
to call off classes on October 15. It is clearly
within the power of the President of the
University and the Faculty Senate to decide
when classes are to be held, and when they are
not to be held."

Mr. Squire continued, "We must remember
that this day would not be a holiday, but rather
be a day used for discussion to a solution on
how to end the war in Vietnam."

He emphasized, "This is all within the realm
of education. There is just a difference in
emphasis. Instead of the students going to the
classrooms to learn, they would be able to learn
in these discussions."