University of Virginia Library

Colloquium

Statements Of Campaign Principle

Skull & Keys

In this period of flux, the Student Council of the
University must provide responsible and progressive
leadership. It is upon this premise that we seek election to
membership in this assembly.

As it exists presently, the University cannot hope to
fulfill its important role in our changing society. The
University must, however, through its Student Council,
strive to meet the essential goals of student harmony,
academic excellence, and total racial equality. In
recognizing these vital aims, we assert the belief that the
Student Council can and must take significant steps
towards their fulfillment. We seek these ends, not through
a restructuring of the University, but rather through a
reorientation of its perspective. Already, we have seen a
formerly apathetic student body begin to redefine its own
perspective. We seek to nurture and expand this interest.

As we attempt to help this sentiment prosper in the
University Community, we, as candidates for the Student
Council, must place great emphasis on the term
"responsibility". In leadership positions, it is this vital
commodity which we will strive to supply. We believe
that this responsibility is exhibited in a "dynamic"
Student Council concerned with "dynamic" issues rather
than the less relevant problems. We believe that this
responsibility is exhibited in change where improvement
is demanded. We believe that this responsibility is
exhibited in development within the framework of social
endeavor; it is our belief that with the support of the
University Community this framework can become a
viable force for change. The responsibility of our efforts
will be the measure of our progress. Without this attitude
of mature action, progress cannot be effected. Our desire
in the next week is to meet as many students of the
College as possible. In this way, we hope to communicate
to you our sincerity and willingness to strive diligently
toward a better University, and our specific plans for the
implementation of this goal. With our ideas of progress
and responsibility in mind, we urge your consideration of
our candidacy.

Sceptre Society

The candidates of Sceptre Society believe the
upcoming election to be one of great significance. We feel
that the University Community is faced with some
extremely important problems, and that these problems
must be resolved promptly and in an intelligent and
rational manner. These problems fall into three major
areas: 1) Student Involvement 2) Diversification of the
Student Body through Equal Opportunity, 3) Curriculum
Reform.

First, in regard to student involvement, we believe that
all students living in University housing and fraternities
should have complete control over female visitation hours
and other regulations subject only to health and safety
standards. Also there must be real instead of nominal
student representation on all 53 University Committees.
Students must further have a voice on the Board of
Visitors to express the views of the student body.

We feel that any qualified individual should have an
equal opportunity to be admitted to the University.
Because there are qualified students who are
disadvantaged due to inadequate secondary school
education, we believe that there is a need for a full
Transition Program. At the present time the financial
burden of the program is on the students and is thus
limited. There is a need for the Administration to accept
responsibility in this area and provide adequate funds for
the program.

A report recently issued by the Student Council's
Revision Committee indicates a need for extensive change
in the University's curriculum. We feel that revision is
necessary in several areas. The system of comprehensive
examinations is antiquated and should be reduced in
importance or abolished. Required courses should be made
more flexible and be put on a pass-fail basis. In this vein it
is important that an academic advisor be appointed to
each individual student in his first year and maintain
effective communication throughout the student's stay at
the University; the present Association Dean and Resident
Advisor system is inadequate.

The advent of coeducation and increased
enrollment will undoubtedly pose new problems of great
student concern. We believe that it is necessary for the
new Council members to attempt to foresee these
problems and discuss them now, so that some may be
solved before they reach critical proportions in the future.

Vast changes are in store for the University in the near
The possibilities of such things as coeducational dorm
complexes and an increase in seminar-type classes to
maintain the individuality of students should be looked
into.

The candidates of Sceptre Society believe, above all, in
the need for a responsive Student Council. We realize that
a Council that is distinctly out of step with student beliefs
loses the respect of both the Administration and the
student body itself. We therefore propose the institution
of a series of referendums and polls to ascertain student
opinion on various significant issues. Widespread student
support clearly shown would lend much credibility to
Student Council motions.

There will be many challenges facing the Student
Council during this year. We see the, necessity for a
progressive and rational approach to the problems. Each
of us has devoted considerable time and effort to
analyzing the critical issues that face the University
Community. And we believe we can provide the
constructive and responsible leadership that will be
needed during the coming year.

Virginia Progressive Party

University politics have been, for many years, mainly
bi-annual popularity contests between competing
fraternities. Once two years ago, many students felt the
need to inject equity into the Council race and formed
the University Party. This party was successful for some
time primarily due to the introduction of a platform to
which the candidates pledged their efforts.

Early in its existence, however, it became identified as
an independent caucus, and subsequently there arose an
artificial independent-fraternity schism. This split
obstructed the original intentions of creating
issue-oriented University politics. Efforts to eliminate this
image have been futile, and the University Party's
effectiveness has been seriously hampered.

This Spring a new crisis has arisen. Many students have
begun to challenge the Student Council to take a more
active and progressive role in making University policy.
Council should act as a catalyzing agent in solving the
problems which now oppress the image of our University.

Thus was born the Virginia Progressive Party — the
New Party. Founded on the belief that positive change
must come if this University is to prosper; founded on the
belief that students must take an active part in
formulating these changes, the Virginia Progressive Party
(VPP) is a party based on ideology — not a nominating
caucus. The VPP is established as a permanent element of
the University community, not just for this election. It
will be active throughout the year, working to implement
the platform advocated at each election. The VPP seeks
those who wish to change the University through
reasoned, rather than irrational, activity. And it
incorporates into one entity the entire student spectrum
which aims at achieving positive change.

The Virginia Progressive Party offers five men for the
consideration of the College voter. Among the candidates
are men who have taken active roles in the traditional
walks of University life and now choose to put these aside
to help improve this school. There are others who have a
history of attempting innovative, creative experiments for
the good of the students and the University; from
establishing experimental methods of learning, to striving
for the improvement of the working and living conditions
of the underprivileged in the community and state.

We have chosen five men who have proven,
throughout their years at the University, that they
support a changing, evolving, just institution. Men who
have, if necessary, diverged from the traditional leadership
positions they held to help create change. These are the
men who have had the foresight to initiate the trends
which others now clamor to support. Student Council too
long has looked at the trends and offered their support.
Council now needs men with proven creativity and ability
in establishing these very trends.