University of Virginia Library

Obligation

"For the University to suspend classes or to
encourage its faculty to suspend classes in
support of a position on these issues would be
inconsistent with this obligation.

"The University will therefore adhere to its
established academic calendar on October 15,"
the President decided.

"The issues of the war in Vietnam, which
are proposed to be discussed on October 15, are
of grave concern to every one of us," the letter
admitted. "This seems to be the feeling of
Student Council, and I share it.

"While individuals as citizens are free, and
even have an obligation in a republic, to express
their views and to participate in lawful means
of making their views known to their elected
representatives in the national government, a
university is not a political institution, and the
personal views of the President, or of the
faculty members, or of the students on national
issues should not determine university policies.

"The educational objectives of the University
of Virginia, I believe, are seriously
endangered to the extent that it allows its
policies and official actions to be shaped in
accordance with political aims of the sort that
are sought to be mobilized for that day.