University of Virginia Library

Investigation of Membership

According to Mr. Cranberg the
investigation is being made because of its
interest to the membership of the local
ACLU chapter, which consists largely of
members of the University community.
The report resulting from the study will
be presented to the next meeting of the
local chapter's board of directors a week
from Tuesday.

Mr. Cranberg explained that even if
the panel should decide to recommend
that legal action be taken, it must be
remembered that decisions with respect to
court action do not rest with the local chapter.
This is because the ACLU is a national
organization which has affiliates in most of the
states.

The ACLU of Virginia has its own chairman,
board of directors, and legal panel. But the
Central Virginia chapter never takes legal
action. It serves as a sort of "local watchdog."

However, the state board of directors takes
legal action upon the recommendations given to
it by the local chapters. Therein lies the
importance of the present investigation, which
will closely examine the rules to see if any
constitutional rights are violated.

Since the issues confronting the panel
involve legal considerations it is hard to say at
this point what will result from the
investigation, Mr. Cranberg added.

One member of the investigating panel did
point out that since the court has said that
certain state college rules concerning students'
rights can be declared unconstitutional, the
Madison College decision will allow the ACLU
or any other group to question or contest the
constitutionality of other rules in state
institutions of higher learning.