University of Virginia Library

The attachment to Mr. Kuykendall's letter is as follows:

REASONS

I herewith state my reasons for opposing and voting against the proposed resolution calling for a change of a long-standing policy of the University of Virginia respecting the admission of women to the Undergraduate Schools at the University. My reasons for opposing this resolution are briefly stated as follows:

(1) Notwithstanding our general commitment to take some action at the February meeting of the Board respecting this problem, I feel that the Alumni of the University should have been afforded a further opportunity to present their views. It is my feeling that the Alumni should have been individually circularized and that specific inquiry should have been made regarding the view of each alumnus.

(2) After having an opportunity to study and give thought to the views expressed by interested Alumni I would then have been prepared to finally determine the best course for the University with respect to this problem. The Board was called upon to take action upon a resolution that would have required the University to depart from a longstanding and highly cherished tradition and I would not have favored such action unless I was persuaded that such a course would be to the best interest of the University. I had not reached a conclusion at the February meeting.

(3) It is my view that, if women are admitted to the Undergraduate Schools at the University, there should be no restriction on admission other than the same restrictions imposed upon male applicants for admission. I feel that the Board should have been limited to the question of whether policy should be changed, and if women are to be admitted the determination of who should be admitted should be left entirely to the Dean of Admissions and his advisors. I feel reasonably confident that if the University establishes a policy of maintaining a fixed ratio of male students to female students the University may be in the posture of discriminating and there may be trouble in the courts later.