Board of Visitors minutes :: January 9, 1948 :: University of Virginia Library

GROUNDSMEN PLAN

1. It is not the intent of this plan to set up a "police" system at the University but rather
it is designed to protect the individual student and to protect and preserve the reputation of the University.

2. It is contemplated that we have a group of men to be known as "groundsmen" who will be
agents necessary to insure the success of this plan.

3. The number of groundsmen may change after experiment but it is believed that to begin with
the administration of the University should furnish six (6) men.

4. The duties of these groundsmen shall be as set down by the council. They will be full-time
employees of the University and their specific hours of use shall be determined at a later date.
However, it is known that they will be used daily.

THESE GROUNDSMEN WILL:

a. Enforce the general rule that is the primary purpose of the overall plan, to wit:
Prevent any actions that reflect discredit on the University or conduct that is unbecoming
a gentleman and student of this University.
also to
achieve goals
desired by the
administration
b. The student council may from time to time, as it sees necessary, issue other rules
or regulations for the groundsmen to enforce to fit the occasion.
c. Violations of the general rule, or specific rules laid down by the council will be
reported to the council for disciplinary action subject to part "d" below.
d. The groundsmen shall be accorded discretion as to what offenses are serious enough
to warrant a report. They will be thoroughly instructed in this matter by the
council.

5. The council shall have ORIGINAL judicial jurisdiction in all cases that arises and the
defendant has the right of appeal to the administrative organs of the University if he so desires.

6. The main issue on which the success of this plan will hinge is that the Student Council
shall have ABSOLUTE and FINAL CONTROL over the GROUNDSMEN, THEIR DUTIES, THE RULES THEY WILL ENFORCE,
AND THE JUDICIAL ACTION THAT FOLLOWS ARRAIGNMENT OF OFFENDERS. If the council is not accorded these
things it is in no position to attempt to put the plan in at all.

(On a separate sheet was the following:)