University of Virginia Library

EXECUTIVE SESSION

Mr. Darden said that there would be no problem at all with the military people about the
commissions for Messrs. Bocock, Martin, and Talman, but that the R.O.T.C. people were hesitant
about Harrison, and he would not want to press the matter without further discussion with the
R.O.T.C.

The Board resolved that the decision as to whether to delay the expulsion of Herbert
Preston Harrison, in order to help him to obtain his commission in the armed forces, be left
to the discretion of the President.

Asked to comment on the attorneys' argument that the disciplined students had not been
made aware of the nature or the gravity of their offenses, President Darden said that he had
made the disciplinary attitude of the University absolutely clear at the outset to Bocock,
Martin, and Talman, and they had gone out and told the others. It was inconceivable to him that
any boy involved in this case had been ignorant of his offense or had failed to understand
throughout this whole affair that the University was moving against him

In the discussion that followed, a member called attention to evidence showing that
Archer had been aware of his guilt and fearful of punishment throughout the entire three
weeks of Mr. Fletcher's investigation.

A member said that the technical charges against Mr. Fletcher had been exaggerated by
his own rashness in failing to protect himself; he thought that the Board should issue a
statement setting the record straight

Mr. McWane said that he wished to make a note about Mr. Fletcher. He was himself unfamiliar
with court rooms and legal procedures. He understood the relation of teacher and
student as a special relationship. The integrity, fairness, and frankness of Mr. Fletcher
were perfectly transparent. In his estimation, the stature of Mr. Fletcher had grown hour by
hour throughout these proceedings

The following resolution was offered.

RESOLVED by the Board of Visitors of the Rector and Visitors of the University of Virginia
that the appeal of William W. Archer, III be denied, and that the penalty of expulsion imposed
on Mr. Archer by the President be and it is hereby affirmed.

A substitute motion, that Mr. Archer's penalty be changed to suspension to September,
1955, having been defeated, the Board adopted the original resolution

Messrs. Coxe, Gray, and Mears requested that their negative vote be recorded.

The following resolution was offered:

RESOLVED by the Board of Visitors of The Rector and Visitors of the University of Virginia
that the appeal of William R. Walker be denied, and that the penalty of expulsion imposed on
Mr. Walker by the President be and it is hereby affirmed

A substitute motion, that Mr. Walker's penalty be changed to suspension to September, 1955,
having been defeated, the Board adopted the original resolution.

Messrs. Coxe, Gravatt, and Mears requested that their negative votes be recorded. Mr. Gray
requested the recording of his affirmative vote on the substitute resolution and his negative
vote on the original resolution. Mr. Howard and Mr. Talbott were unavoidably absent when the
resolutions of the afternoon were adopted.

The Rector appointed Mr. Gravatt and Mr. Smith as a Committee to meet with him in the
evening and prepare a statement of the Board's action for issuing to the press and interested
persons

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On motion the meeting was then adjourned at 6:00 p.m.