University of Virginia Library

APPEALS OF DISCIPLINED STUDENTS

WITHDRAWAL OF APPEALS—LETTERS—PROCEDURE

The Rector read a letter from Mr. Collins Denny, attorney, stating that six of the twelve
students disciplined by President Darden on April 26 had now withdrawn their appeals (the
Rector explained that since the receipt of this letter, Mr. Alexander W. Parker had also
withdrawn the appeal of his client, Mr. Robert Parrish, Jr.) and requesting, on behalf of the
students and their attorneys, that the following points be followed in the procedure of the
hearings (1) That the three suspended students, Edward A. Talman, Frederick Bocock, and
Robert P. Martin, Jr., be heard first, (2) That the appeal of W. W. Archer, III be heard
second, and the appeal of William R. Walker, be heard last, (3) That the attorneys be present
whenever any statements are made by President Darden or Mr. Fletcher, or when any evidence
is brought against the students, and (4) That Messrs. Talman, Bocock, and Martin be granted the
privilege they have requested of presenting their case initially without any attorneys or others
present.

The Board resolved (1) That all of these requests be granted, and (2) That the attorneys
be free to present the Archer and Walker cases in any manner they pleased as regards such
points as admissibility of evidence and facts to be proved, making any changes they wished for
the conservation of Mr. Denny's time prior to his early departure, and that the Board retain
freedom to use its own discretion as to rules governing its consideration of evidence and
arguments.

The Rector read to the Board a letter from Mr. Alexander W. Parker, withdrawing the
appeal of Robert Parrish, Jr. Several members of the Board took exception to an implication in
this letter that an objection by the University to promiscuous conduct by students was a novel
attitude adopted by the present administration. President Darden said that this should not go
unchallenged

The Board resolved that the Rector make an appropriate reply to this letter

The Rector read a letter from Herbert Preston Harrison stating that, despite his withdrawal
of his appeal, he would like to appear before the Board, accompanied by Mr. Collins Denny, to
make a special request. The Board resolved to hear Mr. Harrison later in the meeting

The Rector read letters from the Rev. Dr. Churchill Gibson, Rector of St. James' Church,
Richmond, and from the Rev. W. Holt Souder, Assistant Rector of St. Paul's Church, Richmond,
asking permission to appear before the Board on behalf of their parishioners, Messrs. Martin
and Talman and Mr. Bocock, respectively. The Board resolved to hear the two clergymen, and
the Secretary was directed to notify them by telephone

Letters from Mrs. Bocock and Mrs. Charles Robins were read to the Board

The Rector stated that Mr. Archer's father and Mr. Walker's father wished to be in the room
during the hearings, and the Board agreed to this.

The Board agreed, after some demur, to President Darden's wish to remain outside of the
Board room during the hearings. Pointing out that he would be in his office across the hall
and available for consultation at any time, Mr. Darden reminded the Board that he had already
sat through two days of hearings in reviewing this matter with the special committee, and he
felt that the students might speak more freely if he were not present.