University of Virginia Library

FACULTY OF THE GRADUATE SCHOOL OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION

Office of the Dean
Colgate W. Darden, Esq.
President of the University of Virginia
Dear Mr. Darden

Word has reached the faculty of the Graduate School of Business
Administration that you have expressed the intention of resigning
from the presidency of the University within the next two years. At
a meeting of the faculty of the School held on February 27 it was
unanimously voted that I be instructed to write to you on behalf of
the faculty and respectfully ask you to reconsider such a decision
and remain in office for the full term of your office.

We want you to continue as chief executive of the University of
Virginia for the following principal reasons

1. We like you and Mrs. Darden as friends and neighbors and
would be sad to have you leave the University community.

2. We like the way you run the University


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3. We think it improbably that a successor could be found who could
so effectively interpret the University to the State government in all
its branches and interpret the State government to the University.

4. We feel that the healthy growth of the Graduate School of
Business Administration will be greatly helped by your being in office
during its first formative years. It is your School. A change of
administrative climate at this early stage could be prejudicial to the
School's development

It is understood, of course, that this plea does not apply if your
rumored decision stems from any reason of health or family concern which
only you could determine.

Faithfully yours,
/s/ Charles C. Abbott
Charles C. Abbott
Dean