University of Virginia Library

SPEAKERS TO THE JOHN RANDOLPH SOCIETY

The President reported in detail on the events leading up to the scheduling by the John Randolph
Society, a recognized student organization, of Gus Hall and George Lincoln Rockwell to address members
of the Society, students, and faculty at meetings of the Society on the Grounds of the University
He outlined the procedure, under the Constitution and By-laws of the Student Council, by which the
Student Council reviews the constitution of each student organization and must formally grant approval
of an organization before it can become a recognized student organization. He reviewed also the
regulations under the Calendar and Scheduling Committee and the Registrar (contained in the Administrative
Procedures Manual of the University) regarding speakers and the use of University facilities.
He included in his presentation the necessity he felt for maintaining the policy and principles of the
University as it had been entrusted to him and for supporting the established form of student government.
He also dialated upon the reasons obviating an arbitary prohibition of these speakers by the
President, however much he detested their views

The President stated that the Executive Committee had met in lengthy session with the President
on the preceding day and before the Board meeting on this day and that the Committee's deliberations
had resulted in a draft of a resolution on the matter, which the President, with the unanimous approval
of the Executive Committee, presented to the Board with his recommendation that it be adopted

Following the presentation of the draft of the resolution, a lengthy discussion ensued. At the
conclusion of the discussion, the Board unanimously adopted the following resolution

WHEREAS it is the established policy of the University of Virginia to afford to recognized
student organizations operating under the approval of the Student Council use of University facilities
for speakers invited by such an organization, and

WHEREAS approval of a student organization by the Student Council under the Constitution and
By-laws of the Student Council is predicated upon the assurance that such an organization will act
with a full sense of responsibility for the good name and welfare of the University,

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of Visitors of The Rector and Visitors of the
University of Virginia

(1) That this Board, while recognizing the aim of the John Randolph Society to expose and
combat the dangers of the political philosophies contrary to freedom that are held by Gus Hall and
George Lincoln Rockwell, censures the judgment of the Society in affording to these men the dignity
of the University and admonishes the John Randolph Society and all recognized organizations of the
student body in the future to exercise an increased sense of responsibility toward the impact of
their actions upon the welfare of the University,

(2) That this Board reiterates the fact that appearance on the Grounds of the University of a
speaker under the auspices of a recognized student organization does not constitute or imply
endorsement by the University or concurrence by the University in the views or programs expressed
or advocated by the speaker,

(3) That this Board declares its implacable opposition to the doctrines of Communism and
Fascism, represented by the speakers scheduled to address the John Randolph Society during the
current month, and to all other doctrines that advocate the destruction of the freedoms upon
which the United States is founded, and

(4) That this Board reasserts the founding principle of the University, stated by Mr.
Jefferson. "This institution will be based on the illimitable freedom of the human mind. For here
we are not afraid to follow truth wherever it may lead, nor to tolerate any error so long as reason
is left free to combat it."

The Secretary was instructed to send a copy of this resolution to the Student Council, the
John Randolph Society, and all other recognized student organizations