University of Virginia Library

A special meeting of the Board of Visitors was held on this date at 12 O'clock noon in
the office of the President. There were present, Rector R. Gray Williams, and Visitors Lewis C.
Williams, Hollis Rinehart, Christopher B. Garnett, Edward R. Stettinius, Jr., Edward C. Anderson,
Aubrey Weaver and Dabney S. Lancaster, and President Newcomb.

The President announced the following enrollment and gifts:

ENROLLMENT TO DATE: 2063

GIFTS:

       

From the Samuel Phillips Mitchell estate-one-half of the estate	$63,799.17
From the Kellogg Foundation, for the School of Nursing Education, $3,000 for a loan fund for students, and $1,000 for scholarships	4,000.00
From the E. I. duPont de Nemours Company, for a Postgraduate Fellowship for 1942-43	750.00
From Edward R. Stettinius, Jr.	500.00

LEAVES OF ABSENCE:

Upon the recommendation of the President, the following leaves of absence were granted
members of the staff, without pay:

• Dr. Rowland A. Egger, Professor of Political Science, for work with the Boldvian Government
  until June, 1943.

• Dr. James Cook Bardin, Professor of Romance Languages, for the duration.

• Mr. John Ritchie, III, Professor of Law, for the duration.

• Dr. Armistead C. Gordon, Professor of English, for the duration.

• Dr. Archibald B. Shepperson, Associate Professor of English for the duration.

• Dr. James K. Scott, Associate Professor of Pathology, until his return to health.

• Mr. William J. Barron, Associate Professor of Law, for the duration.

• Dr. Floyd Boys, Assistant Professor of Surgery, for the duration.

• Dr. Lewis Machen Hammond, Assistant Professor of Philosophy, for the session.

• Dr. Lawrence Lee, Assistant Professor of French, for the duration.

• Dr. Francis G. Lankford, Assistant Professor of Teaching of Mathematics and Natural Science
  in the Secondary Schools, for the session.

• Mr. Francis Berkeley, of the Library Staff, for the duration.

PROMOTIONS:

Upon the recommendation of the President, the following promotions were voted.

• Dr. Samuel Alexander Vest, from Associate Professor to Professor of Urology, without change
  in salary, effective September 15, 1942.

• Dr. David McCord Wright, from Assistant Professor to Associate Professor of Commerce and
  Business Administration, at a salary of $3,750.00, effective September 15, 1942.

• Mr. Jack Preston Dalton, from Reference Librarian to Associate Librarian with the rank of
  Assistant Professor, at a salary of $3,300, effective September 15, 1942.

• Dr. Daniel Silas Norton, from Instructor to Acting Assistant Professor of English, without
  change in salary, effective September 15, 1942.

• Dr. Richard Andrew Meade, from Instructor to Assistant Professor of Secondary Education
  and of the teaching of English, at a salary of $1,920, effective September 15, 1942.

APPOINTMENTS TO THE STAFF:

The President reported the following appointments made to the teaching staff during the
summer, as authorized at the June 12th meeting of the Board; same were ratified:

• Lieutenant Commander Sameul Fry Chase, Associate Professor of Naval Science and Tactics,
  effective June 28, 1942.

• Dr. Darrel Eugene Mack, Assistant Professor of Chemical Engineering, at a salary of $3,400,
  effective September 15, 1942.

• Dr. Marion Lawrence White, Jr., Assistant Professor of Surgery and Gynecology, at a salary
  of $3,500, beginning June 1st, 1942.

• Dr. Vladimir Alexander Pertzoff, Acting Assistant Professor of Physiology, at a salary of
  $2,500 the session, beginning September 15, 1942 and ending June 15, 1943.

• Dr. Rupert Wildt, Acting Assistant Professor of Astronomy for the session of 1942-43, at
  a salary of $2,800 for the session beginning September 15, 1942, and ending June
  15, 1943.

• Dr. Lyle G. Overholser, Instructor in Chemistry for the session 1942-43 at a salary of
  $2,000 for the session, beginning September 15, 1942 and ending June 15, 1943.

• Dr. Carlton Jerome Casey, Acting Associate Professor of Internal Medicine, at a salary of
  $3,100, encumbency beginning July 1, 1942.

• Dr. Benjamin Franklin Walton, Instructor in Education and High School Counsellor, for
  the session of 1942-43, at a salary of $3,000 for twelve months, beginning July 15, 1942.

• Dr. Robert E. Slemmer, Instructor in Pathology, for the session of 1942-43, at a salary of
  $1,200.00, effective September 15, 1942.

• Dr. Thomas H. Alphin, Instructor in Anatomy, for the session 1942-43 at a salary of $1,500.00,
  effective September 15, 1942.

CONTRACT WITH THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA FOR LOAN OF RADIUM TO THE UNIVERSITY.

The following authorization for renewal of contract was voted,

SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENT TO CONTRACT FOR PILOT TRAINING:

The following authorization for execution of supplemental agreement for pilot training was voted:

REGULATIONS IN RE: EXCLUSION OF WOMEN FROM STUDENT DORMITORIES LOCATED ON THE GROUNDS OF THE UNIVERSITY:

A committee of students, representing those residing in the Lawns, Ranges, Randall Hall and
Dawson's Row, appeared before the Board with the request that the rule against the entertaining of women
in the dormitory rooms be rescinded, and that permission be granted under certain rules and regulations.
Following some discussion of the request it was referred to the administrative authorities with power to act.

COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD TO CONFER WITH THE WAR AND NAVY DEPARTMENTS IN REFERENCE TO USE OF FACILITIES OF THE
UNIVERSITY:

Following some discussion of the further use of the facilities of the University in the prosecution
of the war, a Committee consisting of Mr. Garnett, Stettinius and the President, was appointed to confer with
the War and Navy Departments with reference to use of the facilities of the University for that purpose.

BRITISH WAR POSTERS-PRESENTED BY EDWARD R. STETTINIUS, JR.

The President advised the Board that Mr. Edward R. Stettinius, Jr., had presented the University
with a complete set of British War Posters which he had secured from the British Minister of Information,
Sir Brendan Bracken, and the thanks of the Board were extended Mr. Stettinius and Sir Brendan Bracken
for this addition to the art department of the University.

REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON THE ABOLITION OF FRATERNITY HOUSES AT THE UNIVERSITY:

Mr. E. R. Stettinius, Jr., Chairman of the Special Committee on the question of fraternity
houses at the University, stated that the committee had interviewed numerous persons and had received
many letters from alumni on the subject. He further stated that upon being informed that Governor
Darden would appreciate the opportunity of conferring with the Committee, a meeting with him was
held in Richmond of September 24th, and submitted the following memorandum of the conference:

MEMORANDUM OF CONFERENCE HELD AT 5315 CARY STREET ROAD, SEPTEMBER 24th,
AT 7.00, BETWEEN COMMITTEE OF BOARD OF VISITORS AND GOVERNOR DARDEN

Those present were.

• Governor Colgete W. Darden, Jr.

• E. R. Stettinius, Jr., Chairman,

• James H. Corbitt,

• Lewis C. Williams.

The Chairman asked the Governor to express his views to the Committee on the subject
of Fraternity houses at the University of Virginia. The Governor made a general statement
covering his objection to fraternity houses which may be summarized briefly as follows:

(1) The Governor said that, in his campaign for Governor, which was the first general
State campaign that he had ever made, he was surprised to find a lack of interest in the University
of Virginia. In too many instances there was unfriendly criticism both by alumni and by responsible
individuals who had never attended the University. He felt that this feeling was to be attributed in
part to a separation of students by some men living in fraternity houses. At the same time, he
expressed the view that there was something deeper that was wrong and that perhaps the greatest
trouble is that the boys are engaged in too many activities to permit them to give the close
attention to their studies that a stiff academic course should require.

(2) That the use of fraternity houses brought about an undesirable stratification in
student life. This stratification tends to rigidly circumscribe the life of the fraternity man
almost immediately after his entry into college. He joins very shortly after arriving. In many
cases he knows little of the group to which he is adhering. The making of the fraternity house
they headquarters and social center deprives him of the opportunity of knowing his fellow students
as he should. While it undoubtedly confers upon him benefits-these benefits would be obtained
by membership in the Organization without the separate quarters. The present arrangement adds
unnecessarily to the expense of students, and in the future this will be of greater importance.

(3) That he did not object to fraternities, as such, but felt that, after fraternity
meetings have been held, conditions should be such that the young men would again drop back into
the student body. He favored the maintenance of the organizations.

(4) That his experience in his State-wide campaign also led to the discovery that
too few men who had occupied outstanding positions in college life had made marked successes in
the comunities in which they had settled. This led him to question the elements that evidently
made for leadership in the student body. Solid accomplishment in school seems to play too small
a part.

(5) That he was impressed with the close association existing between V.M.I. men and
the affection of the alumni for V.M.I.

(6) He expressed the opinion that the University of Virginia needed to be strengthened
as much as possible by raising entrance requirements and by dismissing those students who did not
maintain a satisfactory average. He thought this would also require a gradual lifting of high
school requirements in order that students seeking admission might be prepared for University work.

(7) He was also of the opinion that women should not be allowed to enter fraternity
houses except under certain rigid restrictions.

(8) On the financial question and loss that might result from banning fraternity
houses, he said, if the fraternity houses are forbidden at the University of Virginia, he would
not agree to anything that would amount to confiscation, but would insist that the State make
provision to take them over at a fair price.

(9) He felt that students should not be permitted to keep automobiles.

(10) He questioned the value of the ribbon societies and kindred organizations, and
thought that in the interest of work and unity in the student body as a whole a number of organizations
might well be allowed to drop out.

(11) He believed that the gap between high school and college too great, and that there
should be more supervision and direction of the undergraduates. He did not favor anything resembling
rigid discipline but rather sympathetic leadership.

(12) That he had no desire to hurry the conclusion of the Board's investigation, but
suggested February 1, 1943, as a deadline.

(13) He approved the Board's plan that a committee be appointed to investigate and
report to the Board, such Committee to consist of four from the student body, two fraternity and
two-non-fraternity men appointed by the Student Senate, three from the faculty, chosen by the
President of the Alumni Association, this Committee to elect a Chairman. This Committee is to
hold hearings and make a study of the matter and report to the Board of Visitors not later than
February 1, 1943.

(14) There was a discussion of education in general, and it was agreed that a demand
exists for reform in college.

The above memorandum was not made from notes taken at the time, but was dictated the
following morning by James H. Corbitt and Lewis C. Williams, the Chairman having been compelled
to return to Washington at 10:20 p.m. the night of the meeting.

Following a general discussion of the matter, the following statement by the Committee,
together with the resolution appended, were adopted:

The Special Committee of the Board of Visitors, E. R. Stettinius, Jr., Chairman, James
H. Corbitt and Lewis C. Williams, reported to the Board at a meeting held on the 3rd day of October, 1942:

That the Committee had examined the question of the abolition of fraternity houses in
general, had conferred with many persons and considered many letters and reports on the subject,
and had likewise conferred with Governor Darden.

That, as a result of its consideration of the matter, the Committee deemed it advisable
that a hearing be given to students, alumni and other interested persons and recommended that this
hearing be conducted by a Hearing Board composed of four from the student body, two fraternity
men and two non-fraternity men, appointed by the Honor Committee of the student body; three from
the faculty, chosen by the general faculty, and two from the alumni, one fraternity man and
one non-fraternity man, appointed by the Board of Managers of the General Alumni Association of
the University, with instructions that this Hearing Board shall elect a tenth member to act as
Chairman.

That this Hearing Board shall hold appropriate hearings, make a study of the fraternity
house question in general and collect information and data as to how fraternity houses are treated
or governed in other institutions of learning, particularly where the desirability of such houses
has been questioned, and consider and report the effect of fraternity houses on:

• (a) education,

• (b) formation of character, discipline and studious habits,

• (c) life at the University,

• (d) housing of students at the University, if fraternity houses be abolished,

• (e) the financial loss, if any, to the University and fraternities, if fraternity houses are abolished.

Thereupon, the Board of Visitors adopted the following resolutions:

The meeting then adjourned.