University of Virginia Library

Controversial Letter

Considerable controversy arose
over a letter issued to entering
students during the summer of
1967 by the former Dean of the
University B.F.D. Runk. A motion
presented before Student Council
contended that the letter of 1967
was erroneous or misleading on
several points. After several weeks
of study the Council unanimously
passed a motion urging "the Dean
of the University to re-evaluate
University policy with respect to
hallucinogenic drugs as expressed in
his letter dated Summer, 1967."

In February of 1967 an associate
professor of psychiatry at the
University Medical School sent a
letter to all department heads
emphasizing the strict legal penalties
for "dangerous drugs" including
LSD, amphetamines, depressants
and marijuana.