University of Virginia Library

Legislators Discuss
University Growth

Students Exchange Views
With Lawmakers In Forum

By Ann Brown
Cavalier Daily Staff Writer

University students, who were among
the approximately 250 Virginia students
attending the unprecedented
Student-Legislator Open Forum in
Richmond this weekend, reported an
encouraging increase in communication
between the two groups.

Phil Chabot, Student Council
representative from the College and one
of the 21 University delegates,
commented, "Some of the legislators who
originally had not looked upon students
favorably left thinking it was one of the
best conferences they had ever attended."

Scapegoats

He added that on a number of issues,
including the Flat Hat newspaper
controversy at William and Mary, the
continued funding of student newspapers, and
University growth, the legislators were upset to
learn that they were being made the scapegoats
of administrative policy.

Expansion of this University was a major
topic of conversation. According to Mr.
Chabot, Delegate W. Roy Smith (D-Petersburg);
chairman of the House Appropriations
Committee, was particularly receptive to the
ideas of students. According to Mr. Chabot, Mr.
Smith said that he didn't think the members of
the Assembly believed that the University has a
special mission to educate all the qualified
youth in Virginia.

University's Mission

Legislators told the student delegates that
the University has a mission to maintain a high
standard of education and a high standard of
life.

Legislators were especially concerned, it was
reported, with the consequences of growth
relating to the Honor System, University
housing and the Charlottesville community.

Mr. Chabot also said that students had asked
legislators whether they would put pressure on
the University to expand or to take more
in-state students. Many lawmakers stated that
growth was "the domain of the University and
that the legislature best stay out of it."
However, several legislators pointed out that
the number of out-of-state students at state
institutions was always a relevant topic for
discussion.

The possibility of cutting off state funds
used for University expansion was mentioned
by one participant. Mr. Smith advised some
University students that action such as this
would have to come from the Governor's office
of the budget and would not be handled by his
committee.

Mr. Chabot referred to the fact that
although the Board of Visitors had expressed
opposition to further University expansion, it
"was fearful of state pressure." He continued,
however, "I think we've found that there is
very little state pressure." Some legislators
suggested that the proposed growth was the
result of a "competition for size between VPI
and the University."

Expansion

According to Mr. Chabot, students were
"left with the general impression that the
pressure was coming from Pavilion VIII and
nowhere else." He also remarked, "I was left
with the general idea that expansion isn't
inevitable, provided that we handle certain
things correctly."

College representatives also discussed the
issue of a possible spring strike with members
of the General Assembly. Mr. Chabot stated,
"Every delegate that 1 talked to, regardless of
their philosophical outlook, was convinced that
should anything occur that in any way
resembled what happened last spring, there
would be a reaction from Richmond that would
not be in any way complacent."

He continued, "Right or wrong, the
legislature is not going to let it appear that
they're going to stand by and let the University
close down each spring."

Parietals

On the subject of parietals, Mr. Chabot
reported, "Every delegate I spoke to was
against the Bateman Resolution, but they were
faced with one man who had an idea about the
way things should be. And it was a very popular
idea." He indicated that the passing of the
resolution was a political action.

He added that the delegates did not feel that
the measure had the force of law and were
surprised at the action taken by some schools in
response to the passing of the resolution.