About 150 students, faculty and administrators met last night on the steps of Old Cabell Hall to organize a movement to maintain the University's current admissions policies. Advocates for Diversity in Education organized the meeting to support the use of race as a factor in admissions.
Earlier this month Board of Visitors member Terence P. Ross advocated a program to bring underprivileged middle and high school students to the University for two weeks during the summer. The program's goal is to better prepare these students for admission to universities.
However, leaders at the meeting last night claimed the program is one step towards eliminating race as a factor in admissions.
"We have reconvened stronger than ever because the Board of Visitors has become more aggressive in their attempts to undermine affirmative action at the University," said Deva Woodley, ADE member and third-year College student. "This is our University and we like the way it looks."
ADE plans to hold an "October camp," in which students meet Oct. 4 on the Lawn as a "visible protest," said Stephanie Taylor, ADE member and fourth-year College student.
"We want to occupy the public space of the Lawn to show that all of us have a right to be here," Woodley said.
ADE has invited students from local schools that will participate in the summer program to the event to "teach them about affirmative action," she said. "We want it to be an educational experience."
After introductory statements, those present divided into seven subcommittees charged with specific tasks ranging from public relations to legal and research teams.
Among the attendees were Faculty Senate Chairman David T. Geis, Office of African-American Affairs Dean M. Rick Turner and Black Fraternal Council President Michael McPheeters. Also present was History Prof. Paul M. Gaston, who was involved with initial efforts to desegregate the University.
"To see the Board of Visitors position itself to do away with all we struggled for is disappointing," Gaston said. "The University of Virginia has a marvelous opportunity to lead our country" in this issue.
Woodley said although she was impressed with the gathering, the community still has a lot of work to do.
"The next step is to flood [President John T. Casteen III's] office with petitions, letters and e-mails," Woodley said.
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