University Rector John P. Ackerly III emphasized the Board of Visitors strong support of diversity in admissions while addressing an overflowing crowd in Jefferson Hall last night.
Over 150 students attended Ackerly's speech, which was sponsored by the Jefferson Literary and Debating Society.
Ackerly discussed several issues he declared "important to the University," but the continuing debate over the use of race as a factor in admissions dominated the discussion.
Ackerly said the Board fears lawsuits over its current admissions policies, but is "committed to maintaining diversity," and is unanimous in its support for maintaining a diverse student body.
The University's admissions policy is "legal and defensible in court," he said.
Saturday, the Virginia State Conference of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People demanded Board member Terence P. Ross' removal from the Board after comments he made regarding the quality of minority students at the University.
Ross heads a Board committee charged with determining different ways to attract and enroll minority students.
Ackerly said Ross is "a real fine member of the Board," and that he has no plans to remove him from the committee studying diversity in admissions.
In an interview with The Cavalier Daily, Ackerly said he is unaware of any mechanism that exists for the governor to remove a Board member.
"I don't know what the procedure would be," he said, adding that he thinks Ross is highly qualified to serve as a Board member despite the recent controversy.
"I think the likelihood of Mr. Ross being removed is about one in 1,000," Ackerly said.
During his speech, Ackerly said one of the factors influencing the Board in their study of admissions policies is the high cost of litigation.
"Is it responsible to risk millions of dollars [on lawsuits] ... or would it be better to spend money" on programs to recruit minority students, he said.
But Ackerly said he cannot comment on any official stance the Board may take on admissions policies.
He did express support for University President John T. Casteen III's statement, issued Wednesday, in which Casteen defended the University's current policies.
The atmosphere in Jefferson Hall became heated at times, as students intensely questioned Ackerly, but he said he thought the questions were both accurate and fair.
Black Fraternal Council Co-Chairman Michael McPheeters said he was pleased Ackerly supported current admissions policies.
But McPheeters also said Ackerly did not take full advantage of "the opportunity to leave no doubt of his support of diversity."
Student Council College Rep. Nathan Cook said he felt Ackerly's comments gave him a better understanding of the Board's position on numerous issues, particularly affirmative action.
Jefferson Society Vice President Jonathan Carr said he thought students would appreciate the opportunity to have "straight talk and dialogue [with a Board member], which doesn't often happen at the University."
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