Thomas Jefferson once wrote, “I hold it, that a little rebellion, now and then, is a good thing, and as necessary in the political world as storms in the physical.” Our founder may not have created the concept of honor at Virginia or designed the tenets of student self-governance that we hold dear to our hearts, but his ideals foster the ideals upon which we base our community and stimulate the sense of responsibility that compels University students to preserve this unique haven of tolerance for and freedom of intellectual thought.
In my experience, The University is a magical place where students embody a culture of independence; that independence stimulates thought; those thoughts make ideas come to fruition. The result of freedom of expression might echo in an admissions application describing a new Lawn tradition that gives birth to Pancakes for Parkinson’s. It might reveal itself through a group of Class Council members when they inadvertently create the first Lighting of the Lawn. Then again, it might manifest itself in a silent display of Cavalier solidarity after a few students gather to ponder the potential impact of limiting freedom’s expression.
All students at this fine University have been entrusted with a great legacy to embrace knowledge and protect the foundation upon which Mr. Jefferson believed our freedoms were rooted. To ensure longevity and promote those ideals, we must preserve the traditions and integrity that have become synonymous with the University. We who proudly attend the University know the administration values our opinions. It is this singular fact that causes confusion among some students over recent decisions.
Limitations on non-violent freedoms of expression must not be taken lightly, for those limitations may be just the first, albeit seemingly harmless, steps on the way to surrendering priceless liberties others have fought and died to procure. Even the most well-intended infringement must be deemed suspect. Too much is at stake to turn a deaf ear.
Last Saturday, I witnessed thousands of Wahoos hold up blank sheets of paper in silent protest to a policy they perceived to be an unwarranted restriction on freedom of expression. I’ve heard it started in true Jeffersonian tradition, with a small discussion among concerned friends that progressed to a few e-mails, and ended in an overwhelmingly unified response. The silent protest illustrates that Mr. Jefferson’s greatest hopes are not lost on this University or the voices of its students.
So, while there may not have been any words on those signs; their message still resounded loudly and clearly: We are Virginia; we have a voice and it will be heard. No matter whether you participated in or even support this small insurrection, take a moment to give the collective student body a metaphorical pat on the back. For someday we will all boast, “I have worn the honors of Honor, I graduated from Virginia.” And, on that day, we will know we kept true to the ideals of our Founder; on that day, we will know we are worthy to make that declaration.
Christina Polenta
CLAS 2009
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