Every generation has its cause. Though it is easy to remain indifferent in an environment as sheltered as a college campus, there are those rare issues that break through the routine of daily living that fire students into caring. And, though it is often easier to remain indifferent to controversial issues, sometimes the issue is too important to not take a stance.
Recently, that issue has been "living wage." With strong advocates on both sides, the Living Wage Campaign has resulted in heated debates, a great deal of media coverage and even the arrest of students. While this may seem unprecedented, there have been other concerns in University history that have had the momentum to cause the student body to rise to action.
The first big issue is one that is still very close to us because it resulted in the establishment of our current honor system. When Thomas Jefferson first opened his University, he was appalled at the bad behavior of the incoming students. Their favorite past time was "calathumping," which involved midnight rides up and down the Lawn on horses, hooting, hollering and firing off pistols.
This became a little more than a nuisance when one night, during a calathump, a disgruntled student shot Prof. John Davis. As the story goes, Davis refused to reveal the name of the student, instead saying, "The honorable man will reveal himself." Unfortunately, Davis died from the gunshot. But as a result of this, the students came together to create the honor system. This system began as a Gentleman's Code of Conduct, involving rules such as, "Do not spit," and, "Remove your hat in the presence of a lady." Later, it evolved into the system that we have today, where we take the vow of not "lying, cheating or stealing."
As the University entered into the modern era, students murdering their professors was no longer a main concern. The issues in 1970 were ones that affected not just the University's students, but every citizen in the United States.
The first was the issue of allowing women into the University. Many other large institutions had already undergone coeducation while the University was lagging behind.
As the administration considered the consequences of allowing women in, the students were outraged. They argued that women would destroy the tradition of road trips, which were integral to student life. If they no longer had to travel to Mary Washington, they would lose the bonds they formed during the long drives. Furthermore, they argued that women, due to their "mild nature," would be unable to uphold the rigid standards of the honor system because they would be reluctant to report their fellow students.
After several years of heated debate, the administration decided to coeducate the University. As the first class of women arrived on the first day of classes in 1970, the male students lined up outside and silently watched them carry their belongings into their dorms.
The 1970s was also a time of national political turmoil. President Richard Nixon had made the decision to bomb Cambodia, and students everywhere were outraged that the violence of the Vietnam War was going to continue. Students were protesting in colleges all over America, but when four students were killed during a demonstration at Kent State, University students were livid.
Angry demonstrators congregated outside of the Rotunda, refusing to attend class until President Edgar Shannon addressed the issue. They stayed there for several days and nights, as Shannon consulted with student leaders to reach an agreement.
Shannon was very accommodating. Instead of forcing the students to leave, Shannon directed faculty to excuse absences and accept late assignments to help students "concentrate on constructive action in the re-direction of the nation's war policy."
May 10, Shannon addressed University students and faculty on the steps of the Rotunda with a now famous speech.
In his statement, Shannon said, "I know your anguish over the military involvement in Southeast Asia. I want promptly to end the war. I feel furthermore it is urgent that the national administration demonstrate renewed determination to end the war and the unprecedented alienation of American youth caused by that conflict. I have conveyed that alienation in a letter to our senators."
The crowd was stunned. The protestors broke out into wild applause and, though he was widely criticized by the press and administration for what they saw as an "appeasement of radical students," he was praised by students and administration for taking a definitive and risky stance on a very hot-button issue.
Today, instead of Kent State or coeducation, we have the Living Wage Campaign. Though the issues change, the passion of students is what remains constant throughout our University's history. Our desire for change is the legacy we leave.
Maryann's column runs bi-weekly on Tuesdays. She can be reached at maryann@cavalierdaily.com.
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