IF THERE is one term that pops up again and again in college courses, it's equilibrium. From economics to physics, there is always some natural point of stability and balance. At the University of Virginia, this equilibrium is nowhere more prevalent than in the balance between administrative influence and the self-government of student affairs. Unfortunately, this balance seems to be coming under more and more pressure of late, and, ironically, outside sources rather than the administration itself are leading the charge.
Reading through Monday's paper, one might note a remarkable similarity between two seemingly independent events. In both the controversy over Grant Woolard's comic strip and in the reaction of Stephanie Garrison's father to his daughter's trial there is a similar train of thought: The students messed up, so more oversight and influence is needed from the University administration.
In the first of these incidents, Woolard's controversial comic strips that offended many Christians, The Cavalier Daily reported that "the University administration has received close to 2,000 letters about the comics." Though the University administration responded by forwarding complaints to The Cavalier Daily, it is nonetheless an interesting and dangerous example of how many view the relationship between the administration and students.
The second incident -- the open honor trial of Stephanie Garrison -- at first seems to say exactly the opposite. It seems to show how the system works and how errors can be corrected. At the very end of the article discussing the dismissal of Garrison's case, however, there is a striking quotation: "Stephanie Garrison's father James Garrison encouraged the University to 'assert administrative and faculty presence' into the system."
Such calls for more administrative influence really are not a new thing at this University or elsewhere. For instance, many college newspapers are not financially independent and are thus subject to review -- indeed, the administration has threatened to try to force more administrative oversight on The Cavalier Daily in the past. Elsewhere, the Editor-in-Chief of the University of Illinois' Daily Illini was actually removed by administration officials last fall after printing a comic involving Islamic prophet Mohammed. Finally, another controversy at the University has been the call for mandatory diversity classes that pops up every couple of years. Though this is less directly tied to student self-governance, the underlying principle seems clear: If there seems to a problem, the administration rather than the students should fix it.
To be very clear, the subject of this column is not these specific incidents or whether any side involved is justified or in the wrong. The critical factor is that whenever controversy arises, it is suggested more and more that non-students hold greater influence on student governance or student-run organizations in general. In other words, we should let the "adults" handle things.
Instead, whenever a problem arises the student body should be consulted first.
Though many student leaders have only short terms, institutions the UJC, Honor, The Cavalier Daily and various other organizations have a much deeper and more lasting impact on the student body. Indeed the very idea of justice -- that you be judged by your peers -- demands students be at the forefront of governing their own lives.
This concept applies equally to reforms of student organizations and of student self-government. Critics who are upset with some aspect or another should not turn to the University administration, but instead should open a dialogue with the organizations and allow change from within. The controversy over the single sanction, for example, illustrates that students are deeply interested in solving their own problems.
So what is the best equilibrium? At the moment the University does fairly well even if there are a few kinks in the system. One important institution that is often ignored, however, and that should instead be looked to as an example, is the Inter-Fraternity Council Judiciary Committee.
The IFCJC operates entirely independently from the University administration and it effectively governs members of the fraternity community. The IFCJC is not static, however, but instead looks inward to determine where its weaknesses lie and to address those weaknesses. Perhaps most importantly, however, is that the University administration is not left out. Though the University has no oversight, University officials are nonetheless frequently involved and in fact their input and assistance is welcomed when an incident occurs.
Finding the right balance between student self-government and the need for the University administration to maintain a safe and orderly learning environment can be tricky. Erring on the side of students should be the ideal. In all instances, however, it is the students who must ultimately be looked to for input and for solutions.
Allan Cruickshanks is a Cavalier Daily associate editor. He can be reached at acruickshanks@cavalierdaily.com.
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