I am writing to react to the ongoing controversy surrounding the consideration of Lawn Pavillion residency to Bob Sweeney. According to the article in the March 30 Cavalier Daily ("Lawn residents react to pavillion selection process"), Lawn resident Kristen Smith stated "What he does is only tangentially related to the students." While this may appear the case, she fails to realize the benefits she daily receives from such efforts as less than 15 percent of the funds now come from the Commonwealth of Virginia and this has been the case since the early 1990s.
Lawn resident Amber Zinni stated in the same article that "I don't think fundraising is a very academic discipline," Zinni said. "Somebody like that might not spur dialogue." That quote intrigues me as I would think something so core to the survival of the University of an institution of higher learning would promote dialog to spare. There could bediscussions about how students could get involved in the efforts, lobby the state government for more funds, deciding where the money goes, and the list goes on and on. Also, contrary to idealistic belief, money is at the heart of anyting at the University in that without funds, it would be difficult if not impossible to provide the program in question. Thus, it is a very academic discipline, not to mention we have two schools devoted to financial pursuits: the Comm School and Darden.
While it is fine to debate the merits of the candidacy and I encourage debate, think about one thing: Think about how an academic setting strives for diversity. If all of the residents are concentrated in an academics only, the view may be slanted. Just as there are many reasons people get Lawn rooms -- from being active in varsity atletics to club and community involvement to strong academic achievement -- there should be variety allowed for the pavilions as well.
I am not saying that Sweeney should or should not receive the residence. He should simply be looked at objectively with fairreasoning. Keep an open mind and don't just gut react with the notion fundraising is an unpleasant duty that we don't want to talk about, much less reward in a public way. If a community attacks something because it does not fit their view of the ideal in their collective minds, they may want to rethink that view. After all, it may be one day that you, your profession, or your viewpoint are on the receiving end of such critiques.
Jeff Neblett
SEAS 1991
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