I am writing in response to Matt Dickey’s column (“UVAstocracy is not a meritocracy,” 2/23/2009). Like Dickey I will provide full disclosure. I was President of Student Council in 2006-2007. I also lived on the Lawn that year. Unlike Dickey, I think that the ex-officio members are an extremely important part of the Lawn selection committee, because they ensure a broad representation of the University. Dickey failed to do the necessary research on this matter. The ex-officio members on the Lawn Selection Committee range from the University Judiciary Committee, Student Council and the Honor Committee to a student athlete, a transfer student, representatives from each of the academic schools and also a member from one of each of the four Greek councils as well as students representing every part of the Minority Rights Coalition.
Obviously, there are still groups and organizations not represented on the Lawn. The problem is not with the selection committee or with name-blind applications; the problem with is that there are not enough rooms. When doing Lawn selection my fourth year I stayed up until 4 a.m. and 5 a.m. several nights reading applications in awe of the things that students were doing at the University, but with only 54 rooms you can’t give everyone what they deserve. That being said, I challenge all of the Lawn applicants this year.
Those of you who received a room. You have the great burden of making sure that the Lawn fulfills its purpose of serving as a uniting point for all students of the University. If there is an organization without a Lawn resident, adopt them, you’ll make some new friends. AVP ran tryouts out of my room. I was not a member of their group and I certainly can’t sing. But that’s exactly what the Lawn is for. It’s for students. It’s for the entire University community.
Those of you who didn’t receive a room, you have the great burden of doing the wonderful things you have been doing for the past three years without losing motivation. The University is the place that you decide to make it. Lawn or not, wake up in the morning and smile. Keep doing the wonderful things that you do for the University and streak … at least once.
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