Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1903-02-19
UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA.


The following is the paper adopted by
the University of Virginia Alumni Asso-
citation of Alexandria at its meeting on
Tuesday in oppositionto the bill recent
ly passed by the legislature incorporating
he General Alumni Association of the
University. .Hr r,ae
Whereas the "bill to incorporate the
General Alumni Association of the Uni
versity of Virginia." which has passed
both Houses of the General Assembly,
and is now in the hands of the governor,
contains provisions, which we believe to
be Objectionable to the great body of the
alumni of that institution and antago-
nistic to the liberal basis on which it was
founded and has heretofore been admin
istered, the Local Alumni Association
of the city of Alexandra hereby records
its disapproval of said bill, and respect
fully asks your excellency to veto it,
We hold that every alumnus of the
university ought to have the right to be-
come member of any general society
or association of alumni, which has for
its aim the advancement of the interests
of that institution, and to participate in
its meetings, upon such conditions and
under such regulations not inconsistent
with an equality of footing among them,
as may be deemed most conductive to
the success of said society or association.
This right is denied in the proposed bill
of incorporation of the so-called General
Alumni Association, which restricts its
membership to delegates from local as
sociations, to be chosen at the annual
meetings of such local association con
such basis of representation as the Gene
raj Alumni Association shall prescribe, "
and to individual alumni, to the extent
of ''sucb fraction of one vote as the con-
stitution of said General Alumni Asso-
citation shall permit" No good reason
can be given why any alumnus, who
pays his annual capitation tax to the as
sociation, and who wishes TO attend the
final exercises of the university and par
ticipate in the meetings Of the alumni
then and there held, should be deprived
of the privilege of doing so.
The number of living alumni is not
large enough to create an apprehension
that meetings on this basis would be
unweildy.
In our opinion inducements shot be
offered to attract the largest possible at
tendance, instead of imposing restric-
tions to prevent it. Again, there are
alumni of the university, of a modest
and retiring disposition, but with as
earnest and sincere desire to promote
the interests of the university as those
more pronounced in their profession,
who would consider it beneath their
dignity to canvass for an election as
delegates to the meetings of the so-called
General Alumni Association. This
class would be practically excluded un-
der the proposed charter. There is no
good reason why the local associations
should not be represented by as many of
their members as may desire to attend
said meetings, or to attend in a body
if they should so desire.
So complete is the elimination of the
individual alumnus, under the proposed
charter, that he is denied membership
in the so-called General Alumni As
sociation if his residence happens to be
at place where local association
exists, and he is not member thereof.
There may be good reasons why an
alumnus may not wish to join the local
association in the place where he re-
sides, and no penalty should be imposed
upon him for failing to do so. This
compulsory feature is not only un-
necessary but odious.
The efaccment of the alumni as indi-
viduals can subserve no good purpose,
and might be taken advantage OF in
way that would bring discredit upon
our alma mater. While the organization
of the so-called general alumni associa-
ton may not have so intended, still it is
a fact that the charter they are seeking
would enable them to create machine
organization, under the control Of q
small coterie. which could be operated
on machine methods, to the great detri-
ment of the university and the regret of
all true friends.
The principle of Capitalization which
underlies the modern trust in the do
main of trade, and the machine, in the
domain of politics is not suited to an
organization of alumni, which has for
its aim the promotion ofsound learning,
high culture and good fellowship, for all
of which our noble university has stood
in the past and ought to stand for all
time.