UVA's Bicentennial Stories initiative from WTJU 91.1 FM tells our collective story. It helps us understand our shared history and make meaning in the University today. And as we look ahead, these stories help us shape the future of the University and our role in a democratic society.

Rita Dove, Professor of English, Former Poet Laureate

“I used to think that social media and the wider dissemination of poetry was a good thing.

“But I fear the immediacy of the consumption with those poems, that they satisfy a very short attention span, and don’t make you feel uncomfortable at all. I think a poem, a really good poem, will make you feel--I don’t want to use the word ‘uncomfortable,’ but it will start to make you wonder and think about whatever they’re talking about even deeper.

“Those poems are more like popsicles, they just kind of satisfy you and then you say, Oh, good. That’s my problem with them.”

For more: www.uvastories.org

UVA's Bicentennial Stories initiative from WTJU 91.1 FM tells our collective story. It helps us understand our shared history and make meaning in the University today. And as we look ahead, these stories help us shape the future of the University and our role in a democratic society.

Rita Dove, Professor of English, Former Poet Laureate

“I used to think that social media and the wider dissemination of poetry was a good thing.

“But I fear the immediacy of the consumption with those poems, that they satisfy a very short attention span, and don’t make you feel uncomfortable at all. I think a poem, a really good poem, will make you feel--I don’t want to use the word ‘uncomfortable,’ but it will start to make you wonder and think about whatever they’re talking about even deeper.

“Those poems are more like popsicles, they just kind of satisfy you and then you say, Oh, good. That’s my problem with them.”

For more: www.uvastories.org

UVA's Bicentennial Stories initiative from WTJU 91.1 FM tells our collective story. It helps us understand our shared history and make meaning in the University today. And as we look ahead, these stories help us shape the future of the University and our role in a democratic society.

Robert Hardaway, 1949 UVa Graduate

Hardaway: “And I remember one year Count Basie had a concert in the amphitheater. The University had the dance weekends in Memorial Gym. The two big ones were Midwinters and Easter. And I remember -- I think it was 1948 -- at one end of Memorial Gym was Tommy Dorsey’s Band. He would play a set, then the lights would dim, and Xavier Cugat’s band was at the other end. And he would play a set.”

Interviewer: “What was that like, I mean, that seems like it would have been a real thrill.”

Hardaway: “Well, it’s just like today when -- if the Beatles or the Rolling Stones were to appear here. Well, maybe they’re too ancient for the Millenials, but whoever the Millennials idolize today. But same thing.”

For more: www.uvastories.org

UVA's Bicentennial Stories initiative from WTJU 91.1 FM tells our collective story. It helps us understand our shared history and make meaning in the University today. And as we look ahead, these stories help us shape the future of the University and our role in a democratic society.

Robert Hardaway, 1949 UVa Graduate

Hardaway: “And I remember one year Count Basie had a concert in the amphitheater. The University had the dance weekends in Memorial Gym. The two big ones were Midwinters and Easter. And I remember -- I think it was 1948 -- at one end of Memorial Gym was Tommy Dorsey’s Band. He would play a set, then the lights would dim, and Xavier Cugat’s band was at the other end. And he would play a set.”

Interviewer: “What was that like, I mean, that seems like it would have been a real thrill.”

Hardaway: “Well, it’s just like today when -- if the Beatles or the Rolling Stones were to appear here. Well, maybe they’re too ancient for the Millenials, but whoever the Millennials idolize today. But same thing.”

For more: www.uvastories.org

UVA's Bicentennial Stories initiative from WTJU 91.1 FM tells our collective story. It helps us understand our shared history and make meaning in the University today. And as we look ahead, these stories help us shape the future of the University and our role in a democratic society.

Robert Hardaway, 1949 UVa Graduate

Hardaway: “Well, football was my passion. And I knew that I would never play varsity football. Shortly after I got out of the service, I saw that the University had a junior varsity football program, so that’s what prompted me to come.

“I did manage to be elevated to the varsity in 1949. And Virginia had a good team. It was ranked #7 in the country.

“I was primarily a benchwarmer.”

Interviewer: “But you played occasionally?”

Hardaway: “Yeah, when we were either way behind or way ahead.”

For more: www.uvastories.org

UVA's Bicentennial Stories initiative from WTJU 91.1 FM tells our collective story. It helps us understand our shared history and make meaning in the University today. And as we look ahead, these stories help us shape the future of the University and our role in a democratic society.

Robert Hardaway, 1949 UVa Graduate

Hardaway: “Well, football was my passion. And I knew that I would never play varsity football. Shortly after I got out of the service, I saw that the University had a junior varsity football program, so that’s what prompted me to come.

“I did manage to be elevated to the varsity in 1949. And Virginia had a good team. It was ranked #7 in the country.

“I was primarily a benchwarmer.”

Interviewer: “But you played occasionally?”

Hardaway: “Yeah, when we were either way behind or way ahead.”

For more: www.uvastories.org

UVA's Bicentennial Stories initiative from WTJU 91.1 FM tells our collective story. It helps us understand our shared history and make meaning in the University today. And as we look ahead, these stories help us shape the future of the University and our role in a democratic society.

Robert Hardaway, 1949 UVa Graduate

Hardaway: “For my brief one year of service in the Navy, the G.I. Bill really put me through the University.

“The year that I enrolled, which was 1946, there was a mass influx of veterans.

“And it was a requirement that you wear a coat and tie. In fact, the professor would not let you in the classroom unless you were ‘properly attired.’

“But the environment otherwise was a very casual environment. Of course, fraternities were pretty much the social scene.”

Interviewer: “Will you tell me what parties were like back then?

Hardaway: “Probably like they are now -- bathtubs filled with gin and grapefruit juice. Well, I better not tell you anymore.”

For more: www.uvastories.org

UVA's Bicentennial Stories initiative from WTJU 91.1 FM tells our collective story. It helps us understand our shared history and make meaning in the University today. And as we look ahead, these stories help us shape the future of the University and our role in a democratic society.

Robert Hardaway, 1949 UVa Graduate

Hardaway: “For my brief one year of service in the Navy, the G.I. Bill really put me through the University.

“The year that I enrolled, which was 1946, there was a mass influx of veterans.

“And it was a requirement that you wear a coat and tie. In fact, the professor would not let you in the classroom unless you were ‘properly attired.’

“But the environment otherwise was a very casual environment. Of course, fraternities were pretty much the social scene.”

Interviewer: “Will you tell me what parties were like back then?

Hardaway: “Probably like they are now -- bathtubs filled with gin and grapefruit juice. Well, I better not tell you anymore.”

For more: www.uvastories.org

UVA's Bicentennial Stories initiative from WTJU 91.1 FM tells our collective story. It helps us understand our shared history and make meaning in the University today. And as we look ahead, these stories help us shape the future of the University and our role in a democratic society.

Robert Hardaway, 1949 UVa Graduate

“He was royalty here at the University. You know, he would wander in and out of the classroom and spent the night in whosever room on the Lawn was available.

“I played football. And we had a mascot -- a dog called Seal. When the University of Virginia went up to Philadelphia, Seal, of course, went with us. And before the game started, the cheerleaders for Penn were on one side. Seal goes over and he waters a couple of the megaphones. It was his way of telling them, ‘We’re going to beat you.’ Which we did.”

For more: www.uvastories.org

UVA's Bicentennial Stories initiative from WTJU 91.1 FM tells our collective story. It helps us understand our shared history and make meaning in the University today. And as we look ahead, these stories help us shape the future of the University and our role in a democratic society.

Robert Hardaway, 1949 UVa Graduate

“He was royalty here at the University. You know, he would wander in and out of the classroom and spent the night in whosever room on the Lawn was available.

“I played football. And we had a mascot -- a dog called Seal. When the University of Virginia went up to Philadelphia, Seal, of course, went with us. And before the game started, the cheerleaders for Penn were on one side. Seal goes over and he waters a couple of the megaphones. It was his way of telling them, ‘We’re going to beat you.’ Which we did.”

For more: www.uvastories.org