April 19, 1972
Discussion of strike, campus-wide representation at all-college meeting
At a chaotic all-college meeting, students discussed going on strike in protest of the Indochina War and President Nixon’s actions. The Smith Student Government President Margie Clark opined that students were “perfectly free to strike as individuals, but that action doesn’t represent Smith.” One student questioned the efficacy of striking as individuals, but the Sophian writers pointed out that “Smith College” as an institution was not striking by suspending classes, so any strike by definition would be by “Smith College students.” Despite some contention, representatives emerged with a petition and an April 20-21 strike resolution that received the following votes: 910 yes, 519 no, and 111 abstentions, two-thirds of the student body. A group that had splintered off from the all-college meeting planned more protests and concrete actions across the Five College and Pioneer Valley community.
Splinter group initiates action
[Last updated on October 29, 2018]