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May Strike Alters Pace Of University,
Protests Marked By Lack Of Violence

By Rob Pritchard
Cavalier Daily Staff Writer

Few events in the University's history
have so dramatically altered the slow,
evolutionary pace of change as the
University wide strike of last May.
Planned as a two day boycott of classes
and of "life as usual" to protest her
U. S. involvement in Indochina the strike
quickly grew in strength and in size due
to the national tragedies of Kent State
and Jackson State.

As news of the killings at Kent State
spread through the University on Monday
night, May 4, an estimated 1500 students
converged on the Rotunda to vocalize
their shock over the action taken be the
Ohio National Guard Marching on Carr's
Hill, the crowd briefly met with
University Pres. Edgar F. Shannon, who
stated that he shared the students "grave
and deep concern" with the events of the
afternoon. Not satisfied with the
President's remarks, a crowd of about

300 students moved on to Maury Hall,
the NROTC building, and after a short
period of hesitation, occupied the
building.

Throughout the night the 250
demonstrators in the wardroom discussed
plans for the continuation he strike and
formulated a list of demands to be given
to President Shannon. At 5 a.m. a court
injunction was delivered to the jeering crew
which ordered the immediate evacuation of the
building. After the injunction was issued, the
occupiers of the newly named "Freedom Hall"
left in an orderly and non-violent manner.

Tuesday began with students picketing the
classroom buildings in an attempt to increase
the number of strikers, and with a noon rally
called by President Shannon to mourn the dead
at Kent State. Following the memorial service,
a rally was called by the Strike Committee on
the steps of the Rotunda during which the
demands discussed in Maury Hall were
formalized and sent on to the Student Council
for their eventual approval in their evening
meeting.

The demands, which covered a range of
University issues, included the removal of
ROTC and the Judge Advocate General Corps,
and the termination of all research related to
the Department of Defense. The removal of the
injunction, increased black enrollment,
prohibiting University police from carrying
firearms, and granting University employees the
right to strike also were made issues by the
strikers.

On Wednesday, which was "Freedom Day,"
a crowd of about 3000 gathered in front of the
Rotunda to listen to speakers denounce the
Nixon administration's Far Eastern policy.
Later in the afternoon, President Shannon