The following is part of a continuing series of historical articles which appeared in Iowa State’s student newspaper. This article appeared in the Wednesday, May 6, 1970 Iowa State Daily. It is about the Government of the Student Body’s response to the Vietnam War spreading into Cambodia and its response to National Guard soldiers killing four students at Kent State University in Ohio, which occurred on May 4, 1970.

---

The Government of the Student Body Senate last night passed a resolution calling for a 24-hour student strike beginning at noon today.

The resolution, which passed 15 to 11 after more than an hour of debate, also encourages students to participate in a central campus rally.

The rally, which includes memorial services for students killed at Kent State University in Ohio, includes discussion on U.S. military involvement in Cambodia and Southeast Asia.

The strike resolution passed by the senate was more encompassing than one proposed by GSB president Jerry Schnoor.

Schnoor’s resolution expressed concern about Cambodia and the “tragedy at Kent State” and urged only that all students participate in the noon rally.

The secretary of Faculty Council, Bob Kern, squelched rumors yesterday that the council would be meeting in emergency session to consider a Cambodia resolution.

Although several faculty members have privately expressed a desire for such a meeting. Kern said that to his knowledge none has been planned.

He read a statement from Pres. Robert Parks which endorsed GSB’s recommendation that U.S. involvement in Indo-China be discussed fully throughout the University.

According to Schnoor, Parks expressed the hope that “the subject will be discussed in all classes in which the instructor and students wish to do so.”

After the meeting Schnoor issued a statement calling for a mass student assembly at noon today and urged students to attend the rally “in view of the present national crisis.”

The senate voted itself into a committee of the whole and about 10 persons addressed the senate, all but one urging adoption of the strike.

Passage of the resolution hinged on how the senate could most effectively deal with the situation.

Points were raised on whether the senate was trying to legislate thoughts, misrepresent the students or lose credibility.

Former GSB president Denny Forsyth, who headed the student body during last year’s threatened strike over Dean Robinson’s “resignation,” said, “It’s time we’ve had a chance to see what people are thinking and a strike is the way to do it. If we as students don’t do something for this country there won’t be a country left to grow up in.”

“Iowa State University has always been the last to speak up. It’s time we became the first,” he said.

Immediately preceding the roll call vote Schnoor told the senate, “Our feeling is: ‘Get out of Cambodia and Southeast Asia and end the killing of students.’ Do what you think is right to achieve this purpose.”

The Senate-approved resolution includes three clauses, the third of which urges that today’s rally be non-violent.

GSB senators who voted for the resolution are: Wayne Dunshee, ISA; Dana Craig, S&H; Jonathan Chambers, vet med; Carl Esbeck, engineering; Kirby Hammon, at-large; Robert Nelson, at-large; Bruce Pumplin, grad; Scott Shafer, at-large; Jim Kenny, UMC; Leland Wilkins, UDA; Steve Hamilton, TRA.

As of yesterday, about 125 colleges and universities had voted to strike in protest of Pres. Nixon’s decision to invade Cambodia and the four students who were killed at Kent State.