On Thursday, April 30 at 10 pm, half an hour after the conclusion of Nixon’s televised announcement, 2,500 students and faculty had gathered in the University Chapel and voted for an immediate university-wide strike. According to Peter Brown ’70 in the Princeton Alumni Weekly (May 19, 1970) the word “strike” was used to mean “not a closing of the university but rather a redirection of Princeton’s energies.” How people would strike and against what precisely was decided during the assembly in Jadwin Gym on May 4^th, where three proposals were discussed. The first, which was submitted by the Council of the Princeton University Community (CPUC) and included a statement of opposition to the war and the recommendation to suspend final exams (a summary of the proposal can be heard at 1:08), won with a majority of 2,066 votes. The second, more strongly worded proposal from the “Princeton Strike Committee” (summarized at 2:38) gained 1,522 votes. The audio clip does not capture the counting of the votes for the third proposal from the “Anti-Strike Committee,” which only got 181 votes. “Resolution One urges a strike against the war. Resolution Two is a strike against the university,” said Harold Kuhn, professor of mathematical economics, at the meeting, who added that the more radical proposal from the Strike Committee would “tear apart this university by adopting simplistic solutions to complex problems.”

Princeton was, according to the national press, among the first universities to declare a strike. Protest demonstrations occurred in more than half of the universities and colleges around the country, many of which turned violent. On the day of the strike meeting at Jadwin Gym, the Ohio National Guard shot and killed four students at Kent State University, and ten days later, local police killed two student protesters at Jackson State University. Many attributed the wisdom and flexibility of President Robert Goheen’s administration as the reason that Princeton was able to avoid the turmoil and violence on campuses elsewhere. In the aftermath of the Princeton Strike, the academic calendar for the fall of 1970-1971 was revised to allow students to canvass for political change during a two-week recess before the November elections.

The photos accompanying the audio clip feature four of the faculty members who spoke at the assembly, including Stuart Hampshire (Philosophy, 1:21, 2:10, 2:29), Professor Robert Geddes (School of Architecture, 2:18)  and Stanley Kelley, Professor of Politics (1:22), sitting next to President Robert Goheen (1:22, 3:16 and 4:12), who also spoke during the meeting. The only students identified are John Semida ’72 (0:57),  Gilbert Stamp ’71 (1:38), Steve Charen ’71 (sitting on the podium, 2:11), and Rick Ostrow ’71 (3:47, far right). If readers recognize other faces or can provide information on what is depicted in the photographs, please comment on this post!