October 16, 1969
Page 30361
RESOLUTIONS AND PETITIONS ON VIETNAM
Mr. MUSKIE. Mr. President, I participated in yesterday's moratorium observances by returning to my alma mater, Bates College in Lewiston, Maine, to meet and talk with students, faculty members, and citizens of my State. I found there, as other Members of the Senate have found in their States, a growing concern over our involvement in Vietnam and a deepening conviction that we should disengage ourselves from that war.
At the conclusion of my speech I was presented with a resolution adopted by Bates students and petitions signed by other students and by Maine residents. I ask unanimous consent that the Bates program, including these resolutions and signed petitions, the expression of a free people communicating their views to their elected leaders, be printed in the RECORD.
There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in the RECORD, as follows:
BATES COLLEGE – WORK FOR PEACE, OCTOBER 15
(Coordinated by the advisory board)
No community which calls its goal education can ignore the pressing national issues of the day.
The war in Vietnam has had an overriding effect on this nation for more than five years and demands our immediate concern. Bates College will respond to the national call to set aside a day to focus attention on this issue.
We respond as an academic community and our response is what we judge appropriate. The initiation of the October 15 Moratorium at Bates occurred on September 28 when representatives of the faculty, students, and administration called for action. The details have been worked out at student government meetings. The responsibility for the success of October 15 as an educational experience rests with each individual student and faculty member who must make his own commitment, regardless of political views, to participate.
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
Tuesday, October 14th
8:00 P.M., Movie "A Face of War" (free), Filene Room.
Wednesday, October 15th
9:00 A.M. Movie "The Face of War" (free). Little Theatre.
8:00-1:00 P.M., Literature on Vietnam available, Co-ed Lounge.
11:00-1:00 P.M., Lewiston-Auburn community march and rally.
1:30-4:30 P.M., Teach-In, Chapel.
4:30-5:30 P.M., Resolutions presentation and vote, Alumni Gymnasium.
5:30-7:00 P.M., Dinner.
8:00 P.M., Address by Senator Edmund Muskie, Alumni Gymnasium – Students, Faculty, and Staff must enter with ID cards through Men's Locker Room Side Entrance in order to be assured preferential seating.
SUMMARY OF EVENTS
Tuesday, October 14th 8:00 P.M. Filene Room Movie, "A Face of War."
"In an atmosphere of doubt and uncertainty, this film draws away the curtain and projects a sensitive image of the war in Vietnam. It pulls no punches, claims no sides."
Wednesday, October 15th 9:00 A.M. Little Theatre Movie, "The Face of War."
A documentary portraying the horrors of modern warfare, concentrating on its weapons and its victims.
Wednesday, October 15th 8:00 A.M. to 1:00 P.M. Co-ed Lounge
Literature on the movement to end the war in Vietnam will be available at a Students for Peace table. Those wishing to make appointments for draft counseling may do so at this time.
Wednesday, October 15th 11:00 A.M. to 1:00 P.M.
A Lewiston-Auburn community march to protest the war will begin at Lewiston High School and end in a rally at the public park. Concerned Bates faculty and students will be attending.
Wednesday, October 15th 1:30 P.M. to 4:30 P.M., Chapel Teach-In
Vietnam has certainly been one of the more complex happenings to occur in our nation's history. We have heard the spectrum of impassioned pleas for action from far left to far right. We have listened to their analyses of the situation, the causes, the effects, and the solutions. The results have been less than satisfactory, yielding only anger and confusion.
The purpose of October 15th and specifically the teach-in as we at Bates are concerned is to provide a time for rational discussion on Vietnam; its history, the war, and its effect on the United States. Because we have assumed this perspective, no particular political posture is being emphasized. The teach-in will provide information both from a personal experience and academic point of view. It is hoped that this educational experience will provide the stimulus necessary in order for the Bates Community to arrive at a resolution concerning the future role of the United States in Vietnam.
The teach-in is a unique opportunity to draw upon the resources of Bates College in examining the issue of Vietnam. For the experience of October 15th to be of significance, your support and participation are of primary importance.
ORDER OF SPEAKERS FOR THE TEACH-IN
1. Mr. Cole, "The Historical Background of the Involvement of the United States in the Vietnamese War."
2. Prof. Thumm, "The Foreign Policy of the United States and Involvement in the Vietnamese War."
3. Edward Barrows.
4. Atty. Louis Scolnik, "International Law and the Involvement of the United States in the Vietnamese War."
5. David Minster.
6. Mr. P'An, "Communist China as a Factor in Determining Policies of the United States Concerning Vietnam"
7. Richard James.
8. Assoc. Prof. Gyl, "South-East Asia and the Involvement of the United States in the Vietnamese War."
9. Francisco Mendizabal-Prem.
10. Fr. Roger Chabot, "The Catholic Church and War"
11. Thomas Doyle.
12. Prof. Chances, "The Economy of the United States and Involvement in the Vietnamese War"
13. Prof. Fetter, "Vietnamese Society and the Involvement of the United States in the Vietnamese War."
Wednesday, October 15th 4:30 P.M. to 5:30 P.M. Alumni Gymnasium, Resolutions Assembly
The purpose of our teach-in is to rationally re-examine American involvement in Vietnam and attempt to reach an agreement, in the form of a resolution on the direction we feel American policy should take. A student-faculty committee was appointed by student government to draft resolutions to be presented for a vote on October 15th. This committee wrote several resolutions and presented them for revision at an open assembly of students on October 10th. The revised resolutions are printed below.
At 4:30 p.m. on October 15th the resolutions below will be voted on in an open assembly of students, faculty, and administration in the Alumni Gymnasium. It is vitally important to the success of the moratorium that all students, faculty, and administration be present at this assembly to vote on these resolutions.
RESOLUTION I
(300 present-45 in favor)
Be it resolved, that we declare our endorsement and support of the present United States policy in Vietnam.
RESOLUTION II (266 in favor)
Be it resolved, that we declare our disagreement with the present United States policy in Vietnam. Be it therefore further resolved that we urge upon the President, the Congress, and the people of the United States the adoption of a policy of immediate cessation of all offensive military action in Vietnam and a total, unilateral withdrawal of American combat and support forces to be completed no later than the end of 1970.
Because of the difficulties involved in taking a vote of 1200 persons, revisions and resolutions from the floor will not be possible. However, it is our intention to allow as much time for discussion and debate on the resolutions as is available. The resolution which receives the most votes will be communicated to President Nixon, members of Congress, and the press. It will also be presented at the evening assembly to which Senator Edmund S. Muskie will speak.
Wednesday, October 15th 8:00 P.M. Alumni Gymnasium, address by Senator Edmund S. Muskie.
OCTOBER 15, 1969.
SENATOR MUSKIE: We, the undersigned from Leavitt High School, are opposed to the continuation of the Vietnam War. We support the legislation that calls for complete troop withdrawal. We feel that the war continues to have a corrupting influence on every aspect of American life. Therefore, it must be stopped.
[List of names omitted]