AN APPEAL TO THE REGENTS
Today the Regents meet in plenary
session. They are expected to decide what regulations shall officially govern student
political activity on campus. We appeal to the Regents to make a wise decision. We appeal
to the Regents to act in a manner which shall begin to restore the confidence which every
student should have in our University.
The past month has been a period of
controversy at the University of California at Berkeley. In the heat of this controversy,
both the students and the Administration may at times have become unnecessarily
vindictive. Today the Regents, a body which has not as yet been party to the conflict,
must reach a decision upon the issues under dispute. We trust that in reaching their
decision the Regents consider only three criteria: that their decision be legally sound,
that their decision be morally correct, and that their decision help reduce the mistrust
and alienation which has developed on the campus.
A DELEGATION TO THE REGENTS
The following request was forwarded
by the Steering Committee of the FSM to the Regents:
To The Regents of the University of California:
We request permission to have the
plenary session of the Regents of the University of California receive a delegation from
the Free Speech Movement.
The delegation, to consist of five
members of the FSM Steering Committee, would formally present the Platform of the FSM,
which consists of a carefully formulated body of proposed regulations to govern student
political activity on campus.
The delegation would like to
discuss briefly the reasons for the changes in the present regulations which this Platform
embodies. Many of the proposed changes are motivated by problems that students encounter
as part of their every-day experience. Since these problems possibly may not be fully
understood by all parties concerned with the formulating of regulations, the delegation
feels that such discussion might be of service to the Regents, and it would be honored to
answer any questions that might be asked.
Respectfully,
Michael Rossman,
for the Steering Committee of the Free
Speech Movement
STUDENT SUPPORT
Our five-man delegation can
adequately present to the Regents the principles behind the FSM platform. But no
delegation of five could ever show the Regents the overwhelming support the student
position has on campus; only the students themselves can demonstrate this support. For
this reason, the FSM has requested that the student body accompany the delegation of five
to University Hall and wait outside while the student position is presented. This
gathering will demonstrate individual concern; it will show how many of us share the
belief that full political freedom shall obtain on campus subject only to the restraints
imposed by law and to legitimate considerations of non-interference with the functions of
the University. This show of support will be much like a vote. Each member of the academic
community must decide whether or not he wishes to be counted.
MASS MEETING SPROUL HALL NOON TO 2:00 P M
(Guests to include Joan Baez and Congressman Phil
Burton)
AT 2:00 PM THE FSM DELEGATION AND THEIR STUDENT
ACCOMPANIMENT WILL LEAVE FOR THE REGENT'S MEETING.