On Monday, May 11, 1970, 73% of the student body turned out to vote on the Strike and the nine demands. Follow the thread below for flyers posted around Grounds against and in favor of the strike, the referendum results, and other events of the day. #maystrikeincontext #1970UVA
The @cavalierdaily published a list of polling places on Grounds:
Flyers and posters for and against the Strike were posted around Grounds (most via the Social Movements collection search.lib.virginia.edu/catalog/u38999…)
Meanwhile, a delegation of 100 student traveled to D.C. to deliver Shannon's letter, co-signed by 5,000 students, to Virginia Senators:
The referendum drew an unprecedented 73% turnout.
68% of voters approved the chief provision backing the Strike. The results, via May Days: Crisis in Conflict:
—"In what was considered an upset, six of the demands won approval and Rugby Road-Mad Lane precinct ballots were cast by a margin of 20-1 in favor of striking."
Three demands failed to win endorsement—severance of all connection between the University and ROTC, the JAG School, and the Dept of Defense via research grants.
Only 964 supported the University's exclusion of women on the basis of sex in recruitment and admission. UVA would go co-education the follow Fall semester, 1970.
(photos from search.lib.virginia.edu/catalog/u40384…)
Over 4,500 supported a commitment by UVA to set 20% as a goal for the enrollment of black students throughout the University, a goal still not yet achieved today.
(photos from search.lib.virginia.edu/catalog/u40384…)
That night, 2000 rallied on the Lawn; a rock band played, and the dean of the College announced three academic options for students participating in the strike, responding to the educational reforms advocated by the Strike Committee:
1. Postpone the final exam until no later than October 16
2. Take the May 1 grade as the final grade
3. Submit alternative work in lieu of the final exam, subject to agreement between student and instructor
It has been a week! Tomorrow, we'll wind down our commemoration of the 1970 May Strike. We welcome your questions, reflections, and contributions.
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