Strike Committee Defeats Resolution to Disband; 11 Members Still Resign

The Harvard Strike Steering Committee gave itself a shaky vote of confidence last night after debating three hours over proper mandates and the role of the steering committee in the Harvard strike.

At least 11 of 28 members present walked out during the course of the meeting. The members-from both sides of the strike spectrum-resigned after charging the committee with dishonesty, irrelevance, and isolation.

Despite the internal friction, the full committee did vote 17-11 against a motion to dissolve and, by a heavy majority vote, to protest the Committee on Rights and Responsibilities.

The question of militancy versus non-violence was one of the controversies at the heart of the Strike Committee split. After a mass meeting of 1000 persons voted for non-violent action Sunday night, the Strike committee voted Monday night to take militant action against the CFIA today.

'Dishonest'

In tendering their resignations. many of the dissident committee members cited the "dishonesty" of the Committee's action.

"When the third mass meeting sanctioned only restricted tactics and targets. the Steering Committee saw fit to overturn majority rule." a resignation letter signed by five committee members said. "And now in its most recent call for action at the CFIA. the steering committee continues in its independent and unauthorized course."

In response to the charges and resignations, the committee issued a statement last night urging all members to return to their House and hold new elections if people thought the committee was unrepresentative.

The Committee also altered today's CFIA demonstration to an "educational mill-in"-"behind which the majority of strikers. we hope, can unite" -and called for a rally at noon Thursday to hear Dean Dunlop's reply to the demand that the CRR be abolished.

Kenneth L. Hurwitz '70. co-author of the letter, added, "In our letter perhaps we put too much emphasis on dishonesty and not enough on irrelevance."

Hurwitz said the Strike Committee had outlived its usefulness because other groups had been formed who could coordinate all shades on campus strike actions.

Arguing against dissolving the committee, employee representative Janet Hospital said, "Students can afford to go off and do their own thing. They don't need a central body. But we need a central body to mobilize support for us. Otherwise we're left out in the cold."

The CRIMSON erroneously reported yesterday that the decision to act at the CFIA was held in a closed meeting. Although parts of the meeting were closed, the meeting was open at the time the decision was made.

Strike Steering Committee Representatives who indicated they would resign are: William Doeble, Graduate School of Design: Jeffrey S. Golden '72, Adams House; Hurwitz, Leverett House; Tonia Shusta '72, North House; Joseph B. Gurman '72, North House; William F. Kuntz '72, Kirkland House; David Russell '73; Wendell Wilkie '73; Tom Gerety, Law School; and William R. Knedhk, Law School.