96% at Brown Favor Proposal For Nuclear Weapons Freeze

In a two-day school-wide referendum this week, 96 percent of Brown University students, faculty and administration approved a resolution calling for an immediate freeze on nuclear weapons and an end to the arms race.

A bit less than 30 percent of the university population, 2621 people, cast their vote on the proposal, which--like the Kennedy-Hat-field resolution now before Congress and the freeze initiative on the state ballot in California this November--urges that the United States and the Soviet Union adopt a "mutual freeze on the testing, production, and deployment of nuclear weapons."

The Brown Disarmament Group (BDG), a student group, sponsored the referendum which was conducted by the Undergraduate Council of Students (UCS).

A rally was held in support of the resolution the second day of voting, on the university's main green Students, faculty, and one Rhode Island State legislator addressed a crowd of about 400. University President Howard Swearer made a surprise appearance to speak in favor of the referendum's proposal Swearer said he hoped "this widespread public movement would signal our elected representatives about the need for nuclear arms control."

"This kind of thing doesn't have to be limited to the realm of experts," said Neta Crawford, a member of the BDG and also coordinator of the Student Network for Nuclear Disarmament, a nationwide group centered at Brown that includes over 40 other schools.

While most students supported the resolution, they had serious doubts about the actual impact of such a statement. "Sure I voted for a nuclear arms freeze but will anyone listen?" asked Phil Calian, a freshman.

But according to Crawford, the almost unanimous vote in favor of the nuclear freeze would have an effect. She said she believes a nationwide student movement could influence legislators. Similar referendums were passed on Thursday at four other schools--Williams, Bryn Mawr, Haverford, and Marlboro.

The Brown Group, after collecting the results of all five elections plans to issue statements to the press and to send letters to President Reagan and members of congress, expressing student support for the much tallied about weapons freeze.