The Special Presidential Commission

Monday April 13, 1970

After the Student Association's reluctant withdrawal of the Abbie Hoffman invitation, the Faculty Council had recommended the formation of a special commission to explore the university's policies surrounding freedom of speech and campus speakers — a recommendation that acting President Frank Vandiver accepted. In a memorandum to the faculty, he scheduled a meeting for April 13, at 3 p.m.

However, when the time came, Vandiver called off the planned meeting of the special “Presidential Commission on the Nature of the University” after 15 to 30 students showed up uninvited. The commission consisted of faculty, administration, graduate students and undergraduates, who were tasked to create a procedure for the invitation of campus speakers as a result of the Abbie Hoffman crisis. According to the Thresher, Vandiver indicated that the group would reconvene at another time after the tensions on campus eased but did not specify when.