For many years prior to 1970, Nevada Governor's Day was the occasion for honoring ROTC cadets, with the governor in attendance to review future officers. In 1970, the occasion was held coincidentally in the same week President Richard Nixon ordered American troops into Cambodia, and four students were shot to death by National Guard troops at Kent State University in Ohio.

The same day Governor's Day was held, May 5, a peace rally was held by students opposing the war and the military policies of the federal government when the rally became a march toward the Governor's Day ceremony. The marchers walked around the field where military exercises were being held, and while some demonstrators filed into the stands, shouting anti-war slogans, others went onto the field and threatened to disrupt the ROTC cadet drill.

The episode ended without violence, but a substantial segment of the community was outraged. They voiced their disapproval to the president of the University, N. Edd Miller, with letters and petitions. A local newspaper printed a letter to the editor calling on the university to discharge faculty that urged and directed the disruption and the expulsion of students that participated. The letter urged any reader who agreed with the sentiment expressed, to clip, sign, and forward it to the university administration.

This collection consists of the letters and petitions sent to N. Edd Miller concerning the Governor's Day ceremony and protest march, and the clipped newspaper columns which were signed and sent, often with attached letters.

Copy and literary rights not owned by the University.

3 linear in.

University Archives

Please direct questions to James Bantin
Updated August 13, 2008