If the congress was cautious on Vietnam, it was daring on other foreign policy issues. The delegates unreservedly condemned the American intervention in the Dominican Republic and asked the U.S. to "initiate and support any action authorized by international law to bring an end to the policy of apartheid in South Africa and South West Africa, not excluding collective military action."

In a move that surprised many observers, the congress voted to ask the U.S. to propose Communist China's admission to the United Nations.

The proposal was introduced as a substitute for the original resolution on China, which called for greater communication between the U.S. and China.

U.S. Could Set Terms

Proponents of the substitute argued that Communist China's admission was inevitable and that an American initiative would mean the U.S. could set the terms of her admission. They added that China's involvement in Vietnam and her possession of nuclear weapons made it imperative to deal with her.

"I do not favor this because Communist China is somehow progressive--she isn't--or because she deserves to be admitted--she doesn't," declared one backer of the substitution. "I favor it because such an action would serve the cause of world peace and the national interests of the United States."

The substitution was opposed by conservatives and many NSA officials, who feared it might cause some schools to disaffiliate. Their attempt to change "propose Communist China's admission to the United Nations" to "not to oppose" failed by two votes in a dramatic rollcall.

Except for Vietnam, the issue of Berkeley touched off the longest debate of the congress--five hours. The resolution that emerged gave virtually complete support to the Free Speech Movement, which organized the mas- sive demonstrations against allegedly unjust abridgements of political advocacy at the University of California at Berkeley last year.

The delegates resolved that the "non-violent protests" at Berkeley were "legitimate and responsible" because "institutional channels for redress were blocked."

'All Possible Support'

In addition, the congress directed the NSA staff to raise money for the legal defense of the Berkeley sit-ins and to provide "all possible support" to similar movements in the future.

The decisive speech was made by Ed Schwartz of Oberlin, who resembles a hulking, good-natured mole and who as chairman of the powerful Liberal Caucus was one of the most influential delegates to the congress.

"We're tired of hearing the drone of college presidents and regents who look upon a student as some sort of marionette who can be dangled through an education," said Schwartz. "We're fed up with being put off year after year, of getting promises every spring and retractions every fall."

Schwartz reviewed NSA's role as "the unheeded prophet of higher education" and received a deafening ovation when he declared:

"If ours was the prophesy, theirs was the message come true. For us now to turn our backs on their achievement, to dilute our applause with sanctimonious reprimands, to become a stern father to our own abused child would be to cry sour grapes at the success of our ends, but the failure of our means."