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NY 100-161445 l. APPENDIX SIUDENTS FOR A DEMCCRATIC SOCIFTY Students for a Democratic Society, commonly known as SDS, came into existence at a founding convention held during June, 1962, at Port Huron, Michigan. From an initial posture of "participatory democracy,” Marxist- Toninist ideology of various shadincs becane predominant durin 1968-1969 with debate cantsring on how best to create are wlutionary youth movement. SDS moved from involvement in tha civil rights strugqle to an anti-Vietnam war position +9 advocacy of a militant anti-imperialist line linking up “he oppressed veoples of Asia, Rtrice end Latin America with the black liberation incvetent in the United States. All major factions within SDS embrace Marxism-Lenism and identify in iternati cnaily with Chins, Cuba and North Vietnam as countries Jeating the worldwide strugeles ‘“i.ainste the Unitcd Stxrtes. Hevever, tha Soviet Union “*S§ reqearcaed as japerinli at ond ae the Ceormunist Party, itec States of Amerie, "Nrovisicenist" in noture. SDS operated unécr a netional constitution which called for an anneal Vetreoaal Comvontisn ClO) and quarter] Itional Council meetings wherein procréems were initiated copa debated. Three naticnal officers were eiected annually with a National Interim Conmittee to run the organization. xegional offices end college chanters elected delezates to the nationel meetings but each functioned independently on local matters. Its official purlication "Fire" (formerly “New Left Notes") last aspeared in December, 1969. Internal factionalism of serious proportions vii loped during 1968 - 1959 and the follewing three factions “cvo’vsd as a result of a split at the June, 19€9, NC: “co Siperman, Worker Student Alliance (WSA), and Revol reionsary , Movement (RYM). The effect of the split on SNS chapters Lureughout the country was divisive. Some aligned with one ox the other of the three major factions. Others, unable tc if tify with any faction, disassociated with SDS completely . Paes ranged names The SDS national office in recent years was Yovecun at 1608 West Madison Street, Chicago, Tllinois. It wow. tiased in February, 1970.