Friday, October 26.1979
3
Unrest at its peak in '69
BvSTEVEN KOPPES
Stoff Roseter
Demonstrations by the Students for a Democratic Society and a new chancellor, the national war moratorium and a visit from Walter Cronkite, Black Student Union demands and sit-ups at Storm Hall. And all this, unwavering alumni donations.
These were among the big KU news events of 1969
Student unrest at the University peaked in the spring of 1909, but it had been around since about the mid-1900s.
A wave of student unrest and radical action began on the KU campus on Feb. 21, 1969, when a fire bomb exploded in the Military Science building. An investigation of the anti-military incident by the Kansas Department of investigation did not lead to any arrests.
Once there, two of the demonstrators cracked open a Student Senate election poll and yelled amidst drum beats. An observer asked what they were protesting and what caused the noise.
On April 23, members of SDS staged a mock battle on Jayhawk Boulevard. Students wearing fake blood and posing as nurses saluted their comrades in Stront Hall.
"WARMONGER!" a second demonstrator stared at him
Another demonstrator ran to the Strong Hall rotunda balcony. He leaved over the balustrade and sprayed a fire extinguisher, its foamy, sticky liquid splitting into the water.
University administrators did not interfere. A Kansan report said.
Several of the demonstrators told a Kansan reporter that they did not know what or why they were protesting. Others referred to most of which referred to the Vietnam War.
The Vietnam War seemed to be the primary cause of student rebellion and unrest in the country. The outbreak of North Vietnam had ended, but hundreds of B$2 bomb raids still were ongoing.
30,000 American men had been killed since the war began.
IN MAY 1968, the SDS staged a protest against the chancellor's annual ROTC review, an honor ceremony for cadets and midshipmen. SDS wanted campus administrators to know that they were against them because they wanted the corps out of the University.
Shortly before the review was to begin at Memorial Stadium, about 200 students gathered at the stadium gates.
Chancellor W. Clark Wescoe, standing with ROTC commands, canceled the review. The 50 students were suspended by the school Board. Board for disruptions a University activity.
After jumping the fence, about 50 students ran onto the field. They joined hands and refused several requests to leave.
On Sept. 15, William Bailfort, KU Dean,
student affairs, was subpoenaed by a state
Senate committee to release the names of
21 officers in disciplinary hearings were
held privately.
STATE SEN. REYNOLDS Shultz, R-Lawrence, of the Federal and State Affairs Committee, had initiated the directive for the subpoena. State Rep. Richard Loux, D-Wichita, challenged the authority of the committee to prescribe a jury trial against Kerniziel. General Kerriziel has said that no state law had been broken during the ROTC incident.
One month later the Federal and State Affairs Committee announced that the names would not be released. Shulz had the ability to gain enough support for his proposal.
That same day, Oct. 15, about 2,500 people participated in part of the largest peaceful demonstration in the United States at that time—the national war moratorium.
Many students cut classes to hear the day's anti-war speeches by poets, professors and politicians.
OTHERS SIGNED petitions. One went to President Nixon and called for an immediate end to the war. Another denounced the military actions of Mr. Keith Sebelius, R-Norton, for signing a
letter urging Nixon to increase American involvement in Vietnam.
CBS newsman Walter Cronkite had commented on decentralized urant when he spoke about the use of a rioting cell that said that the nationwide rioting was not a leftist conspiracy and that it showed
The coordinated anti-war activity Cronite mentioned was evident in the nationwide movement to ban ROTC from college campuses.
The KU Black Student Union also was active in 1969.
Cronkite was at KU in March 1989 to give the annual William Allen Black Memorial lecture. More than 4,000 people pressed into Hoch Auditorium to hear him.
THE KU COLLEGE of Liberal Arts and Sciences faculty jumped in June 1980 to retain ROTC. The University Senate postponed its vote until April 1970 to allow further study.
On Nov. 25, members of the ISU confronted newly inaugurated Chancellor E. Michael Pfeiffer to his office. They demanded a halftime football homecoming to crown a black queen.
The following day the KU Homecoming Court hosted the Queen. It预定了 a pre-game crown ceremony and a halftime motorcade for the black royalty. The ISU accepted the event.
Chalmers acknowledged a problem but denied their request.
EIGHT MONTHS earlier the BSU had demanded and received two positions for black women on the KU pompon squad, and been an all-white group the year before.
The chacotic year of 1969 had not discouraged KU alumni Jim Hershberger and Irene Nuenmaker from supporting their alma mater.
Hershberger, a Wichita oilman and a Jayhawk tracker in the 1950s, donated $125,000 for an all-weather tartan track for the stadium.
Nunemaker, a 1922 graduate from New York City, donated $50,000 for a new building.
Looking back reveals potpourri
University Daily Kansan
This ad and other 1969 Kansan articles reflect issues of the day and social and political lives of KU students 10 years ago.
The Oct. 27, 1969 University Daily Kansan advertised tickets to the homecoming concert for $2.50, $3 and $3.50. The Turtles Steppewolf $3 and were scheduled to perform.
On the international scene, the Lebanese government agreed to negotiate a settlement with the Liberian Liberation Army (Libya) which unleashed war that built solid the Arab world.
The Vietnam War also was in the news that day. Democrats in Congress prepared to change the Selective Service System. President Nixon's request for approval of a draft lottery was scheduled to hit the House floor in early October, but the bill to eliminate student deferments.
KU students took an active part in protesting the Vietnam War. They attended a meeting in Toptea to organize national war moratorium movements in Washington, D.C. Students from all the Kansas campuses participated in role plays to the capital for the marches.
Students' political concerns were not restricted to the Vietnam War. On campus,
the Student Senate, which was formed in 1976. The senate is a student member of the University's executive committee equal the salaries of the student body president and vice president.
Drugs, especially marijuana, were a problem on the KU campus. Lawrence and Douglas County detectives had made 33 drug-related arrests since Aug. 1, 1969.
Peaceful protest
The Kansas Board of Regents recently had rescinded its five-year ban on the sale of cigarettes on Kansas campuses. Kansas officials disappointed by magazine sales the first week. The Union was accepting bids for the residence halls and campus buildings.
campus and listened to war-speeches and demonstrations.
More than 156 students gathered in front of Strong Hall for a session.
X-rated movies were as popular in 1969 as they often are now. An advertisement for "Sucubus" advised viewers to "consult your dictionary for the full meaning (of the
KU students solemnly protested the Vietnam War on a national moratorium day 15. 19. 1898. About 2,500 people marched on
title) you will not be surprised by the sophisticated subject matter of the film.” (A succubus is a demon that assumes a female form and has sex with men when they are sleeeping.)
Former students recall turmoil
Kelly Hayden, 32, executive coordinator of the Graduate School Council, remembers 1690 as a year of turmil.
The University of Kansas has not away- and peaceful atmosphere it appears to have had in the past. It still in Lawrence remember the protests and demonstrations that were coming to campus.
There were war protests and demonstrations for racial equality and equality for women, Hayden, a 1969 KU graduate, said recently.
"I got the sense in 1969 that I was part of an intellectual community. I don't have
You'll find your favorite fashions at Bostwicks 23rd and Iowa
WHEN E. LAURENCE Chalmerus was the chancellor in 1969, the administration put academics first. Hayden said, while the university's research is based on a corporate model.
that sense today. If a real idea came out of one of these classrooms, Strong Hall would be reduced to dust." Hayden said.
Cancellor Chalimers canceled finals for the spring semester of 1970 to quell the rising trend toward violence.
O'Connor said the cancellation of the review to him was insignificant. But when he received a telephone call in 1970 tried to take a microphone from Chancellor Chalmers, O'Connor felt
CAPTAIN JOHN O.'s Connery, 1970 KU student working toward a master's degree in education. He is conservative because views considered liberal in 1989 were widely accepted in his school.
Gene Wee, 31, program assistant for Student Union Activities, remembered coming to work at the Union one day to find the building and his job destroyed by
WEE. A 1970 graduate of KU, opposed the Vietnam War, but questioned the demonstrators' dedication to peace.
Roadstar RS 3700 Car Stereo $425.00 Value SALE $199.00
"We had people killed here and a building burned down." Wee said.
Installed
1 Year
Free
Replacement
Warranty
FREE RADIO INSTALLATION with this coupon
O'Connor was in Army ROTC in the spring of 1989 when the annual ROTC review ceremony was interrupted by anti-communist illustrators. The ceremony was canceled.
Brighter Roads JU
843 9630
1420 W 23rd
Save over 50% on each great Rroadster SR 3700 AM- FM cassette, with Auto Search Tuning LED dual indicator, Auto Locking and Locked Fast Forward/Rewind. Same features as Rroadster SL.
--students good food at a low price. And we give that personal touch—hard to find at other eating places.
HENRY'S RESTAURANT
SIXTH & MISSOURI 843-2139
DRIVE-IN
Go With A Tradition
Henry's has become an 'esting place tradition' in Lawrence. Family owned and operated for 13 years, Henry's has served KU students good food at a low price. And we give that personal
To help celebrate the Big Day, Henry's is offering a HOMECOMING SPECIAL!
Buy a quarter-pound hamburger and medium drink—get an apple turnover FREE!
good Sat. only
Imagine the taste of . . .
a steaming mug of cinnamon-laced apple cider to toast the victory, a hearty portion of rich lasagne in spicy tomato sauce to restore your vitality or a "Hot Fudge Lover's Banana Split" to ease your disappointment. Picture a pizza that captures the zesty taste of a taco, a mug of Capcino coffee for a pre-game drink, a sweet dessert that you can astonish the hungriest group (12 or more). Dream of sipping an old-fashioned chocolate soda in a turn-of-the century atmosphere. Julie's has it all. Come in and indulge!
Hours
1 a.m. to Midnight
Monday to Thursday
11 a.m. to 1 a.m.
Friday and Saturday
11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Sunday
Hours: