THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2012
CIVIL RIGHTS
PAGE 3C
Bombs, protests rocked campus in the '70s
SPENCER RESEARCH LIBRARY
African American students march down Jayhawk Boulevard carrying signs "Give us equal educational opportunities" and "Down with U.S. Imperialism and Racism."
ERICA STAAB
estaab@kansan.com
There was a time in KU's history when students had more to worry about than how to avoid different organizations vying for their attention outside of Wescoe Hall.
In the early '70s, students ventured onto a racially and politically charged campus every day. They packed up their backpacks and their courage as racial and political protests became a common occurrence.
Mike Reid, the director of KU History, said a protest on May 9, 1969, against the Vietnam War interrupted a review of the ROTC. Protesters broke down
This was just one of many incidents that progressed in violence as the year wore on. By 1970, violent protests were at an all-time high.
the gate to the field and shouted "Hell no, we won't go" and held signs that read "ROTC off campus!"
"In the time between 1965 and 1971, there were more protests than any other time in our history," Reid said. "There not only was the ROTC protest, but a protest in the streets where a couple of people died."
According to kuhistory.com, five days of violence broke out on July 16, 1970, after a 19-year-old black male was shot as he fled from local police. This ongoing
confrontation of student antiwar activists and civil rights advocates against Lawrence law enforcement was also the cause of the death of freshman Henry Rice.
Not only were there protests, but also fires because of bombs on campus.
"There was a firebomb set off in the Union that did over $1 million of damage to the ballroom," Reid said. "It was noticed by a couple of campus policemen, and students and firefighters worked to put the fire out and evacuate the building of important objects."
No specific group was ever tied to the fire at the Union on April 20, 1970, though it is
believed to be related to the tensions among student groups on campus, Reid said.
But this wasn't the only bomb set off on campus that year. On Dec. 11, a second bomb destroyed part of Summerfield Hall, injuring three students. No group took responsibility for the incident. No one was ever charged for either bombing, Reid said.
In effort to prevent more violence on campus during the spring semester of 1970, Chancellor Laurence Chalmers ended classes early and cancelled finals.
OCTOBER 29.1940
Edited by Madison Schultz
KU assistant instructor among first selected for WWII draft
KANSAN STAFF editor@kansan.com
At noon today in the nation's capital, Henry L. Stimson secretary of war, drew the first draft registration number from a historic gold-fish bowl and it was 158.
Listening to a radio in a laboratory in Snow Hall was Elmo D. Hardy, assistant instructor in entomology, who is teaching part time at the University while working on his Ph. D. degree. In his pocket was registration card No. 158. Thus Hardy became the first man eligible to be called from Douglas County for the first peacetime conscription in the history of the country.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Hardy, who live at 1323 Kentucky, were interviewed on WREN at 1 o'clock this afternoon. Both said they could "hardly believe" their senses when they heard the announcement of "158". Hardy offered the opinions that the selective service act was a good thing for the country in general, that he was ready to go if necessary, and that he was doubtful of his chances of exemption.
The Hardys have no children and came here this year from Utah. Mr. Hardy is 26 years old.
Mrs. Hardy, while surprised that the first number drawn would be the one held by her husband, said that she had no urge to cry out like Mrs. Harry S. Bell, who was in the Interdepartmental auditorium in Washington D.C. when No. 158, the number held by her only son, Harry Robert Bell, was called out. Mrs. Hardy was listening to a radio report of the drawing the same time as her husband, so they received the news simultaneously.
The bowl from which 156 numbers were called this morning contained 8,500 blue capsules, each containing a serial. The second capsule was drawn by Frank Knox, secretary of the navy. The capsules then were turned over to the expert handling crews, and they in turn made a master list of the withdrawn numbers. When this list is complete and the drawing is over, the machinery can start. An eight-page questionnaire will be sent to each draweue. He will fill this out and return it within five days. From
this, it will be determined who is available for the service and who is not. After this questionnaire is filled out, the conscientious objectors may state their claims.
After the clerical work is finished, the local board will receive its first call for men. The quota of men from each locality is determined by the percentage of available men in the state and percentage of the available men in the entire country, which is about 1,000,000.
With this addition to the Army, it is estimated that the manpower of the nation will be about 1,900,000 men, including Army, Navy, and trainees.
When the draffee is selected for duty, he must arrange his business and report to the local draft board in five days. He then will be transported to an induction station, where he must answer more questions and pass another physical examination. If he is rejected, he is given free transportation home, but if not, he is in the Army.
Edited by Joanna Hlavacek
KANSAN FILE PHOTO
Elmo D. Hardy was the first draft pick in the 1940 draft. Hardy was teaching part time at the university while working on his Ph.D.