'Peace' demonstration
Demonstrators disrupt Review
SDS and war memorial demonstrators defied the administration and succeeded in cancelling the ROTC review Friday.
Asked not to enter the Memorial Stadium field, the crowd of about 200 students leaped over the stadium fences yelling "Join us. Join us."
At noon, a crowd of approximately 100 students met at the Memorial Campanile to march to the stadium where they intended to read the names of all of the 34,000 American soldiers killed in Vietnam.
behind locked gates who told the crowd the stadium would not be opened until 3 p.m.
The demonstrators milled around the fences and then decided to return to Strong Hall. At Strong they sat on the lawn and front steps and proceeded to name the war dead.
At 2:30 p.m. SDS members met at Strong as had been planned at the previous nights meeting. After a brief rally the students walked through the rotunda of Strong and proceeded to the stadium en masse.
Marching pass the Campanile the demonstrators sung the "Battle Hymn of the Republic"
and "America." As they approached the locked stadium gates, they began to sing "We Shall Overcome."
Denied admittance at the south gate of the stadium, the crowd turned its attention to the west gate. Arriving at the ramp the restless crowd was pacified by the reading of more war dead, while it waited for the 3 p.m. opening of the gates.
Suddenly the crowd surged up the ramp until it was pressing against the gate on the third level. Impatient SDS members at the front succeeded in breaking the gate and the crowd rushed into the stands with spectators
(Continued to page 20)
Memorial Stadium press conference
Photo by Joe Bullard
A sullen Chancellor W. Clarke Wescoe discusses with the press and students his "near crisis." The conference was held in the Memorial Stadium stands after the demonstrators had forced the cancellation of the Chancellor's review by refusing to leave the field.
Governor's reaction
By RICK PENDERGRASS
Kansan Staff Writer
W. Clark Wescoe, Chancellor of the University of Kansas, yesterday issued a statement containing his official stand on the disruption of the Chancellor's Review of the University ROTC cadets Friday, May 9.
Wescoe said he prepared the statement after receiving more than 2,000 letters, signatures on petitions and personal calls from people concerned about Friday's demonstration.
In his statement, Wescoe stresses the independence of the University Disciplinary Board (UDB) from other University bodies.
Early yesterday morning, Robert Docking, Governor of Kansas, was asked by the Kansan to clarify rumors that the state would intervene if further demonstrations took place on the KU campus.
He also stressed the point that he intends the University to continue to function peacefully at all costs.
"Let me first say that the state cannot and will not take any action until our intervention is specifically requested by the Chancellor." Docking explained.
8 KANSAN May 12 1969
Asked whether he had been consulted about what action to take if the Chancellor's Review were disrupted, he said, "I can only say, and I stress this, it was not on my recommendation that the review was cancelled Friday.
"I think the SDS has pushed things as far as they could push and still be tolerated. Last Friday, they went just beyond the point of toleration.
"As far as a confrontation of any kind is concerned, assuming the Chancellor does request assistance from the state, I will say that contrary to rumors, the University will not be closed.
"If you remember my stand on the hospital strike, you can see what I mean by this. The University is an essential state institution that must continue to function at all costs, and I will do all in my power to see it."
"Again, at the request of the Chancellor, there are adequate forces at hand to cope with any situation that may arise, and I wouldn't hesitate to use them in order to assure peaceful functioning of the University," Docking said.
Wescoe was asked what action he would take in the event of further disruptions, and whether state intervention would be necessary in the event of violent demonstrations. He said, "The last thing I want to do is use force. As far as state intervention is concerned, that
will only come on my request. "I am not the type of man to make threats," he explained, "I am responsible for this campus, and I intend for it to continue to
(Continued to page 20)
Photo by Halina Pawl
First obstacle overpowered
Spectators leave the stadium via the broken gate on the third level of the west ramp. Earlier ROTC and Vietnam protesters had stormed the gate feying a guard's warning that the stadium would not be opened until later. After breaking the gate the demonstrators streamed into the stands and then onto the field.
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