Creighton University - Bluejay Yearbook (Omaha, NE)

Page 29 text:

Kent State, Jordan stir student reaction Obviously a university must be concerned with its own problems first. But at the same time the university should not become so bogged down with one of its own issues that it steals completely from any concern for such things as community urban problems and national politics. Ken Burrows Junior, Arts Teach-ins, a boycott of classes, a four-day fast, a night-time peace vigil, a sit-in at the ROTC offices and two memorial Masses marked Creighton ' s observance of opposition to the Vietnam-Cambodian war and the death of four Kent State University students. These incidents also marked the end of the ' 69-70 school year. This year, only one week into the fall semester, Creighton students were again spurred into an acute awareness of national events. News of the Pentagon alert of troops for possible use in the evacuation of American citizens from Jordan produced a variety of reactions. Approximately 300 underclassmen chose to show their apprehension by a midnight Mass in the East Quadrangle. Some students read short poems and prayers; others simply thanked the rest of the group for their concern. A few students protested ROTC ' s presence on campus after President Nixon sent troops into Cambodia. The masses said the f ass again as William Manning read scripture passages to 500 students in the East Quadrangle. 25

Page 28 text:

Standing, sitting, leaning— these students showed their concern as the university said IVIass for peace. Expressing concern over the twiddle East situation, several students recited poetry and prayers before a late-night l ass. m 1 J - .V -J ,1 H HHr •JQi ' J - Nine Jesuits concelebrated a Mass as students sat attentively in the grass behind the Ad building. Masses and a hunger strike were C.U. ' s way of demonstrating concern over foreign policy. 24

Page 30 text:

Whether talking on the phone, watching TV. or going out- to eat — students find ways to keep from studying. Between phone calls and taking messages at Swanson ' s reception desk. Mike Reynolds takes time to read the paper. Rights! Freedom! these were the cries Freedom, responsibility, self-government, fires, bomb threats, ringing rifle shots — all were prominent in the daily life of Creighton ' s dorm students. June of 1970 brought the closing of Matthews Hall and an omen of dorm turmoil in the fall. The univer- sity had been operating the residence hall at a financial loss when extensive damage by an April fire prompted the administration to evacuate students and sub-lease the building. Matthews had been leased because several frater- nities wanted the dorm for housing, but a gap evolved between vocal support and actual interest and the fire displaced only 57 residents. A plea for greater self-government from the gradu- ate male students of Gallagher Hall initiated activity in the fall. The Gallagher residents passed an amended version of their original proposal through the Student Board of Governors, despite objections from several members of the student hierarchy that the idea would hurt the Board ' s status as a governing body within the university. Amid bomb threats and sniper fire undergraduate dorm students won liberalization of the token visitation rights they had received in the spring. Their proposal was passed unanimously by the Student Board and revised open dorm hours to include weekdays and extend weekend privileges. 26