Illinois Wesleyan University - Wesleyana Yearbook (Bloomington, IL)

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than relevant action . . . then this university is indeed in distressf, The Hnal reaction came from the President: Shall we cancel commence- ment? Seniors had two choices, keep it, as traditionally done, or cancel it altogether. A curious group of concerned seniors trudges to the Presidentls home late one night to ask for a compromise ballotf keep commencement, WITH student-de- sired changes. The class vice-president, the leading lady of the drama department, previously S'silent seniors, a few of the old guard ofleaders, a couple radicals. A senior class meeting also requested a compromise ballot: It should be made known that each senior has the constitu- tional right to express himself within the limits of the law at graduation. If you vote against this, you're denying the constitutionfl said one senior. 33 seniors voted no anyway . . . 27 others didnlt vote at all. Also debated, more violently and emotionally, was a ballot provision that we give support to those seniors who choose to wear lawful symbols on caps and gownsfl If they can wear peace symbols, why can't I wear beer cansf' questioned a right-wing leader. The final result: Seniors voted to hold commencement, with several changes re- quested for 1971, and with free expression of views through symbols allowed. The wearing of peace symbols became the chief topic of university conversation. Right-leaning students expressed their dis- taste for any 'fdisruptionv of commence- ment, while another senior commented, It is a heart-sickening affair when a peace symbol can elicit only hatred? Alumni were upset . . . so were faculty, some of whom refused to participate in commencement activities. Sorority sisters refused to speak to other sisters . . . tempers flared . . .1 the class was soon a class divided. The symbols were made, distributed. The commencement marshall refused to let seniors wearing them in the line . . . orders from higher up countermanded him. Some Uliberalw seniors who had loudly proclaimed their intentions to wear the symbol lost their resolve when parents arrived, when faculty criticized. My father would kill mel' said seniors, adults, preparing to take their rightful place in the world. For some, commencement was a happy time, a family reunion. Peace symbols, upside down flags, Kent State-they meant nothing to them. HWhy should I worry about people in other places?,, For others, sick at heart, disillusioned with supposedly liberal faculty, disap- pointed in close friends, commence- ment was a welcome end to the emotional problems and hassles of the last few months of their Wesleyan careers. For others, commencement was only one more struggle in a long battle for the elusive Hpeacef' 1 e S45 EH Spring, 1970, Wesleyan: demonstrations, hate, arson, peace symbols, thought, emotion . . . kite- flying, love on the quad, derby day, class-cutting. . . Had it changed? Had it grown? Was it worth it? Why? Who cares? by Kathy Larey Lewton, IWU '70

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goals and motivations of this loosely- organized group of students overrode stereotypes, prejudices. Harmony did not pervade the entire university, however. Students and faculty were outspoken in criticism, labeling the ACP members peace freaks,', f'Commu- nistsf' 'gradicalsf' In classrooms and the Commons, dorms and Greek houses, argu- ments and tempers flared, as emotion overrode reason, passion triumphed over logic. Senate lined up with ACP, supporting its agenda, giving funds, asking for class cessation 'gto symbolize our outrage over recent events at Kent State University . . . This last request was partially granted, causing more student criticism. President Eckley did comment that 6'The university supports the efforts of students to express themselves on Cambodian in- tervention and other issues and com- mends their reasoned approach of Wesleyan studentsf' A march, A march-Wesleyan is having a real, live march. Over 300 Wesleyan stu- dents lined up, dressed in black and dark colors, some excited, some apprehensive, some quietly thoughtful, to meet with ISU students for the march. Eerily silent, the two groups of students walked through downtown Bloomington, in an expression of concern, protest, grief, outrage. The marchers were a strange lot. Some of the people expected to be thereelike the newly-elected Senate officers-were con- spicuously absent. Some people you never dreamed would be thereflike sorority girls and even fraternity guys, and your roommate who you thought was straightflead the ranks. A rally, speeches in local churches . . . the Kent State activities ended, gone, and all too soon forgotten. Back to kite-flying and class-cutting. Presser's burning! Campus tension, quieted after the Kent march, rose again, as so- rority houses were sure they were next on the arsonist's list, and administrators took to staying all night in university buildings. Music majors wept, students were somber, as Presser flamed. Not typical springtime fun . . . who ever thought there would be ARSON at Wesleyan?'? University division was again heightened during the Great Commencement Con- torversy. Administration selection of Illi- nois Governor Richard B. Ogilvie as commencement speaker had drawn sting- ing criticism from seniors, who claimed they were not consulted in the choice. When a senior appeared at Honors Day with an upside-down flag on his robes, and another senior flashed the upeace sign from the podium, reaction was swift. Faculty and students denounced the student, others stood behind him, others emphasized his RIGHT to wear the flag upside down. We were greatly disturbed by the senior who did mistreat the flag . . . said one Argus letter, while another countered When this university can no longer tolerate peaceful dissent, when tradition becomes more important

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M 'm-sm-.a. X we In the Glass Menagerle of Holmes Hall John L. Clark, PhD., is seen at left to have survived this his first year at IWU. For- merly associated with Sonoma State College and San Francisco State College in California, he is now head of Wesle- yan's academic offices in his role as Dean of the University. Dr. Clarkis warm sense of humor, sharp wit, and practical coun- sel is becoming known among students despite his burdens of ultimate responsi- bility for the tortuous and convoluted creature that the Academe often seems to be. James R. Barbour, Registrar, at his com- pendium files below left, is known to those students perplexed by the techni- cal intricacies of the creditfdraft relation- ship, and those who at some time have needed to disect their official academic profile. Hal Wassink, Associate Dean of Students, Judith Vance, Assistant Dean of Students, and Jerry Jensen, Dean of Students, act as masseurs and masseuse to the student body in their allocating of housing, spe- cial consideration and counseling. Atten- dent to the various student organizations, especially Senate, they are the most approachable administrators and the most likely sniped at. ,K , tri- lr, 1 E sri,