Lincoln University of Missouri - Archives Yearbook (Jefferson City, MO)

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The year 1969 was a year of campus upset and unrest all over the country. Lincoln ' s campus was no exception. May 9 marked the beginning of a period of campus unrest which culminated on May 19 with the burning of the Student Union Building. It all started when a list of grievances were presented to Dr. Earl Dawson, then President of Lincoln University. A group of 23 students left the office when Dr. Dawson refused to meet with the entire group. The demands consisted of four broad categories: athletes, insti- tutional shortcomings, academic and social. They demanded everything from the removal of certain administrators to the inclusion of a training table for athletes in the University cafe- teria. And of course there was the all-time complaint — poor quality food served in the cafeteria. A boycott of classes and a sit-in in the Student Union also be- gan that Friday and continued through the weekend. State troopers were called in to police the campus Monday after- noon after some students made human barricades around the entrances to most campus buildings in order to assure 100 per- cent participation in the class boycott. Monday evening State Attorney General John Danforth served a restraining order to prevent further occupation of the Union. However, the sit-in then became a sleep-out as students dragged mattresses and blankets outside the Union for a camp- out. ■T • • | Vjt Talks dragged on . . . dissatisfaction reigned on both sides . . . nerves tightened . . . the worst happened = On Monday eve- ning, May 19, arsonists set fire to Memorial Hall, Page Library and the Student Union. The first two fires were easily extin- guished. But the Union burned.

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The Tumult and the Shouting, the second play presented by the Institute of Dramatic Arts, was written by Dr. T. D. Pawley, head of the Lincoln University Department of English Speech. Lincoln Hosts IDA Company Lincoln University played host to the Institute in Dramatic Arts from June 9 to August 1, 1969. The Institute was made possible through combined grants from the United States Office of education, Bureau of Higher Education, Division of College Support, Developing Institutions Branch, the Office of Eco- nomic Opportunity and the Southern Education Foundation, Inc. Its aim was to achieve total theatre involvement for all participants. Consequently, each company member worked in all phases of production. The company consisted of thirty-one under-graduate students, three faculty participant students and sixteen staff members from over seventeen states,, Delia Dameron, Susan Lahmeyer, Phillip Spriggs and James A„ Franks made up Lincoln ' s delegation to the Institute.

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