Northeastern University - Cauldron Yearbook (Boston, MA)

Page 28 text:

also added that the funds for any major expansion were not avail- able. In January, 1975, the university did produce a master plan. Father Case said the plan was the first time the university ac- knowledged the existence of the Fenway community. The Rev. Colin Gracey of the chaplain ' s office (and a member of FIG), said North- eastern was finally beginning to hear the needs of the community, but only after many difficulties and legal problems. Father Case said the relationship between the university and the community could have been much better but the school needed a conscience-minded adminis- tration. He said many students were involved in various community projects in the Fenway but the uni- versity corporation was not. Compared to Harvard and MIT, Northeastern is far behind in realiz- ing its responsibility to the commu- nity, said Fr. Case. He added that because the university was being sued less than other institutions did not mean that it had fewer prob- lems. Northeastern shared the same problems of all institutions while ex- panding into the community — the residents said the university was swallowing up the neighborhood and offering little to the community in return. However, the university had much to offer the community, ac- cording to the Jan., 1975, master plan. Included were educational pro- Motorcycles parked on the sidewalk and chained to light poles are a sign of the high crime problem felt in the neighborhood. grams for part-time students with open admissions, the library, and Reading Clinic. Other programs available includ- ed cultural events such as Ford Hall Forum, The Silver Masque, various music concerts, movies, and dance recitals. Unfortunately, many residents were unaware of the activities and did not participate. The Fenway in the 1970s was a motley gathering of students and professionals, rich and poor, old and young. Community service in- stitutions such as the food co-op and the Fenway Health Clinic grew with more students becoming in- volved in the workings of these or- ganizations. At the same time the neighbor- hood was also politically growing, said Fr. Case. He said residents were becoming aware of their rights and of the injustices that were occurring in the community. A bleak, barren, air of despondency hangs over Hemenway Street. Several of Northeastern ' s dormitories share the crowded living space of the overpriced old apartment buildings on the street with the areas older residents. 24 The people of the community were speaking out more for their rights and politicians were listening and responding. Responses were at times unfavorable to Northeastern the corporation but good for the Fenway and Northeastern commu- nity in general. One of the university ' s major goals was to seek out community needs that were not met by existing institutions and to attempt to meet these goals through co-op, said Rev. Gracey. In the 1950s and 1960s North- eastern expanded to meet these needs, he said. Then in the 1970s, the birth rate declined and the number of students attending col- lege fell off. The university needed to continue expanding to bring in revenue needed for survival, Rev. Gracey said. Programs had to move in all directions to attract more students. The Fenway community began to organize against the growth of in- stitutions and for survival of the community. Rev. Gracey said Northeastern was in a dilemma of attempting to meet both community and university needs at the same time. The university was attracting more quality professors and for- getting its original concept of at- tempting to meet community needs, said Rev. Gracey. As more and more new people came into the university from out- side the neighborhood, the promis- es of help faded, he said. The rela- tionship between the university and the Fenway community did not ap- pear promising. — Mary Concannon

Page 30 text:

The top man: President Thieu visiting government posts in Danang Citizens and soldiers await transport to Neak Loeung. For Americans, peace in Vietnam January 15, 1973 - After 12 years of hell the American in- volvement in Vietnam ended. There were no parades; just sighs of relief and remarks of it ' s about time as Richard Milhous Nixon, the 37th President of the U.S., said after four years he had finally achieved peace with hon- or in Vietnam. The people of South Vietnam have been guaranteed the right to determine their own future without outside interference, said Nixon. The American people were in no mood to celebrate. The war took the lives of over one million per- sons, including 46,000 American soldiers, according to Time Maga- zine. It was difficult to find honor in a war that maimed, killed, and left homeless so many innocent women and children. This honor was best exemplified by the My Lai massacre. March 16, 1968, a com- pany of American soldiers, led by Lt. William Calley, killed over 175 civilians in the village of My Lai, South Vietnam. Yet the world continued to hope and pray for peace as it had many times since 1961. In December, 1968, when President Lyndon Johnson ordered a halt to the bombing, many people though that peace was at hand. However, the nation was to learn otherwise. In May, 1970, United States forces invaded Cambodia. Nixon, on the eve of the invasion said, If, when the chips are down the world ' s most powerful nation . . . acts like a pitiful, helpless, gi- ant, the forces of anarchy and to- Villagers carrying seriously wounded victim of Communist attack on Pochentong Airport in Cambodia. 26