University of Wisconsin Madison - Badger Yearbook (Madison, WI)

Page 31 text:

The Langdon Street area, once dominated by sororities and fraternities experienced a transformation during the late '60s and early ‘70s Cooperative housing groups have invaded the area while as many as 30 local Greek organizations have dissolved. Nearly 500 students on the Madison campus live in privately-run cooperative housing. There are 15 co-ops m thecampus area, ranging from Kibbutz Langdon. a coop highlighting Jewish tradition and heritage, to the Badger Photo co op, complete with dark room facilities and a film library. Co-ops follow the Rochdale Principles, established by the Rochdale Society of Equitable Pioneers, organizers of a consumers' co-op in 1884 Membership in a co-op is open to anyone and each member has a vote. They also encourage members to share ideas and skills. Members contribute six to eight hours a week to help run the co-op. Kitchen duties, cleaning duties, and administrative jobs are handled by the members. The rent for a member costs between $50 and $80 a month, and includes everything except food. The co-ops usually lease former Greek houses because the buildings are set up for group living. The promise behind the Isaiah 5:8 group's action against Korb and the intentions of several campus coops is reflected in the expressive mural painted on the wall enclosing Le Chateau: Housing is for Living — Not Profit.” Feature By Mary Bogda 27

Page 30 text:

For Living, Not Profit When the Isaiah 5:8 group organized to block James Korb's purchase of Le Chateau co-op last summer, a community controversy developed that raised housing issues including landlord tenant practices and high rents. For three years, the building involved in the controversy was leased to the co-op. Madison Community Co-op (MCC) submitted a bid along with Korb in March '73 to purchase the building, located at 636 Langdon Street, from Alpha Chi Rho fraternity. Korb was originally granted the option to buy the building, but Isaiah 5:8 wanted the building to be used for inexpensive student housing. They were determined to stop another private landlord from buying campus houses and turning them into high-priced efficency apartments. A boycott of all Korb apartments was initiated by Isaiah 5:8. The success of the boycott was difficult to measure. but it achieved a high level of community consciousness and campus controversy. MCC was allowed to purchase the building on August 28. when Korb decided not to exercise his option to buy The Isaiah 5:8 group maintained that Korb was forced to back out because of community pressure. Korb's lawyer. Harvey Wendel. said his client had been the victim of rumors and announced that Korb has enough to take care of with what he's got. referring to the numerous apartment buildings Korb owns in the City. Jeanine Wahl of MCC said. This is the first time housing has been recovered from a private landlord and returned to the people Co-ops such as Le Chateau have become a popular type of housing on the Madison campus. 26

Page 32 text:

Anti-Pardon Rally Photos By Bob Margolies With the country still wallowing in Watergate after Richard Nixon's late summer resignation from the presidency. the campus' 1974-75 political activity blossomed early last term when President Gerald Ford granted Nixon a full and unconditional pardon. The September 9 evening rally to protest Ford's action drew a crowd of nearly 2000 persons. Since the anti-Vietnam demonstration years of the late '60s and early ‘70s. campus protests had become nearly extinct, and when they did occur, attracted sparse crowds. But the outrage at Ford's pardon of the ex president again brought UW students into the streets. Led by Michael Fellner of the newspaper TakeOver, the crowd gathered at the library mall, wound its way through the southeast dorm complex where several hundred others joined the marchers, and proceeded towards the capitol square where several speakers addressed the demonstrators. While gathered at the library mall, a Guerilla Theatre skit entitled Let's Make a Deal was presented, followed by a speech by Mayor Paul Soglm's assistant. James Rowan. Expressing the suspicions of many in attendance. Rowan remarked. I would be willing to bet my life that Nixon was granted the pardon on the day he appointed Ford. Other speakers who addressed the spirited crowd near the First Wisconsin Bank's glass structure on the square voiced a similar questioning of the ethics of the pardon. Al Gedicks. a member of Community Action on Latin America, spoke of Nixon's international interventions. When Richard Nixon resigned his office. said Gedicks. he resigned not only as a mass murderer in Vietnam. but m Latin America as well. Prof. Finley Campbell addretted spirited anti-pardon crowd. When Phil Ball, a Vietnam veteran and a committee coordinator for the mayor, addressed the crowd he proclaimed. It's good to see thousands on the street again out of gut outrage against this hypocrisy.” He demanded total amnesty for all Vietnam war resisters and political prisoners. A UW Afro-American studies professor. Finley Campbell. was the last and most vehement speaker. “We threw the bum out and another bum took his place.” said Campbell angrily. We don't care how high he is. he said of Nixon, we want to indite his ass. The rally concluded with a flag burning on the capitol steps and a visit to the police station for some of the demonstrators. A small confrontation between protesters and police officers after the rally resulted m the arrests of Rick Cap-row. Masel Bennet. Rick Serra. and Michael Fellner. 28