THE WILD SIXTIES

IN THE LATE SIXTIES ANGRY STUDENTS PROTESTED AND DEMONSTRATED
THROUGHOUT THE COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES OF THE UNITED STATES.
THE UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT WAS RELATIVELY QUIET THROUGH THIS
TURMOIL EXCEPT FOR A FEW INCIDENTS, ONE OF WHICH I WAS AN
UNEXPECTED PARTICIPANT. IT OCCURRED AT AN ALUMNI BOARD OF
DIRECTORS MEETING IN THE DIRECTORS ROOM IN THE FISHER BUILDING.
AS WE WATCHED FROM THE TOP FLOOR A BAND OF 200 SHOUTING,
SCREAMING PROTESTORS, CARRYING TORCHES MARCHED ACROSS CAMPUS
TOWARD US. THE TWENTY OR SO DIRECTORS IMMEDIATELY BRACED FOR A
CONFRONTATION. MINUTES LATER ABOUT 80 SHAGGY, BEARDED STUDENTS,
NON-STUDENTS AND FELLOW TEACHERS INVADED OUR CONFERENCE ROOM.
THE LEADER, WITH GREAT VEHEMENCE BEGAN TO LIST DEMANDS AND THE
THE REMOVAL OF ALL AUTHORITATIVE FIGURES. WHILE THIS HARANGUE
CONTINUED MANY STOOD ON THE DIRECTORS TABLE, GROUND HEELS AND
CIGARETTES IN CHAIRS AND TABLES AND ACTED WITH THREATENING
GESTURES. ALL PUNCTUATED THEIR REMARKS WITH VULGAR BLASPHEMOUS
REMARKS AND USED LIPSTICK AND CHALK TO DAMAGE THE WALLS WITH
EQUALLY OFFENSIVE LANGUAGE. THE PRESIDENT OF THE ALUMNI BOARD,
WHEN ALLOWED TO SPEAK BROUGHT SOME CALM TO AN OTHERWISE
UPSETTING EXPERIENCE. THEIR LEADER WOULD NOT LISTEN BUT
CONTINUED TO MAKE THE PEACE-NIK HARANGUE. AFTER ABOUT TWO HOURS
AND A BATTERY OF QUESTIONS FROM THE ALUMNI, THE GROUUP LEFT THE
BUILDING LEAVING SOME PHYSICAL DAMAGE AND A FRAZZLED ALUMNI
BOARD--FULL OF THANKS , THOUGH, THAT THE UNIVERSITY HAD BEEN EASY
AND OPEN ENOUGH TO MINIMIZE THESE TYPES OF ACTIONS ON THE
CAMPUS. THAT WAS THE LAST DIRECTORS MEETING HELD UP THERE, FOR
SOME ODD REASON. FR. CARRON NEVER MOVED OUT OF HIS OFFICE
DURING THE FIASCO.

Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT