"Ten Historic Days in May"

Above, this was the scene for much of the week on the lawn in front of Williams Hall as students carried on a peaceful strike at Bowling Green. The speeches and rallies were an integral part of what one student called "working it out and talking it out". Right, President William T. Jerome III (right) and three vice-presidents (from left) Dr. Stanley Coffman. Dr. B. D. Owens, and Dr. James Bond listen to students at a rally on the steps of the Administration Building.

TEN HISTORIC DAYS IN MAY

As college campuses across the country erupted in violence last week, Bowling Green State University retained its cool and kept its doors open.

In the aftermath of the announcement that American troops had been moved into Cambodia and the death on Monday of four Kent State University students under the rifles of Ohio National Guardsmen students at Bowling Green took their stand— but did it without violence.

"Our students have done a great job," said Dr. James Bond. Vice President of Student Affairs. There was little doubt of that. Students, faculty, and administration worked together to keep rallies non-violent and orderly.

But mainly it was the students.

With the tragic incidents at Kent State came a new intensity and thoughtfulness which covered the entire campus. Students appointed their own marshals to keep parades and demonstrations peaceful, frequently repeated words during the five tense days were: "non-violent", "peace", "keep it cool", and "Treat everyone as an individual".

The issues at Bowling Green had started to emerge even during the last few days of April. A few students began a move to abolish credit for ROTC, but the drive gained little support among students or faculty.

Then, on April 29, the Black Student Union presented Vice President Bond with a list of eight requests that quickly took on the tenor of demands and called for administration action within a week

The following are the requests that the Black Student Union presented to Dr. Bond:

1. Active recruitment of Black students, in order to increase the Black student enrollment to 10 per cent, and supportive services for this increased number of students;

2. Immediate initiation of a project to establish a Black Studies Curriculum;

3. Active recruitment of qualified Black professors and administrators;

4. Greater exposure of the Black man's culture and contributions to the world, specifically redecoration of the Rathskeller, as designed and approved by the Black Student Union, as an integral part of the University and allotted funds to maintain its operation;

6. A committee be formed to evaluate end reform:

a. The system for recruitment and the subsequent treatment of Black athletes;

b. The investigation and disposition of reported cases of racial discrimination;

c. De facto segregation in off-campus housing;

7. Disarming of all campus police (mace and firearms);

8. No reprisal from the University be taken against anyone supporting this movement; but no amnesty granted anyone who is caught breaking the law through vandalism or disruption.

MONDAY, MAY 4

The incidents at Kent State University on May 4 triggered a quick reaction on the Bowling Green campus. Soon after news of the tragedy reached here, about 100 students moved to the second floor of the Administration Building where the offices of President William T. Jerome III are located. The students requested that classes be cancelled for the rest of the week.

The demonstrators soon moved to Williams Hall which was to become the forum for much of the week to follow. President Jerome cut short a meeting with department chairmen, which he had called in the University Union on the issues of the Black Student Union, to speak to the students.

He said that on the recommendation of the department chairmen and the vice presidents that Tuesday morning classes would be cancelled so that a teach-in to discuss the meaning of the events at Kent Slate could be held. In addition, a memorial service was scheduled for the Kent State dead.

In the evening, a group of about 1,500 persons gathered at the Student Services Building and formulated a list of issues to be presented at the Tuesday morning teach-in.

TUESDAY, MAY 5

Tuesday dawned sunny but cool. More than 3,000 persons gathered for the 9 a.m. rally, which began with the memorial services. The audience was solemn. Evidence of the effort to keep events under control were already apparent as student marshals, who wore purple arm bands, appeared in the crowd.

Following the memorial service, several students and faculty members spoke to the audience about the current issues. Two students then recited the list of questions which had been agreed upon by a consensus of those al the Student Services Building Monday night.

The list of questions included the following:

1. Condemnation in advance of all violence on the Bowling Green State University campus;

2. Student representation on the University Board of Trustees;

3. Establishment of a community council consisting of one-third student representatives, one-third faculty representatives, and one-third administration representatives;

4. Disarm campus police, and permit no guns on campus;

5. Access to student files in the Administration Building al all limes;

6. Violators of narcotics laws should be dealt with by the University rather than the Bowling Green courts;

7. Residence hall autonomy and beer on campus;

8. Meal tickets based on meal consumption;

9. Total support of the Black Student Union requests;

10. Continuance of student-teacher deferments;

11. Condemnation of the United States expansion of the Viet Nam War into Cambodia;

12. University's use of its vote as a stock holder in war material-producing corporations to prevent manufacture of war materials;

13. Condemnation of the use of National Guard troops at KSU, and that President Jerome should personally convey this condemnation to Governor James A. Rhodes;

14. Immediate removal of National Guard troops at Kent and discontinued use of such troops on any Ohio campus;

15. Cancellation of classes for the remainder of the week.

The request for cancellation of classes received a mixed response. Many felt that more could be accomplished if classes continued.

President Jerome supported this view. When he spoke at the rally, he announced that classes would resume at 1 p.m. and would continue throughout the week. He urged class discussions of the situation but maintained that the normal academic processes should continue.

"I have no intention of having police or National Guard troops on this campus. I think you the students can solve your own problems," he said.

A second meeting of 1.000 students was held in the afternoon on the steps of Williams Hall. Its purpose was to organize a student strike or boycott of classes to demonstrate sympathy with the Kent students and to protest expansion of the Viet Nam War into Cambodia.

To gain support for the strike, this group formed revolving picket lines at the entrance of every academic building.

Meanwhile, Black students, led by John Scott, instructor in speech and one of the advisers to the Black Student Union, moved to the area east of the Administration Building and on to its first two floors in an attempt to refocus attention on their requests of the previous week. They called for an immediate progress report on their proposals.

President Jerome came to the steps outside the building to discuss the issues, but he never got beyond the first demand concerning the number of Black students enrolled at the University.

Later in the afternoon, nearly 3,000 students appeared at the regularly scheduled meeting of the Faculty Senate. The meeting was moved to the forum of the Student Services Building to accommodate the crowd.

Students indicated their support of a resolution that classes not be conducted on Wednesday President Jerome spoke against the proposal which unanimously passed the Faculty Senate. In view of the Senate action, he agreed to cancel Wednesday's classes.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 6

On Wednesday morning, students continued their peaceful actions, participating in several workshops conducted by faculty or students topics under consideration and leaders of the discussion groups included: Guerrilla Theatre. Phil Schenk; Environment and Ecology, Marie Hodge; Violence in American Society, William Reichert; Non-violence and Humiliation in Academe, Trevor Phillips; The Contagious Psychology of Aggression, Marvin Kumler; Southeast Asia and U. S. Foreign Policy, William Shuck; Ethical Non-Violence, Archie Jones; and a spontaneous discussion of ROTC on campus, D. C. Roller.

THURSDAY, MAY 7

Class attendance on Thursday was down one-half to one-third in many instances as individual students exercised their option not to attend classes.

Several workshops again were conducted on the central campus lawn lo give students the opportunity to further discuss issues.

Although President Jerome had originally scheduled Friday. May 8. to reply to Black student proposals. BSU pressure mounted for a public response. He cut short an informal teach-in he was holding on the inner campus with some 50 students and moved to the steps of Williams Hall at 3:30 p.m. to give administration answers to the questions.

Sharp disagreement arose when the President outlined plans for active recruitment lo increase Black enrollment immediately.

Gerald Dillingham, a BSU spokesman, said the plan would fail because the University was not taking complete enough steps to assure financing for the Black students who would like to come to Bowling Green.

Tension, high for a few moments, calmed later after a meeting between Black Student Union representatives, two student observers, and the President and Vice Presidents. By 7 p.m., Dillingham said that he believed that all of the Black Student proposals had been answered.

The complete list of Dr. Jerome's responses to BSU follows:

BSU request to initiate active recruitment of Black students and to set as a goal an increase in their enrollment at Bowling Green by 500 by fall, 1971: the administration agreed to provide financial aid packages with a guaranteed total value of $350,000 to help in encouraging Blacks to enroll here, assuming continued State and Federal support dollars.

Black Studies Curriculum: a center for Ethnic or Black Studies in the College of Liberal Arts will be recommended and should be underway by September, 1970. Approximately a dozen courses focusing on Black culture were already planned or being offered. Provisions will be made for graduate assistantships, academic space, and budgeting for curriculum development.

Recruitment of faculty and staff: the University had already authorized a recruitment program under the direction of John S. Scott, instructor in speech. A budget has been approved to cover recruiting costs with positions reserved for three qualified individuals if such can be identified.

Greater exposure of Black culture: student affairs activities will be coordinated with the Black Studies Program throughout the year. The redesigning of the Rathskeller will be completed by June, 1970; and a collection of books on Black culture will be placed in the library within 10 days.

Recognition of BSU: additional funds of not less than $5,000 will be allocated to Student Council for reassignment to the BSU as a budget for 1970-71.

Formation of an evaluation and reform committee: The University Committee on Human Relations will establish a survey committee in cooperation with the Vice President of Student Affairs to review and report on Black student grievances.

Campus Police: The President's Advisory Council will study present policies relative lo carrying firearms and will report to the Board of Trustees at their October meeting. Until the study has been completed, the campus police will remain armed.

Reprisal and Amnesty: the University agrees with the BSU request that no reprisal should be taken against anyone supporting the BSU movement and that no amnesty will be granted to anyone who breaks the law through vandalism or destruction.

Throughout these discussions the President took the view that the University's record of accomplishment for a disadvantaged student was impressive. He was willing to commit the University to greater efforts on behalf of the Black students but said he had "no magic wand to accomplish unrealistic goals.”

FRIDAY, MAY 8

A warm, quiet day on campus. Many students left in rented buses to participate in the Columbus march. Those who stayed on campus moved quietly.

By late afternoon, only a handful of students stretched out in the sun on the grass of the central campus. There, only hours before, Bowling Green had proved to the world that campus differences can be resolved by non-violent discussion.

"Their efforts to date deserve the maximum words of praise and approval for an effort and activity well performed. If our news media will recognize the good and the positive accomplishments and activities in an equal form and degree to the negative acts, all of our country will realize that we are going to turn our nation over to a people who may do a far better job with it than this generation has." he said.

The Student Action Committee has announced that speakers from the Committee are available to alumni and parents groups.

Richard Schager, of the Committee, said that interested groups may write the Student Activities Office for information.

The Alumni News acknowledges the BG News for its contribution of photographs, and the following photographers: Brian Steffens. Mike Arloski, Alex Burrows, Glenn Eppleston, Al Oberlin, and Phil Haller; and the University News Service.

AFTERMATH: SOME STUDENT VOICES

Dan Vellucci. a senior cadet in ROTC, joined the leadership of the Strike Committee because as he said. "I am a human being and a student first and a cadet second."

He pointed to the long range and positive aspects of the events at Bowling Green.

"In the national media, every time there is a demonstration they cover it. At Bowling Green, we got the people to respect us. We worked with the Black students. We cooperated with the faculty and administration. I think we have established a tradition of non-violence here." he said

A senior in American Studies. Vellucci said that his studies of history have led him to take the Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights very seriously.

"Last week was the most memorable event of my life. I was more than just a student at Bowling Green. I was part of a national cause. I was so proud of this University," he said.

Vellucci said that the marshal system students used here Is almost a necessity in demonstrations.

"We wanted lo stress non-violence. And the marshals did a great job. But, in a sense, each student at the candlelight march was his own marshal," he said.

Vellucci also served on the White Paper Committee last summer which defined creative goals for the University.

"But," he said, "the students had never really had any issue where they could show this kind of unity."

He said Bowling Green students felt a kinship with the dead students at Kent State.

"We knew if we were going to do something, it had to be non-violent." he said.

Vellucci said that the week awakened many students to the ways in which the nation and the culture can be improved:

"When the year 2,000 comes, judgment will be passed on those who are now students. We won't be able to say our parents gave us a terrible world anymore. If we want to straighten things out. we had better start now," he said.

Rich Schager, another of the Strike Committee leaders, said that non-violence was almost assumed from the beginning.

"We felt that having no violence would make the Strike as educational as possible," he said.

"Aside from the Issue of Black students on campus. very few people saw this as a conflict with the administration. White students supported the Black students. but they were more concerned about Cambodia and Kent State."

Schager said that a strike in protest of President Nixon's movement of troops into Cambodia had already been planned for Thursday and Friday and that the incidents at Kent State only hastened the plans.

Schager pointed to the administration's understanding of the Strike.

"There was a great readiness to take into account what the students were feeling," he said.

Schager said that the involvement of students on University committees and the Commission on the Mission of last summer were worthwhile and may have helped keep the lines of communication open.

"Serving on these committees was valuable experience for the students involved," he said. Schager said that in the past he had been able to communicate with both President Jerome and Dr. Bond.

Schager also pointed to the emergence of a new kind of student leadership during the week.

"The movement really didn't need any leaders. It had a momentum all its own. It was spontaneous. The Strike Committee really had about 25 people, but the membership was rotating. Decisions were reached by informal consensus. Everyone did what they thought was most important," he said.

"The week was dominated by concern for national affairs." Schager said, "but by late in the week it had returned lo concern for the University."

"The New University." he said, "was a direct result of this concern."

Schager said that the momentum that built during the week was the result of a mass student movement which finally reached Bowling Green.

"We were surprised when 7,000 showed up for the candlelight march." he said.

John Thomas, senior in English, said that the attitude of the administration has not been one of capitulation to student requests.

"The administration has merely responded to competent student leaders. Intelligently, reasonably, and preparedly. Before, the administration only heard the voices of the loudest students," he said.

He said that the target of the rallies, and the strike, was not the administration. "But," he said, "administrators represent and sometimes defend the problems that the students see."

Thomas said that the events of last week placed all the responsibility on the students themselves. He said that the absence of security officers only accentuated the responsibility the students felt.

"I have served on the Curriculum Committee in the College of Education and on the Academic Council. Other students have served on the President's Advisory Council and many other committees. Discussions which took place in these groups a year ago helped each group understand their mutual problems," Thomas said.

As a result, Thomas said that when he offered the idea of a letter to parents to explain the climate on the campus. The administrators and faculty he talked to already knew him.

"Students have learned how to see a problem and take steps to solve it here at Bowling Green," Thomas said. "We have proved that we can work it out and talk it out."

Thomas said that he was happy the New University with its S and U grading system (pass-fail), had been the tangible result of the week.

"We can get some worthwhile dialogue on the pass-fail system. I'm glad to see it. Some faculty are opposed to the pass-fail system because they say students will do the absolute minimum to get by.

AFTERMATH: SOME STUDENT VOICES

Dan Vellucci, a senior cadet in ROTC, joined the leadership of the Strike Committee because as he said. "I am a human being and a student first and a cadet second."

He pointed to the long range and positive aspects of the events at Bowling Green.

"In the national media, every time there is a demonstration they cover it. At Bowling Green, we got the people to respect us. We worked with the Black students. We cooperated with the faculty and administration. I think we have established a tradition of non-violence here." he said

A senior in American Studies. Vellucci said that his studies of history have led him to take the Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights very seriously.

"Last week was the most memorable event of my life. I was more than just a student at Bowling Green. I was part of a national cause. I was so proud of this University," he said.

Vellucci said that the marshal system students used here is almost a necessity in demonstrations.

"We wanted to stress non-violence. And the marshals did a great job. But, in a sense, each student at the candlelight march was his own marshal," he said.

Vellucci also served on the White Paper Committee last summer which defined creative goals for the University.

"But," he said, "the students had never really had any issue where they could show this kind of unity."

He said Bowling Green students felt a kinship with the dead students at Kent State.

"We knew if we were going to do something, it had to be non-violent." he said.

Vellucci said that the week awakened many students to the ways in which the nation and the culture can be improved:

"When the year 2,000 comes, judgment will be passed on those who are now students. We won't be able to say our parents gave us a terrible world anymore. If we want to straighten things out, we had better start now," he said.

Rich Schager, another of the Strike Committee leaders, said that non-violence was almost assumed from the beginning.

"We felt that having no violence would make the Strike as educational as possible," he said.

"Aside from the Issue of Black students on campus, very few people saw this as a conflict with the administration. White students supported the Black students, but they were more concerned about Cambodia and Kent State."

Schager said that a strike in protest of President Nixon's movement of troops into Cambodia had already been planned for Thursday and Friday and that the incidents at Kent State only hastened the plans.

Schager pointed to the administration's understanding of the Strike.

"There was a great readiness to take into account what the students were feeling," he said.

Schager said that the involvement of students on University committees and the Commission on the Mission of last summer were worthwhile and may have helped keep the lines of communication open.

"Serving on these committees was valuable experience for the students involved," he said. Schager said that in the past he had been able to communicate with both President Jerome and Dr. Bond.

Schager also pointed to the emergence of a new kind of student leadership during the week.

"The movement really didn't need any leaders. It had a momentum all its own. It was spontaneous. The Strike Committee really had about 25 people, but the membership was rotating. Decisions were reached by informal consensus. Everyone did what they thought was most important," he said.

"The week was dominated by concern for national affairs," Schager said, "but by late in the week it had returned lo concern for the University."

"The New University." he said, "was a direct result of this concern."

Schager said that the momentum that built during the week was the result of a mass student movement which finally reached Bowling Green.

"We were surprised when 7,000 showed up for the candlelight march." he said.

John Thomas, senior in English, said that the attitude of the administration has not been one of capitulation to student requests.

"The administration has merely responded to competent student leaders. Intelligently, reasonably, and preparedly. Before, the administration only heard the voices of the loudest students," he said.

He said that the target of the rallies, and the strike, was not the administration. "But," he said, "administrators represent and sometimes defend the problems that the students see."

Thomas said that the events of last week placed all the responsibility on the students themselves. He said that the absence of security officers only accentuated the responsibility the students felt.

"I have served on the Curriculum Committee in the College of Education and on the Academic Council. Other students have served on the President's Advisory Council and many other committees. Discussions which took place in these groups a year ago helped each group understand their mutual problems," Thomas said.

As a result, Thomas said that when he offered the idea of a letter to parents to explain the climate on the campus. The administrators and faculty he talked to already knew him.

"Students have learned how to see a problem and take steps to solve it here at Bowling Green," Thomas said. "We have proved that we can work it out and talk it out."

Thomas said that he was happy the New University with its S and U grading system (pass-fail), had been the tangible result of the week.

"We can get some worthwhile dialogue on the pass-fail system. I'm glad to see it. Some faculty are opposed to the pass-fail system because they say students will do the absolute minimum to get by. After that, we have to ask 'why' they will do the minimum. Then, we get to the root of the problem—instruction." he said.

Thomas, a student of educational theory, said education could be as enjoyable as watching a movie.

"But we are using conditioning in learning. That only exaggerates the problem. The development of the individual is proof that our education is inefficient," he said.

Don Scherzer, a member of the original Strike Committee, said the group had gathered almost by accident on Monday (May 4) after the news of the Kent State shootings had reached them. He said many of the original 25 students and two faculty members had not known each other prior to the meeting.

Scherzer said that the University was not really the target of the Strike Committee.

"Too many issues were involved." he said. "No one really wanted a confrontation from the beginning. We wanted no violence. We wanted the University to remain open. We could not air our feelings if the University were closed." he said.

Scherzer said that the closing of the University and the possibility that National Guard troops might be called to the Bowling Green campus was always over our heads.

"You have lo understand that the people involved in the candlelight march were not hippie radicals." he said.

“Violence." said Scherzer, "was a worry every night. Wednesday night, marshals served on campus all night.

"Outside students, moving to Bowling Green from closed schools are not expected to be a problem." he said.

Scherzer said that one student, from Ohio State, had been here and had said that we could all be proud of Bowling Green for remaining open.

Scherzer praised the University administration for its work during the week.

"The accessibility to the administration was fantastic. Before, there always seemed to be a distance between students and the administrators. Last week, they dropped the sophistication and talked to us." he said.

The student most of the members of the Strike Committee acknowledged as a leader (if there was one) is Jon Wierwill, graduate student in American Studies.

Wierwill, who said he follows the non-violent teachings of Thoreau, Gandhi, and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., said that America today faces a value crisis.

"During the sixties, there was a shift in attitudes of involvement; and people now are having to make value commitments. You can no longer just sit back and watch. You can't not act. We do have some vital institutions, but they have bogged down," he said.

Wierwill said that Dr. King called for non-violence not only because of his dedication to the teachings of Christ but also because it was the only practical method for changing the conditions of the minorities.

"One can back down on all principles." said Wierwill, "except non-violence."

Dave Opper, another Strike Committee leader, has been active in the "student movement" for 10 years.

He began the marshal system that helped to keep the campus calm in the first few days after the Kent Slate episode, fashioning 35 lavender armbands late Monday night for distribution to rally leaders on Tuesday morning.

Opper believes that he was the first on campus to hear of the Kent State shootings, He said that he telephoned Kent State on other business only a few minutes after the fatal shots were fired.

"The Strike Committee was organized out of necessity," said Opper. He said that those involved with the "student movement" in the past knew this. He said that the marshal system and rumor control area were standard procedures in demonstrations.

Even before the dust of the week had settled, Opper recognized that the gauntlet had been passed to the students. He outlined his hopes for the coming weeks.

"The Graduate Student Union was organized this weekend as a coordinating body for the New University. When the workshops first meet, those attending will decide on the structure of the courses.

"We are thinking of setting up a workshop to study the New University now and in the future. In the workshop, students will study what has happened on campus in the preceding week and will use this information in the coming four weeks to help the progress of the New University next year," he said.

He said that there are also plans to establish a grievance board consisting of student representatives. These students will carry any complaints to the administration.

Opper said that the students have gained more respect for the community of Bowling Green and for the faculty.

"The extremely beautiful thing is that the faculty is giving us their support and going out of their way to help us." he said.

Opper said that the donation of food to the Committee leaders had come as a result of the attitude of non-violence.

He said that $40 was donated by community members in support of the Strike Committee.

"What we are doing is of benefit to everyone," said Opper. "The biggest problem we have now is communicating with the press. This is unique, this New University. Other schools could also be trying lo implement the same type of program if we could just get the publicity.

"Parents and even some students don't know what is going on." he said.

Bill Fall, a Junior in education, didn't become involved in the "student movement" until last fall when he joined the anti-war moratorium march. He echoed the sentiments of Opper on the future:

"It is important that we always keep in mind the ultimate goal, for to see such things as marches and rallies as ends in themselves is denying their basic value," he said.

He said that we need to develop an educational process that will get away from our competitive attitude and help us to work toward a goal together.

"There are a lot of first timers at Bowling Green who had never participated in a march before they joined the one last Wednesday through Bowling Green." he said.

"It took the death of four people at Kent to open the eyes of many of the students at Bowling Green. This," said Carol Sloman, graduate assistant in speech, "was the incident that touched off the week of protests and rallies at Bowling Green State University.

"However, the climate for protest was set by President Nixon's policy on Cambodia." she said.

One of the unique aspects of BGSU's protest is the lack of violence Miss Sloman attributed the lack of violence to the evolution of a sense of community on the campus.

"There is communication between students, faculty, and administration. And everyone has been sincerely involved in an effort to come up with a constructive course of action," she said.

Miss Sloman was instrumental in organizing the marshals who patrolled the campus last week.

"The function of the marshals was to serve not as a police force but as a communications network and as troubleshooters lo investigate rumors. Our purpose in the various marches was to encourage people to keep the peace and to avoid panic," she said.

During the week, nearly 200 students acted as marshals, most of them volunteering out of concern for the University and maintenance of a constructive program of action.

"None of the participants," Miss Sloman said, "were extremists.

"We received 100 per cent cooperation from the students and the marshal corps. In fact, there were no difficulties. It could really be termed control by cooperation," she said.

Referring to the candlelight march, Miss Sloman said. "In a situation of this sort, the possibility of disorder or violence always exists. However, in this instance, the only tense situation was created by the county sheriff. Of course it was obvious that he would be prepared for a possible outbreak, but his massive, theatrical display of force around the county courthouse was uncalled for and could easily have provoked the peaceful marchers.

"In spite of this, all the marchers continued to maintain the dignity of the memorial procession. This was an impressive demonstration of the students' commitment lo non-violence."

Miss Sloman and the marshals also formed a night patrol which was in effect throughout the week. Groups of three or four patrolled Memorial Hall. The Library, the Administration Building, the inner campus, the Rathskeller, and other posts which were determined by the rumors received.

Again, the marshals served as investigators and troubleshooters and did not try to enforce the law themselves.

James Holder, an instructor in history who taught at Kent State last year, didn't join the Strike Committee leadership until Wednesday.

By then, the death of one of his former students at Kent. Allison Krause, had made it what he called, "a personal thing."

"The shootings at Kent State were like a tremendous awakening," said Holder.

"The students got a look at themselves by being together—they saw their power and their grievances. Kent Slate was only the trigger mechanism. The students must became conscious of themselves." he said.

Holder, as all the others, praised the students and their non-violence.

"Our students have greater maturity and judgment than anyone imagined. In my dealings with them. I found them very intelligent. They counted every move in a totally planned way," Holder said.

Holder said the only time he worried about violence was during the Wednesday candlelight march as a marshal, he said he heard rumors of weaponry among the onlookers.

"I was worried about what might happen in the city of Bowling Green," said Holder.

Holder said that once the Strike Committee had begun to move in a non-violent direction, it look a still greater effort to keep it going that way. He said that with legitimate grievances existing, he was afraid someone from what he called the "idiot fringe" might lake the microphone.

Holder said he does not fear outside forces.

"The only thing that could trigger violence is if this feeling of consciousness that the students now have starts to melt away. Someone might think violence is the only way to reawaken it."

He said that the events of May 4-7 might help Bowling Green become a great University.

"We used to call Bowling Green University number one conservative. We now know that the conservatism was apathy," Holder said.

Dr. B. D. Owens. Vice President of Research and Financial Affairs, summed up the week's events as well as anyone.

“There must be a reason." he said, "why this University remained open and others closed. We have been open with students and are more open every day. I think we have developed some new ideas in University management here."

Owens also pointed to the recent 22-day Environmental Teach-in at Bowling Green as a foundation for the free communication.

"I would like to know the correlation between schools who had a successful Environmental Teach-in. As we did, and those who remained open. Many of these students came forward as leaders then. I don't think Bowling Green would still be open if we had not had the Teach-in," he said.

The tangible result of the activities of May 4-7 at Bowling Green has been the development of a "New University."

The program was organized by the students in an effort to make available courses which are relevant to the affairs of the nation today.

"The students have been given a free hand to develop the New University and organize the workshops," President William T. Jerome said.

"We will cooperate in every way possible. This is a unique opportunity for students to develop an idea and carry it through. We are placing our faith in them," he said.

In a special Faculty Senate meeting on May 10 (Sunday), the following regulation was passed and later approved by President Jerome.

"The Faculty Senate extends, for the remainder of the spring quarter of 1970 only, the established Satisfactory. Unsatisfactory option to all students for all courses. To avail himself of this option the student must record his decision with his instructor and a central agency, to be determined later, no later than May 15, 1970."

The following is the proposal that the newly formed Graduate Student Union presented to the Faculty Senate at its May 9 meeting.

What

Our means to achieving understanding and possible solutions is a free university. The courses offered here will be offered as additions to, or replacements of, any student's current schedule. The course offerings will increase as more and more faculty members and students involve themselves in the program.

Seminars will be directly related to the multi-faceted problems we face and cover a broad spectrum of issues and approaches. We ask the academic community to aid in the creation and teaching of seminars. We also ask that the faculty and administration impose no negative sanctions on those students morally committed to substituting this program for their current coursework.

In the universities which have been closed, students have received passing marks in those courses in which they were doing acceptable work. We ask that faculty and administration here adopt the same procedure.

We do not, however, recommend that professors cancel classes. We are providing an alternative not a dictum. Students who choose to attend all or some of their regularly scheduled classes should be granted that option. However, those students who elect to participate in these seminars in lieu of all or any of their present courses should, likewise, have that choice without threat of reprisal.

We urge all professors to encourage attendance in this program for we believe that it provides the direction and productive outlet so many students need. And we again ask the university community to join and help us.

Why

The events of the past week have brought to light an increasing unrest and concern among the citizens of the Country. As university students and faculty we share this concern and feel the urgent need to provide a constructive means of dealing with not only the present unrest but also the contributing circumstances leading to the current situation.

Many other universities are closed and the educational goals of those universities have been abandoned in the panic. We do not feel that Bowling Green should join the ranks of the closed Institutions, for they have denied their students the opportunity to examine the problems and crucial issues leading to the shut-down of those very universities.

We offer here an alternative to a closed university. We offer, also, a means of intellectually examining and analyzing the causes and consequences of the present state of affairs not only on the university campuses, but across the entire nation.

It is because we feel that many students, faculty members, and administrators have realized that they can no longer continue classes in a business-as-usual manner that we offer this alternative.

The university's goal should be education. Education is not an end in itself; it is a means to an end. We offer here an educational program in the form of a new university. The end that we are striving for is the analysis and understanding of the causes, actions, and outcomes of the issues that we as Americans are to deal with during the coming decades, for the remainder of our lives. What is happening here and now has serious implications for all of us, for we must ultimately deal with the final products of those actions initiated by ourselves and others.

Our immediate aims are understanding and education. Our final aims are the solutions and directives for action forwarded by those individuals participating in this program. We believe that the necessary solutions to not only our country's, but the world's, problems lie in the hands of all citizens, including the young.

We will not provide answers to all of the questions confronting us, but we still find some, and will have created the basis for further solutions. Universities can no longer exist and operate in a socially detached vacuum. Those closed schools have proven this. We can no longer ignore the outside world. We must meet it face-to-face and deal with it or we, too, will suffer the fate of the other universities. We must not abdicate this responsibility, for we cannot afford ourselves the luxury of wailing any longer.

The New University is to be composed of five colleges—Peace, Racial Equality, Ecology, Curriculum and Governance, and Community Relations. Each college will conduct several workshops which will concentrate on specific aspects of the general college category.