| From
the Oct 6, 2005, edition of 'Northwest News' Newsletter.
by Dana Ternus
The 1960s are best remembered as a
time of experimentation and social upheaval, often led by the
younger generation. Northwest was not immune to these changing
times, and in fact was the site of the first student-led mass
demonstration in the United States – beating out Berkeley
by about six months.
The so-called “Food Riots” of
1964 started the evening of April 9 with a protest by 850 students
in front of the school dietitian’s home. Mrs. Sheldon, the
dietitian, was confronted by the crowd, who demanded better food
preparation and more variety on the cafeteria menu. Dr. Charles
Koerble, the dean of students, convinced the demonstrators to
return to campus where he promised to listen to their complaints.
The students, however, felt the administration’s
response was insufficient, and the following day 1,600 students
filled Rickenbrode Stadium at noon while lunch was being served,
effectively boycotting the cafeteria.
Led by students Tom Kramer, David Herring
and Edward Reeder, the demonstrators continued to press for changes
in cafeteria service. The protest was peaceful, but it certainly
grabbed the attention of administrators.
A lull in the controversy occurred over the
weekend when a tornado ripped through town, but come Monday the
student body remained militant, and the protest spread beyond
campus boundaries.
At the Nodaway County courthouse, a sit-down
protest attracted approximately 750 students. Then the crowd moved
a mile south, creating a human blockade and halting traffic for
over an hour. Police officers and state troopers tried to talk
the protesters down, but to no avail.
Later that day, the majority of protesters
were convinced by Student Body President Glen Acksel to continue
their demonstration on campus. There, the unrest went on well
into the night, though most of the protesters were now male, since
there was a 10 p.m. curfew for women students.
At 1 a.m. Koerble spoke to those remaining
outside. He told them President J.W. Jones would meet with a committee
but not with a mob. Students were to select 15 men and 15 women
to represent their interests.
Tuesday, April 14, brought the fourth demonstration
in six days. Tensions grew that evening when a scheduled dance
was called off. Soon hundreds of demonstrators were again headed
for town.
This time they were met at Seventh and Walnut
streets with fire trucks and police officers who had orders to
keep the highways open. The officers started herding students
back toward campus and used fire hoses as an incentive. Some reacted
by throwing rocks and bottles at the officers. A firefighter was
injured. Tear gas soon replaced water, and the demonstration broke
up.
On Wednesday, a resolution began to evolve.
Mrs. Sheldon resigned, and the student food committee presented
a proposal that Jones approved. The committee continued to work
with the administration, and Jones increased the food service
budget by $6,000 the following fall.
Thus ended the “Food Riots,”
but there were repercussions. Both David Herring and Edward Reeder
were brought before the Faculty Discipline Committee and pressured
into withdrawing from Northwest. For most of the student body,
however, the episode resulted in effective change.
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