Mike Clark Remembers
Mike Clark is Editorial Page Editor at the Florida Times Union in Jacksonville. He was the News Director at WMSN during the height of the 1970 campus riots and filed several stories that found their way to the wire services.
Here is some of the copy that I saved from the WMSN days. Some of the stuff makes me cringe, some is kind of humorous…. I didn’t save the stuff after the 1970 riots, but then we weren’t even attending class at the time. Classes were shut down and students didn’t get grades; we received Pass/Fail. My memory of covering the riots: I was running away from the police line and a cop caught up with me and whacked me with a billy club. I fell into the bushes and watched this surreal picture of people’s feet running past me…. One time the cops stopped me, loaded down with microphone and tape recorder, and asked for my I.D., something I didn’t have on me at the time. Somehow I talked my way out of the situation.We had thrown out the reel-to-reel tape, figuring we would never even find a player for it. That’s a shame. I met a wide variety of personalities, from MSU President John Hannah, to Ralph Abernathy and Jessie Jackson, to actor Tony Randall. When I interviewed Tony Randall I asked him what he thought about then Vice President Spiro Agnew. Randall said he was an “ass.” I asked him if he could expand on that. Randall said, “He’s an expanded ass”.
AP(UNDATED)– A TOTAL OF SOME 5,000 STUDENTS ATTENDED MASS RALLIES TODAY AT EASTERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY AT YPSILANTI AND MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY IN EAST LANSING.
TWO SIT-INS ARE TAKING PLACE AT M-S-U WITH SOME 50 STUDENTS PARTICIPATING IN ONE AND ABOUT 30 STUDENTS AT THE OTHER. MICHIGAN STATE HAS AN ENROLLMENT OF SOME 40,000. NO VIOLENCE HAS BEEN REPORTED ALTHOUGH SOME STUDENTS ARE ATTEMPTING TO BLOCK OFF THE CAMPUS.
AT EASTERN MICHIGAN, BETWEEN 2,000 AND 3,000 STUDENTS MARCHED THROUGH THE CAMPUS FOLLOWING A RALLY THIS AFTERNOON. SEVERAL SPEAKERS ADDRESSED THE RALLY, SPEAKING ON THE HISTORY OF THE VIETNAM WAR AND OTHER ISSUES.
THE RALLIES AT BOTH CAMPUSES CENTERED ON U.S. INVOLVEMENT IN CAMBODIA, THE RECENT KILLINGS DURING DEMONSTRATIONS AT KENT STATE UNIVERSITY IN OHIO AND OTHER ISSUES.
(MIKE CLARK, WMSN; CAROLYN LEWIS, WPAG; DAVE HENDERSON, WJIM)(I phoned in a great deal more information than they printed. They really weren’t giving listeners around the state much knowledge of what happened. All they knew was that there were two sit-ins. The sit-ins were in front of Bessy and Berkey Halls in the street. They lasted from about 11:30 am to the time a rally was held at 3 PM.)
AP(EAST LANSING)–A GROUP OF STUDENTS IS OCCUPYING THE INTERNATIONAL CENTER AT MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY TO PROTEST MILITARY SCIENCE CLASSES.
THE STUDENTS–MEMBERS OF THE ABOLISH R-O-T-C COMMITTEE–HAVE BARRICADED SOME DOORS, BUT HAVE NOT PREVENTED ANYONE FROM LEAVING. THE SITUATION WAS REPORTED CALM.
NO UNIFORMED POLICE WERE REPORTED AT THE SCENE.
IN RESPONSE TO THEIR DEMANDS, UNIVERSITY OFFICIALS RELEASED A STATEMENT SAYING THAT IN A POLL OF THE CAMPUS LAST YEAR, STUDENTS FAVORED R-O-T-C. PRESIDENT CLIFTON WHARTON ALSO ADVISED THAT THEY CARRY THEIR PROTEST THROUGH OTHER CHANNELS, SUCH AS THE ACADEMIC COUNCIL OR BY ATTENDING TWO MILITARY EDUCATION MEETINGS SCHEDULED THIS MONTH.
ESTIMATES OF THE STUDENT PROTESTS VARIED FROM ABOUT 100 TO 250.
(BILL LONG WJIM, MIKE CLARK WMSN)(The only information Long reported was possibly the uniformed police bit. I gave them all the background on the occupation.)
AP(LANSING)–TWO 18 YEAR-OLD MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY STUDENTS HAVE BEEN ARRAIGNED ON CHARGES STEMMING FROM DISTURBANCES IWHICH ROCKED THE EAST LANSING CAMPUS FRIDAY NIGHT. ONE OF THE YOUTHS, JOHN PENCE OF EST LANSING, PLED GUILTY TO CONTENTION–A MISDEMEANOR. EAST LANSING MUNICIPAL JUDGE WILLIAM HARMON DEFERRED SENTENCING AND SET A $100 BOND FOR PENCE. THE OTHER YOUTH, MICHAEL BURGOIN OF BELLVIEW, WASHINGTON, DEMANDED EXAMINATION ON AN ATTEMPTED ARSON CHARGE. BOND WAS SET AT $3,000 AND JUDGE HARMON SCHEDULED A TENTATIVE EXAMINATION DATE OF MAY ELEVENTH. BOTH YOUTHS ARE EXPECTED TO POST BOND. ROCK-THROWING STUDENTS CAUSED AND ESTIMATED $42,000 DAMAGE TO FIVE BUILDINGS IN THEIR PROTEST OVER ON-CAMPUS R-O-T-C TRAINING
(CARL WINDSOR WJIM, MIKE CLAR WMSN)(This AP copy was pretty well covered by both Windsor and myself. We both just happened to call and corroborate each other.)
AP(EAST LANSING)–WHAT POLICE TERMED “A PRETTY WELL-BEHAVED BUNCH OF PEOPLE” ATTENDED THE OPEN AIR ROCK FESTIVAL ON THE MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY CAMPUS YESTERDAY. AN ESTIMATED 25 THOUSAND ROCK FANS JAMMED INTO OLD COLLEGE FIELD AT THE START OF THE FESTIVAL ABOUT NOON. IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE OVER AT 8 PM BUT A MALFUNCTION IN A LARGE AMPLIFIER AND THE LATE ARRIVAL OF TWO ROCK GROUPS DELAYED THE END OF THE SHOW. POLICE REPORTED NO ARRESTS AND SAID THEIR ONLY PROBLEM WS ILLEGALLY PARKED CARS. THE CONCERT-GOERS ONLY PROBLEM WAS CONTENDING WITH ABOUT THREE ACRES OF MUD.
(MIKE CLARK, WMSN)(AP copy which I gave to them when they called us for information on the concert, May 24.)
(WMSN COPY, 2/10/69)– PRESIDENT JOHN HANNAH GAVE HIS STATE OF THE UNIVERSITY SPEECH LAST NIGHT AT FAIRCHILD THEATRE.
HE ANNOUNCET THAT, AFTER A SENATE CONFIRMATION OF HIS APPOINTMENT AT THE AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT HE WILL CEASE TO BE PRESIDENT AND BECOME PRESIDENT EMERITUS.
HIS SPEECH WAS A COMPREHENSIVE LOOK AT THE PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE OF MSU, WITH MANY PERSONAL COMMENTS.
HANNAH CHARACTERIZED TODAY’S STUDENTS AS THE BEST EVER. HE SAID THAT THE GREAT MAJORITY OF STUDENTS DON’T RECEIVER RECOGNITION FOR THEIR ACTIVITY IN SUCH PROGRAMS AS THE VOLUNTEER BUREAU.
HANNAH ALSO COMMENTED ON WHAT HE TERMED THE DESTRUCTIVE CRITICS OF THE UNIVERSITY
cart: 49 sec. “….decisions are to be reached by ultimatum.”
HANNAH SAID THAT A NEW PRESIDENT SHOULD BE FOUND AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. HERE ARE A FEW OF HIS COMMENTS ON HIS DEPARTURE.
cart: 20 sec. “….or to think of this university without my being a part of it.”
(WMSN COPY, 2/12/69)– MSN NEWS TALKED TO MILTON B. DICKERSON, VICE PRESIDENT FOR STUDENT AFFAIRS, ABOUT RECENT DEMONSTARATIONS AND ABOUT YESTERDAY’S ARTICLE IN THE STATE NEWS.
DICKERSON SAID HIS OFFICE HAS RECEIVED MORE CALLS ABOUT THE ARTICLE THAN HE EVER IMAGINED. THE CALLS HAVE COME MAINLY FROM DISSATISFIED STUDENTS AND PARENTS IN SPARTAN VILLAGE.
DICKERSON ADDED THAT A STUDENT NEWSPAPER CAN TAKE A GREAT DEAL OF LEADERSHIP TO HELP PREVENT OUTBREAKS SUCH AS THOSE AT WISCONSIN, COLUMBIA, OR BERKLEY.
HE WAS THEN ASKED WHETHER HE FELT ASMSU HAS ENOUGH POWER TO TAK THE INITIATIVE AWAY FROM MILITANTS WHO CAPITALIZE ON EGITIMATE ISSUES. HE ANSWERED THAT HE FEELS ASMSU DOES HAVE THE POWER AND THAT THEY SHOULD BE IN THE THICK OF VALID ISSUES.
DICKERSON ADDED THAT STUDENTS ARE NOW BEING ASKED TO HAVE A VOICE IN THE SELECTION OF A NEW UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT.
(WMSN COPY, 10/24/69)– THE REVEREND RALPH DAVID ABERNATHY TOLD AN ESTIMATED AUDIENCE OF 3,700 IN THE AUDITORIUM TODAY THAT IF CHANGES ARE NOT MADE AT THE ADMINISTRATION LEVEL, STUDENTS SHOULD MAKE THEM.
ABERNATHY WAS INTRODUCED BY BLACK LIBERATION FRONT MEMBER SAM RIDDLE WHO SAID MSU HAS AN ENROLLMENT OF 3 PERCENT BLACKS AND AN INTERNATIONAL CENTER WHICH REFLECTS ONLY EUROPEAN ATTITUDES.
ABERNATHY FOLLOWED, SAYING HE LOOKS TO STUDENTS AND YOUNG PEOPLE FOR THE SURVIVAL OF DECENCY AND GOODNESS IN THE NATION.
HE SAID THE “OLD WORN-OUT POLITICIANS” WILL NOT GIVE AMERICANS JUSTICE AND EQUALITY FOR ALL PEOPLE.
ABERNATHY SAID THE CHOICE OF CLIFTON WHARTON AS MSU PRESIDENT IS A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. HE PREDICTED WHARTON WILL BRING NEW IDEAS AND PROGRAMS WHICH WILL CHANGE THE COMPLEXION OF THE UNIVERSITY.
HE WENT ON TO SAY THAT THE BLACKS AND THE POOR COMMUNITY ARE SICK AND TIRED OF AN ADMINISTRATION IN WASHINGTON THAT IS TAKING THEM BACKWARD INSTEAD OF FORWARD.
ABERNATHY PROPOSED THE WAR MORATORIUM BE CONTINUED UNTTIL THE VIETNAM CONFLICT IS ENDED, FOLLOWED BY A NEW MORATORIUM AGAINST BUSINESS, UNTIL AMERICA ENDS POVERTY AND RACISIM, TWO THINGS WHICH HE SAID ARE DESTROYING THE LIFE AND VITALITY OF THIS NATION.
(WMSN COPY, 11/4/69)– BROADWAY, TELEVISION AND MOVIE STAR TONY RANDALL WAS IN LANSING TODAY AND TOLD MSN NEWS HE BELIEVES THE YOUNG GENERATION IS IN HIS WORDS “JUST MARVELOUS”.
RANDAL GAVE YOUTH MOST OF THE CREDIT FOR THE CURRENT PEACE MOVEMENT AND SAID HE HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN IT ALONG WITH MANY OTHER ACTORS.
MSN NEWS ASKED RANDALL IF HE WILL PARTICIPATE IN THE NOVEMBER MORATORIUM
cart: 10 sec. “….movement all along.”
ASKED ABOUT THE AFFECT OF SUCH BROADWAY PLAYS AS HAIR AND OH CALCUTTA, RANDALL SAID “IT SHOULD MAKE AUDITIONS MORE INTERESTING.” HE THEN COMMENTED ON THE DECLINE OF BROADWAY.
cart: 15 sec. “….out of existence.”
(WMSN COPY, 2/10/70)– THE REVEREND JESSE JACKSON, FORMER ASSOCIATE OF DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. AND LEADER OF OPERATION BREADBASKET, TOLD A PRESS CONFERENCE ON CAMPUS YESTERDAY THAT BLACK PROGRESS HAS ALWAYS BEEN IN PROPORTION TO THE MENTAL HEALTH OF WHITES.
JACKSON SAID RACISM IS A PATHOLOGICAL SICKNESS IN AMERICA AMONG WHITES AND THAT NO POLITICIAN CAN CURE IT.
HE CRITICIZED THE CARSWELL NOMINATION TO THE SUPREME COURT AS WELL AS PRESIDENT NIXON’S BLACK CAPITALISM PROGRAM.
JACKSON, A LEADER IN THE SOUTHERN CHRISTIAN LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE, COMMENTED TO MSN ON THE RECENT DEATHS OF TWO LACK PANTHERS IN CHICAGO:
cart: 30 sec. “….greater than his commitment to saving people.”
JACKSON IS SPEAKING AT MSU, SPONSORED BY THE CENTER FOR URBAN AFFAIRS.
(WMSN COPY, 2/23/70)– A SECOND MEETING BETWEEN DEMONSTRATORS FROM MSU AND A REPRESENTATIVE FROM GOVERNOR MILLIKEN’S OFFICE WAS HELD YESTERDAY, FOLLOWING A MARCH TO THE STATE CAPITOL, FIVE DEMONSTRATORS WERE ALLOWED IN THE CAPITOL TO SPEAK WITH STATE OFFICIALS. JOSEPH THIBEDEAU, GOVERNOR MILLIKEN’S YOUTHFUL LEGAL ADVISOR SPOKE WITH THE DEMONSTRATORS AGAIN AND SAID ANYTHING SHORT OF LAST WEEK’S VIOLENCE WAS WORTHWHILE.
THIBEDEAU SAID IF PEOPLE FEEL THEY HAVE A FORUM AND CAN WORK WITHIN THE SYSTEM, THAT’S AN ACCOMPLISHMENT. HE SAID SUCH DIALOGUES CAN GO A LONG WAY TOWARD PREVENTING VIOLENCE.
(WMSN COPY, 4/17/70)– TODAY, MSN NEWS FOCUSES ON PRISIONS WITH THE FORMER WARDEN OF JACKSON PRISON, GEORGE KROPP.
KROPP SAID PRISONS SHOULDN’T HOLD MORE THAN 800 INMATES. ANY MORE, HE SAID, IS TOO MUCH FOR PRISON COUNSELORS TO HANDLE. JACKSON PRISON NOW HOLDS MORE THAN 4,800 MEN.
cart: 32 sec. “….effective job.”
KROPP SAID WHEN COUNSELORS AND GUARDS HAVE AS MANY AS 300 MEN TO OVERSEE, THEIR JOB BECOMES IMPOSSIBLE. EVEN IF JACKSON PRISON WERE SPLIT INTO FOR SEPARATE INSTITUTIONS, THERE WOULD BE TOO MANY MEN ON ONE SITE, KROPP SAID.
cart: 22 sec. “…staff and inmates.”
(WMSN COPY, 5/4/70)– TODAY, IN THE FIRST OF A SPECIAL TWO WEEK SERIES, MSN NEWS PRESENTS AN INTERVIEW WITH DALE WARNER, STATE REPRESENTATIVE FROM EATON RAPIDS. WARNER IS ONE OF THREE LEGISLATORS WHO HAVE PRESENTED A BILL TO LOWER THE PENALTIES FOR MARAJUANA.
THE WARNER BILL WOULD MAKE USE OF MARAJUANA NO CRIME, WOULD LOWER POSESSION FROM A FELONY TO A MISDEMEANOR, AND WOULD LOWER SALE FROM A MINIMUM 20-YEAR SENTENCE TO A SIMPLE FELONY OF 4 YEARS.
WARNER TALKED ABOUT THE WAY MOST AMERICANS VIEW MARAJUANA
cart: 20 sec. “….drunk on alcohol.”
WARNER SAID ONLY SINCE THE PROHIBITION OF ALCOHOL HAD BEEN LIFTED HAS MARAJUANA BEEN VIEWED AS EVIL.
cart: 25 sec. “….people.”
WARNER ALSO SAID THE CANNABIS SATIVA PLANT PRODUCES ONE THIRD OF ALL BIRD SEED SOLD.
(WMSN COPY, 5/7/70)– IN THE FOURTH OF MSN’S FOCUS SERIES ON DRUGS, DALE WARNER, STATE REPRESENTATIVE FROM EATON RAPIDS, TALKS ABOUT THE TENDENCY OF THE POLICE TO PICK OUT A CERTAIN TYPE OF PERSON FOR DRUG ARRESTS:
cart: 20 sec. “…pass more.”
WARNER ALSO COMMENTED ON ANTHROPOLOGIST MARGARET MEAD, WHO TESTIFIED BEFORE THOMAS DODD’S COMMITTEE ON YOUTH:
cart: 35 sec. “…what he’ll find.”(Warner said anyone who has long hair is inviting trouble from police, and gets it. He said Mead is a wise lady and knew more about drugs than Dodd and said that it is ironic that Dod, with all his ethical problems, would head such a committee.)
