On the 1st day of finals spring semester 50 years ago, 2nd year at DePauw University [FN1], my friends Bill and Lisa drove me to I-70. I was going to start a band, in Maine or California. Eastbound traffic was heavier, so I thumbed east. That semester we’d protested 1/8

DePauw’s denial of tenure to a professor. AAUP [FN2] held DPU violated the prof’s academic freedom. Some of us wanted to strike for an indefinite time. Instead, students waged a (far less confrontational) one-day moratorium on classes. [FN3] Had we known the prof already 2/8

was hired in a tenure-track position at another school & a lawsuit against DPU settled, [FN4] we’d have had no moratorium. Most Friday classes at DePauw were “called,” i.e., not held. DPU’s yearbook does not mention a moratorium, or a rally the week prior. [FN5] 3/8

I’ve not surveyed DPU alums fr mid-70s & asked, “Do you believe academic freedom is vital to a university’s mission?” Fr several decades’ conversations, I’d say we disagree on issues, but our belief in safeguarding academic freedom is overwhelming, galvanized in no small part 4/8

during spring, 1975. A tree can fall in the forest, but if we are prevented from hearing it, those in power dictate the message. Those trees did not fall. Opposition to the dictator does not exist. Take tomorrow off! [FN6] And about Maine, that’s for another time. 5/8

Footnotes:
FN1. DePauw students now refer to 1st year, 2nd year, etc. A nomenclature, given my circuitous sojourn through academia, that I prefer. It’s far easier to refer to 3rd year than to sophomore & a half, or sophomore II, or sophomore II+. I rather liked my sophomore years. 6/8

FN2. American Association of University Professors.
FN3. The weather that Friday, on which the moratorium took place, was lovely.
FN4. A lawsuit had been announced. One may reasonably infer the case was settled, and that the settlement was confidential, because DPU’s admin wanted to let the matter fade. 7/8

FN5. Held on the steps of the Memorial Student Union, the rally drew quite a crowd.
FN6. The weather tomorrow, as a day to take off, is going to be lovely, but we face crises & cannot take time off. 8/8