Allen Building Crisis: Tape #18

Download
- Rights
- Copyright Undetermined
  More Rights Info
- Files (1)
- MP3
- Please be patient with media downloads. They are often large files.
Share

Embed Code
<iframe src='//idn.duke.edu/ark:/87924/r4h990h8t?embed=true' height='125px' width='100%' frameborder='0' marginwidth='0' marginheight='0' scrolling='no' allowfullscreen></iframe>
Permalink

https://idn.duke.edu/ark:/87924/r4h990h8t
Skip to Item Info

Loading the media player...

Files for this Item

Transcript

Transcripts may contain inaccuracies.

-	For WDBS Contemporary News, this is David Christy.	0:02
	I have Mr. Frank Ashmore on the line	0:05
	and he has a statement he would like to make	0:06
	concerning some rumors which have been spreading on campus.	0:08
	Mr. Ashmore?	0:11
-	Thank you very much.	0:11
	We have had a report that girls on East Campus	0:13
	are being telephoned and advised that	0:16
	some North Carolina college students have been gassed	0:19
	on the West Campus and that they're being advised	0:22
	that those who support black students	0:26
	should go to Flowers Lounge to show their support.	0:28
	No gas has been used on West Campus.	0:32
	So far as we know, we do not have any students	0:35
	on the campus from North Carolina College,	0:37
	and the report that is being circulated	0:39
	by telephone is false.	0:42
	We would appreciate it very much if those	0:45
	who hear this word will pass it among the student body	0:48
	so that this situation may be clarified.	0:52
	And thank you very much.	0:55
-	Thank you very much, Mr. Ashmore.	0:56
	For WDBS Contemporary News, this has been David Christy.	0:58
	Stay tuned to 560 for any further events,	1:00
	and now back to more music.	1:03
	Tonight at 7 o'clock on the campus of NCC,	1:07
	North Carolina College, in Chidley Hall	1:10
	there was a teargas canister set off by some students.	1:12
	The police were informed of this incident,	1:16
	but took no action because they did not feel	1:19
	that it was going to have major repercussions.	1:22
	Later on in the evening, however, certain cars driving	1:25
	in and around the campus were stoned by angry students.	1:27
	At latest report, the students have returned	1:32
	to their dorm and have quieted down.	1:34
	On the Duke scene, the SLF, the Student Liberation Front,	1:36
	decided by majority vote at their meeting this evening	1:40
	that one, they would extend to the NCC students	1:43
	an invitation to rally at Duke at some	1:46
	unknown time tomorrow afternoon.	1:48
	This invitation would be contingent on the decision	1:51
	made by Howard Fuller and the African-American Society at a	1:53
	meeting they are planning to hold at 10 o'clock tomorrow.	1:57
	The second point they voted on was whether to take	1:59
	hard or soft confrontation with the administration	2:01
	on the problems which exist on campus right now.	2:04
	By majority vote, they voted to take soft confrontation,	2:08
	that is to limit their confrontation to pickets	2:11
	and peaceful moves, until the faculty council meeting	2:14
	at 4 o'clock tomorrow when a decision will be handed down	2:18
	concerning the administration's programs	2:21
	and the Afro system, and at that time, they said,	2:24
	if the decision does not meet their demands,	2:28
	their soft policy might change.	2:30
	For WDBS Contemporary News, this has been David Christy.	2:33
	Now back to more music and Bill Anlion.	2:36
	A statement from him concerning	2:40
	some of the university policy.	2:41
	After that, we had a statement from Frank L Ashmore	2:43
	brought into us concerning the curfew tonight	2:46
	in Durham, North Carolina.	2:49
	We will be playing both of those for you.	2:50
	First, we have Dean Griffith's statement.	2:51
-	I am sitting tonight here with Mr. Griffith	2:54
	of the University Administration	2:57
	and we are going to try and clear up	2:59
	some of the problems which are existing	3:01
	in the University community tonight.	3:04
	Let me get some of the basics done.	3:07
	Did the University itself have any say in the curfew	3:10
	which was called today and in bringing in the Guard	3:14
	and the whole security situation which exists right now?	3:16
-	Well, Chris, let me say that in the first place,	3:22
	is the Guard in Durham?	3:28
-	The Guard is at the National Guard Armory at the airport.	3:29
-	I didn't know the specifics of this.	3:32
	No, the University had nothing to say as far as	3:35
	a curfew was concerned.	3:37
	This is a decision that was made independent	3:39
	of the University by the Mayor and the police,	3:43
	authorities and the fire authorities.	3:49
	I'm sure also in consultation with Raleigh, I would imagine.	3:53
	In fact, I'm quite certain, in consultation with Raleigh,	3:57
	but the decision was an independent decision.	4:00
	The only thing that the City asked Duke to do	4:04
	was to keep, particularly, vehicular transportation	4:10
	at a minimum and to discourage any gathering of large crowds	4:14
	on the campus because, as you probably know,	4:21
	when we have a curfew like this, the University	4:24
	is actually, the campus itself, the main campus,	4:29
	is within the restricted areas of the curfew,	4:35
	so there can be movement back and forth within the	4:37
	main campus, but of course, if you get out on any	4:41
	of the public roads, such as University Drive or	4:43
	(mumbles) Road or anything like this,	4:47
	you're subject to arrest, and in fact,	4:49
	very likely would be arrested in that area.	4:51
-	Are you at liberty to say how Dr. Knight	4:55
	and other officials of the University feel about the curfew?	4:57
-	I frankly don't know specifically how they feel	5:04
	because I don't think they're completely aware,	5:07
	as I'm not completely aware, of the situation in Durham.	5:12
	Of course, we all know about the problems last night	5:16
	in the stores, and situation.	5:20
	It's my understanding, and I think it's authoritative,	5:23
	that they're also considered with problems	5:25
	on North Carolina College Campus, which you might know	5:27
	more about than I do, but after they marched back	5:31
	to North Carolina College Campus,	5:34
	which I think has increased the concern.	5:37
	There also have been people who are out there	5:43
	that were not identified with either Duke	5:48
	or with North Carolina College,	5:52
	and I think some 30, 40, 40, or 50,	5:54
	and I think this has caused some concern.	5:57
	As you know, were some fires started in the	6:02
	Duke Forest behind the campus last night.	6:05
	These are all facts.	6:09
	Then there are other rumors, which I would hesitate	6:10
	to even mention because I don't know how authoritative	6:14
	they are with things that have taken place.	6:17
-	I understand that the University has issued a statement	6:19
	that anyone who cannot produce proper identification	6:23
	on campus will be arrested, is that true?	6:26
-	Specifically, I don't know the answer to your question,	6:32
	but let me tell you what I assume would be the case,	6:35
	and that is that campus police were not going to be	6:37
	going around asking people for identification,	6:40
	if there's some problem, and if there's a gathering	6:42
	of some kind where there's questioning of whether	6:46
	these people are, in fact, Duke people or non-Duke people,	6:48
	I think it could very easily be the case of asking	6:53
	for identification and separating the Duke people	6:56
	out of the situation because they basically should not be	6:59
	on campus during this particular period of time	7:02
	until after 5:00 AM tomorrow morning.	7:08
-	I don't know if you're aware of this, but there's	7:11
	a meeting scheduled tonight at 10:00 PM in Flowers Lounge,	7:12
	which is supposed to be attended by NCC students	7:16
	and by Duke students to demonstrate their support	7:19
	for the Duke black students who have dropped out.	7:22
	Has the University made plans to cope with any mass	7:24
	assembly of say, NCC students who would come on the campus?	7:28
-	Well, first, I'm not aware of this meeting.	7:32
	I know there was gonna be a gathering.	7:34
	I assumed it would be by Duke students.	7:36
	I didn't know there were going to be NCC students there.	7:38
	I don't know how they're going to get there.	7:41
	I should think it would be a problem for them to get there	7:44
	and I'm concerned if they do come because I think	7:47
	this can be sort of an inflammatory kind of situation,	7:51
	and I hope they don't come during this particular time	7:54
	of our stress on campus.	7:57
-	In that same line, if Howard Fuller should arrive	7:59
	on campus, will there be steps made to keep him off or	8:02
	will he be allowed to	8:06
-	I don't know.
	I can't speak authoritatively on that.	8:10
	I know that it's our hope and our wish that non-Duke	8:11
	people not be on campus during the time of this curfew.	8:16
	It's an invasive answer, but I don't know	8:19
	the specific answer to your question.	8:21
-	Going back to some of the problems which brought this	8:24
	all about, what resolution is the University	8:27
	seeking in respect to the black students who have	8:33
	dropped out and to those who have bowed to drop out?	8:36
	Are you planning on trying to change their opinion	8:38
	or trying to change their mind?	8:42
-	Of course, as you know, as of this afternoon,	8:44
	we don't authoritatively know because, specifically,	8:47
	withdrawn, as you know, we have red tape and	8:52
	red tape in getting out of the University	8:55
	as well as getting in, and you have to take a	8:57
	particular document down and have it checked out with	9:01
	the library and the Bursar's Office and places like this.	9:03
	No student has yet has brought that withdrawal card back,	9:07
	so technically, we've had no withdrawals,	9:10
	that is by students officially.	9:14
	As far as the University, of course, if a person withdraws,	9:22
	the University will accept that withdrawal.	9:25
	My own feeling is and some of the people I've talked to	9:28
	who are concerned, that I'd like not to see them withdraw.	9:31
	I've only been able to express my own personal feelings	9:36
	and opinions to them about that withdrawal,	9:39
	and that's something personal between me and them.	9:40
-	Since the Afro-American Studies program was the crux	9:45
	of the argument, have there been any new developments made	9:49
	by Dr. Kerckhoff and his committee	9:53
	and the administration concerning this program?	9:55
-	Of course, as you know now, the real work	9:58
	at present times being done with what has been turned now	10:03
	as the Budd Committee, which is composed of	10:06
	Dr. Louis Budd as Chairman for (mumbles);	10:09
	Dr. Saul from History;	10:12
	Dr. John TePaske from History;	10:16
	and Dr. Gerald Smith,	10:20
	and one other.	10:26
	That group met this afternoon again	10:28
	and what the results of that meeting were, I don't know.	10:32
	I know they plan to continue.	10:35
	Of course, they hope to have participation	10:37
	of black students on the committee,	10:39
	but I think they plan to continue in their planning concept	10:40
	as far as the black studies program is concerned.	10:46
-	If these black students who have said they will drop out	10:49
	do drop out, will the committee keep on working	10:53
	to finalize this program?	10:56
-	I would certainly hope that they would	10:58
	and it's my anticipation that they would.	10:59
	Of course, the question we all have is what would	11:03
	be the black input there and whether black students	11:05
	still remaining on the campus would be able or willing,	11:09
	whatever the case may be, to work with the committee.	11:14
	I just don't know what the answer is there.	11:16
-	Will the administration be making any official statements	11:18
	in the form of a press release, or Dr. Knight	11:21
	making a statement or Dr. Willhall making a statement	11:24
	within the near future?	11:26
-	In regard to what, Chris?	11:27
-	In regard to the black students,	11:29
	the problems that we've had on campus and off campus?	11:31
-	Yes, I would think they, as you know,	11:34
	there was a sort of a factual kind	11:37
	of chronology of events	11:42
	that was put out on campus last night	11:46
	from the President and the Chancellor,	11:48
	and I think there will be, in fact, I'm quite certain	11:51
	there will be further statements about other matters	11:55
	of concern to all of us from them,	11:58
	both in written form and perhaps in some other context, too.	12:01
-	Something you might be able to clear up for the	12:05
	student body, 'cause I think this is still rather vague,	12:06
	exactly what is the status now of Dr. Knight	12:08
	and Dr. Woodhall in the University power structure?	12:11
	I think there are many people who are unclear about that.	12:14
-	Of course, as you know, there've been a lot of,	12:18
	particularly, our friends on WRAL,	12:20
	I guess it's WRAL in Raleigh,	12:26
	the television station, has suggested	12:27
	that the President is on his way out.	12:30
	I think that's a rather incorrect	12:34
	interpretation of what took place.	12:39
	The President, of course, himself requested of the	12:41
	Board of Trustees,	12:47
	that the position of Chancellor be set up.	12:48
	The position of Chancellor is set up in such a way	12:51
	as to make the primary	12:54
	internal operation of the University	12:58
	responsible to the Chancellor,	13:02
	but the Chancellor in turn is responsible to the President,	13:05
	who, of course, is responsible for the Board of Trustees.	13:08
	Now, as I view it, is the President will have his	13:12
	main responsibilities on a day-by-day basis,	13:16
	the relationship with the University, and interpretatio	13:23
	n of the University to the Board of Trustees,	13:26
	the fundraising responsibilities, as you know,	13:29
	are tremendous, and unfortunately, I think	13:34
	when one is raising funds for the University,	13:38
	the person who is interested in support of the University,	13:42
	in any consequence, always demands on seeing the top man,	13:48
	who's the President, which means that there're	13:52
	tremendous pressures in this respect.	13:54
	The relationship of the University with the public,	13:57
	the community, with the nation, and I think	14:01
	in many respects, it's international relationships will be	14:04
	represented by the President, but I think it should be	14:08
	remembered that the Chancellor reports to the President,	14:10
	and I think this is the important factor	14:15
	which should take out of the picture in a context	14:18
	that the Chancellor's replacing the President.	14:23
	It's basically a split of responsibilities	14:26
	in what has been way too much for one man	14:28
	under any circumstances to handle that (mumbles).	14:32
-	How is the Board of Trustees been reacting	14:35
	to the problems which have been existing on campus	14:37
	now for the past few weeks?	14:41
-	Well, you know, I don't sit on the Board of Trustees	14:46
	so I don't know specifically what took place	14:49
	in that meeting; however, there was a briefing	14:54
	by Mr. W L Upchurch, who's the Chairman	15:01
	of the Student Trustee Liaison Committee	15:04
	on Saturday morning with three of the student members	15:08
	of that committee, and they might be	15:12
	better equipped to bring you up-to-date	15:15
	on that than I am, actually, and their	15:17
	communication channels are much better than mine.	15:19
	I think the trustees have attempted to keep that committee	15:23
	as aware as possible of what's been taking place.	15:25
	Certainly one of the items was the approval	15:31
	of the chancellorship and the President himself made the	15:34
	report and the recommendation the the board on that.	15:38
	They heard the President's report.	15:40
	I have not read the President's report to the trustees,	15:42
	so I don't know what that is, and of course,	15:45
	spent a good deal of time on monetary matters.	15:48
	I think they, as I understand it, at least did	15:50
	address some concern about some of the problems on campus,	15:55
	some of our publications, and things like this,	15:59
	but I think wisely, they didn't take any particular action,	16:01
	which I think they feel that that'	16:06
	a responsibility of others on the campus,	16:10
	and not the trustees.	16:12
	Sometime, what you ought to do is have an interview,	16:15
	perhaps, with some members of the Trustee	16:17
	Student Liaison Committee.	16:21
-	We've been trying
	to get trustee members.	16:23
-	Well, ought to have some of the students	16:25
	who work with that committee.	16:27
-	In some more long-range speculation,	16:29
	if you don't mind my interjecting this,	16:31
	do you think if there should be any sort of	16:35
	student disruption on campus, there could possibly be	16:38
	a repeat of the incident we had three weeks ago?	16:41
-	Well, let me answer, first, I would certainly hope	16:46
	that there would be no repeat of the incident that happened.	16:50
	If you say is it possible that there will be police	16:56
	back on campus, I guess in all honesty,	17:01
	I would have to say that it'd be my perception	17:05
	that if a building were taken over or something similar	17:07
	to that that I think it would be all likelihood that after	17:12
	a period of time, seeing that the group are not going	17:17
	to leave the building, and I don't want to get into	17:20
	a situation of time, but I think if I were to make	17:22
	a prediction, I would think probably	17:26
	that police would be brought on the campus to remove	17:27
	the people from the building if they didn't leave	17:31
	on their own accord.	17:32
-	In view of the fact that a good portion of	17:35
	the disturbances have stemmed from the argument over the	17:37
	students rights and the students powers in the	17:41
	administrative function in the University, do you think that	17:44
	there will be any sort of change in the future concerning	17:47
	how much power the student has over dictating	17:50
	his own future at the University?	17:54
-	I think we've all seen some manifestation	17:55
	of change in the last few years.	17:59
	One of the problems, of course, is that in a	18:01
	student's lifetime as a student is a very short	18:02
	one on a comparative basis.	18:07
	We have seen a lot of changes and I think we will see	18:10
	other changes.	18:13
	As you know, the Academic Council has appointed	18:14
	a committee, at least it's my understanding,	18:18
	a faculty committee, to look at the question	18:20
	of governance, I think I'm correct here,	18:23
	and administratively, we're always considering	18:26
	and working with this particular question.	18:32
-	I have no further questions if--	18:36
-	Let me just, Chris, if I might mention	18:38
	a couple of things.	18:40
	One, and you might want to announce this periodically,	18:41
	the Cambridge Inn, just in regard to this particular night	18:46
	when some people are hungry, such as myself,	18:49
	and didn't get anything to eat, the Cambridge Inn	18:53
	is going to be open, open from 8:00 until 11:00 tonight.	18:56
	It was closed earlier because it doesn't have	18:59
	again, the personnel to run it, but it's gonna be run	19:02
	by students I think, primarily.	19:05
	While there won't be the whole bill of fare available	19:09
	to eat, there will be food there.	19:12
	Secondly, we got so many rumors going around on campus	19:15
	that the University has set up a rumor office	19:20
	and I have three numbers here that people can call	19:24
	if they have questions, if they hear rumors,	19:29
	or things they're concerned about or wanna express	19:32
	some concerns.	19:35
	2075, 3743,	19:37
	and 3317.	19:42
	That's 2075 and 3743, and 3317,	19:45
	which are numbers that anybody in the University community	19:50
	can call and hopefully get answers to their questions	19:53
	or at least find a place to get some answers	19:57
	to their questions, and I guess in closing,	20:00
	I would just hope that people would recognize,	20:05
	at least our own campus community would recognize,	20:09
	that Durham officials have considered this a time	20:12
	which, I guess, has the potential of subjecting	20:19
	the Durham community to some threat	20:24
	to property and life and limb, I assume,	20:29
	and therefore, I hope that the campus community	20:33
	are sensitive to this situation and keeps itself	20:36
	under a semblance of control and understanding of	20:40
	the situation as it exists.	20:45
	I do thank you for the opportunity of	20:47
	sitting here with you.	20:49
-	Thank you very much
	for coming over, Mr. Griffith.	20:51
-	The action by the City of Durham in proclaiming a curfew	20:54
	has raised many questions among members of the	20:57
	Duke community and has been the subject of much discussion.	20:59
	Here with an official statement regarding the curfew	21:02
	is Duke Vice President, Frank L. Ashmore.	21:05
	Mr. Ashmore?	21:07
-	Many people have been inquired following	21:08
	today's proclamation ordering a curfew from 7:00 PM	21:10
	until 5:00 AM daily until further notice	21:13
	whether or not this action was initiated by Duke University.	21:16
	First, let me acknowledge what should be	21:21
	abundantly clear to all of us,	21:23
	that Duke University is very much a part	21:26
	of the City of Durham and what happens	21:27
	in one part of the city affects those	21:28
	in other parts of the city.	21:29
	As we all realize, the decision to invoke a curfew	21:35
	grew out of destructive events in the city last night,	21:39
	and the possibility that a similar situation	21:43
	might occur tonight.	21:47
	City officials who are charged with responsibility	21:49
	of maintaining order in our community	21:52
	consulted with many people, including officials	21:55
	at Duke, and reached the conclusion that a curfew	21:58
	is the most desirable method of reducing	22:01
	the likelihood of a recurrence of last night's violence.	22:05
	As residents of Durham, the curfew will affect	22:09
	those of us on the Duke Campus.	22:12
	Some campus activities have had to be curtailed	22:15
	because of the curfew.	22:18
	We trust that you will recognize the good judgment	22:21
	which dictated this action and will cooperate fully	22:24
	with the City and its enforcement of the curfew.	22:28
	Thank you very much.	22:31
-	And that's the report that's making	22:33
	contemporary news.	22:35
	For WDBS Contemporary News,	22:36
	this has been David Christy, now back	22:37

Item Info

Title:

Allen Building Crisis: Tape #18

Date:

March 12, 1969

Description:

Ashmore statement during February 69 crisisReport on crisis on campus, midnite, February 12, 1969Dean Griffith, March 12, 1969Frank L. Ashmore, March 12, 1969

Subject:

Format:

Extent:

0:22:42

Digital Collection:

Silent Vigil (1968) and Allen Building Takeover (1969) Audio Recordings

Source Collection:

Search Collection Guides

Series:

WDBS Tapes of the Allen Building Takeover

Rights:

Rights Note:

Duke has not determined the copyright status of this item. Regardless of its status, we have made a good faith determination that online access through the Duke Digital Repository is an acceptable fair use and otherwise permitted under U.S. copyright law. For more information, see our page on copyright and citations: https://library.duke.edu/rubenstein/research/citations-and-permissions.

Identifier:

UA31120005-RR-0045
16e2087c1ba0af387462b6f42fbc7f9b
uawdbs2
duke:372837
silau001044
ark:/87924/r4h990h8t
019c25e1-cc9b-4641-a049-37f911da380b

Permalink:

https://idn.duke.edu/ark:/87924/r4h990h8t

Sponsor:

Sponsor this Digital Collection

Allen Building Crisis: Tape #18

Transcript

Item Info

Duke University Archives

More Info & Options