CHAPTER 17
JOEL PREPARES TO DRAW LINE IN SAND
In July, 1972, WIDB was at a critical juncture. On the one hand, WIDB was just over 2 years old and peaking. The station was off for summer but had expanded to 24-hour, on Channel 13, on cable FM, in the Student Center, at Campus Beach, doubled its office-studio size, and ingrained itself into SIU student life. The station had many new talented members, and a much improved sound. It was serving student needs on many fronts.
On the other hand, there were major storm clouds. Funding for the upcoming year (starting September) was not there and increasingly unlikely. The prospects of advertising revenue were going backwards. The WIDB staff’s expectations of a sales operation in September were dimming.
George Mace’s sudden decision (after one year of study) that WIDB must incorporate as a condition of advertising was a major hand grenade. Mace and the SIU administration had no intention of ever supporting WIDB advertising, or even WIDB’s existence, for that matter. The strategy of “working with the president’s office” had failed.
But Joel still had to respond to Mace’s “hand grenade.” Still in Chicago (LaGrange) July 12, Joel had to type his own letter to Mace, documenting what had happened, what was happening (WIDB readying itself to sell commercials), and listing all the questions Mace’s “hand grenade” raised, which would be much harder and take far more time to resolve than the present proposal. Joel requested a “speedy response.” None was forthcoming.
Joel’s 7-12-72 letter to Mace P 1
Joel 7-12-72 P 2
Joel 7-12-72 p 3
Joel knew that WIDB Board of Directors’ had to make a swift decision on Mace’s demand that WIDB incorporate. But Joel was in LaGrange, the WIDB Board wasn’t scheduled to meet until September, and the next SIU Board meeting was set for August.
Just at this time, the investigation of police misconduct in May released their report. It was a committee comprised of students. locals, Carbondale and SIU representatives. The report found that the police admitted to being ordered to provoke, gas and assault and batter students who were doing nothing but studying. The report determined that the police had committed crimes and the police and those who ordered them to commit crimes (presumably President Derge, George Mace, and/or John Huffman) should be prosecuted.
The report should have been sent to the States Attorney for investigation and prosecution. But the police, Derge, State’s Attorney and Carbondale administration were all conspiring illegally in the “War on Students.”
Instead of the report being sent to the prosecutor, it was thrown in the garbage. Carbondale City Manager Fry proudly chrortled to reporters that since the report “disappeared, everything was now a mystery.”
The message was crystal clear. Don’t come to Carbondale for any reason or the criminal police thugs will attack you with the blessing of all local authorities. The administration was officially acknowledging ALL students to be in danger of police attacks at any time “to show students who is the boss.” The message was received and enrollment started plummeting.
As Dean of Students, Mace had to be in the middle of all of this. If the administration would send police to attack students doing nothing but studying in their room, no reason or excuse was needed to cast WIDB as the enemy.
But Joel still had to go down to C’dale to have it out with Mace and meet with the WIDB Board of Directors. He went in late July. He met with Mace on the 21st and 22nd, where Mace said he would not support the proposal without incorporation of WIDB. Joel met with the WIDB Board in a special meeting July 24 and The WIDB Board unanimously rejected Mace’s demand that WIDB incorporate.
Faced with the unified WIDB Board, Mace agreed to have it placed on the August agenda under the president’s section. But it never happened. When Joel inquired, it was alleged that there were unnamed “defects.” Meetings (back in C’dale) August 17 and 21 led back to Mace and the president saying no unless there was WIDB Incorporated (with its package of questions to be studied for months or years first).
The only option now was for little student activity WIDB, 26 months old, to take on the president.
The decision to fight is always difficult, even when personal. When it involves an organization, the challenge is greater. When the members are scattered and not in touch every day, it is tougher. Keep in mind there was no email, no internet, no cell phones, just phone, mail & telegram.
Joel had to have been in touch with Robbie (Sales Manager) and Sam (Program Director) about this and knowing Sam and Robbie, they wanted to fight.
So, now what? Joel knew the Board of Trustees had to authorize WIDB advertising and to get the Board to act you had to be on the agenda for a meeting.
This was great, but there were some logistical issues. The next Board meeting was on September 15, 1972, during break (fall quarter started September 20). Joel needed to prepare the application and materials for the Board agenda (and this had to be submitted in August, far in advance of the meeting). There was an option to get on the agenda thru a public application process. There were a number of requirements. There had to be a letter detailing the rule of the board under which the applicant was choosing to proceed. Then there had to be a proposal, supplemental background and supporting materials. There had to be a proposed resolution. Joel was in LaGrange. The station was off for the summer, and no one was there.
Luckily, Barb Kessler came to the rescue. Barb, Kay’s sister was never really active at WIDB but knew everyone there. Barb was there for summer and had impeccable secretarial skills, so this is just what Joel needed. Remember, in 1972 there was no internet, no email, no faxes and not even any word processors. Photocopying was in short supply, so carbons were used. If you wanted to show someone a document and they were 300 miles away, you had to mail it to them, There was no overnight delivery either.
Going over the president’s head for the September 15 Board of Trustees meeting, Joel (working with Barb) found the specific Board policies, rules & regulations, procedures and requirements to apply to get on the agenda. An extensive application was required in advance with all background materials and proposed resolution or policy for the Board to consider.
Joel prepared a massive lengthy package that contained a history, background, the actual proposed policy and many supporting documents such as WIDB working papers, letters from other stations similar to WIDB, letters from professors such as Dave Terwische and Charles W. Shipley.
It contained 12 typed original pages with footnotes. (Remember there were no word processors then either). The whole thing with supporting documents was over 40 pages, and seemed quite substantial. (The final version, years later totaled over 300 pages).
Joel submitted this with a request to be placed on the Board agenda August 23, 1972. It was rejected “to give the president’s office time to consider it.” Incensed, Joel reapplied and appealed and detailed the lengthy period the president had “considered” it.
Joel made it on the Board of Trustees agenda for September 15, 1972. It was the last chance to get authorization for WIDB advertising for Fall 1972. Joel worked very hard to prepare. They said he would get maybe 5-10 minutes at the meeting. There is a transcript of everything that was said at the meeting.
For the first time, WIDB, the little student activity now 30 months old, was going to be the only focus of the Board of Trustees and president and they would all have to listen to what Joel presented. This provides a first-hand view of the interplay between the sides in 1972. It also shows Joel’s incredible personal development at that time. Joel was not yet 21 years old, but his presentation was impeccable; ultra-sharp and honed and refined to perfection.
See what you think. Here is the transcript:
