Chapter 2

First, almost anybody who graduated high school could get in. You didn't even have to take the ACT. Second, it was cheeeeep. Sixty bucks per quarter tuition, full time. That was equivalent to about twenty record albums at that time. No books to buy, because there was Textbook Rental (a service of the university), where you could rent all of your books for about 2-4 bucks per quarter. Third, it could be eeeeeeasy. There were hard courses if you looked for them, listened to any advisor, or you were unlucky, but most courses were "relaxed." Fourth (and, for some, first) there was a fancy, expanding campus near state parks and a national forest.

Finally, 1965 was the first year of massive troop deployments in Vietnam, and the first year of major drafting to support this.

Which one would you pick?

Neely Hall, with capacity for almost 1000 women, was ready for occupancy in Fall, 1965. The Triads (Allen, Boomer, & Wright), with capacity for almost 1,000 men, was also ready for occupancy in Fall, 1965. Mae Smith and Schneider (also 1,000 each) were ready one year later. Thus, about 4,000 new students moved in over a one-year period in this area alone.

Construction was also proceeding at Thompson Point, Southern Hills, and Evergreen Terrace. Eventually, all of these dorms would be able to hold over 7,000 students.

In the mid-'60s, the City of Carbondale had a population of about 12,000. Dial phones had just been introduced. There were certain establishments that had not been integrated. McDonald's had just arrived, and was the only national chain represented. When the towers were under construction, locals would come to watch. Most had never seen a building of more than three or four stories. Carbondale was firmly entrenched as a backwater of Illinois, where not much had changed for decades. Suddenly, it was invaded by 12,000 rambunctious adolescents, most of them from Chicago! Carbondale would be forever changed.

So you're 18, and a new student in Carbondale in 1966. Like most, you want some music. What are the choices? There was a lot of great music being released at that time, but could you get it in C'dale?

First, almost no one had "stereos" as we know them today. There were no "affordable" component systems (separate amp/receiver, turntable, speakers, tape deck). There were no CD's, not even cassettes. There were reel-to-reel tape recorders and decks, but they were expensive and out of reach for 80-90% of students. "8-tracks" were just starting. These were tape cartridges (similar to radio station carts) that had 1/4" audio tape inside, and ran at 3 3/4 IPS. Each tape had four stereo channels of audio, and you could listen to one at a time. 8 track players were largely in cars (and this was the first time anyone could play recorded music in cars--stereo too) but there were some home 8-track units. Most 8-tracks were pre-recorded versions of albums, distributed by record companies. A few people had 8-track recorders, but these were rare, especially in 1966. In fact, 8 tracks were pretty rare (and expensive) until the late 60's. Even by 1970, less than half of the students in C'dale had 8-tracks. 8-tracks were not high quality audio (but they were stereo, and better than AM radio), and the 8 track tapes and cartridges often jammed or otherwise self- destructed.

Most students in 1966 had some records (45's and albums) and a "phonograph" to play them. A phonograph was a turntable that had its own amp & speakers (or speaker--if mono). Many phonographs had a "changer" feature; you could "stack" 45's or lp's on the spindle and the phonograph would play them one at a time. This was not good for the records, but this allowed for a longer period of music that you could select yourself, without having to get up and interrupt your time with your boyfriend or girlfriend.

There are few pursuits more central to adolescent life than the search---the quest. This transcends all eras; no matter what year, students in C'dale were asearching and ahoping. However, in 1966, the local authorities stood between the searcher and searchee. Under the legal doctrine of "loco parentis," (crazy parents), the university enacted and tried to enforce these rules:

No Co-Ed dorms
No members of the opposite sex in dorm rooms ever
Curfew: all women must be insid their dorms before 10pm weeknights, 11:30 weekends. Men were 11p and 12:30a.
"Visitation" was allowed in lounge areas with a supervisor present, until curfew
Violation led to suspension (house arrest) or expulsion from the university


	In 1964, there were less than 4,000 students at SIU. The next year, there were almost 12,000. How and why were so many "students" drawn to Carbondale? First, almost anybody who graduated high school could get in. You didn't even have to take the ACT. Second, it was cheeeeep. Sixty bucks per quarter tuition, full time. That was equivalent to about twenty record albums at that time. No books to buy, because there was Textbook Rental (a service of the university), where you could rent all of your books for about 2-4 bucks per quarter. Third, it could be eeeeeeasy. There were hard courses if you looked for them, listened to any advisor, or you were unlucky, but most courses were "relaxed." Fourth (and, for some, first) there was a fancy, expanding campus near state parks and a national forest. Finally, 1965 was the first year of massive troop deployments in Vietnam, and the first year of major drafting to support this. So if you were 18 in 1965, your choice was to either: Come up with about $200, plus living expenses, go to "college" in C'dale, have easy classes with plenty of time for partying; or Get drafted and go to Vietnam. Which one would you pick? Neely Hall, with capacity for almost 1000 women, was ready for occupancy in Fall, 1965. The Triads (Allen, Boomer, & Wright), with capacity for almost 1,000 men, was also ready for occupancy in Fall, 1965. Mae Smith and Schneider (also 1,000 each) were ready one year later. Thus, about 4,000 new students moved in over a one-year period in this area alone. Construction was also proceeding at Thompson Point, Southern Hills, and Evergreen Terrace. Eventually, all of these dorms would be able to hold over 7,000 students. In the mid-'60s, the City of Carbondale had a population of about 12,000. Dial phones had just been introduced. There were certain establishments that had not been integrated. McDonald's had just arrived, and was the only national chain represented. When the towers were under construction, locals would come to watch. Most had never seen a building of more than three or four stories. Carbondale was firmly entrenched as a backwater of Illinois, where not much had changed for decades. Suddenly, it was invaded by 12,000 rambunctious adolescents, most of them from Chicago! Carbondale would be forever changed. So you're 18, and a new student in Carbondale in 1966. Like most, you want some music. What are the choices? There was a lot of great music being released at that time, but could you get it in C'dale? First, almost no one had "stereos" as we know them today. There were no "affordable" component systems (separate amp/receiver, turntable, speakers, tape deck). There were no CD's, not even cassettes. There were reel-to-reel tape recorders and decks, but they were expensive and out of reach for 80-90% of students. "8-tracks" were just starting. These were tape cartridges (similar to radio station carts) that had 1/4" audio tape inside, and ran at 3 3/4 IPS. Each tape had four stereo channels of audio, and you could listen to one at a time. 8 track players were largely in cars (and this was the first time anyone could play recorded music in cars--stereo too) but there were some home 8-track units. Most 8-tracks were pre-recorded versions of albums, distributed by record companies. A few people had 8-track recorders, but these were rare, especially in 1966. In fact, 8 tracks were pretty rare (and expensive) until the late 60's. Even by 1970, less than half of the students in C'dale had 8-tracks. 8-tracks were not high quality audio (but they were stereo, and better than AM radio), and the 8 track tapes and cartridges often jammed or otherwise self- destructed. Most students in 1966 had some records (45's and albums) and a "phonograph" to play them. A phonograph was a turntable that had its own amp & speakers (or speaker--if mono). Many phonographs had a "changer" feature; you could "stack" 45's or lp's on the spindle and the phonograph would play them one at a time. This was not good for the records, but this allowed for a longer period of music that you could select yourself, without having to get up and interrupt your time with your boyfriend or girlfriend. There are few pursuits more central to adolescent life than the search---the quest. This transcends all eras; no matter what year, students in C'dale were asearching and ahoping. However, in 1966, the local authorities stood between the searcher and searchee. Under the legal doctrine of "loco parentis," (crazy parents), the university enacted and tried to enforce these rules: No Co-Ed dorms No members of the opposite sex in dorm rooms ever Curfew: all women must be insid their dorms before 10pm weeknights, 11:30 weekends. Men were 11p and 12:30a. "Visitation" was allowed in lounge areas with a supervisor present, until curfew Violation led to suspension (house arrest) or expulsion from the university
		Keep in mind that for men, "expulsion from the university" could mean a loss of the treasured 2-S student deferment from the draft. The university was pleased to speedily inform the Selective Service System (draft administrators) that a student was expelled. Induction notices would promptly follow. From rule violation to expulsion and induction into the military could be 30 days or less! So the choice was between following the sex drive and being sent to Vietnam, or following the rules and getting really REALLY frustrated. One way to try to cope with the frustration was to listen to music, yet the same old records got tired pretty fast. Many students were accustomed to a full dial of quality radio choices, but in Carbondale, there were few stations and almost none targeted a student demographic.