This was the scene on East Campus Wednesday, May 10, 1972:

“The police surrounded Schneider. State, Carbondale and SIU police. They were in riot gear, armor, helmets, weapons drawn and there were dozens of them. They were yelling and gesturing up to the windows ‘Come on out, come on, let’s go!’ When no one came out, they fired tear gas into Schneider, and when anyone came out coughing they beat the crap out of them. And we were just in our rooms doing nothing,” according to an eyewitness report.

Police showing students “who is the boss.” at SIU.

Right at this time, police also viciously attacked WIDB newsman Ron Kritzman, whose head was split open by police while he was reporting. It was all part of SIU President David R. Derge’s “War on Students.”

An investigation by a commission of SIU employees, students and locals found that the police were ordered to go to dorms where students were in their rooms doing nothing, and the police were ordered to tear gas the dorms and beat the students. It was found to be completely unjustified and a crime by police as well as those who ordered them. Prosecution was recommended.

Instead, local officials laughingly announced that the report had been “lost,” so everything was now a “mystery,” and nothing would be done.

These were the battle lines in May, 1972. And here was WIDB, in the middle of all of this trying to survive and do its job serving student needs. Derge’s “War on Students” spilled over to WIDB, which was merely trying to sell commercials and pay for itself.

Joel Preston became WIDB GM in 1971. He committed academic suicide for WIDB because he was determined not to let Derge get away with killing WIDB. If it was not for Joel, most of us would not have a WIDB there when we came to SIU.

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