1975-76

This Timeline is based on a portion of Tim Shary's A History of Student Activities and Achievements at Hampshire College. Anything not otherwise cited comes from this source.

Documents Issued

 * Preliminary Report of the Constitutional Reform Committee (1975)

September
Sep 1


 * Mark Stephenson (F71) is the first Hampshire graduate to return as a professor, taking over John Reid's duties in Geology while Reid goes on sabbatical. [Climax: October 9, 1975]

Sep 15


 * The trial of the "Tennessee Two", students Terry Tierney and Bob Russell, facing charges of possession of marijuana with intent to sell, takes place in Louden County, Tennessee; the drug charges are dropped when Russell pleads guilty to reckless driving. [Climax: September 25, 1975]

Sep 22


 * First-year student Cindy Moriarty suffers a heart attack while swimming in the RCC pool; student lifeguards Kathryn Wetzel and Judy Hoffman rescue her, then student Ellen Sawislak and RCC staff administer CPR, saving Moriarty's life. [Climax: October 1, 1975]

Sep 25


 * Students have reported over $5,000 in possessions that were stolen from storage areas over the summer. [Climax: September 25, 1975]

Sep 27


 * A record 23% of the student population votes in elections for representatives to the Academic Council and College Council. [Climax: October 1, 1975]

October
Oct 1


 * Fourth-year student Roger Mellen has organized the installation of a microwave transmitter atop the library [that is, he took advantage of the installation] to begin broadcasting a weekly television news show to the surrounding Amherst area via cable. [Climax: October 1, 1975]

Oct 9


 * After the protests by Hampshire students, the Five-College Student Coordinating Board has voted to allow member schools to elect their own representatives to the board instead of being selected by the board itself; this was Hampshire's main demand. [Climax: October 9, 1975]

Oct 11


 * Professors Lester Mazor and Stan Warner, along with a number of students, open a used bookstore in the basement of a Victorian house in Amherst called "Underground- A Collective Bookshop".[Climax: October 15, 1975]

Oct 14


 * Carpentry teacher Ken MacGregor is confronted by a group of women from the Whole Woman's Center who charge him with sexually assaulting a first-year student while out on a date the Saturday before; MacGregor denies any misbehavior. [Climax: October 30, 1975]

Oct 15


 * The Admissions Office reports that new student applicants are "not as idealistic or independent" as previous applicants, and are less concerned with "the experimental and independent study aspect", yet applications are up, with women outnumbering men three to two. [Climax: October 15, 1975]

Oct 17


 * Students and staff are confused when Fall Colloquy opens with surprisingly few students in attendance; the theme of this year's colloquy, Revolutionary Consciousness, brings a number of planned events which are lessened by a mass migration from campus. [Climax: October 30, 1975]

November
Nov 6


 * The Academic Council has been abolished for the creation of the College Senate, which has a smaller membership but the same purpose and jurisdiction. [Climax: November 6, 1975]
 * Students Anne Ellsworth, Tom Paterson, Shelley Buber, Kitze McCormick, and Rosie Branson have formed the Tomboy Club, a group dedicated to being absolutely apolitical and against "anyone wearing ideological blinders". [Climax: November 6, 1975]

Nov 13


 * Hampshire students have joined United Electrical workers on their picket lines in Holyoke to support the strike against Worthington Compressor, whose employees walked out on September 5, demanding higher wages. [Climax: November 13, 1975]

Nov 21


 * The Amherst Community Television News, which had been produced by Hampshire students for two months, airs its last show due to lack of student support. [Climax: November 20, 1975]

February
Feb 13


 * A clandestine poll of women on campus asked to name the sexiest males on campus yields the following results: 1. President Charles Longsworth; 2. Director of Physical Plant Howard Paul; 3. Communications professor David Kerr. [Climax: February 13, 1976]

Feb 20


 * Fourth-year student Steve Rodoletz runs into conflicts as he makes efforts to begin a new coffee shop in the FPH lounge, which members of the faculty have been claiming as their lounge. [Climax: February 20, 1976]
 * Second-year student Michelle Karotkin is the oldest student to enroll and live on campus; she is 34. [Climax: February 20, 1976]

March
Mar 6


 * Several students in the Merrill-Dakin quad report an incredibly bright, bluish-green elongated light that floats across the sky for ten seconds; throughout the night people from local towns also report the UFO, but no explanation is found. [Climax: March 12, 1976]

April
Apr 8


 * Students and staff including Robert Marquez, Vishnu Wood, Arthur Powell, Roberta Uno, and Celia Alvarez organize the first Third World Cultural Festival, held over four days and featuring entertainment, lectures, and workshops. [Community Council Misc.: 75F-Z32A]

Apr 9


 * Inspired by five dissatisfied Saga workers, a group of about 15 students have begun to take measures to form a legal union of student workers under the National Labor Relations Board.[Climax: April 9, 1976]
 * After being informed by Charles Longsworth that he will not be recommended for reappointment the next year, linguistics professor Bob Rardin announces his resignation in an emotional recording delivered to the editors of Climax. [Climax: April 9, 1976]

Apr 15


 * In a meeting of the Community Council Executive Committee, student member Douglas Peebles accuses Daphne Reed, the Coordinator of Governance and Council Secretary, of having loyalties to the administration which are subversive to student involvement. [Community Council Minutes: April 15, 1976]

Apr 16


 * Climax publishes a special Women's Week issue during the largest Women's Week held at Hampshire since its inception. [Climax: April 16, 1976]
 * Coordinator of Governance Daphne Reed threatens to resign as Secretary to Community Council if direct action is not taken to reprimand Douglas Peebles for his actions at the Executive Committee meeting on April 15. [Community Council Misc.: 76S-Z18]

Apr 22


 * Finalists in the student trustee primary, Dave Gaynor, Geoff Foisie, and Mark Wittow announce their candidacy as a collective; Community Council votes unanimously to support their decision, which goes to student referendum on May 3. [Climax: April 29, 1976]
 * In an unprecedented motion, Community Council approves the censure of member Douglas Peebles, denying him the rights otherwise given to a Council member, for the rest of the semester, due to his actions in the April 15 Executive Committee meeting. [Community Council Minutes: April 22, 1976]

Apr 25


 * The National Ultimate Frisbee Championships begin in Amherst with colleges from all over the country represented; Hampshire takes second place to Rutgers, who wins in the finals. [Climax: April 29, 1976]

May
May 3


 * The first student video and film festival is broadcast on Intran over a week-long schedule. [Climax: April 29, 1976]
 * Students Byron Coley, Robert Carey, and Steven Mikulka are apprehended and placed in protective custody by Amherst Police who are called in after numerous attempts by house staff to quell a loud party in Merrill A-2. [Climax: May 21, 1976]

May 14


 * Climax publishes a special issue on the Third World, entitled "Diaspora". [Climax: May 14, 1976]