Don’t let protesters go back to class, 53 years ago

In the summer of 1967, the president of La Crosse State, Sam Gates, announced plans for punishing students who demonstrated, or protested speakers on campus.  Gates said 11 students would be ineligible to return to LCU in the fall, while 92 others would be disciplined in other ways.  At the UW in Madison, students were drowning out speakers, and invading the chancellor’s office, but no action was taken against them.  

La Crosse had a 4th of July celebration that year, hosted by the American Legion.  The day’s activities included a slo-boat race at Houska Park, water skiers, skydivers, and a watermelon-eating contest for kids.   

In 1967, New York’s hottest night spot was called “Arthur,” run by Richard Burton’s ex-wife Sybil.  A newspaper story suggested that the club’s name was inspired by a joke about the name of the Beatles’ haircuts, a remark made by–and we quote–“Beatle John McCartney.”  Well, of course that’s wrong.  It was a line from the movie “A Hard Day’s Night,” spoken by George Starr. Ringo Harrison?  It was said by George Harrison.  We still couldn’t tell them apart, 53 years ago, Yesterday in La Crosse.