Senior Year 1974-75
September // October // November/December // January/February // March/April // May/June
SEPTEMBER 1974
Firsts
The Clip Shop, “a unique salon, radically different from the barber shops“ on Spring Street, arrives with professional hairstylists who cut both women’s and men’s hair for $6-9. Spring St. fixture St. Pierre's Barber Shop still charges $2.75 but ups their game: ’We've almost had to learn the trade all over again,’ said co-manager Bud Anderson. ‘You have to style a head now, when you used to just cut it.’"
The new Women’s Center will publish The Williams Guide to Sex on Campus, with information for women and men on pregnancy, diseases and contraception, and a guide to services in the area. A group including Gwen Rankin and Martha Coakley are responsible for its concept and writing, with assistance of medical professionals and faculty.
Lucy Singer among first women sports trainers working with men’s teams
Convocation
Theme: The American Economy. Kermit Gordon, resident of The Brookings Institute and formerly of the Williams faculty, is featured speaker. Honorary degrees presented to Gordon, Robert V. Roosa, former vice-president of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, and Robert M. Solow, Professor of Economics at MIT (and future Nobel laureate).
Faculty/Administration
Neil R. Grabois, professor of mathematics, returns as dean of the College after a year’s sabbatical, during which Andrew Crider, professor of psychology, served as acting dean
Non-faculty employees reject union bid, 89-30.
Issues
Assistant Dean Reginald Gilliam cites problem of socialization for Black students. With so few Black students (approximately 125) and faculty/staff (6) there is very little opportunity for Blacks to experience a true sense of community.
Consequences of Growth
Average class size increases. Over past two years, average Division I class size grows from 16 to 19, Division III from 24 to 25. Division II remains flat. College Registrar George Howard notes: “With the admission of girls, the percentage of majors in Divisions I and II, especially I, have increased dramatically. They don't seem to go into Division III."
Politics/Protests
Student committee supports Cesar Chavez and the United Farm Workers’ campaign. College dining halls offer lettuce labeled UFW or Teamster, and students are urged to boycott the latter, along with Gallo wines.
On Campus
Pulitzer Prize winner Frances Fitzgerald, on US involvement in Vietnam
Sports
Football team: Moral victory over Dartmouth, winner of five straight Ivy titles, narrowly losing 14-7.
Soccer: Led by tri-captains Bill Battey, Mike Elkind and Tracy Mcintosh, team bests Trinity 4-2, with Elkind scoring twice.
Women’s field hockey beats Mt. Holyoke 5-2. Team includes Beth Brownell, Marty LaFreniere, Liz Critchley.
Women’s tennis defeats Clark & Trinity. Playing for the Ephs: Katrina Voorhees, Ellie Winninghof
Golf: Co-captain Dave Fox wins UMass Invitational, with Rick Oleson not far behind.
Cross country beats Trinity 15-50 led by captains Mark Sisson, Scott Lutrey. On the XC squad: Mike McGarr, Pete Hyde, Paul Skudder
Rugby Club leadership: President, Chris Alberti; Co-captains: Warren Barker, Fred Geilfuss
OCTOBER 1974
Firsts
College launches counseling service dealing with “sexual issues," including contraception, pregnancy and abortion, with counselors available at Thompson Infirmary four hours a week.
Williams Student Art Gallery opens in Dodd House with plans to host a series of student exhibitions. Leslie Schutzer is gallery director. Photography by Jon Myers is the first exhibit, followed by weavings by Amy Stone.
Facilities
Eight-hour college-wide blackout after lightning strikes a generator on Pine Cobble and the College loses electricity starting at 4 pm Sunday. From the ReAd: “It was the Happening of the year—an event that will find its way into every ‘I remember when’ story as long as there are reunions to attend…”
On Campus
Massachusetts Sen. Edward Brooke (R), at reception hosted by Williams Republican Club
Nala Najan lecture-demonstration in classical Indian dance
Theater
Freshman Revue, Even in Eden, at the AMT, features skits and vignettes on the theme “Sex through the Ages.” Directed by Tom Lockhart, choreography by Renee Myers, costumes by Donna Lindsay, music by Steve Dietrick. Writers and lyricists include Andrea Axelrod, Dean Cycon
The Ruling Class by Peter Barnes, directed by faculty member Steve Travis, on AMT mainstage with John Ellis and Ben Strout featured in cast
Sports
Football team routs Tufts 43-6, beats Bowdoin 10-6. Middlebury vanquishes Williams footballers third year in a row for Eph’s sole loss of the season. Gridders go on to defeat U. Rochester 21-7.
Women’s field hockey over Smith. 3-2, Russell Sage 8-0
Cross country beats Middlebury 18-37, then loses to Albany State.
Men's field hockey beats Vassar 7-0, North Adams State 3-2, Wesleyan 4-1.
Women’s tennis beats Wesleyan.
Soccer team beats Harvard 2-1 on Cole Field, deadlocks 0-0 w/ Bowdoin, beats Middlebury 1-0 on goal by Mike Elkind. (See Hank Haff and Bob Samuelson in photo)
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 1974
Faculty/Administration
Prof. Robert Gaudino dies at 49 after a long illness. Gaudino pioneered two off-campus programs, Williams-in-India and Williams-at-Home. He was renowned as an educator and revered as a mentor.
The College reveals the endowment fell 30% ($21 million) to $49 million in the 15 months ending Sept. 30.
Administration gives rock concerts one more chance after a crowd watching The New Riders of the Purple Sage the previous semester broke chairs, violated state “No Smoking” regulations, and brought in bottles and cans.
James MacGregor Burns joins other scholars in suit to prevent the turnover of documents from the Nixon Administration to the former president.
Issues
Students and faculty go to it over Committee on Educational Policy’s recommendation to abolish the degree with honors.
Seconds
Lagging behind Williams once again, Amherst announces it will finally start to admit women in the fall of 1975.
Extra! Extra!
The ReAd supports former State Rep. Michael Dukakis for Massachusetts governor, against incumbent Francis Sargent. Dukakis goes on to win at the polls.
Spring Street
ReAd headline: “Log Closed for Homecoming. Hopkins Turns in Grave.”
The Nickelodeon, offering a mix of classic and critically acclaimed recent films, replaces The College Cinema on Spring Street.
On Campus
Jerry Jeff Walker (whose performance is described as “irritated, fatigued, not a little bored”)
Literary critic Morris Dickstein
Pollster George Gallup
Suzanne Keller, author and Princeton sociology professor, on ‘The Female Role, Today and Tomorrow”
Poets Cynthia MacDonald and Marvin Bell
Chick Corea and Return to Forever perform at Chapin. Tickets $4.
Theater/Performing Arts
Choral Society presents works by Mozart, Ives, Poulenc and Stravinsky
Jean-Bernard Bucky, new chair of the Drama Department and head of the AMT, directs his first production, Pirandello’s Six Characters in Search of an Author, featuring John Ellis.
Tune In
Trivia Contest hosted by Mission Park team General Bumble and won by House of Gee from Carter House
Sports
Women’s tennis finishes season with a perfect 10-0 record.
Football: At omecoming, Williams overwhelms Wesleyan 48-21
Defeating the Lord Jeffs 17-14 at Amherst, Ephs win fourth straight Little Three title, providing a great sendoff to seniors J. C. Chandler, Joe Twining, Harry Jackson, Bob Morin, Bryan Smith, Maury Matteodo, Rod Geier, Dave Reimann and co-captains Bud Niden and Tony Kroker.
After finishing 7-1, football squad voted top college team in New England
J.C. Chandler, defensive middle guard, receives Golden Helmet award as outstanding Division III college football player in New England.
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 1975
Faculty/Administration
Peter Berek of the English Department named Dean of the College, succeeds Neil Grabois, who becomes Dean of the Faculty
Students unhappy with decision to deny tenure for Terry Perlin (Poli Sci) and Peter Grudin (English) meet with Dean Dudley Bahlmann to express their concern. It’s revealed that English Department’s recommendation in favor of Grudin’s tenure was overruled by the faculty Committee on Appointments and Promotions in their recommendation to the trustees. Chris Satullo and Gene Falk meet with several trustees urging them to reconsider their decision.
Reginald Gilliam Jr., assistant dean and lecturer in poli sci, will leave to join the staff of Sen. John Glenn. Gilliam was the only Black member of the college administration.
Earl McFarland, Economics Department, granted tenure. Five faculty members promoted to full professor: Macalister Brown (poli sci); Stuart Crampton (physics); Robert Dalzell, Jr. (history); Kenneth Roberts (music); G. Lawrence Vankin (biology).
Professor of History Ben Labaree appointed director of the Munson Institute of American Maritime Studies at Mystic Seaport
Facilities
Following beer-can throwing incidents and complaints of empty cans and bottles under bleachers, Security cracks down on students bringing alcoholic beverages to hockey games.
Say it ain’t so: College announces plans for food cutbacks driven by cost increases of 15-30%, Among the measures: a “temporary” halt to early morning freebies from The Donut Man in Baxter.
Firsts
Spencer-Brooks sponsors All-College Invitational Scavenger Hunt, with highest points awarded to teams producing Pres. John Chandler in his pajamas (50 points) and a live cow (100 points).
Baxter begins serving continental breakfast and opens vegetarian line.
College announces it will offer a Sociology major.
Alumni Fund breaks all previous records and raises $923,000 in latest annual campaign.
Spring Street
The Williams Bookstore offers a reward to whoever returns their sign: “They’re too expensive to replace.”
Countdown to Graduation
Graduate fellowships awarded: Clark: David Grogan, David K. McCune; Hutchinson: Andrea Axelrod, Jesse Marsh; Moody: Frederick G. Stueber II; Wilson: Robert Stacey
Graduating just in time: “GPA Still on Rise: Is harder grading the answer?” The mean GPA is 8.22, up from 8.0 in 1973.
Job recruiting begins in earnest: The ReAd runs recruitment ad for the Holy Cross Fathers. Also, on campus in February: First National of Chicago; Gimbels; Banker's Trust; Morgan Guarantee; General Electric; U.S. Trust; SmithKline; Chemical Bank; Chase Manhattan Bank. Only one of those companies still exists with its 1975 name.
On Campus
Jon Stone ’52, producer of Sesame Street
Ashley Bryan and Larry Neal in An Evening of Black Poetry
Mike Glier exhibits six canvases at the Student Art Gallery at Dodd House
Winter Jazz Festival: “All Star Jam Session” featuring Milt Hinton and Thad Jones; Machito and His Orchestra deliver an evening of Latin jazz; Joe Farrell and His Quartet; Count Basie and his Orchestra, packing to the rafters; legendary sax player Buddy Tate performing with the Williams Jazz Ensemble, with Clyde Criner on keyboards and John Cordes and Tim Hanson joining Tate in a saxophone trio.
Music by faculty member Stephen Dankner
Drumming sensation Billy Cobham, fronting a band that included Michael and Randy Brecker on trumpet and saxophone.
Leslie Schutzer exhibits nine works at Dodd House Gallery.
Visiting artist Jenny Holzer shows a collection of work entitled “Robin Hood,” “an experiment in art as environment,” at Dodd.
Theater/Performing Arts
Inherit the Wind, directed by Debba Curtis, with Tony Brown as Clarence Darrow
Renee Meyer choreographs The Ballet of the Bugs, a spoof of Swan Lake, at the AMT’S Studio theater.
Black Movements Festival: Lezli White's Looking Homeward and Lifecycles (which toured other colleges), the first choreopoem pre-Ntozake, with poetry by Lezli and choreography by Beverly Clayton. Performers include Lezli White and Delbert Wigfall, with some of the choreography by Greg Formey.
At the 1896 House, Tom Lockhart directs, sings and dances in a Dinner Theater revue of songs and skits by Dietz and Schwartz
Sports
Men’s hockey wins Nichols Hockey Tournament, having defeated Bowdoin for the first time in 12 years and roughed up Amherst 11-2. Team includes large group of returning seniors, including co-captains Jim Harkins and Joe Hameline, and Mike Capone, Dennis Cahill, Mike Elkind.
Men’s swim team surprises with an upset against nationally ranked Bowdoin; clinches Little Three title, scuttling Amherst 89-24, and beats perennial powerhouse Springfield for first time in eight years.
Men’s ski team glides to a strong sixth place finish at the Vermont Winter Carnival.
Men’s squash, led by captain Mike Watson, and seniors Bob Beck and Lindsay Fowler, takes Little Three and is ranked sixth nationally.
Indoor track defeats Tufts and MIT, the first win over both teams in four years. Peter Mertz breaks his own Williams record in the triple jump.
Wrestling team goes undefeated in seven straight matches, led by tri-captains Hardy Coleman, Gene Frogale and Harry Jackson.
Women’s squash team opens its season, coached by Ned Reade and led by co-captains Katrina Voorhees and Beth Brownell.
Men’s basketball chalks up series of wins including victories over Amherst and Wesleyan. Harry Sheehy is team captain; returning Seniors: Mike Rosten, Fred Dittman, Eric Pookrum, Regan Miller, Dave Fainer. Harry breaks College’s basketball career scoring record as he reaches 1,274 points.
MARCH/APRIL 1975
Faculty
Joint Student-Faculty Committee seeks contributions for fund to commemorate Prof. Robert Gaudino
Joseph Harris, professor of history, and chairman of the Department of Afro American Studies, is leaving to accept chairmanship of the history department of Howard University.
Facilities
Crime wave: Director of Security Walter O'Brien says that crime is up on campus, with 30 thefts from rooms so far this year. Verbatim:“Would the persons involved in ripping out the two-way radio microphone from Security's car after the All New Stuff party Saturday night please return it to Jon Myers or Peter Kiernan as soon as possible? We don't care who did it. We just don't want to buy another.“
Graduation a Month Closer
We’re graduating just in time, Part Deux: College officials announce 11.8% hike in the comprehensive fee for the next year, to… $5,286. Sigh.
Ellen Oxfeld and Polly Smith awarded Watson Fellowships. Frank Doelger named a Keasby Scholar, with funding for least two years of study at Trinity College, Oxford
Firsts
Newly formed Pre-law Society hosts inaugural event, a panel on “Possibilities in Law."
Politics/Protests
In recognition of National Food Day, Williams Hunger Action Project sponsors series of activities including lectures and a Meatless Thursday in dining halls.
Issues
Disagreements over proposed revisions to format of the College Council and the form of student government
Since 1971, when Williams admitted its first coed freshman class, applications from women increased by 93 per cent and male applications by 15 percent. Williams now exceeds all-male Amherst In male applicants.
College Council pushes for a Student Tenure Committee and a revamping and expansion of student-trustee relations including the potential for a student Board member. In response, the Board indicates willingness “whenever feasible” to appoint a recent alum whose on-campus years overlap those of current students.
The Committee on College Expansion (five faculty and two students, including Kathy Bogan) investigates whether students "feel a fully integrated part of the community" after the major changes represented by the expansion of the student body size and the admission of women.
The College announces that graduation ceremonies, which were traditionally held on Sunday afternoons, have been moved to 10 am Sunday.
On Campus
Tokyo String Quartet
Williams Trio
Berkshire Symphony
Merce Cunningham Dance Company performs on basketball court at Lasell Gym with Cunningham’s long-time collaborator John Cage accompanying them.
Chapin Library exhibit, 500 years of illustration from its collection.
Professor Michael Arbib of U Mass presented two lectures,” Artificial Intelligence and Brain Theory” and “Computers and Global Management.”
Anthropologist Richard Leakey
Progressive journalist IF Stone
Charles Parkhurst. Assistant Director of the National Gallery
Williams faculty members debating the death penalty. Arguing in favor: Profs. Versenyi (philosophy), Jacobsohn (poli sci). Goethals (psych). Against: Barnett (poli sci), Exum (sociology), and Chaplain John Eusden.
Lawrence exhibits super-realist work of artist-in-residence Don Eddy.
Dodd House Gallery features prints and drawings by Polly Wood.
Ballet Repertory Company, American Ballet Theater’s second company, offers master classes and performs.
Prof. Victor Hill, harpsichordist
Theater/Performing Arts
Choral Society performs Verdi and Beethoven
Williams’ Ephlats host one of the largest concerts of the college singing season, with performances by the Harvard Krokodiloes, The Mount Holyoke V-8's, and the Tufts Beelzebubs. The Ephlats are the only coed group.
Adamov’s Professor Taranne, with a cast including Rick Macsherry
One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest plays to SRO crowds in the Studio Theater. Directed by Gene Falk, sets by Jan Roberts, lighting by Steve Kelley, with a cast including Debba Curtis, Peter Mertz, Tony Brown
Tom Lockhart and Ben Strout star in Gogol's The Inspector General, in a new translation by Prof. Nicholas Fersen. Renee Meyer featured.
A bewigged John Ellis sings in G&S's Trial by Jury, directed by Chris Wolfe.
John Gay’s The Beggar’s Opera, directed and choreographed by faculty members Jean-Bernard Bucky and Joy Dewey, with lighting by Steve Kelley and technical direction by Jan Roberts. Heading the cast are Polly Wood and Patricia Glenn (in photo with George Bliss as Macheath), with Andrea Axelrod and Chris Wolfe in featured roles
Sports
MARCH
Basketball
Ephs capture 3rd straight Little Three title with 73-60 win over Amherst.
Captain Harry Sheehy establishes new Williams career mark in individual scoring (1,301) and average points/game (21.2).; named to the College Division squad for the annual Hall of Fame All-Star game.
Men’s swim team
finishes third in New England Championships while breaking nearly all school records.
Twelve Ephs named to All New England squad, 13 qualify for Nationals.
Men’s squash ranked fifth in the nation.
Women’s squash finishes season with an undefeated record of 8-0.
Women’s basketball under Captain Fran Calafiore, supported by Jean Tibbets, squeaks by Radcliffe 48-45 in season closer for an undefeated record of 12-0.
Indoor Track: Co-captain Mike Reed ends the season winning the 440-yard dash and finishing second in the 50-yard high hurdles at the New England Championships.
Hockey team, with players Mike Elkind, Mike Capone, Joe Hameline, Jim Harkins and Ed Cahill, wins Little Three for third consecutive year with 4-1 victory over Amherst
Williams women in the Fourth Annual Williams Road Runners Club 24-Hour Relay set a new indoor standard of 204 miles, 1201 yards, more than 70 miles above the previous record.
In intramural hockey championship, goals by Peter Kiernan and Mark MacLennan and clutch goaltending by Jeff Lawson lead Fort Hoosac-Perry team to 2-1 victory over Hopkins House.
In IM hoops, Tyler House swamps Dodd by 18 points to take the crown. Yeah, but Dodd has an art gallery.
APRIL
Basketball: Harry Sheehy voted to All-New England Division II first team by UPI-New England Sports Information Directors
Men's lacrosse, under co-captains Bob Pinkard and Steve Dietrick. wins four out of five games at the Suncoast Lacrosse Tournament; later upsets nationally ranked Yale before losing to perpetual powerhouse Army.
Hockey: Senior co-captain Joe Hameline named team MVP
Men's tennis: Led by co-captains Stu Browne and Charlie Einseidler, tennis team opens its spring season with a 7-2 win over conference champion Vermont, with Brad Hearsh scoring singles’ victory and Sam Bronfman winning in doubles.
Eph runners Peter Hyde, Scott Lutrey and Paul Skudder have strong finishes in the Boston Marathon.
Baseball team returns from a spring break swing south with three wins under co-captains Maury Matteodo and Bryan Smith. Tom Villanova subsequently pitches a two-hit, 7-0 shutout against Bowdoin.
At the Dad Vail Championships in Philadelphia, men’s crew features Mark Sinclair, Bob Brantl and Peter Keller in the lightweight boat and Bart Nourse in the heavyweight four.
Women’s lacrosse, in only second season, finishes second in a tournament they host at Cole Field. Team includes Kathy Bogan, Andrea Diehl, Jessie Kingston, Marty LaFreniere, Polly Smith.
MAY/JUNE 1975
Prizes
Dave Grogan awarded Henry Luce Foundation Fellowship for study in Asia.
Peter N. Hillman's short story “The Legend of Jay Fountain Bradshaw” wins the Wainwright Short Story Prize for 1974-75.
Politics/Protest
Fifty Williams students and faculty march down Albany's Central Avenue, part of a demonstration supporting amnesty for the defendants on trial for involvement in the 1971 Attica prison takeover
On Campus
Williams Women sponsors a series of lecture/discussions about roles of women, including Guy Creese, "The Williams Gentleman and His Girl During the 1930s”; Gwen Rankin, "The Image of Women In Periodical Advertising During the 1920s”; and Bonnie Harris and Steve Pomeroy, “Sex Role Stereotyping Among Pre-School Children“
Soviet dissident Pavel Litvinov, grandson of Stalin’s Foreign Minister Maxim Litvinov, on human rights in the Soviet Union
Griffin Hall Concerts features Hugo Wolf’s Italian Songbook, with Profs. Daniel O’Connor, baritone, and Victor Hill, piano.
Anticipating upcoming U.S. Bicentennial, Chapin Library mounts “Backgrounds of the American Revolution: 1764-1776”, including items from the years leading to the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
Photographs by Jon Myers and Mark Meachum at Dodd
Tune In
Spring Trivia Contest put on by Carter House team House of Gee.
Sports
Golf team hosts the first ever NESCAC Championship at the Taconic Golf Course, and finishes fourth out of 11 colleges, led by co-captains Rick Oleson and Dave Fox
Men’s lacrosse team ranked 14th in the nation after convincing victories over Amherst (17-7) and Middlebury.
Men’s tennis wins third straight Little Three Championship behind co-captains Stu Brown and Charlie Einsiedler and players Brad Hearsh and Sam Bronfman. Out of 30 teams at the New England Intercollegiate Tournament, Williams finishes eighth.
Men’s track captures Little Three title behind performances by Mike Reed, who wins the high hurdles for fourth straight year, and Regan Miller. Team goes on to the Eastern track championship, where Mike ties the meet record in the 120 high hurdles.
Men’s baseball ends a tough season on a high note, blanking RPI in a no-hitter.
Water polo club wraps season that featured notable performances by Chuck Chokel and goalie Ed Case.
Graduation
Class of 1975 graduates: Bachelor’s degrees awarded to 431 graduates, including 123 women
Commencement speaker: Rep. Barbara Jordan, who gained national attention as a member of the House Judiciary Committee investigating impeachment. Williams Prof. Vincent Barnett delivers the Baccalaureate address
Valedictorian: Sara Kirkham; Phi Beta Kappa speaker: Ellen Oxfeld; Class speaker: John Cordes
Martha Coakley wins the William Bradford Turner Citizenship Prize
Honorary Degrees: In addition to Rep. Jordan, Talcott Miner Banks '28, senior partner, Palmer & Dodge, chair of Boston Symphony Orchestra and Clark Art Institute; Marie Graves Bullock, founder and president of Academy of American Poets; William T. Coleman, Jr., U.S. Secretary of Transportation; Alexander Haley, journalist and author; Russell W. Peterson, chairman, Council on Environmental Policy; Gunther Schuller, composer and president, New England Conservatory of Music; Hedrick Smith, '53, Deputy National Editor, The New York Times; Richard Wilbur, poet
