Five years ago…
Nearly 5,000 people gathered in Ann Arbor for the 27th annual
Hash Bash Day.
The culmination of the event occurred at “High
Noon,” when the crowd made its way onto the Diag, pipes and
joints in hand. Marijuana enthusiast Tommy Chong said,
“I’m so stoned I don’t know what to say. …
If the important people were stoned, there’d be less violence
in the world.”
Steve Hager, the former editor in chief of High Times magazine,
also spoke at the afternoon rally. “High Times officially
declared that Ann Arbor is the coolest place in the
universe,” he said.
Ten years ago…
For some, the college years will live in eternity. Oak Grove
International, a state manufacturing company, began constructing
caskets decorated in the red and white of the University of Indiana
and Ohio State University. “So far, red and white for Indiana
University is the most popular,” Manager Gary Graham
said.
Graham added that he has not made a maize and blue casket yet,
but would be open to the idea if it was requested.
April 12, 1973
After 57 years filled with the sounds of paddles crashing
against plastic balls, the Michigan Union shut down the table
tennis room, which was located adjacent to the billiards room on
the second floor.
The room was converted into office space for student
organizations. Some of the newly orphaned tables were sold for
$5.
April 9, 1969
Stemming from an argument over what to do with leftover ice
cream from a hall party, several students living in Van Tyne House
in Mary Markley Residence Hall attempted to secede from their
hall.
They claimed that the residence hall government is forced upon
students without their consent, and therefore does not have any
legitimate authority to make decisions.
Jack Myers, president of the Inter-House Assembly refused to
take up the issue at the next meeting, saying that the schedule was
full and that no precedents exist for allowing part of a hall to
break away.
April 5, 1991
Although the University and the White House refused to comment,
local media reported that President George H.W. Bush planned to
speak at the University’s commencement ceremony.
Bush would speak at commencement on May 4. The last time Bush
had visited campus was in 1985 when he was vice president. He was
harassed by protesters of U.S. foreign policy, and reportedly vowed
never to return to campus.
April 12, 1983
Boycotters of The Michigan Daily presented a petition with more
than 4,300 signatures to the editors during a meeting at the
Michigan Union. The goal of the drive was for the newspaper to
publicly admit irresponsible journalism.
Brian Sher, head of the newly-created Committee for a
Responsible Michigan Daily, said he was frustrated with the
editorial page since the new staff took over. Among other examples,
the group cited a story in which the newspaper reported that a
woman was kicked out of her sorority for having bulimia, a report
the committee called sensational.
April 7, 1981
The Michigan Student Assembly debate went from routine to
strange as candidates began fielding questions about University
purchased toilet paper.
Joyride Party candidate Steve Roach, who had been advocating a
softer brand, was criticized by an audience member who preferred
harder toilet paper. Political Party candidate Barry Himmlestein
suggested both types be made available to discerning students.
April 9, 1960
Teamsters President James Hoffa spoke at the University to a
crowd of 400 faculty members and law students. Hoffa condemned the
recently passed Landrum-Griffin labor reform bill, which he said
would deprive unions of their power. In particular, he complained
about the clause that did not allow people who had been convicted
of certain crimes to hold union offices.
“No one tells General Motors how to elect their
president,” Hoffa said.
— Compiled by Daily Staff Reporter Michael
Gurovitsch