1970 "My First Quarter in Berkeley"

[lambchopxoxo]

Damn hippies. Kidding. Watching this for my California History class. :)

[rfsahae]

I also began Cal in fall of 1970. You have really captured the way it was in those days. Good job, especially the choice of music. I lived in the dorms of Unit 3, one of the closest to campus. The 8 story dorm buildings were a haven, above the third floor. From ground to third floor you had to endure drifting tear gas from Sproul Plaza.

Apparently things in Sproul Plaza haven't progressed much since then. Check out video: buovLQ9qyWQ It's so sad.

[james72110]

Larry i would like to no if you remember a who preach at berkeley his name was hubert lindsey are holy hubert i looking for video of him or pic if so you can e-mail me @ menofthestreet@yahoo.com thank you

[GHLIII]

I was there from '67 through '71, living at Barrington Hall. I remember the morning of May 15, 1969 as vividly as today's, the noise the cop boots made as they marched on People's Park, and about a year later, the photos of the Kent State victims posted on newspapers in the windows of the bookstores on Telegraph Avenue.  You don't forget such things. Your video is churce, Larry.

[flagwaver1969]

I've always been amused at the stupidity of the self titled "anti-war" movement. They make everyone NOT responsible for Washington D.C. decision making suffer. Also, why are they always waving communist flags? I doubt many are anti-war, and by evidence over the years, know them to be pro-communist, anti-American insurgents who don't belong in this country.

[Riverman94610]

Larry,I was in the thick of the action April 16th,17th and the 28th(the day the giant slingshot appeared)

 The demands were Free Bobby,Off ROTC and although street people and a few Weathermen were represented it was the Progressive Labor Party branch of SDS with Anita Rogers and Vic Coffield on megaphones that really set it off. The battles were furious.I caught a gas grenade directly in the face and almost got trapped when the pigs cornered us on top of the Student Union.

[princesspanda05]

You video is certainly a piece of history, and I am thankful you choose to share it.

However, I can't believe the posts supporting the violence displayed in this film. Protesting a violent war with violence seems a bit ironic and counter-productive.

It is possible for students to be "engaged" without throwing rocks, overturning vehicles and lighting a campus on fire. I work with student activists on a daily basis who make head-way on their campuses without acting like a bunch of savages.

[MendoGal2]

Hi--I entered Cal in the Fall of 1970 and lived in a wild Coop, Oxford Hall, that was right across the street from the west side of campus near the ROTC building. I knew about the spring riots, of course, and more continued over the next two years, and probably beyond, but I had to quit school for a while and make some $ so I could come back (it took me 10 years to get my BA, with this on-and-off method)! Do you still live in B-town, Larry? I went on to have a 26 year career at Cal.

[LarryNimmer]

I'm no longer in b-town. My journey: I met my wife at Wurster Hall, we moved to SF after graduation, 7 years later, we moved to Van Nuys, 6 years later, we moved to Carpinteria... we've been here 17 years... what do you do now?

Larry

[MendoGal2]

. . .long story I'll make short. Hubby & I are empty nesters, he got laid off from tech job of 22 yrs in May 06, & I decided to take early retirement. Sold east bay home, moved to our cabin @ Lake Tahoe. Fall 07, he got a consulting job with old firm for maybe 6 mos; we are renting in Mountain View! I am trying to hang out 'doing nothing' for a while; seems strange. Jim grew up in Oxnard & we love the Carp! My name is Becky. Check out our good Btown friends & type babshad in search--they do jazz

[LittleRedKing]

I like the fight song music. I think that it adds a useful touch of irony to the document.

I was at Berkeley in '83-'88 and we had our little bits of excitement, but nothing as engaging as this. Unfortunately, as time has gone by, I am afraid that students are more worried about the value of their investment portfolio rather than the actions of their country. Somehow, that makes me a bit sad.

Thanks for this wonderful document of the past.

[LarryNimmer]

Hi Little Red King... suddenly, I'm getting a lot of hits on this video. How did you find it?

For me, I really miss the Disneland feel of the riots... but, maybe that's a flaw in my character.

Best,

Larry Nimmer

[LittleRedKing]

Hi Larry,

This was mentioned in the Feb-08 Cal Connect newsletter. They didn't tell you that they included a link in their monthly e-mail?

[LarryNimmer]

They mentioned that they might do it so I'm glad they did... otherwise, I'd dig up some rocks or paving stones and chuck them at the Blue Meanies. :-)

[OriginalRunJamesRun]

This is an excellent document and the soundtrack is spot on. It seems that college students still get rowdy today, but shamefully we don't riot out of anger or to further democracy, we riot only when our sports teams win. Thanks for sharing this.

[swimgirl86]

I'm a current graduating senior. It's interesting to see some of the scenes from the time I've heard so much about. I also loved the music- same songs we clap along to today.

[syspertz]

Really interesting to see the old footage and then think back to my time 87 - 91 when we saw similar scenes played out around campus --but much of it was centered around the University's decision to build a sand pit volleyball court in People's Park. I actually thought the music was an interesting contrast of a campus steeped in traditions, but also well known for its protests and riots.

[OldUrsa]

I loved the music. It helps to tie "Cal" and "UC Berkeley" together. Most people east of the Rockies don't realize they are one and the same. It's still the premier public university in the world. I was a senior during the period depicted, and I became adept at staying clear of both the "blue meanies" and the rioting students. The police of course, did not distinguish between students trying to get to class and bottle throwing terrorists, so it was always preferrable to avoid any contact.

[iopsycpro]

Great video, but I am curious about when these movies were shot and what precipitated the demonstrations. I was a grad student at Berkeley from 1965 to 1971. I don't recall any such violent incidents after the People's Park riots of May, 1969. I checked with W. J. Rorabaugh's excellent history of that period, "Berkeley at War" (Oxford University Press 1989), and he makes no mention of any such incidents during 1970 either. Could you clarify this for me? Thanks!

[LarryNimmer]

I'll clarify. These riots occurred in Spring, 1970... I was there... it was my first quarter at the big U.C... As I recall, Governor Reagan closed Cal at the end of the Spring quarter because there was too much caos. I got automatic passes in my classes. Were you on campus during Spring 1970?... see the comments below.

[iopsycpro]

I don't know if you got my previous reply. The reply system seems to have a problem, but I'll try again. I was there that semester, but was working on my dissertation, so I wasn't on campus as much. I'd also grown tired of the dangerous infantilism (rock throwing) that had replaced serious discourse in the demonstrations. After the People's Park riots, I vowed to avoid future demonstrations. In 1970, I guess I succeeded!

[FriendshipSeven]

The spring of 1970 was Nixon's incursion into Cambodia, the Kent State massacre, and the resulting "reconstitution" on the Berkeley campus. I assiduously avoided the kind of gatherings in the film, thinking that at age 18 my primary task was to stay out of trouble and keep my nose to the educational grindstone... When (ugh!) Bush started another Vietnam-like military action in 2003 my priorities were different based on what I learned from my Berkeley experience, especially Spring 1970...

[zanzi1998]

I,too, was a freshman at Berkeley in Spring of 1970. You captured the tenor of one of the demonstrations very well. I was a photographer for the yearbook and have similar stills of the confrontations. It's a shame that the students of today don't take as active a role in protesting our meaningless and illegal war in Iraq. If there were still a draft I have no doubt students would be more actively engaged.

Thanks for posting your film.

Ken Hart, BSEE '73 & MBA '78

[pghpa611]

Thank you for the video , honestly I could of done without the music. I do understand what it is meant to represent care free college life BUT it takes away from the drama which is unfolding.

[LarryNimmer]

Good point about the music... I always enjoy the music because they are "fight" songs and upbeat and kind of playful like the riots were... but you're right, there certainly was something serious going on and I guess the music makes light of it. It does however help convey my feeling of Freshman fun and not having to take my finals.

Larry Nimmer