OCR Text |
Show -85- On the ride home, which occupied about three-quarters of an hour, he switched on his car radio and turned i t immediately to the all-news station, an action that was to become habitual in the weftks ahead. The news was a l l about the student distur* bance. The President and his aides were a l l beleaguered in t h e i r offices, but the President had a representative of the police department with him and a direct telephone line open between his office and the office of the chief of police downtown. No police had been called to the scene, although the r i o t squad had assembled nearby. They wouldonnly be called when the President and the police department agreed there was danger to l i f e and property. News of dismissal of l a t e afternoon and evening classes did not come u n t i l the Professor was midspan on the bridge. I t came as a special flash? explaining that the President's office had lost contact with some of the outlying buildings. With the coming of darkness, the President was fearful that violence might occur without his knowing. He had made his decision early enough to f o r e s t a l l the appearance of students of the night courses. All sfitdents on campus had been advised to leave for home immediately? All of t h i s made perfectly good sense to the Professor. With the campus closed for the night? the students would d i s band. Up u n t i l flow? there had been l i t t l e sign of violence. He had seen only that one broken window? and the radio announcer had even got around to explaining t h a t . A professor's |