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Show UTAH HISTORICAL QUARTERLY San Jose’s Black Athletes Federation, Anthony L. Jackson. “We were criticized by some for doing too little and others for doing too much. . . . In the end, it was worth it.”55 During the run-up to the boycott, BYU trustees wondered if the game should be canceled, but ultimately decided to proceed—provided that “adequate precautions and protections” be afforded the BYU participants; and that “any public statements on behalf of the University should merely state that BYU . . . merely operates under the direction of the University’s Board of Trustees.” 56 Wilkinson stressed that a cancelation “might be interpreted as an erroneous admission that we discriminate against the Negroes” and that “blacks on any other campus with whom we play could start an agitation to cancel those games.” 57 The controversy prompted considerable student comment at BYU. “I’m grateful for being of the white race in a land where the white is supreme,” wrote student reporter Judy Geissler, employing irony to provoke discussion. “But I’m even more thankful for having the sense of social responsibility to know it’s my job to do everything I can to end the hypocrisy of the racial ‘double standard’ in America.”58 “These two statements are mutually exclusive,” countered Alan A. Enke and Mima Broadbent. “Please, Miss Geissler—if you have one, make up your mind.” 59 “A tribute to Judy Geissler and others of the supreme white race from a non-white student. Oink. Oink. Your inferior, Michael Hu,” added another.60 “I recently heard a high official of the Church slip into ‘colored humor’ at a stake conference,” reported Ron Simpson. “Similar mater ial has been rendered at BYU sacrament meetings.”61 At about the same time, the Daily Universe found that 65 percent of BYU students favored recruiting black athletes. “The reason they don’t recruit them isn’t valid,” one student said; “they just don’t want negroes to socialize with our girls.”62 In explaining the situation, the newspaper reported the oft-repeated concerns about intermarriage.63 Meanwhile, an angry Wilkinson thought he had made it clear that “no article would appear in the ‘Universe’ on the Negro question unless” it was cleared with him.64 He reported being “pretty caustic” with the student editor, telling him that he would see him again “after my meeting with the 55 Sports, Washington Square Magazine, Summer 2009, accessed October 27, 2011, http://www.sjsu.edu/wsq/archive/summer09/sports/. 56 Executive Committee, Board of Trustees, Minutes, November 21, 1968. 57 Executive Committee, Board of Trustees, Special Meeting, Minutes, November 26, 1968; see also Wilkinson, memorandum, December 4, 1968, Wilkinson Papers. 58 “The Way It Is—Editorial Rambling,” Daily Universe, November 27, 1968. 59 Letter, Daily Universe, December 3, 1968. 60 Letter, Daily Universe, December 13, 1968. 61 Letter, Daily Universe, December 13, 1968. 62 “Y Students Favor Negro Recruitment,” Daily Universe, December 19, 1968. 63 “Honest Discussion of BYU-Negro Athlete Recruitment Essential,” Daily Universe, December 19, 1968. 64 Wilkinson, Diary, December 19, 1968. 214 |
