Interview with David H. Holwerk, December 4, 1978

Interview Summary

David Holwerk begins this interview by talking about his fifth year at the University of Kentucky in 1969. He was taking classes part-time and attempting avoid the draft, which was a fairly common practice during this period. He recalls he was a member of the National Student Association (NSA). Holwerk also worked with the Blue-Tail Fly, an underground "left-wing" off-campus newspaper, which was an offshoot of disgruntled students from the Kentucky Kernel. He recalls how the Blue-Tail Fly got its name. Holwerk wrote a group of editorials for the Kernel under the title "Cynic View." He recalls campus life in general changed dramatically during the period he was at UK.

Holwerk recalls the first anti-war demonstration at UK in the fall of 1969, but states that agitation really began right before the 1968 Democratic Convention in Chicago. Holwerk remembers that Robert Frampton organized the Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) on UK's campus during this time. Holwerk explains that he was involved the Appalachian Volunteers, a program aimed at ending poverty. He mentions increased drug use on UK's campus during the late 1960s, and especially notes rising marijuana use.

Holwerk talks extensively about his participation in events on May 5, 1970 at UK, the day after the Kent State killings. He recalls a student rallies held on the patio at the Student Center and other locations on UK's campus. He mentions several students who were active in these events, including Don Pratt, True Gardner, and Frank Shannon, an SDS activist. Holwerk states that he did not participate in the student march across campus, but recalls that he was stunned when the ROTC building (Buell Armory) was burned, since the Kentucky State Police were present. Holwerk talks about the curfew put in place and Governor Louie B. Nunn's decision to send in the National Guard. He recalls "getting gassed" with tear gas on May 6 at the Student Center. Holwerk was charged under UK's Code of Conduct and talks about the hearing, where he was accused of using strong language during the rally. Holwerk was acquitted, but he remembers changes in the Student Code and the Student Judicial Board after these events. Holwerk also talks about Jack Hall, Dean of Students.

Interview Keyword

Anti-war sentiment Blue-Tail Fly Buell Armory Campus political activities College students--Political activity Military draft Political ideologies Protest movements ROTC Building burning Student activism Student rights

Interview LC Subject

Holwerk, David Holwerk, David--Interviews Student movements Student protesters University of Kentucky University of Kentucky--History

Interview Rights

All rights to the interviews, including but not restricted to legal title, copyrights and literary property rights, have been transferred to the University of Kentucky Libraries.

Interview Usage

Interviews may be reproduced with permission from Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, Special Collections, University of Kentucky Libraries.