Reaction
“[Semon] Thompson told the Senate that one of the arguments most frequently used by white students was ‘I don’t mean any harm when I sing Dixie.' To this Thompson commented, ‘I’m telling you now, you are doing harm.’” --from article "Student Senate votes 28-6" Source: The Razorback 1970
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There was a large reaction from students on campus. The students held a vote and voted for Dixie to be started back up. Doc Worthington stood his ground and refused. He soon left the university and Eldon Janzen came in Fall 1970 to take his place. He continued to not play the song and sent a letter to President Mullins explaining his position. The main reason why he did not want to start the song back up is because he feared for the safety of his students. Janzen’s decision led to a lot of anger and little support. Many letters he received were negative. In an interview with Janzen, he said that he received one letter that threatened the life of his son. Janzen had the support of the music faculty who sent their support to Mullins. There was also an editorial in the Northwest Arkansas Times on October 3, 1970, that supported Janzen’s position. The administration gave him no support and left the decision to him. |
Interviews with Band Director Eldon Janzen discussing the burning of crosses and death threats
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"But we had a lot of indications of things like well when we lived over on Old Wire Road, I looked up, it was late and I heard a commotion outside the house, and I looked out in the front yard and somebody had burned a cross in our front yard." --Eldon Janzen |
"When we were awakened by a conversation, and my son didn’t take to this kindly, he was probably what eight years old and he was having some conversations with somebody who was in the yard and they wrote a letter and I’m not sure if it’s in there or not, but the threat was that they’d put an end to him if he didn’t quit making those comments." --Eldon Janzen |
Interview with Sanford Tollette on reaction to stopping Dixie
"Name calling, specifically one of the big things that I would hear when I became the drum major and before I became the drum major would be 'Play Dixie N-----. Play Dixie N-----.' Constantly hearing that and being a 19
year old kid, it angered me but then being a student I was torn between an emotional anger reaction back and my home training but also a deep spiritual understanding that me being there was a part of making a change so we had to hold ourselves together a lot of times."
--Sanford Tollette
year old kid, it angered me but then being a student I was torn between an emotional anger reaction back and my home training but also a deep spiritual understanding that me being there was a part of making a change so we had to hold ourselves together a lot of times."
--Sanford Tollette
Notes from Lion’s Club speech by Band Director Eldon Janzen
"'But racism in our country burst forth on this very campus in about 1968.
Escalated dramatically when Darrell Brown, a black law student was shot and wounded in December 1969. He was out jogging across from the Greek theater.
Near riots on campus. Demonstrations and sit-ins in Presidents office. Protesting groups blocked the Greek Theater from band entry at pep rally.
Suddenly, weight of entire issue was thrust on whether the Razorback band would play the song “Dixie”.
Cool heads---band members—Doc Worthington—were SOLELY responsible for preventing a blowup of deadly
proportions.'
'Pep rallies were anxious events.
In mid season, someone tried to set the building on fire during the pep rally.
Late night visitors burned a cross in my yard.
That same week I received a letter asking how I would feel attending a funeral of my seven year old if Dixie was not heard soon.
I took that letter to the chief of police, not believing I should take it seriously. His advice, buy a gun!!
FINALLY in October of that season, some rational voices began to be heard---much to my amazement, they did not come from this campus….my Dean, my President, my athletic department….
But rather from our own hometown newspaper The Northwest Arkansas Times editor. On October 3 1970, this editorial appeared entitled CRITICISM UNMERITED.'" Eldon Janzen
Escalated dramatically when Darrell Brown, a black law student was shot and wounded in December 1969. He was out jogging across from the Greek theater.
Near riots on campus. Demonstrations and sit-ins in Presidents office. Protesting groups blocked the Greek Theater from band entry at pep rally.
Suddenly, weight of entire issue was thrust on whether the Razorback band would play the song “Dixie”.
Cool heads---band members—Doc Worthington—were SOLELY responsible for preventing a blowup of deadly
proportions.'
'Pep rallies were anxious events.
In mid season, someone tried to set the building on fire during the pep rally.
Late night visitors burned a cross in my yard.
That same week I received a letter asking how I would feel attending a funeral of my seven year old if Dixie was not heard soon.
I took that letter to the chief of police, not believing I should take it seriously. His advice, buy a gun!!
FINALLY in October of that season, some rational voices began to be heard---much to my amazement, they did not come from this campus….my Dean, my President, my athletic department….
But rather from our own hometown newspaper The Northwest Arkansas Times editor. On October 3 1970, this editorial appeared entitled CRITICISM UNMERITED.'" Eldon Janzen
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Copyright Zoe Tollette and Samantha Fish 2012