A Different Kind of Shutdown

Fifty years ago the Class of ’70 “bugged the system” enough to close down classes and business as usual in protest to the secret bombing of Cambodia by the U.S. We added legs to our heraldic shield icon to proudly commemorate our conscientious activism. And we ’70 bugs helped open up the FitzRandolph Gates to signify an open connection with the larger community. I skipped graduation as “business as usual,” thought it had been canceled, and headed to the Colorado wilderness. It wasn’t until I later heard “The Day of the Locusts” by my protest idol Bob Dylan that I realized he had attended the graduation that I boycotted.

It is quite ironic that now classes, and our 50th class reunion, are closed down due to “bugs” shaped like a crown.