Interview with Frederick W. "Rick" Bell, May 9, 2019

Partial Transcript: Okay--

Segment Synopsis: In this section, Fredrick "Rick" Bell is introducing himself to the audience.

Keywords: Greetings

Partial Transcript: Rick, in our last conversation, we began discussing your experiences on the UK campus, beginning in 1965 including your association with the student newspaper the Kentucky Kernel.

Segment Synopsis: This section introduces the Kentucky Kernel. This was the official newspaper of the University of Kentucky and was given the New York Times award.

Keywords: Kentucky Kernel; Liberal; Media; Michigan Daily; Newspapers; Photographers; Student body; Yale Daily

Subjects: College publications; College student newspapers and periodicals; New York Times.; University of Kentucky; Western Kentucky University

Partial Transcript: In the fall of 1965, Walter M. Grant was the editor-in-chief and he remained through the 1966-'67 academic year.

Segment Synopsis: Media employees are listed, as well as their numerous awards and achievements such as first women editor, president editor, first gay activist, Armstrong awards.

Keywords: Bill Grant; Crusaders; David Hopp; Diversity; Editor-in-chief; Frank Brown; Gay activists; Gene Clabes; John Zeh; Journalism; Judy Grisham; Kenneth Green; Kenneth Hoskins; Larry Fox; Linda Mills; Sally Stall; Success; Terence Hunt; William Grant

Subjects: College publications; College student newspapers and periodicals; Journalism; Super Bowl; University of Kentucky

Partial Transcript: Now, you know, looking at the Kernels earlier in that decade, '61, '62, '63, that was more of a standard sort of, uh, campus student newspaper.

Segment Synopsis: This section mentions special events that happened during this time, such as the civil rights movement, which was not written about in the Kentucky Kernel. Bell also talks about how he visited the first ever Super Bowl.

Keywords: Beauty queens; Controversy; David Hop; Fraternity; Kentucky Kernel; Louisville Courier-Journal; MSNBC; Miss Kentucky; News; Sorority; The Herald-Leader; Wedding announcements

Subjects: African Americans--Civil rights; Civil rights movements; Civil rights.; College publications; College student newspapers and periodicals; Journalism; Super Bowl; University of Kentucky

Partial Transcript: Rick, was your job at the Kernel a difficult job?

Segment Synopsis: This section is about Bell's work ethic towards his job. He claims you must be a good problem solver and have motivation to do the work. The job was never boring for him, and despite the difficulties he persevered.

Keywords: Commitment; Deadlines; Excellence; Problem solving; Self evident; Standards; UK Football

Subjects: College publications; College student newspapers and periodicals; College students--Attitudes.; Journalism; University of Kentucky

Partial Transcript: Well, in the fall of 1965 and throughout 1966, President Johnson’s Vietnam War ramp up, ramp up was still taking place and the American people for the most part were still supporting the war effort.

Segment Synopsis: This section chronicles the events that happened during the year of 1965-1966. The Vietnam War had a huge presence on campus. The University of Kentucky gained recognition for being a big "party school" by Playboy Magazine.

Keywords: "Party school"; Anti-political; Bradford; Conservative; Drinking; Music; Paradise; Playboy Magazine; Socialist; Sock hops; Turmoil

Subjects: College environment; College students--Attitudes.; College students--Conduct of life.; College students--Social conditions; Universities and colleges.; University of Kentucky; Vietnam War, 1961-1975

Partial Transcript: A poll conducted in the fall of 1966 indicated that twenty-nine percent of the students were Republicans, twenty-sex percent claimed to be Democrats, and forty-two percent said they were Independent.

Segment Synopsis: Bell talks about the clash of political views on campus and how the Vietnam War affected the lives of everyone on campus.

Subjects: College environment; College students--Attitudes.; College students--Conduct of life.; College students--Social conditions; Universities and colleges.; University of Kentucky; Vietnam War, 1961-1975

Partial Transcript: John Oswald was the president of UK in the fall of 1965. Did you get a chance to meet him of the Kernel staff?

Segment Synopsis: Bell praises and discusses how John Oswald’s presidency transformed the campus. Despite constant opposition, he left a valuable mark on UK.

Keywords: Challenges; Faculty; Kentucky Kernel; Liberal; Resistances; Transformation

Subjects: College environment; College students--Attitudes.; College students--Conduct of life.; College students--Social conditions; Universities and colleges.; University of Kentucky; Vietnam War, 1961-1975

Partial Transcript: When you enrolled in the fall of '65, the Kernel reprinted real news stories from the AP and UPI, as well as, uh, columns from Evanson, Novak and Joseph Craft, among others.

Segment Synopsis: This section focuses on the massive opposition against the Vietnam War. Bell explains how many people would either flee to Canada or decide to go to jail. Cassius Clay decided to jail instead of going to war. Bell admired Cassius and was inspired to get his conscientious objector (C.O.) status.

Keywords: Anti-war; Cassius Clay; Cassius Clay (Muhammad Ali); Conscientious objectors; Free speech; Liberal; Muhammad Ali; Peace Corps; Politics; Socialism; Students for a Democratic Society (SDS)

Subjects: Anti-war demonstrations; Canada.; College environment; College students--Attitudes.; College students--Conduct of life.; College students--Social conditions; Draft; Draft resisters.; Military; Universities and colleges.; University of Kentucky; Vietnam War, 1961-1975; Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Protest movements

Partial Transcript: The Students for a Democratic Society, the SDS, had started a chapter on campus in the summer of 1964.

Segment Synopsis: This section revolves around the constant violation of freedom of speech. The Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) was a socialist group who was heckled, egged, and beaten. Young Americans for Freedom (YAF) wore neck ties as protest against the SDS. This also covers the "Sound Off" program, which gave anyone the right to speak freely.

Keywords: Anti-war; Free speech; Neck ties; Ned Breathitt; Radical; Socialism; Sound Off; Students for a Democratic Society (SDS); Tom Hayden; Young Americans for Freedom (YAF)

Subjects: African Americans--Civil rights; Anti-war demonstrations; Civil rights movements; Civil rights.; College environment; College students--Attitudes.; College students--Conduct of life.; College students--Social conditions; Universities and colleges.; University of Kentucky; Vietnam War, 1961-1975; Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Protest movements

Partial Transcript: In the spring of 1966, the all-white UK basketball team lost to Texas Western, whose starting five were all-black, in the NCAA Championship game.

Segment Synopsis: This section is about the separation of white and black basketball players. Bell discusses how the University of Kentucky lost to Texas Western in the 1966 NCAA finals, in which Texas Western played an all-African American starting squad against UK's all-white team.

Subjects: African Americans--Segregation; African Americans--Social conditions; Basketball.; College environment; College students--Attitudes.; College students--Conduct of life.; College students--Social conditions; Duke University; Race relations; Universities and colleges.; University of Kentucky

Partial Transcript: In the spring of 1966, James Meredith had returned in Mississippi and was shot in the back while marching from Memphis, Tennessee to Jackson.

Segment Synopsis: This section covers the widespread segregation that was present on many college campuses. Bell talks about James Meredith, who was the first black college student in Mississippi. Meredith was shot during a protest march. He later delivered a speech at UK. There were strong representations of segregation and racism on campus. He briefly mentions the black power movement on campus.

Keywords: 1968; Bands; Black students; Congress of Racial Equality (CORE); Dixie (Song); Fraternities; James Meredith; Racial slurs; Racism; Slave auctions; Slave-trade; Stokely Carmichael

Subjects: African Americans--Civil rights; African Americans--Segregation; African Americans--Social conditions; Civil rights movements; College environment; College students--Attitudes.; College students--Conduct of life.; College students--Social conditions; Race relations; Racism.; Segregation.; Universities and colleges.; University of Kentucky

Partial Transcript: Construction on the Patterson Office Tower would not begin for several more years.

Segment Synopsis: This section is about Bell’s college life. He discusses communication theory and how his professor, Dr. Donaview, helped the campus switch from a journalism mindset to communication. Bell also talks about the campus back in the day and how they didn’t have faculty offices. Most football games were played at Stoll Field, which was later torn down. In 1967-1968, drugs such as LSD and marijuana began to make their way into UK campus. Bell also covers the 1891 Kentucky constitution and how it is still active today.

Keywords: 1891 Constitution; Alcohol; Cheating; Communication theory; Dr. Billy Moore; Dr. Donaview; Drinking; Drug use; Hippies; Hippy; Kennedy Bookstore; Kentucky Kernel; LSD; Lexington Police Department; Marijuana; Nexus Coffeehouse; Police Chief C. E. Hale; Social life; State constitution; Stoll Field; The Paddock; Timothy Leary; Two Keys Tavern

Subjects: College environment; College students--Attitudes.; College students--Conduct of life.; College students--Social conditions; Universities and colleges.; University of Kentucky