Every two weeks, Sweeps will take a look back at NIU decade by decade. This is in no way a ripoff of that VH1 series we’ve never seen and certainly never bought the DVDs of.

The 1970s at NIU mirrored the rest of the United States, which means there was protesting in all different shapes and sizes by youth wearing stuff they bought from Army surplus stores. But only when they weren’t watching “Baretta” and O.J. Simpson blow through NFL defenses.

On May 18, 1970, NIU experienced a boiling point when students, local residents and the government clashed over the musical genius of the Bee Gees along with the Vietnam War.

Former NIU President Rhoten Smith sat in with the students protesting on the Lincoln Highway bridge in order to keep the situation peaceful. As a result, there were no serious injuries even though 55 students were arrested.

“I think the main unrest at universities was a direct result of the war in Vietnam, which affected everyone in the country, but had the biggest impact on people who were 18 to 25 years old,” said communication instructor Matt Swan.

NIU Historian Glen Gildemeister believes NIU is in Smith’s debt for there being no serious violence at the protest.

“I first arrived on the NIU campus within a week of that night and there is no doubt that Smith’s willingness to sit between the students and the police and town people that night prevented serious violence,” Gildemeister said.

On April 23, 1971, four people wearing heavy “ghostlike” make-up and black robes decapitated a turkey in the Student Center Pow Wow room, which is now the Blackhawk cafeteria. The decapitation of the turkey was performed as a ritual with chanting and drum beats right before a meat cleaver was used to chop off the turkey’s head.

“Obviously, there can be no justification, symbolically or politically for that kind of act…it even sucks as street theater,” Swan said.

Jonathan Pirc, a junior physical therapy major also thinks the decapitation of a turkey is wrong … besides for Thanksgiving, of course.

“That is wrong and I would be angry and probably ask them what the hell they were doing and possibly attempt to save the turkey,” Pirc said.

A goose affectionately named “William” resided near the East Lagoon and attracted national attention in 1976 when administrators tried to move him out. William was deemed the “King of the Lagoon,” and then on April 13, 1981, a student under the influence of marijuana killed him by crushing his head and strangling his neck with a shoelace.

“I remember that rascally William of Goose, who more than once chased me and my young two daughters for 20 yards around the Lagoon,” said English professor John Knapp. “He was one tough, mean alpha Goose and I never really wanted to lock beaks with him. I felt saddened when news spread via the Star that someone had tried to make goose paste out of him, and we all applauded the plaque in his honor. Actually, William had more honest spirit than some of the former university administrations under whom I have worked.”