On the first day, as students cried “Latin si, Pusey no,” on the steps of Widener Library, crowds gathered as Phillip A. Stone ’62 gave a speech in Latin in favor of keeping the traditional diplomas.

But Pusey had his own witty retort.

In response to the frustrated mass of undergraduates, the University president delivered a poem:

“What’s pat in Latin

Or chic in Greek

I always distinguish

More clearly in English.”

The words did little to quiet the students, however, as the protest gathered force on Friday, bringing even more students to the Yard—much to the chagrin of University administrators.

Ultimately, as the crowd continued to grow despite efforts to avoid conflict, the police were called in to disperse the students, reportedly using tear gas and smoke bombs.

‘TONGUE AND CHEEK’

Students, who viewed the protest as peaceful and all in good fun, were offended by the use of force, recalling that the administration did not seem to understand the nonthreatening nature of the demonstrations.

“I think there were very few people who really cared but it seemed like something to make a fuss about,” Elliot S. Gershon ’61 says. “I think the weather was good and people needed a break.” Gershon also says he suspects that for a few students “a couple of glasses of wine” might have played a large part in the outcry.

“It was pretty much a tongue and cheek riot—if you want to call it a riot,” Abbell adds.

But many of those involved also feel as though their protest was not without significance.

“We wanted to make our unhappiness known and we did very elegantly, I think,” Paul M. Meo ’61 says. “It was in the spirit of fun and Pusey shouldn’t have unleashed the police on us, but he did.”