er when… by Theresa Chemnick
…Campus Police Wore Full Riot Gear? The political turmoil spreading across America
feminism began a trend of increasing diversity
was on the verge of invading the University of
in the law school that has continued ever since.
Washington campus in 1969 when Vickie Moor
Many demonstrations began in the Liberal
and Vickie Northington joined librarian Reba
Arts Quadrangle, now known as the Quad.
Turnquist on the Law Library staff. Meanwhile,
Turnquist could hear them through her window
excitement was brewing over a new building that
and from other library workspaces. Old Condon
promised a modern, light-filled library and plenty
Hall formed the middle of an axis between the
of space for a thriving law school. We recently
political science library and the main library, which
spoke with these three women about the Law
facilitated student/faculty interaction about the
Library, the School of Law and the University of
controversial issues of the day. A second axis
Washington campus during that time of change.
through old Condon Hall ran between the HUB
professor Marian Gould Gallagher. She later became Mrs. Gallagher’s secretary. Then, under Associate Dean Penny Hazelton, Moor was promoted to head of administrative services. She retired in 1999. Northington was hired as a
interaction—both the wide selection at the HUB, and delicious daily fare at the Commons (the source for “the daily cookie run,” home of the Home Economics department, and later named Raitt Hall). It felt like Condon Hall was in the middle of everything important.
library assistant, and is now library supervisor in
The central location meant student protests
the circulation department. Turnquist joined the
were on the doorstep of old Condon Hall. In
staff in 1958, and has spent the past 39 years in
June 1969, only a few hundred yards separated
acquisitions and collection development.
the bombed UW administration building and
The last five years (1969-1974) in “Old Condon Hall” (now Gowen Hall) were marked by transition in the law school and unrest on campus. The 1969 UW Law graduating class included eight women and 119 men (all Caucasian). By 1972, effects of civil rights laws, affirmative action and
Condon Hall. In March 1970, 200 Seattle and King County police officers occupied UW buildings after demonstrations had disrupted classes and injured 17 people. On May 5, 1970, 7,000 student protesters gathered on campus after four Kent State students were killed by National Guard
s pr i n g 2 012
associate law librarian under law librarian and
and the Commons and facilitated food/tastebud
uw law
Moor was hired as secretary to Viola Bird,
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