FROM THE DAILY:

April 30, 1968

In an article titled “Odegaard served with demands,” The Daily reported that “A week of protest and resistance came to a close here last Friday as over 600 students rallied in front of the Administration Building and then left a list of demands in the office of President Charles E. Odegaard.”

The protests were over the Vietnam War, racism and the draft.

The demands called for less-strict entrance requirements for blacks until their proportional presence at the UW was equal to the proportion of black casualties in Vietnam as well as the abolishment of UW ROTC programs.

The protestors also demanded that draft resisters be freely readmitted to the school and that those students who had left the country in objection to military service be granted degrees in absentia through correspondence courses.

May 1, 1990

“Parents’ Weekend Seinfeld show loses nearly $8,000.” Oops. Just like it sounds, the ASUW brought comedian Jerry Seinfeld as a “big name act” for Parents’ Weekend, paying him $15,000 for the appearance. Only $8,314 worth of tickets were sold, according to the HUB ticket office, resulting in a $7,686 loss to the ASUW general budget.

SOURCE: THE DAILY ARCHIVES

AROUND THE WORLD:

April 27, 1954

The movie White Christmas, starring crooner Bing Crosby and singer/dancer Danny Kaye, debuted on this day. Opposite Crosby and Kaye were Rosemary Clooney (George’s aunt) and Vera-Ellen.

April 29, 1429

On this day, 17-year-old French peasant Joan of Arc led a force of French soldiers to relieve the city of Orleans, which had been under siege by the English since October 1428. Joan, who believed she was under the direction of Christian saints who spoke to her, managed to distract the English and get supplies to the besieged city, as well as inspire the French troops to a number of victories. Joan would go on to serve King Charles VII faithfully until her capture by a gang of French insurgents. She was turned over to the English, who tried her for heresy and burned her at the stake. In 1920, the Catholic Church recognized her as a saint.

April 30, 1803

This day saw the conclusion of negotiations between the United States and the French government, under the leadership of Napoleon, for the Louisiana Purchase. The sale of the land doubled the size of the American republic, bringing the western boundary of the country to the Rocky Mountains. The purchase cost the U.S. government $11.25 million and added 828,000 square miles of territory.

May 1, 1931

President Herbert Hoover dedicated the Empire State Building on this day. The building, which stands 102 stories and 1,250 feet tall, was the world’s tallest skyscraper until that title was taken by the World Trade Center in 1972. The construction, in the midst of the Great Depression, employed more than 3,000 workers each day, offering them generous pay considering the conditions of the time.

SOURCE: HISTORY.COM/THIS-DAY-IN-HISTORY

Reach features editor Randy Ferreiro at features@dailyuw.com.