1981-2 Communications
What follows is an article about the salvage of a laked football goal post.
For an explanation of "laking" see:
Tuesday, November 10, 1981
The Daily Northwestern - Tuesday, November 10, 1981
Salvage set for laked goal post
TheNorthwestern football playes have showered and dried since Saturday's game, but Dyche Stadium's south goal post still lies soaking in lake water. It will take a little more than a shower to put it back in order.
Jim Sheffield, NU’s director of operations, is expected to don his wet suit at 11 a.m. today and embark on a boat expedition from the North Beach to salvage the sunken goal post from the bottom of Lake Michigan.
"If they had just torn it (the goal post) down, the cost of the damage would have been between S200 and S300," Sheffield said. “Goal posts are made to be torn down. We'd only have to pay for reinstallation.
"IF WE RECOVER the goal post, undamaged, the cost of the ordeal should range between $500 to $600 for reinstallation, draining, painting and rustproofing," Sheffleid said.
If the salvaging expedition is fruitless, or the post is cracked, "the cost of a new goal post plus installation should be about $1,500 to $1,600,” Sheffield estimated.
A new goal post, identical to the submerged one, will not be ready for the remaining home game, against Illinois on Nov. 21. "Our goal posts are specially cast with curves in them. That takes more time," Sheffleld said. "However, a god post with ninety-degree angles can be put up right away," he added.
Right now it doesn't appear any legal action will be taken against the goal post vandals. "We didn't nab any students, so we don't plan on taking any action," said Richard Woods, assistant director of the Department of Public Safety.
Sheffield said he was more upset about the behavior of the crowd than he was about the damage.
"THE VANDALS were intoxicated, pushing 60-year-old ushers and fighting with cops. Half the people had nothing to do with Northwestern. It makes me wonder what kind of crowd we're attracting."
Ken Kraft, associate director of public affairs, said he thought the goal post incident was "rather exciting." "We don't want it every time, but it was just natural enthusiasm that bubbled over. I can't remember the last time the goal posts went down.”
By Ruth Podems Daily Reporter
Below: On November 13, 1981 The Daily Northwestern reported on the Associated Student Government proposal to hold a concert at Dyche Stadium.
The Daily Northwestern - Friday November 13, 1981
City residents would protest Dyche concert
An associate Student Government plan to schedule at Dyche Stadium Spring Quarter will meet with the opposition from residents and at least one of the aldermen from the area, The Daily Northwestern has learned.
Ald. Joh Bleveans (7th), whose ward includes Dyche, said Thursday, he dislikes the idea and hopes it is not accepted. Nearby, residents interviewed in their homes Wednesday night, when ASG proposed the concert idea at a Forum meeting, said they would oppose any users of the stadium other than for scholastic athletic event.
Area homeowners said they tolerated Northwestern football games and the parking and security problems that accompany them but said they will resist attempts to bring equal-sized crowds to the neighborhood for other type of events.
Ald. David Burden, the other Seventh Ward Alderman, was unavailable for comment.
AT THE Forum meeting Wednesday, ASG Community Relations Committee Chairman Ty Laurie presented the concert idea. He said profits from it would go toward building NU athletic facilities.
Laurie said the NU administration would propose the weekend-afternoon concert idea to the city government for its approval if ASG can get enough consenting signatures from residents in the Seventh Ward.
“We had said that we will consider filing a request with the city providing the canvassing is successful,” Vice President for Student Affairs Jim Carleton confirmed. But he did not indicate what the administration would consider a “successful” petition drive.
“When Northwestern built the stadium, they didn’t conceive of it as a commercial place,” said Steve Page of 2700 Asbury Ave.” Just like NU came with our property, we were here when they came and they have to respect that.”
Other residents voiced concerns about possible property damage in the area in the event of a concert.. “I know NU wants to make money, but I don’t want it done at the cost of the neighborhood.” said Rich Clark, a member of Evanston’s Human Relations Commission.
BLEVEANS said, “I would say it is not going to pass, and I hope it won’t. I would say that everybody that I ever had conversations with about this matter is opposed to it.
“It’s the expansion of uses that has people upset...A rock concert is totally out of character for this area.”
Residents did not oppose the use of Dyche for the Illinois high school football playoffs to be held Nov. 27. The Class 5A and 6A title games scheduled that day will be the first high school football games held at Dyche, said Sports Information Director Jim Vruggink.
Laurie said the ASG Community Relations Committee Thursday drew up a petition it will ask residents to sign. Canvassers will solicit signatures Saturday. “We are trying to inform the Evanston’s residents of our position. We need new athletic facilities. We need large-scale musical performances at NU that every other college campus has,” he said.
IT WAS not known how many canvassers will assist in the drive or when ASG will ask NU to make a proposal to the city.
Under a zoning ordinance passed last April, Northwestern would have to apply for a special-use permit through the Zoning Board of Appeals to receive permission for the concert. The board in turn makes a recommendation to the Evanston City Council, which votes to accept or reject the request.
The process takes about four months.
By Andy Bagnato and John Hanan
Below is the correspondence between Doug Single, Director of NU Athletics and Jean Bing, an Evanston resident, and the subsequent inquiry by John I. Young, Director of Amendments and Appeals to Dave at the City of Evanston re. parking issues and free U-2 passes
Besides appreciating the humor and frustration expressed by Ms. Bing, and the cordial response by Mr. Single, it is difficult to understand why Mr. Single didn't bother to find out about the City's Zoning law, before dangling the offer of free Saturday football season parking passes in both east and west lots, and even possibly "extend the privilege of a season parking pass to apartment dwellers without assigned parking spaces who reside on or near Central Street, all the way between the bridge on Central and the intersection at Green Bay Road".
September 20, 1982
Dear Mr. Single [Doug Single, Director of NU Athletics],
Thank you for your letter regarding the 1982 college football season. I appreciate the football schedule so I will know which five Saturdays this fall should be of special interest to me as your neighbor.
On Saturday, September 18th, I had just returned from the police station and the towing company when I found your letter in my mailbox. the university may have some fine ticket values but they can't compare with the tour of Evanston my car just got for $35.
While the Wildcats were looking for another NCCA record that day I had been looking for my car. I think it's time we both stopped looking on Saturdays in the fall.
I understand where I park is my responsibility. The city is responsible for policing those who do not park in responsible fashion. The university's athletic events however, leave few responsible parking alternatives for an apartment dweller who wants to leave and return to their apartment on football Saturdays between 11:00 AM and 5:00 PM:
Look for a spot usually 4 to 6 blocks from their apartment
Park illegally and risk a $5.00 ticket and a $35.00 tow
Pay $2 and park nearer to their apartment in your lot
Your letter mentioned problems and I think that qualifies as one I am going to have this fall.
Your letter mentioned suggestions and I have one of those too.
The university could provide a responsible parking alternative:
4. A resident parking sticker allowing free parking to apartment dwellers in your lots close to their apartments.
This would allow us better use of our time, our apartments and our money. our leisure time and money could be spent at NU games helping you look for your elusive answer and not down at B&B Towing looking for our elusive autos.
If you have any reply to this suggestion please don't hesitate to write me at 2608 Eastwood, Apt. 1-J or call me at 492-6636.
Sincerely, Jean M. Bing Dyche Stadium Resident
September 29, 1982
Dear Ms. Bing:
Thank you for your thoughtful letter. It's certainly obvious to all of us that apartment dwellers on Central Street and nearby areas who do not have assigned garage parking spaces are inconvenienced during a football game in Dyche Stadium.
Although there is little we can do to prevent an illegally parked car from being towed by the City of Evanston, I do think that the University might be able to assist you and others with the same problem by providing a "football season parking pass" in either our east or west lots for use on football Saturdays.
We may be able to extend the privilege of a season parking pass to apartment dwellers without assigned parking spaces who reside on or near Central Street, all the way between the bridge on Central and the intersection at Green Bay Road.
I'll make it a point to discuss your suggestion with an alderman from Ward 7 in the near future so that we can begin our 1983 football season with our neighbors feeling better about the University's desire to assist them whenever we are responsible for creating a problem.
In any event i have enclosed one of our east lot season parking passes that is good for our remaining three football games for your use this year. Thanks again for bringing this to my attention and rest assured that we will do all that we can to help solve the problem before next football season.
Sincerely, Doug Single Director of Athletics 1501 Central Street
And here is what the City of Evanston says about allowing free U2 parking .
For more on U2 parking regulations, see:
The hospital parking is also mentioned in the 1410 Street Corporation letter: