THE IMPACT OF 1967

21, and living in Nashville, Tennessee....attending a relatively conservative University......and not identifying very much with the Brooks Bros.-wearing, fashionable Hoot-Nannyiers....especially after meeting Allen and Stokeley, during IMPACT...my 'senior year'....Everything went 'South'.....literally.....I had moved 'off campus' to engage in Leftist activities that would, by 1967, lead to my being 'punished' for 'making trouble'.....My Mother, after asking me why I did not attend 'Graduation Ceremonies' or have any 'recognition' in the Senior Yearbook, was both shocked and annoyed that I had refused 'the Diploma' and had refused to 'take' the Comprehensive Examination in English OR to complete some 'required' coursework in 'Art'...."What a waste of money!", she said.....then.....'Get into the car!!....we're driving to Nashville!"... We drove, with Mother getting yet another speeding ticket, to Kirland Hall, where Mother confronted Alexander Heard, the University's Chancellor.....Then, off to the head of the English Dept....then, to my 'Faculty Advisor'......Arrangements were made, on the spot, for me to take the 'Comprehensive' alone, in Dr. Rupert Palmer's office, while my Mother, seated in the Hallway outside, blocked my egress.......Hours later, I turned in my 'deliberatly' convoluted 'Proof' that I 'should, indeed be granted a B.A. in English, specializing in 17th Century Metaphysical Poetry, with a Minor in 'Fine Arts'/Psychology/Philosophy'......As Punishment for being a pain in Vanderbilt's butt, I was sent 'my' diploma a year later...so dated....'Big Deal!" I thought.....what am I going to do with This, anyway! Then, 'we' were expected to sit in rows, taking notes of whatever our 'profs' were rattling on about.....NOT to hang out with liberal, Commie, Black, Jew Poets, making 'trouble' for the Nashville Police.....I thought THAT was what 'College' was FOR!......Sorry, Alexander, but did you think I really gave a sh#t? If GInsberg had looked like Daniel Radcliffe, in Kill My Darlings, I'd have gotten into a lot more Trouble!