Northern Michigan University
Northern Michigan University
| It took us all day and 500 miles to get to Marquette, Michigan
from Detroit. Starting around 7 PM for a hundred and twenty miles
the wind blowing in off of Lake Superior knocked us from one side
of the road to the other. The Beatmobile was like a giant aluminum
sail as we passed by that Big Lake They Call Gitche Gumee, but we
powered our way through and landed in the Upper Peninsula in fine
fashion.
Our hostess, Jody, met us at 10 PM and got us all settled in
to the middle of the campus for the next day. Jody had arranged
our visit like a military operation – “OK, I’ll
be bringing you coffee at 9 o’clock, at 10 AM the TV Station
is coming to interview you, at One PM the Newspaper will be here
to take your picture. At 4 PM you have a “Meet & Greet”
with the English Department in the Faculty Lounge. Sound Check
is at 5:30, Ray will take you to get showers at 6:00 PM and the
performance starts at 7:00 PM sharp.”
And I’ll be damned if the entire day didn’t go precisely
as Jody had planned it out.
The next day we had so many students drop by we couldn’t
keep up! At one point I found myself double-booked and when I
came charging back late to the Beatmobile to meet with a Professor
and his class I found that John had already engaged them and held
them in rapt attention.
Later that night our sponsoring organization Sigma Tau Delta
(STD) presented us with the ceremonial shirts and the English
Department then took us our for a late night snack. After running
for 17 hours straight we slept well that night.
|
NMU School Newspaper Prior to Our Arrival
Early Arrivers Come to Greet Us
The Panels were Set Up in the Student Center
The Beats are All the Rage at NMU
Jody Arranged for Local NBC News to Come Out
John is In His Glory
Being Interviewed for Local News that Ran at Six PM
There is a Real Interest in All Things Beat at NMU
John Talking About Neal and Carolyn
These Two were Neal Fans
The Future of America
Impaled is a Tattoo Parlor Aaron Works at Downtown
The Students Kept Coming All Day Long
Ray, Jody and John
Theo of Dead River Coffee Sat at Our Table in the Student Center
Entire Classes Came Out to Hear About the Beats
John Making a Point
Jody's Daughter Morgan and Son Dylan
The Local Newspaper Came By for a Photo Op
With Jody After a Successful Morning
A 4:00 PM English Department Reception
Allison Holding Photo Book of Herself with Ginsberg at Naropa
Sigma Tau Delta Presenting Us with Their Shirts
The Auditorium Begins to Fill
Our Youngest Beat Fan
Laughing At One of John's Jokes
Signing Books After the Show
Everyone Wants to Say Hello
After Hours with the English Department
NMU Post Performance Newspaper
Sleeping in the Rig in the Middle of Campus
