Interview with James McFadden

Partial Transcript: I get to start...

Segment Synopsis: James was a freshman who “expressed his displeasure” towards a police officer during the protests. He was suspended from UW for his actions at the protest. James discusses the leftist legal team that ended up allowing him and some of his fellow protesters back into the university.

Keywords: detention; student activism

Partial Transcript: But anyway how I got there

Segment Synopsis: James joined the protest movement because of his distaste for Dow Chemical and the Vietnam War. He was part of a group of students who weren’t trying to block the halls of the Commerce Building, but the police attacked his group anyways. James mentions a post-traumatic association that brings back memories of being beaten: the sound of breaking glass. After the protests, James and his friends (all in states of shock) went to a cinema (which James’ architectural firm later facilitated the demolition of). After the protests, James lost his enthusiasm for Madison and spent the remainder of his college years traveling.

Keywords: Commerce Building; Dow Chemical; Vietnam War

Partial Transcript: Then what compelled you as a college sophomore...

Segment Synopsis: Question: What compelled you to join the protests? Answer: James had friends at Columbia University whom he protested with prior to attending UW. When he arrived at UW, he found himself “academically disappointed” by the university. This personal disappointment led him towards more protest movements.

Keywords: Columbia University

Partial Transcript: How did you spend your time...

Segment Synopsis: Question: How did you spend your time during your suspension? Answer: James was not suspended for a long time. He did not know most of the other students who had been arrested – most of them were seniors or graduate students who all went their separate ways after college. James is still acquainted with Paul Soglin. James discusses how he feels unsettled talking about his life and how he has not told his daughter about his involvement in the protests yet.

Keywords: Paul Soglin

Partial Transcript: Do you have any thought on...

Segment Synopsis: Question: What are your thoughts on the current state of student protests in Madison? Answer: James says that current students are “wimpy” and overprotected. He talks about growing up in a small Irish community in New York City and how going to UW was a “break” for him. He always “assumed success” and left the protest movement after the Dow Demonstrations to focus on traveling and on his study of architecture.

Partial Transcript: So I think my influence...

Segment Synopsis: James believes that his influences cannot be traced to one event but to a series of violent acts between students and police in Madison that occurred around the time of the Dow Demonstrations. He took several “hippie” quests and travelled to Oregon, the East Coast, and India. He believes that, had he not become so disillusioned by political demonstrations, he would not have accrued so many worldly experiences.

Keywords: Hippies; ROTC

Partial Transcript: Would you say your political activism has continued the same...

Segment Synopsis: Question: Are you still politically active? Involved in protests? Answer: James is not involved in political activism anymore, as he believes it currently only promotes divisiveness. He believes that his job as an architect allows him to make small steps toward a better America without creating tensions. He talks about his own privilege as someone who grew up in an upper-middle-class family and attended college in the 1960’s. James discusses his work as an “activist” within the realm of his work. He believes rallies are “narcissistic.

Partial Transcript: So yesterday I went through...

Partial Transcript: So I was discursive a little bit...

Segment Synopsis: James clarifies a few statements from the day before. He believes that his involvement in the Dow Demonstrations was a waste of time. He talks about how he was a “follower” in the affairs of the anti-war movement and his belief that blindly following leaders has become the norm among Americans.

Keywords: Dow Demonstrations

Partial Transcript: Basically I arrived...

Segment Synopsis: James was suspended with thirteen other students. Nobody was arrested. He still defends his anti-war stance, but he believes that the anti-Vietnam War protest movement was “superficial” and promoted ineffective discourse. He talks about how protesters were in over their heads for believing that they could change governmental decisions.

Keywords: anti-war

Partial Transcript: Is there anything you want to add...

Segment Synopsis: Question: Is there anything else that you wanted to add? Answer: James sees his political activism as a large distraction that plagued his college years. He believes that protest movements often lack humility. He has not changed his political stance over time, but he believes that his time and effort should go into local elections/issues instead of national or international ones.

Keywords: political activism