It was a cold afternoon in mid-December 1972. First semester classes at Fremont State University had come to a close. Faculty and students awaited the final examination period that would be completed by the end of the following week. the brief holiday vacation was looked upon with great anticipation.

Bounding up the creaking stairs of Wilcox Hall came the bundled figure of Frank Herndon, a first-year graduate student in the Department of Sociology. in his arms were two large frozen turkeys, giving him the general appearance of a Santa Claus. the turkeys, which Herndon, the department's representative, had been charged with obtaining, were to be gifts from the department's faculty and graduate students to the department secretary and the building custodian. They were to be presented at the annual Christmas party later in the afternoon.

Arriving on the second floor where the department offices were housed, Herndon met Adam Ibsen, the department chairperson. After a customary perfunctory greeting, Ibsen summoned Herndon to his office. Placing his bundles in an inconspicuous place, Herndon ambled down to Ibsen's office.

An administrative "ACCIDENT" and a lack of due respect

Herndon was still in a happy Christmas mood as he walked down to Ibsen's office. He little dreamed that the next few weeks would turn into a nightmare because of an administrative "accident" and of conflicting suggestions and requirements.