The Times
In the Fall of 1972, the senior graduating class of 1973 returned to campus having just witnessed the phenomenon that was Mark Spitz, winning an unbelievable 7 gold medals in swimming each in record-time at the Munich Olympics. That national “high” was quickly overshadowed by the first terrorist attack to be broadcast to a global audience when the Palestinian militant group “Black September” kidnapped and then killed 9 members of the Israeli Olympic team.
By mid-September of 1972, G. Gordon Liddy, F. Howard Hunt and the Watergate burglars were indicted for the June 17th break in of the Democratic National Committee while presidential incumbent, Richard Nixon was moving towards one of the biggest landslides in re-election history just two months later.
As 1973 arrived, Cortland students returned from Christmas break to a dizzying amount of news headlines at home and around the world. In fact, there were 4 major events that happened over only 7 days. On January 20th, Nixon was inaugurated for his second term, just 2 days later, his predecessor, Lyndon Johnson died, that same day on January 22nd, Roe v. Wade was affirmed by the Supreme Court and on January 27th, the Paris Peace Accords was signed officially ending the US involvement in the Vietnam War.
By the time Cortland graduates received their diplomas on May 27th, 1973, the best picture Oscar went to The Godfather, the very first handheld cell phone call was made, New York’s World Trade Center opened, and the televised proceedings of the Watergate trial were underway from the United States Senate.
Notable Events
Mark Spits wins 7 gold medals – Munich Olympics
August 26 – September 11, 1972
Mark Spits was the most successful athlete at the 1972 Munich Olympics winning 7 gold medals in 8 days and set a world record in every one.
Munich Massacre – Munich Olympics
September 5-6, 1972
Over almost 20 hours, the world watched as 8 men in tracksuits carrying Kalashnikov rifles and grenades dominated the Munich Olympics. They were members of the Palestinian Liberation Organization calling themselves Black September. Their mission was to hold Israeli athletes hostage and demand the release of 236 prisoners. The mission failed as 5 of the hostage takers were killed along with 11 members of the Israeli Olympic team and a West German policeman.
Paris Peace Accords Signed
January 27, 1973
Although started in 1968 between the US and Hanoi, the Paris Peace Accords were finally signed after negotiating for 3 ½ years in Paris on January 27th, 1973 by The United States, South Vietnam, Viet Cong and North Vietnam, bringing an end to the long and deadly Vietnam War and the release of American POWs.
Televised Watergate Trial Begins
May 18, 1973
The Senate Watergate committee begins its national televised hearings. Special prosecutor Archibald Cox subpoenaed tapes of conversations from the recording devices in the Oval Office. When Nixon refused to turn over the tapes citing executive privilege, Cox went to court.
Performances
Livingston Taylor with Jon Pousette-Dart
BoG CF at Corey Union Function Room
Jonathan Edwards
Known as a countrified folk singer songwriter, Jonathan Edwards started out in a blues band and when that didn’t pan out, he left the band and went out on his own doing acoustic sets opening for The Allman Brothers and B.B. King. His biggest hit “Sunshine” was released because of..Read More
Arthur, Hurley, Gottlieb
HPER (Moffett) Gym
Julian Bream
LYCEUM in Old Main Auditorium
West, Bruce and Lang
BoG CF at Lusk Field House
Sha Na Na
Starting out as a Columbia University a cappella group, Sha Na Na was an American Doo-Wop, Rock and Roll band that simultaneously revived and parodied the music and the look of New York in the 1950’s. Frequently outfitted in gold lamé suits and leather jackets, pompadours and ducktail hairdos, they..Read More
National Arts Center Orchestra of Canada
LYCEUM at HPER (Moffett) Gym
Igor Kipnis
LYCEUM at Dowd
Buzzy Linhart
BoG CF at Corey Union Function Room, Joey George opens
TOMMY – Rock Opera
BoG CF at HPER (Moffett) Gym
PDQ Bach – Professor Peter Schikele
LYCEUM at Old Main Auditorium
Seals and Crofts
One of the most successful soft rock duos of the 1970’s, Jim Seals and Dash Crofts formed in 1969. They first met in 1958 and played in a number of bands including The Champs made up of West Coast session men. They joined the band after their hit “Tequila” along..Read More
The Waverly Consort: Las Cantigas de Santa Maria
LYCEUM at Dowd
The Chuck Drake Ensemble
BoG CF at Corey Union Function Room
Earth, Wind and Fire
Promoting their 4th album “Head To The Sky,” Earth Wind and Fire brought their large band of guitars, drums, percussion, horns and kalimba instruments to the stage in the Corey Function Room. Earth, Wind and Fire fronted by Maurice White with prominent members Phil Bailey and Maurice’s brother Verdine White,..Read More
The Red Garter Banjo Band
Corey Union Function Room
Charlie Starr
Corey Union Function Room
King Harvest
Considered a “one hit wonder,” King Harvest was a French American band formed in Ithaca, NY in 1969 where band members were attending Cornell University. They broke up in 1971 and one by one, band members migrated to Paris where they reformed. Once in Paris and performing as a fairly..Read More
Stomping Suede Greasers
BoG SC at Corey Union Function Room
J. Geils with Peter Frampton
Formed in Worchester, MA, The J. Geils band started out as the J. Geils Blues Band. They dropped the word “blues” in the 70’s and became one of the most exciting touring bands combining blues, R&B, Doo-Wop, soul and rock. They built a huge following in the US with their..Read More
Sunflower
BoG CF at Corey Union Function Room
Aerosmith
The “Bad Boys of Boston” were formed in 1970 and became one of the most influential American Rock Bands in history rooted in pop, rock, heavy metal, glam and R&B. Their January 1973 self-titled album was dead on arrival as their label, Columbia Records was far more invested in Bruce..Read More
James Cotton Blues Band
BoG CF at Old Main Gym – featured Matt Guitar Murphy (Blues Brothers Band)