Project Editor: Jeffrey Miller, History 470: Digital History, Spring 2008

CRETE RESIDENTS VISIT THOMPSON IN HOKUF BEHALF

Citizens of Athlete's Home Town Wage Fight for Reinstatement.

CLAIM HARSH DISCIPLINE

Past Records Do Not Show Severe Treatment Says Committee.

A committee of Crete residents composed of Mayor F. J. Kobes, County Attorney John E. Mekota, C. D. Blauvelt editor of the Crete News, H. A. Davis city engineer and R. M. Pflasterer, druggist, carried the fight to reinstate Steve Hokuf, suspended last week following a raid at the apartment in which he lived, direct to the university administration yesterday afternoon.

Calling on Dean T. J. Thompson in a body to protest against what they termed "severe discipline without due cause" they petitioned the university administration to take whatever steps necessary to reinstate Hokuf immediately in order that he might be able to continue his university work and remain eligible for football competition next fall.

Speaking for the committee, Mayor Kobes stated that there was no doubt that the stellar Cornhusker athlete was acquainted with the fact that beer was being made in the apartment but that the fact that he was not in the city at the time of the raid nor had ever been before the university administration for disciplinary measures prior to the time of his suspension should have entered into the case.

Cite Past Cases.

"It is evident," continued Mayor Kobes, "that past cases in which liquor and university students have figured had no bearing on the ruling of the administration in Hokuf's case. "University records will show that in more than one instance students have been discovered under the influence of liquor in their possession both on and off the university campus and have been dealt with much less harshly than has Hokuf."

Mayor Kobes added that the committee during the past week had received many letters, messages and telegrams asking that residents of Crete take some kind of definite action in an effort to gain Hokuf's reinstatement and offering any such aid as might be needed.

Senators Accompany Men.

Accompanying the committee from Crete were State Senators

CRETE RESIDENTS VISIT THOPMSON IN HOKUF BEHALF

George Koster and Andy J. Welch, who both were present at the time of the conference with Dean Thompson yesterday. The conference lasted nearly two hours and at the close of it the Crete committee visited with Chancellor Burnett for some time on the subject.

According to Mayor Kobes, the committee was more than pleased with the reception tendered it by the university administration.

Dean Thompson late last evening stated that the conference with the Crete committee had been without friction and that the matter of reinstatement of Hokuf had been thoroughly discussed, but that insofar as he was concerned, there would be no change in the displinary [sic] action taken by the administration.

Questioned regarding Mayor Kobes' statement concerning past offenses committed by university students, Dean Thompson said that the mayor was mistaken or misinformed on the subject and that the administration had dealt with liquor offenders as the severity of the case required.