NOVEMBER 12, 1961

Full News Archive

• Headline: WPI's Iconic Elms Are Lost. Impact: The loss of the great elms at Worcester Polytech sparked a movement among tree-huggers that eventually led to a global 'Save the Trees' campaign. Ironically, this campaign resulted in the creation of a line of biodegradable tree-hugging apparel, which was very fashionable until it wasn’t.. Fact: Fun fact: Elms can live for over 100 years. So, if they could talk, they’d probably have some pretty wild stories about all the college antics they witnessed..
• Headline: Diverse Approaches to Anti-Communism Broadcast. Impact: The anti-communism broadcast opened a Pandora's box of paranoia that ignited a nationwide obsession with conspiracy theories. This led to an era where people believed that even their toasters were spies for the Soviet Union, resulting in a black market for 'toaster-proof' kitchenware.. Fact: Funny enough, the term 'anti-communism' has been used so many times, it probably deserves a medal for being the most overused phrase in the political lexicon..
• Headline: O.A.S. SEEN EASING DOMINICAN CURBS; Partial Lifting of Sanctions Likely to Be Recommended. Impact: The partial lifting of sanctions in the Dominican Republic set off a domino effect that led to a series of diplomatic negotiations. This eventually resulted in the creation of a reality show called 'Sanctioned Diplomacy,' where politicians had to navigate complex trade deals while living in a house together.. Fact: Did you know that sanctions often lead to unexpected outcomes? Like, for instance, making everyone wish they could just go back to playing Monopoly instead of dealing with international relations..
• Headline: APARTHEID ISSUE TROUBLING WEST; U.N. Unit Gets Amendments to U.S.-Backed Measure. Impact: The troubling apartheid issue at the U.N. led to a surge in diplomatic tensions that inspired a new genre of political thrillers. These thrillers often featured a plucky hero who could solve the world’s problems in under 200 pages, which is about as realistic as a cat becoming the president.. Fact: Apartheid was such a major issue that it inspired countless protests. It's like the world's worst game of 'Simon Says' where Simon just doesn’t know when to stop..
• Headline: Carriage Museum Elects 3. Impact: The election of three new trustees at the Carriage Museum created an unexpected ripple effect in the world of horse-drawn vehicle enthusiasts. This led to an annual festival, complete with a 'Best Carriage' competition, which somehow attracted more hipsters than actual horse aficionados.. Fact: Fun fact: Carriages were the original ride-sharing system, except you actually had to own a horse and could only go as far as it could trot without collapsing..
• Headline: HIGH HOPES THAT LED TO DISILLUSION; WRITERS ON THE LEFT: Episodes in American Literary Communism. By Daniel Aaron. 460 pp. New York: Harcourt, Brace & World $7.50. Our Literary Radicalism in This Century Reflected a Concern for Human Suffering Our Writers Held High Hopes That Led to Disillusion. Impact: Daniel Aaron's book about American literary communism revealed the disillusionment that would ripple through generations of writers. This led to a collective existential crisis among authors, resulting in a surge of novels featuring brooding protagonists who stare at walls and question their life choices.. Fact: Literary communism sounds like a book club where everyone argues about whether to share snacks evenly. Spoiler alert: they never do..
• Headline: PRESIDENT SAYS U.S. WOULD FIGHT TO KEEP FREEDOM; In a Veterans Day Talk, He Appeals for Patience in the Search for Peace HE CALLS FOR COURAGE Defense Secretary Asserts Nation Would Win Any War Over Its Rights PRESIDENT SAYS U.S. WOULD FIGHT. Impact: The President's Veterans Day talk about fighting for freedom led to a surge in patriotic merchandise, including a bizarre line of ‘Freedom’ themed socks that somehow became a fashion statement. This resulted in sock drawers everywhere resembling the Fourth of July exploded.. Fact: Did you know that 'freedom' has been used to sell everything from socks to pickles? If only it could sell peace as easily..