Willard Broom Oral History

Willard Broom grew up in several small towns in southern Illinois, the primary being Greenville, and was the 4th of 5 boys, of which his older 3 brothers attended the University before him. Mr. Broom attended UIUC from 1967-1972 and then worked for the University for decades after, working his way to become an Associate Dean. During his time as a student, he saw a radical change in student behavior and the way in which the campus was run from a strict conservative campus to a more progressive school. He was a witness and participant to many protests, himself getting arrested on several occasions, though he would never have described himself as a leader of the movement. His candid interview shows how average students could become politically aware and active in the era of the Vietnam War.