1968-1972: “A Time of Turmoil” at Georgetown and in DC
1968-1972 was “a calamitous period in American history, in higher education history, in Washington, DC and on the Georgetown University campus,” says Frank Murray (SFS’72). He, along with General George W. Casey, Jr. (SFS’70) and Roger Cochetti (SFS’72), recall what it was like to be students at Georgetown in the midst of this unrest.
Casey remembers “standing on the roof of Loyola Hall in 1968 and watching the smoke billow from downtown Washington.” The smoke was from riots that broke out across the country following Martin Luther King, Jr.’s assassination on April 4, 1968. In Washington, D.C., businesses and homes were destroyed, 13 people were killed by fires, police officers, or rioters, more than 1,000 people were injured and over 7,600 people were arrested.
Murray and Cochetti recall anti-Vietnam War protests on Georgetown’s campus, leading to a face off between civil disturbance units and student protestors from Georgetown and other schools who had camped out at the university. “The tear gas,” Murray says, “actually permeated the buildings. There was so much tear gas that they had to cancel the final exams.”
Roger Cochetti currently leads a consulting practice (RJC Associates) that specializes in worldwide issues facing the Internet, computer and telecom industries, of which he has been a part for several years. He brings unique non-profit, corporate and government experience to this practice.
Prior to re-joining his consulting practice in 2009, Roger was Group Director of U.S. Public Policy for the Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA), the nation’s largest computer industry trade association, where he directed the Association’s US government relations. Previously, Roger served as Senior Vice President and Chief Policy Officer of VeriSign/Network Solutions, the provider of the “.com” and “.net” Internet domains. Before that, he directed global Internet and e-commerce policy for IBM Corporation and had managed the M&A function for IBM’s Personal Communication Services business unit.
He currently serves on the U.S. Department of State’s Advisory Committee on International Communications and Information Policies and the Board of Directors of the Internet Education Foundation, the parent organization of the Congressional Internet Caucus.