The Devil's in the details

In Oct. 5th, 1968 The Gunston Ledger produced an issue with an editorial section called "The Devil's Advocate." In it was the first appearance of an O.M. Wood, which shared their opinion on the current state of society (see fig.1). The observation made was that the state of the country was surrounded by conflicts and turmoil. In which his criticism was aimed at liberals of the time and what he percieved as shallow gestures of solidarity for the people suffering and lack of responsibility.[1] O.M. Wood would continue to write for The Gunston Ledger, but wouldn't be listed among its staff until April 18, 1969 in its Volume 6, No. 20 issue as a columnist. During this issue O.M. Wood go into detail the benefits of being on campus in the spring time, which entailed the female student body wearing miniskirts, micro bikinis, and their revealing nature.[2]

Six months later O.M. Wood would become the new head editor of the Gunston Ledger, during a turbulant time on campus relating to the potential firing of Dr. James Shea (see fig.2). Professor Shea would be involved in a series of controversies stemming from his self-grading policy, unorthodox teaching material, anti-war protests, car theft, and eventually finally fired after a tax evasion charge in 1970.[3]

Under O.M. Wood the Gunston ledger would become more provacative as he was presented in the paper as a wild and untamed individual (see fig.3). No longer restricted to just column editorials, the Gunston ledger, soon to be renamed to the Broadside. The paper would question not just the authority of the school administration but that of the U.S. government and it's involvement in the vietnam war and onward.

The irony here being that the first Editor and co-editor of the Gunston ledger, in it's very first issue were women, Helen Momsen and Cindy Long.[4] Yet Under O.M. Wood a new section in the student paper would arise known as the "Campus Beautification Award" or simply C.B.A. which would objectify the female students. Presenting them in overtly sexual tones and accompanied by suggestive commentary.[5]

[1] The Broadside student newspaper collection, The Gunston Ledger [Vol.6, No.3] https://images.gmu.edu/luna/servlet/detail/GMU~40~40~842~185120:The-Gunston-Ledger--Vol--6,-No--3-

[2] The Broadside student newspaper collection, The Gunston Ledger [Vol.6, No.20], https://images.gmu.edu/luna/servlet/detail/GMU~40~40~859~185103:The-Gunston-Ledger--Vol--6,-No--20-

[3] George Mason University: A History, The Dr. James M. Shea Affair, https://images.gmu.edu/luna/servlet/detail/GMU~40~40~861~185101:EXTRA--The-Gunston-Ledger

[4] Broadside student newspaper collection, The Gunston Ledger [Vol. 1, No.1], https://images.gmu.edu/luna/servlet/detail/GMU~40~40~756~185057:The-Gunston-Ledger--Vol--1,-No--1

[5] George Mason Special Collections Research Center, Broadside student newspaper collection, box 3/R0128, Fall 69 - Spring 70