Overview and Law Building

At the beginning of World War I (1918) the University of Nebraska held a trial against members of the university community, including professors. During the trial many individuals were accused of being "disloyal" and unpatriotic.

Professor Persinger of the History Department and Professor G.W.A. Luckey of the Education Department were put on trial with other professors, who came from different academic disciplines. Professor Persinger and Luckey were considered differently from the rest of those accused as they chose to talk to the press.

Conducted by a Council of Defence, the trial took place in the Law Building from May 28- June 12, 1918. Most of the evidence provided remained unsubstantiated. Many of those who served as witnesses were faculty members that had overheard negative comments made about the United States.

During the trial additional accusations were made, some towards faculty from the German and English Departments. Even though they were added to the list of people accused, many were let go with no actions taken against them.

At the end of the trial the Board of Regents ruled that there was no disloyalty. However, both Professor Persinger and Luckey were asked for their resignations because they had involved themselves and the University in public criticism.

C.E. Persinger and G.W.A. Luckey

Professor C.E. Persinger, a History Professor at the University, was one of the accused in the disloyalty trial. Persinger was very outspoken about his views of the war as shown in his writings published in several Lincoln and Omaha newspapers. He and Professor Minnie Throop England had disagreements that were published in the "Letters to the Editor" sections. His views were best expressed in a quote from Manley's Centennial History of the University of Nebraska: "the present use of the university for purposes of war propaganda, particularly for such affairs as the grandstanding war convocation" was disgraceful to the University." Persinger did not hide his opinions that the U.S. should not be involved in WWI. However, he showed his patriotism through purchasing many war bonds and doing things to help the forces overseas.

Professor C.E. Persinger is discussed in many books, briefly, because of his status simply as a professor. His writings primarily criticized the ideals that led to U.S. involvement in the war rather than the President and his decisions.

G.W.A. Luckey, an Education Professor thought to be speaking out against the war and the Presidents policies, had poorly documented evidence held against him. Despite this, the University still asked him to resign. Many who accused him pointed to his speeches and how he conducted himself around pro-war rallies. Once speech specifically identified, Luckey made in Howells, Nebraska: "I do not want to fight and die in the trenches of a foreign land in a war that is not of my making and not my war." This comment made him a prime target in the university trial.

Many students found the courage to stand up for Professor Luckey and tell the Council of Defense that he was a good man. Chancellor Avery and the Defense Council got several letters defending Luckey and showing how he was not disloyal to the University or the U.S. Even though many of his students tried to back him Luckey was still let go at the end of the trial.

Student German Club

At the Univesity students were still able to get together and learn German despite the loyalty trial. No student was ever put on trial for possible disloyalty. This proved an interesting point as students participated in activites that the Board of Regents tried to move away from during the war. This German Club stood out because the students would get together and talk German and try and learn the language with one another. They wanted to learn the language so that they could talk to Germans and learn from them despite the United States involvement in the war.