They'll have another chance to drink the town dry - that is, if any are still holding on to a 40-year-old goal.

Participating members of the 1969 "Whip to White," - an event organized by South Dakota State University students who intended to band together in an effort to drink the town dry - are being invited back to White by parade organizers to ride a float in their honor in the city's Pioneer Days quasquicentennial (125th) celebration July 18.

According to Tracia Hogue, member of the celebration committee , organizers are sponsor- ing a float in memory of the "intruders" those 40 years ago.

Hogue said that those interested in riding in the parade, which begins at 10:30 a.m. July 18, should call her at 629-3771 by July 12 to give notice. Fun to bring 'em back

"Since it's the 40-year reunion of Whip to White, and that event drew such a large group of students to our little town, we thought it would be fun to bring them back and give them a chance to be in our parade," Hogue said.

"They brought a lot of attention to this little town. They came, they drank, they didn't wreck things, and it never happened again. It seemed like a good idea to give them a chance to come back."

"Whip to White" was organized as a response to "Zip to Zap," a similar event created by Chuck Stroup, a student at North Dakota State University in Fargo. Stroup organized the event because he couldn't afford to attend traditional spring break activities. His effort was a hit with college students in the upper Midwest, Texas and Florida, and what was intended to be a humorous festivity turned into a riot (the only one in the state's history) that resulted in thousands of dollars in damage.

The "Whip to White" took place Saturday, May 17, 1969. An estimated 600 SDSU students gathered in the city's park to drink and listen to music. Future SDSU president David Chicoine was rumored to have been among the partiers at the event, Hogue said. Whip no Zip

"Whip to White" wasn't the success the students had hoped for, however. Though the extent of damage wasn't at all close to what happened in Zap, N.D., the event left local residents to clean up the litter left by the festivities, and the event was quashed the following year. "Whip to White" and "Zip to Zap" were examples of what was described as chaos on college campuses throughout the U.S. in 1969. Many students rebelled against authority in protest of the actions of the U.S. in the Vietnam War, as well as the proliferation of nuclear weapons.

The National Guard was called in to intervene in more than 200 of these riots relating to war, racial tensions and other controversial subjects, including "Zip to Zap." No riots here, man

Though North and South Dakota weren't close to the centers of the hippie movement, local students knew what was going on with their peers in other parts of the country.

What happened in White didn't and wasn't intended to cause the chaos that "Zip to Zap" did.

"Whip to White" T-shirts are now even available through the city's event Web site, at www.geocities.com/whitepioneerdays /Clothing.

Hogue said she hopes some of the "Whip to White" rebels will come back to town for the celebration.

Who knows? Maybe someone will buy 'em a round.

For the complete article see the 06-22-2009 issue.

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