Having left Maryland in good hands, Trent began looking for the next political challenge. In the late 1960's, there was only one place to go ? to a college campus. The University of North Carolina accepted her into their Masters program and the first thing she looked for when she arrived in Chapel Hill was the Young Republican Club!
She found them. What a group! What a time to be a Republican. As Nixon began to bring the Vietnam War to a close through a show of strength, campus radicals went ballistic. These were the days of sit-ins, the SDS, moratoria and flag burnings -- not to mention the hari krishnas.
At the University of North Carolina Trent honed all the elements of political skill, including activism.In pursuit thereof, she almost got herself killed in her efforts to re-raise the American flag that campus radicals had irreverently lowered. Well, perhaps "almost killed" is a bit overstated. She tried to throw herself in the line of fire, but Dick Mitchell (her future husband) refused to let her venture into the fray. Drat the man!
But she did write some pretty hard-hitting opinion pieces, held office in the University Party, served as Vice President of the UNC-YR's, and pursued truth, justice and freedom of speech! Indeed, the stalwart crew of UNC YR's initiated a campaign to stop the University from using mandatory student fees to subsidize the campus newspaper. The "Daily Tar Heel" was run by leftwing radicals espousing anti-war propaganda AND the editor flatly refused to publish a conservative column.
The campaign rocked the campus and made waves all over the state. Jesse Helms interviewed Trent on his TV news program, and the University chartered a commission to "study the issue." Even though they didn't win the day, their efforts focused a spotlight on the paper's gross bias and undermined much of its unwarranted power and credibility.
Trent Kittleman for Howard County 3000 Kittleman Lane * West Friendship, Maryland 21074 *(301) 661-3344 * Campaign Manager: Josette Wheatley (410) 206-9539 Trent@Kittleman2010.com * Josette@Kittleman2010.com
