Columbia University protests - 10 things to know with detail
- 1. The protests at Columbia University began in April 1968, following the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The campus was rocked by student demonstrations, strikes, and sit-ins, with students demanding changes in university policies and curriculum.
- 2. The protests were part of a larger movement of student activism that swept across college campuses in the United States during the late 1960s. Students were protesting against the Vietnam War, racial discrimination, and the perceived lack of academic freedom on campus.
- 3. One of the key demands of the Columbia University protesters was the end of the university's involvement in military research. Students also called for the establishment of a black studies program, the end of university ties with segregated neighborhoods, and the creation of a student-run gymnasium.
- 4. The protests gained momentum when students occupied several university buildings, including the president's office in Low Library. The occupation lasted for several days, with students barricading themselves inside and refusing to leave.
- 5. The protest movement at Columbia University was met with a heavy-handed response from the university administration and the New York City Police Department. Police were called in to forcibly remove the protesters from the occupied buildings, resulting in violent clashes and arrests.
- 6. The protests at Columbia University divided the campus community, with some students and faculty supporting the protesters' demands, while others condemned their actions as disruptive and illegal.
- 7. The protests at Columbia University eventually came to an end in May 1968, when the university agreed to some of the students' demands, including the establishment of a black studies program and the creation of a student-run gymnasium.
- 8. The aftermath of the protests saw a lasting impact on the university, with changes in the curriculum, increased diversity on campus, and a renewed commitment to social justice issues.
- 9. The Columbia University protests are now considered a pivotal moment in the history of student activism in the United States, and a symbol of the power of grassroots movements to effect change.
- 10. The legacy of the protests continues to resonate at Columbia University, with the university commemorating the events of 1968 through lectures, exhibitions, and other events that highlight the importance of student activism and social justice.