• a story in three parts

    From Eli the Bearded@21:1/5 to All on Wed May 1 04:59:46 2024
    Columbia University:
    https://news.columbia.edu/content/new-perspective-1968
    [*]

    Columbia is a far different place today than it was in the spring of
    1968 when protesters took over University buildings amid discontent
    about the Vietnam War, racism and the University's proposed
    expansion into Morningside Park. After a weeklong standoff, New York
    City Police stormed the campus and arrested more than 700 people.
    The fallout dogged Columbia for years.

    It took decades for the University to recover from those turbulent
    times. Columbia now has one of the most socio-economically diverse
    student bodies among its peer institutions. It has added a new
    campus designed to be open to the community and pursues fields of
    inquiry unheard of a half-century ago. Columbia is commemorating the
    50th anniversary of those long-ago events with a deep dive of
    scholarship and exhibits chronicling what happened then and its
    effects today.

    Also Columbia: https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinian-campus-student-protests-war-8b0d3a0cedb17f5e892c6ca43bbdf628

    A statement released by a Columbia spokesperson said officers
    entered the campus after the university requested help. A tent
    encampment on the school's grounds began nearly two weeks ago to
    protest the Israel-Hamas war.

    "After the University learned overnight that Hamilton Hall had been
    occupied, vandalized, and blockaded, we were left with no choice,"
    the school said. "The decision to reach out to the NYPD was in
    response to the actions of the protesters, not the cause they are
    championing. We have made it clear that the life of campus cannot be
    endlessly interrupted by protesters who violate the rules and the
    law."

    McSweeneys: https://www.mcsweeneys.net/articles/a-message-from-the-chancellor-on-the-recent-student-protest

    Dear members of the University community,

    The University administration respects all student protests, just
    not this one. Students have fought for many important causes over
    the years, and their right to protest is sacrosanct. In this case,
    however, we must arrest and slander them.

    We will not look back and regret this decision. Although we were
    wrong about not admitting women, abolitioning racial quotas, US
    involvement in Vietnam, and divesting from apartheid South Africa,
    we are confident that this time is different.

    Rules are rules, and the rules never change.

    [*] Note that page has a top banner about disruptions.

    Elijah
    ------
    if protesting today, be sure to save things for the 2074 exhibit

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)
  • From JAB@21:1/5 to *@eli.users.panix.com on Wed May 1 08:05:16 2024
    On Wed, 1 May 2024 04:59:46 -0000 (UTC), Eli the Bearded <*@eli.users.panix.com> wrote:

    Columbia is a far different place today than it was in the spring of
    1968 when protesters took over University buildings amid discontent
    about the Vietnam War, racism and the University's proposed
    expansion into Morningside Park.

    amid discontent about the Vietnam War

    I believe 'self interest' was the motive mostly. "Throughout most of
    the Vietnam war men who were enrolled in college could obtain
    deferments that delayed their eligibility for conscription."

    University/College bound male students were attempting to signup with
    their local National Guard units while in school since most all guard
    units did not go to Vietnam.

    Going to College to Avoid the Draft: The Unintended Legacy of the
    Vietnam War https://economics.ubc.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/38/2013/05/pdf_paper_thomas-lemieux-draft-avoidance-college.pdf


    In today's protests, I perceive most/all students are not fully
    informed about historical aspects.

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)