The Struggle For Black Studies @ Syracuse University

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The Struggle For Black Studies_at_ Syracuse
University

• 1988-1989

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Background
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The Student African American Society

• Founded in 1967
• Responsible for creating Black Studies at
  Syracuse U.
• Represented Black undergraduates at the
  university
• Black Nationalist orientation

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Issues Addressed by SAS 1986-88

• Black D.J.s dismissed from WJPZ FM
• Proposed Tuition Increases
• Apartheid/Divestment
• CIA recruiting on Campus
• Racist articles in Daily Orange newspaper

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People we brought to speak
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Proactivity is the Key!!

• Constituents completed a survey
• What issue would you most support?
• What issue most affects you?
• What issue are you most willing to sacrifice for?
• What issue do you believe will most affect future
  students?

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We Chose to Fight For Black Studies!!

• African American Studies Department needed
  support
• No stable Chairperson interim chair for more
  than 3-4 years
• M.L.K. Library
• Not connected to larger university library system
• Shamefully under resourced
• No permanent, paid librarian
• Roof caved in, several books destroyed
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• Lack of faculty and graduate teaching assistants
• Community Folk Art Gallery under resourced
• No wheelchair access to the Department

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STRATEGY TACTICS
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Phase 1 Research (1988)

• Studied old Daily Orange Newspapers
• Studied organizing books
• Rules for Radicals- Saul Olinsky
• Organizing a Guide for Grassroots Leaders Si
  Kahn
• Leadership Secrets of Attila the Hun Wess
  Roberts
• Roots to Power A Manual for Grassroots
  Organizing Lee Staples
• Spoke with AAS faculty and former SAS leaders

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Phase 2 Propaganda

• Posters all over campus articulating the problems
  concerning the AAS Dept.
• Articles in University, SAS and local community
  newspapers
• Political Cartoons
• Radio and Television interviews
• Petition Drive
• Meetings with Administration
• Presentation of 13 Demands
• Guest Speakers
• Regular campus rallies
• Presentation of Letters of support and solidarity
  from community/campus organizations

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Phase 3 Outreach, Coalition-Building (1988)

• Identified and met with campus and community
  leaders/Organizations
• Explained our grievances
• Solicited their support

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Phase 4 Direct Action (1989)

• Held the Phone lines hostage for one week
• Disrupted Chancellors Student Organization
  Meetings
• Press Conferences
• Disrupted ribbon-cutting ceremony for new Science
  Technology Building
• Disrupted Luncheon celebrating new building

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Phase 5 Negotiation

• Met twice a week with administration for two
  weeks in Omega Psi Phi House
• Demanded the Chancellor agree and sign off on
  each demand
• If they did not, we cancelled meeting and asked
  them to leave
• By our fourth meeting, they agreed to all demands

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Phase 6 Backlash/Vindication

• University charged me with destroying property,
  harming security agents, inciting riot
• University set hearing date for me and two other
  leaders
• Every student, faculty member and community
  leader on the Hearing Board refused to attend the
  hearing charges were dropped

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Accomplishments of the Campaign

• Study Abroad program in Africa
• Permanent Chairperson hired 3 new faculty, 2
  additional Teaching Assistants
• M.L.K. Library renovated/Funded Librarian hired
  Included in University Library system
• Budget approved for Community Folk Art Gallery
  Assistant Hired
• Commitment to establish Masters Degree Begun in
  1995
• Commitment to establish Doctorate Degree Not yet
  started
• Two faculty reviewed for and eventually granted
  Tenure
• Wheelchair access and elevator created
• Budget approved for two annual colloquium
  lectures