The Struggle For Black Studies@ Syracuse University

1988-1989

Background

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

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

People we brought to speak

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?

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

• – Lack of faculty and graduate teaching assistants– Community Folk Art Gallery under resourced– No wheelchair access to the Department

STRATEGY & TACTICS

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

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

Phase 3: Outreach, Coalition-Building (1988)

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

Phase 4: Direct Action (1989)

• Held the Phone lines hostage for one week• Disrupted Chancellor’s Student Organization

Meetings• Press Conferences• Disrupted ribbon-cutting ceremony for new

Science & Technology Building• Disrupted Luncheon celebrating new building

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

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

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 Master’s 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