The University of Harlem
The take-over itself took about 45 seconds. It occurred at 6:30 in the morning and was a tactical success. The eight buildings were held for two weeks, during which time classes were held within the new University of Harlem, as it was renamed. It was reported that one undercover policeman was discovered by the Security Division of the University of Harlem and was dealt with accordingly (poor fellow).
Whites were generally quite upset. Some yelled "Black bastards, go back to Africa," but the answers they received were similar to "Charlie, your momma swings to "Charlie, your momma swings through trees and she's as Black as me," and "Why don't you come into the gate and get your trashy sister off South Campus." Obviously tempers snapped. As the poor whites rushed towards the gates, they were dismissed summarily by both the Black students' security force and the College Security, which was powerless to remove the BPRSC but which did prevent some white students from getting hurt.
Injunctions acquired by Mario Procaccino and Co. forced the brothers and sisters to leave the University of Harlem. It should be noted that during the occupation, several thousand dollars was collected from Harlem residents and other Black and Puerto Rican people and now has been placed in a bank for use in the School of Third World Studies, once it is formed.
The following days found classes on strike and the entire campus occupied by over 1000 cops. Some professors in the Psysics and Biology Depts. asked Black and Puerto Rican students to come and address their almost all-white classes about the nature of the strike and its implications. Other instructors just gave passing grades to all their students and cancelled classes. A fire was started in one building and totally distroyed a music auditorium. A spokesman for the BPRSC stated emphatically that no Black or Puerto Rican student was responsible for destroying part of "the University of Harlem", suggesting that their white radical students or white conservatives started the fire. Directly after the fire, President Gallagher resigned. He explained that he had done all that he could and now it was time for him to go. He gave the Board of Higher Education three days notice--having already sent a resignation letter to the Board because of the Albany budged cuts, but failed to put an effective date on the letter. The Board appointed Biology Professor Copeland to the position of Acting President.
There was little indication of Copeland's political position until the Commencement address where he aroused the entire audience with his Law and Order speech. Dr. Gallagher was present and looked quite sad.
I will stop here. This is by no means the end, because the CCNY struggle is not ever