Penn State occupation
Black Caucus wins demands with broad student support
By Kaaren
Terpack
University Park, Pa.
No one at Penn State expected a movement to occur of such
historical importance this spring. The eight-day occupation
of the HUB-Robeson student union building that took place on
the University Park campus was a reaction to recent racist
threats as well as diversity issues that had surfaced over
the school year.
By May 2, the university administration had agreed to most
of the Black students' demands. "The mood here is unity,
exuber ance, togetherness, accomplishment and struggle,"
Black Caucus Vice President-elect Takkeem Morgan said as the
students ended their occupation on May 4.
Since October, Black student leaders, a member of the Penn
State Board of Trustees, football players and their parents
have been receiving racist email and death threats. In
addition, Penn State has been under fire by the Black Caucus
for not meeting diversity initiatives required by law. For
months, the Black Caucus has been doing research on the
Framework to Foster Diversity plan. It found that Penn State
has let its African and African American Studies program fall
behind those at the other Big Ten schools.
On April 20 another letter arrived with a death threat,
along with a bomb threat against graduation ceremonies and
mention of a dead Black male's body that could be found in a
nearby area. Because the university refused to take this and
earlier threats seriously, students carried out a silent
protest by running on the field and linking arms together
before the highly publicized Blue and White football game on
April 21. The university responded by arresting the 26 Black
Caucus members.
The word was now out to the community that something
sinister was going on. Black Caucus members held meetings
over the next two days to discuss how the university had
failed the entire community, especially minority students,
and was not protecting the students' lives.
In response, the university administration called a "March
against Hate," but the students, led by the Black Caucus,
refused to march until answers and solutions could be
discussed about the recent issues.
After hearing an obviously rehearsed speech by Penn State
President Graham Spanier, Black Caucus President LaKeisha
Wolf cried to Spanier in front of the crowd of thousands that
her life was in danger. Spanier simply walked away. This was
the beginning of the movement that would last over a
week.
From anger to occupation
Starting at Old Main, the administration building, and
moving to the HUB-Robeson building, students of all races
stood together in solidarity with the Black Caucus and
demanded that the administration address the problems at Penn
State that they had been raising for months.
The students vowed that they would not move from the
building until the needs of the Black students were met.
These demands included more core faculty in the AAAS
department, a mandatory diversity class for every student, a
2-percent budget control by the Vice-Provost of Educational
Equity, a board to watch over the diversity issues in the
school system, and amnesty for the 26 students arrested at
the Blue and White game.
That night, sleeping bags were brought in and a community
began to form. By the second night, especially after little
progress was made in negotiations between administration and
students, the students formed committees for food, press,
health and morale for what was dubbed "The Village" in the
HUB-Robeson center. No one was going anywhere.
The solidarity with the Black Caucus was overwhelming.
Members of dozens of Penn State organizations camped out in
support of the Black students' demands and against
racism.
Negotiations went up and down. National press coverage and
pressure enforced by students, parents, alumni and concerned
community members turned up the heat on the
administration.
To add urgency to the situation, three bodies were found
during the occupation--of two Black males and one Black
female. All were found within several miles of Penn State and
its campuses, and all were homicides.
Many students on campus had been unaware of the real
issues. The truth was spread as much as possible through
informational flyers, emails, chalk messages all over campus
sidewalks and word of mouth.
This information campaign had to fight against university
administration and press reports minimizing the importance of
the incidents and demonizing the students as "rioters."
The solidarity between the many different racial and
ethnic groups was a beautiful thing. Even the university
eventually realized that "The Village" meant business and
would not give up or be torn apart.
For eight days during the week before finals, students
lived together and studied together. Finally, on May 2, a
contract was signed in which the university agreed to
negotiate the students' demands.
The issues of safety were and still are a concern, since
many students feel unsafe on campus. A bomb threat during
graduation is still possible. Security will be stepped up for
graduation but some are worried it won't be enough.
Black Caucus members are already planning new actions
during the fall semester to make sure the struggle is not
forgotten.
Kaaren Terpack is an activist member of Students and
Youth Against Racism at Penn State. She was a participant in
the Penn State Village.
This article is copyright under a Creative
Commons License.
Workers World, 55 W. 17 St., NY, NY 10011
Email: ww@workers.org
Subscribe wwnews-subscribe@workersworld.net
Support independent news http://www.workers.org/orders/donate.php)
HOME
:: U.S. NEWS ::
WORLD NEWS ::
EDITORIALS
:: SUBSCRIBE ::
DONATE
Email
this article
Printable
page