University Archives News
May 1, 2008
New Exhibit: 1968 Student Protests
The Archives has added an online exhibit featuring the 1968 student protests and bursar's office sit-in in recognition of the 40th anniversary. Click to enter exhibit.
Forty years ago, while demonstrations, sit-ins, and student activism were sweeping the nation's campuses, Northwestern was home to a notable moment of its own.
From May 3-4, 1968, a group of African-American students, organized by For Members Only and the Afro-American Student Union, occupied the school's business office at 619 Clark Street, to protest what they characterized as the school's lack of response to an April 22 set of demands to the administration.
This was the first time the administration was faced with this type of student action and it would go on to have lasting impact, particularly in the push for an African-American studies department and increased African-American enrollment.
Take a look at some photos, listen to audio recordings, and sample a few gems from the archives.
Additionally, the archives is inviting viewers to contribute futher information on the collected photographs at their Flickr page: James Sweet Photos and University Relations Photos. Anyone who has further materials and would like to share them, please email the archives: archives@northwestern.edu.
