Douglas Olsen
In 1968, Columbia University students protested the university's plans to build a segregated gymnasium in nearby Morningside Park, which was public land. The proposed gym was labelled Gym Crow by some, as it was seen as a racist project that would give limited access to Harlem residents, most of whom were African American or Puerto Rican. The protests, which began in March 1968, also opposed Columbia's affiliation with the Institute for Defense Analyses (IDA), a weapons research think tank supporting the United States' involvement in the Vietnam War. The demonstrations resulted in the student occupation of university buildings, violent clashes with police, and a campus-wide strike, leading Columbia to eventually scrap the gym plans and cut ties with the IDA.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | 23 April 1968 |
| Participants | Students for a Democratic Society, Student Afro-American Society, Harlem activists, Columbia SDS activists, Columbia security guards, New York City Police Department |
| Reason | Columbia University's plans to build a segregated gymnasium in nearby Morningside Park, institutional affiliation with the Institute for Defense Analyses (IDA), a weapons research think tank |
| Outcome | Students occupied many university buildings, violent removal of protesters by the police, Columbia disaffiliated from the IDA and scrapped plans for the gym |
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What You'll Learn
- Students protested Columbia University's affiliation with the Institute for Defense Analyses (IDA), a weapons research think tank
- The university's plans to build a segregated gym in a nearby public park
- The gym was to be built on public land in Morningside Park, but only 12% would be accessible to the public
- The proposed gym design was considered racist and discriminatory towards Harlem residents
- The protests resulted in violent clashes with police, leading to mass arrests and injuries
Students protested Columbia University's affiliation with the Institute for Defense Analyses (IDA), a weapons research think tank
In 1968, students at Columbia University in New York City protested the university's affiliation with the Institute for Defense Analyses (IDA), a weapons research think tank. The discovery of Columbia's institutional ties to the IDA sparked an anti-war campaign led by the Columbia SDS (Students for a Democratic Society) that lasted from April 1967 to April 1968. The campaign demanded that the university administration resign its membership in the IDA.
On March 27, 1968, a peaceful demonstration was held inside the Low Library administration building, resulting in the probation of six anti-war student activists, collectively known as "The IDA Six." This disciplinary action, coupled with the university's plans for a gymnasium in Morningside Park, which activists viewed as a segregated facility that circumvented anti-segregation laws, fuelled further protests.
On April 23, 1968, the Columbia SDS, in collaboration with the Student Afro Society (SAS), held a confrontational demonstration at the university sundial. Following this, protesters marched to the Morningside Park gymnasium construction site, where they clashed with the New York City Police guarding the site. The protesters then returned to campus and occupied Hamilton Hall, a classroom building. This occupation lasted nearly a week and resulted in the campus-wide shutdown of the university.
The protests achieved their goals, as Columbia University terminated its contract with the IDA and abandoned the plans for the controversial gymnasium in Morningside Park. The university's decision to end its affiliation with the IDA and scrap the gym project was a significant outcome of the student-led protests, demonstrating the power of collective action in influencing institutional decisions.
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The university's plans to build a segregated gym in a nearby public park
In 1968, Columbia University in New York City was the site of several student demonstrations, including protests against the university's plans to build a segregated gymnasium in nearby Morningside Park. The proposed gym building, to be constructed on public land, was controversial because it would have limited public access, with only 12% of the facility being open to the public and the remaining 88% reserved for exclusive use by Columbia University.
The plans for the gym were particularly contentious given the university's history of expanding into the neighbouring area of Morningside Heights, which had resulted in the eviction of thousands of residents, most of whom were African American or Puerto Rican. This history, along with the proposed design of the gym, led to accusations that the university was attempting to steal land and resources from the nearby Harlem community, a predominantly black neighbourhood.
The protests against the segregated gym were led by the Student Afro Society (SAS) and the Students for a Democratic Society (SDS), who viewed the plans as a racist attempt to circumvent anti-segregation laws. On April 23, 1968, students from these groups and others began a nonviolent occupation of campus buildings, including Hamilton Hall, which was specifically occupied by black students. After negotiations failed, the university called in the police, resulting in violent clashes and the arrest of over 700 individuals, including 30 students who were suspended.
The protests achieved their goal of stopping the construction of the segregated gym, with Columbia University ultimately deciding not to build the gym in Morningside Park and instead constructing a subterranean physical fitness centre under the north end of its campus. The protests also led to other changes at the university, including increased admission of black students, the hiring of more black faculty members, and the creation of a Black Studies program.
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The gym was to be built on public land in Morningside Park, but only 12% would be accessible to the public
Columbia University's plans to build a gymnasium in Morningside Park sparked protests from students and community members in 1968. The proposed gym was to be constructed on public land in Morningside Park, but only 12% of the facility would be accessible to the public, with the remaining 88% reserved for the university's use. This plan was met with strong opposition from the nearby Harlem community, especially considering Columbia's history of displacing residents, the majority of whom were African American, through its expansion into Morningside Heights.
The proposed design of the gym was a significant point of contention. Activists viewed the plan as a way for the university to circumvent anti-segregation laws, labelling the project "Gym Crow". Harlem residents, who had already experienced discrimination from the university, would have limited access to the facility despite it being built on public land. This issue of restricted access was a key factor in the protests, as it highlighted the exclusion of the local community and the disproportionate allocation of resources in favour of the university.
The protests against the gym construction were part of a broader movement for racial equality and social justice. The Students' Afro-American Society (SAS) played a pivotal role in the demonstrations, with African American students asking their white peers to vacate Hamilton Hall so they could continue their separate protest. The SAS students wanted to focus specifically on halting the construction of the gym, while the white activists from the Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) had a broader anti-war agenda. This dynamic added complexity to the protests and highlighted the intersection of racial and social issues at Columbia University and beyond.
The protests had a significant impact, leading to the university's decision to abandon the gym project and cut its ties with the Institute for Defense Analyses. The demonstrations also brought about broader changes, such as increased admission of Black students, the addition of more Black faculty members, and the creation of a Black Studies program. These outcomes reflected the power that the occupation gave to students at Columbia and the broader impact it had on university policies and social issues.
The 1968 Columbia University protests serve as a pivotal moment in the history of student activism, showcasing the ability of organised movements to bring about institutional change and address issues of racial inequality and social injustice. The protests against the Morningside Park gym construction played a crucial role in shifting the dynamics of power and representation within the university and the wider community.
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The proposed gym design was considered racist and discriminatory towards Harlem residents
In 1968, Columbia University in New York City faced a series of protests from students and community residents. One of the key issues that sparked these protests was the university's plan to construct a gymnasium in nearby Morningside Park, which was considered a form of segregation and discrimination towards the largely African American residents of Harlem.
The proposed gym design was highly controversial as it was to be built on public land in Morningside Park but would allocate only 12% of the facility for public use, while the remaining 88% would be reserved for exclusive use by the Columbia University community. This plan was seen as a blatant disregard for the needs and rights of Harlem residents, especially given the university's history of evicting thousands of Harlem residents, the majority of whom were African American or Puerto Rican, from Columbia-controlled properties.
Harlem activists and residents strongly opposed the construction, arguing that it would further marginalize and exclude them from accessing and utilising public space. The project was derisively labelled "Gym Crow", a play on the racist "Jim Crow" segregation laws of the past, highlighting the perceived racist and discriminatory nature of the proposed gym.
The protests against the gym construction were not solely focused on the issue of segregation. The site chosen for the gym's construction in Morningside Park was also contested due to Columbia University's history of expansion into the neighbouring community of Morningside Heights, which had resulted in the displacement and eviction of numerous Harlem residents. The gym became a symbol of the university's encroachment into the community and was viewed as yet another instance of Columbia University prioritising its own interests over the well-being and stability of the surrounding neighbourhoods.
The protests at Columbia University in 1968, including the occupation of campus buildings and confrontations with police, gained worldwide attention and resulted in significant changes. The university ultimately decided to scrap the plans for the controversial gym, opting instead to build a subterranean physical fitness centre under the north end of the campus. Additionally, the protests led to the creation of campus structures that gave students a more powerful voice and vote in university matters, increased black representation in the student body and faculty, and the development of a Black Studies programme.
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The protests resulted in violent clashes with police, leading to mass arrests and injuries
The protests at Columbia University in 1968 resulted in violent clashes with the police, leading to mass arrests and injuries. After six days of student occupation, nearly a thousand police officers were sent in to clear the buildings. This resulted in violent confrontations with the protesters, sparking a student and faculty strike that shut down the university. The police action injured many and led to over 700 arrests, with some sources claiming 100 or more injuries and 177 arrests. The police violence also triggered a campus-wide strike that shut down the university.
The protests centred on Columbia's plans to build a segregated gymnasium in nearby Morningside Park, which was opposed by students and local Harlem residents. The proposed gym was to be built on public land, yet only a small portion would be accessible to the public, with the majority reserved for Columbia's use. This was seen as a racist project, as the university had a history of evicting Harlem residents, most of whom were African American or Puerto Rican, to expand its campus.
The student protesters also objected to Columbia's affiliation with the Institute for Defense Analyses (IDA), a weapons research think tank, and its support for the United States' involvement in the Vietnam War. The protests eventually led to Columbia terminating its contract with the IDA and abandoning the gym project.
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Frequently asked questions
Columbia University students protested the university's plans to build a segregated gymnasium in Morningside Park, which was public land.
The proposed gym was to be built in a park owned by New York City, but only 12% of the gym would be open to the public. The remaining 88% would be reserved for Columbia University's use. Harlem residents, who were mostly African American, would only get limited access to the facility.
"Gym Crow" was a nickname given to the proposed gymnasium by its detractors. The name is a play on "Jim Crow", the name given to the racial segregation laws in the United States, particularly in the South.
The protests resulted in the student occupation of many university buildings, starting with Hamilton Hall, and the eventual violent removal of protesters by the New York City Police Department. Columbia University terminated its contract with the Institute for Defense Analyses and decided not to build the gym in Morningside Park.
Yes, the protests achieved two of their stated goals. Columbia University disaffiliated from the Institute for Defense Analyses and scrapped the plans for the controversial gym.
