Genre

Clipping

Creator

Dunphy, Joseph

Description

Author takes a hardline stance against the actions of Black students who protested the selection of an all-white administran for the Urban University Division by damaging parts of the library.

Date

April 7, 1971

Publication

Philadelphia Inquirer

Place of Publication

Philadelphia, PA

Subject

Black Community

Black Student Unity Movement (BSUM)

Paul Robeson Library

Student Organizations

Activism and Movements

Transcript

50 Riot at Rutgers in Camden

By JOSEPH DUNPHY Of The Inquirer Staff

About 50 blacks rampaged through the library of Rutgers University at Camden on Wednesday afternoon, breaking windows and overturning furniture, book shelves and card files.

Witnesses have identified seven students who took part, James Young, dean of the college, said, adding that many non-students also participated.

The incident followed the defeat Tuesday of a referendum to suspend classes for five days for discussions with Rutgers officials on resolving black demands. Student voted 580-344 not to suspend classes.

In seeking the shutdown, black students said it was "a last effort" to obtain their demands peacefully.

The university will prosecute persons "positively identified" as participants, Young said Wednesday night. He said campus and Camden police are taking statements from witnesses.

The list of black demands included a request for an all-black administration for the new urban university division for underqualified and underprivileged students. The school has an all-white administration.

The blacks also demanded that the Camden campus have a 50 percent black or Puerto Rican enrollment by September 1972 and that three deans be dismissed because of alleged "racist" attitudes.

Language

English

Archive

Camden Special Collections, Rutgers University Libraries

Collection

Camden Clippings Collection

Archival Location

Volume: March 1971 to September 1971

Contributor

Dante Requena