At Friday protest, demonstrators defy new UB assembly policies

[Saxum]

 

https://www.ubspectrum.com/article/2024/09/demonstrators-defy-new-assembly-policies

 

I remember being one of the leaders of a protest at UB when UB decided to take away our student union, a student union paid for by student fees, to be used for dental school. 

https://www.buffalo.edu/administrative-services/managing-facilities/planning-designing-and-construction/building-profiles/profile-host-page.host.html/content/shared/university/page-content/facilities/squire.detail.html

Quote

Squire Hall, built as a student center, was originally called Norton Union. A plan to close the student union in 1978 led to years of protest, but in 1986 Squire re-opened after extensive renovations and an 80,000 sf addition as the home of the School of Dental Medicine. It contains clinics and labs, as well as offices for faculty and staff.

 

University promised another student union but most of people using student union lived off campus in North Buffalo.

 

 

We occupied it with campus police at each entrance to prevent people from entering although allowing people to leave.  Finally there was an announcement - anybody not leaving leaving would be arrested. 

 

When final call for people to be led out two security guards came in one one pointed to me and said "When it is his turn he is MINE!"

 

Some people got very nervous at this point and I told them these are the same people who work for college and they are not going to harass anyone. Same people who helped handle drunks on campus, unlocking cars, etc.  They are getting paid for their job but it is nothing personal.  

 

 

I stated at that point I would go first and the two campus security guys (same two who showed up at pub when I literally threw racist drunk out) and I was told they would be taking photograph with student with two security personnel for identification and be released with warning but if something reoccurred I would be processecuting for trespass.

 

Each one stood on either side of me and I put an arm over shoulder of each one. Both looked like extras for a football team - I am 6' and one was 6'2 and other was at least 6'3 with big bushy beard with nickname "red bear".  Both tried to keep a straight face while I was smiling.  Photo was taken after several attempts to get me not to smile.  I asked for a copy and my request was denied.  I then stood aside with those outside.  Security people took students out one at a time for photographing.  One student was very nervous and I was asked to help with him so I went in with security guys and said I told him it was nothing - they take your picture with student id, sign a  piece of paper and you are released.  He said he was not a student and red bear said any id will do.  He then went with security guys to be processed.

[teef]

i had no idea squire hall was a student union.  i'm assuming this is when there was no north campus?

[Saxum]

44 minutes ago, teef said:

i had no idea squire hall was a student union.  i'm assuming this is when there was no north campus?

 

Squire Hall was a student union before I got there and I started college in 1979.   North campus was fully built then except maybe football stadium.  SUNY created a second campus in 1970 in Amherst, just 3 miles north of Buffalo, following the trend of urban flight that shattered most American cities in the 1960s and 70s.  Webarchive

Edited September 26 by Saxum
added info

[PastaJoe]

I was a kid when we lived 3 blocks from the Main Street campus in the late 60’s. There were protests against the Vietnam War going on and tear gas blew over to our street. Everyone had to go inside and close the windows.

[WotAGuy]

We had to move and our house was razed for the Amherst campus. Ironically, I became an alumnus. Had a great time at UB. 

[Saxum]

Protests which "follow rules" are rarely protests since they are usually protesting those who make the rules.

[Bad Things]

Good to see that there are fellow Rabble Rousers here on TSW. 

 

Keep fighting the good fight!

Edited September 27 by Bad Things

[Wacka]

Attended UB as an undergrad '75-'79. F' n hippies in the late 60s caused the school to not have a football team into the early 80s. Too militaristic. My first class was around 10 and I had to take the bus there. Would sit in the big  lounge in Norton with the large fireplace with classmates from Cheektowaga Central who also attended UB. The basement had a Rathskeller and a 10-12 lane bowling alley.

 

Amherst Campus started opening up in 76-77.   Most of the spine wasn't opened yet  but they dorms were.  The shuttle busses would  run right next to the spine.  The day before the Bizzard of 77 the shuttle bus route was snowed under. They dropped us off at Clemens Hall (English) and we had to walk outside like Sherpas climbing Everest to Fronczack Hall (Physics). Got in for the Physics lab  and the immediately told us "The busses will stop running  in one hour. If you have to go back to Main Street, leave now." The closest  bus stop was at the Governors Dorms.  Now there is a parking lot  between them but back then it was fields with snow up to at least your knees.Took at least 20 minutes to make it to the bus stop. Caught the bus and got a rude back to Cheektowaga from a friend's dad who was coming to pick him up.