Acting dean Henry Coleman '46 speaking to_ students outside Hamilton I-Iall. He was held captive in his office for 26 hours by band of student protestors.
were designated as the sleeping areas. Outside Hamilton HaH word of the sit-in spread, causing indignation, jokes, and puzzlement. By 4:30 the Students for a Free Campus were distributing a mimeographed flyer which read, in large part: Had enough? Had enough of SDS insolence and contempt for your rights? Let's close the Authority Gap on the Columbia University campus. WHAT WE WANT SDS seeks a minority role in thE Guise of Student Power. They do not shrink from the use of force, such as imprisoning Dean Coleman, even when the legitimate authority or the vast student majority . . . refuses to bow to their wilL Therefore, the Students for a Free Campus calls on the University authorities to: 1. Stop yielding to SDS blackmaiL 2. End the demonstration in Hamilton Hall. 3. Punish the demonstration's instigators effectively. 4. Enforce all the rules all the time. WHAT TO DO \Ve must do something immediately, but at the same time we must auoid SPRING, 1968
violence ourselues. Make your voice heard, especially if you haven't yet done so.... THE CURRENT SITUATIOI vVe can save the University from SDS violence and from the increasing number of outsiders in the Hamilton demonstration. We have already defeated SDS on the open recruiting issue in last fall's referendum. Today we stopped them non-violently from storming Low Library. V>le can win. vVe have the great majority of students on our side ...
Numerous professors began to wonder why the University officials permitted the sit-in to continue, especiallv since the College's dean was being held captive. A member of the government department said, "This is outrageous. Why doesn't Kirk act before this thing gets out of hand?" Actually, President Kirk was out of town on that first day of the revolution. Dr. Truman, who was thus left in charge of Columbia, and was in telephone communication with the President, was receiving conflicting advice from several faculty members. President Kirk, is reported to have favored firm action but Dean Coleman did not. Around 9:30 p.m. Vice President
Truman did visit Hamilton Hall, but did not go in to argue with the sit-in leaders. Instead he held an impromptu fireside chat in Hartley Hall, such as he and President Kirk do several times each year with undergraduates in the dorms. He told nearly 500 bafBed, angry students that "amnesty was out of the question," and that Columbia would not make any key changes without prior discussion and thought. Swift, basic changes because of pressure', blackmail, or "coercion" from a tiny minority were unthinkable, he said. Dr. Truman remained on the scene until 2:00 a.m. In the Hamilton Hall lobby two things were happening. Mark Rudd was continuing to have trouble with some of the demonstrators. Despite some soul music by the Soul Syndicate, and frequent announcements of support, every now and then a student or three would get up and leave the demonsh-ation, which until the early evening had packed the lobby of Hamilton. Some speakers helped the process. For instance, Victor Crichton '53, a egro alumnus who lives on Morningside Heights and is a vigorous opponent of 23