In April 1968, the Columbia campus was rocked by an uprising that saw students take the college dean hostage, occupy the president’s office and other buildings, and refuse to leave until their demands were met. One week later, the revolt ended in a nighttime police bust that left more than 100 injured and 700 under arrest. This article—on the 50th anniversary—offers a big-picture comparison between 1968 and 2018. It analyzes both why those events were significant then, and how they can help us understand our world right now.
From the Judges
Paul Starr offers an excellent journalistic analysis of the 1968 uprising at Columbia, drawing parallels with protests on campuses and across U.S. cities today. Fifty years on, he tells the story in a way that makes it seem timely and topical, giving more interest to an incident that previously may only have been understood in a cursory way by readers. The piece also draws readers in to contend with their own perspectives and actions relative to activism and free speech. Very well done.
