Students occupy Dean's office at Harvard Law School
and colleges, Civil rights, Segregation, African American graduate
students--Political activity, Harvard University
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1:00:17: Visual:
Shots of Harvard Law students studying their textbooks as they occupy
the Dean's office in the administration building of Harvard Law School.
Most of the students are African American. Marcus Jones reports that 50
Harvard Law School students marched into the administration building in
the afternoon; that most of the students are African American; that many
of the students wore black as a show of solidarity. V: Footage of
Robert Wilkins (Harvard Black Law Students Association) saying that the
students want the administration to deal with the problem of minority
faculty at the school; that the school has no specific goals, programs,
or ideas to increase the numbers of minority faculty. Shots of the
students studying as they sit in the dean's office. Jones reports that
the students presented James Vorenberg (Dean, Harvard Law School) with
twelve demands; that one of the demands is for the school to hire at
least twenty tenured or tenure-track minority professors over the next
four years. Jones notes that other demands include the hiring of an
African American female faculty member by fall and the promotion of
Derek Bell (Professor, Harvard Law School) to Dean next year. Jones
notes that Vorenberg will leave the post of Dean next year. V: Shots of
protest signs hanging in the administration building. Some of the signs
read, "Why no tenured Asian American?" and "More black faculty now."
Shots of signs reading, "Stop racism at HLS now" and "Black female
faculty now." Footage of Bell saying that a cross-section of the
population should be represented in the student body and the faculty;
that diversity enhances quality instead of harming quality. Shots of
students studying texts as they occupy the Dean's office. Jones reports
that the protests of students twenty years ago forced Harvard to hire
minority professors like Bell. Jones adds that today's students are
hoping that their protest will force the university to take action. V:
Footage of Wilkins saying that there have been demonstrations at
universities across the country; that a lack of minority faculty is a
common problem. Wilkins says that Harvard should take the lead in
dealing with this problem. Footage from Frontline of a campus protest
against racism. Jones reports that racism on college campuses is a
growing problem; that students are protesting to draw attention to the
issue. Jones stands in the administration building with the Harvard
students. Jones reports that the tenured faculty of Harvard Law School
will meet tomorrow; that no one is sure if the faculty will take a stand
on the students' demands. Jones notes that the students say that the
occupation will continue in shifts to accomodate those who are taking
final exams.
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Description
Marcus Jones reports that fifty students at Harvard Law School have
occupied the dean's office to demand an increase in minority faculty at
the school. Jones notes that the students have presented the school with
a list of demands, including the promotion of Derrick Bell (Professor,
Harvard Law School) to the position of dean of the school. Jones
interviews Robert Wilkins (Harvard Black Law Students Association) about
the lack of diversity among faculty members and about the students'
demands. Jones reports that students at universities across the nation
are protesting racism and a lack of diversity on college campuses.
Jones' report includes footage of Harvard Law students in the Dean's
office and footage from Frontline of a campus protest against racism.
A local program aimed at the Boston audience, The Ten O'Clock News
debuted on January 15, 1976. Its two immediate predecessors were The
Reporters and Evening Compass. A news and public affairs show focusing
on neighborhood, local and state issues, The Reporters was produced and
broadcast on WGBH from 1970 to 1973. The Reporters was then replaced by
Evening Compass, which expanded into a twice-nightly news broadcast
during the tense moments of Boston's busing crisis. On the air from 1973
to 1975, Evening Compass found an audience through its in-depth
coverage of school desegregation in Boston, which began in 1974. The Ten
O'Clock News stood out as an in-depth news program. It strove for a
balance between local and national stories, between politics and the
Arts. The last The Ten O'Clock News program was broadcast on May 30,
1991.
Date Covered
http://openvault.wgbh.org/catalog/tocn-mla000572-students-occupy-dean-s-office-at-harvard-law-school
