This Defender article accounts a three-day sit-in which resulted in the school making progress in favor of Black students. The protesters demanded an increased number in Black students and professors as well as an all-Black dorm. At this point in time, it is described that Vassar had 59 Black students. This was also directly after Vassar became co-ed. Their demands were heard and most accepted. Black students were told they could live in the same residential space, but that the space was not to be exclusively Black. This is the first article where Black Vassar scholars have a voice and are seen pushing back on the college and demanding change.
Full Article
Vassar Sit-In Reaps Some Black ‘Gains’
Chicago Daily Defender (Daily Edition) (1960-1973);
Nov 4, 1969;
ProQuest Historical Newspapers: Chicago Defender
pg. 8
Poughkeepsie, N.Y.—(UPI)—Vassar College administrators, bowing to some demands by black coeds, Monday prepared to implement a seven-point agreement which ended a three-day sit-in at the “exclusive” institution during the weekend.
The agreement, reached Saturday night called for an increase in the number of black professors and a black studies program. The agreement also provided black students may “live in contiguous residential space,” though not in an all-black dormitory as demanded earlier.
Thirty-one black and two white coeds left the administration building Saturday night without incident—44 hours after they occupied it. They had been assisted by 10 nonstudent black males.
Vassar has 59 Negro students, all on special scholarships given members of low-income families who normally would not be able to meet the financial expenses of the school.
“All they want is to make sure there is going to be a place for them next year,” said Dennis Gregg, a senior who is one of the 90 male students recently admitted to the formerly all-women school.
Whites at the 1,600-student school generally expressed sympathy for the black demands, but a few rejected the call for an all-black dormitory. One student branded that demand as racist.
Vassar Sit-In Reaps Some Black ‘Gains’ original article (PDF, 26KB)
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