Columbia University students taking over the campus in pro-Palestinian demonstrations regarding Gaza reminds me of another time on the same campus 56 years ago.

In 1968 students again took over the campus—that time actually barricading themselves in buildings—even taking over the President’s office—to protest American involvement in the Vietnam War.

Print and broadcast reporters had been on the scene for a couple of days. I had just returned from vacation in my first year working for WNEW Radio News. No sooner had I entered my apartment in Forest Hills than the phone rang. It was the desk. “Get over to Columbia U. —the students have taken over the buildings”. So, late at night, I raced to the campus and, sure enough, some students had taken over President Grayson Kirk’s office and several other buildings. The NYPD was outside the gates.

About 1:30AM I was inside when a guy I knew named Jacques Nevard slammed me against a building. Jacques was the DCPI (Deputy Commissioner for Public Information). He was trying to protect me for, seconds later, a phalanx of cops swarmed through the gates and across the campus, grabbing and sometimes beating students and working to clear out those buildings.

The next day student protest leader Mark Rudd held a news conference. I and other radio, TV and print reporters were there. (picture—I’m second from right—note the WNEW flag).

Jacques is gone now, but I won’t forget that night I reported for WNEW News on an Ivy League campus—especially since, just six years before, I had graduated from Cornell and had gone to get my Masters in Broadcast Journalism from Medill at Northwestern in Chicago. The experience that night taught me stuff I’d never learned in the classroom.

Mike Eisgrau

< Image courtesy of the archives of Bill Diehl>