mike,
you will want to check out ben salem at fordham in the early 1970's. and
of course, rochdale in toronto. i did a magazine piece on both, but
memories are dim.
robert houriet
At 11:45 AM 6/24/00 -0700, you wrote:
>One of my seminal experiences during the '60s was being a "member" of the
>Free University of New York (67-68) first while a student at Brooklyn
>College and later after dropping out of Brooklyn and moving to the East
>Village to be closer to the "action". The Free U. movement ( San Francisco,
>Toronto, others?) helped motivate change in American Colleges. Does anyone
>know of memoirs written about the Free U. (later Free School) of N.Y.? I
>remember classes with the likes of Connor Cruise O'brian, Tana deGamez, John
>Gerrarsi, Tuli Kupferberg etc. (forgive all the spelling errors) as the
>opening of my enlightenment. It was at the Free U. where I met old IWW
>veterans of the Abraham Lincoln brigade...those guys who told me: "take it
>easy, look at the long picture, live to fight another day".
>I would like to discuss the significance of the Free University movement in
>the educational history since the 60's. What (if any) lasting
>results/changes are still around...besides the ubiquitous "student
>evaluations" that were brought about by the educational philosophies of the
>'60's. I have heard of offshoots of Free U's such at Pullman, Wa. (WSU)
>lasting for 30 years or more. Any stories about these? I was not at the
>Free U. when it closed but I understand the records were destroyed (fear of
>McCarthyism or worse) and many of the "movers and shakers" went into the
>Weather-underground.
>Discussions about these type of "point" position institutions (Panthers,
>Diggers, IWW, Free U's, Suffrage, Acid Rock, SDS, Abolitionists) need to be
>tempered with the understanding that the "point" always takes the hit and is
>usually destroyed so that the bulk of society can change. It is ironic that
>the 60's can both be blamed for causing problems in our society and also
>blamed for not succeeding to change our society enough. Damned if you win,
>Damned if you lose. Peace and Love, Mike Garrison,
>mgarrison@localaccess.com
>
>
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