SYLVIA KASHDAN entire campus). In these assemblies matters pertaining to every phase of the occupation were openly discussed and dealt with. Strictly-mandated delegates were elected to meet with their counterparts from other buildings to coordinate the action. After a few days almost seven thousand «non-politicab students and many non-students became involved in some · way. After almost a week, the Black Student Association negociated a settlement with the authorities through which they were allowed to peacefully lea ve their building, free from police or other harrassment. But many others stayed and resisted the authorities, despite the elimination of the formai reason, which had been to back up the blacks in their demands. We stayed because what we had experienced during those days ·had become more significant than the original issues to us, although most of us were not able at that time to clearly articulate this. Although certain particulars were gained, the nature of the university was not radically altered. Just as, 1f not more, disappointing, the coordonating committee and the assemblies were eventually subverted by the «new lefb poli- . ticians. I am not trying to idealize these moments; nostalgia for ·the past only indicates death in the present (certainly a quality of the new left and the student movement here). I do think ·it important to recognize the positive along with the negative aspects in order to be able to gain a real understanding of the ·entire ·process. We each, in our persona! and social lives, have experienced let-downs, feelings of isolation and despair after -the defeats suffered within parcelized, isolated struggles. For some the weight became so great that survival no longer seemed worthwhile. ·No other alternative being immediately available, a number of participants in the Columbia University occupation, to give just one example, committed suicide shortly thereafter (I know personally of at least twenty). Others have turned to the suicide of terrorism. They «sacrifice» themselves in order to ·create the revolution. The rest of us round little choice but to re-enter the old world. Yesterday's students have become today's workers, prisoners, etc., and vice-versa, and have thereby in themselves experienced the merging of previously separate struggles. Self-determined activity can only develop within the context of creative collective activity and vice-versa. The potential for this can only be fully realized through the surpassing of parcelized activity. The dissatisfactions and lacks keep 26
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