The End of the Multiversity

Buffalo is a bleary grey place, one of those Northern industrial cities, decaying slowly since the nineteenth century. In December it suffers from the cold of a Canadian winter; in June it swelters in the humidity of a Midwestern summer. But Buffalo is also New York State’s second largest city, and in 1962 its previously private university was taken over by the State University of New York, to be developed as one of SUNY’s major campuses. University officials have been regretting the choice ever since.

With the possible exception of Cornell, no university east of the Mississippi has been so racked by turmoil. During the past academic year there was a riot a week, complete with arson, firebombings and, on at least one occasion, sniper fire. The grand finale came on March 15, when 45 faculty members marched to the administration building, Hayes Hall, and sat-in in the office of President Martin Meyerson to demand the removal of four hundred Buffalo policemen from the campus. Edward Doty, Vice President for Operations and Systems, tried to persuade the professors to leave the building. When they refused, Doty called Peter Regan, Acting President, who told him to clear them out. Doty tried once again to persuade them to leave. When they again refused he called in the police.

JR

About the Author

John R. Coyne Jr.

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Buffalo is a bleary grey place, one of those Northern industrial cities, decaying slowly since the nineteenth century. In December it suffers from the cold of a Canadian winter; in June it swelters in the humidity of a Midwestern summer. But Buffalo is also New York State’s second largest city, and in 1962 its previously private university was taken over by the State University of New York, to be developed as one of SUNY’s major campuses. University officials have been regretting the choice ever since.

With the possible exception of Cornell, no university east of the Mississippi has been so racked by turmoil. During the past academic year there was a riot a week, complete with arson, firebombings and, on at least one occasion, sniper fire. The grand finale came on March 15, when 45 faculty members marched to the administration building, Hayes Hall, and sat-in in the office of President Martin Meyerson to demand the removal of four hundred Buffalo policemen from the campus. Edward Doty, Vice President for Operations and Systems, tried to persuade the professors to leave the building. When they refused, Doty called Peter Regan, Acting President, who told him to clear them out. Doty tried once again to persuade them to leave. When they again refused he called in the police.