In 1968, Columbia University witnessed a momentous uprising fueled by a contentious issue: a segregated gymnasium. Let’s delve into the events that unfolded:

The Gym Crow Controversy:

• Columbia University planned to construct a monumental concrete gym in Morningside Park, which was owned by New York City.
• However, only 12% of the gym would be accessible to the public, while the remaining 88% would be reserved for Columbia’s use.
• Harlem residents, many of whom were African-American, resented this appropriation of precious recreation space.
• The gym’s community entrance at the bottom, juxtaposed with Columbia students entering from the top, symbolized Ivy imperialism and drew ire.
• It was mockingly referred to as the “g-y-m crow door.”

The Student Uprising:

• In April 1968, students distributed typewritten flyers inviting others to join a campus protest against Columbia’s land acquisition from nearby Harlem.
• Soon, nearly 1,000 protesters occupied five university buildings, including Hamilton Hall.
• The Student Afro-American Society (SAS), representing African-Americans’ concerns, played a pivotal role.
• The SAS, along with the Students for a Democratic Society (SDS), initiated a nonviolent occupation of campus buildings that lasted nearly a week.
• In a stunning twist, SAS students demanded that SDS students leave, citing ideological and tactical differences¹²³.

Hamilton Hall Renamed:

• On April 24, 86 black SAS students evicted white SDS students from Hamilton Hall.
• They renamed it the “Malcolm X Liberation College”⁴.

This historic uprising became a symbol of struggle between a prestigious university and its broader community, leaving an indelible mark on Columbia’s history¹²³.