What were the circumstances leading to the Black United Students (BUS) walkout in 1968?
In November 1968, approximately 250 African-American students left KSU campus for several days in response to the presence of recruiters from the Oakland (CA.) Police Department. Despite the Oakland P. D.’s reputation for violence against African-Americans and civil rights abuses, they were granted permission to recruit on campus because, the administration argued, to forbid them to do so would violate the university’s policy of academic freedom. BUS and SDS (Students for a Democratic Society) disagreed, and a sit-in, a walk-out, a teach-in, and a boycott followed. According to A Book of Memories: Kent State University 1910-1992, the walkout was a catalyst for founding the Department of Pan-African Studies in May 1969.
