This Thursday marks the 14th day that 30 students at Northeastern University have occupied that school’s John D. O’Bryant African-American Institute to protest the possible relocation of the popular student center (see “Hotel Northeastern,” This Just In, April 19). Students want President Richard Freeland to guarantee that the administration will not demolish the building housing the 30-year-old institute. Freeland has identified the land surrounding the building as a prime area to construct much-needed campus facilities.

On April 23, the administration held the first of two forums open to the greater Northeastern community. Students who attended the meeting described the event as “positive” and “encouraging.” Explains Justin Brown, a sophomore who has stayed overnight at the institute since April 12, “The vast majority of people supported us. They said things like ‘We want you to keep the institute’ and ‘There is no reason to demolish it.’”

Although the administration had tried to close the forum to the public, Boston city councilor Chuck Turner, who served as the institute’s first full-time director from 1968 to 1970, made a point of attending the event and speaking in favor of what the students call their “occupational protest.” Turner told Freeland and his fellow officials that he was “pleased to see the strength of these students and honored to be able to support them in their struggle to keep the building.” Turner also warned Northeastern officials about the consequences of destroying this building. “This is a very important time for the university to show its level of commitment as working partners with the community,” he says. “If it doesn’t do that, we, as a community, need to think about how to curtail our relationship with Northeastern.”

As many as 50 students have slept at the facility every night since April 12, but the building remains open to the public. Students and university officials are scheduled to meet again May 3. Freeland has agreed to make a final decision on the institute’s future May 10.

Until then, students plan to stay put. Says Brown, “We’re prepared to do whatever it takes to get what we want.”

Issue Date: April 26 - May 3, 2001