Events Leading up to the Sit-In

In the fall of 1968, Dean of Admissions Frederick Hargadon published a report on black admissions at Swarthmore. The failure of his report to address SASS' concerns and its insensitivity to the privacy of black students was a catalyst for SASS action during the fall of 1968, leading up to the sit-in of 1969.

These were SASS' original demands, in response to Dean Hargadon's report.

SASS sent these demands in response to the administration's request that they clarify their demands.

On January 9th, SASS announced their sit-in in the Admissions Office.

SASS members had been working closely with faculty throughout 1968 to create a Black Studies program. At the same time, administrators were often less in negotiations around black admissions. The accompanying documents are a series of SASS statements and demands, and the administrative responses, during the fall of 1968 leading up to the January sit-in.

Phoenix coverage of the events leading up to the sit-in.

The accompanying documents are a letter to custodial staff and a letter to black students who were not part of SASS, as well as a letter from a black student who was not a member of SASS in support of their actions.