Colin Edwards Free Speech Movement
The Free Speech Collection is primarily comprised of audio recordings produced by independent journalistColin Edwards from 1964-1967. Edwards was a journalist working with Canadian Broadcasting, the BBC and Pacifica Radio among others. His work represents a comprehensive account of the major perspectives, ideas, events and figures of the Free Speech Movement, the Sproul hall sit-in and the subsequent changesconcerning the rights of students to engage in political activity on the UC-Berkeley campus. These changes, best known as the December 8th Resolutions, were put to the test in 1966 during the “Little Free Speech Movement” in which students’ political rights were again brought into question.This part of the collection focuses on the November 30th, 1966 confrontation between anti-war demonstrators and a Navy recruiting table that was set up in the student union building. Many students and non-students were arrested and disciplined, and students responded with a strike that disrupted campus activities. Ultimately, UC president Clark Kerr was dismissed by newly-elected Governor Reagan and the Board of Regents for being “too soft” onprotesters.
One of the strongest aspects of thiscollection is Colin’s ability to speak with all the major players: students,professors, administrators, local political and police representatives as wellas members of the corporate media. This provides a vibrant context with whichto understand the movement and its lasting effects on the political culture ofthe UC Berkeley campus. It also shifts the focus of the movement fromwell-known figures to people whose names that we might not know but played anequally important role in the success of the movement. In addition to hisinterviews, the collection also features speeches and rallies held by the FSM,Student Senate Debates in which major FSM issues were decided and even audiofrom Mario Savio's birthday party.
This is one of the definitive audiocollections of the Free Speech Movement and represents an important addition tothe dominant narrative that limits the free speech movement and itsaccomplishments to the work of a couple of dedicated students. The audioprovides evidence of the significant linkages between the civil rightsstruggles being waged by African-Americans and the Free Speech Movement, themass nature of the protests and the true politically diversity of student andfaculty participants.
The FSM is equally as relevant todayas it was in the 1960s. Check out two of our interns' blogs about thecontemporary relevance of this collection:
Documents
FSM Victory Party and Mario Savio Birthday Party; Charles Artman interview
Date: 12/8/1964Call Number: CE 677Format: 1/4 7 1/2 ipsProducers: Colin EdwardsCollection: Colin Edwards Free Speech Movement
Recording of an FSM victory party that doubled as Mario Savio’s 22nd birthday party. The beginning of the tape contains party attendees singing several satirical songs composed for the occasion, as well as “Happy Birthday,” with some explanatory commentary by Edwards. The latter half is an interview conducted at the party with Charles Artman (also known as Charlie Brown), a former Cal student who was arrested at Sproul Hall. He describes his experiences with the sit-in and how he became involved. He describes how he and others had fasted for the preceding five days, waiting for the demands of the FSM to be met, and his intent to fast again if the regents of the university do not honor decisions made by the academic senate. He was drawn by what he calls the movement's "orderliness" and its "Gandhian direction."
Victory Rally: 12/9/64
Date: 12/9/1964Call Number: CE 678Format: 1/4 3 3/4 ipsProducers: Colin EdwardsCollection: Colin Edwards Free Speech Movement
A victory rally on the UC Berkeley campus following the Academic Senate vote to support freedom of political expression on campus. Speakers include Mario Savio (who is greeted with a serenade of “Happy Birthday”), Jack Weinberg, philosophy professor John Searle, Bettina Aptheker, Ron Anastasi (reading a message from Joan Baez as well as an op-ed by Ralph Gleason), and Art Goldberg. Lots of gratitude expressed, thanking movement supporters including Harvard students and Bay Area labor unions, and lots of self-effacing humor. Aptheker’s speech, which touches on experiences in Santa Rita and gratitude for faculty support, is especially well-crafted. Goldberg discusses the role of humor in the movement. There is also talk of organizing for the upcoming Regents meeting at UCLA, and soliciting donations for legal defense. Notes on the tape box indicate that parts of this recording were used for the program “Mario Savio: A Study in Charisma.”
Rick Davis: Covering the FSM (part 1 of 2)
Call Number: CE 691Format: 1/4 7 1/2 ipsProducers: Colin EdwardsCollection: Colin Edwards Free Speech Movement
Interview with prominent television reporter, writer and producer Rick Davis about his experiences reporting on the FSM. His coverage began with the car top rally in October 1964 and continued through the Sproul Hall sit-in in December. He is critical of some student viewpoints and tactics, with an especially harsh assessment of Mario Savio, but describes himself as being strongly invested in free speech and accurate reporting, and exposes many of the distortions and fabrications that were present in his colleagues’ reporting, such as invented reports of break-ins and vandalism. He describes police violence, and their attempts to discourage press coverage. He discusses the various political factions on campus and the role that right-wing students held within the FSM.
Free Student Union Rally: 7/29/65
Date: 7/29/1965Call Number: CE 729Format: 1/4 3 3/4 ipsProducers: Colin EdwardsCollection: Colin Edwards Free Speech Movement
Rally related to the trial of students involved in FSM activity. Speakers include student senator-in-exile Nicholas Zvegintzov, UC San Diego professor Avrum Stroll on the role of a public university in a democratic society, Mario Savio announcing a court support rally and discussing the importance of self-education, David Kolodny of the Free Student Union introducing Professor Thomas Parkinson, who speaks on lessons of the past year, legal issues and handling the “long haul of responsibility.” A letter of solidarity is read from labor union leader Leonard Levy. Bettina Aptheker speaks on the political nature of the charges against students and about receiving a letter from the Senate Internal Security Subcommittee. Announcements from the Vietnam Day Committee.
Mario Savio- A Study in Charisma and FSM Court Comedies
Call Number: CE 703Format: 1/4 7 1/2 ipsProducers: Colin EdwardsCollection: Colin Edwards Free Speech Movement
The first part of the tape is entitled Mario Savio a Study in Charisma and is the story of Mario Savio who rose from a normal student to the leader of the Free Speech Movement. This short documentary includes of number of excerpts from Mario’s speeches. He gives a chronology of the FSM, links it to larger struggles for civil rights, and argues that students are fully competent to challenge educational tyranny. Included is a speech in which Mario says goodbye to his leadership position in the FSM and the palpable dismay of the crowd. At the end of the program are selections of FSM supporters singing Happy Birthday to Mario as well as FSM parodies of the traditional songs “Comfort and Joy” and “Hallelujah: Glory of the Coming of the Cops.” The second part of the tape is entitled Court Comedies: A collection of humorous memories and scenes from recent trials of students at the University of California Berkeley. Following their arrests at the Sproul Hall sit-in, many students faced heavy fines and/or jail time as well as academic sanctions from the University. This segment details the cases of four specific students, recaps some of the humorous testimony and verbal exchanges during their university trials and discusses the students’ sentences. The tape concludes with Professor Thomas Parkinson reading a letter supporting the students to the committee trying the cases.
Victory Rally: 12/8/64 Tape 2
Date: 12/8/1964Call Number: CE 709Format: 1/4 3 3/4 ipsProducers: Colin EdwardsCollection: Colin Edwards Free Speech Movement
Rally speech by Mario Savio detailing post-strike issues for the FSM and UC Berkeley-related issues. Also includes interview of Savio and another student which goes into further detail about FSM goals, its legal defense fund, structure of UC Berkeley, President Kerr's actions and the power structure of the university. Further issues of discussion include the impact of African American/civil rights activism on higher education, social issues like unemployment and anti-war activism, the Emergency Committee, misrepresentation in media/press of the FSM, and the necessity of transparency in politics.
FSM December 7th 1964 Greek Theater
Date: 12/7/1964Call Number: CE 714Format: 1/4 7 1/2 ipsProducers: Colin EdwardsCollection: Colin Edwards Free Speech Movement
Department Chairman's proposals presented by Dr. Robert Scalapino at the Greek Theater. President Clark Kerr makes a speech concerning the proposals. An altercation with Mario Savio follows. Then announcements by Savio.
Several brief items and interviews for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.
Call Number: CE 715Format: 1/4 7 1/2 ipsProducers: Colin EdwardsCollection: Colin Edwards Free Speech Movement
Six segments. 1. Interview with Heather Monoon, a Canadian student who participated in the Sproul Hall sit-in and describes her experiences in detail, including student-organized classes, study halls and film screenings in the occupied building. 2. Late News Report (January 3/4, 1965) for Countdown and National News on the removal of Chancellor Edward Strong and the appointment of Martin Meyerson. 3. Interview with Mario Savio, touches on his family’s reactions and potential legal consequences. 4. January 4, 1965 report for National News, with comparison to the Toronto University student revolt of 1894. 5. Commentary on background to student revolt, ending with reference to the passage of Prop. 14. 6. Commentary for a documentary on “Concepts of a University,” exploring Clark Kerr’s idea of the “multi-versity” and framing conflict over the nature of a university at the root of unrest on the Berkeley campus.
KPFA Documentary Reel 1
Call Number: CE 716Format: 1/4 7 1/2 ipsProducers: KPFACollection: Colin Edwards Free Speech Movement
This recording primarily deals with the Sproul Hall protests on Dec. 3rd/4th 1964. There are clips of Mario Savio and Joan Baez. Documentary includes on-site interviews with students/FSM activists, a list of agreements with the UC Regents read by Savio which were later refuted by UC official, claiming the list was never formally adopted.
KPFA Documentary Reel 2
Call Number: CE 717Format: 1/4 7 1/2 ipsProducers: KPFACollection: Colin Edwards Free Speech Movement
Continuation of Reel #1. This recording deals with immediate fallout of police actions in reaction to Dec. 3rd/4th protest at Sproul Hall. Included are audio clips of various individual voices and a clip of community discussion at campus theater. Mario Savio is briefly detained when he was supposed to speak but then released. Some of the names of people on tape: Mario Savio, Willie Brown, John Burton, Alex Kaufman (Savio’s attorney), Professor Bob Scalipino, Charles Powell, Michael Churtin.
