Similar to most universities in the United States in the 1960's, UCLA was no stranger to student unrest and civil disobedience. Numerous antiwar demonstrations occurred throughout the period, escalating to the point where Governor Reagan chose to shut down the campus for four days in May, 1970. As a result, it is not surprising that the actions taken by the Board of Regents regarding Angela Davis spurred enormous student sympathy and outward support for Angela Davis and their very own academic rights.
Angela's First Day of Class
"Wearing buttons reading 'on campus, for credit, as planned,' flown down from Berkeley (remnants of the Eldridge Cleaver issue last year), the overflowing audience gave the 25 year old professor a standing ovation."- Debbie Ashin, The Daily Bruin, October 7th, 1969
The first outward sign of student body support for Angela Davis occurred on October 6th, 1969 at her first lecture on the UCLA campus. Despite the fact that Chancellor Young had declared Davis' Philosophy 99 course ineligible for credit, over 2000 students arrived at Royce Hall Auditorium to hear Davis speak. Todd Carter '72 remembers, "It was not every day that you had people lined up outside of Royce to hear about the 'Life and Times of Frederick Douglass.' It was obvious there was something more there."
Davis opened her lecture by addressing the actions taken by the Board of Regents just days before her first lecture. She stated that the Regents actions were an "outright attack on students. You are being denied the basic right to relevant education." Davis continued on to discuss theories of freedom, beginning with the Ancient Greeks theory of democracy.
Following the lecture the 2000 students in attendance slowly dwindled to a remaining 700. The remaining students began to speak on various aspects of how to effectively support Davis against the Administration. Motions to begin action rather than simply talk over the issue were made and the first steps toward an organized support for Davis were taken with the formation of three committees in charge of various aspects of the campaign.
Davis Speaks in Pauley Pavilion
Two days after Miss Davis' first lecture, more than 1,250 students gathered in Pauley Pavilion to listen to Miss Davis deliver a speech regarding the actions of the Regents. Davis accused the Regents of establishing "Legal tyranny over the University of California." Davis stirred up the crowd by stating "The Regents are afraid of the people, and we have to demonstrate to them that they should be afraid."
Following her speech, over a 1000 students gathered the following day on Royce Quad in a peaceful rally during the Academic Senate's meeting. The rally remained peaceful until an hour after the rally concluded, 200 students were able to break into Royce hall through an open door on a balcony. The uninvited students sitting in on the meeting caused the Senate Chairman to decline to chair the meeting.
Backlash Aimed at Davis' Lecture
Not all of the student body response was in favor of Professor Davis. On Tuesday, October 14th 1969, over 30 members, mostly anti-Communist Czech-Americans, of the Coalition gathered outside of Miss Davis' class carrying anti-communist pickets signs and singing "God Bless America." The protestors, carrying signs such as "OBSCENITY IS A COMMUNIST DEMANDING ACADEMIC FREEDOM" protested the continuing lecturing of Angela Davis. For the most part the protestors remained outside the classroom, until seven individuals entered the classroom and did one circle around the seats, to the laughter of the students in the class.
Student Referendum Gives Insight into Pulse of Student Body
In the weeks surrounding the Angela Davis scandal, a school-wide referendum vote was taken, with 5,193 votes taken on the first day alone. The referendum, covering a range of issues, contained three main questions concerning Angela Davis, Governor Reagan, and Vietnam troop withdrawal. By far, the highest discrepancy in responses came with the hot issues of Angela Davis and Governor Reagan. Over 80% of the 9,175 voters polled stated that Angela Davis should be allowed to continue teaching at UCLA, with a similar percentage responding that Governor Reagan's academic policies had lessened the quality of education in the state. The divide was less significant on the issue of Vietnam. With only 67% of the voters responding that immediate troop withdrawal from Vietnam would be a good decision.
Convocation in Royce Auditorium
On Tuesday, October 14th 1,600 entered Royce Auditorium for a convocation of twelve speakers addressing the Angela Davis situation. The main issues addressed included academic freedom, political repression, and racism. The convocation, initiating three days of activities intended to mobilize support for Davis, included speakers ranging from State Senator Mervyn Dymally to Philosophy department chairman Donald Kalish. Kalish stated that two lessons could be learned from the events surrounding the issue: the faculty was powerless and that the Regents were the ones behaving defiantly by violating their own rules and procedures.
Teacher Evaluations
In perhaps the most interesting data regarding the student body's response to the controversy arrived with the end of quarter "Teacher Evaluations." Of the 54 students who returned evaluation forms, 47 stated that Miss Davis' teaching was "excellent," over 87%. According to philosophy department head David Kaplan, "I have never seen a set of course evaluations so favorable as hers. They are astounding." Without a doubt, it is quite clear that Angela Davis had the support of a majority of the student body.
