Brown University - Liber Brunensis Yearbook (Providence, RI)

Page 26 text:

The line finally terminated and the great doors of Sayles swung shut as Professor Cornwell mounted the podium. Anticipation rustled throughout the hall. The stoic por- traits of past generation Brown mentors looked over their successors. University ad- ministrators and twenty-two students had taken their places too. Over an hour later, President Heffner rose to suspend Wednesday classes. The meeting was adjourned until 9 a.m. Alfred North Whitehead sounds a lot more eloquent than the Report of the Special Committee . . . and I can understand what he's saying! Who needs all this philosophy? It's the substantive proposals we should consider! Do you actually mean to tell me that this motion will abolish all distribution require- ments at Brown?! ' Did we just pass that? 24 SR

Page 25 text:

Sayles Hall is usually quiet. So is the faculty. But anyone standing on the Green in the late afternoon on Tuesday, May 6, witnessed a procession not to be believed. Not ten, fifteen, or even fifty faculty members passing by, but a steady stream of 300 people climbing the steps to Sayles Hall. They moved along smoothly, relaxed by the warm weather and the smiles of their colleagues, carrying briefcases and class papers under their arms. Students gazed from the concrete walks and old lamposts. Even those who had been sunning themselves amidst 200 years of history from UH to Faunce House, rose for the occasion. They smiled - who had ever seen so many faculty together before their smiles covering the tense excitement they felt inside. Teachers, like pupils, felt that aura of adventure as they prepared to launch, or prevent, major changes in the institution they knew as Brown. 23

Page 27 text:

So it went for three days. The students in ed reform and a handful of faculty got little sleep, but a few more people had read the report by Wed- nesday and Thursday. And quite a few turned out to rallies for support and news. The BDH covered it with two extras; WBRU-AM tuned in Wednesday afternoon; students jammed the Sayles hallway and balcony cheering over re- sults of critical votes. Of course, it took President Heffner's re- signation the next day to get it into the 7imes. But the ecstasy of being able to shout We did it first! overpowered the details. And while old-style final exams loomed ahead to remind us that May is not the best time for revolution, the campus was infused with a grandiose hope - that Brown was going to lead the way toward a new kind of college education in America.