Spring Break
The Daily OrangeFight to assemble: David Ifshin's life-long battle for reform started in the Vietnam era at SU. Today, Newhouse honors the late leader of 1970 student protests
By Amanda Allison
Posted: 2/19/08, 12:59 AM EST Section: News
They walked in quickly and quietly, before most of the university administration staff had arrived. The small group of students chained the doors to Tolley Hall, and there they sat, waiting. Several hours later, they were told that then-Chancellor John Corbally would see them. He would hear their demands to remove the ROTC program from campus and their concerns about the Vietnam War and the world around them. It was February 19, 1970.
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Today, exactly 38 years later, Syracuse University graduate David Ifshin, the man who organized this student strike - which triggered a significant halt in the university's functioning - is being honored as "the voice of the right to protest" as a part of the S.I Newhouse Year of the First Amendment. "This guy had an incredible life," said Larry Elin, a television, radio and film professor and organizer of the event. "You could not make it up, couldn't write a movie with this character in it. You would never think of it." Ifshin was described by those who knew him as an independent thinker, unpredictable and passionate. He acted as an anti-war leader as a student at the SU campus, became famous as a national traitor after a defamatory speech broadcast from Hanoi, North Korea, served as a chief adviser in Bill Clinton's 1992 presidential campaign and spent a lifetime fighting for human rights around the world. He died on April 30, 1996 at only 47 years old. This man who "lived his convictions" left behind a legacy of protest, passion and determination that all began at Syracuse in 1969.
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In his senior year at Syracuse from 1969-70, Ifshin served as Student Association president. While running for office during the spring of his junior year, his campaign goals were based around improving the quality of life for students - like removing "parietal hours," times in which men and women were not able to interact with the other gender in campus dorms.
Upon his return in the fall of that same year, Ifshin's goals for the campus had radically changed. The world around him had changed.
****
Today, exactly 38 years later, Syracuse University graduate David Ifshin, the man who organized this student strike - which triggered a significant halt in the university's functioning - is being honored as "the voice of the right to protest" as a part of the S.I Newhouse Year of the First Amendment. "This guy had an incredible life," said Larry Elin, a television, radio and film professor and organizer of the event. "You could not make it up, couldn't write a movie with this character in it. You would never think of it." Ifshin was described by those who knew him as an independent thinker, unpredictable and passionate. He acted as an anti-war leader as a student at the SU campus, became famous as a national traitor after a defamatory speech broadcast from Hanoi, North Korea, served as a chief adviser in Bill Clinton's 1992 presidential campaign and spent a lifetime fighting for human rights around the world. He died on April 30, 1996 at only 47 years old. This man who "lived his convictions" left behind a legacy of protest, passion and determination that all began at Syracuse in 1969.
****
In his senior year at Syracuse from 1969-70, Ifshin served as Student Association president. While running for office during the spring of his junior year, his campaign goals were based around improving the quality of life for students - like removing "parietal hours," times in which men and women were not able to interact with the other gender in campus dorms.
Upon his return in the fall of that same year, Ifshin's goals for the campus had radically changed. The world around him had changed.
Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 14
Howie H
posted 2/19/08 @ 7:03 AM EST
Yeah- this makes perfect sense. SU can't so much as acknowledge Veterans' Day, but they celebrate a protester? Pretty much says it all about sense of priority. (Continued…)
Paul Wiele
posted 2/19/08 @ 9:30 AM EST
Um... Hanoi was in North Vietnam, not North Korea.
Kay Heley
posted 2/19/08 @ 12:32 PM EST
As someone who was a junior high observer in 1970, I appreciate this well-written reminder of how passionately students were involved in the anti-war movement. (Continued…)
Nic D'Alesandro
posted 2/19/08 @ 4:29 PM EST
"national traitor" ? I believe that sums it up.
He and Jane Fonda ... what more does the enemy need?
Richard Stone
posted 2/19/08 @ 7:34 PM EST
As a contemporary of Mr. Ifshin's at SU and someone who was also involved in campus politics I must respectfully disagree with your analysis of Mr.Ifshin while he was at SU. (Continued…)
Jay Abrams
posted 2/19/08 @ 8:11 PM EST
I ran against Ifshin for student government president that year. I ran as an independent against the overwhelming influence of the greek system on all student affairs. (Continued…)
Joe Herrick
posted 2/20/08 @ 9:32 PM EST
SU should honor Sol Rosenberg who bravely locked himself in the Hall of Languages as part of the popular student demonstrations supporting the first Gulf War. (Continued…)
Bill Watson
posted 10/10/08 @ 2:16 PM EST
Richard's right, David could be off-putting. My take on all of it, though, is that it's a shame some of the rest of us were not mature enough to realize that intense ambition is not innately bad. (Continued…)
Bruce Skewes
posted 10/11/08 @ 9:20 AM EST
My, what a surprise! I thought they were going to honor a conservative activist. It takes a lot of courage to take on the PC media and educational establishments. (Continued…)
willie mead
posted 10/19/08 @ 9:54 PM EST
HAS ANY ONE NOTICED THAT JOHN MCCAIN PALLED AROUND WITH THIS GUY TO YHE POINT THAT HE ATTENDED HIS FUNERAL, INITIATED THE HAND SHAKE THAT BROUGHT THEM TOGETHER,SAID SOME KIND WORDS ABOUT HIM AND THIS MAN BROADCAST SOME ANTI-AMERICAN THINGS FROM HANOI WHEN MCCAIN WAS A PRISONER. (Continued…)
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