Campus Alert Archive
UB

The Faculty 45 and 58 Injuries: UB's 1970 Campus Unrest Ends With Police Occupation and Mass Arrests

NYcivil unrestemergency notificationmedium confidence
Confirmed Threat

From late February through mid-March 1970, the University at Buffalo experienced three weeks of escalating campus unrest over demands tied to Black student equality, Vietnam War opposition, and university governance. On March 8, the administration invited Buffalo police to occupy the campus for an indefinite stay; on March 12, a violent confrontation injured 58 people including 35 police officers. On March 15, 45 faculty members staged a sit-in in Hayes Hall in solidarity with students, were arrested, and became known as the 'Faculty 45.'

Alerts
3
Response
—
Killed
0
Injured
58
Institution
University at Buffalo, State University of New York
Public R1 · NY
~24,000 students
Confirmed Timeline

Alert Sequence

3 messages in sequence

Some alert texts below are approximate reconstructions from news coverage, not confirmed verbatim transcripts. Reconstructed texts are shown in italic with a dashed border. Verified verbatim texts have a solid border and are marked accordingly.

INITIAL ALERTother
Approximate reconstruction235 chars
Demonstrations are occurring on campus related to student grievances. University administration is working to restore order. Students are urged to respect the rights of all campus community members and to avoid unauthorized gatherings.

This text has been reconstructed from news coverage and may not reflect the exact original wording.

The unrest began February 24 when Buffalo police were called to a UB basketball game because of a demonstration over alleged racism in the athletics department; about 500 students assembled and 16 arrests were made
On February 26, a firebomb was thrown into Lockwood Library, destroying several hundred books; this escalation triggered a State Supreme Court restraining order barring demonstrators from disrupting normal university operations
No electronic mass notification system existed at UB in 1970; the administration communicated through posted notices, faculty intermediaries, and radio announcements
UPDATEother
Approximate reconstruction261 chars
The University at Buffalo administration has requested Buffalo Police Department officers to maintain order on campus. Police will be present throughout the campus until further notice. All members of the university community must comply with police directives.

This text has been reconstructed from news coverage and may not reflect the exact original wording.

The administration's decision to invite police onto campus for an indefinite stay was controversial; nearly 2,000 students and faculty demonstrated against the police presence on the same day, March 8
Students responded to the police occupation with a 'pig roast' demonstration on March 10, a symbolic protest mocking the administration's decision to call in law enforcement
A State Supreme Court restraining order was already in effect barring demonstrators from disrupting university operations; the police occupation was intended to enforce this order
UPDATESiren
Approximate reconstruction241 chars
A violent confrontation has occurred near Hayes Hall. Police are responding. All students should immediately return to their dormitories. The Hayes Hall area is off limits. Do not approach the confrontation. Emergency personnel are on scene.

This text has been reconstructed from news coverage and may not reflect the exact original wording.

On the night of March 12, a large crowd of demonstrators gathered on the lawn near a police line guarding Hayes Hall; violence erupted in a confrontation that injured 58 people, including 35 police officers and 23 students and bystanders
The Faculty 45, a group of professors who staged a sit-in in Hayes Hall on March 15 in solidarity with students, were arrested for violating the restraining order; their cases were eventually dismissed
The UB Libraries maintain an extensive archive of this period including photographs, oral histories, and primary sources at research.lib.buffalo.edu/campus-unrest
Context

Background

The 1970 campus unrest at the University at Buffalo unfolded over three weeks of escalating confrontations between students, faculty, and police. The protests centered on three issues: allegations of racism in the UB athletics department, the university's hosting of ROTC programs that contributed to the Vietnam War effort, and the Themis Project, which involved classified military research at UB. After a firebomb destroyed library books on February 26, the administration obtained a restraining order and eventually invited Buffalo police to occupy the campus on March 8. The police occupation inflamed the campus further: nearly 2,000 people protested the police presence. On the night of March 12, a confrontation near Hayes Hall injured 58 people, 35 of them police officers. On March 15, 45 faculty members staged a sit-in in Hayes Hall in an act of solidarity with the students, knowing they would be arrested for violating the restraining order; they were. Their cases were eventually dismissed. By March 17, with spring break approaching, tensions eased and police were eventually asked to leave. The UB Libraries' Campus Unrest collection preserves photographs, oral histories, and primary documents from the period. No electronic mass notification system existed at UB in 1970; the administration relied on posted notices, radio, and faculty channels to communicate with students.
Analysis

Key Findings

The UB 1970 campus unrest, February 24 to March 17, combined race-related athletics grievances, Vietnam War opposition, and classified military research objections into a three-week confrontation
On March 12, 1970, 58 people were injured including 35 police officers in a confrontation at Hayes Hall; no one was killed
The Faculty 45, forty-five professors who staged a sit-in in solidarity with students and were arrested on March 15, became a landmark example of faculty civil disobedience during the Vietnam era
No electronic mass notification system existed at UB in 1970; communication relied on posted notices, radio broadcasts, and faculty intermediaries
Outcome
By March 17, spring break approached and conditions improved. Police were eventually asked to leave campus. The Faculty 45 faced disciplinary proceedings that were ultimately dismissed. The unrest permanently altered UB's governance structure, accelerating faculty participation in university administration.
Provenance

Sources

  1. Official
    Campus Unrest - Research Guides - University at Buffalo Libraries
    research.lib.buffalo.edu
  2. Official
    40 Years Ago - UB Reporter
    buffalo.edu
  3. Source
    Buffalo Police Then and Now - University at Buffalo 1970 Protests
    bpdthenandnow.com
  4. News
    The Riot Squad - Buffalo News
    buffalonews.com
Tags
civil-unrestprotestpolice-actionvietnam-erapre-cleryno-alert-system1970historicalnew-yorkfaculty-protestrotcblack-student-activism
Added June 2026Updated June 2026Via ingestion