45 years ago at Sir George Williams University, 97 people were arrested and damages to the Computer Centre totalled $2 million (about $12 million today) in a conflict over student charges of racism. The events that led to the Computer Centre Incident forced University administrators to re-evaluate internal procedures. Student representation on university decision-making bodies was firmly established and university procedures and policies were revamped. In April 1971 Sir George Williams adopted University Regulations on Rights and Responsibilities, and the Ombuds Office was established. By December 1977, Concordia University approved a university-wide Code of Conduct and new terms of reference for the Ombuds Office.
To commemorate the events and to celebrate Black History Month, Records Management and Archives will be posting archival documents on the event throughout the month of February. Today, we offer you an excerpt from the movie Prelude to the Sir George Williams University Computer Centre Riot, which was filmed at the hearing set up by the administration to investigate the charges, on January 29, 1969. Today's excerpt features the complainants and 200 other students disrupting the hearing held in room H-110 of the Hall Building. Keep and eye on our Website as we will be posting more excerpts from this movie as well as other archival documents on the Computer Centre Incident.
If you would like to know more about the Computer Centre Incident, make an appointment with Caroline Sigouin at 514-848-2424, ext. 7970 to do research.
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