oral histories
*
oral histories *
In the tradition of Indigenous and queer storytelling and record-keeping, this project builds a collection of memory and knowledge to be used for the community now and for future generations of students and organizers. The spoken word is an important and valuable alternative to written history for resistance struggles, especially when written and institutionalized history is used to capture and water down our movements. Oral history brings light to the nuances and complex challenges of collective resistance that are often excluded in official and institutional histories. These oral histories speak to the community building and support, the political goals, and impacts of repression experienced at the encampment.
This project was limited in scope and timeline as part of a school project. These oral histories present a limited look at the student memories of the encampment but capture some of the varied experiences students had at the encampment. All were involved in the organizing of the encampment in a variety roles and experience levels.
The oral histories have been de-identified and are under aliases.
Portions of the oral histories have been removed but may be added back in the future.
olive
Olive recalls their previous organizing in SDS [Students for a Democratic Society] and their experience being arrested on Bad Friday. They discuss their loss of faith in higher education and the way their classes and prior education connected to the encampment. They also discuss MSU’s connections to Lockheed Martin and negotiations with administration particularly on the final day of the encampment. They remember the camp as a demonstration of community and practice of solidarity
Aerin
Aerin talks about showing up to the camp and finding ways to participate, the logistical work of camp, mainly organizing and helping people get supplies during the encampment. They also talk about the community built around common purpose and how the encampment brought them back to education and to new community. They talk about finding empowerment and agency in the way they showed up to the encampment and about taking that as a lesson in organizing spaces.
ivy
Ivy talks about being mobilized to the encampment after the arrest of students on campus and the national movement and talks about being deeply involved in the logistics and problem solving during the encampment. She shares the shared goals that connected people at the encampment and the solidarity that guided it. She also talks about how the encampment impacted her studies and the way camp responded to accessibility needs.
bill
Bill talks about the first day of camp and setting up a homework tent and their experience being arrested on Bad Friday. They speak to their relationships with unhoused people at the encampment and the way barriers were dissolved at camp. they recall helping with night watch and the power of taking action with community along with the challenges at the end of the encampment.
toyota camry
Toyota Camry talks about the SDS campaign and planning prior to and during the encampment, the emotional intensity throughout the encampment, and the support the encampment received from the community. They also talk about the day to day of the encampment and the unsustainable factors at the end of the camp.
judith
Judith recalls getting involved in the encampment and the way their prior experience with divestment and pushing for BDS informed their organizing at the encampment. They talk about their complicated relationship with organizing and the organizing structures of the encampment. They detail the tactics, challenges, and nuances involved in negotiating with the administration particularly on the final day of the encampment.
sinead
Sinead talks about finding ways of being of service to the camp including facilitating meetings, picking up trash, and negotiating with administration. She talks about being in solidarity, the spiritual death of participating in genocide and the ties our universities have to that violence as well as the graduation actions during camp. She speaks to the feelings of the encampment and the lessons around interpersonal and emotional work in organizing.
These oral histories may be used by researchers, educators, and the general public. Please cite whenever you use the oral histories. Citations should include the names of the both the interviewee and interviewer, date of interview, name of the oral history collection, and the webpage link. Citations are also available in the transcripts.