As the campus celebrates the 50^th anniversary of the Free Speech Movement this fall, the Office of Communications and Public Affairs has created a website at http://fsm.berkeley.edu/ that provides a historical timeline, a list of upcoming events and more. It happened 50 years ago, but the Free Speech Movement left a strong legacy at UC Berkeley and in the lives and public service work of many students, faculty, staff and alumni.

The Public Affairs office is interested in identifying a few international students who would be interested in talking to reporters, as needed, about what the Free Speech Movement means to them.  If you would be happy to help, please email Gretchen Kell, director of special projects and outreach, at gkell@berkeley.edu.

There is another important website for students participating in the On the Same Page program, http://fsm-onthesamepage.berkeley.edu/, which provided this summer to all incoming freshmen and transfer students a copy of a biography of FSM leader Mario Savio called “Freedom’s Orator” by New York University Professor Robert Cohen. A few dozen courses this fall are being taught about the Free Speech Movement that use the book as a source of discussion.

We also welcome photos and stories from 1960s alumni about living at International House during this groundbreaking era. Comment below or send email and photos to ihalumni@berkeley.edu for possible inclusion in the Fall I-House Times newsletter.

Mario Savio on top of police car in front of Sproul Hall. Oct 1. 1964
Credit: Courtesy of UC Berkeley, The Bancroft Library

Mario Savio speaking from the top of the police car. Oct. 1, 1964
Credit: Steve Marcus, Courtesy of UC Berkeley, The Bancroft Library

Group carrying “Free Speech” banner through Sather Gate [ca. 1965].
Credit: Courtesy of UC Berkeley, The Bancroft Library

Strikers on Sproul Steps
Credit: Courtesy of UC Berkeley, The Bancroft Library

A full list of campus events related to the FSM anniversary can be found at http://fsm.berkeley.edu/