University of Washington's Black Student Union (BSU) was founded in early 1968 at a time when very few Black students attended the UW. Over the next several years the BSU led campaigns that transformed the University and helped reshape educational opportunities for young people of color in Seattle and throughout Washington state.

On May 20, 1968, the Black Student Union occupied the office of UW President Charles Odegaard. The BSU's immediate goals were expanded Black recruitment, counseling and tutoring, and funding to create a Black Studies program. BSU President E.J. Brisker emphasized that the organization wished to be taken seriously, and to meet with, and keep pressure on, university officials.

Here, students stand outside the Administration Building (renamed Gerberding Hall in 1995) during the protest. Protesters are visible inside in the windows at upper right.

Caption information source: Seattle Times, May 21, 1968, p. 7. Caption information source: "The Black Student Union at UW," part of University of Washington's Seattle Civil Rights and Labor History project at http://depts.washington.edu/civilr/BSU