MARCH 1968 IN TORUN IN THE LIGHT OF THE DOCUMENTS OF THE SECURITY SERVICE

Heretofore literature contained extremely laconic descriptions of the 'March in Torun'. A fuller study of documents produced by the Security Service made it possible to present the activity of the academic milieu at the Mikolaj Kopernik University in Torun, both in March 1968 and in the preceding period. Particular attention is due to attempted students' protests organised already in December 1967 mainly for economic reasons. On 12 March 1968 the Torun students took an active part in the tide of protests, which already involved more than ten academic centres across the country. The participants conducted leaflet and poster campaigns and held meetings despite the decidedly antagonistic attitude of the academic authorities, headed by Rector Witold Lukaszewicz. The first meeting, on 12 March, was attended by about 200 students, but the second one, held on 14 March, attracted already about 700 persons, i. e. 20% of all of students. Its outcome was a resolution echoing similar acts passed in other academic centres. According to the findings of the Security Service the most active participants totalled 83 students. The third and last meeting, attended by about 600 students, took place on 18 March. Successive attempts, including the largest meeting of 21 March (more than 100 persons), failed. Nonetheless, a leaflet campaign was continued for several weeks. The administrative authorities of the University and the Security organs pursued a policy aimed against the leading participants of the March events. Many students were compelled to conduct disciplinary talks with representatives of the academic authorities, and as many as fifty - with Security Service functionaries; several students were expelled.