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Between the Vietnam War, the Civil Rights Movement, and the Women’s Liberation Movements, college campuses in the 1960s were truly the seeds of revolution. Nowhere was this more evident than at Cornell University, which was the site of an armed 36-hour long student takeover of Willard Straight Hall in 1969.
Inspired by author Steven Kussin’s own years at Cornell which culminated in the historic takeover of the student union building and his own father being briefly taken hostage, Five Freshmen: A Story of the Sixties (on sale now) follows the lives of five incoming freshmen from orientation to graduation. Starting as a fun and lighthearted tale of five friends from varying backgrounds, this authentic historical fiction book provides an intimate look into the turmoil of 1960s America and reflects on the sights, sounds, history, and music of a decade that changed American society forever. This incredible novel is especially timely, as the social movements fighting for equality and our basic human rights have once again become an important part daily life with the Black Lives Matter movement and the fight for LGBTQ+ and women’s rights.
Steven, who attended Cornell along with his parents and three sons, was a high school principal for over 20 years. He is now a regular education reporter for WCBS Newsradio and an adjunct professor at Hofstra University. He is currently working on adapting Five Freshmen into a screenplay.
Steven is able to discuss:
· The inspiration behind his new historical fiction novel
· His experience as a college student at Cornell in the 1960s
· His experiences witnessing the social movements in the 1960s
· His background as an educator and principal for 21 years