I was recently on a picket line for the second time in my life.

The first time was in 1955. I was a student at CCNY. The City University was absolutely free. The only charge that a student engendered was a $5 bursars fee. The Administration decided, in their fiscal wisdom, to raise that fee to $8. Pandemonium broke loose.

The cry of "To the Barricades" was heard in the lunchrooms and classrooms. It resembled a scene from Les Miserables. The students seethed with anger. "A rise against the gouging and money hunger of the faculty and administration."

Thousands of subway students, since there were no dorms, poured onto Convent Avenue in the fight against injustice. The streets became clogged with angry Pre-med, Pre-Dental and Engineering scholars.

The buses could not travel their appointed routes and no cars could pass. The students made their point. "No three dollar hike in fees."

On reflecting back to the considerable sums I paid to Universities that my own three children attended in the state of Massachusetts, I wish I could have protested. As parents, being more sedate and over civilized, we just paid the huge amounts and kept our mouths shut.

There were indeed parallels to my aforementioned second time as a protester. This time it was a State University, the State University of New York at Old Westbury.

Due to some intricate and gothic manipulation in Albany, the beautiful 600 acres of the college was being ravaged by bulldozers and greed.

The water supply of Nassau County is being threatened by the College administration and willing bipartisan political figures. (No names.... Yet!)

As I neared the huge crater that had been ripped out of a naturally treed forest by machines, I was handed a placard. It read "Clean water - Not dirty Politics." Thirty men and women began chanting this mantra as the invited guests began the groundbreaking ceremonies.

They were having a party by tearing up the pristine landscape. Hard-hats and shovels were their tools. An earth-moving bulldozer stood near. The demonstrators, myself included, did not object to the College related buildings, dorms etc., we did not want to turn this virgin land into another garish Roosevelt Field.

The demonstrators were held back by two Nassau County Policemen. We chanted in the rain. "Shame-shame - Clean Water Not Dirty Politics."

Our speakers were speaking to channel 12 Newscasters; Their speakers were covered by channel 12 Newscasters. It was a standoff.

We have not deserted our mission:

College and Educational projects - OK!

Land-grab, Anti-Environmental projects - No way!

To be continued!

E-mail accepted at shgreenbug@aol.com