Spring of Dissent

What was your role on campus at the time:

Graduate student

During the school year 1969-70, where did you live:

Off-campus

Were you a member of any student organization on campus? If so, which one(s)?

Don’t remember

During the weeks before the university closed, what was the most significant thing you observed?

Lots of enthusiasm, lots of energy, lots of discussion beyond the course work, lots of thinking about what your opinions were, considerable tension between those with some military connection (students who were either in the military or on their way) and the other students who were anti-war or just anti-anything. This was also a time of considerable drug use, including hallucinogens. Lots of long hair, lots of tie-died fashion statements, much use of the word “man” and other “groovy” observations. It was truly a time for us to actually think about what we thought, what we believed in, and what our commitment would be to the future. I think we were challenged to be more people- or cause-directed/interested instead of money/possessions-directed. Some of the confrontations looked like a bunch of collies at a doberman pinscher convention.

What were your impressions of campus during the time period?

I don’t remember the administration shutting down areas or controlling the students tightly, but I lived off-campus and worked a lot, too. When the Kent State shootings occurred, however, I think the safety issue took precedence and our classes were cancelled. The mobs of students could have exploded into more confrontation, and we were leery of going on campus. It seems to me that the administration took a defensive posture and not an aggressive one. I do remember the day hundreds of students rushed the administration building with arms raised but their “weapons” were handfuls of marshmallows. The guards did not react. There was no lack of protesters on all causes at the time, they were everywhere.

Did you think the university should be closed? Why or why not?

Yes, there was growing unrest and a mob mentality surging. We were very cautious while on campus and only went there for classes. The anger over Kent State spilled onto the OSU grounds, and some students, and maybe some of the National Guardsmen, might have welcomed a more confrontational opportunity. There was a lot of strong opinions on both sides. On the students’ side, especially the males, many were facing imminent “shipping out” to Vietnam. So, some of the issues were fear of going, horror at the news of the thousands of bodies being sent home, and no end in sight by the government. The anger about the war was the main issue, but at the same time, other social injustices like women’s rights, civil rights, and even child abuse/domestic violence awareness were rearing their heads. The campus needed to be closed as a public safety measure, and that severe action forced the public to take notice of the students’ anger. The government needed to know that the future leaders of the nation were standing up (on both sides) and making a statement, holding their leaders accountable, and were not hiding in the folds of a safe environment. Meeting off-campus for our classes also offered us a chance to talk about what was going on.

What did you do during the two weeks the university was closed?

It was my last couple of weeks to do all the projects/papers, and we also had some classes in the professor’s home or in another location. Our student groups also met for discussions in pizza places, in our homes, or on the front porches of buildings. I also limited my guest list (or they limited our guest list) for graduation. The Stadium was ringed with National Guardsmen, and the crowd was kept to low numbers. The security was strict for entrance. Robert McNamara was the guest speaker (I think) and he was an official in the federal government—Secretary of Something [Defense]. His safety was of concern, too. My parents attended but were quite jittery, I think. Most of us also took the two weeks to plan what we might do symbolically during the ceremony—many wore peace symbols on their grad caps, and most of us wore yellow oilcloth arm bands with a stenciled peace symbol.

Did you return to finish the quarter?

Yes

Looking back, what do you think are the lasting legacies of the student demonstrations?

You actually had a chance to form an opinion on a lot of topics and knew why you had that opinion. There was no Internet or instant news or constant commentary from talking heads. We actually talked to each other and with the professors. We were in the thick of disagreement, and though mostly encouraged to be anti-whatever, we did have the chance to think it through. My future work in the crime victim field was probably influenced by my time at OSU since many social advocacy causes also began then. I think the late ’60s and ’70s were the best time academically, and campuses now seem lethargic, consumed with socially correct activities, hordes of business and communications and technology students, and everyone staring at their iPods and texting away. Students who tell me they are majoring in Peace or Conflict Resolution just have no clue.