The protests of the 1970’s at Ohio University
During the 1970’s Ohio University was on hard times. The
University had many political and budgetary issues, issues of equality, and not
to mention the effects of the Vietnam War. The president of The University at
the time was Claude Sowle; he had
just entered his presidency when issues of equality came up. Women and African
Americans were protesting for their rights. To escalate tempers farther The University was institutionalized additional university fee.
On January 30, 1970 The University held a meeting in cutler hall
pertaining to the raise in fees. During the meeting hundreds of students
entered the hall with the aim of attending the meeting but were forced out of
Cutler hall and instead assembled at the entrance of college green. By the
conclusion of the meeting a judge had issued an order to disperse the crowd.
Forty- six students were arrested for resisting.
In spring of 1970 U.S. president Nixon announced that thousands of
troops had entered Cambodia adding to the irritation. A peaceful protect
organized on college green after word that a Kent State’s protest ended in
tragedy with the death of four Kent students. Many peaceful protests followed
the May 4 tragedy, until the Ohio University ROTC supply room was fire bombed
on May 7, 1970. Leading to four thousand dollars in damage. After the ROTC
firebomb another firebombing took place in Nelson Cafeteria. Following all the
violence The University enforced a campus curfew and suspended seven students
that were suspected of posing a danger to The University community. In response
to the new enforcements violent crowds protested in front of Baker center and
on court street, where bricks were hurled at police and tear gas was released
on the crowd.
It is rumored that amongst all the violence a group of protesters
vandalized the civil war memorial statue located on college green near Chubb
hall. The statue which when built was supposed to depict four civil war troops
with rifles in their hands standing on a circular monument. According to legend
the vandals stole the firearms and buried them through out The University. None
of the weapons have surfaced yet.
Since the violence would not stop, and campus safety was a huge
concern, The University was closed on April 15 at 2 a.m. until the start of the
summer quarter in June. The national Guard was called in to help close The University safely.
Alexander, Andrew. "Month of Campus Tension Results in Violent Closing." Ohio University Alumni Journal: Special Issue (1970): 1-3. Print.
I was A protestor at Ohio University Athens in 1970 to the expansion of the Vietnam War when Nixon bombed Cambodia when the war was almost over. When the students started throwing rocks The Guard and Athens Police fired tear gas canisters point blank straight at the Students many were injured one guy got hit in the face with a tear gas canister. Ohio University President opened up the Campus green a few days after the Guard action, to an open university with classes on the Green to work through the tragedy. Peter G from New Hampshire
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