Conservative Students and a Decade of Protest
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VOICES FROM THE BORDER: CONSERVATIVE STUDENTS AND A DECADE OF PROTEST Rebecca Ann Christy A Thesis Submitted to the Graduate College of Bowling Green State University In partial fulfillment for the requirements for the degree of MASTERS OF ARTS May 2010 Committee: Michael D. Coomes, Advisor Maureen E. Wilson i ABSTRACT Michael D. Coomes, Advisor The term ―The Movement‖ is associated with a number of social and political events that rocked college campuses in the 1960s. Current literature on the student movement of this decade often does not mention students at other types of institutions and sometimes fails to put into perspective the actual percentage of students who participated in active demonstration. This thesis presents a new view of student activism by exploring how small, private, religiously affiliated institutions used the public forum of collegiate publications to contribute to the dialogue surrounding various political and social movements of the 1960s. Student editorials and letters to the editors in the campus publications at Ashland College in Ohio, Ohio Wesleyan University, and Hillsdale College in Michigan were analyzed from the year 1960-1970 to determine student opinions on the Civil Rights Movement, Vietnam War, Free Speech Movement and student protest, and the shootings at Kent State University. Through the analysis of major themes and perceptions of these student voices, the study provides implications for future research and practice regarding student activism in the 21st century. ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS There were many people who supported me through the writing of this thesis. Special thanks to Denise Davidson who not only encouraged me to pursue this research, but was present throughout the process to remind me not to underestimate the power of persistence. Thanks to Michael Coomes for serving as the chair for my committee, but also for reaffirming my belief that there is a place for history in the field of higher education and student affairs. Thank you to Maureen Wilson who supported my research interest by offering to serve on my Committee. A.J., thank you for your support and your patience though the many conversations in which you deciphered my amateur interpretations of law in higher education. Dad, thank you for your enthusiasm! You will always be the first (and quite possibly the only) person to think this topic was interesting enough to be turned into a book. Mom, you are wholeheartedly responsible for keeping me on track the many times it seemed easier to let stress get the better of me. To all my cohort members, thank you for the various ways you demonstrated your support for me. Whether it was attending my NASPA presentation, or simply asking me how things were going, you did more than you will know! iii TABLE OF CONTENTS Page CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTION..................................................................................................1 Context of the Study…………….......................................................................................1 Statement of the Problem....................................................................................................4 Need for the Study..............................................................................................................6 Research Questions ............................................................................................................6 CHAPTER II. LITERATURE REVIEW......................................................................................8 General Context of the 1960s..............................................................................................8 Higher Education in the 1960s............................................................................................8 Status of Small Private Colleges in the 1960s...................................................................11 The Civil Rights Movement The Beginning of Dissent....................................................13 Free Speech Movement and Student Protest.....................................................................15 The Vietnam War Growing Dissent..................................................................................16 Kent State University Tragedy in Ohio.............................................................................18 Role of Student Publications.............................................................................................20 Regional Influences on the Student Movements of the 1960s..........................................23 National Media‘s Impact on Perceptions of Student Activism .......................................24 Summary ..........................................................................................................................25 CHAPTER III.METHODOLOGY...............................................................................................26 Purpose of Study...............................................................................................................26 Overview of Historical Methods ......................................................................................27 Criteria for Selection of Institutions..................................................................................32 iv Data Collection Techniques...............................................................................................33 Data Analysis Techniques..................................................................................................34 Limitations .......................................................................................................................36 CHAPTER IV. RESULTS...........................................................................................................38 Themes at Ashland College ..........................................................................................................38 Civil Rights Movement......................................................................................................44 Vietnam War......................................................................................................................44 Free Speech Movement and Student Protest.....................................................................49 Kent State University .......................................................................................................53 Summary of Themes ........................................................................................................56 Themes at Ohio Wesleyan University...........................................................................................56 Civil Rights Movement.....................................................................................................58 Vietnam War......................................................................................................................63 Free Speech Movement and Student Protest.....................................................................66 Kent State University .......................................................................................................71 Summary of Themes ........................................................................................................73 Themes at Hillsdale College .........................................................................................................75 Civil Rights Movement......................................................................................................77 Vietnam War......................................................................................................................79 Free Speech Movement and Student Protest.....................................................................82 Kent State University .......................................................................................................85 Summary of Themes ........................................................................................................87 v CHAPTER V. DISCUSSION......................................................................................................89 Integration of Themes Across Context .............................................................................89 Student Apathy..................................................................................................................89 Critique of Media...............................................................................................................91 Ineffectiveness of Protest...................................................................................................94 Restatement of Research Questions .................................................................................96 Summary............................................................................................................................99 Implications for Practice and Future Research ...............................................................104 Impact of the Internet on Perceptions of Activism..........................................................104 Conclusion.......................................................................................................................108 References……………………………………………………………………………...110 1 CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTION Perceptions and interpretations of historical events are often influenced by the passage of time, context, and personal convictions. The varying influences on the dissemination of history