Catalyst v. 1 (Spring 1970) – CARLI Digital Collections Featured Image

The front page of the May 12, 1970 Western Catalyst details the Western Illinois University student protests the previous week, precipitated by the fatal shooting of four Kent State University student anti-Vietnam War demonstrators.

Two photographs of a “march” and a “countermarch” dramatically frame the text. In the former, a crowd of 2,000 students march through downtown Macomb calling for a student strike, U.S. troops’ withdrawal from Cambodia, and the removal of ROTC from the WIU campus. Students “cut classes to sit in the sun, rap about the war, and march.”

Students voted on a student-organized referendum concerning the ROTC issue. Approximately 2,000 students “countermarched” in support of ROTC during the election. The photograph shows a crowd led by uniformed students waving flags. In the end, ROTC prevailed. Students took over Simpkins Hall for several days before surrendering under the threat of police confrontation.

I recently heard about Brown University student activists against climate change protesting against the administration’s investments in fossil fuel companies. The activists organized a petition. Their demands do not inconvenience: Brown’s investments in coal are miniscule.

Perhaps the Brown students will succeed, but is the accomplishment of a modest goal the main thing? Have today’s students lost the (arguably mistaken) vital belief that by acting together to impulsively defy authority and make idealistic and naïve demands they can do really big things?

Written by Mary Rose, Metadata Librarian, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

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