Last month’s anti-war protest was reminiscent of the Vietnam War era, when campus community members held their signs high and took it to the streets.
In 1966, professor Robert Sterling and nearly 200 students and faculty sat daily under the flagpole to mourn the dead in Vietnam. In addition, the United Student Government made formal declarations of their stances against foreign policies and sent letters to politicians urging for action on their behalf.
Tony Preus, professor of philosophy and master of College-in-the-Woods has worked on campus since 1964. He remembers that with the draft, sometimes people would “disappear from campus.” It spurred protest against the war and recruiters on campus and in town.
“It was a major issue for a lot of people,” he said.
Marcia Sikowitz, ‘73, remembers marching on the Vestal Parkway in a rally that seemed to last “miles and miles,” she said. The march was peaceful and she doesn’t remember seeing any arrests.
“We felt empowered that it would make a difference,” she said. “Even in terms of ending the war.”
Armed with the feeling they could change the world, students and faculty joined ranks and rallied together. Faculty provided food and even marshaled the walk.
“It felt great to be part of the campus community and to come together,” she said.
OPENING THE VAULTS
Pipe Dream opened up its archives this week to take a look at campus anti-Vietnam war demonstrations.
March 29, 1966: Campus Rally and Binghamton Vigil Display Discontent With Viet Policy√É¢’√®√É¢’√®
More than 250 students rallied in front of the University Union, which was referred to as the Student Center at the time, against the war in Vietnam on Saturday, March 27.
About half of the demonstrators continued the protest Downtown with a vigil in front of the Court House afterward. The protesters started the vigil with 10 minutes of silence, and afterward some picketed while others handed out literature. Two professors and a local reverend spoke at the vigil.√É¢’√®√É¢’√®
May 24, 1966: Viet War Meets Faculty Disfavor√É¢’√®√É¢’√®
It wasn’t only students who expressed opposition against the Vietnam situation. More than 100 faculty and administration members responded to a survey conducted by The Colonial News, what Pipe Dream was referred to before it changed its name in 1969.
The survey was sent to 300 people, and of the 114 responses received, about 65 percent of those polled expressed dissatisfaction with the Johnson administration’s conduct of the situation in Vietnam. More than 70 percent said they were opposed to the bombing of the cities of North Vietnam, and another 77 percent said they were not in favor of sending U.S. troops into the area. Attitudes on a fast withdrawal of troops were mixed.√É¢’√®√É¢’√®
Dec. 13, 1966: Harpur Students Denounce Johnson War Policy
About 200 students attended and faculty spoke Dec. 10 at a rally outside the Student Center. Edward Wilson, associate professor of art said he saw “little distinction between international war and home-grown violence.”
“The ideas of war and profiteering are synonymous,” he added.
The same day, up to 90 demonstrators picketed the Binghamton Court House chanting “Hey hey, LBJ, how many kids did you kill today?” and “Peace … Now!”
Though the picketing was peaceful, demonstrators were counter-protested by about half a dozen members of the right-wing Young Americans for Freedom. Police officers ordered YAF to put out the fire which they had set on the court-house steps to burn a National Liberation Front flag.
Nov. 11, 1969: How to Fight Against the War
The Colonial News previewed the week-long mobilization of campus in a series of battles against the big battle: the Vietnam War.
An anti-war GI was set to speak at the Veteran’s of Foreign Wars Parade on Veteran’s Day and anti-war leaflets were to be distributed among the crowd and throughout campus. Students planned on marching to a faculty senate meeting to demand action be taken against the war.
Two days later, students planned to leaflet late night shoppers at Vestal Plaza and Downtown Binghamton, strike classes as a part of national student strike day and march to the Administration Building to put an Anti-war Banner on it. Harpur College planned on sending at least 1,100 people that weekend to a march on Washington.
SUNY Albany students held a Solidarity Day to show their support for SUNY Binghamton’s attempts to get recruiters off campus.
November 21, 1969: Goodell Cautions Against Immediate Withdrawal√É¢’√®√É¢’√®
Sen. Charles Goodell (R-NY) spoke to 1,500 students on campus on Nov. 17 in an effort to spread awareness and support as he called for the withdrawal of U.S. troops in Vietnam by December of the following year.
Students spoke to the senator in a question and answer session afterward, and the crowd was largely supportive of the speech, holding signs that read, “Bring our brothers home now.”