Oakland University has a rich history of young adult political activism. Students are young and have new ideas, and most importantly, they believe they can change the world.
The one thing that has changed over time is what students have protested about. From international events to local university issues, OU students have made their voices heard throughout the university’s history.
The Vietnam War protests of the late 1960s are considered one of the first student activism efforts. The protests were mainly led by younger adults and college students, partly due to the Selective Service’s draft of young adult citizens aged 18 to 26.
In 1968, 12 OU students working at Trumbull Terrace, a restaurant, wore political slogans criticizing Vietnam on their work uniforms. Student workers wanted a right to express their political opinions. An article written by Ruth Louisell in The Oakland Post covers the protest in detail.
“The students had been asked to wear paper hats that evening to fulfill the county health requirements. When they asked their supervisor if they could write anti-war slogans on the hats, she gave them permission,” Louisell wrote.
After the students wrote anti-war slogans on their hats, a pro-war customer reported his irritation to the restaurant’s supervisor.
“Do you have cages for these animals?” the customer said.
The older gentleman was angered by the anti-war slogans and didn’t want any political messages disrupting his dinner.
“As a result of this customer’s complaint, student employees were asked to remove their hats or punch out. Twelve of them decided the issue involved was serious enough to warrant their leaving,” Louisell wrote.
Shortly after the symbolic protests at Trumbull Terrace, OU students organized an on-campus campaign. The students wrote leaflets that advocated against the Vietnam War, and a rally was planned. The students threatened to picket the restaurant if their rally was not successful. Around 100 students attended the protest following the incident at The Terrace.
Dean Dutton, OU’s dean in 1968, posted an announcement supporting the activism efforts.
“Students can wear any slogans they so desire for the time being,” Dutton wrote.
After returning to work at Trumbull Terrace, the students continued to sport their slogans.
In the 1970s, student concern shifted to rising tuition prices. In 1976, OU students participated in a state-wide protest effort with college students from across Michigan. The students gathered in Lansing to protest tuition hikes.
David Ross published an article for The Oakland Post regarding the protest efforts.
“It was an amazing spectacle as over 800 students from colleges throughout the statement in Lansing to protest against higher tuition,” Ross wrote.
The Students Association for Lower Tuition (SALT) and the Michigan Higher Education Student Association (MHESA) organized the protest.
In support of the protest, students boycotted class on Oct. 13, 1976. Several student organizations gathered at the protest, and speakers took the stand to share ideas and rally support. University Congress bused over 26 students to attend the protest in Lansing.
“I was extremely impressed with the rally. I think it’s going to be a stepping stone,” 1976 University Congress President Don Fuller said.
These issues, including high tuition and U.S. involvement in international wars, are still major concerns for OU students. Contemporary student activism efforts suggest that today’s students are just as, if not more, politically engaged than previous generations.
