Columbia University protests of 1968

Quick Facts: Who was Columbia University protests of 1968?

Subject:

Columbia University protests of 1968

Known for:

Student-led demonstrations at Columbia University in 1968 protesting war and racism.

Verified Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

In 1968, a series of protests at Columbia University in New York City were one among the various student demonstrations that occurred around the globe in that year. The Columbia protests erupted over the spring of that year after students discovered links between the university and the institutional apparatus supporting the United States' involvement in the Vietnam War, as well as their concern over an allegedly segregated gymnasium to be constructed in the nearby Morningside Park. The protests led to student occupations of Hamilton Hall and many university buildings, starting with Hamilton Hall, and the eventual violent removal of protesters by the New York City Police Department. The protests were successful in getting university's administration to scrap the gymnasium project in Morningside Park and disaffiliate from the Institute for Defense Analyses, a military research corporation supporting the US invasion of Vietnam. The Cox Commission, organized at the behest of the executive committee of the Faculty to investigate the protests, found in its report published later that year that channels of communication between the university's administration, faculty, and students were ineffective or lacking, and supported the idea of establishing a representative university senate.

Career & Major Achievements

A former Columbia University Students for a Democratic Society activist named Bob Feldman claimed in 2022 to have discovered documents from early March 1967, in the International Law Library detailing Columbia's institutional affiliation with the Institute for Defense Analyses (IDA), a weapons research think tank affiliated with the United States Department of Defense. The nature of the association had not been, to that point, publicly announced by the university. Prior to March 1967, the IDA had rarely been mentioned in the U.S. media or in the left, underground or campus press. A few magazine articles on the IDA had appeared between 1956 and 1967 and the IDA had been mentioned in a few books for academic specialists published by university presses. The RAND Corporation, not the Institute for Defense Analyses, was the military-oriented think tank that had received most of the publicity prior to March 1967.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

But after Feldman's name appeared in some leftist publications in reference to the Columbia-IDA revelation, the FBI opened a file on him and started to investigate, according to Feldman's declassified FBI files. The discovery of the IDA documents touched off a Columbia SDS anti-war campaign between April 1967 and April 1968, which demanded the Columbia University administration resign its institutional membership in the Institute for Defense Analyses. Following a peaceful demonstration inside the Low Library administration building on March 27, 1968, the Columbia Administration placed on probation six anti-war Columbia student activists, who were collectively nicknamed "The IDA Six," for violating its ban on indoor demonstrations. Columbia's plan to construct what activists described as a segregated gymnasium in city-owned Morningside Park fueled anger among the nearby Harlem community. Opposition began in 1965, during the mayoral campaign of John Lindsay, who opposed the project.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1956: 1956 Milestone — A few magazine articles on the IDA had appeared between 1956 and 1967 and the IDA had been mentioned in a few books for academic specialists published by university presses.
2. 1965: 1965 Milestone — Opposition began in 1965, during the mayoral campaign of John Lindsay, who opposed the project.
3. 1967: 1967 Milestone — Prior to March 1967, the IDA had rarely been mentioned in the U.
4. 1968: 1968 Milestone — In 1968, a series of protests at Columbia University in New York City were one among the various student demonstrations that occurred around the globe in that year.
5. 2022: 2022 Milestone — A former Columbia University Students for a Democratic Society activist named Bob Feldman claimed in 2022 to have discovered documents from early March 1967, in the International Law Library detailing Columbia's institutional affiliation with the Institute for Defense Analyses (IDA), a weapons research think tank affiliated with the United States Department of Defense.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Columbia University protests of 1968

True or False: “The primary focus of the 1968 protests was solely on the university's affiliation with the Vietnam War.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): While anti-war sentiment was central, a major catalyst for anger was also the planned construction of a gymnasium in Morningside Park, which activists viewed as racially segregated.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Abrar-ul-Haq — Historical peer (Born in 1968) (1968): Esteemed Pakistani singer, philanthropist, and former politician from Punjab.
• Adam McKay — Historical peer (Born in 1968) (1968): Acclaimed American filmmaker known for satirical comedies and high-profile adaptations.
• Aaron Carter — Historical peer (Died in 2022) (2022): American singer and rapper known for teen pop stardom and enduring musical career.
• Alexander Vovin — Historical peer (Died in 2022) (2022): Pioneering Russian-American linguist specializing in East Asian languages, particularly Japanese.
• Akshay Kumar — Historical peer (Born in 1967) (1967): Veteran Indian actor and producer, celebrated for action roles and prolific career.
• Albert Luthuli — Historical peer (Died in 1967) (1967): Pioneering anti-apartheid activist and leader of the ANC in South Africa.
• A. A. Milne — Historical peer (Died in 1956) (1956): Celebrated English author, famed for Winnie-the-Pooh and children's literature.
• Aileen Wuornos — Historical peer (Born in 1956) (1956): American serial killer known for murdering seven male clients in Florida.
• Aamir Khan — Historical peer (Born in 1965) (1965): Iconic Indian actor and filmmaker, known as "Mr. Perfectionist" in Hindi cinema.
• Aaron Kwok — Historical peer (Born in 1965) (1965): Iconic Hong Kong performer, celebrated singer, dancer, and actor.

Frequently Asked Questions about Columbia University protests of 1968