“One, two, three, four, we don’t want your fucking war”: The student protest movements at Columbia University and Kent State University during the war in Vietnam

<p>The comparative study of student protests at drastically different universities and the success ofthose protests is significantly lacking from the historical record. The Vietnam era was a pivotal turning point in American university life, during which students across the country pushed for changes not only to the institutions of higher learning but also to the country as a whole. This historical comparative analysis utilizes significant primary source documentation to analyze how students and universities at the time dealt with the changes that were occurring in the university structure and the intrusion on university operations by outside actors, specifically the federal government. The findings of this research show that while the methods utilized and the goals set by the students of Columbia University led to a greater short-term success, the long-lasting impact of the protest and eventual shooting of Kent State University students had a greater cultural impact and caused greater systemic change in student life and university culture.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Arts (MA)

Level thesis:degree_level

Open Access Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

History and Philosophy

Year dc:date.available

2025

Author dc:creator

• Kappaz, Eric

Contributors dc:contributor

• Mary-Elizabeth Murphy, Ph.D.
• Ashley Bavery, Ph.D.

• Columbia
• Kent
• Protest
• Student
• University
• History

Repository record dc:identifier

https://commons.emich.edu/theses/1330

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:commons.emich.edu:theses-2663