Guide to the Washington State University Student Protests Ephemera 1970-1972
Archives 315

Summary Information

Repository
Washington State University Libraries, Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections
Title
Washington State University Student Protests Ephemera
ID
Archives 315
Date [inclusive]
1970-1972
Extent
0.75 linear feet of shelf space, 1 Box
Language
Collection materials are in English
Abstract
The collection consists primarily of leaflets, handouts, newsletter, and similar ephemeral publications created and distributed on the Washington State University campus by political activists between 1970 and 1972. A few newspaper clippings and official university statements are also included.

Preferred Citation

[Item Description]

Washington State University Student Protests Ephemera, 1970-1972 (UA 315)

Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections, Washington State University Libraries, Pullman, WA.

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Biography/History

In May, 1970 Washington State University students organized a university-wide student strike, making a list of eleven demands with the goal of “eliminating racism from our institution.” Involved student organizations included the Black Student Union (BSU), Chicano student organization (MeCHA), Women’s Liberation Front (WLF), and Young Socialist Alliance (YSA). President Glenn Terrell initially rejected the demands, but eventually published a response which included a mandatory ten day workshop for the fall to heighten faculty awareness of racism; 3,000 students protested that decision on May 21, 1970. On May 28, 1970, the Resident Instructional Staff (RIS) approved of two racism workshops, one for the fall of 1970 and one for the spring of 1971 (For materials from and about the racism workshops, see UA 277). The first racism workshop took place on October 7-8, 1970 and attracted 20,000 people. Protests continued in the spring of 1971, when the Graduate Student Association (GSA) initiated a referendum to protest a rise in student fees to pay for the rebuilding of Rogers Stadium. Additionally, the campus group Citizen's Mobilization Committee to End the War began organizing demonstrations against U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War during the spring of 1970, and led events like “Project Marshmallow,” peace marches, bread boycotts, and a campus-wide student moratorium against the conflict in Southeast Asia in the spring semester, 1972.

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Scope and Content

The collection consists primarily of leaflets, handouts, newsletter, and similar ephemeral publications created and distributed on the Washington State University campus by political activists between 1970 and 1972. A few newspaper clippings and official university statements are also included.

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Arrangement

This small collection has been organized into five folders based on subject and format; the five folders are organized chronologically, and the materials within each folder are in a loose chronological order.

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Administrative Information

Publication Information

Washington State University Libraries Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections  © 2012

https://libraries.wsu.edu/masc/

Terrell Library

P.O. Box 645610

Pullman, WA, 99164-5610 USA

509-335-6691

mascref@wsu.edu

Restrictions on Access

This collection is open and available for research use.

Restrictions on Use

Copyright may apply.

Acquisition Information

The materials in this collection were compiled from two vertical files (1307 and 2325) compiled at the WSU Libraries’ Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections (MASC) in the early 1970s. They were combined and processed in February, 2012.

Processing Information

This collection was processed by Shawna Herzog.

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Related Materials

Related Material

MASC also holds a number of items relating to the student protests, including but not limited to:

Archives 277. Racism Workshop Papers 1970-1971

Archives 278. Regents President's (Harold Romberg) Protest Papers 1970

Cage 706. Barbara J. Sibley Student Activism Collection, 1969-1973.

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Names and Subjects

Corporate Name(s)

Subject(s) :
  • Washington State University

Subject(s)

  • Student strikes
  • Colleges and Universities
  • Washington (State)
  • Student Life

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Detailed Description of Collection

box file

Student Strike: Flyers, pamphlets, and schedules from students and campus groups concerning racism on campus, calls to support the strike, and schedules from the Resident Instructional Staff (RIS) who were critical to the execution of strike activities and the hub of the “Strike Steering Committee.” 1970 

1 1

Student Strike: University and department memos in response to student strike demands and activities. 1970 

1 2

Student strike: Newspaper coverage of the strike between May 26th and 30th, 1970 from the Daily Evergreen and the Spokane Daily Chronicle May, 1970 

1 3

GSA Referendum: “Open letter to President Terrell” discussing the concern over recent budget decisions and decision to initiate a student referendum 1971 

1 4

Citizen Mobilization Committee: Flyers, song lyrics, pamphlets, and schedules for events 1970-1972 

1 5

Administrative: vertical file cards undated 

1 6