Dissent in Detroit: Anti-Vietnam war protest at Wayne State University, 1965–1971

• Main Author: Snyder, Douglas J
• Format: Dissertation
• Language: English
• Published: ProQuest Dissertations & Theses 01-01-2006
• Subjects: American history; Education history; Political science
• ISBN: 9780542762840; 0542762846

This thesis studies the composition, size, tactics, and impact of anti-Vietnam War protest at Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan from 1965 to June 1971. As most other studies of antiwar protest on college campuses focus on elite universities or non-elite but relatively isolated residential campuses, this thesis examines how antiwar protest developed at a non-elite, urban commuter campus. Through an examination of campus and local newspapers, archival collections of the university, community antiwar groups, and local activists, and through oral interviews, it finds that antiwar activity, if small in size, thrived at Wayne as early as 1965. Participants used a variety of tactics, although their numbers remained relatively stable until 1969, when increased disenchantment with the war brought larger community and student involvement in the October Moratorium. Student activity itself peaked in intensity in response to the shooting of other students at Kent State University in May 1970. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)