Campus Culture Then and Now
Reflection on Current Wars and Columbia – Columbia Protests — 1968 to Present
Topics include the 1968 gym controversy and community pushback, the role of SDS and Black student leadership, gender/race tensions within the movement, parallels to recent divestment and disclosure demands, and the evolving institutional memory that turned once-vilified actions into commemorated history. The session closes by asking how continuities between past and present can guide more empathetic, historically informed engagement on campus now.
Discussion Questions
- What role should universities like Columbia play during times of war—politically, morally, and within their surrounding communities?
- Which moment in the talk most challenged your assumptions about protest, solidarity, or neutrality on campus, and why?
Summary
If you’d like to continue the conversation, explore how to use this material in your classroom, or connect it to programming for veterans and military-connected students, we invite you to reach out to our team at the Center for Veteran Transition and Integration. We’re eager to hear how you’re using or plan on using this seminar and what questions it has opened up for you.