Small Numbers

Protesting students attack the war primarily. Their convictions make up for their small size....

A Letter To Entering Freshmen

This letter, sent to entering first year men by Students For Social Action, tried to undermine the glamour of entering the ROTC program. The address also warns first year men of the dangers of the program turning them into a "neat little machine boxed in coat and tie." SSA, 1966-1969

A Radical View of the University of Virginia

Published by the Radical Student Union in Spring of 1970 (Students for Social Action, Southern Student Organizing Committee, and Students for a Democratic Society).

This publication, a joint effort of all the radical student activist organizations, questions the status quo and the University's enforcement of it through each and every capacity. Many of the opinions echo student complaints at Berkeley (locus parentis). In the poignant paranoia, the turn of a critical eye not just to the established government in America sending troops to Vietnam but rather to the BOV and the professors who encourage them to produce like robots and not question the meaningless of it all.

The Iconoclast   Issue 1   Issue 2

This publication, produced by a radical social activism group feeling underrepresented in the Cav Daily, discusses some key social issues dominating the minds of a growing number of University students as of 1966. Issues such as racial discrimination and anti-Vietnam sentiments are explored thoroughly by the most convicted students. The first hand account of anti-war protesters being pelted with snowballs from a crowd of observers is particularly interesting. Published by the Students for Social Action. 1966

Plume & Sword

It's easy to assume that the authors of this publication arrange its contents with a radical agenda. They manage to point out the ugly parts of human nature (cruelty to children in "A Christmas Story" and the demonized white "Santa Claus" on the cover) throught their short fiction and art. They do directly point our racial discrimination in the interview with Leroy Willis and they express frustration with the established Student Council naming when and where student demonstrations can take place. One does get the sense that while this publication might try to accomplish too much within its pages, it does preserve space for the perverse and the voice of the "other." Student Publication, 1961

Student Soldiers

These students, dressed as Vietnam soldiers and holding larger than life ammunition, seem to be showing the intrusiveness of U.S. weaponry and the military's presence in Vietnam. [This, too, is from the pre-1970 protests.] Perhaps the most interesting part of this demonstration is the apparent fun that the students seem to be having. Not all students approached every demonstration with a serious face and tone. These demonstrations provided a chance for students to express their opinions about the war, but also to enjoy being in each others' company. mid 1960s

"SDS Plans November Vigil For Peace"

Pockets of students, namely those involved in SDS, are thinking about Vietnam and encouraging others to get involved in their protest of it. The Cavalier Daily, November 1968

Pockets of Protest

Anti-Vietnam protests did, in fact, occur at the University before the explosion of unrest in May 1970. These protests do not, however, compare to student dissent at universities like Columbia or Berkeley. But one must note that some pockets of students, particularly those involved in Students for a Democratic Society, did in fact scrutinize the war and act upon thier disapproval of the United States' presence in Vietnam. Note the difference in the sizes of the the crowds in 1969 and those in 1970. February 17, 1969

Flag Burning on Homer

While the date is not clear, from the look of the students dressed in traditional suits this seems to be some sort of anti-war, anti-America type demonstration as they burn what appears to be an American flag on the statue of Homer on the south side of the Lawn. The numbers of students also seem to be few, which is indicative of the pre-1970 anti-war protests at the University.