The campus had divergent views about the Vietnam war. In 1967, faculty took out advertisements in the Tacoma News Tribune both in support of and protesting the war. When a particular faculty’s contract was not renewed, speculation abounded that it was not renewed due to his signing onto the advertisement calling for the end of the Vietnam war. Some 200 students protested outside the library and the Faculty Senate took up the concern, recommending to President Thompson that the professor be reissued a contract for the coming year in support of academic freedom. Additionally, members of the community protested an ROTC ceremony being held on Peyton field and there was strong debate about whether an ROTC chapter belonged at Puget Sound.
Ordinance 18669 was passed by the Tacoma City council in October of 1968, it concerned the rights of "disorderly persons" and the disruption of the peace in Tacoma. This ordinance was put on the table at the Tacoma City Council as a way for the city to more intensely police people protesting the Vietnam War and specifically marginalized communities protesting. 20 UPS students alongside 20 students from TCC attended the council meeting where they were voting on this resolution and spoke out in opposition to the ordinance. Below is the official statement, published by the Trail in Nov, that outlines the student's position on this ordinance. Students also hosted a protest on campus where they made a more public statement about their frustrations with the City Council. There were speeches and songs and petitions passed around.
Statement in the Nov 16, 1968 edition of the Trail.
"In a society torn by injustice, dissent, and repression the task of our governing institutions is clear. This is a time for reasoned and flexible policies designed not to oppress minorities but to remove injustice and preserve the rights of all groups and individuals If our nation cannot be governed for the benefit of all the people it cannot be governed at all City of Tacoma Ordinance No. 18669 (Section 8.12.010 of subsection 41 of the official code), passed on October 22, 1968, is clearly intended to appease the forces of reaction in our community When the needs of this nation require that steps be taken toward unity and social progress it is intolerable for an instrument of oppression and division, such as this, to become law. The fact that this ordinance patently violates the constitutional principles of equal protection of the laws, freedom of speech, and the right of petition only serves to underline the necessity of repealing this ordinance at once. Therefore be it resolved: that the Central Board of the Associated Students of the University of Puget Sound condemns City of Tacoma Ordinance No. 18669 and demands that it be repealed."
On October 15, 1969, students from Puget Sound joined millions of Americans marching, rallying, lecturing, and meeting across the country in a nationwide call to end the Vietnam war. At Puget Sound about 4,000 students, faculty, staff, and community members march from campus to Wright Park where they held a memorial service for those killed in Vietnam as well as speeches on many different topics concerning the war. Senator Wayne Morse came and spoke about the importance of student political involvement and throughout the day the names of those killed in the war were read publicly from the steps of Jones Hall. While this event was attended by many people from the greater Tacoma area as well as other colleges like TCC and PLU, it was completely organized and run by UPS students. In an opinion piece written for the Oct 24th edition of the trail, a student wrote, "We all made a contribution to the national effort. I suppose we could say that our October Moratorium was 'successful.' Still though, the war continues. There is no time for us to sit back, pat one another on the back and say 'well done.'" This sentiment was echoed in the continuing action taken by UPS students to fight against the Vietnam War in the years to come.
Sources:
The Trail 10-24-1969
BBC News "Moratorium Day: The day that millions of Americans marched." October 15, 2019
In May of 1970, four students on the Kent State campus in Ohio were shot and killed by national guardsmen while protesting Nixon sending troops into Cambodia. This tragedy sparked outrage, anger, and fear across the nation as students took to the streets in response to this horrific act of violence.
"In the city of Tacoma, there was a mass rally and peace march through the downtown area to Wright’s Park. About 1,000 persons participated in the rally which ended with a guerilla theatre skit performed at the park ASB president, Tom Leavitt, commented 'this was the first time many of us can remember that they did publically say anything on such an explosive and polarizing issue.'"
Sources:
Ohio History Central "Kent State Shootings"
Yearbook 1970 "Students on Strike"
