Harvard Students Occupy University Hall
On this day in 1969, Harvard students took over University Hall, one of the college's oldest buildings. Opposed to the escalating war in Vietnam, the protesters demanded Harvard end its Reserve Officers' Training Corps, or ROTC, program. The demonstrators had vowed non-violent resistance, but in the early hours of April 10th, university administrators made the unprecedented decision to call in city and state police. The use of billy clubs and mace to remove the demonstrators outraged even those members of the community who did not support the takeover. The sit-in at Harvard and the so-called "bust" that ended it were part of a national phenomenon, but, as one participant put it, "Like it or not, whatever goes on at Harvard gets a lot of attention."
Related Moments
W.E.B. DuBois Returns to Harvard
W.E.B. DuBois Returns to Harvard
On this day in 1904, W.E.B. DuBois gave a lecture on "the race question" at Harvard, where nine years before he had been the first black person to receive a Ph.D. From his childhood in...
Vietnam Veterans Arrested on Lexington Green
Vietnam Veterans Arrested on Lexington Green
On this day in 1971, over 450 anti-war protesters occupied the historic Lexington Green and refused to leave. The Vietnam Veterans Against the War had organized a three-day march from Concord to Boston — Paul...
Hasty Pudding Club Forms at Harvard
Hasty Pudding Club Forms at Harvard
On this day in 1795, 21 Harvard students gathered in a dorm room and formed a secret social club to cultivate "friendship and patriotism." Members agreed to take turns providing a pot of hasty pudding...
