Then and Now:
The University in Times of Conflict
"No one can doubt that in an age when the quality of our collective and individual existence and, indeed, our very survival as a species, is under constant threat, universities must participate in the search for a better society through engagement in constructive social change..." —Walter Schafer, student, The Oregon Daily Emerald, March 5, 1970
Since opening its doors in 1876, the University of Oregon has weathered many conflicts—from the "War to End All Wars" to the current war in Afghanistan. Students and faculty have responded to these conflicts in many ways, and through these times, the University has remained an open forum for discussion and expression.
In 1916, University professors along with several hundred students showed their support for the war by promptly and enthusiastically enlisting in the military. In 1944, the campus supported World War II with a campus war bonds campaign. The female student who sold the most bonds reigned as campus "Bonds Away Girl." In contrast, students in 1970 occupied Johnson Hall for 30 hours in support of their views against the Vietnam War.
University curricula also evolved in response to the nation's conflicts. Through both World Wars and the Korean War, ROTC was compulsory for all male freshmen and sophomores; this requirement ended in 1962. In response to the conflict in Afghanistan, the University created a class that focuses on the Middle East and Islam. Faculty members have also held teach-ins in response to the wars in Vietnam and the Middle East to help students and the community understand the origins of these conflicts.
Over its 125 years, the University of Oregon has been an active participant in helping the campus and local community to navigate through conflict and to better understand the workings of the world.
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