Vietnam Protests

Group shot of unidentified students attending a student protest, 1969.

During the 1960s and 1970s, one of the key issues for Simmons students, like many students across America, was the escalating war in Vietnam.

The first mention in The Simmons News of Simmons participation in anti-war protests was in October of 1965, as Simmons students joined with those from other colleges in a 2,000-person protest in Boston Common as part of the Students for a Democratic Society sponsored National Day of Protest. These marches were condemned by government officials—condemnations that led to sixty-six Boston area professors, including sixteen from Simmons, to sign a letter defending the right of students to protest. Among the Simmons faculty who signed the letter were Henry Halko, Wylie Sypher, Bill Manly, Dick Sterne, and Larry Langer.

The remainder of the 1965-1966 academic year saw continued statements both protesting and supporting aspects of the United States policy in Vietnam, as faculty members hosted discussions, lectures, and panels on both sides of the issue.

Group shot of student protest, view of Peace to Live sign, with people in the background, ca. 1967.

 The Simmons News, in a March 1966 editorial, expressed concern for the human rights of the people of South Vietnam, taking the stance that “students who are truly interested in Vietnam are interested in the plight of the people,” and that, “the move [to be in Vietnam] may not have been the wisest, but it was necessary.” The editorial maintained that the protest movement had accomplished little, and that “self-immolations and angry letters to Congressmen are not helping them [the South Vietnamese people] either” and that the time “spent in criticizing and protesting could be spent in raising money to help the…organizations to help the people of South Vietnam.”

The degree to which the stance of the editorial staff of The Simmons News aligned with that of the student body is open to interpretation. During the remainder of the mid-to-late 1960s, The Simmons News reported attendance at rallies in Boston, activist professors lecturing, and a two day fast for peace.