Student occupation of UH Manoa ROTC buildings

Who:

Student protestors from the University of Hawaii at Manoa

What:

These student protesters occupied the UH Manoa Air Force ROTC buildings in protest of recent decisions from the UH president, Harlan Cleveland. Similar to many protests at UH Manoa and other universities across the nation, this protest stemmed from the U.S. military involvement in the Vietnam War. Specifically student recruitment on campus by the U.S. armed forces.

When:

April 1970

Where:

UH Manoa Air Force ROTC buildings.

Why:

This protest came at a time when protests regarding the U.S. military were common around the country, primarily in response to the Vietnam War. These protesters were upset with Harlan Cleveland’s decisions to defend open student recruitment on campus by the U.S. armed forces, and to uphold Department of Defense research being conducted by faculty and students. The purpose of this protest was to bring attention to these issues in a non-violent way.

Outcome:

This particular protest, as well as many other similar protests across the U.S. sent a clear message that there were many students and faculty that were disinterested in the U.S. military’s involvement in universities, whether the issue be active recruitment or ongoing Department of Defense research.

Sources:

Robert M. Kamins, Robert E. Potte. Måalamalama: A History of the University of Hawai'i. 1998. University of Hawaii Publsihing. http://archives.starbulletin.com/2008/06/06/news/story04.html

http://manoa.hawaii.edu/undergrad/armyrotc/arotc-about-ushistory/