Uprising at Bowling Green

Book excerpt: Often overlooked, the student demonstration at Bowling Green State University was the first and most successful 1960s campus protest - and a key point in the transition from 1950s social mores to 1960s activism. What began as a protest against outdated rules about dating and student behaviour quickly turned toward political objectives about civil liberties and ousted the university president. The authors, two of whom were present on campus during the demonstration, tell the story of how what began as dissent against old schoolmarm rules quickly turned into a fully-fledged 1960s crusade, with new issues and tactics. Feminist activists played a leading role, and the uprising succeeded in advancing the civil liberties of women. Drawing on the sociological ideas of Weber, Durkheim, and Marx, this book depicts how young activists broke the 1950s mold, little aware that many of their ideals would be echoed in many important 1960s protests. It is a vivid portrait of how the 1950s became the 1960s in America.