1980-1989

April-May, 1980

The TAA begins what will be a five-week strike on April 1. Students and police clash in front of the Chemistry Building on April 10.

1981

Students for a Libertarian Society march on State Street and burn their selective service registration cards in an anti-draft protest.

November 20, 1981

Students protest throughout November against a $30 surcharge in tuition due to state budget cuts. A similar surcharge was instituted in fall 1980. Resident undergraduate tuition for fall 1981 was $492.50.

October 25, 1982

Black Panthers leader turned born again Christian Eldridge Cleaver delivers a speech sponsored by the Rev. Sun Myung Moon related Collegiate Association for the Research of Principles (CARP).

Violence between CARP and Progressive Labor Party members results in 8 arrests for disorderly conduct, and Cleaver cutting his speech short.

April 21, 1983

1,000 people at the Stock Pavilion protest U.S. intervention in Central America, especially Nicaragua.

October 27-28, 1983

Several protests are held in response to the US invasion of Grenada. Protestors include “Macho Nerds for Reagan,” a satirical anti-Reagan student group.

September 21, 1984

WSA sponsors a “drink-in” with 600 people at the Capitol to protest raising the drinking age to 21.

September 25, 1984

30 protesters disrupt CIA recruiters in Science Hall.

October 12, 1984

Vice Presidential candidate Geraldine Ferraro appears on campus. The campus was heavily in favor of the Mondale-Ferraro presidential ticket, or heavily anti-Reagan, including the satirical group  “Macho Nerds for Reagan”.

November 15, 1984

30 protesters visit businesses with “destructive” investments in Central America.

late February 1985

Anti-apartheid protests lead to cancellation of a talk by Pieter Claasen from Stellenbosch University in South Africa.

April 10, 1985

90 students protest CIA recruitment on campus and clash with police, who use mace on the crowd.

March 3, 1986

Students protest against Hormel recruiters at Agriculture Hall, in sympathy with striking Hormel workers in Minnesota.

March 15, 1986

300 people rally against Reagan’s proposed aid to the Contras in Nicaragua.

early April 1986

Students take part in anti-apartheid demonstrations, including building a shantytown at the Capitol.

February 23, 1987

Students occupy the office of Acting Chancellor Bernard Cohen to protest CIA recruitment on campus. Cohen is not there; students return on the 25-26.

October 15, 1987

275 students rally against racism on Bascom Hill.

November, 1988

The Black Student Union organizes a “Day of Outrage Against Racism” in response to a fraternity’s “slave auction.”

July 10, 1989

Around 1,500 students take part in a rally to support abortion rights.