Episode 41: OSU Activism in the 1960s

When you hear about the political activism on university campuses in the 1960s, the image portrayed is typically centered on coastal or urban institutions. We think of this activism perhaps taking place separate and away from the rest of America, where college students simply went about their day-to-day business, unaware of the social upheaval occurring in other parts of the country. However, this couldn’t be further from the truth. This month on Amplified Oklahoma, we’re exploring Oklahoma State University’s involvement in this era of activism by featuring excerpts from members of the Friday Afternoon Tea and Glee Society, a politically active student organization during the 1960s. They discuss student protests, underground student newspapers, and tensions with university administration. Later, we talk with Dr. Erica Townsend-Bell, Professor of Political Science at OSU, about the development of political movements in Oklahoma during the 1960s.