Archives & Oral History

The History of 20th Century Protests & Social Action at UW-Madison

Compiled by Tyler C. Kennedy and David Null

The student body of the University of Wisconsin-Madison has a rich and diverse history of activism and protest. This site does not claim to be all-inclusive, but instead attempts to provide a representative selection of student protest throughout the twentieth century, using sources from the University Archives.

The University Archives has much more material on most of these events, including the full oral histories from which the sound clips were taken. The University of Wisconsin Collection includes digital copies of the 4 volume history of the university, plus many other useful sources. The Wisconsin Historical Society Archives also has strong collections on social action.

To see several hundred more protest images click on the link at the bottom of each of these pages.

For additional information, comments, suggested additions, etc., please contact the University Archives.

1910s-1920s

1930s

1940s

1950s

1960s

1970s

1980s

1990s

April 18, 1990	Students begin a five-day sit-in outside Chancellor Donna Shalala's office in an attempt to get her to sign a disclaimer about ROTC's treatment of gays and lesbians. After 5 days, the protestors move to the Board of Regents Room in Van Hise. Police remove them on April 23. Listen to Oral History Clip below. *Assistant Dean of Students Janice Sheppard comments on the ROTC and LGBT student leadership. (4:36)
November 16, 1990	700 people march from Library Mall to the Capitol to protest the buildup of US troops in the Middle East.
December 20, 1990	A cemetery is erected in front of Bascom Hall commemorating the loss of life during the US intervention in Panama a year earlier.
January 15, 1991	An estimated 2000 people rally against the Gulf War, including an attempt to disrupt the UW-Iowa basketball game at the Field House. On February 13, students rally to demand a teach-in about the war.
June, 1991	Members of gay rights organization ACT-UP! Madison protest the child of an HIV positive mother being denied daycare services.
August, 1991	PBS pulls distribution of the controversial documentary “Stop the Church”, a film covering the 1989 5000-strong protest of ACT-UP! outside of St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York. Though the film still airs in New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Boston and Denver, the campus affiliate decides not to air the documentary, sparking protests in Madison.
October 5, 1991	Students participate in a large rally for gay rights
April 25, 1992	As part of the Midwest Regional Protest Against Vivisection, students protest the use of primates in experiments on the Madison campus.
May 2, 1992	Students participate in a 2000 person march from Library Mall to the City-County Building to protest the acquittal of LAPD officers accused of beating Rodney King.
September, 1992	The firing of a lesbian employee from the University Bookstore sparks protest.
October 12, 1992	Native American and Chicano students protest the 500th anniversary of Columbus landing in the Americas.
January 20, 1993	Students take part in pro- and anti-abortion events on the 20th anniversary of Roe v. Wade.
February 8-12, 1999	40 students occupy Bascom Hall and stay until Chancellor David Ward signs an agreement pushing for stronger anti-sweatshop guidelines in the Collegiate Licensing Company code of conduct.
September 15, 1999	Students stage a walkout to protest tuition hikes.
September 30, 1999	Ward Connerly's talk on affirmative action leads to protests before and after the speech.
November 9, 1999	The United States Supreme Court begins to hear the case of Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System v. Southworth, et. al. The case involved students objecting to the use of segregated fees to support causes they did not approve of. The Supreme Court ruled unanimously in favor of the Board of Regents on March 22, 2000.