Photo and Audio Album

Student Protests

At Northern Michigan University

timeline
- Northern Before the Protests, c.1950-1965
  Learn about what Northern was like before the protests began and what factors contributed to sparking student rebellion.
- Protests Over President Harden's Resignation, 1965
  In 1965, President Edgar L. Harden resigned over an argument with a Board of Control member. The next day, he retracted his resignation. Did student protests contribute to his decision?
- Vietnam Protests, 1965
  Most university students in the country opposed the policies in Vietnam. This was not necessarily the case at Northern.
- Spring Protests, 1967
  In the spring of 1967, students protested a variety of issues including housing, dress codes, food, and other campus issues.
- The McClellan Controversy, 1967-1968
  In July of 1967, a history professor named Robert McClellan was fired for dubious reasons. Students and faculty rallied to his support and throughout 1967-1968 there were a string of protests, meetings, and court cases which culminated in McClellan's re-instatement.
- The Basketball Game Sit-In, 1968
  In December of 1968, the Black Student Union held a sit-in at an important basketball game to protest the treatment of African American students at Northern.
- Job Corps Closing, 1968-1969
  The Job Corps was a federal program created to help poor teenagers and young people who had dropped out of high school gain the skills to have a job. In December of 1968, the Faculty Senate urged President Jamrich to not seek renewal of the Job Corps, which cased a bit of controversy.
- Vietnam Protests Continued, 1969
  In the spring of 1969, Vietnam protests heated up again on campus when an ROTC program opened at Northern. Nation-wide Vietnam moratoriums in the fall of 1969 also led to protests in Marquette.
- The Sit-In in Dean Niemi's Office, 1969-1970
  In December of 1969, the Black Student Union held a sit-in in Dean Allan Niemi's office, again to protest the treatment of African American students at Northern. The largely peaceful protest led to the trial of the "Marquette Six" in the spring of 1970.
research

by person
- Edgar L. Harden
  President of Northern Michigan University from 1956 to 1967.
- John X. Jamrich
  President of NMU from 1968 to 1983.
- Ogden Johnson
  The interim President of Northern during the 1967-1968 school year.
- Alan Niemi
  Dean of Students and later Vice President of the university during the protest era.
- John McGoff
  Head of the NMU Board of Control from 1967 to 1969
- Robert McClellan
  A history professor at Northern in 1965.
- Anthony Forbes
  The head of the history department in 1967.
- Ellsworth "Dutch" Barnard
  An English professor at Northern during the 1960s.
- Don Keskey & Rob Fure
  President and student senator in ASNMU student government.
- Bart Brown
  Student leader of the spring 1967 protests.
- The Marquette Six
  Six African American students who were charged for the sit-in in Dean Niemi's office.
- Charles Griffiths
  Student who sparked off the sit-in in Dean Allan Niemi’s office
photo & audio

album

Photos Audio Video

1965 1967 1968 1969 1970

The McClellan Controversy

McClellan Grant (April 17, 1970)

1969 Vietnam Protests

Defends Jacobetti, Moratorium, Racism Editorials (March 5, 1970)

Moratorium March Photo (April 16, 1970)

Non Violent Group Formed at NMU Eyes War Policy (May 12, 1970)

Vietnam and Neimi (May 22, 1970)

Vietnam "The Sun Was Terribly Hot That Day..." (May 22, 1970)

Behind Campus Unrest Editorial (May 23, 1970)

Pasture of Learning and Peace Demonstrations

The Sit-In in Dean Niemi's Office

Using the Subjunctive (January 22, 1970)

Moratorium (April 15, 1970)

Memorial Rites Planned (May 7, 1970)

NMU Group Obtains Permission to Fly Flag at Half Mast in Honor of 4 Slain (May 9, 1970)

Miliken Seeks Meeting with NMU Student Leaders (May 11, 1970)

Bombs and Kent (May 15, 1970)

Bombs, No Classes (May 15, 1970)

Kent Protest (May 15, 1970)

Vietnam and Niemi (May 22, 1970)

News Release Shortly after Dean Niemi Incident (January 5, 1970)

Jamrich to McClellan (January 7, 1970)

Human Rights Commission to Jamrich (January 8, 1970)

Downstate Lawyers and Jamrich Conversation (January 8, 1970)

Gerard White with Jamrich (January 8, 1970)

Human Rights Commission to Jamrich (January 8, 1970)

Jamrich and Legal Advisors (January 8, 1970)

Jamrich with Civil Rights Investigator (January 8, 1970)

Memo to Files (January 8, 1970)

NMU Preparing Charges Against BSA (January 8, 1970)

Student Leaders Meet with Jamrich (January 8, 1970)

Jamrich "Not Lacking in Guts" Editorial (January 9, 1970)

Jamrich Denies Black Students' Amnesty Bid (January 9, 1970)

Regarding Niemi Sit-In (January 9, 1970)

Niemi to Jamrich (January 9, 1970)

Niemi (January 9, 1970)

Office Ransacked (January 9, 1970)

Jacobetti Plans Bills to Safeguard Persons (January 10, 1970)

Jamrich to Rombouts (January 10, 1970)

Niemi to Jamrich (January 10, 1970)

Black Power Minority (January 14, 1970)

Delay Granted in Hearing for Black Students (January 14, 1970)

Human Rights Commission Explanding Program (January 19, 1970)

Using the Subjunctive (January 22, 1970)

Answers Goodman Letter (January 28, 1970)

NMU Human Rights Commission Reports on Year's Progress (February 5, 1970)

Hearings Begin (February 6, 1970)

Hearings Editorial (February 6, 1970)

Hearings for NMU Black Students to Begin Monday (February 7, 1970)

Four Black Students Found Not Guilty (February 10, 1970)

Jamrich to Kafer (February 10, 1970)

Five Black NMU Students Appear in Court Here, Arraignment Postponed (February 11, 1970)

Memo for Files (February 12, 1970)

Hearings Finish (February 13, 1970)

Niemi Editorial by Pat Williams (February 13, 1970)

More Niemi Editorials (February 13, 1970)

Responsibilities of Judiciary (February 13, 1970)

Jacobetti's NMU Bill Submitted (February 13, 1970)

Jamrich to Student Judiciary (February 14, 1970)

Jamrich to Student Judiciary (February 17, 1970)

Judiciary to Jamrich (February 17, 1970)

Meeting on Judiciary (February 17, 1970)

Charges Against Five More Black Students Dismissed (February 18, 1970)

Hearings (February 20, 1970)

Niemi "Changing Grades" (February 20, 1970)

NMU Hearings (February 22, 1970)

Judiciary Committee Hearings Editorial (February 24, 1970)

Black Student Protest Hearings on Campus (February 24, 1970)

Frats and Mirror (February 27, 1970)

Niemi Grades Issue (February 27, 1970)

Niemi Grades Issue Part Two (February 27, 1970)

Trials Start (February 27, 1970)

Arraignment Postponed (February 27, 1970)

Defends Black Students Editorial (February 27, 1970)

Original Warrant in NMU Student Case Dismissed (February 28, 1970)

Three More Students Found Innocent (February 13, 1970)

Arraignment of NMU Students (March 3, 1970)

Defends Jacobetti, Moratorium, Racism Editorials (March 5, 1970)

Recommendations Probe in Campus Unrest Offered (March 6, 1970)

Judiciary to Jamrich (March 9, 1970)

Dismissal of Case (March 22, 1971)

Black Student Trial Scheduled (April 7, 1970)

NMU Black Students View Relationship with Community (April 7, 1970)

Judge Rules Joint Trial (April 9, 1970)

Jamrich to NMU (April 17, 1970)

Niemi (April 17, 1970)

Marquette 6 "Same Old Line" (April 17, 1970)

Security Bill Runs into Headblock (April 18, 1970)

Selection of Jury Begins (April 20, 1970)

Protest Rally for Marquette Six (April 20, 1970)

Jury Selected Trial Underway (April 21, 1970)

Motion for Mistrial (April 22, 1970)

Judge Denies Motion for Mistrial (April 23)

Trial of Marquette Six (April 24, 1970)

Marquette Six "Trial Neutral" (April 24, 1970)

Defense Opens Case in Marquette Six Trial (April 24, 1970)

Dismissial of Case Against Six Black Northern Students (April 25, 1970)

Mistrial Declared By Judge in Case of Black Students (April 27, 1970)

Mistrial of Marquette Six (April 29, 1970)

News Release (April 30, 1970)

The Judicial Process (April 30, 1970)

Marquette Six Trial Continued (May 1, 1970)

Trial Ends (May 1, 1970)

Marquette Six "Whats Been Proven" (May 1, 1970)

Trial Editorial (May 1, 1970)

Kafer Memo (May 7, 1970)

NMU Grants Students Demands for Holiday (May 7, 1970)

Pat Williams Complaint (May 8, 1970)

Jamrich to Quinnell (May 11, 1970)

Memo for Files (May 11, 1970)

Academic Senate Meeting (May 12, 1970)

Memo for Files (May 12, 1970)

Memo for Jamrich (May 12, 1970)

Prosecutor Petitions to Dismiss Black Students' Court Case (May 12, 1970)

Four Molotov Cocktails Tossed into Kaye Hall (May 13, 1970)

Academic Senate Motion (May 13, 1970)

Academic Senate on Class Dismissal (May 13, 1970)

Academic Senate Vote Augusta (May 13, 1970)

ASNMU to Jamrich (May 13, 1970)

ASNMU Vote Augusta (May 13, 1970)

Bomb Threat (May 13, 1970)

Jamrich Memo on Guns (May 13, 1970)

Jamrich Statement (May 13, 1970)

Jamrich to NMU (May 13, 1970)

Jamrich to Faculty, Staff, and Students (May 13, 1970)

Meeting (May 13, 1970)

Memo to Files (May 13, 1970)

From Prosecuting Attorney Marquette Six (May 13, 1970)

Questions About Trial of Six NMU Students Fielded by Attorneys (May 13, 1970)

BSA Memo to NMU (May 14, 1970)

BSA to NMU (May 14, 1970)

Department Heads Meeting Augusta (May 14, 1970)

Jamrich to Faculty, Staff, and Students (May 14, 1970)

Jamrich to Faculty, Staff, and Students, Part Two (May 14, 1970)

Jamrich to Thibodeau (May 14, 1970)

Student to Jamrich (May 14, 1970)

Students' Holiday, Brink of Violence (May 14, 1970)

Jamrich Denies Demands of Blacks to Shut Down Campus (May 14, 1970)

Bombs and Kent (May 15, 1970)

Civil Rights Commission to Jamrich (May 15, 1970)

Guns on Campus (May 15, 1970)

Human Rights Commission to Jamrich and Academic Senate (May 15, 1970)

Niemi Editorial (May 15, 1970)

Niemi Issue (May 15, 1970)

NMU Student Files Complaint Alleging Race Discrimination (May 15, 1970)

Black Students Present Seven Demands to NMU (May 15, 1970)

Memo to Files (May 16, 1970)

News Release (May 16, 1970)

Jamrich to Consider Request to Let Blacks Go Home (May 16)

Jamrich to Human Rights Commission (May 18, 1970)

Jamrich to NMU (May 18, 1970)

Memo for Files (May 18, 1970)

Vinocur to Jamrich (May 18, 1970)

Proposal to Permit Blacks to go Home Rejected (May 18, 1970)

NMU Students City Officials Speak Out on Campus Situation (May 19, 1970)

Jacobetti to Push NMU Legislation (May 19, 1970)

NMU Students, Jamrich Spell Out Turmoil to State Officials (May 20, 1970)

Guns on Campus (May 20, 1970)

Jamrich to Milliken (May 21, 1970)

Editorial on Student Violence (May 21, 1970)

Decision Against Allowing NMU Black Students to Leave Early Considered Anew (May 21, 1970)

Jamrich to Milliken (May 21, 1970)

BSA Niemi Issue (May 22, 1970)

Guns Issue (May 22, 1970)

Jamrich to Congressmen (May 22, 1970)

Niemi "Emergency..." (May 22, 1970)

Telegram (May 22, 1970)

Blacks go to Lansing (May 22, 1970)

Jamrich Rejects Recommendations for New Probes (May 22, 1970)

Trial of NMU Students Editorial (May 22, 1970)

Kafer to Jamrich (May 23, 1970)

NMU Prexy to Meet with State Civil Rights Official (May 23, 1970)

Hefke to Willard Jud Rules (May 26, 1970)

Jamrich to Rombouts (May 26, 1970)

Civil Rights Commission to Jamrich Demands (May 27, 1970)

Rombouts to Wright (May 27, 1970)

Jamrich Says NMU Racial Problems Not Great (May 28, 1970)

Freep Article "Rights Unit Hits College Race Stand" (May 28, 1970)

Outside Influences Racist Editorial (May 29, 1970)

University News Release (June 1, 1970)

Jamrich Attacks Forces Seeking to Destroy University (June 1, 1970)

City Campus Council (June 2, 1970)

Community Campus Council (June 2, 1970)

Jacobetti Bill to Curb Campus Unrest (June 9, 1970)

Jacobetti Authority Bill (June 11, 1970)

Memo for Files (July 30, 1970)

Memo for Files Two (July 30, 1970)

Jamrich to Milliken (August 28, 1970)

Maust to Griffis (December 22, 1970)

Academic Senate Jamrich Resolution

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This site was lovingly created by the Central Upper Peninsula and Northern Michigan University Archives using primary sources that can be found in our collections.

The Central Upper Peninsula and Northern Michigan University Archives manages on-campus office records and houses historical manuscript collections pertaining to the central Upper Peninsula. Our department is utilized by the campus and local communities as well as internationally for administrative, scholarly, and genealogical research.

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