Daily: Coverage of Campus Activism

The Minnesota Daily Masthead Page Header Panel 16
Double page spread, The Minnesota Daily, June 4, 1970

Double page spread, The Minnesota Daily, June 4, 1970

During the height of the Vietnam War, The Minnesota Daily served its community by providing local, national, and international news coverage. The staff of the Daily adapted their reporting to address the needs of readers and the University community, particularly in the Spring of 1970 and 1972. National activism opposing continued military engagement in Southeast Asia prompted students to express their concerns through demonstrations on campus. Two significant events that exemplify this prolonged activism include the 1970 Student Strike and the 1972 Anti-War Demonstrations.

The Daily documented student activism through multiple approaches:

  • Publishing a ‘Strike Schedule’ in each issue during May 1970, that detailed the times and locations of events or lectures associated with the Student Strike.

  • Documenting an hour-by-hour chronicle of the Anti-War Demonstrations, featured in the May 11, 1972 issue.

  • Allocating advertisement space for student organizations, faculty and staff to articulate their positions regarding the campus protests.

  • Presenting firsthand accounts from participants and incorporating perspective from individuals who opposed the demonstrations.

  • Capturing and describing the events through photographs and double-page spreads.

The Minnesota Daily
Daily: Coverage of Campus Activism