Caren Martin
On Sunday May 3, 1970, over 100 people consisting of graduating students, faculty, and ceremony audience members showed their disproval of the Vietnam War by physically walking out of the commencement ceremony in Memorial Auditorium before two Marines were to be commissioned. (1) In an interview with a participant of the walkout, Caren Martin, during the 2014 Concordia College History Harvest, I was reassured that the walkout was not a personal action against the service members, but a collaborative effort to protest the war. (2)
A statement printed in the commencement bulletin itself, intended to explain the impending action read, “Some members of the senior class believe, for a variety of reasons, the military commissioning should not be a part of this academic function. In keeping with our convictions, we shall choose not to be in attendance during the military commissioning today. Our absence does not represent a consensus of the senior class. Nor is our absence meant as a personal affront to those individuals being commissioned or to the members of their families.”(3)
Throughout the 1960s and 70s, individuals had no hesitation or doubt that a small group could influence others. Students at Concordia, as well as faculty and members of the community were avidly polarized towards the Vietnam War. Forums, literature distribution, discussions, speakers, marches, and in this instance, walking out of graduation were used as forms of activism. (4) Again illustrating the divide between view points, the estimated half of the audience that remained stood and clapped in support of the commissioning.
A graduation ceremony is something that a student remembers. It carries with it the summation of all the feelings suffered and celebrated throughout a learning career. For a member of the military, being commissioned arouses the same feelings of pride and culmination of hard work. As the 1970 graduation commencement began, two young Marines had to swallow that pride knowing of the preemptive intention of classmates and peers to leave before they were to become officers.
According to an article in the Concordian, the original group consisted of approximately 30 students who met to discuss how to go about the walkout; showing the motivated planning of the action, and the series of events leading up to it. On March 22, 1970, senior senator Chris Ward started a graduation oriented anti-war movement by calling for Concordia to end its practice of commissioning military officers at commencement. In early April, as a petition gained signatures, and a bill was passed in the student senate; an informal poll taken during the same time frame showed that 60 percent disagreed with the bill. (5)
Knowing the possible controversy that could arise, President Joseph Knutson became a factor. The President responded in the same month by sending a letter to all the seniors explaining his stand on the matter. Due to limited time for discussion before the ceremony, President Knutson said that “commissioning would take place, but a full discussion of the issue could be undertaken next year.” The President went on to instruct those staging the walkout, telling them that they could leave during the hymn preceding the commissioning if they chose to do so. (6)
As respectful as this protest was reported to have been carried out; many thought it an unintelligent act of this generation’s turbulent time. In a letter to the editor of the Fargo Forum, a decorated World War II veteran showed his disgust by calling the walkout a “rude display of discourtesy,” as well as a “further display of disloyalty to the uniforms of our armed services and the gallant men who wear them.” The writer goes on to show further disapproval of the faculty that joined the walkout, disappointed in the lack of moral and legal responsibility shown for the development of young minds. (7) Another critic even suggested to President Knutson that the 10 professors be fired, and the students who walked out be denied diplomas. (8) Throughout the opinions countering the walkout, the consensus remained that it was not the optimal chosen opportunity to show disapproval of the war, and other, less disrespectful means could have, and should have been considered.
The 1970 graduation walkout at Concordia was used as a means of activism by students, staff, and community members to show their opinion on the involvement in the Vietnam War. The differences in approval of the action were mostly based on personal stance towards the military, regardless of the government’s decision. Throughout Concordia’s history, it has remained an institution of broader involvement. As with any action, there can be a reaction; and the 1970 commissioning ceremony walkout contained its share of controversy.
Essay by Brandon M. Cottrell
(1) “Student ROTC Statement Released”, 24 April 1970. The Concordian. Graduation, Commencement 1970s. Topical Files Collection. Concordia College Archives.
(2) Caren Marten, “Caren Martin Oral History Interview, 2014 (Part 2),” Interviewed by Brandon Cottrell, Concordia Memory Project.
(3) “Student ROTC Statement Released”, 24 April 1970. The Concordian. Concordia College Archives.
(4) Engelhardt, Carroll. On Firm Foundation Grounded: The First Century of Concordia College. Concordia, MN. 1991, pp. 279-280.
(5) “Student ROTC Statement Released”, 24 April 1970. The Concordian. Concordia College Archives.
(6) “Student ROTC Statement Released”, 24 April 1970. The Concordian. Concordia College Archives.
(7) “Writer Resents Affront To Commissioned Students”, 10 May, 1970. The Forum. Graduation, Commencement 1970s. Topical Files Collection. Concordia College Archives.
(8) Engelhardt, On Firm Foundation Grounded, 279-280.