Student protests of 1969 at Ohio University are still relevant today, or at least that’s what two former OU students said in a presentation late last week.
A presentation of the photographs and memories of Ken Steinhoff, who attended OU from 1967-69 but didn’t graduate, and Carol Towarnicky, a ’69 alumna, told the story of a deep history of protesting here.
The event, OU Is Not Your Mother: Demonstrating for Student Rights at Ohio University in 1969, was sponsored by the OU History Association and the Athens County Historical Society and Museum. It took place in Porter Hall 108 on Thursday.
The presentation largely focused on the women’s rights movement on campus, but Steinhoff and Towarnicky also spoke of protests against university trustees for increased student rights.
Following the presentation, some OU Student Union members asked for tips about how to raise student awareness and increase student power. Steinhoff said to find common problems and act on them.
“You have to find an issue where people feel pain and then figure out what course you can take to alleviate that pain,” said Steinhoff.
Their connection to OU is partly linked to protesting, but they were also both Post employees: he a photographer, she a reporter.
Towarnicky and Steinhoff both agreed that although the university no longer enforces curfews or similar rules, student protesting and building awareness is still important.
“You have to use a different form (of protesting). You have to figure out what works best for you,” Towarnicky said. “Maybe protesting takes a different form with cell phones and social media.”
Jessica Cyders, Athens County Historical Society and Museum curator, said she has worked with Steinhoff in the past and wanted to share his work with OU students.
Katie Conlon, a sophomore and president of the OU History Association, said she thought the topic would interest students.
“It’s really important to trace those roots and see what people before you did,” Conlon said.
Steinhoff’s photographs of student protesting from 1969-1970 will appear in an exhibit at the Athens County Historical Society & Museum sometime in March 2014, Cyders said.
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