Remembering '68 Moments of Change

Moments of Change: Remembering ’68

"The year 1968, with its rebellions, assassinations, political developments, and cultural innovations, epitomizes an era that many regard as a decade-long emblem of change. This theme will serve as a common touchstone for all of our undergrad students, instructors, and alumni, who will be called upon to share and examine the historic changes of ’68 throughout the 2017-2018 school year and moving forward."

-- Paul C. Taylor, Assoc. Dean of Undergraduate Studies

THEME

The college team will commemorate this significant anniversary with a slate of events that are rooted in this critical period, so as to reflect on the moment itself as well as on the kind of profound change the moment exemplifies. To develop the theme, we will host panel discussions, movie nights, lectures, and more with an eye to understanding what happened here at Penn State, nationally, and internationally.

COURSE

In order to integrate our seminar theme with the classroom experience, the history department will host a Liberal Arts “Edge Seminar” on the subject of 1968 in the spring of 2018 with the goal of creating a permanent course so our students can understand this remarkable time that still influences us today. Like all Edge Seminars, this seminar will be aimed at providing our students with the sort of multidimensional, broadly edifying experience that marks the best of a liberal arts education, combining interdisciplinary education, co-curricular activities, and engagement with our vast alumni network.

"As part of the course, students will engage with our alumni who were on campus during the turbulent time and interview them about their experiences, creating primary references. Those oral histories will be collected here so that a permanent record of the Penn Staters who witnessed this great period of change will live for future generations."

-- Michael Kulikowski, Head, Department of History

'68 Olympics

The College of the Liberal Arts and the History Department brought Olympic gold medalists Tommie Smith and Wyomia Tyus and noted sociologist and civil rights activist Dr. Harry Edwards to participate in the panel discussion titled “Sports Protest and Politics: Reflections on the 1968 Olympics." The event was held at the Greg Sutliff Auditorium located in the Lewis Katz Building.

The panelists also sat down with some of our professors for individual conversations.

Events

Oral Histories

Submit your oral histories; personal photos, videos, sound recordings, and digitized materials from the 1960's era to the Penn State History Department online digital archive. Your submissions will be freely shared with the public and educational partners to support reflection and a better understanding of the turbulent and transformational time on Penn State's campus.