| This dissertation examines the impact and significance of the New Left on the conservative campus and community of California State College, Fullerton (CSF) during the 1960s and early 1970s. Built to meet the demands of the Baby Boom after World War II, CSF became the latest in a series of California State campus expansions in 1959-1960. Fullerton, situated in Orange County, California, was one of the most politically conservative areas in the United States. Yet, during the mid-1960s and early 1970s, CSF exhibited a series of events just as radical as many other New Left activities across the U.S. CSF had its Vietnam "teach-in," its campus "riot", and its campus building "takeover." This dissertation not only documents the New Left's activities on this campus, but also compares and contrasts it with the actions of SDS nationally. It also examines New Left events at other colleges and universities across the U.S. in the same light. The sources for this case study are the CSF Administrative Archives, a series of participant Oral Interviews, several publications by CSF alumni, a pictorial publication from the era and a variety of other sources.;While a number of New Left events gained national attention during the 1960s and early 1970s, little has been written about such activities at smaller state colleges. It is my contention that the New Left activists at CSF were not only influenced by the Black Civil Rights Movement and SDS, but that they were just as disorganized and amorphous as SDS and other New Left activists. This case study is one of a number of new histories documenting the effects of the New Left, which occurred not just in a few isolated, nationally reported locations, but all across the U.S. These effects, for good or ill, contributed significantly to our current social, cultural, economic, political and educational conditions in America - and they continue to do so. Consequently, it is important to understand these events and ideals which have shaped our way of life, in order to know why we think, act and believe as we do today. |
