External influencesIn 1914, the University of Utah saw its first notable protest when valedictorian Milton Sevy used his commencement speech to criticize what he called the U administration’s “ultra-conservative” policies. Demonstrations during the 1970sDuring the 1970s, the Vietnam War sparked some of the most visible demonstrations on the University of Utah campus. At Kent State University in 1970, the Ohio National Guard fired into a crowd of students protesting the university’s involvement in Vietnam. Days after the Kent State shooting, hundreds of Utah students gathered in solidarity outside of the A. Ray Olpin Student Union. “The atmosphere is rather chilling with regard to free speech on the campus at this point, which is a matter of great concern and sadness to me,” Newell said.