Moratorium Aftermath and Conclusion

The aftermath of the Vietnam War Moratorium at George Mason University (GMU) reflected both the limitations and influence of student activism on campus. While GMU was not known for large-scale protests, the Moratorium marked a turning point in student political engagement.

Following the October 15, 1969 Moratorium, GMU students who participated faced mixed reactions. The administration, led by Chancellor Lorin A. Thompson, had refused to cancel classes, reinforcing the university’s conservative stance. However, the event sparked discussions among students and faculty about the role of activism in shaping campus culture. The student newspaper, The Gunston Ledger, continued to cover the anti-war movement, reflecting the growing awareness of national and global issues among GMU students.

The impact this would have on some students would be lifelong. Student participation in the Moratorium shows the lengths they would go to get their point across. Students like Bonnie Atwood and Michael Baker would play a large role in social change and activism in their communities. Baker played a crucial part in producing and publishing The Gunston Ledger to help bring awareness to the student body. Awood would go on the become a political activist and would publish the Bonnie Atwood Papers , which would contain local activism throughout the years, which now reside in the GMU archives.