Saint Anselm came out of the tumultuous decade of the 1960s with no major disturbances or riots on campus despite various bomb threats called into campus , often from parties outside the college . Fr . Placidus Riley , OSB successfully led the college through these challenging times . Despite the backlash against the U.S. military on college campuses nationwide , the presence of a National Guard armory did not result in any major problems . However , in May 1970 , final exams for that year were made optional as students showed support for the students of Kent State after the massacre of several unarmed college students protesting the Vietnam War . Students , faculty and members of the monastic community held prayer services and rallies throughout campus after the shootings
shootings
Kent State shootings
Saint Anselm College