How significant were the protests of 1968?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Columbia University
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<p><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbia_University_protests_of_1968#In_popular_culture"&gt;http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbia_University_protests_of_1968#In_popular_culture&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>Stuff like this fascinates me. Did these riots have an impact on the University's prestige in any way? From what I read, a lot of faculty and investment was cut off in the aftermath. Is that really true? </p>

<p>I remember hearing that Columbia was considered the best school in the world 100 years ago, then it fell off a little bit, and has recently been regaining prestige. Is that true? And, if so, was it because of the riots? </p>

<p>Let me know what you guys think. Thanks in advance!</p>

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<p>They hurt the prestige for maybe a decade after the fact. Some of the old professors say the 70s were a terrible era for Columbia, but there’s almost no impact today other than student protestors making reference to the “spirit of '68.”</p>

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<p>NYC was grittier back then, too. Remember the bankruptcy in the seventies? The crime before Guilliani?</p>

<p>fwiw there are books written on the relationship between the U and the community. </p>