The eight week revolt held at Columbia starting on April 23, 1968 was, in part, a reaction to the administration's placement of six SDS students on disciplinary probation after a rally on March 27, 1968 which was called officially to protest Columbia's affiliation to IDA. The rally in Low Library was also to protest President Kirk's policy, inducted at the beginning of the fall term, banning all demonstrations within university buildings. The policy was introduced to prevent violence and injuries which could erupt when SDS members clashed with opposing students in small hallways of buildings (specifically Dodge Hall where narrow corridors on the sixth floor led to the university placement office". SDS wanted to flaunt President Kirk's edict and lure the administration into a conflict because they claimed it was an attempt by the university at political repression. Approximately 150 students burst into Low Library using bullhorns, which were also prohibited, and chanting anti-war songs, in order to detract from normal business and present a petition to President Kirk signed by over 1,500 students and faculty calling for Columbia's complete disaffiliation from IDA. The administration reacted with horror to the protest, as exemplified by Vice President for Administration Warren Goodell in his comments to members of the Spectator:"Those students have no respect for property. You should have seen the things they were doing in Low yesterday--writing on the wall, everything. I guarantee you, that we're going to respond to force with force. I've been at Columbia all my life, and I won't stand by and let them destroy the University" (Avorn, 24).
Six students: Rudd, four other leaders of SDS's steering committee, and a graduate student, were asked to report to the dean's office to answer charges of violating the ban on indoor demonstrations. The students refused to respond for nearly two weeks because they adamantly claimed that they should be tried at an open hearing like the one creating in February of 1967, when a tripartite panel was formed to hear the cases of sixteen students who faced disciplinary action after stage at sit-in in Dodge Hall. The six students of SDS now claimed they should be given the same justice as their classmates from the year before. The April 17 edition of the Spectator reported "President Grayson Kirk is the only official who has the authority to call for open hearing and, according to Dean Platt, there have been no indication that President Kirk will do so" (Spectator, 1). The article went on to say, "According to Dean Platt, the tripartite panel was 'unique and contrary to traditional university policy' and , therefore, set no precedent for disciplinary measures" (Spectator, 5). On April 22, the students finally met with Associate Dean Alexander Platt after he informed them they faced suspension if they declined. The students, who came to be known as the "IDA six," refused to discuss the incident and were, therefore, placed on disciplinary probation.