On this day in 1966 The Canberra Times reported that seven nuns spearheaded a student protest at the Australian National University.
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The students and nuns protested against the university's decision to reduce the studying vacation from two weeks to one.
The studying vacation, commonly known as 'swot vac', is a period between the end of scheduled lectures and tutorials, and the exam period.
Nuns merely being involved in protests was a rare sight.
However, these sisters did more than just participate - they were the first protesters to arrive at the foyer of the University Chancellory.
The protest started at 11am with about 100 students crowding the foyer.
Three hours later the protest grew to 400 students.
The protest included a troupe of students from Garran Hall who marched to the protest site wearing academic robes.
A previous decision by the board of the School of General Studies to increase learning weeks from 25 to 26 weeks was the trigger for the university to consider reducing 'swot vac'.
After the protest the board announced it would reconsider the decision.
Today the ANU keeps its 'swot vac' break to one week each semester.
