A long history of student organizations
Filipino UW students gather for this 1936 photo. Most went to school part of the year, working in the Alaska canneries during spring and summer months.
http://depts.washington.edu/civilr/images/cordova%20large%20100ppi/filipino%20uw%20students%201936%20canneries%20lg.jpg
Organizations run by students of color had existed on the UW campus for decades. Most were social clubs. While not overtly political, they  usually worked in quiet ways to advance the cause of racial equality.