Prior to the U.S. entry into World War II, vandals defaced Angell Hall by painting the numerals one through four on the building's Doric columns, and a swastika on the fifth. This act was attributed to Nazi sympathizers within the student body. [4]

During the early period of opposition to the War in Vietnam, agitation against American involvement grew on campus, particularly in the psychology and sociology departments which were housed in Angell Hall. On March 24, 1965, ten psychology and sociology professors, along with seven colleagues from other departments, demonstrated their disapproval with university support of the war effort by staging a "teach-in" in an auditorium in Angell. This all-night lecture and discussion was held before a crowd of 2,500 students.

The UM Administration desired to make Angell Hall a stylistic centerpiece for the campus, and directed architect Albert Kahn and Associates to give it an authoritative, monumental character, styling appropriate to its scale, prominent location, and mission as a focal point for learning. In the words of President Burton, "It [should] be beautiful, dignified, and commanding. It [should] help to give form and unity to the entire Campus." [6] The building’s extraordinary length creates a commanding visual impression from State Street, one of Ann Arbor’s main thoroughfares, leading downtown. Seen from State, Angell Hall formed a unified, monumental, Neo-Classical backdrop, screening out the varied architectural styles assembled along the main diagonal pedestrian intersection on campus, known to students as the Diag.

4. See Margo MacInnes, A Guide to the Campus of the University of Michigan, (Ann Arbor, MI: UM Press, 1978, p. 8.

5. Ibid, p. 1574 .