Final answer:
The protests across college and university campuses in the early years of Nixon's administration were primarily due to the Vietnam conflict.
Step-by-step explanation:
During the early years of Nixon's administration, protests on college and university campuses primarily stemmed from opposition to the Vietnam War. Students mobilized against the war's escalation, expressing dissent, and advocating for peace. These demonstrations became a symbol of widespread anti-war sentiment and a broader movement challenging government policies and societal norms, fostering an era of activism in the United States.
Thus, the protests across college and university campuses in the early years of Nixon's administration were primarily due to the Vietnam conflict. Nixon escalated the number of bombing missions over North Vietnam and conducted secret bombing campaigns in Laos and Cambodia, which led to heightened antiwar sentiments and protests among students.