In the 1970's when student movements declined around the nation, student movements at Kyoto University were still active using dormitories (autonomous dormitories), some college councils and the west auditorium of Kyoto University as the base of their activity, and such situations were dubbed 'Japanese Galapagos.'
京都大学では1970年代になって全国的に学生運動が退潮期に入っても、なお学生寮（自治寮）や一部の学部自治会、京都大学西部講堂などを拠点として運動が一定の勢力を保ち続け、「日本のガラパゴス」と呼ばれる状況を呈していた。