On May 4, 1970 the Ohio National Guard opened fire into a busy college campus during a school day. A total of 67 shots were fired in 13 seconds. Four students, Allison Krause, Jeffrey Miller, William Schroeder, and Sandra Scheuer were killed. Nine students were wounded
As a a proud alumna of Kent State University (Masters of Higher Education), this is a day that will always have meaning to me. When you step onto that campus you begin to learn the history of that day and what it meant. As a masters student on the campus, we not only learned about the day, but we studied it intently. We took an in depth look at May 4th and what it meant to the country, Higher Education, and students’ free speech rights on a campus. We spoke to people who were there, watched countless documentaries, and relived pain that most of us were not around to experience the 40 plus years ago. This was an experience that changed me.
It has been 41 years since those 67 shots were fired. 41 years since 4 students lost theirs lives and 9 others sustained serious injuries. 41 years since the Ohio National Guard over stepped their power and opened fire on a group of unarmed students protesting the war. 41 years that have changed what being a college student today looks like. Working in Higher Education I think it is important for students (and administrators) to understand what happened on May 4th, 1970. To really be look at how this day changed higher education and students free speech rights on a college campus, as well as changed much of the way we do discipline/conduct in Higher Education. I am also always challenged by this day, because as much as I appreciate Star Wars and it being May the 4th be with you day, I also feel as if it should be a day for reflection on the tragedy that happened at Kent and for the people that died, some of whom were just walking to class and were in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Below are some links to great information about May 4th, 1970, as well as a short video that does a great job of summing up that day, and the culture of Kent State University.
Official May 4th Historical Website
Interview with Dean Kahler (who was shot and paralyzed on May 4th)
40 years later, were still asking why?
Kent State University Libraries May 4th Collection
News Report of May 4th for the 40th anniversary on May 4th 2010
Pictures and footage of Kent State 1970
“This country’s first national student strike was the result of the killing of four students by National Guardsmen. The 100-a-day new campus protests that occurred during the four days following the student fatalities at Kent State are unprecedented in our history. Kent State escalated years of student unrest to historic heights that shocked the nation. What gave the period of May 1-15 its unique intensity and agony was the killing of four students at Kent State on May 4.”
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I remember May 4, 1970 vividly. At this moment I am overwhelmed again with sadness for the loss of those young people and for the injuries sustained by others of them. You are correct about the impact and meaning this event has (should have) for us in higher ed. Sadly, I believe too few of us know this history. Thank you for this blog post.
As usual, we are on the same page. Thank you for this blog post – it’s difficult to describe the way in which my experience at Kent State, and my experience learning about the events leading up to and on May 4, 1970, have changed me and shaped the higher education professional I work to be.