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¾«¶«Ó°Òµ Remembers May 4, 1970, With Annual Commemoration

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For the first time since 2019, ¾«¶«Ó°Òµ University remembered May 4, 1970, with an in-person, annual commemoration to honor the four students who were killed, the nine students who were wounded and the countless others whose lives were forever changed when the Ohio National Guard fired on ¾«¶«Ó°Òµ students during an anti-war protest. 

¾«¶«Ó°ÒµMay 4, 2022 Commemoration theme is " ¾«¶«Ó°ÒµPower of Our Voices" in recognition of the many people throughout history who have used their voices to effect meaningful change.

Sunday, May 1

¾«¶«Ó°ÒµMay 4 Commemoration kicked off on Sunday with an outdoor music festival on Manchester Field. Visitors gathered and connected with old friends and enjoyed delicious BBQ from Brooks Homestyle BBQ. Students from the May 4 Task Force and Students for a Democratic Society were in attendance promoting May 1-4 programs throughout the afternoon. Guest enjoyed some of the area’s best music by , ,  and ! 

In keeping with this year’s theme, our May 4 Film Series kicked off in downtown Kent at the Kent Stage with free screenings of Academy Award-winning director Barbara Kopple’s documentary "" at 7:30 p.m. 

Monday, May 2

¾«¶«Ó°Òµ honored the faculty marshals of May 4, 1970, with a luncheon and special recognition at the inaugural . Tammy Clewell, Ph.D., professor in ¾«¶«Ó°Òµâ€™s Department of English, gave the inaugural lecture with her presentation "Remembering the Contested May 4 Memorializing Process."

¾«¶«Ó°Òµ's School of music presented a special concert, "¾«¶«Ó°Òµ of Peace, Protest and Reflection" at Severance Music Center in Cleveland. 

Tuesday, May 3

Dean Kahler joined President Todd Diacon in addressing attendees at the dedication of the markers ceremony for the engraved plaques that permanently mark where the nine wounded students were located when hit by gunfire.

¾«¶«Ó°ÒµMay 4 film series included a screening of "" followed by a Q&A session with the director Glenn Silber and ¾«¶«Ó°Òµ President Todd Diacon. Danny Miller’s "" included an interactive Q&A with the director and principal figures featured in the film about the ¾«¶«Ó°Òµ shootings. 

¾«¶«Ó°Òµevening concluded when campus and community members gathered for the annual . 

Wednesday, May 4

¾«¶«Ó°Òµcampus community and visitors gathered at noon on the May 4 site at the ¾«¶«Ó°Òµ Commons to commemorate the moment that gunfire erupted 52 years ago. ¾«¶«Ó°Òµprogram opened with a performance by the ¾«¶«Ó°Òµ Chorale and officially began with Tom Grace ringing the victory bell for each student killed and wounded at ¾«¶«Ó°Òµ and the two who were killed at Jackson State. Remarks were given from President Diacon, Student Leaders, Advisory Committee Chair Chic Canfora and special guest speaker Jon Meacham.

¾«¶«Ó°Òµevening concluded with ¾«¶«Ó°Òµâ€™s Presidential Speaker Series, featuring presidential historian and Pulitzer Prize-winning author Jon Meacham. Meacham brought his unique perspective and provide historical context to the issues and events impacting our daily lives.

¾«¶«Ó°Òµ Student Organizations 

Special events and programs hosted by student organizations included a screening of "Fire in the Heartland", a panel discussion organized by the May 4 Task Force with former leaders and several programs were held by Students for a Democratic Society throughout the week.