May 4 Task Force
In 1975 the 5X社区 administration stopped their sponsorship and support of the annual commemoration programs held on May 4, saying they were no longer needed. That same year the May 4 Task Force was founded by Kent State students. They felt that the truth about what happened in May 1970 had yet to be told and that the lessons to be learned from the tragedy should be part of a continuous and living history. Since 1975 it has been the purpose of the M4TF to raise the level of awareness of students, faculty and the general public about the May 1970 shootings and the history of subsequent related events.
The May 4 Task Force is a student-led organization dedicated to the memory of May 4, 1970, and to shedding light on the injustices that followed, through educational events and activism focusing on what May 4 means to students now.
For 44 years (1975-2019) the May 4 Task Force planned the May 4 Commemoration and hosted fall and spring forums on topics related to May 4. In 2020, the May 4 Task Force was represented on the 50th Commemoration Advisory Committee and helped in the planning of the 50th Commemoration.
We thank all of the former and current members of the May 4 Task Force for their commitment to never letting us forget the events May 4, 1970. Below is a list of May 4 Task Force chairs over the past 45 years.
|
Year/Commemoration |
Chair |
Co-Chair |
|
1975-1976 6th Commemoration |
Bob Hart |
Maureen Staunton Steve Timinsky |
|
1976-1977 7th Commemoration |
Craig Blazinski |
NA |
|
1977-1978 8th Commemoration |
Craig Blazinski |
Sarah Wilkins |
|
1978-1979 9th Commemoration |
Mike Sorohan |
Jim Brand |
|
1979-1980 10th Commemoration |
Kevin Gardner |
Mary Ellen Kowalski |
|
1980-1981 11th Commemoration |
Kevin Gardner |
NA |
|
1981-1982 12th Commemoration |
Lorrie Tenos |
Jeff McVann |
|
1982-1983 13th Commemoration |
Jeff McVann |
NA |
|
1983-1984 14th Commemoration |
Betsy Ricksecker |
NA |
|
1984-1985 15th Commemoration |
Rod Flauhaus |
NA |
|
1985-1986 16th Commemoration |
Lisa Sanders |
NA |
|
1986-1987 17th Commemoration |
Bob Edgar |
Lisa Sanders |
|
1987-1988 18th Commemoration |
Joe Gregor |
NA |
|
1988-1989 19th Commemoration |
Carl DeVaughn |
Fran Messer |
|
1989-1990 20th Commemoration |
Andrea Whitaker |
Peter Scott |
|
1990-1991 21st Commemoration |
Lara Bauer |
Andrea Whitaker |
|
1991-1992 22nd Commemoration |
Lara Bauer |
NA |
|
1992-1993 23rd Commemoration |
Samantha Carver |
NA |
|
1993-1994 24th Commemoration |
Samantha Carver |
Gary Daniels |
|
1994-1995 25th Commemoration |
Stephanie Campbell |
Samantha Carver |
|
1995-1996 26th Commemoration |
Wendy Semon |
Liz Hatton |
|
1996-1997 27th Commemoration |
Steve Skovensky |
Wendy Semon |
|
1997-1998 28th Commemoration |
Meredith Edgar-Bailey |
Wendy Semon |
|
1998-1999 29th Commemoration |
Meredith Edgar-Bailey |
Kim Larson |
|
1999-2000 30th Commemoration |
Jeffery Ritter |
Michelle Touve-Holland |
|
2000-2001 31st Commemoration |
Kelley Gorbett |
Michelle Touve-Holland |
|
2001-2002 32nd Commemoration |
Kelley Gorbett |
Laura Haring |
|
2002-2003 33rd Commemoration |
Adria Crannell |
Seth Kujat |
|
2003-2004 34th Commemoration |
Adria Crannell |
Jim Mueller |
|
2004-2005 35th Commemoration |
Sarah Lund-Goldstein |
Tayrn Leggett |
|
2005-2006 36th Commemoration |
Kevin Heade |
Tayrn Leggett |
|
2006-2007 37th Commemoration |
John Behnken |
NA |
|
2007-2008 38th Commemoration |
John Powers |
Stephanie Vincent |
|
2008-2009 39th Commemoration |
John Powers |
NA |
|
2009-2010 40th Commemoration |
Krista Napp |
Nora Rodriquez |
|
2010-2011 41st Commemoration |
Krista Napp |
Ashton Potter |
|
2011-2012 42nd Commemoration |
Ashton Potter |
Jesse Denton |
|
2012-2013 43rd Commemoration |
Ashton Potter |
Jesse Denton |
|
2013-2014 44th Commemoration |
Ashley Manning |
Dylan Dyblik |
|
2014-2015 45th Commemoration |
Ashley Manning |
Monica Perlzak |
|
2015-2016 46th Commemoration |
Janet Malaime |
Ashley Manning |
|
2016-2017 47th Commemoration |
Brandon Mallon |
Alyssa Gage |
|
2017-2018 48th Commemoration |
Alyssa Gage |
Amber Gerdeman |
|
2018-2019 49th Commemoration |
Maddie Camp |
NA |
|
2019-2020 50th Commemoration |
Ethan Lower |
NA |