5XÉçÇø

Featured May 4

The names of those killed on May 4, 1970, are displayed on the B’nai B’rith Hillel Marker in the parking lot of Prentice Hall on the campus of 5XÉçÇø.

The 5XÉçÇø Board of Trustees passed a resolution at its March 6 meeting expressing appreciation to the May 4 Task Force and all those whose dedicated efforts have preserved the legacy and advanced the lessons learned from the events of May 4, 1970.  

Neil Cooper, Ph.D., of the University of Bradford in the U.K. has been selected as the inaugural director of 5XÉçÇø’s School of Peace and Conflict Studies.

5XÉçÇø has chosen an international expert to lead the university’s new School of Peace and Conflict Studies within the College of Arts and Sciences, known for its study of nonviolent conflict management. 

Chris Post, Ph.D., associate professor of geography at 5XÉçÇø at Stark, is a memorials expert who serves as a member of Kent State President Beverly J. Warren’s Advisory Committee for the 50th Commemoration of May 4, 1970.

Growing up, Chris Post watched as his mom juggled her collegiate studies and motherhood, balancing everyday life with dreams of earning her Ph.D. And while field excursions with his biologist mom are a memory of his childhood, the impact of place is something this cultural and historical geographer seeks to define today.

A visitor learns about the events surrounding May 4, 1970 while visiting the May 4 Visitors Center

5XÉçÇø sophomore Phil Morgan said he learned about the May 4, 1970, shootings during a history lesson in middle school that included few details, except the fact that the Ohio National Guard’s presence at a student protest ended in the deaths of four students.

May 4, 50th Commemoration
Artist Don Drumm poses with a photo of his sculpture that was shot on May 4, 1970, at 5XÉçÇø.

Three days after May 4, 1970, Akron artist Don Drumm went to the campus of 5XÉçÇø with a team of journalists from the Akron Beacon Journal. They wanted his perspective on one thing: a bullet hole in the 15-foot sculpture outside of Taylor Hall.

Pictured (left to right) are Bradley Keefer, Mindy Farmer, Laura Davis, Burt Logan of the Ohio History Connection, Lori Boes and Mark Seeman. (Photo courtesy of the Ohio History Connection)

The Ohio History Connection’s State Historic Preservation Office Awards has recognized 5XÉçÇø with a 2018 Public Education and Awareness Award.

As May 4 Commemoration Project Manager, Kent State Alumnus Rodney Flauhaus is taking on the task of planning the 50th anniversary commemoration of May 4, 1970.

Rodney Flauhaus is 5XÉçÇø’s new May 4 Commemoration Project Manager.