May 4 Task Force

In 1975 the Kent State University 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