Serving as the Chair of the May 4 Task Force has been something communication studies major Avery Hall, ’23, describes as one of the most impactful and rewarding experiences she’s had at Kent State University. ...

“The Power of Our Voices” theme inspired this year’s May 4 Commemoration events and programming, which focused on tying May 4 and the anti-war movement of 1970 to emerging movements today. The annual commemoration allowed members of the Kent State community and the public to gather in remembrance of May 4, 1970, share memories, reconnect with old friends and pass the lessons learned from the tragedy to new generations of students so they inquire, learn and reflect upon the history that occurred on their campus.  Along with President Todd Diacon and Provost Melody Tankersley, this year’...

A prayer was read in Hebrew at the B'nai B'rith Hillel Marker on the May 4 memorial site as part of the annual candlelight walk and vigil on May 3. The silent walk around campus begins each year at at 11 p.m. and takes about 60 minutes. Afterward, at midnight, the vigil begins as one person with a candle stands in the each of the four spaces where a student fell. After 30 minutes, another person takes their place, and then another and another, for the 12-hour remembrance. The theme of this year's commemoration is "The Power of Our Voices."  Each year on May 4, Kent State Universit...

As someone who studied higher education administration, Kent State University Assistant Professor Erica Eckert, Ph.D., had always wondered what it would have been like to experience the May 4, 1970, Kent State shootings as a student affairs administrator.  The research she conducted to answer this question was selected as the presentation for this year’s annual Jerry M. Lewis May 4 Lecture Series and Luncheon.  The lecture, held Tuesday, May 3, in the Kent Student Center Ballroom, opened two days of commemoration events marking the 53rd anniversary of the day Ohio National Guar...