School of Peace and Conflict Studies

They remember the sights and sounds of helicopters and trucks as the Ohio National Guard moved into their small college town. They remember the smell of tear gas. They remember the chants of the protesters against the Vietnam War and invasion of Cambodia. They remember the panic and fear that ensued immediately after they heard that four students were killed and nine wounded when the guardsmen opened fire on campus. On May 4, 1970, many people in Kent experienced a traumatic event that they will never forget.

Kent State University’s inaugural director of the new School of Peace and Conflict Studies, Neil Cooper, Ph.D., said as the university builds toward the 50th commemoration of May 4, 1970, and the 50th anniversary of the school, he is looking forward to working with colleagues on the next phase of the school’s history.

As part of Kent State University’s May 4 course, senior Julia Pharmer sifted through resources in University Libraries' Special Collections and Archives and engaged in classroom discussions. Perhaps one of the most engaging sessions though was when Professor Emerita Laura Davis, Ph.D., gave students a firsthand account of her May 4 experiences.  

Kent State University 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.