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38th Annual Commemoration
Kent State University, May 3-4, 2008
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May 2nd, 2008
3:30
pm, KIVA
DEBATE
Students from Emerson College in Boston will debate whether the Kent State shootings were justified. They are students of Dr. J. Gregory Payne of the Department of Political Communication and and expert on the Kent State shootings.
May 3rd, 2008
6:30
pm, KIVA
POETRY READING
Including poetry reading by May 4th Poetry Contest winners
7:00
pm,
KIVA
Movie: Born on the Fourth of July
Followed by a Q&A with Ron Kovic,
inspiration and main character for the movie
based
on his autobiography of the same name.
11:00
pm -
Midnight, COMMONS
Silent candlelight march
Leaves from the Commons and ends in Prentice Hall parking
lot.
Route is both wheelchair and stroller accessible. Approx. 1.3
miles long.
May
4th, 2008
Midnight
-
12:24 pm, PRENTICE HALL PARKING LOT
Silent Candlelight Vigil
We ask for total silence in the
parking lot this year to respect those
who are standing vigil in the reserved spaces.
Please take all quiet conversations to a grassy area. Thank you.
Vigil spots are in thirty
minute increments and can be reserved
through the May 4th
Task Force.
10:00
am - 5:00 pm,
COMMONS
Eyes
Wide Open Ohio
Display by American Friends
Service Committee
11:00
am - Noon
, COMMONS
Tropidelic performance
Noon - 2:30 pm, COMMONS
(Rain Location: KSU Ballroom)
May 4th 38th Annual Commemoration
Program,
"Where Does It End?"
KEYNOTE
SPEAKER:
Scott Ritter former
UN weapons inspector and peace activist
Other
Speakers Include:
Dean Kahler
Wounded
at
Kent State on May 4, 1970.
Emily
Kunstler
Daughter of Bill Kunstler,
lawyer for May 4th families.
Joe Lewis
Wounded at Kent State on May 4, 1970
speaking in memory of Jim Russell,
also wounded at on Kent State May 4, 1970.
*All
above May 3rd and 4th
programs paid for by the Undergraduate Student Senate*
NOTE:
Following the main commemoration program there will be a performance by
Kent State alum Daniel Cohen performing as MC Translation and an
anti-war march sponsored by KSAWC and Portage Peace.
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NOTE:
This year's theme comes from the title of a poem
written in 1966, when Jeff Miller was in high
school.
At this point he'd never been to Ohio.
Jeff
is the
slain student in the infamous Pulitzer Prize winning photo by fellow
KSU student, John Filo.
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The May 4 Task Force
announces the
2008 May 4th Commemorative Poetry Contest!!!
Poetry
is an excellent way
that individuals can use to process important events around them and
issues
that they are passionate about. In 1966, a young high school
student named
Jeff Miller was passionate about his position on the Vietnam War.
He
wrote the above poem out of this passion. Sadly, Jeff was
among the four students
killed at Kent
State
on May 4, 1970. His poem stands
today as an example of what one individual thinks is important.
Today, we'd
like to hear what YOU are
passionate about. This does not have to be a political
statement.
But it should reflect something that you are definitely passionate
about and
that you truly believe.
Four age groups have been
established. One winner
in each category will win $25 and a chance to read their poem at an
event during
the annual commemoration, May 3-4, 2008. Please include
your name,
contact information and the age group you are submitting for:
Youth (K-8th grade)
High School (9-12th grade)
College (actively taking classes
this semester)
Community (all others)
The
deadline for
the poetry contest has passed. Our university / community
committee will review all entries and contact the winners.
Winners will be invited to read their poems at our arts tribute on May
3, 2008 at 6:30 pm in the KIVA Auditorium on campus.
ANNUAL LOGO
COMPETITION
Design the logo
for the 2008 Commemoration! It's time for our annual design
competition! The May 4 Task Force is looking for creative
geniuses from
our hallowed halls to come up with an image that reflect this year's
theme:
"Where Will It End?"
We use this image for everything in our promotion schedule, from
buttons,
t-shirts, flyers, and our large display background at the
commemoration.
Previous designs may be seen here. (http://dept.kent.edu/may4/tshirts.html)
Congrats
go to Ralph Solonitz, KSU class of '70 for his design this year!
Way to go Ralphy!!!
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Sad News - Passings
We sadly pass on the news that May 4, 1970 survivor Jim Russell
passed away Saturday, June 23rd, 2007 due to a heart attack. He
will be greatly missed by our entire extended May 4 family. We
all send our sincere and heartfelt condolences to the Russell family.
We also sadly report the passing of William Schultz, a local lawyer and
city goverment member for many years. He was a friend to many of the
people in the Kent community. There will be a Dixieland send off and
service, on May 4, 2008, at 4 pm in downtown Kent.
Bill Schultz was a long term member of the Kent City
Council and was a voice for many progressive issues here in town.
He passed away January 3, 2008. Many can still pick Bill out in the
crowd at the 1977 Gym Protests, when he was arrested next to Vietnam
War
Veteran Ron Kovic.
Both Jim and Bill will be remembered
fondly at our upcomming commemoration. If you would like to share
a memory of these men with us, please send
it to our email address: href="mailto:m4tf@yahoo.com">m4tf@yahoo.com
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May 4 Visitors Center Update -
April 2008
During
the May 2, 2007 dedication of the long awaited Ohio State Historical
Marker at the site of the shootings Kent State University Vice
President Kathy Stafford announced that the university is planning a
May 4 Visitors' Center to be located in Taylor
Hall. Space for the center has been made available in the 1st
floor offices, former home of the Daily Kent Stater.
This announcement came several months after longtime
May 4 Task Force submitted a proposal to
the KSU administration illustrating the diverse populations that such a
staffed center could serve - from 4th graders studying Ohio History, to
retiring Baby Boomers tracking down a distant memories of their
past. It was clear that this day in history continues to have a
wide impact.
Committees have met from Summer 2007 through the end
of the Fall semester 2007. We are pleased to continue this
process, and look forward to sharing exciting news soon. Keep
watching this space - as we get news -- we will pass it on.
May 4 Related Scholarships
There
are two scholarship funds that are direct responses to the events of
May 4, 1970 on our campus:
INCOMING
FRESHMEN -The
Kent State University Honors College offers 4 FULL TIME merit based
scholarships in the names of the four slain students. Please
contact this department for more information.
(Click here to visit the Honors College Scholarship Information page.)
RETURNING KSU STUDENTS - The May 4 Task Force sponsors
the May 4
Commemorative Student Activist Scholarship each year. This
scholarship was created after the generous donation of the concert
performance fee of Peter, Paul and Mary during the 25th anniversary.
Contributions have also been made by Fugazi, and many others. The Kent
State May 4 CD Project also benefits this scholarship. Requirements
include: a reflective paper (minimum of 5 pages, double spaced with
appropriate documented sources) on the events of May 4, 1970, student
applicant must be active on the Kent State Campus and hold at least a
2.50 cumulative GPA and be returning at least 3/4 or full time next
year. To be considered for the scholarship, individuals must complete
the on-line 2007-2008 Kent State University Student Financial Aid
Scholarship Application. Students can submit the additional essay in
the on-line application process. (Click
here to visit the SFA Department page for this scholarship.)
The deadline for the 2008 application
has passed.
The winner will be announced at the annual commmemoration.
2007-2008
National History Day Competition - Conflict
and Compromise in History
We
root for all of the National History Day competitors that chose Kent
State as their subject for their AWESOME projects!
What's
National History Day? Click here for more information.
Several National History Day entries featuring May 4,1970 make it to
regional / state competitions around the country and some awesome
projects featuring the Kent State Shootings made it to the national
competition!! We are very proud to help the next generation learn
about this important event in American History!
STUDENTS: CLICK
HERE FOR HELP!
Need help on May 4 Research? No
problem, we're here to help!
So
your instructor or teacher has assigned you a paper on May 4,
1970...
But how do you know what is a good resource? And what resources
aren't helpful?
We've done some of the same research, and we know where to go to help
you get the job done!
Visit our RESOURCES
page to find some of the best primary and secondary resources about the
Kent State, May 4 shootings on the web.
Teachers and instructors, click here for help
on teaching issues relating to May 4, 1970
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