Recent Kent State University graduates reflect on the 40th anniversary of May 4 shootings

Much has changed since May 4, 1970, when four Kent State University students were killed and nine were wounded when members of the Ohio National Guard fired upon them.

The shootings occurred at the height of the Vietnam War and some suggest it may have changed many people's thinking about the war. The event even inspired a popular protest song titled "Ohio" by the band Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young.

Now the tragedy is marked in history books and after four decades, the event naturally has begun to fade somewhat from the national stream of consciousness. Not every student who attends Kent State now knows about May 4 prior to admission to the college, but the piece of the university's history is something that is typically taught to students during their freshmen orientation classes.

Each year, the university cancels classes for a few hours on the afternoon of May 4 so that commemorative events and observations can be held. This year is no exception, as there will be plenty of events to mark the tragedy's 40^th anniversary, including a candlelight vigil, ringing of the Victory Bell, speakers, poetry readings and more.

Many students and graduates who attended Kent State simply refer to the shootings as "May 4," and they say the event is frequently the first thing people outside the university think of when they hear about Kent State.

Timothy Muir, a 22-year-old Copley, Ohio, resident who recently graduated from Kent State with a degree in electronic media production, remembered learning about May 4 in high school and from his mother, who attended Kent State in 1970 after the shootings occurred.

Muir is an outspoken young man who said May 4 has had a significant impact on him, even though he wasn't alive when the event occurred.

"Looking back, I realize that if I were passionate about the war like the students then were, I may have let myself become involved," Muir said. "Additionally, I think about how the students involved in the tragedy were mainly not even involved in the protests. This makes me think a lot about how my actions go a lot beyond myself and those immediately around me. Even though I may disagree with something, I have to respect the people and community around me."

Anastasa Williams, 22, grew up in Pittsburgh and wasn't aware of the shootings before she made the decision to attend Kent State. After graduating in May 2009 with a degree in English and a minor in pre-law, she now attends Michigan State University College of Law.

"I actually was pretty surprised to know that it happened at Kent, because I did not take Kent for much of a liberal university upon visiting," Williams said. "But, unbeknownst to me, Kent was an extremely liberal school during that time. I learned about the May 4 event in my first year orientation class and from different people in general."

She believes the perception on campus these days is split between remembering the event as something positive or negative.

"I always saw it as a positive way to spread the word about our school and also to make people aware that Kent State has moved beyond the tragic event that happened 40 years ago now," Williams explained. "Nevertheless, there are some people who would rather forget about it because it does seem as though some people only know Kent State for the shootings and nothing else."

Kylan Ward, 22, graduated from Kent State in December 2008 with a psychology degree. She's now a graduate student at Lynn University in Boca Raton, Fla.

Ward remembered learning about May 4 while studying history in high school, but as time passes, she believes younger people seem less interested in the events that happened that day.

"The younger generations are not really aware of the significance or the event that happened on that day," Ward said. "I say this because as I am currently working in the admissions office at Lynn University, visitors often ask me where I did my undergraduate studies. When I say that I went to Kent State University, parents and grandparents are always asking about May 4, unlike the students, who are unaware of the events that took place."

Muir said people think of May 4 in different ways.

"For many, it is viewed as somewhat of an awakening of the power of students' voices and the ability to spark change," he said. "They remember the tragedy of the students involved and the misunderstanding of how the situation was handled. Mainly, however, I believe many students think it is something that is important to KSU and American history, even if they don't participate in its continuing observance."

Others wish that Kent State was known nationally for other reasons, Muir said.

"I know I've heard people say things such as, 'It was so long ago; why can't we come up with something else to be known for?'" Muir said. "In this case, I don't think these people want to forget it, but they perhaps want something new to remember."

Ward said that May 4 actually has had more of a role in her life now than when she was in school.

"Given that Kent State University is my alma mater and part of my history, I do get a lot of questions about it," she said.

Anna Riggenbach, a 22-year-old Canton, Ohio, resident who graduated in May 2008 with a degree in journalism and in 2009 with a master's degree in liberal studies, also feels more significance with May 4 now that she is finished with college.

"Now that I'm graduated, I realize what a huge piece of Kent State May 4 is, and looking back, I really think it was a huge stepping stone for students to get their voice heard," Riggenbach said. "I don't think a lot of students realize what an important part of history it is."

Sources:

http://www.kent.edu/about/may4commemoration/index.cfm