Roseann “Chic” Canfora is a name synonymous with the tragedy and activism surrounding the May 4, 1970 shooting. Canfora currently works with students to document and teach using her lived experiences.

Chic is a May 4 survivor, journalism professor and a member of the Presidential Advisory Committee, where she serves as a chair on the Commemoration Committee in regard to the May 4 remembrance at Kent State.

During the shooting, Chic was behind a car to hide from gunfire and watched her brother, Alan Canfora and his friend, Tom Grace, on Blanket Hill. Alan and Grace were two of the nine wounded.

She is still close friends with other witnesses, and they still work together to ensure that 53 years after the event, Kent will remember what happened on this campus.

Part of her role in remembrance includes educating students with her first-hand experience.

Chic said she believes that college students are the “conscience of America,” and college teaches those students how to be citizens in a democracy, as well as active participants in protecting it and contributing to the common good.

“I recognize my responsibility to teach them about May 4, and to understand their place in history as students at Kent State who should know and embrace their history as well,” Canfora said.

One of the classes Chic teaches within the College of Communication and Information is Media and Movements. Chic said she is the most passionate about teaching it because it incorporates a flexible structure and focuses on activism and advocacy.

A student who looks up to Chic is freshman emerging media and technology major Sophia Swengel. Swengel was a student in Chic’s Media, Power and Culture course and was a recipient of the Alan Canfora Activism Scholarship.

Swengel works closely with Chic being the secretary of the May 4 Task Force, which works closely with the Presidential Advisory Committee that Canfora is a member of. The May 4 Task Force is a student organization that aims to raise awareness about the events leading up to May 4, the day and the aftermath, according to its website. Swengel sees Chic as a part of her support system even outside of their professional lives.

“I remember Chic always insisting that kids are free at any time to go down to her office and grab snacks,” Swengel said. “Having that support is very encouraging knowing that there’s an adult who was once in the same position as you. She feels for her students, wants to help them flourish, and wants to establish connections with them and get to know them.”

Another student that sees Chic as an “inspiring educator” is graduate student Jamie Brian. Brian took Media and Movements with Chic and said the class is encouraging to students because of Chic’s involvement in advocacy at Kent State.

“She gave us time throughout the semester to work to advocate for a topic of our choice, which is rare, because you don’t get a chance to work on something that you’re so passionate about,” Brian said. “With Chic’s support, I learned to find my voice and realize the power of the student voice.”

Brian said that Chic’s teaching style is a mix of personal storytelling while connecting it back to the course curriculum, which resonated with her the most as a student.

“I think it’s inspiring whenever you get to hear a more personal aspect of a professor’s life,” Brian said. “You can see yourself in that person’s shoes and kind of envision yourself doing the same thing.”

Francesca Malinky is a reporter. Contact her at [email protected].