Starting May 3 and moving through the night into May 4, a luncheon, film screenings, candle-lit vigil walk and a commemoration ceremony are elements of this year’s May 4 remembrance.

On May 4, 1970, the Ohio National Guard fired at student protestors on Kent’s campus near Taylor Hall. Nine students were left injured and four students were killed during the anti-war movement protest. 

To kick off the May 4 53rd commemoration, Erica Eckert, assistant professor in the College of Education, Health and Human Services, will give a presentation at the second Jerry M. Lewis May 4 Lecture series and luncheon in the Kent Student Center Ballroom at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, May 3. 

Eckert’s presentation is based on her research concerning administration and conflict communication during the events of May 4. Her presentation is titled “Where were the Administrators?” where she will discuss the events from a student affairs perspective. 

“As human beings, we can’t control our circumstances, but we can control how we respond to them, and I think that the only thing we can do with May 4, beyond remembering it, is to try to continue to find things we can learn from it,” Eckert said. “I think that’s the best way to keep it alive.” 

After the lecture and luncheon, a film screening of “Young Plato” will begin at 6 p.m. in the KIVA. There will be a panel discussion with Director Neasa Ní Chianáin, Producer David Rane and Headmaster Kevin McArevey, the website stated.

Roseann “Chic” Canfora, an eye-witness to the May 4 shootings and chair of the May 4 Presidential Advisory Committee, was an instrumental voice in planning the commemoration to make it special for everyone in the community, she said. 

“Like a lot of survivors of shootings, I have found meaning over the years in the simple pursuit of justice and the complex effort for us to return year after year after year to Kent State’s campus,” Canfora said. “In hopes that our university community as well as people across America will learn the right lessons from those tragedies.” 

Following the screening, everyone will be instructed to walk to the Student Commons near where food and drink will be provided and the candle-light vigil will begin at 11 p.m. Participants will walk the campus in remembrance of May 4, 1970. 

Starting at midnight, anyone can sign up to hold a candle in 15 to 30 minute shifts in vigil for the four fallen students for a total of 12 hours. This will take place at the memorial in the Prentice/Taylor parking lot at the memorial.

The following day, May 4, the commencement will begin at noon, where some students and members of the May 4 Task Force are scheduled to perform and speak as a part of the two hour commemoration ceremony. There will be a moment of silence and a ringing of the Victory Bell at 12:24 p.m., the time the shootings happened 53 years ago. 

“Looking forward, seeing our own students being featured as performers on that stage and as speakers on that stage, it’s true to our theme that we have adopted for May 4 commemorations going forward,” Canfora said. “And it’s the power of our voices.”

After the noon commemoration, there will be two film screenings with Q&As following in the KIVA. “Kent State: The Real Story” is being screened starting at 2:30 p.m. This film brings together the events of May 4, 1970 between the Ohio National Guard and the protesting students, the website stated. The second screening starts at 7 p.m. of “Fire in the Heartland.” The film focuses on the genesis of student activism on campus, the growing anti-war movements and the killing of students, the website stated.  

“May 4 will evolve with the times, and a big part of that has to be involving our students and what they want it to look like for them,” said Canfora. “I can imagine programming evolving and changing as students add their voices to the planning and make meaning of it for them.”

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