SPRING/SUMMER 2020 P.O. Box 5190 • Kent, OH 44242-0001 University Communications and Marketing 101188 KENT STATE MAGAZINE Electronic Service Requested “...we will act with kindness 50 Years On and respect in all we do.” From the roots of tragedy have grown tolerance and – Todd Diacon, PhD respect for opposing views. President, Kent State University SEE PAGES 12-27 CONTENTS Take Note SPRING/SUMMER 2020 On the cover: May 4 50th Commemoration. See pages 12-27. “In these uncertain times”—we’ve lost count 28 of how often we’ve seen that phrase in recent COVER ART: JOHN-NOALL REID, BA ’98 FEATURES weeks. The coronavirus crisis grew into a global pandemic as we were putting together 04 Perspective on a Pandemic this issue, and suddenly we were washing our Tara C. Smith, PhD, professor of epidemiology at Kent State, hands repeatedly and working remotely. says lessons learned from the influenza pandemic of 1918 are As announcements of cancellations and 21 postponements came in, we had to adapt, informing the response to the current COVID-19 crisis. adding and cutting content when necessary. 14 May 4 50th Commemoration Although there wasn’t room for everything and We reflect on how the university memorialized this tragic everyone we had hoped to cover in the print event, receive an update on the nine who were wounded, version, please check out the online version of recall the lives of the four who were slain, and round up some the magazine for more stories and links. digital projects that are helping educate a new generation. And to reflect on the meaning of May 4 for 14 Memorials of May 4 today, may we refer you to the final page of 18 Where the Nine Wounded are Now This We Know: A Chronology of the Shootings 21 Remembering the Lives of the Four at Kent State, May 1970, by Carole A. Barbato, Slain Students Laura L. Davis, and Mark F. Seeman (2012, The 24 Making Use of the May 4 Collection Kent State University Press), adapted below: 25 Mapping May 4 “The shootings at Kent State on May 4, 1970 26 Listening to the Voices of May 4 spurred the largest student strike in US history; 27 Visiting May 4 Sites through changed American’s consciousness about the Augmented Reality Vietnam War; encouraged Congress to lower the voting age to 18 and begin to withdraw 28 Becoming a Scholar and Storyteller funding for the war; changed Ohio National Aidan Taylor’s research on the role black students at Kent 04 Guard regulations so that nonlethal weapons State played in social movements prior to and after May 4, were carried for campus disturbances; set a 1970 informed a documentary and gave him a new direction. precedent in the US Supreme Court, allowing public officials acting in the capacity of their 30 The Funky WinkerBEAT office to be brought to trial for their actions; A collaboration between two alumni gives a classic comic remind us of the importance of protecting the strip a current update and highlights an innovative program rights of the First Amendment; show us the that’s training middle school and high school students to need to communicate effectively and respect become “backpack” journalists. differences; and demonstrate that young people can make a difference.” DEPARTMENTS Young people can make a difference. 02 Readers Respond 34 Alumni Life We know that only too well at Kent State, and we continue to work every day to ensure that 06 Flash Forward 48 Flashback more young people have access to higher 12 President’s 49 Giving Voice education and opportunities to explore the Perspective 14 world and themselves. Stay safe and be well. DIRECTOR, CONTENT STRATEGY STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS 26 Jen Lennon Bob Christy, BS ’95 Squirrel Search Rami Daud EDITOR In each issue, we hide an image of a black Jan Senn WEBSITE squirrel on three pages (not counting the [email protected] www.kent.edu/magazine CHAIR, BOARD OF TRUSTEES Ralph Della Ratta Table of Contents). If you find all three, DESIGNER CORRESPONDENCE Karen Hurguy Kent State Magazine, 160 ASB PRESIDENT you qualify for a drawing to win a squirrel- P.O. Box 5190, Kent, Ohio 44242 Todd A. Diacon, PhD themed prize. Each squirrel will appear like STAFF CONTRIBUTORS [email protected] Lisa Abraham 330-672-2727 INTERIM VICE PRESIDENT this: (shown actual size and will not Morgan Anglin, BS ’20 FOR UNIVERSITY RELATIONS be distorted or rotated). Macy Kittelberger, BS ’20 Kent State Magazine is published by Kent Rebecca Murphy Lindsay Kuntzman Hilewick, BA ’06, MA ’09 State University Communications and When you find them, send us an email at Stephanie Langguth, BS ’03, MPA ’19 Marketing. It is mailed free to faculty, staff, INTERIM SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT [email protected], listing the three page April McClellan-Copeland alumni, donors and friends of the university AND PROVOST Julie Miller, BS ’87 two times a year (fall/winter, spring/summer). Melody Tankersley, PhD numbers and places they appear, plus your Bethany Sava, BS ’12 name and mailing address. For rules and Phil Soencksen, BS ’89 Printed by Angstrom Graphics, Cleveland, Ohio SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT FOR Ashley Whaley, BS ’06, MEd ’12 FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION eligibility requirements see www.kent.edu/ Mark M. Polatajko, PhD magazine/rules. Good luck! CIII | KENT STATE MAGAZINE 30 readers RESPOND Editor’s Note: According to the quiz, we forget?” and I figured I’d let you know Editor’s Note: Turns out, settling the “correct” answer to question 6 (“What that you forgot the Trumbull Campus! on a date for Homecoming is a little The book pictured, And Now You Know year marked the first time a freshman B. NICOLE PERRY, AAS ’13, BS ’14, MEd ’18 complicated. First, the final home schedule And the WINNER is... Kent, Ohio Too! The story of how the black squirrel class was not issued dinks?) was D) has to be confirmed with the National Congratulations to co-winners Stacy 1969, and the answer stated, “The dinks Collegiate Athletic Association and the came to Kent, is by Kathy Frazier, Editor’s Note: So sorry about that! (Fisher) MacGregor, BBA ’90, tradition ended in 1968.” At least, that’s Mid-American Conference. BA ’70, MA ’75, EdS ’81, and Last year we had students reach out Dublin, Ohio, and her son, Lachland, what we thought! That year appears in Once dates are solidified, multiple Deborah Walker, MA ’78. to all the Kent State campuses, but we who is 9 years old and in the fourth the caption of a photo on Kent State’s parties at the university—including The three black squirrels hidden never received an answer from Kent grade. The two teamed up for the Digital Archives, titled “Freshmen in Dinks” institutional advancement, athletics, in the fall/winter 2019-20 issue are State Trumbull. Since the story didn’t run squirrel search and were “totally (https://omeka.library.kent.edu/ student affairs and government and found on page 7 (on the stand in the until many months later, in the rush of stoked” when their names were special-collections/items/show/489), community relations—meet together glass blowing photo), page 25 (in the deadlines I forgot that we hadn’t heard selected in the random drawing of which includes this description: to determine a date for Homecoming dark curly hair near the headset band back from Trumbull, and no one noticed correct submissions. “According to A Book of Memories, ‘Small that works best for the university, in on Oden Oraelosi’s head) and page 34 the omission on the proofs. “We loved reading the book and all blue-and-gold skullcaps called “dinks” coordination with the city of Kent. (in the top right photo, between the When I asked B. Nicole Perry to of the other black squirrel goodies,” were part of Kent State’s tradition of As of press time, because of the curb and the 1969 Oldsmobile). share what fun items she would list, says Stacy MacGregor, pictured at right freshman hazing until 1968.’” pandemic, the date of Homecoming is she responded: “It’s been a little while with Lachland and squirrel-themed We reached out to Special Collections now on hold. Thanks to all who entered! since I’ve been to the Trumbull Campus, swag from McKay Bricker Framing & and Archives staff, who did more digging. so I apologize if any of these things are Black Squirrel Gifts in downtown Kent. Page 20 of A History of Kent State outdated: Read a copy of Trumbull’s art University: Nearing a Century of Kent via INSTAGRAM and poetry magazine, ICON. Play a game Pride by William H. Hildebrand, Professor a quiz answer that said the last year the of pool in the Student Union lounge. Visit Categorical Acclaim via EMAIL Emeritus of English, states, “Another Dink Date Debate freshman dink beanie was issued was the Link Art Gallery. Attend a free theatre I found myself recognized in the Kent State Over the weekend, I was with a group of tradition ended, in 1967, when freshman 1968. I was “lucky” to still get mine in 1969 workshop at the Trumbull Theatre.” Magazine, which is pretty cool [fall/winter Reflecting on May 4, 1970 KSU alumni, and we used the KSU trivia wore dinks for the last time.” and still have it! [See photo below.] We added her items to the online 2019-20, “Class Notes,” page 40]. Those President Diacon’s comments on the 50th quiz [fall/winter 2019-20, “So You Think An article, “Many Old Kent State Go Flashes! bucket list, (www.kent.edu/magazine/ who know me well know that my years anniversary of May 4, 1970 are reflective You Know Kent State?” page 15] as a group Traditions Now Defunct,” in The Daily MIKE COTHREN, BFA ’73 news/check-it), and if other Kent State going to school at Kent State University and somber [fall/winter 2019-20, “A game.