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Bulletin Board: Message Board
Message Subject: April 30 In U.S. College History
Posted By: MCKIERNAN, STEVE
Message Number: 23-1
Let us never forget what April 30 means in the history of higher
education. During these times when history is forgotten or seems to have
little impact, if known, on today's youth, let us not forget that on April
30, 1970, President Nixon announced to the American public that the
Cambodian invasion was in process. This announcement led to an increase in
massive protest on college campuses which led directly to student deaths on
May 4 at Kent State and several days later at Jackson State.
We must never forget those six students
who died on American soil. We must never forget what led to their deaths,
and we must always remember that these deaths were the result of strong
divisions in a society , divisions that are still strong today, but for
different reasons. No, I am not lost in a time warp, but we often overlook
important dates in higher education. Yes, it is nice to remember the good
times, which is most times, but college students should know that what
happened at Tiananmen Square in 1989 did indeed happen on American soil only
nineteen years earlier. As an administrator, I
always remember this date along with May 4 in my memories of life in higher
education. All college students should know these six student names not
because of the tragedy, but because of the lessens learned from this
tragedy. In this era when civility and community is a goal within most
university environments, let us make sure that people like Sandy Scheuer
(one of the slain students at Kent State) are not our own students due to
lack of communication or divisions within our midst. Remember, the
divisions at that time were obvious. They are more subtle today, and, this
is more dangerous. What happened at Kent State and Jackson State were the
result of poor communication between administration/students/elected
officials/public safety/police and the public at large. Though this event
seems lost in time, it should be remembered by all universities for the
lessons learned. The lesson learned is division can lead to violence where
communication is lost. Maybe someday universities will pay tribute to the
six students who died twenty-seven years ago in remembrance of their lost
potential, lost hopes, lost dreams and lost opportunities to be positive
change agents in society. In my own small way, I wanted to remember them on
April 30 because what happened on this day led to their deaths in the days
that followed. We must always remember how precious all student lives are,
especially in linkage with this important date in the history of higher
education, and, in fact, the history of this nation. Remember, these
students may have been fathers and mothers. And, their children would be
college students today. And with each student we have the potential to
witness positive change agents for the betterment of the society and the
world at large. I hope millions of boomers are remembering these six deaths
in 1970, and that this tragedy has been shared with their sons and
daughters, the college students of today.
