*For media planning purposes, Kent State University is providing the below information that outlines all planned events for the upcoming month related to the 50th commemoration of May 4. For the latest updates on events, visit www.kent.edu/may4kentstate50/event-schedule.
‘A Second Moon’ Exhibit – Opening Reception (March 5, 5-7 p.m., Center for the Visual Arts, Crawford Gallery)
War photojournalist and author Ben Brody is bringing his work to Kent State University through his exhibit, “A Second Moon.” The exhibit, curated by Moema Furtado, an installation artist and independent curator, runs from March 5-15 at the Crawford Gallery in the Center for Visual Arts located on the Kent Campus. During an opening reception beginning at 5 p.m. on March 5, guests will have the opportunity to hear Brody speak about his work and bid on one of his photographs during a silent auction. Proceeds from the auction will benefit photojournalism scholarships for Kent State students.
27th Kent State Philosophy Graduate Student Conference in Remembrance of May 4 (March 7, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Kent Student Center, Room 306)
Kent State’s Department of Philosophy has held a Philosophy Graduate Student Conference every year in memory of the events of May 4, 1970, since the inauguration of our graduate program in 1992–1993. The conference is open to all areas of philosophy, and conference participants come to Kent State from throughout North America.
Cleveland Chamber Choir Concert (March 7, 7:30 p.m., Kent United Church of Christ, 1400 E. Main St., Kent)
The Cleveland Chamber Choir will join Kent’s Theodore Roosevelt High School ChoralWorks in “We March On! Music of Social Justice,” a free concert commemorating the 50th anniversary of the May 4, 1970, shootings at Kent State. The choirs will perform music that illuminates injustice in the world and memorializes those who are working to make the world a better place. Works featured include Joel Thompson’s shocking “The Seven Last Words of the Unarmed” and music by British and American composers Ethyl Smyth (“Songs of Sunrise”), Linda Kachelmeier (“Each of Us”) and Catherine Dalton (“I Know a Woman,” a nod to the Rosa Parks story).
The Chamber Choir will also premiere a new commission by Natsumi Osborn of Oberlin College. For her piece “Legacy,” Osborn was deeply inspired by the poem of the same name by Megan Neville-Jellen, which draws moving imagery from the Pulitzer Prize-winning iconic photo of Mary Ann Vecchio screaming over the body of Kent State student Jeffrey Miller. A portion of the free-will donations will go toward Women For Women Ohio, in honor and memory of its founder Helen Tremaine Gregory, who also co-founded the Kent Choral Society. Women for Women Ohio is a nonprofit focused on supporting the education of girls in Cambodia.
Kent State Stark – How We Remember May 4 (March 11, 7 p.m., Kent State Stark, Main Hall Auditorium, 6000 Frank Ave. NW, North Canton)
This program will assess the commemorative history regarding the events surrounding May 4, 1970, at Kent State from a geographic perspective. Chris Post, Ph.D., a cultural and historical geographer, will present on geographic thought and analysis, which includes seeking an understanding of memorial landscapes and how they came to be, particularly by assessing where they are located, who controls their production and when/how they are produced. Post is an associate professor of geography. Tickets are not required.
Leading Through Tragedy (March 12, 6 p.m., Kent Student Center Kiva)
The event brings together leaders who were impacted by campus violence, such as Virginia Tech, Northern Illinois University and Chardon High School in Ohio. This panel discussion will be focused on how to effectively lead through the tragedy of school and campus violence. Panel members will bring their own unique perspectives and experiences and reflect on what we can do to help our communities when impacted by these tragic events.
Panelists include:
- John Peters – former president of Northern Illinois University
- Mark McNamee – former provost of Virginia Tech
- Andy Fetchik – former principal of Chardon High School
- Brian O. Hemphill - president of Radford University
The moderator of this panel is Beverly Warren, President Emeritus of Kent State.
Media Contacts:
Eric Mansfield, emansfie@kent.edu , 330-672-2797
Emily Vincent, evincen2@kent.edu, 330-672-8595
May 4, 50th Commemoration Project Manager:
Rod Flauhaus, rflauha1@kent.edu, 330-672-2423