May 4 Task Force

In 1975 the Kent State University administration stopped their sponsorship and support of the annual commemoration programs held on May 4, saying they were no longer needed. That same year the May 4 Task Force was founded by Kent State students. They felt that the truth about what happened in May 1970 had yet to be told and that the lessons to be learned from the tragedy should be part of a continuous and living history. Since 1975 it has been the purpose of the M4TF to raise the level of awareness of students, faculty and the general public about the May 1970 shootings and the history of subsequent related events.

The May 4 Task Force is a student-led organization dedicated to the memory of May 4, 1970, and to shedding light on the injustices that followed, through educational events and activism focusing on what May 4 means to students now.

For 44 years (1975-2019) the May 4 Task Force planned the May 4 Commemoration and hosted fall and spring forums on topics related to May 4. In 2020, the May 4 Task Force was represented on the 50th Commemoration Advisory Committee and helped in the planning of the 50th Commemoration.

We thank all of the former and current members of the May 4 Task Force for their commitment to never letting us forget the events May 4, 1970. Below is a list of May 4 Task Force chairs over the past 45 years.

Year/Commemoration	Chair	Co-Chair
1975-1976 6^thCommemoration	Bob Hart	Maureen Staunton Steve Timinsky
1976-1977 7^th Commemoration	Craig Blazinski	NA
1977-1978 8^th Commemoration	Craig Blazinski	Sarah Wilkins
1978-1979 9^th Commemoration	Mike Sorohan	Jim Brand
1979-1980 10^th Commemoration	Kevin Gardner	Mary Ellen Kowalski
1980-1981 11^th Commemoration	Kevin Gardner	NA
1981-1982 12^th Commemoration	Lorrie Tenos	Jeff McVann
1982-1983 13^th Commemoration	Jeff McVann	NA
1983-1984 14^th Commemoration	Betsy Ricksecker	NA
1984-1985 15^th Commemoration	Rod Flauhaus	NA
1985-1986 16^th Commemoration	Lisa Sanders	NA
1986-1987 17^th Commemoration	Bob Edgar	Lisa Sanders
1987-1988 18^th Commemoration	Joe Gregor	NA
1988-1989 19^th Commemoration	Carl DeVaughn	Fran Messer
1989-1990 20^th Commemoration	Andrea Whitaker	Peter Scott
1990-1991 21^st Commemoration	Lara Bauer	Andrea Whitaker
1991-1992 22^nd Commemoration	Lara Bauer	NA
1992-1993 23^rd Commemoration	Samantha Carver	NA
1993-1994 24^th Commemoration	Samantha Carver	Gary Daniels
1994-1995 25^th Commemoration	Stephanie Campbell	Samantha Carver
1995-1996 26^th Commemoration	Wendy Semon	Liz Hatton
1996-1997 27^th Commemoration	Steve Skovensky	Wendy Semon
1997-1998 28^th Commemoration	Meredith Edgar-Bailey	Wendy Semon
1998-1999 29^th Commemoration	Meredith Edgar-Bailey	Kim Larson
1999-2000 30^th Commemoration	Jeffery Ritter	Michelle Touve-Holland
2000-2001 31^st Commemoration	Kelley Gorbett	Michelle Touve-Holland
2001-2002 32^nd Commemoration	Kelley Gorbett	Laura Haring
2002-2003 33^rd Commemoration	Adria Crannell	Seth Kujat
2003-2004 34^th Commemoration	Adria Crannell	Jim Mueller
2004-2005 35^th Commemoration	Sarah Lund-Goldstein	Tayrn Leggett
2005-2006 36^th Commemoration	Kevin Heade	Tayrn Leggett
2006-2007 37^th Commemoration	John Behnken	NA
2007-2008 38^th Commemoration	John Powers	Stephanie Vincent
2008-2009 39^th Commemoration	John Powers	NA
2009-2010 40^th Commemoration	Krista Napp	Nora Rodriquez
2010-2011 41^st Commemoration	Krista Napp	Ashton Potter
2011-2012 42^nd Commemoration	Ashton Potter	Jesse Denton
2012-2013 43^rd Commemoration	Ashton Potter	Jesse Denton
2013-2014 44^th Commemoration	Ashley Manning	Dylan Dyblik
2014-2015 45^th Commemoration	Ashley Manning	Monica Perlzak
2015-2016 46^th Commemoration	Janet Malaime	Ashley Manning
2016-2017 47^th Commemoration	Brandon Mallon	Alyssa Gage
2017-2018 48^th Commemoration	Alyssa Gage	Amber Gerdeman
2018-2019 49^th Commemoration	Maddie Camp	NA
2019-2020 50^th Commemoration	Ethan Lower	NA

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