Bruno Ast, who designed Kent State University's May 4 Memorial as a place of reflection and remembrance, has died at age 88. The architect won a national competition in 1986 to create the memorial, which was dedicated on May 4, 1990, as part of the 20th commemoration of the day four students were killed and nine wounded by Ohio National Guardsmen who opened fire during an anti-war demonstration.The memorial, which overlooks the Commons on the Kent Campus, is constructed of carnelian granite, a stone associated with strength and time. The memorial is surrounded by 58,175 daffodils, the num...

Kent State Today will be following a group of Golden Flashes for the 2025-26 academic year, chronicling their efforts and successes during the fall and spring semesters. The group of students is at various places in their Kent State University academic careers and will share their experiences throughout the year as they take part in our distinctive programs, research and global experiences. When Kent State University senior Julia Michalak was in elementary school and middle school in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, the idea of going to gym class made her sick to her stomach. Born with a m...