---------- 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.