In a quiet, wooded area in front of Taylor Hall on the Kent Campus sits the May 4 Memorial. Made of carnelian granite to symbolize strength and time, the memorial overlooks Blanket Hill, the site of unexpected violence that forever transformed the university, the state and the nation. Keeping its own silent vigil, it welcomes visitors and challenges them to contemplate the gravity of the tragic events of May 4, 1970, with three engraved words: “Inquire, Reflect, Learn.”
Over the years, ɫҹ University has sought to preserve the legacy of the four students who were killed that day, the nine who were wounded and the many others who witnessed and were impacted by the shootings. There are several scholarships dedicated to May 4, 1970. Four were established in 2020 to mark the 50th commemoration of the tragedy, one for each of those who lost their lives, Allison Krause, Jeffrey Miller, Sandra “Sandy” Scheuer and William “Bill” Schroeder. Others promote advocacy or majors in peace and conflict studies.
Padraigin O’Flynn, ’19, received the May 4th Memorial Honors Scholarship during her time at ɫҹ. Originally from Stow, Ohio, Padraigin had grown up hearing the story of May 4, 1970, which made the scholarship especially meaningful.
“Knowing I was able to move forward with my education because of people who stood up for what was right and in the face of grave danger just meant so much. I think it
shaped my motivation that I went into Kent with,” she explained. “I really wanted to make sure that I was able to use that degree to make a difference.”
Padraigin remained steadfast to that aspiration, studying to earn dual bachelor’s degrees in economics and political science. Her scholarship also allowed her to delve into meaningful opportunities, serving as a member of Model NATO, where she and fellow students represented various countries within NATO as diplomats to negotiate, debate and resolve international conflicts. She participated in the Washington Program in National Issues, a 15-week immersive experience in Washington, D.C.
A member of the Honors College, Padraigin conducted field research and completed an honors thesis on peace practices in Palestine and Northern Ireland. She also participated in the Summer Undergraduate Research Experience, through which she gained valuable skills.
Now, as senior policy advisor to the domestic abuse commissioner in London, England, Padraigin works with domestic abuse survivors and advocates on their behalf. She advises government officials on policy changes to better protect individuals and prevent harm, and she credits her time at ɫҹ with developing skills that contribute to her current role, including the proper way to formulate an argument and conduct research that provides supporting evidence.
Grace Powers, a senior majoring in both environmental studies and peace and conflict studies, also received a scholarship honoring the legacy of May 4 – The Allison Krause May 4 Endowed Scholarship.
“It was definitely very special, especially getting the scholarship in Allison’s name,” Grace explained. “The amount of research I’ve done around it and the knowledge that I have now – she is someone that I look up to. She had a positive and uplifting spirit to her. I think about her a lot in the work that I do.”
Like Padraigin, Grace was involved in the Summer Undergraduate Research Experience. She worked with two ɫҹ professors, Sara Koopman, Ph.D., and Jennifer Mapes, Ph.D., on Mapping May 4, a website that connects oral histories with the locations where those stories would have taken place. She sorted through old photos and created a tour for the website, working past summer to continue assisting with the project.
Grace also studied away during her time at ɫҹ. She joined Sarah Schmidt, Ph.D., assistant professor of political science, on study abroad trips to Mexico and Canada, where she studied indigenous food systems and food sovereignty. She also participated in the Columbus Program in State Issues. The scholarship support helped make those experiences possible.
After graduation, Grace hopes to take all that she has learned to improve her community, perhaps working with nonprofit organizations or running for public office. She wants to “be somebody who can help makes things happen and connects networks of people.”
While Padraigin and Grace experienced these opportunities through donor-supported scholarships, the donors feel connected to the funds they support as well. For Nora Jacobs, ’73, supporting the May 4th Honors Memorial Scholarship was a way to give back to the university and to honor the memories of those who were killed and injured that day.
Nora was a freshman at the time of the May 4, 1970, shootings. She was also enrolled in the Honors College, a transformative experience that taught her how to think clearly, speak articulately and write convincingly – all skills she used throughout her career.
“The education at ɫҹ was a huge influence on my entire career,” she said. “I owe the university a great debt for everything it helped me to achieve, especially being a part of the Honors College. That was really impactful.”
Nora lived in the residence halls reserved for honors students, along with Allison Krause, one of the students killed in the shootings. Another student, one who was injured, was a high school classmate of Nora’s.
“May 4 was a watershed event both for the university and for the country,” Nora explained. “It was an event that tested this country’s adherence to the basic tenets of democracy. To have students protesting and suddenly be shot and killed for doing that, it was shocking for that to happen. I’ve always felt it was important that we not lose track of it and forget how important it was.”
As ɫҹ seeks to honor the core tenets engraved on the memorial, we see our community bringing them to bear in their own ways.
Padraigin’s work often aligns with the memorial’s prompt to inquire. She questions the current status quo for victims of domestic abuse and works to create a safer, stronger community through policy change.
Grace is most drawn to the concept of reflection, recognizing that sometimes you must sit in the uncertainty of a situation to consider different perspectives.
And for Nora, her support inspires others to remember the tragedy, and to learn about it and from it.