Kent State in Context

Abstract

The year 2020 marked the fiftieth anniversary of the May 4th tragedy at Kent State University. This article reviews the use of the National Guard in campus disorders from 1965 through June 1970 in order to identify factors that contributed to its effectiveness and to the likelihood of Guard violence. The Guard was most successful in dealing with disorders that most resembled urban riots earlier in the 1960s. The Guard was successful in controlling more complex situations only when the official enforcement code was altered to suit the unique situation of the campus. The difficulties the Guard encountered at Kent State are seen to be typical of the campus unrest incidents of that period where the campus was kept open, while the unjustifiable Guard violence at Kent State was quite exceptional.