After the Kent State Shootings: Bowling Green State University's Reaction

70_05_07_Cole01

Kent State Shootings at Bowling Green State University
Bowling Green State University 70_05_07_Cole01

TEI Letters

2017 Mathew Sweet Created the initial version of the article
2017 Mathew Sweet Converted to TEI
David R. Cole Ohio May 7, 1970 William T. Jerome
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Apt. 1001, 166 Carlton St. East
Toronto 225, Ontario


May 7, 1970.

The President,
White House,
Washington, D.C.,
U.S.A.


Dear Mr. President:

How do I express to you the deep sorrow and help-
lessness I feel at learning about the deaths of
four Kent StateKent State University students at the hands of the United
States
National Guard
?

I was a student and now hold a degree from Bowling
Green State
Bowling Green State University
not too far away and so I feel a certain
closeness to the people of Ohio and the young there.
I was privileged to teach some of these young people
and found them much like students from other parts
of the United States and Canada. I have attended
four different universities and lectured at three,
and I am sure that those whom I am fortunate to have
among my friends and associates, are representative
of at least twenty-five or thirty universities in
Canada and the United States. While I may not al-
ways agree with their views or they with mine or
with their actions or attitudes, I must say that I
always respect them, and respect those even more,
who are open and courageous enough to hold opinions
and engage in action which while perhaps unpopular,
is at least challenging and stimulating.

I was particularly unhappy with your recent state-
ments about American college youth who were in dissent
with the United States Government, as "Bums". You
contrasted their behaviour with the young who are
daily being asked to give their lives in a war which
is not only unpopular within your own country, but
is viewed coolly by your world allies and friends
as well. But the reaction today by yourself and
your Vice-President to the tragic slayings of the
students at Kent State
, left me with a strange sense
of anger, futility and alarm. Surely these young
people and the other youth in the United States who
are so bold as to stand before armed and trained
troops and thwart them, must be seen as the height
of courage and willingness to defend, what are viewed
at least, as individual rights. It is really not

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Apt. 1001, 166 Carlton St. East
Toronto 225, Ontario

courage alone of course, but also a momentary act
of stupidity.

How very tragic. Only in the United States is the
concept of personal freedom and right so strongly
and thoroughly conditioned. And only in the United
States
will those who have really begun to believe
in this concept, apparently continue to die for it
in their own country, without ever understanding
why.

You are as a society, as a country, and as a people,
too ready to fight for what you believe is right.
The four students at Kent StateKent State University were only doing what
they have been taught to do: to stand up and fight
for what they believe.... as though it were a ciga-
rette commercial. The Guardsmen who shot them down
were doing what they too have been taught. Fight.
And the biggest man and the second biggest man in
the country, when asked to comment, came out fight-
ing too.

But the real tragedy is seen in the response of the
people of Ohio who it appears generally do not
question the right of the National Guard to slay
United States citizens in their own country for
civil disobedience and active dissent. Rather, the
people of Ohio questioned how these "nice kids"
could be involved and seemed to accept the principle
that it is right and just to kill those who are
actively in dissent and causing a disturbance.

Who is wrong here? You are all wrong. The actions
of students I can understand because they have done
as they were taught and are young and "stupid". The
Guardsmen did as they were told and were stupid.
The failure of the people of Ohio to understand that
it is wrong to kill demonstrators whether or not
they are "nice Kids", or to recognize the implica-
tions of this precedent for their democratic ways
of life, I do not understand. Their actions are
alarming and indicate some frightening aspects about
those you have termed the "silent majority".

But you, sir, are the top man. You are supposed to
be the leader, and the leader doesn't have to fight.
And so you are most accountable for your actions.

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Apt. 1001, 166 Carlton East
Toronto 225, Ontario


And for not setting an example for your youth and
your citizenry to emulate, you sir, are most wrong.

May I make a plea on behalf of the United States'
silent majority. Would you sir begin to consider
the process of compromise? Perhaps if you begin
to set an example as a flexible, understanding, and
accepting leader, there may be a chance for your
democratic system. Your current rigid, punitive
and defensive attitude can lead only to greater
conflict within and without the United States. The
time to re-think and re-vitalize your democratic
philosophies and ensure greater citizen input in
Government is long overdue.

I have attached a copy of my vita to indicate that
I am not a "bum" although I do not support the United
States
' war effort, and that indeed, since I do not
write letters like this or take part in demonstra-
tions, must therefore in fact be one of the "silent
majority". If I have become an activist or leftist
by writing this letter, an indication of my dissent,
and by exercising a freedom of speech right, ... so
be it. Here in Canada we would say that I am parti-
cipating in democracy. The forms of that participa-
tion are changing, and Government's response in Canada,
fortunately, is changing too. We have learned from
some of the problems of the United States. Perhaps
it is time that you learn something from us that you
have helped us to learn for ourselves.

Respectfully,

David R. Cole

cc. Rt. Hon. Pierre Elliot Trudeau
Hon. Robert Welch, M.P.P.
Sen. R. Fulbright
Ambassador to Canada
Ambassador to United States
Governor of Ohio
President, Bowling Green State University.

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David R. Cole,
Assistant Director,
Citizenship Branch,
Department of the Provincial Secretary
and Citizenship
,
20 Spadina Road,
Toronto 179, Ontario.

Birthplace and Date: Windsor, Ontario, August 24, 1937.

Academic Degrees: B.A. (Honours Psychology) Assumption
University of Windsor, May, 1961.
M.A. (Sociology) Bowling Green State
University, Ohio, August, 1962.
M.A. (Psychology) University of Windsor,
October 1964.
University of Waterloo, 1966-67. (Clinical
Doctoral Program incompleted).

Academic Honours: Atkinson Foundation Bursary, 1957.
Assumption University of Windsor Award,
1960 .
Teaching Assistantship, Bowling Green State
University, 1961-62.
Ontario Graduate Fellowship, 1964, 1966-67,
1967-68.
Alpha Kappa Delta, National Sociology Honor
Society, 1962.

University Teacher: Teaching Assistant, Bowling Green State
University, 1961-62.
Lecturer, University of Windsor, Department
of Sociology and Anthropology, August, 1962-
August, 1964.
Sessional Lecturer, University of Waterloo,
1967.

Consultant in Child Development and Family Dynamics: Children's Aid Society of Essex County,
1959-61, 1963-64.
Psychology Department - Catholic Children's
Aid Society, Metropolitan Toronto,
September, 1964-68.
‘Consultant - Lynwood Hall Centre for
Children, 1967.
Consultant - Waterloo County Children's Aid
Society, 1967.
Consultant in Special Treatment - Catholic
Children's Aid Society of Metropolitan
Toronto, 1968 - Present.

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May 27, 1970

Mr. David R. Cole
Apt. 1001
166 Carlton Street, East
Toronto 225, Ontario
Canada


Dear Mr. Cole:

Thank you for sharing with me your letter of May 7 addressed to President
Nixon
. As in most tragic situations, everyone can share liberally in the assign-
ment of responsibility. Clearly our country still has a lot of soul-searching to
undergo. Our universities, however, must also accept considerable responsi-
bility for their own inadequacies.

Though we were fortunate with the response of our faculty and students at
Bowling GreenBowling Green State University, I am afraid the days ahead may be difficult ones.

Cordially,

Wm. Travers Jerome III
President

WTJ:da