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

70_05_13_Massiello

Kent State Shootings at Bowling Green State University
Bowling Green State University 70_05_13_Massiello

TEI Letters

2017 Mathew Sweet Created the initial version of the article
2017 Mathew Sweet Converted to TEI
Nichloas J. Massielo Ohio May 11, 1970 William T. Jerome
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May 11, 1970

President Jerome
B.G.S.U.Bowling Green State University
Bowling Green, Ohio 43402


Dear President Jerome:

As a taxpayer and father of a student attending your University,
it behooves me to inform you of my grave disappointment and
disgust in your Administration. As President of this
institution it is your duty to insure these student's their
education.

Colleges across the nation have been victims of violence and
disorder. Bowling GreenBowling Green State University, to this date, has been an exception
to this destructive behavior. Closing the University to
incorporate a work studies on Civil Rights is not the answer
to this crisis. Is it fair to the students who want to learn
or is it more important to appease the militant minority?
I realize a compromise must be met, but I do not feel
thousands of students should suffer to consequences of not
being able to complete the academic year.

Destruction and violence breeds decay. If you do decide to
close the University you are just as guilty as the students
running rampidrampant across the nation burning buildings and destroying
property. You are merely gratifying their "cries" and
encouraging their actions. Another factor to be considered
is the tremendous amount of money put into education. For
what? Not for students to demonstrate, rally, and protest,
and destroy property, but to guarantee the education these
students are so fortunate to receive.

A Concerned Parent and Taxpayer,

Nichloas J. Massielo
1809 Karen Drive
Euclid, Ohio 44117

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May 25, 1970

Mr. Nichloas J. Massiello
1809 Karen Drive
Euclid, Ohio 44117


Dear Mr. Massiello:

Your disappointment in my administration is shared by me and conse-
quently, I fired myself last fall! The fun of being a university president had
gone out of the job, largely because of the attitudes of parents, such as you,
who show so little understanding of what is happening on our university cam-
puses and in our nation as a whole.

The concept of a "militant minority" is a myth which we invent to escape
from our own shortcomings. Like you, "I do not feel thousands of students
should suffer the consequences of not being able to complete the academic year";
but given the lack of conviction and confidence of many young people today,
this is the price which they must pay for reasons too complex to go into here.

Your concern about the destruction of property I share too. As of this
moment, however, there has been no destruction or violence at Bowling GreenBowling Green State University.
I can't guarantee that this will continue but it does suggest that possibly our
students, working with our faculty, feel that they are being heard and are being
given a chance to fashion a better society.

Presumably you received a letter from me and from Mayor Skibbie giving
you a progress report on the situation here. Believe me I share your concern but
believe me, too, this university is a better one because of the agony of recent
weeks. Whether it will continue to be so will depend largely on parents and tax-
payers like you and the support given to my successor, Dr. Hollis A. Moore.

Thank you for writing and best wishes.

Cordially,

Wm. Travers Jerome III
President

WTJ:da