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

70_06_05_Buzzelli01

Kent State Shootings at Bowling Green State University
Bowling Green State University 70_06_05_Buzzelli01

TEI Letters

2017 Mathew Sweet Created the initial version of the article
2017 Mathew Sweet Converted to TEI
Mr. and Mrs. Buzzelli Ohio June 2, 1970 William T. Jerome
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6503 Marsel Road #227
Mayfield Hts., Ohio 44124

June 2nd, 1970

Anthony O. Calabrese, Senator
State of Ohio
Columbus, Ohio 42315


Dear Senator Calabrese:

Enclosed herein is a copy of a letter we received from Bowling Green
State University
, signed by Mr. Wm Jerome III, President, together with
Student and Faculty Respresentatives. Also a copy of a letter from
F. Gus Skibbie, Mayor of the City of Bowling Green. Both letters are self-
explanatory as to the conditions on the Campus and the surrounding
community.

These letters re-assured us that there are many conscientious, concerned
and earnest young men and women attending our Colleges to seriously obtain
an education to help themselves in finding answers to the various problems
facing our Nation in these trying days.

Violence did not rear its ugly head at Bowling Green UniversityBowling Green State University during
the month of May. Certainly the students, the faculty and the office of
Administration must have, all, cooperated in a tremenduous effort to keep
their Campus open and in a peaceful manner; even though there was much to
protest, plus the fact that,there too, they have the militant students
as there are at other Colleges.

In our opinion, Bowling Green UniversityBowling Green State University is deserving of recognition for
this great effort on their part. The Legislators and people of the State
of Ohio
should all join in to lend our moral support to help this valiant
University to accentuate the positive, as they have been doing in the past
few weeks, and not the negative.

Also enclosed is a copy of a speech delivered by Jerry Rubin, at Kent State
University
, shortly before riots broke out there and ended in such great
tragedy. It would seem to us, that too many such speeches are being pre-
sented to the College Students and not enough of the "positive" speeches
that would give the students an opportunity to make a proper and just
evaluation of the problems facing our Country today. To this extent, we
charge, that the Legislators, both State and National, have neglected our
young people. Your viewpoints, aims and aspirations should have been
presented to them. We don’t think that these serious, intelligent young
people would turn their backs to any legislator who would appear before
them with the Truth or "telling it as it is".

It is time now, for all Legislators, present and future ones, to address
themselves to these intelligent and concerned young people, who are the
"future of America". Let’s not let them fall prey to the prevalent

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Radicalism that seems to want the destruction of America and all its
institutions.

The Vietnam War, with all its new implications, is a horrible thing, not only
to those in College but also to us, the adults, who have been asked to sacrifice
much, most of all the lives of our dear sons plus our tax dollars, for such a
terrible waste of our resources. However, our College Youth have shown their
dissent in a more forceful manner than we, for, thankfully, they have the
"Courage of the Young".

The priorities, in this land of ours, are all misplaced. Before we try to
cure the ills in other parts of this world, we should try to"set our
own house straight". It should behoove us to correct all the inequities here
at home before expending all our resources in foreign lands, such as the
many healthy and intelligent young men, who have been killed and injured for
life together with the billions of dollars on Wars which never seem to
accomplish anything. There are so many, many other channels to direct these
resources for the betterment of our own people, here in America. If this
could be done, if we could practice as well as preach Brotherhood, we could
truly be known for our Humanitarianism, regain our self-respect plus that of
the rest of the world.

We send you all this for your serious thought and consideration with the hope
that you may find a way, NOW, before more riots, to address yourself, to give
assistance and courage to the serious, young people in Colleges throughout
our State and especially to those at Bowling Green UniversityBowling Green State University, who are so
valiantly striving to keep a peaceful and meaningful campus.

Respectfully yours,

Frank Buzzelli

Viola Buzzelli

FB/vb
cc to- Wm Jerome III, Pres.President Bowling Green State University
Roger Coate,Student V-Pres.Vice President for Academic Affairs
Archie H. Jones, Chrmn.Chariman Faculty Senate
John E. Thomas Student Member Academic Council
Clellia Buzzelli, our daughter, member of the Student Body.


*Note:-
A similar letter is being mailed to
Congressman Chas Vanik

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June 16, 1970

Mr, and Mrs, Frank V. Buzzelli
6503 Marsol Road, #227
Cleveland, Ohio 44124


Dear Mr. and Mrs, Buzzelli:

Thank you again for writing and enclosing a copy of your
fine letter to SenatorCalabrese. Your confidence is tremendously
encouraging to me and I cannot tell you how refreshing I find the
openness and understanding which some of our parents share in common
with you. It is my personal belief that the University has grown
in stature these past few weeks and I can turn over to my successor,
Dr. Hollis A. Moore, an institution of great promise and vitality.

Cordially,

Wm. Travers Jerome III
President
WTJ/kab