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Special Collections and Archives
The Closing of the University · Keeping Kent Open
Special Collections and Archives
The Closing of the University · Keeping Kent Open
Students sitting and standing in a state of shock after the shootings, surrounded by the National Guard.
The Closing of the University
In response to the shootings that took place on May 4, 1970, President Robert White immediately ordered the University to close. It was then ordered by Portage County Prosecutor Ronald Kane through an injunction from Common Pleas Judge Albert Caris. Although the injunction was later modified to allow faculty and staff to return to campus, professors were tasked with helping students complete their course work remotely.
President White's Statement
In a statement made shortly after the shooting, President White announces the closure of the University for the rest of the week. He says that this is “to permit investigation and to provide for the full restitution of the University’s program.”
The Injunction
Below are the legal documents regarding the injunction which officially closed university operations on May 4, 1970, until further notice. It was later modified to allow students, faculty, and staff to enter the University School and university faculty to return to campus weekdays from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. beginning May 11, 1970.
