[Hayes]: Congressman Jay William Stanton had a meeting today to discuss the problems at Kent State University as a result of the early May disruptions and also to look to the future of the University. Dr. White, I wonder if during the course of your meeting with the congressmen he was able to give any support to your request for a federal commission to investigate the disruption at Kent.

[Robert I. White]: Congressman Stanton, definitely, was able to give support. From the very beginning, he has been a close ally of this effort to secure a high level–the highest possible level of investigating commission at the federal level, with subpoena powers which would produce its evidence, clarify matters of conflict, quote witnesses, and do all the other things necessary to establish public credibility to its conclusions and its report.

As I understand it, Congressman Stanton will introduce tomorrow in the Congress, a joint resolution which will carry more than 100 signatures. As I understand it, the largest number of signatures to a joint resolution for many years. This ought to constitute a request, shall I say, a demand, which the White House should not ignore. Congressman Stanton indicated also that there are continuing hints, I think hints is the right word, from the White House that, before the week is out, there should be a top-level announcement concerning this request of ours. In my opinion, so far as Kent State University is concerned and indeed all the higher education in the nation, such an inquiry is desperately needed because otherwise we are going to be thrown back upon the results of numerous special interests, inquiries, and biased studies. Our reports will be subject to public dismay or public concern. So far as I’m concerned, and I’m sure so far as the staff and faculty at Kent State University are concerned, we are not at all fearful of whatever might come from such an investigation. If it shows that there were mistakes made, we will be only too glad to hear of them. I find that the Congressman Stanton is deeply aware, very knowledgeable, about the things that concern the college and university student in America today; that he is of a absolutely objective mood in these regards; that he carries nothing of the initial biases of repressive legislation, or of exculpatory maneuvers; that he sincerely joins in an effort to be of help in constructive forward movement.

[Hayes]: I’m quite certain that as a result of our problems of a few weeks ago, the national relationships of the University have changed considerably. Did the Congressman give you any viewpoint from Washington as to how we’re viewed or what effect this might have on the future of the University?

[Robert I. White]: I think, Mr. Hayes, that this leads into something of a very short summary statement with regard to how Kent State University stands at the moment. We have–I think this University now possess a unique and novel opportunity, which in my opinion it ought to seize and seize quickly. This is a view which I know is shared by the leadership of our faculty, and I hope by the leaders of our student body, and to that extent, we’re going to move ahead fast and hard.

The first conclusions after May 4, would be that Kent State University was irreparably damaged, that it was mortally injured. With those opinions, I, today, do not agree. Certainly, we have major harm, yes. But to the extent that we’re going to lie down on our backs and hold up the white flag, no. I think it ought to be understood that KSU was not responsible as an institution for what happened. As I see it, and I submit that this is my personal view, which I state with full recognizance, but I can be criticized for it. The evidence, so far as it’s now shaping, will show some things. First, that there was a clear cut and classic instance of outsiders planning and manipulating a series of events, outsiders who did not care a hoot about Cambodia, but who saw in it the trigger to open the door, and indeed, so far as that’s concerned, I share with them in the sinking feeling with which I heard about President Nixon’s announcements of Thursday, April 30. In addition, we had added to this [unintelligible (00:06:54)] a seeming cesspool downtown situation which accentuated the situation. A further trigger, a further unhappy circumstance of unfortunate incoordinations in intelligence and planning between other law enforcement agencies and the campus security, all of which were added to the fact of thousands, I say thousands of deeply concerned University students who felt that the Cambodia decision was a–well at the very least, a most unfortunate decision. All of these set in motion a tragic sequence, which moved from point to point. Somehow there’s a Greek tragedy. And in saying this, I’m not casting stones. There was preliminary rioting and destruction in the downtown area. There were subsequent aggravations in the military presence on campus, which in itself, might have been enough, but which was coupled with some surrounding inflammatory statements, which added to, which enhanced, shall I say, the opportunity to those who sought an opportunity to bring down the University. Some place along the line, there were breaks in the human chain of circumstances. We’re going to have to rely on the full story as it’s reviewed later on to show where those breaks in the human chain were.

Nevertheless, we’re now engaged, we’re now part of a problem, which is statewide and national, a problem which in Ohio is going to require the universities cooperate in a study and in the making of recommendations to the general assembly. But I want to say that, so far as Kent State University is concerned on its own initiative, it will do its part and is now starting to step out on its own. It may be that there will be some legislation at the statewide level which could be helpful without transgressing on basic rights. We have to admit also that we are not our own complete masters. That much of which we’d like to do will depend upon state implementation and that beyond doubt, we will have some financial hurts.

Nevertheless, I have been, and I’m sure I share this with many of the rest of us, I have been ever so pleased to find a rallying by many friends. By friends from within the community, from in the alumni, from within the campus. There has been an expression of a commitment by both students and faculty, a commitment to non-violence, a commitment to orderly process, a commitment to the future of the University. It has been, I don’t know how to put this into words, but it’s hard to describe the feeling with which one has seen. The administrative organization, the faculty organization, including the faculty senate, and the student voice, both go to work and to express itself. And, so far as I’m concerned, I want to say that those efforts are not going to go unnoticed or without being taken advantage of for the moment.

Finally, there has been expressed a creativity on many parts. And it’s this creativity we want to seize. So far as the community of Kent is concerned, many of us are at work to heal this very deep time gone split which became so apparent several weeks ago, and, perhaps, reasonably so. There is much air cleaning to be done. There is much to be done in the way of developing closer integration with organizations. But, believe me, we’re going to do it.

I think particular attention, I think, not only particular, but emphatic attention, ought to be given to the resolution by the faculty senate of several days ago dealing with non-violence. In this resolution the faculty senate, in terms which are rigid, which are unmistakably clear, expressed its distaste of violence, and gave a clear signal that the University ought to institute sanctions which will make it impossible for any member of this community, of the campus community, to engage in violence and still remain a member of the campus community. There’s no question of that, it is as clear cut and forward looking a statement as I have seen. I think too we ought to call attention to the fact that there has been an announcement of what one might call a congress. A congress of some fifty persons, proudly representative of faculty, the students, and students and staff, dealing with the twin problems of a commitment to violence, a commitment to non-violence–excuse me–and the designation of processes, which will guarantee that commitment under a charge to be accomplished by June 15. So that by a week from then, we can open our summer session with no concern.

Out of it all, I see a Kent State University which is going to add to itself a role. A role which will be national and even international, a role which will be truly unique among all other institutions. I don’t know how to express it in words, one might put it somewhat like this: This is where it happened. This is where it ends and shall never happen again. Dedications to the study of non-violence. Dedications to the development of peace and brotherhood. Dedications to the study of orderly development of uniform community resolutions and matters of that sort. In summary, this University is not done by any means. We are all at work and out of it will eventually come a better Kent State University, one which will genuinely and honestly attract the allegiance of its alumni, its students, and its faculty.  

[Hayes]: Thank you very much Dr. White. I know that within all parts of the community, both the University community and the city and county, there has been great concern over the future of the University. I know that I speak for all when I say that we appreciate very much the very positive remarks that you’ve made concerning the future of Kent State University and we thank you for being with us.

[End of recording] ×