This is a report of an interview with Bernard Hall by Harold M. Mayer.

[Another recording can sometimes be heard in the background.]

[Harold M. Mayer]: This is a report of an interview with Dr. Bernard Hall, Associate Provost, held by Harold Mayer on June 24th. Dr. Hall reported that he was not present on the weekend of May 4th. He had left for Fresno, California and San Francisco on a combined vacation/business trip. The business in San Francisco was a meeting of the Dean Business Colleges. He reported that he had kept [unintelligible] with President White and Provost Harris and had been during the weekend.

And he first learned of the burning of the ROTC building on Sunday morning in Fresno. And so he traveled by the air to St. Paul. Upon learning of the burning, he immediately canceled his plans and made a reservation to return to Kent by air on Monday morning. He arrived in Kent and immediately received reports of the events of the weekend. The rest of the week was devoted to his involvement in planning for the–of the Spring Quarter because he believed, quite correctly, that the University operation could not be financed unless there was some assurance that the quarter could be finished. Following this, plans were begun for the reopening of the University during the summer and the fall.

Following this detailing of his schedule during the fatal weekend, we had a rather detailed discussion, relative to his understanding, and the general understanding of the [unintelligible] communicating among the top executives of [unintelligible] detailed in the administrators’ policy book. I called his attention to the memorandums from the president of the University dated December 1963, which was the latest memorandum I could find on the responsibilities during emergencies. Among this was a memorandum relating to student disturbances which indicates that in that respect, the Vice President of Student Affairs, now Dr. Matson, would be in charge of the [unintelligible] of the president. In the absence of the president, the vice president or provost is to take charge.

During the weekend of May 1st-4th, Dr. Harris, the Vice President Provost, was indisposed and there was some ambiguity that Dr. Matson was in charge. The question came up because of the associate [unintelligible] in essence, would he be in charge had he been present. The emergency authority and line of command in the administration policy book should be superseded by a more specific, up-to-date, and detailed directive provided by President White over the several years in which Dr. Hall has been associated with Kent State University and expressed great confidence in the president.




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