WKU Archives

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Creation Date

5-1970

Description

Dero Downing on the steps of Wetherby Administration Building addressing the students.

Strike Western! was WKU's student response to the shooting at Kent State University May 4, 1970. Here is a timeline of events:

Tuesday, May 5 - Rally notices for Wednesday appeared

Wednesday, May 6

  • Meeting on Plaza, 11:00 to 1:00
  • Strike Western shirts appeared
  • Delegation visited President Dero Downing and Paul Cook. Group included: Braxton Crenshaw, Don Offutt, Billie Warford, ? Crumbacker a black woman from Milwaukee.
  • Vigil in stadium 6:30 p.m.
  • Wendell Ford addressed students 7:30 p.m.
  • Newman Center 8:45 p.m.

Thursday, May 7

  • Bullhorns issued to student group
  • Meeting on Plaza 10:30 to 1:00
  • Marched around campus, entered 4th floor of Grise Hall, also marched partially around Diddle Arena. Dan Sellers one of the main student leaders.
  • Dero Downing spoke to group from steps of the Wetherby Administration Building.
  • University issued statement

Friday, May 8

  • Met on lawn by Wetherby Administration Building. Students given public address system.
  • March around campus scheduled
  • Plans presented to Dean Charles Keown
  • 12:00 Dero Downing & Charles Keown met with group presenting resolutions: Braxton Crenshaw, Fred Santorelli, ? Walsh, Gerald Donaldson, Dan Sellers, ? Porter, Larry Zeilke, ? Butler, John Lyne & Douglas Alexander.
  • Marched around campus stopping at Grise Hall, Diddle Arena and returned to lawn at Wetherby Administration building.
  • Bill Nelson requested that Garrett Student Center remain open after hours, request denied.
  • Students camped on lawn all night.
  • Counterdemonstration, Speak-In group met.

Saturday, May 9

  • 9:00 WKU set up public address system. Speakers included two University of Kentucky people, a student and a professor.
  • Broke up in late afternoon.

Sunday, May 10 - 4:00 Braxton Crenshaw held meeting in Garrett Student Center.

Monday, May 11

  • 8:30 Dero Downing, Raymond Cravens, Charles Keown & Paul Cook met with group to give response to demands. Student group included Dan Sellers, Fred Santorelli, ? Walsh, Braxton Crenshaw, Gerald Donaldson, John Lyne, Larry Zeilke, ? Tichnor, ? Butler, ? Porter. Dan Sellers made remarks: "better be in a hurry," "we have people," "Molotov cocktails," "power politics."
  • Response to demands.
  • 6:00 Dero Downing met with members of staff and Board of Regents at President's Home.

Tuesday, May 12

  • 9:00 Stadium - moved to Plaza - Carl Braden of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference spoke
  • 1:30 restraining order & statement released
  • 7:30 Paul Cook & Charles Keown met with John Lyne, ? Porter & Larry Zeilke

Wednesday, May 13

  • Restraining order mailed
  • Daniel Taylor, Louisville civil liberties lawyer spoke to rally of 300 students

Thursday, May 14

  • Harlin & Parker retained
  • Volunteers elected new leaders: Jim Pickett, Randy Bowling, BIll Towery, Billie Warford, Edmund Sikorski

Friday, May 15

  • Evacuated Wetherby Administration Building twice
  • Small group on plaza
  • Restraining order modified

Saturday, May 16 - Volunteers brought letter to Dero Downing.

See more Strike Western photos.

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Keywords

Western Kentucky University, Demonstrations, Protest movements, Kent State Shootings, Kent, Ohio

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