Earth Day

Yesterday was "Earth" day, The focus was on green and improving our recycling and understanding of our gigantic eco system,

The original Earth day occurred in 1970. The college communities across the nation had erupted after the Kent State protests, Western State was no exception, Students rallied to get a day of memoriam from he president of the college, There was an "occupation" of his front lawn. Four students were shot to death in a senseless show of national guard force ordered by a governor that was insensitive to the understanding of public display of angst. Up to that point protests on campuses about the war were common. They were not violent. No one got roughed up. It was patterned after Ghandi.

The president agreed to a day of memorial and another day to repair.

Following a day of memorial, a day of coming together was prescribed. This focused on what a eco disaster the the Viet Nam war had been. How we could contribute to the healing of the world.

A couple of things changed the dynamic of college education everywhere. There was a demand to get more relevant education at the college and university level. After this women studies and ethnic studies were viable majors rather than just liberal studies. This was for larger institutions. It is still hard for some older people to understand that a these are viable areas of studies, It also opened up in academic community a way to teach what they had independently learned and what they were passionate about teaching, Many "free university" classes were offered after hours. Overall, students had a much greater role in determining what they would study and with whom.

So, yes in 1970 we took a day off and tossed the giant beach ball around the community as we sunned on the hill of Taylor Hall. But Kent State and Earth Day became much more than that. It became the core of academic freedom and the pursuit of education that was pointed in the direction of the learner not just some lofty ideal that the ancient Greeks had started many years ago.

Pat