Winona Vannoy, Oral History

Recorded: May 3, 1990
Interviewed by Tina Boeder
Transcribed by Rhonda Rinehart and Amanda Remster

[Interviewer]: I am Tina Boeder, and I welcome you here today on May 3rd, 1990. Are you here to share some of your recollections?

[Winona Vannoy]: Yes, I was here on campus as a -- an instructor and so I'm here to share my memories.

[Interviewer]: Good.

[Winona Vannoy]: So I shall proceed, right?

[Interviewer]: Yes.

[Winona Vannoy]: Ok.

[Interviewer]: You are more than welcome.

[Winona Vannoy]: I'm Winona Vannoy, Director of Intramurals and Campus Recreation. In 1968 I came to Kent State University as an instructor of Physical Education. During that two years prior to 1970, I was inundated with what I began to consider hate leaflets, each time I walked across campus or entered the old Student Union for lunch. Students that I had in classes were very cooperative and eager to learn, but expressed fear of what was happening on campus. A few shared their anxieties about things that were being stated in some other classes - one told me that her professor told the class, "If you aren't willing to kill your mother and father to gain power and take over the government, you aren't strong enough to further your cause." From shared remarks like this, I believe that we did have a few professors or instructors that were instrumental in the tragic events of May 4th, 1970. But I also believe there were many leaders such as Jerry Rubin and members of the Weathermen, Chicago Seven, and various radical groups that were traveling from campus to campus at that time. We also had many teenage runaways, such as the girl that posed for Life magazine cover, depicting herself as a Kent State University student.

On May 1st, my husband took my son to a barbershop on Main Street. While he was getting his haircut, a group of young men came up to the barber shop, and gave the finger sign and yelled obscenities. There was a large gap between the young people and the establishment. All business owners seemed to be experiencing harassment by young radicals.

On Saturday evening, May 2nd, I was at my church preparing for a pancake dinner when I heard that fires had been set in downtown Kent and that many windows had been broken. We also saw some young people leave the house next door to the church with a gun; the police were notified by church members. We then heard that the ROTC building was set on fire and that protestors cut the firemen's hose so that the fire could not be extinguished. A large amount of archery and outdoor physical education equipment stored in a building on the Commons was also burned.

On Monday morning, May 4th, I had two classes scheduled before noon in Wills Gymnasium. National Guard tanks were parked beside Wills Gymnasium, so I parked on the hill in what is now the Business Building parking lot. As I entered the building prior to my 9:00 a.m. class, I was notified that there had been a bomb threat in Merrill Hall adjacent to Wills Gym. Bomb threats were very common in those days, but very scary because we were reading about bombs exploding on other campuses. I went to my class and announced that there was a bomb threat in an adjacent building and that we would proceed with our skill evaluation but be prepared to leave the area immediately if notified to do so. The class ended, and being personally afraid to stay in the building, I went to my car and listened to the radio from 10:00 until 10:45 when I needed to go back into Wills Gym to teach my 11:00 a.m. class. Bomb threats continued and radio announcers kept repeating that there would be a mass demonstration on the Commons at noon. At that point Wills Gym had not been evacuated, so I announced to my class that we would leave immediately if notified to do so. If not, I would dismiss the class at 11:45, giving each student sufficient time to get away from campus or to get into their dormitories by avoiding the Commons area.

I knew one of the Kent State University policemen very well, and he had shared the fear that he had as a result of seeing the many guns, knives, and other weapons that students were storing in their rooms. During the ROTC fire, he got hit with a brick, resulting in a fractured leg, so I was very fearful for all students and Guards. Even though I was encouraged to wear an armband and go to the Commons, I chose to stay away and to encourage students to obey the orders of the National Guard and stay away from the Commons.

At 11:50 on May 4th, I left Wills Gym, went to my car and drove toward my home in Twin Lakes. Before I reached home, I heard on the radio that a Guard had been shot. I then heard that one or more students had been shot. As I reached home, my husband immediately took my car and went to University School to pick up our two children who were in high school there. By the time he got them and proceeded to come back home, the city of Kent was being cordoned off and Guards were stopping cars and notifying drivers to stay out of Kent if they had no emergency reason to be there. Students were then notified to go home and were told that the campus would be closed. Many left, taking only a few things, thinking the campus would be closed for a very short period.

During that first period of time, apparently many weapons were confiscated from students' rooms. A display of many knives, guns, and other weapons were placed on a long series of tables in Wills Gymnasium for the public to view. I viewed the weapons and realized why the Kent State policemen were fearful of confrontations. During the rest of that May 4th week, the Health, Physical Education, and Recreation faculty was required to sit in long meetings with the Deans. This was partly to answer questions that we had and to bring us up to date on actions taken daily by the administration. It was also a means to ensure that none of our staff members got involved in any disruptive activities. I'm not sure if these meetings were a result of our Dean's decision, or if he was directed to call the meetings. Faculty was soon told that they would have to complete all courses by mail and provide grades. With this huge task ahead of us, we were anxious to get started and we became very weary of attending staff meetings. I organized open book examinations for all of my courses and mailed them to each student, then issued grades based on the evaluation I had completed prior to May 4th and the open book examinations.

In conclusion, I believe we all suffered through the May 4th, 1970 tragedies. I don't believe anyone should have to be killed or maimed to restore order, but tear gas canisters were being thrown back at Guards along with stones and bricks, and their life really was in danger, so something had to be done. I am pleased with the approach that our present administration has taken in providing scholarships and in remembering the many tragedies that led up to the fateful day. I have told parts of this story to students recently and all have expressed great surprise that students had any part in causing the 1970 tragedy. Their typical comment is "I just thought students were partying and got shot." I disagree with the display of sculptured bodies lying on the second floor of the Student Center. I think it is instilling fear and hate in many students and creating tension similar to that felt back in 1969 and '70. If we get through tomorrow, May 4th, 1990, without major conflict, my prayers will be answered, and I believe we will finally move forward and Kent State University will be known for its excellent education and research instead of being a place for radicals to come each time they have a chance to protest.

[Interviewer]: Thank you. That was lovely; it really was. Anything else you would like to add?

[Winona Vannoy]: That's it.

[Interviewer]: Thank you very much. Thank you for the opportunity for telling my story.

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