Letter from President Jerome to BGSU parents

May 11, 1970

Dear Parents,

The University community of Bowling Green State University realizes that you as parents want to know what is really happening on our campus. We also realize that trying to explain events and situations in detail would be impractical, if not impossible at this time; a more detailed view will be mailed to you within the next week. We do feel, however, that we might convey to you the basic intent and concerns of the students, faculty, and administration which underlie these events. This is the purpose of this letter.

The events at Bowling Green in no sense reflect conflict between the University's students, its faculty, and staff. On the contrary, the University as a community stands united in its concern that some constructive response be made to the senseless violence and death at Kent State University and to the protracted war in indo-China.

We wish it had been possible for you to see the teach-ins on the college green and the candlelight march of 7,000 students, faculty and staff from the campus through the town. The march was arranged by countless student leaders as a peaceful demonstration and was then supervised by four hundred student marshalls, whose organization to insure non-violence and to avoid provocative incidents was carried through with an efficiency one would not have believed possible under the circumstances. The city administration through these days has itself cooperated to the fullest in its efforts to allow the march and other events to take place without trouble. Indeed, the entire university community has been involved in an educational experience which can only lead to a new sense of dedication and of purpose during these difficult times.

All elements of the university community are pledged to non-violence and committed to preventing any harm or threat to individual members of the community. Far from generating a confrontation between peoples, we are encouraging constructive involvement in the social problems of our day. We earnestly request you to join us in this involvement, by expressing to your State and National representatives, your heartfelt convictions on these issues.

Roger Coate
Roger Coate, Student Vice President for Academic Affairs

John E. Thomas
John E. Thomas, Student Member Academic Council

Archie H. Jones
Archie H. Jones, Chairman, Faculty Senate

William T. Jerome III
William T. Jerome III, President