The Purdue University North Central Odyssey 2009 - 2010 Arts and Cultural Events Series
and the Michigan City Public Library will each present a talk by Dr. Jerry Holt, PNC assistant professor of English as he discusses the 1970 shootings at Kent State University, during the 40th year anniversary of the event. Both events are free and open to the public.
Holt will speak at PNC on Wednesday, April 28 at noon in the Library-Student-Faculty Building Room 170 A, located just off the cafeteria on the building's first floor.
He will give the same talk Thursday, May 6, at 7 p.m. at the Michigan City Public Library, 100 E. Fourth St.
Those unable to attend in person may view the talk via webcast at http://interactive.ihets.org/r71246206/.
His presentation will include a shooting of archival film recorded at Kent State at the time of the shootings.
Holt has done extensive research on the May 4, 1970 incident that happened just after noon when the Ohio National Guard opened fire on a large group of students, many of whom were moving between classes. The guard was summoned to campus due to concern over the student protests that were occurring in response to then-President Nixon's invasion of Cambodia. Four students were shot dead. Nine more were wounded, with one crippled for life.
Holt carried the story of the 1970 Kent State shootings with him for decades, but only when he accepted a position in Ohio did he finally get to visit the Kent State campus.
"I walked those grounds and visited the excellent May 4 Resource Room in the Kent State Library," Holt said. "Over about a two-day period I realized how many unsolved mysteries continue about that day and those 13 seconds. I wanted to write about the tragedy; I began to wonder if the way to do so was as a mystery thriller."
The result was Holt's novel "The Killing of Strangers," published by Lucky Press in May, 2006. Holt will be talking about how the use of fiction can sometimes offer a greater reality, and he will read from his book.
Following his talk, Holt will sign copies of "The Killing of Strangers," which is available for purchase in the PNC bookstore.
The sequel to "Strangers," titled "The Big Forever," is due out this year.
Further information about this talk, or the Odyssey series, may be obtained by contacting Judy Jacobi, PNC assistant vice chancellor of Marketing and Community Relations, at 219.785.5200 ext. 5593. Persons with disabilities requiring accommodations should contact Jacobi.