Communication Crisis at Kent State

Originally published in 1971. Investigating the events of May 1970, this book tested the hypothesis that the shootings occurred as a result of a problem of communication. It presents the result of an in-depth series of interviews soon after the tragic event, offering insights into communication systems in a large institution.

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Originally published in 1971. On May 4th, 1970, shots fired by the Ohio National Guard at Kent State University were heard around the world. People were either outraged by the killings or outraged at the students. Instant experts rendered the judgment that it was all a problem of communication. This book tested that hypothesis as it presents the result of an in-depth series of interviews both within and outside the university soon after the tragic event. The book includes a narrative of an initial understanding of the incidents but admits its limit in full information as it outlines the results of the study, which looked at systems and subsystems of information flow. This book adds to the understanding of problems of communication in large organisations and particularly education establishments as well as being a cautionary tale of a specific event.