Protesting at Kent State has never been confined to a single day, banner or issue. Whether debating over state legislation or responding to controversial speakers, students use their voices to shape campus.
A recent example was the August “funeral” protest, organized in response to Senate Bill 1, which led to the closure of identity centers on campus. Students dressed in all black, reflecting on the spaces removed that once offered a refuge.
Za’Nya Henderson, a third-year integrated language arts major, has participated in both the “Flashes Fighting Senate Bill 1” protest and the funeral demonstration. For her, these experiences bring up complex emotions.
“We never know what’s going to change. I believe that, ultimately, our university did what they had to do, so my frustration is aimed more towards the government,” Henderson says. “I feel for students who will never experience a university before SB1.”
Protesting has created conversations about belonging on campuses.
“One of the struggles consists of access to these communities, specifically for students of color,” she says. “We’ve had orientations, graduations and programs that were made so that they could find community and belonging at a predominantly white institution, and now it’s all gone.”
Graduate library and information science student Nica Delgado has helped organize protests at the university to protect its diverse communities.
“I am always so relieved when Flashes truly take care of Flashes, and to see so many people come together to defend what they care about, it makes me feel like we’re glowing,” she says.
While protests may appear disruptive to some, Delgado believes their disruptions are necessary.
“Protests are meant to be disruptive — if we continue to live life as usual, nothing will change,” she says. “We must be loud and visible and proud so that people in power notice.”
She thinks the impact of SB1 extends beyond the closure of identity centers.
“From classes, to living-learning communities, to the lack of centers, to the disappearance of scholarships, to the restrictions on student workers, SB1 has changed everything,” she says.
For both Henderson and Delgado, the right to protest isn’t just about change, it gives them a sense of belonging.
Delgado views protests at Kent State as part of the school’s legacy.
“Without politically active students, we lose what makes Kent State so historically important,” she says. “I came here because I knew that as a queer Latina, I would be loved and protected by my university and fellow Flashes. Now, I don’t feel that love, and I certainly don’t feel that protection.”
Henderson believes Kent State pays attention to students’ concerns. She recognizes there are larger forces shaping policies, making change more difficult.
Still, both students focus on maintaining their communities.
“We are protesting because we love our people, our communities, our Flashes, our campus homes,” Delgado says. “We will bring the people to you if you work with us, hand-in-hand, to build a better future for all students in Ohio.”
Lindsay Collier is a writer. Contact her @[email protected].
