New University collection

The New University records document the events surrounding the establishment of the New University program at BGSU during May of 1970. The collection includes numerous memos and correspondence from BGSU administration officials to faculty explaining their role in the New University and statements from the BGSU administration as well as from two other universities explaining the purpose and necessity for the New University program.

Printed materials in the collection include BGSU student protest flyers, a flyer from Columbus, one issue of The Militant, four issues of The Sentinel Tribune, and two issues of the BG News, all from 1969-1970.

Rounding out the collection are several reprints of contemporary essays about student rights and activism, a brief chronology of events occurring at Kent State around the shootings, and several drafts of blank questionnaires for students and faculty concerning the Kent State incident and the New University program. Also included are results to a survey conducted by the Bowling Green Peace Archive Committee concerning the moratorium-strike week of May 4-9, 1970, which was apparently part of the New University offerings.

Although rather small in size and limited to a very specific time frame, this collection provides insight into alternative strategies for colleges and universities when dealing with crises. Researchers concerned with the response of higher education institutions to the incident at Kent State and student unrest will find this collection useful.