By Dan French

    In early April 1970, following a protest on the lawn of Roudebush Hall, several students marched across campus to the ROTC building Rowan Hall.  Once they arrived the students broke the locks on the building, went inside, sat down and ordered pizza.  As the crowd grew administrators sought to get the students out of the building peacefully.  The students on the inside, however, ate their pizza in peace while singing songs of protest such as those available for listening on this page.

      Meanwhile Miami University administrator Robert Etheridge entered the building with a bullhorn and read a proclamation stating that students who didn’t vacate the building would be arrested and dismissed from Miami University.  Etheridge then left the building.  Some students left, but many stayed.   Moments later, Etheridge re-entered the building with a second proclamation stating that those remaining in the building were under arrest for trespassing on state property and that these students were no longer associated with Miami University.

      While arrests were being made inside the building, chaos ensued outside.  A crowd had gathered to see what was happening and Butler County Sheriff's Deputies threatened them with tear gas and police dogs in an effort to disperse them.  As the crowd moved toward the uptown area the Sheriff's Deputies followed.  On the front lawn and inside the Fiji House students were allegedly attacked by police dogs.  Although these are merely allegations and no definitive conclusions on the incident have been reached several students were treated for dog bites at nearby hospitals.

     Once police gained control of the situation, more than 150 students had been arrested.  In the following days, students went on strike; students skipped classes and stayed away from University functions.  Days later 4 students were killed during a protest at Kent State University where National Guardsmen opened fire on a group of protesting students.  This forced Miami President Phillip Shriver to send students home until further notice.  Once students returned to campus 10 days later Shriver worked effortlessly to cool tempers by being accessible to students and discuss the issues that were on their minds.  April 1970 is one of the defining moments of Shriver’s 16 year career as President of Miami University and a turning point in Miami history.  In the days and weeks that followed the events, campus governance and academic policies became more liberalized marking the beginning of a new era in Miami history.