President Robert E. Kennedy, Student Rally Speaker

President Kennedy addresses concerned students gathered on the Dexter Library lawn on May 4, 1970. Earlier that day at Kent State University in Ohio, National Guardsmen had opened fire, leaving four students dead, one permanently paralyzed, and eight others wounded. Governor Ronald Reagan closed most California public universities and colleges in the aftermath of the invasion of Cambodia and the Kent State killings, but Cal Poly was able remain open.