President's Commission on Campus Unrest

President's Commission on Campus Unrest. Commonly known as the Scranton Commission after its chairman, this body was established by President Richard Nixon in June 1970 to investigate the causes of campus violence and civil disorder. Its creation was a direct response to the fatal shootings of student protesters at Kent State University and Jackson State University earlier that spring. The commission's final report, issued in September 1970, offered a stark analysis of national division and proposed reforms for universities, students, and government.

Background and Establishment

The commission was formed amidst a period of intense national turmoil, marked by widespread opposition to the Vietnam War and deep social divisions over civil rights. The immediate catalyst was the Kent State shootings on May 4, 1970, where Ohio National Guard troops killed four students, and the Jackson State killings on May 15, where Mississippi Highway Patrol officers killed two students. These events triggered massive protests and strikes across hundreds of campuses, including University of California, Berkeley and Columbia University. Facing a crisis of authority, President Richard Nixon established the commission via Executive Order 11541 on June 13, 1970, tasking it with examining the origins of the unrest. He appointed former Pennsylvania Governor William Scranton as chairman and New Haven police chief James F. Ahern as vice chairman, seeking a bipartisan and authoritative panel.

Major Investigations and Findings

The commission conducted extensive hearings and investigations, focusing on the tragedies at Kent State University and Jackson State University. Its report, titled "The Report of the President's Commission on Campus Unrest," was highly critical of multiple parties. It condemned the actions of the Ohio National Guard at Kent State as "unnecessary, unwarranted, and inexcusable," while also criticizing the Mississippi Highway Patrol for an "unreasonable, unjustified overreaction" at Jackson State. Simultaneously, the commission reproached some student protesters for resorting to violence and coercion. A central finding was that the nation was dangerously polarized, with the Vietnam War serving as a primary catalyst for the alienation of youth from the government. The report placed significant blame on the rhetoric of national leaders, including President Richard Nixon and Vice President Spiro Agnew, for inflaming tensions.

Key Recommendations

The commission's recommendations were directed at universities, students, law enforcement, and the federal government. It urged academic institutions like Harvard University and the University of Michigan to reform governance to include student voices and reaffirm their commitment to free speech and peaceful dissent. For students, it called for a rejection of violence as a political tool. A major set of proposals concerned law enforcement, advocating for improved training for the National Guard and local police in crowd control to avoid lethal force. The commission recommended that the Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation play a greater role in investigating civil rights violations during campus incidents. It also advised the White House and Congress to seek ways to end the Vietnam War and address domestic injustices to heal national divisions.

Impact and Legacy

The immediate impact of the Scranton Commission report was limited, as its criticisms were largely rejected by the Nixon administration. President Richard Nixon dismissed its findings on the Kent State shootings, and no major federal legislation resulted directly from its proposals. However, its legacy is found in its influential and sobering analysis of America's "crisis of spirit." The report served as an important historical document, capturing the depth of generational and political conflict during the era. Its recommendations influenced subsequent campus policies and discussions on protest policing, contributing to reforms at institutions like the University of California system. The commission's work is often cited alongside other contemporary studies like the Kerner Commission report.

Members and Staff

The commission was led by Chairman William Scranton, a former Republican governor and diplomat, and Vice Chairman James F. Ahern. Other members included notable figures from education, law, and labor, such as Martha A. G. Derthick, a political scientist from Brookings Institution; Joseph D. Duffey, then president of the American Association of University Professors; and Bayless Manning, dean of Stanford Law School. The staff director was William W. Scranton III, and the general counsel was Sheldon S. Cohen. The diverse composition aimed to lend credibility to its investigations into the complex events at Kent State University and Jackson State University.

Category:1970 in the United States Category:Presidential commissions of the United States Category:History of education in the United States