On May 4, 1970, the Ohio National Guard opened fire on students at Kent State University (KSU), killing four and wounding nine. Although this event marked a watershed moment in American culture and the start of a decline in activism related to the war in Vietnam, its place in higher education history is not well-understood. This paper traces the co-evolution of campus activism and the student affairs profession, situates the activism occurring at Kent State nationally and locally, and suggests the impact the shootings had on student affairs and law enforcement practice. The narrative is presented in large part through oral accounts of KSU student affairs administrators, many of which were recorded for the first time as part of this research project.