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Larry Balsamo to present lecture, Thirteen Seconds and Four Days
April 30, 2023 @ 2:00 pm - 3:30 pm
The Western Illinois Museum is pleased to welcome Dr. Larry Balsamo for his presentation entitled, Thirteen Seconds and Four Days: Viet Nam, Kent State, and the Occupation of Simpkins Hall. The program will be held on Sunday, April 30th at 2:00 pm at the Western Illinois Museum. Refreshments will be served. There is a suggested $5 donation at the door.
This program will be streamed LIVE on the Museum’s YouTube channel. Join us using this link.
Dr. Balsamo’s presentation explores the May 1970 student occupation of Simpkins Hall on the Western Illinois University (WIU) campus. Their protest lasted four days and mirrored the turmoil the country was facing during what is now known as the era of activism. The program will delve into what caused this occupation and identify the student leaders, as well as the effect the protests had on the University administration and community. Balsamo’s first-hand experience with the occupation informs his assessment of the strategies employed to bring the occupation to an end and shapes his reflections on how this incident fits into the history of the town and the university.
This program is funded in part by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council. Additional funding was provided by a grant from the Illinois Humanities, with funds from the State of Illinois American Rescue Plan Act.
The Western Illinois Museum is located at 201 S. Lafayette Street, one block south of Macomb’s Courthouse Square. For more information, call the Museum at 309.837.2750, text 309.837.2613, or email info@wimuseum.org. More details and updates can be found on the Museum’s social media channels.
About Larry Balsamo
Larry Balsamo holds a Ph.D. in History from the University of Missouri. For 41 years (1967-2008) he was a Professor of History at Western Illinois University where he was honored with the award of Distinguished Faculty Lecturer in 1990. He has more than a dozen publications and is a co-recipient of two federal Teaching American History fronts to improve the teaching of History in Illinois public schools. In addition, he has provided fourteen different classes on various topics in History for adult learners in WIU’s LIFE (Learning Is Forever) classes. His area of academic specialties includes Civil War Era, the South, Lincoln, Civil Rights, and the Presidency.