Allison Krause

Sydney Orason

"Flowers are better than bullets." Allison Krause, freshman honors student at Kent State University who was killed during the 13 seconds that the National Guard opened fire on a protest against the invasion of Cambodia, was heard saying these words the day before she died. Allison Krause went on to be a household name for many families, and represents, for many, the innocence that the National Guard stole that day from so many college students. She was an advocate in her own right, and participated in many peaceful protests against the Vietnam War. To act as Allison Krause, I would keep my character upbeat, but also independent and strong-willed. Allison was ready to make a difference, and when acting as her, I would make sure to reflect this personality trait. Playing her would be a challenge because of her namesake; I would not want to do her any injustice. I would work closely with the dramaturgy to make sure that she was accurately represented.