Indiana State University Newsroom

An author will star in a one-man play based on his book about his experiences during the 1960s and 1970s in an upcoming event at Indiana State University.

Robert A. Roskind will present "Further Adventures of an Ex-hippie" on Oct. 15 at 7 p.m. at University Hall Theater. Roskind's one-man play will be based on his book, "Memoirs of an Ex-hippie: Seven Years in the Counterculture," which describes his experiences traveling the country during the late 1960s and early 1970s. Roskind's performance is free and open to the public, and is sponsored by Indiana State's history department and the Center for Community Engagement.

"He's going to bring in a much larger perspective of the 1960s because there was a lot going on at the time, including the civil rights movement," said Adam Gaunt, senior management information systems major from Terre Haute who is helping to organize Roskind's visit. "He's going to talk a lot about the political climate at the time, and show that the 1960s weren't all sex, drugs and rock n' roll."

In the performance, Roskind will discuss and act out his experiences in the era, which are also included his book. He also will discuss nationally significant events, such as when Ohio National Guard troops fired at students at Kent State University on May 4, 1970, killing four people and wounding nine others, and the 1963 assassination of President John F. Kennedy. History professor Richard Schneirov, who is teaching a class on the counterculture and protests of the 1960s that includes Roskind's book as assigned reading, will also provide perspective about the era.

"It's going to be about Roskind's involvement in the counterculture, and all the movements and things that were happening during that time," Gaunt said of the upcoming performance. "There were a lot of historically significant events that took place in the '60s."

Roskind has written 10 books on topics ranging from his personal experiences to construction guides to books about incorporating love into life activities. He also has worked with various American Indian nations throughout the United States, and he helped organize a music festival in Jamaica dedicated to calling for people to love one another, Gaunt said.

Roskind's books will be available at Indiana State following his presentation. For more information, contact Adam Gaunt at agaunt1@sycamores.indstate.edu

Contact: Adam Gaunt, Office of Diversity, Indiana State University, agaunt1@sycamores.indstate.edu

Writer: Austin Arceo, assistant director of media relations, Office of Communications and Marketing, Indiana State University, 812-237-3790 or austin.arceo@indstate.edu