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The 40th anniversary of the event known worldwide as the Orangeburg Massacre is Friday, and ETV-Radio is pulling out all the stops to commemorate the historic occasion.

Producer Tom Posey says planning for the commemorative broadcasts began months ago.

"By recognizing the historical importance of this tragedy through our programming, we feel we are being true to ETV's mission of being the electronic keeper of the flame in South Carolina," Posey said. "Our comprehensive coverage allows ETV and ETV Radio to provide viewers and listeners with a thoughtful exploration of a significant chapter in our state's history, in the same way we've recently provided coverage of the Republican and Democratic presidential primaries, our annual broadcast of (the governor's) state of the state address and the memorial service for the nine firefighters who perished in the devastating fire in Charleston last summer."

The Feb. 8, 1968, event resulted in the shooting death of three SCSU students and the wounding of 28 others by state police, following student unrest related to picketing at a segregated bowling alley.

Beginning at noon Thursday, ETV's afternoon radio program will be broadcasting live from the South Carolina State University campus.

"It's a talk show, and we're forming up our list of guests," ETV spokeswoman Dana McCullough said Monday. "We're working closely with South Carolina State. A lot of guests will be coming through SCSU in the next days."

The 30-minute broadcast features conversations with South Carolina State University students who discuss their perspectives on Jack Bass' book "Orangeburg Massacre." Listeners will also hear from acclaimed South Carolina photographer Cecil Williams as he talks about the images he captured 40 years ago.

In addition, McCullough said, ETV-Radio will also do a live broadcast for the afternoon show, Project Discovery.

"That's geared toward students. It's a call-in program," she said. "Some students will be on location, and we're encouraging other students to call in and join the conversation on the radio."

Scheduled from 1-2 p.m., Project Discovery, ETV and ITV (Instructional Television) is a student-oriented special that features a conversation with Bill Barley, personal photographer to former Governor Robert McNair, about his role of telling the story of the campus tragedy through pictures. Students from around the state are encouraged to call in with questions. The toll-free number will be provided during the broadcast.

Also, from 3-4 p.m., Dr. Cleveland Sellers, Orangeburg Massacre survivor and director of the African American Studies Program at the University of South Carolina, will be featured on the broadcast, "Your Day Extra LIVE - ETV's South Carolina Channel. Also featured will be Dr. William Hine, professor of history at SC State University; and Bass, professor of humanities and social sciences at the College of Charleston and author of "Orangeburg Massacre."

"Then, we're going to broadcast 'The Big Picture,' our news and public affairs program, with host Andy Gobeil. That's at 7:30 p.m., live from South Carolina State," McCullough said.

This special presentation of ETV's news and public affairs program takes a look back at the tragedy and talks with people who were there including Sellers, Hine and Bass.

On Friday, ETV also plans a live television broadcast of the SCSU memorial ceremony commemorating the anniversary at 11 a.m. The program will include remarks by former Gov. Jim Hodges, Orangeburg Mayor Paul Miller and the presidents of SCSU and Claflin University.

Also on Friday, there will be a statewide radio broadcast from 9-10 a.m. that is a continuation of the previous evening's conversations about the Orangeburg Massacre, featuring in-depth discussions with Sellers, Hine and Bass.

T&D Government Writer Tucker Lyon can be reached by e-mail at tlyon@timesanddemocrat.com or by phone at 803-533-5545.

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