Daily Kent Stater by The Kent Stater

DAILY KENT STATER Tuesday April 19, 2011 • The independent student newspaper of Kent State University • Weather: Rain, HI 54, LO 52

LATEST UPDATES AT KENTWIRED.COM

Thirteen tenants joining downtown Kent complex

Fraternity houses stay on Main Street Dawn Einsel

deinsel@kent.edu Daily Kent Stater Two of Kent State’s fraternities will stay downtown after months of negotiations with PARTA. The City of Kent’s Board of Zoning Appeals finalized the agreement with the approval of several variances for properties on East Main Street, including the Tau Kappa Epsilon and Sigma Tau Gamma houses. “I think it’s positive that PARTA and the property owners here are working so closely to resolve these problems,” said board member Elizabeth Howard before beginning discussion. Representatives for PARTA asked for variances on behalf of property owners James Hauch and Bret Roberts. Four properties needed the approval of 10 vari-

Artist rendering courtesy of Kent 360

Proposed New Davey Tree Building (corner of state Route 59 and Water Street)

Local companies anchor new retail space downtown Nick Walton

nwalton1@kent.edu Daily Kent Stater Nine new restaurants will be coming to Kent by the end of 2012 as part of the downtown revitalization project. The city and development partner Fairmount Properties announced the restaurants at a press conference Monday along with the signing of Davey Tree Expert Company and AMETEK to 15-year leases that will anchor downtown space. The two companies will join 11 retail and restaurant properties that will open in locations owned

by Fairmount around Haymaker Parkway and South Water Street. The properties include Bricco, Aladdin’s Eatery, Dino Palmieri Salon and Spa, Shop 42 Clothing, Panini’s Bar and Grill, Dave’s Cosmic Subs, Asian Chow, Nature’s Table Cafe, Einstein Brother ’s Bagels, Market Path and Rockin’ Taco. Randy Ruttenberg, principal of Fairmount Properties, said the remaining vacancies will be filled with specialty retail stories with a focus on non-food uses. Gregg Floyd, vice president of finance and administration for Kent State, said the project will help attract people to the area around campus. “If you listen to the food and entertainment that’s being developed as a part of this, it’s an exciting place to go and take dates, go with friends, take parents,” Floyd said. “With a lot of people coming through here, it’s

going to make the campus and the community that surrounds the campus more inviting.” The Davey Resource Group will move from their offices in Stow to Kent along with the companies other corporate entities. AMETEK is staying in Kent but will move from its old facility on Lake Street to a new facility. As part of the project, city council will have to decide if they will pay $106,000 for the previous AMETEK site. Kent City Manager Dave Ruller said the city has set aside money to deal with the property following approval from the state that it is a clean, commercial industrial site. Ruller said the project would not have been possible without partnerships and having support from Kent State and the two companies helps with the revitalization project. “Kent’s a great place as it is

now, but we just want it to be better,” Ruller said. “You see a lot of dirt out there now, but we really are excited about the coming images that you’re seeing and where this is heading.” Ruller added that having the two companies involved with the project creates a corporate commitment that will provide economic gains for the city. The announcement comes two weeks after the groundbreaking of the Kent Central Gateway facility. The multi-modal facility is funded through a $20 million federal grant awarded last spring as part of the Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery program. The Fairmount Properties complex is part of the city’s $80 million downtown revitalization project, which is scheduled for completion in fall 2012. Nick Walton is a public affairs reporter.

ances pertaining to the width of driveways, space between parking areas and the multi-modal center’s property line and the loss of parking spaces. Per the agreement between landowners and PARTA, the parking lots at 300, 312, 230 and 224 E. Main St. will be paved. A wall and fence will also be placed along the property line for safety reasons. “It appears to be pretty well thought out,” said board member Steve Balazs during the meeting. “It meets the criteria of what we’re trying to look at. It addresses the safety issues. It’s not a public detriment.” Some other solutions were offered before settling on the current arrangements. Allowing less occupants to rent rooms in the houses and completely moving the fraternities had been discussed. See FRATS, Page 2

Kent State student arraigned, trial date set for fake ID case Julie Sickel

jsickel@kent.edu Daily Kent Stater One of the Kent State students arrested in connection with a fake ID shipment was arraigned Monday at the Portage County Common Pleas Court. Antonino Bucca, 20, was arraigned in Judge Laurie Pittman’s court on three counts each of forgery, identity fraud and telecommunications fraud, all felonies in the fifth degree. Bucca posted a $5,000 recognizance bond at the arraignment. His criminal trial is scheduled for 9 a.m. Aug. 30. If convicted on all three charges, Bucca could serve three years in prison. A grand jury indicted the co-defendant in the case, Drew

Patenaude, 20, April 11 on three counts each of forgery, identity fraud and telecommunications fraud. Patenaude was then arraigned in Pittman’s court April 12. He also could serve three years in prison on the fifthdegree felony charges. Patenaude’s attorney, Michael Giulitto, filed a motion Thursday to modify his $40,000 bond so Patenaude could return to his hometown, Allentown, Pa., before his Aug. 30 trial. “The defendant states that he has no prior criminal record whatsoever, and that he will finish this semester’s classes at Kent State University, where he is a temporary resident of the city of Kent, on or about May 15, 2011,” Giulitto wrote. See ARRAIGNED, Page 2

Priceline founder and CEO Students experience art in person speaks about starting a business School of Art makes annual New York trip Kasey Fahey

kfahey@kent.edu Daily Kent Stater

VALERIE BROWN | DAILY KENT STATER

Jeff Hoffman, founder of Priceline.com, speaks on entreprenuership in the Kiva on Monday. Hoffman highlighted several key qualities every self-starter must have including the drive to “get off the couch” and no fear of potential failures.

Leighann McGivern lmcgive2@kent.edu Daily Kent Stater Jeff Hoffman, founder and CEO of Priceline.com, spoke in front of a crowd of about 100 students, faculty and community members in the Kiva on Monday. “Anybody in this room could be the one that starts the next big thing,” Hoffman said. “A lot of people spend their time making a list of reasons why not. I start every project I start assuming I can succeed and then trying to talk myself out of it, and if I can’t put a big, gaping hole in the thing I’m trying to do, I keep going forward.” Hoffman’s speech was sponsored by the Center for Entrepreneurship and the Michael D. Solomon Entrepreneurship

Speaker Series. Hoffman said before he started Priceline.com, many people told him he wouldn’t succeed, adding that the website became one of the only companies to go from zero to $1 billion in revenue in 24 months. “People always say, ‘If Jeff can start a company, anyone can start a company,’” Hoffman said. “I don’t know if I should eventually be offended by that.” He went on to talk about experiences such as meeting Donald Trump and former ‘N Sync member Chris Kirkpatrick, who told him nobody in the music industry thought the boy band would find success. “Whatever it is you do in life, whatever matters to you, if you have a passion for it, you will win,” Hoffman said. Ashley Greenawalt, junior

managerial marketing major, said she was a member of the committee who helped promote Hoffman’s visit. “I thought he was really awesome — not ever a dull moment,” Greenawalt said. “He definitely was very entertaining and had a lot to say about how to be a successful entrepreneur.” Hoffman said he was recently given a lifetime achievement award, but he doesn’t plan on calling it quits. “All I learned from getting a lifetime achievement award is that I’m old — that’s how that made me feel,” Hoffman said. “I was like, ‘You know what guys? I’m not done.’ I’m not sure what lifetime achievement means, but I guess I was supposed to quit then.” See PRICELINE, Page 2

Senior Matthew Mohrbach marveled at the sight of Elizabeth Murray’s bumpy, colorful and multi-paneled painting “Bop” during the School of Art’s fourth annual trip to New York City’s art museums last weekend. “I really liked the paintingsculpture,” said Mohrbach, art education and art history major. “It was really exciting to see because I taught a lesson plan about it and thought it was really flat, but it’s actually painted pieces put together.” Every spring, art education and art history majors share a coach bus that departs early Thursday morning. They spend a long weekend visiting the city’s world-renowned museum collections. The places they visit change every year depending on the exhibitions. This year ’s locations included Jazz on the Park, Brooklyn Museum, Museum of Modern Art, American Folk Art Museum, Guggenheim Museum, Whitney Museum of American Art and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. There were also optional visitations places such as Ground Zero and Battery Park. “It’s wonderful to see their excitement,” said Linda HoeptnerPoling, art education professor and trip adviser. “Former students have teared up at paintings.” The 32 art education majors gained first-hand experience with the diversity of the exhibitions, genres and forms, while earning two upper-division credits for Field Experience: Travel Study In Art Education.

Submitted Photo

“It’s about museum education, and art educators can use museums in the classrooms and the websites for pre-planning,” said Juliann Dorff, art education lecturer and trip adviser. “We really want them to experience the art in person. It’s a different level of interaction with a difference aspect of their intellectual growth.” Students researched select works before the trip and education components of the museums’ websites after to compare similarities between the two. They also had to maintain a daily reflective journal during the trip and write a lesson plan when they returned.

Hoeptner-Poling said students had a choice for some of the activities they completed, such as sketching in the museum. The museum visits ended around 7 p.m., leaving some time for students to explore the city. “I loved going to all the different museums,” said Gina Lippucci, senior art education major. “We got to do so many things in such a short amount of time. It’s a great opportunity to see the city and go to museums you may never see.” See NYC, Page 2

Page 2 | Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Daily Kent Stater

TODAY’S EVENTS n Kent State Green Growers meeting When: 4:30 – 5:45 p.m. Where: Student Center Room 321

DAILY KENT STATER

n History

Club meeting When: 5 – 6 p.m. Where: Student Center Room 303

n Zoology-Conservation Club meeting meeting When: 5 – 6 p.m. Where: Business Administration Building When: 7 – 8 p.m. Where: Student Center Room 310C Room 213

240 Franklin Hall Kent State University Kent, Ohio 44242 NewSroom 330-672-2584

n Fellowship of Christian Athletes meeting When: 9 – 11 p.m. Where: Student Center Room 315

Editor Regina Garcia Cano rgarcia1@kent.edu Managing editor Kelly Byer kbyer@kent.edu

n M.I.S.A.

News Assigning editors

SPORTS

lcoutre@kent.edu

Sports editor

Lydia Coutré

Cody Erbacher

Emily Inverso

cerbache@kent.edu Assistant sports editor

einverso@kent.edu

Have an event you want to see here? Send it to lcoutre@kent.edu by Thursday the week before.

Kelly Petryszyn

kpetrysz@kent.edu

Lance Lysowski

Taylor Rogers

K e n t W i r e d . co m

llysowsk@kent.edu

trogers@kent.edu

Go to KentWired.com to see the interactive entertainment calendar. The calendar covers entertainment events on campus and in the city of Kent.

Nicole Stempak

OPINION

Jessica White

Rabab Al-Sharif

City editor

Visuals

Opinion editor

nstempak@kent.edu

ralshari@kent.edu

jwhite83@kent.edu

POLICE BLOTTER The blotter is a record of charges filed by the police. The listings do not represent convictions or reflect guilt. It is the Daily Kent Stater’s policy to publish on-campus and off -campus arrests, charges and incidents of interest to the public.

CITY

FRIDAY n Christopher D. Thomas, 25, of Maple Heights, was charged with domestic violence at the 400 block of Cherry Street.

Brian L. Steele, 27, of Columbiana, was charged with driving under suspension at the intersection of Haymaker Parkway and Prospect Street.

Demetrius C. Proctor, 36, of Akron,

was charged with driving under suspension at the intersection of Silver Meadows Boulevard and Anita Drive.

Jerod E. Bouslough III, 33, of

Youngstown, was charged with public intoxication at the 200 block of Franklin Avenue. n

Cody R. Tilberg, 23, of Grafton, was

charged with public intoxication at the intersection of North Lincoln and Main Streets.

SATURDAY n Raeniesha L. Gurley, 24, of Akron,

was charged with driving under suspension at the intersection of South Water Street and School Street.

Tyrone J. Barboza, 24, of Canton,

was charged with trespassing at the 700 block of Silver Meadows Boulevard.

Zachary W. Rhine, 20, of Medina, was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia at the intersection of South Lincoln and Summit Streets.

SUNDAY n Joseph K. Woodward, 20, of Akron, was charged with domestic vio-

lence at the Akron City Hospital. n

From Page 1

FRATS

Konnie S. Hobden, 52, of Kent, was

Fraternity houses stay on Main Street

charged with burglary at the 1200 block of Dean Court. n

Alexandra M. Glover, 18, of Tall-

Hauch said PARTA’s initial presentation for land use left his 10- and 13-bedroom fraternities with only five or six parking spaces. “Everyone says they want to live in Greek Village,” Hauch said. “But when push comes to shove, if you’re in a fraternity house on Main Street — a block from the bars, a block from campus — it’s the ideal location.” Bryan Smith, director of planning for PARTA, presented the plans to the board. Members discussed each variance at length. Two amendments were added to the ones concerning parking. Property owners may be required to place a guardrail along lots to meet safety

madge, was charged with underage drinking at the intersection of Middlebury Road and Haymaker Parkway. n

Wayne A. Lowe, 21, of Tallmadge,

was charged with drunken driving at the intersection of Middlebury Road and Haymaker Parkway. n

Lauren N. Schroeder, 21, of Twins-

burg, was charged with public intoxication at the 200 block of Franklin Avenue.

Zachary M. Gonosz, 20, of Dallas, Ga., was charged with underage drinking and assault at the 200 block of Franklin Avenue.

requirements. Two houses will also lose parking spaces after construction. Because these properties will have more bedrooms than available spaces, the board required owners to provide offsite parking to compensate for the loss and ensure city ordinances are obeyed. There is no estimated date for the parking improvements at this time, but Smith was pleased with the approvals, noting PARTA had recently reached an agreement with Sigma Chi as well. “We are happy to have them as neighbors,” Smith said. Smith said construction for the multi-modal facility will begin within the next two months, starting with the demolition of the Car Parts Warehouse on South Depeyster Street. Dawn Einsel is a public affairs reporter.

Josh Johnston

Photo editor

Rachel Kilroy

jjohns64@kent.edu Copy desk chief

rkilroy@kent.edu

jshore2@kent.edu

Hannah Potes

Jennifer Shore

Assistant photo editor

Kentwired editor

hpotes@kent.edu

Frank Yonkof

Design director

fyonkof@kent.edu

Stefanie Romba sromba@kent.edu

Features Features/A.L.L. editor

Laura Lofgren

NYC

Students experience art in person Lippucci said the MoMA was her favorite museum because Vincent van Gogh’s “Starry Night” is there. “You could see all of the brush strokes and everything,” Lippucci said. Dorff added the trip reinforces and builds a community within the art education department. Mohrbach said

MATT HAFLEY | DAILY KENT STATER

Campus security plans to hire more aids in order to ensure safety for the students.

Campus security short staffed, looks to expand personnel Maura Zurick

mzurick@kent.edu Daily Kent Stater Campus security is hoping to hire more aides for upcoming semesters, said Jeff Urban, the Eastway area supervisor for campus security. “We’re short staffed right now because 10 aides now have to cover the library, but we’re still able to cover every area,” Urban said. “We don’t want to take the coverage away from the students because we’re here to help them.” Urban, senior criminal justice major, said he’s been an aide for four semesters. As a supervisor, he is in charge of the security aides who patrol in the Eastway residence halls. Urban said there are usually two aides on duty in every area nightly. He said most aides work 20 hours a week, and the university caps their hours at 32. “Security aides are the eyes and ears of the Kent State University Police Department,” Urban said. “If there’s a problem on campus we’re usually the first ones to respond and call for help.” Michquel Penn, community resource officer for the KSUPD, said the police and residence services work closely together at all times. During security training, officers go to talk to the aides to brief them on what they will do and how they will work together. “The aides have two-way radios where the KSUPD is able to listen to their frequency, so if they are patrolling, escorting or just in need of assistance we can hear what’s going on and respond immediately,” Penn said. “Police cruisers are also equipped with that frequency.” Penn said security aides help because they can patrol the residence halls every night. “They really do a lot for us,” Penn said. “They come across things that officers wouldn’t find without them, and they control the scene if there is a problem.” She said the KSUPD can patrol anywhere on campus, but security

helps balance the responsibility of patrolling the dorms. The nightly duties of security aides include things that may be unknown to some students. The aides have to make sure all outer residence hall doors are locked, check all hall kitchen ovens, check every floor fire extinguisher and check all bathrooms to make sure students aren’t sick or in need of help. Urban said aides sometimes face difficulties like negativity from other students and trouble scheduling classes around their work schedules. “Some of the newer people can only work two days a week because they can’t adjust their schedules,” Urban said. “Some students have class at 7 a.m. and work until 4 a.m. — that’s a difficult adjustment.” Security aides also have to complete 100 hours of training, said Brian Hellwig, coordinator of residential security and safety. He said training includes shadowing other aides and the ALICE self-defense program. There is also an application process to be selected to train as an aide. “Any student, even grad students, can apply to be an aide,” Hellwig said. “Most students are criminal justice majors, but we accept students from any major. It’s a challenge to find people to work for us for numerous reasons, but we always encourage students to apply.” This semester, there are about 45 aides, and 10 of them are scheduled to provide security for the library from 11 p.m. until 5:30 a.m., Hellwig said. “I really enjoy my job,” Urban said. “As a criminal justice major, I think being an aide will help me when I’m looking for a job. A lot of the officers at the KSUPD were former security aides, and I’m already working with the police now, so it’s good for networking. I do think anyone from any major can benefit from this experience.” Maura Zurick is the safety reporter.

that is one of the reasons he chose to go on the trip. “Getting to view all these great museums that we read about with our classmates opposed to going by yourself was the best part,” Mohrbach said. “We’re in class with these people every day, so it led to a lot of intellectual discussion.” Mohrbach said he would make the trip longer and visit a few more museums if he could. The trip took about a month to plan and cost

$350, which paid for everything except meals and freetime adventures. There is no profit for the School of Art; the money paid covers only the cost of going. The trip is short, and the days are filled with museum visits and new experiences like learning to ride the subway. “We always have a story to take back,” Dorff said. Kasey Fahey is the College of the Arts reporter.

Kate Penrod

kpenrod1@kent.edu Lead page designer

llofgren@kent.edu Assistant features/ A.L.L. editor

Sara Scanes

sscanes@kent.edu

Nicole Aikens

naikens@kent.edu

AdvertIsing 330-672-2586 Sales Manager Rachel Polchek 330-672-0888 Account executive

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Nicole Lade

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Student media 330-672-2586 Classifieds ad manager

Manager

From Page 1

A.L.L. design editor

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Kelly Pickerel

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Norma Young

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CORRECTIONS The Daily Kent Stater recognizes the responsibility to correct errors that occur in the newspaper. When errors occur in the newspaper, corrections will appear in this space as promptly as possible.

Heroes in the Kent State community Students awarded at 33rd annual Leadership and Honors ceremony Megan Wilkinson

mwilki11@kent.edu Daily Kent Stater It was Mayagul Satlykgylyjova’s goal to improve respect of different religions at Kent State. Satlykgylyjova said she started Harmony Between Believers and Nonbelievers around the 2010 school year to encourage individuals in the College of Education, Health and Human Services to better understand the viewpoints of different religions. “I thought that if others understood and learned about different religions, it could help them understand all the cultural differences here at Kent State,” said Satlykgylyjova, who is pursuing a master’s degree in cultural foundations. She is a recipient of the Student Leader of the Year Award, and is one of more than 200 students and faculty recognized at the 2011 Leadership and Honors Awards Ceremony. “This ceremony is a way for us to recognize some students, student organizations and advisers who do great things but don’t always get recognized,” said Brenda McKenzie,

From Page 1

PRICELINE Priceline founder and CEO speaks... He encouraged students not to underestimate their potential. “If you think about an example like Google, two college students not only created a business. They created a verb,” Hoffman said. “That’s pretty good to get into the dictionary with your first company after school.”

associate director of the Center for Student Involvement and a member of the ceremony selection committee. McKenzie said the theme for this year ’s event was the Five Rings of Leadership, which symbolized service, change, excellence, honor and dedication. “We wanted to incorporate diversity as well as prestige for our theme,” said Krissi Corella, senior biology major and member of the planning committee for the event. “The Olympic theme is something new for this year’s ceremony,” Corella said. In addition to recognizing student leaders, the ceremony honored students who served in Undergraduate Student Government for the 2010-2011 academic year and inaugurated the incoming members of USG. Justin Pierce, senior finance major and current executive director of USG, said he hopes the new members will work strong as a team. “My experience on USG equipped me with many new skills,” Pierce said. “I met new people from different areas of the university. I think both Kevin Papp and the new USG members will do a phenomenal job in office.” Kevin Papp, junior international relations major and Fall 2011 executive director of USG, spoke during the inauguration portion of the ceremony about his future goals for the student body. Papp said his speech

At the beginning of the presentation, Hoffman said his mother told him he would never own a Ferrari. He pulled up a slide at the end and joked, “Mine’s black.” Marketing lecturer Julie Messing, who first contacted Hoffman to speak at Kent State, said he exceeded her high expectations. “It was absolutely amazing,” Messing said. Leighann McGivern is the College of Business reporter.

Lindsay Frumker | The Daily Kent Stater

Sheryl Smith, dean of students and student ombuds, center, introduces the new student organization leaders for the 2011-12 year. This was one of the many honors at the Student Leadership and Honors Awards Ceremony in the Ballroom Monday. focused on the legacy that all students leave at Kent State — he said he wants to encourage all students to leave some kind of legacy. Many students were honored for their achievements at Monday night’s ceremony. Senior educational studies program major Alexander Mott won the Nancy and John Scott Leadership Award, which honors students who positively impacted the greater Kent community. Alascia Jones, senior business

From Page 1

ARRAIGNMENT Kent State student arraigned, trial date... Kent Police arrested Bucca, junior accounting major, and Patenaude, junior business management major, March 31 in connection with a shipment of counterfeit IDs intercepted by the United States Customs and Border Protection of Ohio. Brian Bell, customs spokes-

management major and a recipient of the Student Leader of the Year Award, said she was nervous and surprised she won the award. “Being a leader means you’re willing to sacrifice for the good of the bigger picture,” Jones said. “You need to remember you can’t do anything without the people who helped you to get where you are as a leader.” Megan Wilkinson is a general assignment reporter.

man for Ohio, said the 90 IDs recovered were hidden in an electronic device and originated in China. Prosecutor Victor Vigluicci said his office is still reviewing the case for further charges and future arrests could be made. Kent Police believe it was the intent of the two students to sell and distribute the IDs to underage students. Julie Sickel is a public affairs reporter.

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OPINION

Daily Kent Stater

The Opinion Page is an outlet for our community’s varied opinions. Submit letters to: Letters to the Editor Daily Kent Stater 240 Franklin Hall/KSU Kent, Ohio 44242 ■ stater@kent.edu Subject: Letters to the Editor ■ Fax: 330-672-5064 ■ Be sure to include your phone number. ■

Tuesday, April 19, 2011 | Page 3

ABOUT THE OPINION PAGE The Stater hopes to encourage lively debate about the issues of the day on the Opinion Page. Opinions on this page are the authors’ and not necessarily endorsed by the Stater or its editors. Readers are encouraged to participate through letters to the editor and guest columns. Submissions become property of the Stater and may be edited for mechanics, Associated Press style and length without notice. Letters should not exceed 350 words, and guest columns should not exceed 550 words.

DKS EDITORIAL BOARD Regina Garcia Cano Editor Kelly Byer Managing editor Rabab Al-Sharif Opinion editor

Laura Lofgren Features/A.L.L. editor Lydia Coutré Assigning editor Lance Lysowski Assistant sports editor

FAMOUS QUOTE “There is a wisdom of the head and a wisdom of the heart.”

our

SUMMARY: If a new proposal tacks per-credit-hour fees onto student tuition, only those who will see the benefits of this money should have to pay extra.

VIEW

Students shouldn’t pay for what they can’t use

he plan was to borrow $210 million in low-interest bonds and pin on a $7-percredit-hour fee to students’ tuition starting in 2012. That fee would increase to $24 per credit hour by 2017. President Lester Lefton and the Board of Trustees had hoped that former chancellor Eric Fingerhut would approve bonds for university-wide renovations by November 2010 in order to qualify for lowinterest Build America Bonds, and the slack would be picked up by student fees. Fingerhut objected and said it was partly because students paying the fees may never see the renovations. Now that the deadline for approval has passed and a new chancellor has been appointed, Kent State students could find themselves paying an even higher fee. Lefton told the Stater that a new proposal would be the same, but it would be pushed back one year. “There is no student here currently that will

be paying the new fee,” Lefton said in a story. “The fee will start up in a couple years. But the students will also get to benefit from some of the new facilities before they graduate.” Emily Vincent, director of University Media Relations wrote in an e-mail that students wouldn’t have to pay in fiscal year 2012, but would begin paying the fee at a reduced amount in 2013. “As the renovation program nears completion, the larger fee amount would be charged,” Vincent said. To Chancellor James Petro, we need these renovations to be competitive. Students should have top facilities, but only under the premise that no student will pay fees unless he or she will be around to see the benefits of them. Regardless of how much the “reduced amount” is, it’s unfair to burden students with fees that will not be advantageous to them. There is no doubt about it — the university is in need of some renovations. Needed main-

tenance on campus has been pushed to the back burner for years. Buildings like Bowman and Satterfield Halls, the science labs, the architecture building and the Art Building are outdated and in serious need of improvements. Campus renovations at other universities are customarily paid for by tuition alone, but Lefton said because tuition is already lower than other Ohio universities, the special fees are needed for a renovation of this scale. Fees at other universities are typically used for auxiliary purposes like football stadiums or student unions, but using these fees to update academic buildings is necessary. These changes need to be made, but not if they are paid for by students who won’t reap the benefits of them. The above editorial is the consensus opinion of the Daily Kent Stater editorial board whose members are listed to the left.

NATE BEELER’S VIEW

—Charles Dickens

DID YOU KNOW? On April 19, 1897, John J. McDermott of New York won the first Boston Marathon with a time of 2:55:10. — History.com

Response to comments Earlier this semester, I wrote a column criticizing students for deciding Subway should replace the Quiznos in the Student Center. Fellow student Zach Long posted a comment to that column on Kentwired.com. He presented some good opposing arguments but added this: “Also, pointing fingers at your own readers isn’t going to provide you with much of a loyal following. Maybe if I agreed with you in any way, shape, or form it would be OK to vilify students, but I don’t.” Actually, I did not become a columnist to be a “voice for the students.” I became a columnist to bring attention to problems — any problems. If one of my columns hurts some students’ feelings, then too bad. Nobody should be shielded from criticism. If someone makes a bad decision, that person must anticipate disagreement, no matter whom he or she is. Freedom of speech does not mean nobody may have a different opinion than you do. I deserve to have people judge my columns, too. To show I welcome your comments, I have some others to share. When I wrote an open letter wishing former men’s basketball coach Geno Ford good riddance, S.K. commented, “To say ‘you are the scum of the earth’ in this column is a bit harsh.” G.D. wrote, “The façade of amateurism that is put forth by the NCAA and many of its member institutions is a false one. The sooner you recognize that, the sooner you’ll realize why Geno Ford did what he did.” I do regret saying Ford is the scum of the earth. That is a reserved spot for Adolf Hitler, Muammar Gaddafi and murderous dictators. I also am well aware that the NCAA has a false “façade

Jody Michael of amateurism.” However, that does not mean everyone must submit to the NCAA’s profitdriven motives. I hate that Ford and other coaches leave a successful school merely because a $300,000 salary is not enough. I feel it is within reason to disparage Ford for his dishonesty and disloyalty. In another column, I was angry that the architecture studio in the M.A.C. Center annex does not provide enough chairs for every student. One of my points was that Kent State can somehow afford to give president Lester Lefton a $97,470 bonus this summer but cannot afford chairs. This did not please a commenter named Mark: “Ah, the typical blame Lester Lefton quote. You do realize his salary represents 1/1000th of the budget. So if you would like to cut his salary in half, congratulations, you saved Kent State 1/2000th of their budget.” Mark, we only need several more chairs for these architecture students to have enough. That would be an even tinier percentage of the budget than Lefton’s salary is. You are telling me that Lefton having a bonus is more important than students having chairs. Think about that. Keep the comments coming, everyone. I really appreciate that you read the Daily Kent Stater. Jody Michael is a sophomore broadcast journalism major and columnist for the Daily Kent Stater. Contact him at jmicha10@kent.edu.

A patent on human genes Can you patent life? What about components of life? The U.S. Court of Appeals may soon give us an answer. Earlier this month, it reviewed a case dealing with a company’s ability to patent human genes — a decision that will have far-reaching implications for the relationship between science, medicine and industry. The case involves a contested patent held by the biotechnology company Myriad Genetics. Myriad sells a genetic test called BRACAnalysis, which detects mutations in two tumor-suppressor genes called BRCA1 and BRCA2. When functioning normally, these genes repair damaged DNA or help destroy the cell if its DNA is irreparable. However, The National Cancer Institute reports that women with mutations in these genes are five times more likely to develop breast cancer during their lives. In the process of developing these tests, Myriad Genetics was granted seven patents that were later revoked in a decision by U.S. District Court Judge Robert Sweet. In 2009, a group of scientists and patients’ rights advocacy groups, led by the ACLU, filed a lawsuit against Myriad Genetics and the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. They argued Myriad’s patents on human genes are invalid because genes are products of nature and are therefore not patentable. In March 2010, Sweet agreed. You might think it’s strange to be granted patents on genes in the first place, considering they already exist inside every one your cells.

Daniel Sprockett Human genes are clearly discovered, not invented. However, legal precedent has established that molecules, cells and even whole organisms are subject to patent protection if they represent a human innovation that is not found in nature. This has been true ever since the 1980 Diamond v. Chakrabarty case, when the Supreme Court ruled that a genetically modified bacterium capable of degrading oil slicks was patentable. In fact, upwards of 20 percent of human genes have already been patented in some form. To be clear, these decisions do not extend to the naturally occurring genomic DNA inside your body. Patent protection is strictly limited to DNA that has been isolated, purified and/ or modified in some way using various molecular techniques. Here lies the crux of Myriad’s argument: The act of isolating DNA sufficiently transforms it enough to make it patentable. Myriad is now appealing Sweet’s decision, further arguing that patents allow companies

time to recover their sizable R&D investments necessary for such advancements. If companies aren’t able to patent their technologies, they contend, then there is no incentive to invest in medical research, and progress will suffer overall. However, these patents give companies a monopoly on critical diagnostic tests, preventing patients from having their results independently confirmed and allowing testing companies to drive up prices. Myriad’s BRACAnalysis test costs over $3,000. Furthermore, these patents also effectively bar other scientists from pursuing certain research areas and stifle innovation. For example, we know that BRCA1 and BRCA2 also play an important role in embryo development. Will these patents prohibit researchers from investigating gene functions that are completely unrelated to the patent holder’s interests? It is too early to tell. Whatever this court’s decision, it will likely end up at the Supreme Court some time in the coming years. I hope patients’ rights and open scientific advancement are prioritized above corporate interests, but judging from some of the Supreme Court’s recent rulings, things don’t look good. Daniel Sprockett is a researcher in the KSU Department of Anthropology and a columnist for the Daily Kent Stater. Contact him at dsprocke@kent.edu.

Page 4 | Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Daily Kent Stater

Fashion sustainability shown KSUtube makes education easier in new museum exhibition Yelena Tischenko ytischen@kent.edu

Daily Kent Stater For Noel Palomo-Lovinski, associate professor at the School of Fashion Design and Merchandising, sustainability is nothing new. She taught a class about sustainability last spring and is the guest curator for Sustainable Fashion: Exploring the Paradox, a new exhibition at the Kent State University Museum dedicated to sustainable fashion practices, such as organic fabrics, printing/dyeing, waste and fair trade production. Palomo-Lovinski wants the public to think about personal

THOMAS SONG DAILY KENT STATER

A family looks clothing pieces during the sustainable fashion exhibit at the Kent State University Museum Wednesday. The Exhibit explores the paradox of sustainable fashion and amount of materials wasted during the production process of making clothes.

clothing choices regarding what and how they buy it. For fashion design students, she wants them to think about how they can incorporate sustainability in their own designs. For fashion merchandising students, she wants them to think about how they are going to incorporate and market sustainable clothing into their business choices. “I think sustainability is an extremely important issue,” Palomo-Lovinski said. “The fashion industry is overwhelmingly responsible for some waste and environmental damage.” The idea was proposed in September, and Palomo-Lovinski made a quick preparation for the exhibition. She borrowed the garments

from companies, fashion designers and Earth Pledge FutureFashion, which is an organization that helps the fashion industry transition to sustainable materials. Exhibition garments range from high-end designer pieces by Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche and Stella McCartney to more affordable lines such as American Apparel and Patagonia. The clothing has all contemporary pieces and no historical examples, which is different from many exhibitions in the museum. “We wanted to begin to explore sustainability in fashion,” museum director Jean Druesedow said. “The fashion industry is complex because there’s always a search for

the cheapest labor and least expensive kind of productions.” The exhibition looks at the paradox of people always wanting something new, but in order to have something new, the cycle continues and becomes more wasteful, Druesedow said. “In order to achieve that, they use far more than they ever sell and then have to dispose of it. Sometimes, the most economical production methods are also very wasteful in resources.” The exhibition is divided into sections with each section addressing a certain aspect of sustainability. A few graphics on the walls show more information. For example, one graphic shows how one pair of jeans is designed in New York, made and shipped around Asia and eventually sold in Los Angeles. Another pie chart shows how Kent State students purchase, use and dispose of clothing. Garments in the exhibition ranged from delicate evening pieces to sportier fleece items. All garments were made from different materials such as hemp, gold silk linen and organic linen. For example, Patagonia brand jeans are made from organic cotton, and a Donna Karan evening dress was made from tea-stained sasawashi and peace silk. “I admire several designers and garments for several reasons,” Palomo-Lovinski said. “I admire all of them for taking the stance of sustainability. I think some are ridiculously ingenious, but all of them are unique, and that’s why they were chosen.” Yelena Tischenko is the fashion reporter.

Sidney Keith

skeith1@kent.edu Daily Kent Stater Kent State has created its own alternative to YouTube for the classroom: KSUtube. It is an educational videosharing platform designed and created by James Raber, lead IT user support analyst for educational technology. “It used to be a pain to upload videos,” Raber said. “I wanted to make it easier.” It was developed as part of his graduate project in 2008 and adopted into use in 2009. David Cunningham, manager of information technology, said it plays a major role in online classes. “We have a lot of professors that host lectures for their online classes,” Cunningham said. “Most of the videos are educational, but there are others.” He said it gives educators more flexible options for class plans and can make things more interesting. Students also use it for class. “Some students upload their video projects, but most users only have one or two videos,” Cunningham said. Paul Albanese, associate professor of marketing, is using KSUtube to share lectures with his students in his online course this semester. “It’s fairly easy to use,” he said. “Only a relatively small number of students had trouble viewing the videos.” There are 256 students in his

class, and only about three have had issues. “I have 26 lectures online, and each one took me about 45 minutes to upload,” Albanese said. “It’s not hard or confusing once you understand it.” He said he prefers teaching with KSUtube to teaching a distance learning class where students have to log in and watch a live feed. “I’m not into the technology,” he said. “I just want it to do what it’s supposed to do, and once someone showed me how to do it, and I followed the directions, it worked.” Although Albanese found it easy to use, Raber aimed to make KSUtube even easier to use and more accessible to those who don’t understand all of the settings. “We did a lot of usability testing to figure out what people knew how to do,” he said. “The changes we’re making reflect that.” Raber said a lot of extensive eye tracking was used, and user feedback played a large part in the new features and design. Some changes include better organization of videos, an easier uploading process and a more usable interface, he said. According to the KSUtube website, the changes will be made May 9 between 7-9 a.m. During this time, KSUtube won’t be available. All videos that were previously uploaded will remain. Sidney Keith is the technology reporter.

Daily Kent Stater

For information about placing a Display ad please call our offices at 330-672-2586 or visit us at 205 Franklin Hall, Kent State University. Our office hours are from 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.

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Tuesday, April 19, 2011 | Page 5

Classified ads can be placed by FAX at ( 330) 672-4880, over the phone at (330) 672-2586 or by e-mail at ksuads@yahoo.com. If you fax or e-mail an ad, please be sure to include run dates, payment info and a way for us to contact you.

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COMEDY CLUB IN THE RATT COME AND LAUGH... Thursdays 8pm Free to KSU students Sponsored by USG Programming Pregnant? Need to talk? Call Pregnancy Center of Kent 330-8399919 1st Boston Marathon was on this day in 1897 — Sprint on down to Ray’s Place for some great food, drink, and fun... RAY’S PLACE

Now hiring full-time college students! If you are a student who wants to gain useful job experience in a professional, fun work environment, consider working at the PhoneCenter. We offer flexible scheduling for students, evening and weekend work, and pay $8/ hour with the opportunity to earn bonuses. For an application and/or further information, contact Tricia at phonecenter@kent.edu or leave a message at 330-672-0404 today! PLAY SPORTS! HAVE FUN! SAVE MONEY! Maine camp needs fun-loving counselors to teach All land, adventure & water sports. Great Summer! Call 888-844-8080, apply: campcedar.com Parasson’s Italian Restaurant Hiring All Positions, All Shifts, Starting at $8-$10/hr. Apply in person 11AM9PM, no phone calls please. 3983 Darrow Rd., Stow Now Hiring: KSU Rec Center will host open interviews for Member and Guest Services 4/21 @ 7-9:30pm. Bring cover letter, resume, and application. Email with questions: recmgs@kent.edu Now hiring full and part-time summer positions. Seeking highly motivated people for Nuevo Sol Tanning and Guava Juice Bar. Apply in person 1634 Norton Road, Stow. Tutor needed in home for 7 y/o autistic boy. Flexible hours. Pay dependent on prior experience and performance. Send resume to 4willnicholson@gmail.com. Summer Jobs Dependable people for our fundraising company seeking employees for summer. Flexible hours. Call 330-650-6011 for Joy. SUMMER—Attendant for female w/ disability. Part time hours. Able to drive van. 330-678-7747 SUMMER CAMP LEAD TEACHER ST. JOSEPH CHILD CARE 6/13 TO 8/26/2011. Plan and implement daily play and learning activities geared for a mixed age group (6 to 11 years old). Assist in supervision of teachers, assistants and volunteers. High School diploma required, enrolled in a Bachelor degree or higher. Prefer at least one year of direct experience with school age children. Current first aid certifications, communicable disease recognition, child abuse prevention, and child CPR training preferred. Criminal background check + three references req. Call 330-628-9550 for further information. Send Resume to H.R. Director, Family & Community Services, 705 Oakwood Street, #221, Ravenna, Ohio 44266. EOE. Attention Students The campus of Anna Maria of Aurora is accepting applications for an upcoming STNA (state tested nursing assistant) class. Apply in person @ 889 N. Aurora Rd. Aurora, Ohio 44202 from 9am6pm weekdays and until 4pm on weekends, applications must be in by 4/21/11. The class runs 14 days Mon-Fri from 8 am-3:30 pm. You may be able to test out of the class if you are currently a nursing student and successfully completed clinical courses teaching basic nursing skills including infection control, safety, emergency procedures, and personal care. The cost of the class is $100. We are located just 12 miles from the KSU campus. Contact Albert Berry @ 330-562-6171, aberry@ annamariaofaurora.com

Buyer Beware! We make every effort to screen for fraudulent advertising, however, we cannot guarantee the veracity of the advertisers and their messages in this section. It is important for consumers to respond to any advertisement with the utmost caution.

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horoscope By Nancy Black Today’s Birthday (04/19/11) A year of adventure and exploration has begun. Don’t sweat the small stuff, and focus on larger goals. It’s easier to become significant when the goals are larger than yourself. Make goals at a community or national level. To get the advantage, check the day’s rating: 10 is the easiest day, 0 the most challenging.

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All real estate advertised herin is subject to the Federal Fair Housing Act, which makes it illegal to advertise “any preference, limitation or discrimination because of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin, or intention to make any such preference, limitation or discrimination.” State and local laws forbid discrimination based on factors in addition to those protected under federal law. We will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate that is in violation of the law. All persons are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised are available on an equal opportunity basis. If you feel you have been wrongfully denied housing or discriminated against, call the FHAA at 330-253-2450 for more information. Efficiency and 1 bdrm apartments available now. Heat included! Call 330-678-0746 Hurry!!! Efficiency apartments still left. Call 330-678-0123 $100 OFF 1ST MONTH’S RENT Kent: 2-3 bdrm spacious apt. move in now Call 330-678-0823 NOW LEASING FOR FALL 5,4,2,1 bedroom Houses. Efficiency. Good Location Near KSU. Call 330-554-8353 KENT RENTALS 3, 4 and 5 bedroom houses. Call Rich 330-221-0030.

Apartments for Rent: 1 bedroom apartment in a house. Kitchen, living room, bath. Separate entrance. No pets. One year lease. Available in August. 330-673-8505 or 330-221-8218 Buckeye Parks Mgmt. Serving Kent for over 30 years 2011-2012 Leases 2,3,4 bdrm apts Some include utilities Prices starting at $375 per room 330-678-3047 BuckeyeParksMgmt.com KENT/BRIMFIELD. Newer 3 & 4 Bdrm duplexes. 1 car garage. $900$1200 per month. 330-338-5841 or 330-329-1118 kentarearentals.com

Virgo (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) Today is an 8 — Your intellect is hot right now. Fix something before it breaks. Think and act quickly. A strong temptation is calling, but shop carefully and stay objective.

Capricorn (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) Today is a 7 — Splurge on a loved one. Work with your community: put on a block party, a barn raising, a garden exchange program or a sock hop. Learn something new from a neighbor.

Gemini (May 21–June 21) Today is an 8 — Work faster, and make more money. A brilliant insight requires quick action. Schedule what you can do, and delegate the rest. Watch out for frayed tempers.

Libra (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Today is an 8 — There’s potential for making money now. Meditation brings insight. What you learn benefits the group. Add color to your home. Replenish your reserves and then socialize.

Aquarius (Jan. 20–Feb. 18) Today is a 7 — Be patient with a partner who’s passionate. Find power in your community and get things done. You could run for office or step into another form of leadership.

Cancer (June 22–July 22) Today is an 8 — Watch out for leaky pockets and short tempers. Schedule flexibility pays off, and you see the path ahead clearly. An amazing revelation presents a new opportunity.

Scorpio (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Today is an 8 — It’s not about “win” or “lose,” but you can still play to help your team. Share insights with others. Watch for opportunity at the top, and be prepared to move.

Pisces (Feb. 19–March 20) Today is a 6 — Offer corrections to erroneous assumptions, even if you have to do it in writing. Then take time for a long walk or a trip to distant, unexplored lands.

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4/5 Bedroom duplex available for fall $310/mo! Each side has 2 bath, W/D. Dishwasher, deck, garage, etc. Close to campus and on bus route. No Gas Bill. No Water Bill. Last one I have available! Call Sweeney (740) 317-7294 University Town Homes 5 Bedroom / 2.5 Bath Starts at $300/month/resident Call 330-990-4019 tahays-management.com Kent- Quiet 2&3 bedroom. $590, $780. short term available 330-6775577

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Taurus (April 20–May 20) Today is a 6 — Today could be like a roller-coaster ride. Will you raise your arms and scream? Fun is in the interpretation. Smile for the camera! If tempers flare, let it go. Let the words pour out.

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Sagittarius (Nov. 22–Dec. 21) Today is a 5 — Let your heart pour onto the paper. Writing helps today. Hold on tight for a difficult situation. Get plenty of rest for tomorrow promises exciting action.

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Leo (July 23–Aug. 22) Today is a 7 — A brilliant insight opens up a new possibility. Investigate all considerations before embarking upon this path. Double-check the data, and make a thorough plan.

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Aries (March 21–April 19) Today is an 8 — Emotions run high; don’t resist them. It’s a great day to catch up on letter or e-mail writing. Remember to take breaks and rest your eyes. Your health is sensitive.

3BR/1BA/$800 House Near Campus. Great Condition. -Large Yard www. YourHomeRental.com (440)953-8687 Available August 6th, clean, spacious, 2BR, 1.5BA, no pets, go to www.lincolnwoodrentals.com or call 330-835-7737. Sunnybrook Road Duplex - 4 bedroom, 2 full bath, huge deck, huge yard, $350/month/person or $1400 total. Free yard/trash/water. Washer/Dryer provided. Call Justin 330-730-7584. UTL INC UNIVERSITY TOWNHOME. 5 BDS, 2.5 BATHS, STOVE, REFRIG, W/D, A/C. $345.00 PER PERSON; WWW.JLCASTO.COM CALL 330688-7040. University Townhomes Available For Fall at $275/room Free LCD TV for every group of 5 signing. Call 440-567-5289. HIDDEN PINES Town homes 4 bedrooms 2 bath. W/D ALL utilities included. $365/mo/bdrm ONE UNIT LEFT www.hidden-pines.com 440-708-2372

Kent near downtown and campus 2 bedroom apartment, all utilities paid except electric, $350/bedroom + security deposit. (330) 676-9440 For Summer/Fall: 2 bedroom starting at $325/bedroom including utilities. Close to Campus. 330-626-7157 Nice 2 bedroom apartment. Responsible tenants, non-smoking. $600 +utilities. 330-688-1187. 25 YEARS EXPERIENCE HOUSING KSU STUDENTS OFF CAMPUS NOW LEASING FOR FALL ‘11-12 1, 2 and 3 bedroom apartments, duplexes. Locations near and around campus on Depeyster, Lincoln, Lock, Mantua, School, and Water Streets. LARGE 2 bedroom apartments, living room, dining room, kitchen, bath, full basement with washer/ dryer hook-up, plenty of parking, located on Lake Street, 2 blocks north of campus. Check out our website www.jkohlre. com for more information. You can also stop by our office at 200 E. Summit, call us at 330-677-4722 or text us at 330-780-1274 JACK KOHL REALTY Property Management & Rental Office 200 East Summit Street Kent OH 44240 Trudi Plumb or Anne Moneypenny Phone: 330-677-4722 Text: 330-780-1274 3 bedroom house. $690/ month + security deposit and utilites. No pets. 330-673-8271

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Page 6 | Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Daily Kent Stater

YOUR LIFE Features editor: Laura Lofgren • E-mail: llofgren@kent.edu

Enter the ‘Ferret Room’ Ferret enthusiast opens rescue center in her home Laura Lofgren

llofgren@kent.edu Daily Kent Stater

MEGANN GALEHOUSE | DAILY KENT STATER

Crystal Walko rescues ferrets from abusive homes and helps take care of ferrets from other ferret rescues. Walko houses around 41 ferrets and looks for loving homes for them.

Obligatory carnivores. Territorial predators. Stinky if left unattended. Sneaky, squirmy furry mammals that can snuggle or snarl. Ferrets aren’t exactly the first choice for many people as a domesticated pet, but Crystal Walko disagrees. She’s become a fan of ferrets to the point of starting a rescue for the slinky creatures. “They’re very playful. They’re fun. They’re loving. They’re very comical,” Walko said as she sat in the “ferret room” of her ranch-style house, located outside of Streesboro. Walko, who started Healing Hearts Ferret Rescue just after the first of this year, wasn’t exactly a huge fan of ferrets when her ex-husband wanted one. “Believe it or not, I hated ferrets. I got bit when I was a teenager and wanted nothing to do with them,” she said. After visiting a pet store and her husband continuously asking for one, Walko conceded two weeks later. It’s been nothing but tender loving care ever since. The 34-year-old now has about 40 ferrets in a bright orange room dedicated solely to their needs. Along the far right wall, cages are stacked up for those ferrets who don’t get along with any of the others or who get along only with their cage mates. They each have fleece hammocks made specifically for them to sleep in, all of which have been donated to the rescue.

“They love to snuggle in fleece; soft, silky stuff,” Walko said. The left-hand corner has been surrounded by black fencing to keep in the 20 or so ferrets that cuddle and play together every day. Animal beds, cat toys and litter boxes cover the floor while ferret after ferret sticks its nose between the wiring to check out the afternoon. Ranging in age from 12 weeks to 8 years, Walko named every ferret and remembers each one. Epstein, an 8-year-old ferret, lives in a cage along the wall, with only one eye. “He had lymphoma,” Walko said. She explained it was behind his eye, slowly pushing it out of its socket. He had surgery to remove the cancer thanks to Walko. “He’s doing great,” she said. Walko said Healing Hearts is run strictly on donations and a supplementary eBay sales account she maintains, so upkeep can be hard. Bedding and veterinary bills add up quickly. “Ferrets are susceptible to adrenal diseases, lymphoma cancer (and) lipoma. Those are the three big concerns,” Walko said. Ferret specialists aren’t easy to come by in the area, so Walko has to drive either an hour and a half to Avon Lake or about an hour to Berea to see a veterinarian who can help her with the injuries and diseases the rescued ferrets come in with. “It’s overwhelming sometimes, like when they’re sick and you just don’t know what to do,” she said. “There aren’t many knowledgeable vets on ferrets.” One wouldn’t think ferrets need rescuing, but Walko said people usually tire of them rather quickly after purchasing one and realizing all the necessities the little mammals need. “It’s shocking how many ferrets need rescued,” she said. Walko explained ferrets need a constant food and water supply. They can be very stinky if not

properly taken care of every day. “That’s another reason why they’re surrendered a lot of the times,” Walko said of the constant cleaning. She cleans her ferrets’ litter boxes every day and lets them have two hours of play time out on the enclosed patio. Volunteering in conjunction with The Last Chance Ferret Rescue in Cleveland in 2007, Walko also houses ferrets from the Northeastern Ohio rescue. “I am their intake coordinator,” Walko said. “People fill out surrender forms for various reasons.” Walko coordinates when ferrets can enter into either rescue and figures out what medical attention each ferret needs. Walko has separate cages in her living room for newcomers to acclimate to. “They’re quarantined before being introduced to the (ferret) room,” she said. Healing Hearts Ferret Rescue turns no ferret away, no matter what illness or injury they have. Unfortunately, Walko said, there is a waiting list for incoming ferrets right now. Walko wants people to educate themselves on the amount of time and dedication it takes to own a ferret before committing to ownership. “If you have a desire to get any animal, make sure you do the research. If you don’t know what you’re getting into, they end up in a rescue,” she warned. While some are snuggly and some are rambunctious, ferrets can make a great pet for people, Walko said. Healing Hearts Ferret Rescue, after rehabilitating the animals, offers them to those who can handle the responsibility of ferret ownership for a small fee that includes up-to-date shots. To help recoup costs, she charges $75 for the adoption of one ferret or $125 for two. “If you’re sad, just play with a ferret and you’ll be laughing soon,” Walko said. Laura Lofgren is the features/A.L.L. editor.

Music and Speech maintenance worker finds rhythm Swing dancing course ‘flip-flop hammerlocks’ one man’s whole world Rabab Al-Sharif

ralshari@kent.edu Daily Kent Stater His worn, tan work boots strike the floor in an even rhythm as he walks the halls. The keys hanging from his right hip jingle with every step. Occasionally, a call from the black two-way radio that hangs on his left interrupts the steady pulse. A screwdriver and pair of Channellock pliers rest in the back pocket of his navy work pants. He can fix just about anything with those two tools alone. A tattoo of a heart with his wife Cathleen’s name in it covers his right forearm. His long beard is twisted into a braid that hangs a few inches below his chin. His face and head are scarred from an accident that happened while he was working at a rubber factory in Canton. His hat had fallen off and when he bent over to pick it up his ponytail got caught in the machine, which scalped him. His exterior is tough, but his smile is warm, and his heart is big. To him, the accident was a blessing. “I think my accident happened to me so that I could help other people,” he said. That’s exactly what he’s been doing since — helping people. Whether it’s others who go through similar accidents or the people in the buildings he takes care of, Mark Clark is all about helping people. The 52 year old has been a maintenance worker at Kent State for 12 years and in that time has worked in every building on campus. He spends most of his time at the Music and Speech Center, where he has been for about 2 1/2 years. It was while working at Music and Speech that he first saw a swing dance

class taught by Beverly Petersen-Fitts. He was watching through one of the dance studio windows and saw how much fun the class was having. He immediately wanted to join. He went to his wife, Cathleen, and asked her if she wanted to take the class with him. She works downtown at Home Savings Bank and worked out a plan to take her hour lunch during the class time. “I didn’t know how good I’d be at it, but I knew I was going to give it a shot,” he said. “You know people in wheelchairs dance; why can’t I? You’re never too old to learn.” Throughout the semester he has learned a lot. As he rehearses new steps, concentration washes over his face. His hands are suspended awkwardly as he works out the intricate footwork, staring down the whole time as if his feet won’t do what his brain tells them unless he is watching them. After practicing the new steps a few times, he reconnects with his wife to practice their new moves together. Their steps aren’t perfect, but they are having the time of their lives. They giggle as their feet get tangled, and she whispers the steps to get him back on track. After a few tries, it’s time for the music. Cathleen gives her hips a wiggle and eyes up her husband. They swing right and left to get the beat, and before long they are in a groove. By the end, both are grinning. The high school sweethearts are best friends. They met when Cathleen was just 14 years old. Clark was going to the drive-in with Cathleen’s older brother and cousins. When they couldn’t find any girls to go with them, they came back to get her because it was free that day. The day she met him, she thought he was cute, but at age 14, she said, you think any guy is cute. What stood out to her was his kindness. They started dating when she was just 15 despite her mother’s disapproval. She was almost 17 when they got married. She was pregnant at the time, and her mother told them to run away, but her father insisted that they stay and

get married. More than 30 years later, the two are still married. In fact, they renew their vows every 15 years. The couple practices dance moves at home at least twice a week. Cathleen even went out and got music for them to use. They like to show their family what they learn, and they’ve even been teaching their young granddaughters some of their moves. “I’m not here for a degree anymore. I’m just here to learn and have some fun,” Clark said. “I think that’s what the dance class brings.” His wife is not the only partner he has in the class. He actually spends very little time dancing with her in class because they are constantly rotating partners. It helps them, because when they disagree, they can learn from other students. They get a chance to see what everyone else in the class is doing. It helps them settle disagreements on how things should be done. “I’ll say the other girls all did this,” he said. Beverly Petersen-Fitts, the couple’s teacher, said everyone dances with everyone in the class. The girls dance with Clark like they would any of the younger men. “There are just no barriers in my dance class,” Petersen-Fitts said. “We’re all dancers.” Grant Cole is a sophomore musical theatre major in the class with the couple. He had seen Clark around the building, so he was really interested when he saw him in class the first day. He thought it was really cool. “This class is for everyone, and that’s what I love about it,” he said. “Everyone can dance; everyone can have a good time.” Dancing in class has made him more confident to dance in public, but he says it has helped him with his job, too. He has more balance and coordination when he’s up on a ladder or in a lift. It also gives him a better sense of how to take care of the brand new dance studios. He learned that the floors in the studios need to be warm, but he also knows if they are

JESSICA YANESH | DAILY KENT STATER

Mark Clark , 52-year-old maintenance worker, practices moves during swing dancing class last Tuesday. Clark has been working in the Music and Speech Center for more than two years and decided to join the class after he saw how much fun students were having. too warm it can be uncomfortable. “My rooms have to be warm for the dancers,” he said. “They’ll tweak muscles or pull something more in the cold.” Clark likes working in Music and Speech, but when the time does come for him to move on, he’ll go. Until then he loves his job and where he’s at. He’s happy to go to work every day and wishes more people shared that feeling. His coworkers have even given him a new nickname — Dancing with Stars. Clark said he may not be ready for the TV show “Dancing with the Stars,” but he is just about ready to conquer going out to a social dance with his wife. It takes a lot of hard work to become a

dancer, and Clark doesn’t consider himself one yet, but he said that anyone can do it. You just have to try. “All you have to do is practice a little bit,” he said. Even though it didn’t come naturally to him, he found joy in dancing. “Mark was fairly confident when he started,” Petersen-Fitts said. “He had to work at it, but I felt like he was confident that he was going to do it.” Petersen-Fitts is sure dancing will become a part of the couple’s lives forever. “This will become what they do well into their years,” she said. “Yeah, they’re going to be one of those cute little couples that go out and dance all the time.” Rabab Al-Sharif is the opinion editor.