The Kent Stater - Oct. 28, 2015

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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2015

Issue 3

Pan Flautist

Kent State Field Hockey

The Political Science Club hosted an event for ResponsibleOhio to speak to students about the organization’s campaign to vote yes on Issue 3.

Amongst the variety of construction projects and general sense of urgency that can be felt along the Esplanade during a sunny weekday, something different might stand out to students traveling to class; a fiery-haired flute player.

The Kent State field hockey team is on a fivegame winning streak after its 3-1 win over Ohio State on Tuesday.

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Spooky spaces

An inside look at area haunted houses

Paige Verma Student Life Reporter The fall season brings more than pumpkin flavoring and scarves back into fashion, it also brings the haunted houses.

A few haunted houses with good ratings and in general close proximity to Kent State include Carnival of Horrors, The Fear Experience and The Akron Haunted Schoolhouse and Laboratory.

Carnival of Horrors is located at Blossom Music Center. It has four attractions: The Fun House, the Wicked Woods, the Freak Show and the Insane Asylum. Tickets start at $21 and go up to $25 while the carnival is open until Oct.31 from 7:30 p.m. to midnight.

The Fear Experience is located on Brookpark Road in Cleveland. It has five attractions: Zombie Warfare, Bioteck Solutions, Centralia Country Fair and Circus, District 13 and The Estate. Admission for Fear Experience starts at $25 but can go as high as $45 with fast pass access and an additional fee for Zombie Warfare. According to Funtober, Fear Experience was voted #1 in Ohio and #14 in America.

The Akron Haunted Schoolhouse and Laboratory on Triplett Boulevard is one of the longest-standing haunted houses in America.

The Schoolhouse opened in 1974 and the Laboratory followed shortly after in 1981. Together there are seven haunted floors, with three in the schoolhouse and four in the laboratory.

Preparation for it all focuses on making it better each year.

“We come in during the off-season and fine tune, and update and make scenes better,” said Ryan Haidet, a floor supervisor at the schoolhouse and laboratory. “Sometimes we completely tear down scenes and rebuild them … Everything here in the castle is made basically by scratch by our team.”

Haidet described the hiring process as a lengthy one in order to get the best reactions from haunted house goers.

“We actually audition people and it takes

a couple of weeks to get the full staff...When you’re walking through the haunted house, we really love that fleshing blood scare,” Haidet said. "About 100 people are hired each season."

The Haunted Schoolhouse and Laboratory will be having its second annual blackout event on Oct. 30.

Customers can go through all seven floors with all the lights off and have nothing but a glow stick to guide them through as the scarers roam throughout. The admission is the same as a regular ticket price.

While haunted houses are a destination for many around Halloween, some are not fans.

“I went to one in New Jersey - a haunted ship - (and) I was terrified and nervous,” said Tasha Gill, a sophomore early childhood education major at Kent State.

Gill said she will probably never go to another one again because fear makes her feel overwhelmed.

Paige Verma / The Kent Stater Paige Verma / The Kent Stater Scarer Dylan Powall gets makeup done by freelance But for those who do enjoy haunted Clown actor Stephen Amodio pops out from around makeup artist Miranda Hannah. houses, more than just the general setting the corner as people walk through. scares customers.

Tariq Abdullah, a freshman computer science major at Kent State and a scarer at the Akron Schoolhouse, said he became a scarer because his friend also worked there and as a way to get over his own fears.

“I was always scared of all scary movies, so I thought working here would be like therapy,” Abdullah said. “I’m usually a clown when I’m here...I hate clowns.”

Abdullah said he likes to use the surprise factor when scaring people (and) also adds things outside the original plan in the clown section to enhance the scare factor.

“I can never be 100 percent on how to scare someone, so I have to be on my game,” Abdullah said.

“Everyone is like a wildcard.” pverma1@ kent.edu

Greek life community reaches highest membership numbers Kayla Sturm Greek Life Reporter The Greek life community at Kent State has reached record-breaking numbers with over 2,200 members.

“It's great that we are continuing to grow,” said Keri Richmond, a sophomore public relations major and member of Delta Gamma. “We are paving the way to be an example nationally of a community of fraternity and sorority members who are breaking the negative stereotypes.”

Membership history In spring 2008, the number of Panhellenic Council members was at 449, higher than Interfraternity Council’s 397 member total. By fall 2013 the Panhellenic council numbers increased to 1,068 and IFC totaled 690 members.

Although the Panhellenic Council, IFC and National Panhellenic Council are high in numbers, the Integrated Greek Council is also important to the Greek life community and continues to grow and show diversity.

“While our numbers are small in our multi-cultural Greeks, what makes Kent (State) unique is that there is such a diversity,” said Timeka Rashid, associate dean of students in the Center for Student Involvement. “You can look at Kent (State) and see (it is) strong in

philanthropy and (is) diverse.”

What do the higher numbers mean for the community?

As membership numbers fluctuate up and down throughout the year, the Greek life community is expanding.

“The growth means the possibilities (for our community) are endless,” said Rashid.

The Greek community strives to focus on a positive environment through academics and philanthropy.

“Our fraternities do strong philanthropies...and are very visible in our other leadership organizations across campus,” Rashid said. “You point back to the understanding that these students aren’t just engaged in their fraternities (and sororities) but are in the community.”

Greek life is known to go above and beyond in terms of helping the community and succeeding in their education.

“We are a hard working community, in terms of grades...philanthropy and community service,” said Leslie Cancelliere, vice president of recruitment and retention for the Panhellenic Council. “We are known to go to 110 percent with what we do.”

Future goals With the rise in student enrollmentand more focus put on Greek Life,

Alex Ledet / The Kent Stater Members of Delta Zeta, Kappa Sigma and Phi Kappa Tau dance in a Candyland themed number at Songfest in the Student Center Ballroom on Nov. 15, 2014.

the community intends to create a new sorority chapter next year to manage the continuous growth in membership.

“We are looking to increase and are excited about the potential,” said Rashid.

Members are just as excited about the community growing.

“Hopefully Greek life at Kent State keeps up the great job and growth continues”, said Sierra Miller, a sophomore early childhood education major and member of Sigma Sigma Sigma. “I’m so excited to welcome home another chapter to Kent State next year.”

The new chapter is yet to be determined, but the Greek life community will continue to be a unique, diverse and positive life form on the Kent State campus. ksturm4@kent.edu

Page 2 | Wednesday, October 28, 2015

Executive Director of ResponsibleOhio speaks to students about voting yes on Issue 3

The responsible Ohio tour bus pays Kent State a visit.

Sarah Pompeii/The Kent Stater

Alexandra Gray

students about the organization’s cam-

Student Politics Reporter

paign to vote yes on Issue 3.

On Monday evening, Executive

The Political Science Club hosted an

Director of ResponsibleOhio Ian James

event for ResponsibleOhio to speak to

spoke to students in Bowman Hall

about necessary information to know before voting in the election.

“It’s important to stand up and speak out,” James said. “You’re never going to do anything if you don’t stand up for something.”

James started the event by stressing the importance of voicing opinions. Voting is a privilege, he said, and whether a person is for the issue or not, he or she should still vote on what they believe in.

“The only way you’re going to make a change is if you’re actually going to get involved,” James said.

In support of the upcoming issue, he told the story of little girl named Addison who would experience about 1000 epileptic seizures per day. Once Addison’s family moved her to California, she went from having 1000 seizures a day to only having about three after putting a marijuana patch on her leg.

“Put yourself in her shoes,” James said to the audience, in reference to Addison.

James said that as of right now, no

Do names matter in employment opportunities?

Daria Gaither Diversity Reporter A myth that has circled the employment realm is that a “ghetto” name can hinder your chances for certain employment opportunities.

Although discrimination based on a name has never been proven, according to a study conducted for The National Bureau of Economic Research by the University of Chicago’s Marianne Bertrand and Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Sendhil Mullainathan, applicants with “white-sounding” names have a 50 percent greater chance of receiving a callback or interview than applicants with “black-sounding” names.

Raven-Symoné, actress and co-host, recently made a comment on the daytime talk show “The View” about how she would never hire anyone with a “ghetto” name. The comment had viewers all over the country and at Kent State upset.

“I could not believe what Raven had to say.

What makes it worse is that she is AfricanAmerican and she is talking about other AfricanAmericans,” Shakenna Johnson, a sophomore Pan-African studies major, said.

Johnson believes that her name has deterred some employers from continuing with the hiring process based on how it sounds and looks.

“I may not be able to prove it, but I am sure my name has hurt my chances when seeking employment opportunities,” Johnson said. “My name isn’t what you would consider a ‘traditional’ name. When employers see my name, they probably just assume I am some black girl from the hood,” she said.

Although an employer has never directly told her she was not hired based on the sound of her name, she has had employers tell her to change her name because of the way it sounds.

“I used to work for a telemarketing company and my manager once told me that I should not use my real name because people do not respond well to the ‘Shakenna’s of the world,’ ” Johnson said.

Johnson has been discouraged by the treatment she has received based on the name she was given. She feels it is a form of discrimination when an employer denies her application or resume based on her name.

“My name is one of the only things I have to identify myself as. It hurts to know that (it) could possibly keep me from getting a job,” Johnson said. “If my name was Jessica or Abigail, I may have a better chance at employment.

I feel as if I have been stereotyped because my

name is Shakenna.”

Johnson says names that some may consider “black-sounding” or “ghetto” is actually a reflection of the African culture.

“To me, my name is unique and mirrors my culture. What many people may not know is that my name is a derivative of ‘Shekinah Glory’,” Johnson said.

Christopher Williams, an associate professor in the Pan-African studies department, says that most of the “black-sounding” names have a meaning and although they may not fit into the general culture, they are an expression of identity.

“Giving us those names are an expression of our black identity,” Williams said. “But do we over-compromise and lose our identity? Or do we save our culture and risk employment?”

Williams doesn’t feel that anyone should lose out on a job because of their name.

“I can’t call myself what I want to, but they can call themselves what they want,” he said.

“It’s an issue of profiling. Why should anyone be denied a job because of our identity?”

Williams says employers need to be educated about what these names mean.

“Our names don’t have to be intimidating.

We have to educate folks about who we are,” said Williams.

But, does the sound of a name really deter employers from hiring certain employees?

Krittika Chatterjee, a career counselor in the Career Services Center, says companies are not denying applicants from diverse backgrounds.

Instead, they are encouraging applicants from diverse backgrounds to apply.

“Companies are actually seeking to make their work environments more diverse and are looking to have a diverse pool of applicants for any open positions,” Chatterjee said.

Chatterjee said the Career Services Center encourages minority students to find ways to promote their diverse background.

“We ask them to find ways to promote their diversity by either mentioning that they are a member of (Kent State’s) Black United Student organization or that they are bi/multilingual, etc.,” Chatterjee said.

Chatterjee says belonging to a minority race or ethnicity works in one’s benefit when it comes to seeking jobs and asks people to celebrate their differences rather than hide it. dgaither@kent.edu

Office of Sustainability celebrates on-campus efforts Bruno Beidacki Activities Reporter The Office of Sustainability, along with related student organizations, promoted programs regarding sustainability and environmental issues Tuesday morning in the Student Center.

The Biology Club and the Environmental Society were present at the event, aiming to increase membership and promote upcoming events, as well as support the idea of sustainability. The event focused primarily on the celebration of everything related to sustainability that Kent State has done this year, according to Outreach / Recycling Coordinator Leah Graham.

“It is mainly an opportunity to thank all of the students, staff and community members for the effort they have made to help our campus be a more sustainable and environmentally-friendly school,” Graham said. “We are also promoting some of our new programs and are trying to reinforce that college is the perfect time for students to step out of their comfort zones and get involved in helping society.”

During the event, the Office of Sustainability raffled several items, including a free annual FlashFleet membership. Free coffee was also provided, courtesy of downtown Kent-based Bent Tree Coffee.

Do It in the Dark, one of the programs mentioned by Graham, is an initiative organized by the partnership between Kent State and Brewer-Garrett, the company behind most efforts

regarding renewable resources on campus.

“Do It in the Dark is essential not only because it saves money, but also because it helps show the students how easy it is to save energy,” Brewer-Garrett representative Erica Larson said.

The program is an annual competition between residence halls to see which can reduce the most of its energy consumption during a two-week time period. In 2014, McDowell Hall won $200 for the hall council by reducing its consumption by over 13 percent.

“Most students are not aware that we even exist. Being part of this celebration is a chance to show who we are and promote our beliefs,” said Kristen Schmidt, president of the Environmental Society and a graduate student majoring in English. “We organize clean-ups, bring speakers and host service events, all focused on helping the environment.”

Marilyn Werner, a junior zoology major and day leader of the Biology Club, agreed with Schmidt and commented on why raising awareness of such issues is so important.

“Students have to understand that their actions have direct consequences to the environment. The bottle cap you throw on the floor can end up inside a groundhog’s mouth,” Werner said. “That is one of the reasons I am such a big activist for reusable water bottles and think all students should use them too.”

bbeidack@kent.edu.

one is paying tax on marijuana because it is illegal and no money is being brought back into the economy. If Issue 3 were to be passed, he said, millions of dollars would be made and 85 percent of the profits would go to local communities and services.

“We’(d) finally be able to fill potholes with pot-money,” James said jokingly.

James talked about the marijuana issue taking place in Ohio will eventually happen with the rest of the country.

“Ohio is setting the precedent,” James said. “Ohio is an innovator in this new system.”

According to James, ResponsibleOhio has registered over 155,000 voters in Ohio on the issue, a number higher than President Obama received during his last presidential election.

This is the first time a marijuana issue has ever reached the ballot to be voted on in Ohio. The election will be held on Nov. 3. agray27@kent.edu.

Magazine brings classic literature to campus Erin Zaranec Student Life Reporter Walt Whitman, Jack Kerouac and Ralph Waldo Emerson may bring back n i g h t m a re s f ro m high school English class, but for Aaron Bennett, these writers and many more are the basis for his literary magazine, The New Old Stock.

Bennett, a Kent State graduate student receiving his master’s in creative writing , published the first issue of the magazine this past summer.

“The New Old Stock publishes classic and contemporary works of poetry and fiction side-byside, old and new work placed next to one another by theme and meaning,” Bennett said.

“The goal is to publish classic works in a new way in order to show readers how old, classic content is still as relevant today as it was when it was first published.”

Surrounded by arts and literature from an early age, Bennett said Robert Miltner, professor of english at Kent State’s Stark campus, thought the magazine would be a good way for Bennett to gain experience.

Bennett now has a staff of seven and has sold the first 100 copies of the magazine. All staff members are unpaid and split the cost of printing the magazine.

Ted Meltok, a 2011 graduate of the University of Akron’s Myers School of Art, works as the creative director for the magazine.

“I’ve got a couple more years on the team, but (it) definitely helps me with the real world experience dealing with clients, printing (and) other creative resources,” Meltok said.

Childhood friends, Meltok and Bennett, share the same passion for art and literature.

Work off this drive, they make the magazine thrive.

“Easily my favorite part about working on the magazine is seeing something that (the The New Old Stock staff and I) have created be thrust out into the world and enjoyed by others,” Meltok said. “It brings a smile to my face when I see someone enjoying a copy and smiling to themselves, either from the content they’re reading or from the way the magazine looks.”

With a (literal) push from a team member, Bennett was able to connect with a celebrity who shares his love of the arts: James Franco.

Bennett studied under Franco’s poetry professor during his undergraduate career at Denison University and was face-to-face with Franco during his appearance at a family art gallery in Cleveland.

The Kent Stater

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“I was totally star struck.

I actually positioned myself so that when he walked in he would see me, but I ended up just staring at him. An intern for the magazine ended up literally pushing me into him just so I could get a few words out,” Bennett said. “We ended up having a pretty long conversation. When I explained The New Old Stock to him, he was totally into it and I got an interview.”

Franco’s interview will be featured in Issue 2 of The New Old Stock, released this winter.

While the magazine is scheduled to print twice annually, Bennett said he hopes the website will remain constantly updated with new works and book reviews.

Bennett has secured a partnership with Penguin Classics, published by Penguin Books, by reaching out to Elda Rotor, associate publisher and editorial director of the company.

He receives books to review on a monthly basis, with all reviews being published The New Old Stock’s website.

The New Old Stock’s fiction editor Dustin Horner, a Kent State graduate student receiving his master ’s in creative writing, said he is proud to work for a magazine that puts such emphasis on the classics.

“The classics have been around for a long time and for good reason,” Horner said. “Many so-called ‘classic’ authors were masters of their craft and laid the ground work for contemporary writers to draw from.”

The staff is currently accepting poetry and fiction submissions for the second issue.

Bennett admits that there is a lot of work that goes into creating your own literary work or magazine, but it’s well worth it.

“You can plan and plan and plan, but there’s a point where you are planning and nothing is getting done. Sometimes you just have to take the leap,” Bennett said. “Take the leap first and let your ideas and funding catch up later.” ezaranec@kent.edu

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ads@ksustudentmedia.com CORRECTION

Kasha Legeza’s name was misspelled in Monday’s story, “Ghost Walk unveils Kent’s past.”

The Kent Stater

Wednesday, October 28, 2015 | Page 3

The

Kent Stater

Opinion

SUBMISSIONS

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 (email them to harmenta@kent.edu) and guest columns. Submissions become property of the Stater and are subject to editing without notice.

EDITORIAL BOARD Editor: Hannah Armenta Managing Editor: Emily Mills Senior Editor: Jimmy Miller Opinion Editor: Neville Hardman Sports Editor: Ian Flickinger Assigning Editor: Jacob Runnels

THE OPINION PAGE IS AN OUTLET FOR OUR COMMUNITY’S VARIED OPINIONS.

NATE BEELER’S VIEW

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Book helps bring together memories of ‘Archie the Snowman’ A popular talking snowman now has his own book telling the story of how he became more than just a mall Christmas attraction.

Archie the Snowman first debuted at Chapel Hill Mall in 1968 and talked to children until 2006 when he was removed from the mall and then rebuilt at Lock 3 Park in Akron. Archie stayed at Lock 3 Park for 2012 and 2013 winter seasons before returning to the mall in 2014.

The snowman currently stands 17 feet tall and interacts with children asking them what they would like for Christmas.

Cheers&Jeers Cheers to ... Apple, whose profit went up 31 percent for its fiscal fourth quarter.

Latest police brutality video begs the question: Why? Matt Poe Columnist The latest police brutality video to go viral occurred this past Monday when a resources officer at a South Carolina high school was caught on camera putting a young girl in a chokehold and violently slamming her to the ground. In the video, classmates look on in awkward, disturbing silence as the event unfolded at Spring Valley High School in the state’s capital of Columbia.

The officer, identified as Ben Fields, has been placed on leave and the FBI is conducting a civil rights investigation to see what laws may have been violated during the girl’s arrest, according to a Justice Department spokesperson.

The incident allegedly started with an AfricanAmerican girl refusing to leave the classroom after being asked by the teacher, leading to the violent confrontation with Fields, who is white.

Police brutality, especially when it is influenced by possible racial motives, is unjustifiable, but for now there is no evidence that Fields reacted the way he did because of racial hatred. To assume so would be unfair and that is as much leniency as he’ll be granted within this column.

There is so much wrong with this latest video and act of unnecessary police force on a civilian, in this case a young girl, that it’s hard to begin to assess the situation outside of immediate disgust. For starters, it is amazing Fields never questioned his actions may be caught on film by a classroom of students equipped with iPhones and Androids who, within a moment’s notice, could flood the Internet with this ugly incident.

Why did he think his response was the necessary and appropriate one?

I wrote last week about how social media has become an unnecessary outlet to project verbal attacks, but its role in events like this cannot be understated. Videos like this need to be retweeted, shared, mentioned and commented on to keep the debate moving forward. When you think about it, it is not much of a debate because what Fields did was undoubtedly wrong.

While this issue in its entirety is nothing new (just search for Civil Rights era footage), the nature of these incidents has changed now that almost everyone has a camera on their smartphone, only a few finger swipes away from uploading the latest controversy. It is one of the positives taken away from this entire situation.

This issue is one that seems unshakeable in the last several years. Every incident that has occurred, from Trayvon Martin to the Ferguson riots and now videos like this one in South Carolina, have continually caused outrage and rightfully so. I normally believe police offers are underappreciated as a whole. They perform a ton of positive daily work in an extremely tough profession.

However, often the videos of positive action do not travel through the Internet as swiftly and purposefully as these police brutality incidents do. But in this case, there is no defending Fields for what he did to that young girl. Insubordination in school should not warrant a fractured arm from the people who are supposed to be there to serve and protect. Until these incidents start to end, we will be left asking ourselves the same question: Why? mpoe3@kent.edu.

Jeers to ... a report from GLAAD that revealed only 4 percent of actors who are primetime series regulars identify as LGBTQ.

OUR VIEW

No Trigger Warning for this dog owner

Over the weekend, a woman in Indiana on a hunting trip was shot in the foot at point-blank range with her own shotgun.

There was no one else there, save for some waterfowl and her trusty Labrador retriever named Trigger.

What’s the story here? No one shot her with the shotgun. Rather, her dog shot her when it stepped on the shotgun - placed on the ground - fully loaded, with the safety off.

Unfortunately, this isn’t even a new concern of careless gun owners. In 2011, a man in Utah was shot by his own dog with his own shotgun. In 2013, another man in Minnesota was shot on his boat by his dog just like, you guessed it, the same circumstances as the Indiana woman.

Researching any number of “dog-shooting-human” stories will yield the same kind of corny lead about a man being bitten by

a dog and the overall message of a careless gun owner. There are certainly more cases just within the time frame of 2010 to 2015 (around six documented cases).

Should we be blaming the dog and instituting new gun control policies for dogs like the trigger-happy Trigger?

Instead, the question needs to be raised on why people think they can be so careless with their weapons in the company of pets.

Too often has the same incident happened before where someone puts their loaded gun down to be accidentally fired by their dogs.

We at the Stater feel that gun owners need to be more responsible with their weapons.

The above editorial is the consensus opinion of The Kent Stater editorial board, whose names are listed above.

Non-traditional students deserve better support systems Susan Groenwalk The Philadelphia Inquirer Mark Zuckerberg and Bill Gates have some company. Today, more than 1 in 5 working-age Americans is a college dropout.

Unfortunately, most dropouts aren’t tech billionaires. Many are nontraditional students who leave school not because of academic concerns, but because of issues specific to their stage of life: a sick family member, a job loss, a lack of family support or just the pure shock of returning to school after a long hiatus.

Colleges must do more to reverse this trend. After all, they bear at least some responsibility for the fact that 20 percent of their students walk away.

Schools can drive down the dropout rate — and get more students to graduate — by investing in staffing support and resources for high-risk students.

The United States has the highest college dropout rate of any industrialized nation.

Almost half the students who enroll in postsecondary programs fail to graduate within six years. More than 36 million Americans have already dropped out.

Dropout rates are even worse for nontraditional students — students who commute from off campus, go to school part-time, elect to change careers or start pursuing a degree later in life. This burgeoning group comprises 75 percent of the college student population.

But even as their enrollment numbers have increased, nontraditional students’ graduation rates have remained low. Nearly 2 in 3 fail to graduate.

Fortunately, some colleges are bucking the dropout trend. By providing targeted institutional support for nontraditional and first-time college students, these schools are

graduating more students on time — and preparing them for the workforce.

A recent Gallup poll revealed that a primary factor in success in school and the workplace was having a faculty member who “cared about them as a person.” Yet only 22 percent of those surveyed reported receiving such support in college.

Through Chamberlain Care, students have access to success seminars and contentspecific tutoring that teach communication, relationship-building, and emotional-intelligence skills. Students are also engaged in experiential learning through simulated hospital environments and clinical work.

Since the initiative was implemented two years ago, student academic performance has surged. In one key course, the number of students who passed increased from 71 percent to 92 percent. More students are also graduating and passing the national nursing licensing exam.

Perhaps more importantly, the program has proved invaluable for high-risk students who have failed at or withdrawn from other nursing schools. Since its inception, 230 such students have enrolled at Chamberlain’s Addison, Illinois campus. Of that group, more than 90 percent graduated. Ninetyfour percent passed the national nurse licensing exam on their first attempt—a rate roughly 10 percentage points higher than the national average.

The evidence is clear: Programs that provide motivation and academic support through a caring approach can and do help nontraditional and at-risk students graduate. Now colleges need to start implementing them.

The vast majority of would-be dropouts aren’t trying to be the next Steve Jobs.

They’re trying to earn a degree to secure a brighter future for themselves and their families. For their sake — and for that of our economy — colleges must do more to get them to graduation.

The absence of Jon Stewart Lucas Misera Columnist Something is missing from the 2016 election. While the lack of excitement concerning both sides’ candidates certainly gives next year an interesting feel, I realized one particular force behind presidential elections is absent this time around.

America is missing Jon Stewart now more than ever.

It sounds silly, right? A show on Comedy Central managed to produce one of the most trusted personalities of our generation, and that missing piece is becoming increasingly more obvious to me. I want to hear about how Bernie Sanders looks like Doc Brown from “Back to the Future,” Hillary Clinton’s nearly crippling inability to relate to the public. We can only imagine the content “The Daily Show” would have drawn up for Donald Trump.

Trevor Noah is receiving mixed reviews as “The Daily Show” host. In all fairness, anybody who was stuck with following up Stewart was going to have a rough time. The rapport Stewart built with his audience, largely comprised of young people, is remarkable.

According to Pew Research Center, the median age of viewers of “The Daily Show” under Stewart’s tenure was 36. He built a satirical empire, but his comedy routines, presumably due to the cast’s brutal honesty, began to act as a news outlet for many Americans. In an online poll, 12 percent of Americans recognized “The Daily Show” as a primary news source. In a similar poll, 6 percent of Americans under the age of 30 years old declared Stewart as their most admired journalist, the highest percentage in that category.

Not bad for a show based on comedy routines.

Young voters need honesty. Growing up in an era in which political polarization can bring the federal government to a standstill, it’s hard to trust that politicians truly have Americans’ best interest in mind. Stewart quelled frustration through humor, making otherwise perplexing governmental failures into laughable situations.

He also stood by America through it all.

Shortly after the terrorist attacks on 9/11, Jon Stewart produced one of the most eloquent monologues that television has ever seen. He stood with the people of Charleston, South Carolina in June after the shooting massacre, expressed mutual frustration with police after a string of heinous brutality and understood when America just needed to breathe. Most importantly, he understood how to push Americans through dark, frustrating times and helped this nation look to its future.

As we approach the 2016 election, it’s fair to say most Americans are simply unsure of what is to come. Without Jon Stewart breaking down what CNN and Fox News are afraid to, Americans need to sift through biases that “The Daily Show” made a point to eliminate.

Who would’ve thought that Comedy Central could produce such a powerful political figure? It doesn’t seem so strange now, especially in his absence. lmisera@kent.edu.

Page 4 | Wednesday, October 28, 2015

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SNL earns criticism for inviting Trump to host Ceramics major prospers as street musician Olivia Minnier Enterprise Reporter

Robert Gauthier / Tribune News Service Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump on the debate stage at the Reagan Library in Simi Valley, Calif., on Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2015.

Alexandra Gray Student Politics Reporter Saturday Night Live is being criticized for inviting presidential candidate Donald Trump to host the show for Nov. 7.

According to CNN, the National Hispanic Foundation for the Arts and the National Hispanic Leadership Agenda wrote a letter in regards to Trump hosting the show saying they are “flabbergasted.” The letter was sent to the executive producer and the chief executive of NBCUniversal.

Over the last few months, Trump has made several controversial statements about illegal immigrants and people from Mexico in general, causing these Hispanic groups’ outrage following the announcement of the presidential candidate on SNL. “Allowing Trump to host SNL will legitimize and validate his anti-Latino comments,” the letter says.

In addition, a petition was started on MoveOn.org to tell NBC to rid Trump as a host of SNL. The main message of the petition states, “No Room for Hate on Saturday Night Live.”

The petition has a goal of 150,000 signatures and has already almost reached 140,000.

R&B singer Miguel spoke out about Trump in an interview with New Musical Express (NME) saying that if he were asked to perform on the same episode, he would decline because he thinks that casting a vote for Trump would be “f------ ignorant.”

“I believe it will be good for the ratings, I’m sure that’s how they’re looking at it, too,” Miguel said. “But, you know, I think there’s also a responsibility that you have to have. And I don’t think ignorance deserves that kind of attention and, unfortunately, we live in a world where attention is the ultimate currency.”

This past June, NBCUniversal, which broadcasts SNL, decided not to air the Miss USA Pageant and the Miss Universe Pageant to cut business ties with the Republican candidate, which pleased many Latino groups.

“At NBC, respect and dignity for all people are cornerstones of our values,” the company said to explain it’s decision in cutting the broadcasts.

Trump stated Monday that he is confident that Saturday Night Live will not “dump” him and continued by stating that SNL’s ratings will be “through the roof” the night he is hosting. agray27@kent.edu

Nate Manley / The Kent Stater Students pass Kayla Henry as she plays the ocarina flute on the Esplanade outside of Bowman Hall on Tuesday Oct. 20, 2015.

Amongst the variety of construction projects and general sense of urgency that can be felt along the Esplanade during a sunny weekday, something different might stand out to students traveling to class; a fiery-haired flute player.

What started as an out-of-the-box class project transformed into a side business for Kayla Henry. The sophomore crafts major decided to take her musical talent out onto the Esplanade, after realizing she could make money doing what she loves.

“I was trying to figure out how to make an art piece out of things that weren’t really considered a visual art, so I did a social experiment where I bused around town just to see if people would be willing to give a musician money that way and realized that it gets fairly decent money,” Henry said.

With a keen interest in music from a young age, Henry started her journey playing the piano and has since progressed to the cello, trombone, bass guitar and ukulele. She started playing the ocarina - her favorite of the group - six years ago after purchasing her first one for only $25.

“My first interaction with it was through the “Legend of Zelda” game, but as a musician that has been playing since I was five, once I found out it was a real instrument, I had to get my hands on it, even for just the experience, ” Henry said.

She now owns six ocarinas ranging in worth from $20 to $400. The red and orange-colored model she can be seen sporting around campus is in the $65 range, Henry said.

“A rule that my dad taught me, that he does with his guitars, is that you always need x plus one,” she said.”You always need one more.”

In a normal day, Henry can walk away with anywhere from $15 to $20 in the hat she places beside her on the Esplanade. Her twice a week, 30-minute set usually includes tunes such as a Zelda Medley, a few Irish jigs and traditional Eastern songs, all of which she has memorized.

“If it’s a fairly easy song I can memorize (it) in about three days,” she said. “The shortest time I ever memorized a song was 24 hours and I no longer remember it.”

According to stlocarina.com, an ocarina is an ancient flute that first appeared around 12,000 years ago. The Incas, Mayans and Aztecs used and developed the instrument to look like various birds and animals. Servicemen during World War II also used them as a morale booster. The round instrument has gained popularity in the past decade with its appearance in the “Legend of Zelda: The Ocarina of Time” video game released in 1998.

“Out of all of the instruments that I play, it is the only one that has dozens upon dozens of configurations. People (usually) don’t

know what it is, so it’s kind of a conversation starter,” Henry said.

Her interests are not only limited to the music and creation of artwork, but also the ability to collaborate on video projects and written works as well.

“I’ve known Kayla since elementary school and we’ve always been close, but what makes us such great friends is that she is a great writer and insanely talented,” said Owen Rinear, a close family friend.

As a freelance videographer, Henry often helps him with scripts and other things he does for his clients, adding many creative ideas to the mix. Additionally, Rinear produces videos for Henry’s Youtube channel where they create ocarina videos together.

She was not expecting all of the attention she has gotten, such as students stopping to film and record her songs.

“That was pretty unexpected, the first time that happened. (It) kind of threw me for a loop but for the most part people are pretty accepting and tell me to keep going at it and that they enjoy hearing it,” she said.

Her friends have been very supportive of the musical endeavor that she started last semester. From her best friend’s perspective, it is just another way she can show off her talents.

“She told me that playing the ocarina on campus really helps her with being comfortable playing in public and she tells me all the time how surprised she is by the support,” said Rinear.

Her family is equally supportive of her musical endeavors, as a large part of Kayla’s upbringing revolved around music. All of her immediate family members have played musical instruments at one point or do currently, she said.

“My dad gigs professionally on nights and weekend and has been a big inspiration for me to actually to get out there and playing,” said Henry.

Along with being a musician and completing various art projects for her degree, Henry has an Etsy store where she sells crocheted clothing and accessories, a passion she learned from her grandmother. In the future, she wants to pursue further education in orchestral instrument repair after she completes her fine arts degree from Kent State, with a focus on ceramics.

In addition to being filmed occasionally, getting questioned about her ocarina and the frequent glances from the occasional passerby, she recalls one particular instance where she received a note from a stranger.

“It just said, ‘Thank you for making the world a little more beautiful.’ That’s really why I play,” Henry said. “I don’t really do it for the money, I do it for the fact that I can bring people happiness.” ominnier@kent.edu

Nate Manley / The Kent Stater Kayla Henry plays the ocarina flute on the Esplanade outside of Bowman Hall on Tuesday Oct. 20, 2015.

The Kent Stater

Wednesday, October 28, 2015 | Page 5

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.

Classified ads can be placed by fax at (330) 672-4880, over the phone at (330) 672-2586 or by e-mail at ads@ksustudentmedia.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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Today’s Birthday (10/28/15) Together you can move mountains this year. Group efforts exponentially multiply your voice and results. Money comes with steady action. Make bold requests. Springtime romance could scramble your plans.

Friends produce miracles this autumn, leading to a turning point in the game.

Push for a shared passion.

To get the advantage, check the day’s rating: 10 is the easiest day, 0 the most challenging.

Aries (March 21-April 19) Today is an 8. The next two days favor communications, transportation and research.

You’re especially clever under the Gemini Moon. Craft plans, outlines and sketches.

Detail logistics. Produce and promote upcoming events. Participate in a bigger conversation.

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Taurus (April 20-May 20) Today is an 8. Keep track of all the money flowing in today and tomorrow. Don’t just spend it all. Stash some for home improvements and feed the rainy day kitty.

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Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) Today is an 8. Consider your career over the next two days. New opportunities have you tantalized. Which to choose? Forge ahead into the spotlight. Your work is receiving attention. Clean up your presentation. Step up to the next level.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Today is a 9. Begin a new two-day phase in your work. Your services are in increasing demand. Put in structural supports to manage it ... delegate and divert the flow.

A rising tide floats all boats. Work smarter, not harder.

Gemini (May 21-June 20) Today is a 9. You’re especially strong and confident today and tomorrow. Ask for what you want. Be bold for a cause. Take on something larger than yourself. Focus on a broader goal. Motivate others to get involved.

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) Today is a 7. Today and tomorrow favor travels and studies. The news or weather may affect your decisions. Update your itinerary and keep in touch with home.

Learn about new cultures and viewpoints by visiting in person. Try another way.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) Today is an 8. Have fun today and tomorrow. Play games and devote yourself to favorite activities with favorite people.

Share a meal with someone entertaining.

Take advantage of a harmonious mood.

Relax and indulge in delicious romance.

Cancer (June 21-July 22) Today is a 6. Finish a project in private today and tomorrow. Slow down and consider options. Look back to acknowledge the ground taken. Assemble files and photos. Take time for spiritual reflection and meditation. Brilliant ideas come when you’re relaxed.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) Today is a 9. Sort, organize and file financial documents. Contribute to managing family money and benefits over the next few days. Gentle persuasion works best.

Check investments and manage accounts for growth. Collaborate and get everyone pumped up.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) Today is a 6. Home projects take on a life of their own today and tomorrow. Keep expenses reined in. Spend what you’ve budgeted to make improvements. Settle into your newly feathered nest and get comfortable with homemade baked goods.

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) Today is an 8. Your friends really come through for you the next couple of days.

Your team is on your side. Get the word out about a group project. Together you can surpass obstacles. Love melts all barriers.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) Today is a 7. You’re entering a two-day partnership phase. Compromise. Negotiate for a win-win situation. Emerge victorious on a shared goal. The two of you are far more powerful together than either separate.

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Page 6 | Wednesday, October 28, 2015

The Kent Stater

Sports

The 2015-16 Kent State men’s basketball team opens the season at home on Saturday, Nov. 14 versus Youngstown State University

SPORTS EDITOR: IAN FLICKINGER // IFLICKIN@KENT.EDU

Field hockey undefeated at home after win over OSU Zac Sommer Sports Reporter The Kent State field hockey team is on a fivegame winning streak after its 3-1 win over Ohio State on Tuesday.

“I am really happy with the performance today,” head coach Kathleen Wiler said. “It’s our third game in a short amount of time. The girls came out, attacked, and we are happy to get a victory at the senior’s final home game. We are undefeated at home this year and I know they are all proud of that.”

Tuesday’s win over Ohio State marks the first time the Flashes have beaten the Buckeyes since 2007.

Sophomore Eilidh Thomson scored at 6:34 in the first half after sophomore Alison Harmatz passed her the ball from the left side, giving the Flashes an early lead over the Buckeyes.

Almost 10 minutes, later sophomore Shannon Talbot tallied another goal for the Flashes as she put one past the Buckeye keeper, giving Kent State a two goal lead midway through the first.

Junior Krysti Lober scored the third goal for the Flashes by controlling a deflection in front of the net and putting one past the goalkeeper.

The Flashes held the Buckeyes scoreless until three minutes left in the game when Ohio State dribbled in from the top of the circle, scoring their only goal of the game.

“I think we were really disciplined in our structure and how we set up,” senior Susanne Felder said. “This is a great win and being undefeated on our own turf is a big confidence builder.”

The Flashes will end their regular season this Sunday as they travel to Muncie, Indiana, to take on Ball State at 12 p.m.

Max McCarty / The Kent Stater

zsommer@kent.edu Senior midfielder Jessica Nesbitt chases down the ball against Ohio University on Friday, Oct. 23, 2015.

Opinion: Flashes could be bowl eligible for first time under Paul Haynes

Clint Datchuk / The Kent Stater Wide receiver Ernest Calhoun returns a kick during the third quarter of the Kent State vs Marshall football game on Sept. 26, 2015. The Flashes lost in double overtime, 36-29.

Stephen Means II Sports Reporter On paper, the Kent State football team seems to be having yet another mediocre, subpar season. But, if you look closer, you see that this team isn’t nearly as bad as its record shows.

In his third year as head coach of the Flashes' football team, Paul Haynes has established a clear defense identity. Junior Terence Waugh, third in sacks with nine, and sophomore Demetrius Monday, tied for third in interceptions with five, are statistically two of the nation's best at their respective positions.

Obviously the defense isn’t the reason why this team is 3-5 and 2-2 in the Mid- American Conference this year. Everyone who has paid any attention to this team knows that a lot of its failures fall on the offensive side at the ball. But why?

Is it quarterback play? Is it youth? Or is it the lack of a constant threat every week?

Honestly, it's likely a combination of all three.

From the look of things, George Bollas is going to be the man behind center from here on out. After a phenomenal performance in a win over UMass, he followed that up with an ugly loss to Bowling Green. Bollas is only a freshman, so inconsistency is something that is to be expected, especially when your second start is against the best team in your division.

Bollas isn’t the only underclassmen on this team who is in his first year of playing a big role

for the Flashes. Antwan Dixon, Raekwon James, Kris White and P.J. Simmons are all either freshman or sophomores as well.

This is a young team and with young teams comes a lot of undisciplined players. Haynes has constantly talked about how this team tallies up an unnecessary amount of turnovers that halt positive drives. These things can be corrected with experience and time.

What can’t be corrected is not having that constant go-to guy. The Flashes don’t have an offensive threat that they have been able to count on week-in and week-out. The lack of having that makes it harder to execute offensively because there is no one on the scouting report that other teams feel they need to focus more on.

If someone can step up in these last in these four weeks, or even develop into that in the next two years, then this team's future can be much brighter than its current record shows.

At the end of the day the Flashes have played surprisingly well in all but three games this season. Other than the games against Illinois, Toledo and Bowling Green, this team was in position to win every game if it weren’t for the lack of a solid offensive scheme.

Moral of the story, the Flashes have a legitimate chance to be bowl eligible for the first time since 2012 if and only if - Bollas and the offense can show progression every week throughout November. smeans2@Kent.edu