BEYOND the BORDER An immigrant returns to his Mexican roots
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@kentwired KentWired.com WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2017
Kent campus experiences slight drop in enrollment
962 points
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Taylor Robinson Recruiting and Retention Reporter Kent State released 15th Day Enrollment Statistics for Spring 2017, which showed a small drop in undergraduate enrollment compared to Spring 2016 at the Kent campus. Currently, 22,175 undergraduate students are enrolled on Kent campus, which decreased from 22,255 students last spring. Freshman, sophomore and junior classes all decreased in size, while the senior class posted a 3.38 percent gain, according to statistics. “Our enrollment remains strong and healthy across all areas of the student body, and it’s not unusual to see a slight drop in spring numbers from fall to spring," Eric Mansfield, executive director of University Media Relations, wrote via email. "As the economy increases, many non-traditional students will return to the work force and delay completing their education for the time being,” The university established specific goals for retention and aims at a first-year retention rate of 85 percent by 2020. It also aims for a six-year graduation rate of 65 percent before freshman begin in Fall 2020, according to the university's website.
Spring 2016
22,255 undergraduate students
104 assists 93 games 3
NCAA seasons
When he first missed out on a chance to play basketball at Kent State, Chris Evans knew he had to find a way back. Now, Evans is in his first year with the Canton Charge and hasn’t looked back. Photo courtesy of Kent State Athletics
Former Flash excelling in D-League Nick Buzzelli Sports Reporter
The day before he was set to open the 2016-17 season on the road in a 5,000 seat multipurpose arena in the Grand Rapids, Michigan, suburb of Walker, Chris Evans was inside the gymnasium of the Edgewood Community Center – a church/recreation center combo serving North Canton – working on his midrange game with his team’s assistant coach, Melvin Ely, on one of the facility’s six ceiling-mounted basketball hoops. Although the final Canton Charge preseason practice was all but over, Evans – whose charcoal, long-sleeved shirt was dripping with sweat – opted to stay on the court a little longer,
shooting jumper after jumper. At the same time, Ely, a former NBA center three years removed from suiting up for the New Orleans Pelicans, fed him rebound after rebound, creating a continuous cycle of 20-foot shots – some makes, some misses. Eventually, though, when Evans wrapped up his shooting routine, he grabbed his team-issued warmup gear from Michael Clark, the Charge’s manager of community relations and communications who sometimes doubles as the equipment staff when needed, and began to prepare for the five-hour bus ride departing the practice facility later that afternoon. While it may not have been ideal for Evans and his teammates to
drive 340 miles, play one game and turn around and come back shortly after the final whistle, it was the reality of life in the D-League, a 22-team conglomerate that began in 2001 with the aim of becoming the only true professional farm system for the NBA. Here, players are paid based on skill level, with the least experienced taking home a modest $19,500 for a 50-game regular season schedule and the D-League’s elite raking in $26,000 for five months of work, a sliver of the roughly $5.2 million that is the average compensation for a player on an NBA roster. If there’s one thing everyone who compete in this league is hoping for, though, it’s an opportunity to impress
Faculty Senate 22,175 talks sanctuary undergraduate campus updates
Along with the slight drop in overall Kent campus enrollment, retention rates for multiple colleges also dropped. The University College decreased in enrollment by 8.20 percent, according to the statistics. The University College has several advising strategies implemented for those students enrolled as an exploratory major to help them find their future careers and declare a major. Students pick an area of interest when they apply to Kent State as exploratory and their First Year Experience class is coordinated with a Kent Core class to align with their area of interest, Nicole Kotlan, director of the Exploratory Advising Center, said. “Exploratory majors also create an Action Plan, which they can update on their own online or when they meet with their Academic Advisor in the Exploratory Advising Center," Kotlan said. "Students create their Action Plan with their academic advisor in their first advising appointment in the fall semester and update it during their semester advising appointment on-going until they declare." The College of Public Health also decreased by 6.24 percent in enrollment. “For the most recent data, the first time, full-time Kent campus freshmen denominator was 34 students in the College of Public Health. Unfortunately, due to circumstances beyond our control, four of our students did not return,” Sonia Alemagno, dean of the College of Public Health, wrote via email. Jennifer Miller, assistant dean of the College of Public Health, and the advising staff reached out to those students via email and phone, Alemagno wrote.
SEE ENROLLMENT / PAGE 2
Megan Ayscue Administrative Reporter The future of Kent State as a sanctuary campus is uncertain. At the Faculty Senate meeting Monday evening, Kent State President Beverly Warren spoke of the university’s current social environment and its resolve to remain vigilant in light of the current political climate. A petition was created by the Student Power Coalition to make Kent State a sanctuary campus, garnering over 600 signatures. The petition was in response to President Donald Trump's executive order on Jan. 27, which banned citizens from seven countries to enter the United States. The order has since been overturned by the Ninth Circuit Court. “We have long been that sanctuary of support,” Warren said.
‘‘
I have said I am willing to go to jail for our cause.”
Kent State President Beverly Warren
However, Warren isn’t convinced that becoming a “sanctuary campus” is in the best interest of the university, due to safety reasons and protecting students. Warren referred to the President of Harvard Drew Faust’s stance on sanctuary campuses: The act of naming Kent State a sanctuary campus could bring unnecessary attention and safety problems of its own, Warren said. “The sanctuary status … does not come with any legal status, and there’s no law of additional protection that a campus receives by declaring itself a sanctuary,” Warren said. In response to the petition, the administration collaborated and came up with a draft of a pledge: Kent State United. The Kent State United pledge reiterates the notions that Kent State is an environment for
SEE EVANS / PAGE 6
Kasich proposes Ohio tuition freeze extension
Spring 2017
students
their parent club’s general manager and receive a shot at the next level. But the odds of getting called up aren’t ideal. At the start of the 201617 season, only 135 rostered NBA players – or roughly 30 percent – had prior D-League experience. However, the prospect of an opportunity is why players like Quinn Cook – the guard who captained Duke to the 2015 NCAA Tournament title, Jon Horford – a former University of Michigan forward, who was a Milwaukee Bucks signee for three weeks before being waived, and Evans were willing to play back-to-back games less than 24 hours apart.
Cameron Gorman Senior Reporter
“freedom of expression and the free exchange of ideas” and non-discrimination statements. The pledge mentions the public statements of support Kent State has joined in the past, including the city of Akron’s “Open Letter in Support of Our New American Neighbors.” It also addresses resources available for students, such as pro bono legal services for students covered through the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals Executive Order (DACA), University Stewards and psychological services, such as the International Student Success support group. Warren plans to meet with student organizations, including Undergraduate Student Government, later this week to discuss the sanctuary campus petition and the draft of the Kent State United pledge. Warren also mentioned there are parts of the petition she does not believe are in the best interests of the campus, including the urge for the university to refuse to “honor or recognize federal, state, or regional laws, statutes or regulations.” “Breaking the law is among one of the least effective ways to protect our students and affect change,” Warren said. “It’s simply an unacceptable strategy to suggest that a state university, or any university for that matter, should refuse to comply with the law as a statement of solidarity.”
Ohio Gov. John Kasich has proposed a tuition freeze for all public institutions of higher education — one that would continue the current tuition freeze in place at Kent State under Ohio’s current budget bill. “The cost of higher education has been a concern of the governor from the very beginning,” said Chancellor of The Ohio Department of Education John Carey. “He’s worked with all the presidents, including (Kent State) President (Beverly) Warren, in order to try to reduce costs to students.” The freeze will prevent the school from raising the cost of tuition for students — “freezing” it in place — and is part of Kasich’s proposed 860-page budget recommendations, which would be enacted during the 2018-19 fiscal year. The budget would allow community colleges in Ohio to award students with applied bachelor’s degrees, provide additional funding to make college more affordable and other educational benefits. “On average, our tuition in Ohio was higher, so by the tuition freeze, it brings us closer to the national average,” Carey said. “I think from the most recent report that I saw ... Ohio’s university tuition (is) about 6 percent higher on average than its counterparts nationally.” The current undergraduate tuition cost at Kent State for Ohioans is $10,012 each year and has been frozen since the 2016 fiscal year. Educational and general expenditures, however, increased $14.6 million on Kent State’s main campus from 2015-16. “The tuition freeze will hold revenues flat while costs rise due to inflation,” said Lisa Reifsnyder, senior associate vice president of finance and administration. “Even with the efficiency measures that the university has enacted, the extension of the tuition freeze will create a challenging budget environment.”
SEE SANCTUARY / PAGE 2
SEE TUITION / PAGE 2
Photo courtesy of Kent State Univeristy
Page 2 | Wednesday, February 15, 2017 From Page 1
TUITION
Kasich proposes Ohio tuition ... There is concern of reduced available funds from tuition for the university’s budget and expenditure, but Carey said student affordability is the priority. “Higher education has a lot of talented people, so I think that … we see much of that. Kent State, of course, has done some great things, but we think in order to keep college affordable for Ohio students, we have to hold the line on costs,” Carey said. “I guess the concern more is that we make college more affordable for students and we work with our higher education partners to make that happen.” Reifsnyder said the university is looking to innovate ways to reduce costs — including energy efficiency in buildings and a negotiation of new electric rates, which resulted in a 13 percent rate decrease.
The Kent Stater
“Some university costs are fixed based on contracts, but there are areas that we have or will focus (on) to reduce cost or slow the increase in cost,” Reifsnyder said. “Utilities are significant cost items for the university." Reifsnyder said Kent State has gone through a series of projects over the past few years to increase energy efficiency, with its final phase currently being implemented. “These efficiencies reduce the energy usage and therefore the cost,” she said. Despite the freeze, colleges may find ways to increase fees in order to keep up with rising expenditures. This fact was exemplified when junior and senior students at The University of Akron experienced a 12 percent fee increase that technically did not increase tuition in 2015. “Personally, I think (tuition costs) are too high,” said freshman digital media production major Matthew Wolf. “I think it’ll help, especially because — on average from last year, if I remember correctly — they were raising 3-5 per-
cent every year, and if they continued like that, I think a lot of people wouldn’t be able to afford to go to college, even less than now.” The budget doesn’t just propose a freeze. In addition, it suggests that schools may charge students a $300 textbook fee in exchange for the university covering the cost of textbooks. “It was originally, as we were doing the proposal, determined that the average cost for students for textbooks is $600 annually,” said Jeff Robinson, director of communications at the Ohio Department of Higher Education. “And so what is proposed in the budget would allow colleges to remove half of that cost … charging students up to $300 and then schools would cover … the rest of the cost for students. The proposal would be a collaboration between the department and schools." “The proposed provision regarding textbooks would not be in effect until the 2018-’19 academic year,” Reifsnyder said. “We are currently evaluating the
potential effect of this proposed legislation, but initial estimates indicate that this could be a significant additional cost that would have to be factored into the university budget.” Kasich’s proposed budget is being introduced to the House of Representatives this month. Hearings and votes will be held in Ohio’s House and Senate until June, where it may be approved by June 30. “We’re about 43 percent of postsecondary attainment,” Carey said, “which includes — in Ohio — (an) advanced degree, a bachelor’s degree, or associate’s degree or … certificate. We need to be at about 65 percent by 2045. And so we have to have as many different pathways as students — traditional and nontraditional students — can pursue to make that happen.” cgorman2@kent.edu
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A PARTA bus drives by the M.A.C. Center on Thursday, Feb. 2, 2017. Campus PARTA bus routes are altered during the 2017 spring semester. Alyssa Keown/ The Kent Stater
Hannah Coleman Parking and Transportation Reporter Transit agencies in Ohio are bracing for the loss of millions of dollars in their budgets starting in July. The financial impact comes from the state no longer collecting the sales and use tax on Medicaid Managed Care Organizations (MCO). Sales taxes, among other entities, help fund transit agencies on a local level. Ohio Gov. John Kasich released a state budget plan last month that would cut funds for regional transit agencies if passed. In Northeast Ohio — particularly Portage and Summit counties — it is uncertain how local transit systems might be impacted by the potential changes. “We will be affected. We don’t know the exact amount yet. We are going to wait and see if the budget is first From Page 1
SANCTUARY
Faculty Senate talks ... Other universities that are self-proclaimed sanctuary campuses, including Rutgers University and the University of Pennsylvania, share similarities to Kent State. They do not refuse to comply with the law, but they do protect student privacy and citizenship positions, according to a comparison chart provided by Warren. Some members felt as though the petition was worded too strongly and other members, such as philosophy professor Linda Williams, said the Kent State United pledge was not strong enough. “Having done some work in civil disobedience, there’s only so far that
approved," said Frank Hairston, manager and EEO director of PARTA. "Our folks are taking a look at what might be cut. There won’t be any immediate changes." While Kasich’s plan is not concrete, regional transits agencies, like PARTA, have already begun to prepare for the financial blow. Numbers are subject to change, but it is predicted the Cleveland RTA will lose about $18 million in funding, according to Cleveland.com. The budget plan offers temporary funding for Ohio transit agencies to help them with the change. The budget plan offers $49 million to be provided to 80 counties and eight transit agencies to replace revenue loss. The plan also offers $158 million that will be delivered in a one-time payment to help cushion the blow of the cut to the budget. “If you look at the budget, he’s giving us three years of monies to ween us off, as he called it, of the sales tax monthings can go,” Williams said. “Sometimes laws need to be bent or broken. So, I’m just trying to get a better handle on how strict you are about how you handle the law.” Warren said it should be up to students and faculty members as individuals to take a stand and engage in civil discourse. The university, on the other hand, would instead take the stance of advocating for the change of the law. “I have said I am willing to go to jail for our cause,” Warren said. “But keep in mind that while I’m in jail, they will come and they will deport the students that have been targeted.” The motion to endorse the original petition has been tabled until the next faculty senate meeting on March 13. mayscue@kent.edu
ey," Hairston said. "So yes, we are looking into some possible, what I call 'cash cows,' some new revenue streams." PARTA has nothing concrete planned for alternative revenue streams. “We are in the beginning process of talking about what we are looking at for grants and looking at other possibilities. We don’t know what might get cut and what might not get cut," Hairston said. "Until this budget is done, we are sitting here anxiously, waiting for what the government has rolled out." But Kasich’s one-time help will only hold most of the transit agencies over until 2019. After that, it is up to them to find revenue elsewhere. “Transit agencies are appreciative of the additional funding that he has proposed, but it doesn’t appreciate the cutting of funds that are going to cripple the transit agencies, especially larger ones like Cleveland RTA,” said Ken Prendergast, executive director at All From Page 1
ENROLLMENT
Kent campus experiences ... "It is unfortunate that students choose to leave the College of Public Health and Kent State University due to ample access to resources and intensive outreach provided by the college,” Alemagno wrote. “When a student decides to leave for home due to being homesick or there is a tragedy like the death of a family member or a work injury, we are ready to help these students, if they should decide to return to our college.” While retention dropped for some undergraduate programs on main campus, enrollment rates for others improved.
Aboard Ohio. “We are very unhappy.” Prendergast describes Kasich’s plan as a “partial fix.” Transit agencies have only been benefitting from the sales tax brought by MCO’s, but they have been pushing for more funding from the state since then. All Aboard Ohio released a press release in 2016 calling for Kasich to provide more funding, and what they are receiving is less. PARTA is meeting with state legislation to work on a plan to support its future. “We have met with our state representative Kathleen Clyde, met with state senator John Eklund and state representative Frank LaRose. They talked about the cuts and their ideas and let us know what it would mean to our budget," Hairston said. "Losing almost $300,000 a year is quite a hit to our budget." hcolema4@kent.edu
The School of Digital Sciences increased from 176 to 205 students. It had the largest retention rate out of all the undergraduate programs: 16.48 percent, according to the statistics. The College of Nursing also experienced an increase in enrollment from 1,509 to 1,603 students, which is a 6.23 percent increase, according to the statistics. Barbara Broome, dean of the College of Nursing, said the college has counseling and meets with every student to ask them what they need or what kind of challenges they are having. A mentor will walk them through and give them helpful hints. “Faculty is always out there pulling for the students,” Broome said. trobin30@kent.edu
Division of Student Affairs hosts open forums Addie Gall Social Sciences Reporter
The Division of Student Affairs has narrowed the search to fulfill the dean of student position to three the finalist. The division will be hosting open forums this week for students to provide feedback. The first forum was Tuesday evening. Candidate James Hintz discussed how he would help serve an engaged and diverse student population. Hintz is currently the director of Leadership and Professional Development Initiative at Purdue University and assistant to the vice provost for Student Life. Students asked Hintz questions about motivating leadership in students, the importance of co-curricular experience and advocating for study abroad and cultural emergence. If he becomes dean of students, Hintz said the first thing he will do is spend a lot of time initially getting to know campus and talking to students about concerns and ideas to better understand what their experience is like at the university. “Interacting with students and getting a sense of what students want, getting a sense of what staff understands about the context of being a
student here, is really how you create programs and ideas to really make this place distinct,” Hintz said. In the past, Hintz has advocated for students, specifically commuters, despite administration pushback. He reflected back on the time when he worked at the University of Connecticut and a tropical storm left many commuters without clean water, electricity and food. Hintz worked through dining services to provide these communities with food and tanker trucks of water. Hintz plans on continuing to advocate for students if he becomes dean of students. “I think there’s opportunities to have a diverse campus; it makes for a rich learning environment,” Hintz said. “I think the political fire right now is really challenging, not only for this campus, but many campuses across the country. I think it’s important for us to reinforce and think about how students are welcome on campuses that we are at.” Hintz said he can’t necessarily do it all overnight, but he will work hard to advocate for students. After the forum, sophomore communications major JaLynn Hairston said Hintz can bring a "sense of commuter community to campus and
has the potential of being a liaison between administration and students." "I read his dissertation and really enjoyed that it is geared toward first generation college students because I am one," senior fashion merchandising major Asha Bowens said. "I think he has the potential to help bridge the divide across cultures." Michael Shutt, senior director for community at Emory University, will be at the next forum on Wednesday at 5 p.m. in the Westfield Insurance Campus Tour Center in the Kent Student Center. The final forum will take place Thursday at 5 p.m. with the final candidate, Lamar Hylton. Hylton is currently the assistant vice provost for Student Life in the Office of Student Affairs at the University of Minnesota. agall7@kent.edu
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James Hintz, the director of Leadership and Professional Development Initiative at Purdue University, speaks to students about possibly becoming the dean of students at Kent State at the Student Center on Tuesday. Angelo Angel / The Kent Stater
Wednesday, February 15, 2017 | Page 3
The Kent Stater
Opinion
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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 jmill231@kent.edu) and guest columns. Submissions become property of the Stater and are subject to editing without notice.
Opinion Editor: Lucas Misera Senior Editor: Karl Schneider Sports Editor: Henry Palattella Assigning Editor: Jack Kopanski
THE OPINION PAGE IS AN OUTLET FOR OUR COMMUNITY’S VARIED VIEWS.
JOSEPH MCGRELLIS’ VIEW // To see all the cartoons this semester, visit KentWired.com
On UNICEF KSU to host crisis in Syria simulation Francesca Demming Social Services Reporter Ever wondered what life in Syria is like? UNICEF KSU is partnering with The Syrian American Medical Society to host a “Crisis in Syria Simulation” event, providing an interactive glance into the lives of Syrian children. The simulation will be held on next Tuesday, from 7 to 9 p.m. in room 315 of the Kent State Student Center. fdemming@kent.edu
Cheers&Jeers Cheers to ... taco-themed weddings. A Las Vegas Taco Bell will officially be holding wedding services for $600.
Jeers to ... an 80-year-old woman’s cane, which the TSA wouldn’t allow on a flight. Previously unbeknownst to the woman, the cane had a sword built into it.
Photo of the year drew eyes to Syria-Russia relations Lucas Misera Opinion Editor Burhan Ozbilici, the photographer behind the now-famous picture of the assassination of a Russian ambassador in Turkey, was likely pleased to find that his work earned the title of 2017 World Press Photo of the Year. Others in the media were not as enthusiastic about the decision. Merrit Kennedy, chairperson for the panel of judges who decided on the award, wrote in the Guardian that the photo had no place taking home the prize, arguing, “It’s a photograph of a murder, the killer and the slain, both seen in the same picture and morally as problematic to publish as a terrorist beheading.” Frankly, I find it laughable that a member of the media is essentially condemning a piece of work as sensationalism, given the very nature of the business. Yet, it’s a debate that took place, and it’s one in which I strongly agree with the panel’s decision to select the photograph. If a major basis of his argument concerns the picture showing the “killer and the slain,” then his input holds no legitimacy when viewed in the historical context of the World Press Photo of the Year. Consider 1961, when a picture depicting the assassination of Japanese politician Inejiro Asanuma via the sword of a radical 17-year-old won the award. What about the 1968 winner that showed the brutal execution of a Viet Cong prisoner during the Vietnam War? His argument that the violence weakens the photograph’s prospects as the best picture – especially as a panel member of an award that has recognized images such as these in the past as winners - borders on hypocrisy. Another major point in his dissenting opinion surrounds the photo’s alleged inability to enact real change, as Kennedy argued, “Photography is capable of real service to humanity, promoting empathy and initiating change. This image achieves neither.” For Kennedy to suggest that photographing the assassination of a Russian ambassador over the country’s support of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in Syria has no potential to enact change, is to ignore the significance of that moment. Shortly after the murder of the ambassador, the Turkish assassin shouted, “Do not forget Aleppo, do not forget Syria.” Although his precise motive for the attack was uncertain, many speculate it was in response to improving relations between Turkey and Russia or Russian bombing of Syria. Whichever the reason, the assassination was sparked by a world power supporting war crimes on behalf of the current Syrian government — a civil war which may have claimed the lives of over 400,000 fighters and civilians since turmoil arose in 2011. It’s a civil war in which the al-Assad regime has used chlorine gas on its victims, targeted hospitals geared toward the treatment of children, destroyed schools and attacked civilian-heavy shelters following the establishment of a cease-fire. Kennedy suggested that Karlov’s death was of “limited political (consequence),” but he does so by comparing this assassination to that of Archduke Ferdinand – an event that would spark WWI. Perhaps he has a point. Perhaps the Turkish assassin did nothing significant enough to effect broad, global change. However, the assassin successfully – even if briefly – turned the world’s attention to Russia and the crimes al-Assad and Russian President Vladimir Putin perpetuate in Syria. When the world needed to turn its eyes to the oft-overlooked climate in the Middle East the most, this moment demanded every person’s attention. So, sorry Kennedy, your panel got it right: Ozbilici deserves credit for his brave documentation of one of the most attention-grabbing moments of 2016. lmisera@kent.edu
Letter to the Editor: Dearest Rob Portman, you’ve failed us On Feb. 7, a historic and hysterically heartbreaking Senate vote gave the OK to approve another unqualified billionaire, this time to be appointed as the United States education secretary. Betsy DeVos’ nomination was surrounded by much controversy due to her lack of experience with public schools, a terrible performance during her confirmation hearing and a host of other disqualifications. Her appointment comes along with the horrifying potential she could limit the enforcement of Title IX, which governs sex discrimination, including sexual assault cases in schools. A lack of implementation of Title IX would
be extremely irresponsible and could negatively affect campus culture. Or, unfortunately, it could positively affect campus assault culture for rapists such as Brock Turner. One person who didn’t vote against DeVos – even after a record amount of outcry from the people – is Ohio Republican Sen. Robert Portman. A statement too nonsensical to mention, came from Portman after DeVos, who donated $51,000 to his campaign, was officially approved as education secretary by the Senate. Does money take precedent over the future and safety of education, Mr. Portman? Deemyi Scott is a graduate student, contact her at dscott63@kent.edu
SNL, comedians must walk a fine line covering Trump administration Matt Poe Columnist One of the most commonly discussed aspects of the wackiness that is the Trump administration is the idea of how media and other platforms cover this circus masquerading as a presidency. The question itself is only posed because, hell, we’ve never seen a presidency like this before — one where its reality seems far more absurd and humorous than anything you or I can come up with, in terms of satire. Most of it has been pretty hilarious in a holyhell-I-can’t-believe-we’re-at-this-point kind of way then I remember Donald Trump has access to the nuclear codes, and I want to crawl into my fallout bunker surrounded by puppies, hockey and enough beer to last three decades. But, back to the matter at hand (small ones, at that): attempting to cover Trump and his goon squad has been debated incessantly, with every talking head having some opinion on how it should be properly done. Here’s a few examples of that logic: Do we cover everything Trump does to show the public this behavior is not normal? Do we cover only the most important issues and ignore every time he tweets something ridiculous? Does too much coverage inadvertently normalize him and his colleagues odd behaviors? Where do babies come from? These are the questions that keep me up at night. It seems as if those in the entertainment world may be asking themselves the same questions about how they should cover Trump and his antics. In terms of that comedic coverage, none are doing it better than Saturday Night Live and, in particular, Melissa McCarthy. I’ve made my warrants on many occasions that I think SNL has suffered dramatically in its talent, writing and overall quality over the last decade. After all, the show has been on for over 40 years with major overhauls in cast members and writers every couple of years to shake things up. The show, however, has struck gold with McCarthy’s interpretation of Press Secretary Sean Spicer and, to a lesser extent, Alec Baldwin’s portrayal of Trump. McCarthy’s appearances the last two weeks have been a riot and, while I’m no expert on the history of SNL, I’d
easily put her portrayal of Spicer up there with the other great bits in the show’s long-tenured history. Bless her, for she is a treasure. The bit with the squirt gun was simply side-splitting, and “washing that filthy, lying mouth” has become one of my favorite things to say to my Republican friends anytime something comes out of their mouths (kidding). So, all is good? SNL should continue to keep up the gift that is Spicer and Trump’s silver platter of comedic gold? Wrong (Trump voice). Much like the media failed to learn, myself included, it is such a delicate line to walk, when giving any coverage to Trump and the snowball effect of preposterousness that follows him everywhere he goes. What made McCarthy’s Spicer bit so effective was – much like Spicer’s actual first press conference – is how out of nowhere it seemed to come, and that’s evident for how well it spread across social media. Again, that’s a probable indicator that the show will continue to use McCarthy’s sketch, and it will more than likely become a weekly staple. That’s the problem. News outlets of all types, including this dimwitted columnist, exhaustively joked and dissected Trump to the point that it felt like we were shouting at a brick wall until we were blue in the face. Much of that coverage may have played into that perception of normalization that it was intended to avoid in the first place. Am I hypocritical for asking SNL to pause its Trump and Spicer sketches when I will most certainly continue to use them as fuel to write columns and satire about them? Absolutely I am. Have you met me? Ultimately, I think it’s going to take media, entertainment and all of us in this country a while to figure out the right balance for providing legitimate, hard-hitting coverage of Trump and his colleagues, while also being able to find the humor in them, even if it’s a sad and dangerous reality where that humor exists and occupies. As aforementioned, I’m exhausted. I feel how Kellyanne Conway looks (oh, snap). Now, if you’ll excuse me, Poe’s got to go bye-bye and take a big boy nap. mpoe3@kent.edu
Democratic Make America VIEW fascist again Donald Trump is a fascist. This is not some cute talking point used to elicit a reaction or an opinion derived from a poorly-done Facebook meme comparing Trump to Adolf Hitler. There are many academics, scholars and historians who support this assertion and provide a bevy of logic and evidence to support their conclusions. Fascism and authoritarianism have arrived in America, not via Barack Obama as many conservatives claimed, but rather by his successor. First, I think it is important to define fascism, what makes a fascist, and then explain how Trump fits the mold. According to Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary, fascism is defined as “(a) political philosophy, movement, or regime that exalts nation and often race above the individual and that stands for a centralized autocratic government headed by a dictatorial leader, severe economic and social regimentation and forcible suppression of opposition.” At first glance you may say “that’s much too broad,” but let’s break down the components of fascism and how Trump relates to them. American political scientist Robert Paxton broke down the main facets of fascism in his 2004 novel “The Anatomy of Fascism.” These include an overwhelming sense of crisis that cannot be solved by traditional methods, the group’s belief that it is a victim, and the use of exclusionary violence as part of an effort to reverse perceived decline. On the first point, Trump’s campaign slogan was “Make America Great Again.” Trump, much like Hitler did in Germany, preyed on the legitimate economic fears of middle- and lower- class Americans. He promised to bring back manufacturing jobs, to stop Mexicans from taking American jobs and prevent Muslims from killing Americans in great numbers. Of course, what Trump and his associates won’t tell you is that the jobs lost were lost due to automation, not undocumented immigrants. They won’t tell you that Mexican workers primarily do jobs Americans refuse to and that you are more likely to be killed by a white supremacist than an Islamic terrorist. At one point, Trump told his supporters we “won’t have a country” and that our country is “dying,” suggesting that he is the only one smart enough, strong enough and capable enough of stopping that from happening. Focusing on the second point, a great many Trump supporters certainly played the victim card. Many of them believed to be the “true Americans,” that Obama and the Democrats had been earnestly trying to take their country away from them. Many of Trump’s supporters displayed hyper-nationalism and, in some cases, hypernativism, which makes sense because they mostly get their news from sites like Breitbart, Infowars and Fox “News.” All of these organizations are nothing more than relentless propaganda services that play to the worst of society. If you use these publications as your primary source for news – sources which peddle white nationalism and the narrative that “American, Judeo-Christian values” are under attack – then Trump probably makes more sense to you than any other politician. I have some bad news for Trump supporters and apologists: In the words of the great Jon Stewart, “You feel that you’re this country’s rightful owners. There’s only one problem with that: This country isn’t yours. You don’t own it. It never was. There is no ‘real America.’ You don’t own it. You don’t own patriotism. You don’t own Christianity. You sure as hell don’t own respect for the bravery and sacrifice of military, police and firefighters.” aerhard1@kent.edu See the extended column on KentWired.com
Page 4 | Wednesday, February 15, 2017
Perspectives
The Kent Stater
Photos and multimedia through the lenses of Kent State students
A “Castillo”, a wooden structure designed to display and handle various fireworks, dispenses fire in front of a chruch in Degollado, Mexico, on Saturday, Dec. 31, 2016. Castillos are a staple in Mexican culture, used primarely throughout the month of December in honor of Christmas and New Year’s Eve.
BEYOND the BORDER An immigrant returns to his Mexican roots
Police officers in riot gear prepare to counter the protesting crowd in La Plaza de Armas in Guadalajara, Mexico, on Monday, Jan. 2, 2017. Protests erupted throughout the city, prompting the police to react on all fronts.
A deceased horse rests along a dirt road near Degollado, Mexico, on Saturday, Dec. 31, 2016. Sawdust is a popular choice used among Mexican ranchers to mitigate the smell of the corpse.
A crowd gathers at La Plaza de las Armas to protest the soaring price of gasoline in Guadalajara, Mexico, on Monday, Jan. 2, 2017. On Sunday, Jan. 1, 2017, gas prices across the country spiked due to a goverment mandate while granting politicians a gas allowance, infuriating the every-day citizens who struggle to overcome poverty.
“¿Eres del norte, verdad?” — “You’re a northerner, correct?” It’s a question I was asked various times throughout my winter break visit to Jalisco, a state within Mexico revered for its iconic tequila, mountains bleached by the sun and the origin of the mariachi band. Grinning politely, I’d confirm their curiosity in Spanish, replying that I hailed from Ohio. But most wouldn’t think that I was actually born in Mexico, a place I haven’t visited since July 2011. I immigrated to the United States when I was a toddler, only having faint memories of the land my parents call home and occasionally visited throughout my teens. So, returning for what would essentially be a homecoming was exciting. Returning also reminded me of the numerous troubles Mexico faces: a weak economy, drug cartel violence and an unpopular government. In January, protests erupted across the country when the government mandated a
price spike in gasoline, adding to the stress that Mexicans face on a day-to-day basis. I was visiting Guadalajara, the capital of Jalisco, when a major protest swamped the city. My journalistic instincts kicked in, following the crowd and gathering their stories. Everything I’ve learned during my JMC student career came into play during those intense moments, tactfully conversing with the protestors and projecting a professional demeanor. In the end, I was able to accumulate vast images and stories. I learned that stories hold no allegiance or nationality and people across the border wish to be heard, just as much as an individual in Kent. It made me appreciate my heritage and discover a sense of pride, hailing from a desert country filled with joy and tragedy. As Vicente Fernandez, an iconic Mexican singer, would say: “Quiere cantar su alegría a mi tierra mexicana” — “I want to sing your happiness to my Mexican land.” aangel3@kent.edu
Mariachi musicians David Rangelchia and his son, Edwardo, perform together in Guanajuato, Mexico, on Wednesday, Dec. 28, 2016. Although mariachi music is associated with the state of Jalisco, it has nevertheless become a part of Mexican culture throughout the country.
Story and photos by Angelo Angel
Wednesday, February 15, 2017 | Page 5
The Kent Stater
Dining Services takes steps toward a healthier campus Linda Stocum Room and Board Reporter
Matthew Azyenberg, a Kent State junior entrepreneurship major, holds his shoe merchandise at The Province apartments in Kent, Ohio, on Monday. Angelo Angel / The Kent Stater
KSU student puts heart and sole into building a business
Mikala Lugen Student Finance Reporter Junior entrepreneurship major Matthew Ayzenberg has become a serial entrepreneur by reselling popular shoe brands as a business. Ayzenberg started his business “Redrop” about three months ago after being interested in high-end sneakers and clothing. He buys higher-priced retail clothing and shoes from private online websites and resells them for a profit. Ayzenberg sells a wide variety of brands, including Ultra Boosts, Yeezys, Reebok, Nike and Supreme. “It all started when I purchased a pair of shoes from a boutique. I told my friend about them, and he offered to buy them off of me for $20 more,” Ayzenberg said. “This inspired me to continue to supply luxury clothing items to the people who want them.” To determine when clothing items are trending in the market, Ayzenberg analyses marketplaces such as eBay and Goat. He establishes market value of sneakers from StockX, an online sneaker stock market. Being a member of several private online markets, Ayzenberg snags popular shoes for a limited time price. Due to popular demand, in a matter of minutes, the resale value of these popular shoes increase, Ayzenberg said. Ayzenberg’s business is social media based, realizing that his target audience buys online. Ayzenberg is working on a website, but he uses a variety of platforms, such as Instagram to advertise his products.
This type of business is known as arbitrage: the purchase and sale of an asset to profit from a difference in the price. This trade results in profits by utilizing the price differences of identical or similar products on different markets. “There’s insane money in this type of business,” Shawn Rohlin, director of Center for Entrepreneurship and Business Innovation, said. “Businesses all around the world use this mechanism of business to ensure profits.” After starting this business for several months, Ayzenberg has faced several business hardships. As his only source of income, Ayzenberg relates his business practices to investing in the stock market. Ayzenberg makes approximately $1,500 in a month’s worth of business. “You’re taking a chance on your money in hopes it’ll work out for you in the end. It’s kinda nerve-racking, but, so far, it’s worked out very well,” Ayzenberg said. Ayzenberg’s mother, Natalie Ayzenberg, believes her son’s drive to build a successful business comes from the multiple challenges her family has faced. Ayzenberg’s family originated from Odessa, Ukraine. In 1989, Natalie Ayzenberg journeyed from Odessa to the United States in hopes of a better life. There were no opportunities for their family or most of the citizens of Odessa under the Soviet government. “Since my family was Jewish, and all religions were prohibited and prosecuted, it was very difficult for my parents to go
to America for an opportunity to have a better life,” Natalie Ayzenberg said. It wasn’t until Mikhail Gorbachev became president of the Soviet Union in 1989 that citizens were granted permission to leave the country, Natalie Ayzenberg said. She and her family arrived to Cleveland in September 1989. “I think that’s why Matt has such a strong entrepreneurial business attitude,” Natalie Ayzenberg said. “He knows the hardships I went through and is striving to make a better life for himself and his family.” Ayzenberg hopes for success in the future and plans to continue his business. “Matt is a great example of the ingenuity and entrepreneurship here at Kent state. He demonstrates that you don’t have to be creating a new product to be an entrepreneur, but can utilize their expertise and knowledge of a market to make money,” Rohlin said. Students wishing to jump-start their businesses can look into the Center for Entrepreneurship and Business Innovation located in A123 of the business administration building. This resource helps guide and engage students in their prospective businesses, as well as make professional connections. “Don’t settle. Don’t finish things you don’t want to do,” Ayzenberg said. “If you don’t like the Netflix show you’re watching, find a different one. If you’re not happy on the path you’re on, pave a new one.”
Classifieds
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Kent State Dining Services is encouraging students and faculty members to stay active by hosting the Mindful Mile every Monday at noon. The mile program aims to get people to be active after lunch as runners gather at Risman Plaza. Megan Brzuski, the Dining Services dietitian, said the Mindful Mile is growing and bringing people on campus together to work toward a healthier self. The first mile took place during the Taste of Kent event in September, featuring food samples from different places to eat on campus. Brzuski said it has been growing in popularity since then. “It’s growing this semester, for sure. We have several repeat walkers and a mix of new people too,” Brzuski said. Brzuski said Dining Services is committed to the exercise event and providing students and faculty members an opportunity to live healthier lifestyles. “We do the mile rain, snow or shine,” Brzuski said. She also said participants receive a coupon for 15 percent off a Simply to Go item and an entry to win a FitBit at the end of the semester. Senior hospitality management major Andrew Borgen works for Dining Services and said he has attended every Mindful Mile this semester. “I think it’s good to be active in the middle of the day,” Borgen said. He said exercise can reduce stress and help people to feel better throughout the day. “(It benefits campus by) being active and healthy. You get a mile of exercise in,” he said. Angela DeJulius, the director of the Kent State of Wellness initiative, said the mile also compliments his program. “It’s one of the university-level initiatives, (and) it’s focus is to create and foster a culture of wellness,” she said. Its goal is to bring all of the campus, including students and employees, together to create a healthier culture on campus. The initiative has eight priorities, which are preventing alcohol and other drug use, mental health, nutrition, physical activity, preventive care, safety, sexual health and smoking and tobacco use. By focusing on these eight categories of student health, the initiative aims to make Kent a healthier campus overall. DeJulius said her role is to promote initiatives and events like the Mindful Mile that are being done well and encourage the campus to continue to head in a healthier direction. “It’s more about identifying everything that is happening and recognizing it as a wellness initiative,” DeJulius said. “In this early stage, my role is about recognizing these roles and how they go together.” She said the Mindful Mile is an example of the campus mission for action on health by prioritizing both nutrition and mental health. “I think it’s just a great way to connect the intention around health and health behavior to action,” DeJulius said. “Probably everyone on campus would say it’s a good idea to take a walk at lunch, but when lunch time comes, does that translate into behavior?” DeJulius said living a healthier lifestyle is all about taking the first step. “I think it’s a great way to make it one step easier to get out and walk,” DeJulius said, and “to just add a little bit of physical activity.” Students interested in getting involved with the Mindful Mile can meet at Risman Plaza at noon every Monday or follow arrows set up on the ground to indicate the mile-long path through campus. lstocum@kent.edu
mlugen@kent.edu
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Page 6 | Wednesday, February 15, 2017
The Kent Stater
Second half offensive explosion helps Flashes snap two-game losing skid
Nick Buzzelli Sports Reporter When he was informed that Bowling Green State University lost to Western Michigan University earlier in the evening — positioning Kent State in fourth place in the Mid-American Conference East Division standings — Rob Senderoff didn’t think much of the news. The Kent State coach said he isn’t concerned with the outcomes of other games in the league as much as he cares how his team prepares for and performs in each of its five remaining contests. During Tuesday’s game against Miami University (OH), Senderoff was just worried about ending the Flashes’ losing streak that began last week with a disappointing overtime setback to the Falcons. Despite a sloppy first half in which Kent State committed seven turnovers and shot 31.3 percent from the field, senior forward Jimmy Hall and sophomore guard Jaylin Walker combined for 34 points in the final 20 minutes and helped the Flashes (14-12, 6-7 MAC) rally from an early deficit to knock off Miami (10-16, 3-10 MAC), 76-74, for their first home win since Jan. 21. “I don’t think these guys or anybody is really thinking about (what other teams do). We’re just trying to win the next game,” Senderoff said after the win. “At the end of the
year,we’ll see where we’re at in the standings and go from there. If we keep winning, we’ll be fine. If we don’t, then we won’t be, regardless of what other teams do.” Miami’s Michael Weathers led all scorers with 22 points on a 6-12 shooting performance while Hall and Walker tallied 21 and 20, respectively. The Redhawks made five of their first six shots from the floor and led by as many as nine points at the midway point, but Kent State chipped away at the lead and got within one on a three pointer by Walker at the 5:13 mark. Miami, however, converted its final two shots of the first half – including a buzzer beater from Rod Mills – to take a 31-26 lead heading into the locker room. Early in the second half, though, Kent State went from trailing by five points to leading by five due to four consecutive three’s, without a miss by Walker. “Once I had made one (three pointer) I knew I was kind of on. And then once I made my second one, I was like, ‘Okay, let’s just keep it rolling,’” said Walker, who was 5-10 from beyond the arc. “Lucky my teammates trust me to take some shots.” Though Miami was able to regain the lead, 50-48, with 10:26 left on a Weathers layup, the Flashes continued to knock down shots late in the game, something Hall credited to having a short memory in terms of makes and misses.
From Page 1
EVANS ‘Former Flash excelling in D-League’
Yet, for Evans, who had spent the last three seasons playing in Greece, Italy and Israel, the choice to give up his international basketball contract for an open tryout with the Charge was easy. For one, he thought the D-League would be a lot less stressful than being an American playing overseas, where fans would openly place blame for their team’s failures on him simply because he was an outsider. He would be able to play under Nate Reinking, the franchise’s newly appointed head coach. And, he was familiar with Northeast Ohio and its local basketball fan base. But above all else, it gave the 26-year-old another chance. “I heard nothing but good things about the organization,” Evans said following practice Nov. 10. “For me, it was a no-brainer.”
The JUCO Route
Kent State men's basketball assistant coach Bobby Steinburg remembers the eight-hour drive he made to Petersburg High School eight years ago. In 2009, Steinburg received a phone
Kent State senior guard Deon Edwin looks to pass over Miami RedHawks redshirt guard Jake Bischoff and junior forward Rod Mills Jr. at the M.A.C. Center on Tuesday. Alyssa Keown / The Kent Stater
“Basketball is a game of two halves. Can’t get too high or get too low. If you’re ever having a bad game or a bad couple of plays, just try to forget about it, just get it back on (defense) and let the offense work itself out,” he
call from one of his coaching connections informing him of a 6-foot-6 forward who had just qualified for college recruitment. So, Steinburg, who was in his first season as an assistant at Kent State after being at the helm of Motlow State Community College in Tullahoma, Tennessee, for two years, made the 467-mile trek from Northeast Ohio to Petersburg, Virginia – a city of roughly 32,000, located 21 miles south of Richmond – to scout Evans during a high school game. But he wasn’t alone. Packed inside of the Petersburg High School gym that evening were coaches from both large and small schools – the University of Maryland, Virginia Commonwealth University, University of Georgia and Coastal Carolina University. The previous year, he was excelling at Deep Creek High School in Chesapeake, two hours south of Petersburg. But now, he was living with the mother of his AAU coach and attending a new school, all in an effort to attain the best chance of getting noticed. Needless to say, the move paid off. During his senior year, Evans had offers from nearly every program that came to scout him. However, with the ebbs and flows of college basketball recruiting, where decisions are based as much on school size and notoriety as they are on playing time and opportunity, Evans ultimately chose to sign with Coastal Carolina.
said. “We knew that we weren’t supposed to be in the situation that we were in so we just came together as a team and just picked it up.” Kent State takes on Akron on Friday in the first game of the Wagon
He played in 25 of the team’s 35 contests his freshman year – mostly when the game was out of reach, though – and made SportsCenter’s Top-10 Plays for a one-handed dunk he threw down against Gardner-Webb University. But things weren’t quite working out in Conway, South Carolina. At the conclusion of his first season with the Chanticleers, Evans opted to take the JUCO route, transferring to Wabash Valley Community College in Mt. Carmel, Illinois, a two-year school famous for producing current Memphis Grizzlies’ guard Tony Allen and Ken Norman, a 10-year NBA pro who was the 19th overall pick in the 1987 draft by the Los Angeles Clippers. Just like in high school, when he transferred for a better basketball experience, the decision to enroll at Wabash Valley paid dividends. During his final season with the program in 2010-11, Evans averaged 19.5 points and 8.2 rebounds per game, led the school to a regional title, garnered First Team NJCAA Division I AllAmerican honors and was rated the 17th best junior college player in the country by Rivals.com. And, once again, his performance on the court got him noticed by a handful of Power-5 programs – this time, the University of Minnesota, Iowa State University and University of Indiana. But Steinburg, who had maintained contact with Evans after recruiting him out of high
Wheel Rivalry before traveling to Buffalo to take on the Bulls – who are currently a game ahead of the Flashes in the division – next Tuesday night. nbuzzel1@kent.edu
school, offered him the opportunity to finish his final two years of eligibility at Kent State. However, before Evans had officially inked his paperwork to Kent State, head coach Geno Ford departed to take over the job at Bradley University. Since Evans still had the potential to withdraw his commitment, Steinburg and Rob Senderoff – who was announced as Ford’s replacement on April 7, 2011 – traveled 473 miles down Interstate 71 to make sure they didn’t lose Evans a second time. “We drove down to Wabash, where he was, the day after (Senderoff) got the job,” Steinburg said. “We left early in the morning, went down there, sat with him a while, just to make him comfortable. He knew the staff and everything, but with the change, people started fishing around because he hadn’t signed yet when (it) had happened.” Despite the coaching switch, though, Evans knew he wasn’t going to pass up the same opportunity twice. “I always said if I had the chance to go to Kent state again I would. And then Coach Steinburg said they were losing scholarships and then he recruited me,” he said. “Right then and there was a nobrainer for me and once I had the second chance, I was like, ‘I’m not looking anywhere else.’” See the full article on KentWired.com. nbuzzel1@kent.edu