Daily Kent Stater | February 5, 2010 by The Kent Stater

Men’s basketball extends winning streak to six games against E. Michigan. | Page 6

DAILY KENT STATER

Friday, February 5, 2010 • The independent student newspaper of Kent State University • Weather: Snow showers HI 32, LO 26

LATEST UPDATES AT KENTWIRED.COM

Reunited, again

INCREASED ENROLLMENT “Assuming you would pay a reduced room rate, would you be interested in living in a ‘triple’ room (3 persons in one room) in either the Centennial Court or Stopher/Johnson Halls?”

Cody Francis | Daily Kent Stater

See REUNITED, Page 3

Perseverance allows Muir to triumph over obstacles

Young’s hard work on and off field vault him to success

Very interested

Enrollment increase leads to more students in some dorm rooms Samantha Worgull Daily Kent Stater

ED SUBA JR./AKRON BEACON JOURNAL/MCT

uir wasn’t just a football star at Parkdale High School. He was also an allstate wrestler, placing second and third in his junior and senior seasons respectively. But it was football that would bring Muir to Kent State after he earned First Team All-State honors his senior year. Kent State coach Doug Martin said Muir had a lot of work to do on his game and playing style when he came to Kent State, but he thinks coming to a mid-major school ultimately benefited Muir because of the individual work he could get in with the coaches. “Danny, I think with him it was really an issue of probably maturing and trusting coaches and the academic people and those types of things and he was a young man that really matured in his time at Kent State,” Martin said. See MUIR, Page 3

LEW STAMP/AKRON BEACON JOURNAL/MCT

Ohio University's Rudy Sylvan (86) catches a pass with Kent State's Usama Young (18) close behind during the first half at Dix Stadium October 28, 2006.

oung was a standout in the Greater Wa s h i n g t o n D . C . area. He earned secondteam all-state honors his senior year of high school with five interceptions. He came to Kent State and was an impact player from his first game in 2003 to his last game in 2006. Kent State coach Doug Martin said Young was just “one of those guys.” “Usama played very early, but he just was ready,” Martin said. “He came out of high school and he was very athletic and he just kind of took off and was just a very good leader. That was one of the best aspects he had.” After earning numerous awards in his freshman campaign as a Golden Flash, including an honorable mention on collegefootballnews.com’s Freshman All-America Team, Young continued his success as a fouryear starter at Kent State. See YOUNG, Page 3

Women have strong presence at KSUPD Two-to-one ratio above average Simon Husted

Daily Kent Stater At a typical university police department, male officers outnumber women four to one. But at Kent State’s police department, there is one female officer for every two males. The national statistics were revealed by a 2004-2005 report by the U.S. Justice Department’s Bureau of Justice Statistics. “This is a male-dominated field, but we (women) can do it ourselves,” said Brittnei Neely, a first-year officer at the Kent State Police Department. “We can do the job just as well as a man can. I think females are starting to realize that.” Out of the 29 officers at KSUPD, 10 of them are

female. However, the force’s male-to-female ratio was not always as balanced. Lt. Paula Rossi said when she first joined the department in 1983 she was only one of five female officers on the force. That year, the department also had 29 officers total. Although the department had half as many female officers as they do now, Rossi said Kent State’s record of hiring women officers was impressive compared to other departments back then. “In some places, there were no women at all,” Rossi said. “Not (just) universities, but departments in general.” During her career, Rossi said she’s had the honor of being the first female supervisor in Portage County and the first female lieutenant in the Kent State department. See WOMEN, Page 3

EMILY HORNE | DAILY KENT STATER

Kent State police officer Brittnei Neely meets with John Borawski, residence hall director for Centennial Courts A & B, to make sure everything is running smoothly.

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Somewhat Not really Not interested interested interested at all Source: David Taylor, senior assistant director of resident services

Five dorms to offer triples next semester

Kent State defensive lineman Daniel Muir sacks Akron quarterback Luke Getsy (16) and causes a fumble that was recovered by Muir for a safety during the first quarter. Kent State defeated Akron, 37-15, at Dix Stadium September 30, 2006.

511

813

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en miles separate Riverdale Maryland’s Parkdale High School from Upper Marlboro Maryland’s Largo High School. The same 10 miles separated Indianapolis Colts defensive tackle Daniel Muir and New Orleans Saints defensive back Usama Young when they played high school football in the Greater Washington D.C. area. Since their days in the Prince George’s County 4A league together, Muir and Young haven’t been able to stay away from each other. Both would eventually be recruited by Kent State, where both were immediate impact players in their early college careers. For a brief time, the two were even roommates. Both left Kent State in 2007 and pursued NFL careers. Three years later, Muir and Young find themselves in the same place once again. This time on one of the biggest stages in sports — Super Bowl XLIV. Although Muir and Young will both be in South Florida this Sunday, each has traveled down a different road to get to where they are today.

With an 11.6 percent increase in enrollment and the two-year rule of living on campus, the halls were eventually going to get overcrowded. Even a resident assistant, Sarah Papcun, who graduated with a bachelor’s degree in arts and sciences this past fall, had to share her room last semester in Wright Hall. “I think that there are things that need to happen within the Department of Residence Services as well as on-campus to make the problem of overcrowding in the halls fixable,” Papcun said.

Residence Services addressed Papcun’s concerns when students like her participated in a largescale survey last fall. The question they focused on was whether students would be willing to pay a reduced price to live in a triple room and share a private bath. The results: more than 50 percent responded that they would be interested in the triples. So in Fall 2010, residence services will be offering 150 triples in Stopher/Johnson and Centennial Court D, E and F. “This was the specific question that heavily influenced the decision to offer three person rooms with private bath for the upcoming academic year,” David Taylor, senior assistant director of resident services, said. See ENROLLMENT, Page 3

Lefton faces budget trouble despite stimulus Kent State ‘tightens belt’ during recession Jenna Staul

Daily Kent Stater It’s not as easy to be the president of a large public university as it used to be. At least not as easy as it was in 2006 when President Lester Lefton assumed the head position at Kent State University. That was before the great recession, he said, and before deep state budget cuts to

Ohio’s university system. “Ohio is in tough shape,” Lefton said. “A lot of the budget is being propped up by federal stimulus funds. President Obama’s budget has more funding for higher education. If that funnels our way, maybe we won’t see anymore cuts.” Stimulus funding may have helped ward off even more drastic cutbacks to public universities, according to a newly released study by the Center for the Study of Education Policy at Illinois State University. See LEFTON Page 3

Page 2 | Friday, February 5, 2010

Daily Kent Stater

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THE TOP 5 STORIES OF THE WEEK

1. Tuition likely to rise 3.5 percent

President Lester Lefton told a group of student media leaders last week that tuition for the 2010-2011 school year is likely to rise 3.5 percent. Lefton said the bump will come about because of expected state budget cuts to higher education. “When they cut our budget by 8 percent, you can almost be sure we will (have to raise tuition),” Lefton said. “Otherwise, we’ll have to start closing some stuff down.” The expected 3.5 percent bump would match the tuition raise for the 2009-2010 school year, which the Board of Trustees passed in July. Under the raise, undergraduate tuition would be $4,515 for a full-time, in-state student.

3. Council passes plan to extend Esplanade into downtown Kent Kent City Council voted Wednesday night to go ahead with the proposed plans to extend the Kent State Esplanade into downtown Kent. Council members will sign a declaration of intent to extend the Esplanade. The university, PARTA, Kent City School District, Fairmount Properties and Pizzuti Development, LLC, are also expected to sign. Council members and Kent State officials said this would be a big step in improving the relationship between the city and university. “It’s great,” said Gregg Floyd, vice president of finance and administration at the university. “It’s a further reflection of the partnership between the university and the city.”

COURTESY OF DAN SMITH

Shine the spotlight on your advisor Nominate your advisor today: Raymond J. Kuhn and Shirley J. Kuhn Excellence in Undergraduate Advising Award Sponsored by Undergraduate Studies, the Kuhn award is a prestigious university award recognizing faculty advisors and full-time professional academic advisors. The award is presented annually to recipients who demonstrate excellence in advising and dedication to guiding students towards achieving their goals.

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Go to http://explore.kent.edu/advisingaward Questions: contact Undergraduate Studies at 330-672-9292 Deadline: Friday, Feb 5, 2010

2. Dorms to start offering triple rooms Because of recent increases in enrollment, Residence Services is now offering triple rooms in certain dorms for the fall semester. The change will affect 150 rooms in Stopher/Johnson and Centennial Court D, E and F. Those halls previously offered just double rooms. The changes came about after Residence Services conducted a fall survey that asked dorm residents whether they would be interested in paying a reduced rate to live in a triple room. More than 50 percent of the respondents said they would be interested. Residence Services also sent out an e-mail Sunday explaining the changes being made to the dorms for fall semester.

4. Sherman’s dunk powers Flashes to win With 7.1 seconds remaining in Saturday’s game against Western Michigan, the Kent State men’s basketball team trailed the Broncos 73-71. Then junior Rodriquez Sherman took an inbound pass from teammate Chris Singletary, drove the length of the floor and dunked the ball while being fouled, bringing the M.A.C. Center crowd to its feet. Sherman hit the ensuing free throw to give the Flashes a 74-73 win. His dunk was ranked No. 5 on SportsCenter’s top 10 plays of the week. The Flashes followed the win over Western Michigan with a 76-46 victory Monday over Northern Illinois, their fifth straight triumph.

5. Spring enrollment hits record high Spring enrollment at Kent State’s eight campuses is higher than it’s ever been, according to 15th-day statistics released earlier this week. The combined Spring 2010 enrollment is 38,196 students, an 11.6 percent increase over the previous record of 34,222 students in Spring 2009. The main campus has 23,834 students enrolled. “We continue to see impressive enrollment numbers,” President Lester Lefton said in a statement. “As we enter our second century of service, we are building on the strong momentum from last year when we achieved our highest enrollment, had record retention and welcomed our largest freshman class to date.

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

Daily Kent Stater From Page 1

ENROLLMENT Enrollment increase leads to more students in some dorms Students also received an informational e-mail Jan. 30 explaining the 2010/2011 Residence Hall Contract Renewal process and the changes being made to the dorms, David said. Starting Feb. 1 at 8 a.m., students were able to renew their contract and choose the “same room/ same hall” option if they paid a $200 housing pre-payment. The “same room/same hall” option was not available for all. Students living in Korb Hall this spring will not be able to request the same room. Next fall, Korb Hall will house freshmen in double From Page 1

WOMEN Women have strong presence at KSUPD While Rossi was the first female officer promoted to such titles, she said she is confident her promotions had nothing to do with her gender, but with her top scores on assessment tests given throughout the department. “(KSU Police Department Chief John Peach) doesn’t look at race or gender or anything like that,” Rossi said. “He picks the best people who would fit here at Kent State.” Rossi said she has never received any hassle from friends or family about her career choice. She said much of the positive response she received can be attributed to the peers she surrounded herself with: mostly women who pursued maleFrom Page 1

YOUNG Young’s hard work on and off field vault him to success He garnered a lot of attention from the pro scouts his senior season when he was named the national defensive player of the week by the Football Writers Association of America after the Flashes defeated Central Florida. He was later named to the All-Mid-American Conference second team. Young saw his pro stock rise even more after he ran a 4.39 40-yard dash before the draft. Young was eventually drafted by the New Orleans Saints with the second pick in the third round, becoming the first Kent State defensive back to be drafted since 1976. Young’s success however came at a price. Kent State junior free safety Brian Lainhart, a freshman From Page 1

REUNITED Reunited, again

Kent State’s growing reputation After Sunday’s Super Bowl, a Kent State alum will hold the Lombardi Trophy for the second consecutive season. Three former Kent State athletes played in last Sunday’s Pro Bowl (James Harrison, Josh Cribbs and Antonio Gates). Martin said

Friday, February 5, 2010 | Page 3 occupancy rooms and be a part of the First Year Experience Program. Also next fall, Centennial Court B will be for College of Health and Human Services students only. According to Residence Services, students currently living in these rooms will be prioritized in choosing their new room, provided they paid the $200 housing pre-payment while renewing their contract. Those students choosing to move to a new hall were given a date and time that they would be allowed to sign up for a room. Room selection will be based on class standings, starting with graduates and seniors. Sophomores and freshmen will be prioritized based on when they turned in their housing applications.

With Kent State’s active house council program in the halls, as well as the larger umbrella organization of Kent Interhall Council, occupancy demands are expected to be met. “ We i n v e s t a s i g n i f i c a n t amount of money into our facilities to try to add extra value to the on-campus experience,” Taylor said. “We are striving to create an inclusive community that becomes more than simply a place to sleep at night.” Contact room and board reporter Samantha Worgull at sworgull@kent.edu. React to this story and more at KentWired.com

dominated occupations. “My roommate in college wound up being a lieutenant in the Air Force.” Rossi said. Similar to Rossi, Neely, who joined the KSUPD in September, received a warm welcome from friends and family when she decided to become a police officer. “My mom was all for it,” Neely said, adding her dad at first had worries because of her “petite” physique. “He’s okay with it now,” she said. “He knows I can handle myself.” Neely said the department’s balance between females and males adds a diverse quality to the force. “That’s one of the main qualities that attracted me to this department,” Neely said. “You have people from so many back-

grounds and they have different experiences. I honestly think it’s a quality important to have.” Neely explained as long as gender norms continue breaking down, police departments will continue gathering a more balanced male-to-female workforce. However, Rossi and Neely agreed the day when most police departments meet an even composition of males and females is not in the foreseeable future. “I’m not sure if that’ll ever happen, but I’m sure as time goes on, you’ll definitely see an increase (of women in the force),” Neely said. “I don’t know if it’ll be 50/50, but I definitely think you’ll see an increase.”

when Young was a senior, said he remembers the sacrifices Young would make to better himself. “The hard work’s the thing that really stood out to me,” Lainhart said. “The time he put in, you know, working at eight o’clock at night while everybody else was at the movies or playing cards or doing something in the summertime, he’s working and watching film.” Lainhart said as soon as he met Young, he knew he had the potential to do big things. “I knew he would make it to (the NFL),” Lainhart said. “When I came to Kent, he really stood out to me and I asked coach who he was and he told me, so I kind of always had expectations like, ‘this is a stud,’ and I saw how hard he worked and the time he put in. You could just tell he had what it takes to get to that next level,

he’s a gifted athlete, hard worker, a great guy — a humble guy — and that always makes it better.” In Young’s three seasons with the Saints, he has recorded 83 career tackles and three interceptions while starting three times in 41 career games. Even though Young is about to perform on the biggest stage in sports, he doesn’t forget where he came from. On January 25, the day after the Saints’ NFC Championship win against the Minnesota Vikings, Young put this on his Twitter account: Congrats NO... Time to go to Miami baby. Thanks for all the support! Who dat!!!!!!.... Largo reppin!!!

since Cribbs’ emergence as a star, Kent State players have received more attention from the NFL, despite the average performance of the team. “I think when Josh Cribbs came out of here that really opened people’s eyes,” Martin said. “First of all to Kent State and the type of players we had. We kind of hit a stretch there where we had several guys that made it. In fact I think over the last five years we’ve got more guys in the NFL than any other team in the MAC.

“With each guy’s success it’s brought more attention to the guys we have now. So I think all of them benefited from Josh and his success. We have a lot of scouts that come through here; that’s probably the advantage that we have is that we’re within driving distance of six or seven NFL teams so their scouts come through here quite a bit.”

Contact safety reporter Simon Husted at shusted1@kent.edu. React to this story and more at KentWired.com

Contact sports editor Cody Francis at cfranci1@kent.edu. React to this story and more at

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Contact sports editor Cody Francis at cfranci1@kent.edu. React to this story and more at

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From Page 1

LEFTON Lefton faces budget trouble despite stimulus State support for higher education declined just 1.1 percent nationwide, to $79.4 billion. Without the stimulus, state support would have declined by some 3.5 percent since 2009 and 6.8 percent over the last two years, according to the report. But even as federal government stimulus dollars flow into states, James C. Palmer, editor of the report and professor of education policy at Illinois State, said public universities are left in a difficult position. “Universities are particularly vulnerable because (higher education) is seen as a discretionary item in state budgets,” Palmer said. “And most states, universities have the capacity to raise tuition.” Ohio regained that capacity last summer when the state’s From Page 1

MUIR Perseverance allows Muir to triumph over obstacles “I think it was really a great choice of a college for him because I think he needed more of a small town, a smaller place where people would really care about him. He kind of prospered with that.” Muir didn’t have the opportunity to prosper right away, as he was forced to sit out his first season due to NCAA initial ineligibility guidelines. Muir, however, started 11 games in his first full season with the Flashes and was given the team’s Outstanding Defensive Lineman Award the same year. Although Muir could have felt set back by having to sit out in 2002, Martin said that wasn’t his style. “Danny’s (best attribute) is

General Assembly eliminated a three-year tuition freeze for public universities. Soon after, Kent State’s Board of Trustees upped tuition for students by 3.5 percent and, according to Lefton, another increase is on the way. “The cuts have been serious,” Lefton said. “But they haven’t decimated us.” Lefton said as state funding narrows, he must take on a more frugal approach to managing the third largest university in the state. Case in point: The university has saved some $2 million by offering early retirement buyouts to faculty and staff. He said though Kent State has not directly laid anyone off or closed services or programs, the university has “tightened its belt.” “In some cases, some of the faculty aren’t pleased with that,” Lefton said. “But we’ve trimmed out about 13 million from our budget in the last 15 months. And we’ve done that by not hiring some people.” For students in states seeing greater budget shortfalls, the belt tightening has been more

significant. The University of California responded to an $813 million state financing cut with furloughs, deferred hiring and shutting down academic programs, according to the New York Times. “Tuition is going up by about 12 percent in California and they’re turning students away,” Lefton said. “Many hundreds of thousands of students across the country are being turned away. And it really costs them.” Palmer said the university’s greatest budgetary challenges may still lay ahead. “State’s have had to make their own decisions to cushion the great recession’s affect on universities,” Palmer said. “But the great question we’re facing is what will happen to funding for higher education as the stimulus money expires?”

just his work ethic,” Martin said. “He’s got tremendous dedication and commitment and he loves to play the game.” That work ethic is the way Muir scratched and clawed his way into the NFL. Weighing only 270 pounds in his time at Kent State, Martin said he was forced to move Muir to defensive end where he could use his speed as well as his strength. Muir was not drafted out of Kent State, but signed with the Green Bay Packers in May of 2007. After playing just three games with the Packers, Muir was waived from the roster before the 2008 season and picked up by the Indianapolis Colts. He played in six games recording only three tackles. This season, however, Muir played in all of the Colts regular season and playoff games while starting in 12 of those games, including both the Colts’ postseason wins. Muir, now a 312 pound defen-

sive tackle, is a far cry from the 270 pound defensive end he used to be. He has recorded 12 tackles so far this postseason. Martin said Muir’s long road to get to the point he is at now in his career might make Sunday’s game a little more rewarding for him than most. “I knew that both (Muir and Usama) definitely had a chance (to make it to the NFL),” Martin said. “I think Danny, going as a free agent and playing with a couple different teams, he probably had to pay more of a price to get there, so it’s probably a bit sweeter for him.”

Contact administration reporter Jenna Staul at jstaul@kent.edu. React to this story and more at KentWired.com

Contact sports editor Cody Francis at cfranci1@kent.edu. React to this story and more at KentWired.com

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

CAMPUS

WEDNESDAY n A miscellaneous drug offense was reported at Allyn Hall. n Theft was reported at Rockwell Hall. THURSDAY n Criminal damage was reported at Lake Hall.

OPINION

Page 4 |Friday, February 5, 2010

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

Daily Kent Stater

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

DKS EDITORIAL BOARD Doug Gulasy Editor Christina Stavale Managing editor Sarah Steimer Forum editor

Thomas Gallick City editor Caitlin Sirse Photo editor Sara Scanes Multimedia editor

FAMOUS QUOTE “There is more to life than increasing its speed.” — Gandhi

DID YOU KNOW?

our

SUMMARY: The city of Kent, Kent State and developers have agreed in principle to work together on downtown development. More activity and business in Kent can only be good for students, as long as they don’t end up stuck with the tab.

VIEW

Let’s build a true college town

n Wednesday night, Kent City Council members voted unanimously to move forward on efforts to team up with Kent State to help develop downtown, as well as allow the university to extend the Esplanade. We’ve heard for too long that the city and the university just don’t get along as well as other college towns, and it’s good to see some cooperation between the two in order to bring more business downtown and further link the two entities. No college can be an island. And while current students may think they live on Kent State’s campus and not in Kent, hopefully the line will become increasingly blurred in the future. The city receives more from the university than beer cans on the lawn, and the university receives more from the city than a place for its students to occasionally eat and frequently attend the bars. Council members and university administration sound like they are in on this plan for the right reasons: to bring the two com-

munities together, and of course, to make some money. The plan represents the old “you’ve got to spend money to make money” mentality. A better-developed downtown Kent would be almost as useful to a university selling itself to prospective students as it would to the city. But still, with tuition costs that never seem to stop rising — let alone go down — and plans to spend millions of dollars to revamp areas on campus, it would be hard to endorse this project from Kent State’s end if it was a charitable gift. President Lester Lefton told a group of student media leaders that a major reason the administration was attracted to the development project was because of the potential for profit. “We are prepared to do it if it will make the deal work,” Lefton said “And we will make money off of it, too.” That’s a nice assurance. Students want the downtown development deal to work for them, not the other way around. It’s not that Kent State students aren’t gen-

erous — they’ve proven the opposite many times — it’s just that now is the time for investments that could defray the costs students pay. It’s not the time for money pits that will cost the university for years to come. But it’s also not the time to shrink from a possible great idea like the expansion of the Esplanade and the redevelopment of areas in downtown Kent. In fact, it’s time to stop saying, “We’ll make a concerted effort to link up with the city … later.” This could be a historic step in changing the face of the university and the town. We’re ready for Kent to be a true college town, not just a quaint little city separated from Kent State University. The above editorial is the consensus opinion of the Daily Kent Stater editorial board whose members are listed to the left. React to this story and more at KentWired.com

Nate beeler’s VIEW

On this day in 1994, white supremacist Byron De La Beckwith was convicted in the murder of African-American civil rights leader Medgar Evers, more than 30 years after the crime occurred. — from History.com

Guns and gangsta athletes The recent incident involving Washington Wizards basketball player Gilbert Arenas and teammate Javaris Crittenton is yet another example of how deeply ingrained the “gangsta” culture is in the world of today’s professional athlete. It was reported that the two players drew handguns on each other in the Wizards locker room prior to a game on Christmas Eve. The teammates were feuding about a gambling debt from a card game. There are conflicting reports as to what happened, but it’s apparent that Crittenton was threatening Arenas because of money he was owed. Arenas later told authorities he then tried to make light of the situation by taking out four unloaded guns, which he had stored in his locker. He placed them on a chair and “jokingly” told Crittenton to choose one and put his money where his mouth is. Feeling disrespected, Arenas’ teammate then took out a gun of his own and popped a live round into its chamber. The two Wizards then pointed the guns at each other. No one was hurt. It was all a joke. This is what Arenas, Crittenton and other witnessing Wizards in the locker room claim. Days after the story broke, with a smile on his face, Arenas mockingly pretended to shoot his teammates with his fingers on the court before a game in Philadelphia. Did you know that up until 1997 the Wizards used to be called the Washington Bullets? Ironic, isn’t it? Both players have since been suspended from the NBA for the remainder of the season, without pay. Star “shooting guard” Gilbert Arenas isn’t laughing anymore, as he stands to lose roughly $147,200 with each game he misses in his 6-year, $111 million contract. He could also face serious jail time. Unfortunately, the concept of athletes possessing dangerous weapons isn’t a new one. Last September Cleveland Cavalier Delonte West was pulled over on a threewheeled motorcycle after cutting off a cop on the highway. He had a Beretta 9mm in his waistband, a Ruger .357 magnum strapped to his leg and a shotgun in a guitar case, which he was wearing on his back. Just because Delonte thought he was in the video game “Grand Theft Auto” doesn’t make it right. Shortly after winning a Super Bowl with the New York Giants, wide receiver Plaxico Burress acci-

Mike Crissman dentally shot himself in the thigh in a nightclub. He was charged with criminal possession of a weapon and is currently serving a 2-year prison sentence. Thankfully, none of these incidents involved others being physically hurt. But there have been a number of cases involving professional athletes and murder. In 2000, Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis was linked to a dispute that involved the stabbing of two individuals. A few years ago, former NFL running back Adam “Pacman” Jones allegedly ordered the shooting of a man after an altercation at a strip club. And then there was O.J. Why is it that people like Gilbert Arenas feel the need to carry guns on them? Is it for street cred? Respect? According to many athletes, it’s for protection. They increasingly perceive danger in the world they live in. Players and team officials estimate a vast majority of NBA and NFL athletes carry firearms, legally or illegally. What I don’t understand is if these multi-millionaires are legitimately in danger, why don’t they just hire some security? It’s a fact that many of these athletes come from rough, crime-ridden areas. I imagine these athletes are packing heat for the occasions when they go back to the dangerous old neighborhood. It is the “gangsta” mentality, which inundated them as youths, that tells them they must be accompanied by guns, not bodyguards, so they appear hard and not weak. Pulling out a gun to prove how big of a “man” you are is very cowardly, but it is gangsta. It is athletes like Gilbert Arenas that play into the stereotype that you can take the man out of the hood, but you can’t take the hood out of the man. Mike Crissman is a freshman journalism major and columnist for the Daily Kent Stater. Contact him at mcrissm2@kent.edu. React to this story and more at

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That was sarcasm You probably haven’t heard of it yet, but the SarcMark might just be the next big thing. The symbol, a spiral with a dot inside of it, was created by Sarcasm Inc. to be used at the end of a sentence signifying that the writer is being sarcastic. Hopefully it will avoid any potentially awkward misunderstandings. The SarcMark can be installed onto any PC running Windows 7, XP or Vista, Macs and BlackBerrys. Once downloaded, the symbol can then be used in Word documents, instant messages, Outlook e-mail and other programs. With two easy keystrokes — control and the full-stop key — all of your sarcasm troubles will be over. Apparently this isn’t just about selling a punctuation mark. It’s about equal rights for sarcasm according to the company that created the symbol. “With the spoken word, we use our tone, inflection and volume to question, exclaim and convey our feelings. The written word has question marks and exclamation points to document those thoughts, BUT sarcasm has NOTHING! In today’s world with increasing commentary, debate and rhetoric, what better time could there be than NOW, to ensure that no sarcastic message, comment or opinion is left behind. Equal Rights for Sarcasm.” The symbol can be downloaded for life-

Rabab Al-Sharif time use at SarcMark.com for only one easy payment of $1.99. Aside from the fact that the dudes who invented the exclamation mark, question mark and period are probably kicking themselves in their graves right now for not thinking of charging people to use their punctuation marks, I foresee some potential problems. First of all, is it really a good idea introducing a new form of punctuation to a society that already has enough trouble properly using the ones that already exist? Maybe we should all try to figure out how to use a semicolon before we try adding anything new into the mix. The second problem is that this isn’t a universally recognized symbol as of yet. Assuming that a majority of the population has no idea what this symbol is or means, adding it to the end of a statement is likely to cause more confusion than it will prevent. In addition to not recognizing your sarcasm, people will be wondering what the heck that

little spirally thing is at the end of your sentence. Finally, I have a feeling that if this does catch on, it will lead to the abuse of sarcasm. Like most things, sarcasm seems to lose its effect when overused. I can already imagine the explosion as everyone rushes to get his or her two dollars worth. The last thing we need is to be bombarded with ill-thought-out sarcastic remarks, purely so that people can test out a cool new symbol. Chances are if you need punctuation to indicate that you are being sarcastic then you should probably stop trying to be sarcastic. If the problem is that others are too simple to pick up on your clever remarks then I highly doubt that throwing in an obscure symbol is going to be any help. Who needs free symbols like emoticons or the good old-fashioned “sarcasm” when you can pay two bucks for the rights to a spiral and a dot. This is exactly what America needs, something else to obsess over. Rabab Al-Sharif is a sophomore magazine journalism major and columnist for the Daily Kent Stater. Contact her at ralshari@kent.edu. React to this story and more at KentWired.com

Our political system needs reform first Lately I’ve been skimming through the news, aggravated by nearly everything I’ve half-read. If it isn’t bad news, then it isn’t news at all. I feel like a broken record, constantly relaying in conversation the depressing status of current situations. Health-care reform is at a stalemate, LGBT rights, women’s reproductive rights and labor rights remain unresolved issues, and the federal government continues to pour billions of dollars into two fruitless wars overseas. That was just a mention of a few of the thousands of unresolved public policy issues that are current, controversial topics in the United States. In protest, I could throw statistics out at you, disparage past presidents, complain about disenchanted youth or throw my fists up in rage at the mismanagement of government. However, it wouldn’t change the fact that the United States has had a complete lack of progressive social movements since the Civil Rights Movement in the late 1960s. Why is it that within the past few decades the American way of participating in politics is to party-bash and constantly vote against our own interests? Those who consider themselves to be left-wing, liberal-minded politicians and constituents should be ashamed of themselves, having conceded to the terrors of the right wing bureaucrats and conservative media giants. Those who consider themselves moderates have been too busy concerning

Thisanjali Gangoda Columnist themselves with what vote to swing in the upcoming gubernatorial elections, as well as what party to appease in the next Congressional meeting. The issues are completely diminished in their subject and importance, as we cling onto our polarized ideologies and lose sight of what we are trying to accomplish in our failing systems. For example, health-care reform is such a contentious issue today, so much that some Americans are acting as if it’s the first time in the history of the United States that the issue has been addressed. Since the days of former President Theodore Roosevelt, universal health-care coverage has been debated as a public policy and has consistently been rejected by Congress. Even former President Richard Nixon proposed a health-care plan during his term in office, going so far as to declare universal health care as an American right to fulfill a happy and productive life. Today in Texas, roughly two-thirds of the state population has full health-care coverage, yet nearly 87 percent are staunchly against any plans for health-care reform. YouTube is teeming with countless videos of local town

hall meetings exploding in anger over this issue, with people screaming and fighting about the godless, and possibly socialist, state of America. Though health-care reform is indeed a complicated issue with many possible outcomes, it is the classic example of how Americans have been reacting to social change and progressive movements. Clinging to ideas of moral obligation and small government has become a sole function of the Republican Party, while Democrats have resumed the position of the patronizing liberal elite. Conscious voters are bored with the production put on by both parties, and are then alienated into a mind-numbing state of apathy. Before we can truly push for social change, there needs to be talk about complete reformation of the American political system, starting with the way we handle political parties, and how to pass and enact bills. Perhaps then we can truly enjoy the freedoms we supposedly have and start voting for our own issues. Thisanjali Gangoda is a senior political science major and columnist for the Daily Kent Stater. Contact her at tgangoda@kent.edu. React to this story and more at KentWired.com

Daily Kent Stater

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

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Friday, February 5, 2010 | Page 5

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

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THINKING ABOUT STUDENT GOVERNMENT? Seeking candidates for 2010-2011 UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT GOVERNMENT 18 ELECTED POSITIONS 7 APPOINTED POSITIONS Applications - Center for Student Involvement 226 Kent Student Center Deadline February 17. Contact Scott Sherwood, USG Executive Director at ssherwo1@kent.edu COMEDY CLUB IN THE RATT USG PRESENTS STAND UP COMEDY EVERY THURSDAY in the Ratt 8pm Come and enjoy a few laughs with us. FREE!

ARE YOU THE FUNNIEST PERSON AT KSU? SIGN UP FOR YOUR CHANGE TO PERFORM STAND UP AT THE RATT Email: usg@kent.edu

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Superbowl Party At Professors Pub Free Food Half-time raffle benefitting Kent Womens’ Rugby

Facebook us for Draft Specials, Live Music Events Professors Pub Drink Smarter

PLAY SPORTS! HAVE FUN! SAVE MONEY! Maine camp needs fun-loving counselors to teach All land, adventure & water sports. Great Summer! Call 888-844-8080, apply: campcedar.com Waitress/waiter help. Fine Dining. Apply in person, Reserve Inn, Hudson. 15 Minutes from campus. 330-650-1717. DON JOSEPH TOYOTA SCION Service Reception Immediate part-time openings in our service reception area assisting our service team in greeting our customers. Applicants must be courteous, well mannered and well groomed. Applicants must also have a valid driver’s license and ability to interact pleasantly with our service guests. This is a wonderful opportunity to work for an excellent company with a great reputation in a brand new, state of the art facility. We will train the right individuals. Flexible schedules. Call for an interview 330-346-2918 Attendant for female w/ disability. Part time hours available mornings, evenings, and weekends. Able to drive van. 330-678-7747. Home Health Aide STNA $9.12/hr + Mileage Reimbursement PRN $500 Sign-on Bonus We are currently seeking STNA’s or successful completion of nursing interventions course to work with Portage County Clients. We offer 8 hours paid time off for every 300 hours worked Contact: Pam Warner, Portage Home Health Services 9293 State Route 43, Suite D Streetsboro, OH 44241 pwarner@menorahpark.org fax (330) 626-9085 Phone (330) 626-9005 www.menorahpark.org Profitable start-up in North Canton seeks experienced programmer for mobile apps. OBJ-C/Java experience a plus. PT/FT flexible. E-mail resumes to napkinstudio.com FINANCE REP NEEDED. ANY JOB EXPERIENCE IS NEEDED TO CARRY OUT THE JOB. YOU MUST HAVE COMPUTER SKILLS AND SPEAK ENGLISH FLUENTLY. YOU WILL EARN UP TO $300 WEEKLY. Email me at luke.cannon713@ gmail.com IF INTERESTED.

Today’s birthday (2/5/10) Intense feelings produce some of your best work this year. Go for the gold by investing enthusiasm and personality. Develop ideas logically, and then put your heart and soul into the task of bringing each idea into reality. Dreams provide strong persuasion. To get the advantage, check the day’s rating: 10 is the easiest day, 0 the most challenging.

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THE PLACE IS RAY’S

horoscope

Aries (March 21-April 19) Today is a 7. Be thankful for the energy to handle your many projects. Your partner has urgent business matters. Offer help in the form of communication, written or otherwise. Taurus (April 20-May 20) Today is a 6. Your commitment to a social or charitable effort reflects your philosophical platform. Create a powerful message of love.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Today is an 8. If you haven’t already done so, expand your vision to include humanitarian efforts. Do this even if it doesn’t make sense. You could simply pledge to your favorite nonprofit.

Gemini (May 21-June 21) Today is an 8. You conduct a lot of business and grow your income now. Leave doors open so that you can adapt to changing customer needs. Get rest before supper.

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) Today is a 6. Get down to business. Shoulder your responsibilities and get creative in finding ways to outpace co-workers. Mind and heart are on track together.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) Today is a 6. You may do a lot of talking, but the work resists completion. Save your energy. Sometimes business has to wait until the time is right.

Cancer (June 22-July 22) Today is a 6. You face adjustments to your schedule and your thinking, especially in the work arena. Talk is cheap. Actions are far more convincing.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) Today is a 6. Remove all restraint. Today you get to try anything and everything. It’s not about work. It’s about play. Enjoy the game!

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) Today is a 7. You really want to be on the road now. However, there are a few things to finish first. Handle your own responsibilities and leave the rest to someone else.

Stow: Large private entrance townhome, 2 bed, 1.5 baths, laundry hookups, fireplace, one car garage. Pets welcome with Dep and pet rent. 10 min from KSU. Prices from $665750. 330-686-2269 JORDAN COURT APTS 1&2 bedrooms from $495. All utlities included except electric. Tour & apply early & receive special. 330678-0972 Now leasing for fall. 2br apt $699750 a month includes gas, water and trash. Many great amenities. Hurry in now, before you get locked out. (330) 673-8887 Now accepting applications for summer and fall! Studios, 1&2 bedrooms still available-Hurry In! 330-678-0746 1, 2 & 3 bedrooms, near KSU, from $500/month + utilities. www. rentkent.com 812- 655-0777 **Summer and Fall Specials** Furnished/unfurnished studios, 1&2 bedrooms, Call now 330-678-0123 Kent - 1,2&3 bedroom. $500, $590 and $750. 330-677-5577

Apartments for Rent: 3 bedroom apartment Half of a home. Living Room, kitchen,bath. No pets. One year lease. Available in August. 330-673-8505 1 bedroom apartment in a house. Kitchen, living room, bath, . Separate entrance. No pets. One year lease. Available in August. 330-673-8505 Rent in Kent Enjoy spacious 4&5 bedrooms duplexes with 2 full baths. Great condition, great location, A/C, W/D, dishwasher, deck, garage. $1,2001,750. 330-808-4045 GREAT PRICES! GREAT PROPERTIES! 3, 4 & 5 bdrm properties starting at $1000/mo. Call Rich at 330-807-6090 AVAILABLE NOW! 1 bedroom in large house near campus. 244 East Main $320/month includes utilities. 330-333-1531 NOW LEASING FOR FALL! 244 East Main. 2,3 or 5 bedroom groups. Utilities included. $290-$370/month. 330-333-1531 WHITEHALL EAST TOWNHOMES 4/5 bedroom, 3 bath. Affordable rent options including no hassle utility plan. Newly renovated, energy efficient, washer/dryer, dishwasher. Early bird special! 330-808-4683 www.levanproperties.com KENT/BRIMFIELD. Newer 3 & 4 Bdrm duplexes. 1 car garage. $900-$1100 per month. 330-338-5841 or 330329-1118 Leasing for fall, newer 5 bedroom 2 bathroom house. Huge private yard, large deck, close to campus $1600/ mo. Call Mike 330-554-3976 Now Leasing for Summer and Fall. 2 BR Apts. Heat, Trash & Water pd. Pool, Pets welcome, $665-$725. Close to KSU 330-673-5364 For 2010-11: One Month Free Close to Campus 2 Large apartments, licensed, private parking, large yard, large front porch. 4 bedroom $1400/$350 each. 4/5 bedroom $1500, $300/$375 each. (330) 6263957

3 Bedroom house available for Fall. Great condition, full appliances, $350/bedroom 1, $325/per bedroom 2-3. Close to Campus 330-673-1225 Fall- 6 bedroom house. Large bedrooms. 2 full baths. Basement. Large off street parking. $350/ bedroom. Call Drew 440-821-3524 $100.00 Reward fill units by 2/15/10. AVAILABLE FALL: UNIVERSITY TOWNHOUSE. SUMMIT ST. 5 BDS, 2.5 BATHS, STOVE REFRIG, DISHWASHER, WASHER/DRYER, A/C. $250.00 PER PERSON; 2BD 1BTH TOWNHOME. LAUNDRY, CARPORT. INTRODUCTORY OFFER 1ST 3 MONTHS $495.00. WWW. JLCASTO.COM CALL 688-7040. FALL—Now Renting: 1 bedroom apartment, 7 and 8 person houses. 1 year lease, NO PETS. (330)678-3489. Large 4 bedroom apartment. University Drive $330/person/month + utilities. 297-0255 Available Fall 2010. Act now! Looking for 5 responsible students for newly renovated university townhome. Call after 8pm (440) 622-3630. Newer 4/5 Bedroom duplex, flat screen t.v., washer/dryer, air, sun deck, close to campus, nice yard, 1240-1500/month. Website: http:// web.me.com/allen291/. Email: allen291@me.com. Phone: (216) 536-3958 Great campus condo. 3 bedroom, 1.5 bath. Available August. Call Dr. Miller at (330) 618-7764 NO WATER BILL! NO GAS BILL! 4/5 Bedroom duplex available for fall starting at $330/mo! Each side has 2 bath, W/D. Dishwasher, deck, garage, etc. Close to campus and on bus route. Last one I have available! Call Sweeney (740)317-7294. NOW LEASING FOR FALL 1 block from KSU Beautiful newly redecorated 2 bedroom, 1.5 bath townhouse apartments $325/student 330-687-6122 4-5 bedroom University Townhomes and Whitehall East Townhomes for rent August 2010. Starting at $260/month. 440-336-6761 www. kenttownhomes.com

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) Today is a 6. A household matter keeps you from focusing on studies or work. Handle the problem early, or get help from a professional.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) Today is a 6. Every step you take brings you closer to a desired goal. Baby steps are fine. You gain momentum as you stretch your imagination.

Spacious 2&3 bdrm apts @ Holly Park. Gas heat paid Sign up now for fall and receive $100 off first 6 months based on a twelve-month lease. (330) 678-0823

Townhomes Available! 4/5 bdrms, WD, central AC, newly remodeled, close to campus. Rent as low as $265/mo. All inclusive, utilities paid specials for limited time! www.manning-properties.com or (440) 708-2372

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) Today is a 5. Finances loosen up a bit when an associate kicks in some cash. Then you can throw yourself into the work. Design your message as you would a painting.

House for Rent Mid-August available, through next school year One block from Campus 5 rooms 2 bathrooms/kitchens/entrances $375.00/month each room, plus utilities Call 440-773-8903 rheiman@kent. edu For Fall: 6 bedroom house $360/ month per room, water included. No pets, across from KSU (330) 5543024 For Fall: 4 bedroom and 3 bedroom apartments $400/month per room, security deposit required. Heat included, laundry room. No pets. Across from KSU. (330) 554-3024 Remodeled, University Town Home, 5 BR, W/D, Dishwasher, 2.5 Baths, $275 per room, Will go fast, 330-8084045 Now Leasing for Fall. Kent 6-8 bedroom houses. 330-626-5910 Fall- 2 bedroom 1.5 bath condo $700 including heat; 3 bedroom apt. near downtown $900 + utilities (330) 678-3557 SAVE $$$ Leasing for Fall, beautiful, newly redecorated, 2 bedroom apartments. FREE gas, water and trash. $275/ student. 330-687-6122. 1, 2, and 3 bedroom Apartments for rent Fall 2010/Spring 2011 Call Matt at 440-554-7363 or email at mguska@157lounge. com UNIVERSITY TOWNHOMES, 4 or 5 bedroom, 2.5 bath, A/C, Washer & Dryer, newly remodeled unit available in Fall 2010. Rent as low as $265 per month per bedroom with option for ALL inclusive payment plan to cover all utilities except cable/internet at $335 per month. Call 440-552-5840

Roommate needed. Trash and water included. $300 per month plus utilities. 716-207-8740

Daily Kent Stater

Page 6 | Friday, February 5, 2010

SPORTS Sports editor: Cody Francis • E-mail: cfranci1@kent.edu

ON THE WEB AT KENTWIRED.COM

GYMNASTICS

KENT STATE 75, EASTERN MICHIGAN 68

Flashes glide past Eagles Simpson leads with 19 points Cody Erbacher

Daily Kent Stater

FILE PHOTO BY PHILIP BOTTA | DAILY KENT STATER

Senior gymnast Lydia Barrett performs the floor exercise at the Flashes’ meet against Eastern Michigan in the M.A.C. Center Jan. 2. Barrett placed third in the floor exercise.

Gymnastics looks to refocus Mistakes must be minimized Katie Corbut Daily Kent Stater Last week’s meet against George Washington left much to be desired for Kent State’s gymnastics team. The Flashes counted two falls on beam, which docked one point from the final team score. The gymnasts expect to regain their focus this Saturday when the team travels to Cedar City, Utah, to compete against the Southern Utah Thunderbirds. Kent State coach Brice Biggin said a bright spot in last week’s meet against the Colonials was sophomore Erin Rothrock, who scored a nearly perfect 9.925 on bars.

“

You know when she (Barrett) goes out there that she’s going to hit her routine. She doesn’t get overworked. She can just go out and hit no matter what.” BRICE BIGGIN COACH

“When we’re talking a score that high, the deductions are so minute,” he said. “One judge had (Rothrock) at a 9.95, so you’re looking at a half-tenth away from perfection.” Biggin said he feels the gymnasts have been underachieving and with Southern Utah’s scores have climbing recently, the Thunderbirds should be considered a threat. “They’re a good team,” Biggin said. “They’re scoring in the 195s

and are a good, quality opponent. We’re going to have to go out there and do a good job.” Biggin said team captains senior Lydia Barrett and junior Christine Abou-Mitri held a team meeting concerning last week’s performance. “We didn’t do the job we’re supposed to do,” Barrett said. “It’s time to refocus. We need to do what we’re here to do, show what kind of gymnastics we can do.” Barrett will be graduating in

May, and the coaching staff will have their hands full replacing her talent and consistency as a team leader. “You know when she goes out there that she’s going to hit her routine,” Biggin said. “She doesn’t get overworked, she can just go out and hit no matter what.” Barrett contributes on vault, bars and floor. Both she and Biggin agree that helping the team on the beam would be optimal, however, an injured back will not permit her to do so. Throughout her collegiate career, Barrett said gymnastics has taught her to keep focused on what it takes to correct her flaws. “When you’re at your lowest point, you have to figure out how to pick yourself up,” she said. Contact sports reporter Katie Corbut at kcorbut@kent.edu. React to this story and more at KentWired.com.

For the second-straight game, the Kent State men’s basketball team used a dominating first-half en route to a 75-68 victory at Eastern Michigan last night. Kent State (16-7, 7-2 MidAmerican Conference) extended its winning streak to six games. “We made a couple big (shots),” Kent State coach Geno Ford said. “They’re playing well. To come in here and get a win after they just had as big a win they’ve had in a while (at Akron), this was pretty big for us.” Using a 12-point lead out of the first half, the Kent State offense glided to victory, leading by as many as 15 points in the second half. Back-to-back 3-pointer’s by Eagles senior guard Carlos Medlock cut into Kent State’s 15-point lead, taking the score to 40-31 with 14:08 left in regulation. The score remained within 10 points until Kent State converted on three-straight attempts getting a comfortable 51-36 lead. Medlock kept fighting for the Eagles (11-11, 3-6) as he scored four straight points, cutting the Flashes lead to 11 points. A jumper by senior guard Tyree Evans followed by four more points from senior forward Justin Dobbins brought Eastern Michigan within striking distance at 53-45 with 7:53 left in regulation. Following a deep 3-pointer by Antonio Green, Eastern Michigan inched closer at a 57-50 score with 4:52 remaining. But the Eagles couldn’t gain the composure to catch Kent State. In the first half, Eastern Michi-

gan put a little scare in the Flashes as the Eagles tied the game at 16-16 with 7:17 remaining. Previously Kent State controlled the game without giving up the lead. Senior Brandon Parks helped Kent State take an 18-16 lead with an easy layup. After a jumper by Dobbins, Evans hit a shot behind the arc, giving Kent State a 21-18 lead. Evans’ shot ignited a 14-2 run. Senior guard Mike McKee followed up with a deep 3-pointer of his own to give Kent State a 24-18 lead. Evans followed up with his third 3-pointer of the half with 4:56 remaining. Medlock brought the game to 27-20 as he cut to the hoop for a quick score. Junior Guard Rodriquez Sherman quickly continued Kent State’s offense with two free throws to take a nine-point lead. Senior forward Anthony Simpson, who scored 10 points in the first half, rounded out the half with a 3-pointer of his own to give Kent State its biggest lead of the half going into halftime with a comfortable 32-20 lead. Junior forward Brandon Bowdry caught the Flashes’ defense off-guard initially in the first half, as he scored 10 points in the first 12 minutes, but he only totaled 15 points for the game. Kent State shot well from the field going 52 percent (25-for-48) and 55 percent (19-for-28) from three-point range. “You get a good win tonight and you want to feel good and enjoy it,” Ford said. “We’ve got 48 hours and we got to play at Central (Michigan).” Kent State finishes its twogame road stretch against Central Michigan on Saturday before returning home to face Ball State on Wednesday. Contact sports reporter Cody Erbacher at cerbache@kent.edu. React to this story and more at KentWired.com.

Defense highlights Flashes return to the recruiting class WRESTLING

Football’s 2010 freshmen rank third in conference Cody Francis

Daily Kent Stater The Kent State football team announced its 20-member 2010 recruiting class on Wednesday. Of the 20 recruits, 16 are defensive players. Following a first-place MidAmerican Conference ranking in 2009, this year’s recruiting class is ranked third in the conference and boasts five three-star recruits, according to Rivals.com. Out of last year ’s recruiting class, 12 true freshmen played at some point in the season, with five starting at least one game. The Flashes have to replace seven starters from last year ’s team, including three on offense and four on defense. Kent State coach Doug Martin said at a press conference Wednesday the team got what it was looking for on both sides of the ball, despite only recruiting four offensive players. “We went defense-heavy in this class as you’ll see,” Martin said. “We’ve got quite a few seniors that’ll be playing defensively for us, so in preparation for that that’s kind of where we headed. Several offensive linemen are there that I think will be real key for us.” Martin highlighted four players at the press conference: 1. Tom Pizzurro, OL Height: 6’3” Weight: 300 Armonk, N.Y./St. Thomas Aquinas (Fla.)/Hargrave Academy (Va.) Notes: Started on offensive line of St. Thomas Aquinas’ 15-0

KentWired.com Go online to take a look at the full list of players who will join the Flashes in 2010.

team that was said to be one of the nation’s best. Martin said Pizzurro can be an immediate impact player this season. 2. Dylan Farrington* CB Height: 6’0” Weight: 190 Chapel Hill, N.C./Chapel Hill/Hargrave Academy (Va.) Notes: Was named his conference’s defensive back of the year in his senior season. Currently enrolled at Kent State, which allows him to participate in spring practices. With a lot of young defensive backs on the roster, Farrington will be in a battle for playing time. 3. Cedric McCloud* QB Height: 6’2” Weight: 218 Jacksonville, Fla./William M. Raines/Central Carolina Sports Academy (N.C.) Notes: “I haven’t seen a guy throw a ball like this since I coached (Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback) David Garrard back at Eastern Carolina,” Martin said. “He’s got a tremendous arm, so we’re real excited for him.” 4. Steve Mehrer, LB Height: 6’1” Weight: 211 Dublin, Ohio/Dublin Jerome Notes: Martin said Mehrer’s athleticism sets him apart from most linebackers, so look for him to play on the outside. Named all-state in his junior and senior seasons. * Enrolled at Kent State at the beginning of the Spring 2010 semester Contact sports editor Cody Francis at cfranci1@kent.edu. React to this story and more at KentWired.com.

mat after a week off Buffalo to visit KSU Rachel Jones

Daily Kent Stater After a weeklong break, the No. 17 Kent State wrestling team is ready to take on Buffalo Sunday at 1:05 p.m. “It’s good to have a week off,” coach Jim Andrassy said. “I think it’ll help down the road when the season really starts to drag.” The Flashes (11-3, 1-0 MidAmerican Conference) will host the Bulls (8-5-1, 1-1) at the M.A.C. Center, something Andrassy said his wrestlers are happy about. “If you’re in front of your home crowd, it should pump you up a little bit and help you wrestle the best you can,” Andrassy said. “But I don’t think that motivates our guys. The ultimate motivation is to go out and win the match to help the team win.” Andrassy said he feels the team has a competitive matchup against the Bulls, who defeated Eastern Michigan 28-12 Wednesday. “In the past years, we’ve been able to handle them pretty easily, but I think that they are a muchimproved team,” Andrassy said. “We’re a young team, and you never know who’s going to show up when you have young guys.” After competing against each

other multiple times, some wrestlers are familiar with the opponents they’ll be facing off against. “Any time you wrestle (the same opponents) again and again and again, the matches become a little bit closer,” Andrassy said. “You never know what could happen if you see an opponent for the third, fourth or fifth time around.” Some wrestlers are taking this expected challenge as a chance to improve their current standings. Sophomore heavyweight Brendan Barlow (27-6) is currently ranked second in the conference. A win Sunday could boost his seeding for the MAC and NCAA tournaments in March. At 184 pounds, Dustin Kilgore (26-1) is looking to continue his nine-match winning streak. Despite individual goals, Andrassy said he wants each wrestler to wrestle well, dominate his opponent and ultimately, win. “You can’t take anything for granted,” he said. “You just have to go into every match, prepare the best you can and hope that they’re going to wrestle the best.” Contact sports reporter Rachel Jones at rjones62@kent.edu. React to this story and more at KentWired.com.

FILE ART BY DANIEL R. DOHERTY | DAILY KENT STATER

Sophomore heavyweight Brendan Barlow takes down an opponent during the Flashes’ 40-3 win against Cleveland State on Jan. 5. Barlow is 27-6 and 12-1 in dual competition this season. NEXT UP

The Kent State wrestling team faces Buffalo at 1:05 p.m. Sunday in the M.A.C. Center.