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@kentwired KentWired.com MONDAY, MARCH 20, 2017
Recognizing signs of abuse and assault in the classroom 50%
Percent of respondents
43% 38%
25%
13%
0%
21%
18%
16%
14% 9%
Reports Reported they had been the victims of verbal sexual harassment such as sexual comments, jokes or gestures during the prior year Students reported having been touched, grabbed or pinched in a sexual way Reported having been the target of sexual rumors Reported peers had brushed up against them in a suggestive manner Victimized with sexually explicit graffiti in school locker rooms or bathrooms Reported that they had been the targets of homophobic name-calling or jokes
Information obtained from a study conducted by the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The 1,300-person, five-year study was published December 2016.
Hannah Wagner Education, Health and Human Services Reporter Over her 15 years of teaching, first grade teacher Lisa Bass said she has seen approximately nine cases of child abuse. Bruises on the back of a student's head from being pushed against the wall and bruises on arms where children said they were dragged up stairs are some scenarios Bass has encountered. “Usually it starts with students confiding in me, or their work ethic and behavior is off,” Bass said. “When I start to notice these signs, I have a private, one-on-one meeting to sit down and figure out what is going on.” At Kent State, education majors and faculty members have incorporated sexual assault and abuse education into the curriculum taught on campus in order to recognize the signs in the future. Bass, also an adjunct professor at Kent State, said she asks her students where they live and what they like to do at the beginning of the semester. "It's important to know the background of your students," Bass said. "It can help you get an idea of their enviornment outside of school, helping you be more aware if there is a shift in behavior." Senior special education major Kaitlyn Thissen said she learned to recognize signs of sexual abuse through just one lecture in her health and learning class. “If I realize anything is going on at home, I want to address it as soon as possible,” Thissen said. “Even though they’re students with disabilities, they have emotions, and I think people forget that.” Thissen said in her classes, professors go over examples and scenarios to help recognize changes in student behavior that hint at issues happening at home. Working at Imagine Leadership Academy in inner city Akron, Thissen said she knows some of her students come from rough home lives. Keeping the kids her top priority, she said she wants to ensure they’re in a safe environment. “It’s tough because a lot of students I teach are nonverbal,” Thissen said. “Keeping an eye on their emotions, physical bruises and how they are acting is key.” As a resident assistant, senior integrated language arts major Chelsea Bartman said she had to go through Green Dot training. “Green Dot training is not something required for education majors, but I definitely think it should be,” Bartman said. “It’s an issue we don’t touch on much, and I think there should be some formal training.” Bartman said her resident assistant background helped her prepare for student teaching at Milkovich Middle School in Maple Heights. “I was pretty fortunate to have the background as a resident assistant,” Bartman said. “I think the education program here does all they can to cover all topics, but as far as sexual assault — it’s just not something we really go into." Sophomore early childhood education major Sydney Yannuzzo said she was required to take a child safety class before she began student teaching. “A big thing the teacher stressed was that, when a student asks you to talk, you drop everything you’re doing and talk to them,” Yannuzzo said. “It takes a lot of guts for a student to ask to talk.” The one-day session talked about how teachers always need to be aware of their students and be able to tell if they’re acting different. Yanuzzo said they stressed the importance of mandatory reporting, meaning all teachers must report an incident if a student confides in them about abuse. Stephanie Orwick, the support service coordinator for the Office of Sexual and Relationship Violence Support Services, said teachers can sometimes forget to take care of themselves when dealing with a student’s trauma.
SEE CLASSROOM / PAGE 2
Kent State sophomore guard Jalen Avery brings the ball up court against UCLA during the first round of the NCAA Tournament at the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California, on Friday. The Flashes lost 97-80. Nate Manley / The Kent Stater
UCLA dashes KSU’s NCAA hopes Henry Palattella Sports Editor When Jimmy Hall picked up his fifth foul in the waning moments of Kent State’s NCAA Tournament battle against UCLA, he paused for a moment before walking towards the Kent State bench for the final time in his collegiate career. Around him, claps and cheers directed toward the senior guard echoed throughout the Golden 1 Center. Before Hall reached the cushioned chairs of the Flashes bench, he shared a warm embrace with Kent State coach Rob Senderoff, then made his way down the line, hugging senior walk-on Jon Fleming last. Their two career paths could be no more different: Hall, the big-man who came to Kent State after an embattled path at Hofstra, will finish his Kent State career as the programs’ third all-time scorer and go on to play basketball professionally sometime next year. Fleming, the walk-on who earned a role as locker room leader, will finish his career with 10 points to his name, but will get to add to his Kent State legacy in another form next year when he’ll join the coaching staff as a graduate assistant. But for one moment Friday, none of that mattered. What mattered was that two of them helped lead Kent State on a winding journey in their time there — a journey that reached its end Friday night.
SEE BASKETBALL / PAGE 2
Kent State senior guard Deon Edwin dunks against UCLA during the first round of the NCAA Tournament at the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California, on Friday. The Flashes lost 97-80. Nate Manley / The Kent Stater
Students for Justice in Palestine to celebrate Israeli Apartheid Week McKenna Corson Diversity Reporter Kent State's Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) has planned a week of events as part of Israeli Apartheid Week, starting March 20, to bring awareness to the conflict occurring in Palestine. Israeli Apartheid Week is an international movement, and this week stands as the 13th annual. Yousof Mousa, a junior biology pre-med major and president of SJP, looks forward to the week’s events. There will be a mock Israeli apartheid
Immigrant Ohio A Closer Look At Columbus’s Somali Community http://kentwired.jmc.kent.edu/immigrantohio/somalia
wall built from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. every day on Risman Plaza, Mousa said. Events range from speakers to movies, all leading up to what Mousa believes to be the biggest event: “Palestinian Culture Night,” where Palestinian food, music, dance, poetry and a raffle will be present. “Palestinian Culture Night” will be Friday at 6:30 p.m. in Oscar Ritchie Hall room 250. Mousa said he hopes people will attend to learn about the current Palestinian climate. “The purpose of all of these events is to bring awareness to the situation in Palestine,” Mousa said. “Education is the pur-
pose of our student group, and we feel like it’s our responsibility to make the students aware of what our government is being a part of.” Everyone is welcome to take part in the events and demonstrations, as well as joining SJP. “The goal of our student organization is to educate the public about the situation in Palestine,” Mousa said. “And therefore, to create a movement where people who have seen the facts on the ground to start to take action to stop all forms of injustice, inequality and racism.” mcorson2@kent.edu
Page 2 | Monday, March 20, 2017
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Kent State junior guard Kevin Zabo passes around UCLA freshman forward T.J. Leaf to senior forward Jimmy Hall during the first round of the NCAA Tournament at the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California, on Friday. The Flashes lost 97-80. Nate Manley / The Kent Stater
From Page 1
BASKETBALL UCLA dashes KSU’s NCAA ... Hall finished with 20 points and 15 rebounds in Kent State’s first-round battle against UCLA, but it wasn’t enough, as the Flashes fell to the Bruins 97-80. “It was a fantastic journey,” Hall said of his time at Kent State. “It didn’t work out the way we wanted it to, but it was a great ride. Appreciate the coaches, my teammates and just everybody, it’s been a great ride.” The Flashes came out of the gates sluggish as they only managed to make one of their first 11 shots, which led to UCLA jumping out to a quick 16-2 lead. The Flashes fought back, however, and
managed to make it 47-39 going into halftime. “We didn’t start the game off very well,” Senderoff said after the game. “Started the second half off well, but ultimately we didn’t get enough stops and they’re a very good team.” The Flashes came out of the gates firing on all cylinders, and eventually cut the UCLA lead down to 54-50 with 16 minutes left. Part of the reason Kent State was able to jump out at halftime was due to UCLA guard Lonzo Ball being shaken up. Ball, who was also sporting some gauze on his thumb due to a sprain, started out slow in the second-half, and then helped spark a brutal 29-16 UCLA run that not only gave them an 83-66 lead, but was capitalized by a TJ Leaf
slam dunk. Leaf led all UCLA scorers with 23 points on 8-12 shooting from the field. Ball finished with 15 points and recorded three assists, one of which broke UCLA’s all-time season assists numbers. Ball, who appeared to have his mind elsewhere during the postgame press conference, was mum on the assist record. “Credit to my teammates,” Ball said. “Can’t get an assist without them scoring. I thank them.” Sophomore Jaylin Walker finished with 20 points for the Flashes, while senior Deon Edwin chipped in with 18, which led to Edwin saying Walker can be the future of Kent State’s program. “I just hope (Walker) takes it and keeps it going for the other guys,” Edwin said of his defensive mentality.
“Once you play defense you always have a chance to win.” The Flashes as a team stayed in the game due to their offensive rebounds, as they totaled 15 offensive rebounds and 15 second-chance points. Fouls turned out to be the Flashes undoing, however, as they picked up 18 fouls to UCLA’s 11. 11 of Kent State’s fouls came in the second half. When asked about what he wanted his Kent State legacy to be, Hall said he hopes he’s remembered more for his heart than his stats. “(I want to be remembered) for how much energy and how much love I have for the game,” he said. “The points and stuff doesn’t matter.”
College of Business to launch full-time online Master’s program Malcolm Murray Colleges of Business and Technology Reporter Kent State’s College of Business will offer the full-time Master of Business Administration (MBA) program online beginning this fall. Kent will be one of three accredited schools in Ohio to offer an online MBA program for students around the world. This has been accomplished with the help of Robert Hisrich, associate dean of graduate and international programs, who has been traveling out of the country to work with the marketing aspects of the program. “There will be a decrease in international students all over the country over the (next) few years, unfortunately,” Hisrich said. “Launching this program will benefit Kent (State) a lot with those students who won’t be able to stay here and study and can study (in) their home country.” One of Hisrich’s duties is to create marketing strategies to connect to students. “I go to China a bit, and I know there are students who would love to have a U.S.-based business degree who may not have the support from the Chinese government for a VISA to come over and study,” Hisrich said. "Several internation-
al students have shown interest already." To qualify, students must have a bachelor's degree of any type and between one and two years of work experience. Business administration graduate student Laxman Panthi said he believes others can benefit from this program, even if he wouldn't. “As for me, I would still have chosen to come to Kent, instead of staying in my home country and studying online,” said Panthi, who is from Nepal. “I do know a lot of people back home aren’t as fortunate to come over and study, so this program would be very beneficial.” Panthi, who graduates in May, said going through the program in person was right for him. “Personally, being face-to-face in a classroom (as) a graduate student was the best because a lot of your work requires you networking with others,” he said. Associate professor of management Julia Levashina said the MBA program is similar to the traditional face-to-face curriculum and answered some concerns students may have, especially how the work will reflect globally. “Our graduate program is designed to expose students to different management and human resource management practices in different countries and global companies,” Levashina said.
‘‘
I do know a lot of people back home aren’t as fortunate to come over and study, so this program would be very beneficial.” – Laxman Panthi
Business administration graduate student Kent makes an effort to incorporate global situations in their curriculum, “so opening our doors to others will help,” she said. Levashina said there will be alternatives to the face-to-face communication that Panthi mentioned. “Virtual teams, message boards, web conferences with professors and other tools could be used to enhance the student interaction,” Levashina said. mmurra29@kent.edu
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From Page 1
CLASSROOM Recognizing signs of ... “People can sometimes get really invested and it could possibly trigger unpleasant emotions or memories,” Orwick said. “Especially when you’re in a caring role, like a teacher or counselor, and always putting someone else’s needs first.” Orwick, a clinical licensed counselor with experience in trauma and crisis centers, occasionally fills in for professors to teach about consent, partner violence, sexual assault and any other topic students may be interested in learning about. “Things change so often,” Orwick said. “Even if it’s not a full course, touching on these subjects every so often would help remind future teachers about these issues.” When she got her job, Bass said she was required to become certified in child abuse awareness. “Every teacher has to get certified when they get their first job,” Bass said. “It has helped me recognize abuse in the classroom and instill trust with my students so they open up to me.” In the case that a teacher does find out abuse is happening, Bass said he or she is required to report it. If the allegations are verified, Child Protective Services will step in to investigate and may possibly remove the child from the home. wagner8@kent.edu
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JOSEPH MCGRELLIS’ VIEW // To see all the cartoons this semester, visit KentWired.com
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Baseball nets two wins against Western Carolina Erik Svensson Sports Reporter The Kent State baseball team scored two wins and one loss this past weekend at Western Carolina University. The Flashes lost 10-2 to Western Carolina Friday. In the first three innings, the Catamounts created a fiverun lead, to which Kent State did not catch up. The Flashes’ two runs were driven in from senior Luke Burch and sophomore Josh Hollander.
See the full story at KentWired.com.
Cheers&Jeers Cheers to ... change. Hasbro, the makers of Monopoly, plans to replace the classic wheelbarrow, boot and thimble playing pieces with a dinosaur, penguin and rubber duck.
Jeers to ... a full week of classes separating students from spring break.
The AHCA could cost me more than health insurance Nicholas Hunter Columnist House Speaker Paul Ryan introduced his Affordable Care Act replacement bill, the American Health Care Act (AHCA), on March 8. I can’t afford for this to happen. I have Cystic Fibrosis. This illness is caused by a genetic mutation and causes all sorts of problems for different people; for me, it’s given me a sub-par digestive system and very bad lungs. My lungs were so bad, in fact, that I had to get them exchanged — in January 2016, I had a double-lung transplant. Since then, I have been in the best shape of my life. I’m able to breathe clearly, exercise, attend school regularly and live a more fulfilling life than I could have dreamed of before. Pre-transplant, I was taking all sorts of breathing treatments and pills. I had oxygen tanks and a machine that literally shook junk out of my lungs. I was in and out of the hospital for a couple weeks at a time every month to get better treatment when all that wasn’t enough. While most of that is in my past, I still need a handful of pills a few times a day to keep my body from rejecting my new lungs. To cover the cost of those medications, doctor’s appointments and procedures I still need, I am covered by Medicaid, a federal health insurance program that offers free, full-coverage health insurance for low-income and disabled people. Medicaid also happens to be one of the programs targeted by the AHCA. Under the AHCA, a cap will be placed on how much can be spent on a single Medicaid enrollee each year. That cap would be determined on a state-by-state basis based on average cost per patient and funding provided to states. In Ohio, the average per-enrollee cost of coverage for non-elderly, disabled Medicaid recipients is $19,858 per year, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. To cover a year of medication for me, it costs on average $137,450. That doesn’t include doctor ’s appointments, medical procedures or changes in my medication regimen that could drive up the total. Meaning, if they land on a cap of $19,585 for Ohio Medicaid recipients, I will be left to pay at least $117,866 to make up the difference. If I do not pay that bill, I can not see my doctors, and I do not get my life-saving medication. Within a few months of not being properly medicated, I will endure the painful process of organ rejection and, eventually, death. If that seems like hyperbole, it is only because you are not affected by this bill. Politicians and media figures enjoy discussing issues like health care in numbers. The problem is, each number is a person. A person with Down Syndrome or Crohn's disease or Cystic Fibrosis. A person who will suffer immensely if they are denied medical care. This one policy is only the tip of the iceberg that is the AHCA. In the end, this bill is expected to kick 24 million people off insurance by 2026, according to the Congressional Budget Office report on the bill. Ryan and Congress need to think long and hard about this bill. It can, and will, cost lives if it passes. Is that what they believe “American Health Care” should look like? nhunter6@kent.edu
Demanding social justice Madison Newingham Columnist Black lives matter. It seems in recent months we have already forgotten. Unlike the early attempts at suffrage in women’s history, which were set on the back-burner for other issues such as Prohibition, we cannot sideline this movement – it is too important and vital to the health of our nation. For those confused about the movement, Aspen Ideas explains the inception of the Black Lives Matter movement as an online upset resulting from the not-guilty verdict in the killing of Trayvon Martin. The movement was propelled onto the streets after the unjust killing of Michael Brown and many more. Black Lives Matter is a movement, organization and rally cry for racial justice, according to Aspen Ideas. They further report that young black men are 21 times more likely to be shot by police in comparison to their white counterparts. Additionally, black unemployment is twice that of whites. This idea of unapologetic blackness is necessary for self-love and respect. We must rally behind the cause. Allow me to remind you why black lives matter and reignite your anger — because you should be angry. If we want to see change, we must be angry at the adverse challenges faced by our people every day. The movement itself affirms inclusivity, despite the rhetoric against its motives. According to the Black Lives Matter website, the movement “affirms the lives of Black queer and trans folks, disabled folks, Black-undocumented folks, folks with records, women and all Black lives along the gender spectrum.” I want to call out the lack of empathy from whites in the fight for equality. I am white, and I am angry that my fellow racially-advantaged peers refuse to recognize the continued discrimination of black folks in our society. I am angry at this segment of white people. We have failed to uplift our peers to exercise their fullest potential. This is unmoral and lacks any grounding of justification. Pew Research Center reported that 47 percent of whites do not believe the country has work to do for our black peers to achieve equal rights with whites, 38 percent of this number believe enough changes have already been made. Try telling that to the parents of Tracy Martin, who lost a 17-year-old son to senseless gun violence and racial profiling. Sandra Bland. Michael Brown. Rekia Boyd. Eric Garner. The list goes on. Do not tell me there is justice. While the U.S. has been founded on equality, systematic discrimination has inhibited segments of the population from reaping such opportunity. African-Americans especially have faced great hardship well beyond the years of slavery. The American government has sanctioned segregation in public settings and laws prohibiting African-Americans to have a voice in their own country. Economic opportunity requires social justice. As Elizabeth Warren, a senator from Massachusetts stated, beyond the Civil Rights Movement, several presidents have endorsed equal protection, and Congress typically strives to protect employment, housing and public accommodations. Black Lives Matter must exist to promote equality for minorities in the economy, in their
right to vote and in the public setting entirely. This nation cannot truly thrive as a country unless all of its people do. Violence against African-Americans remains prevalent. Though not all police officers are prejudiced against African Americans, there has been a struggle with police brutality due to overt racism. The American Civil Liberties Union has reiterated that African Americans unjustly serve longer and more frequent sentences in comparison to their white counterparts. Further, this continued discrimination surpasses physical brutality and incarceration. Socially conservative Supreme Court justices have infringed upon African Americans’ civil and democratic right to vote through their efforts in disturbing the Voting Rights Act, as noted by Rewire. Ally Boguhn reported that the “Republican-led charge to roll back voting rights has been fairly transparent in its goal of suppressing Democratic votes.” Boguhn further commented that the GOP has been targeting voters of color and those living in poverty specifically. This goal has been facilitated after the Supreme Court “gutted” parts of the Voting Rights Act that protected the black community against these strategies in a 2013 decision, according to Rewire. Conservative efforts have acted as a catalyst to inhibit minority voting by any means they deem feasible. Voter ID laws, gerrymandering and the mass disenfranchisement through the criminal justice system. Disproportionately incarcerating African Americans also suppresses their voice. Such prejudice to black lives continues through violence, voting infringement and economic inequality. Conservative "trickledown" economic theory has diminished the opportunity for black Americans to close the wage gap. Specifically, the theory aided the richest and most powerful, predominantly white Americans. As Warren explains, from 1980 to 2012, GDP rose, though only the top 10 percent reaped its benefit, while black lives and other minorities experienced no growth. Ultimately, the social movement Black Lives Matter must exist because African American lives continue to be tainted and oppressed as a result of the hue of their skin. The Black Lives Matter movement encompasses more than just police brutality, as it pertains to the need for voting and economic justice as well. A movement suppressing any subset of citizens defies American ideals. The Framers called for equality, as stated in the Constitution, thus this voting suppression, wealth inequality and social injustice are unAmerican and unpatriotic. Frankly, the first step towards true justice revolves around the closing of the racial and gender wage gap, enabling success for the masses. Opportunities will arise promoting intellectuals burdened by debt and oppression to move forward and advance fields such as science, medicine and economics, but we must allow for these opportunities to be felt by all Americans. Social justice will create a better world, and no logical argument could possibly invalidate this notion. mnewing2@kent.edu
White saviors never save the day Bobbie Szabo Columnist When discussing oppression in the United States, some individuals tend to reply with comments comparing the power imbalances in America to other countries. Recently, as I scrolled through comments on a video from the Women’s March in Cincinnati, I noticed that nearly every single comment against the march said something along the lines of, “Women in America are NOT oppressed! Go to Muslim countries and take care of the women in hijabs being killed because of Sharia law! THEY are oppressed!” Viewpoints like that are misinformed. Although I cannot speak for women who wear hijab, I will elevate some of the opinions I have heard during conversations with women who wear hijab. The women I talked to in Morocco were empowered by wearing hijab; they felt it was a way for them to claim their femininity and womanhood because hijab is more than a piece of cloth, more than a piece of clothing and more than a head scarf. Those of us who do not live in a culture in which hijab is normal cannot possibly fully understand the significance of such, and to presume we know that hijab is oppressive is absurd. While there certainly are women oppressed in horrific ways in countries other than ours, their pain does not eliminate ours. The existence of their oppression does not lessen our oppression. And while it is nice to know people pretend to care about these women, I only wish the same people saying we should focus on women who are “actually oppressed” in other countries were not the same people who support the travel ban against women from those countries. Besides the blatant disregard for cultural differences and the awful stereotypes, these comments also highlight a phenomenon given name in the book "The Ugly American." The phrase is typically used to describe U.S. citizens traveling abroad, but it is also applicable in this situation. "The Ugly American" describes the way in which both individual Americans and the U.S. as a whole tend to believe it is morally, educationally and systematically superior to other countries; because of this perceived superiority, the U.S. goes un-welcomed into other countries and tries to solve the problems the U.S. sees in them, without taking into account the host country’s wishes or cultural differences. The concept of the ugly American is notable in what is called “voluntourism,”— when a U.S. citizen takes a vacation to volunteer in a developing country. Voluntourism is often a symptom of the white savior complex: when a white person helps the “poor, impoverished, oppressed” people of color in another country or in the U.S. itself. The individuals participating in voluntourism may not realize they are doing so. They may even believe they are truly helping. There are effective ways to sustain positive change in other countries and communities — check out Tostan’s methodology for a good example — but trying to apply one’s own moral code and culture to another is not one. And writing a comment on a Facebook video with the specific purpose of undermining a necessary political movement by saying we need to “save the women being murdered by Islam” is not only unproductive but hateful. bszabo3@kent.edu
Page 4 | Monday, March 20, 2017
The Kent Stater
'Beauty and the Beast' characters greet fans at Kent Plaza Theatres Madeline Crandall Entertainment Reporter Moviegoers' experience went beyond the big screen at Kent Plaza Theatres Saturday. Fans were greeted with an opportunity to meet characters from Disney's live action remake of "Beauty and the Beast," which debut this weekend. Employees dressed up as Belle and the Beast to pose for pictures. Kids of all ages lined up to get their photo taken with characters and backdrops straight from the new film. Cindy Revak, a local Kent resident, expressed her appreciation of the movie theater holding events like Saturday’s. “It made this family trip to the movies even more exciting,” Revak said. “We all enjoyed the movie, and I hope they continue to do events like these in the future so we can interact with our other favorite characters.” Dylan Oliver, manager at Kent Plaza Theatres, explained this event was to attract fans of all ages.
“I knew the premiere was going to be super busy, but the sign on the window telling people to come meet Belle and the Beast really drew a lot of fans in,” Oliver said. “It’s a great thing for fans because not a lot of theatres do interactive events like this anymore. It really helps to (boost) their experience.” Starring Emma Watson and Dan Stevens in the title roles, "Beauty and the Beast" had a recordbreaking opening weekend at the box office, earning an estimate of $170 million in the U.S. Dylan expressed there will be similar events planned in the future because of the great turnout. Jeremy Walters, a sophomore psychology major, went to the event. “I got to come here with my little sister and my mom, and we all really liked it. The movie was great and way more updated then the previous film,” Walters said. “Plus, seeing the characters when we walked in was cool – definitely a pleasant surprise.” mcranda4@kent.edu
Photo courtesy of Kent Movie Plaza Facebook.
Women's Empowerment Conference Dancing to a sparks discussion of feminism, equality different beat Abigail Winternitz College of Nursing and Public Health Reporter
Sarah Ballard, a junior criminology and justice studies major, and Charveyia Morgan, a sophomore fashion merchandising major, chat during the Women’s Empowerment Conference on Saturday. Carly Bronikowski / The Kent Stater
Lyric Aquino Humanities Reporter The Women's Empowerment Conference, sponsored by the Panhellenic Council, rocked Kent State on Saturday in Bowman Hall. The event focused on empowering and inspiring women while engaging them in discussions about diversity, sexual violence, feminism and career building. Bonny Shade, associate director for fraternity and sorority life at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, said in her speech to “challenge the norms.” During the conference, Shade used her three sessions to encourage the audience to work hard and bring attention to sexual assault. "Hustle until you don't have to introduce yourself," Shade said. Throughout the conference 10 sessions on topics ranging from feminism to self-
help were held. Kent State's Cassandra Pegg-Kirby, assistant director for the Women's Center, encouraged the audience to take care of themselves, touching on the importance of mental health and making time for yourself. "A lot of people don't realize that the little things add up," said Kayla Blackerby, a junior middle childhood education major. "Self care is important and we forget about these things on a daily basis.” Speaker Tina VanSteenbergen hosted a session about feminism and its place in society today. "Don't be afraid to use the 'F' word: feminism," VanSteenbergen said. She used her time to encourage audience members to end what she calls "the stigma against feminism." "Often times, the word 'feminism' is used in a negative way," VanSteenbergen said. "But guess what? Feminism is about
equality — equal power." Deanna Gifford, a senior speech pathology and audiology major and Panhellenic board member, said the conversations were hard-hitting and interesting. "People were engaged and were inspired to make a difference,” Gifford said. Shade was the speaker for the most recent group session, which focused on sexual assault. She discussed statistics about Kent State's sexual assault rates. "In ... 2015, nine sexual assault cases were reported,” Shade said. “However, 90 percent of cases aren't reported. This makes the (approximate) total 3,550 women and 651 men who have been affected by sexual assault on your campus." Shade encouraged audience members to help victims of sexual assault. “We can make a change on Kent’s campus,” Shade said. laquino@kent.edu
It’s difficult to combine multiple passions into one’s professional life, but senior nursing major and dancer Cassandra Johnson plans to do just that. The Cleveland Indians Entertainment Team offered Johnson a spot as a dancer for the 2017 season. Of the 200 applicants, 65 were offered an audition and only 35 were selected to the team this year, according to a press release from the College of Nursing. Kent State head cheerleading coach Matthew Payton — who was the assistant coach of Kent State’s Dance Team while Johnson was a team member — said he is not surprised Johnson made the team. “She is one of the most passionate, dedicated and enthusiastic people I’ve ever met,” Payton said. “She is also an incredibly talented dancer, and the Indians are lucky to have her on their entertainment team.” Johnson, who has been dancing for 19 years and spent more than two years on the Dance Team, also hopes to secure a nursing position within the intensive care unit at the Cleveland Clinic. This would allow her to work fulltime and dance for the Cleveland Indians on her days off. Johnson said being able to combine her two passions in her life as careers is a dream come true. “Both of these aspects are such a huge part of who I am and, in a way, they complement each other really well,” Johnson said. “Whether it’s interacting with your patients or engaging a crowd at a game, it’s all about creating that positive atmosphere, and I’m so excited to be able to keep that positive atmosphere in my life.” As a student athlete and nursing student — and a member of the sorority Alpha Phi — Johnson learned to utilize her time-management skills. “It’s a combination of writing everything down in my planner, coffee and sheer determination,” Johnson said. “I think I work well in high-pressure situations, and while sometimes I go without sleep, it’s totally worth it to be able to do what I’m passionate about.” Debra Cifani, a lecturer in the College of Nursing, said she has complete faith in Johnson’s ability to become both a dancer and a nurse in her professional life. “Because the nursing program alone already has such a rigorous course load, I am always in awe of the student athletes in the nursing program,” Cifiani said. “(Johnson) is one of the most exceptional students I’ve had in my classes, and her ability to juggle coursework and dance shows just how impressive her time-management skills are.” Johnson's dream job is to one day become a certified registered nursing anesthetist or assist in teaching and choreographing at a dance studio or own a dance studio of her own. For future nursing student athletes, Johnson offers this advice: "Keep your mind on your goals and always try your hardest. It can be very stressful at times, but these are the experiences you will forever value." awintern@kent.edu
Monday, March 20, 2017 | Page 5
The Kent Stater
PRIDE! Kent brings unique performances in annual drag show Quaylyn Hairston Entertainment Reporter Colorful wigs, shiny jewelry and flashy outfits were all part of the intricate wardrobes of the drag queens who performed at PRIDE! Kent's annual drag show. Several professional drag queens from Akron's Interbelt performed Thursday night in the Student Center Governance Chambers. Arista Adams, Sonnshine Larray, Angel Safyre, Angelica Arkett and Nicole Canova all came together to put on a show for the community with the goal of promoting acceptance of all people. Kasey Willener, vice president of PRIDE! Kent, said drag is one of the biggest art forms in the community and recently started to become more mainstream. A tiara was given to the winner, Grant Beatty, a sophomore geology major also known as “Gigi Fontaine.” Beatty has performed in drag for the last three years. “It’s an electric energy," Beatty said. "It's immediate fire." While lip syncing to their song of choice, the queens strolled around the room between audience members as they were tipped for their catchy moves and funky personalities. “Building the fan base for the queens between the students is a great positive experience,” said Kyle Dunn, a senior communication studies major and marketing director of PRIDE! Kent. Dunn said seeing how excited everyone is to see the queens is his favorite part of the process. Dunn also likes being able to provide Kent with a good learning experience. PRIDE! Kent, which stands for “People Respecting Identity Diversity and Equality,” has "made a very important impact not only to the LGBTQ community, but to its board members as well," Willener said. Twirling around, striking poses and giving kisses on the cheeks to audience members, the queens performed to Kelly Clarkson and Megan Trainor songs, among other popular tunes. The room was filled with smiling faces and clapping hands throughout the evening. Jacqueline Knutti, a junior sociology major and secretary of PRIDE! Kent, said having the drag show is "like having a direct connection to the LGBTQ community; it's super cool to be connected." qhairsto@kent.edu
Professional drag queen Angel Safyre performs in the Kent State Student Center Governance Chambers on Thursday. Aaron Self / The Kent Stater
Secret Service stops attempted White House intrusion Vivian Salama Associated Press The White House said Saturday that an individual was apprehended after jumping a low metal bar-
rier just outside the White House fence, a week after an intrusion raised questions about lapses in security under the watch of the U.S. Secret Service. White House press secretary Sean
The White House is seen near sunset on May 1, 2014, in Washington from Pennsylvania Avenue. Jon Elswick / Associated Press
Spicer wrote on Twitter that the individual "jumped bike rack on Pennsylvania Ave" but did not make it onto White House property. Spicer added, "Great response by @SecretService." President Donald Trump was not at the White House Saturday. He and his family were spending the weekend at his resort in Palm Beach, Florida. The Secret Service said in a statement that the individual jumped over the bike rack in an apparent attempt to get to the White House fence. "The individual was immediately apprehended by United States Secret Service Uniformed Division Officers before reaching the White House fence," the statement said, adding that criminal charges are pending. The incident comes about a week after a man breached a 5-foot outer perimeter fence and scaled an 8-foot vehicle gate to gain entry to the White House grounds. Vi d e o s u r v e i l l a n c e f o o t a g e shows Jonathan Tuan Tran, 26, of
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Page 6 | Monday, March 20, 2017
The Kent Stater
Sports
SPORTS EDITOR: HENRY PALATTELLA // HPALATTE@KENT.EDU
Stypinski shines, but Flashes struggle in MAC Championships Scott Lendak Sports Reporter
Kent State junior Rachel Stypinski competes on the uneven bars at a meet against West Virginia at the M.A.C. Center on Saturday, Feb. 4, 2017. Kent State lost 195.950-194.875. Jana Life/ The Kent Stater
Junior Rachel Stypinski stuck her landing off the balance beam Saturday and watched her coach, Brice Biggin, fist pump and yell in excitement before she won the allaround individual title at the Mid-American Conference Championship meet. “The support from Coach is amazing,” Stypinski said. “He knows what to say to get me determined and fired up. I couldn’t have asked for a better coach for my last four years of gymnastics.” Stypinski scored a 39.500 in the all-around, which ties Marie Chase's program record at the conference championship meet. “It’s really great to win these individual medals and awards, but it would definitely be better to win as a team” Stypinski said. “Hopefully we can step it up at regionals and unite as a team, instead of focusing on individuals.” Stypinski won individual titles in the balance beam and uneven bars. She received a 9.950 on beam, which set a program MAC Championship record. It was her third 9.950 of the season. She also tied her career-high on bars with a 9.900. “Coming into this meet I was very refreshed,” Stypinski said. “I had a small injury last week, but we took it really easy at practice. My energy was way up, and even though my ankle still hurt, it was easy for me to push through.”
The Flashes came in sixth place out of seven teams with a score of 194.850. Before Saturday’s meet, Kent State had the best average score in the MAC at 195.250. “I think after our floor routines we came out a little flat on vault,” Biggin said. “We had an injury to one of our kids, who we couldn’t use on vault, and we’re already thin over there. It put a lot of pressure on some of the kids.” Kent State performed without junior Brooke Timko due to an injury she sustained during warm-ups. Biggin said it was hard to replace Timko on multiple events. “Injuries caught up with us, and we lost a little bit of momentum when Brooke went down,” Biggin said. “You always hate to lose a kid during warm-ups because these kids care a great deal about each other, and when you see someone get hurt, it deflates you a little bit.” Senior Skyelee Lamano said without Timko, the team was at a disadvantage from the start. “We’ve already had a lot of bumps and bruises this season, so it was just another thing we had to deal with,” Lamano said. “We tried to come out with a better attitude and just know that we have people who can pick up the team. It was just sad to see a girl like Brooke, who has so much heart for this team, go through something serious like that.” Kent State received a 47.750 on vault, their worst score on the season. Three Flashes fell in the event. See the full article on KentWired.com.
Lurken honored to anchor Kent State’s program turnaround Nick Buzzelli Sports Reporter When it was all over, after he congratulated his players and took time to reflect on Kent State’s accomplishments over the past four months, Kent State coach Todd Starkey hugged senior Larissa Lurken — the catalyst of this season’s turnaround — and personally thanked her for her contributions to the program by simply stating, “Couldn’t have done it without you.” Her career had just come to a close 15-minutes prior via a seven point loss to the University of Michigan in the first round of the Women’s National Invitation Tournament. Yet, Lurken wasn’t upset. She was disappointed after being bounced by Toledo in the Mid-American Conference Tournament quarterfinals on March 8, but this was a different feeling. At this point, all Lurken could do was smile. Four years ago, after signing with Kent State
following a stellar career at Park High School in Cottage Grove, Minnesota, Lurken intended to help the team shed its losing reputation. It didn’t occur in her first three seasons as a Flash. But once Starkey was hired as head coach in April 2016, everything fell into place. And she was finally able to leave the program in a better state than it was when she arrived as a freshman. “(Helping the program move forward) is what I wanted to do when I came here. I’m sad it happened so late, but I’m glad I got a chance to,” Lurken said following her final collegiate game. “That’s how I feel, and I’ll never forget it. One of the best seasons, if not the best, I’ve ever had in my entire career. I’m happy to go out like that.” Lurken was a scorer under former head coach Danielle O’Banion, but her game was primarily built around her jump shot. While the individual offense was there, the team success was nonexistent. Kent State went a combined 18-71 from 201316 and never advanced past the first round of the
MAC Tournament. Starkey, though, convinced Lurken to drive toward the basket and draw contact, which improved her average to 23.5 points per game and enabled him and his staff to put together a 19-win season and a 13-5 mark in conference play, the best since 2009-10 season. He doesn’t bring up last year’s 6-23 record for comparison, though. And neither do his players. The team viewed this season as a clean slate, one that wasn’t going to be defined by what they were or weren’t able to accomplish a year ago. They may look to the past for a teaching moment. But if anything, all sights point toward the future, one that — he admitted — will be difficult without Lurken, who set the NCAA’s single-season made free throws record with 280 after going 10-14 from the line against Michigan. “Just because we played Michigan close this year doesn’t mean we’re going to win any games next year," Starkey said. "Next year writes its own story and we’ll have new personnel. You
don’t lose the single-season scoring leader in school history and not take a hit. I know people will say, ‘Hey, you did all this’ and that type of thing and expect the same type of results.” Lurken couldn’t have settled with ending her career on a sour note, like the team’s MAC Tournament defeat to the University of Toledo. The disappointment from that game stung too much. But nearly rallying from a 21-point halftime deficit to a Big 10 team in the postseason made it easier to accept that her career as a college basketball player was over. “I’m happy that we went out the way we did today, especially in the second half. (I'm) really proud of my team and what we accomplished this season,” Lurken said. “I’ll never forget it. It was a great season and something I’m really proud to be a part of.” nbuzzel1@kent.edu