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@kentwired KentWired.com WEDNESDAY, MARCH 22, 2017
Students get creative to finance college Mikala Lugen Student Finance Reporter As the national college debt continues to soar, more and more college students are finding ways to help pay for the expenses of attending college. Magdalene Morley, a sophomore visual communication design (VCD) major, came up with a creative way to obtain more funds for college — a GoFundMe page. “VCD is expensive. I have to go and buy a specific brand of art supplies every week to use for my projects,” Morley said. “I usually spend about $50 a week on supplies and printing.” Morley is one of 130,000 students who are trying to raise money on the website for college tuition and expenses. There are currently 4,225 Ohio residents who have raised $1.55 million dollars on the website, according to GoFundMe for College. It costs a student approximately $18,632 a year to attend a four-year public university, which is nearly six times more than what it was thirty years ago, according to the National Center of Education Statistics. More than 44 million student borrowers owe greater than $1 trillion in student loans, according to Student Loan Hero. Ohio ranked ninth in the top ten states with the highest college debt. Like many college students, Morley files FAFSA every year to obtain government-funded loans to help pay for school. The loans she receives do not cover all of her expenses. To help save money, Morley started taking online classes at Cuyahoga Community College. For the past 25 years, more than 70 percent of college students have worked while attending college, according to a study conducted at Georgetown University’s Center of Education and the Workforce. The study concluded students working fulltime at the federal minimum wage would earn approximately $15,000 a year — not enough to cover the U.S. average price of attending a fouryear public institution. “I’ve had three jobs over the past four years and nothing to show of it,” Morley said. “It got to the point that I didn’t know what else to do.” Michael Scupholm, a senior crafts major, also received funds through his GoFundMe campaign to finish his last semester at Kent State. Scupholm almost reached his goal of $3,100 from 17 donors since October. He said he didn’t want to just ask people for money, so in return for a donation, Scupholm gave donors a piece of his glass artwork. “I was happy to give away my glass artwork as tokens of my appreciation for the donations,” Scupholm said. “I was very fortunate to have supportive donors who helped me pay the rest of my semester’s bills, and I got my artwork out there.”
Illustration courtesy of Michaela Courtney
Scupholm said he appreciates the love and support he got from his donors to help him pay the rest of his tuition. To obtain more funds to pay for school, students can use their passion to produce extra cash. Kaitlin Stanaitis, a sophomore VCD major, started selling her artwork in December on several websites to help pay for her tuition. Stanaitis is studying abroad in Italy this fall and is trying to earn money to use overseas. She currently sells her artwork on Redbubble and Society6, making an extra $10 or so each month.
Ohio issues statewide tornado drill Sarah Heber Safety Reporter The State of Ohio is holding a statewide tornado drill on Wednesday, in honor of spring severe weather awareness week. Sirens across all counties will go off at 9:50 a.m., according to the Ohio Committee for Severe Weather Awareness. Kent had a tornado warning at the beginning of March, which left many students feeling unprepared. The statewide drill is a time for students and faculty to think about what to do in the event of severe weather. “Since we just had a tornado warning, we thought with Ohio’s statewide drill occurring, that (Kent State) would participate,” said Tricia Knoles, a community resource officer at Kent State Police Department. Although Kent State participated in this drill in previous years, this year will have a new element for all eight campuses. “The difference this year is that we have now expanded our mass emergency notification system. We’ll have the sirens go off (and) we’ll also
have the test message.” Knoles said. “Then the mass notification system goes through every phone system on every campus so they will have that message come through the speaker of their phone also.” The mass emergency notification system is being tested this year for the first time and testing technology before an emergency is necessary, Knoles said. “It’s always important to test our technology to make sure that it’s in good working order in case we do have severe weather or a tornado,” Knoles said. While students and faculty are not required to partake in practicing tornado safety, Knoles said if any office on campus decides they want to participate, then they are more than welcome to. “We’re not expecting people to actually go down to their tornado shelters,” Knoles said. “It’s important to remind people of what to do and where to go if there was a severe weather warning.”
Stanaitis also holds art shows in Lakewood, where she makes the majority of her art-based income. “The Root Cafe gave me an entire gallery space for a month, and I was able to sell $1,500 worth of art,” Stanaitis said. “This money goes toward school for my weekly art supplies.” Even with students coming up with creative ways to subsidize their college tuition bills and debt, students are still suffering the financial consequences of taking out loans. In 2014, Kent State was third on the list of large public schools with the highest three-year
loan default rate. Approximately 14.7 percent of Kent State graduates did not make a student loan payment in over 270 days, according to Quartz. Schools with excessive default rates can lose eligibility in one or more federal student aid programs. Excessive default rates conclude a 25 percent default rate over three years, or 40 percent or more in one academic school year, according to the U.S. Department of Education.
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Immigrant Ohio
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A Look Inside Columbus’s Somali Community Students crowd the Stopher/Johnson Hall basement during a tornado warning on Tuesday, March 1, 2017. Photo courtesy of Anna Huntsman.
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Page 2 | Wednesday, March 22, 2017
Seth Green chats with students in Adult Swim class Benjamin VanHoose Features Editor
Technical issues weren’t enough to keep actor and comedian Seth Green from fielding questions from Kent State students Tuesday. As part of the “ST: Cartoon Network / Adult Swim” course (JMC 40095), the actor spoke with a nearly-full lecture auditorium inside Franklin Hall about writing, voice acting and the comedy industry. “I was impressed that we even got Seth Green to give his time out of his day,” said Joshua Bodziony, a senior educational studies major. “He seemed really upbeat, friendly and super happy to be doing what he’s doing.” Green produces, stars and writes on the Adult Swim television series “Robot Chicken,” making his work much of the focus for the class. Ronald Russo, a part-time faculty member of Journalism and Mass Communication, teaches the three-credit hour course. He said the process of arranging a meeting with talent for his classes involves a lot of pre-planning. “It actually takes a while to do these because of their schedules,” Russo said. “There’s quite a number of communications — emails, letters and all that.” Russo, who also teaches comedy and Adam Sandler courses, has scored a number of big names to interact with his classes, including a pre-recorded message from actor Will Ferrell for students in 2014. Computer issues marred the beginning of the session, requiring Russo to switch from Skype to Google Hangouts and testing functionality on his personal computer before settling for the frontfacing camera on the classroom Mac to conduct the teleconference. “We’re on, like, back-up plan three here,” Russo said. After a few test runs, Green appeared in the projection on a large screen. Students in the class dressed up in costumes for the occasion, including several as Green’s “Family Guy” character Chris Griffin. Other students created artistic homages to his work, from paintings to an elaborate “Robot Chicken” cake. Bodziony dressed in a full chicken costume that his parents, former costume shop owners, had lying around. After
“We are continually striving to make college more affordable,” said Jeff Robinson, director of communications at the Ohio Department of Education (ODE). “We are currently reviewing a new two-year budget to freeze tuition costs throughout Ohio.” The ODE is also working with public colleges to share textbook costs with students. Robinson said this would directly benefit students and their families when budgeting for college. The ODE also offers students 2-plus-1 and 3-plus-1 programs, where students can attend a community college for two or three years, then finish at a public university. The College Cred-
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DIVERSITY EDITOR Kent State students in Professor Ron Russo’s Adult Swim class listen to Seth Green during a live Google Hangout chat in Franklin Hall on Tuesday. Some students dressed in costumes representative of characters in Green’s work. Christina Kenney / The Kent Stater
asking a question and singing the “Robot Chicken” theme song to Green, Bodziony said the coolest part was to “have him know my name for even five seconds.” Part of the extra credit opportunity for students came in a competition of costumes and art Green would choose his favorite from. “No one is going to be mad, right?” said Green, who didn’t know he’d be judging students’ work. After it was assured everyone who participated in the competition would receive extra credit, Green selected a painting of his “Family Guy” character as the winner. Danielle Howell, a senior communications studies major, created the piece, and responded to Green by saying, “Thank you, you just made my life.” “I was really nervous,” Howell said. “I’m a longtime fan of his, and I’ve never met an actual celebrity.”
Supreme Court nominee Neil Gorsuch declared Tuesday he's made no promises to President Donald Trump or anyone else about how he'll vote on abortion or other issues and testified he'll have no trouble as a justice holding anyone accountable, including the president who picked him. During the long second day of his Senate confirmation hearings, Gorsuch made two notable statements in response to questions from members of the Judiciary Committee, and both related to Trump, who nominated him. Republican Lindsey Graham of South Carolina asked Gorsuch whether Trump had asked him to overturn Roe v. Wade, the case establishing a right to abortion, and what he would have done had Trump asked him to do so. "Senator, I would have walked out the door," Gorsuch replied. "That's not what judges do." When Vermont Democratic Sen. Patrick Leahy asked Gorsuch if a president is free to ignore laws on national security grounds, Gorsuch replied that "nobody is above the law in this country, and that includes the president of the United States." On a day mostly devoid of drama, Gorsuch batted away Democrats' efforts to get him to reveal his views on abortion, guns and other controversial issues, insisting he keeps "an open mind for the entire process" when he makes rulings. His comments were similar in response to questions from majority Republicans as they tried to help him highlight his neutrality in the face of Democratic attempts to link him to Trump. The abortion question was especially pointed because Trump himself has insisted he would appoint "pro-life justices" who would vote to overturn the 1973 Roe decision. As Tuesday's questioning wore on, senators and Gorsuch engaged in a routine well-
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During the session, Green talked about some of his past projects, including the fun he had improvising with his “Austin Powers” co-stars, and a mini “Without a Paddle” reunion he recently had at the film premiere of “Chips.” Green also offered details about an upcoming “Robot Chicken” episode dedicated to poking fun at the hit zombie TV series “The Walking Dead.” The half-hour special, which features the original cast voicing their respective characters, will open after the zombie apocalypse in a museum where “they got all of the facts wrong, and the only person who is there to set the record straight is ‘Old Man Carl,’" he said. “All our jokes are not like, ‘Oh, this show is so bad,’ or ‘This actor is so stupid,’” Green said. “That’s my favorite thing to do — finding the silliness in the stuff we are emotionally connected to.” Just before talking with students,
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Green said his team Skyped with “Walking Dead” lead actor Andrew Lincoln about his voice work on the special. “He’s doing the most sincere performances of some of the zaniest shit,” he said. Green broke into laughter after being asked how he maintains sanity while juggling so many creative projects at once. “I try to do all the same basic stuff that normal human beings do,” he said. “There is a certain accepted chaos. The actual amount of work that any given thing takes for it to go from an idea to being in existence — I can’t undersell that.” To conclude the conversation, Green left students by thanking them and urging them to pursue their passions. “I hope I’ve encouraged you all to take your lives into your own hands and be awesome,” he said. bvanhoos@kent.edu
No promises and no one above Adulting 101 course law, Supreme Court pick says planned for Fall 2017
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Hannah Wagner Education, Health and Human Services
Supreme Court Justice nominee Neil Gorsuch gestures as he speaks on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday during his confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee. Pablo Martinez Monsivais / Associated Press
established in recent confirmation hearings. The nominee resists all requests to say how he feels about Supreme Court decisions, even as he is asked about them again and again. Such was the case with questions about rulings on campaign finance, abortion, gun rights, even a privacy ruling from 1965 that John Roberts explicitly endorsed in his confirmation hearings in 2005. Gorsuch made one exception, describing the two-year-old decision extending samesex marriage nationwide as "settled law," a term he did not apply to any other decision. The 49-year-old Denver appeals court judge kept a smile on his face most of the day, although he seemed to show flashes of anger under questioning from some Democrats. Sen. Richard Durbin of Illinois pressed Gorsuch on claims by a former student at the University of Colorado Law School who said Gorsuch implied in a legal ethics class in April that he believes many female job applicants unfairly manipulate companies by hiding plans to begin families. She remembered him saying that many accept job offers but quickly leave with maternity benefits.
it Plus program has also been successful for the State of Ohio. “We’re in the second full year of this program where students can earn college credit while still attending high school,” Robinson said. “More than 52,000 students in Ohio have participated and have averaged $120 million in savings.” Kent State University College offers programs to help students pay for tuition. Students can log onto the financial aid website to view a list of various programs and scholarship opportunities. Students seeking financial awareness can view a list of financial literacy workshops scheduled throughout the semester, including FAFSA completion assistance, scholarship and grant search, student loan consolidation and repayment, personal banking, credit cards and credit scores. mlugen@kent.edu
Kent State’s Health Education and Promotion will offer a new special topics course this fall called "Adulting 101" to help students make healthy decisions after leaving college. Irene Axiotis, an associate professor in health sciences, said she was inspired to create the course after many students confided in her about their anxieties of entering adult life. “Students kept saying they wished there was a class that could help them figure out how to construct an adult life before leaving college,” she said. This senior-level course will cover the “seven dimensions” of adulthood — helping students make healthy changes and decisions about relationships, body, mind, work, friends, stress and money. The class will focus on practical projects, Axiotis said, such as budgeting and working through various situations relating to life after college — from how to decide what health insurance to get to dealing with socialization and relationships. Niccole Segura, a graduate English student, said she thinks the class would be useful, but doesn't like the title. "Why would they give it a joke name so people feel bad about taking it?" she said. "I wouldn't want something like that on my transcript,
especially when I was applying to grad school." After talking to the school of health sciences director and several colleagues, Axiotis said she spent a lot of time interviewing students on their opinion of the class and plans to continue researching until the end of the semester to ensure the class is as beneficial as possible. Senior psychology major Marisa Schroeder said she thinks the class is a good idea to help students be better prepared to go out on their own. "My parents still help me with my taxes," she said. "I think this class would help me prepare for after graduation when I may move farther away and not get their help as easily." Although she thinks this class would be very beneficial, Schroeder said she is concerned about the name as well. She suggested it be changed to something along the lines of "life skills." With no prerequisite, Axiotis said the course is currently open to all students of any major or class rank. “Getting ready to graduate and leave can be very difficult,” she said. “I think this class could pertain to anyone who is in that transition of learning about themselves and getting ready to leave the security of college life.” There is currently only one section open for the course, Axiotis said, but she hopes to continue and expand in future semesters.
Michael Scupholm, a senior crafts major, works on his glass blowing, Scupholm sells his artwork to help pay for his college expenses. Photo courtesy of Michael Scupholm
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Kent State sophomore VCD major Kaitlin Stanaitis sells artwork, pictured above, to offset the costs of college. Photo courtesy of Kaitlin Stanaitis
Wednesday, March 22, 2017 | Page 3
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The Stater hopes to encourage lively debate about the issues of the day on the Opinion Page. Opinions on this page are the authors’ and not necessarily endorsed by the Stater or its editors. Readers are encouraged to participate through letters to the editor (email them to jmill231@kent.edu) and guest columns. Submissions become property of the Stater and are subject to editing without notice.
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JOSEPH MCGRELLIS’ VIEW // To see all the cartoons this semester, visit KentWired.com
On
Prentice Cafe closes for cleaning of asbestos Megan Ayscue Administration Reporter Workers posted signs on several Prentice Cafe entrances Monday warning the public not to enter unless authorized due to the presence of asbestos. Precision ProCut, a concrete sawing and drilling services company, is currently clearing away the asbestos-containing materials from the area. masycue@kent.edu
Cheers&Jeers Cheers to ... extreme curling. Russians are taking the winter sport to the next level, pushing cars across the ice instead of traditional “stones.” Jeers to ... regulating flight. Canadian authorities fined a man nearly $20,000 for flying near Calgary, Alberta, Canada, by attaching 100 helium balloons to a lawn chair.
The vilified majority Lucas Misera Opinion Editor Perhaps the best way to start this column is with a blunt truth: Modern-day liberalism is slowly developing into an obstacle to political discourse. The far-left’s crusade for equality is not built on the mission of uplifting those who are underrepresented in society, but rather is constructed upon the foundation of villainizing those who don’t identify as a minority. I’m male. I’m white. I’m heterosexual. I shouldn’t have to feel uncomfortable publicly acknowledging these, yet — given the liberal rhetoric that circulates throughout a left-leaning campus — it appears as though my cohort is automatically labeled an enemy in the push for social justice. Because I’m a male, radicalized feminists often assume I’m a catalyst to some deep-rooted patriarchy. My efforts to rationalize that the wage gap isn’t as steep as many believe are immediately discredited as simplistic “man-splaining.” Because I’m white, the left argues that economic success, due to my privilege, is guaranteed. Some argue I deserve retribution for the racial oppression of minorities in the past and present. Because I’m heterosexual, leftists call me ignorant for not wholly understanding the struggles of the LGBTQ community. Because I’m vilified, empathy becomes taxing. No matter the amount of effort somebody like myself puts into supporting our nation’s marginalized communities, I will never be accepted as a true ally of the left. Modern liberals take mere disagreement as an attack on their most valued ideals. Presenting data and facts becomes useless in the face of impassioned liberal thought clouded by an insatiable desire to serve as a moral compass. In their mission for social justice, this new brand of progressivism has ditched unity in favor of instant change. There is no tolerance for moderates or conservatives — no patience for those who struggle to keep pace with the rapid social change that overtook our country over the course of eight years. It’s certainly hard to argue against the importance of equality. Understating the value of a fellow human being for any reason — particularly for physical or mental characteristics beyond his or her control — is unacceptable. Yet, if liberals continue disparaging the demographic majority from their moral high ground, the general public might just ditch the steady climb to social equity. lmisera@kent.edu
Letter to the Editor: Response to ‘White saviors never save the day’ Steve Hardesty Guest Columnist As I read Bobbie Szabo’s article, “White saviors never save the day,” it made me sad. First of all, I am sad that someone so young is so cynical. Secondly, I don’t appreciate the negative spin and false beliefs about other people’s motives. She writes, “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.” Is it white-savior complex that causes groups to collect glasses and doctors to give of their time, talents and treasure to fit peoples in South America with glasses and
provide cataract surgery? Is it white-savior complex that causes people to fill their trucks with equipment and tools to rebuild homes from Appalachia to New Orleans at their own expense? Is it white-savior complex that causes service organizations to hold events and give 100 percent of the proceeds to help the less fortunate or do eye screenings in our schools and ask nothing in return? I know too many good people who give unselfishly and with no motive other than to help their fellow man to let your article go unchallenged. I do, by the way, have a Savior myself, but that’s for another article. Steve Hardesty is a manager of the Kent water treatment plant, a board member of the Kent Lions, a member of the Knights of Columbus and a long-time Kent community member. Contact him at shardesty@kent-ohio.org.
Democrat Cut the 2020 talk. Now. VIEW Only 20 days after former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s upset loss of the presidency to Donald Trump, the Chicago Tribune published an article speculating which Democrats would run for president in 2020. The Hill followed suit nearly a month later, listing its “Top 15 Democratic presidential candidates in 2020.” In the days and months following the election, damaged and weary Democrats immediately began dreaming of who to run for president against Trump (presumably) in four years. Some advocated for a rematch between Clinton and Trump, others considered running what would then be a 79-year-old Bernie Sanders. Were Sanders not to run, a good deal of his supporters hoped to draft Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren. Former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley began campaigning for grassroots candidates in Iowa in December, fueling speculation of a 2020 run. Given his stellar speech at the 2016 Democratic National Convention, New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker arose as a star on the horizon. Likewise, the names of New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, Minnesota Sen. Al Franken and even former first lady Michelle Obama have floated among Democratic circles as potential candidates to nominate for president in 2020. This sort of talk has got to stop. Trump is terrible — no doubt about it. Democrats knew he’d be terrible before he even set foot in the White House. It is understandable why they would long for a Trump-free future before it even began. However, discussing who to run in the 2020 election before the inauguration of the 2016 victor was absolutely and utterly absurd. Discussing who to run during Trump’s first hundred days is equally counterproductive. Imagine how stupid Republicans would have looked on the heels of their 2008 defeat if they were to already plan who their 2012 candidate would be while former President George W. Bush was still in office. That is exactly what Democrats have been doing and continue to do as they discuss who to run for president in 2020. Between now and 2020, there are more pressing matters to attend to than who to run for president four years down the road. Instead of discussing who they want to run for presi-
dent in 2020, Democrats need to be discussing who they want to run as their congressmen in 2018. Instead of taking aim at Trump from afar, Democrats need to focus their efforts on radical candidates like Ohio Republican Jim Jordan, who wants to take away his constituents’ health care, or Congressman David Joyce, who refuses to show up to town halls to address the needs of his district. Instead of hoping for Trump to get impeached and beating Mike Pence in 2020, Democrats need to pay attention to take back their city councils and school boards through a true grassroots effort. By talking about candidates for the 2020 presidential election this early on, Democrats are shooting themselves in the foot. As of recent, the Democrats have gotten into the bad habit of becoming voters who only turn out to the polls every presidential election. This mentality is self-harmful, and 2020 talk only reinforces such a conception among Democrats. Democrats want change — not only for their party but also for their country. The change we ask of is not radical nor excessive: We want people to earn a fair wage. We want our children to go to good schools, and we want our environment to be respected. If Democrats want to see these changes implemented, they need to do the work. Democrats must go out and vote not only in presidential elections, but also at midterm elections, as well as at the national, state, county and local levels. When an entire political party only comes out to the polls every four years, they may be able to elect a president, but by not voting in midterm elections like in 2010 and 2014, they restrict the ability of the president and reduce a potential farm of competent grassroots candidates. Had Barack Obama been supported by more Democratic voters in 2010 and 2014 — had he had a Democratic Congress to assist him in these years — our country would be in a far better state. The 2020 election will be consequential and exciting. Democrats have every reason to be ready for this election. However, it will happen when it happens. See full article on KentWired.com
Resting NBA starters: the most exhausting discussion in sports Matt Poe Columnist Despite a litany of topics available to cover this week, let’s discuss the most unequivocally important news and conversation of the week: NBA teams resting their star players. It seems this asinine conversation is reignited every year at some point during the season, and this time it comes courtesy of the Cavaliers resting LeBron James, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love in Saturday’s primetime game against the Los Angeles Clippers. Needless to say, the Cavs got their asses handed to them in that game without the trio playing. The debate for resting these starters goes as such: The NBA season is too long, and star players need the down time. And every year, talking heads and knowit-alls like myself believe we have the solution to this incredibly important topic, such as shortening the season by anywhere from five to 10 games. Another option is having teams pay fines or receive punishments for resting players who aren’t resting because of injuries. NBA fans and ticket holders suffer when teams decide to rest these star players because, as anyone who has ever shelled out the money to attend professional sports knows tickets and going to games aren’t cheap. Networks like ESPN who pay almost $3 billion for television rights to broadcast NBA games also suffer because no one wants to tune into see Tristian Thompson collect rebounds when they’re being deprived of Kyrie Irving breaking ankles. And team owners and executives will never cut down on the amount of games because that’s less money in their already fat pockets. All Monday and Tuesday I had to listen to sports radio hosts talk at absurd lengths about this topic. Even Dan Patrick, my lord and savior, devoted way too much time to this debate. In reality, it’s not much of a debate, and I have a perfect solution to this epidemic plaguing our sports society. My apologies for sounding like I aged 40 years and became ultra-crotchety during this take, but here we go. Just play the damn game. There’s no reasons these guys can’t show up and play if they’re healthy. All it would take is limiting minutes of certain players during the course of the game to ensure they can play if healthy. It’s not rocket science, for God’s sake. Hockey players play the same amount of games in a season (82) as the NBA guys do, and you’ll never find Patrick Kane or Connor McDavid sitting out a game for rest. Have you ever watched a hockey game? The toll it takes on the body is much greater than anything in the NBA. The NHL guys play every night because they’re gritty and love the game – not just the fame, money and women that come along with it. OK, that’s a little facetious but whatever. So as a world-class athlete myself, I am begging all of us to put an end to this conversation because, aside from shortening the season, there’s no logical solution to it. Listen up Lebron: You need to man up and get the hell on the court for my entertainment. This isn’t about you resting and being healthy to win more championships. This is about me having something to watch while I drink beer. Appease me, dammit! mpoe3@kent.edu
Page 4 | Wednesday, March 22, 2017
The Kent Stater
Perspectives
Photos and multimedia through the lenses of Kent State students
FACES OF FLORENCE David LaBelle Professor “There’s nothing more interesting than the landscape of the human face,” film and television producer Irvin Kershner once wrote. I couldn’t agree more. While many are drawn to Florence’s Renaissance architecture, incredible museums or historical figures like Michelangelo, Dante and da Vinci, I find myself drawn to the layers of diverse faces on the streets of this ancient city. And while the grand stone buildings and cobblestone streets whisper to us about the past, it is the diverse faces of today — the living museums etched by past and present passions, that speak best of today’s
victories and struggles. It is in these faces — natives, tourists, immigrants, refugees from all over the earth — we see and feel the vitality of this amazing city. Above all, the human face is a deep container filled with many expressions, and a transmitter able to share emotions in a universal visual language. And as with any language, there are many subtle expressions in the shade of joy, sorrow, grief, anger or contempt. While the language itself has been the primary challenge for most of the 14 photography students — from photojournalism, photo illustration, fashion and arts and sciences — the universal language of the face has been a simple joy to comprehend. dlabelle@kent.edu
A Somali refugee prostests outside a government building in Florence on Saturday, Jan. 14, 2017. She and many others had been displaced from an apartment building with no notice given by the government. Photo courtesy of Carrie George
A man in the audience is overwhelmed with emotion during the Apostolic blessing by Pope Francis in St. Peter’s Square, Vatican City, on Saturday, Feb. 18, 2017. Photo courtesy of Emma Jaye
Maria and her dog rest their tired feet at a park bench in Florence on Monday, Feb. 13, 2017. Photo courtesy of Jacqueline Wammes
Yara Ali of Egypt poses for a portrait on the streets of Florence on Monday, Feb. 6, 2017. Photo courtesy of Gina DeSimone
37-year-old Simone Razzino poses for a portrait as he works in the Benheart leather shop in Florence on Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2017. Photo courtesy of Nile Vincz
Wednesday, March 22, 2017 | Page 5
The Kent Stater
Female Kent State students prepare for careers in male-dominated field Danielle Johnson Jobs Reporter
Nana Yaw Gyimah, a sophomore mathematics major, ties a ribbon to the fence as a sign of solidarity for Shadi Farah, a 13-year-old boy currently being held captive in a Palestinian prison, during the Israeli Apartheid Week on Monday. Eslah Attar / The Kent Stater
SJP holds Israeli Apartheid Week, informs students McKenna Corson Diversity Reporter Earlier this week, as a part of Israeli Apartheid Week, members of Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) set up a mock wall on Risman Plaza to represent the current barrier within the West Bank. The Israeli West Bank wall is a separation barrier in the West Bank dividing Israeli and Palestinian land. It was built in 2002 and spans 422 miles, according to Al Jazeera America. The Israeli purpose of the wall was to protect the Israeli people from Palestinian terrorism, but most Palestinians see the wall as a method of racial segregation. Al Jazeera America's article from 2014 states that the wall cut off many Palestinians from their land, hospitals and businesses. Palestinians must go through checkpoints run by Israel before traveling to another city in the West Bank. Some see this as a method of protection, while others view checkpoints as Israel controlling Palestinian freedom. According to the Israeli Information Center for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories (B'Tselem), as of Jan. 31, there are 98 fixed checkpoints in the West Bank. Protests for and against the wall occur frequently and worldwide. Subhi Samad, a senior biology major and member of SJP, said he was happy for the opportunity to inform others of the current Palestinian climate. “I believe in equal rights for all human beings, and what’s been going on in Israel since 1948 has been an occupation of Palestinian territory,” Samad said. “We’re not here to dispute land, and we’re not here to dispute religion. We’re here to say that what’s going on is a violation of international law, and it’s a violation of human rights.”
Samad said he can personally relate to the Palestinian struggle due to familial ties. “Both of my parents are refugees who were dispersed in the '80s out of Nazareth,” Samad said. “It’s hard. You go back and see kids who beg for money in the streets, and you want to do something about it. It’s insane and heartbreaking.” To represent the apartheid wall, three tall gray planks were covered in symbolic graffiti. Amanda Michalak, a senior political science major and SJP member, assisted in the design of the mock wall. “Some of the artwork on the mock wall are actually on the real wall in Palestine,” Michalak said. In addition to the mock wall, there is also a piece of fence that people can tie bits of ribbon to for Shadi Farah, a 13-year-old boy who is the youngest political prisoner of the Israeli state. According to the International Solidarity Movement, Farah was arrested with a friend at a bus stop in Jerusalem after a group of East Jerusalem illegal settlers called authorities on suspicion of the boys being Palestinian. During the arrest, Israeli authorities proclaimed the boys had gone to Jerusalem with the intent to stab a soldier and charged them with attempted manslaughter. After abuse and harsh treatment, the boys admitted to the charges without a lawyer or guardian present. Only one witness spoke of the boys planning an attack while in school. Despite the odds against him, Farah is still believed to be innocent. “Shadi Farah’s mother came to talk to SJP a couple weeks ago, and she basically told us about his experience at the justice system and his trial, which wasn’t a fair trial,” Michalak said. “We are tying on ribbons to stand in solidar-
ity with him. He’s about one-third of the way through his three-year term, so he’s kind of at the point where he might be starting to lose hope. We’re trying to keep his family’s spirits as high as we can, given the circumstances.” The mock wall attracted curious onlookers who asked questions, took pictures or tied a ribbon for Farah. Noah Kuiken, a freshman psychology major, was drawn in. “I saw there was something going on, so I thought that if someone was putting up all of this stuff, it must be something serious and something that needs to get out,” Kuiken said. “I feel like stopping and listening is the least I can do.” Kuiken learned about the Palestinian opinions of the wall. “I knew basically a little bit about it, but I didn’t know the severity of it. I didn’t know that there was a 13-yearold boy in prison for all of this. This has definitely given me something to go off to do my own research to see what’s going on and see how I can support it,” Kuiken said. Despite the peaceful efforts made by SJP, there were a few angry people with SJP’s stance on the wall, Samad said. Samad claimed that some people would “flip them off” or throw graffitied T-shirts at them. “One girl called us terrorists,” Samad said. “We can’t really get mad because people like this are uninformed. We hope they come up to us and start a conversation instead of being mean.” The mock wall will be up all week from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. with SJP members handing out fliers and talking about Palestine's perspective. Numerous other events are also going on this week as part of Israeli Apartheid Week. mcorson2@kent.edu
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While working for Kent State's athletic teams, female students have pushed to prove they are qualified to be in the maledominated sports industry. “Personally, I find me pushing myself to know a little more than those around me,” said Taylor Campbell, a senior sports Bridget Looney, a junior and student manager for the Kent State administration major and women’s basketball team, cheers on the Flashes at the game Kent State student equip- against The University of Akron in the M.A.C. Center on Saturment manager. “Knowing day, Feb. 25, 2017. The Flashes won 73-69. the industry is predomi- Jana Life / The Kent Stater nately men, I, myself, have worked harder than those around ing powerful female figures to look up me to prove that I can compete with to has helped Zaynor feel more confident to reach for jobs in her industry. everyone else." “April Goss, the female kicker who Even though students are not necesgraduated last year, was such an inspisarily being held to higher standards by their co-workers, many female students ration to me.” Zaynor said. “She taught me that we, as girls, are powerful, and hold themselves to these standards. “I realize I am definitely working in we can change the world of football for a male-dominated field,” said Bridget the better, and I hope I have the opporLooney, a junior exercise science major tunity to inspire that in someone else.” Katie Schilling, the assistant director and student manager for the Kent State women’s basketball team. “But, I of student athletic development, said she have never once felt less-than or below does not think women should feel less anyone I work with at Kent State when than their male co-workers in anyway. “The women within athletics are it comes to my gender.” Maria Zaynor, a junior managerial much like the mother figures that are marketing major with a minor in sports often needed when students are away administration, works for the Kent State from home,” Schilling said. “They can football team as an equipment manager. relate to both men and women athletes “It took me a little more than a year but enjoy the bond they make with to prove to everyone, especially myself, the athletes while taking care of what that I am just as capable and worthy of needs to be done.” Similar to many female students being here as any guy,” Zaynor said. Students who work for the athletic involved with Kent State's athletic department possess multiple team teams, Schilling said she has women role responsibilities. They assist coaches with models who work in the sports industry. “I took a class taught by the wonderful drills, help with equipment malfunctions during events and even travel with the Judy Devine, a true trailblazer for women in athletics,” Schilling said. “Through this teams across the country. While working in a field they enjoy, class, I figured out at that time I wanted female students are also learning valu- to work in NCAA (National Collegiate able skills that will help them in their Athletic Association) compliance, where I worked for six years. She is a true inspiprofessional careers. “My goal is to do physical thera- ration to all women and taught me to be py for a sports team,” Looney said. a strong woman and always stand up for “This job helps me see the adminis- what I believe in.” Schilling said she wants female stutrative side of being on the team.” Campbell said she hopes to work dents who want to work in the athletic for a sports team after she graduates, industry to keep pushing toward their specifically involving college athlet- career goals. “My advice is, you are an equal," ics, and she said this job is helping her learn important skills and network Schilling said. "Don’t ever stand down to someone who is taking with many people. “Interacting with the coaches and ath- advantage of you because of your letes has helped me expand my commu- gender. Don’t be scared to stand up nication skills,” Campbell said. “Working to men who feel it’s necessary to have in the equipment room also allowed for empowerment within their jobs over me to expand my professional network women. Never give up on your career that could possibly lead to a future career.” goals and keep fighting.” Working for athletic teams and havdjohn188@kent.edu
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Page 6 | Wednesday, March 22, 2017
The Kent Stater
Sports
SPORTS EDITOR: HENRY PALATTELLA // HPALATTE@KENT.EDU
Flashes overcome mistakes to secure victory in home opener Scott Lendak Sports Reporter
Junior Rachel Stypinski participates on the uneven bars during a meet against Ball State on Friday, March 10, 2017. Kent State won 196.425-195.00. Alexander Wadley / The Kent Stater
Junior pitcher Robert Ziegler pointed at junior catcher Tim Dalporto after striking out a batter to record the third out of the fifth inning in the Flashes’ (12-6) 7-6 victory over University of Pittsburgh (8-10). “I thought Ziegler was pretty efficient,” coach Jeff Duncan said. “I thought he did a really good job of battling. He didn’t have his best stuff today, but I thought he battled and did a good job.” Ziegler started his first career game in a Kent State uniform and threw five innings with five strikeouts and allowed one unearned run. “I was in some trouble today and was fortunately able to work out of it,” Ziegler said. “You really have to bear down (and) try to make a pitch to get yourself out of the tough innings.” Dalporto said Ziegler threw well on the mound, and the team was trying to rally behind him to get the win. “He was pounding the strike zone and getting ahead early,” Dalporto said. “He did a nice job of commanding his off-speed pitches, which makes him electric. He
fought for us in the first five innings, so we thought we should fight to get him the win.” The Flashes trailed until a four-run 7th inning highlighted by a junior Dylan Rosa three-run home run. Rosa finished with two hits and three RBI. “We told the guys to not change their swings,” Duncan said. “We hit a lot of balls hard early that weren’t finding holes, but our guys don’t let results dictate how they’re going to play the rest of the game. We eventually found some holes and Dylan Rosa’s home run was obviously a difference maker for us.” The Flashes committed two errors in the field, hit three Pittsburgh batters and walked seven. Duncan said the team would need to address these problems in order to be successful. “We spotted them at least three runs from giving up free bases and errors,” Duncan said. “Those things are going to happen, but you don’t want to string them together in the same inning. If you do that, teams are going to make you pay, especially in college baseball.” Dalporto recorded three hits in four atbats and scored one run. “I was trying to work to my strength,
which is hitting the ball to the opposite field,” Dalporto said. “I was just trying to get good pitches to hit, and luckily they were on the outer half so I could just go with it.” The Flashes were scoreless until the fifth inning when senior Dom Iero doubled to right field to score Dalporto. The Flashes then took the lead from a single by sophomore Josh Hollander that got through the left side of the infield. “We made solid contact, and I told our guys we had good at-bats all day,” Duncan said. “We have a lot of veteran hitters, and we finally started to find some holes.” The Flashes had a one-run lead with two outs in the top of the ninth inning when Rosa made a sliding catch in left field to end the game. Junior Zach Spangler recorded the save for the Flashes. “We spotted them three runs,” Duncan said. “But we swung the bat really well, we made pitches when we needed to, and we made plays when we needed to. At the end of that day, that’s all you can ask for.” The Flashes will open up Mid-American Conference play when the team travels to face Ball State University at 2 p.m. on Friday in the first of a three-game series. slendak@kent.edu
Gymnastics to compete Women’s golf seeks MAC, national success in Morgantown Regional Erik Svensson Sports Reporter
Henry Palattella Sports Editor The Kent State gymnastics team is competing in the Morgantown Regional in Morgantown, West Virginia, the NCAA announced Monday afternoon. The Flashes had a regional qualifying score of 195.720 in the regular season, a mark good enough to qualify the team for regionals. This is its ninth NCAA regional in the past 10 seasons. Junior Rachel Stypinski will come into regionals fresh off of being named MAC Gymnast of the Year, while seniors Jordan Hardison and Skyelee Lamano were both named to the All-MAC Second Team. The two top teams and the two top all-around competitors from each regional
site will receive an automatic berth to the national championships. The two top teams from the Morgantown Regional will compete with the two top teams from the Gainesville and Lincoln semifinals. The event winners at each site will advance to the national championships in their respective event if they are not part of a qualifying team or an all-around qualifier. The six teams at the Morgantown regional include: No. 6 University of Alabama, No. 7 University of Michigan, No. 18 Southern Utah University, George Washington University, West Virginia University and Kent State. The national championships will be held in St. Louis, Missouri, on April 14-15, at the University of Missouri. hpalatte@kent.edu
There are few teams that can boast the consistent success of the Kent State women’s golf team. The team has seen consistent success since its creation. The Flashes have won 18 consecutive MAC championships — every one since women’s golf was introduced into the MAC. The team has players from Sweden, Norway and Thailand, as well as from Kent. Three of Kent State’s golfers are also ranked in the top 60 nationally. “There aren’t too many teams that have that,” Coach Greg Robertson said. “We also have four of our top five golfers that have all won college tournaments.” However, the team's success isn’t taken for granted by the coaches. “Coming into the year, we didn’t know what to expect,” Robertson said. “We had one of
our best years in the program’s history last year. We lost three seniors after last year and this year we only had one.” As a result, most of the players in the team’s lineup are freshmen and sophomores. “We knew we had talent, but you never really know until they tee it up," Robertson said. "They’re all doing their part and working hard. They just exploded this year.” The younger players are excited by their success but also look to move forward. “I absolutely think we’re getting better,” sophomore Kelly Nielsen said. “The standard has moved up over the years. We have high expectations to win the MAC and go to the NCAA every year.” Competing at a national level, the team feels pressure to perform well. “I think there’s always that pressure in sports,” Robertson said. “But, I think that’s why
you play. If you don’t love that feeling, it’s not for you. It’s not a bad thing if you handle it well.” Continuing the team’s MAC championship streak is another source of motivating pressure for the team. “I don’t think it’s a bad p re s s u re , ” N i e l s e n s a i d . “Whenever you have a winning streak, you just have to go and play your game. The coaches’ big thing is attitude and preparation. If you have a good attitude and you’ve prepared yourself, then you just have to go and do it.” When not competing, the team practices either at an indoor practice facility or an outdoor golf course. “You’ve got to love the practice and the grind,” Robertson said. “All great players love the process as much as the tournaments, and these girls work hard.” The players also value the
hard work and passion their coaches espouse. “I’ve never been the person who goes for material things more than what feels right,” sophomore Michaela Finn said. “It feels right being here. I think it’s important to love where you are, or you won’t do as well.” Despite the lack of traditional team bonding found in golf tournaments, the players try to build connections with each other. “We do a lot of bonding outside of practice because it’s an individual sport,” Nielsen said. “We do a lot of team dinners and stuff because we’re all young, and we know we’re gonna be with each other for a while. We try to get to know each other as people, not just athletes.” The team’s next tournament, the Henssler Financial Intercollegiate hosted by Kennesaw State University, begins Monday. svensso@kent.edu