High: XX° Low: XX°
@kentwired KentWired.com
PERSPECTIVES
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 12, 2017
Court drops Holley case
Former Kent State football player Nathan Holley watches as members of the jury enter the courtroom before the start of Day 2 of Ohio v. Nathan Holley trial at Portage County Municipal Court House in Revenna, Ohio, on Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2017. Nate Manley / The Kent Stater
Henry Palattella Sports Reporter Jamestown, a village in Accra, Ghana, is known for its fishing community. Much of the fishing is done in the early morning, giving time for play in the ocean during the hot afternoon on Sunday, March 26, 2017. Zachary Popik / The Kent Stater
SEE PERSPECTIVES PAGE 4
The felony charges of intimidation, witness intimidation and stalking brought against former Kent State football player Nate Holley in February were dropped Monday after the state asked for a dismissal. Holley — who was found not guilty for charges of kidnapping and felonious assault on Feb. 9 — pleaded guilty to criminal mischief last Wednesday. According to documents filed in the Portage County Sheriff's Office, the two charges were the main reason the state asked for the charges to be dismissed. Holley’s guilty plea in the criminal mischief case resulted in a $1,000 fine and 180-day jail sentence, which was suspended on the basis that he doesn’t commit a crime for the next two years, or have no contact with Kent State senior Ceara Tackett, the alleged victim in the kidnapping and felonious assault case. A previously scheduled criminal pretrial on Wednesday and a jury trial for next Tuesday are no longer taking place as a result of the court’s decision. hpalatte@kent.edu
Donning heels for awareness Dozens march across campus at Walk a Mile in Their Shoes Lydia Taylor Assigning Editor Marchers clicked down the Esplanade in heels during the annual Walk a Mile in Their Shoes event Tuesday night in honor of Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Kent State has hosted the event for more than six years through the combined efforts of Sexual and Relationship Violence Support Services (SRVSS) and the Women’s Center. Stephanie Orwick, SRVSS support service coordinator, said it’s a way for advocates to get involved and drive an important message: “It happens everywhere.” “People know that sexual violence is happening in the country and across the world, but how many of us are talking about it at the dinner table?” Orwick said. The purpose of the event is to unify a community and walk together in someone else’s shoes to increase awareness of sexual violence and the different ways to help end it. As participants walked from Risman Plaza to Franklin Hall, statistics pertaining to sexual violence posted on signs lined the route, such as “62 percent of sexual assaults are ‘drug-facilitated’ and 5 percent of victims were given daterape drugs.” Steven Antalvari, director for Academic Engagement and Degree Completion, said the discomfort that develops from the heels acts as a metaphor while reading the facts. “As (people) are walking and as more uncomfortable the shoes become, they read those statistics posted along the route,” Antalvari said. “It gives them a moment to reflect and ask themselves, ‘What if I had to go through that, and if I do, what resources are available to me?
What support system is available?’” Junior Anthony Tutolo and sophomore Jacob Spino, members of Kent State’s wrestling team, said it’s important to show support within the community in order to bring awareness. “It’s important to realize how much damage (sexual violence) causes someone,” Spino, a philosophy major, said. “As we are walking through campus, people become interested and want to get involved. If we can get to 5-10 people, that’s 5-10 people we didn’t have involved.” Tutolo, a communication studies major, said the topic hits close to home for the wrestling team since many of them know of loved ones who are affected by it. “I think it’s important because it’s such an issue that needs to be talked about more and some people just ignore it or don’t want to talk about it,” Tutolo said. “If we can do things to stop it and make people more aware, we can do so much more.” Walk a Mile in Their Shoes is one of many events the university will be hosting throughout the month. The SRVSS and the LGBTQ Student Center will host a performance of “The Laramie Project” in Oscar Ritchie Hall. The event is free and is based on a 1988 murder of a University of Wyoming student who came out as gay. Feminist Friday, an event centered around discussing the aspects of feminism and what it means, will be at in the Williamson House on Friday at noon. More events are listed on the SRVSS website. “It’s important that we let people know that we are here to help them, no matter what they need,” Orwick said.
Faculty Senate discusses new student service, fall break Megan Ayscue Administration Reporter Creators of a new university-level initiative presented One Stop Student Services at the Faculty Senate meeting Monday. This advising service combines the registrar, bursar, financial aid and financial wellness in order to make the resources more accessible to students, rather than students going to these individual services. This will not replace academic advising, said Jameka Peake, the associate director of One Stop. Deb Smith_Being Senate Chair from Megan Ayscue on Vimeo. “(This is a) huge tool for our students,” Iris Mirelez, the director of One Stop, said. This service includes an in-person and virtual service. Students can join a queue through text, phone call, the website or by waiting in person to talk to One Stop counselors. Virtual advising will come later. The mission statement of One Stop Student Services is as follows: “Kent State University’s One Stop for Student Services is a ‘Student First’ initiative. The One Stop counselors provide holistic advising for registration and student records, financial aid, billing and payments and financial wellness. Innovative methods are practiced to ensure high quality student service in a welcoming environment.” A Flashline announcement will be sent to students about the service later this week, according to Associate Provost Mandy Munro-Stasiuk. One Stop will open June 5 on the first floor of the University Library along with Destination Kent State and will remain open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Faculty Senate also discussed the possibility of establishing a two-day fall break in the eighth week of the fall semester. The Senate voted to return this proposal to committee, meaning the plans need further discussion before returning to the Senate in the future.
Shane Mast, a sophomore communication studies major, displays his high heels during
ltaylo49@kent.edu Walk a Mile in Their Shoes on Tuesday. Nate Manley / The Kent Stater
SEE SENATE/ PAGE 2
Page 2 | Wednesday, April 12, 2017
Tillerson in Moscow: Pushing on Syria where Obama failed
Josh Lederman Associated Press The Trump administration veered toward deeper conflict with Russia Tuesday as Secretary of State Rex Tillerson arrived in Moscow, gambling that an unpredictable new president armed with the willingness to threaten military action gives the U.S. much-needed leverage to end Syria's carnage. Yet there were no guarantees Tillerson's arguments would prove any more successful than the Obama administration's failed effort to peel Russia away from its Syrian ally. Tillerson's mission, coming days after 59 Tomahawk missiles struck a Syrian air base, also carries serious risks: If Russia brushes off the warnings, President Donald Trump could be forced into another show of force in Syria or see his credibility wane. "I hope that what the Russian government concludes is that they have aligned themselves with an unreliable partner in Bashar al-Assad," Tillerson said before flying to the Russian capital, referring to Syria's embattled leader. "The reign of the Assad family is coming to an end," he confidently predicted. But Tillerson's claim is one President Barack Obama, too, argued for years, only to see Assad outlast his own term in office. And the Trump administration's nascent Syria policy seems to be increasingly centering on the same tactic Obama unsuccessfully employed: persuading Russia, Assad's staunchest ally, to abandon him. The parallels haven't gone unnoticed by Russian President Vladimir Putin as U.S. officials have accused his military of knowing about Assad's recent chemical weapons attack ahead of time and
Secretary of State Rex Tillerson steps out of a plane upon arrival in Moscow's Vnukovo airport in Russia on Tuesday. Tillerson is due to meet with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Wednesday. Ivan Sekretarev / AP Photo
trying to help cover it up. Calling for a U.N. investigation, Putin held to his claim that it was actually Assad opponents who introduced chemical weapons into Syria's harrowing civil war. "We have seen it all already," Putin said. Jabbing at U.S. credibility, the Russian leader reminded reporters about unfounded U.S. claims of Iraqi weapons of mass destruction, used to justify America's 2003 invasion. The escalating dispute over last week's events in the Syrian town of Khan Sheikhoun has thrust Washington and Moscow into a level of tension rarely seen since the end of the Cold War. The animosity is especially strik-
ing given widespread speculation that Trump, who lavishly praised Putin during his campaign, would pursue rapprochement with Moscow. Ev e n o n Syria, t he p o s itio ns appeared to be hardening. Only a week ago, top Trump officials had spoken off deprioritizing past U.S. efforts to remove Assad from office and accepting the "reality" that 18 months of Russian military intervention had secured him in power. Since last Thursday's cruise missile strike, Tillerson and other U.S. officials appear to have reverted to the past administration's rhetoric of insisting that Assad is on the way out, without outlining any strategy for making
that happen. The Trump administration's change of heart, apparently spurred in part by the president's emotional response to the images of chemical weapons victims, also is serving another purpose: defanging the perception of coziness between Trump and Moscow. As the FBI and multiple congressional committees investigate potential collusion between Russia and Trump's campaign, the president can point to his hard-line stance on Assad as fresh evidence he's willing to stand up to Putin. Asked about Putin possibly skipping a meeting with Tillerson, White House press secretary Sean Spicer said, "There is a bit of irony that for all of these talks that have been perpetuated about back channels and direct links, that now it's they won't meet with you." At a minimum, Tillerson will meet Wednesday with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, and the two are expected to take questions from reporters. As Tillerson landed in Moscow, senior White House officials briefed reporters on declassified U.S. intelligence they said disproved Russia's claim that rebels were responsible for the chemical weapons. In an accompanying four-page memo, the U.S. accused Russia of a disinformation campaign and aiding Syria in covering up the gruesome attack, which killed more than 80 people. "Russia's allegations fit with a pattern of deflecting blame from the regime and attempting to undermine the credibility of its opponents," the report read. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis told reporters at the Pentagon, "It is very clear who planned this attack, who authorized this attack and who orchestrated this attack."
Incoming EHHS dean places value on Kent State’s campus community Hannah Wagner Education, Health and Human Services Reporter After a full day of working as an assistant dean, James Hannon left his office at West Virginia University and headed home to begin his next task: being a full-time husband and father. “I always need time with my son in the evening,” Hannon said. “We often play Captain America and Iron Man.” Hannon, the newly appointed dean for the College of Education, Health and Human Services said family time, relationship building and community involvement are important aspects of his work and personal life. “What attracted me to Kent State was that a large number of students are first-generation college students,” Hannon said. “I grew up on a farm and was a first generation college student myself.” Kathy Zarges, a staff member representative of the dean's search committee, said she wasn't surprised when she found out Hannon had been offered the position. "He really embodied the criteria that came from our faculty, staff and student survey," Zarges said. "Throughout the interview, we consistently saw strong leadership, student focus and collaboration characteristics in him." Zarges, who is also the EHHS director of academic advising, said she was personally impressed by Hannon's student focus. "During his time here, he went around and introduced himself to everyone, shaking their hands," Zarges said. "He was very approachable, collaborative and wanting to engage with everyone." Hannon said he looks at everything
From Page 1
SENATE
Faculty discusses new... The idea stemmed from multiple reasons, one being the spike in the use of health services in the months of September and October. However, some senators pointed out these numbers aren’t all for mental health services, and this spike may also be due to other factors, such as midterms. Some senators oppose while others are in favor of a fall break, making note of both the desire for an extra break and the rush professors currently face to complete required curriculum. Senators proposed different solutions to make this break work — adding an extra week to the school year, taking either from the summer or winter break, picking which days of the week to implement the short break — Monday and Friday or Thursday and Friday — or simply extending Thanksgiving break to a full week. The Senate did pass the motion to make the Wednesday before Thanks-
as an opportunity in life and was happy to see how positive and engaged the students and community of Kent were during his interview process. “To me, it’s shocking how many people leave college without knowing the dean of their college,” Hannon said. “I want to be more visible and connect with students.” Associate professor at West Virginia University Emily Jones, who has known Hannon for a year and a half, said he is personable and interested in knowing the people he works with, not just what they’re producing or working on. Jones can recall when Hannon’s family first moved to the area and planned a “Thomas the Tank Engine” vacation with her family. “We have children about the same age,” Jones said. “He made a special effort to get to know me and have a real conversation outside of the university.” Jones said Hannon would invite families from work to their home or community events in order to help connect everybody together. “It was really thoughtful,” Jones said. “It’s not something administrators usually do.” Having Hannon as his previous boss and mentor since 2008, assistant professor at Southern Utah University David Phillips said Hannon is a driven and ambitious man with a big heart for others. “He has a really good way of reading people and providing mentorship and leadership,” Phillips said. “Even though he was my boss, he treated me as an equal.” Phillips said during the four years he worked with Hannon, they went to lunch together every day. He said he considers him a friend for life. “He’s the kind of guy you can talk
giving a full day off from school as opposed to a half day. This motion has to go through other committees before it is implemented for Fall 2017. The Senate also conducted an election of officers. While George Garrison, a senator and Pan-African Studies professor, did run against current Chair Deborah Smith, he urged the Senate to vote for Smith during his pre-election speech. “I encourage all of you who had planned to vote for me to cast your votes for our current president … as I intend to do myself,” Garrison said. The Senate re-elected Smith, ViceChair Kathryn Wilson and Secretary Kathryn Kerns for the following school year. Edward Dauterich will be the atlarge, replacing current At-Large Tracy Laux, who was not up for re-election. “I am honored to serve,” Smith said following the results. The next Faculty Senate meeting is May 8. mayscue@kent.edu
The Kent Stater
The
Kent
Stater 240 FRANKLIN HALL KENT STATE UNIVERSITY KENT, OHIO 44242 Newsroom 330-672-2584 EDITOR
Jimmy Miller jmill231@kent.edu
MANAGING EDITOR
Alex Delaney-Gesing adelane3@kent.edu
SENIOR EDITOR
Karl Schneider kschne21@kent.edu
DESIGN DIRECTOR
Ray Padilla rpadill2@kent.edu
PHOTO EDITOR
Clint Datchuk cdatchu1@kent.edu
FEATURES EDITOR
Benjamin VanHoose bvanhoos@kent.edu
DIVERSITY EDITOR
McKenzie Jean-Philippe mjeanphi@kent.edu
OPINION EDITOR
Lucas Misera lmisera@kent.edu
SPORTS EDITOR
Henry Palattella hpalatte@kent.edu
GENERAL ASSIGNMENT EDITOR
Jenna Kuczkowski jkuczkowski@kent.edu
ASSIGNING EDITORS
Lydia Taylor ltaylor49@kent.edu Emma Keating ekeatin2@kent.edu Andrew Atkins aatkins5@kent.edu Jack Kopanski jkopansk@kent.edu Rachel Stevenson rsteve15@kent.edu
ILLUSTRATOR
Nicholas Labate nlabate@kent.edu
CARTOONIST
Joseph McGrellis jmcgrell@kent.edu
Student Media Business Office
330-672-2586
STUDENT MEDIA DIRECTOR
Kevin Dilley kdilley@kent.edu (330) 672 0887
ADVERTISING MANAGER
Tami Bongiorni tbongior@kent.edu (330) 672 6306
PRODUCTION MANAGER
Katie Barnes-Evans kbarnes6@kent.edu (330) 672 0886
OFFICE MANAGER
Lorie Bednar lbednar@kent.edu (330) 672 2572
BUSINESS OFFICER
Norma Young njyoung@kent.edu (330) 672 0884
STATER ADVISER
Sue Zake szake@kent.edu (330) 672 3665
about work issues, personal issues or sports over a sandwich and coffee,” Phillips said. “Other coworkers would join us sometimes. We became a tight knit community and family-based group.” Phillips also added a tip that, if anyone ever needs to get on Hannon’s good side, he enjoys vanilla lattes. “If I ruin his reputation, can we keep him?” joked Sean Bulger, an associate professor at West Virginia. This was
James Hannon. Photo courtesy of wvu.edu
after he said how lucky Kent State is to gain such a collaborative and engaged administrator. “One of his first courses of action when (Hannon) came to West Virginia was to set up individual appointments with faculty members to get to know what their interests and professional goals were,” Bugler said. “He’s really good at bringing people together to work towards a common goal.” hwagner8@kent.edu
Alumni Association hosts Homecoming T-shirt contest Miranda Kiner Alumni Reporter Kent State University Alumni Association (KSUAA) invited students, faculty and alumni to participate in its third annual Homecoming T-shirt design contest. The winner will receive recognition during the Homecoming parade and football game in the fall along with prizes such as a $100 gift card to the Kent State Bookstore and a $50 Amazon gift card. “I think it’s just a great way for the Kent State community to get
involved in Homecoming early on,” said Ashley Whaley, associate director of communications and digital engagement for the Division of Institutional Advancement. “In addition, I think it’s a good way to show your Kent State pride and your school spirit.” J o n E d w a rd s , w h o graduated from Kent State in 2005 and won the contest in 2016, said it was an honor his shirt was something people wanted to see and wear. “I love Kent State,” Edwards said. “I just kind of saw an opportunity, and I do design
for a living, so I spent a couple of hours on it and just submitted a few designs.” The Homecoming committee votes on the initial finalists. Voting is then opened to the public to determine a winner. T-shirt designs must be submitted by April 24. KSUAA will notify the winner the week of May 15 and the public will know the winner on Aug. 14. A list of guidelines and prizes can be found on KSUAA’s website. mkiner2@kent.edu
Advertising
330-672-2586
SALES MANAGER
Clara Sullivan
ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES
Madeline Scalzi John Wroblewski Christian Caudill Casey Kulow
ads@ksustudentmedia.com
Wednesday, April 12, 2017 | Page 3
The Kent Stater
Opinion
SUBMISSIONS
EDITORIAL BOARD
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.
THE OPINION PAGE IS AN OUTLET FOR OUR COMMUNITY’S VARIED VIEWS.
Opinion Editor: Lucas Misera Senior Editor: Karl Schneider Managing Editor: Alex Delaney-Gesing Sports Editor: Henry Palattella Assigning Editor: Jack Kopanski Assigning Editor: Andrew Atkins
On
JOSEPH MCGRELLIS’ VIEW // To see all the cartoons this semester, visit KentWired.com
Catholic Student Association simulates immigration process Julia Hazel TV2 Reporter
Being denied access into the United States could be any immigrant’s nightmare. The Kent State Catholic Student Association (CSA) created a four-table station of what the immigration process would look like in order to give students an idea of an immigrant’s perspective. See the full article on KentWired.
Cheers&Jeers Cheers to ... sweet treats. Competitive
eater Matt Stone ate 225 Peeps in five minutes at the National Harbor World Peeps Eating Championship in Maryland. Jeers to ... dining and dashing. An Aus-
tralian man jumped into the ocean and attempted to swim away from a beach-side restaurant after his $600 bill arrived.
Human rights under attack in North Korea Charlie Ronan and Kevin Zezlina Guest Columnists The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, or North Korea, is one of the most repressive states in the world. Its current dictator, Kim Jong-Un, has intensified the repressive nature of this state over the past half-decade, resulting in many human rights violations. Some violations known throughout the international community include extermination, murder, restriction of religious freedom, forced starvation, enslavement, torture, imprisonment, rape, forced abortion and other sexual violence. In addition, the government of North Korea also has created class wars via the social system known as “Songbun.” This system pits children against children and families against families, resulting in unnecessary hostility and violence. These atrocities cannot be allowed to continue any longer. The Human Rights Council (HRC) stated in 2014 that “the gravity, scale and nature of these violations reveal a State that does not have any parallel in the contemporary world.” The country has become so repressive that Kim Jong-Un has increased border security in order to prevent North Koreans from escaping the country in search of a better life. Human Rights Watch, a non-governmental organization that monitors international human rights violations, stated in its 2016 report that North Korea “violates economic and social rights by criminalizing and arbitrarily punishing market activities.” Thus, the citizens of this tyrannical regime starve to death on a regular basis. “The government also practices collective punishment for alleged anti-state offenses, effectively enslaving hundreds of thousands of citizens,” according to Human Rights Watch. Even though these violations are terrible, there is hope. In December 2015, both “the HRC and the UN General Assembly have both suggested that the Security Council consider referring the situation to the International Criminal Court (ICC),” per Human Rights Watch. But there needs to be more action. Something people can do now is to get actively involved. Specifically, we can all help by petitioning our government to put more pressure on the North Korean government to remedy these atrocities. This is something the International Community needs to take more seriously, and the only way for us to influence the international community is to influence our own country to take action. The United States is a key player on the world stage, and thus, there is hope for U.S. citizens to aid the grave situation in North Korea. Ultimately, the power of the United States rests with each of its citizens. To see a change, we need to tell our government this is an issue that matters to us. Then can we ever hope to see human rights conditions improve in North Korea. cronan@kent.edu and kzezlina@kent.edu
A lesson in persistence from Sergio Garcia’s Masters victory Matt Poe Columnist I got tonsillitis this past week, and I regret to inform you it is one of the most unbearable things you may ever experience. I’ve been bed ridden and reduced to nothing but a decaying shell of a man I once was, finding little comfort in sleep or anything else; the lack of solid food for almost three days is really something. Anyway, I bring up my dire situation not for your sympathy (well, maybe a little) but to self-reflect on my level of persistence this past week because, boy, was it a sorry-ass attempt at it. While the medications did their respective work, I did little else to help myself get better aside from feel sorry for myself and ask God why he had chosen to smite me down with this awful viral infection. Suffice to say, my persistence sucked, and my desire to help myself out of self-pity was fleeting at best. Just about the only benefit of being bedridden this weekend was I got to intake almost the entire weekend of the Masters Tournament, where one man’s persistence was on full display for all to witness and served as a gentle reminder to me of several things. Sergio Garcia won the tournament, capturing his first major in a career that’s been defined by a lack of one. He rose to prominence as a young teenager and entered the golf scene around the same time another prodigy did as well. That second person was Tiger Woods, and we all know what became of his brilliant career. Meanwhile, Garcia, with all his successes in endorsements, money earnings and other victories on the PGA Tour, was always known as the guy who couldn’t win the big one. He squandered many opportunities in the past to finally secure that elusive first major which serves as a stamp of immortality in the game of golf. He missed short putts that would have won himself a major. He hit errant tee shots into the trees. He blamed weather conditions and all the other things that can seemingly deprive one of success on the golf course. But from an outside perspective, Garcia was always eager to blame his failures on elements beyond his control. The term “Sergio Garcia” became synonymous with the word “choke.” There came a point around five years ago during this same tournament where his level of frustration and public deprecation reached a boiling point when he said the following: “That’s the reality. I’m not good enough and today I know it. After 13 years, my chances are over. I’m not good enough for the majors. That’s it.” But eventually, as those closest to Garcia and around golf would detail, he eventually learned to let go of these feelings of self-doubt and to stop harboring them, the scar tissue of those losses lingering far longer than they
should have. So Garcia did the one thing he could to allow himself a chance to change his outward perception of his failures: He let go of them. And while we often don’t think of letting go and persisting in the same line of thought, it was exactly what he needed. He became more positive on the course. He racked up a few more wins here and there. Then, this weekend came along, and he found himself in the final pair in Sunday’s final round. He went up three strokes to Englishman Justin Rose after five holes. Garcia then made bogeys on 10 and 11 to drop two shots back of Rose. He hit his tee shot on 13 into the trees and had to take an unplayable lie. He ended up making a brilliant par on the hole, and Rose simultaneously missed an easy birdie opportunity. It was the type of scenario where, in past years, Garcia would come unraveled and the rest of the round would not have mattered. He followed that hole with a birdie and an absolutely brilliant eagle to tie Rose at –9, followed by a missed birdie putt on 16 that gave Rose the lead once more. Finally, the duo came to 18 all tied at minus 9. Rose missed his birdie putt, and that left Garcia about a 7-foot putt slightly downhill for the win. As soon as the ball came off the blade of the putter, everyone knew he missed it. Headed to a sudden death playoff, it seemed the golf gods were destined to torture the Spaniard one last time. But Rose found trouble and made bogey, leaving Garcia just two putts from around 12 feet to finally claim his first major. He only needed one putt and the euphoria, release and ecstasy on his face was truly remarkable. Garcia persisted. He could have quit long ago and never had the opportunity to reach this moment again. And there comes a point in all our lives where we reach such an impasse, where we must decide if something is worth more failure in the hopes to one day succeed. And while that’s easy to say in print, it’s much harder to remind yourself when you’re in that moment of crushing failure. Garcia finally learned to let the moment breathe and to find his own peace within it. He realized that there is such a thing as holding on too tight and that the only way is to allow the moment to be, whether that moment is making history on the golf course or telling yourself that a stupid weekend sickness will pass. I’m sure years ago he thought he’d never reach this pinnacle. As the old saying goes, fear and doubt kill more dreams than failure ever will. Today, no one doubts Garcia’s persistence and determination, and neither does he. mpoe3@kent.edu
Spicer’s misled comments render him unfit for position Christine DiSabato is the director of alumni relations for the College Democrats. White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer took a hit Tuesday after saying in a press briefing that Adolf Hitler “didn’t even use chemical weapons” against his own people, comparing him to Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad. Assad is being investigated for employing sarin gas against Syrian civilians last week, killing dozens of men, women and children and injuring more. In response to a question from a White House reporter regarding Russia’s longtime alliance with Syria, Spicer said, “We didn’t use chemical weapons in World War II … you had a, you know, someone as despicable as Hitler who didn’t even sink to the, to the, to using chemical weapons …” This statement is ignorant, offensive and outrageous. Spicer has yet again shown an unsettling lack of not only integrity, but knowledge one would expect a key player in a presidential administration, or anyone who has graduated high school, to have. And the delivery of this statement in his now-familiar style, reminiscent of a schoolboy who did not expect to be called on in class, only further illustrates the fact that Spicer is unfit to serve as spokesman for the White House. After the initial reactions to his statement swiftly erupted both online and in the press, Spicer went on to attempt to explain his remarks in not one, not two, but three separate clarifications. In each of them, he only further mishandled the incident. In one, he referred to concentration camps as “Holocaust centers” and said Hitler “was not using the gas on his own people in the same way that Assad is doing.” He managed to completely ignore the use of Zyklon B and similar chemical agents used to kill mass numbers of Jews in concentration camps, but then he went on to insinuate that German Jews were not Hitler’s people in the way Syrians are Assad’s. Even after his many clarifications, celebrities, journalists and even entire organizations and institutions called him out. The U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum took the opportunity to remind people of the horrors of the Holocaust and the lasting effects it had on the world. The Anne Frank Center called for President Donald Trump to fire Spicer at once. Spicer’s remarks were offensive and should be a career-killer for any spokesperson, let alone the White House press secretary. There is no way for him to spin this enough to turn it around and save himself. If Trump wants to retain any semblance of his administration’s competence and credibility, he should fire Spicer. The man has demonstrated over the past three months that he is prone to outbursts and embarrassing gaffes in the press room, and Tuesday’s events proved yet again that he is a liability to the President and the administration as a whole. Spicer’s remarks were disgraceful and embarrassing to the president and to America. He is the spokesperson for the leader of the free world, and he should be held to a standard of decency. At the very least, we should expect him to know basic history. However, he sure is supplying Saturday Night Live with plenty of material, so I suppose there is a silver lining to everything. cdisaba1@kent.edu
Democrat VIEW
Page 4 | Wednesday, April 12, 2017
Perspectives
Fishermen patiently sail along the coast before reaching their fishing spot in Sowutuom, Ghana on Thursday, March 30, 2017.
The Kent Stater
Photos and multimedia through the lenses of Kent State students
Sadiq Saeed, Jalil Mustapha and Muleen Kasim play a soccer game with a ping-pong ball at the Islamic Training Institute in Nima, a town in the Greater Accra Region in Ghana on Friday, March 24, 2017.
Everything's 'Ghana' be alright A
nxiety filled my body and I was already drenched in sweat as we traveled closer to our destination.
Four photojournalists, including myself, and two of our fixers were packed in the car like sardines. I spent the last week and a half documenting the religious practices and ceremonies of Accra, Ghana, and we were on our way to a traditionalist church that seemed to be in the middle of nowhere. As we drove up to the church, it felt intimidating and appeared to give off a
negative energy. Hammed, our driver, turned up the radio; Bob Marley’s “No Woman, No Cry” was playing. Suddenly, the energy shifted. I felt happy and calm to hear something familiar and dear to me. One by one, we all started to sing. At that moment it hit me just how small this world of ours is. Two very different cultures and six very different perspectives on life, all coming together at one moment to sing the chorus. That’s when I knew: “Everything’s gonna be all right.” zpopik@kent.edu
Story and photos by Zachary Popik Children play during a Christian prayer service at the Seventh Day Adventist Church (S.D.A Church) in Maamobi, a town in the Greater Accra Region in Ghana on Saturday, March 25, 2017.
Kofi Nkrumah displays the insides of a cocoa bean shell at his farm in the village of Bobikuma, Ghana on Tuesday, March 21, 2017.
A young girl looks curiously out of a window during a service at the S.D.A. Church in Maamobi, Ghana on Saturday, March 25, 2017. Locals walk across a beach in Cape Coast, Ghana on March 22, 2017.
Wednesday, April 12, 2017 | Page 5
The Kent Stater
Sports
SPORTS EDITOR: HENRY PALATTELLA // HPALATTE@KENT.EDU
Brantley, Indians win home opener in extra innings
Cleveland Indians' Michael Brantley is mobbed by teammates after Brantley hit a one-run double off Chicago White Sox relief pitcher Tommy Kahnle in extra innings during opening day in Cleveland. Tony Dejak / AP Photo
Jimmy Miller Editor
Redshirt junior Reilly Hawkins slides safely to second base against Youngstown State University on Tuesday, April 4, 2017. Kent State lost 11-6. Aaron Self / The Kent Stater
Baseball drops midweek contest to Bowling Green
Henry Palattella Sports Editor Freshman center fielder Jake Wilson and junior first baseman Randy Righter each hit home runs to help lead Bowling Green State University (9-19, 4-5 MidAmerican Conference) over Kent State (1711, 5-2 MAC) by a score of 9-3 on Tuesday. Wilson opened scoring in the bottom of the first, hitting a leadoff home run off Kent State starter Connor Wollersheim. In total, the Falcons scored six runs in the first two innings, the last of which came
on Righter's home run. Wollersheim surrendered all three of the runs in his three innings on the mound, earning the loss. Kent State's first run came on a fourth inning RBI single by junior left fielder Reilly Hawkins. That was all the damage the Flashes were able to inflict in the fourthinning, however, as senior designated hitter Sam Hurt fouled out the catcher to stop the rally. The Falcons responded in the bottom of the inning when senior designated hitter Greg Basalyga hit a two-run double. The Flashes would score two more runs on RBI
hits by senior second baseman Dom Iero and and junior catcher Tim DalPorto, but that was all they would be able to muster. Freshman pitcher Chandler Stillings started the game for the Falcons, allowing two runs (one earned) in 4 2/3 innings. Sophomore winning pitcher Brad Croy pitched 2 1/3 innings in relief to pick up the victory. The Flashes will be back on the diamond this weekend when they take on Northern Illinois University in a threegame series.
Classifieds Cellar 59 in Stow is Hiring Servers! Must be 21. Evenings & Weekends. Apply Online www.cellar59wine. com/jobs/ Hudson Landscape Design/Construction company seeks hardworking full and part time foremen and laborers. Pay based on experience. Call 330-650-4337. Lawn maintenance company seeks FT/PT employee. Must have valid drivers license 4 points or less and reliable transportation, please call 330-688-3389 or email lawnpride1978@gmail.com. Happy Moose Streetsboro 9436 State Route 14 now hiring hostesses, servers, bartenders and food runners. Close to campus, part-time hours and great work environment. Apply online at happymoosebarandgrill.com or stop in to fill out an application. Landscape laborers needed now! pay $10-$12/hour, we specialize in patios, decks, walls, call 330346-0782 Fastenal: Since 1967, Fastenal has grown from a small-town fastener shop into a multi-billion dollar global enterprise. The secret to our success? Hire great people, give them great support and encourage them to reach their full potential in pursuit of our common goal: Growth Through Customer Service. Now hiring for part-time Warehouse/Distribution Positions. Apply online at Fastenal.com then click on Careers and search Distribution Center, Akron, OH HELP WANTED!! Golf course- Raccoon Hill now hiring snack bar/beverage cart waitresses (21 and over please) and golf course maintenance positions. 5 minutes from campus. Call Jason at 330-673-2111.
Special Moments Catering in Streetsboro is now hiring parttime Event Associates for immediate employment. Competitive wages beginning at $11 per hour and up. Uniforms provided. No experience necessary. Requires weekend shifts. Call 330-6260595 or e-mail resume to Steve@ SpecialMomentsCatering.com to apply
HOUSES FOR FALL 2017-2018 3, 4, 5, 8, & 9 bedrooms per house 330-547-1212
.
4-Bedroom. 2 bath. Close to campus. Call 330-687-3449.
All real estate advertised herein is subject to the Federal Fair Housing Act, which makes it illegal to advertise “any preference, limitation or discrimination because of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin, or intention to make any such preference, limitation or discrimination.” State and local laws forbid discrimination based on factors in addition to those protected under federal law. We will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate that is in violation of the law. All persons are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised are available on an equal opportunity basis. If you feel you have been wrongfully denied housing or discriminated against, call the FHAA at 330-253-2450 for more information. LEASING FOR FALL 2017 Spacious 3,4,&5 bedrooms with 2-3 full baths. Great condition, A/C, washer/dryer, dishwasher, deck, garage. 330-808-4045 University Town Home, 5 BR, W/D, Dishwasher, 2.5 Baths, $395 per room, Free utilities, cable & internet. Remodeled. 330-808-4045
NOW RENTING FOR FALL! Studio Apartments $495-525 1 bedroom units $625 2 bedroom units $750 Fully-equipped kitchens, laundry facilities, very close to KSU, quiet community, 330-678-3785
hpalatte@kent.edu
At the end of his first game in Cleveland since last May, outfielder Michael Brantley hit a walkoff double to lift the Indians to a 2-1 win in their home opener Tuesday. Brantley slogged through an injury-filled 2016 season, as he only appeared in 11 games due to a pair of surgeries on his right shoulder. But on Tuesday, his hit was good enough to score shortstop Francisco Lindor from first base in the 10th inning. In a postgame interview with Spor tsTime O hio’ s Andre Knott, Brantley thanked his family for helping him through hardships last season. “There were times I thought I’d never be back,” Brantley said. “My kids are in the stands and they got to watch daddy play again. I spent a lot of time away from them rehabbing this season, but back on the field I am and I got to do in front of a sold-out home opener. I don’t know if it gets any better.”
The Indians (4-3) lost three consecutive games to the Arizona Diamondbacks prior to their win Tuesday. Lindor provided the Indians’ only other run with his home run in the first inning. Otherwise, the Indians largely struggled against six different White Sox pitchers, recording just five hits but racked up 12 strikeouts. They left 15 runners on base by game’s end. Indians pitcher Carlos Carrasco — who also suffered a season-ending injury last season — pitched seven innings and gave up four hits while striking out seven batters. Reliever Bryan Shaw earned the win. Third baseman Todd Frazier paced the White Sox (2-4) with two hits, one of which sailed over the outfield wall. Though four other players also managed hits, Frazier’s solo home run was the team’s only score. Starting pitcher James Shields allowed two hits and struck out six batters in 5 ⅓ innings of work. Reliever Tommy Kahnle picked up the loss, his first of the season.
To place advertising, call (330) 672-2586, email ads@ksustudentmedia. com, or visit us in 205 Franklin Hall, Kent State University. Business hours are 8 a.m.–5 p.m., Monday–Friday.
UNPLANNED PREGNANCY? Are you looking for a wonderful home and future for your child? We have been looking to share our love and lives with a child. Perhaps we are looking for each other. Kent State Graduate Please call 1-888-34-ADOPT code: 91704
SUDOKU
A spacious three-bedroom duplex and a four-bedroom house, both close to campus available for Fall 2017. Call Dana at 330-687-7315 www.kent2rent.com Newer 4 & 5 bdrm duplex. W/D, DW, A/C, deck, firepit. $1480/mo. & up. (216) 5363958 3 Bedroom, 2 bath for rent. Half block from Kent campus. $1200 per month plus gas and electric. 330.603.6163 2 BR, 1.5 bath, close to campus $850 + electric per month www.oakhavenkent. com or 330-957-3083
REBUS PUZZLES
jmill231@kent.edu
Page 6 | Wednesday, April 12, 2017
The Kent Stater