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@kentwired KentWired.com MONDAY, APRIL 10, 2017
FAFSA fumbles with student identity theft IRS shuts down data retrieval tool until fall Mikala Lugen Student Finance Reporter Although hackers compromised FAFSA’s IRS portal, David Garcia, senior associate vice president for Strategic Enrollment Management, said Kent State students shouldn’t worry about their applications. “Kent State will not see a big impact, as many families completed the FAFSA before the tool went out of order,” Garcia said. “For those who are still in the process, our best advice is to complete the FAFSA the old fashion way, which is to use your tax forms as a reference for the sections that require IRS information.” FinAid, a financial student aid guide for students, reported the Internal Revenue Service Data Retrieval Tool has been a key feature of FAFSA for eight years. The system allows students and their families applying for financial aid to automatically fill in the FAFSA with online IRS tax return information. The FAFSA is still available, but the IRS and Federal Student Aid (FSA) shut down the tool in March and are currently investigating possible accounts of identity theft to notify taxpayers who may be affected, according to the U.S. Department of Education. It’s currently unknown how many accounts could be affected by this security issue. “Students should expect the tool to be down until the start of the next FAFSA season in October,” said Beth Maglione, the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA) vice president. The organizations are putting taxpayer accounts on hold to provide additional security and prevent further identity fraud. Since the establishment of the tool, students — like junior interior design major Megan Phillips — are able to fill out the FAFSA with more ease because it provides accurate information from the past year’s tax information. “I’ve been using the IRS Data Retrieval Tool for years now,” Phillips said. “It really helps a lot when filling out the long application, especially since I don’t have immediate access to my parents’ tax information.” Students may struggle filling out the form without the tool. This may cause a disruption of applications being submitted this month, since February, March and April are when the majority of FAFSA applications are submitted to schools, according to the Education Policy Initiative at the University of Michigan. “We are working as quickly as possible to resolve these issues,” said Alberto Betancourt, media and customer relations press officer for the U.S. Department of Education. “The IRS is working diligently with (FSA) to get the tool up and running again.” The FAFSA application is centered around the IRS data retrieval tool and the verification process so more students may be chosen for providing additional documentation for verification, NASFAA president Justin Draeger stated in a press release.
SEE FAFSA / PAGE 2
Illustration courtesy of Michaela Courtney
Kent State to receive historic technological innovations fund Cameron Hoover General Assignment Reporter
Kent State students participate in the Holi 'festival of color' on Manchester Field Saturday. Jana Life / The Kent Stater
Holi ‘festival of colors’ celebrates spring McKenna Corson Diversity Reporter People of all backgrounds attended the Kent Indian Association (KIA) Holi celebration Saturday, where people celebrated spring amongst clouds of color, music, food and games on Manchester Field. Holi, also known as the “festival of colors,” is a festival celebrated across India to welcome spring with the throwing of colored powder and a large party. The KIA's Holi event brought the tradition to Kent State, allowing anyone to grab a packet of colored powder, eat a samosa, dance with their friends and meet new people. Holi is traditionally celebrated the day after the full moon in the Hindu month of Phalguna, which takes place around early March, according to ReligionFacts. This year, Holi fell on March 13, however, due to inclement weather, KIA moved the date of celebration to April 8. Ashwin Maniyan, the president of KIA, was proud of the turnout of the event.
“We were expecting around 400 to 450 people, and I definitely think that we are up there,” Maniyan said. “The goal was basically just to bring everyone together, because this is a big festival back home. It’s a mixture of American students, Indian students, and I’ve seen a lot of other international students as well. It’s unifying, and I love that.” Colored powder was everywhere. “To describe Holi in one word, it’s 'colorful,'” Maniyan said. Even as a bystander off to the side, Indian students would exclaim, “You need some color” and would proceed to smear vibrant yellows, blues, pinks and purples onto peers' faces and hair. Indian students yelled “Happy Holi” and proceed to find another person too clean for the holiday of color. Gina Madeline, a freshman prenursing major, and Rachel Freeman, a junior pre-nursing major, came to Holi to experience a culture completely different from their own. “It’s so fun being around different people, and everyone is just having such a good time,” Madeline said.
“Everyone is so happy and nice and welcoming,” Freeman said. “(Indian students) don’t care who you are, and they’ll just rub color onto your face. It’s awesome. I don’t think I’ve ever done anything like this before in my life.” Madeline and Freeman both saw the importance of learning new aspects of different cultures. “I think that it’s important to be able to understand everyone," Freeman said. "We’re all working toward peace. Why not do it by submerging yourself into the culture with everybody?” Sri Sudha Mallika Tumu, a digital sciences graduate student and vice president of KIA, was glad to see others enjoy a holiday she holds so dear. “Holi is the festival of colors, so this is like spreading the good over the evil,” Tumu said. “We celebrate a good harvest and that good reigns over evil. It’s all about spreading color all over everyone and having fun.”
SEE HOLI / PAGE 2
The Ohio Third Frontier Commission awarded the partnership of Kent State and Cleveland State University a grant to speed up the commercialization of the universities’ innovations. The funding program, which is to be called the “TeCK Fund,” will give university researchers access to $800,000 in research funds tailored to aid in bringing the schools’ inventions and ideas to market. Vice President for Research at Kent State Paul DiCorleto said he hopes the fund can help bring some of the university’s researchers’ hard work to light. “This new fund will be extremely valuable in moving some of the discoveries and innovations by the faculty at Kent State toward commercialization,” he said. The partnership between the two institutions marks the first time the Ohio Third Frontier Commission awarded funds to a joint proposal. “We’re each, essentially, one-man shops at our respective tech transfer offices,” said Jack Kraszewski, the director of the Technology Transfer Office at Cleveland State. “So we said, ‘OK, why don’t we submit this proposal together, and we can combine resources to provide the due diligence that will be required when they receive these applications?'” Along with the more obvious benefit of extra money coming from the TeCK Fund, those involved also see the priceless benefit of collaboration and camaraderie that comes with the partnership between the two schools. “(This fund) is an opportunity for us to find a complementary university and work together. For example, Cleveland State has an engineering school, which Kent State does not have,” said Stephen Roberts, the director of technology commercialization at Kent State. “On the other hand, we have the Liquid Crystal Institute, and the School of Architecture, and (the) fashion school that Cleveland State doesn’t have, so this could be a great partnership.” The respect goes both ways between
the two parties. “(Roberts) is an aggressive and dynamic leader of (Kent State’s) Tech Transfer Office,” said Kraszewski. “(There is an) opportunity to engage with and potentially bridge some new collaborations between our faculties going forward.” According to Kraszewski, the availability of the funding depends on the type of research that is being conducted. There are different levels of research; one is known as basic research, and is a general area of study regarding basic concepts. The second, known as applied research, occurs when the basic research is seen to have a practical application in the marketplace. The money from the TeCK Fund has more of a place as it pertains to applied research. “Applied research needs to be validated (that) this actually does work and actually does benefit society somehow,” Kraszewski said. “That’s where this funding comes in. It’s more developmental funding. It’s more validated funding. There’s a gap in funding between that applied research phase and the more serious funding, so we’re trying to bridge that valley.” The partnership has just been approved, but members of the research staff at Kent State see a bright future ahead for the two universities. “Right now, we have patents that aren’t producing much income, and we hope that this will allow us to commercialize more technologies successfully,” Roberts said. “I hope this means that we will have more successful spin-outs of university technology.” “It’s so important (for universities) to partner together, especially because of budgetary restrictions,” DiCorleto said. “The more we can accomplish together in a cost-effective way, the better of we all are. There is strength in collaborating. This is just one step in continuing efforts, not only between Kent State and Cleveland State, but also between Kent State and other Northeast Ohio public universities.” choove14@kent.edu
Page 2 | Monday, April 10, 2017
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Battle damage assessment image of Shayrat Airfield, Syria, following U.S. Tomahawk Land Attack Missile strikes Friday from the USS Ross and USS Porter, Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers. The United States fired Tomahawk missiles into Syria. Photo courtesy of U.S. Navy
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Amid global praise, US strikes in Syria increase Russian tension Julie Pace Associated Press The United States vowed Friday to keep the pressure on Syria after the intense nighttime wave of missile strikes from U.S. ships, despite the prospect of escalating Russian ill will. The Trump administration signaled new sanctions would soon follow the missile attack, and the Pentagon was even probing whether Russia itself was involved in the chemical weapons assault that compelled President Donald Trump to action. The attack against a Syrian air base was the first U.S. assault against the government of President Bashar al-Assad. Much of the international community rallied behind Trump's decision to fire the cruise missiles in reaction to this week's chemical weapons attack that killed dozens of men, women and children in Syria. But a spokesman for Russian President Vladimir Putin warned that the strikes dealt "a significant blow" to relations between Moscow and Washington. At the United Nations, Russia's deputy ambassador, Vladimir Safronkov, criticized what he called the U.S. "flagrant violation of international law and an act of aggression" whose "consequences for regional and international security could be extremely serious." He called the Assad government a main force against terrorism and said it deserved the presumption of innocence in the chemical weapons attack. U.S. officials blame Moscow for propping up Assad. "The world is waiting for the Russian government to act responsibly in Syria,"
From Page 1
HOLI Holi ‘festival of colors’ ... Getting international and domestic students together to have fun was one of the goals of KIA’s Holi celebration, Tumu said. “It’s like getting together all at once, and it doesn’t matter what nationality they belong to. It’s like we are all one," Tumu said. “The different colors indicate different people from different parts of the world," Tumu continued. "So it’s like playing all together and mixing. People will hopefully make so many friends
Nikki Haley, the U.S. ambassador to the U.N., said during an emergency Security Council session. "The world is waiting for Russia to reconsider its misplaced alliance with Bashar Assad." Haley said the U.S. was prepared to take further action in Syria but hoped it wouldn't be necessary. In Florida with the president, meanwhile, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said: "We will be announcing additional sanctions on Syria as part of our ongoing effort to stop this type of activity and emphasize how significant we view this. We expect that those will continue to have an important effect on preventing people from doing business with them." Thursday night's strikes — some 60 cruise missiles fired from two ships in the Mediterranean — were the culmination of a rapid, three-day transformation for Trump, who has long opposed deeper U.S. involvement in Syria's civil war. Advisers said he was outraged by heartbreaking images of young children who were among the dozens killed in the chemical attack and ordered his national security team to swiftly prepare military options. The decision undercut another campaign promise for Trump: his pledge to try to warm relations with Moscow. After months of allegations of ties between his election campaign and the Kremlin — the subject of current congressional and FBI investigations — Trump has found himself clashing with Putin. On Friday, senior U.S. military officials were looking more closely at possible Russian involvement in the poison attack. Officials said a drone belonging
that they’ll unite and realize that they aren’t that different." Indian music blasted and people formed a mob of cheering, dancing and happy partiers. A conga line even formed and snaked around the group. No one seemingly minded the fact that they’d have a load of laundry to do or that the air was filled with colored powder. “This is the whole point of having a cohort education,” Maniyan said. “We traveled so far, and we see different American culture every day. I think this is a way of giving something back and showing how we celebrate back home in India.” mcorson2@kent.edu
Participants of the Holi "festival of colors" dance in a circle on Kent State's Manchester Field during an afternoon of events Saturday. Madeline Zupko / The Kent Stater
to either Russia or Syria was seen hovering over the site after the assault earlier this week. The drone returned late in the day as citizens were going to a nearby hospital for treatment. Shortly afterward, officials say the hospital was targeted. The officials, who insisted on anonymity in order to discuss the sensitive matter, said they believe the hospital attack may have been an effort to cover up evidence of the earlier assault. White House officials caution that Trump is not preparing to plunge the U.S. deeper into Syria. Spokesman Sean Spicer said the missile attack sent a clear message to Assad, but he avoided explicitly calling for the Syrian to leave office. "The president believes that the Syrian government, the Assad regime, should at the minimum agree to abide by the agreements they made to not use chemical weapons," Spicer said when asked if Assad should step down. The impact of the strikes was also unclear. Despite intense international pressure, Assad has clung to power since a civil war broke out in his country six years ago, helped by financial and military support from both Russia and Iran. Russian military personnel and aircraft are embedded with Syria's, and Iranian troops and paramilitary forces are also on the ground helping Assad fight the array of opposition groups hoping to topple him. Trump spent Friday in Florida, in private meetings with visiting Chinese President Xi Jinping. U.S. officials noted that the timing of the strike had the possible added benefit of signaling to China that Trump is willing to make
From Page 1
FAFSA FAFSA fumbles with ... Students chosen for the verification process are required to submit additional documentation to prove the information on their FAFSA is accurate. This can cause additional time for the FAFSA to be successfully submitted without all the required paperwork, which can include a paper copy of last year’s tax return, pay stubs and a verification worksheet. Samuel Calley, a senior business management major, knows this first hand. Calley applies for federal financial aid every year using the FAFSA, but just references the past year’s tax returns and manually fills in the application. Although Calley sees the IRS Data Retrieval Tool as unnecessary, he has been a victim to the extensive verification process. “I’ve been ‘randomly chosen’ for two years now to provide additional documentation to verify my FAFSA,” Calley said. “It’s just annoying. I think the verification process is very excessive and just another stress factor while attending school.” Students chosen for verification who need a copy of last year’s tax return can go online to www.irs. gov/transcript or call 1-800-9089946 to receive a transcript in the mail within five to 10 business days.
good on his threat to act alone to stop North Korea's nuclear pursuits if Beijing doesn't exert more pressure on Pyongyang. The missile strikes hit the government-controlled Shayrat air base in central Syria, where U.S. officials say the Syrian military planes that dropped the chemicals had taken off. The missiles targeted the base's airstrips, hangars, control tower and ammunition areas, officials said. Trump's decision to strike Syria won widespread praise from other nations, including Saudi Arabia and Turkey, which support the Syrian opposition. British Prime Minister Theresa May's office said the action was "an appropriate response to the barbaric chemical weapons attack launched by the Syrian regime, and is intended to deter further attacks." France, Italy and Israel also welcomed the strikes. Not everyone was cheering in Washington, where the president's decision to act without congressional authority angered a mix of libertarian Republicans, Democrats and the far right. "The Constitution is very clear that war originates in the legislature," said Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., a leader of the party's non-interventionist wing who challenged Trump for the GOP nomination. "You vote before you go to war, not after you go to war." Still, most Republican leaders applauded the president, and some Democrats backed him, too. Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California said the strikes were "a limited but necessary response" and called on Trump to "develop a comprehensive strategy to end Syria's civil war."
Several states around the country are coming up close for deadlines to submit the FAFSA, according to Sarah Pingel, senior policy analyst at Education Commission of the States. Ohio has an extended deadline so students can seek help filling out the application. “The State of Ohio’s FAFSA filing deadline for state grant eligibility is Oct. 1 ... the Data Retrieval Tool delay should not have a direct impact at the state level for students,” said Jeff Robinson, director of communications for the Ohio Department of Higher Education. Even with the extended deadline, students who use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool may have trouble filling out the FAFSA without information being automatically filled in. Ariana Mantas, a sophomore marketing major, views the tool being inaccessible as an annoyance for her and her family. “We waited (until) only a couple of weeks ago to start filing out the FAFSA application,” Mantas said. “Now without the tool available, I’ll have to travel back home a couple hours away to sit down with my parents to reference last year’s tax return. This is very inconvenient, especially with the end of the school year approaching.” Kent State offers students and their families financial literacy workshops throughout the year. A FAFSA advice workshop is one of several information sessions given, while more topics include loans and
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scholarships, money management, financial decision making and credit card advice. Although there are none scheduled for the remaining semester, students can seek help from the university's Financial Aid Office. The financial aid office is welcoming all students who may need assistance filling out and submitting their FAFSA applications. There are several computers in the office where students can sit down with a financial advisor to get help on the application. “Around 80 percent of Kent State students have successfully filled out and submitted their FAFSA applications,” said Mark Evans, director of Student Financial Aid at Kent State. “Our doors are open for any students who may need assistance or have questions regarding the application.” Students and families who need help filling out their FAFSA can visit https://studentaid.ed.gov/ sa/fafsa or call 1-800-4FED-AID (1-800-433-3243) for assistance. mlugen@kent.edu
Monday, April 10, 2017 | Page 3
The Kent Stater
Opinion
SUBMISSIONS
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The Stater hopes to encourage lively debate about the issues of the day on the Opinion Page. Opinions on this page are the authors’ and not necessarily endorsed by the Stater or its editors. Readers are encouraged to participate through letters to the editor (email them to jmill231@kent.edu) and guest columns. Submissions become property of the Stater and are subject to editing without notice.
Opinion Editor: Lucas Misera Senior Editor: Karl Schneider Managing Editor: Alex Delaney-Gesing Sports Editor: Henry Palattella Assigning Editor: Jack Kopanski Assigning Editor: Andrew Atkins
THE OPINION PAGE IS AN OUTLET FOR OUR COMMUNITY’S VARIED VIEWS.
On
JOSEPH MCGRELLIS’ VIEW // To see all the cartoons this semester, visit KentWired.com
Hurley to transfer from Kent State basketball Henry Palattella Sports Editor
Kent State guard Rosel Hurley has left the men’s basketball team, according to verbalcommits.com. Hurley — who scored four points in three games this year — suffered an injury early in non-conference play that derailed his season. Hurley redshirted in 2015-16.
See the full story at Kentwired
Cheers&Jeers Cheers to ... temporary employment. For $145, visitors at a Chinese zoo can experience the work of a zookeeper by picking up polar bear feces — along with other tasks — for three hours.
Jeers to ... travel restrictions. A man was
kicked off of an American Airlines flight after purchasing a second seat for his cello.
I am a feminist out of gratitude Bobbie Szabo Columnist “I am a feminist out of gratitude,” Connie Schultz, a faculty member with the School of Journalism and Mass Communication, explained during the Kent State Women’s Center’s Mothers, Mentors, and Muses scholarship and award reception. Schultz said she is a feminist because of the sacrifices made by women in the past for the right to vote, for reproductive rights and for human rights. She said she recalls stories of women who were tortured for speaking out against injustices, feels the weight of their burdens and knows she must uphold their legacy. I am also a feminist out of gratitude, although I had not known I was until I heard Schultz — who is an inspiration of mine — speak. I am grateful I live in a world in which I have multiple platforms for self-expression, both artistically and politically. I am grateful women of the past laid the necessary groundwork for the modern feminist movement and that my activism has been made more effective and powerful as a result. I am grateful for queer activists and activists of color who have opened up the doors for the most marginalized people to participate in community organizing and politics on a national and international level. I am also thankful for those currently organizing with me, those who still must break down oppressive barriers in order to obtain fundamental human rights and those who experience privilege, yet fight for those who do not. So often we forget the people who have paved the way for us. I forget my mother has spent 15 years as a single mom, raising two children and working both a full-time and part-time job. I forget my father moved to the United States from Germany to create a better life for himself and his descendants. I forget women, like Schultz, had to beg and fight for years to become successful in professions in which women were not even allowed to participate. I forget my predecessors in the fight for human rights were beaten, jailed and murdered. No more forgetting. Of course, people are still facing unending hardship. People are still beaten, jailed and murdered. Marginalized people still do not have the entire spectrum of basic human rights, but the world has come a long way in the past century. We cannot allow the past struggle to be forgotten simply because our world has improved. We cannot forget it because of the ways in which our world has not improved, either. We must recognize the accomplishments and shortcomings of the past in order to continue forward with our own work. Previous generations have empowered my generation to speak up against injustice in all its forms. We have studied their trials and errors in community organizing. We have embraced the rights and opportunities they have granted us. We picked up the movements and begun our service. We are ready to fight. We will not be complacent. And we will not forget, although it is easy to do so. We will remember the sacrifices of the people who came before us, and we will not allow those sacrifices to be in vain. bszabo3@kent.edu
OUR VIEW
Media sensationalizes Syrian coverage
In the early morning hours on Friday, President Donald Trump sent 56 Tomahawk missiles to an airfield in Khan Sheikhoun, Syria, to “send a message” to Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad. The attacks came days after the southwestern Syrian town was gassed, killing 86 citizens. It didn’t take long for images from both of these events to begin showing up on the global 24-hour news cycle. The images themselves were visceral. First, it was the victims of the poison attack. Images and videos ranged from children choking and foaming at the mouth, to bodies lying lifeless in the street. Then it was the United States’ counterattack, as they released footage — provided by the Pentagon — of the missiles being fired from two U.S. Navy destroyers anchored in the Mediterranean Sea. Brian Williams, MSNBC host of “The 11th Hour,” described the footage of the missiles while on the air: “We see these beautiful pictures at night from the decks of these two U.S. Navy vessels in the eastern Mediterranean,” Williams said. “I am tempted to quote the great Leonard Cohen: ‘I am guided by the beauty of our weapons.’”
It’s only fitting that Williams — who was suspended from his position as anchor of NBC Nightly News for sensationalizing his reporting in the Iraq War — has become the poster child for the widespread disease of sensationalism in the media. Journalists on the ground in Syria have been churning out reports in hopes of showing the world what has been going on in the conflict. Those reports, however, have been used by both ends of the political and media spectrum to help forward their own goals. The stories from Syria are heartbreaking and deserve to be told fairly, not in the matter they have and are being told now. While biased news reporting doesn’t always entail “fake news,” manipulating the public in times of crisis by using photographs and footage from overseas, walks a dangerous line of journalistic ethics. The people deserve to be told what’s happening. Nothing should be censored or skewed to a certain viewpoint. It’s just the facts — simple as that. The above editorial is the consensus opinion of The Kent Stater editorial board, whose names are listed above.
The progressive guide for sanity Madison Newingham Columnist My idea of politics and the purpose of governance is centered on making the world a better place — or at least improving our perspective on the future. A white man’s world is entirely a social construct, and the Trump administration has only pushed an agenda contingent with a white man’s world. Don’t get me wrong — this is not a racial or gendered attack on anyone, but much of the populous, including myself, is ignored from the structural institutions in power. I want to reiterate my prior rhetoric: I believe we can eradicate the elevation of any group to the only political majority through consistently advocating for equality and social justice on all fronts. We must remind the men in power that we are all equal, and we deserve to see this reflected in policy. This idea mostly reinforces that we can impact the world in which we live; we must at least keep trying in this disheartening time. We cannot concede to President Donald Trump, Speaker of the House Paul Ryan, Kentucky Sen. Mitch McConnell and a Supreme Court with the interests of corporations in the forefront. Human nature and Darwinistic principles are often used to justify the selfishness of congressional Republicans — to justify the lack of concern for those who cannot take advantage of capitalism in the same way that doctors, lawyers and CEOs have been able to. Power in relation to life displays itself in the form of prestige, monetary value and violence. From my naive point of view, power should come from merit — from actual skill. I know: Who would have thought? Despite this, however, history reflects another story. For example, reflecting upon the rise to power of several dictators including Joseph Stalin, Benito Mussolini, Adolf Hitler, they all gained power through their proclivity
to create violence with an ultimate agenda. Rather than gaining power through intellect or an ability to naturally lead, these men chose more cowardly methods. in contrast to Mahatma Ghandi, Martin Luther King, Jr. or Nelson Mandela, who gained followers by their own wills through expressing a peaceful desire to push their agendas for a better world. Names we remember — such as theirs — deserve the utmost esteem for taking the difficult path to change. The type of power elicited contrast in that the former men acquired lethal, forced power as opposed to free will and humane power. I remind you of these great men — Ghandi, King and Mandela — because we are seeing policy that reflects a decline of our rights as people and dignity as man. Great leaders have come from hostile times such as that in which we are living. From my own experience in being so bogged down by the constant attacks on everything I care for, I emphasize the importance of finding ways to learn and build upon yourself because the qualities that define your character are your direct glimpse at hope. We cannot fall into a narrow view, and we cannot stop caring about human beings rights by merely being born. We are advantaged as Americans, even our lowest, and we must channel our rights to fight for those outside our country as well. Even at home, in having the perspective of our political minorities and citizens below the poverty line, we can create more humanitarian policy. That fight feels much better than the fight for more money and power. We cannot fall into another long-scale conservative time and be consumed by the constant repeal of policy we value. The point is we must take time from this destruction of democracy to preserve our hope and channel it in 2018 and 2020. The minute you concede to the conservatives in power marks the decline of our continued movement for civil rights and social justice. Hold onto your hope. mnewing2@kent.edu
How does Bill O’Reilly still have a job? Nicholas Hunter Columnist An investigation by The New York Times found that Bill O’Reilly, a TV personality and the host of the No. 1 show on cable news in 2016, “The O’Reilly Factor,” has been accused by seven different women of “sexual harassment or other inappropriate behavior.” O’Reilly — or the company he works for, 21st Century Fox — paid about $13 million to five of those women who sued him or the company. All the women who made accusations against him either worked for him or appeared as guests on his show. Interestingly, the public knew of two of the settlements beforehand: one from last year and one from 2004. To be clear, a settlement is not admission of guilt; it is, however, oftentimes a quieter and less cost-effective way to settle a legal dispute. In response to these allegations, 21st Century Fox said, “We have looked into these matters over the last few months and discussed them with O’Reilly. While he denies the merits of these claims, O’Reilly has resolved those he regarded as personal responsibility.” Another point made in 21st Century Fox’s statement is that none of the accusers utilized “the 21st Century Fox hotline to raise a concern about Mr. O’Reilly, even anonymously.” Amid this controversy, the Wall Street Journal reported that Fox News renewed O’Reilly’s contract. The root of this issue stems from a broader issue in the culture surrounding the company. Last year, Roger Ailes, the former chairman and CEO of Fox News, was released by the company after it was found that Ailes, who denied the accusations, and the company had settled sexual harassment cases with six different women during his tenure. On his way out the door, he received a $40 million severance package. The New York Times spoke to employees at Fox News, who said they “feared making complaints to network executives on the human resources department” while Ailes was CEO. The connections O’Reilly has also put his accusers in a tough position; O’Reilly is known friends with President Donald Trump, who said on Wednesday, “I don’t think Bill did anything wrong.” Trump has faced numerous sexual assault and sexual harassment accusations over the years as well. Even so, over 40 companies have pulled their advertisements from The O’Reilly Factor, according to Fortune Magazine. How does he still have a job? Turns out that as this controversy has grown, views have gone up. According to the New York Times, “The O’Reilly Factor” has seen a 10 percent increase in viewership since the allegations were published. When considering that our sitting president has an entire Wikipedia page dedicated to detailing sexual misconduct allegations, it becomes less surprising that O’Reilly would see an increase in ratings amid this controversy. In their reporting on the O’Reilly accusations, USA Today spoke to experts on the matter of normalizing sexual harassment. I could quote them and let well-paid experts explain how apathetic the public at-large is to the sexual harassment women face every day. Instead, I will let the ratings for “The O’Reilly Factor” speak for itself. nhunter6@kent.edu
Page 4 | Monday, April 10, 2017
The Kent Stater
KSU Flash-A-Thon receives strong participation
KSU Flash-A-Thon participants perform a group dance Saturday. Madeline Zupko / The Kent Stater
Madeline Zupko General Assignment Reporter Approximately 450 people of all ages from the Kent State community came together Saturday and raised over $45,000 in donations for cancer patients. The KSU Flash-A-Thon, a non-profit philanthropic organization, held its fifth annual all-day dance marathon on the basketball courts of the Student Recreation and Wellness Center to gather donations for the Akron Children’s Hospital’s hematology and oncology branches.
Dancing, games, food, raffles and hair donations were featured at the 12-hour dance marathon event, which ran from noon to midnight. Junior nutrition major Jessica Lopez donated six inches of her hair for the cause. “I’ve always wanted to (donate my hair), but I’ve always been too afraid," Lopez said. "I decided today was a good chance, and I know people who have gone through cancer. I did it for the kids and for who I know.” Matt Leupold, president of the Flash-A-Thon executive board, expressed similar sentiments. “It’s for the kids,” he said of the annual event.
A member of a miracle family visits with Belle and Elsa as part of the Disney hour at Flash-A-Thon. Madeline Zupko / The Kent Stater
Leupold said one thing separating this year’s dance-a-thon from prior years was the number of participants present on the dance floor. This year, “there’s a lot more team spirit and connection,” said Courtney Peters, a Greek chair executive board member. Peters said the 2016 KSU Flash-A-Thon was tough on the board, referring to the loss of executive board members throughout the year. This year, the executive board comprises of more than 20 members. “We’ve been bonding a lot more this year,” Peters said.
As Greek chair, Peters helps with coordination between Kent State’s Greek life community and Flash-A-Thon events. She said Saturday's event included between 80 and 90 Greek life participants. During the event, Leupold and Peters said they felt good about the pace of the incoming donations this year, and both expressed confidence about reaching their goal of $45,000 in donations. By midnight, Flash-A-Thon raised $47,434.23. mzupko1@kent.edu
'My body, my choice': Students protest Trump at #IDEFY march, rally
Planned Parenthood and reproductive justice advocate Anne Morrice prepares to spray paint The Rock pink after marching in the Planned Parenthood Generation demonstration at Kent State on Thursday. Christina Kenney / The Kent Stater Kent State political science and history sophomore Maddie Newingham speaks during the “I Defy” demonstration hosted by the Planned Parenthood Advocates of Kent State in Risman Plaza on Thursday. Christina Kenney / The Kent Stater
Olivia Williams African-American Student Life Reporter Students chanted “My body, my choice" Thursday as they came together at the #IDEFY march and rally on Risman Plaza. A large group of students wearing pink and raising signs joined Planned Parenthood Advocates of Kent State to peacefully protest the current government administration. Planned Parenthood Generation Action had hopes for a peaceful, powerful rally and march that would welcome people of all races, ethnicities, genders, sexual orientations and immigration status. Madison Newingham, the president of Planned Parenthood Advocates of Kent State, said this is an event that the organization has been planning since January. “Planned Parenthood came up
with the campaign #IDEFY to mobilize millennials to get involved in politics and really do something to make a difference and to protect Planned Parenthood for the people who need it," Newingham said. “We decided to use that as the motivation for the march, especially considering everything that is happening right now. We are trying to motivate everyone under all of our progressive causes." According to statistics on Kent State’s website, every two minutes someone in the United States is sexually assaulted. One in five college women is a survivor of rape or attempted rape and one in six men is sexually abused before the age of 18. During the rally, Newingham shared she is a victim of sexual assault and that Planned Parenthood played a pivotal role during that period of her life. She described Planned Parenthood as a reliable resource and a safe space, which has been vital to her
experience since she has been at Kent State. Newingham was not the only person at the rally to speak about experience with sexual assault. Students spoke about their own personal experiences with sexual assault and the need for safe spaces. MJ Eckhouse, a junior political science major, talked about how he was taken advantage of when he was drunk. He also spoke of his experience with alcohol and addiction recovery. Since MJ is transgender, he said his assaulter wanted to know what his genitals felt like. “Like the president did, he grabbed me there," Eckhouse said. Eckhouse said he attended the rally because the discussed issues are ones he cares about and feels he has a personal stake in. Planned Parenthood asked Anthony Erhardt, the president of the Kent State College Democrats, to voice his
political opinion about the current issues. He spoke about health care reform, an issue he says he cares most about. Erhardt said he believes health care is a human right that should be guaranteed to all of our citizens regardless of race, gender or income. “I defy the current administration and Republican Party for opposing that," Erhardt said. Ile-Ife Okantah, a senior journalism student, was another student who was asked to speak at the rally. She was brought in as the public relations cochair for Black United Students (BUS) to speak on behalf of people of color. Okantah talked about her experience with sexual assault and the need for people to have somewhere to go when it happens. She discussed her viewpoint on how women’s rights are human’s rights, civil rights are human’s rights and how all of the discussed issues should tie in. “I expect you all to be at the next
BUS event and to be at the next events for the black people on campus and stand up for what is right," Okantah said to the crowd. She challenged the crowd to remember how they felt when Trump was elected and told them that is only a small taste of what it is like to be a black person in America. “I am not saying that their opinions are not valid but this is me trying to wake people up and let them know that this is how we’ve felt from day one," Okantah said. “We’re happy to have you now but don’t get it twisted, this has been our fight forever." At the conclusion of the rally, students marched down the Esplanade to the rock on front campus to leave their mark. They painted the rock pink and sprayed the word ‘resist’ across the front. owillia8@kent.edu
CHAARG raises over $2,000 in first ever 5k Shane Transue Recreation Reporter
Participants walk their dogs along the Esplanade on Sunday during the Furry Friends 5k event, sponsored by CHAARG and One-of-a-Kind Pets. Jana Life / The Kent Stater
Runners, walkers and dogs alike participated in Sunday morning's 5k run to benefit One of a Kind Pet Rescue. The event, hosted by the women’s fitness club CHAARG, was the first 5k held by the group and helped raise over $2,000 for "One of a Kind’s" local animal shelter. Around 200 participants and 50 dogs participated in the run, which started and ended outside of the M.A.C. Center, after making its way through campus. Chase Schertzinger, a senior integrated life sciences major, said the event had a little more meaning for him and his adopted dog, Buster. “I rescued him from the
same organization that this run benefits” Schertzinger said. “It was really the only reason I did it.” Schertzinger and Buster finished the race with a time of just under 38 minutes, even though Buster was a little tired. “It was exhausting,” Schertzinger said. “The run itself was great, all the dogs here were really well behaved.” Twenty dogs who are waiting to be adopted participated in the 5k, and one of the event's goals was to try and find dogs a loving home said Anna Ferrato, a member of CHAARG and a race volunteer. “The CHAARG team and I are all dog lovers and love running with our dogs,” Ferrato said. “We are very passionate about finding a loving home for all of our local dogs.”
Volunteers and police officers helped run the event and keep the runners on track and control non-race related traffic. Brook Ackerman, a senior nursing major and a member of CHAARG, organized the event. “We are very happy with the turnout,” Ackerman said. “The police and the university have helped with making things run smoothly which we appreciate a lot.” Ackerman said she and CHAARG look forward to doing events like these in the future and benefiting One of a Kind was an obvious choice. “It's just a great organization," Ackerman said. "They’re funded completely through donations so it’s great that we can we give 100 percent of what we make to them.” stranscue@kent.edu
Monday, April 10, 2017 | Page 5
The Kent Stater
Trump objections don’t stop overhaul of Baltimore police
Baltimore Mayor Catherine Pugh speaks alongside Baltimore Police Department Commissioner Kevin Davis at a news conference at City Hall in Baltimore on Tuesday, in response to the Department of Justice's request for a 90-day delay of a hearing on its proposed overhaul of the Baltimore Police Department. Patrick Semansky / Associated Press
Juliet Linderman Associated Press A federal judge approved a n a g re e m e n t n e g o t i a t e d under the Obama administration to overhaul the troubled Baltimore police force, sweeping aside objections from the Trump Justice Department. President Donald Trump's attorney general, Jeff Sessions, promptly warned that the agreement may result in "a less safe city." U.S. District Judge James Bredar signed the so-called consent decree Friday, a day after a hearing to solicit comments from Baltimore residents, calling the plan "comprehensive, detailed and precise." He denied a request to delay the signing to give the Trump administration more time to review the agreement. At Thursday's hearing, a Justice Department attorney expressed "grave concerns" about the plan, aimed at rooting out racist practices. The consent decree was negotiated during the closing days of the Obama administration after a federal investigation found rampant abuse by Baltimore police, including unlawful stops and use of excessive force against black people. The investigation was prompted by the 2015 death of Freddie Gray, a 25-year-old black man whose neck was broken during a lurching ride in the back of a police van, where he had been left unbuckled, his hands and legs shackled. Gray's death touched off the worst rioting in Baltimore in decades. In a memo made public earlier this week, the Trump Justice Department signaled that it may retreat from the consent decrees that have been put in
place in recent years in such cities as Cleveland; Ferguson, Missouri; Miami; and Newark, New Jersey. Sessions said in a statement Friday that the Baltimore agreement shows "clear departures from many proven principles of good policing that we fear will result in more crime." "The decree was negotiated during a rushed process by the previous administration and signed only days before they left office," Sessions said. "While the Department of Justice continues to fully support police reform in Baltimore, I have grave concerns that some provisions of this decree will reduce the lawful powers of the police department and result in a less safe city." The Justice Department can appeal the judge's decision, but it would have to show the judge made an error or abused his discretion. That would be difficult to prove, said Jonathan Smith, a civil rights attorney in the Obama Justice Department who oversaw negotiations with troubled police departments. Justice Department lawyers also could try to modify the consent decree, but the burden is high, requiring them to show there has been a substantial change in the facts or the law, Smith said. City officials, including Police Commissioner Kevin Davis, have voiced their support for the agreement. Mayor Catherine Pugh disputed the notion the decree will hurt the fight against crime. "I believe that it makes Baltimore safer," she said. "I think by building and training our police officers in ways to deescalate violence, to work with our communities, to have cul-
tural diversity training and have the right kind of tools they need to know what they can do in certain areas of our community ... I think it's improved policing." The homicide rate in Baltimore immediately spiked after the riots over Gray's death, leading some residents to accuse officers of taking a hands-off approach for fear of increased scrutiny. The soaring crime rate has not relented. In the first three months of 2017, the city recorded 79 homicides, compared with 56 for the same period the year before. Baltimore's agreement calls for additional training for officers and discourages them from arresting people for minor offenses such as traffic infractions or loitering. It also says officers can no longer detain someone simply for being in a high-crime area. Following Gray's death, the department began undertaking some reforms, including outfitting officers with body cameras and updating the use-of-force policy. Gene Ryan, president of the Baltimore police union, has complained that the agreement was rushed and that the union wasn't involved enough in the negotiations. The national Fraternal Order of Police said it was disappointed by the judge's decision to move forward. "But Baltimore officers will endeavor to give the citizens of Baltimore the best public safety service possible given the constraints imposed upon the department by the decree," said Jim Pasco, the senior adviser to the group's president.
4 the Love of Paws raises money for foster dogs Francesca Demming Social Services Reporter Kent State's chapter of 4 the Love of Paws hosted its second-annual Spark Bark Walk-a-Thon Saturday, complete with a raffle, prizes, walks and lots of friendly dogs. The event raised money for Fur-get Me Not Animal Rescue, which works with local animal shelters to find forever homes for rescued pets in the area. The organization is foster-based and relies on donations to support its
mission. Aleah Burris, president of 4 the Love of Paws, said she started the event last year in hopes of raising money for animal shelters in the local community. "(Fur-get Me Not) take the dogs that are going to be put down because of overcrowding or because people have given up on them," Burris said. "They take them and they give them a forever home." Burris said she hopes to help students and the community understand
the need to relocate these dogs. "We want to make people aware that rescues need help and many dogs need a forever home," Burris said. "The event is to celebrate that many dogs are rescued and to showcase awareness that dogs need homes and to celebrate the ones who have a home. The event is also to memorialize all the dogs that are gone but changed people's lives." Amber Borell, a freshman zoology major, said students of any major should look into 4 the Love of Paws.
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"We have so many different opportunities for hands-on experience, which is important for your future career," Borell said. Volunteers, students and families brought dogs of all ages and sizes to the Walk-a-Thon. Two walks took place during the afternoon that led participants around campus, each about a mile long. Megan Wilburn, a sophomore digital science major, said she attended the Walk-a-Thon to socialize her 4-yearold dog, Ally.
"I think this was a great experience, and I would love to see 4 the Love of Paws do this again," Wilburn said. Members of 4 the Love of Paws volunteer with local shelters such as the Portage County Dog Warden and One of a Kind Pets. Students can also get involved with Fur-get Me Not Animal Rescue by donating dog and cat food, blankets and cleaning supplies.
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Page 6 | Monday, April 10, 2017
The Kent Stater
Sports
SPORTS EDITOR: HENRY PALATTELLA // HPALATTE@KENT.EDU
Kent State track and field sets multiple records in Alabama Scott Lendak Sports Reporter Men’s Track and Field Freshman pole-vaulter Christian Champen and sophomore jumper AJ Stevens, secured victories as the Kent State men’s track and field team concluded the Crimson Tide Invitational. Champen captured a personal-record with a mark of 5.10 meters in the pole vault. His mark ranks fifth all-time in Kent State history. Stevens jumped 15.35 meters, earning the triple jump title and moving into seventh in the Kent State record book. Sophomore long jumper Samory Fraga highlighted the Flashes in the long jump as he finished in sixth place with a distance of 7.12 meters. Fraga also finished seventh in the triple jump at 14.02 meters. Senior thrower Reggie Jagers earned second place in both the hammer toss, with a throw of 62.05 meters, and discus, with a throw of 62.05 meters. Sophomore distance runner Brandon Avers recorded a personal-best time of 14:51.04 to finish fifth overall in the 5,000 meters. Junior thrower David Paliscak took third-place and set a new personal-record in the shot put with a throw of 17.67 meters, which was good enough for ninth all-time in Kent State history.
Women’s Track and Field Senior thrower Danniel Thomas captured both the shot put and discus titles for the Kent State women’s track and field team at the Crimson Tide Invitational. Thomas broke the Kent State record in the shot put with a throw of 18.13 meters. She also placed first with a discus throw of 58.03 meters. Her mark in the shot put ranks second in the nation, and her discus throw ranks fourth. Junior pole-vaulter Sam Tollerud placed second in the pole vault with a season-best mark of 4.07 meters. Sophomore pole-vaulter Maria Horrigan took fifth place with a mark of 3.97 meters. The 4x400-meter relay team of junior sprinter Tyler Williams, senior sprinter Jorian Ordway, senior mid-distance runner Taylor Farquhar and senior sprinter Lauren Burnett also moved into second-place in the Kent State record book as they recorded a time of 3:40.43 to take thirdplace in the event. Freshman mid-distance runner Swann Phelippeau captured sixth-place in the 1,500-meter in her first collegiate outdoor meet with a time of 4:28.88, which moves her into seventh all-time in Kent State history. The team’s next scheduled meet is in the Northeast Ohio Quad hosted by the University of Akron, April 14-15. slendak@kent.edu
KSU drops two games to Huskies
Senior Maddie Grimm bats against Northern Illinois on Saturday at the Diamond at Dix. Maddie Zupko / The Kent Stater
Junior Chelsea Laury clears a hurdle during the 60-meter portion of the Pentathlon during the MAC Indoor Track and Field Championship at Stile Athletics Field House on Friday, Feb. 26, 2016. Nate Manley / The Kent Stater
Samantha Ross Sports Reporter The Kent State softball team (15-21, 5-6 Mid-American Conference) dropped two of three games against Northern Illinois University (18-15, 6-5 MAC) this weekend. “I’m happy with the run production,” coach Eric Oakley said. “Unfortunately, we can’t get all three phases of the game to work together. Defense hurt us yesterday and pitching hurt us today.” The Flashes led up until the fifth inning, where the Huskies tied it at five. In the eighth inning, sophomore utility-player Bailey Brownfield doubled to left center to score senior infielder Maddy Grimm and give the
Flashes the walk-off win. “It was definitely nice,” B r o w n f i e l d s a i d . “ Wi t h (Grimm) being on base it gave me an opportunity to put the ball in play. I knew that I needed to find a hole somewhere and luckily it was in a good spot so she (Grimm) was able to score.” In the second game, The Flashes were down 7-1 going into the seventh inning. The team pulled within one run in the bottom of the sixth, however, as the Flashes scored five runs, three of which came on a Grimm home run. That was as far as the rally went, and the Flashes fell 7-6. In the final game, Kent State lost 8-6. In the first inning, junior outfielder Emily Dobbin and
Grimm both hit home runs giving the Flashes a 2-0 lead, a lead the team held until the third inning, when the Huskies scored six runs. Northern Illinois University intentionally walked Grimm the rest of the game. “I mean it’s frustrating because hitting is a very fun part of the game for me,” Grimm said. “It’s hard for the hitters behind me, too, because I think that they put a lot of pressure on themselves. (Brownfield) has been handling it very well and Ronnie (Landine)’s been stepping up too. .” The Flashes face Ohio University at 2 p.m on Tues., March 12, in Athens, Ohio. sross39@kent.edu