Daily Kent Stater for Fri. April 9, 2010 by The Kent Stater

Baseball team looks to continue its winning ways | Page 6

DAILY KENT STATER Friday, April 9, 2010 • The independent student newspaper of Kent State University • Weather: Snow/rain HI 45, LO 35

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KERNICH TRIAL

Pre-trial hearings progress in case of murder suspect Continuance motion denied Nick Baker

Daily Kent Stater

Pre-trial proceedings are underway for one suspect involved in the murder of Christopher Kernich. Adrian Barker, 22, of Akron, appeared in court yesterday and

will appear again today as part of continued pre-trial hearings involving witness testimonies, DNA evidence and police procedure following the November 15 attack. Judge John Enlow presided over seven hours of proceedings, and the court will reconvene today to continue with witness testimonies. The court denied a motion by the defense for a continuance for the start date for the trial, which will begin on Tuesday. Attorneys representing Barker argued

that DNA testing regarding a T-shirt that belonged to Glenn Jefferson, Jr., 21, of Mentor, who was also arrested in connection with the BARKER murder, was needed, and could not be done without a continuance. Barker was initially charged with felonious assault, but the

charges were upgraded after Kernich died a week after the assault at Akron City Hospital from head trauma. Barker pleaded not guilty to the charge on March 10. Witnesses to the incident corroborated statements about the order of events, including Kernich “crumbling to the ground” and being “kicked” or “stomped” in the head. The testimony of one witness, Carl Belfiore, senior crafts major at Kent State, was a point of con-

tention and constituted the main argument made on behalf of the defense. According to the statement given to Kent police immediately following the incident, Belfiore claimed to have seen a “white man” run up on Kernich and knock him to the ground, where he lay as he was kicked repeatedly in the head by Kelly, who was identified as a “dark-skinned black man.” After giving his statement, Belfiore was shown both suspects, who

were in police custody, as part of an identification practice by Kent police called a “show-up” process, in which witnesses are asked to identify suspects on scene, with no line-ups or photo arrays. The defense argued that presenting individual suspects in police custody to witnesses, some of whom had been drinking, late at night immediately following the incident was a prejudicial means of identifying suspects. See HEARINGS, Page 4

Thrifty to trendy Discount clothing used in competition Nicole Nisson

Daily Kent Stater

ashion merchandising students purchased garments from donation centers to compete in the first ever Goodwill Styling Competition held at 8 p.m. yesterday in Rockwell Hall. “Our rules for the merchandisers were that all of their garments, including hats, handbags, and jewelry had to be from either Goodwill, Salvation Army or a thrift

store,” said Brittany Mizelle, event coordinator and Co-Producer. “When submitting their looks, they had to include the receipts as proof.” Out of the twenty-four participants and 38 outfits, Remah Doleh won first place for her menswear. Purchased garments had to maintain their original shape without sewing or restructuring and multiple looks were permitted. “We felt that fashion merchandising students should have the chance to express their creative side, so we decided to put together a fundraising event exclusive to fashion merchandising majors,” said Laura Toomey, event coordinator and Co-Producer. “It’s the first show catered to fashion merchandising majors, and I think people are interested in seeing what it’s all about.”

Looks were judged by creativity, originality, overall fit and appearance. “There were a lot of good looks,” said Mike Pennick, a sophomore in the fashion design major. “It is always an accomplishment when someone designs menswear. It isn’t seen very often in the fashion curriculum at Kent State. Remah did a great job of completing a menswear look.” Julia Dougherty took second for her French-inspired fashion and Ting Nan placed third in the competition for her edgy ensembles. Doleh will be featured on Collegefashionista.com and all of the winning looks can be seen in the exhibit before

and after Re:Create. The Goodwill Styling Competition, coordinated by The Fashion Journalism Team and the Spring Fashion Show Director’s Committee, raised about $1,000 for the fashion school’s annual spring show and portfolio event, Re:Create, which will be held in the Cartwright Auditorium April 24 at 8:30 p.m. Contact fashion reporter Nicole Nisson at nnisson@kent.edu. React to this story and more at KentWired.com

RACHEL KILROY | DAILY KENT STATER

Eva Schloss, the stepsister of Anne Frank, shows her tattoo markings from the Holocaust during a book signing. Schloss spoke about her book, “Eva’s Story,” yesterday in the Kiva.

Anne Frank’s stepsister shares her family’s story Students take lessons from Holocaust stories

PHOTOS BY HANNAH POTES DAILY KENT STATER

BELOW: Freshman fashion merchandising major Rachel Hall applies bright red lipstick in preparation for the show. RIGHT: A stylist helps a model tie a scarf around her head before the show.

Ryan Friend

Daily Kent Stater Students, parents, and older generations gathered in the Kiva Thursday afternoon to listen to Holocaust survivor Eva Schloss explain her relation to the family of Anne Frank. “Otto Frank was my stepfather for 27 years,” said Schloss. Frank and Schloss were playmates at the age of nine. Schloss was captured at the age of 15 and sent away to the AuschwitzBirkenau death camp with her mother. Schloss and Frank would never see each other again. She described the shower system at the camp and the unexpected surprise that awaited many Jewish people. “People stood there waiting for water to come but nothing happened,” Schloss said. “Gas would come out of the pipes, people would begin to get dizzy.” On January 27, 1945, Russians liberated Auschwitz-Birkenau. Shortly afterwards, Otto Frank and Schloss’ mother began to see

The winners

1st place 2nd place

Remah Doleh — Menswear

Julia Dougherty — French-inspired fashion

3rd place

Ting Nan — Edgy ensembles

each other. In 1953 Otto Frank ended up marrying Schloss’ mother. “I think when I moved to England, Otto Frank moved into my mother,” Schloss said as she joked. According to Schloss, she enjoys educating future generations about the Holocaust so that they can prevent such mistakes from happening again. “I think it is very important to educate the young people about discrimination and hatred,” Schloss said. Adam Sample, freshman middle-childhood education major said, “It is always better to get history from someone who lived it than out of a book.” Joel Abramson, Jewish Student Life Program intern for Hillel, said he learned a lot about Frank’s life through Schloss. “You can get a better understanding of Anne Frank’s life by meeting someone who knew her personally,” Abramson said. Contact religion reporter Ryan Friend at rfriend3@kent.edu.

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Black mold forces Kent State employees to relocate temporarily

A day without shoes

Brittany Schmigel and Jennifer Shore Daily Kent Stater

HANNAH POTES | DAILY KENT STATER

Freshman French translation major Joe Cancelliere was one of many Kent State students who participated in “One Day Without Shoes,” a nationwide event to spread awareness about the impact of shoes on children’s lives. Cancelliere attended his classes and even walked a mile to his sister’s house barefoot in the rain.

More than 100 Kent State employees relocated to new offices throughout campus after toxic black mold was discovered in March in the Kent State Foundation and Development building. Tom Euclide, vice president for faculty planning and operations, said mold was found in two bathrooms during routine cleaning, which needed further investigation. “We became concerned about how far it would go and that’s when the decision was made, let’s get the people out of the building,” Euclide said. “We don’t need to create health problems while we do this, it’s just safer, we’ll go through the entire building and look for it.”

Euclide said the lower level of the building has flooded several times over the past decade. “We know that it’s been wet before and that it’s possible that mold was in there ever since,” Euclide said. Euclide said the outside of the building is being excavated to install a new curb and drain tile, which will prevent water from directly flowing toward the foundation. He said on the inside, a new air conditioning unit with a better filtration system is being installed in case there is anything else in the walls they aren’t aware of. Mark Moreland, vice president of Medallion of Ohio, Inc., has been dealing with mold ever since he created the company with his father eight years ago. He said a mixture of moisture and humidity stimulates spores to grow into mold. It takes about two million

spores to colonize until it becomes visible, which can be the size of a ballpoint pen tip. He said once the process of killing mold begins, a defense mechanism releases spores into the air. “You might knock off 99 percent (of the mold), but there is still a tremendous amount (of mold) airborne, looking to re-colonize, so you have to knock that off as well,” Moreland said. Eugene Finn, vice president for advancement, oversees all the departments in the Kent State University Foundation and Development building. He declined an inperson interview, but in an e-mail statement he said, “My staff is settled in temporary locations for a few weeks while the university works on our building. We’re in great shape.” See MOLD, Page 4

Page 4 | Friday, April 9, 2010 From Page 1

MOLD Black mold forces Kent State employees to relocate... The Phone Center is one of the departments that moved across campus. Two Kent State students who are currently employed there had similar reactions when they were told about the mold outbreak. “Our boss e-mailed us on a Friday and told us there was mold and that we were not allowed in there,” said broadcast journalism major Alyssa Stemley. “You’re not allowed to be near mold. You get very sick. You have to evacuate.” Roxanne Kilbourne, junior visual communication design

Daily Kent Stater major, was surprised when she heard of the mold problem because nothing ever appeared to be wrong while she worked in the building. “I thought it was only going to be closed for a few days and then they moved us completely,” said Kilbourne. “I think they probably wanted to be extra cautious because they didn’t want anybody getting sick or hurt.” Kilbourne said she went into the building a few weeks ago and noticed that everything was in the process of being redone. Moreland said that when a mold remediation is finished, a clearance must take place to assure everything is cleared out. The first step of the test is making sure visible detection of mold

no longer exists. The second step takes indoor and outdoor samples through a vacuum pump and recorded on a cassette. The samples are sent to a lab to confirm the mold will no longer be an issue. “Our intention is to stop it once and for all so we don’t have this problem again,” Euclide said. “Our goal is that at the end of April, we’ll have everything back up, freshly painted and everybody will be back in there.” Contact reporters Brittany Schmigel and Jennifer Shore at bschmige@kent.edu and jshore2@kent.edu. React to this story and more at KentWired.com

From Page 1

HEARINGS Pre-trial hearings progress in case of murder suspect After being brought to where Barker and Kelly were being held, Belfiore changed his statement, claiming that in fact it was Barker, who is African-American but with a “lighter” skin tone than Kelly, who knocked Kernich to the ground. Belfiore reiterated this stance when he made a new statement to Detective Mark DiJerome of the Kent Police Department on November 24. Belfiore, along with other witnesses who testified yesterday, was shown booking photos during these follow-up interviews. Witnesses claimed to have already seen the photos in the news, which the defense argued was also prejudicial. The defense claimed yesterday that DNA evidence from another item, a bloodstained shoe belonging to Barker, was not disclosed in a timely manner by the pros-

ecution. Thomas Buchanan of the Portage County Prosecutor’s office called the claim a “disingenuous and outright misrepresentation of the facts.” According to the defense, bloodstains on the T-shirt in question could alter the account of what occurred on the night of the attack. The prosecution claimed the T-shirt, which had since been in the possession of Jefferson and had been “laundered twice,” would in no way affect the outcome of Barker ’s trial. Jefferson is not reported to have been involved in the actual assault, but was identified as the driver of the vehicle carrying Barker and co-defendant Robert Kelly, who were charged with Kernich’s murder. Kelly, 20, of Akron pleaded not guilty to murder charges on March 29. The court did grant permission to the defense to conduct an independent test, but it appears that there will not be enough time for such a test to be conducted. Enlow cited several upcoming murder cases as reason

for denying a continuance. He added that because so many witnesses were students, it was important to begin phases of the trial while those individuals were still in the area. “Many witnesses are students,” Enlow said. “So continuance is not in the best interest of the court. We know that some of the witnesses are transient.” Enlow said that a continuance would mean not beginning the trial until mid-October, which he said was “unfair to the defense and to the witnesses.” After denying the motion for a continuance, the court heard the testimony of multiple witnesses, including students, DNA laboratory technicians from LabCorp, the company responsible for testing the swabs obtained by police, and detectives from the Kent Police Department. The court will hear more witness testimonies today, and will move forward with the jury trial on Tuesday. Contact public affairs reporter Nick Baker at nbaker3@kent.edu. React to this story and more at KentWired.com

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Regionals cut tuition for non-residents Jenna Staul

Daily Kent Stater Out-of-state students will pay less to attend Kent State’s eight regional campuses beginning this fall. The university will waive 80 percent of the out-of-state surcharge typically placed on non-resident students. The move will cut tuition by about $6,000 annually for residents of northern West Virginia and western Pennsylvania who are enrolled as juniors and seniors at regional campuses. A full-time regional campus student currently paying $13,478 a year in tuition will now pay $7,324, according to figures provided by the university. The decision, which was passed by

the Board of Trustees during its November meeting, was made largely to lure non-residents across state lines to Kent State’s campuses. The board had to seek permission for the waiver from Ohio Education Chancellor Eric Fingerhut, said Charlene Reed, senior assistant to the president and Board of Trustees secretary. Robb King, spokesperson for Kent State Trumbull, said despite the campus’ proximity to Pennsylvania, only 18 out-of-state students have enrolled in the past three years. “I think for us being so close to somewhere like Sharon, Pa. — it’s only about 25 minutes to get to our campus from there, this really improves our competitive edge,” King said. “I think it definitely provides them with more options

Civil rights leader joins list of speakers for May 4 Georgia Rep. John Lewis will be coming to Kent State to speak as part of the 40th anniversary of the May 4, 1970 shootings. He will give his speech, titled “Coming Full Circle: Democracy, Engagement and Social Change,” at a free, public event Monday, May 3, at 6:30 p.m. in the Student Center Ballroom. “As a leader in the American Civil Rights Movement,” President Lester Lefton said, “Rep. Lewis can talk about the dramatic cultural, social and political changes the nation was going through during the 1960s, leading up to the tragic events that occurred at Kent State, Jackson State and other parts of

the country.” After his time as one of the top Civil Rights leaders, Lewis was elected to Congress in 1986 and has served since then. He is currently the Senior Chief Deputy Whip for the Democratic Party. Lewis received two bachelor’s degrees in philosophy and religion from Nashville, Tenn.’s Fisk University and is the recipient of more than 50 honorary degrees from all over the U.S. Lewis’s speech is just one of many events planned for the commemoration of May 4, 1970. — Nick Glunt

and more diversity from an academic standpoint. It’s more of a choice for students.” Jeffery Nolte, dean of both the Salem and East Liverpool campuses, said despite the four-minute drive separating East Liverpool from the West Virginia state line, Kent State has not been “financially viable” to non-Ohio students. “However, with the tuition reduction,” Nolte said in a press release, “we’re now able to serve these students.” Contact administration reporter Jenna Staul at jstaul@kent.edu. React to this story and more at

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Dance Ensemble features new students and elements The annual Kent Dance Ensemble program opens this weekend featuring five original compositions by School of Theater and Dance faculty and New York City guest artists Peter Kyle and Leanne Schmidt. This year ’s show, titled “Fresh Start,” includes 12 student dancers, nine of which are new to the Kent Dance Ensemble. According to Kim Karpanty, Kent Dance Ensemble artistic director, the performances range from comical and improvisa-

tional to extremely physical, such as Kyle’s piece, which has dancers leaping, landing flat on the floor and rolling. Fresh Start performances are Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. in the E. Turner Stump Theatre in the Music and Speech Center. Tickets cost $8 for students with a student ID, $12 for seniors, Kent State faculty, staff and alumni and $16 for adults. — Kyle McDonald

New burger joint opens near campus Five Guys Burgers and Fries opens its doors at 11 a.m. today and is adding Kent to the map of more than 500 Five Guys locations in 35 states. “As a Kent alumnus, I am proud to open our flagship store in the unparalleled city of Kent,” said Matthew Mikola, general manager of Five Guys in Kent, in a press release. Five Guys Burgers and Fries was started in 1986 by Jerry and Janie Murrell. Mikola said the traditions that the Murrells started the business with are still practiced today. “The articles and awards that line our walls underscore our commitment to quality, handmade food,” he said. “Everything’s fresh. There are no freezers, microwaves or timers.” The restaurant is employing about 40 workers at this location, and this location is just one of 40 that are planned to be built in Northeast Ohio. “Five Guys provides simply the best burger and fries you will eat anywhere,” Mikola said. — Anthony Holloway

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

Page 6 | Friday, April 9, 2010

Daily Kent Stater

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

ON THE WEB AT KENTWIRED.COM

Freshman proves to be dependable for gymnastics Wozniak shows ‘leadership qualities’ Katie Corbut FILE PHOTO BY JESSICA KANALAS | DAILY KENT STATER

Sophomore designated hitter David Lyon slides into third base after hitting a triple in the bottom of the second inning during Wednesday’s game against Pittsburgh. The Flashes won 19-6 against the Panthers.

Flashes look for consistency Baseball trying to continue winning streak this weekend Rachel Jones

Daily Kent Stater

oping to continue its five-game winning streak and preserve its first place spot in the Mid-American Conference East, the Kent State baseball team heads to Eastern Michigan for a threegame series starting today. Kent State coach Scott Stricklin said he is focusing more on the team’s overall performance this season than the current streak in which the Flashes have won 11 out of 15 games, including five straight. “I’m really not concerned about the winning streak, so to speak, but we’re trying to win as many games as we can,” Stricklin said. “To be honest, what I want to see is our team remaining consistent, which is what we’ve done over the last five games that we’ve won.” The Flashes (16-15, 4-2 Mid-American Conference) begin their battle against the Eagles (13-16, 4-2 MAC) today at 3 p.m. Stricklin said the team will have to play solid all the way through if it wants to beat such a good team. “It’s a scrappy-type of team, and we’ve got to come ready to play,” Stricklin said. “When you play on the road, it’s always more difficult, so playing a good team on the road is going to be a very good challenge.” Fresh off a 19-6 victory over Pittsburgh, the team is ready for the challenge. The Flashes had two grand slams and four other home runs Wednesday. Sophomore Travis Shaw delivered one of the grand slams. Sophomore Kyle McMillen had the other grand slam and one of the home runs. The home runs by freshmen Evan Campbell and Jason Bagoly were the first of each their collegiate careers. Stricklin said he hopes this will boost the team for tonight’s game. “I thought overall that was one of the best games we’ve played all yearlong,” Stricklin said. “We really swung the bat and we played

FILE PHOTO BY JESSICA KANALAS | DAILY KENT STATER

Sophomore first baseman Kyle McMillen hits a grand slam in the bottom of the first inning during Wednesday’s game against Pittsburgh. The hit was the first of two grand slams within the first three innings for Kent State. The Flashes won 19-6 against the Panthers. good defense. Hopefully, that gives us some momentum into this weekend.” The team had a six-game losing streak in the beginning of the season. After adding more tallies to the wins column, Stricklin said he has noticed a change in the attitudes of the players. “Winning can cure a lot of ills,” he said. “If we’re struggling and not playing well and then start executing and doing what we need to do, that can change a lot of things very quickly. Once you start winning, everybody feels good about what you’re doing and start playing with more confidence.” If that confidence is still there tonight, Stricklin said the team has an opportunity for a victory. “I think if we continue to be consistent, we could be the kind of team that we want

THE GAME KENT STATE vs. EASTERN MICHIGAN (16-15, 4-2 MAC) (13-16,4-2 MAC) Where: Ypsilanti, Mich. When: 3 p.m. today 3 p.m. tomorrow 1 p.m. Sunday

to be,” Stricklin said. “If we keep playing the way we’ve been playing, I like our chances to continue to win.” Contact sports reporter Rachel Jones at rjones62@kent.edu. React to this story and more at

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MEN’S GOLF

Kent State hits the links closer to home Golfers go to OSU for first Ohio tournament of spring season Rachel Jones

Daily Kent Stater Changing up its usual travel plans, the golf team will stay up north this weekend to compete in the Robert Kepler Intercollegiate tournament at Ohio State’s Scarlet Golf Course. Kent State coach Herb Page said it will be in the 60s this weekend, so the location should not affect the team. “Golf is a warm weather sport, and when you want to be ranked like we are, you have to go south early on,” Page said. “You also want to play nationally ranked tournaments. This is kind of closer to home, but it’s a great golf course with great competition.” This competition includes ten other teams, half of which are located in the north. Page said the toughest competition will be the host, Ohio State.

CAIRNS

HAHN

“This should be a good test for us,” he said. “We’ve beaten them a couple of times this year, but playing them on their home course is always difficult.” At the Augusta State Invitational, the Flashes’ last tournament, they finished 11th out of 18 teams. “They didn’t play very well the first day,” Page said. “We were just really out of it. (They) came back the second day, and let’s give them credit, they did phenomenal.” Page said he plans on using the same lineup for Saturday and Sunday, which includes junior J.P. Paiement. “I was really happy with how J.P. played,” he said. “It wasn’t a great tournament but he showed some consistency. He had a nice

HUGHES

tournament, and he deserves to be back in the lineup.” Joining Paiement are juniors John Hahn and Brett Cairns, sophomore Mackenzie Hughes and freshman Kevin Miller. Page said those golfers have been doing well already, but he would like to see more regularity in their performances. “You have to have five good players, and quite honestly, we need to get some more consistency out of ‘the big three’ (Cairns, Hahn and Hughes),” Page said. “Those guys need to step up and if they all play well on the same day, we will do very well.” The Flashes have won this tournament three times and finished fourth out of 13 last year. Page said he thinks they have

MILLER

PAIEMANT

an opportunity to win it this season. “I would like to go down there and see us play three, solid, good and consistent rounds,” Page said. “(I want us) to play up to our capabilities and not worry about what anyone else can do. We haven’t done that this spring yet, so that’s what we’re working for.”

Daily Kent Stater The transition from high school to college can be challenging for any student, but adding a varsity sport to your agenda can make it even tougher. Freshman gymnast Lauren Wozniak has been successful in the transition, and the Kent State gymnastics team has felt her impact. This season for the Flashes, Wozniak has competed on vault in every meet, scoring consistently above a 9.7, thus proving her value to the team. Her love for gymnastics started young, she was only seven years old. She trained in one club for most of her career, but when her junior year in high school came around, she considered quitting the sport altogether. “I needed a new attitude in my senior year,” Wozniak said. “My coaches were really welcoming.” It was at X-Cel Gymnastics near Pittsburgh where she came into her own and discovered her strength on the vault. “Vault is my favorite event,” she said. “It’s quick. There’s no time for nerves, especially in college because there’s only one vault.” In club gymnastics, a gymnast usually performs two vaults, and the better score is taken out of the two, but in college, you only get one chance. In camp training before the season started, Wozniak suffered a foot injury, preventing her from concentrating on other events. Next year, she hopes to contend on beam and floor. She said watching her team fail on beam is frustrating, because she’s thinking about what she could be doing to help. Considering all of the problems Kent State has had on beam this year, they could use another consistent scorer in the event. “We’ve been very pleased with what Lauren has brought to the team this year,” Kent State coach Brice Biggin said. “As a vaulter and a gymnast, she has been very consistent starting from the very first meet.” Biggin said Wozniak is a very caring and contentious athlete who excels both in the gym and in the classroom. “We’re thrilled to death with how she has performed and what type of person she is; what type of student she is,” Biggin said. “She’s a great freshman.” This confidence stems from supportive teammates who immediately welcomed Wozniak onto the team. She said some of the sophomores in particular took her under their wings. “Erin Rothrock and Rachel Goldenberg really were the first couple people to really reach out to me,” she said. “And Abou (Mitri) is really great to look up to because she’s been so consistent.” While she looks up to many of the gymnasts on the team, her coaches believe she will someday be one of those upperclassmen to look up to. “We certainly see leadership qualities in her,” Biggin said. “She’s got the full package: she understands that the team is the most important thing, and she understands that you have to do well in the classroom.” The coaching staff believes Wozniak will develop into a very good gymnast as long as she can stay healthy. But for now, she’s taking it meet by meet, and this weekend is a big one especially for a freshman. The Flashes will travel to West

FILE PHOTO BY JESSICA KANALAS | DAILY KENT STATER

Freshman Lauren Wozniak performs on the vault during a meet on March 5 against the University of Kentucky. The Flashes lost to the Wildcats but went on to claim their fourth straight MAC regular-season title.

THE MEET KENT STATE at NCAA Morgantown Regional (14-4, 6-0 MAC) Where: Morgantown, W.Va. When: 6 p.m. tomorrow

Virginia to take on Stanford, Michigan, Southern Utah, West Virginia and North Carolina State. The top two teams will advance to the NCAA national competition. The Flashes are hoping to prove themselves after finishing second in the Mid-American Conference Championship. Wozniak is prepared for the regional competition and feels very confident about her event. “I’m really excited, I really hope we can hit and show what we can really do. It has been a long time coming,” she said. “I’m not stressing too much (about vault), I’ve been pretty consistent.” Biggin is also very excited for the competition, and said that even though Stanford and Michigan have both ranked as high as sixth place nationally throughout the year, it isn’t impossible to beat them. “Look at Butler. Even though they didn’t win, they gave Duke every bit that they could handle,” he said. “That can happen in our sport just as well.” The Flashes will start the meet on beam, and they’re trying to look at it as a positive thing. “Lets get it over with and put up five or six good scores. Then all of a sudden we’re putting pressure on everyone else: you set the bar,” Biggin said. “We’re really trying to look at that as a great opportunity.” Biggin believes the meet will come down to whether the team is confident and can concentrate on their routines and not the other teams. The team can qualify for nationals, but individual competitors can also qualify on individual events or in the all-around. Junior all-around competitors Christina Lenny and Christine Abou-Mitri both have excellent chances of qualifying, and sophomore Erin Rothrock also has an opportunity to qualify as a bar-specialist. Contact sports reporter Katie Corbut at kcorbut@kent.edu. React to this story and more at KentWired.com.

Contact sports reporter Rachel Jones at rjones62@kent.edu. React to this story and more at KentWired.com.

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Friday, April 9, 2010 | Page 5

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

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Pregnancy Center of Kent. Here to Help (330) 839-9919

By Linda Black Black ‘01 Monte Carlo - $5,000. Great condition! Call 330-565-0929.

PLAY SPORTS! HAVE FUN! SAVE MONEY! Maine camp needs fun-loving counselors to teach All land, adventure & water sports. Great Summer! Call 888-844-8080, apply: campcedar.com NIGHT CLUB NOW HIRING ALL POSITIONS ARENA Sports & Entertainment Complex (Formerly Mustang Salliz) 1543 Streetsboro Plaza Drive 44241 Apply in Person Mon, Tues & Wed 4pm to 8pm Facebook@KentArena.com Hibachi Japan - 2251 Front Street, Cuyahoga Falls Ohio, 44221 is now accepting applications for server positions. Please apply in person. 330-928-3333 Hudson’s Restaurant Now Hiring Exp. Line cooks, Servers, Hostesses & Dishwashers. Apply at 80 N. Main St., Hudson. Riverside Wine Bar 911 N. Mantua St., Kent—Food service, retail, server and bar help needed. Non-smokers only, must be 21. Apply in person Monday-Friday 12-4 pm. Apply only if available for employment for 1 year and willing to work a minimum of 3 shifts/week. We schedule around classes. Part-Time Work Assembly, packaging, flexible hours, can work around schedule, $8-8.50/ hour. Call 330-626-2400 or apply www.allianceindustrial.jobs Lawn Fertilization Company seeks employee. Must have valid Ohio drivers license 4 points or less, please call 330-688-3389 Window Cleaner wants helper. Flexible hours, must have experience. 330-459-0266 Attendant for female w/ disability. Part time hours mornings, weekends, and summer. Able to drive van. 330-678-7747. Landscape worker needed. Must be available 7:30-3:30. $8/hour. Must have own car. 330-622-1103

A fashion show to benefit Action Against Hunger! Tickets are $20. Contact lspecto1@kent.edu

4 drawer, legal sized filing cabinets used. $75-$95. 330-678-2600 FREE ANTI-VIRUS Dell Laptops $369 Duo Core XP Pro 330-297-1491 Portage Electronics, Ravenna

Free chocolate sample every Friday Empire 135 E. Main St. Kent www.empirekent.com (330) 968-4946

Buyer Beware! We make every effort to screen for fraudulent advertising, however, we cannot guarantee the veracity of the advertisers and their messages in this section. It is important for consumers to respond to any advertisement with the utmost caution. Field Jacket found on campus contact Peggy 330-672-5822.

Tutors/SI Leaders Needed! The Academic Success Center is accepting SI Leader, Peer Mentor, and Tutor applications until Monday, April 19th for Fall Semester 2010. SI Leaders are needed for courses in the areas of Accounting, Biology, Chemistry, Economics, Geology, Math, Psychology, and Sociology. Peer Mentors (tutors) are needed for Biology, Chemistry, Nursing, Economics, and Study Skills. Tutors are needed for courses in the area of History, Psychology, Seven Ideas, Sociology, and Writing. You must have a 3.0 GPA and be available to work 8-12 hours per week. Starting Pay: $8.50 To apply or for more information, visit 207 Schwartz Center or www. kent.edu/asc Questions? Call 330-672-3190

All real estate advertised herin 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.

Today’s birthday (4/9/10) This is a year for sharpening the focus of your sensitivity, diplomacy and tact. Use these tools to balance your leadership skills. You want to be on your own, free from all limitations. Self-awareness can help realize dreams. To get the advantage, check the day’s rating: 10 is the easiest day, 0 the most challenging.

Aries (March 21-April 19) Today is a 5. Adjust your focus to include group activities you really care about. Evaluate your role and choose your path. Taurus (April 20-May 20) Today is a 6. When discussing matters with the group, choose your battles carefully. You want to appear independent, but no need to go crazy. Take the middle road. Gemini (May 21-June 21) Today is a 7. Concentrated effort pays off. Although ideas expand to fill available space, you benefit from aligning heart and mind to pursue a single objective. Cancer (June 22-July 22) Today is a 6. The object of your attention is far away, but don’t lose focus. Put headphones on, or do whatever works to eliminate distraction. It’s important.

NOW LEASING FOR FALL 5,4,2,1 bedroom Houses. Efficiency. Good Location Near KSU. Call (330) 554-8353 Whitehall East Townhomes - 4 or 5 bedroom leases, with 3 bathrooms, great rent options with all inclusive plans. Some newly rennovated, all units washer/dryer and dishwaher included. Call or text today 330-9904019. www.whitehall-east.com LUXURY 4-BEDROOM UNITS large, clean, all appliances + FREE washer/dryer. (330) 714-0819 Spacious 2&3 bdrm apts @ Holly Park. Gas heat paid Sign up now for fall and receive $100 off first 6 months based on a twelve-month lease. (330) 678-0823 Now leasing for fall. 2br apt $699750 a month includes gas, water and trash. Many great amenities. Hurry in now, before you get locked out. (330) 673-8887 Now accepting applications for summer and fall! Studios, 1&2 bedrooms still available-Hurry In! 330-678-0746 **Summer and Fall Specials** Furnished/unfurnished studios, 1&2 bedrooms, Call now 330-678-0123 Enjoy spacious 4&5 bedrooms duplexes with 2 full baths. Great condition, great location, A/C, W/D, dishwasher, deck, garage. $350/bedroom includes all utilities. 330-808-4045 GREAT PRICES! GREAT PROPERTIES! 3, 4 & 5 bdrm properties starting at $1000/mo. Call Rich at 330-807-6090 Now Leasing for Summer and Fall. 2 BR Apts. Heat, Trash & Water pd. Pool, Pets welcome, $665-$725. Close to KSU 330-673-5364 NO WATER BILL! NO GAS BILL! 4&5 Bedroom duplex available for fall starting at $330/mo! Each side has 2 bath, W/D. Dishwasher, deck, garage, etc. Close to campus and on bus route. Last one I have available! Call Sweeney (740)317-7294. Stow: 2 & 3 bed townhomes with one car garage. Pets welcome, 10 min from KSU. Prices $665-$850 call (330)686-2269.

Two bedroom, 1.5 bath condo, updated, all appliances, FREE HEAT. One block to KSU. Units available starting in June. No Pets. 330-9573083.

KENT/BRIMFIELD. Newer 3 & 4 Bdrm duplexes. 1 car garage. $900-$1100 per month. 330-338-5841 or 330329-1118 kentarearentals.com

Available in Fall! 3 bedroom units close to campus. Well-maintained starting at $800/month. Call today 330-329-2535

Kent near downtown and campus 2 bedroom apartment, all utilities paid except electric, $350/bedroom + security deposit. (330)676-9440 Apartments for Rent: 3 bedroom apartment Half of a home. Living Room, kitchen,bath. No pets. One bedroom available now $330/ month. 330-673-8505 1 bedroom apartment in a house. Kitchen, living room, bath. Separate entrance. No pets. One year lease. Available in August. 330-673-8505 University Townhomes 5 bedroom, 2.5 bath, washer, dryer, dishwasher, and microwave included. 1 year leases available. Call 330-501-9239 for more information. Kent- 3&4 bdrm townhouses for fall, $375/room includes gas & trash 330678-3047 or BuckeyeParksMgmt. com Kent- efficiencies for fall, starting at $250/month includes ALL UTILITIES 330-678-3047 or BuckeyeParksMgmt. com Kent- 2 bedroom for fall, starting at $250/room some include some utilities 330-678-3047 or BuckeyeParksMgmt.com Available now. Nice 2 bedroom apartment. Close to downtown. Mature tenants, non-smoking, no pets. $650 + utilities. 330-688-1187. 2 & 3 bedroom apartments, close to campus. Joe (330) 310-1494 Spacious 3 bedroom, 2 bath duplex. LR and Family Room, W/D, A/C, $960/ mo, Available July (330)630-9285.

STUDENTS Go to www.kentcribs.com for more rental listings! LANDLORDS! Get your rental listed for FREE on www.kentcribs.com. Call 330-6722586! Kent- Quiet 1, 2&3 bedroom. $500, $590 and $750. 330-677-5577

Available June 1- Need 1 to share 3 bedroom apartment with two male students. $270. (330) 221-5540 2 Bedroom upstairs apartment. Close to campus. $500 +utilities. 245 Cherry St. 330-677-9684. Ask for Mark after noon.

1 & 2 bedroom apartments available for fall semester. We pay everything except electric. 330-678-0972.

Rooms for Fall 1 block from campus. $350/mo includes ALL utilities, cable and internet. Non-smoking house. Chris Myers (330) 678-6984

Kent - 4 BR, 2 BA House $1300/mo. 5th Ave., August 1, Dishwasher, A/C. 330-310-3084 colleen.belan@att.net

Great campus condo. 3 bedroom, 1.5 bath. Available August. Call Dr. Miller at (330) 618-7764

Available Fall: Triplex, each unit 3 Bedrooms, 1 bath, large yard. $800. (440) 953-8687 www.yourhomerental.com Very Clean, quiet 2 bedroom, 1 bath, gas, heat, water, appliances included. Available May 1. 330-760-1884

Duplexes available for Fall semester beginning August 1. East Summit, across from campus. 3 bedrooms, Washer/Dryer. $345/person plus utilities. 216-407-6703 Nice 5 Bedroom House, (330) 697-5170

Kent—Nice House Close to Campus and Downtown, 6/7 people, Available Fall 330-297-6539 Oak Haven Condo! Very close to campus! (S. Lincoln St.) Now renting for Fall. 2 bedroom,1.5 baths Assigned parking, water, trash & heat paid! $735/month + electric. Accepting Visa/MC 330-554-1245 Available 08/01. 2 bedroom, newer appliances, close to campus. 330626-7157 1 or 2 bedroom, Kent. 927 S. Water. $500 includes trash & water. Near campus & on bus route. Parking, big yard, & porch. Chris 330-221-4411

Four Bedroom House on Lincoln, Call Brent at (330)608-4396. Very close to campus.

3 Bedroom House, Kent - 927 South Water $750 includes trash & water. Near campus & on bus route. Parking, big yard & porch. Chris 330221-4411

Hidden Pines Townhouses, 4 lg BR’s, 2 bath, W/D, wood floors, ceramic tile. Spacious, very clean! ALL utilities included option as low as $320/BR. www.hidden-pines.com/ or 440-708-2372

2 bedroom 1.5 bath apartment $585/ month + deposit & electric.Heat, water and trash included (330) 312-0066 or (330) 968-4930

GET IN EARLY! 2 subleasers needed for 2 bedroom, 2 bath Pebblebrook apartment. Available May 23. Lease ends August 15, but available for renewal. Call Adam 330-524-5430. Taking Summer Classes? Need a room? One room open in house on College Avenue, available May 17. $400 + utilities. E-mail kpickere@ kent.edu if interested.

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) Today is a 6. It’s time for you spend quality time with your significant other. This works creative magic. Feast at an exotic locale and take in a foreign film.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) Today is a 6. Tiny details appear, and you want to make everything fit. Something resists being squashed into place, so a slight shift is in order.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) Today is a 5. Narrow the scope of partnership activities to focus on independent or impulsive activities. Doesn’t sound practical? This is no time for logic.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Today is a 6. You discover a single tree that represents perfect harmony and balance. Too bad you can’t take it home. Use it as a symbol of how to integrate heart and mind.

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) Today is a 6. From among the myriad tasks at work, choose one that appeals to your soul. Once that’s complete, choose another that suits your sense of priorities.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) Today is a 6. It would be easy to spend all the available cash. Instead, take extra time to consider each purchase. Can you wait until next month?

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) Today is a 7. Leave work at work. When you come home, expand your perspective to include delicious food, and a movie or music. Take someone else along.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) Today is a 7. Shut most of the world out to attend to deeply personal matters today. Aligning your desires with circumstances could be thorny. Use every sense to devise solutions.

OPINION

Page 3 | Friday, April 9, 2010

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

Daily Kent Stater

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

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

Thomas Gallick City editor Caitlin Sirse Photo editor

FAMOUS QUOTE “I never knew how to worship until I knew how to love.” — Henry Ward Beecher

our

SUMMARY: Because of the economic downturn, Portage County non-profits are seeing increased demand and decreased ability to help those in need. That’s where we students come in: If we donate just a little bit of time, money or supplies, it will mean a lot. And increased transparency by non-profits should give us increased motivation to help.

VIEW Take care of the poor in Portage County The economic downturn has not been easy on Portage County. Shelters, food banks and organizations that distribute clothes have been inundated with requests for help from the citizens of the county. Local non-profits like the Center of Hope, the County Clothing Center and the Miller House are seeing demands that push them to the financial limits of what they can do. Most likely, everyone reading this has felt the pinch from the economic meltdown in this county, but even during the toughest times, we need to remember that the charities are being hit twice as hard as most businesses. Not only are they seeing an increase in demand, they are seeing a decrease in donations. Their expenditures are increasing as their cash flow goes down. Is it tough for most of us to find extra cash to donate? Sure. But even people who describe themselves as “poor” college students likely have a little

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extra to spare to help the truly impoverished in Portage County. And if money truly is not an option, many non-profits will take donations of other goods, and also offer volunteer opportunities. So if you can’t offer cold hard cash, how about searching out some alternate way to help those in a more desperate situation? If private individuals did just a fraction more to help those less fortunate, there wouldn’t be so much anger over the supposed socialist agenda of our current administration because the poor would be in much less need. Many of the charitable organizations around Portage County are trying to attract more donors not by being more aggressive in marketing, but instead by showing potential donors what their monetary gifts would go to. We think this is an excellent choice. With charitable donations, many are suspicious that their money may be used for overhead instead of actually helping people. With increased transparency, non-profits

should see increased donations from the public sector. It’s harder to say no to social service organizations when you can see that it’s actually going to affect someone’s life. Donating a decent amount of money to a charity without knowing where it will go can be scary. National non-profits like the Red Cross have developed guides showing how many meals or supplies a certain amount of money will buy. It’s nice that regional non-profits are trying a similar concept, showing how much help the people of the county actually need and what donations will do. It’s hard to see people in need and stand back, doing nothing, especially when many in need are so close to home. The above editorial is the consensus opinion of the Daily Kent Stater editorial board whose members are listed to the left. React to this story and more at KentWired.com

Chris sharron’s VIEW DID YOU KNOW? At Appomattox, Va., Confederate General Robert E. Lee surrendered his 28,000 troops to Union General Ulysses S. Grant, effectively ending the American Civil War. — History.com

Erasing the generalizations

President Barack Obama’s advisers’ plan to remove terms such as “Islamic radicalism” from a document outlining national security strategy has unsurprisingly led to a blast of ridiculous and prejudice comments from anonymous Internet users. The plan hopes to emphasize that the U.S. does not view Muslim nations through the lens of terrorism, counterterrorism officials say, according to an Associated Press article. “You take a country where the overwhelming majority are not going to become terrorists, and you go in and say, ‘We’re building you a hospital so you don’t become terrorists.’ That doesn’t make much sense,” said Pradeep Ramamurthy, National Security Council staffer. Bush regularly identified America’s enemy as “Islamic extremists” and “radical jihadists,” something Karen Hughes, a Bush confidante who served as his top diplomat to the Muslim world in his second term, told the AP she urged the White House to stop. “I did recommend that, in my judgment, it’s unfortunate because of the way it’s heard. We ought to avoid the language of religion,” Hughes said. “Whenever they hear ‘Islamic extremism, Islamic jihad, Islamic fundamentalism,’ they perceive it as a sort of an attack on their faith. That’s the world view Osama bin Laden wants them to have.” I see the logic behind refraining to use terms like “Islamic radicals” when speaking to Islamic nations, and apparently the leaders of these nations agree. “It is a good message of assurance, and differs from the former American administration’s position on this matter which showed no real understanding of Islamic countries,” Iraqi government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh told the AP. “This decision by Obama will help to reform the image Muslims have of America.” Many international Muslim leaders commend Obama’s efforts because they make it politically easier for them to cooperate with the U.S. “It’s also a clear indication of President Obama’s substantial understanding of the intricacies of Muslim politics,” Jordanian lawmaker Hamada Faraaneh said in the same article. I doubt this one little change is going to fix all of the troubles in the Middle East and make Muslims all over the world love America,

Rabab Al-Sharif but at least it shows them that we aren’t writing off an entire religion as a group of terrorists. Judging by many of the comments left on the article, the ignorant cretins of America don’t quite understand that Muslim is not a synonym for terrorist though. “It’s a clear indication that Hussein is not only Muslim, but he has a large yellow streak running down his spine. Americans should feel so safe with this great leader!! I have never seen such a two faced coward in all my days. You liberals should all be proud. Instead of fighting our enemies, let’s just join them,” one post read. I thought it was pretty clear that the change was being made to improve relations with Muslim nations, not with terrorists, but these close-minded racists obviously don’t acknowledge that there is any difference. To put the icing on the cake, this person tries to somehow use this as proof that President Obama is a Muslim. Not only that, but the poster treats Muslim like a derogatory name. So what if he was Muslim? What would be so terrible about that? Since when is it an insult to call someone a Muslim? To set things straight, the vast majority of Muslims are not terrorists. Terrorist isn’t a term that refers only to Islamic Fundamentalists. Believe it or not, all terrorists aren’t Islamic. Perhaps people have forgotten how America generalized Japanese-Americans during World War II. You can see how well that turned out. It’s one of the most embarrassing pieces of American history, but as history shows, we rarely learn from our mistakes. We should never generalize an entire group based on the actions of a few. Or else all Americans would be ignorant bigots.       Rabab Al-Sharif is a sophomore magazine journalism major and columnist for the Daily Kent Stater. Contact her at ralshari@kent.edu. React to this story and more at

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Our fascination with the end We humans love a good apocalypse story. I came to this revelation this past weekend while watching “The Book of Eli,” the latest Denzel Washington flick that takes place in a post-apocalyptic world. It is yet another film from Hollywood that threatens the destruction of the human race. I’d complain that there are too many movies that involve end-of-the-world plots; however, I, along with most other people, continue to watch them. Off the top of my head, here are a handful of movies that put mankind in jeopardy: “Armageddon,” “2012,” “Independence Day,” “Deep Impact,” “The Core,” “Signs,” “War of the Worlds,” “Zombieland,” “The Terminator,” “The Matrix,” “I am Legend,” “Dr. Strangelove,” “Transformers,” “The Stand,” “Planet of the Apes,” “The Day After Tomorrow,” “Dawn of the Dead,” “Shaun of the Dead,” “Night of the Living Dead.” Get the picture? They’re a dime a dozen. These apocalyptic plots captivate us. They are exciting and entertaining. Seeing the Statue of Liberty buried in snow or Los Angeles being torn to shreds by a tornado appeals to the sadistic side in the best of us. I think the deep fascination with this subject comes from our lack of knowing exactly how the world will end. The fantasies of film give the audience answers to those looming questions — no matter how far-fetched or ridiculous those answers may be. Zombies taking over the planet doesn’t make sense in

your

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Mike Crissman the real world, but for two hours that movie takes you to a place where it does. These films tell us what exactly will threaten our existence: something that is unknown in real life. The Book of Revelation gives us a vague blueprint of how the world will end. The words of John the Apostle have been the cause of much debate. Different interpretations have arisen throughout the ages as Christians have always attempted to apply the cryptic text to their current lives, which they always view as the “end times.” They see the natural disasters and wars of their time to somehow be unique from those of the past. Many have tried, and failed, at predicting the identity of the Antichrist (the Biblically prophesied adversary of Christ who will seemingly provide for the needs of the people but deny them ultimate salvation). I recall a televangelist saying that Saddam Hussein was the Antichrist about seven or eight years ago. That prophecy, of course, went south once the guy was hanged.

I’m sure people said the same thing about Hitler, Napoleon and Genghis Khan when each of them was alive. One thing they all share in common is dying — and not being the Antichrist. Recently some have speculated that it’s Barack Obama. The jury’s still out on that one. The Bible is not the only thing to predict the end of the world. The hot new prophecy on the block these days is the Mayan calendar, which ends on Dec. 21, 2012. One cannot merely dismiss the ancient Mayans by saying they just got tired of making calendars. There are many other things that point toward something happening in 2012 (Nostradamus’ predictions, St. Malachy’s Prophecy of the Popes, the Chinese I-Ching, increased solar flare activity, galactic alignment, etc.). Though, anyone who remembers the ruckus people made over Y2K will be slow to jump on this new panic bandwagon. My brain tells me 2012 will not bring an end to the world. Nevertheless, just like one of the aforementioned movies, it’s fun and darn interesting. It gives some the answers they seek. Mike Crissman is a freshman journalism major and columnist for the Daily Kent Stater. Contact him at mcrissm2@kent.edu. React to this story and more at KentWired.com

Make time for loved ones

Lou and I go way back, to when I was 17 and a server at Bob Evans. The first time I waited on him, I accidentally took away his dish of green beans before he had finished. At the time, a server named Kat had been his favorite, and after she left, I would take her place. Lou always sat at table 21 in a four-table section designated as red. I was frequently assigned to red, and even when I wasn’t, the hostesses knew to put Lou in my section. Everyone at Bob Evans knew Lou as a jolly, old man who wore a dark blue Indians cap and sang old tunes to pretty servers. He had white hair, light-colored eyes and a young-looking face for his age. Lou was more than a customer to me; he was like a second grandpa and a good friend. We talked and laughed and shared pieces of our lives. He always drank coffee with double cream in colder weather and iced tea in the summer. Lou and I went to Lake Metroparks Farmpark together twice, and he went with my grandpa and me to the Lake County Fair a few years ago. When my family invited him to our house for Christmas in 2008, he became fond of my mixed black lab. “He’s a real nice dog,” he always said. I visited Lou when he was in the hospital and nursing home. He didn’t have a wife or

Cathy Black Guest columnist

any children to take care of him. His twin sister passed away before I met him, and he didn’t see his other sisters or his brother very much. He told me about his nieces who sometimes came to visit him. Lou’s birthday is exactly one week before mine. In previous years, I had baked him a cake and given him a card signed by servers at Bob Evans. This year I wanted to do something special. I wanted to surprise him with balloons and a framed picture of my boyfriend and me. I envisioned him sitting in his chair listening to the radio. My parents, boyfriend and I would walk into his room and say in unison, “Happy birthday, Lou!” He would look up at us and smile. I would hug him and kiss him on his cheek. On March 20 I called his nursing home. I would leave Kent in a few minutes and be at his room in about two hours. The woman who answered paused a few seconds after I said his name. “He has expired,” she said. I choked up.

“Are you friend or family?” she asked. Both, I thought. “I took it hard, too,” she said. “He was the sweetest old man.” Lou had passed away in February, a few weeks after my boyfriend, dog and I had last visited him. I didn’t know that was the last time I would ever see him. I didn’t know that day was our final goodbye. How could I have known? I wasn’t ready for him to die, but his death wasn’t up to me. I wanted him to hold on for just a little bit longer. I had plans to take him to Bob Evans in the summer — maybe the last time he would ever eat there. Lou wasn’t afraid of death. He said that when it was his time, the good Lord would take him. Losing someone is never easy, but I have learned that the most important thing in life is to spend as much time with your loved ones as you can. Cathy Black is a senior visual journalism major and guest columnist for the Daily Kent Stater. React to this story and more at KentWired.com