Daily Kent Stater for Fri. March 12, 2010 by The Kent Stater

Sports: Track and field athlete qualifies for NCAA Indoor Championships | Page 6

DAILY KENT STATER Friday, March 12, 2010 • The independent student newspaper of Kent State University • Weather: Partly cloudy HI 59, LO 44

LATEST UPDATES AT KENTWIRED.COM

Bachelor’s degrees 64 adding number of credit hours required Students may have difficulty graduating in four years Suzi Starheim

Daily Kent Stater

Students hoping to complete their bachelor ’s degree in four years may have to start taking a closer look at their major’s degree requirements prior to enrollment. A typical bachelor ’s degree should require 121 credit hours over the course of four years, yet several of Kent State’s programs have far exceeded this standard, said Robert Frank, provost and senior vice president of academic affairs. “We’ve had sort of degree creep over the years where people add more and more and more into degrees, and employers sort of give us mixed messages,” Frank said. “They want our graduates to have more, but on the other hand they want graduates to come out with more work-ready skills, so you get caught up in how to best prepare people.” This means that many students cannot graduate in the allotted four years, typically having to complete the left-over credit hours during a fifth year. “Students may not really realize what going 20 or 40 hours more means in their lives,” Frank said. “They may not realize until junior or senior years.” Therese Tillett, director of curriculum services, said, “Ideally, a fulltime enrolled student should get by by taking 15 credits per semester plus an orientation course.” Mohammed Alsawaha, freshman English as a second language major, said while he is changing his major to business administration in Fall 2010, he plans to take 15 credit hours per semester. Alsawaha said if it comes down to having many credit hours during his last two years, he will do whatever it takes to graduate in four years. Alsawaha said he would rather “load up on credits in his fourth year than take a fifth year of classes.”

Reasons Tillett said the education and nursing departments tend to have degrees with high credit hour requirements. “Licensure or state requirements change every few years, and I think there is a history of changing the program to add courses without checking to see what can

Majors with high-degree requirements (2009-2010 catalog year) College of Education, Health, and Human Services: Deaf Education Intervention Specialist (PreK-12) 136-137 hours

College of Education, Health, and Human Services: Earth Science Licensure (Grades 7-12) 141 hours

College of Education, Health, and Human Services: School Health and Physical Education (Pre-K - 12) 167-168

College of Education, Health, and Human Services: Integrated Science Licensure (Grades 7-12) 156-159 hours

College of Education, Health, and Human Services: Life Science Licensure (Grades 7-12) 146-147 hours

College of Education, Health, and Human Services: Physical Science Licensure (Grades 7-12) 144 hours

be removed,” Tillett said. “The College of Nursing is very good at looking at their own program and incorporating content into already existing courses.” Tillett said another possible reason for the high credit requirements in these departments is “because of their accreditation and state requirements for teacher licensure and with some of these majors, sometimes the student will specialize in two areas and they will have to take content in both areas.” Tillett added that fortunately for education students, some of these high credit hour requirements can be counted toward their master’s degree when they come to complete it. When Katelyn Regan, sophomore integrated language arts major, changed to her major from business her freshman year, she wasn’t fully aware of how much she would have to do each semester to graduate in four years. “I was led to believe I could get out in four years,” Regan said. “That would be if I did my student teaching in Spring 2012.” Regan said she hopes to ideally graduate in four years and wants to begin teaching immediately upon graduation. See CREDITS, Page 4

Cody Erbacher

OU-ch

fter working the entire regular season to be the best in the Mid-American Conference, the Kent State men’s basketball team fell from the top, hard. The top-seeded Flashes made an early exit from the MAC Tournament, losing 81-64 to No. 9 seed Ohio last night at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland. “It’s a disappointing end to a great year,” Kent State coach Geno Ford said. “We were really not very good. I thought our kids tried hard, maybe they tried too hard.” The Flashes lost for the second straight year in the MAC quarterfinals. Ford said last night’s defeat especially hurts because of the team’s six seniors. “I don’t know that in eight years I’ve been associated with Kent State’s program that I’ve felt any worse for a group of seniors than I do now,” Ford said. Kent State (23-9) struggled on all ends of the floor, shooting only 36 percent from the field, 15 percent from 3-point range and 50 percent from the free throw line. Ohio (19-14) outshot the Flashes in every category. The Flashes trailed by 16 at halftime but cut the lead to 49-46 with just under 11 minutes left in the game. At the time, senior Chris Singletary, the Flashes’ leader, was on the bench with four fouls. Freshman guard Randal Holt made up for Singletary’s absence by scoring five straight points. But Ohio responded with an 8-0 run. The Bobcats increased their lead to 62-48 with a lot of help from guard Armon Bassett, who scored 38 points in the game. Unexpectedly, the Flashes would cut into the lead for the second time. Singletary completed a three-point play with 4:41 left in regulation bringing the score to 66-60, completing a 7-2 run. But that was as close as the Flashes got, as Ohio responded with another 8-0 run to put the game away. The Flashes trailed 40-24 at halftime after shooting a misera-

Students share culture through cuisine Bethany English

Daily Kent Stater

JESSICA KANALAS | DAILY KENT STATER

Ohio’s Armon Bassett drives on Kent State’s Frank Henry-Ala and Tyree Evans during last night’s MidAmerican Conference quarterfinal. Bassett scored 38 points as the Bobcats upset the first-seeded Flashes 81-64. ble 8-for-32 (25 percent) from the field and 1-for-10 from behind the arc in the first half. The first nine minutes proved Kent State was going to struggle. With the help of three 3-pointers from Bassett, who finished with 18 points in the first half, Ohio took a 19-10 lead. In the stretch, Singletary scored six of Kent State’s points, but he went 0-for-5 from the foul line.

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HANNAH POTES | DAILY KENT STATER

to finish making their meals. Some teams even shared supplies with each other despite the competitive atmosphere. The Chinese team made a pork dish with brown sauce. Cong Wu, said they entered the competition because there are so many Chinese students on campus and no real Chinese food. See COOK-OFF, Page 4

Kent State will return to the court in the National Invitational Tournament. The Flashes secured a spot in the NIT after winning the MAC regular-season title. Contact sports reporter Cody Erbacher at cerbache@kent.edu. React to this story and more at KentWired.com

Saving money in college can be as easy as clipping coupons Courtney Kerrigan

Team India members Santanu De, Sohomjit Ray, Rajnakshmi Ghosh and Nevedita Mehrotra celebrate their first-place victory at the “Beans, Rice n’ Spice” International Food cook-off in Eastway last night. Originally from Calcutta, the members of Team India prepared “Achaari Pulao,” a rice and shrimp dish.

Singletary hit his next four foul shots and finished with 19 points, but the senior fouled out late. “I really just needed to relax early — I was just too amped up,” Singletary said. “I started thinking too much. Then I just started relaxing, being a player and stepping up and making the free throws. “That’s something I will work on because we still got games coming up.”

Student finances

18-34-year-olds use more coupons in 2009

student from Jordan, worked on mansaf, his country’s national dish made of yogurt, rice and lamb. Alsakran’s partner, Fadi Tashtoush said Jordanian women often use mansaf to show off their skills and prove themselves. “The first question I’ll ask before I get married is, ‘Do you know how to cook mansaf?’” Tashtoush said. As the minutes wound down, cooks bustled about in chef hats

Daily Kent Stater

International cook-off heats up Eastway

The first floor of Eastway transformed into a miniature version of “Top Chef” Thursday night as international students battled it out for first place in a cook-off called Beans, Rice and Spice. In 90 minutes, the teams had to prepare their meal, their area and themselves for the presentation. “Food is the best way to bring everybody together,” Richard Roldan, director of Dining Services said. Teams toiled beneath flags representing India, Jordan, Indonesia, Cameroon, China and Puerto Rico to create one traditional meal from each country. Santanu De displayed his paintings of India’s national bird, the peacock, and national flower, the lotus, on the team’s table for decoration. His team members, Rajlakshmi Ghosh and Nivedita Mehrotra, hurried to finish “achaari pulao,” a spicy rice dish made with shrimp. “It’s a big platform for international students to talk about our cultures, our country and the food we miss,” Ghosh said. Jamal Alsakran, an international

second round The Mid-American Conference Tournament

Coupon clipping isn’t seen as a typical college past time, but in today’s economy, it’s the next best thing to printing your own money. Senior criminal justice major Brianna Olesh said when she lived on her own, she would spend 30 to 45 minutes every Sunday clipping coupons. “There were times when I would walk out of the grocery store having saved $30 on my groceries,” she said. If students spend 10 to 15 minutes clipping coupons every week, they can easily save 10-15 percent on their groceries, said Matthew Tilley, director of marketing for Inmar, a company that deals with coupon settlement for retailers and wholesalers, among other services.

In 2009, Tilley said Inmar saw an increase in the usage of coupons among younger consumers, specifically those ages 18 to 34. He said the increase had three main causes: the economy, consumers’ attitudes and the methods or tactics marketers use. Also, the use of the Internet and printed coupons increased three times over the past couple years, making them more accessible to a younger audience. Sites such as Coupons.com, Smartsource.com and Fatwallet. com are just a few of the online sources, but Tilley said 90 percent of coupons are distributed through Sunday newspapers. “If students are looking to save money, the best thing in the world they can do for groceries, as well as restaurants, is go buy a Sunday newspaper,” Tilley said. “That’s where you can find the largest assortment and better values.” Coupons can help save on groceries, but when retailers offer coupons for clothes and shoes, students might feel obligated to take advantage of a deal.

Olesh said she likes to use the 30 percent off coupons and other discounts when she shops at Kohl’s, but Tilley said he believes that a deal shouldn’t influence anyone. “A wise consumer is going to be one who is not responding to a deal for deal’s sake,” Tilley said. “If you weren’t going to buy something in the first place, then you probably won’t respond to that — that’s how smart shoppers use coupons.” Although coupon Web sites distribute less than one percent of coupons, some allow consumers to browse through items, pick what they want and print the coupons off, making it easier than clipping through catalogues. While grocery coupons seem to be popular, Brent Shelton, public relations director for Fatwallet. com, said electronics and computers are the hot items for the site, along with health and beauty products and vitamins. See COUPONS, Page 4

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THE TOP 5 STORIES OF THE WEEK

1. Barker pleads not guilty to murder charge in Kernich case

Adrian A. Barker, 21, of Akron pleaded not guilty this week to two counts of murder, stemming from a November assault on Kent State student Christopher Kernich. In his arraignment Wednesday, Barker also pleaded not guilty to one count each of assault, tampering with evidence and obstructing justice. The arraignment will continue at 9 a.m. April 8. Barker and Ronald G. Kelly, 20, of Akron allegedly assaulted Kernich, a junior pre-business management major, in the earlymorning hours of Nov. 15. Kernich died Nov. 21. Kelly was also indicted on three more counts of misdemeanor assault this week for allegedly assaulting three more Kent State students on the night of Kernich’s assault.

2. LGBTQ center opens at Kent State

Kent State’s new lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer center opened yesterday afternoon at the Student Center. The university held a grand opening for the center from 4 to 6 p.m. yesterday in Room 204 of the Student Center. The center’s location is in room 226M. “We will be working very hard on making it work, piece-bypiece, day-by-day,” PRIDE!Kent President Max Harrington said. “We are excited that it is actually here.” Kent State President Lester Lefton, Alfreda Brown, vice president for diversity, equity and inclusion, and Sue Doerfer, executive director of Equality Ohio, all attended the ceremony.

Campus editors

Anthony Holloway ahollow1@kent.edu Kristyn Soltis

3. Men’s basketball clinches MAC title

4. Some university properties show neglect Four off-campus properties owned by the university are showing signs of neglect and vandalism. Crime has also occurred at some of the properties, which include five houses, a former bar on Depeyster Street and the former Record Courier office on Erie Street. A police report filed in October describes an incident in the yard of 214 S. Willow St. as “Rape — substantially impair judgment.” Tom Euclide, Kent State’s associate vice president for facilities planning and operations, said the university’s plans for the properties are indefinite. He said he was unaware of the incidents.

idence for the School of Theatre and Dance, was invited to choreograph one of the senior pieces. “It felt like a wonderful continuity for me to come back and work with my old students,” Diaz said. In the past, the Senior Dance Festival and Senior BFA Dance Concert were separate shows. “This has been a much more exten-

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Schuyler Kasee

After a voter turnout nearly double of last year’s, Justin Pierce was elected executive director for next year’s Undergraduate Student Government. Pierce scored 1,092 votes, beating out his opponent, Matthew Gustoff, by 363 votes. Overall, a total of 2,309 students voted in the election, topping last year’s total of 1,387. Overall, 18 senators and directors were elected Tuesday. An additional seven positions will be appointed.

atre major and dance minor. “There are lighter pieces and some darker pieces.” Joan Meggitt, faculty director of the dance festival, said the program includes interpretations of personal journeys, coming of age, community, distraction, death and a dance of chance. Alicia Diaz, a former artist-in-res-

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Student-choreographed dance pieces hit the stage this weekend This weekend welcomes the Senior Dance Festival and Senior BFA Dance Concert. The program features several original student-choreographed modern dance pieces and collaboration with student composers from the school of music. “There are a lot of different (dance) styles represented,” said Alex Tepe, a student choreographer and senior the-

Cody Francis

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5. Pierce to lead next year’s USG

SPORTS

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Tom Gallick

The Kent State men’s basketball team clinched the regular-season Mid-American Conference title with a 74-61 victory Friday over Akron. Senior forward Anthony Simpson scored 23 points as the Flashes (23-8, 13-3 MAC) overcame Akron’s “whiteout” promotion, overwhelming their archrival. “To win a conference championship, you’ve got to win on the road,” Kent State coach Geno Ford said. “I thought we played really well, and they were not great in the first half, and that was the difference.”

Erin Perkins eperkin2@kent.edu

sive project than it has been in past years,” Meggitt said of combining the two shows. The program will run the entire weekend in the Wright-Curtis Theatre in the Music and Speech Center. Show times are 8:00 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2:00 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. –Kyle McDonald

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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.

OPINION

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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.

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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 Sara Scanes Multimedia editor

FAMOUS QUOTE “The time I kill is killing me.” —Mason Cooley

our

SUMMARY: Thirty-nine percent of students in the Kent City School District are overweight or obese. We may be set in our ways already, but our generation needs to make smart, health-conscious decisions for today’s children.

VIEW

Let’s battle the bulge

e’re a country that has an obsession with food. It’s surprising that the country’s motto hasn’t been changed yet. Not because secularists are angry with “In God we Trust,” but more so because the country’s most popular phrase has been “I love pie” for so long. We like the sweet, the salty, the fatty and any other flavor or variety of food as long as it isn’t good for us. But it’s too late for us older Americans. Tax soda, we’ll still buy it. Ban trans fats, we’ll just eat more of the classic kind of fat to make up for it. We’re set in our ways. But we can still save the children. Clichéd as it may sound, the children are our future. And we don’t want for them what lurks in the future of the average American: high blood pressure, heart disease and diabetes. According to the Portage County Obesity Prevention Coalition, 39 percent of students in the Kent City School District are overweight

or obese. In the age of fast food and videogames, this could be hard to change, but it’s critically important. If the threat of a shorter, more painful life isn’t enough to keep us healthy, maybe the staggering cost of health care will. It’s worth it for us as a country to invest in keeping our children fit. Let’s encourage fitness and healthy eating, especially among kids, even if it costs taxpayers a little cash. We need healthier school lunches, mandatory gym class and vending machines in the halls featuring something other than treats pulled straight out of Willy Wonka’s factory. Learning early on in life is the best way to create change, so why not use public schools as a breeding ground for healthy habits? Who knows, maybe the younger generation will grow up with a serious hankering for the leafy greens and an addiction to the exercise room, instead of a craving for chocolate and a butt-shaped groove on the couch. It’s a long shot because delicious food is indeed delicious, and inertia does keep us

chained to the television far too often. But let’s give the children a chance. Let’s give them an apple when they ask for some sour apple candy. Let’s buy them a football when they ask for the latest Madden video game. It won’t be easy to turn around this obesity epidemic in America, but the fight is one worth winning. We’re on the road to ruin, with a jumbo nondiet soda bulging in the cup holder. Our gluttonous habits are set in stone. But let’s give the little kids a chance to live a long time and avoid the plague that is obesity. Less is sometimes more. We just need to convince the kids, and let’s face it, ourselves. 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

■

DID YOU KNOW?

CHRIS SHARRON’s VIEW

On this day in 1933, eight days after his inauguration, President Franklin D. Roosevelt gave his first national radio address or “fireside chat,” broadcast directly from the White House. — History.com

The clicker scam at Kent State

A few days ago, I was looking through my desk and found something that I haven’t seen in months, something that instantly brought about feelings of anger and regret. Something that reminded me of the power a college has over its students. It was my clicker. Lying there in the drawer beneath an old notebook, a TI-84 calculator and a large bouncy ball was an object that turned out to be a complete waste of money. For the reader who may not know, the classroom response systems (commonly referred to as “clickers”) are small wireless electronic devices that send students’ responses to a professor’s question through radio frequency signals to a computer, which immediately displays the results. They are intended to encourage more student participation, especially in larger classes. However, it has been a lack of participation by professors that have left a large number of Kent State students feeling ripped off. This year’s freshman class has been a test group for the university when it comes to fully integrating the clicker technology into classes at Kent State. Last summer, my fellow freshmen and I were mandated by the KSU administration to each purchase a $45 clicker from the university bookstore. We were told it would be used in most of our classes as a way of increasing student interaction in the classroom. Professors would use it to take attendance. We would also be given quizzes or polls using the technology. It was something that was going to be a necessity. We would soon learn the folly of such a statement. As the first week of classes went by last fall, I quickly found out that only one of my professors would be using the clickers. That class was American Politics. At the start of the semester, my professor told everyone they needed to have a clicker for the class. Many of the students were upperclassmen who either didn’t have a clicker or had an older, now obsolete one. It was no excuse; they had to buy the new one that the administration deemed the university’s “official” clicker. In 15 weeks of classes, we used the clickers maybe three times. My professor had little quizzes set up for the class in his PowerPoint presentations. There were multiple-choice questions about boring things like the electoral system or whatever. He would usually throw in a funny choice that was clearly wrong. I’d always choose that one.

Mike Crissman It felt like being in the “Who Wants to be a Millionaire” audience. Anyway, it definitely didn’t seem like something that was worth $45. It made me feel as if our school, which we already pay many thousands of dollars to, had scammed us. Seeing my clicker for the first time in months earlier this week, in my mind, turned that opinion into fact. None of my professors have used the clickers this semester. Considering that the vast majority of my friends have never used them since purchasing them last year, I guess I’m lucky to have used it the three times that I did. But I still feel cheated. Honestly, I have no problem with using clickers. I can see the potential the technology has. For example, in a large lecture class, it can be intimidating for students to raise their hands and ask questions if they don’t understand something. Clickers allow professors to poll their students anonymously to make sure everyone understands the material, before moving on. As someone who makes an effort to attend class as much as possible, I encourage the use of clickers in taking attendance. My Music as a World Phenomenon professor does a roll call to check the attendance of my 125-student class. It takes an incredibly long time. Clickers would go a long way in cutting down wasted class time such as this. If the Kent State administration, in essence, forced thousands of naïve freshmen, and countless others, into buying this expensive “learning device,” then the least they can do is make sure it is being used. Those in charge have to make a better effort to ensure that more professors incorporate the technology into their classes. I am one of many students who are deeply dissatisfied with this situation. Fix it. 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

A price tag on self-value Walmart is causing a stir after cutting the price of a black Barbie doll to almost half the price of the white version. A photo being passed around the Internet shows Ballerina Barbie and Ballerina Theresa dolls next to each other on a shelf. The Theresa dolls, which are black, are marked on sale at $3. The Barbies beside them retain their original price of $5.93. My first reaction was an eye roll. When a product at a store isn’t selling, the store reduces the price. It’s a simple enough concept. It’s pretty clear this is not an issue of race, but an issue of money and sales techniques. “Pricing like items differently is a part of inventory management in retailing,” Melissa O’Brien, a Spokeswoman for Walmart, told ABCNews.com in an e-mail. She added that both dolls were priced the same to start, but one was marked down due to its lower sales to hopefully increase purchase from customers. If there are two identical shirts, one blue and one yellow, and the yellow shirt is priced lower because fewer people are buying it, no one is going to argue. Then, I realized something. The difference is that no one will look at a cheaper yellow shirt and feel demoralized. I watched a video from ABC’s “Good Morning America” that accompanied the story. It was ultimately what changed my mind. The video talked about a study conducted in the 1940s by sociologists Kenneth and

their

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On Sept. 12, 1960, Democratic presidential nominee John F. Kennedy delivered a speech to Protestant ministers in Houston that is regarded as a turning point not just in that year’s election, but in the decline of antiCatholicism in the United States. “I believe,” Kennedy said, “in an America where the separation of church and state is absolute — where no Catholic prelate would tell the president (should he be Catholic) how to act, and no Protestant minister would tell his parishioners for whom to vote.” Last week, a prominent Roman Catholic prelate, also addressing a Protestant audience in Houston, said that Kennedy’s speech was “sincere, compelling, articulate — and wrong.” Archbishop Charles J. Chaput of Denver, a leader of the church’s conservative wing, complained that Kennedy had “profoundly undermined the place not just of Catholics but of all religious believers in America’s public life. ... Today, half a century later, we’re paying for the damage.” The archbishop chided contemporary

Rabab Al-Sharif Mamie Clark. In the study, black children were shown two dolls that were completely identical in every aspect except for the color of their skin. When asked which doll they would rather play with, 63 percent said the white doll, adding that was the nicer doll. Even more startling, almost half of the children said the white doll looked most like them. When ABC re-conducted the experiment with 19 black children in 2009, they discovered that 88 percent of children identified with the black doll and a majority preferred to play with the darker doll, both dolls or neither. When asked which doll was the good doll, most of the children said the black doll was nice or that both were equally nice. Much better results than 70 years ago, right? That’s what I thought until I heard the answer to a new question that ABC added: Which doll is the prettiest? All of the boys answered both dolls were

equally pretty, but the girls weren’t so confident. Nearly half of the girls said the white doll was the prettiest. To hear these little girls say the white doll was prettier because of its light skin made me feel sick inside, which brought me back to the black doll being sold for less. What is that telling these young black girls? That the white dolls are better? That the white doll is prettier? That they are worth less than little white girls? It’s easy to look at the issue on the surface and say there is no real issue, that it’s just people worried about being politically correct over something silly. It’s a lot harder when you hear a little black girl say that brown skin isn’t pretty. Do I think that Walmart lowered the price to be racist? Absolutely not. But, if they were truly trying to clear space, why not just lower the price of both dolls? Is $2.93 really worth a child’s feeling of selfvalue? 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 KentWired.com

Revisiting JFK Catholic politicians for following Kennedy’s lead in living their faith “as if it were a private idiosyncrasy — the kind that they’ll never allow to become a public nuisance.” Chaput isn’t alone in faulting Kennedy for seeming to imply that a political leader’s faith has no connection to his public life. But Kennedy’s main intention was to assure Protestants suspicious of Catholicism that he would make decisions “in accordance with what my conscience tells me to be the national interest, and without regard to outside religious pressures or dictates.” The tension Kennedy was describing may sound familiar. It figures in the continuing controversy over whether Catholic politicians must embrace the church’s opposition to abortion and whether a candidate who fails to do so should be denied Holy Communion or drummed out of office by Catholic voters. It is telling that Chaput described abortion as the “foundational human rights issue of our lifetime,” and it’s no coincidence that in 2008, he suggested that presidential candidate Joe

Biden, a Catholic who is an abortion rights advocate, shouldn’t approach the communion rail. Catholic bishops, like other religious leaders, have every right to exhort their co-religionists in public office to live by their faith. And it’s not for us to tell church leaders when or to whom they should administer their sacraments. But when they condition full participation in the church on a politician’s position on abortion, they put him or her in a difficult bind. Publicly forcing politicians to choose between their faith and their political judgment creates the very impression that Kennedy sought to avoid, with positive consequences for pluralism and religious tolerance. As we see it, Kennedy’s position is still the correct one. The above editorial appeared was originally published March 10 by the Los Angeles Times. Content was made available by MCT Campus. React to this story and more at KentWired.com

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Daily Kent Stater

Overweight children and obesity on the rise Bo Gemmell

Daily Kent Stater A recent study from the Portage County Obesity Prevention Coalition identified 39 percent of students in the Kent City School District as overweight or obese. A 2008 report from the Portage County Health Commissioner ranked 40 percent of the county’s children overweight and 22 percent obese. John Ferlito, Health Commissioner for Kent, said the problem has been on the rise since he started working for the city 35 years ago. “It’s become a real concern,” Ferlito said. “We’re trying to get the word out and educate people.” Portage County isn’t alone. A July 2009 study from Trust for America’s Health found that one out of every three children in Ohio is overweight or obese. Ohio ranked 15th in the U.S. in terms of overweight and obese children. Overweight and obesity are defined by ranges of weight that are greater than what is generally regarded as healthy for a particular height. According to the Centers for Disease Control, overweight and obesity ranges are determined by a body mass index, or BMI. The BMI for adults is a calculation based on height and weight. The BMI calculation for children also factors in age and gender. From Page 1

COUPONS Saving money in college can be as easy as clipping coupons Shelton said one of the reasons students use the coupon site is because it offers cash back rewards and deals. A lot of college students are experts at finding deals and teach their friends how to “stack multiple discounts on top of each other.” “With anything that’s considered a deal, it’s always good to do

Concerned about your weight? Calculate your BMI at www.cdc.gov/healthyweight/ assessing/bmi

Tackling the problem The Portage County Health Department received $85,000 from the Healthy Ohio Obesity Prevention Grant. The grant helped create the Portage County Obesity Prevention Coalition, a collaborative effort among the Portage County Health Department, Robinson Memorial Hospital’s Health Education Center, Robinson Health Affiliates, Kent State University and the Portage County Community Health Center. Kent State’s Nutrition Outreach Program contributes to the Coalition’s public education efforts. Jodie Luidhardt, the program’s coordinator, said undergraduate and graduate students teach healthy eating habits at local schools and give students incentives for eating well. Kent City Schools are working to provide healthier eating options as well. “We’re working with the schools to try to get better nutrition education,” Ferlito said. “They’ve taken all the pop and candy bars out of the vending machines.”

Causes of weight gain and obesity Luidhardt said several factors the research and ask yourself if you really need this, because you can get hooked,” Shelton said. Ashley Dill, senior general studies major, lives off campus and said she doesn’t think it’s worth it to spend the time clipping coupons. “It takes a lot of time to cut them out, and I don’t have a newspaper subscription,” Dill said. She said she shops at Walmart because it has cheap prices and good deals, but Tilley said he thinks coupons are best for helping people decide which brand

Percentage of obese students

Health Commission says trend is a concern

District BMI Percentiles by Grade and Sex

12 9

Note: The data is presented first overall by grade, then by sex (boys/girls), and finally overall by district and then with respect to boys and girls overall within the district.

6 3 0 Overall Overall Overall Overall District Kindergarten 3rd grade 7th grade 9th grade total

Source: Kent City Schools

contribute to unhealthy weight gain in children. “You can’t just blame the school lunch,” she said. Luidhardt said the schools follow federal nutrition guidelines, but there may be an issue with the amount of food. “I see kindergarteners getting the same amount as seventh graders,” she said. She said fruit and vegetable consumption needs to improve and junk food consumption needs to decrease. In addition to diet problems, a lack of physical activity results in less calories being burned than consumed. The Coalition’s June 2009 Obesity Prevention Plan concluded that the current environment in to buy versus which store to shop in. “Use it to your advantage” he said. “There’s a lot of opportunity to save, and you can think about it as an opportunity to try something new, such as a new brand.” Contact student finance reporter Courtney Kerrigan at ckerriga@kent.edu. React to this story and more at KentWired.com

Portage County is “not conducive to supporting healthy habits.” It stated that the majority of residents live in areas without sidewalks, drive long distances to work, have high-calorie diets and access to many fast food restaurants. Ferlito said the city is trying to expand recreation trails to promote physical activity. “We’re trying to get people to go out and ride their bikes and walk more,” he said. Contact Bo Gemmell at dgemmell@kent.edu. React to this story and more at KentWired.com

From Page 1

International cook-off heats up in Eastway

Bachelor’s degrees adding number of credit hours required

Paloma Hsu said the Puerto Rican dish, arroz con ganduals, was so important that “our grandmas and moms made us stand in the kitchen and watch” to learn how to make it. Judging was based on the dish’s appearance and taste, a presentation on its significance and “over-the-top” factors, such as traditional costumes. After samples and presentations, the three judges tallied the points and determined the winners. The Cameroonian team won third place for their dish of beef, spinach and plantains. Natalie Biwole, international student from Cameroon, accepted the trophy. Indonesia took second place with nasi tumpeng, a cone of yellow rice with vegetables around its base. Imam Hidayat said nasi tumpeng has a “deep philosophical meaning” in his country. The cone represents “working hard to reach our goals,” and the vegetables at the bottom are “the payoff when we reach the top.” It also symbolizes a volcano, which Hidayat said is an important part of his culture because Indonesia is part of a large collection of volcanoes known as the Ring of Fire. Finally, Mary Anne Saunders, director of the Office of International Affairs announced the first-prize winner — India. Ghosh, dressed in a traditional pink saree, said she was “shaking” with excitement. The Indian team won $200 to use at the Kent State’s University Bookstore, and their recipe will be featured on Eastway’s menu. Alsakran said he was happy to participate and to let students experience his country’s food. “Even the teams that won, they are all my friends, so I’m happy for them,” he said. Administrators and students said the event was a success, and they want to make the international cook-off an annual event at Kent.

Cynthia Symons, professor in health education and promotion, said while the credit hour requirements look daunting on paper, there is a very good explanation for this that many students don’t realize. For example, students working to earn a degree in school health and physical education can have to take up to 167 credit hours to graduate — taking them well into a fifth year of classes. This is because a program like this is technically a dual major: one in school health and one in physical education. However, by taking a fifth year, students will graduate with two full majors and two full licensures in Ohio, Symons said. “That accounts for the additional credit hours,” Symons said. “The licenses are split and you can get one or the other, or you can load up and get both.” Symons said the fifth year of additional credits is very beneficial to students in the education field. “In terms of increasing their marketability, anytime a teacher can have licenses or credentials in more than one area, the more marketable they are,” she said. If students choose to get both licensures, some of those hours can be taken over the summer, said Ralph Lorenz, interim associate dean of the College of the Arts. “Of course you can take extra courses during the summer, but it’s not generally assumed that students have to take courses during summer,” Lorenz said. If a program is 132 hours or more, the department has to decide whether to cut back hours or advertise as more than a four-year program, Frank added. “Degrees are constantly pressured to justify why they aren’t at the typical 120 national average,” Frank said. “Both at a national and international level, there is a push for a bachelor’s degree to be as efficient as possible.” Lorenz said overall, colleges have to realize that it’s all about “finding the right balance.” “There is always something to be said for the additional knowledge you take up,” Lorenz added. “There is always a trade-off between efficiency and picking up a highly developed set of skills.”

COOK-OFF

Contact international affairs and honors reporter Bethany English at benglis3@kent.edu. React to this story and more at KentWired.com

CREDIT

Contact academics reporter Suzi Starheim at sstarhei@kent.edu. React to this story and more at KentWired.com

Daily Kent Stater

For information about placing a Display ad please call our offices at 330-672-2586 or visit us at 205 Franklin Hall, Kent State University. Our office hours are from 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.

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Friday, March 12, 2010 | Page 5

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Pregnancy Center of Kent. Here to Help (330) 839-9919 Mike’s Place Monday nights 32 cent wings - $2 margaritas Mike’s Place Tuesday nights $2.50 gyros - $2 Long Islands - Bar only $4 BAGEL SANDWICHES $4 9 Great Choices FRIDAYS! No Damn Coupons! Franklin Square Deli Weekend Deal... Franklin Square Deli $1.00 Off any Whole Sub All Day Saturday- All Day Sunday Favorite Italian Submarines $1.00 Off any Whole Sub All Day Saturday- All Day Sunday FRANKLIN SQUARE DELI

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.

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Shrewsberry Rentals 3, 4, and 6 bedrooms starting at $900. 4 bedrooms $1475. 6 bedrooms $2,000. Trash, sewer, and recycling paid. 330-221-2881

The Mahoning Valley Organizing Collective is an organization dedicated to improving the quality of life in the Youngstown/Warren Region by identifying and developing leaders, organizing neighborhoods, and building capacity to achieve healthy communities. Qualifications: -Excellent written and oral communication skills, organizaion, interpersonal skills and ability to work with people from a variety of backgrounds. -Proficient in Microsoft programs including Excel, Word, Access, PowerPoint, and internet research. -Interest in social justice issues -Must have a valid Ohio driver’s license and access to a reliable car. For more information, visit www. mvorganizing.org/organizingfellow or email your resume and cover letter to beth@mvorganizing.org. 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 Hudson’s Restaurant Now Hiring Exp. Line cooks, Servers, Hostesses & Dishwashers. Apply at 80 N. Main St., Hudson. Lawn Fertilization Company seeks employee. No experience necessary, must have valid Ohio drivers license 4 points or less, please call 330-6883389 WANTED: PT concession help. Ravenswood Golf Course. 10 minutes from campus. Call 330-2964103. SERIOUS INQUIRIES ONLY! What if you could get paid .25 - $2.00 for every license plate number you write down? You want to know how? Contact me at proverbs_13_22@ yahoo.com Seeking Part-time personnel to help prepare online listings for eBay store. Flexible hours, pay based on experience. Must have extensive knowledge of eBay. Transportation required to office in Bedford. Contact Dan (330) 294-1045. Landscape design/construction company in Hudson seeking full-time laborers. $8/ hour. Call 330-650-4337.

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.

To get the advantage, check the day’s rating: 10 is the easiest day, 0 the most challenging.

Taurus (April 20-May 20) Today is a 7. Press forward with your plan, but don’t expect others to help you today. You may need to wait for your support team. Gemini (May 21-June 21) Today is a 5. The obsessive pursuit of independence makes you jump the gun. Complete a required assignment before you leave town. Then, enjoy the trip. Cancer (June 22-July 22) Today is a 6. The only thing you want right now is change. Take action, even if you think it’s wrong. You can regroup later.

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) Today is a 7. A close associate demands control and threatens to leave. Your best bet is to hand over the reins and sit back. Everything will work out.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) Today is a 6. The most careful plans require change. Although you want independence, sharing with a companion gets better results.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) Today is a 7. A co-worker demands independence. That’s OK with you, as you have your own ideas to pursue now. You can get together another day to compare notes.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Today is a 5. Competing desires keep you from making decisions easily. You don’t have to do it all simultaneously. Take one thing at a time.

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) Today is a 7. It’s easy to become anxious when you think about joining a group activity. Remember, you won’t lose your independence, and you’ll gain support. Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) Today is an 8. Compulsive desires lead to excessive tidying up at home. Make others comfortable and avoid isolating yourself.

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. 330808-4045 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. Remodeled, University Town Home, 5 BR, W/D, Dishwasher, 2.5 Baths, $275 per room, Will go fast, 330-8084045 University Townhomes 5 bedroom 2.5 bath. $265/month tahaysmanagement.com, 330-612-0767 Stow: 2 & 3 bed townhomes with one car garage. Pets welcome, 10 min from KSU. Prices $665-$850 call (330)686-2269. Kent- 3&4 bdrm townhouses for fall, $395 pr rm includes gas & trash 330678-3047 or BuckeyeParksMgmt. com Kent- 1 bdrm & efficiencies for fall, starting at $450 pr mth includes ALL UTILITIES 330-678-3047 or BuckeyeParksMgmt.com Kent- 2&3 bdrm for fall, starting at $425 pr rm some include ALL UTILITIES 330-678-3047 or BuckeyeParksMgmt.com 3 bedroom, 3 bath, 2 car garage, condo-styled duplex, on two acres, $1100/mo. 330-221-4533 KENT/BRIMFIELD. Newer 3 & 4 Bdrm duplexes. 1 car garage. $900-$1100 per month. 330-338-5841 or 330329-1118 Kent - 1,2&3 bedroom. $500, $590 and $750. 330-677-5577

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

Today’s birthday (3/12/10) This year you learn important lessons about the giving and receiving of love. You may even obsess at times over how to demonstrate your devotion more confidently and responsibly. You wish to pursue every ideal, but you benefit from focusing your efforts.

NOW LEASING FOR FALL 5,4,2,1 bedroom Houses. Efficiency. Good Location Near KSU. Call (330) 554-8353

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The Mahoning Valley Organizing Cooperative (MVOC) is seeking a full-time Community Organizer Fellow to work in the Youngstown and Warren, Ohio communities. The Fellow will work with a senior community organizer to coordinate grassroots issue campaigns and projects, identify and develop leaders, and bring together a broad base of institutions and residents to work collectively to address quality of life issues.

By Linda Black

Aries (March 21-April 19) Today is a 6. Between giving and receiving love, you obsess over every detail today. The closer you get, the more you miss your independence. Go with the flow.

STUDENT RENTALS FOR THE ‘10-’11 YEAR Are you looking for a 1 or 2 bedroom apartment, a studio, a duplex, a house, or a student rooming house with 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8 bedrooms? Our staff is ready to help you with all your housing needs. Check out the list of available rentals on our website www.jkohlre.com click on Rental Management, Student Rentals, or you can stop in or call our office. Jack Kohl Realty EHO 237 East Main Street Kent, OH 44240 Phone: 330-677-4722 Fax: 330-677-4730

Spacious 3 bedroom, 2 bath duplex. LR and Family Room, W/D, A/C, $960/ mo, Available July (330)630-9285. Kent near downtown and campus 2 bedroom apartment, all utilities paid except electric, $350/bedroom + security deposit. (330)676-9440 Now Leasing for Fall a beautifully newly redecorated 3 bedroom, 1.5 bath duplex. $275/person, (330)6876122. NOW LEASING FOR FALL 1 block from KSU Beautiful newly redecorated 2 bedroom, 1.5 bath townhouse apartments $325/student 330-687-6122 Available Fall 2010. Act now! Looking for 5 responsible students for newly renovated university townhome. Call after 8pm (440) 622-3630. 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 $365/BR. www.hidden-pines.com/ or 440-708-2372 Great campus condo. 3 bedroom, 1.5 bath. Available August. Call Dr. Miller at (330) 618-7764 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 3 Bedroom house available for Fall. Great condition, full appliances, $350 bedroom 1, $325 per bedroom 2 and 3. Close to Campus 330-673-1225 2 Bedrooms, 1-1/2 Baths. Close to Campus. $660/month. No Pets, go to www.lincolnwoodrentals.com or call 330-835-7737. Available For Fall Huge 4 or 5 bedroom units in great condition. Deck/patio, garage, large yard, washer/dryer hook up. $300/ bed includes water and trash. (330) 612-4057 2 bedroom upstairs apartment for fall. Newly remodeled, located on N Depeyster St. $310/person/month +gas +electric. lease references, deposit, no pets, 330-297-7117 1, 2, & 3 bedroom apartments, close to campus. Joe (330) 310-1494 Now Leasing for Fall. Kent 4 and 8 bedroom houses. 330-626-5910

For Fall: 3 bedroom apartments $400/month per room, security deposit required. Heat included, laundry room. No pets. Across from KSU. (330) 554-3024 6/7 Bedroom from campus, (330)298-0321

house, 1 block $1600/1900/month

For Fall: 4 bedroom and 3 bedroom apartments $400/month per room, security deposit required. Heat included, laundry room. No pets. Across from KSU. (330) 554-3024 Kent: Premium Victorian Apts, downtown, energy efficient, stylish! www.kentsuites.com (330) 6780925 2 Bedroom Duplex close to downtown & 2 Bedroom Condo close to campus, both available August (330) 678-7901 3 Bedroom Newly Remodeled House, close to campus, 2 of 3 must be related (330) 678-7901 4-5 bedroom University Townhomes for rent August 2010. Starting at $270/month. Water included. 440336-6761 www.kenttownhomes. com 2 bedroom 1.5 bath apartment $585/ month + deposit & electric. 1 bedroom loft with private balcony $485/month + deposit & Electric Heat, water and trash included (330) 312-0066 or (330) 968-4930 University Townhomes 5 bedroom, 2.5 bath, washer, dryer, dishwasher, and microwave included. 1 year leases available. Call 330-501-9239 for more information. House for Rent, 6 Bedrooms, Across from campus, On-site parking, $350 per room plus utilities. 330-2210460. Rooms for Fall 1 block from campus. $350/mo includes ALL utilities, cable and internet. Non-smoking house. Chris Myers (330) 678-6984 Jordan Court Apts. 1 & 2 bedrooms. You pay electric we take care of rest. (330) 678-0972 March Special: 1 or 2 bedroom. Move in by St. Patrick’s day and receive rest of March rent free. (330) 678-0972 Private 1 Bedroom Apartment, Close to Campus & Downtown. $500 www.rentkent.com (812) 655-0777

Need money? Fisherman collector buying tackle, lures, reels, related items. fishingJake@gmail.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) Today is a 5. Hard work is required to get through the day. Oh, well. It’s Friday, and the weekend beckons. But for now, keep the pedal on the metal. Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) Today is a 7. Reserve time today for independent work. You don’t want others to see what you’re doing, so close the door.

Page 6 | Friday, March 12, 2010

Daily Kent Stater

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

ON ONTHE THEWEB WEBATATKENTNEWSNET.COM KENTWIRED.COM

“

Seniors compete in last home meet

This is the biggest competition that I can compete in here in America. I think it’s very exciting. — SOPHOMORE DIANA DUMITRESCU

Gymnasts battle Bowling Green in run for MAC title Katie Corbut

Daily Kent Stater

FILE PHOTO BY SHAYE A. PAINTER | DAILY KENT STATER

Kent State sophomore Diana Dumitrescu nails her triple jump landing during last year’s MAC Indoor Track and Field Championships. Dumitrescu will compete in the women’s pentathlon at the NCAA Indoor Championships Saturday.

International pentathlete qualifies for nationals Dumitrescu prepped for NCAA tourney Jody Michael

Daily Kent Stater

ophomore Diana Dumitrescu’s historic indoor track and field season concludes Saturday as she competes in the women’s pentathlon at the NCAA Indoor Championships in Fayetteville, Ark. In her two years since coming to Kent State from Romania, she has won consecutive conference indoor titles in the pentathlon, but she said this weekend’s meet will be her most memorable highlight yet. “This is the biggest competition that I can compete in here in America,” Dumitrescu said. “I think it’s very exciting.” Dumitrescu set the school record in the women’s pentathlon Feb. 12 at the Akron Invitational. Her 4,016 points surpassed the 3,906 achieved by Aja Farris in 2001. With that performance, Dumitrescu currently holds the 12th-best pentathlon score in

the nation this season. “We’re very proud of her accomplishments,” Kent State coach Bill Lawson said. “It’s what every athlete strives for.” Seven other Kent State athletes earned provisional qualifying marks but weren’t invited to the NCAA meet. Dumitrescu said her teammates have still been supportive. “I think that they are always proud of me, and they are not jealous,” she said. “We are close with each other. Everybody tries to encourage their teammates to do well.” Dumitrescu is within reach of the No. 7 pentathlete in the nation this year, who is only 48 points in front of her season-best. She is also just 53 points from her career-best mark of 4,069 points, earned in Bucharest in 2007. She and Lawson cite her proximity to the other competitors as why a top-10 finish this weekend is attainable. “With point totals coming into the meet so close,” Lawson said, “hopefully Diana scores more than 4,000 points and will represent the Golden Flashes on the podium.” Dumitrescu said she doesn’t have very specific expectations and just hopes to perform well.

“I want to do the best that I can,” she said. “If I could improve my score, that would be nice, and maybe to be in the top 10. I think that would be good for me.” Her best event is the shot put, which she won during the pentathlon at the Mid-American Conference Championships with a throw of 48‘-8.25,”which was more than a foot farther than anyone else competing. But Dumitrescu said she doesn’t want to focus on any one event in particular this weekend. “I think I should focus on everything, and at the end of the competition, I will have a better result,” she said. Dumitrescu said she appreciates the support she receives from Lawson and the rest of the coaching staff. “They encourage me and they are proud of me,” she said. “They trust in me that I can do OK.” Contact sports reporter Jody Michael at jmicha10@kent.edu. React to this story and more at

KentWired.com.

GOLF

Men’s team takes flight without Hahn Young Flashes look to shine on Sunday Rachel Jones

Daily Kent Stater When the No. 36 Kent State men’s golf team packs up for the General Hackler Championship in Myrtle Beach, S.C., this weekend, it will leave one thing at home: Honorable Mention All-American John Hahn. The junior, who recently earned MAC Golfer of the Week, cracked a rib during a hard swing at a tournament earlier this season, but Kent State coach Herb Page said the injury was unknown until recently. “We think he cracked it making a golf swing at our Alumni Match in Florida about a month ago,” Page said. “We had him taped up, and he played in Puerto Rico in serious pain. But he couldn’t do any more damage.” Hahn has been rehabbing his injury, but Page said the rib could

only heal with complete rest. The date of his return isn’t known, but since it is early in the season, Hahn has time to heal. “You don’t replace a John Hahn; it just doesn’t happen,” he said. “But out of something bad, something good always comes. In this case, it’s an opportunity for younger or less-experienced players to get some experience.” That experience will be put on display at TPC of Myrtle Beach, where the Flashes will face 11 teams starting Sunday and Monday. During the team’s last performance in the Puerto Rico Classic Feb. 21-23, the Flashes placed ninth out of 15 in the finals. Freshman Kevin Miller tied Hahn for 23rd place. Page said that performance guaranteed him a spot in the upcoming lineup. “He had a fabulous tournament,” Page said. “The adjustment from high school to college golf will take some time, but this is definitely a step in the right direction.” Miller will share the lineup with junior Brett Cairns and sophomore

Mackenzie Hughes. The last two spots will come from the pool of junior John Furlong, junior J.P. Paiement and freshman Isaac Charette. While a new lineup is challenging, Page said he has confidence in the group as a whole. “Relatively speaking, they’re a little inexperienced, but they’re on a great golf team,” Page said. “It’s time to step up and see if they can take it to the next level and put some numbers down in a tough tournament.” The weather also poses a challenge for Kent State. The Flashes, who have not played a round of golf outside in 18 days, will face 10 southern teams in the tournament. Page said he is frustrated his team is at a disadvantage, but will not use the weather as an excuse. “Quite honestly, we’re sick of the snow, but we’re used to it,” Page said. “It’s part of being Kent State University’s golf team. We have the 22nd-most difficult schedule in the country, and that’s part of it: coming from the north and going down to play them on their turf this time of the year.”

Despite the climatic advantage, Page said the Flashes should be able to hold their own against the competition. “We’re ranked ahead of some of them, and there are some of them ahead of us,” Page said. “I know we’re playing a difficult schedule, we’re playing some great teams, but that’s what we want to do.” Although the Flashes had some recent setbacks, Page said the team is excited to return after a three-week break. “We just want to go down and see improvement every day,” Page said. “Let’s hope we can shake those cobwebs off and get a good showing.” Watch live updates from the tournament at www.golfstat.com.

The Kent State gymnastics team will host Bowling Green in a dual meet at 1 p.m. Sunday in the M.A.C. Center, which will be the final home meet for four Flashes. The Kent State coaches said the senior class of Lydia Barrett, Carly Conroy, Brittany Kopp and Sam Heydlauff will be difficult to replace. “Ever since the girls got here, they’ve been a group that we’ve never had problems with,” assistant coach Sharon Sabin said. “A lot of freshman classes have that transition phase of balancing school and gymnastics, but this group wasn’t like that. They were just as driven in the gym as they were in class.” Kent State coach Brice Biggin and Sabin got to know the seniors very well over the past four years. Spending more than four hours with them every day, they see the athletes more often than their parents do. Sabin said she hopes she has led them in the right direction in more ways than just gymnastics. “It’s great to see them when they’re seniors. They might be getting married, they know their career, they have job interviews … after not knowing how to get a parking pass on campus!” Sabin said. “You coach these athletes in life too, in everyday situations.” Sabin said the senior gymnasts have been leaders from the start and consistently improved every year, making them role models to the underclassmen. In typical lead-by-example style, the seniors have been key contributors to the team during competitions this season. Kopp has provided a solid routine on the beam in every meet except the Flashes’ season opener, and her coaches said they could not be more proud of the amount of versatility she has shown in her career. When Kopp first came to Kent State, she was not the dominant beam performer that she is now. “She’s doing great on the vault and beam,” Biggin said. “She’s very consistent. Obviously she had a little trouble the first meet of the year, but that’s been it since then.” Conroy will also be hard to replace as a beam specialist. Biggin said he feels her current struggles on beam are disappointing, but he is thankful for the numbers she has scored in previous meets. “She’s been someone who’s been there for us on beam for three years and is certainly a capable backup,” Biggin said. “She’s competed floor a few times this year for the first time in her career, which says a lot about what she’s able to do.” Sabin and Biggin agree Heydlauff has been the team’s “unsung

hero.” Biggin worked with Heydlauff at a summer camp, and Sabin also worked with her at a camp in Michigan. She walked on the team BARRETT as a freshman unable to tumble backwards and was transformed into a Division I gymnast. “ S h e ’ s become such a better gymn a s t s i n c e KOPP she’s been here,” Sabin said. “Sometimes it’s just getting in a different environment. Coaches can be saying the same thing, but in differCONROY ent words.” Biggin will also miss Heydlauff, and he continues to be impressed with her progre s s , w h i c h earned her a scholarship. “I think she had a set- HEYDLAUFF back in club gymnastics, and it was a matter of getting her confidence back,” Biggin said. “It was nice to see her get through it, and now she’s one of our tough floor people.” Although a back injury prevents Barrett from competing at beam, Sabin said the senior has consistently developed throughout her career in the other events. “She’s been a strong performer,” Sabin said. “We feel that her priority is to have her healthy on the three (other events).” With both teams undefeated in Mid-American Conference competition, a win for the Flashes would guarantee at least a share of the conference for Kent State. Bowling Green is scoring in the 192-point range, which trails the Flashes’ average by more than two points. Despite the advantage, Biggin said he would not overlook the opponent. “We’ll get a test out of the weekend,” he said. “The more you get tested, the better the girls will perform in different situations.” Sabin said because Bowling Green is hosting the MAC Championships this year, she is wary the Falcons will be gunning for a winning record for the season. “They’ll probably have more fire under them and desire to do well,” she said. “I’m sure they have extra motivation going into this year.” Contact sports reporter Katie Corbut at kcorbut@kent.edu. React to this story and more at KentWired.com.

PHILIP BOTTA | DAILY KENT STATER

Senior gymnast Brittany Kopp is congratulated by her coaches after her vault during Kent State’s meet against Eastern Michigan on Friday, Jan. 22.

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

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