SPORTS: Mitcheff looks to cement name in record books. Pg 6
DAILY KENT STATER
Wednesday, March 3, 2010 • The independent student newspaper of Kent State University • Weather: Snow showers HI 31, LO 25
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RECRUITMENT
KRISTINA DECKERT | DAILY KENT STATER
KSU targets better qualified students Daily Kent Stater Kent State is adopting a more aggressive strategy to attract outof-state students as Ohio high school graduation rates continue to decline. The university’s marketing department has stepped up its presence in several specific regions of the country and will revamp its advertising campaign to lure more non-Ohio students to Kent State, said Iris Harvey, vice president of university marketing. “There will be fewer and fewer high school graduates coming out of Northeast Ohio,” Harvey said. “And so a number of things we’re looking at is where else can we find students who have a tendency to leave home to go to school.” They’re finding them in areas such as Pennsylvania, Washington DC, Maryland, Illinois and New York — states where the university plans to heavily advertise itself to potential students. Three years ago, the university hired five additional admissions counselors to focus on bringing in students from those key states. Enrollment of out-of-state students jumped 14 percent over the last year, said David Garcia, vice president of enrollment management. “The communication flow is a little bit different (when talking to out-of-state students),” Garcia said, adding counselors tend to focus on scholarship opportunities and the campus’ residential options with non-resident students.
“
People are starting to recognize that Kent State is a great value. We’re trying to re-assert Kent State as a local, statewide and nationwide source. LESTER LEFTON PRESIDENT
G a rc i a s a i d b y J u l y, t h e admissions department and the undergraduate studies department will add a new position to coordinate alumni recruitment efforts out-of-state. “It’s a greater personalization,” said Harvey, who described the university’s new marketing strategy as embracing a more specific analysis of students’ geographic region and background than it did in the past. President Lester Lefton credits this new strategy with bringing in “higher-quality students” to Kent State. This year’s freshman class averaged both a higher high school GPA and composite ACT scores than in previous classes, with a GPA of 3.19, compared to last year’s 3.16, and an ACT score of 22.19, compared to last year’s 21.94. “We are marketing, better, smarter with more of an emphasis on excellence,” Lefton said. “People are starting to recognize that Kent State is a great value. We’re trying to re-assert Kent State as a local, statewide and nationwide source.” See IMAGE, Page 4
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Pennsylvania n New York n Washington, DC n Maryland n Illinois n
Jenna Staul
700 5 0 4 620699 0 570 9 465660
YOUR CREDIT
KENT STATE IS RECRUITING FROM:
University revamps advertising campaign
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700
A NUMBER WORTH WATCHING Courtney Kerrigan | Daily Kent Stater
W
hen applying for loans or credit cards, the make-it-or-break-it factor lies within credit scores. But some students do not know what goes into their scores. Sophomore finance major Olivia Blatt said she uses credit cards, but doesn’t know the exact number of her credit score. “I know it’s good, though, because I’ve never made any late payments,” she said. “I’ll figure out what it is eventually, but I don’t have a set idea of when that will be.” It takes years to build good credit such as Blatt’s, but with just a few late payments, students’ credit scores can drop significantly, delaying their chances of obtaining loans. Knowing the basics of credit scores and maintaining a good score in college can save students money and serve as the groundwork for a financially responsible future.
What is a credit score? A credit score is a three-digit number that shows a person’s credit capabilities. It is calculated from an algorithm used by three credit reporting agencies — Equifax, Experian and TransUnion — to determine the amount of potential risk for lending people money, said Kelly Paton, program coordinator for Consumer Credit Counseling Services, a program of Family and Community Services in Ravenna.
How is a credit score determined? Paton broke down the five
contributing factors that determine a credit score based on the score estimator by FICO, the company that created the creditscoring model: 35% is payment history — making payments on time, any legal actions against a person in relation to money, such as bankruptcy or garnishments and the total amount past due. 30% is amount owed — the available credit being used and if credit cards are maxed out. 15% is the length of credit history — how much time since a person established his/ her first credit account, how long a person has had loans established, such as a car loan or a mortgage.
10% is the type of credits used — these include credit cards, home loans, personal loans, car loans, mortgage, etc., and shows how a person manages different types of payments and responsibility. 10% is any new credit applications a person has requested — how many credit applications a person applies for, and how many times someone looked at a person’s credit report to make a decision about a loan. Based on those factors, creditors report a person’s information to the three credit reporting agencies, and then those agencies compile the information and publish the report. See CREDIT, Page 4
five contributing factors that determine a credit score based on the score estimator by FICO (FICO is the company that created the credit-scoring model)
35% 30% 15% 10% 10%
is payment history
is amount owed
is length of credit history
is type of credits used
is new credit applications a person has requested
The FICO scale in a nutshell:
300 850 680
is a low score (bad)
is a high score (good)
anything above this number is considered good credit
700
this is a good score, but there’s room to improve
650
anything below this number means you may have high debts
700
creditors are generally looking for anything above this number
TECHNOLOGY
New project allows cell phones in classroom WHAT THIS MEANS TO YOU: Students will have a chance to be active in learning.
Dan Richardson
Daily Kent Stater BRITTANY ANKROM | DAILY KENT STATER
Thomas McNeal scans a Quick Response code with his smart phone in his office in Moulton Hall. After the QR code is captured by the camera, on-demand multimedia appears on the phone.
For once, a syllabus is going to tell students to turn on their cell phones. Thomas McNeal and Mark van ’t Hooft of the Research Center for Educational Technology, are
working to bring the use of the Quick Response code to the classroom with their Geo-Historian Project. The program was created to investigate using cell phones as a tool to enhance the educational value of historic sites with ondemand multimedia. “They’ve got the phones, and they are practically a computer already. Let them use it,” McNeal said. With the Geo-Historian Project, McNeal and van ’t Hooft have found an inexpensive method to
put this technology to use. “It gives kids a chance to be active in their own learning,” McNeal said. “They’re not just sitting back watching something or watching somebody tell it to them. They are doing their own research and making it themselves.” The process involves uploading student-created images, videos and sound clips to a host Web site. Students then paste the URL from the hosted data into the QR creating site. The result
is a two-dimensional, black and white mosaic that will instantly access the hosted multimedia every time a smart phone’s camera scans the code. Although the project has yet to hit the classroom, McNeal and van ’t Hooft have tested its application at the World War II Monument in Washington D.C. with high reviews. The success of the trial run left evidence that the program seems limitless. See PHONES, Page 4
Page 2 | Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Daily Kent Stater
FOR YOUR INFORMATION
DAILY KENT STATER 240 Franklin Hall Kent State University Kent, Ohio 44242 NewSroom 330.672.2584 Editor Doug Gulasy dgulasy@kent.edu Managing editor Christina Stavale cstavale@kent.edu
TODAY’S EVENTS n Phone call table
n American Marketing Association meeting
Where: Student Center lobby When: 10 a.m.
Where: Business Administration Building Room 106 When: 4:30 p.m.
n Banana Day
n USG public meeting
Where: Eastway Café When: 4:30 p.m.
Where: Student Center Governance Chambers When: 5:30 p.m. n Spring Break Bingo
USG
Multimedia editor Sara Scanes sscanes@kent.edu
Have an event you want to see here? Send it to ahollow1@kent.edu by Thursday the week before.
News
Where: Student Center Ballroom When: 8 p.m.
News team leader
Regina Garcia Cano rgarcia1@kent.edu
n Battle of the Bands
News team assistant
Where: Rathskeller When: 8 p.m.
Kelly Byer
kbyer@kent.edu Campus editors
Anthony Holloway ahollow1@kent.edu
EDITOR’S NOTE: It’s that time of year again: Undergraduate Student Government elections. Throughout the week, the Daily Kent Stater will be running candidate profiles for the nine director and 16 senator positions. The USG election is Tuesday, March 9. Students can vote then by logging onto their FlashLine accounts.
ELECTIONS 2010
Kristyn Soltis
Allison Rapp
Allison Rapp said she assures students she will not take her student government responsibilities lightly. Rapp is a sophomore political science major with a con-
— Jessica White
Kevin Papp
Kevin Papp said he wants to help foster the flow of communication between policy makers and students. “I want to facilitate a strong link between the student body and the local, state and national government,” he said. Papp is a sophomore inter-
— Jessica White
Director of Academic Affairs
Taiwo Adesina
Taiwo Adesina said she wants to put students’ ideas to action. Adesina is a junior psychology and pre-med major. She’s running for Director of Academic Affairs.
Adesina said she plans to increase study abroad involvement, look into diversity training for college advisers and extend library hours to 24/7 during finals week. She said she also wants to improve the annual “Meet the Deans” event. Adesina said she would like the event to be more interactive and to give all students the opportunity to meet deans from every college, in case students are thinking about changing or doubling majors. “I want to find out what students need to make their stay at Kent successful,” she said. — Jessica White
Brett Fodor Brett Fodor said he wants to provide education outside the classroom for students. “I feel like there’s a gap between education and real world application,” he said. Fodor is a sophomore phi-
losophy major. He’s running for Director of Academic Affairs. Fodor said he wants to improve tutoring services and increase student awareness of current events. “Too many students are detached from prominent issues in our society,” he said. Fodor said he also wants to institute screening for learning disabilities. “Many people are unaware they even have a learning disability because they are uneducated on the subject,” he said. “If we provide free testing for STDs, why not learning disabilities?” — Jessica White
USG candidates to present goals Nick Glunt
Daily Kent Stater The candidates running for Undergraduate Student Government will be attending ‘Meet the Candidates night’ to tell students their platforms and goals at 6 p.m. today in the Rathskeller. “It’s basically kind of an open forum,” said Donna Carlton, USG faculty adviser. There will be a panel that asks questions specifically to the candidates running for each individual position. It will take a debate style, with candidates giving their own opinions and rebuttals of their opponent’s positions. Carlton said the forum should last no more than two hours. The election is March 9. Students can vote on Election Day for their favorite candidate on FlashLine. Contact student politics reporter Nick Glunt at nglunt@kent.edu.
cfranci1@kent.edu Sports team assistants
Caleb Raubenolt
craubeno@kent.edu
Randy Ziemnik
rziemnik@kent.edu
OPINION
City editor
ssteimer@kent.edu
Tom Gallick
Sarah Steimer
tgallick@kent.edu
Visuals
Copy desk chief
Photo editor
jjohns64@kent.edu
csirse@kent.edu
Joshua Johnston
fyonkof@kent.edu
national relations major with a minor in justice studies. He’s running for director of governmental affairs. Papp said he plans to frequently publish bulletins on state legislature and congressional issues that affect Kent State students. He said he also wants to hold forums during which students can discuss these issues. Papp said he intends to voice any student concerns to the university, Ohio Board of Regents and the Ohio state legislature if necessary. “Students should have an active voice in legislation that affects them,” he said.
Cody Francis
Opinion editor
Frank Yonkof
centration in American politics. She’s running for director of governmental affairs. “ T h ro u g h c re a t i n g a monthly newsletter and holding open forums for discussing legislation, I hope to inform and also excite our student body about governmental affairs,” she said. Rapp said her primary goal is to increase student involvement in politics. Rapp said she also plans to write grant proposals to receive the funding needed to “continue enhancing our campus.”
SPORTS
Sports team leader
ksoltis1@kent.edu
KentWired editor
Director of Governmental Affairs
Erin Perkins eperkin2@kent.edu
Social media editor
Austin Corthell
acorthel@kent.edu
Features Features team leader
Melissa Dilley
mdilley2@kent.edu Features team assistants
Pamela Crimbchin
Caitlin Sirse
Assistant photo editor
Daniel R. Doherty
ddoherty@kent.edu Design director
Justin Armburger Jarmburg@kent.edu Design supervisors
Kristina Deckert
kdeckert@kent.edu
Sam Twarek
stwarek1@kent.edu
pcrimbch@kent.edu
Advertising 330.672.2586 Sales Manager Rachel Polchek 330.672.0888 Account executive
Account executive
Michelle Bair
Katie Kuczek
Korie Culleiton
Daniel Meaney
330.672.2697 Account executive 330.672.2697 Account executive
Bethany English
330.672.2590 Account executive
330.672.2590 Broadcast representative 330.672.2585 Online representative
Kevin Collins 330.672.3251
Schuyler Kasee 330.672.2585
Student media 330.672.2586 Manager Lori Cantor 330.672.0887, lcantor@kent.edu Advertising manager
Kelly Pickerel
330.672.6306, tbongior@kent.edu Production manager Evan Bailey 330.672.0886, ebailey@kent.edu Business officer Norma Young 330.672.0884, njyoung1@kent.edu
Susan Kirkman Zake
Tami Bongiorni
Classifieds ad manager
330.672.0883, kpickere@kent.edu Stater adviser Carl Schierhorn 330.672.8286, cschierh@kent.edu Newsroom adviser 330.329.5852, szake@kent.edu
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
Page 3 | Wednesday, March 3, 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 The Stater hopes to encourage lively debate about the issues of the day on the Forum 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 “Ideologies separate us. Dreams and anguish bring us together.” — Eugene Ionesco
our
SUMMARY: So the job market doesn’t look very good to begin with, and now you’re realizing your narrow major could also inhibit you. You have to make sure to take a few extra steps so you can get that job right out of school.
VIEW Ask not what your major can do for you… R emember how you used to answer the “What do you want to be when you grow up?” question? You were probably specific. You wanted to be a firefighter with big muscles just like Hulk Hogan. Or you wanted to be a beautiful actress who got to marry a handsome boy from *NSYNC. You were specific then, and chances are that you are specific now. You want to work at a Fortune 500 company in the next 10 years. Or maybe you want to open your own dance school in a major city. You know exactly what you want to do. But sometimes it’s not that simple, especially not with the economy the way it is today. There was never this many major opportunities in history. People used to just open restaurants with a business degree, if even that. They didn’t major in hospitality man-
agement. People also used to start out as a paperboy and work their way up to editor, so you can say the same about the fairly new necessity of a journalism major as well. This only means that with narrower fields, people will be racing for the same one, single job. So how do you get a one-up on others? Get an internship, even if your major doesn’t require one. Talk to your professors if you don’t feel as though you’re prepared, they may know a professional you could speak with who could give you a head start. And never underestimate the power of a connection. As much as you’re sick of mom or dad suggesting you call their friend Pat or Dennis, call them. Even if they’re not the person you needed to talk to, maybe even they can point you in the right direction. People will always be more apt to hire
someone they know previously than a totally new face they know nothing about. Those of you with majors that don’t even do too well when the recession is in good shape (art, philosophy, English), think about graduate school or a minor. It never hurts to try art education, or minor in business as a philosophy major. This way you can get one career going while you continue to work on your first love. It’s a rough world out there and things aren’t getting any easier, so make sure you have a one-up on others when you enter the job market. 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
DON WRIGHT’s VIEW
■
DID YOU KNOW? On this day in 1887, Anne Sullivan began teaching six-year-old Helen Keller, who lost her sight and hearing after a severe illness at the age of 19 months. — History.com
Put down the guns, let’s talk
Richard Mack, a former Arizona sheriff, riveted the crowd with his rhetorical magic. The group, “Friends for Liberty,” an umbrella group under the famed “Tea Party Movement,” was held at bay with each clever remark by Mack. And then, with the crowd at his fingertips, it was brought to its feet — 1,400 people in all — as his speech turned to the necessity of confronting a despotic federal government. “Friends for Liberty” is just one branch of an ever-expanding web of the Tea Party Movement. Members include Ron Paul supporters, Aryan Nation supports and Neo-Nazis; gun rights activists, anti-tax crusaders, “birthers” who doubt President Obama’s citizenship and the Sovereign States movements. In the background are conservative lobbying groups, most notably FreedomWorks. Also represented are “Oath Keepers” who claim to be “Guardians of the Republic” that recruit military and law enforcement officials and have informal ties with militias. Each group, though, is united by the belief that America is being held captive by a tyrannical dictator and a large federal government. David Aaronovitch, author of “Voodoo Histories: The Role of Conspiracy Theory in Shaping Modern History,” writes that overarching theories tend to be “formulated by the politically defeated and taken up by the socially defeated.” Many conservatives, still reeling from the election of Barack Obama, have become avid members of this movement, and Sarah Palin has claimed a crown seat for the future. Aaronovitch further writes that, “If it can be proved that there has been a conspiracy, which has transformed politics and society, then their defeat is not the product of their inherent weakness of unpopularity … it is due to the almost demonic ruthlessness of their enemy.” Thus, for the Tea Party Movement, conservative members have clamped onto conspiracy theories that makes sense of the current political and social world. In the case of Obama, it is big federal government and centralization –— a tyrannical takeover of America. As a grassroots protest movement, the Tea Party movement is exemplifying its rights that have been vital for America’s democracy. Protests and grassroots movements have shaped America’s democracy as shown in the 1960s and 1970s with Civil Rights Activ-
David Busch ists and Vietnam Marchers, or even seen as recently with the movements for gay rights. Democracy is a public square of debate and conversation, of argument and reconciliation — a gray area that fuses many ideas and beliefs together. The Tea Party Movement defies this ideal of democracy. As Mack’s speech suggests, the Tea Party is facing an all-or-none moment, a worldview that pins “the people” against the “Bolshevik” U.S. government. The Tea Party movement has created a conspiracy narrative and made it mainstream reality. The Tea Party is envisioning the nation on the verge of war or, as Mrs. Stout, president of a local Tea Party chapter in Sandpoint, Idaho, said, “It (a Civil War) is my deepest fear … I don’t see us being the ones to start it, but I would give up my life for my country.” Let’s be realistic, though. As history has shown, each generation faces moments of great conflict and disaster whether it was the American Civil War or the Lost Generation of World War I, the Great Depression or the Cold War. Today is no different. But anger and the loading of guns, the gathering of militias and the calls for the return of the Articles of Confederation will not solve the problem. The attempt to simplify the world and our nation into black and white boxes, us vs. them ideologies will not bring an end to the constant and difficult changes that characterize modernity. Just as Obama has called for an open debate with Republicans about health care reform, the same needs to be done at the grass-roots level because if we don’t, all of us will be the victims of history. Put down the guns, let’s talk. David Busch is a senior psychology and history major and columnist for the Daily Kent Stater. Contact him at dbusch@kent.edu. React to this story and more at
KentWired.com
What’s your Facebook face? I am on Facebook too much. I am both a diehard Facebook user and observer. (Some would call me a Facebook stalker, but they don’t realize how much valuable information one can obtain from social media.) After I spend hours on Facebook a week, I feel guilty for dedicating my limited time to something so unnecessary. I start to lose this guilt, however, when I look at people’s profiles when they are obviously on Facebook 10 times more than I am. As I was Web surfing the other day, I chose to put off chores and school reading to observe a growing Facebook phenomenon — the Facebook face. The “Facebook face” is the repeated expression someone uses in the pictures he or she posts on Facebook in an attempt to encourage a certain perception of himself or herself by the person who views his or her profile. Facebook users, I write the following with your Internet safety in mind. I am trying to protect you from looking like a tool. Please consider a new Facebook look if you use the following poses on a normal basis: n The lip pucker: Girls use this face in pictures to look like they are kissing something or someone who may or may not be in the picture. Unfortunately, girls pucker their lips so hard that a cute face turns into
Marchaè Grair a slightly goofy, and slightly terrifying one. Puckering is for lovers only. Leave your creepy puckered face out of your Facebook photos. You look like a deformed duck. n Eyes on the heavens: This face is for people who are obviously taking planned pictures of themselves, but inexplicably looking at the sky. Message to people using this picture: No one thinks your eye roll is that revolutionary. Everyone knows you are standing in your bathroom trying to get the perfect Facebook profile picture. Surprise! It’s not working. n Mirror Time: I get it. You have really nice abs. You worked out every day, ate nothing but protein bars, and inked new tattoos the world has to see. This doesn’t mean it’s flattering to get in front of a mirror and take a picture of yourself half-naked for your Facebook. I can see your dirty toilet behind your half-dressed body, and both
your nudity and soiled toilet disgust me. It’s even worse when mirror offenders take a picture of their bodies without their faces in it. This leaves the Facebook browser to assume the picture isn’t really that person or that person is pretending to be shy by hiding his or her face, when everyone knows he or she is a vain idiot for posting 20 pictures of his or her body in a Facebook album. n Toilet Smiles: It will never be cute to take a picture on the toilet and post it on Facebook. But for some reason, plenty of people think it is. I don’t want to think of you having a bowel movement every time I look at your Facebook. Knock it off. n Worst Day Ever: If it’s the worst day of your life and you want to cry, why is it your first priority to take a Facebook picture of yourself? The world does not pity you. Stop brooding and get off of Facebook. There are many more Facebook faces I could warn against, but it looks like my Webcam is done loading. Time for a photo shoot. Marchaè Grair is a senior electronic media management major and columnist for the Daily Kent Stater. Contact her at mgrair1@kent.edu. React to this story and more at KentWired.com
Passing on the pizza I bought this laptop a few weeks ago. My life is still the same. One exciting change, though, is that now I can write my columns at work while hiding back behind the deep fryers, always ready to jump up off this milk crate in case I have to do something. If I had majored in food service, I’d probably have my Ph.D. by now if I received class credit for feeding drunk college students a bunch of greasy bar food. For the last three years I’ve been shifting between glorified fast food establishments that specialize in beer and pizza — never earning enough to live comfortably — but also never being required to wake up before noon. It’s a decent trade-off. All I have to do is show up for work, somewhat coherent. Then I drop things into a deep fryer for specified amounts of time, count chicken wings and add toppings to large slabs of flat bread. Believe me though, this takes skill. You don’t just learn the ins and outs of pizza overnight. Experience only comes with a certain amount of failure. And this failure is one of the factors assisting in a conundrum I currently face. More on that later. But first, when I say “failure,” what I really mean is getting an order wrong. You know when you go to a pizza shop and you try to be really specific about your food, but those idiots in the kitchen get it wrong anyway? Yeah? Then you make them do it over again? Well whether you know it or not, your
Garrison Ebie prissy tastes are not welcome. Your appreciation for crispy chicken, extra mayonnaise and vendetta against onions is not appreciated. Kitchen workers like to keep it simple, but there you are, thinking you’re all special. More often than not, that master concoction of ingredients that was off by only one variable, which you rejected, was probably eaten by the kitchen staff. Because of this, I’ve eaten a lot of pizza. Maybe I should thank you. Naturally, kitchen mistakes are not the only things that have brought me to eat disgusting amounts pizza. As a college student, pizza is a part of life. I am thoroughly embarrassed how many weeklong pizza binges I’ve been on through the years. Sometimes I can still walk into a building and immediately detect the faint, glimmering smell of pizza. I can even name the toppings. However, without any warning, one day my body had enough. Leaving out the details, I can faithfully say that I had overdosed on pizza. And thus, I cannot eat pizza anymore. I find a slab of dough with tomato
sauce and cheese smothered all over the top to be entirely unappealing, and I want no part of it. That extra pizza at work and a slice or two someone offers to me at a party, I will not touch. Don’t even bother trying. I don’t want any. Needless to say, pizza is everywhere. It is unavoidable. This newfound distaste came with a price. Not only do I have to look at it every single day, but a fair percentage of food around me is now inedible. What’s worse is that I am almost always hungry, and if not, I will be in an hour. The fact that I now find pizza to be unappetizing is a discouraging addition to everyday life. On the positive side, my cholesterol is now probably somewhere within an acceptable range. What little chubby fat I might have been gaining a year ago is now receding and again I have had to start adding additional holes to my belt. When I get home tonight, I know what will be somewhere in the kitchen. I have four roommates, and they all love pizza. However tonight, as with most nights, I’ll have to find an alternative. It’s not easy, and if things keep going this way, pretty soon I won’t eat spaghetti either. Garrison Ebie is a senior electronic media major and columnist for the Daily Kent Stater. Contact him at gebie@kent.edu. React to this story and more at KentWired.com
Page 4 | Wednesday, March 3, 2010 From Page 1
From Page 1
KSU re-brands to target out-of-state students
New project allows cell phones in classroom
Contact administration reporter Jenna Staul at jstaul@kent.edu. React to this story and more at Kentwired.com
“You walk the Kent State memorial and there are all kinds of written supplemental information provided,” McNeal said. “Wouldn’t it be nice if there was a barcode that you could scan and watch a one-minute video clip with it?” The idea came from the realization of the world we live in today. Throughout the nation, cell phones have grown in popularity to the point where a fifth grader having an iPhone is no longer unfathomable, McNeal said. Instead of banning a cell phone from the classroom, teachers should be embracing them and finding ways to involve them within the curriculum, he added. McNeal said the Geo-Historian Project is essentially free, except for the cost of the smart phone. Through Web sites like ScanLife. com/us, anyone is able to create QR codes and download the scanner and reader application. With the help of free Web sites to host the multimedia and students filming their own media, the plan can be relatively expense free. Although the project shows great promise, there are limitations that complicate its expansion. For example, the requirement of a smart phone limits the population who can currently use it, but McNeal said
IMAGE The university hired Columbus-based firm Fahlgren Advertising to launch its new ad campaign this spring, and production of the new TV spots will begin in the next few weeks, Harvey said. “It will take a more emotional tone,” Harvey said. “More authenticity, probably including a first-person testimonial. I’d like to think more creative, hipper.” Costs for increasing out-ofstate TV and radio advertising have not yet been finalized, but Harvey said the university looks to continue to invest in more personalized contact with prospective students. What will be noticeably absent from the new advertising push is the “Excellence in Action” slogan that the university took on three years ago. “You probably won’t see that as our advertising tagline,” Harvey said. “I think it’s more a part of our internal excellence agenda.”
PHONES
Daily Kent Stater the popularity of the smart phone makes this less of an issue with time. Another complicating factor is that the same company must make the QR code and the reader. “If the program gets large enough, someone would have to make the codes universal,” McNeal said. “Right now it’s like having a Verizon phone, therefore you can only call other Verizon phones.” “I think it could enhance the popularity of museums and places with historical value, while also broadening the understanding of travel sites,” said sophomore psychology major Steve Burton. Burton, the owner of an AT&T Quickfire phone, said he can see some of the complications that lie ahead. “Not everyone is going to have a smart phone; I know I don’t,” he said. “And in that case, there’s no such thing as a disposable (phone) to take with you when you travel.” RCET plans to put the Geo-Historian Project into action this year, starting with three middle school classes in Northeast Ohio. “Our plan is to first have it localized within a few communities, then state,” McNeal said. “Then from there, who knows?” Contact College of Education, Health and Human Services reporter Dan Richardson at drricha2@kent.edu. React to this story and more at Kentwired.com
From Page 1
CREDIT A number worth watching The information provided in that credit report determines a person’s credit score, said Greg McBride senior financial analyst for Bankrate.com. “Your credit score is based on five different factors, but the two most significant are paying your bills on time and the amount of debt you have,” McBride said. Both Paton and McBride said a legitimate Web site students can use to obtain their credit reports is www.annualcreditreport.com. They can get one free copy of their credit report from each of the three credit reporting agencies every 12 months. The reports from the Web site do not include credit scores, but gives the option of purchasing them. People must give their social security number, date of birth, street address and other information specific to their reports.
What determines a good or bad credit score?
“A good credit score is reflective of a consumer with a low risk of fault, and is based on a solid track record of handling money,” McBride said. Paton said the higher a credit score is, the better interest rates and fee structures a person will get when paying for loans and credit. She added that there are other services that base their decisions on credit scores, such as car insurance rates and the ability to get a cell phone plan. The lower the credit score, the more interest a person will have to pay on the same types of loans someone with a high credit score can get for less. Students may not qualify for credit with a majority of the lenders
out there, Paton said. “Creditors today are being much more restrictive in lending money, based on the current economic situation,” she said.
Is there an ideal credit score? The FICO scale ranges from a low of 300 to a high of 850. McBride said anything above 680 is considered to be good credit — a score of 700 is good credit but leaves room for improvement, and those in the 800-range have no worries. “Most people have a credit score above 700, but the fact is, you have to try hard to have a credit score below 650,” McBride said. “If your credit score is below 650, you’ve stepped out of bounds somewhere — you have very high debts, you’ve made late payments or defaulted on obligations before.” Paton said creditors today are generally looking for anything above 700.
What should college students focus on with their own scores? It is important for students to focus on building their credit, but McBride and Paton said it’s not particularly adamant they know what their credit scores are in relation to knowing what is on their credit reports. “If you’re going to apply for a loan, it’s good to know where you stand and what your negotiating power is, but I think that for a lot of college students, they may not have had the chance to build much credit history, so to pay $8 or $12 for a credit score isn’t going to help too much,” Paton said. She added that the priority of students should be managing and building the credit they have by making payments on time and making more than minimum payments. Students should also know that
their parents’ credit scores can affect their ability to take out a loan, but only if the parents apply for a loan to help pay for school, or if they cosign on a loan. “But it’s not genetic — it’s not something you inherit, so just because mom or dad may have a poor credit score doesn’t mean that you will,” McBride added. “Your credit score is yours and yours alone.”
How do you maintain good credit?
The fundamentals of a good credit score are found in the people who keep their borrowing in reason, have track records of repaying what they borrow and make payments on time, McBride said. “Auto insurance companies, respective employers and respective landlords will all check either your credit score or your credit report, so credit worthiness is often seen as a reflection of your character,” he emphasized.
How can you completely ruin your credit?
If students “bite off more than they can chew financially,” at some point they won’t be able to make their payments, Paton said. With payment history playing the biggest role in credit scores, making late payments will bring the scores down significantly. Paton added that applying for a lot of accounts, filing for bankruptcy or having a civil suit against a person based on money can also bring down credit scores. “Credit scores are like a reputation — they take a long time to build up, but they can be destroyed very quickly,” McBride said.
Contact student finance reporter Courtney Kerrigan at ckerriga@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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DUSTY ARMADILLO The area’s largest Wednesday night College I.D. party! Check us out on www.dustya.com/ or find us on Facebook! Open Mic Night Every Wednesday 7-10 - All ages at Professors Pub 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 SAVE on Specials all week...L@@K www.franklinsquaredeli.com DUSTY ARMADILLO The hottest Wednesday Night College ID Party 18 & over
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 Office assistant needed. Kent area apartment community is looking for an office assistant. Full Time Summer help. General responsibilities include customer service, general office responsibility, phones/computer and some sales. The successful candidate will be organized, selfmotivated, outgoing and possess good communication skills. Fax resume to (330) 677-4651 attention Jeanette. A drug free work place. Mother’s helper needed, 10-15 hour/ week, Angela (330) 425-1615 Campus Company Promotions Brimfield Curves looking for part Coordinator time worker for 3-8pm shift, M-F, just Energetic students needed to create 2 evenings/ week. (330) 968-4966 buzz about new college student Web site. Contact: imo@collegiatenation.com Renew Psychological Services. P.C.C. or psychologist to provide counseling in a well-established, Christian, private group practice. Prime locationHudson. Dr. McMorrow, (330) 655-2674 Well-established landscape design/build company in Hudson area seeking hardworking, goal oriented person to fill immediate full-time foreman position. Clean driving record required. Subject to background check. CDL a plus. 3-5 year foreman experience required. Fax resume to 330-656-1944 or email to resumedrop101@aol.com 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. Local part-time furniture mover needed. Must be available at least 2 full days a week. Monday-Sunday. $11/hour to start for helpers. $13/ hour for drivers (clean license required) 330-689-1900. Brimfield Curves looking for part time worker for 3-8pm shift, M-F, just 2 evenings/week. (330) 9864966
Free Psychic Readings 3-5 pm every Thursday Empire 135 E. Main St. Kent www.empirekent.com
Found money in parking area of Circle K on Main Street in Kent across from Whitehall on Thursday, Feb.4, 2010 at approximately 8:30 am. If you can describe the number of bills, their denominations, how they were folded and the total amount, arrangements will be made to return it to you. Email: vnader@kent.edu Field Jacket found on campus - contact Peggy 330-672-5822.
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 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 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 Rent in Kent Enjoy spacious 4&5 bedrooms duplexes with 2 full baths. Great GREAT PRICES! condition, great location, A/C, W/D, GREAT PROPERTIES! dishwasher, deck, garage. $1,2001,750. 3, 4 & 5330-808-4045 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
horoscope By Nancy Black and Stephanie Clement Today’s birthday (3/3/10) Your willingness to listen to others develops in two ways this year. Your partner(s) have plenty to say about responsibility and work. Your internal source speaks clearly about how you can remain independent AND satisfy your associates’ demands. 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 7. Consider a partner’s demands early in the day. This frees up time to work on independent projects that tickle your imagination. Exchange ideas in a group setting. Taurus (April 20-May 20) Today is a 7. Today, all group members come together to discuss the rationale for a project. An older person presents irrefutable logic. Gemini (May 21-June 21) Today is a 6. Logic is your strongest tool today. Associates have imaginative ideas that take work in an independent direction. Your job is to bring everything down to earth. Cancer (June 22-July 22) Today is a 5. While spending time away from home with associates, you refocus thinking on a household project. Perhaps you run across some unique home accessories.
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 Tired of a roommate? Live in our newly remodeled one bedroom apt for $495, you only pay electric. (330)678-0972. Two bedroom apt near KSU $615 per month all utilities except electric included. Call (330)678-0972. 4-5 bedroom University Townhomes for rent August 2010. Starting at $270/month. Water included. 440336-6761 www.kenttownhomes. com
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. 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 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: 330-6774730 Spacious 3 bedroom, 2 bath duplex. LR and Family Room, W/D, A/C, $960/ mo, Available July (330)630-9285.
NOW LEASING FOR FALL 1 block from KSU Beautiful newly redecorated 2 bedroom, 1.5 bath townhouse apartments $325/student 330-687-6122
4-5 bedroom house for rent. 319 East Summit. 1 block to campus. $350/month. 1 year lease starting in July. 330-2120992
SAVE $$$ Leasing for Fall, beautiful, newly redecorated, 2 bedroom apartments. FREE gas, water and trash. $275/ student. 330-687-6122.
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
For 2010-11: One Month Free Close to Campus 2 huge apartments, licensed, private parking, large yard, large front porch. 4 bedroom $1300/$325 each. 4/5 bedroom $1400, $280-$350 each. (330) 6263957 1, 2, &3 Bedroom Houses & Duplexes all close to downtown available June and August (330) 678-7901 Available Fall: Triplex, each unit 3 Bedrooms, 1 bath house, large yard. $800. Also Large Duplex, each unit 2 bedrooms, 1 bath with garage $650; (440)953-8687 info www. yourhomerental.com Kent Condo! Very close to campus! (S. Lincoln St.) Now renting for Fall. 2 bedroom,1.5 baths Assigned parking, water, trash & heat paid! $750/month + electric. Accepting Visa/MC (330) 676-0796 AVAILABLE NOW one large bedroom in house 244 East Main $320 utilities included (330) 333-1531 For Fall: 3 bedroom apartments $400/month per room, security deposit required. Heat included, laundry room. No pets. Across from KSU. (330) 554-3024
Kent—3 bedroom, 1 full bath. 2 levels. Newer carpet+flooring. Paid water w/appliances. $750 a month. 330-815-2869.
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 near downtown and campus 2 bedroom apartment, all utilities paid except electric, $350/bedroom + security deposit. (330)676-9440
528 S. Lincoln Street - 2 bedroom, $650/month plus gas and electric. 330-678-4741.
Now Leasing for Fall a beautifully newly redecorated 3 bedroom, 1.5 bath duplex. $275/person, (330)6876122.
Available Fall 2010. Act now! Looking for 5 responsible students for newly renovated university townhome. Call after 8pm (440) 622-3630.
Kent- 3 bedroom house. Close to downtown on bus line. $750/month plus utilities. Available August 1st, 330-678-0932 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 FALL—1 Bedroom Apartment. $450/ month all utilities included. 1 year lease. NO PETS. (330)678-3489. 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
Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) Today is a 7. A partner or associate offers clever insight into a problem that has resisted solution. This transforms a great difficulty into a happy conclusion.
Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) Today is a 7. Don’t allow others to dismiss your creative ideas. Restate your position if necessary. Make sure everyone gets your point.
Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) Today is a 7. Just about everyone tells you how much they appreciate your efforts now. These compliments spur your creative ideas.
Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Today is a 6. Logic suggests that you bend under pressure. The best way to accomplish that is to demonstrate generosity (except on key points).
Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) Today is an 8. Your general health benefits from creative interaction with your favorite person. This could involve recreational sports or artistic pursuits.
Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) Today is an 8. Take time today for rest and healing. You’ve been pushing hard enough, and now can relax (easier to say than accomplish, maybe).
Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) Today is an 8. Your imagination has worked overtime, providing you with the concepts you need to create a practical, logical scheme. Incorporate a healing element. Add good medicine.
Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) Today is a 7. The focus shifts to other people. You need their resources. Find creative ways to show why they want to help you. It’s a win-win.
Page 6 | Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Daily Kent Stater
SPORTS Sports editor: Cody Francis • E-mail: cfranci1@kent.edu
ON ONTHE THEWEB WEBATATKENTNEWSNET.COM KENTWIRED.COM
WRESTLING
Cody Francis
Kent State’s March Madness
FILE PHOTO BY JESSICA KANALAS | DAILY KENT STATER
Kent State senior Danny Mitcheff (133) holds down Central Michigan opponent Scotti Sentes during the meet on Feb. 21. Mitcheff lost to Sentes in the match 3-2. Kent State lost the meet 13-21.
The Road to 126
Mitcheff looks to tie wins record Rachel Jones
Daily Kent Stater
J
ust outside the wrestling locker room, sophomore Dustin Kilgore yelled, “Danny Mitcheff, national champ! Danny Mitcheff, best wrestler in the world!” While that may be the opinion of many members of the Kent State wrestling team, Mitcheff himself would never admit it. Even with a record of 28-3 this season, the softspoken senior lets his dominance on the mat speak for itself. “I’m not a very vocal person, so I think I lead more by example,” Mitcheff said. “I just try to do all the right things.” Laing Kennedy, the athletic director for Kent State, said Mitcheff politely greets him every morning on his way to practice. “In my opinion, he just does about his business,” Kennedy said. “He’s not pizazzy like, ‘Hey, look at me.’ He wrestles for the team.”
The road to 126 With 125 wins in his collegiate career, Mitcheff, ranked 10th in the nation at 133 pounds, needs just one more victory to tie Alex Camargo’s record for the most in the program’s history. “It wasn’t really a big goal, but
I’m happy I have a chance to break it,” Mitcheff said. “I’m proud of myself (for putting) a lot of hard work into wrestling.” For Kennedy, any Kent State athlete who sets a new record reflects on the athletic program as a whole. “You say to yourself, ‘This is why we do this,’” Kennedy said. “I’m proud of Danny, who has a chance to break the all-time school record, which is very unusual because of the history and traditions of Kent State wrestling. He’d be one of our really outstanding student-athletes, at least in my time here.” With the Mid-American Conference Championships this weekend, Mitcheff will have a chance to tie and even break the record. But this is not Mitcheff’s first attempt at getting his name in the record books. Last Sunday, Mitcheff lost 3-2 to Central Michigan’s seventhranked Scotti Sentes (17-5). Kent State coach Jim Andrassy said Mitcheff has been working all week in practice to make sure he doesn’t make the same mistakes again. “Against Central Michigan, he didn’t wrestle his style; he didn’t wrestle his pace,” Andrassy said. “The other kid set the pace and in return, he
didn’t have the best match.” Mitcheff said he has been watching the video of the match to prepare for a rematch with Sentes if the two wrestlers meet again. “I know I didn’t win, but I think losing kind of helped me figure out a better gameplan for wrestling against (Sentes),” he said. “I’ll definitely try to get more offense going in the first period. Every time I lose, I think I learn something different.”
How it all started Mitcheff started wrestling when he was 5 years old and the rest is history. “My dad got me started when I was really young,” Mitcheff said. “I played other sports, but I just felt like I was the best at wrestling and stuck with that.” Danny grew up wrestling with his brother, Steve, who is also a member of Kent State’s wrestling team. Steve said one of the reasons he chose Kent State was to wrestle with his brother. “(Danny) said he liked it and that it was a good program,” Steve said. “He’s been here for four years, so he showed me the ropes.” This year the brothers helped each other out, pushing each other during practice. “We were drill partners this year,” Danny said. “He makes me work hard and it’s fun. We’re always competing against each other and trying to make each
other better.” Danny laughed when he said he could beat Steve in a match, but then gave his brother credit. “He’s tough,” Danny said. “He has better credentials than me from high school. I think he’ll do really well if he stays focused.” When Danny wrestled for Elyria High School, he went to state championships his freshman and sophomore years while winning it his senior year. He said he was not heavily recruited out of high school due to an injury he suffered in his junior year. “A couple of schools wanted me, like Ashland and Ohio University,” Mitcheff said. “But I came on a visit here and liked it a lot. It was close to home, so it was a good fit.” A n d r a s s y, w h o re c ru i t e d Mitcheff, said he chose him because of his strong offensive attack and advice from his previous wrestling coach. “I knew his high school coach really well, and (he) kept pushing him my way,” Andrassy said. “He told me he was a good kid with a good character and work ethic.”
‘I’m not even sure what all I’ve won’ During his time at Kent State, Mitcheff has won several titles and awards even he could not remember them all. Some standout moments include last year’s MAC Championship and a second-place
finish in the conference tournament his sophomore year. He was even named MAC Wrestler of the Tournament last season. “If my career is half as good as that, I’ll be happy,” Steve said. “I see that, and it makes me want to do good in wrestling, too.” Mitcheff said he hopes this success continues as he prepares for the MAC Championships this weekend. “My goal is to win the tournament and if I get the record, then I have the wins,” he said. After the three-time national qualifier fell one match short of earning All-American last year, he said his ultimate goal this year is to win the NCAA Championship. Andrassy said Mitcheff’s strong work ethic could help him accomplish that goal. “I think when Danny wrestles his best, he can beat anyone in the country,” Andrassy said. “I firmly believe that, and Danny believes that. “Everything he has in life is because he worked hard, not because it was given to him. He’s got a lot of talent, but he works hard. That’s why he’s so successful.” Contact sports reporter Rachel Jones at rjones62@kent.edu. React to this story and more at KentWired.com
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
Flashes win regular season finale Clinch three seed in MAC Tournament Lance Lysowski
Daily Kent Stater Going into last night’s women’s basketball game, the Flashes needed a win to secure a three seed in next week’s Mid-American Conference tournament. Kent State earned that spot with a 67-55 victory over Buffalo to complete a season sweep over the Bulls. The Flashes’ star junior duo of Jamilah Humes and Taisja Jones played as well in the regular season finale as they have all season. The two repeated their success last night as Humes led the Flashes’ offense with 25 points, while Jones added 20 points. “I thought this was a great way to cap off the season,” Humes said. “I think this game will help carry our momentum into the MAC championship.” After a back-and forth first half, Buffalo lead at the break 27-24, but Kent State responded in the opening
minutes of the second stanza. With 16:03 left in the game, Humes caught a pass from junior guard Stephanie Gibson and drained a jumper, giving the Flashes the 32-31 lead which they would not relinquish. Following Humes’ basket, Kent State went on a 6-0 run that was capped off by a free throw by Jones. Buffalo narrowed the deficit to five, but two free throws by Jones and a 3-pointer by sophomore guard Jena Stutzman gave the Flashes the 44-34 lead with 9:06 left in the game. Humes added that the team increased their intensity in the second half. While Kent State coach Bob Lindsay gave his defense credit, he said the Bulls’ struggles with possession aided the Flashes victory. “I thought we played better defensively in the second half. I thought we shot the better in the second half and defended (junior forward) Courtney Brown better,” Lindsay said. “They turned the ball over 27 times, and that helped us. I think we pressured better and forced the turnovers.” Buffalo cut the Flashes’ lead to four at one point in the second half,
but Kent State’s free throw shooting in the closing minutes sealed the victory. Kent State held an early lead in the first half, but a 7-2 run over four minutes of play gave Buffalo the advantage with 12:29 left. The Flashes gained the lead or tied the game eight times before the conclusion of the first half. The Bulls shot 50 percent from the field in the first half, while Kent State shot 34 percent. The Flashes’ struggles from behind the arc continued as the team shot 0-for-8 from 3-point territory in the first half, but 18 offensive rebounds and Buffalo’s 27 turnovers made the difference. Since Kent State secured the third seed in the upcoming MAC Tournament, the team will not play until March 10 against the winner of Saturday’s game between the number six and eleven seeds. Contact sports reporter LanceLysowski at llysowsk@kent.edu. React to this story and more at
KentWired.com
All sports fans have their favorite time of year. Whether it’s MLB spring training, college football bowl season or the Super Bowl, there is always something to look forward to. If you like sports at all, you like March Madness. Even if you haven’t watched a game all season, you will go to ESPN.com, do 20 minutes of research, fill out a bracket and act like you’re Dick Vitale when you’re talking to your friends, baby! With conference tournaments starting and the NCAA/NIT tournaments looming, Kent State basketball fans have a lot to anticipate (knock on wood) during March Madness. But should March Madness at Kent State be all about basketball? Sure, both basketball teams have high expectations going into the Mid-American Conference tournaments next week, but let’s not forget about the “other” Kent State teams and players competing for titles. Before the MAC basketball tournament even starts, the wrestling team will head to Central Michigan University this weekend to take its own shot at a conference title. The No. 16 Flashes boast four wrestlers ranked in the top 15 in the nation, including sophomore Dustin Kilgore who is ranked No.1. No. 8 Danny Mitcheff will not only be competing for another trip to the NCAA tournament this weekend, but he looks to tie and even break the record for the most wins ever by a Kent State wrestler. The women’s indoor track and field team already claimed its conference glory by winning the MAC championships this past weekend. The men’s team did its job as well by placing third in the meet. Princeton Bryson and Diana Dumitrescu earned Most Valuable Performer honors while Destin Heasley claimed Track Athlete of the Meet. The women’s team is also led by the MAC Coach of the Year in Bill Lawson. To close out the month, the gymnastics team will look to win its third consecutive MAC crown. In the meantime, the team is hosting No. 12 Kentucky this Friday while trying to maintain a perfect conference record with two MAC meets remaining. Now I’m not saying that you all should go to Central Michigan this weekend to support the wrestling team or drive to Arkansas to cheer on the track and field team at the NCAA Championships (but, by all means, go to anything if you can), I’m just asking that you simply don’t forget that we have other sports besides basketball. Sure, we’re not Duke or Kansas or Kentucky, who have a legitamate shot at a national title but we have four teams that can win conference titles this month and one that already has. We have a wrestler that, by the time this season is over, could be the most successful wrestler in the history of our program. We have runners, throwers, jumpers, grapplers, floor exercisers, coaches, players and teams that are looking to bring pride and glory to Kent State this month. To me, that is the true definition of March Madness. Contact sports editor Cody Francis at cfranci1@kent.edu.
PHOTO COURTESY OF ROB SCHULZ | THE SPECTRUM
Kent State senior center Lorriane Odhiambo defends Buffalo junior Kourtney Brown last night. The Flashes beat the Bulls 67-55 to clinch the three seed in the Mid-American Conference Tournament.
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