The
Kent Stater
THE INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF KENT STATE UNIVERSITY
High: 32 Low: 22
@kentwired KentWired.com
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2016
A soldier’s journey from the battlefield to the classroom Alex Delaney-Gesing General Assignment Reporter Kent State sophomore entrepreneurship major Louis Rossi remembers the exact day he was hit by an improvised explosive device (IED) while serving in Afghanistan: Oct. 28, 2012. Rossi enlisted in the U.S. Army in the fall following his 2011 high school graduation and was assigned to serve overseas in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, for nine months. As a combat engineer, he and a team of soldiers worked route clearance, driving around and clearing the roads of bombs so American convoys could transport equipment and food to other bases. “Everyday we would roll out of the gate, and you had to come to grips that you were going into imminent danger and there was a great chance you weren't going to come back through that gate,” Rossi said. Rossi, now 22, joined the military after spending his childhood fascinated with the concept of serving in the armed forces. “I love helping people (and) the militant mindset,” he said. “ I wanted to do it and achieve it myself. The orderly and disciplined lifestyle of the military gave Rossi a sense of purpose and duty for him to accomplish, day in and day out. “You woke up everyday and knew what you were going to do, what your job was,” he said. “But you didn't know what was going to be the outcome.” Throughout his service, Rossi witnessed and experienced first-hand the damage IEDs can do to soldiers while completing hundreds of missions on the road. “There really wasn't time for fear, if that makes sense,” he said. “You would just do your job, whatever it would entail.” In October 2012, while carrying out a routine clearance mission, Rossi's convoy was struck by an IED bomb buried along the road. “I remember when the bomb detonated and blew the back windshield of the truck out,” he said. “Looking over at the guy next to me — that was where I kind of lost it.” After treatment at a medical facility, Rossi resumed his duties. More than a month later, he underwent surgery for injuries sustained from the IED blast: a triple hernia. In May 2013, he completed his service and returned home. Upon his return, Rossi faced the challenge of settling back into the life he led before his departure.
Photo courtesy of Facebook
50 Cent to visit Water Street Tavern Taylor Kerns, Angelo Angel Parking and Transportation, Entertainment Reporter Hip-hop star Curtis James Jackson III, better known as 50 Cent, will make an appearance at Kent’s Water Street Tavern on March 4. The 40-year-old rapper, famous for such hits as “In Da Club” and “Candy Shop," will be at the bar promoting Effen Vodka. Jackson signed an endorsement deal with Effen last year. "We were actually contacted by Effen Vodka and told that we could have 50 Cent come to the Tavern and promote this drink, since he represents the brand and we carry (the brand of vodka)," said Victor Kutsch, a bartender at Water Street Tavern.
SEE 50 CENT / PAGE 2
Warren’s Twitter suspended due to error
Chelsea Evans / The Kent Stater President Beverly Warren makes a statement about the reopening of LaunchNET at Kent State on Thursday, Jan. 28, 2016 in the Student Center.
SEE SOLDIER / PAGE 2
Matt Baker / The Kent Stater Louis Rossi on Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2016.
Basketball hosts rival Akron Friday Zac Sommer Sports Reporter It started with a wagon wheel and ended with a rivalry series between two Northeast Ohio schools that dates back to 1923. For the first time this season, the Kent State men’s basketball team (179, 8-5 Mid-American Conference) will play host to its crosstown rival, the University of Akron (21-5, 10-3 MAC), on Friday at the M.A.C. Center. Although Akron sits atop the MAC standings, both teams are coming off solid wins. The Flashes recently knocked off Western Michigan University (10-16, 4-9 MAC) 85-78 in overtime, while the Zips earned an 80-70 win over University of Buffalo (14-12, 7-6 MAC) Tuesday night. “Any win and every win is important” Coach Rob Senderoff said. “Friday for us is a big game because it is Akron, but (also) because we only have two more home games left. It would be great to find a way to win both of those games. Each win in this league is tough and hard-fought.” Friday’s game marks the first meeting between the two teams this season, after Akron took a 53-51 win over Kent State last year, eliminating the Flashes in the quarterfinals of the Mid-American Conference Tournament. Six days prior to Kent State’s brief appearance in the MAC tournament, the Flashes beat Akron 79-77 after former guard Kris Brewer took the ball the length of the court and laid
it in right at the final buzzer. The win gave the the Flashes a share of the regular season MAC Championship. The two teams split the regular season series 1-1. Kent State has been without redshirt senior guard Xavier Pollard, who has been sidelined for the remainder of the season with a fractured foot that happened in the first half of a game against Ohio University on Jan. 29. Pollard was averaging 12.2 points per game and a team high three assist in 21 games. Senior guard Galal Cancer has stepped up offensively in the wake of losing Pollard. Cancer is coming off a career-high 24-point night against Western Michigan Tuesday. “I’m definitely feeling comfortable,” Cancer said. “I’m just shooting with confidence,” Cancer said. “They aren’t all going to go in, but that comes with getting extra shots and just being comfortable with the shots that I take.” Redshirt junior guard Kellon Thomas is also coming off of a big night after tallying 15 points and five assists. “I’m just doing whatever it takes to win,” Thomas said. “These games always come down to a couple possessions, and they are always hardfought. We just have to grind it out every night and whatever it takes. I’m going to do it.” Redshirt senior forward Jimmy Hall leads the Flashes this year, averaging 16.2 points and 7.7 rebounds
adds 11.8 points. The Zips are 6-5 on the road, with their most recent loss coming from Northern Illinois University (18-8, 7-6 MAC), whom the Flashes beat 75-74 earlier this season on Feb. 9. Friday’s contest will be broadcast on ESPNU, with tip-off set for 6 p.m.
From students complaining about harsh professors to sharing selfies, President Beverly Warren’s Twitter account sees a lot of action. Every day, students, professors and parents tweet at Warren seeking a response or a retweet. So on Wednesday, when the president’s account registered as “suspended,” where did Kent State students go? To Twitter, of course. Warren’s account was reinstated Wednesday night. Eric Mansfield, Kent State’s university spokesperson, said Warren’s account was accidentally suspended when Twitter attempted to suspend a Warren parody account. “(Warren’s) been very active on Twitter and enjoys being on Twitter,” he said. “This is Twitter’s mistake.” Theories about why the president’s Twitter account was suspended still developed. Kent State’s main campus canceled classes before 10 a.m. Tuesday. However, classes went on as scheduled the rest of the day. Junior chemistry major Jonathan Markle said the lack of a snow day sent Kent State’s Twitter users into a flurry. Markle said he overheard students saying they purposely reported Warren’s Twitter account to get her suspended. “I actually wanted to have class yesterday because I had an afternoon lab," Markle said. "Labs aren’t fun to reschedule." Markle said if the rumor were true, he wouldn’t be upset over Warren’s Twitter handle disappearance. “People will voice frustrations regardless of what she does,” Markle said. “She has a tough job, and I respect her for doing it.”
zsommer@kent.edu
pmoore22@kent.edu
Graham Smith / The Kent Stater Kent State redshirt senior forward Jimmy Hall tries to shoot for a three-pointer over an Akron defender during Kent’s final game of the regular season in the M.A.C. Center on Friday, March 6, 2015. Kent State’s Kris Brewer scored a layup with one second left in the game and fans rushed the court as Kent beat Akron 79-77 to win the MAC East.
through 26 games. Playing home at the M.A.C. Center could prove to be an advantage for Kent State as the Flashes have an 11-2 record at home this season. Junior center Isaiah Johnson leads the way for Akron, averaging 12.8 points and 7.4 rebounds per game. Sophomore guard Antino Jackson
Payton Moore Senior Reporter