The Kent Stater - Oct. 19, 2016

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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2016

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EMTs stand the line against overdoses

Editor’s note

Skye McEowen Print Managing Editor

Our coverage of the heroin epidemic continues into our second day, and the conversation continues as well.

Again, the purpose of this coverage is to open the forum to discussion about what this problem is, how we respond to it and how it affects us personally.

Directly or indirectly, most of us have been touched by heroin. Our focus today is what people are doing in response to the way this epidemic affects our lives. We’ve taken a look at what we’re facing, what it does to us physically and how we can lose someone we love to it. The question is, what now?

Emergency responders are preparing for overdoses, while cities and schools are working on ways to bring the epidemic to light. A part of being able to participate in constructive dialogues is to understand as many facets of it as possible.

We still believe there is work to be done, but understanding the work we are doing now will help us keep the dialogue going as we continue to flesh out a now very real fear. smceowen@kent.edu

How to get help Portage County offers resources for those struggling with addiction. The Mental Health and Recovery Board of Portage County suggests two residential treatment facilities specializing in heroin and opioid addiction.

Horizon House, located in Ravenna, is a 90-day halfway house specializing in adult women seeking help for their addiction. To be eligible, women must have been proven to have a need for the program. Horizon House is funded through a Women’s Special Services Grant from the Ohio Department of Mental Health & Addiction Services and the Portage County Mental Health and Recovery Board. Call the organization at (330) 678-3006.

Root House, also in Ravenna, takes in men with addictions including heroin and opioids.

The Root House opened in summer 2013, and was started by the Citizens for Addiction Recovery and Education. Call the organization at (330) 677-4124 ex. 0.

For a list of statewide heroin and opioid addiction services, visit heroin.net/help/ohio.

If you suspect a user of overdosing, call your local paramedics immediately.

• Kent Fire Department: (330) 676-7393 • Ravenna Fire Department: (330) 297-5738 • Stow Fire Department: (330) 689-5800

Campus organization focuses on recovery Angelo Angel Senior Reporter Kent State's Empowering Students in Recovery focuses on providing a judgement-free zone where people recovering from addiction can find a place to share their experiences and struggle with addiction, as well as an outlet for those who are still using substance, to explore recovery.

The group was founded in August 2013, when Maureen Keating, a chemical dependency counselor at the University Health Services and a Kent State student, who wishes to remain anonymous, got together with a plan to form a support group.

Keating said when she first arrived at Kent State, there wasn’t a support group available to students in recovery.

“We came up with the idea together to create a support group that wasn’t obligatory, and anyone could come attend the group,” Keating said.

The group doesn’t follow a traditional 12-step program like other anonymous groups. Each individual who attends the meeting does not have an obligation to share their story or participate in the discussion.

Keating emphasized that the support group is not only for those who are struggling with addiction, but also for those who wish to become allies.

“We’re always looking for students who wish to help organize awareness campaigns or to be there as a supportive member for those who are dealing with addiction,” Keating said.

Empowering Students in Recovery is hosted at the Deweese Health Center every Thursday from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at conference room A, located in the lower level of the building. aangel3@kent.edu

Karl Schneider / The Kent Stater Jake Robinson, a firefighter and paramedic with the Kent Fire Department, demonstrates how to use naloxone when confronted with a heroin overdose victim in the back of an ambulance on Tuesday, Oct. 18, 2016.

Matt Poe Senior Reporter As heroin continues to take its toll on victims, families, communities and Portage County law enforcement has taken drastic steps to help combat the nationwide epidemic.

Among other precautions, the county most notably implemented the Portage County Drug Task Force and frequently uses a lifesaving antidote called Narcan.

The task force is a multi-agency that includes the Kent Police Department, Portage County Sheriff’s office and surrounding cities’ police departments including

Hiram and Ravenna.

In addition to fighting drug use and distribution in Portage County, the task force includes members of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency, the Portage County Prosecutor ’s Office, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the Internal Revenue Service.

Portage County Sheriff David Doak said the task force is a vital agency within Northeast Ohio, and while its primary mission is to fight drugs within the county, it plays a much larger role.

“A great deal of the criminal activity that we see here within the county is fueled by addiction now, and it gets involved with paper

crimes, robberies, burglaries ... and even including homicides at times,” Doak said.

The influx of drugs — heroin in particular — within Portage County has led to imposing a sales tax to garner revenue. The hope is to expand the Portage County jail due to the overcrowding of drugrelated crimes, Doak said.

While drugs remain a problem for county law enforcement, Doak said that heroin-related incidents and deaths have dramatically increased.

“It became very noticeable about five or six years ago when we started seeing this heroin increase, and the death toll of heroin overdoses

has far surpassed traffic fatalities in the county,” Doak said.

In 2014, the Food and Drug Administration approved the use of an opioid antidote called naloxone, commonly referred to as “Narcan”.

Narcan works to reverse the effects of the overdose by bringing the victim’s breathing rate back to normal pace. Opioid overdoses cause a person to develop shallow, minimal breaths. It’s this type of drug that allows first responders, like Lt. James Samels, a paramedic and firefighter at the Kent City Fire Department, to help fight against heroin.

SEE EMT / PAGE 2

Local high schools address heroin issue Alex Delaney-Gesing Senior Reporter The issue of heroin use has affected more than just one demographic and geographic location throughout the country. Known as “dope,” “smack” or “horse,” overall usage of the drug has risen by more than 60 percent in the last 14 years, according to the Teen Rehab Center.

Young adults are one of the most susceptible demographics to the addicting and detrimental effects of heroin use. Around 0.8 percent of all high school seniors in the United States have used heroin at least once, and 0.3 percent have used it at least once in the past month, the Teen Rehab Center reported.

Taken in a national scale, 0.8 percent totals 660,000 students who may face the risk of suffering serious and life-threatening consequences .

Educating students on the effects of the opioid has been proven to lower the chances of their addiction.

In Portage County, an estimated 23 percent of all individuals who use heroin have been found to become addicted to it, according to the 2016 Portage County Community Health Status Assessment.

Some schools in Portage County and neighboring Summit County are doing their part to educate students on the dangers and risks involved in doing drugs — especially heroin.

Tallmadge High School has taken the anti-drug movement even further, focusing specifically on the detrimental usage of heroin and fentanyl.

The high school held two substance and drug abuse meetings this past spring for students, parents and residents to address the community-

wide issue.

“We don’t turn a blind eye to what is going on,” said Mike Bluey, assistant principal at Tallmadge High School. “We are always looking for ways to further make positive headway toward battling the problem.”

For adolescents aged 12-17 during 2015, only 1 percent claimed to have tried heroin.

Approximately 55 percent of teen users cite peer pressure, as well as stress and media culture as major factors of influence in their decision to start using.

At Tallmadge, Bluey said, there are various student groups designed to be proactive in spreading the antidrug word and awareness through signage in the building. A resource officer was hired for the new school year as a means to ensure student safety and to spread awareness Stow-Munroe Falls High School has also been instrumental in spreading the word to its student body on heroin and other drug abuse.

This past spring, Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Judge Michael Astrab and Assistant U.S. Attorney Bob Bulford spoke at two drug awareness assemblies held for students and their parents.

Astrab, a part of the Northeast Ohio Heroin and Opioid Task Force, and Bulford, a supervisor of the U.S. Attorneys' Akron and Youngstown offices, discussed both the health risks of drug use, as well as how such actions can cause an individual to face repercussions with the law, the Stow Sentry reported. ”It’s important that (students) are educated on the consequences that

Courtesy of Cole Rose Master of ceremonies Beth Mingey (left) and guest speaker Ashley Seneko, sister of a drug overdose victim, attend the NOPE Task Force seminar for middle school and high school students in Stow-Munroe Falls City Schools on Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2016.

arise from drug and alcohol abuse,” Superintendent Tom Bratten said in the article, quoted from a press release from the spring. “We are committed to keeping our students safe in and outside of school.”

Last Tuesday the high school and middle school held two seminars sponsored by the Narcotics Overdose Prevention & Education (NOPE) Task Force, a nonprofit organization originally formed in Florida to fight the use of drugs and narcotics.

The seminars’ goals were “to catch drug abuse early and instill an antidrug message in young people’s minds so they never get started on drugs in the first place,” according to an Oct. 11 Akron Beacon Journal article.

A Youth to Youth (Y2Y) Kickoff Training Day was held this past Mon-

day to promote drug awareness and education at the high school. Students participated in team building exercises led by guest speaker Ty Sells, a representative from the program.

While Kent’s Theodore Roosevelt High School doesn’t have specific drug awareness programs for its students, its administration has been progressive in making the anti-drug message known.

An assembly this past spring featured a presentation from the Cuyahoga County-based, anti-drug addiction organization called Robby’s Voice. The group was founded by the family of 20-year-old Robby Brandt, a victim of a heroin overdose, who died in 2011.

SEE HIGH SCHOOL / PAGE 2

Page 2 | Wednesday, October 19, 2016

The Kent Stater

Speaker sheds light on male sexual assault Erin Zaranec Entertainment Editor

Photo courtesy of Amani Williams Freshman Libby Nunemaker votes at the Student Recreation and Wellness Center on Tuesday, March 15, 2016. Ohio is one of the five states to vote in the primaries on this day.

Groups train poll observers Angelo Angel Senior Reporter

The Carter Center, a public policy group founded by former President Jimmy Carter, has been working with the League of Women Voters in Ohio to train observers for the upcoming Nov. 8 election.

Announcing its partnership with the National Conference of State Legislatures in August, the Carter Center will examine current regulations and access in becoming an election observer, with Ohio being the only state to be a part of this project.

The Carter Center is a non-profit organization started in 1982. The organization works on a variety of projects such as advocating human rights and combating diseases such as malaria.

“It’s an outgrowth of the project with NCSL, which has been focused primarily on research and info-gathering,” said David Carroll, director of the Democracy Program within the Carter Center.

“As we implemented the project, we realized that there was an info and knowledge gap — not only about the varying access for observers in the U.S., but also more broadly about the methods used by international election observers.”

According to a joint study by the NCSL and the Carter Center released in August, while observation conducted by members of political parties and candidates is permitted, several states had no provisions for observers of a domestic, nonpartisan or international organization. And, while these groups are not barred from observing elections, county officials have often left the decision of granting access to observers.

Carter, in a press release, said that while the organization has observed countless elections in other countries, the need for transparent and credible election processes was needed in the U.S. to build the citizens’ confidence in the electoral system.

“Credible election observation is a key way to ensure that citizens can understand and be included in supporting good electoral processes in the United States,” Carter said.

The Carter Center is in the process of training

members of the League of Women Voters in Ohio to serve as the group's first venture into implementing trained observers within the country.

Carrie Davis, executive director of the League of Women Voters based in Ohio, said the Carter Center is well known for sending observers to other countries. The organization is serving as the pilot test for the center.

“We’re in the process of recruiting volunteers right now, and we plan to have volunteers deployed around the state of Ohio on Election Day who can observe and report on how Ohio’s election is doing,” Davis said.

Davis believes that one of the reasons why Ohio was chosen for the pilot test was due to its expansive population having an urban and a rural landscape — almost resembling the U.S. in its diverse regions.

When asked about the Carter Center sending observers to Ohio, as well as Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump’s recent calls to have his supporters police the voting stations, Theresa Nielsen, deputy director for the Portage County Board of Election, said to become an observer, the individual must go through a process.

“In order to be an observer at a polling location, you just can’t show up,” Nielsen said. “(You) must file paperwork with the Ohio Secretary of State and forward it to the county that it applies to.”

Diana Gerdes, a freshman communications major, said she feels like that some people could use the observer role to intimidate people at the polls, even though it may not be their intention.

“I feel that with all the tension going on with this election, people can get emotional and (it can) lead to possibly a scuffle,” Gerdes said.

First-time voter Katie Chilson, a senior public relations major, said it’s up to whoever is voting on whether they would feel intimidated or not.

“Personally, I feel that as long as the observer isn't staring me down or actively yelling, then it shouldn't be an issue,” Chilson said. “If anything, I think there shouldn't be any fraud, and if voter monitors accomplish that, then it works.” aangel3@kent.edu

Smoke, carbon monoxide detectors top list of housing violations in Kent Matt Poe Senior Reporter Missing or non-working carbon monoxide detectors were reported in over a dozen homes in Kent over the last several months.

The violations were reported by the Kent City Health Department, which oversees the replacement of disabled detectors.

Kyle Kelly, a public health sanitarian for the City of Kent, said in March 2016 that the reason carbon monoxide and smoke detectors seem to be such an issue is due to technical issues on the department’s website.

“Our standard guidelines are that we consider this something to check as soon as possible,” Kelly said. “For housing, we recently started putting the inspections online and every violation, until we get some of the glitches fixed, will show as non-critical.”

As of October 2016, the website still does not make a clear indication of what constitutes a critical and non-critical violation. Kelly said the system does not deviate between critical and noncritical violations, even though there are separate categories for the two violations.

“HealthSpace(.com) automatically labels all housing violations as noncritical because our department does not delineate between critical and noncritical housing violations,” Kelly said.

The health department's webpage contains standard housing inspection procedures and reports, with violations separated into two categories: critical and non-critical. Carbon monoxide detectors and smoke alarm detectors listed as broken, missing or stolen are not considered a critical violation.

The report states that there have been at least 16 instances of carbon monoxide and smoke detectors damaged or missing since July 2016.

Kelly said he understands the importance of having proper detectors within houses, as both carbon monoxide and smoke can be deadly.

Tenants may remove smoke detectors to smoke tobacco, marijuana or simply because the batteries are low and the alarm will not stop, Kelly said, but it is unclear why tenants would remove carbon monoxide detectors.

Carbon monoxide is an odorless, tasteless and colorless gas, making it extremely difficult for residents to detect without an alarm. The Kent City Health Department did not make carbon monoxide alarms a requirement for the housing code until 2014, Kelly said.

Kelly said there are times when landlords have not provided the detectors for tenants.

“If the furnace or hot water (systems) malfunction, that can be life-threatening and someone could die,” Kelly said. “So we definitely consider those critical violations, along with broken or missing fire extinguishers, or someone missing a front door.”

Not all violations college students and residents deal with are as severe: Some violations can be as simple as snow removal or grass height.

Paul Bauer, a code enforcement officer for Kent's building services, directly oversees a majority of the issues and violations that tenants deal with outside of their homes.

“We enforce city code that is not criminal, and also handle building zoning issues,” Bauer said.

Bauer and his department oversee the buildings themselves, exterior maintenance, issues with front steps and other general exterior problems. Bauer is also responsible for making sure cars have proper tags and are serviceable. His main issue — especially during the warmer seasons — is tall grass.

“In the summer, (the main issue is) definitely grass,” Bauer said. “The property tenant will get a warning, and typically a contractor will come and issue a bill — plus a $100 fine if grass is over 12 inches.”

Kelly said the health department could begin to assign critical and non-critical definitions in the future. Nevertheless, he continues to stress the importance of correcting housing violations.

“Tenants should never live in a home without these basic life safety measurements in place,” Kelly said.

Health Commissioner Jeff Neistadt could not be reached for comment.

For more information regarding services and departments available to students and residents in Kent, visit http://www.kentohio.org/index.asp. mpoe3@kent.edu

In 1999, Timothy M. Jones woke on the couch of his barracks in Japan to a 6’5” Marine overpowering him. While serving as a U.S. Navy Seal, Jones became one of approximately 10,000 men sexually assaulted while serving in the military each year.

“For the next 20 minutes, the color in my voice was snuffed out,” said Jones, a former United States Navy SEAL and sexual assault victim advocate.

Jones was raped by a fellow member of the armed forces.

His attacker was later found to have raped four other men.

Jones served 27 months in the Navy before being honorably discharged for rumors of homosexuality in a time of “don’t ask, don’t tell” policies.

After coming out at age 18 to his friends and family, Jones joined the Navy with hopes of his sexuality being brushed aside.

Instead, it may have been the target of his attack, Jones said.

“In 1999, ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ was in full effect. And you were who you hung out with. And if you (reported) sexual assault by (a) male, you (were) labeled as homosexual,” Jones said.

After reporting the crime of sexual assault against him, Jones said he was isolated from men he previously considered his brothers.

Jones presented his story in a Victim to Victor lecture in the Kiva Tuesday night, as part of Kent Interhall Council Sex Week programming. His lecture was sponsored by the Center for Adult and Veterans Services, LGBTQ Student Center, Office of Sexual and Relationship Violence Support Services and the Student Multicultural Center.

He shared his story of sexual assault and discharge from the Navy, which was followed by a “wilderness” phase, full of drugs, alcohol and doubts about self-identity. After landing himself in legal trouble, Jones ended up in the Florida jail system for counts of fraud and was paired with a Veter-

ans Affairs counselor.

It was meeting that counselor that introduced him to the root of his “wilderness phase”: post-traumatic stress disorder.

“I had an answer to what I had been plagued with,” Jones said of his diagnosis. “I now had nothing to work with except the truth, except to deal with what brought me here.”

Jones learned more about himself, his identity and his PTSD during his jail sentence, during rehabilitation through a homeless veterans program and by getting involved with the Student Veterans of America. He has since become a victim advocate and inspirational speaker.

“I wanted to assist others who encountered the stigmas of sexual assault, those who struggle with identity … and how we can come together and have a very powerful conversation,” Jones said.

After his lecture, Jones took questions from Kent State students facing their own struggles with PTSD, urging them to get help from on-campus resources.

“I think speaking on (sexual assault and PTSD) are really important topics for a lot of reasons. It’s LGBTQ History Month and it’s also Sexual Assault Awareness Month, so to have an event focused on male victims, that’s a piece that’s not really recognized,” said Ken Ditlevson, director of the LGBTQ Student Center.

Joshua Rider, director for the Center of Adult and Veterans Services, coordinated Jones’ appearance on campus after hearing him speak at a conference.

“What caught me was what a uniquely human experience (his story) was and how it would touch so many groups on campus,” Rider said. “From the LGBTQ community, the student veterans, students dealing with depression, sexual assault, domestic violence — his story touched on all these communities we have right here on campus.” ezaranec@kent.edu

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From Page 1

EMT EMTs stand the line...

“From May 2015 to May 2016, we (Kent Fire Department) administered Narcan 56 times – more than once a week,” Samels said.

As Narcan proves to be the biggest tool that Samels and other first responders use to fight heroin overdoses, there is a lot that has to go right for first responders to administer the antidote successfully, Samels said.

With a successful 49 out of 56 overdoses reversed by Narcan, Samels said he acknowledges the antidote’s importance, but understands the need to treat the disease, not just the symptoms.

“Seven people still died,” he said. “As far as I look at it, that’s 56 times too many in administering Narcan.”

Heroin itself is not the only contributor to the rise in overdoses in Portage County and the nation: Fentanyl is an opiate painkiller used to treat severe pain associated with cancer patients, patients with chronic back pain and hospice patients.

According to Narconon, Fentanyl is 50 times more powerful than heroin. An even more powerful type of fentanyl — known as carfentanil — is up to 100 times more powerful than heroin, and is often used as an animal tranquilizer on large animals such as rhinoceroses and elephants.

Fentanyl has the same consistencies as heroin, and can be almost impossible for a user to differentiate between the two.

Wayne Enders, administrator at the Portage County Coroner’s

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office, said Portage County has had more fentanyl deaths in 2016 than heroin deaths.

Enders believes that Narcan works great on heroin overdoses, but with fentanyl being much more potent, multiple doses could be needed to revive someone.

“Most addicts (who) are often taking heroin ... don’t know there is fentanyl laced in the heroin, or they are unaware that they are getting fentanyl and not heroin because the two side-by-side look exactly the same,” Enders said.

Portage County has had 30 heroin and/or fentanyl related deaths last year and a reported 33 in 2016 to date, according to documents obtained from the Portage County Coroner’s office.

Enders has been with the coroner ’s office for 20 years.

When he started, fentanyl wasn’t something that was on his department’s radar. Now it’s a rampant problem.

“We didn’t see our first fentanyl death until about five years ago,” Enders said. “I didn’t even know what it was until five years ago … all the evidence points toward that the problem is going to get worse.”

Still, Enders said he remains hopeful that with all the agencies in Portage County acting as one, the heroin and fentanyl problem can eventually be minimized.

“We’re all working together to try to alleviate this epidemic that we have,” he said.

A similar assembly focusing on the risks of drug use will be held (this fall), said a secretary at Roosevelt High School.

As a precaution — and sometimes as needed in the past — the high school offers a student assessment counselor for those who have begun using heroin or another drug, according to Love.

“As soon as we find out a student might be using, we set them up with the counselor and special recommendation will be made for them to go to a detox or local treatment facility,” Love said.

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The Kent Stater

Opinion

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Editor: Jimmy Miller Print Managing Editor: Skye McEowen Opinion Editor: Lucas Misera Assigning Editor: McKenzie Jean-Philippe Assigning Editor: Olivia Minnier

The Stater hopes to encourage lively debate about the issues of the day on the Opinion Page. Opinions on this page are the authors’ and not necessarily en­dorsed by the Stater or its editors. Readers are encouraged to participate through letters to the editor (email them to jmill231@kent.edu) and guest columns. Submissions become pro­­perty of the Stater and are subject to editing without notice.

THE OPINION PAGE IS AN OUTLET FOR OUR COMMUNITY’S VARIED OPINIONS.

DREW SHENEMAN’S VIEW

On Comedian talks race, gender Emily Wilbur Religion Reporter

Phoebe Robinson, an American comedian, writer and actress based in New York City, discussed her newest book “You Can’t Touch My Hair: And Other Things I Still Have to Explain” Tuesday in Kent State’s University Bookstore.

Robinson is the host of two popular podcasts, “Sooo Many White Guys” and “2 Dope Queens,” which she co-hosts with former “The Daily Show” correspondent Jessica Williams. She has been published in The New York Times and Vanity Fair, and is a staff writer for MTV’s “GirlCode” and a consultant on Comedy Central’s “Broad City.” ewilbur@kent.edu

Cheers&Jeers Cheers to ... the high school graduate rate reaching a record high, as more than 83 percent of students have earned their diplomas on time.

Reviewing ‘The Accountant’ Gabby Seed Columnist This past weekend’s box office No. 1 movie was “The Accountant,” an action thriller starring Ben Affleck and Anna Kendrick. The film brought in over $24.7 million during the weekend, falling behind the approximately $37 million brought in

by Affleck and Rosemund Pike’s 2015 psychological thriller, “Gone Girl.”

With that being said, “The Accountant” is currently competing against “The Girl on the Train,” the adaptation of British writer Paula Hawkin’s gripping novel.

“The Girl on the Train” brought in almost the same amount during its opening weekend as “The Accountant,” but has perhaps received more publicity by way of media moves, such as star Emily Blunt’s “Saturday Night Live” hosting gig.

A current renaissance in psychological thrillers pits films like “The Accountant,” “Gone Girl” and “The Girl on the Train” against each other as complex, engaging entertainment that falls somewhere between hackneyed action movies and far-fetched criminal dramas.

Even though a relative failure next to “Gone Girl,” “The Accountant” had me leaving the movie theater Saturday night in awe of Affleck’s performance and the surprising intermittent twists and turns.

“The Account” centers aroumd Affleck’s character, an autistic math wiz named Christian Wolff, whose military father raised him to fight viciously so that he would never be victimized. Wolff’s intelligence, affinity for recognizing patterns and stealthy nature lead him toward the business of freelance accounting, which he learns from a fellow inmate while in prison.

Wolff is definitely a “good guy” but his methods of exposing Living Robotics, a company that is stealing millions of dollars, are questionable.

Along the way, Wolff must protect Dana Cummings, an accountant at Living Robotics who quickly understands the misdeeds that are going on, after Wolff shows her the patterns. We also learn about the family history of Wolff and his brother, the team trying to track down Wolff, and the neuroscience institute to which Wolff is donating much of his laundered money.

While I won’t ruin the movie for you with any spoilers, I will say that the endless layers in “The Accountant” are fascinating. This is not purely a crime thriller but a family drama and occasionally, even a comedy. I laughed out loud, covered my eyes and jumped out on my seat in a few scenes.

Affleck’s meticulous, detailed acting covered up any old, recognizable characters, making way for the character of Wolff – and Wolff alone. Kendrick’s did the same; I saw little trace of Nick from “Gone Girl” or Becca from “Pitch Perfect.”

I especially have a new respect for Kendrick, who, before now, always seemed to be acting in bumbling comedies, made up of a handful of hastily thrown together famous names.

The one major downfall of “The Accountant” is the perpetuation of the damsel in distress trope.

Kendrick’s character was completely at the mercy of Affleck’s, only surviving because her knight in shining armor had the training akin to that of navy seals.

Thankfully, Cummings’ incredible intellect almost made up for her passivity and lack of pluck. Throughout the course of the film, she is the sole character who seems to understand the math and patterns laid out by Wolff in his investigation of Living Robotics. This is, at the very least, an obvious movement away from female supporting characters who act only as eye candy.

While you might have your eye on the hypedup film “The Girl on the Train,” it’s definitely worth your time to also take a look at “The Accountant.” With layers, twists, complex characters and surprises — what’s not to like? gseed@kent.edu

OUR VIEW

Jeers to ... taking the conventional route. After locking himself out of his house, a man from Tuscon, Arizona, climbed down his chimney and found himself stuck in it for four hours.

Video highlights all-toocommon conversation

Six days ago, a Youngstown man had to tell his 8-year-old son that the boy’s mother had died of a heroin overdose.

The father, Brenden Bickerstaff-Clark, posted a video on YouTube of the heartbreaking moment. Viewers could only watch as the boy listened to the news with disbelief and quickly broke down in tears.

After a few moments of comforting his son, Bickestaff-Clark turned to the camera and said, “That’s enough.”

The video quickly went viral, with some reacting with compassion and others criticizing Bickestaff-Clark of making a private moment public.

According to the Ohio Department of Health, 2015 saw 1,155 accidental deaths related to heroin in the state. Last year, 1,155 Ohio families experienced a moment like the 8-year-old in the video.

With so many people affected by the heroin epidemic, bringing the reality of the drug to the public is a way for some to work

towards ending the crisis, no matter the means in which they do it.

In The Kent Stater’s Monday heroin edition, Morgan Kreptowski wrote a column sharing her own story of seeing her boyfriend through addiction, which sadly ended in a fatal overdose.

Bickerstaff-Clark, a recovering addict himself, wrote on Facebook: “This is for any and every addict with children. Today I had to tell my 8 year old son that his mommy died from a drug overdose last night. This is the realization and reality of our disease.

Don’t let this disease have to make someone tell your child that you’re dead because of drugs.”

Whether it’s believed that his decision to post the video was valiant or exploitive, a few things are clear: Heroin is real, it’s destructive and it doesn’t care who it affects.

The above editorial is the consensus opinion of The Kent Stater editorial board, whose names are listed above.

Policymakers need solution to drug problem Lucas Misera Opinion Editor In light of The Kent Stater’s week-long look into heroin addiction, one national shortcoming concerning drug abuse needs confronted: public policy.

One stunning number sheds light on both the dysfunctional state of the American justice system and its treatment of addicts: the recidivism rate for drug offenders is nearly 77 percent, meaning nearly three out of four people arrested for drug-related crimes will be rearrested at some point.

A toast to the end of the debates

Clearly, the current system is complacent with criminalizing addiction rather than taking the longer — but more effective — route in seeking out help for these individuals.

Matt Poe Columnist

While President Barack Obama has taken a stance on the issue by pardoning non-violent drug offenders, the gesture is a small step in

We did it.

We, as a nation, somehow managed to tread water long enough to survive the mockery and reality television show that was the 2016 presidential debates. I am proud of each and every one of you for staying strong through this dark period in our nation.

The final debate is Thursday night, and it will be the last of the stepping stones to the end of this merciless presidential election.

Thank God. So it is without further ado that I would like to thank some of the people who made these debates as laughable and memorable as any in our nation’s history (clears throat, straightens tie, raises glass).

To Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump: Oh Donnie, Donnie Boy. From the beginning of the Republican debates all the way to the presidential debates, you made it an election season to remember. Your ability to make every topic about yourself, whether it be ISIS, the economy or immigration, is uncanny.

Who wants to hear about real issues or plausible solutions to help solve some of the issues our nation is facing? Not I. I want to hear as much about you as possible, and throughout the campaign trail, I really feel like I got to know you quite well. My favorite part was the whole dismissing sexual assault as “boys will be boys” talk.

Really, I can’t thank you enough. This column wouldn’t have survived without you.

To Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton: You battled and held your ground against Trump, continually volleying his remarks about your emails and your husband’s alleged marital affairs. You tried to talk about substantial issues and help remind us that the leader of the free world needs to provide solutions, not barriers to further divide us.

At times, you went for personal attacks and took the low hanging fruit, like Trump not releasing his taxes. But mostly, you stood your ground and reminded us what someone running for elected office should act like.

I feel like we’ve grown to know each other a lot since your first attempt at running for president in 2008. We still have some trust issues and growing pains to work out, but hey, no good relationship grows without a little bit of time and effort. I hope in four to eight years we’ll look back on this time period with a chuckle.

To CNN anchorman and presidential debate moderator Anderson Cooper: You, sir, continue to show us what great journalism looks like. Your ability to moderate and ask tough questions that need clarification is slowly setting the gold standard in journalism. Keep up the good work, kid. You just might have a future in this business.

To Obama: This election has made me realize how much I will miss your personality when your time as president ends. Regardless of how one feels about your politics, your interactions with every day people serve as a reminder that the president should remain relatable and humble to all citizens — your jump shot will certainly be missed. It’s a tough job market out there, so please update your resume and start looking for work. It could be difficult, but I have hopes for you.

So there you have it, folks. When Thursday night’s debate wraps up, I’m sure I’ll feel like Frodo and Sam after destroying the ring, coming to the realization that it’s finally over.

Make sure to have your popcorn ready for the final act, and watch as the mushroom cloud settles in glorious high definition (ends toast, chugs champagne, throws glass in drunken uncle’s vicinity). mpoe3@kent.edu

tackling an ever-growing epidemic.

In a 2015 edition of The Economist, the authors highlight that 20 percent of American prisons are comprised of drug offenders, while housing any given prisoner costs $68,000 annually. Considering this, and the fact that the U.S. houses approximately 25 percent of the world’s prison population, it’s clear that the war on drugs has been an economically and socially devastating one.

So what may serve as a solution to a rampant problem? The answer may lie in confronting addiction, without criminalizing it.

Referring non-violent drug users to rehabilitation clinics for first-time offenses — rather than immediately labeling them society’s worst — could minimize recidivism. This policy adjustment would create jobs for psychologists, avoid tearing families apart and affirm an important point that addiction isn’t a crime, but rather, a disease.

With Election Day only a few weeks away, it’s important that the candidates seriously consider methods by which the United States can approach its looming drug problem. Continuous inaction fails to take seriously a costly issue with deep-seated societal implications. lmisera@kent.edu

Page 4 | Wednesday, October 19, 2016

Perspectives

Sophomore education, health and human service major Rachel Fowler poses for a portrait with her scarlet hair on Monday, Oct. 10, 2016.

The Kent Stater

Photos and multimedia through the lenses of Kent State students

Junior visual communication design major Ciara Lillis smiles with her unique mix of hair color on Monday, Oct. 10, 2016. Her hair was originally dyed firetruck red. However, she has grown fond of the way it faded, and how her natural hair color doesn’t mix with it.

Kent State’s hair culture Freshman japanese and sociology major at Miami University (OH), Kellyn Vince, shows off her smokey sapphire hair in front of the Kent State Center for Undergraduate Excellence on Friday, Oct. 14, 2016.

Sophomore special education major Tehya Morgan smiles with her recently dyed grey hair on Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2016.

Freshman photo illustration major Sydnie Baker shows off her blue and purple hair on Monday, Oct. 10, 2016.

Alexander Wadley Photo Desk Editor Some students at Kent State are sporting a unique hair color different from the color they were born with. Some stick to dying their hair traditional colors like black and blonde.

However, many students take this a step further and dye their hair with unique hair colors such as blue or red, with different styles such as pastel or neon.

Some even dye their hair with certain patterns shown. Dyed hair has become its own culture, and this is no exception within the Kent State community.

Photographing these unique individuals helps to visualize why uniquely colored hair has

transcended being a simple fad.

For those students who have dyed their hair, they’ve said that they did it “just because” or “Why not?”

However, many had their own unique personal reasons.

“We only have so many days to live,” said freshman jounalism major Regan Schell, when asked why she dyed her hair.

Freshman fashion design major Lily Laurila said that she dyed her hair blue because she had always loved mermaids, and the shade also happened to be her favorite color.

Kent State’s dyed-hair culture is another small piece of its diversity. awadley@kent.edu

Sophomore fashion design major Alannah Notley stands in front of Rockwell Hall while she presents her platinum-like hair on Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2016.

Freshman journalism major Regan Schell sits on a bench along the Esplanade, showing off her pastel-white hair on Monday, Oct. 10, 2016.

Photos by Alexander Wadley / The Kent Stater

Freshman fashion design major Lily Laurila — who dyed her hair blue because she “always loved mermaids” ­— on Monday, Oct. 10, 2016.

Wednesday, October 19, 2016 | Page 5

The Kent Stater

Classifieds

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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.

By Nancy Black Today’s Birthday (10/19/16).

This is your year to shine. Smile for the camera, and share your message. New directions with a community effort this spring lead to rising energy levels. A change of heart next autumn inspires renewed passion between friends. Nurture your roots to reach the sky.

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

Aries (March 21-April 19) Today is a 5. Face family conflict between fantasy and reality. Household issues require attention over the next two days. A theory gets challenged through application. Slow the action. Make modifications.

Taurus (April 20-May 20) Today is a 7. Pursue answers. Don’t believe someone who says it’s impossible. Get into an exploratory phase over the next two days. Study and practice. Talk with experienced teachers.

Gemini (May 21-June 20) Today is a 7. Keep communication channels open. A surprise gets dished up. Make changes to manage shifting circumstances. You can still make money over the next two days.

Postpone chores.

Cancer (June 21-July 22) Today is a 9. Step into greater power today and tomorrow. Get coaching to go further, faster. Keep practicing. You’re especially sensitive.

Ignore chaos and push toward a personal goal.

BLISS

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) Today is a 5. Grab a bargain without maxing out your card. Don’t touch savings, either. Slow down and think over what you really want. Get philosophical. Indulge in private rituals.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) Today is a 7. Collaborate with friends over the next few days. Discuss wishes and goals for the future.

Consider the tough questions. You don’t have to do it all.

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) Today is an 8. Plan for two days in the spotlight. You’re attracting the attention of someone important.

Stick by your principles. Stifle complaints or criticism, and smile for the cameras.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) Today is a 7. The next two days are good for expanding your territory.

Slow down for unexpected developments. Give your loved ones full attention when requested. Wait for clear conditions.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) Today is a 6. A critic helps you fix something that’s broken. Creativity is required. Read the manual first. A lack of funds could threaten plans. Manage the budget today and tomorrow.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Today is a 7. Negotiate with your partner today and tomorrow. New information compels a change in plans. Proceed with caution. Guard against losses. Shift priorities as required. Sort out details later.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) Today is a 5. Balance your work with your health for the next two days.

Make sure you’re well fed and rested for endurance. Acknowledge limitations, and make adjustments.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) Today is a 7. Focus on romance today and tomorrow, although cables could get crossed. Don’t jump to conclusions. A friend or relation provides keen insight. Slow down around confusion.

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Page 6 | Wednesday, October 19, 2016

The Kent Stater

Sports

SPORTS EDITOR: STEPHEN MEANS // SMEANS2@KENT.EDU

Remembering a Kent State legend

Editor’s note: This is the first of a two-part story, to be continued in Thursday’s edition of The Kent Stater.

Nick Buzzelli Sports Reporter

When Mike Lude hired Don James at Kent State in 1971, he knew he was getting a meticulous coach who had an eye for detail. But he didn’t realize he would also gain a lifelong friend in the process.

On a muggy, late August evening in 2013, Lude sat next to his friend and former colleague, James, during the University of Washington’s season opener against Boise State University watching UW roll to a 32-point win over the No. 19 team in the nation.

Two decades earlier, James was the one roaming the sidelines of the historic field that borders Lake Washington and overlooks the scenic Cascade Mountains.

When he was first hired in 1975, most had wondered why Washington took a chance on a guy whose only other head coaching job had been at Kent State.

But during his 18 seasons in Seattle, James took the Huskies from a middle-of-the-road Pac10 team to a national contender.

There were the six trips to the Rose Bowl, four of which he won. There were the six conference titles. And then there were the five national Coach of the Year awards.

He was “The Dawgfather” of Washington football and remained connected to the program long after retiring, giving his annual preseason pep talk to the team one week before the start of each season.

But on this day, James was simply supporting the school that had meant so much to him over the past 38 years with his family and longtime coworker.

Midway through the game, his wife, Carol, informed Lude that James hadn’t been feeling well in the hours prior to kickoff. When probed about it, though, the tenacious coach claimed he was fine.

However, James wasn’t one to complain about anything. He had an innate toughness about him that was born on the gridiron of Massillon High School in the late ‘40s, bred while playing for the University of Miami and refined as a lieutenant in the U.S. Army.

“Now don’t BS me. Are you alright?” Lude asked his friend.

“Mike, I’m OK,” he replied.

Laying the groundwork

Inconsistency plagued Lude’s coaching career at Colorado State University.

There was the 0-10 mark the Rams posted in

1962. There was the 1966 team that knocked off No. 10 Wyoming en route to a 7-3 record, his only winning season. And then there was the 0-4 league mark three years later that garnered his ultimate release.

Shortly after getting fired from Colorado State, Lude was hired by the Denver Broncos to scout college players during spring practice and was sent to the College of William & Mary, coached by former Flashes’ linebacker Lou Holtz.

“Mike, you ought to apply for the job at my alma mater, Kent State,” Holtz told him.

“Lou, I don’t even know where Kent State is,” he responded. “I know it’s in Ohio, and I believe it’s near the turnpike.”

Holtz’s recommendation wasn’t even enough to make Lude entertain the offer.

But three days later, when he was at the University of Virginia to observe a practice, his attitude began to shift. Steve Sebo, UVA’s athletic director at the time, convinced him to apply.

A month later, after scouting the University of Iowa, Lude returned to his hotel room, turned on

Lou, I don’t even know where Kent State is. I know it’s in Ohio, and I believe it’s near the turnpike.”

MIKE LUDE FORMER KENT STATE FOOTBALL COACH the television, and saw a news bulletin that said that the Ohio National Guard had discharged its weapons on Kent State’s campus, leaving four dead and nine wounded.

In that instant, he told himself that if anyone from Kent State ever called him about the job, he would decline without hesitating.

However, in late October, his wife, Rena, told him that the president of Kent State, Robert L. White, had left a message wanting him to return his call. Viewing this as a chance to get back into college athletics, Lude immediately phoned White, who quickly informed him that the job was his is if he wanted it.

“Mike, we have made so many mistakes in intercollegiate athletics for 25 years. All I want you to do is fix it,” he said. “There’s no office, there’s no staff. There’s nothing.”

Finding a replacement

After the seventh game of the 1970 season, coach Dave Puddington grabbed the manila envelope that he had previously sealed and made his way to the University Inn on South Water Street, where Lude was temporarily staying.

When Lude first became Kent State’s athletic director, Puddington approached him about resigning from his post as the university’s head football coach, citing “the prevailing contagious negativism on campus and in the community” that resulted from May 4 as the main reason.

Though it was almost seven months post-tragedy and Kent State was finally beginning to pull itself back together after the shooting, Puddington wanted an out.

Despite the fact that he was able to relate to Puddington’s situation, Lude realized that Photo courtesy of Kent State University Department of Athletics change would have to evenMike Lude tually ensue if he wanted to establish himself as a worthy easily recruit the state. athletic director.

He had extensive experience playing and But he also knew that he didn’t have time to coaching in the south against Atlantic Coast and search for Puddington’s replacement midway Southeastern Conference teams during his time through the season “David, I don’t want that envelope,” he said. as both a quarterback and defensive back for Miami. He was a graduate assistant on Chuck “I got too many problems.”

Shortly after arriving at Kent, Lude’s first Mather’s staff at Kansas from 1956-57.

He had spent six years as the defensive back’s task was to appoint an assistant athletic director, sports information director, and business and coach and defensive coordinator at Florida State ticketing manager, in an effort to bridge the gap University. And he had worked under legendary between the local Northeast Ohio communities coach Bump Elliott at University of Michigan.

But what really stood out to Lude was the fact and the university, in terms of fan support.

And once that was done, he had to figure out that James had always been a defensive-minded what to do with Puddington. coach by trade.

But after losing 20-8 to Miami (OH) on Nov. Although Lude had originally planned to 14, the head coach once again returned to Lude’s call James the next afternoon to see if he would room at the University Inn, envelope in hand. be interested in landing his first head coaching And this time, he accepted the letter of res- position, James phoned him first, bluntly stating ignation, simply because he had a handwritten his intention. note with the names of the top six coaches he “Mike, I’d be interested in that job,” he said. wanted to interview on a folded sheet of paper “Get your briefcase together,” Lude replied. stashed in his shirt pocket.

“Put a couple of clean shirts in it and there will Topping the list was James, the University of be a ticket for you at Denver Airport to fly out to Colorado’s defensive coordinator.

Cleveland and come and see me.”

James, who had grown up in nearby Massillon, had connections in Ohio and therefore could nbuzzel1@kent.edu