The Kent Stater - Dec. 7, 2016 by The Kent Stater

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@kentwired KentWired.com WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2016

Clint Datchuk / The Kent Stater Kent State graduate architecture student Sean Hasson works on his laptop at one of the lounge areas of the new College of Architecture and Environmental Design building on Monday, Aug. 29, 2016.

CAED students praise new home after first semester Dominique Pishotti Fashion Reporter With much to offer inside and outside of the classroom, Kent State's new College of Architecture and Environmental Design building has had nothing but a positive impact on many of its students. The 170,000 square-foot building includes multiple classrooms, studios and a café area — useful for the countless hours most students spend on assignments in the studios. It is home to not just architecture majors, but also those majoring in interior design, architectural studies, urban design and landscape architecture. "One of my friends is in architecture and she spends all of her time there," said Emily Descenna, a senior fashion merchandising major. "There's always a project she's working on, so the new building has everything she needs if she has to stay for a 24-hour period." According to Keyarash Montazeri, a sophomore architecture major, he spends all of his free time in the building and is loving the new set up compared to its former scattered campus locations throughout the years. “It’s a complete 180 in every aspect,” Montazeri said. “Every characteristic that made Taylor Hall feel ghastly and stuck in time was completely reversed with the new building." Montazeri said the new and fresh layout motivates him, allows him to col-

laborate with other majors and become inspired by a variety of designs. Ashlee Wampler, a freshman interior design major, agreed with Montazeri’s statement. “I know (that in the) past all the majors were split up. But it’s not like that in the new building,” Wampler said. “We can all collaborate in the new building, and its nice being able to ask an architecture major for advice.” The new building's design is an open loft layout, allowing those in the building to feel more relaxed and not crammed into a classroom. The open floor design allows all majors and years to be able to view each other’s work and get inspired. According to Patrick Hickey, a sophomore architecture major, the new building allows him to be more creative and focused. “It really gives a sense of a new and exciting future for both the students and the school,” Hickey said. “The other building didn’t have a positive atmosphere and you felt like you were stuck in the '60s.” The new building’s location on the Lester A. Lefton Esplanade has also had an impact on the social lives of students. When plans were initially made to build the new CAED building, the goal was for the university to strengthen its relationship with downtown Kent. With the building sitting right between downtown Kent and the university, it has given students the chance to get involved within the city.

SEE CAED / PAGE 2

Clint Datchuk / The Kent Stater Jonathan Bonezzi, a freshman architecture major, gets to work at his assigned station in the new College of Architecture and Environmental Design building on Monday, Aug. 29, 2016.

1,337

Adjuncts seek parity at Kent State

Full-time faculty members

Alex Delaney-Gesing Senior Reporter

- Receives medical coverage - Granted tuition benefits (fee waivers) - Elligble for tenure

1,356

Part-time members

- Hired on semester or yearly contracts - Teach specific courses or set of courses - Sick leaves dependent on teaching loads

Traci West doesn’t teach film courses in Kent State’s Journalism and Mass Communication program for the money. She teaches because it’s what she wants to do with the rest of her life. “I love what I do — I really do. I love being able to talk film with my kids,” she said. “And then there’s always that one person who’s the serious film buff, and I just love being able to have these conversations with these kids.” Teaching is one of those occupations people who aren’t in for the money do, Ken Jurek said, part-time faculty in Kent State’s School of Journalism and Mass Communication. “They genuinely love to teach,” he said. But a passion for teaching can only get an individual so far, as is the case with West. Last summer, not able to teach, she was forced to apply for unemployment and received food stamps just to make ends meet. The course load West is allotted to teach varies by semester: She’s teaching two classes this fall, and is scheduled to teach three classes in the spring, providing they don’t get cancelled. West is one of 1,356 adjunct — or part-time — faculty members spread out across Kent State’s campuses. In total, 2,693 faculty members are employed by the university this semester. In response to a growing financial and job security concern among adjuncts at Kent State, the Kent Part-Time Faculty Alliance (KPTFA) was founded this past spring. The organization aims to give adjunct-faculty a voice in the community, as well as

make a change for the better of all adjunct faculty. “Our goal is simply parity,” Jurek said. “Just being on par with (the other faculty). That’s all.” Adjuncts account for more than 50 percent of all faculty at the university, according to documents obtained through the Office of General Counsel. This matches nationwide numbers provided by the United States Department of Education. “That’s a point to make: all the part-timers love to teach. They’re not doing it because they don’t like it; they love it,” Jurek said. Of the total number of part-timers employed at Kent State, 62 percent — just over 800 — of adjuncts teach at the main campus. While a love for teaching is a strong incentive for many professors, sometimes it’s not enough. Especially for adjunct faculty. Part-time faculty at Kent State haven’t seen a wage increase in more than a decade, Jurek said. “I think it’s shameful, it truly is, that we all came into this and we are all highly educated people,” West said. “A lot of us have actual real life experience in what we do … (and) have been on the ground. So we do have value.” Adjunct faculty members at Kent State are hired on either semester or yearly contracts. They typically teach specific courses or a set of courses, according to the Kent State website. Unlike full-time faculty, adjuncts are not eligible for full-time employee benefits. Their sick leave benefits are dependent on their teaching load, and they receive tuition waivers of up to four credit hours for every semester they teach, according to Kent State’s website.

SEE ADJUNCTS / PAGE 2

Growing Indian student population at KSU broken by visa denials Mckenna Corson International and Grad Affairs Reporter This Fall 2016 semester was supposed to hit an all-time high of Indian students studying abroad at American universities. Kent State, among universities around the country, had been experiencing a surprising growth of Indian students starting around 2013, according to the Office of Global Education. However, a much smaller amount of Indian students made the trip to Kent State for this fall semester, and the Department of Computer Science and the School of Digital Sciences reported that only half of the expected Indian students were successfully able to attend.

According to the Office of Global Education, large numbers of Indian students were suddenly denied visas from U.S. embassies and consulates. This was the largest amount of denials within the past years, a first time occurrence at Kent State. Desnee Stevens, director of International Student and Scholar Services, explained the process of obtaining a visa. After taking the SAT or GMAT, an English test and getting accepted by an American university, international students must make an appointment with a U.S. consulate office or embassy for an interview, according to Stevens. The interview is the makeor-break part of a student’s journey for a visa.

“The interview is very quick, and it feels like you’re just going to the BMV to get your driver’s license,” Stevens said. “You basically have only a few minutes to sell yourself.” Stevens explained that the interview is conducted at a window with zero privacy as people are lined up behind one another. The interviewer asks international students a series of brief questions, such as what university the student plans to attend and how much money the student has. “The reason that a visa is denied in any country is usually due to two main reasons," Stevens said. "One is that the prospective student is not able to effectively convince the consular officer that they intend to return to their country.

“The second reason is finances. In some cases, they don’t believe the student has enough money to be able to attend, resulting in a denial.” Stevens blamed the denial rates on an increased mix of both reasons. The reasoning behind the increased denials is unknown according to Stevens. Kunwar Mehra, a finance and economics grad student, saw firsthand just how strenuous the visa process was in India. “The process isn’t that hard, it’s just the documents that are required to go for the actual visa interview that can be difficult,” Mehra said. “Then you go into the interview, and if you get one question wrong, you’re denied a visa. Two minutes of an interview,

and then they decide your fate.” Mehra described the questions the consular officers ask. “They ask us why this is the university we chose," he said. "They try to make sure that we come back, so they ask us about our finances and what our father does. They tell us right after the interview if we’re approved and that we can get our visa and passport tomorrow. You can try again, but once you have a rejection, it decreases your chances next time as well.” Sourav Shrivastava, a digital sciences graduate student, also saw how difficult the interviews were in India.

SEE VISA / PAGE 2

Page 2 | Wednesday, December 7, 2016

The Kent Stater

Students pack Panini's for Victoria's Secret Fashion Show screening

The

CAED CAED students praise ...

Dominique Pishotti Fashion Reporter A line of approximately 50 girls stood outside Panini’s Bar and Grill Monday night waiting to enter the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show viewing party. The restaurant opened its doors at 8:30 p.m. and reached capacity by 8:47 p.m. Kent State PINK partnered with Redbull for the event, which included a DJ, a photobooth, trivia questions and a raffle that allowed many of the attendees to win prizes such as gift cards, underwear, rechargeable phone batteries and petal pasties. Melissa Spetich, a senior fashion merchandising major and Kent State PINK representative, said the event turned out better than she could have imagined. “I just joined this group last semester and I’m beyond honored and impressed by the impact PINK has on society,” Spetich said. Many individuals who attended the viewing party looked forward to more than just the free giveways and entertainment. According to Alejandra

From Page 1

Dominique Pishotti / The Kent Stater Members of Kent State PINK pose around their display at a Victoria's Secret Fashion Show viewing party at Panini's in Kent on Monday, Dec. 5, 2016.

Fishman, a sophomore fashion merchandising major, she and her friends came to the viewing party to support their friends and see the show, which was broadcasted on CBS. “I’m excited that this year’s show takes place in Paris,” Fishman said. “I love seeing the dif-

ferent themes every year and I can’t wait to see what they have to show in tonight’s show.” Workers at Panini’s were also excited about what the night had to offer. Although many of the staff members were at first overwhelmed, the night turned into something

enjoyable for all. Staff, organizers and attendees were able to sit back and watch the show when the clock struck 10 p.m. “I think this is a great way for the restaurant to get involved with Kent’s campus,” said Faith Zwicher, a hostess at Panini’s. dpishott@kent.edu

According to Vincent Noce, a sophomore architecture major, the new building has given him an opportunity to explore off campus. “The location of the building has really impacted what I eat on a daily basis,” Noce said. “I find myself getting lunch between classes and sometimes dinner from local restaurants instead of the dining hall.” The plans for the new building were originally announced in 2014. After two years of construction and a more than $43 million investment, it opened its doors to classes this semester. The structure also boasts several environmental efficiencies. A c c o rd i n g t o M a d i s o n Walkama, a junior architecture major, the new building represents nothing but improvements. “I think the new building is important because it’s our own,” Walkama said. dpishott@kent.edu

USG passes resolution to provide feminine products on campus Dana Miller Diversity Editor Kent State’s Undergraduate Student Government passed a resolution on Tuesday to support the selling of feminine products on campus through

the funds of FlashCards and traditional payment methods. In a previous KentWired article, it was mentioned that a total of 3,900 students are in need of immediate access of products such as pads and tampons, however they were not easily accessible on campus.

From Page 1

VISA Growing Indian students ... “I think they should be a little more lenient for students because the interviews are so stressful,” Shrivastava said. “They want to know how strong your roots are and that you’re willing to come back to your home country.” The widespread denials in India were very apparent, according to Mehra and Shrivastava. “Because we stand in rows and line up like it’s a window at a bank, I could see the person before me getting interviewed, and I was like, ‘oh damn, he just got rejected, and he got rejected and the three people before him got rejected. I’m doomed, '” Mehra said. From Page 1

ADJUNCTS Adjuncts seek parity ... West said that earlier this year, when she went to reapply for health insurance, she was just $4 shy of being eligible for Medicaid. “I was advised to go ahead and apply for Medicaid, and then immediately start the appeals process as soon as I got the refusal,” she said. In September, Jurek attended a Kent State Faculty Senate meeting on behalf of KPTFA with an end goal of getting a vote on the senate. “If we get a vote on the Faculty Senate, it will at least allow us to be a part of the faculty’s decision making process and say ‘we’re here,’ ” Jurek said. Jurek retired from a 19-year career in the Time Warner Cable sales industry last December. Before and throughout that time, he taught as a full-time professor at Kent State’s Stark Campus. He started as an adjunct at the main campus this fall. As a retiree, Jurek has a pension and social security bene-

In USG’s news release, it recognized that the 60 percent of females who make up the student body would have to travel unnecessary distances in order to obtain such products -- which are for their general health. Cassaundra Pegg-Kirby, the assistant director of Kent

American universities expecting many Indian students also had to deal with the loss. Within Kent State, the Department of Computer Science and the School of Digital Sciences experienced the greatest losses. Both lost about half of the Indian students expected to attend the Fall 2016 semester. Cheng Chang Lu, assistant chair of the Department of Computer Science, explained that computer science had made room for the expected recordbreaking amount of students. “We saw the number growing around 2013, and then we starting adding sections,” Lu said. “At a time, some of our class sizes got up to 60 to 70 students, so we started adding sections to accommodate more students and make the classes more manageable.

fits. A portion of other adjuncts are also retirees and receive the same aid. But a majority are young people, he said, who are hurting for money. “They don’t have a lot of money, and a lot of times they have to work at a couple different (campuses and) take other jobs just to make ends meet,” Jurek said. Some of these adjuncts travel to various campuses at different universities in Northeast Ohio,” said Michael Carano, a former adjunct faculty member at Kent State and member of KPTFA’s organizing committee. “Many have much grading, class preparation, families, etc. that makes it difficult to come to meetings. Their life schedules are not conducive.” It’s this group of adjuncts for which KPFTA is fighting, Jurek said. Full-time faculty and staff receive benefits such as retirement plans, either through the Ohio Public Employees Retirement System, State Teachers Retirement System of Ohio or an Alternative Retirement Plan. Adjunct faculty receive no benefits or retirement plans. Healthcare is not provided. KPFTA hopes to decrease the

State’s Women's Center, recently said that she agreed feminine hygiene products should be sold on campus. According to a study conducted by the Huffington Post, almost 70 percent of all women using feminine hygiene products during their monthly cycles

According to Institutional Research, computer science’s enrollment boomed from 77 students in 2013 to 169 students in 2015. The increasing pattern was ruined when only 142 Indian students were enrolled this semester. Jeff Fruit, interim director of the School of Digital Sciences, described how the loss affected the school. “With the sudden drop, it allowed us to lower some section sizes and provide more attention,” Fruit said. “We tried to take advantage of this situation.” According to Institutional Research, the School of Digital Sciences’ Indian enrollment went from four in 2012 to 498 in 2015. Following the boom of enrollment, it appeared that 200 students would join the 2016 Fall semester, according to Fruit. However, only around 100 new students were added.

number of adjuncts from more than 50 percent to only a quarter of the teaching faculty at Kent State, Carano said. “We want to be able to be on campus for more classes so we can better serve our students instead of having to rush off to other jobs and other campuses across the state,” he said. Being recognized and (properly) compensated for the work they do is all members of KPFTA — and any adjunct faculty — wants, Carano said. “We want to (be) assured of classes to a much better degree than now … so we can plan our lives, figure out how to pay our rent and bills (and) how much food we will be able to buy each week,” Carano said. “When classes are cut, ones we have spent time preparing for, we want compensation of some sort for the work we have done.” As of this fall, KPTFA has approximately 120 adjunct faculty out of the total list of those employed by the university who have agreed to receive updates on the ongoings of the organization. The alliance meets each month to discuss progress and plans to increase their benefits

spend approximately $1,773 on tampons during their lifetime. Peggy-Kirby also said she hopes that the university will work to distribute free products to those with and without meal plans. dmill139@kent.edu

“We expect the trend to continue to next semester, but beyond that, it’s hard to tell at this point. These are fairly fluid situations that could change.” Fruit said. “If our numbers don’t get back to normal, we will start seeing the effect in spring.” Lu said. The end to the high denial rates are unknown, and there is little Kent State and other universities can do to solve the problem according to Stevens. “The Department of State makes the decision,” Stevens said. “The only thing that a university can do is issue the immigration document that allows students to apply for the visa and help them prepare for the interview. “Something like this can occur anytime. It’s not exclusive to what happened in India, and it can happen anywhere.”

at the university. As many as 25 adjuncts meet at a venue in the Kent area — a number that Carano said is rather markable, considering how difficult and scattered the lives of adjuncts are. During a Nov. 19 meeting at the Kent Free Library, just under 30 individuals — an estimated 5 percent of the total number of Kent State adjuncts — gathered together to vote on unionizing with the United Steelworkers (USW). The organization chose USW after receiving disinterest from other professional unions across the state. During the meeting, adjuncts from different departments and at different stages in their lives shared their experiences: One communication studies faculty member teaches courses at Kent State, Walsh University and The University of Akron this semester. She voiced her desire and indecision to pursue a Ph. D. for fear she will be considered “overqualified” to teach future classes. She’s only been an adjunct for 1.5 years, but said “I’m really honestly already tired of this.” A mother of two, who wishes to remain nameless, has taught online courses in the

mcorson2@kent.edu music department at Kent State since 2010. She struggles each semester to make ends meet, and said there have been times when she’s been told just two days before a semester that she won’t be teaching a class. Both times she’d turned down other jobs to teach the courses. “The worst part is you never know if you’re going to be teaching,” Martinovic said. “Last year I had five part-time jobs because I — ironically — couldn’t find more jobs. They said I was overqualified.” After facing disinterest from state unions like the American Association of University Professors, the group voted to become unionized with the steelworkers on Nov. 19. KPTFA plans on meeting again in January, on the second Saturday before the spring semester begins. After that, the group will meet every third Saturday of the month. In response to the organization’s decision to unionize, the university has “no comment to offer at this time,” said Eric Mansfield, Kent State’s executive director of media relations. adelane3@kent.edu

Kent

Stater 240 FRANKLIN HALL KENT STATE UNIVERSITY KENT, OHIO 44242 Newsroom 330-672-2584 EDITOR

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ads@ksustudentmedia.com CORRECTION

In the Monday, Dec. 5 edition of The Kent Stater on page two, the article “SDT on the road to becoming an official chapter” incorrectly identitfied Taylor Zeigler as a senior nursing major at Kent State. She is not a student at Kent State, but is still a lead national sorority leadership consultant and SDT member.

Wednesday, December 7, 2016 | Page 3

The Kent Stater

Opinion

SUBMISSIONS

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.

EDITORIAL BOARD

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

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

JOSEPH MCGRELLIS’ VIEW

On Kent State alum Travis Shaw traded from Red Sox to Brewers Henry Palattella Sports Reporter

Former Kent State baseball standout Travis Shaw was traded from the Boston Red Sox to the Milwaukee Brewers Tuesday morning, as first reported by FOX Sports. The Red Sox traded Shaw to the Brewers for set-up man Tyler Thornberg — a move that pencils in Pablo Sandoval as the Red Sox starting third baseman next season. Shaw — who Red Sox fans nicknamed “the Mayor of Ding Dong city” for his uncanny power — has played in 210 games over the past two years, amassing a .251 average to go along with 29 home runs and 107 RBI. See the full article on KentWired.com.

Cheers&Jeers USG statement in light of the current campus climate Samuel Graska Letter to the Editor With the end of the semester year quickly approaching, I thought we might take a few moments to address and reflect on some of the events of the past year. I know neither our campus or national climate is in a place where we would like it to be. Nevertheless, I challenge you to move forward and strive for civility in all situations. As we ponder the recent acts at The Ohio State University, and on our own campus, it is important that we remain a community unified in strength and respect. We are living in a difficult time: one of uncertainty and confusion. It is going to take all of us together to rise above the darkness that is surrounding us. We must take the time to cherish those around us, to mourn the innocent lives that have been lost, to reject stereotypes and discrimination and appreciate — but educate — those who are uninformed about the climate around them. This is not a charge to any one individual, nor is it a call to action to any specific demographic; This is a call to action for all of us. We want this campus to be a safe and welcoming community for everyone, regardless of religious belief, ethnicity, race, gender, sexual orientation, ability, age or major. We must all take responsibility for the defense and the respect of one another. Without each other, we are nothing but a divided campus, a divided nation and a divided world. Unification must start somewhere with someone, so why not us? We are all unique. We all have different stories. Our diversity is beautiful, and to treat it as anything less is intolerable. Only together can we fight this negative climate, only together can we do our best to change those mindsets that would rather tear us down, and only together can we heal the wounds of the past to make a better tomorrow. As we prepare for the coming new year and the start of a new semester, let us remind ourselves of the importance of standing up for our core values that are fundamental to Kent State and to who we are. Together, we are “Undeniably Kent State.” Together, we are a better United States of America. Together, we are a better world. sgraska@kent.edu

Do away with the College Football Playoff, conference championships Matt Poe Columnist

Cheers to ... the Hershey Bears, an American Hockey League team based out of Pennsylvania, for collecting over 20,000 teddy bears in their creative toy drive. After the first goal, fans threw all of the teddy bears onto the ice. Jeers to ... a squirrel in Seattle, Washington, which stole nearly 150 light bulbs from a woman’s outdoor Christmas decorations.

A driven senior with no clear path Gabby Seed Columnist

Kassi Jackson / The Kent Stater The University of Alabama defeated Kent State by a final score of 48-0 on Saturday, Sept. 24, 2016.

The College Football Playoff Selection Committee selected its final four this past Sunday, effectively setting the stage for the third installment of the playoff to be played New Year’s Eve. In case you live under a rock or are one of those weird people who don’t like sports (don’t trust those people), here’s a brief recap of how the selection went down: Pac-12 champion and fourth-seeded Washington University will take on title favorite and top-seeded University of Alabama, a game in which ‘Bama will likely bestow unspeakable horrors upon Washington. I’m thoroughly convinced Alabama head coach and Kent State alumni Nick Saban sold his soul to some college football devil in exchange to never lose; the man is a football god and — while it’s unpopular to say in this part of the country — I’m a big fan of his personality and style. Meanwhile, ACC champion and secondseeded Clemson University will take on The Ohio State University, the third seed who sat on the couch this past Saturday without playing in the Big Ten Championship because of an earlier season loss to Penn State University. I could dissect these games and tell you who will win and why (‘Bama will beat Ohio State) and all that other jargon. But I won’t do that because any idiot with a beer in hand — myself included — thinks they know how the playoff will unfold. So we’ll spare each other of that. Instead, I’m taking aim at the big shots of the College Football Playoff Selection Committee and making them aware of the inconvenient truth: the playoff and conference championships cannot coexist. Make no mistake, the committee brought this upon themselves. In three instances this year, they took conference champions to be represented in the playoff. The Big Ten, however, was another story. Penn State beat Wisconsin in the conference championship to claim the Big Ten title, and that same team handed Ohio State its only loss in the regular season. Of course they got in, right? Wrong. The committee chose Ohio State because

of its power as a brand and having one of the most popular fan bases in the country. With such a massive fan base, the committee need not worry about lack of fans traveling and shelling out abhorrent amounts of money to attend Ohio State’s playoff games. Anyone who thinks otherwise is delusional. Everybody knows this was the case, yet the committee won’t be transparent in stating so. And that’s the problem. The playoff and its committee don’t know what exactly it is supposed to be or what criteria is being judged when setting the playoff. How can certain teams, like Washington and Clemson, be rewarded for winning its conference while teams like Penn State are woefully ignored for the same thing? The other head-scratching argument that has been made all year consists of putting the “best” four teams at the end of the year in, which is arbitrary depending on what region of the country you live in or how many adult beverages you’ve had during said discussion. The fork in the road begins here, and I find myself seeing two viable options to fix the committee’s dunce-like moves: get rid of the conference championships and select the “best” four teams at the end of the regular season. The other option would be the opposite: ensure that winning your conference championship is an automatic bid to playoff. That’s it - it’s that simple. Of course, that won’t happen because neither the NCAA nor broadcasting companies are willing to give up the revenue earned from those games. There’s also been talk of expanding the playoff from four teams to eight teams, which would essentially water down the regular season - something that’s happened to both the NHL and NBA in their respective playoff scenarios. At this rate, the committee’s shroud of secrecy has them bordering on Illuminatilike operations. For now, I will continue to curse the committee and its lack of transparency because, clearly, there’s isn’t a whole lot of other important news going on in the world that deserves our attention. mpoe3kent.edu

To college seniors, impending graduation has the potential to feel like either a light at the end of the tunnel or a dark expanse of confusion. As a senior by credits but a junior by year, I haven’t yet decided when I will graduate. I am an English major with minors in political science and theatre performance. Translation: I’m a mess. To me, the idea of graduation is a bit closer to the "dark expanse" metaphor than the "light at the end of the tunnel" metaphor. I’m not alone in this feeling. Lately, I have found myself fitting nicely among a group of seniors and juniors that is highly driven, but lacking in clear direction. I keep my grades up, I’m involved in clubs and leadership — I even have an upcoming internship. But this amalgamation of activities has almost no centrality, no direction and no real core. The things I do on a daily basis range from a cappella and writing to political activism and working at a rock wall. Many of my friends are in the same boat. And while it is certainly never boring, there is deep-seated frustration that comes with wanting to go in many directions. My roommate Kelly and I often talk about how we can see ourselves as surgeons, as writers, as public speakers or producers. I joke that the only things I’ve really ruled out are calculus and painting. It’s a lofty way to feel, and a nice thought that "the world is my oyster." But most upperclassmen I know and talk to want nothing more than a definitive sense of purpose. A huge, almost crushing obstacle arrives when you find yourself drawn to two or more careers or areas of study. I battle with myself almost daily on the decision between creativity and academia. As a theatre minor, a singer and a lover of comedy, there is almost an entirely separate person that sits dormant inside me while I am focused on the more academic and structured subjects of political science and English. I’ve heard friends explain the "letting go" of this other person, a process that involves coming to terms with the fact that this person may remain dormant from here on out. While this may be logical and sensible to some, I reject it completely. It makes me cringe to think about shutting down entire versions of myself. I don’t believe any upperclassman — no matter how much they struggle in directing their futures — should be forced to hack away at essential parts of their being. For many seniors, graduation is approaching quickly. And it may be tempting to pick a path that presents itself to them and race down it. However, I argue that authenticity is far more admirable. Follow a path — or don’t — but make it one that you, and you alone, have chosen. gseed@kent.edu

Page 4 | Wednesday, December 7, 2016

Perspectives

The Kent Stater

Photos and multimedia through the lenses of Kent State students

Chilly winds and an overcast sky provide perfect duck hunting conditions for Kevin Brosien at Nimisla Resevoir in Summit County on Sunday, Nov. 20, 2016.

Aaron Self Photographer To Kevin Brosien, hunting isn’t about killing something; Instead, it’s about being in nature and enjoying all of its beauty in a way that most will never experience. Brosien, a marketing manager at Kent State, has been primarily a waterfowl hunter for almost a decade. The hobby has garnered a deep respect for his quarry and the environment around him. Having always been drawn to the outdoors, hunting was just a natural extension of that love. “Sitting in the marsh and watching the world come alive as the sun rises is

Into the wild

one of the most beautiful experiences in the world,” Brosien said. Brosien doesn’t limit himself to waterfowl — he also enjoys hunting grouse, pheasant and woodcock. Everything he has harvested he has cooked up and eaten, too. “Duck is delicious. It’s surprising it’s not easier to get,” Brosien said. Even geese and crow have been in his sights. Everything he shoots has been approved by the Ohio Department of Wildlife to be harvested in an attempt to maintain waterfowl populations at sustainable levels. Some prey — like crow — can be harvested all year since they are invasive, competing with native species for resources

and putting a strain on the ecosystem. Unlike most hunters, Brosien eats the crows he shoots, arguing that “they taste pretty good if you cook them right and have the right seasoning.” Despite his years of experience, hunting is still a sport of patience and luck. Some days Brosien pulls in countless birds, while other expeditions leave him empty-handed. Regardless of his success on a given day, the thrill of experiencing nature is what draws Brosien into the wild. Aaron Self is a photographer, contact him at aself1@kent.edu. aself1@kent.edu

Photos by Aaron Self

Kevin Brosien attempts to put a camo vest on his two-year-old dog Hank before their duck hunt on Sunday, Nov. 20. 2016.

Kevin Brosien applies face paint to his light skin befire going hunting on Sunday, Nov. 20, 2016.

Kevin Brosien returns home after an unsuccessful hunt on Sunday, Nov. 20, 2016.

Kevin Brosien sorts through dozens of bags filled with ducks used to lure waterfowl on Sunday, Nov. 20, 2016.

Monday, December 5, 2016 | Page 5

The Kent Stater

Classifieds RAY’S place Wednesday 4-10 pm end of semester spaghetti feast - 1st plate $3.99 includes salad and roll - items cost extra - each additional plate $1.00 spaghetti feast spaghetti feast spaghetti feast Rays Place -eat in onlyRAY’S place Wednesday 4-10 pm end of semester spaghetti feast - 1st plate $3.99 includes salad and roll - items cost extra - each additional plate $1.00 spaghetti feast spaghetti feast spaghetti feast Rays Place -eat in only-

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To place advertising, call (330) 672-2586, email ads@ksustudentmedia.com, or visit us in 205 Franklin Hall, Kent State University. Business hours are 8 a.m.–5 p.m., Monday–Friday.

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Wednesday, December 7, 2016 | Page 5

The Kent Stater

Classifieds Ray’s Place Today 4-10 pm end of semester spaghetti feast - 1st plate $3.99 including salad and roll - items cost extra - eat in only - each additional plate $1.00 spaghetti feast - spaghetti Ray’s Place Ray’s Place Today 4-10 pm end of semester spaghetti feast - 1st plate $3.99 including salad and roll - items cost extra - eat in only - each additional plate $1.00 spaghetti feast - spaghetti Ray’s Place Ray’s Place Today 4-10 pm end of semester spaghetti feast - 1st plate $3.99 including salad and roll - items cost extra - eat in only - each additional plate $1.00 spaghetti feast - spaghetti Ray’s Place

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To place advertising, call (330) 672-2586, email ads@ksustudentmedia.com, or visit us in 205 Franklin Hall, Kent State University. Business hours are 8 a.m.–5 p.m., Monday–Friday.

All real estate advertised herein 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. LEASING FOR FALL 2017 Spacious 3, 4, & 5 bedrooms with 2-3 full baths. Great condition, A/C, washer/dryer, dishwasher, deck, garage. 330-808-4045 HOUSES FOR FALL 2017-2018 2,3,6 & 7 bedrooms 330-547-1212 Now Leasing for 2017 REMODELED houses for rent 2,3,4,5,6,9 and 10 bedrooms Beautiful and close to KSU Starting at $385/mo (330) 552-7032 Available Fall, very quiet 3 bed 1 bath apt. Washer + dryer hookup, very clean, very nice, excellent parking. $340/mo. 12 month lease. Call 330-715-4133. Now leasing for January (spring semester) a beautiful newly redecorated 2 bedroom, 1.5 bath, laundry room townhouse apt. 1 block from KSU $375/student 330-687-6122 Quiet 2 bedrom, 2 bath condo, carport balcony, dishwasher water, trash, storage included. 725 per month Please contact RJ at 330-631-4657

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Page 6 | Wednesday, December 7, 2016

The Kent Stater

The art of getting involved in college life Brittney Prather Greek Life Reporter

Singing, guitar playing and standing at about six feet tall, Kent State junior public relations major Kaylee Peterson is not your average student. Peterson has been involved in many clubs and activities during her time at kent State, including — but not limited to — participating in the Provost's Leadership Academy, being in the honors college, training and leading student success programs, being a tour guide and hosting on Black Squirrel Radio.

I schedule every second of every day to the point where I know when I’m eating, and I know when I’m sleeping.” KAYLEE PETERSON JUNIOR PUBLIC RELATIONS MAJOR On top of all that, she's not only taken leadership positions within her sorority, Chi Omega, but the whole Greek community as whole, as she is the new Panhellenic president. Being involved in so much, Peterson is dependent on her calendars, along with scheduling everything and anything. “I schedule every second of every day to the point where I know when I’m eating, and I know when I’m sleeping,” Peterson said. “I am very Type A. It helps that I am just 100 percent Type A because I have every second of every day planned, but I think I’ve also learned in the last semester when to take a step back from myself.” Friends and peers describe Peterson as one of the hardest working individuals and not one to give up when times get rough. “She’s just one of a kind,” said Marissa Pillitteri, a junior nursing major and Chi Omega member. “I would say her persistence is definitely the most interesting thing about her because no matter what, even when something is getting her down, she will just keep fighting and fighting and going for her goals ... she just never gives up, which is one of her best characteristics.” Peterson said that she did not do a lot in high school because she danced competitively. This did not leave her too much time for other activities, which is why she decided to get involved in college. “My friends have always been in leadership opportunities, and I knew it was something that I could do,” Peterson said. “So, in college I decided to try and do everything I could get my hands on ... it keeps me busy enough to not be homesick.” All the way from Nashville, Tennessee, and with a relatively new move to Colorado, Peterson decided to get involved in as many things to avoid being homesick. “I grew up in a small conservative town and

I did not like it, so I really wanted to get out of Tennessee,” Peterson said. “I primarily wanted to be a fashion major, so Kent just wind(ed) up being the natural choice for me.” Peterson said she had only lasted about a month in the fashion program. Since then she has changed her major five different times. Her five majors were far from the same: fashion, exploratory, international studies with African studies and French minor and political science. As of last spring, she has changed her major — for what she believes is the last time —to public relations. “I really like it. I think it’s been the best fit that I have found so far,” Peterson said. From the many majors she has tackled, Peterson said she feels as though it has made her a more well-rounded person. It wasn’t until she was made the social chair of her sorority, however, that she had a better idea of what she wanted to do. “I was like 'I am going to hate this, I don't care about social media at all,'” Peterson said. “Sorority social media is not my thing, but they kind of just gave me free reign and said 'Do what you want to do with it,' and I found out that I really liked doing that.” After working with Peterson for the last year, Aaron Berger, assistant director of admissions and head of the campus visit program, spoke about her in high regard. He believes one of the best qualities about Peterson is her openness and her ability to bring various experiences to the job. “I feel like sometimes you have this description of what a college student looks like, and they come in with that one major and they stick with that one major for that entire experience,” Berger said. “She has dabbled in not only just changing her major, but (has) dabbled in so many different things that it makes her a great tour guide because she can talk to a lot of different things, so it's cool.” However, Peterson said her majors are not what has kept her here at Kent State; She believes her sorority and her involvement within the Greek community has. Although she was not originally interested, she is grateful that she decided to give it a try. “I got really involved off the bat first semester and moved into the house second semester freshman year,” she said. “I just said ‘yes’ to everything I could, and I didn’t necessarily have a major so I didn't have anything to do but Greek Life for a little while, so I just got really involved.” From being the philanthropy co-chair to being the social media chair, Peterson has made it her goal to focus on the importance of making

... she just never gives up, which is one of her best characteristics.” MARISSA PILLITTERI JUNIOR NURSING MAJOR

Photo courtesy of Kent State University Student Success Programs

the Greek community as great as it can be. “Being able to be in charge of social media and focus our message on the types of women that we had in our chapter, rather than the look of the women we have in our chapter, was really important to me, and also just being able to get a lot of really great experience for my career path.” Peterson's involvement in Greek life has ultimately lead her to becoming the Panhellenic president. She had felt as though she was at a stand still within her own chapter and could do something beyond Chi Omega. “I kind of applied on a whim. It was one of those things where I think applications were closing that night and I was just like, ‘Ah, let's just see what happens,’” she said. “I was not expecting it honestly. I was pretty surprised, but I'm really appreciative of the experience already.” Women empowerment and representing the importance of values within Greek life plays a large role in her position as Panhellenic president. “It should be a space for women to grow and to find their potential and to find other women to encourage that potential. It is important in any young woman's life to have a group of women who support her and push her on and encourage her because I think that sometimes that’s really hard to find,” Peterson said. At the end of the day, Peterson believes that is exactly what the Greek community at Kent State is

promoting and is so glad to have the opportunity to be the voice for the entire community as a whole. “To be able the represent that entire community and to be the voice and ideas is really important to me and I’m really grateful to get to do it,” she said.

To be able the represent that entire community and to be the voice and ideas is really important to me and I’m really greatful to get to do it.” KAYLEE PETERSON JUNIOR PUBLIC RELATIONS MAJOR Respectively, Berger complimented on Peterson's work ethic and dependency. “When I think of Kaylee, I think of someone who is always going to be there." Berger said. "And if she is not there, she has somebody pinching for her and is not going to leave you in the large." bprathe2@kent.edu