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@kentwired KentWired.com WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2016
Bringing special education to the mobile world
Deidre Pulley / The Kent Stater Kent State lifespan development and educational sciences professor Richard Ferdig and his team developed several apps to help special education children. Monday, Sept. 19, 2016.
New program aims to improve learning experience through interactive platforms Gabrielle Harrison Technology Reporter A member of Kent State’s faculty has launched a project that developed a website with hundreds of educational mobile apps. Called SpedApps, the app was launched by Richard Ferdig, a Kent State lifespan development and educational sciences professor, this past spring. The project is meant to deepen the understanding of the current role of mobile education through apps, specifically for special education. There is a website for the SpedApps program consisting of 530 apps that a teacher or parent can find. The search field for apps can be narrowed by the needs of the student in a variety of ways, such as subject and disability needs, and refined to reading, math, social-emotional and other needs a student may have. The website is also focused on the content of every app rather than an app that’s designed for specific disability. “With students with disabilities, you want to focus on a specific skill rather than a disability,” said Pena Bedesem, a creator of SpedApps as well as a lifespan development and educational sciences associate professor. A perk of this website is that it allows for the users to review the apps, and even if an app were to have a lower rating than others, it will not be removed from the site. “What works for one student might not work for others,” Ferdig said. “Also, keeping the lower-rated apps on the sites will allow a parent or teacher to see what apps aren’t good. If someone were to search for an app and we didn’t have it on our site because of the lower rating, they might assume that it’s just such a great app without having seen a review of it.” Mobile education is defined as learning across multiple platforms, such as phone apps and websites rather than just a classroom setting. It also entails interactive context that can give live feedback and help. “I’m a huge proponent of mobile education,” Bedesem said. “It uses technology people already have, whereas special education apps used to be costly and (weren’t) available for home use. Now, students can use the same technology at home and at school.”
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NYC studio fashion students safe after city explosions Dominique Pishotti Fashion Reporter
An explosion in New York City’s Chelsea neighborhood Saturday hit close to home for some Kent State students studying at the Fashion School's NYC Studio. No students were harmed, but the explosion happened just a few miles from where many of the NYC Studio's students are housed. "The NYC Studio, staff and students are all well," said Anna Mates, marketing associate at the NYC Studio, in an email. “We continue to focus on the safety and security of our students during this time." Soon after news of the explosion arose, members of Fashion School, NYC Studio, College of the Arts and University Communications made emergency communications. "We focused on reaching out to our students in NYC and (asked) them to check in with us," Mates said. Mates said 10 of the 51 current NYC Studio students currently reside in Chelsea this semester. The rest live in other neighborhoods. "All classes and activities are taking place as scheduled," Mates said. "We are encouraging students to stay in touch with their families." dpishotti@kent.edu
Photo courtesy of Joshua Kogan
Emily Wilbur Religion Reporter Joshua Kogan, a junior integrative studies major at Kent State, was one of 18 students worldwide to have been chosen to participate in the intermediate level Steiner Summer Yiddish Program at the Yiddish Book Center. Chaya Kessler, director of the Jewish Studies program, said Kogan was the first student from Kent State to be accepted into the program. The Steiner Summer Yiddish Program took place during June and July. Kogan found out he was accepted into the program last April. The Yiddish Book Center is an organization that works "to tell the whole Jewish story by rescuing, translating and (distributing) Yiddish books" and providing educational programs that allow students to understand modern Jewish identity, according to their website. Kogan said the seven-week program, which took place in Massachusetts, gave him the opportunity to engage in the Yid-
dish language and culture in Central and Eastern European Jewish history. A regular day at Steiner would consist of learning grammar, Yiddish culture and Yiddish literature, Kogan said. After class he would then attend a daily seminar. In addition, members of the program were taken to New York City, where they toured Yiddishspeaking neighborhoods and attended cultural events. There are two levels of the program; beginner and intermediate. Kogan applied directly to the intermediate level after learning the basics of Yiddish back in Mexico City, where he is originally from. In order for Kogan to have been accepted into the intermediate level, he had to show his knowledge of the Yiddish language and culture by writing an essay in Yiddish, including having a Yiddish background. Kogan said the Jewish Studies Department at Kent State helped him greatly with recommendation letters and the application process while he was also busy preparing his essay last December. From this experience, Kogan said he has
built lifelong relationships with people having similar interests as him. “The best part was being around 17 other people that are exactly the same as me. All 18 of us have the same interest, which is Yiddish,” Kogan said. “I still keep in touch with all of them and continue to learn more.” Sophia Witt, a senior communication studies major, said she took Introduction to Jewish Studies and Jewish Waves of Integration into America with Kogan. “He is very humble and will never admit he’s a great student,” Witt said. “He helped me so much with learning, he was one of the best in our class.” Kogan said he encourages other students to experience what he has. “If you are very, very passionate about Yiddish and Yiddish culture, apply and go,” he said. Applications can be found on the Yiddish Book Center website and at the Jewish Studies Department. ewilbur@kent.edu
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Madeline Scalzi John Wroblewski Casey Kulow ads@ksustudentmedia.com CORRECTIONS
In the Monday, Sept. 19 issue of The Kent Stater, a page two story misprinted David Kaplan, a professor of geography, as a professor of geology.
APPS Bringing special education... With the creation process of making an app and understanding what was needed by the audience, with regards to the website, Ferdig was not alone. “It’s never just one person, it can’t be an island,” he said. There was a content team and a special education team involved. First, the special education team looks into the apps being used by students and parents. Then, Ferdig goes to the content team to find the specific needs that have to be met, such as social-emotional help, reading and math. The content team will then investigate and review the app before putting it on the site. With apps still in the works and programs being added to the site constantly, Ferdig has great faith in the ever-growing use of mobile learning. “AT&T and Martha Holden Jennings have been a stronger contributor to our project,” Ferdig said. “There is amazing working being done at Kent that will lead the world in mobile education.” When asked why he developed or used an app, instead of a program that teachers or parents can buy to help their child, Ferdig said, “It provides easier access for the children.” Deidre Pulley / The Ken Stater He went on to speak about the fact that it is Richard Ferdig, Kent State lifespan development and educational scion-the-go, consumable data that will allow for ences professor, and his team developed several apps to help special learning anywhere. education children. Monday, Sept. 19, 2016.
“As you look around now, you see that across any socioeconomic status, racial barriers or any type of barrier there are very few things that will keep someone from having access to a device,” he said. The SpedApps program has also launched its own apps including the National Park app — the National Science Foundation — that can be used in any national park and will buzz when the user is at a point of interest. Ferdig mentioned that while on a walk with his son in a park, he was asked a question and didn’t know the answer, so he thought: “What would it look like to have some support?” There’s also a yet to be released professional development app in the works. However, the first app launched Aug. 19, according to the Apple app store, was Number Line Math: Multiplication. The app is meant to help children that have difficulty with multiplicative reasoning, which is the ability to recognize the pattern within the number line to do multiplication. Ferdig wanted to see what it was like to teach mobile learning that is going to help people with a multitude of needs. In reference to the Blackboard app, Ferdig wanted to create an app that would allow the student access to something they wouldn’t be able to get on the computer. He wanted something new and innovative. “We can’t talk about it without doing it ourselves,” Ferdig said. gharri13@kent.edu
Women’s Center offers yoga classes for faculty and staff members Ashleigh Metzinger Health Reporter The Kent State Women's Center started its first faculty and staff yoga session of the semester on Sept. 12, and the six-week long sessions will run Monday through Thursday in the basement of the relocated center, now at the Williamson House. According to the American Osteopathic Association, "The relaxation techniques incorporated in yoga can help reduce chronic physical pain including arthritis, headaches and carpal tunnel syndrome. (It) can also lower blood pressure and heart rate." “It is a great stress reduction, very simply,” yoga instructor Margot Milcetich said. “The movement helps you stay fit and the breathing and quieting aspect really help your mental fitness. So, you get your physical fitness and you get that mental clarity that comes from calming down, and that’s a huge benefit." Milcetich was the first yoga instructor to teach at Kent in 1983. She is also the founder and director of Brahmrishi Yoga in Kent. “I started in church basements, schools and all kinds of different places that would let me use their space,” Milcetich said. Along with Milcetich, Kent faculty and staff members Vicki Bocchicchio, Valerie Samuel, Mary Louise Holly and Kjera Seregi teach the yoga sessions at the Women’s Center. Each instructor teaches one of the five weekly classes. Students, faculty and staff members alike need time away from the stress of school. “I spend too much time on my laptop, which isn’t good for my health,” said associate professor Michele Ewing. “Yoga makes me feel more relaxed, men-
Angelo Angel / The Ken Stater Kent State yoga instructor Mary Louise Holly performs her routine at the Williamson Alumni Center on Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2016.
tally and physically. It clears my mind and gets me away from my long to-do list. I just find a little peace in life during that quiet hour of yoga. Highly recommend it.” The six-week sessions cost $50 for returning yoga students and $55 for new students. Classes are offered in the early morning, midday and early evening. “Being in a work environment where things are so fast-paced, we often forget
to stop and recharge ourselves,” said Cassandra Pegg-Kirby, assistant director for the Women’s Center. “I think these are the times during the day where people feel like they can take that pause and recharge themselves and be their best selves when they leave here.” Additionally, the Women’s Center offers a yoga workshop once a month for students. “We wanted to offer a workshop
for students as a place to gather and recharge, but also learn some things you can do on your own,” Pegg-Kirby said. “You can build skills so when you’re feeling like you’re stressed out or you need help focusing on your homework, you have some breathing techniques you can do or some stretches to help bring everything back into focus.” ametzing@kent.edu
Kent State employs local high school students with disabilities Rachel Stevenson Residence Halls Reporter Kent State Dining Services partnered with Ravenna High School to employ special education students and provide work experience to guide them toward future employment opportunities. “It’s an awesome opportunity for them," Matt Altieri, an intervention specialist at Ravenna High School, said. "They get paid just like any other student worker here would get paid, and it’s just an awesome opportunity to learn job skills." He said partnering with the university has provided his students working for Dining Services a newfound confidence as workers. “This opportunity gives them something they can claim as their own,” Altieri said. “They’re on the team here so they are collaborating with other employees, whether they be adults or other college students ... their confidence just grows so much
because they feel like they are independent.” Beth Coleman, principal of Ravenna High School, said the school has an “in-house transition program” to integrate students into the local community through employment opportunities. “They go out once a week to Goodwill and the community clothing center. Then they move to a different class, where they go out to Kent State,” she said. “We try to give them skills that when they leave us they’ll be able to do something as a citizen.” Altieri said one of the greatest opportunities for his students offered through this partnership is the chance to work with management in Dining Services such as Marlene Maneage, senior manager of Prentice Cafe. “It’s not easy for my students to come into a work environment because they don’t have work experience. They’ve been in special (education) classrooms that are very confined their whole high school career,” Altieri said. “Marlene gives them this
Alyssa Keown / The Kent Stater Matt Altieri, a teacher at Ravenna High School, shows Marlene Maneage, manager at Prentice Cafe, a career project he’s looking over on Tuesday, Sept. 20, 2016. Altieri brings his students with special needs up to Kent State on weekday mornings for them to work in the cafe, allowing them to gain work experience.
opportunity to make mistakes and learn.” Maneage said hiring and working with students from Ravenna High School “brings a lot of joy” into her work at Prentice Cafe, and she follows the motto “treat people well and teach what you can” when working with all of her employees. “When you have some sort of impact on somebody’s life that they remember five years down the road, there’s nothing better,” Maneage said. “I believe strongly for me, it’s my responsibility to make sure that these students are as prepared as I could possibly help them be. I take a lot of pride in hiring those students and working with those students to succeed.” Altieri said two of his students currently work with Maneage at Prentice Cafe while four others work in the Kent Markets in the Student Center. He said Babette Cameron, project co-director for the Center for Innovation in Transition and Employment at the university, inspired Ravenna’s partnership with Kent State through the Kent State Transition Collaborative, which provides employment opportunities in departments across campus for high school students with disabilities. Cameron said the program started in 1985 when Robert Flexer, professor of special education and rehabilitation in the department of educational foundations and special services, founded the program with the mission of “supporting the efforts of people with disabilities to realize quality lives.” Students work in a variety of departments across campus including Dining Services, Residence Services and University Libraries. Through the program, special education majors at Kent State have the opportunity to train and work with students with disabilities from the community and emphasize learning through “fading away” and natural consequences, Cameron said. “Our employers on campus have been wonderful ... working with our students and treating them as equal,” Cameron said. “They are so busy as it is that for them to allow us to come in and work in their workplaces, it’s amazing to me. It seems like the busiest people are the ones that are willing to give us time and opportunities.” She said teachers are responsible to help students learn and succeed in these roles. “It’s nice for us to get credit for what a wonder-
ful program we have, but the students actually work hard at learning what they learn,” Cameron said. “We can give them all the opportunities in the world, but if they don’t take them and make something of it then they don’t succeed. And I think a lot of time I get credit — our program gets credit — for the students' successes.” She said responsibility lies on the teachers of these students to help them learn and succeed in these roles. Abdullah Adams, a student employed through KSTC with the School of Teaching, Learning and Curriculum Studies, said he hopes to learn important job skills through this opportunity. “I’m learning still. I’m getting the hang of it,” he said. “It’s good to learn something new everyday because you... get to see what you’re good it.” Altieri said Ravenna High School works independently from KSTC, but the programs have similar goals. “Basically, the entire program is centered around making sure they have transition skills,” Coleman said. Altieri said the ultimate goal is to help students find employment after they graduate, and transition programs like these give students opportunities to foster confidence while gaining unique life skills. According to a study conducted by the National Center for Special Education Research (NCSER), 71 percent of high school graduates with disabilities report having a paid job, and 85 percent reported engaging in the community through employment, post-secondary education or job training within a six-year period after graduating high school. “Marlene gives them an opportunity to learn needed job experience so that once they graduate this year they can go out and get a job in the future,” Altieri said. “This opportunity, like I said, is not just a confidence builder that they’ll carry over in the future. It’s something they can put on a resume.” Maneage said the opportunity to work with these students is a unique and humbling experience offered at Kent State. “There’s a lot of satisfaction in that for me, and everyone has a story,” she said. “It’s very cool relationships that you just can’t get anywhere and you can here. That’s one of the things I love about Kent.” rsteve15@kent.edu
Wednesday, September 21, 2016 | Page 3
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DREW SHENEMAN’S VIEW
On College of Business Administration to host prominent alumnus Collin Cunningham Business Administration Reporter
Pawan Verma, Kent State graduate and chief information officer of Foot Locker, will be returning to Kent on Oct. 6 to speak at an event celebrating the 30th anniversary of the College of Business Administration’s Center for Information Systems. ccunni19@kent.edu
Cheers&Jeers Cheers to ... couponing, as a New Jersey woman has used the shopping technique to provide nearly 5,000 meals to those in need. Jeers to ... Donald Trump Jr., who irreverently compared Syrian refugees to Skittles in a tweet on Monday.
Emmy win ushers in an age of Kate McKinnon Gabby Seed Columnist This past July saw the release of an all-female reboot of "Ghostbusters," a reimagining that many fans weren't thrilled with. Though I personally enjoyed the movie, the general public was quick to dismiss it as another unnecessary remake with only one saving grace: actress and comedienne Kate McKinnon. Headlines like “Why Fans Adore Kate McKinnon As Holtzmann in 'Ghostbusters'” and “We Love You, Kate McKinnon. And Thanks for Saving 'Ghostbusters'” are some of the first things that come up when Googling the actress’s name alongside the movie’s title. It takes a special kind of performance from an actor or actress to make a writer say that he or she "saved" an otherwise dreary film. However, McKinnon is no stranger to standing out from the crowd and making her name known. On Sunday night, McKinnon won her first Emmy — outstanding supporting actress for a comedy — for her work on "Saturday Night Live." Obviously overwhelmed with emotion, McKinnon’s speech was shaky and tear-filled. She cited her late father for getting her interested in SNL at a young age. McKinnon joined the 41-year-old variety show in 2012, quickly becoming a star that would replace household names that soon moved on from the show, like Nasim Pedrad, Bill Hader and Kristen Wiig. Like Wiig, McKinnon is venturing into the realm of film, with "Sisters" and "Masterminds" serving as a few examples of her filmography. Though the Academy might not have recognized McKinnon’s greatness until this past weekend, the comedienne’s cult-like fan base celebrated a win they saw as long awaited. According to the Los Angeles Times, the Emmys celebration “set(s) Twitter fans on fire." Today’s comedy fans are drawn to non-traditional comedians like McKinnon, SNL’s first openly lesbian cast member. Not only is McKinnon herself non-traditional, but her sketches, impressions and personas represent a range of insanely varied talent. She is best known for her Justin Bieber and Hillary Clinton impressions, the latter of which she took over from the Amy Poehler (as Hillary Clinton) and Tina Fey (as Sarah Palin) duo, a decidedly difficult act to follow. Lorne Michaels’ SNL stint hasn’t been consistently solid since the early 2000s, but McKinnon displays consistent talent in every sketch. This is a practically indisputable fact, given that most of the popular and successful sketches and characters of the last year or so have either featured or starred McKinnon. McKinnon’s impressions have often left me in stitches, and I find myself scouring YouTube to dredge up some of her most memorable past sketches. SNL might not be completely consistent at the moment, but I rest in the knowledge that McKinnon is, if nobody else is. So I will continue to host my weekly "SNL parties" — which, in fairness, sounds geeky — as soon as the show returns in October. I will also continue to screech whenever I see Kate McKinnon in, well, anything. And for those of you just getting on board after McKinnon’s Sunday night Emmy win: welcome. gseed@kent.edu
Finding harmony in romance Dylan Webb Columnist As fall foliage takes form all around us, campus parties are at a head and new friends are made. Unfortunately, this also opens the door for another type of connection: intimate relationships with minimal commitment. As the norm seems to be in the 21st century, college students have a propensity to engage in no-strings-attached relations. Such behavior is a catalyst for a broad array of unintended consequences, including anything from sexually transmitted diseases to simply being unhappy with such a lifestyle. Of course, an alternative approach is available. In my experience with Israel's Orthodox Jewish culture, I find that many people my age practice shomer negiah, a custom in which they
do not come into contact with members of the opposite gender. These restrictions can stay in effect until marriage. Personally, I do not follow this custom as the famous Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach did not practice it, and it is based the strictest interpretation of the custom-based laws. However, I respect its purpose and what it stands for. This practice results in a greater preparedness for a serious relationship, creating a state of mind centered on respect and awareness of divinity in the other person. Both genders learn to become mature partners ready to raise a family, support their partner and focus on their cohesiveness as a pair. See the full article on KentWired.com.
Protests on campus are a sign of progress Los Angeles Times Guest Columnist Show of hands: You work side-by-side with people who are much poorer or wealthier than you and you share your living space with someone from a religion, race, nation or sexual orientation other than your own. We suspect few adults have their hands in the air. The vast majority of Americans live and work primarily with people much like themselves. The clearest exception to this demographic homogeneity occurs in academe. It wasn't long ago that students at our nation's colleges and universities were predominately white, male and from affluent families. Today, only 44 percent of college students are men, and 52 percent are white. Fully 39 percent of undergraduates come from families with incomes low enough to qualify for Pell Grants. Especially notable, the most selective schools - those with applicant pools large enough to fill their classes many times over have transformed their student bodies, going from among the least diverse to among the most. In light of all that, no one should be surprised that student unrest has rocked campus after campus over the past year. What began at the University of Missouri quickly spread across the country. Whether public or private, large or small, urban or rural, few were immune. Were diversity and inclusion easy, other sectors of society might have already succeeded at it. Apartment buildings and suburban enclaves, corporate work teams and boardrooms, the U.S. House and Senate - all would be appreciably more diverse. The young adults moving onto college campuses over the coming weeks arrive from communities and K-12 systems that are largely segregated by race and by income; they may graduate into jobs and neighborhoods that remain so as well. But while on campus, a daughter of a hedge fund parent may share a room with the daughter of a migrant worker; a straight Republican may room with a gay Bernie Sanders supporter. Everyone is here, and everyone lives together, if not in perfect harmony. Still, for four precious years they share classrooms, bathrooms and, for most, an abiding affection for their future alma mater. They are part of an ambitious experiment in diverse populations living together. Unlike experiments in medicine or engineer-
ing, however, there is little empirical research to guide anyone and no controlling for conditions. On the contrary, the participants have no interest in being controlled or viewed as subjects. If this academic year is anything like the last, some students will proclaim loudly what a terrible job college administrations are doing to create an inclusive community and will demand change. Others will work with faculty and administrators to advance diversity and facilitate better mutual understanding. Some will do both. Still others will quietly decline to participate by self-segregating or even dropping out. As college presidents ourselves, of course it is our preference that students collaborate with faculty and administrators rather than occupy offices, shut themselves off from fellow students with whom they disagree, or leave school. But we recognize and accept that these students are coming of age in a time of political, social and economic turbulence unseen in a generation. This year's presidential election rhetoric only makes things more volatile. We have less patience with pundits and politicians who opine from gated communities and segregated offices about campus incidents that, for all their notoriety, are utterly unrepresentative of the main points of tension on campuses. For every student who complained about inauthentic ethnic food in the cafeteria, to cite one wellpublicized example, exponentially more Asian and Asian-American students endured insults and snubs based on jealousy, stereotypes or outright hatred. Likewise, for every example of students demanding safe places or trigger warnings so as to avoid material they consider offensive or upsetting, innumerable LGBT students and students of color found themselves in situations where they were affronted or physically threatened. Social experiments often fail, as any baby boomer who joined a commune in the 1960s can attest. But the efforts currently underway on college campuses to enact the American ideals of opportunity, diversity and unity are noble, and the participants deserve respect for trying to achieve them. The surprise isn't that there's friction on campus these days, but how well this unique experiment actually works.
Add Carson Wentz to list of failed Browns quarterbacks Matt Poe Columnist Browns gonna Browns, right? When it comes to writing about this little engine that couldn’t, I don’t take as much pleasure in bashing the team as I once did. Maybe I’m growing up a little — or maybe it’s the fact that I've been living in Northeast Ohio for a few years — but I’ve come to realize how sick and tired Cleveland Browns fans are of a mediocre product and poor management. The latter is a perfect transition into the latest head scratching development concerning the good ol’ Brownies. A report from this past weekend indicated that several of the Browns key scouts were fired during the NFL draft after they were high on drafting North Dakota State University quarterback Carson Wentz with the second overall pick. The Browns would eventually trade down from the pick with the Philadelphia Eagles, who secured Wentz with that same second overall pick. The team then decided to place their faith in the hands of Robert Griffin III (RG3), who has the body of a Nature Valley bar that has been in your backpack for a few weeks. He’s unsurprisingly out with a shoulder injury for several weeks. Meanwhile, Wentz is 2-0 with the Eagles and is showing signs of becoming a legit franchise quarterback. I know it’s only two games, and we tend to overreact both good and bad with rookies in sports, but if he continues to trend in this same direction, he’s going to be legit. Granted, they haven’t played a respectable defense yet in the Bears and those same Browns we’re discussing here. The sad reality of it is Wentz should be yours, Browns fans. I wasn’t completely sold on him coming out of college so I am not going to act like I knew this all along, but what I do know is that the decision to pass him up in favor of the fragile RG3 is maybe the most Browns move of all time. Yes, the team did acquire several picks in the Wentz trade, but what did they do with that first round pick? They took a wide receiver which, last time I checked, it helps to have a viable quarterback to, you know, throw him the ball. it is without further adieu that we place Wentz’s name on the long list of failed Browns quarterbacks and not because he has failed as a quarterback. His career and story are just beginning. We’re placing him on that list because Browns management failed its fans for the umpteenth time. In a division in which the team has no real shot of winning, what harm would it have been to take Wentz? He succeeds, you have your quarterback. He fails, you’re right where you were all along. Hindsight can be both revealing and dangerous. It can be somewhat lazy, like in this column. It’s easy to understand what should have been done in real time as opposed to what really happened. And it’s easy to dwell on what we wish would have been, in both sports and life. So Browns fans, I ask this of you: write Wentz’s name right below Johnny Manziel’s in the long line of failed Browns quarterbacks. Ponder it for a moment and then move on with your life because there’s no time for despair around these parts. We cannot change what is already done. After all, the Cavs are reigning world champions and the Indians may bring that World Series trophy home in about a month’s time. Life’s not all bad in Cleveland. mpoe3@kent.edu
Page 4 | Wednesday, September 21, 2016
Perspectives
The Kent Stater
Photos and multimedia through the lenses of Kent State students
Aaron Self / The Kent Stater Nine-month-old lion cub Liuwa play fights with her brother Lekker inside their enclousure at Lion Encounter in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, on Monday, July 18, 2016. These cubs help the program as animal ambassadors, educating the public on lion conservation and raising money from lion walks.
EXPLORING THE RICHNESS OF AFRICA A summer spent preserving the wildlife, community and culture of Zimbabwe Aaron Self Photographer
Aaron Self / The Kent Stater Chibi the elephant reaches back for a treat during an elephant walk experience at Antelope Park in Zimbabwe Saturday, July 16, 2016. Chibi and her herd mates were rescued from a horrible drought and now live in captivity as animal embassadors in exchange for a few rides now and then.
Volunteering in Africa is a life-changing experience for anyone willing and able to take themselves away from their familiar surroundings and thrust themselves into an entirely setting with new ideas, beliefs and troubles. African Impact and African Lion and Environment Research Trust are two sister companies that take people from all over the world and bring them to locations with a real need for volunteers. One of the biggest destinations is a stone’s throw away from one of the Seven Wonders of the World; Victoria Falls on the border of Zimbabwe. The Victoria Falls location has a hand in almost every aspect of conservation and community improvement. They participate in game counts, predator surveys, bird surveys, hyena monitoring, elephant identification and park maintenance for the Zambezi National Park. In the community, volunteers help teach at the local primary schools, preschools and orphanages while working to improve the local gardens and nursing home. All these projects are held together and partially funded by Lion Encounter and the lion walks they are best known for. Guests from all over the world have the opportunity to walk side by side with lions, learning about their conservations efforts and situation in the wild. These lions, ranging from young cubs to sub-adults, live a remarkably free life. Every day they are let out of their spacious enclosure to explore the large reserve that surrounds them. Guests, volunteers and handlers lead and walk with them as they go on patrol of their territory or lay about in the shade, all while the staff are taking pictures and videos to document this once-in-a-lifetime experience. Guests have been so moved by the efforts of African Impact and ALERT that they have come back to volunteer — sometimes more than once — giving back to the organization that inspired them. African Impact and ALERT use these walks to fund the community improvement projects and keep their research teams functioning within the National Park. Projects like hyena dietary habits, elephant identification, game counts and bird surveys area all through African Impact and ALERT, making them one of the most public faces in the park. aself1@kent.edu
Aaron Self / The Kent Stater Aaron Self / The Kent Stater Nyasha Nhema, a handler for Lion Encounter in Elli Suarez, a senior at King Kekaulike High School in Hawaii, came to Zimbabwe to work with children in community projects, like Nomatimba at the Chimatimba Preschool in Victoria Falls, Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, cuts up zebra meat for the cubs on feeding day on Tuesday, July 14, 2016. Zimbabwe, Monday, July 4, 2016.
Aaron Self / The Kent Stater Frederiek “Freddy” Veenenbos from the Netherlands helps a number of children at the Chinotimba Orphanage in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, with a reading comprehension test on Tuesday, July 5, 2016.
Wednesday, September 21, 2016 | Page 5
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HOROSCOPE By Nancy Black
CAC of Portage County - JOB OPENINGS •HEAP INTAKE SPECIALIST SEASONAL, 8:00 am – 4:30 pm Monday thru Friday at our West Main Street office. Experience working with public, preferably in social service setting and knowledge of Portage County. E-mail resumes to: tstrausser@cacportage.net Deadline: 9/30/2016. •YOUTH ASSISTANT PART TIME, 2:00 pm – 6:30 pm Monday thru Thursday at our Walnut Street location. Experience working with children. E-mail resumes to: vbryant@cacportage.net Deadline: 9/30/2016. Must be insurable and able to pass background check. Possibility for long-term employment. EEO/M/F. For full Job Descriptions, go to http://cacportage.net/helpwanted.html Resumes can also be dropped off at: CAC of Portage County, 1036 W. Main St, Ravenna, OH 44266 ATTN: INTAKE SPECIALIST ATTN: YOUTH ASSISTANT
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
Today’s Birthday (09/21/16). Step into greater leadership this year, and it benefits your bottom line. Navigate a turning point in a partnership for new possibilities. Provide loving support. Savor peaceful nostalgia over springtime, and invent a beautiful future with someone beloved. A romantic relationship transforms. It’s all for love. To get the advantage, check the day’s rating: 10 is the easiest day, 0 the most challenging.
Aries (March 21-April 19) Today is a 7. Read, write and express your thoughts. Study and research, and note discoveries. Share what you’re learning. Ignore false rumors and gossip. Your communication skills are growing.
Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) Today is a 7. Jealousies are easily aroused today. Thinks may not go as planned. Talk is cheap. Doubts or worry could cloud your judgment. Avoid saying something you’d regret. Take a walk instead.
Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) Today is an 8. Let someone else take charge. You may not do things the same. If irritated, walk around the block rather than spouting off. Choose your battles. Compromise for shared objectives.
Taurus (April 20-May 20) Today is a 9. Imagine success! Watch for a new income source and accept a generous offer. Here’s where you start making profits. Sweep illusions aside. Find fabulous bargains. Keep it practical.
Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) Today is a 7. Illusions abound in your industry and profession. Others look to you for common sense. Provide stability and assurance. Avoid risky business. Choose private over public engagements. Let go of a preconception.
Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Today is a 7. Obstacles and barriers in your work require careful navigation. Tempers are short. Don’t believe everything you hear. Slow down to avoid mistakes. Do the homework, and take notes.
Gemini (May 21-June 20) Today is an 8. You’re especially sensitive. Take time for yourself. Rest, recharge and energize. Read, study and learn about a personal passion. Listen to intuition, and trust your heart. Cancer (June 21-July 22) Today is a 6. Lay low and take it easy. Avoid travel or hassle. Stick to simple goals, and allow time for friends, rest and meditation. Complete an old project in private.
KENT RENTALS 3, 4, and 5 bedroom houses starting at $1000. Call Rich 330-697-5170. Close to campus. 2 and 3 bedrooms, details for special movein. Landlord pays heat, water and trash. Good parking, central air. 330-676-9440.
BLISS
Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) Today is a 7. Plan an adventure, from comfortable privacy. Latest news can affect your decisions. Continue to weigh options. Don’t get mad when others remind you to stay on task. Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) Today is a 7. Handle basic financial responsibilities without a fuss. Avoid arguing with your partner about money. Consider purchases carefully. Resist temptation, if it would cause an upset. Don’t test limits now.
Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) Today is a 7. Fantasies abound. Don’t fall for a trick. Avoid risky propositions. Hang out with friends and family. Help the others stay relaxed and calm by doing so yourself. Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) Today is a 6. An irritant at home demands attention. Don’t bend the rules. Watch for hidden agendas. Postpone financial discussions. Choose in favor of family. Save some private time for yourself.
DOT GAME
Immediate Openings: Nuevo Sol Tanning is now hiring. Looking for highly motivated and friendly individuals. Flexible part time positions. Minutes from KSU. Apply in person 1632 Norton Road, Stow or email your resume to jobopeningnst@gmail.com Interviewing now.
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