Thursday, September 10, 2015 | Page 1
The Kent Stater
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THE INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF KENT STATE UNIVERSITY
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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2015
BlueLight updates
Flight 93 National Momorial
Gender and Sexuality Center
BlueLight, the safety app created in California for smartphones, recently underwent updates to quicken ways of receiving help from responders with just the touch of a finger.
It gets easier every year. It’s something Jeremy Brigham could have never imagined saying about the death of his son, Mark Brigham, who perished amongst 40 other passengers and crew members on 9/11.
The creation of Kent State’s Center for the Study of Gender and Sexuality is moving forward with newly unveiled visions, programs and values paving the way.
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THE COST OF BRANDING KENT STATE
The university officially signed a $2.3 million contract Wednesday to help propel the vision of the university
Fall 2014
Listening Tour
President Beverly Warren sets out to discover the “heart of Kent State”
March 2015
Committee
Visioning committee formed to collect data and validate what students have said about Kent State
March 11
First Stage
Three representatives from 160over90 present company ideas to Board of Trustees
April 30
Study Results
Beverly Warren announces committee results and town meeting date on her message board
May 7
Meeting
Town hall meeting at Kent State Student Center
Sept. 2015 Bridge campaign Cassaundra Jackson / The Kent Stater President Beverly Warren holds up a copy of The Kent Stater in the George Urban Board of Trustees Conference Room on Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2015. She told the board about the signing of an agreement with Vietnam’s Hanoi University for a partnership that happened on Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2015.
Megan Hornyak and Jimmy Miller Administration Reporter and Senior Editor The university officially signed a $2.3 million dollar contract Wednesday to help propel the vision President Beverly Warren and the Board of Trustees have for Kent State. The board approved paying a $2.3 million, three-year contract Wednesday to a branding firm in an effort to encourage student retention and future recruitment for the university. The contract is part of the branding campaign that started last fall, which combines results from Warren’s “Listening Tour,” input from the Strategic Visioning Advisory Committee (SVAC) and the conceptual designs from the firm itself, 160over90. The spending for this enterprise will come from the general fund, which includes state funding, tuition and any carryover of the previous year, university spokesman Eric Mansfield said. He also said this spending will cover all eight regional campuses’ costs for the branding campaign, which means each campus will have approximately $100,000 to spend. “Branding is sometimes a thought to be just an ad campaign, a tagline, and it's more than that. To me, branding is just telling our story better, using really powerful language to tell our story, and I think that's what 160over90 brings to us,” Warren said in an interview prior to the board meeting Wednesday. “What you get from an agency like 160over90 is really a more national lens in what they've seen across the country, so they bring that national perspective.” 160over90 representative Sig Ross agreed with a similar sentiment and said, “Don’t think of this process as an ad campaign.” “(This process takes) a lot of refinement,” board member Michael Solomon said. “(We’ve) got to build a marketing campaign that works for the university. Whether it’s signage on campus or messaging in the way we’re communicating
with people we’re recruiting, kids we’re recruiting, families we’re recruiting, and those who are attending, we have to get the messaging right just within that circle because that’s the least expensive and most important group we’ll ever reach in the market.” Some board members expressed concern over the execution of the project. Others, including Stephen Perry, wondered if the university couldn’t just use old initiatives. But another 160over90 representative, Maggie Insogna, assured members old initiatives can be used in these new designs. New design phrases were displayed, including, “(The)Future should prepare for you,” which was a flip from the traditional phrase, “Be prepared for the future” and “Breaking the mold means shaping the world.” Why branding is important for KSU One of the reasons Kent State needs help from 160over90 is that research shows that will be fewer students from Ohio in the future, making it more vital to reach a national audience, Mansfield said. Mansfield also said another goal of the campaign is to raise the stature of Kent State by encouraging research investment in an attempt to make Kent State a better public research institution. The beginning of the rebranding process The branding campaign was initiated by Warren and the 160over90 branding firm, who is also responsible for helping brand other universities like Michigan State, UCLA and Temple University. The branding process began with Warren’s “Listening Tour” in the Fall 2014, when she sought to discover “the heart of Kent State.” The university then hired the 160over90 agency, and the company presented at the trustees meeting on March 11 to facilitate improving Kent State’s image on a national level.
SEE BRAND / PAGE 2
“Bridge campaign” reaches out to incoming freshmen students
Board of Trustees discuss strategic vision
Ian Flickinger Administration Reporter
Kent State’s Board of Trustees approved the shared vision statement presented by President Beverly Warren and debated strategies for handling the university’s growing student numbers in its meeting Wednesday. Since arriving at Kent State in July 2014, Warren has met with faculty members, students, alumni, donors, trustees and the community to develop a strategy, which addresses the university’s ambitions going forward. Warren unveiled the final draft of the shared vision statement to the board today. The statement reads:“To be a community of change agents whose collective commitment to learning sparks epic thinking, meaningful voice, and invaluable outcomes to better our society.” Warren said Kent State, currently with record numbers of enrollments student retention and degrees awarded, is at a great moment and plans to develop the university — all eight campuses acting as one — into one of Ohio’s premier higher education institutions, focusing specifically on five key priorities: putting students first, becoming globally competitive, having a regional impact, excelling in stewardship and receiving national distinction for the academic programs and staff. She also named six peer institutions — Georgia State, Ohio University, Western Michigan, Houston, North Texas and Utah State — Kent State can look at as a measuring point, and four aspirational institutions — Clemson, South Florida, Virginia Commonwealth and Temple — with admirable qualities. “Peer institutions are universities that have similarities, not all across the board in every category, but similarities that would make our universities compatible in terms of benchmarking and comparing,” Warren said during the presentation. “For aspirational institutions, we took a different tactic; we really wanted to look at institutions who have really been on the rise
and explore, ‘How did they do that? How did they make significant changes in their culture and how they work?’” Admissions For the seventh consecutive year, Kent State saw its student population grow, coming in at 28,565 this year (a statistic to be finalized at in 15-day enrollment numbers), up from 28,456 in 2014. T. David Garcia, senior associate vice president for strategic enrollment management, said Kent State is recruiting a “different type of freshman.” More students are coming from the top of their high school class, with this year’s incoming freshman with an average 3.35 GPA and an ACT score of 23 (its highest average score,) and they’re coming from a higher socioeconomic status than previous classes. “Since 2010, the undergraduate student body has grown by 2,000 students,” Garcia said. “This is a really exciting time for Kent State.” However, Garcia noted the percentage of incoming freshmen at regional campuses decreased, as did students who identify as African-American, Native-American or Latino — just 14.8 percent of students — down from 16.3 percent last year. The board discussed ways to grow that number, including targeting nearby high schools in Cleveland and Akron. International Students Todd Diacon, senior vice president for academic affairs and provost, delivered a presentation on developing a residence hall for an international living learning community. International students compose 11 percent of the student body, originating from 105 different countries. Diacon said Kent State and Ohio State are the only universities in Ohio with a percentage of international students greater than 10 percent, although this year’s total isn’t readily available yet.
SEE TRUSTEES / PAGE 2
Page 2 | Thursday, September 10, 2015
The Kent Stater
From Page 1
From Page 1
BRAND
TRUSTEES
The cost of branding...
Board of trustees...
While 160over90 focused on making Kent State’s vision a national brand and conducted research, the Strategic Visioning Advisory Committee (SVAC) members helped facilitate this process by analyzing submitted emails and tweets from the student body to validate student opinions. The committee includes 15 current faculty members and 12 faculty members on the working committee. With the help of the SVAC, Warren wrote on her president’s messages webpage that more than 1,200 individuals provided feedback through various outlets, such as personalized interviews, emails, tweets using #BeBoldKSU and a survey found at BeBoldKSU@kent.edu. In June, the board announced the bridge campaign and unveiled transitional designs for the branding campaign before the major relaunch this winter. Some of the new designs included a conceptual piece and a chart showing words that described Kent State as inclusive, driven, insightful, bright and purposeful. These concepts were contrived from phases the agency called rationale, mood boards, brand art and proofs of concept. Some of the brand art concepts that were centered on incoming freshmen were created for the bridge campaign and were presented at this meeting. This includes the possible phrase “Seeing is Believing, Believing is Seeing 2020,” implying the use of the 20/20 vision metaphor with the year of graduation. Other designs centered on billboards that might read, “Where are you headed?” and digital banners asking, “Where do you want to be?” 160over90 has goals to reach markets like New York and Detroit, but Warren wants to be an even bigger national brand. In January, the goal is to launch a larger campaign that reaches not only Chicago, Detroit and New York, and beyond after the bridge campaign was launched in September. Input is still welcome Kent State students, faculty and staff can provide feedback in creating a shared vision by emailing vision@kent.edu or by completing the form at https://www.kent.edu/strategicvisioning.
He said living learning communities boast the highest GPA (3.07) of the three available living arrangements (standard on-campus housing came in second with a 2.86 GPA and off-campus housing finished third at 2.77.)The proposed project would cost an estimated $35 to $45 million, $30 to $38 million for the hall, and $5 to $7 million for global education program. Diacon said the university could have accepted an additional 400-800 more international students this year, but couldn’t provide them all with a place to live under the current setup. Warren said she believes “we will become Ohio’s international university.” Budget legislation In response to an Ohio Senate’s challenge for all Ohio four-year institutions to provide instate undergraduates an opportunity to lower their tuition by five percent over the course of their college career, Diacon proposed a number of options. He said one-third of the student body entered college with some credit already and the 18-hour
mhornya6@kent.edu and jmill231@kent.edu
The
credit cap saved students a collective $1.5 million this year. The university also offers 54 degrees with roadmaps for three year completion (with 20 percent more in the coming year,) and two majors based completely online. Diacon also proposed limiting majors to 120 credit hours unless licensure or accreditation requires more. The proposed five percent cut would save the average four-year in-state student an estimated $5,000. Notes: The Board of Trustees approved a resolution celebrating the career of Gregg Floyd, vice president for finance and administration, who is retiring June 30, 2016. President Warren announced the second coming of her listening tour, this time titled “Forums for the Future.” The board also approved the naming of the football player lounge in honor of football player Jason Bitsko, who died in Aug. 2014. iflickin@kent.edu
Kent
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COPY DESK CHIEF
Cassaundra Jackson / The Kent Stater Chair of the Board of Trustees Dennis Eckart talks to Ralph Della Ratta during the Board of Trustees meeting on Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2015.
BlueLight makes updates to improve student safety
Dana Miller Safety/Transportation Reporter
BlueLight, the safety app created in California for smartphones, recently underwent updates to quicken ways of receiving help from responders with just the touch of a finger. In a recent survey conducted by BlueLight and its telecom partner, Bandwidth, it was revealed that 80 percent of college women reported sending “home safe” texts to friends and family. Though college students are the main users, the app also benefits people with chronic illnesses, seniors and city dwellers. “Our services provide a lifeline to the closest emergency help, which is faster than just dialing 911 from a cell phone,” said Cecilia Marshall, a marketing intern for BlueLight. The two main features of the app include On My Way, a tracking system to let others know where you are and when you will arrive at your destination and the Request Help function, which directs the user to the appropriate responders. “On the app side, we are constantly improving the design and ease of use,” said Lauren Wilbanks, director of communications for BlueLight. “For instance, making it easy to start frequently used On My Way trips, including destination and followers.” Along with the inapp updates, BlueLight also improved routes and responders. “While most people only interact with the app itself, the real magic of BlueLight happens behind the scenes,” Wilbanks said. “Over time, we’ve increased our network of responders, joined forces with major telecom partners, improved our routing efficiency and revolutionized the way smartphones can connect to 911 dispatch.” When the app first released the On My Way feature, it allowed users to send their whereabouts to five people. Users now can register up to 20 addresses to the 911 databases, thanks to its new BlueLight Places feature. Kent State students should have the feeling of constant safety no matter where they are and no matter what time of day it is, Marshall said. “Students should have this app because it not only relieves anxiety about lack of safety on campuses, but it also allows friends and family to know that the student who walks home from the library or from another dorm back to their own room is safe and sound,” Marshall said. The app gives a reassuring feeling to users by having access to help with a push of a button, she said. “I think it’s just a comfort thing. Students like being able to have the power to make themselves kind of feel empowered with just the touch of your finger tip,” said Anhelica Rodriguez, a junior fashion merchandising major and student ambassador of the BlueLight app at Kent State. “It’s like having that kind of backup comfort of knowing that I can get help if I need it.” The app comes with a 30-day free trial. After that, it requires a yearly subscription of $9.99 for students. “Your safety is at the upmost importance, and you should out that as a top priority,” Rodriguez said. Learn more about BlueLight at getbluelight.com. dmill139@kent.edu
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This column appeared in the Oct. 7, 1947, edition of The Kent Stater.
Thursday, September 10, 2015 | Page 3
The Kent Stater
Opinion
The
Kent Stater
SUBMISSIONS
EDITORIAL BOARD Editor: Hannah Armenta Managing Editor: Emily Mills Senior Editor: Jimmy Miller Opinion Editor: Neville Hardman Sports Editor: Ian Flickinger
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 harmenta@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.
On
DREW SHENEMAN’S VIEW
Visitors center to open at Flight 93 National Memorial
It gets easier every year. It’s something Jeremy Brigham could have never imagined saying about the death of his son, Mark Brigham, who perished amongst 40 other passengers and crew members after terrorists crashed his plane, United Airlines Flight 93, into the grassy plains of Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Since his loss, Brigham returns to the area every year to honor his son’s life at the Flight 93 National Memorial’s annual Sept. 11 ceremony, where the public is invited to participate in a variety of events celebrating the heroes and victims of that day. This year, six staff members of The Kent Stater will join the observance in Stonycreek Township, Pennsylvania, to capture the unique perspectives of family members, witnesses and personnel with connections to the events of 14 years ago. The team will take a multimedia approach, packaging together video, photo and words to express each individual’s story. Throughout the day, the team will capture the moments of not only the grief but of possibility as well.
Cheers&Jeers
Rachel Duthie
Cheers to ...Apple launching new peoducts, including the iPhone 6s and iPad Pro. Jeers to ...Kermit the Frog’s new girlfriend Denise.
No winners in Kim Davis controversy Matt Poe Columnist The U.S. Supreme Court made a landmark decision that the Constitution allows same-sex marriage. The ruling decided one of the great social issues of our time, and for the moment, it seemed to put to rest any doubt about same-sex couples’ right to marry. But where many Americans saw triumph in the Court’s ruling, others saw major issues and felt their rights and freedoms were negatively affected. Enter Kentucky Clerk Kim Davis, who was freed Tuesday after being sent to jail for refusing to grant a marriage license to a same-sex couple. Davis, a Christian, spent five days in jail due to it “violating her conscience and going against her religion,” according to a Tuesday CNN article. The incident sparked outrage on both sides of the political spectrum, with many liberals condemning Davis for refusing to comply with the Supreme Court’s ruling to overturn restrictions in state, yet to pass same-sex marriage laws. However, upon Davis’ release from jail, many conservatives, including presidential hopeful Mike Huckabee, backed Davis’ decision. “I’m not willing to spend the next years in tyranny under people who think they can take our freedom and conscience away,” Huckabee said at the pro-Davis rally. Regardless of what side of the political spectrum you may pledge loyalty to, the controversy is a loss for almost everyone involved. For the conservatives who support Davis, they can be viewed as careless or ignorant to deny same-sex couples their legal right to marry, even though it may counter personal beliefs. As for the liberals, this case can be viewed as another slap in the face over an issue ruled in their favor. And we haven’t even mentioned the disservice it has done to the same-sex couple who was denied a license by Davis, who identifies as a Democrat. As a clerk, Davis’ position primarily consists of issuing licenses, keeping financial records and maintaining records of all governing body transactions including resolutions and ordinances, according to the National Association of Counties. Davis’ job is to comply with the law, regardless of her personal beliefs, and she failed in doing so. And while Davis has stated that she will return to work in Rowan County, Kentucky, it remains to be seen if she will comply and grant future same-sex marriage licenses. The problem with this incident is about whether Davis’ religious belief should have influence on a secular decision in her occupation. The real issue here is that a government official failed to do a task she knew she would encounter when taking the position. If she cannot fulfill her position, should she resign or have been jailed? Davis is entitled to her religious beliefs just as all citizens of the U.S. are, but when those beliefs conflict with daily aspects of a person’s job, the real problem surfaces, and it borders on gross negligence. My suggestion is she may want to look into a different occupation if this continues to be a problem in the future. If people neglected to perform their job because it clashed with their personal beliefs, the majority of us would be looking for work much more often than we would like. mpoe3@kent.edu
OUR VIEW
No price on human life
Baltimore officials reached a $6.4 million settlement with the family of Freddie Gray, who died April 19, 2015 in Baltimore, Maryland from the results of injuries obtained in police custody during an arrest. Two police officers on bikes “made eye contact” with Gray while out on patrol and Gray ran, and the officers allegedly saw a knife in his pocket. He was arrested for carrying an unlawful weapon. He sustained a “high-energy injury” while in custody that left him in a coma. He died later that day. The wrongful death settlement will not affect the criminal charges against the six police officers who had a part in Gray’s arrest and death, but Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake said the settle-
ment would avoid a drawn-out civil case against the city or the police department. Baltimore police union president said the deal was “obscene.” But, we disagree. We do not believe a price can be put on a human life. Giving Gray’s family millions of dollars won’t bring him back or make up for the loss they feel. Although the process seems rushed, we understand the city’s desire to try to close this wound and begin the healing process for a city scarred by racial tension and protests. We believe the trials will be a final way for justice to be given to Freddie Gray and his family. The above editorial is the consensus opinion of The Kent Stater editorial board.
Fantasy sports clouding our judgment of what’s important in sports Jimmy Miller Guest Columnist The 2015 fantasy football season — I mean the 2015 NFL season — kicks off tonight when the Pittsburgh Steelers play the New England Patriots, but the only reason some of you know is because you’ve seen the fantasy football magazines all over the place. Amongst my six (an absurd number, admittedly) fantasy football teams this season, I could probably field a complete NFL squad right down to the water boys and athletic trainers. I’m the general manager of football stalwarts like Dez Bryant, who notably held contract disputes with his real-life NFL team this summer regarding his contract, and I got him for $0 (the Dallas Cowboys can take his $70 million contract; I’m cool with it.) But for some fantasy owners, the activity is all but free. In fact, fantasy football, baseball, basketball, hockey and the like are becoming stand-alone profit empires. Due to websites like DraftKings.com, people are gambling on their fantasy success at a breakneck rate, leaving me overwhelmingly convinced people would stop watching professional sports altogether if they didn’t feel like they had a horse in the race, which is downright sad. I think athlete-fan interaction is absolutely important. It’s a big part of why I decided to be a sports reporter. However, the sportsconsuming audience needs to step back and acknowledge the real problems fantasy sports can cause. First, fantasy sports hurt the fandom experience almost as much as they help it. While it’s true we can now become invested into games we might not otherwise care about, because hey, Peyton Manning is on my team, it also causes a fan conflict disease. A few years ago, I had box seats at the
Cleveland Browns-Baltimore Ravens game, and instead of cheering with 70,000+ fans that day, I sulked that Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco only racked up 14 fantasy points for me in my playoff game. Isn’t the thrill of the fan experience more important than a team you assembled at 10 p.m. while producing a newspaper? (Not that I’ve ever done that, of course.) Our fantasy success also suddenly takes precedent over the gameplay of real, professional athletic action. Some Philadelphia Eagles fans complained in 2007 when their running back Brian Westbrook took a knee just inches from the goal line so the opponent wouldn’t get the ball back, and the Eagles would win the game. Those fans got an Eagles win but missed out on edging their online opponent. We even tend to ignore the severity of injuries and sports social problems because there are benefits for us. For example, fans who became irate when Green Bay Packers wideout Jordy Nelson suffered a season-ending injury this preseason fall under this category, as do those who were more upset Ray Rice couldn’t play “for them” last season than the fact there’s video of him punching his thenfiancee in an elevator. Simply put, fantasy sports are making us a bit ignorant. We are now lacking understanding of what injuries really mean to athletes, as well as the appreciation factor. Manning for example, might be playing in the last season of his historic, decorated career, and I sure wouldn’t want to miss it because I’m too consumed with how many touchdowns Bryant finishes with this Sunday. jmill231@kent.edu
Why the NFL is broken Lucas Misera Columnist As it grows closer to fall, cooler temperatures and a plethora of schoolwork, the season will bring along one of America’s favorite pastimes: football. The Pittsburgh Steelers and New England Patriots will kick off the NFL season Thursday in a highly anticipated matchup. For most of my life, the summer months were spent yearning for football. This year however, my attitude toward the league has shifted. Excitement has been overtaken by sheer indifference. I no longer call myself a dedicated fan. Honestly, I’m embarrassed by the league that I once loved. Sure, it’s easy for children and adults alike to fall for the NFL, as they idolize the highlyskilled athletes and clamor for a championshipwinning team. Unfortunately, the NFL is no longer about celebrating the game that has turned into a multibillion dollar business. The league is ridden with cheating, violence and drug abuse, tarnishing the game’s majestic simplicity. At some point, fans of any team are disillusioned to the fact that these athletes are fallible, despite how the public may perceive them. In 2009, I distinctly remember reading Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger had been accused of sexual assault. The details of the case were concerning, and listening to fans defend him solely because of his athletic prowess was mortifying. In 2010, Roethlisberger was accused once more of sexual assault, and this incident landed him a four-game suspension. As a Steelers fan, I found Roethlisberger’s alleged crimes deplorable. Fast-forward to 2015. The league is still cluttered with a variety of illegal behavior: rape cases, animal cruelty and marijuana possession, to name a few. Nearly any crime that somebody can think of appears on the NFL’s rap sheet, but the truly disturbing aspect of such reckless behavior is both the league and its teams’ responses to such cases. In 2014, star running back Adrian Peterson faced felony charges for using excessive force on his son. After being suspended for the remainder of the 2014-2015 season, he will play in the league this season. Greg Hardy, a defensive end for the Dallas Cowboys, was convicted of assaulting his girlfriend in 2014. He too, will play for his team at some point this season. Even outside of such serious cases, the NFL has become a laughingstock in terms of maintaining its authority. After news that the New England Patriots and Tom Brady intentionally deflated balls in order to gain a competitive advantage, the league lost an appeal in court concerning his potential four-game suspension. This means he will be eligible to play in the opener Thursday. Undoubtedly, Brady’s presence on the field will shake the credibility of the league. The most frustrating aspect of this situation is that as new criminal cases and scandals surface, the league’s most morally grounded players struggle to find jobs. Tim Tebow, known for charity work and his ties to Christianity, was recently released from the Philadelphia Eagles. Devon Still, whose daughter’s battle with cancer is well-documented, was cut from the Cincinnati Bengals roster this preseason. Maybe football just isn’t the same. Perhaps the extracurricular antics are interwoven into the fabrics of the game, but by no means should fans accept this. If the league wants to maintain its loyal fan base, it must emphasize that playing football is a privilege. After all, it’s the least the NFL can do for its fans. lmisera@kent.edu
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The Kent Stater
Gender and Sexuality Center hosts open forum Cameron Gorman General Assignment Reporter
The creation of Kent State’s Center for the Study of Gender and Sexuality is moving forward with newly unveiled visions, programs and values paving the way. Over the summer, several changes and decisions were made regarding the center ’s new outlook, goals and available services. On Wednesday, some of the advisory planning group for the project met in the Student Center for a public unveiling of the Gender Center’s work and plans. As a group, the committee has decided to implement four primary areas of focus: curriculum, academic student services, research and grant writing, and public scholarship. The committee designed this open forum to share these ideas with the community. Molly Merryman, coordinator of LGBT studies at Kent State, headlined the forum, which explained to a room of interested community members and faculty the new guidelines of the program. Merryman said public interest is key to the development of the center. “Bring us your ideas. Why we wanted to have this forum now is that we want to hear from you,” Merryman said. “This is the center. Us in this room right now.” Community members and faculty asked questions of the panel, which was made up of Merryman and associate dean of arts and sciences David Odell-Scott, including inquiries about the purpose and plans for the center. Suggestions were also open and ranged from faculty ideas about marketing the programs in connection to other national programs to community queries about plans for publishing. When asked if research had
been in connection to other college’s courses, Merryman said, “With the changes that we’re making, we will be in the top tier of LGBT programs. We looked at things nationally, not just regionally.” The public forum was the last event that the planning committee, which consists of both faculty members and students, including graduate and undergraduate students, will organize as a whole. One of these faculty members is political science associate professor Joshua Stacher. “Rather than (the group) being a teacher-mentor relationship, it was more of an organic approach, “ he said. “There was a lot of student input.” Already, progress on actualizing these goals is beginning to take place. “We’re strengthening the current curriculum for LGBT studies and women’s studies,” Merryman said. Both areas of study will continue to be available as minors, but the center is also creating a new bachelor ’s degree in gender and sexuality studies. The new curriculum will be presented this fall, meaning most of the courses will not be available for students until next year. However, this year, women’s and LGBT studies will be added to the bachelor ’s integrated studies degree, giving students a taste of what’s to come. In an important decision for off-campus students, Merryman also announced that all of the new available courses will be offered in both classroom and online settings. “We are committed to our regional campus students having complete and total access,” she said. Along with a focus on student involvement, the center’s core importance will lie in research.
Sarah Pompeii / The Kent Stater LGBT studies coordinator Molly Merryman talks with students at the meeting presenting the Center for the Study of Gender and Sexuality on Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2015.
“What we really want is for Kent State to become the hub of research and grant work that pertains to gender and sexuality,” Merryman said. In this vein, the center is bringing in Susan Stryker, the founder of the Journal of Transgender Studies, among other influential speakers, to provide a public education opportunity. Merryman said she hopes the center can be at the forefront of creating a more accepting and informed community through the center’s research. “The hope is that we would be providing our expertise to help business leaders and community leaders respond to this (LGBT issues), as well as reach out to educators to
help them develop a cultural competency in the LGBTQ community,” she said. “Our aim really is to take academics out into the public sphere so that we can become discourse leaders in the area of gender and sexuality but also to demonstrate de ep commitment to global human rights,” Stacher said. The center is moving forward with this vision of teaching by hiring a full-time faculty member to teach LGBT studies. The hiring search will begin in the fall, with the intention of the selected member to begin in the spring. In the meantime, there are several new developments as the center moves forward. A new course this year,
Democracy and Desire: Gender and Sexuality in Greek Culture, will count toward the future major implemented by the center and will be fulfilled by a study abroad
ing abroad. “One of the things that I’m most excited about is having the opportunity to bring Kent State’s academic programs into a leadership role nationally,” Merryman said. “I’m really confident that with this new model for the center, combined with the support we have from t h e Wo m e n ’ s Resource Center, the LGBTQ MOLLY MERRYMAN Student Center, COORDINATOR OF LGBT STUDIES and the dynamic student orgaprogram in Greece. nizations we have that we’re There will be scholarships going to be the best place in the available to students wanting United States when it comes to to join the trip, which runs gender and sexuality.” from March 19 to March 26, For more information on 2016. The Run the World 5K upcoming events, visit the on Saturday will allow stu- LGBTQ Student Center or dents to earn money which email lgbtqsc@kent.edu. can be applied toward studycgorman2@kent.edu
What we really want is for Kent State to become the hub of research and grant work that pertains to gender and sexuality.
Thursday, September 10, 2015 | Page 5
The Kent Stater
Classifieds Franklin Square Deli Hands Down, The Finest, The Freshest, The Best Soups & Sandwiches! For Over 32 YEARS! Delivery To Campus After 2:00 — Legendary BBQ Pork On Thursday See Us @ Facebook for Daily Updates Ray’s Tonight Back to School Blowout 10pm 1st 150 customers receive a free Ray’s imprinted T-shirt Labatt’s Draft — Cherry Bombs — Amaretto Sours — Spiced Rum & Coke — Long Island Ice Tea & much more — RAY’S PLACE — Ray’s Tonight Back to School Blowout 10pm 1st 150 customers receive a free Ray’s imprinted T-shirt Labatt’s Draft — Cherry Bombs — Amaretto Sours — Spiced Rum & Coke — Long Island Ice Tea & much more — RAY’S PLACE —
Do you want to make money and have fun doing it? Come sell with us, no experience necessary, part time job with great pay! Call 330-298-9280 (extension 216), or send resume to Larinda @weknowdish.com BELLACINO’S PIZZA AND GRINDERS Looking for kitchen help, must be available on weekends, close to campus, free break food. Apply at Bellacino’s 3657 Fishcreek Rd. Stow, OH 44224. 330-678-3000 Drivers: No-Touch! Get Home, Get Paid! Excellent Pay Per\Wk! Strong Benefits Package Including Bonuses! CDL-A 1yr exp. 877-704-3773 Mantua, OH-Transportation Company seeks experienced computer programmer/web developer/systems analyst. Web development strengths and critical thinking skills required. Proven ability to develop strong relationships and rapport with coworkers and customers. Transportation and logistics experience a plus. Ruby on Rails experience preferred. Please send resume with cover letter to jobs@ truckwss.com
Are you passionate about craft beer or wine? Crafted Artisan Meadery, located just 18 minutes from campus has multiple openings. Crafted is gaining national acclaim as one of the fastest growing meaderies in the United States. We’re looking for a full-time Assistant Mead Maker, multiple part-time Bottling Crew positions, and a Taproom Coordinator. Visit www.craftedmead. com/jobs for details and email your resume and a brief description of why you’re the right candidate for the job to jobs@craftedmead.com. Must be 21 and over. Build your resume! Young Explorers Aurora and Twinsburg are looking for part-time teachers and care-givers (mostly afternoons). 330-562-5588 Send resume to lissette@youngexplorerschildcare. com Looking for an academic tutor for 6th grader. Preferably someone who is in the education field. 10 hours a week. $12 an hour. Please send resume/interest to knoden@ hotmail.com. HOSPITALITY POSITIONS AVAILABLE! Fairlawn Country Club is hiring servers, bussers, bartenders, valet, line cooks, and dishwashers for our team for full and part time hours. We offer competitive wages and flexible schedules. Apply in person at 200 North Wheaton Road in Akron or request an application via email – kbutler@fairlawncountryclub.com. We are a drug free workplace. Sign/graphic company seeks parttime, multipurpose person, flexible hours. Apply in person at Advanced Display Systems 606 Mogadore Road Kent, OH 44240. Riverside Wine hiring part-time/ full-time. 19 and older, nonsmoker, own car, experience not necessary, can learn all positions. Apply in person with class schedule Tues-Fri 1-4 pm 911 N. Mantua St. Kent Make great money around your schedule!! PARTA is looking for bus operators. Must 18 years old with a valid Ohio driver’s license … driving for min. 2 years … and no more than 2 points on your license. Stop by at 2000 Summit Rd., across from the KSU DIX Stadium to apply. We are open Mon-Fri, 8am – 4:30pm. PARTA is a drug and alcohol free workplace and EOE. PAID PART TIME CAMPAIGN WORK 2015 Campaign is looking for hardworking students with a desire to fight for progressive change 20 hours/week Apply today by calling Colin at (216) 816-4328 Kent Area: Part Time Early evening Office Cleaning Positions Available 330-608-4813 Now Hiring: Nuevo Sol Tanning and Guava Juice Bar. Minutes from KSU. Great Pay, fun environment. Email your resume to Jobopeningnst@gmail.com Interviewing this week. 1632 Norton Rd. Stow,OH.
For information about placing a Display ad please call our offices at 330-672-2586 or visit us at 205 Franklin Hall, Kent State University. Our office hours are from 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Classified ads can be placed by fax at (330) 672-4880, over the phone at (330) 672-2586 or by e-mail at ads@ksustudentmedia.com. If you fax or e-mail an ad, please be sure to include run dates, payment info and a way for us to contact you.
www.KentWired.com
HOROSCOPE By Nancy Black Today’s Birthday Personal and family growth highlight this year. Transform relationships, first with yourself (after 9/13) and then with a romantic partner (after 3/8). Collaborate for financial expansion (after 9/27, and again after 3/23). Complete old promises and invent new possibilities. Play 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 an 8. Postpone mundane rituals for something unexpected. Trust a crazy hunch. Make a delightful (profitable?) discovery. Follow your mom’s advice and win. Putter and clean. Make happy plans. Count blessings. Visualize perfection. Relax into blissful peace. Taurus (April 20-May 20) Today is a 7. Circumstances startle you. Consider an outrageous request. Your community can provide whatever is needed. Put together a sweet deal that speaks to your heart. Meet the perfect people. Follow through on commitments and gain respect. Celebrate together.
Gemini (May 21-June 20) Today is an 8. Accept an unusual assignment. Verify the investment of time and money first. Close a deal or sign papers. Team projects go well. Go for excellence. Reward yourself with some private time and relax. Savor peace and beauty.
Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) Today is an 8. Ignite creative fires. Invite participation. Accept advice from loved ones and especially children, who speak their views straight and unfiltered. Provide support to the process. Your full attention is a gift your family appreciates.
Cancer (June 21-July 22) Today is an 8. You’re especially charming and attractive. Share something joyful with loved ones. Good news, maybe? Reaffirm a commitment for positive changes. Your team is hot, and getting hotter. Resist the urge to flee and success rewards your efforts.
Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) Today is an 8. Get assistance to realize a home improvement project. Upgrade your infrastructure. Find new ways to save resources. Question the status quo. Your greatest strength is love. Share your appreciation with family and friends. They’re your rock.
Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) Today is a 9. Start from a point of balance. Change is inevitable. You gain new insights regarding resources. Conditions seem unsettled. Use your popularity to encourage participation. Get expert support. You’ve waited long enough. Push your agenda. Come from love.
Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Today is an 8. Learn new tricks for earning and saving money from trusted experts. Discuss family finances to determine priorities. Listen more than talking. Find out what others want. Beautify shared spaces. Provide faith and muscle to make it happen.
Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) Today is a 7. Make an artistic or creative beginning. Take steps to realize a beautiful dream. Start with what’s available. Get the best. Add muscle and intuition. Prepare everything in private. You’re magnetically attracted. Raise the heat on a collaboration.
Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) Today is a 9. If finances seem uncertain, track them carefully. Short tempers spark with little provocation. Verify balances before spending, and reduce unnecessary expenses. Accept gifts, when offered, gracefully. You can find another revenue source. Follow a creative hunch.
Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) Today is an 8. Passions get stirred. Plans shift. Speak your heart and figure out how to do it later. Make bold promises that may include a graceful exit. Come up with a realistic budget, and get others on board.
Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) Today is a 9. Follow a leader who knows where he or she is going. Work out plans together. Go for harmony, beauty and satisfaction. Pursue a brilliant idea. It may take you in a new direction. Toss out the superfluous.
Large 4 bdrm apartment, newly remodeled close to campus. New Kitchen and carpet, freshly painted. All real estate advertised herein is $450 pr room, Includes ALL UTILIsubject to the Federal Fair Hous- TIES except phone & cable. Call ing Act, which makes it illegal to 330-678-3047 to schedule an apadvertise “any preference, limita- pointment. Buckeye Parks Mgmt tion or discrimination because of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, Large Studio Apartment. Half familial status, or national origin, or intention to make any such prefer- block from campus. All utilience, limitation or discrimination.” ties paid including cable, priState and local laws forbid discrimi- vate parking. Available Sepnation based on factors in addition to those protected under federal tember 12th. $500/month Call law. We will not knowingly accept 330-931-0434 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 UNPLANNED PREGNANCY? you have been wrongfully denied Are you looking for a wonderful housing or discriminated against, home and future for your child? We call the FHAA at 330-253-2450 for have been looking to share our love more information. and lives with a child. Perhaps we are looking for each other. 2 bedroom 1 bath, carport, appli- Kent State Graduate ances, laundry facility $700 +utili- Please call 1-888-34-ADOPT ties paid by the first. See website code: 91704 for specials. JLCASTO.COM 330688-7040 Professional Editor. KENT RENTALS 3, 4 and 5 bedroom Documents, websites, papers, projhouses starting at $1000. Call Rich ects, dissertations. $2.00/page. 330-697-5170. Projects & dissertations priced Kent 2 & 3 bedroom apartments. separately. Air, appliances, carpet, heat and Inquiries to victoriouswords@ water paid. No pets or Section 8. gmail.com $630 and $810. 330-677-5577
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4 bedroom house, $1400 a month. Close to campus and downtown. Available in August. (330)-554-1491
BLISS
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Page 6 | Thursday, September 10, 2015
The Kent Stater
Sports
SPORTS EDITOR: IAN FLICKINGER // IFLICKIN@KENT.EDU
Check out Kent State Football home-opener this Saturday at 6:00 p.m.
KENT'S SOCCER TEAM STRUGGLES WITH INJURIES
Alex Ledet / The Kent Stater Junior forward Jenna Hellstrom battles a player from the University of Louisville at Zoeller Field on Friday, Aug. 28, 2015. The Flashes ended the game in a tie, 2-2.
Dan Armelli Sports Reporter The Kent State women’s soccer team will look to get back to the .500 mark this weekend as they prepare for an away-home split versus the Butler Bulldogs (4-1-1) on Friday at 7 p.m. and the Cleveland State Vikings (3-2-1) on Sunday at 1 p.m. The Flashes are coming off a 0-1 loss and 1-1 tie against Vermont and New Hampshire respectively in the TD Bank Classic in Burlington, Vermont. With a record of 1-2-2, the Flashes are not off to the hot start they were last season. Five games into the 2014 season, they attained a record of 4-1, with all of those victories coming via shut-
outs. However, with senior goalkeeper Stephanie Senn out until October after having surgery over the summer, Kent State coach Rob Marinaro has had to play three different goalies in the first five games. The Flashes had to use senior Madison Helterbran as a substitute in one game, although she is listed as a defender/midfielder. “We had no choice,” Marinaro said. “Three of our goalies are banged up right now.” So far, Kent has had to rely on the services of not only Helterbran, but also freshman goalkeeper Ashleah McDonald and sophomore goalkeeper Katie Kingsbury. With three of the Flashes’ goalies injures, Marinaro is proud of the way the team has been
battling through adversity. “Our defense is playing very well,” he said. “The team as a whole is doing pretty well. We’ve had our moments. We just need the pieces all together and hopefully we have our goalkeeper back.” Once again, the Flashes’ sole win at this point in the season has been of the shutout variety. However, they are still looking for their first victory of the season away from home. But Marinaro said that is not what the Flashes are concerned with right now. “What we’re trying to accomplish at this point is getting better every single game,” he said. “We had a little blip in the road on that one in Vermont. It wasn’t our best game, and we
were disappointed.” Marinaro noted the Flashes will look to take the “one game at a time” approach this weekend. “Butler is on Friday, and we’re going to look to improve ourselves and play the best game that we can this year,” he said. Among all Division-I teams with 30 saves or more, Kent State ranks 9th in save percentage at 88.4 percent. Marinaro has already started three different goalkeepers in the first five games, none of them being last year’s sole starter, Stephanie Senn. It would seem as if this entire group would be worth watching for the foreseeable future, at least until Senn makes her return. darmell1@kent.edu
Flashes' golf teams Cross country team to head to Minnesota
begin season Thursday
Chris Yamnitsky Sports Reporter
Both men’s and women’s Kent State golf teams will be heading to Minnesota this weekend to play in their respective tournaments. The men’s team will be heading to Independence for the Gopher Invitational. The team returns after a seventh place (+43) showing last year. Returning senior Sebastian Bendsen had the team’s best finish last year at a tie for 12th place. The women will try to bounce back from their eighth place (+50) finish last year in Minneapolis at the Minnesota Invitational. Returning senior Taylor Kim and sophomore Wad Phaewchimplee will come back from last year following a tie at 14th place. The scheduled days of play for the men are Sept. 13 and 14, while the girls tee off Sept. 14 and 15. cyamnits@kent.edu
Field hockey heads to Iowa to face top-ranked teams
Simon Hannig
Sports Reporter The Kent State men’s and women’s cross country teams will
kick off their 2015 season in Akron Thursday at the Tommy Evans Invitational.
Kent State will bring back some key members from last sea-
son, including senior Rachel Slingluff, senior Brigid Callaghan,
sophomore Madison Spreitzer, sophomore Morgan Bing, redshirt junior Kristen Bergmeyer, redshirt junior Hannah Fleck, redshirt
junior Taylor Wickey, redshirt junior Lindsey Myers and redshirt sophomore Lauren Burnett.
Men’s cross country brought back fifth-year senior Samuel
Allen, junior Mitchell Grose, sophomore Nick Schank and redshirt
senior Grant Onken.
Last season at the Tommy Evans Invitiational, the women’s
team finished in second place, with a 3-1 record at the invitational.
The team beat Akron, Marshall and Youngstown State and lost to Malone.
Within the top 10 were Slingluff in fourth with a time of
18:51,and Wickey coming in 10th at 19:31.
Kent State’s men’s cross country team placed fourth at the
Tommy Evans Invitational and went 1-3. The team beat Marshall and lost to Akron, Malone and Youngstown State.
In the men’s top 10, senior Matt Kahl finished eighth at
20:39.50.
shannig@kent.edu
Zac Sommer Sports Reporter Following a two-loss weekend, the Kent State field hockey team hopes to turn things around as it heads to Iowa City to face the University of Iowa and Stanford University this weekend. Kent State’s schedule only gets tougher as it looks to take on the No. 18-ranked Hawkeyes (2-2) Saturday. Iowa has already proved to be a top 20 team as it defeated No. 7 seated Wake Forest earlier this season. The Flashes last saw the Hawkeyes two seasons ago, when it suffered a 6-0 loss. Stanford, who has the No. 6 spot, has also proved to be a top contender in this year’s top 20 teams as it beat No. 9-ranked Duke University earlier this season in overtime. Saturday’s and Sunday’s games both begin at at 12:30 p.m. zsommer@kent.edu
MaKayla Brown / The Kent Stater Forward Madison Thompson reaches for the ball during a game versus Virginia Commonwealth University at Murphy-Mellis Field on Saturday, Aug. 29, 2015. The Flashes won in double overtime, 4-3.