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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2015
21-and-over classes
LARPing
Women’s golf wins
There are many reasons to look forward to turning 21: your first legal drink, a horizontal driver’s license and gambling. A bonus perk? The ability to register for three Kent State courses for students 21 and older.
Duelers stand just a few feet from their opponent. With stances set, they both grip their weapons tight enough to control but loose enough to shift and maneuver.
The Kent State women’s golf team ended its fall season on a high note with its third straight tournament win. The Flashes took first place at the Betsy Rawls Longhorn Invitational with a 5-under-par 859 score.
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CAN I SMOKE THAT HERE? Issues 2 and 3 raise questions about marijuana on campus
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No update on downtown weekend shooting Kent Stater Staff Report Police are still investigating an early Saturday morning shooting in downtown Kent. Lt. Michael Lewis said the department is not able to release any updates about the incident. Kent Police Captain Jim Prusha said a 24-yearold man was taken to a nearby hospital after being shot at around 2 a.m. Saturday morning near the intersection of East Main and South Depeyster streets near the Kent Stage. The man's condition remains unknown, and there no confirmed suspects. Students at Kent State were alerted by a FlashALERT message at about 2:15 a.m. advising them to avoid the area. The university announced via Twitter at 9:20 a.m. Saturday morning that citizens could return to the area. Follow @KentWired on Twitter for any updates to this story.
Pulitzer Prize winner to join Kent State faculty this spring Alexis Wohler CCI Reporter
Illustration by LaQuann Dawson
Ian Flickinger Administration Reporter A Kent State poll found that 56 percent of voters would vote “yes” on Issue 3, which would legalize the use of recreational and medicinal marijuana in Ohio. However, even if it legalized, students still would not be allowed to smoke on university property. “Issue 3 is a state issue,” said Kent State President Beverly Warren. “So, even if it passes, we have a federal prohibition for marijuana use, and because we receive federal funds and are governed by federal regulations, we would have to say, as a campus, we cannot condone the use of marijuana.” The poll, released last Tuesday and commissioned by Cleveland-based WKYC, notes that 54 percent also planned to support Issue 2, which in essence, prohibits Issue 3 from being enacted. “(Issue 2) is an anti-monopoly amendment that protects the initiative process from being used for personal economic benefit,” said Matt McClellan, press secretary for Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted. “So it will, if it’s passed, it will prevent monopolies from being put into the constitution for the personal economic benefit of a group or individual.” McClellan said that Issue 3 would establish a monopoly for the commercial production and sale of marijuana for recreational and medicinal purposes. He also said that if Issue 2 is passed, it would directly become enacted because it is a state-initiated bill. Issue 3 would have a 30-day waiting period because it was created by citizens. If both Issue 2 and Issue 3 pass, McClellan said the issue will most likely be decided by the courts. For students (and faculty) who believe the potential legalization of marijuana in Ohio
enables them to smoke on campus with the same smoking zones currently designated for tobacco use, this might come as a surprise. Warren said if the bill is passed, the university will communicate the message to students that pot smoking – legal or not — will still be considered unlawful on university property. “What I think most institutions are doing in Colorado and places where this is already having an effect on universities is making sure that students are aware,” Warren said, “so that they are not caught in a compromising circumstance where they just didn't know that it was not appropriate to have marijuana on a university campus that really does have federal funding.” However, Officer Tricia Knoles, community resource officer for the Kent State Police Department, said she has not heard anything forbidding marijuana from federal or state property. “The university may have areas designated, but the university is allowed to set up their policies. If they have policies that you can only smoke in a certain area, or whatever, just like you can’t smoke in a dorm. That’s a policy, not a law, but we can enforce the policy,” Knoles said. “As far as I know, if it does become legalized, I haven’t heard anything specifically about it not being allowed on state or federal property.” Knoles said if the law allowing recreational use should pass — understanding that the university has the right to create its own policies regarding use — then marijuana would be subject to a policy similar to the current tobacco-use policy, which prohibits smoking within 20 feet of openings to university buildings. “Obviously, you can’t smoke in the dorm. It would have to be a certain amount of feet away from any building,” Knoles said. “And the university would have to come up with other policies I’m sure, because unlike cigarette smoke,
marijuana smoke, you can get a contact buzz. So students who choose not to smoke, it’s not fair to them, they don’t want a buzz.” Jill Church, director of Residence Services, said the potential legalization of marijuana would not have any effect for the department because smoking any substance is prohibited in residence halls. “We would not change that (our policy). It will continue to stand: the halls are smoke-free,” she said. “ I can’t speak to the rest of campus, but I can tell you the residence halls would remain smoke-free.” Church said if the issue passes, she does not think students will begin smoking marijuana in the dorms because of the current policy prohibiting smoking in the residence halls. “I think we would probably wait to see if there was confusion or an assumption that students think they will be able to smoke in the halls if this is passed,” Church said. “If I’m getting the sense this is a common assumption, then we’d send out something that clarifies that nothing has changed and the halls are smoke-free.” Warren said she understands the need to communicate a clear message to students if legislation is passed but also recognizes the need to review current strategies to ensure an inclusive environment is available to all students. “I think that increased awareness, increased communication [will be necessary],” she said. “We’ll see if it passes; if it does pass, I think we’re going to have to really look at some of our policies. We’re going to have to be thoughtful about medicinal use of marijuana and what we do about that, but we’ll also need to be thoughtful about a communication plan (that shows) that it would still be illegal to use marijuana on campus.” iflickin@kent.edu
Trumbull enrollment declines by nearly 11 percent James Ritter, the director of enrollment management & student services at Trumbull, said the decrease in enrollment is part of a national trend, with schools fighting over students. Kent State Trumbull has declined in enroll“Due to the increase in competition, there has ment over the past few years, remaining in sec- been a decrease in enrollment,” Ritter said. “Espeond place behind the Stark campus in terms of cially with the increase in online education.” regional campus enrollment. Lance Grahn, dean and chief 5000 Stark administrative officer of the TrumTrumbull bull campus, said 4000 the enrollment has Tuscarawas declined because the number of Ashtabula 3000 high school graduates in the region Geauga has declined, as students look to 2000 join the workforce Salem immediately. Daniel Palmer, East Liverpool assistant dean of 1000 ‘10 - ‘11 ‘11 - ‘12 ‘12 - ‘13 ‘13 - ‘14 ‘14 - ‘15 academic affairs, Anthony Cornwell Regionals/Commuters Reporter
said that to keep enrollment stable the university must focus on two issues: retention and attracting more non-traditional students. “(With) improving retention rates, we need to replace fewer students every year and make sure that our students who enter are successful in getting their degrees,” Palmer said. “We also need to reach out even more to non-traditional students to make up for the difference in lost high school applicants.” With enrollment dropping, there have been programs, such as nursing, at Trumbull that remain consistent with enrollment with some on the rise. “The nursing program over the years has served students and employers well,” Grahn said. Other programs that remained consistent and on the rise are criminal justice, English, psychology and applied business in business management technology. Ritter said a program on the rise is the "Technical & Applied Studies" due to it being a relatively new degree program. The associate of arts (General Studies) and
Pulitzer Prize winner Connie Schultz is returning to Kent State’s College of Communication and Information to teach and mentor students in the spring of 2016. Schultz won the Pulitzer Prize for Commentary in 2005, and has been a columnist since 2002. She has also worked as a columnist and reporter for The Plain Dealer for almost 20 years. Even now, Schultz remains invested within journalism since her Pulitzer win. “It’s a lot of fun and it changed my life," Schultz said. "It was important to keep advocating; to keep writing about the issues I care about.” Schultz is a former Kent State graduate from the class of 1979. She was also the former editor of the Daily Kent Stater. When she graduated, she became a freelance writer for news organizations like "The New York Times," "The Chicago Tribune" and "Cosmopolitan." Schultz will be teaching Feature Writing and Multimedia Across Platforms in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication. “I love working with young adults,” Schultz said. “I wouldn’t be coming back to Kent if I didn’t feel loyalty to Kent State. It’s got a great vision and I want to be part of that vision.” awohler@kent.edu
Photo courtesy of Kent State University
associate of science (General Studies) are both on the rise due to the new Automatic Awarding of Associate Degrees program. This program automatically awards an associate degree to those pursuing a bachelor’s degree. The campus does try to keep the university enrollment numbers satisfied by hosting events and bringing in speakers. The campus plans to host events like community 5K runs, the National Day of Writing Program and Black History Month events in the winter. “We have Domestic Violence Awareness Week, concerts in November, a play in two weeks and public lecture by an astronaut next week,” Grahn said. Ritter said the campus is also trying to help students financially and advertise more by “constantly increasing scholarship dollars” as a marketing effort. Grahn also stated that the campus can always do more to promote Trumbull. “We are working to sharpen our brand and be a more visible preference in the Mahoning Valley,” Grahn said. “But I’m starting first with Warren (Ohio).” acornwe2@kent.edu
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The Kent Stater
21 & OLDER CLASSES LET STUDENTS DRINK AND BET Wine and Food Pairing Developed in 2006, Wine and Food Pairing is taught as a special topics course in the College of Arts and Sciences. According to data from Kent State’s Institutional Research Department, 205 students have enrolled in the course. The two-credit hour class has satisfactory grading and mandatory attendance for four Friday evening classes, two of which involve travel. A $365 course free includes dinners each evening, two days of travel, wine and cheese and winery tours. Enologist Anthony Carlucci, who has been with the university since 1998, teaches both wine tasting courses. A college-trained vintner, Carlucci has 20 years of experience in the field, including work in California, New Jersey and Ohio. “(The wine tasting courses) offer skills that students will have and are using after they graduate. For dating, for careers, sales, whatever they are in, they are certainly going to be making food and presenting wine with their dinners,” Carlucci said. “The classes teach them what to do with a glass of wine, everything from sight, smell and taste.”
Casino Management and Gaming Operations
Photo courtesy of Tyler Hill
Erin Zaranec Student Life Reporter There are many reasons to look forward to turning 21: your first legal drink, a horizontal driver’s license and gambling. A bonus perk? The ability to register for three Kent State courses for students 21 and older.
Wines of Northeast Ohio Offered since 1991, Wines of Northeast Ohio is taught as a special topics class in the geography sequence. According to data from Kent State’s Institutional Research Department, more than 1,700 students have enrolled in the course since its creation. Originally held as a lecture class called Geography of Wine, the course has since developed into four field experience classes (Wines of Northeast Ohio) with Geography of Wine still being offered as a lecture option available to students looking for a smaller course fee.
The two-credit hour class is offered twice per semester. Students meet three times a semester, leaving campus on a charter bus at 8:00 a.m. and spending their Fridays or Saturdays visiting wineries, talking to vineyard owners and sampling wine. Wine sampling, transportation and meals are included in the $285 course fee. Notable wineries visited include Ferrante Winery, Wolf Creek Winery and Sarah’s Vineyards. “It was my favorite class that I took as an undergrad,” Samantha Lingenfelter, graduate public health major, said. “It was really fun and interactive. What’s really awesome is that you get a chance to see people who are really passionate about what they do. So, even if you think you are just taking the class for fun and aren’t really interested, their passion makes you passionate about it as well.”
Professor Robin Heiman developed the Casino Management and Gaming Operations class in 2007, two years prior to Issue 3 being passed in Ohio. After Issue 3 was passed, the course was introduced in 2009 as a general elective and is now classified as an experiential learning course. According to data from Kent State’s Institutional Research Department, 96 students have completed the course. A four-day trip to Vegas worth three college credits? For some, it may seem too good to be true. “We have seven or eight behind-the-scenes trips to casinos that we visit. We see everything from food and beverage operations, general casino management, sports bookings, security rooms … it really is amazing. Even I learn something new every year,” Heiman said. With Kent State being home to Ohio’s only accredited four-year hospitality management program accredited by Accreditation Commission for Programs in Hospitality Administration, Heiman said he believes this class gives Kent State students an advantage in a competitive job market. “I can’t verify this, but professionals in the casinos in Vegas tell us time and time again that we are the only university in the nation that reaches out to them in this way and gives our students this behind-thescenes access. It’s incredible,” Heiman said. Senior hospitality management major Francesca Hardoby participated in the class during Spring 2015 and will be serving as the teaching assistant for the course this upcoming semester. “This course allowed me to learn skills needed in the professional world,” Hardoby said. “Not only did I learn about the industry that I hope to work in, but we also learned how to behave in a professional setting.” Interested in spending some time in Sin City? You’ll have to wait until Spring 2017. Next semester’s trip is already completely filled. ezaranec@kent.edu
Speaker discusses global effects of refugee movement Alexis Wohler CCI Reporter Global refugee speaker Emily Feldman came to Kent State Tuesday night to talk about the refugee crisis in Syria and Iraq. Feldman is an Istanbul-based journalist who writes about the humanitarian crises resulting from conflicts in Iraq and Syria, with a special focus on women. The Global Refugee Forum focused on what is driving the refugee movement in Syria and Iraq and how to gain a deeper understanding of the refuge crisis in Syria and Iraq. It also focused on the consequences that are occurring, because of the global refugee movement, from a media standpoint. The Pulitzer Center for Crisis Reporting gives out grants to journalists pursuing stories that are under reported and stories that don’t get enough attention in the news media. The Pulitzer Center for Crisis Reporting also gives out grants to journalists and they give out fellowships to students and fund international reporting projects. “The Pulitzer Center has relationships with different schools around the country and they try to encourage students to apply for the fellowship that they offer,” Feldman said. “And to keep interest up, they send former grantees like me to talk about the sort of reporting that we’ve been doing.” Feldman went to the University of Delaware and got her bachelor's as an undergraduate and then got her master's degree at the City University of New York. She also won the Dennis Duggan Memorial Award, which annually goes to a graduate student at the City University of New York. Feldman said her focus on the refugee crisis is on trying to help people understand what the refugee crisis is, and why the refugee crisis matters for people in America. “I live in Turkey and it’s very in your face and hard to avoid it and it makes you think about what happens if a war comes to your country,” Feldman said. Feldman said it's important for people in America to know what is going on in Syria and Iraq because there is a big debate about what America should do, as to whether or not to help the refugees. She also said the presidential election plays a big part in the refugees coming to America because voters are going to have to decide which candidates’ positions they support. “So many refugees have fled from Iraq and Syria and are now living in places such as Turkey or in Jordon, Lebanon and in Europe,” Feldman said. “It’s easy to visit the refugee camps, to chat with them, see what their lives are like and why did they have to leave their homes. According to an article in the International Business Times, more than four million Syrians have fled to these countries and more.
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Kristi R. Garabrandt shot the photo accompanying the article, “Gender-inclusive housing creates safe spaces for LGBTQ students” in the Wednesday, Oct. 14 edition of The Kent Stater. Her credit was mistakenly not included with the photo.
Sarah Pompeii/ The Kent Stater Emily Feldman opens her talk on Tuesdsay, Oct. 20, 2015. with the photo of the Syrian boy who drowned, along with 12 others, trying to swim to the Greek island of Kos.
Feldman said she thinks the media has had good coverage of the refugee crisis around the world. “The refugee crisis has increased so much. The refugee crisis is just getting worse and worse,” said Feldman. “There are more refugees in the world now than in World War II. The longer there are wars in Syria and Iraq, it’s only going to keep on going.” Feldman said she thinks people in the world should know about what’s happening in the refugee crisis and how it pertains to America. “People who are studying journalism should know about world events. People can’t really ignore it because people can put pressure on their governments to accept more refugees,” Feldman said. “I just think people, especially people studying journalism, should understand the importance of being informed and know about world events.” Professor and coordinator of doctoral education, Paul Haridakis, said the Global Refugee Forum is an event that occurs every semester, and it was formed because of the importance of global communication. Haridakis said each global issues forum is designed to bring better awareness and discussion of a significant global issue that is also of great local concern. “Ms. Feldman has been doing reporting on issues related to the global refugee crisis that we feel needs greater public attention, as this is a major human migration,” Haridakis said. The global communications programstarted at the bachelor's and master’s level. “We formed global communications because most industries now are global,” said Haridakis. “We are interconnected, and globalization is really a communication phenomenon and we need more understanding
of global issues because we’re interconnected.” Haradakis said the reason for globalization is the ubiquitousness of the Internet and the growth in mobile cellular, satellite technology, is what makes globalization possible. “When we think about it from a communication standpoint, one of the things we wanted to do is partner with the Pulitzer Center and bring in journalists that are working on global issues around the world,” said Haradakis. “Most global issues affect us locally.” Haridakis said there are a lot of issues that are of importance in the world, that people tend to see in the mainstream media, but not everyone sees those issues. “Each semester the College of Communication Studies brings in a journalist to talk about a global issue. We thought it was important to focus on refugees because clearly there is a refugee crisis,” said Haridakis. “The major movements of refugees in Europe, is one of the major movements in history.” According to an article in Quartz, the United Nation’s refugee agency (UNHCR) reported more than 50 million refugees escaping conflict in the Middle East and Africa. Feldman said visiting any college campus is a good idea, because when she was in college she didn’t get much exposure to global events and she hopes her lecture teaches the students how to get involved in the global refugee movement. “College students are thinking about the future, their careers, and what they want to do with their life,” Feldman said, "And I think that knowing about global issues may open their minds to professions or possibilities that they may have not considered before.” awohler@kent.edu
Kent State’s Parking Services fines $15 each for one to two parking tickets, $35 each for three to eight tickets and $50 each for nine tickets and above. Due to a design error, it was not clear how many tickets constituted each fine level.
Wednesday October 21, 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.
NATE BEELER’S VIEW
On Speaker offers financial aid tips Associate Director of Student Financial Aid Sylvia Bustard spoke to Kent State students Tuesday night in the Schwartz Center about student loans and borrowing. Bustard said Kent State students borrow around $27,000 on average to fund their college education. Bustard said many students are defaulting on their student loans, meaning when they leave Kent State, they’re not paying back the money they borrowed. See more on KentWired.com
Cheers&Jeers Cheers to ... “Back to the Future” day, which celebrates the exact day Marty McFly time traveled to 2015. Jeers to ... Johnny Manziel’s alleged domestic dispute with his girlfriend, Colleen Crowley.
A call for help Lucas Misera Columnist Two major names in sports recently stepped away from their respective teams. CC Sabathia, a pitcher for the New York Yankees and exCleveland Indian, and University of Southern California head football coach Steve Sarkisian both stepped down after reports that each is struggling with alcoholism. Sabathia’s addiction became apparent after a video circulated of the pitcher, clearly under the influence of alcohol, engaging in a shouting match with instigating fans. Sarkisian’s tendencies became a concern after news broke that he attended a USC pep rally intoxicated, and later reports indicated that he was also inebriated for a game against Arizona State. In Sabathia’s case, he realized that he needs help and asked for it. Even with the Yankees on the verge of the playoffs, the pitcher asked to step away from the game in order to attend alcohol rehabilitation. Sarkisian’s fall was much less graceful; USC released the promising head coach after he recently attended a practice while intoxicated. Both cases are sad, but one thing has become clear: Nobody is safe from addiction, and taking care of yourself is key. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, nearly half of Americans ages 18 and older will drink within the next month, while seven percent of Americans will suffer from alcohol abuse. Sabathia and Sarkisian aren’t alone. If anyone views either of these men as failures because of their illness, then society needs to work harder to bring the physiological explanations of addiction to the forefront. Not only do we need to take alcoholism more seriously, but conditions from drug addiction, depression and similar circumstances can no longer be associated with “weakness.” This is wrong, uneducated and blatantly inconsiderate. According to the Kim Foundation, 26.2 percent of Americans have “diagnosable mental disorders” over the course of a year. The longer we continue to ignore a growing epidemic, the more people we turn away from rehabilitation. No, Sabathia isn’t a quitter for getting help. Facing a condition that seems nearly insurmountable is far more commendable than winning the World Series. Sarkisian isn’t a failure because he was fired. He is a victim of a devastating disorder. Perhaps understanding that even star athletes are vulnerable to disorders such as alcoholism is a step in the right direction for society. For the younger crowd, learning that a New York Yankee can face problems far greater than baseball is humbling. For adults struggling with addiction or mental illness, Sarkisian’s fall from a college football powerhouse should act as a warning. Nobody should fear seeking help. Life is short, but addiction can steal time, happiness or even one’s life. Sabathia and Sarkisian both need to get better, and I hope that their brave step away from alcoholism is motivation for nearly 17 million other Americans that have fallen victim to alcohol addiction. lmisera@kent.edu
OUR VIEW
Hollywood is more than white males
British actor John Boyega plays Stormtrooper Finn in the sure-to-be-smash movie “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” which hits theaters Dec. 18. Although not at all relevant to his acting ability, Boyega is black. (Racist) fans have taken to Twitter to voice their protests, creating a hashtag, #BoycottStarWarsVII. They say the role should not be filled by a black actor because the original movies did not have any black actors in main roles (other than James Earl Jones as Darth Vader, but they don’t count him because he had a mask on for all of his on-screen time). A person’s race (or gender) does not determine his or her acting ability or ability to succeed in a certain role, and we believe this is a pointless, racist effort to protest the movie.
Star Wars is a huge franchise, and true fans will still go see it regardless of which actors are in which roles. This is not the first time a movie remake has featured a cast that doesn’t look like the original: the remake of Ghostbusters features all female actresses in the lead roles, including Hollywood stars Melissa McCarthy, Kate McKinnon, Kristen Wiig and Leslie Jones; and the remake of Annie features Oscar-nominated 12-year-old Quvenzhané Wallis. We applaud Hollywood and the movie industry for not sticking to old-fashioned ideas and breaking the mold of which actors and actresses can play which roles. The above editorial is the consensus opinion of The Kent Stater editorial board, whose names are listed above.
Why Congress should reconsider the Perkins Loan program Thomas J. Botzman
Guest Columnist Numbers have a way of revealing the real story beneath the rhetoric and misinformation around controversial topics. Take the ongoing Federal Perkins Loan debate, for example. More than 1,700 institutions of higher education participate in the program, resulting in about 500,000 students in need being awarded loans to finance their college educations. This campus-based program provides funds to students with the highest level of financial need. The federal government began its new fiscal cycle on Oct. 1. For the first time in 57 years, the proposed budget does not include the Perkins Loan program. Although there is a wide range of programs that aim to support the nation’s neediest students, the Perkins Loan has a few unique twists that make it valuable to both students and taxpayers. Most obviously, the Perkins Loan is a loan and not a grant. As such, the student agrees to pay back the loan over a 10-year period following graduation. With a five percent fixed interest rate, repayment generates additional funds for the next generation of students. Furthermore, colleges and universities make contributions to the fund, which extends the reach of the program. At Misericordia University, a cumulative federal contribution of $1.1 million was available for student loans during the 2014-15 academic year, $245,000 of that in new loans. Those funds were cumulatively supplemented by more than $600,000 of institutional money, which also was lent to students. Although the limit for Perkins Loans to undergraduates is $5,500 annually, most students receive about $2,000 per year. Perkins Loan funds help fill the gap between other sources of financial aid and family contribu-
tions so students can meet the entire cost of attending a college or university of their choice. One argument that led to the expiration of the Perkins Loan program was that other vehicles provide funds to students with significant financial need. Yes, the landscape of student-aid programs is complicated. It requires expertise on the part of financial aid administrators to apply assistance appropriately and justly. It is important, nonetheless, to have an array of programs that meets the need of each individual and not just a mythical “typical” student. The Pell Grant, for example, provides a much larger average award to a student, but it does not need to be repaid. While the Pell is a progressive and respected option, it does not return funds to be lent again and again and again. If the Perkins Loans are not restored, repayments of loans will return to the federal government. We would then have taken a program that has worked for nearly six decades—providing a hand up for so many students—and turned it into a political football with little return to taxpayers. Support for education at the federal level is an investment in our collective future. It is simple arithmetic to figure out that a $2,000 loan each year for four years equals $8,000. That is obviously less than the $8,000 plus five percent interest the student repays—not to mention the lifetime of higher earnings that provide more taxable income. We have taken a solid program that works for everyone and replaced it with nothing that’s a solid policy, good government or a step toward building a future for all of us. Thomas J. Botzman is a columnist for The Philadelphia Inquirer.
Troubling social media reaction to Lamar Odom Matt Poe Columnist Professional athletes can be idolized as larger than life. We often forget these athletes we love watching week in and week out live very different lives off the field. As a society, we have become hastily ready to rush judgment onto athletes whose private matters become public. This certainly rings true with the recent events surrounding former NBA star Lamar Odom. By now, almost everyone has read something about Odom’s recent hospitalization. The former 6’10’’ NBA star was hospitalized last week after he was found unconscious in a Nevada brothel. Odom was said to have taken 10 herbal Viagra supplements along with cocaine and liquor during some point within his timespan at the brothel, according to the 911 dispatch call. He spent the next 72 hours on life support and eventually regained consciousness. Odom is now breathing on his own and has been transported back to Los Angeles to continue his recovery. Odom’s incident and present recovery have been covered in two major news genres. Some read his story through the eyes of the tabloids and mainly know Odom through his marriage to Khloe Kardashian and his association with the Kardashian family. Others read about his incident through a traditional sports outlet because, after all, the man is a two-time NBA champion with the Los Angeles Lakers and had a very prominent basketball career. Both of these general media outlets, tabloids and sports, covered the story in their respective, presumable manner. Tabloids have made the story out to be a reunion and wake-up call for Odom and Kardashian’s marriage as the two had been separated for some time. The sports world shed a different light on Odom, who is known as a generous man off the court and someone who would avoid the limelight and stick to basketball, which is almost impossible when married to a Kardashian. However, many reactions on social media. were severely troubling. When the story was first reported, many on social media jumped to forgone conclusions about how the Kardashians somehow influenced Odom’s addiction and whether they could use this event to benefit their reality television series. Others proclaimed Odom as just another celebrity drug addict who doesn’t deserve the media coverage he’s garnered because he is wealthy, as if wealth directly correlates to a person’s desire or attempts to overcome addiction. It is an alarming trend people have linked with toward sports figures. We build athletes up and put them on a pedastal as people who are larger than life and do not have real issues and problems like everyone else. Then when they experience any real personal issues, like Odom’s apparant drug addiction, we tear them back down with social media leading the cavalry. American society arguably values professional sports more than any other society. The amount of time, money and emotional investment we commit to it can be unhealthy at times (this is coming from an avid sports junkie.) Nonetheless, Odom’s case in particular is one where we need to remind ourselves that our athletes are more than just athletes for our viewing pleasure. mpoe3@kent.edu
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Fashion students dress up as favorite designers
Felicia Guadagni Fashion Reporter
Junior fashion design major Evan Costello is using Halloween as an opportunity to completely transform. Costello, who has a warm presence and a welcoming personality, will be channeling an icy, serious persona when he dresses up as Karl Lagerfeld, head designer and creative director for fashion house Chanel. Last spring, Costello and his group of friends decided to dress up as famous fashion designers for Halloween this year. The other designers represented will be Betsey Johnson, Rachel Zoe, Alexander Wang and Zac Posen. Junior fashion design major Gerald Hopper is choosing to dress up as his favorite fashion designer, Zac Posen, while other members of the group chose to dress up as recognizable designers in the industry. “It’s a goal and dream of mine to work for (Zac Posen) one day,” Hopper said. Costello predicts this year’s costume will be the best he’s ever made. “I never really went all out with costumes before,” Costello said. “Last year, I dressed up as Bruce Jenner when he won the Olympics, which was a good one. But this one will definitely be my favorite.” However, transforming into the 82-year-old, white-haired, ponytail-wearing German designer will not be an easy task. Costello describes his outfit as having six parts, some of which he has to alter himself. “I couldn’t find any light-gray wigs that looked like his hair, so I bought a woman’s wig and will have to cut it and shape it to resemble his hair,” Costello said. Costello’s fashion design background will help him in his costume formation. He said fashion design majors have an advantage in costume-making because they’re doing it year-round for their major, and the holiday lends itself well to the design fashion industry. “It’s cool because sometimes you have a good idea for something, but it isn’t in the store or you can’t find it anywhere on the market,” he said. “So you can make it instead.” A fashion design background doesn’t necessarily ensure a handmade Halloween costume. Costello said many fashion majors do not make costumes for Halloween because of all the design work they’re already doing for classes. “It is hard to do another (costume) if you don’t need to,” Costello said. “For instance, if I hadn’t had this idea last spring, I probably wouldn’t be dressing up because I’m so stressed with schoolwork.” Gina Lytz, one of Costello’s friends who will be dressing as American fashion designer Betsey Johnson, said being a fashion design major is sometimes a benefit when making Halloween costumes. However, Lytz echoed Costello’s sentiment that creating costumes for Halloween is sometimes a burden given her major. “Sometimes I agree to make a costume for someone and I totally regret it because I have other projects I’m working on, and it can be time-consuming,” Lytz said. Kassi Jackson / The Kent Stater Nonetheless, fashion and Halloween have an overlapping quality, and being able to dress up as Junior fashion design majors Evan Costello (left) and Gina Lytz (right) have their costumes someone or something other than oneself is Costello’s favorite part of the holiday, he said. ready for Halloween. Costello is going as fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld, and Lytz is going as fguadagn@kent.edu fashion designer Betsey Johnson.
Student LARPers spar on Risman Plaza Bruce Walton Senior Reporter Duelers stand just a few feet from their opponent. With stances set, they both grip their weapons tight enough to control but loose enough to shift and maneuver. They circle each other, looking for an opening, trying to predict their next move. At the golden moment, one catches an opportunity to strike and lunges at them, while the other must block and parry to gain advantage. These are some of the first few moments of sparring in the newly-established Kent State Foam Fighting Society. The club is an organization for Live-Action-Role-Play, or LARP. The sport they usually play is called Dagorhir, a full-contact sport using weapons and fighting styles similar to J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle Earth.
How to play
The sport combines fast-paced, full-contact combat simulation with elements of live-action role playing. The weapons resemble medieval swords, shields, spears, axes and other weapons made from soft foam layers bonded to a rigid core. The combat involves contestants swing-
ing their weapons at one another. To damage the opponent, the contestant must be able to hit their torso, legs and sometimes the feet, but never from the neck up. In addition to the weapons, “garb” is usually required, which are described by dagorhir.com as “a tunic, shirt, dress or vest of crotch length or longer.”
Origins of the Foam Fighting Society
Freshman accounting major Todd Stipe said he’s been practicing this sport for about 18 years, and he said he thinks he’s been doing well. The idea to start the organization originated when he and a few others from the local LARP community decided to make a group on campus. “The reason I came about doing this is to one, grow the sport and two, it helps teach people respect for other people no matter what gender they are, what color they are, what nationality,” Stipe said. “Because when you pick up a foam sword it doesn’t matter what the other person looks like, you’re both there to win.” With some exceptions of officer business meetings, almost every direction the group will be determined by every member.
Role-playing
Although LARPing has a lot of action, the other half of roleplaying is optional. As
Bruce Walton / The Kent Stater Graduate pure mathematics major Ian Hogan and senior integrated social studies major Nathan Kren duel on Risman Plaza on Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2015.
described, LARP society usually centers around J.R.R. Tolkien’s fantasy Middle Earth, and many in the community enjoy LARPing for living out their fantasies as another warrior. Elizabeth Whetstone, a junior computer science major and historian for the Foam Fighting Society, has been practicing Dagorhir for a little more than a month. She joined after seeing people practicing on campus before and decided to help and said she loves roleplaying the most. “I think it’s a great community, there’s a lot of people. It is a great workout, it’s a lot of fun to fight but I like the role-play aspect.” Whetstone usually plays a character named Bahyak, a half-elf/half-dragon pirate where she said she has a lot of fun playing the part of a different character. “You can do anything from just having a first name to having entire backstories. You can have places you’re from, places you’ve gone to,” Whetstone said. “I like the idea of getting to create a character and getting to drop into that persona and be a part of the idea of that world.” She’s also seen other role-players through different community events of orcs, elves, dwarves, etc. The structure of roleplaying in LARPing, she said, has a very loose idea for just acting on the spot as your own character.
Demonstrations
The Foam Fighting Society has been practicing on the student green around noon on
Wednesdays and Fridays. Nathaniel Hedington, junior anthropology major, first started demonstrating on the student green with Dagorhir to promote his own LARP group, Nardu N’Azul, which is translated in Elven to “Warriors of the East.” Stipe said he had the idea to demonstrate since last year, and with both of their goals aligned, they formed the Foam Fight Society to demonstrate as a campus club. Stipe said it’s been bringing a lot of needed attention for new recruits. Stipe said members have been joining every week and he’s glad to have them.
Goals and the future
Because of the democratic structure the Foam Fighting Society has, Stipe said he can’t really say what will come next for the organization, since it all depends on what most members want. He does have ideas for the club to attend or host their own LARPing events, as well as get the name out for the club and find an indoor space to spar during bad weather. Stipe has already wanted to help members connect with other local LARP organizations like Nardu N’Azul, Amtgard and Nero. “I have no expectations for (The Foam Fighting Society),” he said. “I just hope to enlighten people to its existence and give a way for people to have fun and relieve stress.” bwalton4@kent.edu
Wednesday, October 21, 2015 | Page 5
The Kent Stater
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Build your resume! Young Explorers Aurora and Twinsburg are looking for part-time and full-time teachers. 330-562-5588 Send resume to lissette@youngexplorerschildcare.com Kent Area: Part Time Early evening Office Cleaning Positions Available 330-608-4813 BELLACINO’S PIZZA AND GRINDERS Looking for kitchen help, must be available on weekends, close to campus, free break food. Starting pay $9.50-$11.00/hr based on experience. Apply at Bellacino’s 3657 Fishcreek Rd. Stow, OH 44224. 330-678-3000 Servers and bartenders needed at Hudson’s Restaurant, an award-winning casual dining restaurant. Email resume to apply@ 3foodies.com, 80 N. Main St. Hudson, 330-650-1955.
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By Nancy Black
Today’s Birthday (10/21/15) Think about what you want for yourself and the world this year. Make long-term plans, and set wheels in motion. Speak out. Grow your audiences for results. Professional opportunities over spring lead to personal development. Sort, organize and prepare for an autumn work surge. Involve your heart. To get the advantage, check the day’s rating: 10 is the easiest day, 0 the most challenging.
Taurus (April 20-May 20) Today is a 9. Prepare for inspections. Career opportunities arise today and tomorrow, and someone important is watching your work. This phase is good for decisions. Accept more responsibility and gain authority. You can do this. Draw upon hidden resources. Gemini (May 21-June 20) Today is an 8. Chart your itinerary. Travel compels, but could get complex today and tomorrow. Plan for the future. Budget to make reservations and buy tickets. Communication flows. Investigate possibilities. Don’t rely on an unstable source. Keep your own score. Cancer (June 21-July 22) Today is an 8. Focus on work and study priorities. Get strategic with your time, rather than moving impulsively. Use brains instead of brawn. Study the secret system. Keep your wits about you. Ask for more and get it.
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Aries (March 21-April 19) Today is a 9. Pass along what you’re learning. Friends are a big help over the next few days. Celebrate your accomplishments together. It pays to recycle. You’re exceptionally quick and charming now. Team projects go well. Cooperate and collaborate.
BLISS
Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) Today is a 9. A project is coming straight at you. Let a strong leader take charge. Listen and learn. Line up recruits to help. Someone is pleased to share the load. It could get romantic. Share your thoughts and dreams. Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) Today is a 9. Get a lot done today and tomorrow. Work matters are on the front burner now. Do the homework. Devise a travel plan with a partner or friend. Handle details. Rely on someone you can trust. Venture father. Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) Today is an 8. Romance blossoms for the next few days, but there may be complications. Friends help you understand. Enjoy the game, without expensive risks. Relax, and talk about what you would love to do. Enjoy time with loved ones. Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) Today is an 8. The gentle approach works best now. Nurture your home and family over the next few days. Friends help find solutions. Find clever ways to re-purpose unwanted stuff. You can get what you need without spending much.
Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) Today is an 8. Your powers of concentration and creativity flower today and tomorrow. Use this opportunity to discuss plans. Study, research and present your discoveries. Share ideas for solutions. Fuss with details. Don’t get your hopes up. Edit to suit. Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Today is a 7. There’s money coming in, and you can afford to invest some at home. Beauty need not be the most expensive choice. Consult a friend whose expertise comes in useful. The action is behind the scenes. Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) Today is a 9. You’re in the groove today and tomorrow. Heart and mind are in sync. You’re making money, and growing stronger. Humbly keep things simple. Read poetry for inspiration. Beautify your presentation. Buy yourself a treat. Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) Today is a 7. Slow down and contemplate your next move. Private introspection bears fruit today and tomorrow. Dream about a positive change you’d like. Imagine how it could be. Balance intense concentration with relaxation. The money’s available. Use your talents.
DOT GAME
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Page 6 | Wednesday, October 21, 2015
The Kent Stater
Sports
Head to KentWired.com for the in-depth version of the wrestling season preview
SPORTS EDITOR: IAN FLICKINGER // IFLICKIN@KENT.EDU
Wrestling looks for breakout season Dan Armelli Sports Reporter From 2005 to 2013, the Kent State wrestling team had eight consecutive years of either going undefeated or having one loss in the Mid-American Conference. Things changed when Missouri, Northern Iowa, and Old Dominion joined the MAC for 2013-2014. The last two years the Flashes have gone 4-4 in the MAC, with overall records below .500. Kent State was ranked sixth in the preseason MAC polls this season. Despite what from the outside seems to be a dip in performance, coach Jim Andrassy says his team has performed well within the conference. “I think we’ve been really, really competitive within the MAC schools,” Andrassy said. “And when I say ‘really competitive’ we won it two years and last year we were first and second within the core MAC teams. So to say we’re in the middle of the pack, we are, but our hope is to get out of that area.” Andrassy noted the new schools budgets are what makes it extra tough to stay atop the MAC. “It makes it very challenging for us to make that next step,” he said. “People don’t want to hear about budgets and this and that, but the bottom line is that when you have facilities and you have budgets and you’re trying to compete with other schools, it makes it much more difficult for schools like us.” The Flashes have what seems to be a healthy mix of successful upperclassmen and underclassmen looking to make an impact this season. Fifth-year senior Ian Miller, senior Mack McGuire, junior Mimmo Lytle and senior Mike DePalma top off the veteran group for Kent State. Miller, a two-time All-American, lit up when talking about the new wrestlers. “The incoming freshmen, they’re giving me fits right now,” Miller said. “I’m trying to figure out how to wrestle those guys. It’s good for me; I need it. I love how they push me.” Sophomore Anthony Tutolo (125-pound weight class) says the older wrestlers have been good at leading by example. “Coming in as a freshman last year, I had a very good look at how things ran and how
things worked,” Tutolo said. “It was really easy to grasp that concept and work hard and figure out how to get better: doing extra things and working out extra. Now it’s our turn to carry it on, break into that lineup, help them get better and improve as a team.” Andrassy said the younger wrestlers have shown great intensity. “It’s a good group of kids,” Andrassy said. “I think there’s good leadership among the younger guys, which is always great to see. It’s just one of those things where you can tell they come in and they want to get better.” The Flashes will hold their intrasquad wrestle-offs 5 p.m. on Saturday at the M.A.C. Annex. Andrassy said the event does a few key things for him and his wrestlers. “One, you need to find out who your number one guy is,” Andrassy said. “Not necessarily your best guy, but who your number one guy is right now for the first duals, which we have the following week. But also it gets our guys used to making weight. It gets the to weigh in, it gets them in a singlet wrestling outside of this room in a public environment, which is much different than (the wrestling) room.” Andrassy noted that there are some wrestlers that wrestle great in the wrestling room, but poor in front of the public and vice versa. “I have a few guys that wrestle horrible in this room that wrestle really well out in the public, which is a great thing, because you want to be able to see it out in a match setting," he said. "You have a few weight classes where, it could be person ‘A’ or person ‘B’ and going in to make it fair for them, you have got to find out who that person is going into that first week. After that, you can start evaluating who your best guys are after you see them in public and who the best guy is.” Andrassy acknowledges that it isn’t always easy to choose who will be in the lineup at the beginning of the year. “Sometimes who I think the best guy is isn’t always going to come out that way after wrestle-offs. Ultimately, I’m the head wrestling coach; I make hard decisions. Sometimes you have to make decisions that aren’t apparent outside that are apparent in the wrestling room.” darmell1@kent.edu
The Kent Stater/ Erin McLaughlin Mack McGuire tries to escape the hold of Northern Illinois’ Jordan Northrup during their meet in the M.A.C. Center on Friday, Feb. 13, 2015.
Women’s golf wins Betsy Rawls Longhorn Invitational Chris Yamnitsky Sports Reporter The Kent State women’s golf team ended its fall season on a high note with its third straight tournament win. The Flashes took first place at the Betsy Rawls Longhorn Invitational with a 5-under-par 859 score. The team shot 4-underpar on the day. “We were just talking, saying that winning never gets old. It was good to see them come off those two wins and then do what they did this week,” said head coach Greg Robertson. “The focus was there in practice, and then when we got to the tournament they turned it on. They played like we did in the last two tournaments.” Number 17-ranked Taylor Kim led the Flashes the whole tournament, and finished tied for second place at 4-under-par with a third round score of 1-under-par 71. “She played real solid again. She’s hitting the ball well, and she’s continuing to putt well and making a lot of good putts out there,” Robertson said. “But, overall, she’s played very solid and steady. It’s nice when you have a player like that too because it seems then the rest of the team just kind of follows suit.” No. 17-ranked senior Josée Doyon ended in fifth place at 1-under-par with a third round
score of 1-under-par 71. No. 85-ranked senior Amira Alexander ended the tournament in 17 place at 3-over-par with a third round score of even par 72. No. 44-ranked junior Wad Phaewchimplee finished tied for 28 place at 7-overpar with a third round score of 4-over-par 76, No. 92-ranked freshman Michaela Finn ended the tournament tied for 31 place at 8-over-par with a third round score of 2-under-par 70. “We talked after the first tournament, and we had, by far, the worst round of the year the second round of that tournament in Minnesota. But, looking back, I see it as a blessing in disguise,” Robertson said. “We’ve really been talking about attitude, finishing tournaments, finishing rounds, and I think the players really bought into it. What’s I’ve been impressed with, especially in our returners, is how they’ve come into the last round playing aggressive, and really playing their best golf. Today I think we came in the only team under par, and we’ve done that the past three tournaments.” The Flashes will play again until the MidAmerican Match Play Challenge on Feb. 8 and 9. “There will be a little bit of a break. Now that the seasons over, they can just take some time off and focus on school work,” Robertson said. “But we’ll stay going and go pretty hard in the weight room.” cyamnits@kent.edu