The Kent Stater - November 6, 2017 by The Kent Stater

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THE INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER | MONDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2017

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Faculty, staff plan to include trans health care

Expert: Stink bugs here to stay in Northeast Ohio

Soccer season ends in MAC semifinals

2 The Kent Stater

Monday, November 6, 2017

NEWS

David Crosby visits May 4 Visitors Center Zoe Swartz Room and Board Reporter The rain falls on a dreary Sunday afternoon in Kent. Closer to the back side of campus, situated on top of a hill, stands Taylor Hall. Inside, the May 4 Visitors Center shows life for a special guest who quietly stands against the middle pillar of the room to watch the movie by the center. The gunshots, screams and narrating voice ring from the movie, but only silence comes from the guest who watches. Once the movie finishes, the guest makes his way out into the hallway and pauses in silence. After a moment, he resumes talking with the film crew that follows behind. David Crosby, an American singersongwriter and musician, makes his way back through the museum again. Crosby stops and points to a picture of people smiling displayed in the museum.

“I like that picture of those happy people,” Crosby said. “That’s what music does.” Crosby came to the May 4 Visitors Center Sunday as a minor detour from his 2017 David Crosby and Friends Sky Trails Tour, as well as part of a documentary being filmed about him. When filming was done in the museum for the documentary, Crosby sat down with student media and Eric Mansfield, the executive director of University Media Relations, to talk. Crosby’s relationship with May 4 stems from 1970 when him and his then-band, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young wrote a protest song about the shootings called ‘Ohio.’ “We were in a house in California. I heard about (the shootings) on the radio and I couldn’t believe it,” Crosby recalls. “I watched it hit Neil (Young). It hit him hard. And I watched him write ‘Ohio’ right there. I remember calling Nash like, ‘Get a studio right now,’ and we recorded it. We

David Crosby, an American singer who was part of the group Crosby, Stills & Nash and who wrote the song “Ohio” in response to the May 4, 1970, shooting, experiences Kent State’s May 4 Visitors Center Sunday. Kassi Jackson / Kent State University

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EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Lydia Taylor ltaylo49@kent.edu DIGITAL DIRECTOR Ray Padilla rpadill2@kent.edu MANAGING EDITOR Jenna Kuczkowski jkuczkow@kent.edu ENTERPRISE EDITOR Andrew Keiper akeiper@kent.edu

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got it out right away.” David Crosby’s autograph sits on a vinyl record cover inscribed to Laura Davis, ‘Ohio’ went to 14 on the co-founder of the May 4 Visitors Center Sunday. Crosby was on campus filming for a documentary before performing that evening at the Kent Stage. the U.S. Billboard Hot Kassi Jackson / Kent State University 100 charts, and was even banned on some radio stations because the challenge it had on Nixon’s presidency at the time, a fact that surprised Crosby. However, Crosby said even after all the time, he still feels the same playing it. “As soon as you hit the first opening notes, I’m gone,” he said. “I’m in it. It comes right back. I’m screaming ‘Four why?’” Before the last interview was done, After speaking with student media, Crosby Mansfield paused for a moment as was taken upstairs in Taylor Hall to continue Crosby talked and mentioned asking him filming for the documentary. While being in questions earlier. a serious setting, Crosby met everybody with “He’s so honest,” Mansfield said. “He’s genuine humor. not like other famous people who try and Getting ready, he would joke, “I’m ready hide things. He’s really honest, you know? for my closeup!” only to regain his stature He’s like, ‘I’m pissed!’ That means so much.” for the interview, putting on a serious face Outside, the rain had stopped long enough and honest tone. for Crosby, Davis and the film crew to explore Crosby shared stories of Woodstock, the dedicated bench and four pillars that the cost of freedom, his experience with represent the students that were killed. protesting and his appreciation for bravery From there, they went to the parking lot of those who do it and how today’s political and visited the sites of the memorial for each climate reminds him so much of the 1970s. student that was killed on the ground. He also mentioned the woman who led With camera crews rolling, Crosby placed him through the museum, Laura Davis, the a single stone on Jeffrey Glenn Miller’s co-founder of the May 4 Visitors Center and memorial, the student killed closest to the a witness to the shootings that took place on National Guardsmen that day. May 4, 1970. Crosby left quietly in time for soundcheck “I thanked him for recording ‘Ohio’ for his sold-out concert that night at the Kent because it was very difficult," Davis said. Stage, but said he couldn’t think of a word "I was a freshman student here and it was that summed up all of his thoughts today. difficult to be surrounded by so many “I can’t do one word,” Crosby said. negative voices. When that song came out, it “The single most important factor here was a beacon of truth.” was courage. So, if you want one word, it’s Davis said out of all the misinformation courage. These people were brave. They were that came out at the time, the song was very brave, and they got shot to death for it. something she could trust. They’re still inspiring us, though. To this “It took the side of the protestors," Davis day, when I walk into a demonstration and said. "There was so much horribleness face cops, I think of these people.” directed toward students but that song. That’s what I told him today." Contact Zoe Swartz at zswartz@kent.edu.

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KSU health insurance to offer transgender coverage for faculty MJ Eckhouse Fusion Magazine Editor Kent State health insurance plans will now cover transition-related health care services, according to an announcement posted Sunday on social media by Spectrum, the university’s LGBTQ faculty and staff group. The news came from an email from F. Jack Witt III, Kent State’s vice president for human resources. Amanda Leu, the diversity coordinator for the College of Communication and Information who runs Spectrum’s Facebook page, commended the decision. She was part of a committee of faculty and staff members who discussed the policy improvements Amanda Leu. with university Kent State University administrators. “This has been an ongoing process for a few years, and we are very excited to finally have trans-inclusive health care policies at the university,” Leu wrote in an email to Fusion. Leu said the committee has yet to see the specific details of the policy change. “However, any trans-inclusive policy changes are a huge step in the right direction,” Leu said. “Previously, there were specific exclusions listed in the faculty (and) staff health care policies that said that any procedures related to ‘transsexualism’ were not covered under any of the health care plan options.” Leu said a subcommittee of Spectrum members researched various policies and other information about trans health care. They sought input from contacts at other local Ohio universities that have already implemented trans-inclusive health insurance policies.

Leu said personal stories from faculty and staff members about accessing trans health care “really helped put things into perspective for the administration.” Leu has had difficulty getting top surgery because of the lack of trans health covaerage in the university’s plan. “I tried a few different things, but I was denied every time,” Leu said. “I am very excited to take advantage of the new coverage at the beginning of the year, and again, I am really looking forward to seeing the actual policies once they are released.” Erica Pelz, another member of the committee who advocated for the health care policy, agreed. Pelz, the facilities mechanical systems specialist for laboratories, said she believes putting a human face to the issue helped demonstrate its importance. “I think what really got the ball rolling was that I was willing to stand up and be counted, to say, ‘Look, this (lack of coverage) affects real people in a negative way, and I’m one of them,’” Pelz said. Although Pelz may personally benefit from the health care access, she said her motivation was to give back to the trans community and to help others. “When I started this, I didn’t think this was going to be something that would really even help me,” Pelz said. “That wasn’t my intention. It may, but my concern was more of the people who come after me. I want them to have access to better care than I did. I want them to have access to care earlier than I did.” On Friday, when Pelz received the news, she was overjoyed. “I was in (the Integrated Science Building) and I let out a ‘woohoo’ that echoed down the hallway,” she said. “I hope I didn’t disturb anybody’s class but I was just so, so overwhelmingly happy that it had happened.” For more LGBTQ news and information, visit ohiofusion.com.

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Erica Pelz. Julia Ryan / Fusion Magazine

but my concern was more of the people who come after me. I want them to have access to better care than I did. I want them to have access to care earlier than I did.” ...

– Erica Pelz

Facilities Mechanical Systems Specialist

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Monday, November 6, 2017

Kent State Museum, College of the Arts channel the '80s in latest exhibit

Students pose for a picture at the '80s-themed party held in Rockwell Hall Friday. Chris Spegal / The Kent Stater

Ella Abbott Fashion Reporter Guests of the Kent State University Museum partied like it was 1985 on Friday night. The museum, in collaboration with the College of the Arts, held an '80s-themed party in the Rockwell Hall Atrium where guests were encouraged to eat, drink, dance and browse the museum. The theme for the night was chosen based on the “The 1980s: An Age of Excess” exhibit, which the museum will hold until early next year. Harriet McLeod, an associate professor in the fashion design and merchandising department, couldn’t stop dancing to the music of the decade even as she talked about the event. "I wanted to come because they always have great exhibitions and tonight they’re

An '80s display, part of an exhibit in the Kent State University Museum, in Rockwell Hall Friday. Chris Spegal / The Kent Stater

pairing with the '80s exhibition that they have by having a party,” McLeod said. Lindsay Martin, the marketing assistant in the College of the Arts, planned the party and said she was pleased with turnout for the evening. “Whoever came is really into the spirit and is dressing the part,” Martin said. “I’m very glad the older crowd came, too, but I’m hoping next time we get some more students involved.” While the “Awesome '80s Dance Party” is the first time the museum has done a mixer event, Martin is optimistic that it won’t be the last time. “I know next semester we’re going to try and do a Katharine Hepburn one,” Martin said. “So, this is really the first, pivotal trying to integrate the museum for evening hours in a fun event.” "The 1980s: An Age of Excess” exhibit was curated by Jean Druesedow, the director of

the museum, and Victoria Haworth, a former Kent State fashion merchandising student. “I never really thought much about (the '80s) except shoulder pads and sort of a frumpy look, really,” Druesedow said. “But then I got the clothes out for the exhibition and they were really beautiful.” Druesedow and Haworth began by going through storage and pulling things that showed an influence on modern fashion trends. Ultimately, they decided to arrange the items in color groups for the exhibit. The exhibit also features illustrations by Antonio Lopez, who Druesedow described as an important fashion illustrator throughout the '60s, '70s and '80s. Lopez's illustrations were featured at Kent State in 1984 when he visited to teach an illustration workshop in the Fashion School. “He could anticipate what the next

season was going to look like,” Druesedow said. “So, his illustrations were always influential in terms of what designers would do the next season.” Along with snacks and a bar, which featured a “fuzzy navel” as the specialty drink, guests were encouraged to take advantage of the extended hours of the museum to browse the collection. Guests like McLeod turned the open space into a dance floor for the night, enjoying throwback tunes the DJ played, including A-ha’s “Take on Me” and Michael Jackson’s “Thriller.” “Who could not have a good time with this classic music playing in the background, good people to dance with?” McLeod asked. “Reliving great memories. I love it.”

Contact Ella Abbott at dabbott9@kent.edu.

Monday, November 6, 2017

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Kent State's SRVSS director opens up about battle with breast cancer Emily McMahan Student Life Reporter Jennifer O’Connell is in a new chapter of her life, but she wasn’t expecting it to involve breast cancer. The director of Sexual and Relationship Violence Support Services has been receiving treatment since she was diagnosed in January. She is 42. “If I hadn’t gone to the doctor when I had, it could’ve continued to grow,” O'Connell said. Problems began earlier this year when O’Connell had just given birth and was having difficulties with breastfeeding. She said she assumed the worst when she finally decided to talk to her doctor. “I have a couple of different people in my family who have breast cancer,” O’Connell said. “Since none of them are my mother or my sister, it didn’t rise with my OB-GYN doctors.” She was diagnosed with Stage 1A ductal carcinoma in situ, a non-invasive cancer in which abnormal cells are found in the lining of the breast milk duct, as defined by the National Breast Cancer Foundation, Inc.

In O’Connell’s case, seven millimeters were invasive. O’Connell removed her entire left breast through a mastectomy in March. She chose not to do a bilateral mastectomy, the surgical removal of both breasts, and was able to do a reconstruction of the breast she lost. It was followed with 12 chemotherapy treatments over the summer. The hardest part for O'Connell was watching her daughter experience the battle alongside her, she said. “She got sick of me saying, ‘Honey, I just don’t feel good. Let me rest,” she said about her 10-year-old daughter. “She broke down and said to me, ‘What did you do to cause this? Did you do something wrong?’” According to breastcancer. org, in the U.S., about one in eight women will develop breast cancer during the course of their lifetime. A woman’s chances of developing breast cancer nearly doubles if a firstdegree relative is diagnosed. O’Connell said early detection may have saved her life, even though she wasn’t educated about it when she was younger. “Nobody was really telling

me, ‘You should probably get a baseline mammogram at an earlier age because both my grandmother and my aunt had breast cancer in their 40s,’” she said. Despite difficult treatment, O’Connell’s work ethic has continued to impress her peers. She fulfills two roles at Kent State as both the director and a worker for SRVSS. In her role, she provides oversight of Kent State's prevention and awareness initiative regarding sexual violence. Sven Rundman, the project coordinator of SRVSS and co-worker of O’Connell, said she is a wonder woman. “She’s a rock star,” Rundman said. “Sometimes I don’t know how she does what she does.” O’Connell said she continues her battle with the disease with the support of her partner, two daughters and her son. She currently has infusions performed once every three weeks, and she will need to continue this treatment for one full year. She is currently in remission. “I’m through the hard part,” O’Connell said.

Jennifer O'Connell, the director of Sexual and Relationship Violence Support Services at Kent State, poses for a portrait outside the Williamson House Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2017. Samantha Karam / The Kent Stater

“

She’s a rock star. Sometimes I don’t know how she does what she does.” - Sven Rundman Project coordinator of SRVSS

Contact Emily McMahan at emcmaha1@kent.edu.

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'Little Women' musical opens to nearly sold-out crowd Kassandra Kaczmarek Arts and Enterntainment Reporter Kent State’s E. Turner Stump Theatre transformed into the Civil War era Friday, as nearly 500 people came to witness the opening night of the musical “Little Women.” “This play is super special to me because it is about four sisters," said Courtney Nelson, a junior theater studies major, who played Beth March. "I am actually the oldest of four sisters so I can relate. I love what it entails and it makes me appreciate it even more." Based off the novel by Louisa May Alcott, the play tells the story of the four March sisters, each with their own distinctive personalities — Jo, Amy, Meg and Beth. The coming-of-age story shows how the girls embark on the journey of self-discovery, hope, heartache and love.

“I haven’t connected to a piece as much as this one," said Elizabeth Woodard, a senior theater studies major, who played Meg March. "I really wanted to be a part of it; it has stuck with me my whole life since I read it. I am happy to be able to help bring it to life." Act I starts off with the four girls who live with their mother and their struggle to maintain the household while their father is away fighting in the Civil War. The lead character, Jo March, hoped to become a published writer and was determined to achieve her dream. “It was really cool to see (the story) all come to life,” said Mikaela Ray, a sophomore theater studies major. “Jo balanced the feminine side and the fiery, passionate side very well.” The play runs through Nov. 12. Contact Kassandra Kaczmarek at kkaczma3@kent.edu.

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Junior theater studies major Antonio Brown plays Laurie Laurence, and senior theater studies major Rebecca Rand plays Jo March in "Little Women" in the E. Turner Stump Theatre Friday. Jon Sepchinski / The Kent Stater

I really wanted to be a part of it; it has stuck with me my whole life since I read it. I am happy to be able to help bring it to life.” – Elizabeth Woodard Senior theatre studies major

Hallie Walker, a sophomore theater studies major, plays as the Troll, and she imitates Rebecca Rand, who plays Jo March, in the “Little Women” musical Friday. The show runs through Nov. 12. Jon Sepchinski / The Kent Stater

Monday, November 6, 2017

Stink bugs increase due to optimal environmental conditions Logan Lutton Science Reporter Brown marmorated stink bugs, common, shield-shaped pests, are thriving this year due to ideal environmental conditions, which has led to an increase in the Northeast Ohio region. “This year, they are heavier than they have been in years past,” said Ryan Smith, a pest control specialist from J.C. Ehrlich who works on Kent State grounds. “This is mostly due to the mild winter we’ve had and the early spring, and because of this, they have had the possibility of having an extra generation.” This “extra generation” means they now have a second population in addition to the one that was already active. Amplifying the situation, stink bugs do not have any natural predators in North America. They are an invasive species that entered the United States through East Asian shipping containers in the Philadelphia area. “They were found in Pennsylvania in 1998,” Smith said. “In 2009, they were found in Ohio, and then in 2011, their population increased by 60 percent.”

When it comes to management, there are some options. “There have been talks of releasing a wasp species that is parasitic strictly to stink bugs,” Smith said. “Obviously there are some implications, since the wasps also have no natural predators. They could get rid of the stink bug problem, but if they find another food source, they would not naturally die off.” For everyday treatment on campus, less drastic measures are taken. Smith encourages exclusion first, which keeps the bugs out without using chemicals. Residents are advised to keep their screens closed and their doors shut. If this does not work, pesticides are used. “One of the biggest things that I see when I’m going into dorm rooms is open windows,” Smith said. “Just by making sure, at least, the screen is closed would reduce about 50 percent of our calls.” As the temperature starts to drop, residents could see more appear inside their rooms. Ferenc de Szalay, an associate professor of biological sciences, put the arrival of stink

bugs into perspective. “They’re just trying to find a quiet spot to survive the winter months,” de Szalay said. “They’re not going to cause any damage to the structure or the people. They’re really classified as more of a nuisance than a danger.” Elizabeth Ober, a sophomore visual communication design major, lives in Olson Hall. She has had issues with stink bugs in the past. “I’m not afraid of them, I just hate them,” Ober said. “They’re awful. They’re absolutely awful, and I think that they could be completely removed from our environment, and it wouldn’t be affected in any way.” One factor that makes them unpleasant is their smell. However, when killed, more will not arrive. “In fact, that’s kind of counterintuitive,” de Szalay said. “You think if you kill one, they’d release an anti-aggregation pheromone. Certainly by killing one, you’re not going to attract more.” Contact Logan at llutton@kent.edu.

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COVER

Monday, November 6, 2017

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-SMITH REBOUNDS, MERISSA BARBER finds stability on the court Henry Palattella Sports Reporter It was a hazy afternoon in June 2007 when Merissa Barber-Smith’s mother sat her four children down in the living room of their house on the South Side of Chicago. “Kids,” she told them, “we’re going to be moving to Madison.” “What?” Merissa asked, stunned. While Chicago had its rough parts, Merissa hadn’t known anywhere else in her 11 years. “What about my friends? What about my school?” she asked. But, Anita Barber didn’t budge. She told them they would begin their life there without her. They’d stay with their grandmother for a few months while Anita stayed in Chicago to tie up the loose ends of their life. “I don’t want to move,” Merissa said one last time. But three weeks later, the family sat in their car on the three-hour ride to Madison, Wisconsin. Merissa thought about her friends at school, the basketball team they had tried to start and the hours she spent with her sister, Macrista, in the room they shared. But she also remembered the night police officers showed up, shouting at her mom, demanding to know where her dad was. On the afternoon they drove to Madison, he was sitting a jail cell. Their grandmother’s place was a onebedroom apartment in a senior citizens’ building. Merissa slept on the couch while everyone else slept on the floor in blankets and pillows. They ate what their grandmother cooked. They watched the soap operas their grandmother watched. They rarely saw a person younger than 50. During the day, their grandmother sent them to a park half a mile away, and for most of the day, the park was their babysitter. Her brothers and sister played on the slides and jungle gym. But Merissa — already 5-foot-9 at 11 years old — was too tall for most parts of the playground. She often sat on the swings, rocking back and forth, somehow at ease. But then she’d jump off and head back to a place she didn’t want to be and a life she didn’t understand. In August, Anita joined them. There was no way she’d fit in the apartment too. So, the family packed up their things and moved to a homeless shelter in Madison. For three weeks, all five lived in a dormstyle room, jammed with beds and their possessions. On school mornings, they bumped each other as they rushed to join the rest of the

“shelter kids” on the bus headed to Akira Toki Middle School. But for Merissa, school was anything but fun. Her height meant that wherever she went, eyes followed. Talk followed, too. “You look like a man,” kids would say, sometimes behind her back, sometimes to her face. It was worse at lunch, where she could never find a place to sit. Most days she ate in the bathroom. Sometimes she ate in the office of Stephen Harrison, the school psychiatrist. “How’s your day going, Merissa?” he’d ask. Often, it was bad. One day, Harrison handed her a card with a phone number scribbled on it. “I want you to have this,” he said. It was the number for Roger Blue, who coached a local AAU basketball team, the Spartans. Not really thinking about it, Merissa told him, “I’ll give it to my mom.” That night Anita called coach Blue from the three-room trailer where the family now lived. A few days later, Merissa climbed into the car of one of her teammate’s parents. They were halfway to practice when she realized she forgot her green and black Nike hightops. “It’s OK,” she told the driver. “I’ll just wear my boots.” The driver turned around, and they went back for the shoes. Coach Blue figured, incorrectly, Merissa had played basketball before because of her height. Her shots clanked off the rim, and she knew more about the X’s and O’s of math than of a playbook. But she did hustle. And she did have her height. Merissa had earned a spot on the Spartans’ “B” team. She began to learn the nuances of basketball. Her layups began to find the hoop more often than the rim. The ball stayed in her hand on the dribble more than on the floor. Merissa’s play now left her opponent more disoriented than herself. But she never felt quite like she belonged. When her teammates hung out after games, Merissa wasn’t invited. Some days, she didn’t even want to go to practice. One weekend, Merissa told her mom she wanted to skip a tournament to work her job selling newspaper subscriptions. “No,” Anita said. “You need to go. God is telling me you need to go.” This time things were different. When Merissa got in the game, no one could contend with her height. She grabbed nearly every rebound and passed it to a point guard, Ebony, who couldn’t miss. “Awesome, Merissa!” her teammates shouted from the bench.

But once she got came back to basketball, life was better. When the first letter came from a college coach, she put it on the refrigerator. Soon, there had been an influx of those letters. Merissa’s list narrowed. Then one day. the phone rang. “Hi, Merissa,” the voice on the other end of the line said. “I’m Danielle O’Banion, the women’s basketball coach at Kent State. I think that you’d be a great fit here.” At this point, Kent State wasn’t a top choice; Merissa wanted to stay closer to home, perhaps at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. “I think you’d be perfect here,” O’Banion reiterated. That summer, two of her AAU coaches drove her to Kent. “Wow,” Merissa said as she first stepped out of the car. The visit was her first college experience. O’Banion took her to the M.A.C. Center, the Student Center and other facilities for student athletes. Merissa knew she was hooked when she walked through the M.A.C Center halls, adorned with pictures of famous Kent State alumni. She committed to Kent State that day, hoping to one day see herself among those pictures. In the team’s first practice, O’Banion called out, “Hey Riss, come over here.”

By the end of the game, Merissa had more than 20 rebounds. Her teammates swarmed her, offering hugs and high-fives. Merissa’s basketball skills became more refined through her time with the Spartans, and she was playing on the varsity team halfway through freshman year. It was about that time her dad, Fredrick Smith, came back into her life after five years in jail. It was for the better. The 6-foot-2-inch Smith helped Merissa with her post game, and soon, she was beating him one on one. He also helped Anita and the family around the house. But Monday, Jan. 19, 2015, Merissa woke in the middle of the night to screaming. She stumbled into the living room just as her brother punched a wall. “He’s gone,” Macrista said between sobs. “He’s gone.” Her father was dead, killed in a drunkdriving accident. At the funeral a few days later, she sat in the front, surrounded by her team and family. Macrista gave a moving speech, but Merissa just stared straight ahead, waiting for tears that couldn’t come. Her mom kept her home from school and practice for two weeks. Merissa chafed, but her mom wouldn’t relent.

Merissa, whose nickname has been Riss throughout high school, ran to the coach. But she instead found herself looking at junior guard Larissa Lurken, whose nickname was also Riss. So Merissa became “Mer.” She didn’t like the nickname at first, but that soon became the least of her problems. Almost every day, O’Banion’s whistle stopped practice. That meant someone had done something wrong, and the team was going to run. Often the whistle blew because of Merissa, who was struggling to figure out the college game. Merissa grew to hate that whistle. She played only 69 minutes that season, and the team went 6-23. The mood in the locker room was dismal. “Coach has been here four years and hasn’t won anything,” she would hear her teammates say. “She’ll be gone by the end of the year.” O’Banion was. Shortly after the season, she called the team into a meeting and told them her contract hadn’t been renewed. For more than one month, coaching candidates paraded before the team. Finally, Athletic Director Joel Nielsen told them the new coach was an assistant from Indiana University named Todd Starkey. When he first met the team after being named coach, he told them, “We’re doing

tryouts again.” He told them about how the culture would change, and how things would be different. And they were. When Merissa messed up in a drill and the whistle blew, she expected to take her place on the baseline with the rest of her team for sprints. Instead, Starkey walked onto the court and showed her what she had done wrong and what she could do to correct it. Starkey and the team won six games in their non-conference schedule — as many as they had won the entire previous season. But Merissa still wasn’t playing much. She wanted to make an impact. Finally, at Western Michigan in January 2017, she got her chance. The Flashes were down 43-29 with 6:35 left in the third quarter when Merissa checked in. On her first play, she scored and was fouled. Six possessions later, she had pulled down two offensive rebounds. In the fourth quarter, she grabbed an offensive rebound and made a foul shot to tie the game at 55. Two minutes later, she grabbed an offensive rebound and got the ball to Lurken, who knocked down two free throws to give the Flashes a five-point lead. Merissa had 10 rebounds in the second half of the 71-67 victory. “We couldn’t have done this without you,” her teammates told her as they hugged her after the game. “Where’d this come from?” Starkey would say the team wouldn’t have won at least four games without Merissa’s play off the bench. The team’s last game was a 67-60 loss to Michigan in the Women's National Invitation Tournament, but Merissa had 13 rebounds and eight points against a team with an all-Big Ten center. After the season, Merissa shared the team’s “most improved” award. This fall, Merissa has worked to become a leader. At practice, she’s quick to call out defensive assignments to her teammates as well as offer words of praise to teammates after a good drill. Her time running with O’Banion has helped too. She can let her teammates know what they did wrong in a way she wishes had been used with her. Off the court, life has come together. She’s found a major that she loves in social work. She lives with teammate Naddiyah Cross, whose outgoing yin complements Merissa’s quieter yang. And most importantly, she’s found her place. She’s there for the freshmen when they need it, even if she’s sometimes a little jealous of their joining a winning team compared to her awful first season. And for the first time in a season, Merissa has what she’s always wanted: stability.

Contact Henry Palattella at hpalatte@kent.edu. Portrait photos taken by Austin Mariasy. Merissa Barber-Smith pushes forward for a jumpshot against University of Miami on Feb. 1, 2017 Jana Life / The Kent Stater

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COVER

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10 The Kent Stater

Monday, November 6, 2017

SPORTS

Bowling Green players celebrate their second goal scored against Kent State during the MAC Tournament semifinals Friday. McKenna Corson / The Kent Stater

Soccer season ends with disappointing loss to BGSU in MAC Tournament semifinal Cameron Hoover Sports Reporter Senior forward Hayden Pascoe fought back tears as she hugged her teammates after her last game she’d ever play in a Kent State uniform. The Flashes lost the Mid-American Conference Tournament semifinals to Bowling Green, 2-1. Pascoe’s header off a cross from Kristen Brots in the 80th minute gave the team a chance, but the Flashes couldn’t score on their final shot of the game five minutes later. “I really thought, when we scored, we were going to get another one, just because the momentum was good for us,” Pascoe said. “I know our team can fight for a whole 90 minutes, and we did until that buzzer beeped.” Bowling Green took a 2-0 lead in the 71st minute after a free kick slipped through Kent State goalkeeper Ashleah McDonald’s hands.

“They created some opportunities that they finished,” coach Rob Marinaro said. “I felt that we had the majority of the game, but we just couldn’t crack their defense today. They battled very hard, so you’ve got to give a lot of credit to Bowling Green.” The Flashes outshot Bowling Green 15-9, and they were fouled seven times to the Falcons’ 23. Bowling Green also beat Kent State, 3-1, on Oct. 22. Of the nine goals the Flashes allowed during conference play, five were scored by the Falcons. “I thought we performed a whole lot better this time around,” Marinaro said. “We’ve got to give tons of credit to our team for battling back after going down and still showing the championship mentality of fighting and not quitting until the very end. That’s something I’m extremely proud of.” Kent State entered the tournament as the No. 1 seed and won the conference tournament last season.

“Losing is not something we expect or enjoy,” Marinaro said. “I think that’s why it hurts so much. The seniors have left us with an expectation to be a championship-caliber team. It’s something we’ll continue to build on. Our senior class has led us on and off the field with class and the dignity that studentathletes should carry themselves with.” Freshman Vital Kats ended the season with the most goals for Kent State with six, and senior midfielder Brots led the team with six assists. Junior defender Paige Culver finished with the most minutes played with 1,930. Six Flashes earned postseason allconference honors. Culver was named defender of the year, and Kats was named the league’s top freshman. Sophomore defender Sierra Henderson-Muschett joined Culver on the All-MAC First Team; seniors Eiben and Brots finished their career on the All-MAC Second Team; and Kats and Isabelle Mihail earned recognition on the

MAC All-Freshman Team. Freshmen scored 16 of the team’s 26 goals this season. “They learn from the experience,” Marinaro said. “This one hurts, and they’re extremely disappointed. Hopefully this motivates them to strive for even more next year.” Pascoe said the Flashes would be back. “They’re going to be absolutely fine with our coaches and the leadership they have,” she said. “The past few years we’ve worked so hard to keep having winning seasons and high expectations for the team. They know what to expect and how hard they need to work.” The Flashes finished the season at 13-6-2, including 9-2-0 in the conference. Bowling Green will move on to play Toledo in the MAC Championship at 1 p.m. Sunday at Dix Stadium.

Contact Cameron Hoover at choove14@kent.edu.

Monday, November 6, 2017

KentWired.com 11

Volleyball suffers close defeat at hands of Bowling Green Taylor Sforzo Sports Reporter

Miami (Ohio) players celebrate after they beat Kent State, 3-2, in the field hockey MAC Tournament championship Saturday. Austin Mariasy / The Kent Stater

Kent State field hockey falls short in MAC Championship against Miami (OH) Henry Palatella Sports Editor For the first time since 2013, Kent State field hockey (9-10, 5-1 Mid-American Conference) will not be representing the Mid-American Conference in the NCAA tournament, as the Flashes fell, 2-1, to the Redhawks (11-8) in overtime Saturday. Junior Paula Portugal scored the game-winner for the Redhawks nine minutes into the overtime period, dribbling into the circle before ripping off a shot. In total, Kent State only managed to record three shots total, but still found themselves with a 1-0 lead at halftime after junior Jessica Apelt scored on

the rebound from a Courtney Weise shot. The Redhawks' offense woke up at the beginning of the second half, as junior Avery Sturm scored on a corner two minutes in. It looked as if the Redhawks had taken the lead three minutes later when a Portugal goal was disallowed after a video review. Miami's defense stepped up the rest of the way, only allowing Kent State to record two shots in the second half, none in overtime. In total, the seniors will end as one of the top classes in Kent State field hockey history, finishing with three MAC championships. Contact Henry Palatella at hpalatte@kent.edu.

With one kill from senior outside hitter Kelsey Bittinger, the Kent State volleyball team tied their match against Bowling Green (15-10, 11-3 Mid-American Conference), 2-2, at the end of the fourth set. The Flashes (5-20, 3-11 MAC) finally got to see a fifth set for only the fourth time this season. Unfortunately, Kent State fell 15-9 in that set, losing to the Falcons 3-2 (18-25, 25-20, 19-25, 25-14, 9-15). "We closed strong in the fourth,” coach Don Gromala said. “Our serve really got them out of rhythm. It was an unfortunate result, but I liked how the team fought and battled tonight." Senior defensive specialist and libero Challen Geraghty matched a career-high with 39 digs during the match. “We changed up our defense and put Challen in a different spot to give her more opportunities to make some plays,” Gromala said. “Both teams knew there was a good libero on the other side and were scheming to avoid her. She played a really smart match tonight. She plays hard and covers a lot of ground.” On top of Geraghty’s 39 digs, Bittinger led with 19 of the team’s 53 kills. Defensively, both teams played a great game. Hitting percentages were low for the first four sets, and both teams held a negative percentage for one set. “The hitters swung hard, but the defense was playing really hard on both sides,” Gromala said. “It’s the second time around in the division, so teams know their opponent a little better and how to defend them.” The Flashes also lost Friday to Miami (OH) (18-8, 10-3) in straight sets (24-26, 23-25, 16-25). Kent State fought back in the first set after they were down 17-10, and the team came back to tie the set at 20, only to lose it 26-24. Despite the losses this weekend, Geraghty said she was proud of how the Flashes played Saturday against the Falcons. “Our defense really came alive,” Geraghty said. “We worked together well, and we played with intensity the whole match, and it was a really exciting atmosphere.” Kent State is set to play Ohio at 7 p.m. Thursday and Eastern Michigan at 5 p.m Saturday to wrap up the last weekend of conference play. Contact Taylor Sforzo at tbacasfo@kent.edu.

Miami (OH) players run onto the field following their MAC Tournament championship win against Kent State Saturday. Carter Adams / The Kent Stater

12 The Kent Stater

Monday, November 6, 2017

OPINION

Start engaging in local politics

JOSEPH McGRELLIS’ VIEW

Madison Newingham It is no secret we keep up with state politics less than federal politics, though our representatives deal with and campaign on the more kitchen-table issues. Democrats seem to forget that elections happen every single year, so our low turnout bodes well for the other side. We have a different social identity and are the future leaders. Not to be cliche, but to be cliche: We must be the change we want to see. To attain any sense of justice for the groups by which we identify, we really have to care about socioeconomic justice for all of us. I do not even mean that from a liberal lens; if libertarians feel the best definition of justice is theirs, then we need to hear their voice and bring them into the fold. We have to do more, especially as college students. We are the only country with abhorrent voting rates, so we have to reach everyone with a stake in the issues. We have to actually talk about the everyday kitchen-table issues in addition to our social issues to convince people politics is their problem. To hone in on the state, and with regard to the governorship, Gov. John Kasich is now what I consider a “normal” Republican (you know, the kind that has a conscience and believes what they are doing is for the good of the people). However, Democrats have a lot of cleaning up to do if we can get it together this election cycle. First, in the past 30 years, we have barely touched the governorship. This is partly our own fault. We have been so focused on the presidency and federal races while Republicans redraw their strategy to start local and build up. Yes, I mean local. They start with school board and city council and breed their politicians into Scott Walkers. (For better or worse, he has the resume.) This is why our state is represented the way it is. Democrats have run weak local campaigns at the expense of Ohio, and look where that’s gotten us.

We have fallen from fifth to 28th in the nation for education because Republicans ran it as a business and not as a mode to educate for the sake of education. Second, and most importantly, so many of our issues exist because we do not have an equal voice at the table. Our state is one of the worst gerrymandered states in the country because Republicans have drawn the lines for political gain, not for population. I am not arguing for Democrats to do the same. In fact, we should absolutely stay away from morally corrupt tactics. With a competitive Democratic governor, we can expect to see the lines redrawn to reflect bipartisan, fair districts, rather than what we are seeing right now. It is important to care about who we nominate because we need to ensure we can solve unfair districts to actually have a voice to talk about gender, racial and economic justice with actual power to affect change. Contact Madison at mnewing2@kent.edu.

SUBMISSIONS: The Stater hopes to encourage lively debate about the issues of the day on the Opinion Page. Opinions on

this page are the authors’ and not necessarily endorsed by the Stater or its editors. Readers are encouraged to participate through letters to the editor (email them to lmisera@kent.edu) and guest columns. Submissions become property of the Stater and are subject to editing without notice.

‘‘

We have to actually talk about the everyday kitchen-table issues in addition to our social issues to convince people politics is their problem.” – Madison Newingham

Monday, November 6, 2017

Find your personal ‘Hamilton’ Mica Pflug Some people do drugs, some people work out, some people have a lot of sex. After all, everyone needs a “thing.” For me, it’s listening to all 46 tracks of the “Hamilton” soundtrack. Have you ever listened to a song that brought you pure bliss? One that made you feel so content, regardless of what was going on around you? A song that you could get lost in, either whispering the lyrics or belting them? Now, imagine having almost 50 of those songs and being obsessed with every single one of them. “Hamilton: An American Musical” was written by playwright LinManuel Miranda. The show has only been running for a few years, but it has made waves throughout American entertainment, as well as American history.

I didn’t learn a thing in my APUSH class, but I could tell you the entire story of the American Revolution from start to finish at this point solely because of the lyrics. Lin-Manuel Miranda, also the composer for Disney’s “Moana,” is pretty much the best example of modern-day genius there is and is at the very top of my “famous people to meet” list (in case you’re reading, Lin, my email is at the bottom.) I was lucky enough to get the opportunity to see “Hamilton” in Chicago this past January. I would see the show every weekend if it weren’t for being a broke college student. This experience was one I would repeat in a heartbeat, being everything I expected and more, and totally worth the $500 ticket. I have never really experienced any activity that has brought me quite as much joy as listening to this musical does. Ironically enough, I was never hugely interested in the theater as a kid; I knew the names of some big shows, but nothing too specific. I stumbled upon the existence of

“Hamilton” as a class assignment. I took “The Art of Theatre,” course, and we were assigned to listen through the soundtrack and then to write our own rap or song in the style of the show. I remember sitting on the floor of my dorm room letting the soundtrack play down the list of songs and becoming increasingly invested throughout the experience. What started as a tedious task soon turned into, “Wow, this is actually pretty good,” which then snowballed into “I am never going to stop listening to this. I need the CD version in my car. I will have to spend lots of dollars to see this in person, oh my God.” So, one might say I am a fan. The point is, as dorky as it may be, this is what works for me. I love this show and all of the songs in it, and I could belt out any track at any given point without missing a single beat. So, find your “Hamilton.” Look for whatever it may be that you love so much, even if it’s kind of silly, and hang onto that. Mica Pflug is a columnist. Contact her at mpflug2@kent.edu.

Bergdahl wasn’t fit to serve his country Drew Taylor On Friday, Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl avoided prison time for walking off his base in Afghanistan in 2009, resulting in his capture by the Taliban. Rather, he was given a dishonorable discharge. Bergdahl, who was held by the Taliban for five years, was released after a highly controversial decision by then-President Barack Obama in exchange for five Guantanamo Bay prisoners in the custody of Qatar. This was highly criticized by Republican politicians at the time, and President Donald Trump referenced to Bergdahl negatively throughout his campaign, specifically calling him a “traitor” on multiple occasions. These criticisms mostly stem from the belief that soldiers were killed in the search for Bergdahl.

After the decision was made to not give Bergdahl any time in prison, Trump tweeted, “The decision on Sergeant Bergdahl is a complete and total disgrace to our Country and to our Military.” Whether you are a supporter of Bergdahl who thinks he was just an innocent soldier in a difficult situation or a harsh critic of his who believes that he committed treason against the U.S. and got people killed, I think there is another point to be made in this long-running saga. This entire story is a product of what happens when you put people who are not in the right state of mind in a place that they should not be in. Three years before the case in question, Bergdahl was discharged by the U.S. Coast Guard for psychological reasons. These personal issues were not private; the Army admitted they knew about the prior discharge and was still willing to accept him and deploy him to Afghanistan. People who knew Bergdahl described him as a loner and even a “perfect example of a person who should not have gone to war.” This leads us to the major problem in

this story: sending people to war with a lack of care for their mental well-being. Even soldiers in the best mental shape possible struggle to stay strong in these situations, and after leaving, we see high rates of post-traumatic stress disorder and other difficulties with their mental health. So when someone like Bergdahl already shows difficulties going into this situation, it is not shocking when he struggles, then leaves his battalion. It is inhumane to be fine with sending people into war zones and not expect them to struggle, and in the case of someone like Bergdahl, not worry about the worst-case scenarios. Even if you are the biggest Bergdahl critic and believe what he did was treasonous and directly killed people, you have to admit that he was a man who was not capable of going into a situation as difficult as a war zone. The Army did not keep him safe, and their lack of care for the mental health of those they send into war zones where they should not be speaks volumes. Drew Taylor is a columnist. Contact him at dtaylo78@kent.edu.

KentWired.com 13

NUMBERS TO KNOW:

Minutes during which President Donald Trump’s Twitter account was inactive Trump’s Twitter account went missing for 11 minutes on Thursday. Reports say a Twitter employee manually deactivated the account on their last day. prompting the outage.

260 Opponents of Russian president Vladimir Putin arrested

In protests against Vladimir Putin this weekend, more than 250 protesters were arrested. The demonstration was held in Moscow near the Kremlin’s headquarters.

Cheers&Jeers

Cheers to ... childhood dreams come true. Lego and Airbnb are offering a night for one family in a house filled with 25 million toy bricks in Denmark.

Jeers to ... overreacting. A German man called police because he believed a WWII bomb was in his garden. Upon arriving, police officers identified the “bomb” as a zucchini.

14 The Kent Stater

Monday, November 6, 2017

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