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THE INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER | THURSDAY, APRIL 5, 2018
GHOSTED The new millennial trend of leaving someone on read Page 6 Hey Hello What’s up :) Read 5:03 PM
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Police: YouTube shooter was calm in interview before attack
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Kent State joins effort in combatting infant mortality
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Bowman Breakfast celebrates City of Kent and Kent State patnership
2 The Kent Stater
Thursday, April 5, 2018
NEWS
Police: YouTube shooter was calm in interview before attack Elliot Spagat and Sudhin Thanawala Associated Press Just hours before she shot and wounded three people at YouTube headquarters, Nasim Aghdam calmly told police who found her sleeping in her car that she was having family problems and had left her home. During the 20-minute interview with officers early Tuesday, she did not mention being angry with YouTube or having accused the company of suppressing her video posts. She gave no indication she was a threat to herself or others. "It was a very normal conversation. There was nothing in her behavior that suggested anything unusual," said Mountain View Police Chief Max Bosel. Later that day, she went to a gun range before walking through a parking garage into a courtyard at YouTube's campus south of San Francisco, where she opened fire with a handgun and wounded three people. She then killed herself. The sequence of Aghdam's activities emerged Wednesday as police continued gathering information about the attacker and her motives. Agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives searched two Southern California homes where Aghdam had lived. Spokeswoman Ginger Colbrun would not confirm the locations but reporters saw agents entering homes in the communities of Menifee, southeast of Los Angeles, and 4S Ranch, north of San Diego. Aghdam was a "really good person" and had no history of mental illness, said a woman named Leila who identified herself as an aunt as she entered the family home in Menifee. She did not give her last name. The shooter's family later distributed a statement outside the home saying it was "in absolute shock and can't make sense of what has happened." "Although no words can describe our deep pain for this tragedy, our family would like to express their utmost regret, sorrow for
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what has happened to innocent victims," the statement said. Investigators do not believe Aghdam, who was in her late 30s, targeted anyone in particular, and there is no reason to believe she illegally obtained the semi-automatic 9mm pistol used in the shooting, San Bruno Police Chief Ed Barberini said. Authorities are still trying to determine whether she got past security measures to enter YouTube headquarters, he said. Two women wounded in the shooting were released Wednesday from a San Francisco hospital. The third victim, a 36-year-old man, was upgraded from critical to serious condition. The day before the attack, the shooter's father, Ismail Aghdam, said he warned police that his daughter was upset with how YouTube handled her videos and might be planning to go to its offices. Aghdam "hated" YouTube and was angry that the company stopped paying her for videos she posted, Ismail Aghdam told the Bay Area News Group. Her video posts included segments about veganism, animal cruelty and exercise, along with glamor shots of herself. Police in Mountain View said they spoke to Ismail Aghdam twice after contacting the family to report finding his daughter and that he never told them she could become violent or pose a threat to YouTube employees. When officers found Nasim Aghdam, she was in her car near a strip mall in Mountain View, about 25 miles from YouTube and home to the company's owner, Silicon Valley giant Google. She told Mountain View police who spoke to her around 2 a.m. Tuesday that she had come to the area to stay with relatives and was looking for a job, police said. They let her go, saying there was no indication she needed to be detained. Later in the day, she went to a gun range not far from the YouTube headquarters. Police visited the range Wednesday.
Security has been enhanced around YouTube headquarters in San Bruno, California, on Wednesday after Nasim Aghdam opened fire during lunch hour on Tuesday. Workers are returning to work as usual. Restoration company can been seen entering the office. Yichuan Cao /Sipa USA via AP Images)
Nasim Aghdam used the name "Nasime Sabz" online, a law enforcement official with knowledge of the investigation told The Associated Press. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because the official was not authorized to discuss the case. A website in that name decried YouTube's policies and said the company was trying to "suppress" content creators. "Youtube filtered my channels to keep them from getting views!" one of the messages on the site said. "There is no equal growth opportunity on YOUTUBE or any other video sharing site, your channel will grow if they want to!!!!!" People who post on YouTube can receive money from advertisements that accompany their videos, but the company
"de-monetizes" some channels for reasons including inappropriate material or having fewer than 1,000 subscribers. YouTube had no immediate comment about any actions related to Aghdam's videos, spokesman Chris Dale said. The company said in a statement it has encouraged employees to take time off or work from home and will increase security at its headquarters and offices around the world.
Thanawala reported from San Francisco. Associated Press writers Michael Balsamo in Los Angeles, Ryan Nakashima in San Bruno, Calif., Janie Har and Juliet Williams in San Francisco and Eric Tucker in Washington contributed to this report.
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KentWired.com 3
Kent State researchers join effort to combat infant mortality in Ohio Lydia Taylor and Dartalia Alati Editor and Staff Writer In 2016, The Ohio Department of Health released data which showed high infant mortality rates across different races in the state, the highest being black women. The report named nine metropolitan areas in Ohio with the worst amount of infant deaths, which included Akron, Toledo, Cleveland and Canton. Since then, there’s been a push for initiatives to help decrease infant deaths. In 2017, First Year Cleveland — the city’s infant mortality initiative — announced a threeyear plan to eliminate factors that cause infant death. In February of this year, the Ohio Department of Medicaid (ODM) gave over $1.7 million to organizations in Summit County to help combat it. The money is a part of ODM’s $26.8 million budget. Researchers at Kent State are currently examining the effects stress and anxiety have on premature births. Angela NealBarnett, a psychology professor, researches anxiety disorders. She helped to create an intervention called the S.O.S. Sisters Circle, where Barnett and other researchers work with expecting moms and inform them on how to combat anxiety. Neal-Barnett said black women have the highest infant mortality due to stressors caused by discrimination in society. “Things like transportation, education, opportunity, … every day, in some small way, black women face (discrimination),” Neal-Barnett said. “When we look at the cumulative affect of it, we believe that it may be playing a role at birth.” Stacy Scott of Baby 1st Network in Cuyahoga Falls calls it “Weathering,” a term coined by a professor at the University of Michigan. Weathering includes all the factors black women have to face — such as a high rate of discrimination — which causes them chronic stress, Scott said. “You have a high population of AfricanAmericans in urban communities, so you’ll see a major increase in infant mortality because communities are much more vulnerable,” Scott said. “Around the impact of racism, discrimination, redlining, the number of African-American males that are incarceration, (they) can all be attributed to it.” Neal-Barnett said the Ohio Commission on Minority Health and Sisters of Charity Foundation gave the department funds to help form the study, and there are around 20 women participating. They are currently running three sister circles. “We give them the tools on how to reduce that stress and anxiety, including cognitive
musical restructuring, where they come up with their own theme song and use it in stressful situations,” Neal-Barnett said. Other ways include pregnancy yoga, healthy eating and how to use foods in different ways, such as keeping hair moisturized with avocados. Christin Farmer, the founder and executive director of Birthing Beautiful Communities, said having a support system could mean all the difference when it comes to combatting infant mortality, particularly in black women. “If you have adequate social support for women, then they do have a better chance of being healthy during pregnancy and after they have the body because some of that toxic stress can be passed through to the baby,” Farmer said. “We don’t want to have that stress lingering in utero and affecting the baby which is a part of why a lot of black women have low birth weight babies.” Both Scott and Neal-Barnett noted the high infant mortality rate among black women lacks a correlation to socioeconomic status, which Scott said is a stereotype. There isn’t a difference between the low-income black women population or the high-income population, they said. While stress is a large factor, there are two other leading causes — sleep-related deaths and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). SIDS is usually unexpected and occurs when the baby is less than a year old, according to MayoClinic. Babies who are born with respiratory defects, low birth weight or a respiratory cold are the most at stake. The mother can also increase the risk of SIDS by smoking, using drugs and alcohol, or being 20 years old or younger. Sleeprelated deaths include sharing the bed, having the baby sleep on a soft surface, or the baby sleeping on their sides or stomach, leading to breathing issues. Scott said the first step any woman should take is prenatal care to help avoid future issues. “Early entry of prenatal care is a must, so if you even think that you’re pregnant, you need to immediately go and be tested to see if you are,” Scott said. “Really know your body; knowledge is care.” Not only should women seek prenatal care to avoid future situations, but the presence of a father could also make a difference. Scott said the support of a father could reduce stress immensely, and if they aren’t present before, during and after the pregnancy, it could contribute to the poor health of the baby. Even though Scott believes Ohio’s initiatives are strong when it comes to preventing infant deaths, she feels there
needs to be more support for families who lost their child. “We see all of these babies who don’t make it to their first birthday,” Scott said. “Our concern is who is servicing the parents after these babies die? So that’s always a point, although we are promoting to save lives, we also want to help especially African-American parents who don’t necessarily reach out for that support.” Once a baby passes away, it’s common to see a development of depression, divorces and substance abuse, which Scott said could be prevented if families had more support. “When it comes to African-American
funerals, you’ve got the church, you’ve got your family, everybody is in your home and making sure you’re all right. But it’s always about those three to four weeks later when everybody has gone back to their own respective corners, and you’re left there alone,” Scott said. “And you really begin to understand and grieve and really realize that loss. So I think that’s a window of opportunity we miss in servicing that population.”
Contact Lydia Taylor at ltaylo49@kent.edu.
Contact Dartalia Alati at dalati@kent.edu.
Information provided by the Ohio Department of Health.
4 The Kent Stater
Thursday, April 5, 2018
SPORTS
Kent State softball gears up for the playoff push Chad Flannery Sports Reporter As Kent State Softball approaches the homestretch of its regular season, coach Eric Oakley couldn’t be happier with where his team stands. “Of course there is always room for improvement, but I believe there is a lot of positives to build off of,” Oakley said. “For one, our offense has been really great, we’ve been able to hit the ball and score runs consistently and that’s helped our team a lot.” The Flashes (17-13, 3-3 Mid-American Conference) have posted a batting average of .307 on the season, and average 5.6 runs per game on an average 8.6 hits. “We have a very good team,” Oakley said. “We have had players win MAC East player/pitcher of the week five or six times this season, which is a great achievement.” Senior shortstop Holly Speers has won the award three times this year, while pitcher Madi Huck, outfielder Emily Dobbin and third baseman Bailey Brownfield have all won it once. Brownfield is the most recent winner of the MAC East player of the week award after going 12-21 including three doubles, a triple and a homerun with 10 RBIs. She also secured the victory over Toledo on Saturday with her second walk-off hit of the year.
“Bailey Brownfield has been great for us batting behind Holly,” Oakley explained. “Whenever a team decides to walk Holly, Bailey has been able to make them pay.” The team also boasted two of the top 10 players with the highest batting averages in the NCAA: Speers, who is second in the nation with a .520 batting average, and freshman outfielder Kennadie Goth, who is eighth with a .472 average. “Holly has been fantastic for us this season,” Oakley said. “She’s hitting so well that teams have begun to walk her consistently, which gives us a baserunner and kick starts our offense. Emily Dobbin and Kaitlyn Miller have been solid pieces for us as well.” While offense has been a strong point for the Flashes, Oakley believes the team has yet to hit their stride. “The tournaments at the beginning of the season provide us with the ability to work out the kinks and figure out our team,” Oakley said. “Now that we are in the conference part of our schedule, we need to find our groove and carry it to the end of the season.” In order to hit that stride, Oakley says there is two key areas in which the Flashes must improve. “We’ve got to improve our pitching and our hitting with runners in scoring position,”
Kent State senior shortstop Holly Speers smiles as she rounds the bases on her eighth home run of the season during Kent State's 8-7 win over Western Michigan on March 24, 2018. Speers went 1-for-2 with nine walks over the weekend. Kayla McMillen / The Kent Stater
Kent State’s Madi Huck throws the ball to Hunter Brancifort at first base for the out during the Flashes' 1-0 victory over Western Michigan on March 24, 2018. Kayla McMillen / The Kent Stater
Oakley said. “We get in a lot of situations where we have runners on second or third base and we don’t score, and that can be a deciding factor in some games.” However, pitching is its own challenge. “Some of our players who are now pitching, weren’t recruited as pitchers,” Oakley explained. “Most of them were actually recruited to play infield or outfield, but our pitching is something that continues to improve every day and that is encouraging.” The Flashes are currently in the middle of an 11-game stretch against conference opponents. “Obviously every game is important for us,” said Oakley. “The better we do in our conference, the higher the seed we have in the MAC Tournament and the better off we are.” Oakley hopes to repeat the success the team had during the final few weeks of the season last year.
“Last year, we hit our groove at the perfect time,” Oakley said. “We won 10 of our last 12 games and carried that success into the MAC Tournament.” Kent State would eventually go on to win the MAC Championship and qualify for the NCAA Tournament, where they lost in the Waco Regional. “Obviously, our goal is to play our best and qualify for a high seed in the postseason,” Oakley stated. “Right now, we are still in a position to meet all of our goals and be successful for the remainder of the season. “It’s about everything coming together at the perfect time, and playing your best ball when it comes time for the postseason,” Oakley said. “Hopefully, we can do that again this year.” Contact Chad Flannery at cflanne4@kent.edu.
Eric Oakley was hired as Kent State's softball coach in June 2016. David Dermer / Kent State Athletics
Thursday, April 5, 2018
KentWired.com 5
ESPN to launch own streaming service Cameron Hoover Sports Editor Mid-American Conference fans who enjoyed watching events for free on ESPN3 are in for a rude awakening April 12. ESPN is launching its own direct-toconsumer subscription streaming service, called ESPN+, next week for $4.99 a month. Customers can also choose to pay $49.99 for a whole year ’s subscription. The new streaming service will be integrated into the existing ESPN mobile application. ESPN+ does not include any of ESPN’s eight cable networks. College sports are the main selling point of ESPN+. According to a release from ESPN, ESPN+ plans to broadcast “thousands of live college sports events,” including everything from football to golf. The plan includes over a dozen conferences, the MAC being one. “The ESPN+ lineup will be rich with thousands of live college sports events, including football, basketball, baseball, softball, soccer, track & field, gymnastics, swimming & diving, lacrosse, wrestling, volleyball, golf and more — from over a dozen conferences across the country including the America East, ASun, Big South, Big West, Horizon, Ivy League,
MAAC, MAC, MEAC, Missouri Valley, NEC, Southern Conference, Southland, Summit League, Sun Belt, WAC and many more,” according to a release from ESPN. So what does this mean for Kent State fans who became accustomed to watching the Flashes’ competitions for free on ESPN3? These events will now be behind the $4.99 per month paywall. If a fan can’t get out to the MAC Center for a Kent State basketball game or to the Diamond at Dix to watch Flashes softball, they will need to fork over $5 for the right to see those contests. As for how this will affect Kent State internally, that is still to be seen. Aaron Chimenti, the interim director of athletic communications, said he doesn’t see how this will change anything for the athletic department, but conceded it is still too early to tell. “To this point, there has been no communication from the MAC to its members,” Chimenti said. Kent State’s home events that were broadcasted live on ESPN3 were produced by TeleProductions, Kent State’s full-service video production resource made up of industry professionals and students gaining experience. Chimenti said he doesn’t see
‘‘
The ESPN+ lineup will be rich with thousands of live college sports events.”
how the advent of ESPN+ would change this system, but reiterated no word has come down from the MAC. In 2014, the MAC and ESPN reached a 13-year agreement (10 years on top of the remaining three years from the previous deal) where the sports media giant earned broadcasting rights to all MAC sports. Exact figures of the agreement are still unknown, but ESPN’s Brett McMurphy reported in 2014 that the MAC receives $10 million annually over the deal’s last 10 years. It is unclear whether the MAC knew
– ESPN press release
ESPN was going to put its events behind a paywall four years after the original contract was agreed upon. The MAC was not immediately available to comment. Also included in ESPN+’s live programming offerings: One MLB game per day (something MLB.TV already offers for free), one NHL game per day, select boxing matches and every out-of-market MLS game. ESPN’s $4.99-per-month director-toconsumer subscription-based streaming service, ESPN+, launches April 12, 2018.
Contact Cameron Hoover at choove14@kent.edu.
6 The Kent Stater
Thursday, April 5, 2018
Thursday, April 5, 2018
KentWired.com 7
COVER
'Ghosting':
The emerging trend in millennial relationships Ashley Torres Feature Writer
T
he ability to instantly communicate through modern technology brought major changes to the dating scene.
“Ghosting” is a new phenomenon amongst the millennial generation where one abruptly ends a romantic relationship with no explanation at all. However, the term — which has rapidly popularized on social media — is affecting our communication skills. Shaiquille Smallwood, a junior digital media production major, admitted to being ghosted and using the technique on women before. "It varies on the person. For the most part, I get busy and forget to reply, or I know the situation isn't the best for me so I back away," he said. “If I don’t want to see someone, I can avoid them.” For millennials, this usually coincides with unfollowing and blocking. However, ghosting isn't a new concept; people have disappeared from each other's lives for decades. Whether it was giving the wrong number to someone, not calling someone back or simply ignoring someone, there are various ways to ghost people. The difference nowadays is people will talk and text for weeks, sometimes months, making the disconnect for millennials harsher. Aaron Bacue, an assistant professor of communication, said the main reason ghosting happens is that people want to avoid confrontation. The interpersonal communication field has something known as "positive face." According to Bacue, this is "how we want to be seen by other people as good people, as valuable; we have our stuff together." "I think that if I'm going to break up with you and
I ghost you, it's because I don't want my face called into question; And if I tell you how I'm really feeling, it would threaten your face," he said. Bacue explained, despite ghosting being inappropriate, it's arguably done to protect the person being ghosted because the other individual doesn't want to hurt anyone's feelings. There's a false notion that if there's no conflict in a relationship, then it's healthy. When in fact, there's a gap in communication because people aren't comfortable discussing the problems faced in the relationship, whether it's personal or professional. Not confronting the issue wastes time, which eventually affects health and self-esteem, according to the Harvard Business Review. Senior public health major Alyssa McKula says she's experienced the other side of ghosting. McKula downloaded the dating apps Bumble and Tinder and was talking to various men for short periods of time. After they would make plans to meet in person, the men would disappear. "I think they're either talking to someone else at the time and find them more interesting. Or, you're scared to meet them in person. They get cold feet," she said. One of the men who ghosted McKula on Bumble ended up matching with her on Tinder. She took the high road and sent the first message, leading them to discuss the situation which resulted in an apology. "He wasn't comfortable meeting someone off the internet," she said. For senior communications major Maura McGough, she ghosted her Tinder match after she felt extremely uncomfortable when the two grabbed coffee at a local Starbucks her sophomore year. At first, the two shared an interest in sketching, then McGough learned about her date's passion for eagles. He even had an eagle tattoo. The discomfort came when he suggested they meet each other's
If something is up please tell me
parents after the second date. "At this point, I am freaked out because I believe that meeting parents is a big deal," she said. The date ended after the two went for a drive down the "creepiest roads that didn't have any lights." McGough felt “too scared” to admit she wanted to go home. After this, she stopped responding to his messages and ghosted him. He messaged every day for two weeks after. "I never had the courage to tell him it was the worst date I had ever been on," she said. Either way, honesty is the best policy McKula said. "You can tell someone, 'I’m just not feeling it.' All you have to do is be honest," she said. Honesty is not always easy if a person feels the need to please everyone and isn’t confident letting someone down easily. Those are skills adopted over time and with experience. “I’m sure he would feel a little bad. But if that’s his personality, he shouldn’t feel bad,” McGough said. However, McGough described herself as a “yes person” and didn’t voice her opinion on how she felt. This goes back to "positive face." People don't want their actions to be called into question. Now, McGough would handle the situation differently. “I probably would have at least told him that meeting his parents wouldn’t be a good idea right now,” she said. Eventually, it will affect self-esteem and people will question their self-worth, Bacue said. A notion McKula agrees with. "I ask myself, 'Oh, was I not interesting enough,'" she said. Since then, she's gotten good at laughing off ghosting situations because she knows there's nothing more she can do about it. "Have a good sense of humor about it. You're not going to get along with everyone," she said.
@
Are you ignoring me?
The next piece of advice is to "be true to the situation," he said. Don't offer an explanation unless the person asks for one. It can make things messy and creates unnecessary communication. When explaining the decision-making process, use a positive tone, and try not to sound accusatory; don't focus on the other person's flaws, because that will increase tension. Take ownership of the situation. Use "I feel" because no one can assume another individual's feelings. In taking ownership, it's also important not to offer an insincere friendship. In most cases, it takes half the time of the relationship for someone to move on. At the same time, modern-day technology allows people to strengthen relationships because it allows for all-day interactions, whereas before people had to write letters and wait for communications. Relationships are maintained more. Though technology has its positives, it leaves room for misinterpretation. Too often, emails, texts and social media are expected to substitute for in-person interaction. Misinterpretation affects the way people communicate on a daily basis, Bacue said. Everyone says things differently, and without the context of the words behind the message, it's hard to always correctly guess the tone behind an electronic conversation or message, eventually negatively impacting communication. "I suppose it could make someone more paranoid," Bacue said. Contact Ashley Torres at atorres3@kent.edu. Illustration by Michaela Courtney
48 percent of online relationships end through e-mail
For the most part, I get busy and forget to reply, or I know the situation isn’t the best for me so I back away. If I don’t want to see someone, I can avoid them.”
Information from eHarmony
– Shaiquille Smallwood Junior digital media production major
6 The Kent Stater
Thursday, April 5, 2018
Thursday, April 5, 2018
KentWired.com 7
COVER
'Ghosting':
The emerging trend in millennial relationships Ashley Torres Feature Writer
T
he ability to instantly communicate through modern technology brought major changes to the dating scene.
“Ghosting” is a new phenomenon amongst the millennial generation where one abruptly ends a romantic relationship with no explanation at all. However, the term — which has rapidly popularized on social media — is affecting our communication skills. Shaiquille Smallwood, a junior digital media production major, admitted to being ghosted and using the technique on women before. "It varies on the person. For the most part, I get busy and forget to reply, or I know the situation isn't the best for me so I back away," he said. “If I don’t want to see someone, I can avoid them.” For millennials, this usually coincides with unfollowing and blocking. However, ghosting isn't a new concept; people have disappeared from each other's lives for decades. Whether it was giving the wrong number to someone, not calling someone back or simply ignoring someone, there are various ways to ghost people. The difference nowadays is people will talk and text for weeks, sometimes months, making the disconnect for millennials harsher. Aaron Bacue, an assistant professor of communication, said the main reason ghosting happens is that people want to avoid confrontation. The interpersonal communication field has something known as "positive face." According to Bacue, this is "how we want to be seen by other people as good people, as valuable; we have our stuff together." "I think that if I'm going to break up with you and
I ghost you, it's because I don't want my face called into question; And if I tell you how I'm really feeling, it would threaten your face," he said. Bacue explained, despite ghosting being inappropriate, it's arguably done to protect the person being ghosted because the other individual doesn't want to hurt anyone's feelings. There's a false notion that if there's no conflict in a relationship, then it's healthy. When in fact, there's a gap in communication because people aren't comfortable discussing the problems faced in the relationship, whether it's personal or professional. Not confronting the issue wastes time, which eventually affects health and self-esteem, according to the Harvard Business Review. Senior public health major Alyssa McKula says she's experienced the other side of ghosting. McKula downloaded the dating apps Bumble and Tinder and was talking to various men for short periods of time. After they would make plans to meet in person, the men would disappear. "I think they're either talking to someone else at the time and find them more interesting. Or, you're scared to meet them in person. They get cold feet," she said. One of the men who ghosted McKula on Bumble ended up matching with her on Tinder. She took the high road and sent the first message, leading them to discuss the situation which resulted in an apology. "He wasn't comfortable meeting someone off the internet," she said. For senior communications major Maura McGough, she ghosted her Tinder match after she felt extremely uncomfortable when the two grabbed coffee at a local Starbucks her sophomore year. At first, the two shared an interest in sketching, then McGough learned about her date's passion for eagles. He even had an eagle tattoo. The discomfort came when he suggested they meet each other's
If something is up please tell me
parents after the second date. "At this point, I am freaked out because I believe that meeting parents is a big deal," she said. The date ended after the two went for a drive down the "creepiest roads that didn't have any lights." McGough felt “too scared” to admit she wanted to go home. After this, she stopped responding to his messages and ghosted him. He messaged every day for two weeks after. "I never had the courage to tell him it was the worst date I had ever been on," she said. Either way, honesty is the best policy McKula said. "You can tell someone, 'I’m just not feeling it.' All you have to do is be honest," she said. Honesty is not always easy if a person feels the need to please everyone and isn’t confident letting someone down easily. Those are skills adopted over time and with experience. “I’m sure he would feel a little bad. But if that’s his personality, he shouldn’t feel bad,” McGough said. However, McGough described herself as a “yes person” and didn’t voice her opinion on how she felt. This goes back to "positive face." People don't want their actions to be called into question. Now, McGough would handle the situation differently. “I probably would have at least told him that meeting his parents wouldn’t be a good idea right now,” she said. Eventually, it will affect self-esteem and people will question their self-worth, Bacue said. A notion McKula agrees with. "I ask myself, 'Oh, was I not interesting enough,'" she said. Since then, she's gotten good at laughing off ghosting situations because she knows there's nothing more she can do about it. "Have a good sense of humor about it. You're not going to get along with everyone," she said.
@
Are you ignoring me?
The next piece of advice is to "be true to the situation," he said. Don't offer an explanation unless the person asks for one. It can make things messy and creates unnecessary communication. When explaining the decision-making process, use a positive tone, and try not to sound accusatory; don't focus on the other person's flaws, because that will increase tension. Take ownership of the situation. Use "I feel" because no one can assume another individual's feelings. In taking ownership, it's also important not to offer an insincere friendship. In most cases, it takes half the time of the relationship for someone to move on. At the same time, modern-day technology allows people to strengthen relationships because it allows for all-day interactions, whereas before people had to write letters and wait for communications. Relationships are maintained more. Though technology has its positives, it leaves room for misinterpretation. Too often, emails, texts and social media are expected to substitute for in-person interaction. Misinterpretation affects the way people communicate on a daily basis, Bacue said. Everyone says things differently, and without the context of the words behind the message, it's hard to always correctly guess the tone behind an electronic conversation or message, eventually negatively impacting communication. "I suppose it could make someone more paranoid," Bacue said. Contact Ashley Torres at atorres3@kent.edu. Illustration by Michaela Courtney
48 percent of online relationships end through e-mail
For the most part, I get busy and forget to reply, or I know the situation isn’t the best for me so I back away. If I don’t want to see someone, I can avoid them.”
Information from eHarmony
– Shaiquille Smallwood Junior digital media production major
8 The Kent Stater
Thursday, April 5, 2018
OPINION
The tide has changed. What now?
JOSEPH MCGRELLIS’ VIEW
Brandon Bounds Your #TimesUp. Oh my God, you went through that? #MeToo. Every week since the second half of 2017, story headlines on many television newscasts and newspapers across the nation sported the hashtag: #MeToo. In some cases, it occurred daily. I remember standing up in the newsroom on a November afternoon after seeing the third person accused of sexual harassment. I proclaimed to every single person — more so directed toward the males — “Promise me this, guys. I better not see any of you on the news where you are accused of sexual assault.” The whole newsroom cheered and applauded in response. What can I say? I’ve had enough. The amount of stories the media has reported and still are reporting is disappointing. It’s frustrating to even think that men in power are taking advantage of these women and silencing them from ever breathing a word. Some would say President Donald Trump accepts sexual harassment as appropriate behavior, which may give those in power the green light to act. Vulnerable. Embarrassed. Powerless. Worthless. Female victims subjected to sexual assault and harassment have felt this way and then some. This was an ongoing cycle for years and years. Now, these women who were silenced are now speaking out. The tide has not only changed, but transformed into an explosive movement. We are a quarter of the way into the new year. April marks Sexual Assault Awareness Month.
So what happens now? Needless to say, women and men — of all ages — are pissed. They are looking for change. Women are protesting. Survivors are becoming leaders. Activists are rising. We all want a safer environment for one another, and women are no exception. If we’re going to achieve that, then this inappropriate behavior has got to go. Brandon Bounds is an enterprise reporter. Contact him at bbounds@kent.edu.
Editor’s Note: In this edition of The Kent Stater, the opinion section exclusively contains topics pertaining to sexual harassment and assault. As declared by former President Obama in 2009, April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month. As the staff of a college newspaper, we find it crucial to shed light on this topic — one that is likely to remain relevant into the forseeable future. Sexual assault is one of the few indiscrimate issues that permeates the globe, leaving combatting the epidemic in the hands of society at large.
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We all want a safer environment for one another, and women are no exception.” – Brandon Bounds
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.
Thursday, April 5, 2018
KentWired.com 9
Moving beyond the #MeToo Movement NUMBERS Joseph Langan The #MeToo Movement pressed pause on the patriarchy, empowered millions of women and opened a narrow, spellbinding window into the closed-door politics of Hollywood’s inner circles. The movement shed light on the rampant sexual assault and rape allegations against household names, such as Harvey Weinstein, Kevin Spacey, Louis C.K., Bryan Singer and even former president George H.W. Bush. This is not about downplaying the courage of the countless women who have come forward. This is about how to expand beyond the brave voices who have spoken truth to power and to work toward articulating tangible solutions for our global epidemic of misogyny and unchecked power. As I attended a writing conference in Tampa, Florida, last week, a female Lebanese-American poet said to the crowd: “Criticism is an act of love,” and I consider this piece in the same vein. Let’s get some things straight. First: Unaccountable power corrupts. We’ve glimpsed how sexual coercion functions as part of the economic system, when powerful producers can silence their victims with blacklisting and bribery.
While the #MeToo Movement has raised direly needed awareness of this predatory model, boundless wealth still liberates these jackals in seven thousand dollar suits from having to pay for their crimes. Right now, despite overwhelming evidence, money is trying to wash the sins clean from Weinstein’s hands. Without the wealth, power and influence that Weinstein and his ilk wield, they would not have been able to avoid arrest for this long. Second: This is the tip of the iceberg. The abusers highlighted by this movement are a mere microcosm of an institutional problem that systematically runs on terror and the marginalization of dissenters. The casting couch is very real in Hollywood and we should be talking more about it. Academy Award-winning director Roman Polanski drugged and raped 13-year-old Samantha Gailey at Jack Nicholson’s house and fled the United States, where he remains a fugitive. Despite his deplorable actions, countless celebrities have come to his defense, including Meryl Streep and Martin Scorsese. This reveals an insular circle, one whose members have each other’s backs, and who betray their feminist activism when it means
defending their convicted rapist friends. Third: Too much of #MeToo’s progress is symbolic or inconsequential. McDonald’s flipping their arch upside-down to make a “W” for women, stars wearing black on the red carpet and media buzz fawning over a few female directors leading a couple of major movies is not enough. We need an overhaul of the entire entertainment industry to account for its legacy of abuse. This is not to say that these actions aren’t a step in the right direction. They are, and they work to build solidarity and raise awareness. However, media exposure has been saturated with #MeToo headlines since last fall. We built a great hashtag, but now it’s time to solidify that dialogue into concrete action. Are all female workers from makeup artists to film directors getting equal pay for equal work? What overhead systems have been implemented to hold executives accountable when allegations rise against them? When can we stop capitalizing on this scandal and enact real justice? Joseph Langan is a columnist. Contact him at jlangan3@kent.edu.
You know them more than you think you do Kellie Nock Chances are you know her. She might be your friend or a family member. She might be the girl you sit next to in economics, or the girl who shares her notes with you when you miss a day. You may know her really well, or maybe just barely, but you do know her. She was harassed or assaulted. She probably hasn’t told you, but maybe she did. It’s hard to find the “right way” to talk about it. There’s no guidebook on what to do when someone confides in you that they were sexually harassed or assaulted. No right words to say. The United States Department of Justice said one out of every four female undergraduates will be victim to some form of sexual assault. Of course, many of these instances go unreported. In fact, about 70 percent of victims
don’t inform police. This isn’t exclusive to women. According to the 1in6 — a group that helps male victims of sexual abuse get information and support — about one in every six males experiences some form of sexual abuse before they turn 18. Men often don’t report these crimes because of the stereotype that men have to be tough and cannot be assaulted. So yes, you probably know him, too. Maybe he plays on the basketball team with you, or maybe he’s your partner in biology lab. Maybe he hasn’t told anyone because he’s embarrassed, ashamed because of the expectations society lays upon him. Often, the violence that transgender and non-binary people face goes unreported as well. The National Resource Center on Domestic Violence said about 47 percent of trans and non-binary survey respondents said they’d been sexually assaulted in their
lifetime. These numbers were higher for individuals of color. And yes, you know them, too. Maybe they are in the same club as you. Maybe they’re your best friend. Because of the vulnerability of these groups, people who intend to do harm are more willing to choose them, as they are aware the statistics show they won’t get caught. It’s evil and insidious. It’s easy to turn a blind eye to the ugliness of the world. It’s easy to put it out of our minds as a way of not dealing with it. It’s harder to confront the truth, but without these confrontations, we cannot begin to help heal, or, alternatively, heal ourselves. So talk to people. Be there when they need an ear or a shoulder or a hug. Because you know them — we all do. Kellie Nock is a columnist. Contact her knock1@kent.edu.
TO KNOW:
16
Percent of health care is higher for victims of sexual assault
Women who were sexually abused as children pay an average of 16 percent more for their health care.
90 Percent of most college students do not report sexual assaults
More than 90 percent of victims of sexual assault on college campuses choose not to report the assault.
Cheers&Jeers
Cheers to ... advocacy. After allegations of sexual assault surfaced online, celebrities created Time’s Up Now, a legal defense fund that provides support to sexual assault victims.
Jeers to ... ignoring allegations. Sexual harassment, abuse and assault is a dark part of the culture of college campuses. It’s time to stop discrediting victims and start believing those who are brave enough to tell their stories.
10 The Kent Stater
Thursday, April 5, 2018
Kent State University administration members convene for a photo at the Bowman Breakfast on Wednesday. Caty Payette / TV2
Bowman Breakfast celebrates City of Kent and Kent State partnership Laina Yost Administration Reporter Leaders from the City of Kent and Kent State met for breakfast Wednesday morning with a panel to discuss university and town relations. The Facilities Master Plan was the main focus of the meeting. President Beverly Warren used the plan as an example of the partnership between the city and university. Mark Polatajko, the senior vice president of finance and administration
for Kent State and David Ruller, the Kent city manager, praised the Master Plan, particularly the renovations to Main Street and Front Campus. “I think this Main Street project, this Front Campus and what it’s intentionally able to do in terms of transformative impact, is sort of an unspoken secret,” Ruller said. “Top to bottom, this Master Plan is terrific for the community.” Tom Euclide, the associate vice president of facilities planning and operations, who retires at the end of the month, reflected on the university and town relations and what
they’ve accomplished. He also spoke about the project that expanded the Esplanade and how it bridged downtown Kent and Kent State. Kent Police Lt. Mike Lewis and Kent State Police Chief Dean Tondiglia spoke about how important a town-gown relationship is to both police departments as they work together. “We as a police department, we recognize what Kent State brings to our community,” Lewis said. “The amount of revenue it provides for our community, being the largest employer in Portage County,
that’s not lost on us. We certainly have to appreciate that.” Lori Wemhoff, the executive director of the chamber of commerce, said the event has seen a lot of growth over the years. They have moved the event to the Student Center Ballroom in order to accommodate the larger audience. “It’s really in the past 10 years that there’s been such a huge increase in the collaborative efforts on both sides,” she said. The next Bowman Breakfast will be held in the fall semester.
Contact Laina Yost at lyost5@kent.edu.
Thursday, April 5, 2018
CLASSIFIEDS Employment Immediate Openings: Nuevo Sol Tanning is now hiring. Flexible part time night and weekend hours. Minutes from KSU. Email your resume to Kelly at jobopeningnst@gmail. com Interviewing now.
Positions Available -- Dishwashers, Salad Prep, and Experienced Line Cooks. Apply at Ray’s Place 135 Franklin Ave. Kent, Ohio
All real estate advertised herein is subject to the Federal Fair Housing Act, which makes it illegal to advertise “any preference, limitation or discrimination because of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin, or intention to make any such preference, limitation or discrimination.” State and local laws forbid discrimination based on factors in addition to those protected under federal law. We will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate that is in violation of the law. All persons are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised are available on an equal opportunity basis. If you feel you have been wrongfully denied housing or discriminated against, call the FHAA at 330-253-2450 for more information.
FALL 2018 Luxury 4/5 bedroom 2 bath house LESS THAN 1 MILE FROM CAMPUS and on the bus route!! Beautifully remodeled inside with very spacious rooms and big closests, large deck, your own laundry room, newer appliances, and more. Last one we have. 385/mo per bedroom includes all utilities except electric and cable/ internet. 330-552-7032
Houses for spring semester and 2018-2019 school year. 2& 3 bedrooms. 330-547-1212
Leasing for fall 2018 Spacious 2,3,4,&5 bedrooms with 2-3 full baths. Great condition, A/C, washer/dryer, dishwasher, deck, garage. Starting at $350 a room. 330-808-4045
LEASING NOW FOR FALL 2018 Leases available in August. Close to campus. 2 and 3 bedrooms. Landlord pays heat, water and trash. Good parking, central air. 330-676-9440. Photos are located at KentRosewood.com.
Kent 2 and 3 bedroom apartments. Air, appliances, carpet, heat and water paid. No pets or Section 8. $660 and $810. Short term available. 330-6775577
Kent Apartments The places to stay on your way to success Studios, efficiencies, 1 bedrooms, 2 bedrooms and 3 bedrooms Check us out at our website www.kentapartments.com Call us @ 1-888-999-1596
For rent, 4-5 bedroom town homes for Fall 2018. Newly Remodeled, 2.5 baths, washer, dryer and dishwasher included. Sign early get a free months rent. Please call 330-685-9622 or text 330-770-2197 for more details.
FALL 2018: 2 Bedrooms Available in Luxury 5 bedroom 2 bath house LESS THAN 1 MILE FROM CAMPUS and on the bus route!! Remodeled inside, very spacious rooms, big closets, large deck, your own laundry room, newer appliances, and more. Join current group of 3 girls. 385/mo per bedroom includes all utilities except electric and cable/internet. 330-552-7032
Kent Studio, 1, 2, & 3 BR Full Apartments Newly Remodeled Avail Pet Friendly Across From Kent State Swimming Pool Fitness Center Call Today Cable & Wifi Included 330-673-8778
Leasing for Fall ‘18-’19 Large 1 Br utilities incl Parking 1 blk from campus Call to schedule tour 330-678-3047 www.buckeyeparksmgmt.com
Leasing for Fall ‘18-’19 Lg Efficiencies Utilities Incl Parking 1 blk from campus Call to schedule tour 330-678-3047 www.buckeyeparksmgmt.com
Leasing for Fall. Beautiful, newly redecorated 2 bedroom and 3 bedroom duplexes with attached garage. One block from KSU. $400 per student. 330-687-6122.
Leasing for Fall ‘18-’19 2Br House Extra rooms! Parking 1 blk from campus Call to schedule tour 330-678-3047 www.buckeyeparksmgmt.com
Fall ‘18-‘19 Large 7 & 9 bedroom Rooming House, perfect location One block off campus and downtown 330-815-3523
SQUIRREL TALES
Leasing for Fall ‘18-’19 Spacious 3 & 4Br Brownstones On campus busline W/ parking 1 block from campus Call to schedule tour 330-678-3047 www.buckeyeparksmgmt.com
Kent, open August, licensed student housing, 3 bd halfhouse, bath, LR, kit, private entrance and porch. $425/mo per bedroom or discount $1,200/ mo + util. 1 year lease, no pets. 330-697-7771 OR 330-3572101. Also Two 1 bd apartments $450/mo available August.
5 bedroom 2.5 bath. All appliances and washer/dryer. $460 a month/per person. All utilities and cable/internet included. 2 bedroom 1 bath $750+ See JLCASTO.COM 330-6887040
2 BR, 1.5 bath, close to campus $880 + electric per month www.oakhavenkent.com or 330-957-3083
HOUSE Leasing for fall. A beautiful, newly redecorated two-bedroom HOUSE Washer/dryer hookup. $375 per person. 330687-6122.
SAVE $$$ Leasing for fall. A beautiful, newly redecorated 2 bedroom apartment. FREE gas, water, garbage pickup. $300/person. 330-687-6122.
HOW TO ADVERTISE For information about placing a Display ad please call our offices at 330-672-2586 or visit us at 205 Franklin Hall, Kent State University. Our office hours are from 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. Classified ads can be placed by fax at (330) 672-4880, over the phone at (330) 672-2586 or by e-mail at ads@ksustudentmedia.com. If you fax or e-mail an ad, please be sure to include run dates, payment info and a way for us to contact you.
READ & REUSE OR RECYCLE ME! DIY WORKSPACE, CLEAN YOUR GLASS, MAKE HATS OR FIND THIS SYMBOL
REBUS
KentWired.com 11
ANATOMY ACADEMY Are you looking for a “low-stakes” medical school experience? This program invites people interested in medicine to learn about anatomy through: Dissection of Human Cadavers • Imaging Lab Sessions • Viewing Cadaveric Brains, Spinal Cords and Organs • Lectures and Group Discussions • Cased-based Clinical Vignettes
Session I: June 18-29, 2018 • Session II: July 9-20, 2018
MAY 4, 2018, 7:30 p.m. MAC Center
Register and learn more at neomed-anatomy-academy-july.eventbrite.com
Legendary journalist and news anchor Dan Rather has reported on many monumental events. Mr. Rather will reflect on his experiences as a journalist, news anchor and multimedia producer. Presidential Speaker Series events are free and open to the public. However, a ticket is required for admission. Two tickets can be requested per email address.
For free tickets and event information, visit www.kent.edu/president/speakerseries. Kent State University, Kent State and KSU are registered trademarks and may not be used without permission. Kent State University is committed to attaining excellence through the recruitment and retention of a diverse student body and workforce. 18-IMPACT-00454-041
KENTATSTATE DAY PROGRESSIVE FIELD SATURDAY, APRIL 28
• Warm-up at Flannery’s - 12-3 p.m. • Pre-Game Party – 2-4 p.m. Free Co-Branded Block C Hat for the first 1,000 attendees
• Indians vs. Seattle Mariners – 4:10 p.m. Family Deck ($29), Upper Box ($33), Lower Box ($46) or Club Outfield ($64) seats are available Purchase by April 20.
W W W. K E N T. E D U/C L E V E L A N D I N D I A N S Use offer code: Kent
K EN T S TAT E UNI V ERSI T Y, K EN T S TAT E A ND KS U A RE REGIS T ERED T R A DEM A RKS A ND M AY NOT BE U SED W I T HO U T PERMIS SION. K EN T S TAT E UNI V ERSI T Y IS C OMMI T T ED TO AT TA INING E XCELLENCE T HRO U GH T HE RECRUI T MEN T A ND RE T EN T ION OF A DI V ERSE S T UDEN T B ODY A ND WORK FORCE. 16-EHHS-0 0 4 3 3-0 0 7