The
Kent Stater
@KentWired
THE INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER | MONDAY, JANUARY 29, 2018
Busted for booze
Reports of residence hall drinking decline 2
White nationalist threatens to sue Kent State
3
Distinguished journalist Dan Rather to speak on May 4
4
Page 6
Medical marijuana makes its way to Portage County
2 The Kent Stater
Monday, January 29, 2018
NEWS
White nationalist threatens to sue Kent State Ben Orner Enterprise Producer for TV2 Cameron Padgett, the booker for white nationalist Richard Spencer’s college tour, is threatening to sue Kent State University, according to a document from Padgett’s lawyer, Kyle Bristow, emailed to the university Friday. Two weeks ago, Padgett requested use of the Student Multicultural Center on May 4 to hold a speaking event with Spencer and fellow white nationalist Mike Peinovich in order to talk about their alt-right political views, the left-wing group Antifa and the 1970 Kent State shooting. This year would mark the 48th anniversary of May 4, when members of the National Guard opened fire on a crowd of demonstrators. They killed four and wounded nine others. Kent State responded to Padgett and said they were “unable to accommodate” his request because university policy states outside speakers “must be sponsored by a registered student organization or university department.” The letter, titled, “Cameron Padgett v. Beverly J. Warren,” claims the policy is unconstitutional. An exception to the policy is “social or athletic exhibitions or events,” which the letter claims is also unconstitutional because it establishes a “prerequisite of having a registered student organization sponsor events for some forms of speech, but not others.” The letter argues this “content-based
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discrimination ... cannot occur in a limited public forum which KSU has created by permitting its Student Multicultural Center to be rented by the public.” It claims the policy “is clearly designed to suppress controversial political speech.” The letter also said Bristow believes Kent State denied Padgett’s request because “political opponents of Mr. Padgett became aware of the same and made a fuss about it.” Spencer told KentWired he believes the university denied the request because it is afraid of violent protests by Antifa. The Southern Poverty Law Center, a wellknown U.S. civil rights group, considers Bristow a white nationalist. Bristow has a history of suing universities when they denied Padgett or Spencer to speak on campus. He has filed federal lawsuits against universities like Ohio State, Penn State and Michigan State, arguing the universities violated the First Amendment. Most recently, Michigan State settled its lawsuit on Jan. 18 and will allow Spencer to speak in a campus auditorium during its spring break on March 5. Bristow’s letter said Kent State has until Feb. 9 at 5 p.m. to let Padgett rent the Student Multicultural Center or the suit will be filed in federal court. “If KSU will not permit my client to rent a room on its campus,” Bristow’s letter reads, “I imagine a federal judge who is educated in the law and who has sworn to defend the Constitution of the United States will.” Contact Ben Orner at borner@kent.edu.
In this Dec. 6, 2016 file photo, Richard Spencer speaks at the Texas A&M University campus in College Station, Texas. Twitter has restored Spencer's personal account less than a month after the social media company suspended it along with other accounts belonging to prominent members of the so-called "alt-right" movement. The company told Spencer that it suspended five of his accounts on Nov. 15 for violating a rule against creating multiple accounts with overlapping uses. David J. Phillip / The Kent Stater
If KSU will not permit my client to rent a room on its campus, I imagine a federal judge who is educated in the law and who has sworn to defend the Constitution of the United States will.”
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Distinguished journalist Dan Rather to speak on May 4 Lydia Taylor Editor Journalist Dan Rather will speak at Kent State Friday, May 4 for the Presidential Speaker Series, according to a Kent State press release. “His presentation is in collaboration with the College of Communication and Information and coincides with annual May 4 Commemoration events and the dedication of the May 4 site as a National Landmark,” the press release said. This year marks the 48th anniversary of May 4, when Ohio National Guardsmen fired into a crowd of demonstrators protesting the Vietnam War, killing four and wounding nine others. Rather covered a variety of events, including 9/11, Watergate, the assassination of John F. Kennedy and the collapse of the Berlin Wall. He joined CBS News in the 1960s and
eventually went on to replace Walter Cronkite as the CBS Evening News anchor in 1981. Rather also worked in radio. In 2012, Rather received the Edward R. Murrow Lifetime Achievement Award, which honors those who have “fostered the growth, quality, and positive image of public radio,” according to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. “The ripple effect of the May 4 shootings at Kent State played a part in Mr. Rather's coverage of many key events throughout the early 1970s and the end of the Vietnam War,” the press release said. The location and time of the event will be announced at a later date. The university paid Rather $46,000, including lodging and airfare, according to a records request. Contact Lydia Taylor at ltaylo49@kent.edu.
A student passes through the Kent State May 4 Memorial on the evening of May 3, 2016. Clint Datchuk / The Kent Stater
Stewart Volland
4 The Kent Stater
Monday, January 29, 2018
Medical marijuana makes its way to Portage County, but not yet to Kent Campus Laina Yost Enterprise Reporter A medical marijuana dispensary is expected to come to Ravenna in September, but Kent State will continue its smoke-free campus campaign against all smoking, including that of medical marijuana. A number of Kent State students need marijuana to medicate, but they may not be able to use it on campus for some time. Vice President of Students Affairs Shay Little said she advises students to continue to follow the current smoking and tobacco ban in place while Kent State monitors the implementation of Ohio’s new law. “With any policy or procedure, we’re always balancing the institutional mission and vision and the priorities of our campus environment,” Little said. The bill passed the Ohio Senate in May 2016 and took effect in September of the same year. It is being implemented by the Ohio Department of Commerce, the Ohio Board of Pharmacy and the Ohio Medical Board. Those who need medical marijuana are charged an annual registration fee of $50. Emily Grubb, a social geography major, legally uses cannabis to medicate and currently has to take the six- to seven-hour trip to Michigan for medication. Grubb, who lives and medicates off campus, said it would be hard to tell if students chose to use medical marijuana on campus due to low levels of
tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which is the chemical responsible for most of marijuana’s mind-altering effects, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. It is still unclear if out-of-state students will be allowed to receive medical marijuana from dispensaries in Ohio. Grant Thomas, the education and outreach coordinator at the Ohio Board of Pharmacy, said it is required for Ohio to act in good faith with other states and reach out to them. It is not required that states set reciprocity rules. As of now, those reciprocities haven’t started because there are no current dispensaries in the state. Grubb said the largest potential problem with students medicating on campus is the stigma behind the use of drugs. “The greatest issue I have run into, however, has been fear,” Grubb said. “I, like everyone else, grew up with anti-drug programs in schools that compared marijuana to heroin and cocaine, so to take it as medicine when I was told my entire life that it would ruin my life — that can be a bit weird.” Adonis Zaraa, a senior medical technology major and patient advocate at Compassionate Cleveland, said advocates are working with university officials and law enforcement to help educate communities about medical marijuana. “Medical marijuana patients are highly motivated to improve their functioning despite their medical conditions,” Zaraa said. “Because of their severe medical issues, KSU should try their best to accommodate students and their
treatments — including qualifying students with statements of Affirmative Defense right now.” Randy Davis, the president of Students for Sensible Drug Policy, said the stigma around medical marijuana is mainly due to the lack of education surrounding the issue. Davis said the organization’s goal is to teach students how to understand and use drugs like medical marijuana in a responsible manner. He encouraged all students to follow the university’s current procedures and be respectful of its rules. Once registration begins in September of this year, medical marijuana users can get a statement of Affirmative Defense from physicians, allowing them to legally medicate with marijuana. According to the Ohio law that passed, users can only medicate using oils, tinctures, plant material, edibles and patches. Ohio’s law also created a particular set of conditions in which students will be authorized to use medical marijuana. Some of those include Crohn's Disease, post-traumatic stress disorder, HIV and chronic pain. Zaraa said students often believe using medical marijuana could affect college performance. “Medical marijuana patients attending college are law-abiding and valuable members of our community, who will earn their degrees and go on to become successful teachers, scientists, business-owners, leaders and so on,” Zaraa said. Contact Laina Yost at lyost5@kent.edu.
Monday, January 29, 2018
KentWired.com 5
SPORTS
Walker, Zabo fuel second-half comeback as Flashes earn first MAC road win Cameron Hoover Sports Editor Down by nine points at halftime at Central Michigan’s McGuirk Arena Saturday afternoon, Kent State looked like it was heading down a familiar road. The Flashes showed spurts in that first half, but a combination of poor perimeter defense and star players like Jaylin Walker struggling to find their touch saw the Chippewas enter the break with a 41-32 lead. Entering the game, Kent State was winless in its last six road games, including three MidAmerican Conference contests. Going against a Central Michigan team that entered the game 8-2 at home, the Flashes looked to be headed to another road defeat. Jaylin Walker had other ideas. The junior guard made two wide open three-pointers from the same spot near the right corner to cut the Central Michigan lead to 47-45 with 16:04 left. A minute later, a layup from senior guard Kevin Zabo tied the game, and a pullup jump shot in transition from Walker put the Flashes on the high side for the first time since early in the first half. The game went back and forth until a step-back three-pointer from Zabo with 1:27 left put the Flashes up seven points. Kent State (11-10, 5-3 MAC) made six free throws in the final minute of the game to seal the win, beating the Chippewas (13-8, 2-6 MAC), 84-76, for the second time this season. The win was the Flashes’ first road win since Nov. 29 at Norfolk State and the team’s first road win in the MidAmerican Conference. “It’s good for the team,” coach Rob Senderoff said. “To have a good team in this league, you have to win some games on the road. It’s great to get it, and we have some others coming up where hopefully we can look at this and use it as a learning experience to help us get some more when we play on the road coming up.”
As has been the case many times this season, Walker and Zabo carried most of the scoring load for the Flashes. Zabo led the team in scoring for the fifth straight game, dropping in 22 points on 9-for-17 shooting, adding four steals. Zabo has now scored 20 or more points in five straight games, averaging 19.4 points per game in conference play. “(Zabo) didn’t have a great start, but he was able to keep his head and his confidence,” Senderoff said. “For us as a team, that’s part of what we need. We need everybody to contribute.” Walker followed closely behind Zabo with 21 points of his own, including five three-pointers and eight rebounds, a season high. The game was his first time over 20 points since scoring 26 in the Flashes’ last meeting with the Chippewas, an 85-69 home win on Jan. 6. Senderoff said the team’s collective effort was more important to the win than any one player’s performance. “The biggest difference between us now and earlier in the year is that we were so dependent on (Walker) playing well that when he didn’t, … it really hurt us,” Senderoff said. “We have a lot more guys playing well now and playing more consistenly.” Junior center Adonis De La Rosa pitched in with his sixth double-double of the season, making all eight of his free throws en route to 14 points, also pulling down 10 rebounds. Junior guard Shawn Roundtree led Central Michigan with 17 points and five assists, while senior forward Luke Meyer made three of five three-pointers en route to a 15-point performance. The Flashes return to the court for a key MAC East matchup at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 30 at the M.A.C. Center as they host division-leader Buffalo (16-5, 8-0 MAC). Contact Cameron Hoover at choove14@kent.edu.
Kent State junior guard Jalen Avery drives to the hoop against Xavier freshman guard Elias Harden during Kent State's 96-70 loss Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2017. Nathaniel Bailey / The Kent Stater
6 The Kent Stater
Monday, January 29, 2018
Monday, January 29, 2018
KentWired.com 7
COVER On the cover:
University sees drop in on-campus drinking incidents, dorm parties point of concern
A pint of beer sits on the bar at Zephyr Pub Saturday. Alexander Wadley / The Kent Stater
People fill Venice Cafe Saturday for a night of drinking and live music. Alexander Wadley / The Kent Stater
Alex Cossin, Miranda Kiner and Lydia Taylor Staff Writer, Staff Writer and Editor During Kent State’s 2016-17 academic school year, 131 documented drinking incidents occured on campus — 2 percent less than the 2015-2016 academic year. Out of those incidents, 740 total students were reported. Despite the decrease in drinking cases, the university saw an increase specifically in the amount of parties in the residence halls. Brian Hellwig, the assistant director for Residential Communities, defines a party as consisting of three or more people. “People were getting intoxicated to the point where they were harming themselves,” Hellwig said. “Seven or eight years ago, we implemented the policy where we could call the police for all known parties.” Even though some halls allow alcohol, many don’t. Once someone is caught illegally drinking in a dorm room, the resident assistant has to decide whether to involve the Kent State University Police Department. Hellwig said the police are called one-third of the time. “Any time you call the police for alcohol parties and they cite someone, they’re going to be documented and automatically referred to student conduct,” Hellwig said. “When they’re cited by the police, they go through the student conduct process and also the court process.” The student conduct process varies from person to person. Hellwig said the university
usually gives the sanction to the courts, and if it’s a first offense, the offender goes through the diversion program. The diversion program requires first-time drug or alcohol offenders to stay clean for six months, complete 20 hours of community service, pay a fine and go to an alcohol workshop. As long as the offender stays clean for six months with no violations, the offense can be voided from their record, Hellwig said. “Alcohol is always an issue, but it’s not a huge concern,” Hellwig said. “When students meet with their hall director, they’re going to have a conversation about the impact their actions are having on the community and find ways to avoid that impact.” The three busiest days of the week for alcohol-related incidents during 2016-17 were Saturday, with 66 incidents; Thursday, with 26 incidents; and Friday, with 21 incidents. Halloween fell on a Saturday last year, and 11 of the 66 incidents recorded on Saturdays occurred Halloween night. “Over the past couple of years, especially around Halloween, it has been a lot tamer than in the years past, so we’re hoping to contribute that to just educating people,” said Tricia Knoles, the community resource officer of KSUPD. Student conduct isn’t the only consequence facing college students when it comes to alcohol consumption. Binge drinking is the most common alcohol use disorder (AUD) among ages 18-24, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This is when
someone drinks more than five alcoholic beverages in two hours and makes a person’s blood alcohol concentration (BAC) rise above 0.08, the legal limit. Symptoms include drinking more than intended on multiple days throughout the week or lacking the control to stop. William Lechner, an assistant professor and expert in alcohol and nicotine addiction, said it’s easier for someone in the 18-24 range to have a diagnosis of AUD. “A lot of students or (younger people who) tend to go out for drinks, end up drinking more than intended. … All you need is a few of those symptoms to have an AUD,” Lechner said. Clinicians diagnose an individual for an AUD based on three levels: mild, moderate or severe alcoholism. Through a series of questions from the Diagnostic Statistical Manual — a guide listing every mental disorder’s description, symptoms and other criteria — the individual has to answer either yes or no. Two to three symptoms need to be present for mild AUD, four to five symptoms for moderate AUD and six or more for severe. One in four college students report poor academic performance from binge drinking, including missing classes and low scores on exams, according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA). In order to stop the progession of binge drinking and other issues, the most common sanction the university requires is alcohol eCHECKUP. It’s an online educational
workshop that lasts about 30 minutes. It details the risks and behaviors associated with social alcoholic drinking. “When (students) do get in trouble, we try to have an educational conversation with them,” Hellwig said. “It’s unrealistic to expect a student to never drink again, so when they do drink, we want to have that conversation to make sure that they’re making the right choices and keeping safe.” Contact Alex Cossin at acossin@kent.edu. Contact Miranda Kiner at mkiner@kent.edu. Contact Lydia Taylor at ltaylo49@kent.edu.
6 The Kent Stater
Monday, January 29, 2018
Monday, January 29, 2018
KentWired.com 7
COVER On the cover:
University sees drop in on-campus drinking incidents, dorm parties point of concern
A pint of beer sits on the bar at Zephyr Pub Saturday. Alexander Wadley / The Kent Stater
People fill Venice Cafe Saturday for a night of drinking and live music. Alexander Wadley / The Kent Stater
Alex Cossin, Miranda Kiner and Lydia Taylor Staff Writer, Staff Writer and Editor During Kent State’s 2016-17 academic school year, 131 documented drinking incidents occured on campus — 2 percent less than the 2015-2016 academic year. Out of those incidents, 740 total students were reported. Despite the decrease in drinking cases, the university saw an increase specifically in the amount of parties in the residence halls. Brian Hellwig, the assistant director for Residential Communities, defines a party as consisting of three or more people. “People were getting intoxicated to the point where they were harming themselves,” Hellwig said. “Seven or eight years ago, we implemented the policy where we could call the police for all known parties.” Even though some halls allow alcohol, many don’t. Once someone is caught illegally drinking in a dorm room, the resident assistant has to decide whether to involve the Kent State University Police Department. Hellwig said the police are called one-third of the time. “Any time you call the police for alcohol parties and they cite someone, they’re going to be documented and automatically referred to student conduct,” Hellwig said. “When they’re cited by the police, they go through the student conduct process and also the court process.” The student conduct process varies from person to person. Hellwig said the university
usually gives the sanction to the courts, and if it’s a first offense, the offender goes through the diversion program. The diversion program requires first-time drug or alcohol offenders to stay clean for six months, complete 20 hours of community service, pay a fine and go to an alcohol workshop. As long as the offender stays clean for six months with no violations, the offense can be voided from their record, Hellwig said. “Alcohol is always an issue, but it’s not a huge concern,” Hellwig said. “When students meet with their hall director, they’re going to have a conversation about the impact their actions are having on the community and find ways to avoid that impact.” The three busiest days of the week for alcohol-related incidents during 2016-17 were Saturday, with 66 incidents; Thursday, with 26 incidents; and Friday, with 21 incidents. Halloween fell on a Saturday last year, and 11 of the 66 incidents recorded on Saturdays occurred Halloween night. “Over the past couple of years, especially around Halloween, it has been a lot tamer than in the years past, so we’re hoping to contribute that to just educating people,” said Tricia Knoles, the community resource officer of KSUPD. Student conduct isn’t the only consequence facing college students when it comes to alcohol consumption. Binge drinking is the most common alcohol use disorder (AUD) among ages 18-24, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This is when
someone drinks more than five alcoholic beverages in two hours and makes a person’s blood alcohol concentration (BAC) rise above 0.08, the legal limit. Symptoms include drinking more than intended on multiple days throughout the week or lacking the control to stop. William Lechner, an assistant professor and expert in alcohol and nicotine addiction, said it’s easier for someone in the 18-24 range to have a diagnosis of AUD. “A lot of students or (younger people who) tend to go out for drinks, end up drinking more than intended. … All you need is a few of those symptoms to have an AUD,” Lechner said. Clinicians diagnose an individual for an AUD based on three levels: mild, moderate or severe alcoholism. Through a series of questions from the Diagnostic Statistical Manual — a guide listing every mental disorder’s description, symptoms and other criteria — the individual has to answer either yes or no. Two to three symptoms need to be present for mild AUD, four to five symptoms for moderate AUD and six or more for severe. One in four college students report poor academic performance from binge drinking, including missing classes and low scores on exams, according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA). In order to stop the progession of binge drinking and other issues, the most common sanction the university requires is alcohol eCHECKUP. It’s an online educational
workshop that lasts about 30 minutes. It details the risks and behaviors associated with social alcoholic drinking. “When (students) do get in trouble, we try to have an educational conversation with them,” Hellwig said. “It’s unrealistic to expect a student to never drink again, so when they do drink, we want to have that conversation to make sure that they’re making the right choices and keeping safe.” Contact Alex Cossin at acossin@kent.edu. Contact Miranda Kiner at mkiner@kent.edu. Contact Lydia Taylor at ltaylo49@kent.edu.
8 The Kent Stater
Monday, January 29, 2018
OPINION
Hate speech? No, thanks.
JOSEPH McGRELLIS’ VIEW
Drew Taylor
It was disappointing to see “white nationalist” Richard Spencer try to reserve a space to give a speech at Kent State on May 4. Spencer, who has an infamous past, was denied by the school. He responded to the refusal by threatening to sue the university as he has in the past with institutions such as the University of Florida, Michigan State University and Ohio State University. Kent State did the right thing denying Spencer the chance to speak, as he brings nothing of educational value. His move is straight out of his playbook, and we have seen time and time again that his gimmick is not worth the trouble. Spencer often claims that when a university denies him from speaking on its campus, it is infringing on his First Amendment right to freedom of speech. This is a view many of his supporters share and even some of his opponents agree. There tend to be many people who are gullible enough to believe this is an argument over free speech. In reality, it is an argument over safety to the Kent State community. While one of his most widely known views is his denouncement of a supposedly violent left-wing group called Antifa, his supporters have shown to be violent at his own events. His speech at the University of Florida is a great example. While a large group of people peacefully protested, three of his supporters fired shots at those present in the demonstrations. The shooters were later arrested and charged for attempted homicide. Security for this event cost the University of Florida $600,000, and still, its community was not safe. Another time where violence took place at one of his speeches was this summer in Charlottesville, Virginia. The rally made national headlines when a white supremacist drove his car through a group of protesters, killing one. Spencer was a featured speaker at the event. On top of all of this, there is the fact that Spencer brings no educational value to a place of learning. He is a professional internet troll whose goal is to make people angry in hopes of bringing more attention to himself. Continuing to give him a platform lets him do just that. From making Nazi salutes at speeches to claiming to support abortion in order to lower the number of minorities in America, his goal is to make
you irritated, and he often succeeds. Why else would he specifically want to speak at Kent State on May 4? Even more obvious was his request of the Student Multicultural Center as the venue for the event. May 4 is clearly a sensitive day in the Kent State community. It is a part of his gimmick as a professional agitator.
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If you want to learn more about him, there are hundreds of interviews and profiles of him on the internet. There is no need to invite him to speak here. Drew Taylor is a columnist. Contact him at dtaylo78@kent.edu.
From making Nazi salutes at speeches to claiming to support abortion in order to lower the number of minorities in America, his goal is to make you irritated, and he often succeeds.” – Drew Taylor
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.
Monday, January 29, 2018
Can democracy survive wealth inequality? Joseph Langan Nearly one in three people live in poverty, but we can imagine a world where no one does. Poverty cannot exist without injustice. If we eliminate unfairness, we can solve the most important issue of our society. It may sound utopian, and it won’t be quick or easy, of course, but it is possible. Any institution that is made by humans and comprised of humans can be fixed by humans. Like all problems, the first step is to identify the issue. Oxfam released a study on wealth inequality; the results are alarming. A particularly scary statistic is that 82 percent of all wealth created in 2017 went to the richest 1 percent. Meanwhile, the nearly 4 billion people living in the world’s bottom half of the economic pyramid received none of the new wealth at all. Reagan’s “trickle-down” economics is not only a misguided myth and a failure, but the reality looks more like a vacuum sucking up the poorest population’s wealth straight to the top. “Our economies are rewarding
wealth rather than the hard work of millions of people,” said Winnie Byanyima, Oxfam’s executive director. Tax dodging is a significant cause of the rapidly growing wealth disparity, not just in America, but throughout the world. Wealth alone isn’t an issue, but when unfathomable sums are hoarded by the very few, it creates two main problems that threaten to tear the fabric of society apart. First, the wealth disparity is so great that billions of people’s human rights are not being met. In America, one of the richest countries in the world, millions of citizens cannot afford basic necessities like housing, education and healthcare. Billions of people around the world have it far worse, where even drinkable water is a luxury. Second, the wealth disparity creates an elite class of ultra-rich billionaires that render democracy obsolete. Lobbying from oligarchs, non-governmental organizations and private interests is the oil that greases the wheel in our legislative system. The Koch brothers alone are worth over $100 billion and funnel billions annually into our political
process. Make no mistake: Democracy cannot exist in a system where the gap between the richest and the poorest is this great. All new wealth generated is being expunged from the economy before the workers who produced it have a chance to see the fruit of their labors. Trump’s tax bill is not helping the middle class. America’s working class is being left behind to fall between the cracks of a financial abyss, and into debt, drug abuse and homelessness. To solve the existential threat of poverty, we must reallocate the new wealth into education, healthcare and jobs for young people. More than 90 percent of billionaires are male, and like the pharaohs of ancient Egypt who saw themselves as divine, today’s richest billionaires are remaking the world in their image. Can we have a sustainable society if half of the human species can barely afford food and clean water? Can we have a healthy democracy when eight people have as much wealth as the bottom half combined? Joseph Langan is a columnist. Contact him at jlangan3@kent.edu.
Life sucks, so let’s laugh a little more Andrew Atkins You know what? I’m just going to say it. Life sucks. Anybody who knows me knows I’m (more than) a little overdramatic. And for those of you who don’t know me, now you have that information packed into your head. Store that away for later, or never use it again. It’s up to you. The point is, no, life doesn’t actually suck. But sometimes it has a way of doling out senseless punishment for no apparent rhyme or reason. Everything is not, in fact, arbitrary, but the will of
the universe seems to act in a way that at first blush would appear so. Like I said — overdramatic. But as I was saying, it was Thursday night and each day seemed to have one more fresh hell ready and roaring and hot for me to face. I was showering, trying to calm down and clear my head, when I felt a fresh round of anxiety hit me. I started to hyperventilate a little bit, choking on the steam that filled the pod I was in. I grabbed at the shower handle, turning the temperature down and letting the cool water shock my nervous system. As the water washed over me, I found myself laughing. I was relieved. Or maybe I was hysterical. Potato, potato. The point is that I finally realized that after the week I had, the only thing I could do was laugh.
See, taking ourselves seriously only does so much. It’s great for getting through the work day, but when you get home, it does little else except drain you. So we should laugh. Beth Dreher, for Reader’s Digest, notes that laughter improves memory, blood flow, immunity, blood sugar regulation and sleep. So please, go on today. Find something that makes you laugh. Go out and seek something that will bring a smile to your face despite every unfortunate mishap you find yourself inevitably bumbling into. Because sometimes, that’s honestly all we can do. Ha ha. C’est la vie. Andrew Atkins is a columnist. Contact him at aatkins5@kent.edu.
KentWired.com 9
NUMBERS TO KNOW:
20 Federer dominates, wins another Australian Open
Swiss tennis player Roger Federer made history once again, winning his 20th Grand Slam in Australia after defeating Croatian Marin Cilic in five sets.
4
Another shooting with fatalities in PA
At least four people were killed in Melcroft, Pennsylvania, after a shooting took place in a local car wash. Relatives of the victims said the shooting was the result of a domestic dispute.
Cheers&Jeers
Cheers to ... strong feet. A Virginia man made history and entered the Guinness World Records after walking barefoot across 120 feet of Lego bricks.
Jeers to ... cheap Nutella. What sounded like a dream turned into a nightmare quickly. A chain of French grocery stores offering discounted Nutella saw a spike in brawls and chaos last Thursday.
10 The Kent Stater
Monday, January 29, 2018
Kent students pick up camera, make vlogs Dylan Reynolds Feature Writer When Shawnize Burns uploads a YouTube video, she can expect anywhere from 60 to 6,000 views. These numbers are light-years away from the views earned by major vloggers, but Burns, a senior sociology major, said she isn’t in it for fame. “My supporters and my friends, they keep me motivated,” Burns said. “They get on my back too, like ‘When are we getting a new video from you?’” Her channel — Shawnzy B — includes videos ranging from makeup tutorials to lifestyle vlogs. Vlogs, or video blogs, are an increasingly popular form of firstperson storytelling. “It started out just showing my makeup and stuff, and then later on it branched out into being a creative outlet,” Burns said. Burns is one of many Kent State students who are building a following on the videosharing site. Having a YouTube channel was a longtime goal for senior fashion merchandising major Kelly Fiorentino, who started making lifestyle and beauty videos in 2015. “I've watched YouTube videos since middle school, and I always thought it would be so fun to do that myself,” Fiorentino wrote in an email, adding that “it's a fun way to document my life to look back on years later.” In Fiorentino’s latest video, “Moving to Italy!,” she says goodbye to family and navigates the airport before boarding a plane to study abroad. The video is a candid firstperson look at her day — a hallmark of the
Shawnzy B (Shawnize Burns) walking out of White Hall with her friend. Courtesy of Shawnize Burns.
video format. GlobalWebIndex reported in 2016 that 44 percent of internet users watch vlogs each month. Among the college-aged demographic of internet users, that number is over 50 percent. “[Vlogging] is a form of selfexpression,” said Paul Haridakis, a
Kelly Fiorentino in the airport before flying to Italy. Courtesy of Kelly Fiorentino’s Youtube channel.
communication studies professor. “Every technology we have, we figure out ways to use it to express ourselves.” Haridakis believes more people are making vlogs because of that desire for self-expression coupled with easier access to video technology. “We like to look into other people’s lives; vlogs are an example of it,” Haridakis said. “But if you think about it, we also like to do it with reality TV shows. We love to see shows about people who end up in kind of a trainwreck. That’s been a general attraction in media for viewers.” With many YouTubers’ lives playing out like reality shows, they’ve had their fair share of controversy. Ohio-born vlogger Logan Paul faced backlash this month for uploading a video with footage of an apparent suicide victim. Paul has taken down the video and was removed from YouTube’s premium advertising service. Senior communication studies major Jada Jenkins, who makes beauty vlogs, believes Paul’s behavior was caused by a desire for fame. “I felt like that’s another part of the whole ‘doing it for subscribers’ thing,” Jenkins said. “I think a thing that is becoming more current with YouTube and social media in general is that people just
want the views and they want the money that comes from it.” Jenkins, known on YouTube as Frosty Jay, said she is motivated to create videos by friends and family, not views. “I have friends and family I don’t see often, so by showing my hair tips and my makeup tips through video, they can just pause and play as much as they would like to and learn those skills I learned,” Jenkins said. Getting the channel started was a struggle for Burns, but now the only difficulty is balancing filming with her college schedule. “When I first started vlogging, it was weird holding the camera up and talking to it while people are looking at you like ‘What is she doing? Who is she talking to?’” Burns said. “But I started to tune them out. The hard part now is finding time to actually record because of lives and school.” Burns hopes the Shawnzy B channel will surpass 1,000 subscribers soon and continue growing from there. “I just want to be more out-there, get more exposure (and) just build it up,” Burns said. “I don’t have to be a big YouTube star. It would be nice if I made it up there, but my goal is just to get more exposure and more views and just encourage more people.” Contact Dylan Reynolds at dreyno18@kent.edu.
Monday, January 29, 2018
CLASSIFIEDS FRANKLIN SQUARE DELI The Tastiest Sub’s In Kent One Bite & You’ll Know! Since 1983, Downtown Open Just Till 5:00, 7 days
Franklin Square Deli This Area’s #1 CUBAN Sandwich Just $6 Ð All Day Wed. Kent’s longest running DELI STYLE Restaurant. Now that your settled in, it’s time to find your way to FRANKLIN SQUARE DELI Downtown, on the main square, Daily until 5:00PM, 7 Days Short Term delivery 2-4:30
SOUP, SOUP, SOUP, CHILI, SOUP, SOUP, CHILI 35TH Year! Franklin Square Deli
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.
Come join numerous other Kent State students and be a part of our Moose family at Happy Moose Streetsboro 9436 State Route 14. Now hiring hostesses, servers, bartenders, cooks, dishwashers and food runners. Close to campus, parttime hours and great work environment. Apply online at happymoosebarandgrill.com or stop in to fill out an application.
Leasing for fall 2018 REMODELED 2,3,4,&5 bedrooms with 2-3 full baths. High quality and close to KSU. Starting $385/mo. 330-5527032
EARN $$$$ for Spring Break! Campus Bus Service is “Now Hiring” Drivers Paid training, earn your CDL and meet new people! Apply online at www. partaonline.org
Pinewood Apts. Studio and 1 BR Off Street Parking Single Story Park Like Setting Call Today 330-673-2403
Kent State Student Media is now seeking motivated students to join our office staff for up to 10 hours per week. Duties include: answering phones; taking classified orders, supply replenishment; distribution of materials throughout Franklin Hall; greeting customers, students and faculty/staff; data entry; and other duties as assigned. This position also includes a writing component. Staff member will research and write copy as assigned for special sections, sponsored content and other projects as assigned. Interested candidates should email tbongior@kent.edu for an application.
Buckeye Parks Management Serving Kent for over 30 years Now Renting for 2018-2019 August Move In Call to schedule a showing today! 330-678-3047 www.BuckeyeParksMgmt.com
Houses for spring semester and 2018-2019 school year. 2 & 3 bedrooms. 330-547-1212
Five Bedroom House for Rent $325 per student. Available July or August 2018. Call 330592-1848.
4 bedroom 2 bath, Neat and Clean $270 per month per person plus utilities. Parking available one half block from Mcgilvrey Call Nancy at (330)-472-0501
6 Bedroom 3 Bath North Lincoln 1 Block from Campus Neat and Clean $365 per month per person plus utilities. Please call Nancy at (330) 4720501.
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. 330808-4045
5 bedroom 2.5 bath. All appliances and washer/dryer. SPECIAL $390 a month/ per person. All utilities and cable/internet included. 2 bedroom 1 bath $750+ See JLCASTO.COM 330-6887040 AVAILABLE NOW. Short term leases and leases in August available. Close to campus. 2 and 3 bedrooms, details for special move-in. Landlord pays heat, water and trash. Good parking, central air. 330-6769440.
For fall. Group of females looking for roommates to share apartment on 224 South Willow St. one block from campus. 12 month lease starting August 22nd, no pets, nonsmoking house. $500 per month, includes all utilities and wireless internet. Call 330-678-6984 or email kitmyers23@yahoo.com
2 air conditioned bedrooms for rent within walking distance to campus. All utilities paid except internet and cable. Washer and dryer included. Call 330-8899865 and leave message.
Kent 2 and 3 bedroom apartments. Air, appliances, carpet, heat and water paid. No pets or Section 8. $660 and $810. Short term available. 330-677-5577
CLUMSY ACORNS
Apply Now For ‘18-’19 Large 1, 2, 3, & 4 BR Close to campus Call to schedule tour 330-678-3047 www.buckeyeparksmgmt.com
2 BR House for Rent 2018-2019 School Year Close to campus Call to set up tour 330-678-3047
Large 1 BR for Rent 2018-19 School Year Call to set up tour 330-678-30474
3 BR House for Rent 2018-19 School Year Call to set up tour 330-678-3047
Large 4 BR for Rent 2018-19 School Year Call to set up tour 330-678-3047
1, 2, or 3 bedroom apartments for rent for Fall. One block from campus. Call David 330-9030987
7 bedroom houses, great location - 1 block from campus, large bedrooms, free parking, big front porch, washer, dryer, lawn, trash and handyman service incl. $345/mo., owner pays partial util. Must have a group of 7. Call or text 330-6072569
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.
Available Fall! 2 bedroom luxury condo, near Kent State campus, full kitchen, large living room and dining room, washer/dryer in building, offstreet parking, no pets, $450 per bedroom, includes water and trash. Tennent pays for gas and electric. Will not respond to texts or emails. Call Justin 330328-1084
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.
SUDOKU
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LIFESHARE
BLOOD DRIVE KSU – Student Center Room 310 AB
Sign up online @ www. lifesharedonor.org sponsor code KSUKENT Those with appointments will be taken before walk-ins. FREE Chipotle gift card to all donors and all gifts of blood count toward LifeShare scholarships for KSU students. PHOTO ID REQUIRED
January 31 and February 1 from 1 to 7 p.m.
FAFSA in a FLASH! Get FREE hands-on assistance in completing the 2018-2019 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). We will be hosting a one-day-a-week “FAFSA in a Flash” Series every Wednesday during the hours of 5-7pm from January 24th- February 28th in University Library 333 (Kent Campus).
The format of the event is open lab, walk-in. No registration is required. Visitor parking will be available in the Student Center parking lot and validation will be provided atthe event.
What to Bring to the Workshop
@KentWired
Social Security card and driver’s license if applicable Alien Registration Card (If applicable) 2016 Federal Tax Return for student and parent (if applicable) 2016 W-2 form and other records of income Records of untaxed income received in 2016 Current bank statements and records of stocks, bonds Business or farm records (if applicable)
Questions? Contact: One Stop for Student Services First Floor University Library, 9am-5pm M-F, (330)672-6000