The Kent Stater - September 18, 2017 by The Kent Stater

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Kent Stater

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THE INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER | MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2017

KENT-FOSTERED SERVICE DOGS A breed apart Page 4

Leo + Connor

Doomsday Clock moves closer to midnight

Fall Horror: Reviews on ‘mother!’ and ‘IT’

Flashes unable to score in defensive struggle

2 The Kent Stater

Monday, September 18, 2017

‘Round Town Music Festival brings local artists to Kent Kassandra Kaczmarek Arts and Entertainment Reporter

at the festival together. Mayfield played as a solo artist in the past. He grew up homeschooled in a band with his family. “The music is spread all around in a different environment,” Mayfield said. In previous years, the festival had Rock & Roll performers who are in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. This year DenZon and the Road Doggz performed with Joe Vitale Jr. and Sr. at Water Street

Warm weather greeted the ‘Round Town Music Festival on Friday in downtown Kent. Hosted by the Crooked River Arts Fine Arts Council, festival featured 38 acts at over 30 venues in many downtown businesses. “(The festival is) an annual musical cornucopia that is all free, where people can hop around town and see all different kinds of of music,” said Bob Burford, who is the co-founder of Crooked Arts Council. Artist Gretchen Pleuss played a two-hour set at BAKED in the Village Cafe. Pleuss said getting to see all of her friends play, as well as the Kent communities appreciation for local music, are some of the reasons she keeps coming back. “The festival is unique because it utilizes all of the spaces around Kent, such as local businesses and cafes, not just typical venues,” Pleuss said. David Mayfield and Abby Rose of the band Cave Twins said it was their first year performing

Rich Patterson of Kent, Ohio, listens as Gretchen Pluess of Akron plays inside BAKED in the Village Cafe on Friday. Pluess was one of dozens of artists performing in downtown Kent for the ‘Round Town Music Festival. Carter Adams / The Kent Stater

TheKent

Stater 240 FRANKLIN HALL KENT STATE UNIVERSITY KENT, OHIO 44242 NEWSROOM 330-672-2584

Tavern. Burford said Vitale Sr. has performed with popular bands such as The Eagles and Crosby, Stills & Nash in the past. Burford said the only complaint they received every year regarding the ‘Round Town Festival is there are “too many good things happening at the same time.” Contact Kassandra Kaczmarek at kkaczma3@kent.edu

Drummer Baba Coleman, a member of Ka De Dunna, plays at Empire in downtown Kent as part of the ‘Round Town Music Festival on Friday. Carter Adams / The Kent Stater

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Lydia Taylor ltaylo49@kent.edu

DESIGN DIRECTOR Ray Padilla rpadill2@kent.edu

OPINION EDITOR Lucas Misera lmisera@kent.edu

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Monday, September 18, 2017

Print vs. digital: millennials surveyed prefer online news Taryn Antolic Student Life Reporter The average millennial gets 74 percent of their news from online sources, according to a study done by the Media Insight Project, a joint research initiative between the American Press Institute and the AP-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. Only 4 in 10 millennials say it is important or very important to keep up with the news. Justin Armburger, a part-time journalism professor at Kent State and art director at GIE Media, Inc., attributes the lack of print media usage in students to accessibility. “You know it’s always there at your fingertips,” Armburger said. “You don’t have to really go out to a physical brick and mortar store to purchase a news publication. You know you have everything at your fingertips where you can literally learn about almost anything that you want too.” Erin Kolke, a senior integrated mathematics major, relies mostly on social media. “It’s not that I don’t care about the newspapers and print media; it’s just I don’t care enough to go and find a newspaper when I can just Google about it,” Kolke said. “Especially if it’s breaking news, people will be talking about it all over social media.” Ariana Mantas, a sophomore marketing major, prefers online news to paper because of the number of different sources in one place. “I don’t have to flip channels and

wait for the news I’m looking for. I can search it and see all of the news channels that posted it,” Mantas said. “Even on Twitter, you can see people’s different perspectives and thoughts on news.” Armburger believes the world of online news keeps journalists on their feet, but also has problems. Breaking news is rushed out onto social media to be the first source to report it. Fact checking and verification is very important in the digital age, he said.

As a student Kolke also finds herself falling victim to fake news online. She said that while it is important to stay up to date on the news, it has to be the correct news. Kolke said if she were to cross paths with print media every day, she would be more likely to pick it up, but she does not go out of her way to find it. Despite the ease of online news, Armburger stressed the importance of print news. “I would hope, however, that stu-

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CO-OP & CAREER Student Recreation and Wellness Center FAIR Noon - 4 p.m.

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dents ... or anyone younger would keep looking at print publications because there’s so much more, you know in terms of depth and nuance of actual stories that they can get from picking up a print source,” Armburger said. Contact Taryn Antolic at tantolic@kent.edu.

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Monday, September 18, 2017

Four-legged friend finds home with a purpose Rachel Duthie Features Editor Connor Wright was born 12 weeks early within the rolling cornfields of Meade County, Kentucky, 387 miles southwest of Kent. He was diagnosed with cerebral palsy, epilepsy, chronic lung disease and 17 other medical conditions which left him nonverbal and wheelchair-bound. Doctors didn’t expect him to talk, and Connor’s family worried he would never have the endurance to even get up on his own. Four years later, he did — all thanks to his service dog Leo, a golden retriever with an infectious smile, raised and trained in the heart of Kent State. “(Connor) has started saying ‘hi,’ ‘goodbye’ and some other simple words. I couldn’t believe it, he progressed so much,” said Julee Wright, his mother. “He is just so attached to this dog, they are inseparable. (Leo) is making him learn so much.” Leo, formerly known as Yamaha, is from 4 Paws for Ability, a nonprofit organization that provides trained service dogs to young chil-

Connor plays on an iPad as Leo lays next to him. Photo courtesy of Julee Wright

ON THE COVER: Connor poses for a portait with his dog, Leo. Photo courtesy of Julee Wright.

dren and veterans. Kent State is among 18 other colleges that are a part of the organization’s university program, where college students have the ability to foster puppies who are about to be service dogs. Launched in 2016, Kent State’s division of the program has garnered widespread social media attention and has sparked an influx of people interested in becoming fosters themselves. It is also the only program certified by on-campus accessibility services. “It is just so rewarding to do this, knowing that you’re helping someone be better and more independent,” said Kiera Drymalski, a senior business management major and director of programming for 4 Paws for Ability. Students foster a puppy for nine months, training them to learn basic commands while also making them comfortable to interact with the public. Unknown to most, people are allowed to pet the dogs — in fact, it’s encouraged for the healthy development of the dog. “I kind of went into it blind, not expecting where it would go,” said Shelby Hammond, a case management major who fosters a dog.

Monday, September 18, 2017

Service dogs-to-be and their volunteer foster socializers gather on campus for a group photo in the Student Center Monday, March 6, 2017. Aaron Self / The Kent Stater

“It’s kind of like raising a kid. It’s a lot of hard work but it’s rewarding to teach it a new trick or see it grow,” Hammond said. The program is also competitive. Out of 300 foster applications, only six were accepted for the Fall 2017 semester. “We are really looking for people who have had long-term commitments,” said Maxwell Newberry, a sophmore digital sciences major and president of 4 Paws for Ability. “We want people who are responsible enough to take care of the dog, and will stay with them throughout the duration of their training.” After nine months of fostering, dogs are typically ready to undergo advanced training at the 4 Paws for Ability headquarters in Xenia, Ohio. There, the dogs learn skills like identifying diabetic shock or helping people who are going through an episode of intense, paralyzing anxiety. Nighttime used to be the worst for the Wrights. Connor, who repeatedly suffers from seizures, has to be checked on every hour to make sure he is asleep and still breathing. Julee recalls a time earlier this year where she and her husband found Connor, his face a solid color of blue, motionless in his crib. “I knew that moment that I just needed a dog to help us because we were just becoming exhausted,” she said. Leo is specifically trained to bark when Connor is experiencing a seizure at night. That way, the Wrights can wake up when there is an emergency happening. Julee said Leo is worth every penny, despite the $15,000 price tag. “The relationship between them is so great,” Julee said. “He is trying to crawl more now, and Leo just lifts Connor's spirits up. The school even let Leo be in Connor’s school photo.” As for Kent State’s 4 Paws for Ability, Leo is one of many dogs they hope to change someone’s life, despite the toll it may take on some of its members. “You know, sometimes I think it’s a lot of work,” Drymalski said. “But then I remember who it is going to, and then I’m motivated all over again.” Contact Rachel Duthie at rduthie@kent.edu.

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“I knew that moment that I just needed a dog to help us because we were just becoming exhausted.” – Julee Wright Connor’s Mother

Anna Dempsey and her service dog-to-be Sullivan visit local schools to give children a chance to interact with him. “Sometimes it's hard to get him motivated,” Dempsey said. “As weird as that sounds, he just wants to play all the time and be a normal dog, but as soon as you put that vest on, it's like a switch goes on.” Aaron Self / The Kent Stater

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6 The Kent Stater

Monday, September 18, 2017

DOOMSDAY CLOCK MOVES CLOSER TO MIDNIGHT Increased worldwide nuclear tension validates decision Carlyle Addy Politics Reporter The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists said in January that the hand of the Doomsday Clock had moved 30 seconds closer to midnight. The clock now sits at 2 minutes and 30 seconds to Doomsday. Since its creation in 1945, the hand of the clock has moved several times, but it has only been less than three minutes to midnight at one other point in history: 1953, the start of the Cold War. According to the statement released by the Bulletin, this change was made to reflect threats by North Korea, as well as conflict between Pakistan and India and the statements regarding nuclear weapons by President Donald Trump. The Bullentin’s change is increasingly relevant as North Korea has fired multiple missiles over Japan in recent months, according to CNN. Sara Koopman, an assistant professor in the School of Peace and Conflict Management who grew up in Seattle, anticipated the city to be the first hit during nuclear threats as a child. Her school treated nuclear strike drills the same way they treated fire drills. “From about age nine and after, I was really scared,” Koopman said. “It created a lot of tension and worry among all of us.” The first nuclear weapons used nuclear fission, a process of splitting heavy atoms in uranium or plutonium to create energy.

The U.S. developed these weapons and used them against Japan in 1945. “That was the only type that was known until around 1950,” said Declan Keane, a physics professor at Kent State. Since the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the first and only nuclear strikes in world history, research into nuclear weapons has persisted. The Soviet Union and the U.S. both developed the hydrogen bomb around the same time in 1950, Keane said. Despite posturing on both sides, neither country fired. Keane said this posturing as reflective of the current conflict between the U.S. and North Korea. Hydrogen bombs like the one the North Korean government claims to have developed are far more powerful than the bombs dropped on Japan. This is because hydrogen bombs use a different process to release energy at the atomic level. Hydrogen is a lighter element, and the energy created in hydrogen weapons is from fusion, where two hydrogen atoms combine. It was the creation of the hydrogen bomb that drove the hand of the Doomsday Clock to two minutes to midnight in 1953. Koopman’s concerns are about nuclear weapons influencing the community surrounding testing sites. She said various cancers are associated with living and working near radiation, and that these diseases are discussed less than the possibility of a nuclear strike.

‘‘

The North Koreans have quite a small number of nuclear weapons and it’s not clear that they have the capability to attack the mainland U.S.”

– Declan Keane Physics professor

She said the difference in cultural perception of nuclear weapons is interesting. Even though the Doomsday Clock was at three minutes to midnight in 1984, farther than where scientists placed it this year, nuclear threats don’t seem to be as prominent as they were at the time. “There’s so much to be anxious about in the world right now,” Koopman said. “Not thinking about nuclear war is a coping mechanism.” Keane said there is some science behind nuclear preparations like fallout shelters, but they may not be a priority. “The North Koreans have quite a small number of nuclear weapons and it’s not clear that they have the capability to attack the mainland U.S.,” Keane said. “The chances of this being a really serious threat to your life is miniscule compared to a zillion other things that are of concern to you.” The Bulletin called for leaders and civilians to act on their recommendations for avoiding both nuclear disaster and climate change progression. “Wise public officials should act immediately, guiding humanity away from the brink,” the Bulletin wrote. “If they do not, wise citizens must step forward and lead the way.” Contact Carlyle Addy at caddy@kent.edu

Monday, September 18, 2017

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PINK representatives promote retail chain throughout campus Angela Radesic Student Finance and Jobs Reporter Two Kent State seniors work hard to represent a brand on top of managing parttime jobs and a full load of classes. Senior public relations major Taylor Pierce and senior business management major Samantha Arslanian are Kent State campus representatives for PINK and its collegiate clothing line. “Taylor and I lived on the same floor freshman year and we both found it and applied, and then we both started on the team sophomore year,” Arslanian said. The duo said they created lasting friendships and experiences through this job. “It’s easily the most fun thing I have done at Kent State,” Pierce said. “It would definitely be the thing I am most proud of.” Arslanian said students can be PINK campus representatives as long as you are an undergraduate. With both women being seniors this year, this opens their positions for others interested in becoming PINK campus representatives for next school year. “We work directly with home office,” Pierce said. “We are the reps and we are working on recruiting eight to 10 girls to join our campus team.” When asked about the application process, both confirmed it is simple to become a part of the Victoria’s Secret PINK campus team. “Every March, Victoria’s Secret PINK puts out an application on their official website, and all you have to do is be a current undergrad student — doesn’t matter your year, doesn’t matter your age — and you just apply through the short online application and submit a video,” Pierce said. “The video is about why do you want to be a campus rep, and why you like the brand,” Pierce said. “Then from there, if you get an interview, you do a Skype interview from someone with home office." Arslanian said there are two campus representatives per school, and more than 100 schools that qualify for the PINK campus representative program. Each school can have two representatives and a team of eight to 10 women. Julia Vana, a freshman exploratory major, has been wearing PINK clothes since sixth grade, and was interested in becoming a part of the team when she found out about them. “I think it’s awesome,” Vana said. “It would be better if there was more info about events that they are having though.” Pierce and Arslanian said the duties performed by PINK campus representatives are simple and consist of social media posts,

Senior business management major Samantha Arslanian (left) and senior public relations major Taylor Pierce pose for a portrait Wednesday, Sept. 13, 2017. Arslanian and Pierce are both campus representatives for PINK at Kent State. Carter Adams / The Kent Stater

secret events on campus, Victoria’s Secret fashion show viewing parties and free product giveaways. “We have a variety of events, we are actually planning a scavenger hunt right now, a campus-wide scavenger hunt,” Pierce said. Pierce said the event would take place Nov. 26, with more updates to come on Twitter. “If you are interested in the brand at all,

or passionate about PINK at all, it’s a great opportunity,” Pierce said. When asked about the balance between work, school and being a PINK representative, the duo had nothing but positive feedback. “I think it is pretty time manageable. We know the events ahead of time and we go over our schedules, so we know what days

work for us,” Arslanian said. Pierce noted that while the position is not paid, representatives do receive compensation in the form of free PINK products throughout the year. “I’ve never felt more valued, its not even paid and I feel so valued. I feel like I am a part of home office,” Pierce said. Contact Angela Radesic at aradesic@kent.edu.

8 The Kent Stater

Monday, September 18, 2017

Ohio releases report cards, revealing mixed results at Kent City Schools K-3 Literacy Laina Yost Enterprise Reporter The state of Ohio released their yearly academic report cards for each school district and Kent City Schools received varying grades, including some failing marks. The report cards are created by analyzing each school district, and are distributed to inform districts on what needs improvement. While Kent City Schools saw some developments from last year, they also noted some disappointing drops. Kent City School’s Superintendent George Joseph said that he is not happy with a D in progress, but that he is pleased to see some growth across the board. “We did see improvements and we maintain the gifted grade and the lowest 20 percent grade which are two areas that we were purposefully trying to maintain and improve and we were successful there,” Joseph said. In four year graduation rates, Kent went from a C to an A. Their overall graduation rate was B. Joseph said that he won’t be comfortable until they are at an A overall. Kent City Schools received an F in gap closing, which shows how well districts are meeting the performance expectations for the most vulnerable populations of students in English language arts, math and graduation. Joseph wanted to be clear that this is not the only tool they use to judge their performance. Instead, he said they use multiple different resources to evaluate where Kent City Schools are at. “I hope that our community understands that this is only one of several measures that we use,” Joseph said. “In any other area in business and even higher education, never do you use one grade to determine whether you’re doing appropriately.”

This is the second year since Ohio transitioned to different learning specifications using the multi-state Common Core standards. 42 states have adopted the Common Core guidelines that outline what students should know in English language arts and mathematics. “Anytime you change any assessments in education, it takes several years to adjust to the changes in that assessment and again, I’m thrilled that we’re showing improvement from last year because it’s only been a year and how much change could we possibly do,” Joseph said. “Obviously, the things that we started on from last year definitely have been working, others we need to tweak more.” In a press conference, Paolo DeMaria, superintendent of public instruction, said that he is impressed with the dedication the schools have had. “Having set high expectations for what our students must know and be able to do, our children and schools are stepping up to the challenge,” DeMaria said. “We’re seeing increases in achievement across the state. I continue to be impressed with the dedication of Ohio’s educators and our students’ desire to learn more and more.” Joseph said that they take the report card very seriously and will strive towards advancement in the needed areas. “We’re gonna look at this and see where the gaps are and keep striving towards improving our achievement,” Joseph said. Streetsboro City Schools, like Kent, scored poorly on their report card. They received a D in achievement and an F in progress. A provision called safe harbor gives Ohio schools more time to make changes before they are held accountable for the evaluation. This is the last year safe harbor is in effect. Contact Laina Yost at lyost5@kent.edu

The K-3 Literacy component looks at how successful the school is at getting struggling readers on track to proficiency in third grade and beyond.

Gap Closing The Gap Closing component shows how well schools are meeting the performance expectations for our most vulnerable populations of students in English language arts, math and graduation.

C 1

Component Grade

Achievement The Achievement component represents the number of students who passed the state tests and how well they performed on them.

Whether training in a technical field or preparing for work or college, the Prepared for Success component looks at how well prepared Ohio’s students are for all future opportunities.

Component Grade

Performance Index 76.9%..................................................................................... C Indicators Met 20.8%..................................................................................... F

D Graduation Rate

The Graduation Rate component looks at the percent of students who are successfully finishing high school with a diploma in for or five years.

Prepared for Success

Component Grade

Progress

Value-Added Overall..................................................................................... F Gifted..................................................................................... C Lowest 20% in Achievement................................................ C Students with Disabilities.................................................... F

Component Grade

Annual Measurable Objectives 54.5%..................................................................................... F

K-3 Literacy Improvement 31.0%..................................................................................... C

The Progress component looks closely at the growth that all students are making based on their past performances.

KentWired.com 9

Component Grade

Graduation Rates 93.7% of students graduated in 4 years............................................................. A 89.3% of students graduated in 5 years............................................................. C Data from 2017 Ohio School Report Cards

8 The Kent Stater

Monday, September 18, 2017

Ohio releases report cards revealing mixed results at Kent City Schools K-3 Literacy Laina Yost Enterprise Reporter The state of Ohio released their annual academic report cards for each school district and Kent City Schools received varying grades, including some failing marks. The report cards are created by analyzing each school district, and are distributed to inform districts on what needs improvement. While Kent City Schools saw some developments from last year, they also noted some disappointing drops. Kent City School’s Superintendent George Joseph said that he is not happy with a D in progress, but that he is pleased to see some growth across the board. “We did see improvements and we maintain the gifted grade and the lowest 20 percent grade which are two areas that we were purposefully trying to maintain and improve and we were successful there,” Joseph said. In four-year graduation rates, Kent went from a C to an A. Their overall graduation rate was B. Joseph said that he won’t be comfortable until they are at an A overall. Kent City Schools received an F in gap closing, which shows how well districts are meeting the performance expectations for the most vulnerable populations of students in English language arts, math and graduation. Joseph wanted to be clear that this is not the only tool they use to judge their performance. Instead, he said they use multiple different resources to evaluate where Kent City Schools are at. “I hope that our community understands that this is only one of several measures that we use,” Joseph said. “In any other area in business and even higher education, never do you use one grade to determine whether you’re doing appropriately.” This is the second year since Ohio tran-

sitioned to different learning specifications using the multi-state Common Core standards. Fourty-two states have adopted the Common Core guidelines that outline what students should know in English language arts and mathematics. “Anytime you change any assessments in education, it takes several years to adjust to the changes in that assessment and again, I’m thrilled that we’re showing improvement from last year because it’s only been a year and how much change could we possibly do,” Joseph said. “Obviously, the things that we started on from last year definitely have been working, others we need to tweak more.” In a press conference, Paolo DeMaria, superintendent of public instruction, said he is impressed with the dedication the schools have had. “Having set high expectations for what our students must know and be able to do, our children and schools are stepping up to the challenge,” DeMaria said. “We’re seeing increases in achievement across the state. I continue to be impressed with the dedication of Ohio’s educators and our students’ desire to learn more and more.” Joseph said that they take the report card very seriously and will strive towards advancement in the needed areas. “We’re gonna look at this and see where the gaps are and keep striving towards improving our achievement,” Joseph said. Streetsboro City Schools, including Kent, scored poorly on its report card. They received a D in achievement and an F in progress. A provision called safe harbor gives Ohio schools more time to make changes before they are held accountable for the evaluation. This is the last year safe harbor is in effect.

The K-3 Literacy component looks at how successful the school is at getting struggling readers on track to proficiency in third grade and beyond.

Gap Closing The Gap Closing component shows how well schools are meeting the performance expectations for our most vulnerable populations of students in English language arts, math and graduation.

C 1

Component Grade

Achievement The Achievement component represents the number of students who passed the state tests and how well they performed on them.

D Graduation Rate

Contact Laina Yost at lyost5@kent.edu.

Whether training in a technical field or preparing for work or college, the Prepared for Success component looks at how well prepared Ohio’s students are for all future opportunities.

Component Grade

The Graduation Rate component looks at the percent of students who are successfully finishing high school with a diploma in for or five years.

Prepared for Success

Component Grade

Progress

Component Grade

Annual Measurable Objectives 54.5%..................................................................................... F

K-3 Literacy Improvement 31.0%..................................................................................... C

The Progress component looks closely at the growth that all students are making based on their past performances.

KentWired.com 9

Component Grade

10 The Kent Stater

Monday, September 18, 2017

Reviews

Fall Horror Scary movie season comes early with two seriously dark, theatrical experiences ‘mother!’ Benjamin VanHoose Entertainment Reviewer Where to begin with this piece of work? From the mind of “Black Swan” director Darren Aronofsky, “mother!” is a thriller sure to divide moviegoers curious enough to buy into its ambiguous ad campaign. There’s no denying it’s the year’s most insanely shocking movie, for better or for (mostly) worse. I won’t even take a stab at describing the plot of “mother!” — not only because I’m still not entirely sure what I watched, but because the film is best experienced with as few preconceived notions as possible. Here, Jennifer Lawrence is in a role unlike the strong female leads we’ve come to associate her with. Her character, listed only as Mother in the credits, is naive and passive to a fault. Down to the way she walks and talks, the Oscar winner develops a meekness that not only makes her eventual outbursts even more alarming in contrast, but has viewers suffering along with

every blow she is dealt. The standout of the movie is actually not seen, but heard. While the sound design is anything but subtle, the audio elements expertly cultivate tension and suspense guaranteed to boost your anxiety levels. Essentially, “mother!” consists of two vastly separate movies. The first half is an engaging mystery featuring Ed Harris and an amusingly feisty Michelle Pfeiffer. The second half? An absolutely berzerk sensory onslaught, riddled with twists that justify the exclamation mark in the title. Even though the more I stress the final act’s insanity the more you’ll likely want to purchase a ticket, heed this warning: “mother!” ventures to some unspeakably dark places. Lines are crossed that will either leave you in awe of its boldness or offended by its tastelessness. No matter your reaction, your jaw will most certainly drop in both instances. What’s most shocking is that Aronofsky would write such disturbing situations for real life girlfriend Lawrence

to act out. In particular, one extended sequence of violence involving the lead actress forced an appalled gasp from me as I squirmed in my seat. At best, “mother!” is metaphorically muddled. The plot is wide open for interpretation and bound to inspire endless internet theories. Any metaphors or deeper meanings intended by the script are so bogged down in abstract wildness that, in the end, the upsetting violence just amounts to upsetting violence for the sake of shock value. As far as what “mother!” is about, any guess is as good as mine since I’m still baffled beyond explanation. Walking out of the silent theater after the movie, I noticed two women in the back row who looked stunned. “What did we just watch?” I asked them, hoping it wasn’t only me that felt confused. One woman quickly responded, “I have no clue.” But maybe that’s the point? Grade: C+ Contact Benjamin VanHoose at bvanhoos@kent.edu.

Photo courtesy of Paramount Pictures

‘IT’

Photo courtesy of Warner Bros.

Banjamin VanHoose Entertainment Reviewer Do not go alone to see this movie. Be warned, “IT” isn’t the breed of horror movie that you jump a few times during, then forget about as soon as you exit the theater; this is the rare genre film that will stick with you far longer than the cinema floor’s dried soda to the bottom of your shoe. Set in the fictional town of Derry in the mid-1980s, a band of misfit friends are trolled by a shape-shifting creature that mostly inhabits the form of a — trigger warning for all those still reeling from last fall’s alarming on-campus hoax — clown. It’s a classic story of youthful camaraderie, one that captures feelings of friendship and pre-teen angst the way few films still can. Think “Stand by Me” and “The Sandlot,” just with more disturbing clown imagery. And this adaptation of Stephen King’s novel is not lacking in the terrifying clown department. From the moment Bill Skarsgard’s eyes glow on screen with an accompanying jolt of suspenseful music,

comparisons to Tim Curry’s 1990 portrayal of Pennywise instantly float away. He isn’t doing an impersonation, he’s made the monster his own. With this new telling of “IT,” director Andy Muschietti gets to work from the twisted toolbox of an R-rating the way the original made-for-TV miniseries couldn’t. Where this version has moments of campy levity, the terror this time around is much more relentless. Scares are expertly set up and executed in scenes that maintain intensity longer than most moviegoers will likely be comfortable with. During the first showing of the film at Kent Plaza Theatres Sept. 14 (for which there were signs posted forbidding customers from wearing clown makeup and masks), the majority of frights were met with unsure chuckles from the audience. But it wasn’t all awkward, tension-diffusing laughs. The scariest movie of the year is also the funniest. Banter between the main characters comes as welcomed comic relief from the looming dread. “IT” also packs a surprising amount of heart as characters overcome issues

of bullying, grief and sexual abuse, the young cast never once faltering from selling the emotional impact of their arcs. No movie is perfect, however. Some consistent editing and visual effects choices seem derived from lesser horror flicks, and the end product could benefit from a few scenes being trimmed away. And for those who object to movies with children in peril, you’ll probably be walking out for a refund 10 minutes in. The opening sequence — the iconic scene involving a lost paper sailboat and a haunting sewer grate — is much more violent and gory than you remember. The best way to watch “IT” is with a group of friends for a memorable experience of yelling at the screen together and reveling in shared goosebumps. At the very least, not seeing it solo is ideal since you’ll have someone to walk you to your car when you’re left shocked and paranoid afterward. Grade: A-

Contact Benjamin VanHoose at bvanhoos@kent.edu.

Monday, September 18, 2017

KentWired.com 11

Sports SPORTS EDITOR: HENRY PALATTELLA (HPALATTE@KENT.EDU)

Flashes unable to score in defensive struggle

Kent State cornerback Jamal Parker watches the end of a play in a game against Clemson in Clemson, South Carolina, on Saturday, Sept. 2, 2017. Austin Mariasy / The Kent Stater

Scott Lendak Sports Reporter Kent State entered Saturdayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s contest against Marshall with a 1-1 record, and for the first time this season, coach Paul Haynes led the Flashes on the field. Last time the Thundering Herd and Flashes faced off was in 2015 when Marshall defeated Kent State 36-29 in double overtime. The Flashes hoped for revenge, but fell short. Kent State quarterback Nick Holley was injured in the first quarter Saturday and George Bollas replaced him under center. Bollas was 4-of-12 for 55 yards passing, and

threw one interception. Marshall quarterback Chase Litton threw for one touchdown and ran in another to lead the Herd to a 21-0 victory over the Flashes. Litton finished 23-of-43 for 223 yards passing with one interception, and running back Tyler King added 101 yards on 14 carries. It was a tight game in the first half after both teams were held scoreless after the first quarter. Cornerback Demetrius Monday highlighted the Flashes defensively after he intercepted his ninth career pass, and second of

the season. With about two minutes left in the first half, Marshall marched right down the field and completed a 71-yard drive with a touchdown pass from Litton to receiver Marcel Williams. The drive was ignited by three Kent State penalties. Kent State held the lead to just one possession for the entire third quarter. The momentum changed early in the fourth quarter when Litton ran for a 14-yard touchdown to make it 14-0. Late in the quarter the Herd sealed the victory with a 29-yard touchdown run

from King. The Flashes offense struggled to move the ball with three quarterbacks combining for 117 yards passing. They were only able to gain 3.2 yards per rushing attempt. Kent State cornerbackJamal Parker had a career-high 12 tackles. Freshman quarterback Dustin Crum made his college debut and threw for 62 passing yards on five passing attempts. The Flashes (1-2) will be back on the road Saturday against Louisville and Heisman Trophy winner Lamar Jackson at noon. Contact Scott Lendak at slendak@kent.edu.

12 The Kent Stater

Monday, September 18, 2017

Opinion

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.

THE OPINION PAGE IS AN OUTLET FOR OUR COMMUNITY’S VARIED VIEWS

Clinton makes the wrong move with new book Drew Taylor I’m not ashamed to admit Hillary Clinton was not my primary choice in last year’s presidential election. I have retweeted “Bernie would have won” more times than I can count, and I believe that she ran an abysmal campaign from start to finish. However, I knew despite having problems with some of Clinton’s positions, such as her support for drone strikes, a vote for her would stop a flood of immoral ideals that Trump echoed throughout the campaign. When I heard of Clinton’s new book, titled “What Happened,” I was not stunned. Unfortunately, I knew what the book would be about: self-pity and an inability to grasp the reasons why she lost. While that might seem harsh, her book plays the blame game in why she lost to the most unpopular presidential candidate in American history. Some of these excuses have truth to them. Yes, the email and Benghazi “scandals” had too much time in the spotlight, and sexism undoubtedly played a role in the election results as well. Parts of the book show her feelings about her primary opponent Bernie Sanders, that he and his supporters cost her the election through his criticisms of her and Sanders’ supporters failing to support her in the general election. The idea that Clinton was not a polarizing figure before the 2016 election is a fantasy. Whether the reasons were legitimate or not, a large portion of the population has intensely disliked Clinton for almost 30 years. To blame Sanders for creating attacks used against her would be to have a false sense of reality. The idea that Clinton and her campaign made few mistakes is laughable. Her campaign lacked any real, solid message, and it failed to excite voters. On the other hand, her opponents

‘‘

Numbers to know:

Final age of world’s oldest captive panda

43.5

Average points per game allowed

Basi, a giant panda held in China, died last week as the world’s oldest captive giant panda. She was 37 years old.

in the primaries and general election both managed to do so. On top of bashing Sanders and his voters and nonvoters, the book is just unnecessary. After infighting ever since the primary, the party has been more united behind an issue this week than it has in a long time. Sanders’ “Medicare for all” bill is being co-sponsored by both sides of the party, from Elizabeth Warren to Kamala Harris to Cory Booker. To release a book and give interviews reigniting the infighting shows nothing but pettiness at this point.

To release a book and give interviews reigniting the infighting shows nothing but pettiness at this point. – Drew Taylor

Three games into the college football season, Kent State football allowed an average of 43.5 points per game on defense and only scored 20.5 per game offensively. These rank 124th and 105th in the FBS, respectively.

“What Happened” wouldn’t be so bad if Clinton pointed out the mistakes she made instead of constantly pointing fingers at seemingly everyone but herself. While I regret that Donald Trump won the presidency, I do not feel sorry for Clinton that she lost. Her uninspiring positions and campaign cost her, not Sanders, Jill Stein or nonvoters. Going forward, her blame game is only hurting her own polarizing reputation. Drew Taylor is a columnist, contact him at dtaylo78@kent.edu

Cheers&Jeers Cheers to ... the right place at the right time. A woman forced to evacuate Florida due to Hurricane Irma fled to North Carolina - and won a $10,000 jackpot in the state’s lottery.

Jeers to ... questionable marketing tactics. Using a sign outside of a house, a Michigan realtor morbidly touted a cemetery next to a client’s property as “quiet neighbors.”

Monday, September 18, 2017

JOSEPH McGRELLIS’ VIEWS

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‘Medicare for all’ is a pathway not a plan Maddie Newingham Everyone is complaining about Sen. Bernie Sanders’ health care bill, so allow me to explain the purpose of the bill and keep the conversation focused. Democrats are so tired of being on the defense. We want to control the conversation and push our agenda for a better United States. We are tired of being side-lined for the republican-proposed “American Health Care Act” and need not compromise to the far right. We are pulling the health care conversation back toward the left. We passed the Affordable Care Act, and we get to improve upon it. This bill serves multiple political purposes. Sanders had very little support for the bill for a long time, and finally can control the conversation about how we treat people’s medical treatment in this country. First, those who have endorsed the bill are almost certainly planning to run in 2020. Their support of the bill is necessary to push the conversation left but please, Cory Booker has no intention of passing single-payer. Furthermore, Trump has been president for eight months, my friends. It is 2017. I do not care about who is running for president in 2020. I am concerned about DACA, I am concerned about paying for college, I am concerned because my Mylan epipens will cost me $800 if I lose my insurance, and I am concerned about Sherrod Brown winning his re-election in the midterms. So, I do not care that Rep. Tim Ryan or Kamala Harris want to run for president three years from now, as much as I adore them. They can deal with their personal endeavors, and I will care when the time comes. We have to fight for our values and focus on the now as we are living it. While everyone is talking about the next presidential election, no one is talking about how vile a human being Ohio State Treasurer Josh Mandel is or that Trump is being played by North Korea. I know talking about presidents is much more attractive and entertaining, and we have many inspiring candidates coming into the fold, but stay focused. Second, anyone endorsing this bill knows that version of the bill will not be passed, and no one is expecting that. The bill serves as a basis to control the health care debate. We want better policies that work for more people, and we want to explore what a single-payer system could look like here in America. That does not happen without debate. This bill strategically hinders Republicans from pursuing a privatization bill, and hopefully forces their compromise on a bill we believe will work for all people, not just rich people. Americans will not suddenly decide to have a surgery because it is cheaper to do so, and doctors will not perform appendectomies for those who do not need them. The purpose of this bill is to bring down the cost of care for people who really need it. While there is much debate to be had about the logistics of a better health care system, even if we can just improve the ACA as a result of the discussion around the bill, then it has been successful for the people. Let democracy do its thing. Maddie Newingham is a columnist, contact her at mnewing2@kent.edu.

14 The Kent Stater

Monday, September 18, 2017

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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.

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.

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