The Kent Stater - Aug. 24, 2016

The

Kent Stater

THE INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF KENT STATE UNIVERSITY

@kentwired KentWired.com

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 24, 2016

SECTION C

CAMPUS LIFE

Getting Involved

Dining on campus

Homesickness

Join one of more than 400 student orginizations around campus.

Eating on campus can be varied, healthy and affordable.

Being away from home for the first Tips to get familiar with campus for time can be difficult; here are some those who don’t live at Kent State words of advice.

24/7.

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Commuter Guide

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The Kent Stater

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The Kent Stater

Dorm Life 101: Living with a roommate Emily Mills KSU Alum Learning how to live with someone in a residence hall is something that can be just as challenging as your chemistry or algebra class.

Kent State requires students to live on campus unless they have reached junior status (60 or more credit hours), live with their parents within 50 miles of the university, are 20 years old or older, married, a single parent, a member of the military, completed two years of college or lived in on-campus housing for at least four semesters, a member of a fraternity or sorority living in the organization’s house or other extenuating circumstances (such as medical conditions or financial hardships).

If a student doesn’t meet any of these requirements and didn’t request a single room, they’re most likely going to live with a roommate.

Living on campus helps students connect to the campus, said Jill Church, director of Residence Services, in a 2015 interview with The Kent Stater. “(It) is important … to help students meet other students, to help students learn the campus (and) to help students get engaged with activities on campus and become part of the Kent State community,” she said.

Living on campus can also have benefits, both academically and personally, according to the Department of Residence Services’ website.

“While living in an environment that promotes safety, students also benefit from the opportunity to learn about other cultures and lifestyles, form lifelong friendships and make lasting memories,” the website said. “The concepts of self-respect and respect for others, tolerance of and celebration of diversity, ethical behavior and personal growth are fostered via staff intervention, community-based educational and social programs and the expectation that hall residents hold one another accountable.”

The website also said that students who live on campus are more likely to have higher GPAs and stay in college.

But learning to live with another person while balancing all the other changes during the first few weeks of the semester can be challenging.

Jacquelyn Bleak is the director of Student Mediation Services, a free, confidential organization that offers mediation services for students experiencing roommate conflicts, as well as individualized conflict coaching and training.

She said 50 percent of their workload is roommate related.

Being open and having good ways to communicate often helps resolve common issues that roommates might have.

JACQUELYN BLEAK

Student Mediations Services Director

Bleak also said common issues between roommates include having visitors over, distinguishing between common and private space and different lifestyles, such as when you go to bed or wake up or cleanliness habits.

“Probably the most common challenge is miscommunication,” she said. “When something arises between roommates, this can be exacerbated when roommates don’t talk with one another about what’s bothering them.”

Bleak said it’s important for roommates to communicate about their issues.

“A lack of communication is a huge reason why conflicts arise,” she said. “One roommate may not address a problem until it is too late and they end up blowing up because they feel like they can’t take it anymore.”

Shelby Denton, a senior music education

major, had three roommates her freshman year.

She said she and her first roommate got along well, but they unfortunately only lived together for a few weeks, as they were living in temporary housing in lounges when the university did not have enough residence hall rooms for incoming students.

Denton lived with her second roommate during the fall semester of her freshman year.

This roommate, Denton said, was messy and kept her belongings in Denton’s dresser and desk. She always had people over, frequently skipped class and would not come back to the room for days at a time.

Denton said it was difficult to get along because “she was so very opposite of me.”

Denton’s third roommate in the spring semester of her freshman year was messier than any other roommate she had.

“I have distinct memories of the dorm constantly smelling like burnt pizza bagels,” Denton said.

This roommate also rearranged Denton’s belongings and always had her boyfriend over, which Denton said was a major issue.

If a conflict becomes too large, RAs or residence hall directors are there to help resolve the situation.

“If somebody feels themselves getting upset to the point that they’re not able to be civil, or they’re just not sure what words to use or how to approach somebody,” Church said, “that’s where you want to pull somebody in and at least brainstorm some ideas of how to approach (the roommate).”

Bleak said conflicts worsen when roommates don’t talk about them.

“A lot of times, people don’t address the situation directly,” she said. “They may vent to a friend or RA but don’t speak to the person they are having the problem with in the first place.”

Bleak said students can also make small problems into much larger ones, which is easy to do when frustrated.

“We also tend to dehumanize people we are feuding with and attribute the problem to people’s character. So it’s not just that my roommate doesn’t pick up their clothes; it’s that my roommate is disgusting and is trying to ruin my life,” she said. “If we can recognize when we do that, it tends to de-escalate the situation.”

Luckily, Denton had stayed in touch with her roommate from Destination Kent State during her sophomore year. She has lived with her for the last two years because they get along so well.

“We give each other space, we lend listening ears when the other needs to vent (and) we give advice,” she said. “We're upfront with each other, even when the truth hurts, but we embrace it and hug each other all the time. We have girls nights, we make time for each other (and) we are friends. It's all a very perfect situation.”

One issue which can be common for roommates is dividing up chores, but Denton said she and her current roommate share the responsibilities, so it doesn’t become an issue.

Bleak said it can be better to try to resolve issues before it gets to that point.

“Being open and having good ways to communicate often helps resolve common issues that roommates might have,” she said. “Being a good listener can vastly improve situations. Take time to listen to someone—it will make communication more efficient and effective.”

Section C cover photos by (from left to right): Clint Datchuk / The Kent Stater The crowd at the May 4 commemoration ceremony at the Kent Commons on May 4, 2016.

Carrie George / The Kent Stater Kent State students throw color into the air at the Holi Festival at Manchester Field on Saturday, April 16, 2016.

Zac Popik / The Kent Stater Sophomore accounting major Matt Valicenti takes a break from studying in Risman Plaza on Wednesday, May 11, 2016.

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Getting involved on campus

The Kent Stater

Student organizations

cgorman2@kent.edu

Golden Reflections Kent State Bass Fishing Club Kent State Table Tennis Club Legacy Dance Team Student Recreation Council (SRC)

Religious • • • • • •

Cameron Gorman & Melissa Puppo General Assignment Reporter & KSU Alum In high school, you might have only been involved with one sport or activity. In college, this is the time to experience it all by getting involved on campus.

There are more than 400 student organizations at Kent S t a t e re p re s e n t i n g d i v e r s e interests in academics, culture, politics and more.

Getting involved in organizations that match your passions and interests or opens your mind to learn new skills and meet new people is what college is about.

This is also the time to dive deep into getting a head start into your career.

You will learn in the lecture halls, but when it comes down to it, there’s nothing like getting hands-on experience with one of these organizations.

“I think it’s really important to find your niche right away, so one of the great options for that is to join a student organization on campus,” said Katie Goldring, assistant director of the Center for Student Involvement. “Since we have many organizations to choose from, there really is a group that can fit anybody’s special interests, needs or hobbies.”

Sophomore Irene Altieri is very aware of the benefits of involvement.

Since arriving last fall, she has been involved in numerous LGBTQ organizations.

Altieri said she balances interning at the LGBTQ Center with being a member of Pride Kent, as well as working on programming for the cause.

“Right now, I’m going to be working on the Flashes of Pride Poster and I’m working on reaching out to high school GSAs (Gay-Straight Alliances) to get them involved (as well),” Altieri said.

She said there are many ways to get involved and that there’s a student group or organization for almost every interest.

Altieri attended Blastoff— a welcome-weekend event held in the fall on Risman Plaza and the Student Green— at the start of her freshman year and was amazed at all the different tables for students to get familiar with the different organizations.

“It was pretty helpful, I got to talk to a lot of people that I didn’t think I would talk to if I didn’t (attend),” Altieri said.

The Student Organization Fair held in the Kent Student Center in the spring is another option for students to have the chance to meet a lot of the members of the organization once they have already started their freshman career.

“Don’t be shy,” Altieri said.

“If you have questions, go talk to people that know the answers.

Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there and go to these different organizations—it’s okay to talk and ask how you can get in.”

Getting involved has more to offer than just being a way to make friends. It offers plenty of benefits. Goldring said students can benefit from joining a student organization by learning time management skills and by networking and making connections that a student can use throughout their life.

Most organizations also have leadership positions for students to run for in the future. Those positions will allow students to gain skills that will carry over when looking for jobs after graduating.

“Joining an organization creates a family for you at Kent State, and those students who create that feeling just statistically do better in their classes and stay here and persist to graduation,” Goldring said. “Involvement outside of the classroom makes a full college experience, where as if somebody just comes and goes on campus, they might not get that entire experience of what it’s like to go to college.”

Don’t worry if you can’t find an organization you’re interested in—you can make one.

Just find five Kent State students who want to join, a faculty or staff advisor and you must write a constitution for your organization labeling the specifics of the group.

“Not only is it just good to get people involved, it also brings awareness to different issues, and it makes people feel more of a community when you try and reach out- when you’re closer to everyone,” Altieri said.

• • • •

• • • • • • • • • • •

Baha’i Campus Club of Kent State Catholic Student Association (CSA) Chinese and American Friends East (CAFÉ) The Dive (Campus Crusade for Christ) Fellowship of Christian Athletes H2O Church-Kent Hillel – The Jewish Student Center The Identity Project The Impact Movement Kappa Phi Kent State University Association of Jehovah Witnesses Kent State Zendo Late Night Christian Fellowship Latter Day Saint Student Association (LDSSA) Lutheran Student Fellowship Navigators Orthodox Christian Fellowship United Christian Ministries The Kent State Voices of Testimony Gospel Choir

Service • • • • • • • • • Clint Datchuk / The Kent Stater Kent State’s Students Against Sexual Assualt group finish preparing their signs before the Walk of Power on Wednesday, April 27, 2016. The group were marching to raise awareness regarding sexual assault and violence.

Honorary • • • • • • • • • • •

Alpha Phi Sigma, National Criminal Justice Honor Society Beta Alpha Psi Eta Sigma Gamma Golden Key, International Honor Society Lambda Pi Eta Mortar Board, Laurel’s Chapter The National Society of Collegiate Scholars (NSCS) Phi Alpha Theta, Psi Chapter Phi Sigma Iota (Gamma Pi Chapter at Kent State University) Phi Sigma Pi Pi Mu Epsilon

• •

Pi Sigma Alpha, Chapter of Kent State University Sigma Alpha Lambda Sigma Gamma Epsilon – Gamma Zeta Chapter

Media • • • • • • • • • • •

Artemis Magazine Black Squirrel Radio BURR Magazine College Summit Daily Kent Stater Fusion Kent Lingua Kentwired.com LunaNegra TV2 UHURU Magazine

Political • • • • • • • • • Clint Datchuk / The Kent Stater The Writer’s Workshop club meets in Room 204 of Satterfield Hall on Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2016. On this night, the group had a prompt of “human lie detectors” or “serial killers” and shared their work on the topics.

Kent State College Democrats College Republicans International Socialist Organization, Kent State Chapter Kent Anti-Racist Action/Student Anti-Racist Action (SARA) The Kent Political Union Kent State Anti War-Committee KSU Libertarian Club (College Libertarians) Political Science Club Young Americans for Liberty

Recreational • • •

Club Managers Association of America, Kent Chapter The Cowbell Crew, Evil Geniuses for a Better Tomorrow

• • • • • • •

Alpha Phi Omega-Epsilon Psi Chapter Circle K International Colleges Against Cancer Cure the Kids Coalition Face AIDS – Kent State Chapter Habitat for Humanity, Kent State University Chapter Human Service Management Student Association Kent State United Way Kent State University Student Leaders United (KSU-SLU) Kent Student Ambassadors Movement Through Music Operation Smile Relay for Life Committee TOMS Kent State Campus Club UNICEF Kent State Uplifting Athletes

Special Interest • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

44 Enterprises Commuter and Off Campus Student Organization (COSO) D.Y.N.A.S.T.Y. Exquisite Inc. International Film Society Kent State Freethinkers Kent State Innovators Kent State Medieval Fighting Club/Kingdom of Rotharin Kent State University Animal and Environmental Awareness (Kent State Animal Rights Org) Kent State University Anime Society Kent State University Ballroom Club Modista: Minority Fashion Group Museum Student Association People Improvising Systematic Sound (P.I.S.S.) The Portage County Players (PCP) PRIDE! Kent Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) Veteran’s Campus Club - Kent State Chapter

Student Government • • •

Kent Interhall Council (KIC) Undergraduate Student Government Courtesy of Kent State University’s Center for Student Involvement

Make a difference with Greek Life Alex Delaney-Gesing Editor At Kent State, students have the option to "go Greek" and join one of the 34 sororities and fraternities located on campus.

Joining a fraternity or sorority can provide students with the chance to form friendships through sisterhoods and brotherhoods, and ways to stay involved on campus through academics, philanthropy and community service.

Last year, more than 2,200 students participated in Kent State’s Greek life community—the highest number in university history. adelane3@kent.edu

Greek • • • •

Alpha Epsilon Pi Alpha Phi-Beta Omega Chapter Alpha Tau Omega Alpha Xi Delta

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Chi Omega Delta Chi Delta Gamma Delta Lambda Phi Delta Sigma Phi Delta Sigma Theta Delta Tau Delta Delta Upsilon Delta Zeta Interfraternity Council Kappa Alpha Psi Lambda Chi Alpha National Pan-Hellenic Council-NPHC (Black Greek Council) Omega Psi Phi Order of Omega Panhellenic Council Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. Phi Delta Theta Phi Sigma Kappa Sigma Chi Sigma Gamma Rho

Clint Datchuk / Kent Stater Members of Sigma Chi of Alpha Xi Delta perform their skit based on the movie High School Musical at the Xi Men charity event at the Kent State Ballroom on Oct. 10, 2015.

The event helped raise money for Autism Awareness.

• • • • •

Sigma Nu Sigma Phi Epsilon Sigma Sigma Sigma Sigma Tau Gamma Tau Kappa Epsilon

Alex Ledet / The Kent Stater Members of Delta Zeta, Kappa Sigma, and Phi Kappa Tau dance in a Candyland themed number at Songfest in the Student Center Ballroom on Saturday, Nov. 15, 2014.

The Kent Stater

What every commuter student should know Benjamin VanHoose & Alex Delaney-Gesing Senior Copy Editor & Editor To smoothly sail through your freshman year, a completely different set of commandments is necessary for commuters to live by that those who live on campus don’t need to worry about. Without a dorm room and meal plan to enjoy, commuters could benefit from a few tips to survive at their home-awayfrom-home.

The subject first and foremost on most commuters’ minds (or at least these reporters’) is food.

Dining on campus without a meal plan can hit hard on the bank account. Limit yourself to an amount allocated daily for lunch or snacks. Pack a lunch and bring a refillable water bottle.

If you do allow yourself to splurge at on-campus eateries, remember that all restaurants in the Student Center are available to you at all hours of operation—the blackout between 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. applies to meal plans so commuters can swiftly get a meal.

Once you outline your plans for sustenance, a place to eat, study and rest between classes is the next priority. Almost all buildings on campus will have a lounge or study

area. The most popular spots would be The Nest located on the second floor of the Student Center, a modern group study area on the fourth floor of the library and Jazzman’s Cyber Cafe in the Student Center lower level.

Now that you’ve found and claimed a chair and table where you can watch Netflix until your next lecture, ensure the binge-watching doesn’t come to an early end: pack a charger. Even if you leave the house in the morning with a 100 percent charge, bring the cord and adapter with you anyway. Better safe than sorry—especially when it comes to the electronic devices.

While it’s OK to isolate and catch up on some shows on your off time, force yourself to take off those headphones and interact more often. As a commuter, it’s easy to get in the rhythm of only visiting campus for classes and only viewing it as a place to go to school. There are several departments on campus with the sole desire to make commuters more active in the Kent State community.

The Center for Student Involvement has UCommute, a division that plans free events and advocates for the needs of commuters.

Out of Kent State’s 28,981 student population at the main cam-

pus, 22,538 either commute or live off-campus. Including the seven other regional campuses, 80 percent of the student body are commuter students, according to Rebecca Kapler, coordinator for Off-Campus and Commuter Services (UCommute).

UCommute consists of off-campus and commuter services within Kent State’s Center for Student Involvement (CSI). Students living off-campus often struggle with staying connected to campus life. To combat this problem, UCommute offers students various resources and opportunities.

“We send newsletters to students that give updates about events and programs going on around campus,” Kapler said. “We also plan Commuter Appreciation Week each semester so that commuter students can get to know each other and have a good break from classes, grab a snack and participate in an activity.”

Also, join the Commuter and Off-Campus Student Organization, a student-run group that handles all things commuting. COSO members are mostly seasoned in the ways of off-campus living, and offer advice and support that only a current student could offer.

“COSO strives to help commuter students better understand

the resources available to them on campus and become involved in campus events,” said Kevin Heller, executive director of COSO. The organization hosts events for commuter students to attend throughout the semester such as Commuter Appreciation Week, Winterization clinics and Speed Roommating—similar to speed dating, but created to help students find off-campus roommates and housing.

“With the programs now set in place and the (weekly and) oncea-month meetings, we are able to have a more established connection with commuters and help them understand the resources available,” Heller said.

Applications for positions of the COSO executive board are available now for the 2016-2017 school year.

There’s no reason for a commuter student to feel separate from the rest of campus life. Your time at Kent State is what you make of it, so don’t only spend it driving to, studying at and driving away from campus. Kent State is your second home, welcoming you to take advantage of all it has to offer. bvanhoos@kent.edu & adelane3@kent.edu

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A commuter’s guide to parking: Benjamin VanHoose Senior Copy Editor

P

For commuters who travel by car, parking can be a major ordeal. With increased construction and road closures, the circus of finding an open spot is made all the more frustrating.

For those with parking passes, all is not solved; obtaining a space in your respective lot can still prove difficult when hundreds of other students are vying for the same opening.

“Plan your route ahead of time,” said Lawrence Emling, manager of Parking Services.

“Don’t always look for the closest space if you’re arriving during peak times; go to where you know you will find open space.”

Knowing the various campus parking rules and regulations is important for commuters looking to steer clear of costly parking tickets. Emling said the most common violations include “parking out of your assigned area, failure to display a permit (and) expired meters.”

But, if you choose to take the non-parking pass route, try parking at nearby lots and businesses at your own risk—nearby establishments aren’t strangers to towing the occasional non-patron parked car. At the very least, many meters are scattered throughout campus for those looking only to pay for prime spots hours at a time.

“The first couple weeks of the semester are always busy,” Emling said. “We encourage all commuter students to arrive early in order to find a place to park.”

5 things commuters should remember PARTA to pack before heading to campus:

3

Headphones

Whether you prefer concealable ear buds or bulky headsets, don’t forget to bring headphones so you can enjoy your music and streaming between classes without disturbing others.

2

4

Hand sanitizer

Just think how many surfaces you touch throughout a day on campus—then think how many other people touched those too. A small bottle of hand sanitizer will rescue you from countless germ close encounters.

Planning to bus it this semester? The PARTA is free. All you have to do is show your FlashCard. This fall, the bus service is debuting a new feature that allows riders to check real-time locations of busses and estimated arrival times. Find schedules and stops at PARTAonline.org.

bvanhoos@kent.edu

5

Weatherappropriate gear

Check the weather before journeying to campus. It may sound obvious, but you won’t understand until you’ve experienced Ohio’s sporadic climate.

You may as well pack jackets, gloves, umbrellas and tank tops at all times — it’s not unheard of to endure all four seasons in one day.

Portable changer

Don’t ever risk a dying battery.

Buy extra chargers to stay permanently in your backpack so you are never without power.

1

Water bottle

Save money and the environment by refilling your own bottle throughout the day. Many fountains on campus have a special option to fill up bottles, tracking how many plastic bottles are foregone in the process.

Illustration by Ray Padilla

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The Kent Stater

Survivor's guide to eating on campus Cameron Gorman General Assignment Reporter Dining on campus can be varied, affordable and healthy—if you want it to be. There are plenty of options for any diet available on campus and you can make it through the year eating the way you want to, without burning through your budget.

In order to do so, however, it’s important to know what dining plan you want to purchase.

A meal plan should best suit your needs. While you don’t want to run out of money midway through the semester, it’s also not good to be stuck with too much at the end.

Your meal plan rolls over after the fall semester, but at the end of the spring, any money left on it will go back to the school. With that in mind, make sure the plan you select is perfect for you.

Dining Plans

The “Lite” Plan:

The Lite Plan costs $1,820. With 16 weeks in the semester, you’ll get $113.75 per week or $16.25 a day. This plan is right for you if you’re the type of person who doesn’t eat much at meals, or only eats two a day. If you don’t snack a lot between meals, this is a better option for you than the regular plan. The Lite Plan was also developed with students who travel home on the weekends in mind. If you’re planning on visiting home frequently during the semester, it’s best to stick with this plan—otherwise you might be stuck with too much money left over at the end of the semester.

The “Basic” Plan

This plan is a good starting place for students who aren’t sure about how much money they’ll need throughout the semester. The “Basic” is $1,980, leaving you $123.75 for the week or $17.69 per day. If you eat “regularly” throughout the day—three meals and light snacks, and spend most of your weekends on campus, this plan is right for you. Like the others, this plan rolls over in the fall and reverts back to the university at the end of the spring.

The “Premier” Plan

The Premier Plan is designed for hungry students. If you eat frequently throughout the day, snack often and like to eat larger meals, this may be the best choice for you. The plan’s $2,325 will get you $145.31 per week or $20.76 per day. If you rarely leave campus, it may be a good choice to make sure you won’t run out of funds. Leftovers from the Premier Plan carry over from semester to semester, as well as from year to year, when another Premier Plan is purchased.

The “Premier Plus” Plan

This plan is the most food that your money can buy—if you’re very active, eat every meal on campus, snack throughout the day or simply eat more, the $2,735 allotted to you through the purchasing of this plan should be enough. You get $170.94 to spend per week, which equals $24.42 per day. Like the Premier Plan, your meal plan dollars will roll over at the end of both semesters, with the purchase of another Premier or Premier Plus Plan, and gives you the most amount of money to spend on dining.

Clint Datchuk / The Kent Stater

Student workers assemble sandwiches at the Subway in the Student Center on Tuesday, May 3, 2016.

Once you choose the best possible plan for your lifestyle, it’s important to choose the places you spend it carefully. Consider the food, the price and the health of what you buy—because there are lots of options.

Where to Eat

Dining locations are scattered all over campus, making it both convenient to fit meals into your schedule and, unfortunately, difficult to decide where to do so. Thankfully, wherever you end up, there’s likely to be something you’re interested in.

Eastway Center

If you live in or near Eastway, there are plenty of options available—in the downstairs market, for sandwiches or packaged foods, or in the Eastway Cafe for prepared meals. There’s a salad bar available all day, as well as an omelette bar in the morning and a stir-fry bar in the afternoon.

Tri-Towers Rotunda

Like Eastway, Tri-Towers contains a food market on its first floor. But the main attraction is Rosie’s Diner, a 24-hour spot where you can order all kinds of classic diner foods, from breakfast foods all day to fries and sandwiches.

Prentice Hall

Prentice Cafe, housed in the hall, offers breakfast foods, bakery items, and burritos by Burrito Del Ray.

Kent Student Center

The largest selection of dining choices is housed in the Student Center. The main floor features the Hub, a food court complete with Subway, Auntie Anne’s, Einstein's Bagels, the SLICE which offers pizza, Wow Bao, Sushi with Gusto and Wholly Habaneros, which offers Mexican bowls, burritos and nachos. The lower level has a Quaker Steak and Lube with simulated sitdown restaurant service. The top level includes a cafeteria-style eatery that offers everything from pasta to Indian cuisine.

Alternatives for Special Diets

With all the dining options available on campus, it’s easy to find accommodations for special dietary needs such as veganism or gluten allergies. Kent State has been named one of PETA’s top 10 vegan friendly campuses, and offers a solution for vegan and vegetarian students. Veggie A-Go-Go is a call-ahead program offered in both Eastway and Prentice Cafe. Those wanting to order meat-free entrees can call 330-672-6229 for Eastway and 330-672-2687 for Prentice to pre-order. Those with gluten sensitivity or aller-

gies can purchase multiple gluten-free products in the marketplaces in Eastway and Tri Towers, as well as choose from pre-prepared options at Boar’s Head delis and the Pure Station in Eastway Cafe.

Other Tips

Here are a few more important things to remember: Don’t go over budget: Use the meal plan tracker available in the KSUMobile app to keep track of your spending. A helpful chart that updates itself automatically with each purchase can help you visualize your spending.

Snack smart: If you tend to snack a lot throughout the day, consider buying items from a marketplace to keep in your dorm fridge or room—you can prepare some food from a larger packet instead of making multiple smaller purchases.

Remember: It rolls over. It’s okay to have some money left at the end of the fall semester, as all meal plans roll over into the spring. (The Premier and Premier Plus plans also roll over from year to year.) If, however, you find yourself left with too much money come spring, consider spending it on some packaged foods or gifts available in the Eastway market to take home. cgorman2@kent.edu

Student Recreation and Wellness Center keeps users in top shape Stephen Means Managing Editor

MaKayla Brown/The Kent Stater A group of students take a basic yoga class at the KSU Student Recreation and Wellness Center on Thursday, Jan. 22, 2015.

The Kent State Recreation and Wellness Center is free to all students taking a minimum of five credit hours.

The Rec Center includes 153,000 square feet of facility with four basketball courts, an indoor track, a rock climbing wall, racquetball courts, a pool, various workout equipment and other exercise amenities.

It also provides personal trainers, intramural sports and hosts a handful of events throughout the semester.

Students using the Rec Center must comply with the facility’s “Standard of Decency” policy.

-The policy prohibits but is not limited to: -Revealing or see-through clothing.

-Exposed underwear including boxers, sports bras and bras -Overly short shorts

-Exposed genitalia, pubic region, breasts or buttocks -Saggy pants revealing underwear or any portion of the body below the naval.

-Sleeveless tops: All tops (male and female) are to have sleeves.

-Visible cleavage, navels and/or midriffs. No skin should be shown between the bottom of the shirt/blouse and the top of the pants -Tank tops, tube tops, spaghetti strap tops, halter tops, transparent blouses, midriff shirts/ blouses.

-Pool Only: Clothing not manufactured specifically for swimming and aquatic activities. (i.e. mesh shorts) -Clothing that is deemed unsafe to be worn with safety equipment.

Fall semester hours are 5:30 a.m to 11 p.m.

Monday through Thursday, 5:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday and 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekends. smeans2@kent.edu

Wednesday, August 24, 2016 | Page C7

The Kent Stater

Campus services available for students Angelo Angel Reporter

Academic Services: Tutotring

Kent State offers academic tutoring on campus to assist those who seek a helping hand.

The Academic Success Center offer students tutoring service in a variety of subjects such as math, sciences, psychology and writing. The center also offers four different styles of tutoring: university tutoring, supplemental instruction, study skills and academic coaching.

Statistics compiled by the center found that 99.4 percent of students have had positive experience with the tutoring sessions, stating that they believe their tutoring session was beneficial. Students can register for turoring session of their choice at kent.edu/asc.

Kent State Student Center Postal Office

The U.S. Postal Service on campus is located on the lower level of the Student Center and offers standard mailing services to the university community.

“We can also do other services such as faxes, laminating and make copies,” said Chad Oliver, manager of the campus postl office and a senior chemistry major.

An employee of the postal office since his freshman year, Oliver said that anyone can apply to get a position within the office.

The U.S. Postal Service also provides international mailing, which can be beneficial to students who are studying abroad and would need to send letters home. For more information, visit kent. edu/usps or call 330-672-8189.

Deweese Health Center

The Deweese Health Center, located at 1500 Eastway Dr. on campus, is a medical clinic that provides medical help for the Kent State community. The health center is home to University Health Services, the Student Accessibility Services and the College of Public Health Research Laboratory.

The staff includes a variety of professionals who are board

certified in fields such as physical therapy, women’s health and mental health.

The health center also operates as a pharmacy, so any individual in the university community can pick up their prescription without having to leave campus.

It also provides the campus with health alerts and information on a variety of topics, such as registering for health insurance and flu season precautions.

To make an appointment with the Deweese Health C e n t e r, c a l l 3 3 0 - 6 7 2 - 2 3 2 2 o r v i s i t k e n t . e d u / u h s .

UnderGraduate Government

The Undergraduate Student Government is the sovereign representation of the student body at Kent State.

Located in the Student Center, USG provides a variety of services to students: free blue books for exams, financial aid to student organizations and legal services to students in need.

USG consist of students who were voted to their position by the student body and hold the term for two semesters.

The organization also helps organize the university's annual music festival FlashFest, where prominent artists such as Kendrick Lamar and Walk the Moon have performed.

USG holds elections in the spring semester for students to campaign for a position within the organization.

To contact USG, email the representatives at their profile website or walk into their office inside the Student Center.

Computer Labs

Kent State offers students a variety of computers on campus for those in need.

While most buildings on campus have computers for student use, locations such as the University Library and the Student Center provide students with computers that meet the requirements of their specific programs.

Majors with their own buildings—such as Franklin Hall and the Art Building—have computers labs that are available to students.

Mac computers at these buildings come loaded with Adobe Premiere,

InDesign, Photoshop and more otherwise expensive programs.

Student Legal Services

Students who find themselves in a court related dilemma can contact Student Legal Services.

Student Legal Services is a non-profit law firm that represents students attending Kent State. The law firm is staffed by three fully licensed attorneys who provide students with quality legal services and advice.

According to their website, the goal of the law firm is to assist students in identifying and resolving legal problems so that they may make the most of their educational opportunities while attending Kent State.

The university collects $10 per academic semester from students for all of the legal services it provides.

To contact the Student Legal Services, visit their offices located in Acorn Alley in downtown Kent or schedule an appointment by calling 330-672-9550.

Tech Help

Kent State’s Division of Information Services provides a variety of technology services to students on campus.

Information Services helps students with any issue they come across, whether it’s troubleshooting with computers or repairing certain devices.

The staff consist of full-time and part-time employees, many student employees.

Information Services is also responsible for connecting the campus through technology along with updating the campuswide network. If students’ devices are damaged, the TechHelp Service and Repair Center located at Tri-Towers and in the College of Business building can do a variety of services that would be provided by professionals but with a convenient location.

To make an appointment with TechHelp, call 330-672-8324 or visit the offices at either of the two locations. aangel3@kent.edu

1.2 million college students drink alcohol daily, more than 703,000 use weed Rosanna Xia Los Angeles Times There's a lot more going on at U.S. colleges these days than just studying.

On any given day, 1.2 million full-time students are drinking alcohol and more than 703,000 are using marijuana, according to a report released by the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

More than 2,100 of these students are drinking for the first time, and about 1,300 are getting their first taste of weed.

An additional 239,000 part-time college students drink alcohol on a typical day, and 195,000 of them use marijuana.

The estimates come from data collected between 2011 to 2014 by the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, which tracks substance use among Americans. About 25,400 college students participated in the survey, representing about 9 million full-time students and 2 million who take classes part time.

The results suggest that roughly 60 percent of full-time college students drank alcohol at least once in the past month. That includes the 39 percent who engaged in binge drinking — which SAMHSA defines as consuming at least four drinks on one occasion for women and at least five for men, and the 13 percent who said they had been binge-drinking at least five times in the last 30 days.

On the days that full-time college students do drink, the average number of beers, cocktails and shots of liquor consumed on a typical day was about four.

Marijuana was the most widely used illicit drug, but there were many others, according to the report. About 11,300 full-time college students used cocaine on an average day, 9,808 used hallucinogens such as LSD or ecstasy, and more than 4,500 said they used heroin. These figures included 447 first-time cocaine users and 649 who tried hallucinogens for the first time.

The authors of the report also noted that, on an average day, 559 full-time college students abused prescription pain relievers for the first time, and 415 tried stimulants recreationally.

"I think it's important to remind folks that these are still substances that get used by college students," said David Dean, a SAMHSA behavioral research scientist who specializes in adolescent and young adult health.

Although college students may be legal adults, their brains are still maturing, noted Dean, who didn't work on the new report.

"There's still a great deal of neurophysiological development that's going on in the early 20s," he said. "What we know is that using substances like alcohol, marijuana and any of the other illicit drugs captured (in the survey) can affect both short-term and long-term health and behavior."

Page C8 | Wednesday, August 24, 2016

The Kent Stater

The trade-offs of higher education Mitchell Schnurman, Troy Oxford Dallas Morning News

For most people, the economic stakes of higher education couldn't be much higher. The price tag for four years at a traditional university rivals the cost of a starter home, but the payoff includes an extra $1 million in average lifetime earnings. College grads have lower unemployment and higher career satisfaction, and more are married. But many never finish and face big debts.

The education premium

In general, more education equals more pay; that’s the record at every level, from high school to graduate degrees; for example, a master’s adds more than $400,000 to lifetime earnings for a counselor; average lifetime earnings, by educational level, in millions of 2009 dollars

Buyer’s remorse? Not much

When college graduates were asked whether their undergraduate education has paid off, considering what it cost, the overwhelming majority said yes.

What you make depends on what you take

That’s how Georgetown University’s Anthony Carnevale explains the pay disparity in college degrees; his most extreme example: majors in counseling had median earnings of $29,000, while petroleum engineers made $120,000; the grad-school bump varies, too; median earnings in 2009, by major

source: Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce, Pew Research Center Graphic: Mitchell Schnurman, Troy Oxford, Dallas Morning News

Wednesday, August 24, 2016 | Page C9

The Kent Stater

HOMESICKNESS: how to cope MyStudentHealthZone.com

For many people, starting college is the first step toward a life on their own. But homesickness can happen at any time. The first semester of college is a much longer separation from parents and friends than many people are used to, and the idea of being away from home for a while can take some adjustment.

What does it feel like to be homesick?

Homesickness can make a person feel lonely, sad and empty.

It can also affect the way some people feel physically and cause someone to lose his or her appetite, have an upset stomach or get headaches.

Homesickness should gradually disappear as you begin to adapt to college life and as the new classes, surroundings, and people become more familiar. But for some people, it can build into depression. It's important to monitor how you feel and get help if your feelings start to become overwhelming.

How can you cope with homesickness?

The best way to deal with homesickness is to make your life in your new surroundings enjoyable: • Make your new space your new home. Mix mementos from back home photos, stuffed animals, etc. with other things that reflect who you are.

• Get involved on campus. Look for activities or organizations to join and invite new friends to come along with you.

• Invite an old friend, parent, or sibling to visit. Spend a weekend showing your friend or family member around campus. If a friend is at a different college, make plans to visit his or her school.

• Learn more about the area. Get a book about the local area, or see whether student services has any information for new students about the area.

• Take advantage of the many ways to stay in touch. Call family and friends, send email or text messages, write letters or send cards.

• Make plans for a visit home. Even if you live far away, just having a visit to look forward to can help.

• Talk to other students or your dorm's RA about how you feel. You may find that they're also homesick and looking for ways to deal with it, just as you are.

• An occasional visit home can help and even remind you of how great your new life is at college. But try not to hold onto your old life too closely. If you find yourself driving home every weekend, it might make it harder to acclimate to college.

What if it doesn’t go away?

Illustration by Chris Ware

For most people, homesickness gradually fades, but sometimes people don't get over their homesickness and may start to feel depressed. Symptoms of depression include: • feelings of hopelessness, guilt, or worthlessness • sadness or a depressed mood most of the time, for apparently no reason • irritability or anxiety • lack of energy, tiredness • loss of interest in activities you usually enjoy • withdrawal from family and friends • changes in eating habits, such as a loss of appetite and weight loss or overeating and weight gain • changes in sleep patterns, such as suddenly sleeping all the time or difficulty sleeping much at all • trouble concentrating • thoughts of suicide or death If you have some of these symptoms, or if you can't shake your feelings of homesickness, get help from the student counseling center or a doctor. The counselors at the center have experience dealing with homesickness and depression and can offer you advice on coping with your feelings. There may even be some support groups on campus where you can meet and talk to other students dealing with the same issues.

After a couple of months away at school, you'll probably wonder why you ever thought the transition to college life was difficult. You may even discover that you experience a different variation when you head home for vacations or the long summer break: missing your new friends and your new college life.

Key to success for freshman is finding college niche Cheryl Truman McClatchy Newspapers What happens when a child leaves home for college? Does the child get the benefit of being sans parents? Will the empty-nested parents be traumatized?

Or does everybody suffer a little and gain a little?

Betty Drew has had kids in her house for 35 years.

But soon, Drew, 53, will have an empty nest. Her youngest child, Charlene Leigh Drew, who recently graduated from Harlan's Cawood High School, will move to start life as a freshman at Eastern Kentucky University.

After five kids, Drew is worried about the empty house.

Charlene is excited to be starting college; she'll be rooming with her hometown best friend — and, she said, there will be about half a dozen other buddies on campus. That's one of the reasons she chose Eastern, she said: She knew she would have a community of familiar faces on site.

It's that annual rite of late summer: Thousands of parents realize their homes are going to be emptier as their kids troop off to the mixed pleasures of college and dormitory life. Meanwhile, thousands of teens realize that Mom and Dad are no longer just around the corner. (That's true in most cases, but not all: Some parents who want to give their offspring the benefits of on-campus life will put them into dormitories even if the school is in the same city. However, we do still expect them to do their own laundry.)

But most students are going to feel at least a twinge of homesickness at some point.

"We certainly hear that from students: `Oh my gosh, I really miss being at home,'" said Mary Bolin-Reece, director of the University of Kentucky counseling and testing center.

For some students, homesickness hits early — ­ triggered by, say, missing the family dog, a birthday or a valued event like the high school homecoming football game — and vanishes quickly.

Bolin-Reece said: "For others, they'll have a very different experience. They'll start out gangbusters. Then it's not until later in the semester that they'll have that experience."

Some students, for example, can't make their first home visit until Thanksgiving. Not that three months on a college campus is a bad thing: While the time estimated to acclimate to college life varies, most agree that students should plan to be on campus without a home visit for at least the first month. (Others say six to eight weeks to grow fully acclimated to college life without resorting to the comforts of home cooking, unlimited cable TV, sibling spats and having your laundry delivered and folded by a parental unit.) Different students might take various amounts of time to figure out their way around, master schedules, start organizing a study routine, and learn that there are lots of other people and activities available for campus interaction.

For parents, the key is to be sympathetic but not smothering, or as Bolin-Reece puts it, "for parents to allow students to know that the support is there, but to challenge the student to be independent." There's a safety net available, but college students need to make and take responsibility for their own decisions. Parents can, however, ask students what they would do differently in the future whenever a particularly rotten decision _ bad grade, disciplinary misstep, overspending _ hits home. This is a good news/ bad news scenario for both sides. Parents don't lose their kids, but they have to learn to pick their opportunities. Students don't lose a home; they just learn it's no longer their primary residence.

Charlene Drew said: "My mom's kind of taking it hard. ...

They're freaked out, but they know I have to go to college."

What every new freshman should know

These tips for incoming college students and their parents come from Mary Bolin-Reece, director of UK's counseling and testing center: • Top priority: Get plugged in someplace. College is your new home.

• Get involved in a living/learning community, a residence hall or a faith-based community. Some students will find a set of friends with fraternity and sorority rush; some might take longer to find a niche.

• The important thing is not to fall into the routine of dorm-toclass. A university is its own small town. Take advantage of its opportunities.

• Look at college as your job, and learn time-management skills.

• As a first-time college student, you have an unprecedented degree of autonomy over what classes you select, whether you even show up for class, and how well you manage your time and effort.

• But you also have a much higher reading load, more challenging courses, and no parent or high school counselor as a backstop when you don't get the work done.

• What does your average work week include? Budget time for going to class, writing papers, putting in time with your adviser, keeping up with reading and work. Even plan when you're going to bed because most dorms have students coming and going 24/7 (and no parent yelling at you that 3 a.m. means lights out or else).

• Most parents will have gone through college with the phone as their only lifeline home. Today's students have e-mail, cell phones with text messaging and facebook.com.

Page C10 | Wednesday, August 24, 2016

The Kent Stater

AN ARTISTIC VIEW OF KENT STATE

Zachary Popik / The Kent Stater The Beck Family gardens in “Behind the Brain” plaza located near Merill Hall. The plaza was designed by University Horticulturalist Mike Norman. The Beck Family wanted to set up a foundation and support the upkeep of the garden.

Zachary Popik / The Kent Stater Zachary Popik / The Kent Stater Don Drumm, fine art graduate of Kent State built “Solar Totem #1” in the summer of 1967. A bullet piecered the sculpture during the incidents on May 4, 1970. The sculpture is part of the National Register of Historic Landmarks, and brings in many visitors to the site.

Zachary Popik / The Kent Stater “Starsphere 2010” by Susan Ewing is located by the front of Franklin Hall. The 5,000 pound sculpture was was fabricated by John Bridges. The sculpture was funded by the Ohio Arts Council Percent for Arts program.

“Walking Together” was created by David E. Davis in 1972. This sculpture sits near the front enterence of the Art Bulding. Walking Together is constructed by four upright cedar beams set at an angle, with a chain connecting two horizontal beams.

Zachary Popik / The Kent Stater “The Kent Four” by Alastair Granville-Jackson was created in 1971. It was one of the first art sculptures to commemorate the death of four Kent State students on May 4, 1970. The four hollow arms were originally intended to project live flames. According to the Kent State Sculpture walk directory, professor Granville-Jackson said, ‘After considering the manner of death, four rifle barrels, I took these symbols of destruction and turned them into four new emblems for the viewer to ponder.'

Wednesday, August 24, 2016 | Page C11

The Kent Stater

KSU student bucket list Benjamin VanHoose Senior Copy Editor

Nobody wants to miss out on the things that make their college-of-choice special. We sorted through all that Kent State has to offer to compile a list of the top 10 tasks every student must fulfill before receiving a diploma.

1) Create a costume for Halloween

No fall semester in Kent is complete without an eventful downtown Halloween celebration. Hundreds of people flock to the streets for one night of flashy, inventive costumes. Don’t cop out with a store-bought, cliché outfit, though—build your own creative costume that others will remember for years to come. Start brainstorming now because the big night is fast approaching.

2) Take the May 4, 1970 tour

To truly know your campus, you must learn the history that’s forever engrained in Kent State’s personality. Peruse the May 4 Visitors Center museum in Taylor Hall, go on the walking tour and observe the May 4 Memorial. Educate yourself on the tragic moment in the university’s past so you can fully explain it to those outside of Kent who may be unaware.

3) Witness Kent State/ Akron rivalry firsthand

Whether it’s football, basketball, volleyball or any other sport, demonstrate school spirit by cheering on the Golden Flashes when it matters most—against the AkronZips. Tailgate, wear blue and gold gear and show support for Kent teams on social media. #NeverFearTheRoo

4. See a show at the Center for Performing Arts

After showing some love to the athletics at Kent State, get cultured by attending a performance put on by theatre and dance students. Like sporting events, tickets are free for students, so reserve a seat and witness a live musical, play or recital. The upcoming school year’s production schedule includes fairytale mash-up “Into the Woods” in November, and Shakespeare’s “Macbeth” in April.

5) Dine in at Rosie’s after midnight

Nothing says “college life” like eating a plate of fried food way past your bedtime. Located in Tri-Towers, Rosie’s Diner is open 24/7 and even offers on-campus deliveries between 6 p.m. and 2 a.m. Enjoy some mozzarella sticks and a milkshake on sleepless nights. We won’t judge—we’ll be in the booth next to you working on our second order of fries.

6) Take a selfie with President Beverly Warren

We don’t condone everyone swarming her with their phones, camera-ready. We also don’t expect the busy president to stop for a selfie with all 28,000-plus students on the main campus. But, Warren has been known to partake in a selfie with students now and again. So for those lucky enough to score a selfie with the president, be sure to say “thank you” after saying “cheese.”

7) Form a new student organization

There isn’t a student group for your obscure obsession? The Center for Student Involvement allows any student to start their own student organization for almost any interest. After meeting several requirements and enlisting a faculty advisor, start holding meetings and finding fellow students with similar interests. Organize and assemble quickly, though—registration for new groups ends Friday, Sept. 23.

8) Taste the food truck’s menu

When Ohio’s unpredictable weather permits, track down Dining Service’s food truck The Fork in the Road on campus to enjoy a gourmet burger, fries and homemade ketchup. The yellow truck is impossible to miss because it’ll likely have a long line of hungry students trailing from it. Fork in the Road accepts meal plans and stations itself at different locations across campus each day. Track daily positions by following @KSUFoodTruck on Twitter.

9) Go sledding on campus

Make the most of Ohio’s treacherous winters by hitting the slopes around campus. Starting atop Hilltop Drive on Front Campus or behind Taylor Hall toward the practice field, slide down the inclines with your favorite toboggan, sled or snowboard. Or, for those who come from hotter climates that never receive the gift of heavy snowfall, borrow from a friend and discover the thrills of sled-riding. And get ready for the thrills of walking to class under icy conditions as well.

10) Feed a black squirrel

(At your own risk. You’ve been warned.)

For students who zoom through these items with time to spare before graduation, have at these other noteworthy ideas:

11) Sing karaoke in the Rathskeller 12) Attend a student fashion show 13) Go skating at the Ice Arena 14) Explore a Fashion Museum exhibit 15) Climb the Rec Center’s rock wall 16) Sign up for a study in the psychology department 17) Win big at a student bingo night 18) See a free movie in the Kiva.

19) Walk the stairs of the library (tallest building in Portage County).

20) Add another layer of paint to the rock.

Josh Cribbs. Screenshot.

Photo courtesy of Youtube.com

NFL Pro Bowler Josh Cribbs to be 2016 Homecoming Grand Marshal Alex Delaney-Gesing Editor A Kent State alum and three-time NFL Pro Bowler has been announced as this year ’s Homecoming Parade Grand Marshal.

Josh Cribbs, a 2010 graduate, will return for the university’s homecoming ceremonies on Oct. 1.

“I’m going home. Come home with me for Kent State Homecoming 2016,” he said in a video posted on YouTube by the Kent State University Alumni Association.

In the video, Cribbs wears a white ‘Kent State Football’ shirt and holds up a yellow Kent State jersey with his last name printed on the back.

Cribbs played quarterback for Kent State’s football team from 2001 to 2004. He was inducted into the Kent State Varsity “K” Athletics Hall of Fame in 2011.

As the all-time total offense leader in school history—with 10,839 yards —Cribbs holds the records for rushing rushing touchdowns, 38, touchdowns scored, 41, single-season completions, 216, and single-season completion per-

centage, 64.3 percent, according to an Aug. 1 university news release.

“I feel like it’s a job well done on my part to be able to have this accomplishment, to be asked to be in a position to represent Kent State in this fashion,” he said in the news release. “I love giving back to, not just the community, but my alma mater.”

Following his football career at Kent State, Cribbs signed with the Cleveland Browns in 2005 as a free agent. He was with the team for eight seasons before playing for the Oakland Raiders, New York Jets and Indianapolis Colts.

He is currently tied with fellow free agent Leon Washington for the NFL record of the most career kickoff return touchdown-— eight—according to the news release.

Cribbs will partake in the Homecoming parade at 10:15 a.m. on Oct. 1, as well as a ‘Welcome Home Party’ after, at 11 a.m., at the Center for Philanthropy and Alumni Engagement.

He will attend the 3:30 p.m. football game, where the Flashes will compete against the University of Akron Zips for the Wagon Wheel. adelane3@kent.edu

Page C12 | Wednesday, August 24, 2016

The Kent Stater