eInside Briefs

Input Sought on Ask Me! Button Campaign

University Communications and Marketing is conducting a survey of students, faculty and staff about the Ask Me! button campaign that kicked off at the beginning of fall semester. The purpose of the survey is to measure the effectiveness of the campaign and solicit suggestions for improvement.

Please visit www.surveymonkey.com/s/AskMeButton to access the survey, which will take less than 10 minutes to complete. We would appreciate receiving your input no later than Dec 17. If you have any issues accessing the survey, please e-mail elewis9@kent.edu.

Posted Dec. 6, 2010

back to top

E-Inside Takes a Holiday

The e-Inside newsletter is taking a break between semesters. The last issue of the fall semester will post online on Dec. 13. The deadline for articles for that issue is Dec. 7.  The e-magazine returns with the beginning of the spring semester on Jan. 10, 2011.

Submissions to e-Inside are always welcome. Submit story ideas via e-mail at einside@kent.edu or through the links within the publication. The Message Boards will continue to be available during the break, but no new submissions will be posted until January.

Posted Dec. 6, 2010

back to top

Interested in Free Publicity for Your Event?

You may have noticed a "What to do at KSU" list of events on the Kent State's home page.  And you may be wondering if your department or departmental organization can post an event here.  The answer is yes!  And luckily, the steps are few and simple:

1. Go to http://www.kent.edu/news/event-submission.cfm.
2. Fill out the online event submission form. Your submission must be an event with a definitive time and place. The calendar will not post announcements, holidays or closings.
3. After you submit an event, University Communications and Marketing will review the submission for content, spelling and grammar before publishing it in the calendar. In order to allow for this review process, please submit your event at least one week in advance.

If you are planning on using the calendar more than 10 times a year, please e-mail Tim Priester at tprieste@kent.edu in order to set-up a department calendar. 

By Abbey Linville

Posted Dec. 6, 2010

back to top

PR News Recognizes Kent State's May 4, 1970, 40th Commemoration Events

The work behind this year's 40th commemoration of the May 4, 1970, shootings at Kent State University earned the university a 2010 PR News Nonprofit PR Award in the event PR category and an honorable mention in the website category.

The Nonprofit PR Awards are presented by the industry publication PR News and are judged by communications experts based on creativity, innovation, sound planning implementation and successful results.

The award-winning commemoration included a dedication ceremony for the May 4 site's listing on the National Register of Historic Places in conjunction with the new May 4 Walking Tour and a Democracy Speaker program.  

"This year's team orchestrated the 40th commemoration events to engage and educate the public," says Tom Neumann, Kent State's associate vice president of University Communications and Marketing. "The new programming and special events were created to aid the public's understanding and provide meaning for today of this important moment in American history that occurred on our campus."

Neumann adds that the events also were a way to highlight what Kent State University is today. He accepted the award on behalf of the Kent State team at PR News'' Nonprofit PR Awards ceremony held Nov. 3 at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C.

The award-winning event included a ribbon cutting and speeches from Kent State faculty and administrators, as well as Franco Ruffini, deputy state historic preservation officer at the Ohio Historic Preservation Office; Ohio Sen. Tom Sawyer and Ohio Rep. Kathleen Chandler. Event attendees included family members of the slain students, the students wounded on May 4 and their families, alumni, university employees, students, members of the community and visitors. 

The Democracy Speaker program featured U.S. Representative John Lewis, who was a leader in the Civil Rights Movement. Lewis talked about the dramatic cultural, social and political changes the nation was going through during the 1960s, leading up to the tragic events at Kent State, Jackson State and other parts of the country.

The dedication event attracted more than 300 people, and the speaker program brought in a standing-room-only crowd in the Kent Student Center Ballroom, which seats 900.

In addition to the top award in the Event PR category, Kent State received an honorable mention in the website category for its work on the May 4 Newsroom, which was co-created by the university's media relations team and student-PR agency, Flash Communications. The newsroom features releases, videos, photos and links to social media sites where people could engage in discussion.

More information on the events of May 4, 1970, at Kent State can be found on the May 4 Newsroom at http://may4newsroom.kent.edu, and information on the May 4 Visitors Center can be found at www.kent.edu/may4 .

By Stefanie Moore

Posted Dec. 6, 2010

back to top

Kent State Alternative Spring Breaks Trips Announced

Kent State is sponsoring its annual Alternative Spring Break Trips again in spring 2011. All Kent State students, faculty and staff are invited to participate in any of the three Alternative Spring Break service and immersion trips that still have openings.

The program is intended to expose students to social justice and cultural issues through direct service, community visits, reflection and various activities. The purpose of the trips is to engage students in service, as well as to inform them about current social issues and encourage their on-going involvement in social change.

Discussions, guest speakers, community service and tours will be a part of each trip.

Spaces are limited and trips are filled on a first-come, first-served basis. Registration began Dec. 1.

A $50 deposit is required at registration. Registration is open through Feb. 15.

Destinations for spring 2011 are as follows:

Buffalo, New York: Mar. 20- 25

The short trip will provide an opportunity for students to engage in a culture exchange with our Native American neighbors living in the Buffalo area. We are planning to participate in a weeklong, hands-on project with a team from Habitat for Humanity, as well as some local school projects. Transportation, lodging and most meals are included in the $300 registration fee.

Chicago, Illinois: Mar. 19-25

Students will work with a variety of community organizations, from youth-empowerment programs to homeless-outreach activities. Students will meet with community leaders to acquire a grassroots understanding of social change. Students also will be immersed in diverse Chicago cultural communities. $275 includes transportation, lodging and most meals.

Cleveland, Ohio: Mar. 19-24

Volunteers will spend the week at the Catholic Worker House on the west side of Cleveland. Volunteers will have an opportunity to perform direct service, talk to those afflicted by poverty and discuss issues with local social service agencies. $150 includes transportation, lodging and food.

Columbiana County, Ohio: Mar. 19-25

Students will stay at Kent State University at East Liverpool and provide direct service to area residents and social service agencies. One of the main projects includes building playgrounds and improving parks for local communities. $50 includes transportation, lodging and food.

Washington, D.C.: Mar. 19-25

Students will stay and work in the country's largest federally funded homeless shelter located in the shadow of the Capitol building. Volunteer work throughout the week will be performed at a women's shelter, homeless shelter, environmental project and HIV/AIDS program. Students also will have the opportunity to visit Capitol Hill and other popular sites. $250 includes transportation, lodging and most meals.

For more information, visit http://explore.kent.edu/ksunited/index.html or contact Ann Gosky at agosky@kent.edu.

By Brittany Macchiarola

Posted Dec. 6, 2010

back to top