eInside Events

State of the University Address, Sept. 23; Regional Campus Links Added

The university community is invited to join Kent State University President Lester A. Lefton on Thursday, Sept. 23, at 4 p.m. for his fourth annual State of the University address. The speech will be given in the Kent Student Center Kiva.

In keeping with tradition, the president will review progress made toward the university's Excellence Agenda and look to opportunities and challenges in the coming year.

A reception will follow in Room 204 of the Kent Student Center, welcoming new administrators:

Joel Nielsen, director of Intercollegiate Athletics
James Bracken, dean, University Libraries
John Crawford, dean, College of the Arts
Mark James, dean, College of Public Health
Douglas Steidl, dean, College of Architecture and Environmental Design
Walter Wagor, dean, Kent State University at Stark

Watch it live on the web at www.kent.edu or tune in to WKSU-FM at 7 p.m. on Sept. 23 for a recorded broadcast.

The broadcast will also be available at regional campuses in the following locations:
Kent State University at Ashtabula: Lake Room
Kent State University at Geauga: Gallery
Kent State Stark: Fine Arts 30
Kent State University at Trumbull: 112

After Sept. 25, to view the webcast and see a copy of the address, click on the Speeches link on the president's home page at www.kent.edu/president .

Guest Speaker Katie Koestner to Educate on Preventing Sexual Assault

Nationally known speaker and activist Katie Koestner visits Kent State this week to educate the university community on sexual assault prevention. Koestner will give two presentations the evening of Sept. 23:

General Presentation, "No-Yes", 7 p.m. Kent State Student Center ballroom

This presentation on sexual assault and sexual assault prevention will be open to all incoming freshmen as a "freshman success program" option, all Greek leaders and members as part of "new member" week for fraternities and sororities, athletes and open to the university community. Koestner is as funny as she is poignant, and was a big hit with the students who attended her presentation here this past April. Proof of attendance will be available for anyone faculty member who would like to offer extra credit for students who attend the presentation.

Workshop, "Helping a Sexual Assault Victim/Building Bystander Support", 8:30 - 10 p.m., Kent Student Center ballroom balcony

This training event includes response skills and peer leadership/bystander skills. The training will be offered to residence hall staff, Greek Leaders, student-athlete leaders, STARS leaders and a few select others.

Katie Koestner was the first survivor of date rape to speak out nationally. In "No-Yes", Koestner shares her survivor story, offering the messages of responsible decision-making, accountability in the use of drugs and alcohol and respect for self and peers. Her emotionally charged presentation creates an environment of understanding and helps lay the groundwork for proactive, long-term behavioral transformation. Koestner puts date rape on a level that everyone can feel, and to which anyone can relate.

Both events are sponsored by the Center for Student Involvement and the Women's Center.

For more information on Koestner, visit http://www.usafa.edu/34trw/cwc/cwcx/ncls/bios/koestnerbio.htm?catname=ncls

or

http://www.campusoutreachservices.com/consultant-katie-koestner.html

For more information, contact the Women's Center at 330-672-9230, or visit its website at www.kent.edu/wrc/.

Guest of Honor University Artist/Lecture Series Features Actor, Author Anthony Rapp

Author and actor Anthony Rapp comes to Kent State University on Sept. 21 to present, "Without You: A Memoir of Love, Loss and the Musical Rent." Rapp will speak at 5 p.m. in the Kent Student Center Kiva, with a book signing to follow at 6:30 in Room 204.

Anthony Rapp

Both events are free and open to the public.

Anthony Rapp is best known for originating the role of Mark Cohen in the Tony Award-winning rock opera Rent. Rapp shared an OBIE (Off-Broadway Award) with the rest of the cast for its performance. After taking the show from off-Broadway to Broadway and Chicago to London, Rapp reprised his role in the 2005 Sony Pictures major motion picture adaption.

Rapp's prolific career includes additional roles in theatre (Six Degrees of Separation, You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown); film (Dazed and Confused, A Beautiful Mind, Road Trip); and television (The X-Files, Law and Order: SVU). He is back on tour with a performance adapted from his 2006 national best-seller Without You: A Memoir of Love, Loss and the Musical Rent. Rapp's novel details his experiences during Rent's original run - as well as his personal struggle with losing his mother to cancer.

Rapp also serves on the board of the non-profit organization, Friends In Deed, which provides emotional support for individuals with a diagnosis of HIV/AIDS, cancer or other life-threatening physical illness and their families, friends and caregivers.

The Guest of Honor University Artist/Lecture Series is funded by the Provost's Office and coordinated by the Honors College. For additional information, contact the Honors College at 330-672-2312. If special accommodations for dis­abilities are needed, please notify the Honors College as soon as possible.

Kent State University at Stark Professional Ensemble to Perform Popular Musical Theatre Selections

Kent State University at Stark presents From the Page to the Stage, performed by The Lyric Theatre Ensemble, on Saturday, Sept. 25 at 7:30 p.m. in Main Hall Auditorium. The concert is free and open to the public; however, tickets are required.

The Lyric Theatre Ensemble, the professional vocal ensemble in residence at Kent State Stark, includes vocalists Catherine Robison, soprano; Laurel Seeds, soprano; James Gray Smith, tenor; Kenneth Kramer, baritone; and Kenneth Furlan on piano.

From the Page to the Stage showcases literary classics that have found their way into our hearts and onto the theatrical stage. This production presents novels, plays and poetry that have been transformed into musical productions for the stage. The concert traces the unique literary and musical marriages through selections from Cats, My Fair Lady, Jekyll and Hyde, Madame Butterfly, Miss Saigon and Kiss Me Kate, among others.

Call the Kent State Stark Theatre box office at 330-244-3262, Monday through Friday, from 1 to 5 p.m. for tickets.

For more information, contact the Department of Music at 330-244-5151. To view a list of Kent State Stark's music events, visit www.stark.kent.edu/academics/depts/mus/concerts.cfm.

Jewish Thought Leader David S. Ariel Presents the Basic Principles of the Kabbalah Sept. 27

The Jewish Studies Program at Kent State University will present a lecture by David S. Ariel, president of the Oxford Centre for Hebrew and Jewish Studies, on Monday, Sept. 27, at 7:30 p.m. in the Kent Student Center Kiva. The lecture is free and open to the public and will focus on the basic principles of Kabbalah.

David S. Ariel

Ariel says at a time when Hollywood stars have embraced Kabbalah, the Jewish mystical tradition, very few understand it and fewer still can explain it.

He has studied the original sources of the Jewish mystical tradition, the basic principles and teaching of the Kabbalah. Ariel has authored four books, including "Kabbalah," "Spiritual Judaism," "What Do Jews Believe?" and "The Mystic Quest."

"Having someone of Dr. David Ariel's stature and knowledge come to our campus to kick off this year's program is tremendously exciting," says Chaya Kessler, Kent State's Jewish Studies program director. "I have had the pleasure of hearing Dr. Ariel speak, and he is a dynamic speaker as well as an outstanding scholar. I would encourage everyone to attend his talk."

As president of the Oxford Centre for Hebrew and Jewish studies, where Hebrew has been taught continuously for six centuries, he has access to its Bodleian Library that holds the world's leading collection of medieval Hebrew manuscripts.

He served for 25 years as president of Siegal College in Cleveland and built one of the largest graduate programs for Jewish educator development in North America. He also established a broadband videoconferencing network to deliver advanced Jewish studies degrees to students across North America.

Ariel graduated from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and received his master's and doctorate degrees from Brandeis University in Judaic studies, specializing in Jewish intellectual history.

Ariel has lectured widely on Jewish thought throughout the United States, Israel, the former Soviet Union and Europe. He was the first foreigner in 70 years to teach Jewish studies at the Ukraine Academy of Sciences and Kiev State University. In addition, he has served as a consultant to universities and foundations in North America and in many volunteer capacities, including senior policy advisor to the North American Commission on Jewish Education.

For more information about Kent State's Jewish Studies Program or the Sept. 27 lecture, call 330-672-8926 or visit www.kent.edu/CAS/JewishStudiesProgram.

Technology Showcase to Highlight Printing Vendor

Kent State University's preferred supplier of printing and copying equipment, Blue Technologies, will hold a Technology Showcase on Sept. 22 and 23 in Rooms 310 A and B of the Kent Student Center. On both days, the event will take place between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.

The university community is invited to learn about transforming their departments through features such as color printing, scanning, copying and other types of document management, Bluetooth, USB printing and managed print services.

The event is free and open to the entire university community; no advance registration is required.

For additional information, contact Andrea Piperio at apiperio@btohio.com

Weight Watchers at Work Offers Fall Session

Faculty and staff are invited to an informational meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 21 to learn more about the Weight Watchers at Work program. The program is offered as part of OneWellU, the university's wellness program.

The informational meeting will be held at noon in the Student Recreation and Wellness Center. The new fall session will begin on Sept. 28, with weekly meetings held at the same time and location.

The cost for the 12-week series is $144 and includes 14 weeks of free etools on the Weight Watchers website. Participants have the option to pay in full or in three installments. Registration and payment can be made at the Sept. 21 meeting and there will be a gift for the first 25 people to enroll.

For questions, contact Marlo Kibler, benefits coordinator, at 330-672-8320 or mkibler5@kent.edu.