eInside Events

Kent State Intercollegiate Athletics Hosts Starner Distinguished Speaker Series

Kent State University alumnus J. Rich
Alexander, '77, is keynote speaker at
the 13th annual Starner Distinguished
Speaker Series on Sept. 9, presented
by Kent State’s Department of
Intercollegiate Athletics.

Kent State University’s Department of Intercollegiate Athletics presents the 13th annual Starner Distinguished Speaker Series at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 9, at Cartwright Hall. This year's keynote address, "Reflections on Your Journey," will be given by Kent State alumnus J. Rich Alexander, '77, who currently serves as an operating partner with Advent International Corporation. The event is free and open to the public.

"We are thrilled to have Rich back on campus," says Matthew Geis, senior associate athletic director and executive director of athletic advancement at Kent State. "He is a great example of a former student-athlete successfully transferring the skills learned in athletic competition to his career. I think the student-athletes will learn a lot from hearing about his career and life experiences."

A 1977 graduate of Kent State, Alexander was a three-time letter winner as a member of the Kent State swimming and diving team during the 1974-76 seasons. During his time on the Golden Flashes' swimming and diving team, Kent State posted a record of 26-6 and captured two Mid-American Conference (MAC) Championships (1974 and 1976). Alexander was the 1975 MAC Champion in the 500 Freestyle, 4:41.42, and the 1,650 Freestyle, 16:25.94, under head coach Tod Boyle.

Alexander, a native of Normall, Illinois, graduated cum laude from Kent State with a bachelor's degree in psychology and later completed his Master of Business Administration degree at Capital University.

Alexander got his start in business when he joined PPG Industries in 1978 as a sales representative in Detroit and held several branch sales and marketing positions. Alexander continued moving up in PPG Industrial while holding titles of senior vice president, performance coatings (2005), executive vice president for the reporting segment and assumed responsibility for the glass external reporting segment (2010). In 2011, Alexander was responsible for PPG's global architectural coatings business and maintained his leadership of the company's glass business and the corporate functions of marketing, purchasing and distribution. On March 1, 2013, Alexander retired from PPG Industrial.

Alexander also is chairman of the Board of Directors of ALLNEX SARL (a portfolio company of Advent International and Calgon Carbon Corporation) and is on the Board of Governors at Oakmont Country Club in Oakmont, Pennsylvania.

The Starner Distinguished Speaker series is made possible by Kent State alumni Buzz and Marilyn Starner. The Starners’ endowed the speaker series to expose current student-athletes to alumni who have successfully transferred their lessons from athletic competition and student involvement to meaningful careers outside of athletics. Buzz, '67, and Marilyn, '71, have been actively involved in supporting athletic programs at Kent State for many years. The Jackson Township couple is pleased with the strong emphasis that Kent State places on the academic skills of athletes and believes that the skills students develop in athletic competition also lead to success in life after college.

For more information, contact Alicia Gaffney at alongst1@kent.edu or call 330-672-8399.

10th National Ethics Workshop at Kent State Focuses on Data Mining

Industry experts to discuss data implications for the First Amendment, privacy, information security, the media and more

The 10th annual Poynter Kent State Media Ethics
Workshop with the theme “Data Minefields?” will take place
Sept. 18 at the FirstEnergy Auditorium in Franklin Hall.

Big data. Big search. Big opportunities. Big complications. And big implications for the First Amendment, privacy, information security and the media. The 10th annual Poynter Kent State Media Ethics Workshop will focus on the big question of “Data Minefields?” and will take place in Kent State University’s Franklin Hall on Thursday, Sept. 18.

Robert Hernandez, a self-proclaimed “hackademic,” and assistant professor of professional practice (Data) at USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism, will give the keynote address. Hernandez uses journalism and technology to empower people, inform reporting and storytelling, engage community, improve distribution and, whenever possible, enhance revenue.

Joe Vealencis, the director of strategic communications for the National Counterterrorism Center, will discuss "Countering the Terrorist Threat in an Age of Transparency." Vealencis manages the agency’s external relationship with foreign partners, congressional oversight committees and national print and television media.

“Data is such an important issue now with concerns about privacy, security, marketing, and, of course, using data to enrich stories,” says Jan Leach, workshop organizer and associate professor in Kent State’s School of Journalism and Mass Communication. “We're going to look at all those issues, and we have some high-profile speakers lined up to weigh in on the topics.”

Celebrating the conference’s 10th year at Kent State, “Data Minefields?” will focus on topics such as information privacy, transparency in data collection, sports data, data journalism and the future of news.

Workshop speakers, in addition to Kelly McBride and Ellyn Angelotti Kamke of the Poynter Institute, include:

• Jeremy Gilbert - As director of strategic initiatives at the Washington Post, Gilbert works to identify, create and execute new digital products and storytelling experiences.
• Jennifer LaFleur - Currently the senior editor for data journalism at the Center for Investigative Reporting, LaFleur has won several awards for her coverage of disability, legal and open government issues.
• Daniel Lathrop - As projects data editor of the Dallas Morning News, Lathrop “tells stories with computer code.” In 2008, Lathrop received a White House Correspondents Association Edgar A. Poe Award for revealing the failure of the post-9/11 FBI to pursue white-collar criminals.
• Gina Miller - The vice president and director of customer experience at CBD Marketing, Miller is no stranger to in-depth online research methods. Described as “insatiably curious,” Miller is known to constantly ask, “Why?”
• Chris Quinn - As vice president of content at the Northeast Ohio Media Group, Quinn acts as leader of online news strategy for the digitally focused news operation in The Plain Dealer market area.
• Jill Riepenhoff - As projects reporter for The Columbus Dispatch, Riepenhoff advocates for open government, transparency in college athletics and consumer-financial protection.
• Jennifer Smith Richards - Also from The Columbus Dispatch, Smith Richards has more than 10 years of experience as an education reporter.
• Bruce Winges – Since joining the Akron Beacon Journal in 1982, Winges has held a variety of editing and management positions. He was named editor and vice president in 2007.
• Additional speakers and guests will be announced soon.
  

“Attending this workshop is a great opportunity for professionals, students and educators because the topics are timely and results of the discussions can be applied immediately at work or in classes,” Leach says. “The workshop brings together high-profile speakers for debate on hot topics, and students add to that debate with their perspectives and expectations.”

The program will draw a national audience through live streaming and mobile devices. In-person attendees and Web viewers can contribute to discussions and ask questions via Twitter, using #ksuethics14.

Detailed information:
What: 10th annual Poynter Kent State Media Ethics Workshop, “Data Minefields?”
When: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 18
Where: Kent State University, FirstEnergy Auditorium in Franklin Hall, 550 Hilltop Dr., Kent, Ohio
Cost: $25 for media and public relations professionals, $20 for educators and free for students
Event website for details and registration: Available soon
Questions: Contact Jan Leach at 330-672-4289 or jleach1@kent.edu; or Michele McBride Simonelli, Esq., at 330-398-1393 or mmcbri13@kent.edu.

The Poynter Kent State Media Ethics Workshop is sponsored by the Poynter Institute, the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, the Akron Beacon Journal, the Akron Area Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America, the Media Law Center for Ethics and Access, the College of Communication and Information, the School of Journalism and Mass Communication, and TeleProductions.

For more information about Kent State’s School of Journalism and Mass Communication, visit www.kent.edu/jmc.

Kent State to Host Midwest Jewish Studies Association Academic Conference

The Jewish Studies Program, in Kent State University’s College of Arts and Sciences, will host the 26th Annual Midwest Jewish Studies Association Academic Conference on Sept. 14 – 15 at the Kent State Hotel and Conference Center in downtown Kent. Approximately 30 scholars and professionals in Jewish Studies from around the world will attend. Presenters will come from Turkey, Austria and Israel, as well as North America.

The keynote speech “Heschel’s Spiritual Humanism: Jewish Education for the 21st Century” will be presented by Peter Geffen on Sept. 14. Geffen is the founder of the Abraham Joshua Heschel School in New York City and a recipient of the Covenant Award. The keynote will place Heschel's key understandings of the human condition within a developmental framework offering a vision and challenge to much of contemporary Jewish education in particular and American education in general. The talk will include biographical review and lesser-known anecdotes garnered from years of work and friendship with both Heschel family members and former students.

The keynote speech and dinner is open to the public, but reservations are required. To register, call Chaya Kessler at 330-672-8926 or email ckessle7@kent.edu.

The Midwest Jewish Studies Association (MJSA) is a broad and interdisciplinary nonprofit organization. It brings together scholars of Jewish and non-Jewish backgrounds in a synergistic effort to generate energy, talent, ideas and resources.

For more information about Kent State’s Jewish Studies Program, visit www.kent.edu/cas/jewishstudiesprogram.

Flashes on the Road at UVA on Sept. 27

Kent State University football players sing the fight song
following their 2013 opening game victory over Liberty
University. The Golden Flashes will play University of
Virginia on Sept. 27.

The Kent State University Alumni Association will host an alumni and fan tailgate for the Kent State vs. University of Virginia (UVA) game on Sept. 27.

Lori Randorf, assistant vice president for alumni relations at Kent State, will deliver the welcome address, and Kent State President Beverly Warren will deliver remarks. There will be door prizes at the event.

Time: TBA, three hours before game kickoff
Date: Sept. 27
Location: Outdoor tent on the lawn at the intersections of Alderman and McCormick. Physical address to use for GPS: 530 McCormick Road Charlottesville, VA 22904. Parking information is available at www.virginiasports.com/tickets/football-parking.html.

Cost
Game ticket and meal
$100 for Alumni Association members and guests
$105 for non-members and guests

Meal only
$60 for Alumni Association members and guests
$65 for non-members and guests

Register online at www.ksualumni.org (Flashes “On the Road” at UVA) by Sept. 19.

Wear your Kent State gear and come celebrate your Golden Flashes!

Black Squirrel Festival Features Live Music, Food and Freebies

Vendors and student organizations take over Risman
Plaza and the Student Green for the annual Black Squirrel
Festival.

A Kent State University tradition for 33 years, the annual Black Squirrel Festival will take place Friday, Sept. 5, from noon-6 p.m. at the Student Green and Risman Plaza. The Black Squirrel Festival, which is hosted by Kent Student Center Programming, attracts more than 3,000 students, faculty and staff, as well as members of the Kent community. The event includes live music, inflatables, rock-climbing wall, photo booth, food, local vendors, student organizations and thousands of giveaway items.

The first 2,000 people to arrive at the event will receive a Black Squirrel Festival T-shirt. Other official event freebies include sunglasses, mason jar mugs and chapstick.

“This is the event of the year in terms of free stuff,” says Alyssa Mazey, senior public communications major. “My friends and I will for sure be out there again this year.”

The Kent State food truck, Fork in the Road, will be on site from noon-3 p.m. serving up some festival favorites. Dining plans are valid at the food truck. Local bands and DJs will perform throughout the event, each playing an hour set. Festival goers will enjoy musical genres ranging from rap to folk and some jazzy-blues in between.

• Noon-1 p.m.: Beach Boyz Entertainment
• 1-2 p.m.: Ace 500
• 2-3 p.m.: The Gage Brothers
• 3-4 p.m.: The Trunks
• 4-5 p.m.: Mount Ratz
• 5-6 p.m.: The Ohio Weather Band

The Black Squirrel Festival also offers students a chance to learn about student organizations, explore different university departments and learn more about the Kent community. Local vendors will have everything from coupons to clothing, jewelry and, of course, more free stuff. Many of the 300+ student organizations will be set up at the event to recruit new members and encourage students to get involved.

Lindsay Wheeler, assistant manager for Kent Student Center Programming, says the Black Squirrel Festival is an excellent opportunity for students to revisit with student organizations or catch up with some that they did not have a chance to talk with during the back-to-school Blastoff event.

“Blastoff was only two hours,” Wheeler says. “The Black Squirrel Festival is all day and gives students the opportunity to visit more of the tables.”

Kent Student Center Programming’s popular late-night movie program, Real Late Reels, will be showing Disney’s Maleficent at 9 p.m. The movie will be projected drive-in-movie style on the Student Green. Watch trailer here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=w-XO4XiRop0.

If it rains during the day, the festival will move indoors to the ballroom on the second floor of the Kent Student Center, and the movie will still be shown at 9 p.m. in the Kent Student Center Kiva.

For more information about Kent Student Center Programming, visit www.kent.edu/kscprogramming.

Sing-a-Long-a Grease at the Kent State Tuscarawas Performing Arts Center

Sing-a-Long-a Grease will be presented at the Performing
Arts Center at Kent State University at Tuscarawas on
Sept. 4.

Sing-a-Long-a Grease will be presented at the Performing Arts Center at Kent State University at Tuscarawas at 7:30 p.m. on Sept. 4. This show is co-sponsored by 94.1 Radio and the student theatre club AMS.

From the producers of the smash hit Sing-a-long-a Sound of Music, this fully interactive screening of the classic film with on-screen subtitles is “the one that you want.” The host will lead a vocal warm-up, judge a costume competition and show the audience how to use the free magic moment fun packs. As the audience watches the movie, they are encouraged to sing along with John Travolta, Olivia Newton-John and the gang. Dressing up is strongly encouraged.

Tickets range in price from $5 to $10 and can be purchased at the Performing Arts Center Box Office, online at www.tusc.kent.edu/pac or by calling 330-308-6400. The box office is open Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Free parking is available for all shows.

Kent State Tuscarawas is located at 330 University Dr. N.E. in New Philadelphia.