eInside Events

Grand Opening of Kent State’s Aeronautics and Technology Building Planned for April 24

A grand opening for Kent State University's new
Aeronautics and Technology Building will take place
April 24 from 2-4:30 p.m. The event is free and open to
the public.

Kent State University will host a grand opening for the Aeronautics and Technology Building on Friday, April 24, from 2-4:30 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.

The event will celebrate the opening of the 55,000-square-foot building and the move of the College of Applied Engineering, Sustainability and Technology from Van Deusen Hall to the Science Corridor. The new building will join other colleges and buildings, such as Henderson Hall, the Mathematics and Computer Science Building and the Liquid Crystal Materials Science Building. Construction on the building began in summer 2013.

Kent State President Beverly Warren; Robert Sines, interim dean of the College of Applied Engineering, Sustainability and Technology; and Dennis Eckart, Kent State University Board of Trustees chair, will make brief remarks. There will be student-led tours of the new space with demonstrations occurring in specific labs. Attendees can tour the Air Traffic Control Lab, Sustainability Lab, Aeronautics Teaching Lab and the Materials and Processes Lab. Refreshments will be provided.

Sines says the move was necessary for the college.

“I think the students are getting a much better educational experience in the new building because of the new facilities, new equipment and new surroundings,” Sines says.

The new building is a part of Kent State’s Foundations of Excellence: Building the Future initiative, which involves the construction of new buildings, facility upgrades and establishment of dynamic and new spaces. The goal of this initiative is to create the most outstanding academic experience for students, faculty, staff, alumni and the greater community enriched by the university.

For more information about the College of Applied Engineering, Sustainability and Technology, visit www.kent.edu/caest.

For more information about Kent State’s Foundations of Excellence initiative, visit www.kent.edu/foundations.

Kent State Announces Inauguration Week Events for All Campuses

Beverly Warren will be inaugurated as
the 12th president of Kent State University
on Friday, May 1, at 2 p.m. in the Memorial
Athletic and Convocation Center on the
Kent Campus.

Members of the Kent State University community are invited to attend the inauguration of Beverly Warren as the 12th president of the university on Friday, May 1, at 2 p.m. in the Memorial Athletic and Convocation Center on the Kent Campus. A reception will follow at the Kent Student Center Ballroom.

A week of activities and events leading up to the inauguration day will celebrate student success and campus community achievements on Kent State’s eight campuses and the Regional Academic Center in Twinsburg. All events are free, but seating is limited for some of them, so please register for events that you plan to attend.

Events include the dedication of the Center for Undergraduate Excellence on April 28 at 10:30 a.m. and dedication of the Kent State Student Memorial Garden at 7 p.m. On April 30, there will be a presidential tree planting at Manchester Field at 3:30 p.m. and “Presidential Perspectives: A Discussion with Past and Present Kent State Presidents” will take place at the Kent Student Center Ballroom at 5 p.m. The panel discussion, which will be moderated by CNN news anchor and Kent State alumna Carol Costello, will feature Warren and former Kent State presidents Michael Schwartz, Carol Cartwright and Lester Lefton.

Regional Campuses also will host several events at their locations, including a barbeque for students and a tree planting in honor of Warren. For a full schedule of inauguration week events taking place at Regional Campuses, visit www.kent.edu/president/inauguration/regional-events. For a full schedule of all inauguration week events on the Kent Campus, including registration information, visit www.kent.edu/president/inauguration/events.

Kent State’s Department of Pan-African Studies to Hold Open House

Kent State University’s Department of Pan-African Studies will host a series of events to celebrate Pan-African Studies from April 21-24. Kent State faculty, staff, students, future students and the public are invited to participate in the upcoming events at Ritchie Hall, located at 225 Terrace Dr., on the Kent Campus. All events are free and open to the public.

“This series of events offers a perfect opportunity for anyone interested in Pan-African Studies to come and see what the department has to offer, ask questions, and meet our faculty and staff,” says Cinnamon Small, outreach coordinator for the Department of Pan-African Studies. “Additionally, it is a great way to explore our new major concentrations, and students can make preparations for the upcoming fall semester or prepare for summer courses.”

Events in this series include:

Tuesday, April 21, 7-9 p.m., Room 230, Ritchie Hall
Violence and the Pan-African World: Inspiring Change: A panel discussion on physiological and psychological impact of racial violence on African-Americans and Native Americans

Wednesday, April 22, Noon-2 p.m., Room 250, Ritchie Hall
Department of Pan-African Studies open house, in collaboration with the Center of Pan-African Culture student advisory council, and networking with black business and Pan-African Studies alumni

Noon-4 p.m., First Floor, Ritchie Hall Foyer
Department of Pan-African Studies Resource Table

Thursday, April 23, noon-4 p.m., First Floor, Ritchie Hall Foyer
Department of Pan-African Studies Resource Table

Ritchie Hall Media Awareness Events:

Thursday, April 23, 6 p.m., Room 214
The Furious Force of Rhymes is a fascinating film by Joshua Litle, which looks at hip-hop as transnational protest music. Over the course of the 84-minute voyage, the viewer encounters characters as diverse as Israeli Jews, marginalized French Arabs, East German skinhead punks and West African feminists, all of whom share a common musical language. Originating from the ghettos of New York, rap has found adherents in every country in the world. Recognizing themselves in the oppression of U.S. blacks, people everywhere have adapted the American street music to their own causes. From the Bronx to Africa, this is their story.

Q&A/Talkback will include a panel of Kent State faculty and students, 8 p.m., Room 214, Ritchie Hall

Friday, April 24, 6 p.m., Room 214
Killing Us Softly 4: Advertising’s Image of Women -- this powerful, most recent edition of Jean Kilbourne’s influential and award-winning Killing Us Softly series uncovers a consistent pattern of sexism and misogyny across a range of print and television advertisements.

Q&A/Talkback will include a panel of Kent State faculty and students, 8 p.m., Room 214, Ritchie Hall

For more information about these events, contact Kabir Syed or Cinnamon Small at 330-672-2300 or email dpas@kent.edu.

For more information about Kent State’s Department of Pan-African Studies, visit www.kent.edu/pas.

Kent State Child Development Center’s Dinner and Silent Auction

Children at Kent State University's Child Development
Center play in the center's Outdoor Learning Lab. Kent
State’s Child Development Center will hold a scholarship
dinner on Saturday, May 16, from 6-10 p.m. at the Kent
State Hotel and Conference Center.

Kent State University’s Child Development Center will hold a scholarship dinner event themed “We Unite to Inspire” on Saturday, May 16, from 6-10 p.m. at the Kent State University Hotel and Conference Center. Cocktails begin at 6 p.m. and dinner will be served at 7 p.m. Cocktail attire is recommended. The celebration will feature a silent auction with donations benefiting the center’s Robin McManus Scholarship Fund for Children. This scholarship fund helps to offset tuition costs for children who might otherwise not be able to attend the Child Development Center.

“This year’s theme, ‘We Unite to Inspire,’ speaks to the Child Development Center’s focus on community service” says Monica Miller Marsh, Ph.D., associate professor and director of Kent State’s Child Development Center. “Each month, the children practiced intentional acts of kindness such as donating to a diaper drive, making Valentine’s Day cards and sending them to the elderly, and raising money to purchase and deliver blankets for children residing in a local homeless shelter. These projects will be highlighted in a video that illustrates how even the youngest among us are capable of helping others and finding meaning in collective social action.”

The cost to attend the event is $80 per person. The cost to reserve a sponsored table of 10 is $800. To purchase tickets, including sponsored tables, or to make a contribution to the scholarship fund, visit http://commerce.cashnet.com/ksu_cdc or make checks payable to the Kent State Foundation (please write fund #10241 in the memo section) and mail it to:

Kent State University Child Development Center
Attn: Pam Hutchins
775 Loop Rd.
Kent, OH 44242

For more information about the event, contact the Child Development Center at 330-672-2559.

For more information about the Child Development Center, visit www.kent.edu/ehhs/centers/cdc.

Orchestral and Vocal Extravaganza to Close Out Kent State Orchestra Season

Performance to include Orchestra, Chorale, Kent Chorus and Men’s and Women’s Choruses

The Kent State University Hugh A. Glauser School of
Music Orchestra will close its 2014-2015 season with a
performance by the Kent Chorus, Kent Chorale and Men’s
and Women’s Choruses on April 26 at 7:30 p.m. in the
University Auditorium at Cartwright Hall.

The Kent State University Hugh A. Glauser School of Music Orchestra will close its 2014-2015 season with a performance by the Kent Chorus, Kent Chorale and Men’s and Women’s Choruses on Sunday, April 26, at 7:30 p.m. in the University Auditorium at Cartwright Hall. Cartwright Hall is located at 650 Hilltop Dr., with free parking located off Terrace Drive.

The concert will include the Overture to Egmont by Beethoven, Schicksalslied and Alto Rhapsody by Brahms and Chichester Psalms by Bernstein. Mezzo-soprano Sarah Leuwerke will be the featured soloist in Brahms’s Alto Rhapsody and Sam Culver will sing the boy soprano part in Bernstein’s Chichester Psalms.

Audience members will be treated to "Beethoven's powerful and intense ‘Egmont Overture,’ combined with the extraordinary grace and beauty of Brahms' choral works, followed by the joy and liveliness of Bernstein," says Charles Latshaw, director of the Kent State Orchestra.

Tickets for the performance are $15 for adults; $13 for seniors and Kent State faculty and staff; $10 for groups of 10 or more patrons; $8 for non-Kent State students; $5 for Kent State students who are not eligible for the Fee for Free; free for anyone 18 and under and free for full-time, Kent Campus undergraduate students.

Tickets are available weekdays, noon to 5 p.m. at the Performing Arts Box Office, located in the lobby of the Roe Green Center in the Center for the Performing Arts at 1325 Theatre Dr. on the Kent Campus. The Performing Arts Box Office accepts Visa, MasterCard and Discover, in addition to cash and checks.

The Cartwright Hall Box Office will open one hour prior to the performance for walk-up sales and will accept Visa, MasterCard and Discover. Tickets and more information are available by calling 330-672-ARTS (2787) or visiting www.kent.edu/music.

Kent State Gears Up for 21st Annual FlashFest Celebration

Kent State University’s 21st annual FlashFest on April 23
will deliver a mix of music genres with hip-hop duo Rae
Sremmurd, disc jockey duo the Chainsmokers and R&B
artist Jeremih.

Kent State University’s 21st annual FlashFest will deliver a mix of music genres with hip-hop duo Rae Sremmurd, R&B artist Jeremih and disc jockey duo the Chainsmokers.

This year, the event will take place Thursday, April 23. Music begins at 5 p.m. on the Student Green, weather permitting, with the Memorial Athletic and Convocation (MAC) Center as an alternate location.

Kevin Otubu, director of programming for the Undergraduate Student Government, says the variety of genres was chosen because they appealed to students in the past.

“We know students enjoy the hip-hop and electronic dance music scene, so my goal was to try and recreate our FlashFest 2013, but make it better,” Otubu says.

Rae Sremmurd, composed of brothers Swae Lee and Slim Jimmy, is best known for its single “No Type.” Jeremih is a recording artist and producer well-known for his single “Don’t Tell ‘Em.” Lastly, the Chainsmokers consist of members Andrew Taggart and Alex Pall, who are best known for their single “Selfie.”

Before the three main acts take the stage, Kent State alumna Marina Strah and rapper Kyle will perform at 5 p.m. Strah is the winner of a YouTube contest Ryan Seacrest organized to find the best cover of Taylor Swift’s hit “Shake It Off.” Kyle, also known as Super Duper Kyle, is an up-and-coming rapper from California.

FlashFest also serves as the platform to announce this year’s grand prize winners for FLASHperks, an incentive program that offers students prizes for attending university events. This year’s prizes include free tuition for one year, Domino’s pizza for a year, a queen-size mattress set and a $500 bookstore gift card.

Kent State University students celebrate at last year's
FlashFest, an annual event for Kent State students
featuring performers, food and prizes.

Otubu says he expect this year’s FlashFest to stand out because of the range of acts chosen.

“If the weather permits and we are able to have it outside, this has the opportunity to be the best FlashFest ever,” Otubu says. “All the acts can excite the crowd and will interact with the crowd during the show, so that will make it fun.”

This year’s event also is part of the RECESS Tour, a music and ideas festival.

“RECESS is a traveling music and ideas festival for college campuses backed by Mark Cuban,” says Donna Carlton, special coordinator of student affairs in Kent State’s Division of Enrollment Management and Student Affairs. “We bring incredible startups, inspiring speakers, a student business competition and a music concert to inspire the next generation of world-changing entrepreneurs.”

The speaker series and student business competition will be held on April 22 at 5:30 p.m. in Room 310, Kent Student Center. Jake Schneider of Madison House and Tom Montgomery, co-founder of Chubbies Shorts, will open the event by sharing their journeys. Winners of the competition earn an all-expenses paid trip to Los Angeles to pitch their idea to investors.

For more information about the 2015 FlashFest, the performers and related events, visit www.kentstateusg.com/#upcoming-events-1.

Back-to-School Blastoff Registration Now Open

Registration is now open for Back-to-School Blastoff 2015, which will be held Sunday, Aug. 30, on the Student Green and Risman Plaza. This annual event is a fantastic way for student organizations to recruit new members and for departments to promote their programs and services. The Blastoff registration form can be found at www.kent.edu/csi. The deadline to register is Aug. 26.

If you have questions, contact Jennifer Gunnoe, associate director in Kent State’s Center for Student Involvement, at jgunnoe@kent.edu.

Conference Examines Impact of New Technologies in Religious Communities

David H. Michels, Ph.D., will deliver the keynote address
at the fifth annual International Conference on Information
and Religion on June 5 at Kent State University.

The Center for the Study of Information and Religion (CSIR) will host its fifth annual International Conference on Information and Religion on Friday, June 5, at Kent State University. The theme for this year's conference is "New Technologies and Religious Communities."

CSIR is a research initiative of the Kent State University School of Library and Information Science. It was founded in 2009 with the goal of facilitating research on the various institutions and agents of religion and their effect on social knowledge through the use, dissemination and diffusion of information. CSIR hosts a symposium each fall semester and a conference in the spring/summer.

David H. Michels, Ph.D., will deliver the keynote address at lunchtime during the 2015 conference. His talk titled, "Transforming Religion in the Information Age," will explore how new information technologies are increasingly being adopted by religious organizations to support worship, instruction, communication and engagement with the wider community. He also will examine how their use transforms the nature of social interactions and religious community — “koinonia” — and where these changes are taking us in the information age. Michels is head of public services at Sir James Dunn Law Library, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, and author of the blog “Informing Faith.”

The conference schedule features 23 academic presentations in three tracks: technology (8), religious communities (12) and librarianship (3). From varying perspectives, the presentations consider how technology impacts religious communities.

The conference begins at 8 a.m. and runs until approximately 6:30 p.m. Lunch is included in the registration cost. All sessions take place in the School of Library and Information Science on the third floor of the University Library. Conference rates are $100 for regular registration and $50 for students.

Visit the conference website for more information and to register.

Kent State School of Music Presents World Music Concerts

Concerts feature two evenings of music selections from Africa, Asia and Europe

The Kent State University Hugh A. Glauser School of
Music will present World Music Concerts on April 28
and 29 in Ludwig Recital Hall. The concerts will feature
traditional and contemporary music and dance from various
countries across Africa and elections from Asia and Europe.

The Kent State University Hugh A. Glauser School of Music presents World Music Concerts on Tuesday, April 28, at 8 p.m., and Wednesday, April 29, at 8 p.m., in Ludwig Recital Hall, 1325 Theatre Dr. in the Center for the Performing Arts on the Kent Campus. Both concerts are free and open to the public.

On April 28, audience members will be exposed to traditional and contemporary music and dance from various countries across Africa. Performing these various styles of dance will be campus groups such as the African Ensemble, Barefeet Dance Tribe, African Dance Class and Highlife Band.

On April 29, the Kent State Thai Ensemble, along with Kent State music faculty and guest performers, will present selections from Asia and Europe. Audiences will be treated to performances by Yang Jin; Priwan Nanongkham, Kent State assistant professor of music; Rosemary Heredos, Kent State senior music major; and Frances Acar. The program will include Piphat ensemble music, as well as a khaen (a free-reed aerophone) solo from Thailand. Jin will perform the Chinese Pipa and Zhong Ruan (both plucked lutes). Heredos will sing two Irish folk songs and Acar will lead a group of participants on Scottish waulking songs.

For more information about the African concert, contact Janine Tiffe at 330-672-2172. For more information about the Asia and Europe concert, contact Andrew Shahriari at 330-672-2830.

Flash-A-Thon: Dance or Donate to Support Cancer Patients at Akron Children’s Hospital

Kent State University students Abby Myers (left) and
Andy Lovrak (right) pose for a photo with cancer
survivors Jacob Sypert, age 11, and Adelyn Smith, age 6,
in the playroom of the Reinberger Center at Akron
Children’s Hospital.

Kent State University’s Flash-A-Thon, a 12-hour dance marathon to raise funds for young patients at Akron Children’s Hospital, will take place on Saturday, April 25, from noon to midnight at the Student Recreation and Wellness Center. The dance marathon celebrates the university’s local and global impact and is one of several events marking Kent State’s Presidential Inauguration Week.

Participation in Flash-A-Thon is open to all members of the Kent State community and the public. Kent State faculty and staff can support this great cause in three different ways: Dance or volunteer, sponsor an individual or team, or donate.

Last year, Kent State’s Flash-A-Thon raised more than $22,000 for Akron Children’s Hospital. A team of Kent State students produced a dance video that features young patients, their families, Kent State students and hospital staff lip-synching to One Republic’s hit song, “I Lived.” The video has more than 25,000 views. This year, the goal is to raise $30,000.

“I want them to understand how much these kids are fighting every day,” says Andy Lovrak, Kent State senior advertising major who was involved in creating the video. “It can be so hard, but they’re so happy and they’re fighters. That’s how we should live, and it’s so inspiring to see them.”

Click here to register to dance, sponsor a dancer or dance team, or to donate to support young patients at Akron Children’s Hospital.

For more information about Kent State’s Flash-A-Thon, visit www.kent.edu/oeece/flashathon.

Kent State Celebrates Earth Month

Kent State University will host a number of events in honor of Earth Month, a celebration spanning the month of April.

Earth Month is celebrated nationally to bring awareness to the care of Earth and includes activities that benefit Earth. Kent State’s festivities intend to be no exception.

“The Earth Month celebration gives us the opportunity to understand our important relationship with the environment,” says Melanie Knowles, Kent State’s sustainability manager.

Arbor Day/RecycleMania Tree Planting

On April 21, there will be a tree planted for the residence hall with the best performance during RecycleMania 2015. Check www.kent.edu/sustainability/earth-day for updates about the location and time.

Earth Day

Earth Day, Wednesday, April 22, will feature various events across campus. Students, faculty, staff and Kent community members are invited to join the fun with events such as children’s book readings and tree plantings throughout the day.

The Department of Biological Sciences and the College of Arts and Sciences welcome Earth Month participants to join them on Earth Day in the gardens behind Cunningham Hall between 1 and 4 p.m. The Department of Biological Sciences will host demos and tours with student organizations, Biology Club, Environmental Conservation Group and the Kent State Environmental Society.

“The Earth Day celebration with the Department of Biological Sciences is going to be very interactive,” says Knowles. “It’s a great opportunity for students to come have some fun and learn something about their environment.”

Earth Day Tree Planting

On April 24 from 1 to 2 p.m., Kent State’s Biology Club will plant a tree on Manchester Field to commemorate Earth Day.

Arbor Day – “Who’s Your Mama?” Film Festival

The celebration continues on Friday, April 24, with Arbor Day events, including tree plantings and the ninth annual “Who’s Your Mama?” Environmental Film Festival. The festival, hosted by the Standing Rock Cultural Arts, will feature short films from 6:30 to 9 p.m. in the Kent Student Center Kiva. General Admission is $5 and the cost for seniors and students is $3.

“We are excited to raise awareness,” says Knowles. “All of our students, no matter what career they’re going into, need to understand our relationship with the environment.”

For more information about Earth Day celebration at Kent State, visit www.kent.edu/sustainability/earth-day.