eInside Events

KENTtalks Discussion to Focus on Race Relations

The second KENTtalks discussion to share in an open
dialogue about race relations will take place on April 14
at 6 p.m. in the Kent Student Center, Room 306.

The Kent State University community is invited to take part in the second KENTtalks discussion to share in an open dialogue about race relations, specifically to ensure that every member of the university community feels respected, valued and safe.

E. Timothy Moore, Assistant Dean Emeritus in Kent State’s College of Arts and Sciences and Associate Professor Emeritus in the Department of Pan-African Studies, will facilitate the discussion on April 14 at 6 p.m. in the Kent Student Center, Room 306.

“It’s my hope that all participating students, faculty and staff will come away with a better understanding of how Kent State reached its current state of race relations and that we can develop collective solutions to benefit everyone,” Moore says.

This KENTtalks discussion follows the Jan. 22 campus forum attended by civil rights leader Julian Bond as part of a weeklong celebration of Martin Luther King Jr.

“Your voice matters – you matter – and I hope you will participate and be the difference that this world so desperately needs,” says Beverly Warren, Kent State president. “I believe that a learning community like ours – one in which so many students, faculty and staff members demonstrate a highly personal commitment to the values of diversity and inclusion every day – is a fitting place to come together to help create the long-overdue world envisioned by Dr. King.”

KENTtalks participants do not need a ticket to attend but should arrive early due to limited seating and be prepared to share openly and freely in an environment of trust and respect.

For questions about the event, contact Kristan Dolan at 330-672-8187 or kdolan3@kent.edu, or Shay Little at 330-672-4050 or sdlittle@kent.edu.

New York Times Best-Selling Author and Hotel Industry Expert Jacob Tomsky to Speak at Kent State

Author and hotel industry expert Jacob Tomsky will serve
as Kent State University's Schwebel Lecture Series
speaker on April 16 from 4-5 p.m. in Ritchie Hall.

The Hospitality Management program at Kent State University is pleased to announce the 2015 Schwebel Lecture Series speaker. This year’s speaker is author Jacob Tomsky of The New York Times bestselling memoir Heads in Beds.

The Schwebel Lecture will take place Thursday, April 16, from 4 to 5 p.m. in Ritchie Hall, Room 214, on the Kent Campus. Ritchie Hall is located at 225 Terrace Drive in Kent. A reception and book signing will follow the lecture. This event is free and open to the public, and no reservations are required.

Tomsky is a hotel industry expert who has been in the business for more than a decade. Global Gurus noted him as one of the “World’s Top 30 Hospitality Professionals for 2014.” Tomsky’s vast experience in hotels has allowed him to work through all the ups and downs of the service industry.

In his book, Tomsky pulled from his real-life experiences, amusing readers with his tales of various positions from serving as front deskman, valet parker, sheet folder and more. Readers of his book are presented to a full spectrum of hotel workings, from the inside and outside views.

Currently, there are more than 300 undergraduate and graduate students in the Kent State Hospitality Management program, which is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Program in Hospitality Administration (ACPHA). For more information about Kent State’s bachelor’s degree in hospitality management or master’s degree in hospitality and tourism management, visit www.kent.edu/ehhs/hm.

For more information about the Kent State Schwebel Lecture Series, contact Swathi Ravichandran, Ph.D., coordinator of Kent State’s Hospitality Management program, at 330-672-7314 or sravicha@kent.edu.

May 4 Visitors Center to Host Two Events That Explore Ways to Understand and Overcome Grief

Judy Shepard, who lost her son,
Matthew, to a murder motivated by
anti-gay hate in 1998, will speak in the
Schwartz Center on April 9. She
established The Matthew Shepard
Foundation to help carry on her son’s
legacy.

Kent State University’s May 4 Visitors Center will host two events this week to commemorate the tragic events that occurred on May 4, 1970, on the Kent Campus.

Today, April 6, the center will host a collaborative workshop, “Overcoming Trauma Through Creative Writing,” at 7 p.m. in Kent State’s Wick Poetry Center. The workshop will be led by David Hassler, director of the Wick Poetry Center, and Mindy Farmer, director of Kent State’s May 4 Visitors Center. Participants will engage in group discussion and writing exercises to explore the transformative and healing power of creative writing.

“Trauma is part of the human experience,” Farmer says. “It is our reaction to trauma, not the trauma itself, that defines us.”

On April 9, Judy Shepard will present “The Legacy of Matthew Shepard: Learn How One Mother Used Her Grief to Make a Difference,” at 7:30 p.m. in the Schwartz Center, Room 177. In 1998, Judy Shepard lost her son, Matthew, to a murder motivated by anti-gay hate. Turning tragedy into a crusade for justice and determined to prevent Matthew's fate from befalling others, she established The Matthew Shepard Foundation to help carry on his legacy.

“The tragic death of Matthew Shepard was a pivotal event in the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Questioning and Intersex movement and, as a result of this terrible event, Judy Shepard has become a powerful crusader for justice, equality and hate crime legislation,” Farmer says. “Anyone interested in the history of the gay and lesbian movement or who is searching for ways to overcome trauma should attend. She will challenge the audience to become activists in their own communities using their grass-roots power to make their schools and neighborhoods safer places.”

This event is co-sponsored by the May 4 Task Force and Kent State’s LGBTQ Student Center.

Both events are free and open to the public; however, the April 9 event, “The Legacy of Matthew Shepard,” requires a free ticket. Some tickets will be available at the door on a first-come, first-serve basis starting at 5 p.m. Doors will open at 7:15 p.m.

“Our job at the May 4 Visitors Center extends beyond just explaining the history of May 4, 1970," farmer says. "We must also meaningfully help our many guests who were traumatized by the tragic events that took place 45 years ago. Moving forward, we hope to be an example of historical healing at difficult sites. The Wick Poetry Center, which also shares a difficult past, is a natural partner in this endeavor.”

Other events planned for the 45th Annual May 4 Commemoration include:

• April 16 at 7 p.m. in Taylor Hall, Room 146: “The Future of May 4,” presented by Farmer.
• April 30 at 7:30 p.m. in Schwartz Center, Room 177: A special showing of the movie Dick Cavett’s Vietnam and a discussion with documentary filmmaker John Scheinfeld and Timothy Naftali, the head of Tamiment Library and Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives at New York University and former director of the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum.
  

On March 30, the May 4 Visitor Center hosted a multimedia presentation by Lauren Onkey, Ph.D., vice president of education and public programs for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, What’s Going On: Marvin Gaye, Vietnam and the Rise of Political Soul.

About Judy Shepard

Activist speaker Judy Shepard has appeared in two Human Rights Campaign advertisements urging an end to anti-gay violence and promoting a greater understanding of gay issues. She is also actively involved with Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG). In this capacity, she has written an open letter to schools across the country urging officials to make schools safer for gay students by promoting tolerance and diversity.

Most recently, Judy Shepard authored The New York Times best-selling book, The Meaning of Matthew: My Son's Murder in Laramie, and a World Transformed, a moving, intimate look at how her life, and the entire fight for equal rights changed when her son was killed. The 2015 documentary Matt Shepard is a Friend of Mine revisits Matt's murder and provides a new look into his too-short life

For more information about the 45th Annual Commemoration of May 4, 1970, events, visit www.kent.edu/events/may4-visitors-center.

Lil’ Sibs Weekend Set for April 10-12

The Kent Interhall Council will host Lil’ Sibs Weekend, a
longstanding tradition for Kent State University faculty,
staff, students and their families, from April 10-12.

The Kent Interhall Council will host Lil’ Sibs Weekend from Friday, April 10, to Sunday, April 12. This weekend is a longstanding tradition for Kent State University faculty, staff, students and their families.

The Kent Interhall Council chose the theme for this year, called “Kentcation: A Sibs Getaway.”

The weekend offers a full schedule of programs and events. After check-in, Kent Interhall Council will feature several programs to engage attendees, as well as the dive-in movie at the Student Wellness and Recreation Center pool.

Saturday morning features a spa day at Eastway Center, featuring caricature artists, face paint and henna artists. In addition to the spa day activities, there will be inflatables also at Eastway Center and a magician. Lolly the Trolley also will shuttle participants to visit downtown Kent on Saturday between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. The weekend will conclude on Sunday with an optional family brunch at Eastway Center.

Lil’ Sibs is always well attended, says Emily Nighswander, vice president of programming and development for the Kent Interhall Council and junior nursing major. She hopes this year will be as hugely successful as last year.

“Lil’ Sibs Weekend has been around since the 1990s and has grown tremendously over the years,” Nighswander says. “It is important to keep the tradition going because it is a great way for families to experience Kent State, and it introduces students to our campus and encourages them to think about attending Kent State.”

There will be Lil’ Sibs T-shirts and sunglasses available for purchase. A limited number of shirts will be available at registration on Friday, April 10, from 4-8 p.m. at the cost of $10 and sunglasses for $5.

To register for Lil’ Sibs Weekend and for more information, visit http://kic.kent.edu/home/lil-sibs-weekend.

“GreenTown at Kent” Conference to Discuss Creating Healthy, Sustainable Communities, April 13-14

Pictured are new bike racks in downtown Kent. The
“GreenTown at Kent” conference will bring together the
public and private sectors from around Ohio to work
toward creating healthy, sustainable communities.

A conference on creating healthy, sustainable communities across Ohio will take place at the Kent State University Hotel and Conference Center on April 13 and 14. “GreenTown at Kent” will bring together the public and private sectors from around Ohio to work toward creating healthy, sustainable communities. Attendees will experience the revitalized downtown Kent, learn how to create walkable, bikeable communities and explore topics, such as clean water, local food, outdoor space and how to create socially responsible businesses. Registration for the conference can be done at www.greentownconference.com/register.

The conference is open to architects, builders, engineers, urban planners, hospital representatives, government representatives, mayors, elected officials, students, school administrators, colleges and universities, chambers of commerce and more.

Pre-conference workshops and activities will take place April 13 with registration beginning at noon and the workshops beginning at 1 p.m. At 5:30 p.m., Mark Fenton, former Olympic race walker, champion of walkable, bikeable communities, and host of “America’s Walking” on PBS will lead a one-hour engaging and interactive walk of downtown Kent, which is free and open to the public. The walk will begin and end at the Kent State Hotel and Conference Center.

The conference will continue on April 14 with registration and breakfast beginning at 7:30 a.m. Beverly Warren, Kent State president; Dave Ruller, Kent’s city manager; and several other featured speakers will present on the second day of the conference. The event will feature several tracks and breakout sessions for attendees. A Bike-N-Brainstorm will take place from 2:15-4:30 p.m., beginning at the Kent Central Gateway for participants to experience the Kent community on bike. The bike tour, which offers the opportunity to view innovative projects, future improvements and proposed developments in Kent, also will feature a discussion at Plum Creek Park, Holden School and Recreation Center, and Kent State’s Student Wellness and Recreation Center. The 5.8-mile bike tour is free and open to the public at all experience levels. Bike rentals are available but are limited. Participants in need of a bike must pre-register.

“GreenTown at Kent” is sponsored by Kent State, Burbick Companies and the city of Kent, with several community supporters. “GreenTown” is co-produced by a5, a brand consultancy focused on sustainability, and Seven Generations Ahead, a nonprofit devoted to creating healthy, sustainable communities.

For more information about the “GreenTown at Kent” conference, including the conference agenda, visit www.greentownconference.com/upcoming-events/greentown-at-kent-creating-healthy-sustainable-communities-across-ohio.

Kent State to Host Eighth Annual Award-Winning YouToo Social Media Conference

The annual YouToo Social Media Conference will take
place on April 10 at Kent State University’s Franklin Hall.

Communications professionals will discuss the role of social media in public relations and marketing at the annual YouToo Social Media Conference on Friday, April 10, at Kent State University’s Franklin Hall. Kent State’s College of Communication and Information and School of Journalism and Mass Communication are co-hosts for the eighth year.

The conference will take place from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. with a networking reception to follow at the Kent State Hotel and Conference Center. More than 150 professionals in public relations, communications and marketing, along with students studying these disciplines, will attend. The event is a fundraiser for the YouToo Social Media Scholarship.

The opening speaker is Mark W. Smith, the editor for mobile web at The Washington Post. Smith is an expert in social and digital media in journalism. He worked at USA TODAY as the senior manager for social media marketing and at the Detroit Free Press as the assistant editor for digital media. While in Detroit, Smith built the newspaper’s social platforms and wrote technology columns that appeared in most U.S. newspapers.

Smith says that “by studying user behavior — and what motivates people to share, comment and like — we can learn how to craft a social message that is designed to be shared.”

He will talk about what the rise in mobile Web use means for those who create social experiences and how communicators can create a social experience that is built to be shared.

Gini Dietrich, the founder and CEO of integrated marketing communications firm Arment Dietrich, will be the keynote speaker at the conference. Dietrich is the author of Spin Sucks, co-author of Marketing in the Round, co-host of Inside PR, lead blogger at Spin Sucks and founder of Spin Sucks Pro.

Gini Dietrich, the founder and CEO of integrated marketing
communications firm Arment Dietrich, will be the keynote
speaker at the YouToo Social Media Conference.

She will address topics, such as how to communicate honestly, responsibly, openly and authentically with all client stakeholders; working with customers who control your brand; and understanding how the digital world affects public relations.

“We live in a world where content farms, Internet spiders and fake accounts have the potential to ruin one’s experience online,” Dietrich says. “But, just like the Justice League, we prefer to fight evil with good. And that’s exactly what my book, Spin Sucks, teaches you.”

Professional conference attendees will receive a complimentary copy of Dietrich’s book, Spin Sucks: Communication and Reputation Management in the Digital Age, with paid admission. Dietrich will sign books immediately following her discussion.

Students also will have the opportunity to connect with public relations professionals during the student breakout sessions and at the post-conference happy hour event at the Kent State Hotel and Conference Center.

The conference is hosted by the Akron Area Chapter of Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) and the Kent State University Chapter of Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA).

Additional conference sponsors include Robert J. Events and Catering, Star Printing, AKHIA, True Digital Communications, Evolve, Northeast Ohio Medical University, Triad, FedEx Custom Critical, Regional Marketing Alliance, ADM Board, McKay Bricker Framing/Black Squirrel Gallery and Gifts, Akron Children’s Hospital, The Buzz Maker! LLC, InfoCision, Marcus Thomas LLC and Kent State’s School of Communication Studies.

Conference proceeds support the YouToo Scholarship Fund, the Kent State PRSSA Chapter and the Akron Area PRSA Chapter.

For more information about the conference, visit www.youtoosm.com. Find YouToo on Facebook and Twitter.

Kent State University Press and University Libraries Host Book Talk and Signing

On Thursday, April 16, at 3 p.m., authors Mark W. Weber and Stephen H. Paschen will join special guests Alice and Staughton Lynd for a book talk, signing and reception to celebrate publication of the new book Side by Side: Alice and Staughton Lynd, the Ohio Years. The event, which is free and open to the public, will take place in the Read Special Collections Classroom, Room 1018 on the 10th floor of University Library on the Kent Campus.

The Lynds have devoted their lives to the struggle for social justice. In Side by Side, authors Weber and Paschen examined the Lynds’ idea of accompaniment, a form of political activism that differs from the traditional strategies used by labor and community organizers.

“This is a wonderful mix of biography, history and political reflection,” says Tom Hayden, activist and author. “[The Lynds] have consistently helped empower generations of activists through their Quaker brand of participatory democracy. Their legacy is a spirit more powerful than a party.”

Andrej Grubacic, co-author of Wobblies and Zapatistas, says, “Side by Side is one of the most inspiring books about Staughton and Alice Lynd. This is no ordinary biography. The idea of accompaniment, practiced by the Lynds, is the most interesting and original effort to build a new movement for social change in the United States. This splendid book is a required reading for anyone who believes in other possible worlds produced alongside neoliberal capitalism.”

The event is sponsored by the Kent State University Press and Kent State University Libraries.

Books will be available for sale at the event.

Gilbert and Sullivan’s The Mikado at Kent State Tuscarawas

Characters from The Mikado include
Stephen Quint as Ko-Ko, Laurelyn
Watson Chase as Yum-Yum, Robin
Mahon as Peep Bo and Kimilee Bryant
as Pitti-Sing.

The Classic Gilbert and Sullivan comic light opera The Mikado will be on stage April 7 at 7:30 p.m. at the Performing Arts Center at Kent State University at Tuscarawas in New Philadelphia. Performed with a full orchestra, The Mikado is a stunning musical production that combines romance and comedy.

Tickets range in price from $29-45 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 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Free parking is available for all shows.

The Mikado, or The Town of Titipu, was first performed at the Savoy Theatre, London, England, in 1885 and ran longer in its initial run than any other Gilbert and Sullivan opera. Since then, it has been filmed twice and performed in every possible style – jazzed, swung and as a ballet. This New York Gilbert and Sullivan Players’ production is in the traditional mold, combining a modern playfulness with a respect for the creators’ original intent. A full orchestra brings to life Sullivan’s own evocative orchestration and the legit singing of the company’s outstanding performers brings lushness to the vocal lines. Gilbert’s wit and always relevant barbs aimed at the foibles of human nature also receive full attention.

The location is a fictitious Japanese town full of colorful characters – three little maids from school, a wandering minstrel, a hilariously corrupt public official and a Lord High Executioner, who may have a list of potential victims but is too tenderhearted to actually perform his duties. Beautiful school girl Yum-Yum loves the romantic minstrel Nanki-Poo but is engaged to Ko-Ko the executioner. This romantic triangle takes the usual course of thwarted romance until the arrival first of the fearsome Katisha, claiming Nanki-Poo as her “perjured lover,” and later of the emperor or Mikado himself – with his own list of punishments to fit the crime. In order to resolve the ensuing complications, Ko-Ko must use his wits to convince the most unattractive Katisha to marry him – in record time. That done, all other potentially dangerous circumstances are settled by the Mikado’s all-encompassing pronouncement “nothing could possibly be more satisfactory.”

Kent State University at Stark Theatre Presents Blur

Kent State University at Stark will present Blur as the
final theatrical event of its 2014-15 season.

Kent State University at Stark will present Blur by Melanie Marnich as the final theatrical event of the 2014-15 season on April 17, 18, 24 and 25 at 8 p.m. and on April 19 and 26 at 2:30 p.m. in the Fine Arts Theatre, 6000 Frank Avenue NW in Jackson Township. American Sign Language interpretation will be provided for the performance on April 26 at 2:30 p.m. Opening night is Scholarship Night with proceeds benefiting students in Kent State Stark theatre and music programs.

A genetic disease is gradually robbing Dot of her eyesight. Her relationships with her mother and friends are challenged during her struggle for independence and self-assertion. With the help of her boyfriend, best friend and a wayward priest, Dot brings the audience on a journey that discovers the kind of vision needed not only to prevail over this disease, but to thrive with spirit, humor and hope. For mature audiences only, due to sexual content and strong language.

Ticket prices are $10 for adults and $7 for non-Kent State students, children under 17 and senior citizens. All Kent State students are admitted free with current Kent State ID. Tickets may be obtained beginning today, April 6. Reserve tickets online at www.kent.edu/stark/theatre or call the Kent State Stark Theatre Box Office at 330-244-3348, Mondays through Fridays, from 1 to 5 p.m.

Brian Newberg, Kent State Stark assistant professor of theatre and theatre director, is the director of Blur. Louis Williams is the scenic and lighting designer, Susan Blurton is the costume designer and Ron Jarvis is the sound designer.

Exhibit Celebrates the Diversity of Black Hair

The Uumbaji Art Gallery, located in Kent State University’s Ritchie Hall, presents “’Good' Hair: Celebrating the Diversity and Beauty of Black Hair,” a photography exhibit by Moema Furtado, international partnerships coordinator in Kent State's Office of Global Education and curator of the Uumbaji Art Gallery, from April 6-30. An opening reception and hair demonstration will take place Thursday, April 9, from 5-7 p.m. with opening remarks by Tameka Ellington, assistant professor in the Fashion School. Gallery hours are from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. The exhibit is free and open to the public.

This exhibit celebrates the diversity of black hair as adornment and as art. For many people of African descent, hair is about culture, history, fashion, politics, economics, identity, self-worth and, of course, race. This exhibit acknowledges the struggle that black women and men face in a world that often sees beauty as one-dimensional.

For more information about the exhibit, contact Furtado at mfurtado@kent.edu.

Fifth Annual Black Squirrel 5K Race Takes Place April 11

Kent State University’s Student Recreation and Wellness
Center will hold the fifth annual Black Squirrel 5K Race on
Saturday, April 11.

Kent State University’s Student Recreation and Wellness Center will hold the fifth annual Black Squirrel 5K Race on Saturday, April 11, at 8 a.m.

Registration is $25, and the deadline is April 7. Walk-ins are welcome up to and close to the start of the race for a late registration fee of $30.

The Student Recreation and Wellness Center will open early for runners to get their shirts and bibs before the race.

Runners will start and finish in front of the Student Recreation and Wellness Center. The course is a loop around the campus, and runners’ progress will be tracked with a chip-timing system. After the race, there will be a free breakfast buffet for participants. The award ceremony will begin after the top three male and female winners in most of the age groups have finished.

The top three overall winners of the race will receive cash prizes. Medals will be given to the top three winners of each age group.

During the event, there will be about 85 students along the course who will cheer on the runners, give them direction, halt traffic and provide help if there are any medical emergencies.

To ensure safety, members of Kent State Police Services and the Kent Police Department will be in attendance.

Greg Bailey, assistant director of recreational services, says that the event will promote student activity and hopes that next year there will be even more student involvement and possibly scholarship opportunities for student participants.

For more information about the race, including age groups and registration details, visit www.kent.edu/recservices/black-squirrel-5k-race-0.

Kent State Planetarium Presents “The Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence,” April 17 and 18

The Kent State University Planetarium in the Department of Physics will present “The Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence” on April 17 and 18 at 8 p.m. The hourlong shows will be presented in Room 108 at Smith Hall, and are free and open to the public, but are not recommended for children under age 6.

The presentation will showcase humanity’s search for intelligent life on other planets.

“After a tour of the lovely Ohio night sky, we will explore celestial objects that may harbor life millions to trillion miles away,” says Brett Ellman, associate professor and planetarium director. “We will then describe ongoing attempts to communicate with whomever may be listening and the huge, difficult, worldwide effort to find the needle of an intelligent message within the haystack of cosmic radio noise."

Seating capacity is limited; therefore, reservations are recommended and can be made by calling 330-672-2246. Individuals who need special accommodations are requested to call in advance of their desired presentation night to make arrangements.

Kent State Presents “Living With Autism” Events for Autism Awareness Month

As part of Autism Awareness Month in April, Kent State University presents “Living With Autism,” which kicks off with a presentation that will be followed by a fundraiser for student scholarships to benefit Kent State students studying autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The events begin on April 9 at 7 p.m. Faculty, staff, students and the entire community are invited to learn more about autism spectrum disorder and hear real-life experiences from someone who was diagnosed with this “difference” at a young age and has written two books on the topic. The presentation is free and open to the public.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), autism spectrum disorder is a group of developmental disabilities that can cause significant social, communication and behavioral challenges, so people with autism spectrum disorder may communicate, interact, behave and learn in ways that are different from most other people. The CDC estimates about 1 in 68 children has been identified with autism spectrum disorder, and in boys, autism spectrum disorder is almost five times more common (1 in 42) than among girls (1 in 189).

Watch a video about autism awareness at Kent State.

Speaker, author and journalist Sean Barron will discuss his life journey while living with autism on April 9 from 7-8 p.m. in the Kent Student Center Kiva. His talk will include a question-and-answer session. Immediately following, there will be a book-signing and Rock-A-Thon to raise scholarship money to benefit students interested in obtaining the Autism Spectrum Disorder Certificate and working in rural and urban schools.

Rocking chair teams will keep their chairs occupied from 8-11:45 p.m. on April 9 and 7 a.m.-7 p.m. on April 10, collecting donations from sponsors. Raffles and rocking team competitions will be part of the festivities. All proceeds will support student Autism Spectrum Disorder Certificate scholarships. Teams are forming, and donations are being collected now. Contact Lisa Audet, Ph.D., at laudet@kent.edu to get involved.

Barron is the co-author of two books on autism: one titled There’s a Boy in Here, which was written with his mother, Judy, and the other titled Unwritten Rules of Social Relationships, which was written with Temple Grandin, Ph.D., a well-known autism advocate.

Barron was diagnosed with classic autism in January 1967 at the age of 5 and had all of the common symptoms to varying degrees. The longest lasting and most persistent challenge associated with his difference was learning basic and complex social skills. With a lot of hard work, persistence, determination and the help of relatives and others, Barron gradually learned in his teen and young adult years how to better relate to others.

For nearly 15 years, he has been a general-assignment journalist with The Vindicator newspaper in Youngstown, Ohio, and is putting the finishing touches on his third book, which is about the civil rights movement of the 1950s and ’60s. The title of this book is A Handshake is More Powerful Than a Fist. The reason Barron continues to share his life’s journey, after more than 20 years of doing so, remains the same: He has a desire to give encouragement to others who have the same or similar struggles as his, along with their families and friends.

“My goal is to help bring further awareness, understanding and compassion for those with autism spectrum disorder to Kent State and the surrounding communities,” says Gina Campana, special assistant in Kent State’s Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion who helped organize the autism awareness events. “There are many students, faculty and staff who have been diagnosed with ASD, know someone with ASD, or even think they may be on the spectrum. Mr. Barron will share the strengths and struggles of those on the spectrum and why being different can be a good thing. He will truly be an inspiration for those who attend the event.”

Audet, who is an assistant professor in Kent State’s Department of Speech Pathology and Audiology, developer of the Autism Spectrum Intervention Specialist Certificate and coordinator of the Autism Initiative for Research, Education and Outreach, says the Rock-A-Thon is a fun way for people to get involved in Autism Awareness Month while also raising scholarship money benefiting Kent State students studying autism spectrum disorder.

“The Autism Spectrum Disorder Certificate prepares professionals to provide effective intervention to those with ASD,” Audet says. “As an online program, we have the capacity to extend the reach of a quality Kent State education to areas where access about assessment and intervention for those with ASD is not currently available. Creating a scholarship for the ASD Certificate will provide opportunities for qualified students from urban or rural areas, beyond the traditional Kent State boundaries, to gain valuable knowledge and increase outcomes for those with ASD. The Rock-a-Thon is a fun way to get everyone involved in this important mission, raise awareness and tolerance of ASD on the Kent State campuses, and honor Autism Awareness Month.”

For more information about the “Living With Autism” events on April 9, which is sponsored by Kent State’s Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, contact Campana at gcampana@kent.edu.

For more information about the Autism Spectrum Disorder Certificate, visit www.kent.edu/ehhs/hs/spa/autism-spectrum-certificate.