Todd’s First Day

Todd Diacon replaced President Beverly Warren as the 13th President of Kent State on July 1. On his first day as president, Diacon ate breakfast with Kent community leaders, attended meetings with his cabinet and spoke with students who are a part of the Academic S.T.A.R.S. program.

Flash Books

Due to rising textbook costs, Kent State is moving forward with the Flash Books textbook service. The program, which Kent State tested out in fall 2018, automatically charges students’ bursar account when they register for a course that uses Flash Books. Students can opt out of the program by going to the course in Blackboard and following a tab on the left side of the screen.

Opt out Deadlines

Full-semester courses: August 28.

First half of fall semester: August 24.

Second half of fall semester: October 17. 

DaBaby 

Just before the start of the fall semester, the USG revealed on their Twitter that Kent State’s fall concert performer will be the rapper DaBaby. Tickets will be available for purchase from the USG website on Aug. 22, and from the MACC box office on Aug. 26. Upper level tickets will cost $15 and lower level tickets will cost $25. Only Kent State students can purchase tickets and are limited to one ticket per student. The concert is Sept. 19, and doors open at 7 p.m. 

May 4 Schedule

Between 70 and 100 events, speakers, projects and exhibits are planned for the fall and spring semesters leading up to the 50th commemoration event on May 4. The full schedule is available here.

Take One Leave One

Downtown Kent started a communal menstrual product project in 18 of its businesses and organizations’ restrooms over the summer. The project, called “Take One Leave One,” provides totes with tampons and pads to public and employee restrooms. Not downtown? No worries, the Kent State Women’s Center also has a communal menstrual product project called “The Period Project.”

Steve Harvey Awards 8 Scholarships

Family Feud host and former Kent State student Steve Harvey awarded full ride scholarships to eight incoming freshmen over the summer. According to a Kent State press release, the scholarships will “cover the total cost of attendance for each student.” Among the students awarded scholarships by the Steve and Marjorie Harvey Foundation is incoming freshman linebacker Anthony Morris Jr.

AAUP Contracts

The Kent State Board of Trustees voted unanimously to ratify a new collective bargaining agreement between the university and the tenure and tenure-track faculty members at its meeting over the summer. A week before the board ratified the agreement, members of the faculty union, the American Association of University Professors, voted to accept the agreement. 

The agreement, which covers four academic years, includes a 2 percent raise each academic year, except for the 2019 to 2020 year when the raise will be 2.5 percent. The added .5 percent will counteract the increase in health care benefits costs. A merit awards pool of funds in year 2021 to 2022 will be 2 percent.

Connor Hendry

Former Kent State student Connor Hendry sexually assaulted a student in a residence hall and will have is sentencing hearing Monday. Hendry faces up to 30 months in prison after pleading guilty to multiple charges. The date of his original hearing was Aug. 12, but was pushed back at his request due to a family vacation. To read more go to page 4.

Contact Abigail Miller at [email protected].