The number of Kent State University alumni currently sits at over two hundred thousand, with more students graduating each semester. When reflecting back to their days on campus, alumni have recalled the transformative college moments that defined their lives. 

From the intense activism of the 1970s to the technological revolution of the 21st century, each alumnus’ narrative resonates with a unique moment in Kent State’s history. As they recounted their time at the university, these former Flashes passed down their hard-earned wisdom and guidance to current students.

Chrissy LaFleur, a 2007 graduate who helps run and manage the tree removal company DScape Artists with her husband, commuted to Kent State main campus from her house in Stow. When reflecting on her time at Kent State, LaFleur thought back to how she found her balance between being a commuter student, working full time and having the full college experience.

“[The college experience] is what you make of it and how you balance your time and manage everything,” LaFleur said. “I don’t know if they still have it, [an organization] called COSO, commuters off-campus student organization. I joined that organization, and we would try to do events or have coffee and donuts set up for people taking the buses to make the commuters aware of activities and make them feel like, ‘Okay, yeah, we commute, but we could still have that campus lifestyle.’”

Becky Faur, who attended Kent State in the early 2000s, is now an assistant preschool teacher at Creative Early Learning. She was also a commuter which she said helped her experience. 

“I loved that Kent State’s main campus was easy to commute to and park at,” Faur said. “Most of my friends were commuters as well, so it was easy for them and me to go to classes together and be able to have a social life with our class schedules.”

Faur also praised her time at Kent State for its classes.

“I studied art education, and in my major, I got to take a variety of art classes that I very much enjoyed,” Faur said. ” I loved my glass-blowing class. There were so many experiences I gained from the variety of classes that were offered to me. You experienced every type of material that you possibly could. The school’s knowledge and the knowledge of the professors was so great and it prepared me for working in the world of materials and supplies. The class sizes and scheduling made Kent State very easy to maneuver and allowed me to meet a variety of people.”

LaFleur also recalled enjoying her classes, especially after switching her major from early childhood education to communication studies.

“I had a few classes just on organizational communication,” LaFleur said. “And you learned a lot about diversity, how to communicate with everyone and social barriers. There was a lot we had to learn through PowerPoint and Excel. These are things you use not only professionally but in your everyday life.”

While focusing on working and taking classes, LaFleur was also interested in Greek Life. However, her focus on balancing work and school would help her learn how to make difficult personal life decisions.

“I wanted to do a sorority so I did rush my first year,” LaFleur said. “Then Chi Omega actually came to Yours Truly (a restaurant in Hudson where LaFleur was working) and bid on me to join the sorority. And at that time, as much as I wanted to do that, priorities stepped in. 

“I thought, ‘Would I be able to commit to the Greek life and their philanthropies and work full time and do well in school?’ I was like, ‘I want to do this so bad.’ However, I was not able to.”

Outside of their classes and work on campus, Faur and LaFleur spoke highly of the downtown Kent area and what was offered to students, including shopping, restaurants, dessert shops and bars. Downtown Kent was just as important to the livelihood of graduated Kent State students as it is to students today.

“Everyone would hang out at the Student Center and it was always a very welcoming place, but downtown Kent was always the place to go when you wanted to hang out or have some fun,” Faur said. “Outside of class, I know everyone would go to Ray’s, but I would always go to Mike’s Place. I thought it was all the rage. Every time I would go I would order The Dump Breakfast. It’s just a ton of breakfast food and it’s always delicious.” 

LaFleur also spoke about some of her favorite places in downtown Kent. Some business had been there for years, and some were just opening their doors for the first time.

“Ray’s Place was probably my favorite,” LaFleur said. “Everyone loved to go to Ray’s. Their Bloody Mary Sundays are always delicious, plus live music. Mike’s Place was [also] amazing. That was where I would go after I had a fairly early algebra class, and then I had a large chunk of free time afterward. So my friends, we’d go to Mike’s Place, have some breakfast and study.”

After reflecting on her time at Kent State, LaFleur said she advises current students to enjoy their time in college.

“I think it’s important to find a really good balance and just to take advantage of any resource or if there’s a club, just to get involved,” she said.“The more people work together and learn from each other and help each other, the more successful everyone will be down the road.”

Faur kept her advice focused on what to do in the classroom.

“Go to class, ask questions and make the most of your time there,” Faur said. “Classes can be hard, but they can be very fun, and they’re also going to be so beneficial in the long run.”

Lex Ogilvie is a reporter.
Contact her at [email protected].