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of some famous Kent State alums.

To download a digital copy of this special section, visit

B4Check out an

extensive time-line of Kent State’s black

history.

INSIDE

FEBRUARY 1, 2013DAILY KENT STATER SPECIAL SECTION

IIn 1926, historian Carter G. Woodson and the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History teamed up to declare the second week of February as “Negro History Week.”

They chose this week because it encompassed the birthdays of two important figures in black history, Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass.

In 1970, the leaders of Black United Students at Kent State decided to expand the week into a month-long festival — in 1976, Black History Month became offi-cially recognized by the federal government.

When we discovered what a crucial impact BUS made in this country’s history, we realized there was a lot more we could find out about Kent State’s involvement in the civil rights movement and the extraordinary people who moved this campus — and country — forward.

Our staff scoured library archives and interviewed experts on Kent State’s black history as they documented the monumental achievements of our black students, faculty and staff. What we uncovered was much greater than historical facts and figures.

These brave people paved the way for future generations of Kent State students — some of whom are featured in this section — and we think that’s worth celebrating.

— Editor

KENTWIRED.COM

B3Spotlight:

Kent State’s movers and

shakers

1. Ray Charles and Louis Armstrong2. Bill Cosby3. Muhammad Ali4. Julian Bond5. Sly Stone6. Bo Diddley and Numbers Band guitarist Michael Stacey

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

Noteworthy Kent State visitors

Alpha Phi AlphaSeven undergraduate students at

Cornell University organized Alpha Phi Alpha, the first intercollegiate fraternity among African men, on Dec. 4, 1906, according to the national website www.alpha-phi-alpha.com. Alpha Phi Alpha dedicated itself to defend the rights and to promote the responsibilities of blacks. The founders sought to combine social purposes with social action. Alpha Phi Alpha has also promoted knowledge and achievement.

Martin Luther King Jr. was a mem-ber of Alpha Phi Alpha.

Members and alumni coordinate community programs, mentoring, part-nerships with Big Brothers Big Sisters,

Boy Scouts of America and the March of Dimes. They also participate in com-munity activist programs focused on education, community outreach and development, leadership development and educating the community on its voting rights.

Kent’s Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha was chartered Jan. 22, 1958.

Phi Beta SigmaThree black male students founded

Phi Beta Sigma at Howard University on Jan. 9, 1914. The organization was created to exist as a part of an even

greater brotherhood, according to www.phibetasigma1914.org, the frater-nity’s national website. The founders believed members should be judged by their own merits and not by family background, race, nationality, skin tone or hair texture. This organization works to deliver services to the community.

Kent’s Chapter of Phi Beta Sigma was chartered Nov. 12, 1971.

Α ΑΦ

Daily Kent StaterPage B2 | Friday, February 1, 2013

ΔΣΘ ΖΦΒ

ΦΒΣ

ΙΦΘ

ΣΓΡ

Mackenzie Wallacemwalla12@kent.edu

Editor’s note: The six fraternities featured in this story are those currently listed with the Center for Student Involvement. As this issue went to print, we were informed of two more fraternities, Kappa Alpha Psi and Omega Psi Phi, and one more sorority,Alpha Kappa Alpha, which were not listed with CSI. Alpha Phi Alpha is currently listed as suspended on the fraternity’s national website.

Out of the first nine African-American Greek letter organizations founded, six are at Kent State. These six help make up the National Pan-Hellenic Council, commonly referred to as the “Divine Nine.”

The National Pan-Hellenic Council consists of the African-American Greek letter organizations that have a combined total of 5,500 chapters worldwide. These Greek organizations on campus: Alpha Phi Alpha, Delta Sigma Theta, Iota Phi Theta, Phi Beta Sigma, Sigma Gamma Rho and Zeta Phi Beta, have many accomplished, nationally recognized members with contributions to politics, the arts, education, sports, business and philanthropy.

Being a professor at Kent State University is an honor. I’ve lived an extraordinary life thanks to this university. Kent State prepared me for life, and now I have the privilege of giving back through teaching. Life

has not been and is not easy. I am 63 years old, and I am still waiting for us to overcome.

As a kid visiting my grandparents in Bir-mingham, Ala., I had to ride in the back of the bus. Many of us are still riding in the back of the bus. America is a white, straight, male-dominated society. There is a fear that that dominance will change as America changes. That fear triggers racism. I have never seen a sitting president disrespected by so-called gov-ernment leaders as President Barack Obama

has been. He’s had fingers flying in his face and he’s been called a liar. Fairness and bipartisan compromise went out the window when he was elected. And that was at the top of our gov-ernment. Imagine how it is for the rest of us.

We’re celebrating Black History Month. What does it mean? It means that last week’s celebration of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King should have been standing room only. It wasn’t. Finding a seat was easy. It means we cannot overcome because we cannot stop shooting and killing one another. Until we get our act together we’ll continue to climb slowly to the mountaintop. If the legacy of Dr. King, Barack Obama in the White House and Black History Month cannot empower us, what can?

Gene Shelton, associate professor for the School of Journalism and Mass Communication

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Kent State's Greek Row

Sigma Gamma RhoSeven educators at But-

ler University established Sigma Gamma on Nov. 12, 1922. This sorority has become an international ser-vice organization comprised of women from every pro-fession. According to www.sgrho1922.org, these women are dedicated to helping each other as well as serving the community.

Sigma Gamma Rho was chartered at Kent State May 19, 1973.

Delta Sigma ThetaTwenty-two How-

ard University women founded Delta Sigma Theta on Jan. 13, 1912. These women set the foundation for what is now one of the largest black women’s orga-nizations in the world, according to the sorority’s chapter website, www.epsilonmudst.wix.com.

These women pro-moted academic excel-lence and provided assis-tance for people in need. They participated in the Women’s Suffrage March

in Washington D.C. as their first public act.

Nine female s tu-dents chartered the Kent State Epsilon Mu chapter of Delta Sigma Theta on May 13, 1963.

The three principles of the organization are scholarship, service and sisterhood. Members focus on educational development, economic development, physi-cal and mental health, political awareness and involvement, and inter-national awareness and involvement.

Zeta Phi BetaFive women founded the

Zeta Phi Beta sorority on Jan. 16, 1920 at Howard University. This sorority’s four principles include scholarship, service, sisterly love and finer womanhood. Zeta Phi Beta is the only sorority to be constitutionally bound to a fra-ternity, Phi Beta Sigma.

Fifteen women chartered Zeta Phi Beta at Kent State on June 5, 1971. After being inac-tive for four years, the sorority was brought back to campus by eight women in the fall of 2011.

Iota Phi ThetaTwelve students at Morgan

State College founded Iota Phi Theta on Sept. 19, 1963. It is now the nation’s fifth largest pre-dominately black social service fraternity, according to www.iotaphitheta.org.

At Kent State, this fraternity goes by the Kent State colony of Iota Phi Theta or Kent State chapter of Iota Phi Theta, but they have no letters yet.

The charter line brothers came in May 3, 2010, and they will be getting their chapter let-ters soon, Lorenza Stevens Jr., senior communications studies major and President of Iota Phi Theta, wrote in an email.Fr

aternities

Sororities

• For a long time, Kent State was one of the few north-ern college teams to have black players. In the late ‘40s, the players voted to reject an invitation to a post-season game in seg-regationist Florida rather than leave their black teammates behind.

Did You Know?

Kathleen Shevlinkshevlin@kent.edu

The Department of Pan-Afri-can Studies has been a part of Kent State University for nearly 40 years and continues to grow.

Alexandria Peebles, senior psychology major, said Pan-Afri-can Studies came about through the works of Black United Stu-dents and is still referred to as “the house that BUS built.”

According to Kent State’s website, the department of Pan-African Studies credits the success of the department, faculty and students to its first chairman, Dr. Edward Crosby.

Although the Department of Pan-African Studies pri-marily focuses on providing a global understanding of African culture, Peebles, who is the director of committees for Advocates of Culture and Knowledge, said the depart-ment encourages students to be inclusive.

The Department of Pan-African Studies is located in Oscar Ritchie Hall, which is named after Oscar W. Ritchie, Kent State’s first black faculty member. The department is home to the Center of Pan-Afri-can Culture, the Institute for African American Affairs, the African Community Theatre and the Communication Skills and Arts academic division.

“The classes are really inter-esting, and you have classes with all types of people,” Pee-bles said.

Porsha Hunt, senior hos-pitality management major, said she feels that as a black woman, she is always inter-ested in knowing about her culture and its history.

“These courses elaborate on things we have already been taught, but more importantly tell the stories that we were never taught about,” Hunt said. “The cultural knowledge is something extremely posi-

tive that department has given [Kent State]. America is a melt-ing pot, but most classes only teach one viewpoint of history. This allows for insight into a dif-ferent culture and its history.”

Hunt said Pan-African Studies courses are not only beneficiary if you’re black. However, she learned through personal experience some stu-dents aren’t aware that these courses are available to them.

“The first Pan-African stud-ies course that I took was Black Experience. During lecture one day, a Caucasian girl made a comment about how she origi-nally didn’t know if she would be able to take the course because she was white,” Hunt said. “She also said she didn’t want to be judged by fellow people. Everyone embraced her and thought that it was a good thing that she wanted to open her mind and experience another culture.”

Kathleen Shevlin is the ethnic affairs reporter for the

Daily Kent Stater.

Mackenzie Wallace is the Greek life/ROTC reporter for the Daily Kent Stater.

Pan-African Studies: Kent State’s 37-year cultural exploration

Courtesy of KSU’s Special Collections and ArchivesOscar Ritchie, the � rst black faculty member at Kent State, for whom Oscar Ritchie Hall was named.

of events 1

Feb. 5The Great Debate ‘Prelimi-naries’Where: Oscar Ritchie Hall Room 214 When: 7 p.m.

Feb. 6Real Talk with Oscar RamosWhere: Student Center Room 206When: 4 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Black United Students Mass MeetingWhere: Oscar Ritchie Hall Lecture HallWhen: 7p.m.

Feb. 11A Conversation With Dr. David Pilgrim Founder of Jim Crow Museum of Racist MemorabiliaWhere: KivaWhen: 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Feb. 12Showcase AuditionsWhere: Student Center Room 303When: 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Feb. 18ShowcaseWhere: Student Center BallroomWhen: 6:30 p.m.

Feb. 20Real Talk with Mrs. Tina Brown and Sisters of the Akron MasjidWhere: Student Center Room 206When: 4 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Feb. 23Screening: Versailles ‘73: American Runway RevolutionWhere: Rockwell Hall Room 231When: 7:30 p.m.

Feb. 26National TRIO Week LuncheonWhere: Student Center BallroomWhen: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Feb. 27Spring Job and Internship FairWhen: 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.Where: Student Center Room 204

MODISTA Mass MeetingWhen: 7 p.m.Where: Rockwell Auditorium

Feb. 28Bruce George: A Lecture Series and Poetry JamWhen: 6 p.m.Where: Kiva

Friday

Black History Month ProgrammingFor the full list of Black History Month

events, check out KentWired.com • Oscar W. Ritchie became the first black faculty member at Kent State and at any state uni-versity in Ohio when President George Bow-man appointed him as a full-time faculty member in 1947.

• Currently, 13 percent of all undergraduate students are minorities. There are approximately 1,949 black students on campus.

• From 1969 to 1975, the only minority student records kept were for black students.

— Kelsey Leyva, diversity reporter

Daily Kent Stater Friday, February 1, 2013 | Page B3

Kent State’s Movers and Shakers

Black History Month is known to be a time for remembering the struggles and the majes-ty of history. It is a chance to remember those outstanding members of the black community who rose to make their names known, and their beliefs cemented.

Jayson Kolbicz is among those whose heritage and budding prestige bring to mind the history which paved his way. Although he was raised in a predominantly white atmosphere, Kolbicz is biracial. Combined with a singular knack for performance, this sets Kolbicz on a unique stage.

A junior musical theatre major, Kolbicz is fre-quently in the limelight thanks to starring roles in campus productions like that of Dr. Frank-N-Furter in “The Rocky Horror Picture Show.” His face is known, yes — enhanced with the eyeliner and glamour of the part.

Kolbicz has a sense of self-confidence and

mirth that is almost immediately recognizable. With a laugh that seems always very nearly at the ready, the stage seems to place him in his natural element.

But, he said, the way to the stage was no light undertaking.

“Here, it’s been kind of a struggle,” he said. “Most in the program are white, and they pick a lot of stereotypically white shows.”

Yet, he said the business of the theater has matured into a state of acceptance toward those with diverse backgrounds. Having learned in theatre history classes about the skewed and distorted roles of the age-old minstrel shows, Kolbicz said the theatre has shown growth in the modern age.

“It’s opened up a lot more, but black people still have their own ways of relating to each other through performance,” Kolbicz said. He seemed to take comfort in this fact, saying that it allows for individual style. It also presents unique opportunities in shows like “The Lion King”, which give fame to a largely black cast.

“There are so many white shows out there, and it’s good for colored people to have some-thing to go look for when they get out in the world,” Kolbicz said.

Touring is at the top of Kolbicz’s professional bucket list and, personally, he said he has large footsteps to follow. Brittnie Price, his costar in “Chorus Line” and “Ragtime” who is also bira-cial, is currently with the national tour of “Hair” as a part of the ensemble.

Kolbicz has also performed with several off-campus productions. Immersing himself in a role that is stereotypically white, he is cur-rently starring in a performance of the hit “All Shook Up” as Chad, the lead. When asked if this seemed extraordinary to him, he paired a grin with a shrug and said that with a biracial past he can flexibly match the roles he’s given.

“I know I think about it,” Kolbicz said. “But, from what the faculty keeps telling me, the busi-ness nowadays is so open to all these other cultures and ethnicities, so they tell me I’m going to be fine.”

Because he was raised in a largely white com-munity and family atmosphere, Kolbicz said he relates to that side of his heritage more directly. Yet he seemed to carry a sort of reverence for the black performers and artists who continue to shape the industry.

Continuing his theatre career and so continu-ing the history of the biracial past he represents, Kolbicz is aiming high.

— Hannah Kelling, features correspondent

Traci Williams – Director for the Cen-ter of Pan-African Culture

Traci Williams is an instructor who brings her real-world experience in the film business into her Kent State classroom.

She started her career during her freshman year of college at Kent State. A family friend helped her get an internship working on an HBO film shoot in Cleveland. She got her foot in the door at HBO and ended up stick-ing around to work with Denzel Washington on “Antwone Fisher” and George Clooney on “Welcome to Collinwood.”

After finishing her electronic media production degree with a minor in Pan-African studies, she sent about 200 applications to different TV and film companies. Displeased with the results, Wil-liams stepped back and focused on her family.

“Being married, I didn’t think that film was really a lucrative profession at the time,” Wil-liams said. “But I just couldn’t fight the urge to work on film.”

Her film itch bugged her until she decided to pack her bags and leave Ohio to pursue a career in Los Angeles.

Williams trudged through the hardships of living in the expensive California city and finally found a job working with Reuben Can-non, who was one of the top directors at the time. Williams fulfilled her Hollywood dream by working on projects such as the first Tyler Perry movie and TV shows like “Half & Half.”

After her success, she felt worn out by the tremendous pressure of Hollywood film life, so she made her way back to Kent. Williams was inspired by the principles she learned in her Pan-African studies courses about giving back to her community and helping those before her.

“I would be able to bring my experiences back to Kent State and work with students,” Williams said.

Since there weren’t any film projects going on

at Kent State, she decided to get the camera rolling.Williams started film and TV projects in

the Pan-African studies department, but the projects soon transcended into the School of Journalism and Mass Communication when she met professor Dave Smeltzer, who shared her same passion for film.

Williams and Smeltzer partnered together to create Kent State University Independent Films.

Williams has produced three feature films, 50 to 60 music videos, 20 to 25 short films, four TV shows and one documentary at Kent State.

Williams is currently working on her pro-gram’s next feature-length film, which is a psy-chological thriller.

In the future, she hopes to establish a film program at Kent State by generating more interest in her film classes.

— Brandon Koziol, features correspondent

Kenneth Agee, president of Phi Beta Sig-ma, said his main goal is to have his fraternity known throughout the Kent State campus.

“I wanted to be a part of something bigger than I am,” Agee said.

Agee is a senior computer information systems major who will be graduating in December. He joined Phi Beta Sigma for the networking, the chance to meet people all over the nation and the opportunity to be a part of something that makes a difference.

“It is a network of people that have some-thing in common,” Agee said.

Phi Beta Sigma is a worldwide fraternity

that gets together once every year at a conclave, which is a central meeting of past and present fraternity members. At the conclave, they have educational and social events. This year’s con-clave meeting will be held in Philadelphia.

“The main thing we are focused on is expo-sure, getting people to know exactly what Greek life is all about,” Agee said.

Phi Beta Sigma was built around three major principles: brotherhood, scholarship and service.

“Brotherhood, scholarship and service stands for exactly what we do,” Agee said.

Agee said his fraternity is always trying to find ways to help the community with projects like building playgrounds and planting trees.

The fraternity’s motto is, “Culture for ser-vice and service for humanity.”

Phi Beta Sigma has only four other members.Last year, Phi Beta Sigma had its 40th

anniversary celebration at Kent State since it became a national chapter. The event included a flash mob, speakers and a “stroll-off,” which had more then 700 people.

Agee said he is proud of his heritage.“Black History Month is just a way of cele-

brating the culture and what African Americans have accomplished over a century,” Agee said.

Agee is also a high jumper for the Kent State track and field team and is a part of the Man-agement and Information Systems Association on campus.

After this year, he plans on going to grad-uate school at either Kent State or The Ohio State University. Once he finishes school, Agee aspires to be a computer technician for a pro-fessional sports team.

— Abby Bradford, general assignment reporter

Brande Midgett-Crosby, president of Delta Sigma Theta, said she wanted her position so she could lead others.

“Honestly, deep down, being in a position to lead oth-ers and help others was mainly the reason why,” Midgett-Crosby said. “At the time, my chapter needed someone in that position, so I just had to step up to the plate.”

Midgett-Crosby, senior elec-tronic media production major and Pan-African Studies minor, is in her fifth year at Kent State and will be graduating in May.

Delta Sigma Theta is one of six different black fraternities and sororities at Kent State. Twenty-two collegiate women founded it in 1913 at Howard University.

The Kent State chapter of Del-ta Sigma Theta is called Epsilon Mu and was chartered May 13, 1963 by nine Kent State women.

Delta Sigma Theta has three principles: scholarship, service and sisterhood. They operate off a five-point programmatic thrust of educational and eco-nomic development, physical and mental health, and politi-cal and international awareness and involvement.

There are only two other people in the Delta Sigma Theta sorority at Kent State. All three of them are dedicated workers, Midgett-Crosby said, and she believes that no one has more power than the other.

“We are very dedicated to ser-vice and providing for our com-munity,” Midgett-Crosby said.

Delta week was Jan. 20 through Jan. 26, and the soror-ity selected programs to partici-pate in each day. This included

a church service, volunteering on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, a gun control lecture and self-defense training.

Midgett-Crosby said she believes, “America was built off the backs of people that were slaves,” and Black History Month is a time for everyone to remember where the country started as a nation and how far it has come.

“I look at Black History Month as a time for my race and other races to acknowl-edge the work that people of color have done for America,” Midgett-Crosby said.

She works at the Pan-Afri-can Studies office in Oscar Richie Hall with multimedia and does operations at night programs and events.

This semester, Midgett-Crosby is in charge of creating a TV commercial for the Pan-African Studies School at Kent State before the end of the year.

Her dream, after gradua-tion, is to first further her edu-cation at graduate school, and then become a filmmaker.

“I am a big fan of James Cameron, Steven Spielberg, and Spike Lee,” Midgett-Cros-by said. “I would love to create a variety of films that range from the spectrum of ‘Avatar,’ ‘The Color Purple,’ to ‘Crook-lyn.’ You never know what you can do until you try, so who knows what I’ll be doing once I graduate.”

— Abby Bradford, general assignment reporter

The Kent State men’s basketball team Black History Month carries an array of

strong feelings as well as many significant and ground-breaking historic moments over the course of decades, and the sports world has more than done its part to eliminate racial prejudice and provide equal opportunity to all.

To senior forward Chris Evans, this month holds a powerful importance for all of the his-torical aspects that have influenced his life and the lives of thousands of other black athletes.

“It’s very important to me,” Evans said, “because being that I’m young and being that we had so many civil rights leaders back then, we wouldn’t be here today and be able to accomplish the things we have if it wasn’t for the people who fought for us back in the day. So, it’s definitely an important month in my life, and I’m very grateful for the people who paved the way for where I am today.”

Evans said athletes such as Jesse Owens, who won four gold medals in track and field during the 1936 Olympic games, and Tommie Smith and John Carlos, who donned black

gloves and raised their fists in a public call for equal rights at the 1968 Olympics, are prime examples of the impact that the civil rights movement had on the integration and evolu-tion of sport as a whole.

“Black History Month definitely plays a part in the relevancy in sports,” Evans said. “It definitely improves the game of basketball and how we were able to integrate between both races.”

Legendary sports figures like Owens and Jackie Robinson not only broke barriers dur-ing their time, but also opened doors for Evans and other members of the Kent State basketball team to have the opportunity to find success in sports generations later. The significance of this month stretches to white athletes as well as black athletes, a fact that junior forward Mark Henniger recognizes.

“I think it has a big meaning for our team,” Henniger said. “Obviously I support it 100 percent, and I think it’s had a huge impact on basketball and on sports over the years.”

— Tim Dorst, men’s basketball reporter

CHELSAE KETCHUM|DAILY KENT STATERBrande Midgett-Crosby is the president of Delta Sigma Theta.

RACHAEL LE GOUBIN|DAILY KENT STATERSenior Kenneth Agee is a member Kent State’s track and field team and is the president of Phi Beta Sigma.

JENNA WATSON | DAILY KENT STATERJayson Koblicz leads as Dr. Frank-N-Furter in “The Rocky Horror Show” during the final tech rehearsal on Nov. 1.

Brande Midgett-Crosby – President of Delta Sigma ThetaKenneth Agee – President of Phi Beta Sigma

Jason Kolbicz – junior musical theatre major

JENNA WATSON | DAILY KENT STATERTraci Easley Williams speaks to students in Oscar Ritchie Hall on Thursday, November 2 as part of the BUS Speaker Series.

Daily Kent StaterPage B4 | Friday, February 1, 2013

1916

1910

Sources: Kent State University Department of Special Collections and Archives; KentW

ired.com; Black

United Students website; BlackWatch archives; Spectrum

Kent S

tate U

niversity is founded as the K

ent S

tate Norm

al S

chool for teacher train -ing. T

he first classes are held in 19

12.

Mabel O

rmes becom

es the first black student to gradu-ate from

K

ent S

tate. R

ecords are unclear as to the correct spelling of her nam

e; a pa -per w

ith the name “M

able” w

ritten in pencil has been found.

194

7

Oscar R

itchie becomes the

first black faculty mem

ber at K

ent State.

He taught

in the de -partm

ent of sociology and anthropology, w

here he later became a

chairman.

The first A

f-rican A

meri-

can frater-nity, K

appa A

lpha Psi, is

established.

194

9

Black students

want to start a

NA

AC

P chapter

at Kent S

tate, but P

resident G

eorge Bow

-m

an denies their request.

1954

Oct. 26,

1957

Duke E

llington perform

s at K

ent State.

Oct. 28,

196

0

In a non-violent protest, 11 black students organize a sit-in at the K

ent Corner B

ar, a business that w

ould not provide service to black custom

ers.

To protest racially discrim

inatory housing policies on cam

pus, stu -dents present a petition to P

resident Bow

man.

The 1,20

0 people w

ho sign the petition hope to elim

inate the prejudiced practices.

May 8, 19

61

President B

owm

an desegregates housing, w

hich has been in place since 19

47. Bow

man changes

the policy after Ritchie protests

the rule and threatens to leave. N

umerous faculty m

embers side

with R

itchie.

196

3 Congress of

Racial Equal -

ity chapter form

s at Kent

State.

Jan. 22, 19

64

A

bout 100

black students walk out

together after a speech by Vice P

resident H

ubert Hum

phrey. While the w

alkout is not because of the speech, the students say it’s to draw

attention to the problem

s like housing discrim

ination, the absence of courses in black history and the lack of investigation of G

reek charters that had white A

nglo-S

axton clauses, among others.

May 3, 19

68

Black U

nited Students

(BU

S) is offi

cially founded. H

enry Austin, public

relations director of the D

eacons of Defense

delivers a lecture that is sponsored by the U

nited C

hristian fellowship and

the National A

ssociation for the A

dvancement of

Colored People (N

AA

CP

) the January before; B

US

begins to operate un -derground before it goes public that M

ay.

May 21, 19

68

The Institute of A

frican A

merican A

ffairs w

as founded w

hen black students requested the university’s curriculum

significantly reflect their historical and contem

-porary experiences.

1969

The first new

sprint issue of B

lack W

atch, a Black

United S

tudents P

ublication, was

published.

Kent S

tate becom

es the first institution to off

er Black

History w

eek as a m

onth- long celebra-tion.

Center of

Pan-A

frican C

ulture is established.

The band W

ar, known for its

hit singles “Low R

ider” and “W

hy Can’t W

e Be Friends?”

plays at Kent S

tate.

Aretha Franklin perform

s at K

ent State for B

lack United

Students’ fourth anniversary

celebration. Proceeds from

the concert benefit the B

lack U

nited Students Em

ergency G

rant and Aid Fund.

A TRIP BACK:

Nov. 25, 19

69

1970

May 17, 1972

May 21, 1972

Novem

ber 1973

Earth, Wind &

Fire, along w

ith the Isley B

rothers, visit Kent

State to play at a B

lack U

nited Students hom

e -com

ing celebration.

Departm

ent of Pan-

African S

tudies is established.

Sept. 17, 1979

The first new

sprint issue of T

he Spectrum

is pub-lished, featuring O

scar R

itchie on the cover.

October 1979

Black leaders on cam

pus organize a protest m

arch to D

ix Stadium

on “P

arents’ Day”

as a response to racism

in academ

ics and athletics. Four [football] players are suspended as a result.

April 19

85T

he Spectrum

news-

print becomes T

he S

pectrum

Magazine,

a pub-lication of B

lack U

nited S

tudents, and pub -lishes its first issue.

The K

ent State B

lack A

lumni C

hapter is founded.

200

9

President B

arack O

bama becom

es the first president to visit K

ent in 100

years.

Septem

ber 20

12

1976

Kent State

throughthe yearsA

ge 56, majored in com

munications (’77)

• Started out as a comedian in C

hicago, opening for stars such as A

retha Frank -lin•H

osted the first black late-night talk show

, “T

he Arsenio H

all Show

”•A

ppeared on (and w

on) the celebrity edi-tion of The A

pprentice• A

wards: R

eceived tw

o NA

AC

P Image

awards and a K

ey of Life A

ward

(‘79) BA in journalism

• Co-anchor for Fox 8 N

ews in the

Morning (w

atch him

weekdays from

5-10 a.m

.)•

An

chored

and

reported for WN

IR Radio in K

ent• A

wards: 8 Em

my’s,

named “M

ost Favor-ite M

ale,” and “Best D

ressed Male Tele-

vision Personality,” by Cleveland Life

Magazine, Jaycees “O

utstanding Young M

en of Am

erica,” and the Professional W

omen’s Business A

ssociation’s “Out-

standing TV N

ews Reporter”

(‘04) majored in com

munications

• No. 16 w

ide receiver for the Cleveland

Browns

• NFL’s all-tim

e career kick-return touchdow

n leader (8)• N

amed to three N

FL Pro Bowls (2007,

2009, 2012)• Tw

o-time N

FL All-Pro (2007, 2009

• Mem

ber of NFL’s 2000s A

ll-Decade

Team

(’02) m

ajored in general studies• N

o. 85 tight end for the San Diego

Chargers

• Became seventh tight end in N

FL his-tory to record 500 career receptions on O

ct. 3, 2010• N

amed to eight N

FL Pro Bowls (2004,

2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011)• 5-tim

e NFL A

ll-Pro tight end (2004,

2005, 2006, 2009, 2010)• M

ember of N

FL’s 2000s All-D

ecade Team• H

ad his Kent State basketball jersey

number, 44, retired on Feb. 27, 2010,

making him

just the fourth Flash to receive the honor.(1946-2009), graduation date unknow

n) •Played O

livia, Gordon’s kid sister, on

Sesame Street

• She appeared in

many Broadw

ay musi-

cals, including “Chica-

go” and “Hair”

• Had roles in C

ruel In

tention

s, Death

Becom

es Her, and

made guest appear-

ances on shows such

as ER and Friends• She co-w

rote and co-produced a Fox children’s video “Learning C

an be Fun”

(’02) No. 92, linebacker for the Pitts-

burgh Steelers• N

amed to five Pro Bow

ls (2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011• Four A

ll-Pro selections (2007, 2008, 2009, 2010)• H

is 100-yard interception return touchdow

n in Super Bowl XLIII is the

longest play in Super Bowl history

• Made a $100,000 donation to the K

ent State athletic departm

ent on Sep. 12, 2012

(’06), infielder for the Cincinnati Reds

• First round pick (33rd overall) of San Francisco in 2006.• W

on 2010 World Series w

ith the G

iants.• K

ent State’s all-time stolen base leader

(92). (’72), m

en’s relay in 1972 Olym

pics• Selected 44th overall by the A

tlanta Falcons in 1974 N

FL Draft

• Also played for G

reen Bay Packers in the N

FLMegan Corder, Kelsey H

usnick, Nick

Shook, Brian Smith, Richie M

ulhall and Christian Petrila contributed to reporting.

Grads Make it Big in the Real World After Kent StateArsenio Hall

Wayne Dawson

Josh Cribbs

Alaina Reed Hall

Antonio Gates

James Harrison

Emm

anuel Burriss

Gerald Tinker