February 2011

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

Dear Readers of Stark Voices:

Your newspaper is going through a change.

This transformation is symbolized by the

change in name from The Student Informer to

Stark Voices, and as this new name suggests,

it is a change which in large part depends on

you, the students. Instead of a paper which,

directed by its advisors, informs students of

what we think they should know, we hope to

create a paper in which the students tell us

what they want to know. We want to create a

paper which is a dialogue, rather than a

monologue. So while some articles will be

about upcoming events of which you may be

unaware, or of various clubs that you might

not know about, other parts of the paper will

be shaped primarily by our readers. Nowhere

is this truer than in the new “What do you

want to know?” section, where we write about

things that real students ask us. Is there

something about Stark State that you want to

know more about, or that confuses you? Or

maybe you heard something and want to

know if it‟s true. Ask us. If we don‟t know,

we‟ll try to find out for you and write the

answer for all to see in the next issue. As with

any dialogue, however, this can only work

with your participation. Otherwise, we can

only speculate about what you might want to

know. So if you have any comments,

suggestions, questions, or even criticisms,

about Stark State or about this paper, please

let us know at starkvoices@starkstate.edu.

Because ultimately, this isn‟t our paper; it‟s

your paper. The Stark Voices.

What Do You Want To Know? By Brenda Dembraski-Marsh

What is the Stark State College

Digital Library and where is it?

The SSC Digital Library is a collection of

information and services available to the

faculty, staff and students. It is located in

B123, across from Silk Auditorium,

although you don‟t have to go to the

physical room to get help. You can call

(330) 494-6170, ext. 4141, or you can reach

a librarian through online chat.

The current hours of operation for Spring

2011 are: Monday-Thursday, 8 a.m.- 6

p.m. and Friday 8 a.m.-noon, but are

subject to change.

The Virtual Library hours for online chat

are: Sunday 3-9 p.m.

http://libguides.starkstate.edu/chat

This is your corner. We want to answer

your questions and make your time at Stark

State College enjoyable. If you have a

question or concern that you would like to

see answered in Stark Voices, please

comment on the web page, or email us at:

starkvoices@starkstate.edu.

Sincerely,

Ian Cain, Stark Voices Editor

In This Issue

What Do You Want To Know? 1

Meet the Staff 2

Center for Support 3

Recycling Month 4

A Meeting with the President 5

8th

Annual Polar Bear Jump 6

Christopher M. Usner is a Technical Communication major and has been

studying at Stark State since the spring of 2007. He works as an IT professional

and possesses an associate‟s degree in Computer Information Systems and

several relevant certifications. After graduation, he plans to study

communications at Kent Stark and pursue a career in public relations. His

hobbies include hiking, bicycling, and wildlife photography.

Ian Cain is the editor of Stark Voices. He earned a bachelor‟s degree in

English from Ohio Wesleyan University. He is currently on his fourth and

final semester at Stark State as he works towards a Computer Programming

and Database Technologies major. He is excited about his current position

on the newspaper, and hopes that he can help make Stark Voices great.

Brenda Dembraski-Marsh is a Technical Communication major and will

graduate in May. She is currently a student worker in Admissions and very

excited to be writing for the newly renamed Stark Voices. She‟s a single

mother of three children, “Nonni” to two, and plans on working as an

administrative assistant upon graduation.

Connie Luthi is currently serving as an intern writer for Stark Voices in

order to complete the Technical Communications degree. She has been

attending Stark State for the past three years and will be graduating in May.

Connie lives in Massillon with her husband, Joe, and their two dogs, Pete

and Bubba.

Editor

Assistant Editor and Photographer

Staff Writer

Staff Writer

Advisors Elizabeth Modarelli and Nicole Herrera are members of Stark State‟s

English Department faculty.

Stark Voices

c/o Elizabeth Modarelli or

Nicole Herrera

Stark State College

6200 Frank Avenue

North Canton, OH 44720

Contact Us:

starkvoices@starkstate.edu

Meet the Staff of Stark Voices

The next year Stark State established the

site as a satellite Campus. At that time, they

only offered eleven classes. Now, the

Timken Campus offers twenty-six classes,

and it looks as though it will be expanding

in the future.

Cindy explained, “The school leased two

sections of two different buildings.” In the

Main Building, classrooms are located on

the second floor, along with computer labs,

and the new writing center. In the White

Building, located on McKinley Ave., Stark

State has renovated about half of the first

floor, which houses the Ohio Police Officers

Training Academy, three classrooms, a

computer lab, and a science lab, which

enables the center to offer human

biology and other science courses.

The White Building is also the home of the

new Academic Support Center. Jeff Beard,

the Center‟s Operations Manager, possesses

a Master‟s Degree in math along with

extensive experience with computers. Cindy

described the Academic Support Center as

“a place where students can go for tutoring

and support.” She added, “If a student has a

question, we have the answer, or we will

find one.” Cindy understands the challenges

students must overcome when returning to

college at any age. That‟s why “there is a

real need for the Academic Support Center,

and the student workers are excited to help,”

Cindy explained.

Cindy is the kind of person that is easy to

get to know; she has the kind of personality

that makes you feel like you have known

her forever. She is full of information about

the campus and as we talked, I could see the

enthusiasm she has for the students. Cindy

talked passionately about what she calls the

“holistic approach” and explained that it

includes support in addition to education.

(continued on next page)

The Downtown Canton Satellite Center. Photo by

Christopher M. Usner

Cindy Putnam (right) works with Carmella Young (left)

in the writing center. Photo by Christopher M. Usner

A Center for Support Prospers In a City with Heart By Connie Luthi

Did you know that Stark State has 10

satellite campuses? Maybe you did.

However, did you know that the Timken

Campus in downtown Canton located at

521 Tuscarawas Ave. was the first one?

Cindy Putnam, the Admissions/Financial

Aid Specialist and coordinator for the

Timken Campus, was excited when I

asked her for an interview.

It all started in the fall of 2003; Cindy

worked in coordination with the Canton

City Schools on a grant that helped make

the Timken Campus a reality. They

offered post secondary classes that first

year.

Satellite Campuses Cont.

“CANTON IS A CITY WITH HEART” AND “A

GREAT PLACE TO

RAISE CHILDREN”

Cindy would like to see the Academic

Support Center grow, not only to provide

support for students but also for the

community, with access to information such

as the homeless hotline, housing information,

bus schedules, and other educational

opportunities that are available.

“Canton is a city with heart,” Cindy said, and

“a great place to raise children.” She has seen

many people further their education at the

Timken Campus and added, “It‟s a great place

to start your education.” So, if you or your

friends are interested in advancing a career,

obtaining a degree, or just taking a class, you

can get started at one of the Stark State‟s

satellite campuses.

Education, close to home.

What am I?

Can you identify this image? It‟s on campus.

Send your best guess to

starkvoices@starkstate.edu for a chance to

win a $25 gift certificate to the bookstore.

Please note the winner will be drawn at random

from all correct entries received by March 11th.

Recycling Month By Connie Luthi

Recycling Awareness Month is a “dry run” for

the RecycleMania competition that Stark State

College would like to enter as a participant in

2012. The overall goal is to raise awareness and

increase campus recycling rates. Events have

been organized by the Sustainability Task Force

with support from multiple student groups, the

College Store and Sanese Dining Services.

Events

Get caught recycling or reusing a mug and

win a prize!

Pledge to Recycle - Monday-Thursday in

the Student Center

The first 25 people each week receive a

reusable bag

Sign up for a raffle to win a Stark State

Reusable Coffee Mug- 5 raffled each week

Weekly Digital Library Raffle - located in

the Stark State College digital library

Reusable Mug Discount

Recycling Contest for Faculty/ Staff

Compete to win the recycling contest

between areas in the College from February

7-25

Recycle your paper, plastic, and aluminum

to win!

Prizes to be awarded at end of the month

For further information, check out:

http://libguides.starkstate.edu/content.php?pid=

132288&sid=1297425

Photo by Christopher M. Usner

“And work,” he is quick to add, because that

is part of what fulfills him. A quote from

Sigmund Freud has become a guideline for his

life. “Love and work... work and love, that's

all there is.”

I questioned him about Stark State‟s

immediate future, and Dr. O‟Donnell said that

investing in the college is the key to continued

growth. “I firmly believe that as goes Stark

State, so goes Stark County. In terms of

economic development and social

development, our student graduates are going

to be what propels the economy.”

When asked what one thing he wants the

students of Stark State to know, he advised,

“Do not back away from frustration, failure,

or self-questioning. Find it within yourself

and also find one other person who‟s there to

understand and say, „Don‟t back off, let‟s go

forward.‟”

Dr. O‟Donnell has depth, an innate kindness,

and genuinely cares about all of us here at our

college. He was quick to let me know that his

door is always open. I think that this

approachability is part of what makes Dr.

O‟Donnell the special man that he is.

A Meeting with the President

By Brenda Dembraski-Marsh

The office of financial aid is conducting a

survey in order to gather information to assist

in developing a new financial aid student

budget for the 2011-2012 award year. It‟s a

simple five-minute survey that consists of 17

questions, including how much is your

monthly phone bill, how much is your rent,

and other questions relating to living

expenses. It is anonymous, and your financial

aid is not affected by the answers you give.

All students should have received it in their

Stark State email. Please take five minutes to

fill out the survey. Who knows? It may help

you or a fellow student.

Student Expenses and Costs Survey By Connie Luthi

Dr. O’Donnell, President, Stark State College

I had the pleasure of sitting down with the

president of our college, Dr. John O‟Donnell,

for an interview and was pleasantly surprised.

Dr. O‟Donnell immediately put me at ease. It

may have been the fact that he has a

background in psychology or it may be the

fact that he is a genuinely nice person. I think

it was the latter because it is clear that he loves

people—the faculty, staff, students, and the

people of this community. He loves to meet

people, get to know them and work with them;

get things done, if you will. In fact, he loves

to talk about data, but he feels that people are

the drivers of change evolution and

excellence.

Dr. O‟Donnell hasn‟t always lived in this area,

and yet he fits right in. He was born in

Scotland and lived there until the age of ten,

when his family immigrated to America for

the jobs and opportunity it offered. He was the

first in his family to go to college, and at the

time, he didn‟t know what he wanted to do.

He majored in and enjoyed history, but then

he discovered psychology and fell in love with

that area of study. He felt that he had a lot of

career options, but the profession that he loves

most has come to fruition.

Meeting his wife of 30 years, Ellen, was a

defining moment in his life. He would be the

first to say that they are very close and that his

life revolves around her, their three kids and

his extended family.

MONTH DAY

YEARA

VOL 1 ISSUE 1

If you have any comments, suggestions,

questions, or even criticisms, about Stark

State or this paper, please let us know at

starkvoices@starkstate.edu. Because

ultimately, this isn‟t our paper; it‟s your

paper. The Stark Voices.

www.webaddress.com

The Portage Lakes Polar Bear Club will host its 8th

annual Polar

Bear Jump on Saturday, February 26, 2011 at 2 p.m. Proceeds

will benefit the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank.

Once again, hundreds of individuals, including students and

professionals, will gather ‟round a hole in the ice at Portage

Lakes State Park and await their turn to take the plunge.

Among the brave souls participating this year will be Dan

Flowers, President and CEO of the Foodbank.

The Polar Bear Club says, “Remember, every dollar raised

feeds three hungry people, and one of those is a child!” That

means, “31 percent of funds raised feed children under the age

of 18.”

This event is open to the public and free to attend; however, a

$25 minimum donation is required to register as a jumper.

Registration begins at 12:30 p.m. and jumpers are encouraged

to arrive early.

Last year‟s event was a huge success. With the help of

sponsors, volunteers, and jumpers, the club raised $45,000 for

the American Cancer Society. This year hopes are high as many

wish to exceed last year‟s success.

More information about this event or the Portage Lakes Polar

Bear Club can be obtained from the websites listed below or

from “Polar Bear-Jump” on Facebook.

http://www.akroncantonfoodbank.org/special-promotions.aspx

http://www.portagelakespolarbearclub.com/index.htm

http://portagelakesfun.com/default.aspx

8th Annual Polar Bear Jump Will Benefit Regional Foodbank

By Christopher M. Usner

Jumpers and volunteers gather on the ice in 2007 to

raise money for the American Cancer Society. Photo

by Christopher M. Usner

Two polar bears bask in the sun on either

side of the diving platform in 2008. Photo by

Christopher M. Usner

Upcoming Events: Story Quilt Creation Workshops: March 22 & 29

and April 5, 10 a.m.-12 p.m. & 2-4 p.m.

Earth Week: April 22 - May 5

Spring Fling: May 5, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.