Spring Break
Some incoming freshmen rethinking their decision to attend KSU after riots
Administration sent letter to assure those most likely to come
Kelly Petryszyn
Issue date: 5/5/09 Section: News
News of the riots on College Avenue last week aired on CNN and Fox News. Videos sprung up on YouTube and in other forms of media as well. With news widespread, word has gotten out to many, including high school seniors and their parents deciding which college to attend in the fall.
Kayla Will, a senior at Streetsboro High School, was planning on going to Bowling Green State University for visual communication technology, but then she began considering Kent State University for special education. She said her mother, Linda Will, was fine with this decision until she learned of the riots.
Linda wants her daughter to go where she would get the best education but said after she heard of the riots, she doesn't want Kayla to go to Kent State.
Parents have to think, "How safe is it to send your kid there?" Linda said.
She added that, as a parent, she considers safety factors when sending her daughter to college, and "Kent State is a place (I) wouldn't want to my child to go to, based on safety."
Kayla said, however, these riots don't impact her desire to go to Kent State.
She said she knows the riots were dangerous, but the riots don't give her a negative view of the university because she understands incidents like this can happen at other colleges.
Linda said events like the riots attract a certain percentage of students seeking a party, and it pushes others away.
"When you're noted as a party school on the news, because of it I think that gives the impression that it would not be as safe a college for young people, compared to one that is under control," she said.
To address the concerns of worried parents and incoming freshmen, Kent State sent out letters to students who paid the matriculation fee, which reserves a student's spot in the freshman class, and are most likely go to Kent State, said Pete Goldsmith, vice president of enrollment management and student affairs.
Kent State received minimal calls about the event, he said.
The letter was sent out "so folks could understand it is in generally a safe place," Goldsmith said. "These events do happen, but they are isolated."
Kent State expects more calls, but the university is willing to address any concerns parents have.
Streetsboro High School senior Leah Friedlander said her parents were surprised at the students' behavior, but it's not keeping them from sending her to Kent State.
"My parents were shocked, but they trust me to stay out of harm's way," she said.
Friedlander said she has been planning on attending Kent State for pre-pharamacy since her junior year of high school, and the riots didn't change her decision.
Contact student affairs reporter Kelly Petryszyn at kpetrysz@kent.edu.
Kayla Will, a senior at Streetsboro High School, was planning on going to Bowling Green State University for visual communication technology, but then she began considering Kent State University for special education. She said her mother, Linda Will, was fine with this decision until she learned of the riots.
Linda wants her daughter to go where she would get the best education but said after she heard of the riots, she doesn't want Kayla to go to Kent State.
Parents have to think, "How safe is it to send your kid there?" Linda said.
She added that, as a parent, she considers safety factors when sending her daughter to college, and "Kent State is a place (I) wouldn't want to my child to go to, based on safety."
Kayla said, however, these riots don't impact her desire to go to Kent State.
She said she knows the riots were dangerous, but the riots don't give her a negative view of the university because she understands incidents like this can happen at other colleges.
Linda said events like the riots attract a certain percentage of students seeking a party, and it pushes others away.
"When you're noted as a party school on the news, because of it I think that gives the impression that it would not be as safe a college for young people, compared to one that is under control," she said.
To address the concerns of worried parents and incoming freshmen, Kent State sent out letters to students who paid the matriculation fee, which reserves a student's spot in the freshman class, and are most likely go to Kent State, said Pete Goldsmith, vice president of enrollment management and student affairs.
Kent State received minimal calls about the event, he said.
The letter was sent out "so folks could understand it is in generally a safe place," Goldsmith said. "These events do happen, but they are isolated."
Kent State expects more calls, but the university is willing to address any concerns parents have.
Streetsboro High School senior Leah Friedlander said her parents were surprised at the students' behavior, but it's not keeping them from sending her to Kent State.
"My parents were shocked, but they trust me to stay out of harm's way," she said.
Friedlander said she has been planning on attending Kent State for pre-pharamacy since her junior year of high school, and the riots didn't change her decision.
Contact student affairs reporter Kelly Petryszyn at kpetrysz@kent.edu.
Viewing Comments 1 - 4 of 6
Other Reason For Non Attendance
posted 5/05/09 @ 1:29 AM EST
AND THE FLIP SIDE TO THAT OPINION IS THAT THERE ARE MANY PARENTS WHO WOULD NOT WANT THEIR SON OR DAUGHTER TO ATTEND A SCHOOL WHERE THE ADMINISTRATION DOES NOTHING TO STAND UP FOR THE STUDENTS WHO WRE NOT ENGAGED IN ANY NEGATIVE ACTIVITY ON COLLEGE AVE. (Continued…)
FlashAlum
posted 5/05/09 @ 10:39 AM EST
OR...parents (like me) who are also property owners might be comforted by the fact that the city and university would do anything they could to stop a bunch of drunken immature tweeners from burning houses down and desecrating neighborhoods. (Continued…)
Rogue Kent Cops Triggered The Riot
posted 5/05/09 @ 11:00 AM EST
The fact that many seem to miss is that there were no problems at all at Collegefest until once again Kent CITY cops started to abuse people by shooting crowds of people MOST of who were NOT breaking the law with pepper mace. (Continued…)
COPWATCH
posted 5/05/09 @ 12:00 PM EST
So apparently Kent City paid out money a few years ago to settle a lawsuit involving the false arrest of Anti War Demonstrators out of what? The "goodness of the Citys heart"? There will be more lawsuits and unfortunately until the Culture at the top of KPD is changed this criminal mentality will continue on the part of Kent police. (Continued…)
Post a Comment