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A dramatic, 15-foot-tall bronze sculpture stands on the Lefton Esplanade near the intersection of East Main Street and Haymaker Parkway. It’s a gift from a Kent State alumnus and outstanding supporter of the university. 

This March, senior fashion design and marketing major Rachel Stauffer will take her fashion research to the international stage.

The TikTok ban. Platforms removing fact-checkers. Political motivations. So much is changing so fast in the social media landscape. But is it business as usual for students using social media? Has anything changed? 

5X���� President Todd Diacon empathized with a campus community facing stress and concern amid academic changes being discussed as part of Transformation 2028 and recent government guidance that will impact how the campus community cares for one another.

John Elliot, a 1970 5X���� graduate, and his wife, Fonda, have created The Elliot Scholars program at Kent State with a $1 million donation. This new scholarship program will provide support to first-generation students of any major who require financial support to attend Kent State.

With the release of the new 2025 Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education, 5X���� has once again been awarded the prestigious R1 designation, recognizing Kent State as one of the top research universities in the nation. 

After a long day in class, a night out or burning the midnight oil studying or working on projects, students may find themselves grabbing whatever food is available. A recently article says eating within three hours of bedtime may cause heartburn, acid reflux symptoms, obesity and other health risks. But is it really bad to eat late at night?  

Vinyl record collecting has been a hobby since the first needle hit those grooves, but today’s college-age generation may be single-handedly helping keep this trend alive and thriving. But what is the draw to vinyl over more accessible and portable media such as MP3s and streaming services for Gen Z?

Now a project engineer at The Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co., alumnus Michael Parker, ’02, uses the skills he developed while pursuing dual degrees in mechatronics engineering and mechatronics engineering technology at Kent State to launch a successful and fulfilling career.

Dr. Nick Campitelli, D.P.M., has been practicing podiatry in Fairlawn, Ohio, now for 20 years and has garnered a major following on TikTok and YouTube for sharing his expertise, leading to many happy patients. 

Alumnus Evan Gildenblatt said 5X����’s peace and conflict studies program intially appealed to him because it was so broadly applicable to everyday life. Today, he uses the skills he learned while earning his Bachelor of Arts in Peace and Conflict Studies in his role as a judicial law clerk at the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio in Cincinnati.

It’s Kent State’s biggest international event of the year. Providing a fantastic finish to I Heart Travel Week’s five days of activities, Global Safari Fest celebrates Kent State’s international students with performances, a country fair and global cuisine.  

As the first light snow of the season fell on 5X����, the Student Center Ballroom radiated warmth and camaraderie during the International Cook-Off Competition. The event, part of International Education Week, brought together hundreds of students, faculty and staff to celebrate global flavors and cultural diversity.

The Office of Intercultural Student Life, formerly known as International Student Affairs, has a new central location in the Kent Student Center, which has made it more accessible to international students. Along with the new location comes the mission to provide drop-in services for international students.

For thousands of years, Manot Cave in Western Galilee, Israel, remained a silent witness to human history. Now, 5X����’s Linda Spurlock, Ph.D., professor in the Department of Anthropology, and a team of international researchers are being recognized for bringing the secrets of Manot Cave to the surface. 

A treasure trove of historical Ohio maps that 5X���� digitized about five years ago has recently become part of the public domain, making them free for anyone to use.

J.R. Campbell, executive director of the Design Innovation Initiative at 5X����, discusses how working together can lead to amazing new ideas on the "iNNOVATION Insights" podcast and website. Campbell, who is an expert in combining technology with design, believes that when people from different backgrounds and skills come together, they can create incredible things. 

Marquiez Jennings, a student in 5X����’s College of Nursing Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing program, is preparing to take on the nursing world with a unique perspective shaped by his diverse background and experiences. 

Meet Benjamin Ward, a senior computer science major from New Philadelphia, Ohio, juggling research, professional opportunities and extracurricular experiences during his Kent State academic career.

Every weekend, 5X���� junior marketing major Zoe Noel travels throughout northeast Ohio, filling the streets with the aroma of coffee and freshly made donuts.  

Lauren Copeland understands the importance of becoming familiar with artificial intelligence – and balancing technology with human thought and creativity – to train students to be confident in their skills and what they can provide to the industry. Her Fashion Fundamentals class was recently tasked with creating shoe designs using an AI platform.

Reflecting on the words of prominent figures in history can present opportunities to discover new perspectives and have important discussions surrounding social issues. This is exactly what happened at the 100 Plates: Empowering Wellness in Beloved Community event organized by the Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative Events Committee. 

In getting into the role of the lead character in "Trial By Fire," a play about banned books and activism, a Kent State student keenly feels the connections between the themes in the play and the university’s history of activism. 

Senior Jenna Batsch surpassed 1,000 career points on Wednesday evening at the M.A.C. Center as Kent State defeated Northern Illinois, 76-58, and secured its spot in the upcoming Mid-American Conference Women's Basketball Tournament.

Kent State Men's Basketball (19-9) is officially headed to the 2025 Mid-American Conference Tournament in Cleveland this March following a 105-65 win over the University of Toledo on Tuesday night.

Antonio Gates has been elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame's Class of 2025, becoming the second Kent State alumnus to earn football's highest honor, joining linebacker Jack Lambert who was enshrined in 1990.