If you鈥檝e ever been to the Kent Student Center, you鈥檙e aware of the constant motion within those walls. Events, meetings, presentations and more spring up frequently in the ballroom, on the third floor in the Schwebel Room, on the second-floor balcony and in the Governance Chambers. The building is constantly in a state of flux. But have you ever thought about how all that happens? The answer is simple. The Blue Shirts do it.
You may have seen some Kent Student Center Operations staff and their recognizable blue shirts before. But Blue Shirts are more than just staff 鈥 they鈥檙e a core part of the campus experience, creating a welcoming environment where students can connect, relax and grow. They are the muscle, providing the strength and effort needed to make everything function smoothly, setting up rooms for events, managing operations and supporting all guests from students to administration to the public.
Brianna Camp, student operations coordinator, told Kent State Today that this role is a 鈥渄o-it-all鈥 job.
鈥淭hey鈥檙e not just going through the motions,鈥 Camp said. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e learning how to work on a team, how to lead and how to take ownership of a space.鈥
But their work goes beyond just operational duties. The Blue Shirts are a symbol of student ownership and pride, working to ensure that this space truly feels like 鈥渢he student鈥檚 center.鈥
鈥淲e want them to feel that this is their center, that it鈥檚 their space to care for and present to the world,鈥 said Ben Davis, director of the Kent Student Center and Center for Student Involvement.
The team鈥檚 uniforms feature a small but powerful symbol 鈥 an apostrophe on the sleeve 鈥 which denotes ownership. This reminds them that they are not just workers but caretakers of a shared space.
鈥淲hen we feel ownership, we approach the job differently,鈥 Davis said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 like taking care of your own house.鈥
This mindset shapes everything the Blue Shirts do, from sweeping floors to setting up stages, creating a place that reflects the pride of Kent State students.
A typical day for a Blue Shirt starts with a detailed check of the day鈥檚 tasks, from setting up meeting rooms to ensuring technology is in place for events.
鈥淚 mentally prepare myself by checking the list of rooms and guests and thinking about what I鈥檒l need to do,鈥 said Maggie Alexander, a freshman psychology major and a Blue Shirt. 鈥淭he shift change is my favorite part of the day. Everyone鈥檚 so happy, and it feels like a fresh start with a great team.鈥
The Blue Shirts operate as a tight-knit group, often describing their team as 鈥渁 family.鈥 They work together to tackle large-scale events, coordinate room flips and ensure the Kent Student Center remains welcoming and functional for everyone.
鈥淚t sounds cheesy, but we鈥檙e all so nice to each other,鈥 Alexander said. 鈥淪eeing new people grow and become comfortable here, that鈥檚 something I really love.鈥
Each Blue Shirt shift brings new and sometimes unexpected tasks. Last year, the team transformed the Kent Student Center for a campus fashion show.
鈥淚t was one of the coolest setups,鈥 Alexander said. 鈥淲e were all so excited to see it come together.鈥
For Kazeem Bankole, a sophomore biology major, member of the Honors College and a Blue Shirt, every shift is an opportunity to build connections.
鈥淚 walk through the entire building, checking in on offices and saying "hi" to everyone. I love making connections,鈥 Bankole said. "I love that my role at the Kent Student Center helps me develop both personally and professionally, creating lasting memories and teamwork that makes a difference."
These everyday interactions make him feel more connected to the Kent State community and give him a sense of ownership over his workspace.
The Kent Student Center and the Center for Student Involvement strive to make campus life engaging and inclusive. Working with Student Involvement, the Student Center offers jobs, programs and spaces where students can connect, take on leadership roles and grow.