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All content by Sophia Lucente
Emily Spencer, Kent State family studies student, hugs Pacifique goodbye on her way to the airport, leaving the trip a few days early for work.

Visiting Rwanda 30 years after Genocide: Week 3

Sophia Lucente, NewsL@b Photographer
August 8, 2023
Outside the Nyamata Genocide Memorial, kids laugh in the distance and walk past the church on their way to school, looking in through the fence.

Sarah Schmidt and her students talk about the trip on Pacifique’s porch, sharing their best moments and favorite parts.

Salara, Sarah Schmidt’s daughter, runs down the hall of Pacifique’s house to his kitchen to get drinks for everyone in the living room and help with dinner.

Lily Keister, Kent State higher education master’s student, looks out the window in Pacifique Niyonzima’s living room. Pacifique invited us to his house for dinner on one of the last nights of the trip.

Kaleb Bowen, Kent State Criminology student, carries Sarah Schmidt’s daughter, Salara, on his back while running around and laughing at the lodge in Akagera.

Lily Keister, Kent State higher education master’s student, picks honeysuckle outside of her room at Akagera National Park.

Miles Listerman, Kent State Business major, shakes hands with a member of Rwanda’s national police. Rwanda has a community based policing system that promotes trust between community members and the police.

Primary school children stand outside the classrooms after school, waiting for their parents to pick them up.

Visiting Rwanda 30 years after Genocide: Week 2

Sophia Lucente, NewsLab Photographer
July 29, 2023
Kent students Miles, Kaleb, Lily and Jordon play chicken in the lake at Twin Lakes, Rwanda.

Lily Keister, Kent State higher education master’s student, balances a basket on her head while participating in cultural dance at Twin Lakes, Rwanda.

Jordon Egbert, Kent State higher education masters students, stands to participate in African cultural dance at Twin Lakes, Rwanda.

Miles Listerman, Kent State business major, reaches out to touch one of Fraterne’s cows in his backyard in Birwa, Rwanda.

Clothes hang on a clothesline outside of Fraterne’s childhood home in Birwa, Rwanda, with Lake Burera in the background.

Sarah Schmidt and her students honor the people killed during the genocide in Rwanda by placing a wreath of flowers at the genocide memorial.

Visiting Rwanda 30 years after genocide

Sophia Lucente, NewsLab Photographer
July 18, 2023
Two women hold signs intended to be read together. The signs stated "Sexual abuse is striking down women's privacy." The two were participants at a pro-abortion rights rally at Kent State on Wednesday, June 29.

Protesters stand in front of the Portage County Municipal Courthouse, holding their signs high after walking from the K on Risman Plaza during the pro-abortion rights rally at Kent State on Wednesday, June 29.

A protester holds a sign that reads "Her body her choice" in front of the Portage County Municipal Courthouse at the pro-abortion rights rally at Kent State on Wednesday, June 29.

People gather at the K on Risman Plaza and march to the Portage County Municipal Courthouse, chanting "My body, my choice" or "This is what democracy looks like" while walking at the pro-abortion rights rally at Kent State on Wednesday, June 29.

A sign that reads "Abortion is Health Care" is held high in front of the Portage County Municipal Courthouse where protesters gathered at a pro-abortion rights rally on Wednesday, June 29.

The Students for a Democratic Society led a protest and march for justice for pro-choice rights on Thursday, May 5.

[Photo] More than 200 students march for abortion rights amid possible overturn of Roe v. Wade

Joyleah Odom and Alton Northup, Reporters
May 6, 2022
A student dressed in a red coat holds "The Handmaids tale" during the protest for pro-choice rights on Thursday, May 5.

Sophia Sainato, a Kent State Student, wears a shirt that reads "Bans Off" at the protest for pro-choice rights on Thursday, May 5.

A Kent State student marches with the large crowd for pro-choice rights on Thursday, May 5.

As the students start marching toward the rock, a man named Dennis Rein holds his fist in the air as an act of solidarity toward the marchers at the protest for pro-choice rights on Thursday, May 5. Dennis is a May 4 survivor who was visiting for the May 4 celebrations the day before when he saw the protest happening on the K.

Graham, a Kent State student, speaks to the crowd on the K at the pro-choice rights protest on Thursday, May 5. Graham says as a Black trans person the government is constantly trying to take their rights, and they would rather die than let that happen.

Lizzy stands with a sign at the protest for pro-choice rights listening to a speaker give a speech on Thursday, May 5. She said the governemnt should not have any say with what she does with her body.

A woman in a bright green jacket held her own candle for the May 4 candlelight vigil on the morning of Wednesday, May 4.

[Photo] Students, witnesses and community honor 52nd anniversary of May 4 at walk and vigil

May 4, 2022
A woman in a bright green jacket held her own candle for the May 4 candlelight vigil on the morning of Wednesday, May 4.

[Photo] Students, witnesses and community honor 52nd anniversary of May 4 at walk and vigil

Hannah Keil and Isabella Schreck
May 4, 2022
Joseph holds a candle in honor of the fallen and wounded at the May 4 candlelight vigil in the morning of Wednesday, May 4. He said he is a cyclist who saw the film "Fire in the Heartland" on TV, and that something led him to the vigil.

A model holds her layered dress as she walks down the runway at the KSU fashion show on Friday, April 29.

Two award winners embrace after the first in-person fashion show since Covid hit on Friday, April 29.

[Photo] Twelve fashion design seniors take home awards Friday night

Katherine Masko, Reporter
April 30, 2022
Model Chloe Proffitt walks the runway at the KSU fashion show on Friday, April 29.

Mya, pictured on the left, stands and talks with a student behind one of their signs showing a baby after an abortion at the anti-abortion demonstration on the K on Thursday, April 7.

Seth, pictured on the right, has a conversation with Holden, a Kent State student expressing his views on abortion at an anti-abortion demonstration on the K on Thursday, April 7.

Two of the many signs the anti-abortion demonstration put on by the organization Created Equal on the K on Thursday, April 7. Evangeline, the director of the demonstration, said they are there to talk to people about abortion because its intentions are to kill.

Isaac, pictured on the right, has a discussion with a Kent State student about his views on abortion at an anti-abortion demonstration on the K on Thursday, April 7. Isaac said he believes abortion is blatantly against what the Bible teaches.

[Photo] Anti-abortion group tries to persuade students at protest on the K

Alton Northup, Senior Reporter
April 8, 2022
A chef at Belleria takes orders during a dinner rush.

[Photo] Best pizza

Mariah Alanskas, Reporter
April 11, 2022
The owner of Bellerias, Tom, makes a pizza in the kitchen of his restaurant.

[Photo] Best place to take your family to eat

Mariah Alanskas, Reporter
April 5, 2022
The host at Bellerias takes customers names down to seat them during a dinner rush.

[Photo] Best go-to for food delivery

Sophie Young, Reporter
March 20, 2022
Carl Picelle, his wife and staff work hard making their sandwiches for customers during a lunch rush at their downtown Kent business, Franklin Square deli.

[Photo] Best sandwich shop

Sophie Young, Reporter
April 5, 2022
People sit at Twisted Mettz waiting for their sandwiches at dinner time.

The barista at Last Exit makes an espresso shot for a customer's coffee drink.

[Photo] Best shopping in Kent

Isabella Schreck, Reporter
March 20, 2022
Students sit and do homework and drink coffee at Last Exit books in downtown Kent.

[Photo] Best place to study

Hannah Keil, Reporter
April 5, 2022
Jason Merlene, the owner of Last Exit books, combined a bookstore, record store and coffee house into one area for students to study and hang out.

The sign outside of Kent Lanes, a popular bowling spot for the under 21 crowd.

Bowling balls sit on the shelf at Kent Lanes while bowlers sit and eat appetizers waiting for their turn to bowl.

[Photo] Best place for under-21 crowd

April 5, 2022
A bowler takes his turn at Kent Lanes, a bowling place in Kent.

A student eats their fruit bowl under the neon sign at Fruit Stand in downtown Kent.

[Photo] The Fruit Stand: Kent’s best new business in Acorn Alley serves fresh smoothie bowls

April 4, 2022
The Fruit Stand offers smoothie bowls, oatmeal and toast options.

[Photo] Best sweet stuff

Mariah Alanskas, Reporter
April 5, 2022
A student eats their fruit bowl under the neon sign at Fruit Stand in downtown Kent.

[Photo] The Fruit Stand: Kent’s best new business in Acorn Alley serves fresh smoothie bowls

Isabella Schreck, Reporter
April 4, 2022
Franklin Square deli, located on the corner on Water Street, has a race car theme and serves authentic sandwiches.

Customers wait in line for a sandwich during lunch time at Franklin Square Deli in downtown Kent.

A customer sits at the bar of Euro Gyro, a bar and restaurant in downtown Kent.

[Photo] Best drunk food

April 11, 2022
Defiance tattoos, located on E Main street, is one of Kent State's students' faveorite spots for piercings or tattoos.

A client gets a tattoo of two coy fish on thier arm at Defiance tattoos in downtown Kent.

[Photo] Best tattoo and piercing parlor

Alton Northup, Reporter
April 5, 2022
A tattoo artist starts a tattoo on a Kent student's arm at Defiance in downtown Kent.

A close up of a shirt at the career closet in the women's center at Kent State University.

Purses at the career closet in the women's center at Kent State University.

[Photo] The Career Closet provides free professional attire for students, faculty and staff

Taylor Haydu, Reporter
April 4, 2022
A detailed green and pink jacket in the career closet in the women's center at Kent State University.

The career closet in the women's center at Kent State University.

Three pieces in the Queer Voices art exhibit in the Rockwell fashion building at Kent State.

A piece about the female body in the Queer Voices art exhibit in the Rockwell fashion building at Kent State University.

An art piece in the Queer Voices art exhibit in the Rockwell Fashion building at Kent State University.

A pen and paper piece in the Queer Vocies art exhibit in the Rockwell fashion building at Kent State.

Deanna, a representative for Black United Students, gives a power speech on behalf of BUS urging students to fight against the censorship bill 327 at the protest against the bill on Wednesday, March 9.

Two Kent students, Caleb and Neil, made signs for the protest expressing thier frustration for bill 327 at the protest against the bill on Wednesday, March 9. Neil explains if the bill passes he feels as if he would be given an inferior education.

The students at the protest against house bill 327 drew messages to the other students with chalk on the "K" after the protest today on Wednesday, March 9. This student, AJ, wrote "teach the truth" in bright colors.

Kent State students stand and chant on the K in protest of house bill 327 while holding the signs of names that would not be able to be taught under the bill on Wednesday, March 9.

[Photo] Students protest House Bill 327, which seeks to ban “divisive concepts”

Alton Northup, Senior Reporter
March 10, 2022
Jenna, a representative from the Ohio Student Association, gives a speech explaining why students should care about this issue at the protest against bill 327 on Wednesday, March 9.

AJ and Aaron, two protestors from the crowd, lead a song about freedom fighters at the protest against house bill 327, lead by Black United Students on Wednesday, March 9.

Tom, the band leader of Gaetano's, said they have spent six years of BeatleFests playing at Ray's Place in downtown Kent. His band is committed to a blues style and says the Beatles are "the most magical rock group of all time."

The band "Up 'Til 4" plays at the Water Street Tavern for a crowd in downtown Kent at the Beatle Fest on Friday, Feb. 18. They play acoustic rock covers putting emphasis on bands like the Beatles.

A group of friends celebrate their own festival, "The Darrell Fest", when their friend Darrell is visiting from North Carolina at the BeatleFest music festival in downtown Kent on Friday, Feb. 18. They keep this tradition each time Darrell visits, and this year it aligned with the Beatle Fest.

[Photo] BeatleFest rocks downtown Kent

Mariah Alanskas, Reporter
February 24, 2022
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Sophia Lucente