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A publication for Alumni and Friends of Kent State University Spring 2007 Volume 6 — Issue 3 m A G a z i n e NYC Studio Students benefit from new satellite “campus” Serving a Just Cause Professor utilizes cultural understanding to save Muslim women from “honor killings” Excellence in action, every day Dr. Lester A. Lefton, President a core Kent taking to the streets, where State principle: scholarship rubs shoulders Research is all with real life. the more valu- The students are not just able when it can tourists. New York of- be applied for ficials in charge of making public benefit. the city’s Fashion Center Another a thriving business and article in the cultural destination hired magazine two Kent State fashion examines Kent students to write a new- Gary Harwood, ‘83 State’s grow- comers’ guidebook to the ing presence in city and the district. Kent Photograph by what is arguably State students are making President Lester Lefton and the cultural their mark, and the studio is Dr. Elizabeth Rhodes, capital of the world. In Oc- quickly becoming an anchor director of Kent State’s tober, the university and the of the NYC Fashion Center. Fashion School, celebrate ent State Univer- College of the Arts officially From Kent, Ohio, to the the grand opening of the K sity is physically located opened the New York City centers of culture and com- university’s New York City in Northeast Ohio but its Studio, to put our fashion merce and throughout the Studio in October. See story influence is felt worldwide. students and other students world, Kent State students on page 5. Two stories in this issue of in close contact the industry and scholars are making a Kent State Magazine illus- and the creative energy that difference and changing trate this point. is a part of New York life. lives. One example is Dr. Located in the Garment We call that excellence Nawal Ammar, professor District, now being referred in action. of justice studies, who is an to as the Fash- expert in the devastating ion Center, the Fashion School donor Ron Teare (left) talks with issue of violence against 4,500-square- Dr. Josef Knott, director of Kent State’s School of women in Islamic cultures, foot space in a Music, at the opening celebration for the College including some immigrant renovated build- of the Arts’ New York City Studio. communities in our own ing at 315 W. country. 39th St. includes Ammar has been a lead a computer lab, author of United Nations’ lecture room and policies on the protection workroom full of of women and children sewing machines throughout the world. Her and other equip- research not only helps ment. those who need protection, The studio is but also fosters communi- a clear example cation between different of education On the cover: cultures — cultures often in beginning in the Gary Harwood, ‘83 Dr. Nawal Ammar conflict. classroom, then Photo by Bob Christy, ’95 Her work demonstrates immediately Photograph by K ENT STATE MAGAZINE • Spring 2007 • VOLUME 6 • ISSUE 3 Kent state MAGAZINE c o n t e n t s Spring 2007 • Volume 6 • Issue 3 Board of Trustees Features Andrew J. Banks James M. Biggar, Secretary R. Douglas Cowan, ’64 Emilio D. Ferrara, D.D.S., ’59 Sandra W. Harbrecht, ’71, Chair Aimee L. Huter, student Erin E. Klemen, student Patrick S. Mullin, ’71, Vice Chair Jane Murphy Timken Brian D. Tucker, ’75 Jacqueline F. Woods Executive Officers Dr. Lester A. Lefton, President Dr. Paul L. Gaston, Provost Dr. Patricia A. Book Vice President, Regional Development Photo by Bob Christy, ‘95 Dr. David K. Creamer, M.S.A. ’86, Ph.D. ’90 Senior Vice President, Administration Dr. Harold Goldsmith Vice President, Serving a Just Cause........... .page 2 Enrollment Management and Student Affairs Professor saves immigrant women from “honor killings.” Issue to Issue Carolyn Deasy Pizzuto Vice President, Human Resources NYC Studio ................... .page 5 Dr. Kathy L. Stafford, ’70 College of the Arts calls New York City home. News Flash ....... page 18 Vice President, University Relations and Development • Faculty member named ACE Fellow Edward G. Mahon Acting White ................. .page 8 • Master’s in public relations launched Vice President, Information Services, Professors study teen phenomenon. and Chief Information Officer • Wicks host writers in Bisbee Magazine Editorial Committee “Best Practices” Are Elementary . .page 9 • Staff/students create documentary on race Thomas R. Neumann Kent State College, an American-Turkish elementary Associate Vice President, school, exposes students to a modern education. University Communications & Marketing Class Notes . page 22 Flo Cunningham, ’83, M.A. ’86 Director, University Communications page 10 • Flashback: Painting the Rock and Marketing Awakening Possibility ...... Editor Program brings promise to Appalachia. • MAC basketball events scheduled For the complete list of committee members, follow the Contact link at • Architect credits Kent State for success To Serve and Protect ....... page 12 www.kent.edu/magazine. Kent State Trumbull begins a police academy designed to • Inspiring moments in the classroom Comments and letters can be sent to: help officers meet state training requirements. University Communications and Marketing, Kent State University, P.O. Box 5190, Kent, Home Run............... page 13 Upcoming Events Ohio 44242-0001 or [email protected]. Donors step up to the plate for Kent State’s baseball Back cover www.kent.edu program. Published quarterly in conjunction with Great Lakes Publishing Co., 1422 Euclid Ave. Autism on the Rise. page 14 Suite 730, Cleveland, Ohio 44115 Educators work towards strengthening communication [email protected] between parents, doctors and teachers. Project Playhouse .............. page 16 Interior design students lend expertise to Katrina relief efforts. Bridging the Gap .......... page 20 GED recipients make transition to college. Countdown to Centennial .... page 21 A legacy of regional growth and success. p a g e 1 Professor saves immigrant Muslim women from “honor killings” By Melissa Edler, ‘00 Serving a just cause “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” — Margaret Mead A woman from a small oil- rich country in the Arabian Gulf was living in the United States when she was sexually as- saulted by a man from her home country whom she trusted. That rape resulted in the conception and birth of an American-born child, who is now almost 12 years old. Recently, the woman was on the verge of being deported and sought asylum in the United States. If deported, she would certainly have been mur- dered for the dishonor brought upon her family because of the assault. According to a United Nations report, at least 5,000 women Dr. Nawal Ammar worldwide each year are murdered under the pretext of “honor killings.” As defined by UNICEF, an honor killing is an ancient practice in which men kill female relatives in the name of family honor for forced or suspected sexual relations outside marriage. While the majority of honor killings take place in primarily Muslim nations, it is not part of Islamic religious practice, says Dr. Nawal Ammar, Kent State professor of justice studies. In an Islamic context, punishment for infidelity is 100 lashes if the woman is single, or death by stoning if married. In both cases, however, four witnesses must p a g e 2 36 According to a United Nations report, at least 5,000 women world- wide each year are murdered under Serving a just cause the pretext of “honor killings.” testify that the sexual act took States. However, these kill- en, Ammar provides her ex- “It was truly an uplifting expe- place, which makes proving ings often remain a private, pertise in immigration courts rience to see how out of a dif- the infidelity extremely difficult. family affair, so an accurate on societal and cultural ficult situation arose solidarity Honor killings are a picture of the practice and issues, such as marriage and and love,” says Ammar. pre-Islamic, tribal custom. its frequency does not exist. religious and social taboos, Recently, meeting the legal In these cultures, a family’s In the United States, some to corroborate the women’s burden of proof in these cases status depends largely upon immigrant women who are claims of harm in their home has become more difficult its honor, as determined to a afraid of returning home and country. She also has written because of the Real ID Act of great extent by a daughter’s being killed in the name of reports to the immigration 2005. Passed by Congress, it at- propriety, Ammar explains. family honor fight to gain asy- service explaining, from a tempts to discourage illegal im- A woman’s virginity is lum, which is not an easy task. cultural standpoint, why migration by requiring driver’s considered the property of In addition to the sympathy these women have acted in a license applicants to produce her male relatives, whose and knowledge of an immigra- certain way. four types of identification: duty it is to guard it. If the tion lawyer, testimony from an “Sometimes all it takes is photo ID, birth certificate, proof woman is even suspected of expert witness often is needed for someone to explain in a of Social Security number and infidelity, whether consen- to help these women. culturally appropriate manner a document showing their full sual or forced, she may be Ammar is one such au- for a judge or jury to make the name and address. Immigrants mutilated, tortured, raped or thority, as one of a handful of right decision,” says Ammar. must prove that they are a killed in order to defend fam- scholars in the West who has citizen or national of the United ily honor.