Community & Society
![Alison Caplan with Jeffrey Miller displays Alison Caplan with Jeffrey Miller displays](https://www-s3-live.kent.edu/s3fs-root/s3fs-public/styles/1_5_2_thumbnail/public/375762674_1246377386037003_8478712144716490789_n_0.jpg?VersionId=6Vrg09SBxG_5lNwo3YsHWmMhXRTqukhJ&h=f19d7add&itok=_nrGB7SQ)
While Alison Caplan grew up in nearby Akron, Ohio, and has spent time in Kent, when she joined the university as the new director of the May 4 Visitors Center in July, she began to see, and understand, the campus in a whole new light. Caplan is part of a group of Golden Flashes that Kent State Today will be following for the 2023-24 academic year.
![Student walking near Manchester Hall with grandparents and dog Student walking near Manchester Hall with grandparents and dog](https://www-s3-live.kent.edu/s3fs-root/s3fs-public/styles/1_5_2_thumbnail/public/20230922_BC_september%20feature_313.jpg?VersionId=ILs.GB.FmRrG5q3sOEukGz_GuMOIbWRm&itok=ozxpCJh4)
A full schedule of fun activities is planned for Parents and Families Appreciation Weekend – Sept. 29 and 30 – at Kent State.
![Scene of students enjoying a past Black Squirrel Festival Scene of students enjoying a past Black Squirrel Festival](https://www-s3-live.kent.edu/s3fs-root/s3fs-public/styles/1_5_2_thumbnail/public/190906_RD_BS-FEST_01013.jpg?VersionId=AuyU.7zKW76CSBI2B2NQ35fhhBr0CbxG&itok=k0Mu-pro)
The Black Squirrel Festival returns to Risman Plaza and the Student Green on Friday, Sept. 29, from 4-7 p.m.
![Torsten Hegmann, director of Kent State's Advanced Materials and Liquid Crystal Institute, stands in front of the institute's advanced X-ray scattering device, which is drawing scientists to Kent State for their research. Torsten Hegmann, director of Kent State's Advanced Materials and Liquid Crystal Institute, stands in front of the institute's advanced X-ray scattering device, which is drawing scientists to Kent State for their research.](https://www-s3-live.kent.edu/s3fs-root/s3fs-public/styles/1_5_2_thumbnail/public/torsten%20machine.jpg?VersionId=T7xSe1y9IDhOKrYtTOHpsplrPqUvl5yU&itok=N9NlNVLl)
Campus preacher “Sister Cindy” Smock shared her message Monday and Tuesday on Risman Plaza.
![United AutoWorkers Striker Banner Protesters](https://www-s3-live.kent.edu/s3fs-root/s3fs-public/styles/1_5_2_thumbnail/public/pexels-life-matters-4614148.jpeg?VersionId=.EQyuwhL1pnSWi0._m78z2deDy3n_oc1&itok=hxbbYcBh)
Kent State Today reached out to C. Lockwood Reynolds, Ph.D., professor of economics at Kent State, to talk about the United Auto Workers strike — and unions in general — and their effects on the Kent State community.
![Display of colorful hats at 2023 Latino Affairs Summit resource fair Display of colorful hats at 2023 Latino Affairs Summit resource fair](https://www-s3-live.kent.edu/s3fs-root/s3fs-public/styles/1_5_2_thumbnail/public/20230915_Latino%20Affairs%20Summit-49.jpg?VersionId=RhHzewzeD3fYH92jW4PJMTyl.6nW7_Kc&itok=HJWBmaH0)
The 2023 Ohio Latino Affairs Summit, "¡Juntos! Latino Growth Is Ohio Growth," convened on Friday at Kent State University's Kent Campus.
![Musician and May 4 Witness Chris Butler and Alison Caplan, director of the May 4 Visitors Center](https://www-s3-live.kent.edu/s3fs-root/s3fs-public/styles/1_5_2_thumbnail/public/ChristButlerBanner.jpg?VersionId=yrfdp69W3Pz3DqFy8lDamBypTiHLOuXo&h=1ce2cbec&itok=0GUasfoW)
Stories of friendship and loss set against the backdrop of May 4 memorabilia and a ’60s soundtrack were the focal points of a listening party held Sept. 21 as part of “Snapshots in Time: The Lives of Four Students” with musician and May 4 survivor Chris Butler.
![KSU students participating in tree-planting event at CVNP. KSU students participating in tree-planting event at CVNP.](https://www-s3-live.kent.edu/s3fs-root/s3fs-public/styles/1_5_2_thumbnail/public/KSU-EHHS-CVNP-Service-07.jpg?VersionId=J_nKT11oOsr_XGw4O9TV0FeiF9hl6USi&itok=OiGos8kR)
Kent State students planted trees in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park on Saturday.
![Daisy Pops with "LaunchNet" logo on packaging](https://www-s3-live.kent.edu/s3fs-root/s3fs-public/styles/1_5_2_thumbnail/public/DaisyPopBanner.jpg?VersionId=8h6MkX0Cf_NE_PvcPOXL8bWHIzjzTrD0&itok=3O3u6JQc)
Daisy Pops founder and alumna Amy Mucha, ’15, spoke at the inaugural “LunchNET” event on Wednesday, Sept. 20, where Kent State University students were invited to have lunch and learn the secret to a local entrepreneur's success.