Take a Virtual Tour of Kent State University
The University of Akron and Kent State University, located just 10 miles apart, first played for the Wagon Wheel in 1946. The story goes that John R. Buchtel was searching for a site to start a new college in 1870 near what is now Kent State University when his wagon became stuck in the mud. The horses pulled the wagon apart and one of the wheels ended up being buried. Buchtel would eventually settle on a site in Akron for Buchtel College, which would eventually become the University of Akron. In 1902, while digging for a pipeline in Kent, the wheel was discovered and eventually came into the possession of Kent State dean of men Dr. Raymond Manchester. It was he who suggested in 1945 that the wheel be used as a trophy for the winner of the Kent State-Akron football game. When the rivalry first started, Kent State dominated the series every year until 1954, when the rivalry was scrapped due to a lack of competition. It was reinstated in 1972 and has been an annual contest since. In 1992, Akron joined the Mid-American Conference and the rivalry became a conference game.
The Victory Bell is located behind Taylor Hall in an open grassy space known as the "Commons." The locomotive bell was donated by the Erie Railroad. In 1950, the university's president George A. Bowman designated it for the Commons. Architecture student Arvid Johnson designed a structure of tan brick and sandstone to house the bell. It was constructed with funds raised by Alpha Phi Omega, an architecture service fraternity. It was finished in 1955, the year Johnson graduated.
The bell, originally intended to toll for winning athletic events, acquired a more solemn history after May 4, 1970. It was rung several times in conjunction with events of that day. It is now part of the National Register of Historic Places for the site.
Both a campus tradition and an unofficial, and ever-changing outdoor art element at Kent State is "the Rock." A landmark of front campus, it has been a canvas for students and student organizations for messages, announcements and the display of Greek letters for more than 50 years.
As you're walking around campus you're almost certain to encounter a few of these guys - they're the famous black squirrels of Kent State University. They're everywhere! Our unofficial mascots, they've been a part of the campus since 1961.
Ten rare black squirrels were imported from Canada in February 1961 by Larry Woodell, superintendent of grounds, and M. W. Staples, a retired executive of the Davey Tree Expert Company. When first released, the large, black-spiked squirrels were frequently mistaken for skunks. The Black Squirrel Festival started in 1981 as a day-long event held on the Student Center Plaza to introduce new students to campus and community organizations. Now it features barbeques, live bands and local artisans. Each fall, Kent State sponsors a Black Squirrel Festival, which celebrates these campus celebrities.
Located outside of Merrill Hall on Terrace Drive, you'll find some interesting campus sculptures at the Behind the Brain Plaza. The plaza features sculptures of a human brain and a seed with the roots of knowledge. This "interactive" sculpture was created by former School of Art sculpture professor Brinsley Tyrrell. The most noticeable part of the multi-faceted project is the 13-foot-tall sculpted brain that faces Terrace Drive and the back entrance to Merrill Hall. The spinal nerve of the brain flows into the ground and leads to a plaza containing a small fountain, a smaller brain, benches and sculpted books lining the bookshelf walls. Tyrrell said. "With my piece, I tried not to just create a sculpture, but to create an environment that would be nice to sit in and nice to work in.
One of the newer Homecoming traditions is called "Kiss on the K." All Kent State couples are invited to meet at the Risman Plaza during Homecoming weekend and share a kiss with their significant other when the library bell strikes noon.
Carrie Circosta, assistant director for alumni relations at Kent State, said "When two people share a special connection and both are part of the Kent State family, it calls for a celebration."
May H. Prentice Memorial Gate is the official name of the oldest gateway to Kent State University and to its original campus. Located on a diagonal at the intersection of East Main and Lincoln Streets, it was named to honor Professor Prentice (1857-1935) who had been on the faculty from 1912 until 1930. It was built with funds donated by the 1928 through 1934 graduating classes. Dedicated on Jan. 5, 1935, Professor Prentice, too ill to attend the ceremony, died three weeks later at age 79. In keeping with the university's rejuvenation plan and Esplanade Path, the gate and surrounding pavers were refurbished in 2010.
Four Kent State University students were killed and nine wounded on May 4, 1970, during a demonstration protesting the U.S. invasion of Cambodia. The Center for Peaceful Change, now the Center for Applied Conflict Management, was established one year later as a living memorial to these students. Permanent memorials are interspersed around campus, and in commemoration, a vigil and accompanying ceremonies are held yearly on this date.
Right outside the Student Center is Risman Plaza - the hotspot for a number of outdoor events including annual festivals and concerts. Each year, the plaza, the MAC Center and nearby Manchester Field are home to FlashFest - an annual spring student festival that features concerts by national and local bands, as well as games and other activities.
WKSU is Kent State University's award-winning NPR News and Classical Music public radio station. Serving more than 20 Ohio counties and parts of Western Pennsylvania, 89.7 WKSU operates from the station’s broadcast center in Kent.
WKSU-FM went on the air more than 50 years ago as a service of Kent State University. A National Public Radio affiliate, WKSU airs the best in classical music and public radio entertainment programming. Folk music has also played an important role in WKSU’s broadcast history, thanks, in part, to Kent, Ohio's long-standing connection with the folk community, including hosting the Kent State Folk Festival for over three decades.
Look up! The Kent State University Library is the tallest building on campus and in the county. The library is, of course, the perfect atmosphere to study and conduct research, and a great place to meet with study groups and research partners. It features study areas, meeting rooms, a variety of fascinating special collections, an audio visual library and a coffee shop.
The oldest book in the Kent State Library is Aureola ex Floribus by St. Hieronymous. This ancient book includes the texts of St. Hieronymous, also known as St. Jerome, and was put together between 1470 and 1472. Aureola ex Floribus is written all in Latin. It is the earliest printed book that can be found in the Kent State Special Collections library. St. Jerome made revisions to the Bible and included some letters in the book.
Although this 40-page text cannot be borrowed from the library with a student ID, students can still visit the library archives on the 12th floor to view the book along with other ancient works of literature.
The Kent State Museum contains important collections of fashion and decorative arts. Its eight galleries feature changing exhibitions of work by many of the world's great artists and designers. Closely linked to the Shannon Rodgers and Jerry Silverman School of Fashion Design and Merchandising at Kent State University, the Museum provides students with first-hand experience with historic and contemporary fashions, as well as costumes representing many of the world's cultures. An extensive collection of American glass, fine furniture, textiles, paintings and other decorative arts combine to give context to the study of design.