Kent State Stark Class Turns Students into Environmental Filmmakers

For Tonya Higgins, participating in ’s first Environmental Media course is about informing the public of an overlooked safety concern — one that they might be contributing to without knowing it.

She’s one of about 15 to take the class, which turns students of all majors into documentary storytellers. Students look at problems within the Nimishillen Creek Watershed. They choose one topic and turn it into a video documentary, which will be shown on campus and in public* at the semester’s end.

The general studies major from Homeworth said she signed up for the class because it would help her get information to the public who sometimes become upset with their poor water quality but don’t realize they might be partly to blame.

Higgins, who’s concentrating her studies in biology and conservation, said she was in her comfort zone during science portion of the class, which came during the first couple weeks. She said what comes next — the video work and storytelling aspect — may be more of a challenge.

“I’m really excited about it,” she said. “It will be a lot of fun to see if I can help make an impact and make a documentary that speaks to people.”

Students learn from several professors and environmental experts throughout the semester. Some include Robert Hamilton IV, assistant professor of biological sciences; David F. Smeltzer, Mitch McKenney and Joe Murray, all assistant professors of journalism and mass communication; and Eric Akin, Upper Tuscarawas River Watershed coordinator.

They not only hear from those experts, but they see the problems firsthand through field trips.

Akin said the Northeast Ohio Four-County Regional Planning and Development Organization has worked for the past eight years to address watershed issues in Nimishillen Creek. It seemed like a great partnership when Penny Bernstein, associate professor of biological sciences, approached him about the class, he said.

“We saw it as a great opportunity because they wanted to engage their students but they also wanted to get the word out,” Akin said.

Murray recently led a session on blogs, which is one of the components to go along with the videos.

Murray likened storytelling to an opposable thumb, and creating the blog, he said, is “just the monkey work.”

“I promise you, I could teach a monkey how to make a blog if I had enough bananas,” Murray said. “The difference between monkeys and you is that you can make a blog that’s interesting, that’s compelling — a story that’s going to change somebody’s life.”

In addition to the blog, students must also use social media to engage the community.

The class came about through a grant relationship between the campus and Herbert W. Hoover Foundation, which funds projects related to the community, education and environment.

Students will show their videos April 28 on campus and in May at a public venue to be determined. Also screening the videos will be Ali Habashi, director of the Arnold Center for Confluent Media Studies and an adjunct instructor of the Motion Picture Program at the University of Miami in Florida. Habashi was a consulting developer for Kent Stark's course.

How You Can Help: Now through 5 p.m. Friday, you can take an online survey exploring the public’s awareness of local water resources. Kent Stark says its mission is to improve local water quality and educate and inform the local community on ways they can get involved.

*Editor's Note: North Canton Patch had previously published the students will show their videos at Canton Palace Theatre, but the location of the public showing is unknown at this time.