2:26 p.m. — Recreational Group Leadership class, Gym Annex
Being late to class is a regular occurrence for Broadbent, even though he allows himself extra time to talk to people as he’s walking.
Broadbent makes his entrance — 11 minutes late.
“Sorry I’m late,” Broadbent says, as he waves to friends in his class and looks for a seat.
“Everyone, Gary is being followed today by some reporters. It makes him feel important.”
“Yeah, yeah, Gary,” says his instructor, Jane Jindra-Parman. “Everyone, Gary is being followed today by some reporters. It makes him feel important.”
Broadbent smiles and takes his seat, immediately participating in class discussion.
Recreational Group Leadership is a class for students who want to be gym teachers or work with children. Monday and Wednesday classes are normally lectures, and Fridays are game days. This Friday, the students play two games, “Cowboy” and “Squirrels in the Trees.”
Broadbent directs a game in his Recreational Group Leadership class.
(Photo: Gavin Jackson)
For Cowboy, the students line up by sex and pair up. Broadbent, the odd man out, gets to be the caller. Students walk around in a circle until the music stops. At this time, they must assume one of four positions: Shoot, bull, clown or bronco. As caller, Broadbent yells out the positions, and the students frantically run around to find their partners.
The second game, Squirrels in the Trees, involves several groups of three people holding hands and forming the trees. The students who are left are “squirrels” and walk around the gym until the music stops. They then find a “tree” to get inside.
“He’s very outspoken and contributes to the conversations we have in class,” Jindra-Partman says. “He’s a good student. I had him in my Social Dance class, and he made the class. He’s always upbeat and comes in ready to go and energetic.”
Broadbent learned how to ballroom dance, waltz and foxtrot from Jindra-Parman.
“It’s a hit at weddings,” he says.
3:25 p.m. — Student Center
Broadbent prepares for a meeting. He keeps a selection of ties in the drawer of his desk.
(Photo: Gavin Jackson)
After Broadbent leaves the Gym Annex he rushes over to the USS office, to prepare for a meeting with Greg Jarvie, dean of students and university ombudsman. He wraps a pink striped tie around his neck and dashes to the third floor.
Broadbent works closely with the Office of Enrollment Management and Student Affairs to deal with student issues and concerns. He meets with Vice President Pete Goldsmith bi-weekly and with Jarvie a few times a month.
4:58 p.m. — Mock trial practice, Music and Speech
After a long meeting with Jarvie, Broadbent heads over to the Music and Speech building for mock trial practice. Broadbent, who has been a member of the mock trial team for two years, is a prosecutor in the team’s case and will prepare the opening argument.
“It provides a whole lot of fun,” Broadbent says. “The team is very close, and we have two great coaches: Pete Kratcoski and Paul Haridakis. It gives me a glimpse of what I want to do as a career.”
The students work with their coaches as equals rather than as students. The practice is very informal and students and coaches eat cookies and joke around while practicing.
Today, the team tries to interview a witness, a golf coach, without receiving an objection.
“Would you consider Tony to be a talented golfer?” Broadbent asks.
“Objection. Leading the witness,” Kratcoski says.
After a few more attempts, Broadbent looks for a new way to approach the question. They settle on asking the witness about the golfer’s awards and recognition as a way to testify to his talent.
7:07 p.m. — Gymnastics meet
Broadbent shows school pride.
(Photo: Gavin Jackson)
After a quick stop back at the USS office, Broadbent walks to the MAC Center to watch the gymnastics meet. “I try to get to all of the athletic events at least once,” Broadbent says.
After waving to a multitude of students and selecting a place to sit, Broadbent cheers on the team with more enthusiasm than the whole rest of the gym.
Broadbent is known for his school spirit, especially at basketball games, where he is a member of the “Chain Gang.” Broadbent and his friends attend basketball games and cheer on the team by rattling chains and screaming as much as possible.
“Having school spirit makes Kent a whole lot more fun,” he says. “Students spend so many hours here on campus, and it makes it more enjoyable to devote your time to other things. I love it here.”
8:47 p.m. — Dinner at the Pufferbelly
At home, Broadbent changes into a pair of jeans and a preppy red sweater.
He calls his sister Bailey, a Kent State freshman, to be his dinner date. She brings her boyfriend, Kyle Rhodes, as well.
They head over to the Pufferbelly, talking and joking the whole time. Broadbent orders pizzas and desserts for everyone to split.
Broadbent grew up in Canton but calls Hartville his real hometown.
His aunt and uncle, Patty and Scott Hendricks, took him and most of his brothers and sisters in because of a troubled family life at home.
He has four siblings: Bailey, Brittany, a junior nursing major, and twins Devon, a junior at Shaker Heights High School, and Logan, a junior at Glen Oak High School.
Bailey and Devon have cystic fibrosis, a disease that cause mucous in the body to thicken and clog the body’s organs. “It’s tough knowing unless a cure is found, Bailey and Devon’s life will not be a long one,” Broadbent says. “Being the older brother, it’s been my job to watch after them, care about them and worry about them, and I still do.”
Broadbent is close to his siblings, and they try not to dwell on the bad times.
Brittany is ready to tell embarrassing stories about Broadbent.
“We went on a vacation to Montreal and Gary forgot his glasses,” Brittany laughs. “He has no idea what Canada looks like. He also hung his head out the window and yelled ‘Bonjour!’ to everybody on the street.”
The Burr is produced by students at Kent State University twice per academic year.No part of The Burr may be reprinted without permission.