Wednesday, September 26, 2012
94th year • Issue 7
Rockets prepare for WMU Serving the University of Toledo since 1919
Inside
homecoming 2012
Homecoming events to last a fortnight By Tegan Wilkinson Staff Reporter
Rockets fall 3-0 to begin MAC play / 10
www.IndependentCollegian.com
Students will get the chance to be a kid again as they spend a day with this year’s circus-themed homecoming celebrations. This year, the Homecoming Commission has split Homecoming Week into two weeks,
allowing for more activities and community involvement leading up to the parade and football game on Oct. 6 against Central Michigan. “Homecoming this year is two weeks long since fall break lies before the typical week,” said Alex Shoup, Homecoming Commission’s
community outreach director. “We thought why not make it two weeks?” The first week of Homecoming has been deemed the “Blue and Gold” week, while the second week “ROCK-et Under the Big Top − The Greatest School on Earth!” focuses more on Homecom-
ing’s circus theme. The Homecoming Commission kicked off two weeks of Homecoming fun Monday with a kickball tournament and banner decorating contest, and last night they showed the film “We Bought a Zoo” in the Ingman Room. “I’m really excited about
the parade to see the involvement with all the student organizations, especially the ones that haven’t participated before,” said Ryan Butts, homecoming parade chair for the Homecoming Commission. See Homecoming / 8
dining services
Two new art exhibits opened at CVA / 3 photo courtesy of john bitz
Greg Smith, who was diagnosed with desmoid sarcoma, will be the man of the hour Oct. 4 as a group of students will host a benefit concert for him.
Every vote matters / 6 View the Homecoming candidates / 4
Concert to benefit student with cancer
In brief The Collegian is moving to library Friday The Independent Collegian will begin moving into its new office in Carlson Library beginning Friday. Located on the first floor behind the Circulation Desk, the Dean’s Suite will now host the IC. The Collegian will remain independent from the University of Toledo and will continue to strive to become a student-relevant news source. The Independent Collegian’s current office, located at 2132 Middlesex Drive next to Just Skate, has been the college newspaper’s home for X years.
Internet Marketing Conference scheduled for Oct. 2 Registration is open for the University of Toledo College of Business and Innovation’s Fourth Annual Internet Marketing Conference, slated for Tuesday, Oct. 2 from 7:30 a.m. until noon in the Student Union. Nationally known marketing expert Joe Pulizzi of Content Marketing Institute will keynote the event with a talk focusing on digital marketing strategies from a storytelling perspective. Other speaker’s topics of discussion include mobile application development and video and social media marketing. Companies and individuals interested in attending this year’s event are encouraged to register soon as previous countries have sold out and seats for the 2012 program are limited.
bob taylor / IC
Students at Parks Tower Dining Hall use their meal plans through their Rocket ID cards Tuesday night. Two new meal plans aimed for commuters, employees and guests, are the Commuter 35 meal plan and the Block 5 meal plan.
New meal plans aimed at commuter students By Danielle Gamble News Editor
Two new meal plans geared toward commuters, employees and guests are receiving mixed reviews from students. Joy Seifert, director of Auxiliary Services, said the Commuter 35 meal plan and Block 5 meal plan are the first plans aimed at commuter students “We know commuters enjoy eating with their friends who may be residential students, and carrying money may not be what those commuters like to do,” she said. The Commuter 35 meal plan, a new $380 block plan for commuter students, offers 35 meal swipes, $10 in Rocket Dollars and $125 in Dining Dollars. It’s purchased like a regular block meal plan, and left over benefits transfer to the following semester. The Block 5 plan, however, is no ordinary meal plan. Similar to a gift card, this card is loaded with five dining hall swipes and it can be purchased at any time. A similar card has been available for about two years, but Seifert said it has only been available through the main campus’s food vendor, Aramark. “We’ve had a Block 5, but we’ve never had a way to
truly sell it or promote it,” Seifert said. “This year, we found a way through our PHILs to do that.” Payment Headquarters in Location, or PHIL, is a machine that allows students to check their Rocket Card balance, load Rocket Dollars onto their card and sell Block 5 meal cards. Those wishing to purchase a Block 5 card must pay the $32 fee in cash. Seifert said the card is not tied to one person, so a lost card can be used by whoever finds it. A Block 5 card provides a flat rate of $6.40 per swipe, while dining halls currently charge $6 for breakfast, $7 for lunch and $8 for dinner. These prices are up 50 cents from last year’s dining hall rates. Seifert said whenever someone turns back in their card, he or she will get a coupon for a free food item. She said this was added as an incentive to return the card so it could be recycled. “We’re trying to go green with this, but we also want the cards returned so we can gauge how well they’re selling,” Seifert said. “That way, we can figure out if the program works or if we need to change it.” Seifert said the card helps students take care of guest
diners and gives employees use it on?” he said. and commuters whom eat regWhile Keeler admits to ularly in dining halls a eating on campus at least discount. once a day, he doesn’t think Seifert said updates to the a Block 5 card is for him. commuter plan and an in“It’s a good deal if you’re coming employee plan are in going to be on campus late the works. and getting dinner each night, Seifert said The two plans but then also if her department UT can afford Commuter 35 meal to make deals is using several ways of gauging plan: The new plan costs like that, why $380 and offers 35 meal student opincan’t they lower swipes, $10 in Rocket ion, including a Dollars and $125 in Dining the cost of dining services Dollars. meals?” survey available Dylan Block 5: The plan on the Auxilia- costs $32 in cash and Krendl, a gives five total meal ry Services freshman douswipes. website. ble majoring in Seifert also finance and acsaid she has employees counting, said he lives offmonitoring Internet memes campus and uses the new created by UT students to Commuter 35 plan. gauge opinions. Krendl said purchasing a “We still don’t have as much meal plan makes him feel traffic as we’d like, but we’re more comfortable because getting there,” Seifert said. “I he’s simply receiving food want feedback – I want stufor which he’s already paid. dents to help me help them.” “It’s easy,” he said. “It’s betKeith Keeler, senior majorter than spending all my ing in chemical engineering, money on groceries. I think is a commuter student who the Dining Dollars are espedoesn’t have a meal plan and cially convenient.” doesn’t want to commit to the Krendl said if he could new Commuter 35. make an improvement to the Keeler said the idea of dining system, he would having a plan has never real- make it less complicated. ly appealed to him because “You have freshmen worof the “inflexibility” of the rying about all these swipes guest swipe system. and how many of which “You paid for the plan — why can’t you decide who to See Meal plan / 8
UT students are planning a concert to raise funds for a fellow student with cancer Thursday, Oct. 4, at the Omni on Bancroft Street. Proceeds will go to last year’s Greek Man of the Year Greg Smith, who was diagnosed with desmoid sarcoma this summer and is undergoing chemotherapy. John Bitz, a Smith’s little brother in Sigma Phi Epsilon, said he and several Greek organizations have contributed to the event. “Everyone has put aside differences to help Greg,” Bitz, a senior double majoring in marketing and public relations, said. “When I first started doing this in July, I knew this would be a lot of work, but I’m not doing it alone — I’ve got a lot of help.” Contributors to the event include fraternities Sigma Phi Epsilon, Pi Kappa Alpha, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Alpha Sigma Phi, Kappa Delta Rho, Pi Kappa Phi and Pi Sigma Epsilon, as well as sororities Alpha Omicron Pi, Delta Delta Delta and Kappa Delta. Bitz said the concert will feature West Coast rap artist Kid Ink and several local openers, including The Dream Team, Skylights and Lucas Neitl. “We get to introduce him to an audience he’s never been in front of, and he’s giving us a performance at a lower price than most of the other artists quoted us at,” Bitz said. The concert is open to all ages and Oliver’s Pizzeria will provide food. Doors open at 8 p.m. and pre-ordered tickets are $15 for general admission and $35 for VIP access. Tickets will also be sold at the door, and a donation bucket will be available as well. A college-themed after-party, featuring games like water pong and cornhole, will begin following the concert for attendees 18 and older.