YOUR AD THE INDEPENDENT BELONGS HERE Wednesday, January 31, 2018
99th year • Issue 18
COLLEGIAN www.IndependentCollegian.com
Serving the University of Toledo community since 1919
INSIDE
INFRASTRUCTURE
Opinion Editor
Hope fuels the search for a cure for cancer COMMUNITY / 6 »
Toledo secures first place in MAC West
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SPORTS / 5 »
“For me, dating around was not about finding a soul mate. That’s like looking for a unicorn: You’re pretty much just seeking disappointment.”
MORGAN KOVACS Dating for yourself, not to find ‘the one’ OPINION / 3 »
Feeding our starving children
Engineering campus awaits renovation By Jessica Harker
For the past eight years, the University of Toledo has been actively constructing and maintaining the College of Engineering campus, according to Jason Toth, associate vice president for facilities and construction. However, in the next five to six years, Toth stated that if funding goes through, the engineering campus can expect an extensive amount of construction. Currently, the state of Palmer Hall is described by Toth as being “rundown.” Students have mentioned issues such as damaged ceiling tiles, water stains and other problems that occur regularly in the building. One such student is Brent Biernacki, a fourth-year mechanical engineering major who is currently on co-op but has previously had classes in Palmer Hall. “It has part of the roof that leaks a lot,” Biernacki said. “It’s not always the most comfortable
Photos by Meagan O’Hara
to sit in because the thermostat isn’t always adjusted. I know people always complain that it’s too hot in the summer.” Biernacki continued that none of the issues impeded his ability to learn, however, including having never experienced issues with technology in any class. Toth said that work order numbers are low for engineering. Only 732 work orders out of the 13,979 total for main campus occurred on the engineering campus for this academic year. “I encourage all of our students, faculty and staff to make us aware,” Toth said. “We aren’t saying that we can immediately fix it, but make us aware and notify us of issues.” He added that without a work order, Plant Operations has no ideas about issues that may be occurring. Toth said that the university launched a new program in August 2017 called SchoolDude to handle maintenance requests. See Palmer / 4 »
ADMINISTRATION
New dean hired for College of Education
The Klar Leadership Academy of the University of Toledo partnered with Feed My Starving Children to host an event of the same name Jan 27-18 in the Health Education Building. (TOP) First-year political science major Alexis Alearadi (center) packs boxes filled with food. (RIGHT) Megan Hanna helps to fill bags of ‘nutritious meal formulas’. (BOTTOM) Sharon Chandler, a community member, scoops food into funnels that fill bags with meal.
By Olivia Rodriguez Staff Reporter
Raymond Witte, current professor and chair of the Department of Education Psychology at Miami University, was announced as the new dean of education at the University of Toledo. He will begin July 1. “Dr. Witte is an experienced administrator, having served as department chair and associate dean,” said Andrew Hsu, provost and executive vice president for academic affairs. “He is not only an accomplished scholar as a university professor, he had many years of experience working for public schools before joining academia.” As the new dean, Witte said he wants to be more connected with students to help prepare them for their future careers. He will be coming to UT for meetings once a month starting in February, but he hopes to hold
RAYMOND WITTE Incoming Dean of Education
one-on-one meetings and small informal groups such as coffee with the dean, open Friday gatherings or student organization meetings to make students feel more comfortable in a college environment, he said. “I appreciate that he is experienced in education and that he See Witte / 4 »
IMPROVEMENT
Counting on a good time
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COMMUNITY / 6 »
“To follow the law, if UT was to face the possible deportation of a student, faculty, staff or community member, it would have to step aside.”
EDITORIAL The attack on immigrants
OPINION / 3 »
sales@independentcollegian.com 419.530.7788
SEXUAL ABUSE
Bancroft construction to be completed in 2018 By Bryce Buyakie News Editor
Students at the University of Toledo can expect longer commutes, traffic delays and lane restrictions on Bancroft Street as the city’s construction project goes into its final phase this spring. The roughly $9 million project is part of Toledo’s master plan to repair and
improve the city’s infrastructure, said Karl Huss, senior professional engineer for the City of Toledo. Phase one of the Bancroft project began last fall by replacing a 30-inch by 72-inch storm sewer pipe to improve the area’s drainage system and to prevent the Ottawa River from flooding into Old See Repair / 4 »
NIC ANTAYA / THE STATE NEWS, MSU
Larry Nassar enters the courtroom before being sentenced Jan. 24 to 40-175 years in prison.
UT responds to Nassar sentencing By Ben Morse
Associate News Editor
BRYCE BUYAKIE / IC
Vehicles advance on Bancroft Street in front of the University of Toledo. Repairs that began last fall were halted during the winter, leaving the road in rough condition.
A local gymnast joined more than 150 of her peers in directly confronting Larry Nassar, former USA Gymnastics and Michigan State University sports medicine doctor, who sexually abused them under the guise of medical treatment. At his sentencing hearing, Isabelle Hutchins, a 2016 graduate of Rossford High School and current UT student, looked her abuser in the eye and, like so many others, addressed the perpetrator she had once idolized. According to Hutchins’ testimony, Nassar overlooked her broken leg while he molested her in the basement of his home. “I have sleepless nights, especially recently because of this See Trial / 4 »
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| The Independent Collegian | Wednesday, January 31, 2018
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The Independent Collegian Staff Visit us at Carlson Library, Suite 1057 Write to us at 2801 W. Bancroft St., Mail Stop 530 Toledo, OH 43606 EDITORIAL Editor-in-Chief Emily Schnipke Managing Editor Emily Jackson News Bryce Buyakie, editor Samantha Gerlach, assoc. editor Benjamin Morse, assoc. editor Sports Sam Williams, editor Jackson Rogers, assoc. editor
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Students attend an information session Jan. 30 for Alpha Phi Omega, a service fraternity at the University of Toledo, in the Student Union. The spring semester at UT brings opportunities for students to rush Greek organizations on campus, including social, service and professional fraternities and sororities.
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OPINION Send letters to the editor to Editor@independentcollegian.com
EDITORIAL BOARD
Bryce Buyakie Emily Schnipke
Jessica Harker Areeba Shah
Emily Jackson Sam Williams
Editorials appearing on this page represent the consensus view of the editorial staff. Columns and letters to the editor reflect the opinions of their authors, not those of The Independent Collegian.
EDITORIAL
The attack on immigrants
Jorge has lived in the United States for 30 years. He has a wife, a family and a steady job. He was brought here illegally at 10 years old and applied for a green card over 10 years ago but did not receive it. Though he attempted to live in this country legally and is married to an American citizen, he has not yet been able to fully navigate the lengthy process to legal citizenship. Yesterday, he was deported. This is the true story of Jorge Garcia of Lincoln Park, Mich., as reported by the New York Times. While his story is sad and hits close to home due to his proximity to us here at the university, his story is not unique. In the past year, under the Trump administration, immigration numbers from all countries have gone up, according to NPR. What makes this interesting is twofold: President Donald Trump has increased immigration in countries that, historically, have had very low levels of deportation, and a high number of cases have been in the works for many years but are just now being pushed to deportation. Haiti is the most notable country whose immigration spiked. In 2016, 300 Haitians were deported, but that number jumped to more than 5,500 last year, according to NPR. Secondly, cases like Garcia’s are becoming much more common. It has been common practice in Immigration and Customs Enforcement to practice discretion in cases to avoid prosecuting and deporting citizens when it is clear that they are working toward legal citizenship. The actions of ICE under Trump and the spike in numbers shows a clear change in policy for this administration. Simply put, this means that anyone in the United States who was brought here as a child, who does what they are supposed to and attempts to navigate the unnecessarily difficult task of becoming a citizen, is still at risk. They can be deported back to a country that they have no memory of, let alone ability to live in, and leave behind their whole lives. That means anyone: your next-door neighbor, the guy who owns the grocery store, your best friend’s dad or even a member of your own family. And they are being deported
in higher numbers than ever before. Does that piss you off? Because it pisses us off. That doesn’t mean we’re angry, or think it’s unjust, but we find this atrocity so extensive that it literally just pisses us off. But what can we do? What can any of us do? Vote. We at the University of Toledo are lucky to have a college president who openly supports immigrants, DACA recipients and is outspoken about her intention to protect all UT students. However, Willie McKether, VP of diversity and inclusion, said it best in a previous IC article: “We need to obey the law, but we also stand by our students. We need to be flexible enough as an institution to pivot and make adjustments as necessary because we understand the commitment we have.” The federal government still has jurisdiction over states when it comes to immigration, and the University of Toledo is a public institution, making all documents public record. To follow the law, if UT was to face the possible deportation of a student, faculty, staff or community member, it would have to step aside. In a recent interview with The Independent Collegian, President Gaber said she was recently in Washington, D.C. meeting with Ohio senators. She spoke with them and said, “Dreamers are important to us, and we want them to be able continue their education here and we want your support with that.” She said that the delegation seemed supportive, but “the question is, in the scheme of national politics, where that falls out.” The only way to battle this issue it to vote. Vote for representatives on both the local and national levels who have made clear their commitment to protecting everyone in this country. It’s the only way we can come together as a nation to say enough is enough. If you choose not to vote and forfeit your right and power, we genuinely want to know why. Let us know by commenting on our website or Facebook or Twitter.
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Wednesday, January 31, 2018 | The Independent Collegian |
www.IndependentCollegian.com COMMENTARY
Dating for yourself, not to find ‘the one’
Some people luck out: They meet the person they want to spend forever with on their first try, and, despite the odds, it works. However, it is impossible to have it all, and they then miss out on the bizarre joys of dating around. By that I mean going out on dates with several different people simultaneously instead of committing to one person right away. As I find myself now in the foreign position of being in an actual, steady relationship, I cannot help but be reflective of my past, long singlehood. Looking back, one prominent aspect stands out: People in long-term relationships often assume that to be single is to be unhappy, especially single girls. I’m here to clear up that misconception. Several of my family members fall into the elite group of people who met their spouse before they turned 20, naturally making me the odd one. Take my dear mother for example, who started dating my father when she was 16. Every time I came home from a date, she would look at me with hopeful eyes and I would shrug in response, “It was fine.”
MORGAN KOVACS IC COLUMNIST
To which she gave an exasperated sigh, reminding me that sometimes it takes a few dates before knowing if you like someone. Here is the thing that she and every other relationship-obsessed person living vicariously through my strange and often depressing dating life did not understand: I was not dating with any real intentions of finding “the one.” Trust me. I went on enough terrible dates, leaving me rather doubtful in the men of my generation. I had to change my mindset. When I started treating dating around to get to know
myself rather than as a mission to fall in love, it became a lot more enjoyable. Before any date, I decided that I’m not looking for “forever.” I’m having fun. For me, dating around was not about finding a soul mate. That’s like looking for a unicorn: You’re pretty much just seeking disappointment. And seeking disappointment might qualify you as a masochist. While dating, I found myself across from 21st-century hippies, the boring and moneyobsessed, liberals, conservatives, misogynists, undergrads, postgraduates, real-job holders and, yes, some of them were great guys. Others were equally terrible making me quite familiar with my iPhone’s “block-number” feature. There were weeks I went on three dates and my friends would look at me perplexed at the fact that I said “yes” to almost any guy. Unless he gave off a serial killer vibe, I was going on that date, and if it went poorly, well, hey: The melancholic truth of being a writer is that the most awful experiences make the best material.
Besides, how would I have known what I wanted in a person if I only said yes to my “type”? Clearly, my type was not working and I would have missed out a on a lot of experiences. Through dating guys completely wrong for me and some who probably could have been right at a different time, I learned a lot about myself. I found what I like and don’t like, made friends, improved my communication skills and, best of all, gained a lot of confidence. I also found my faith in men restored when they sometimes said something really simple, but astounding. Like the guy who told me that sometimes girls overlook the good guys. Yeah, yeah. I already knew that, but it made something click. While he was not my “good guy,” it pushed me toward the right one. At the least, the right one for right now. What I have now could fall apart next month — even though I hope not — but I know if I find myself back on the dating scene, it won’t be the end of the world. Morgan Kovacs is a fourthyear English major.
COMMENTARY
What even matters anymore? I’m constantly tuned into social media: following the news cycle, watching videos of cake frosting, cringing at the latest memes and oohing over pictures of friends’ babies. While I do admit that I have an addiction with social media, I had originally decided that this compulsion to be “in the know” 24/7 isn’t a bad thing. I’ve changed my mind. 2017 was a good year for me personally. I reached some new goals, became more comfortable with myself and continued treating myself to happy things. I’d say it was my best year yet. However, 2017 was a disaster on the national level. We all know what the major headlines were, we lived through them. Still, people continue to ignore the warning signs leading to major catastrophe. This year has barely begun yet it’s shaping up to be even more cringeworthy than before. It was only hours into 2018 when a former Vine “star” uploaded a video in a sacred Japanese forest which showed the body of a person who committed suicide. Despite that atrocity occurring less than a month ago, people have already forgotten it because of the next big news story. I could list hundreds of headlines, both national and international, that have
EMILY SCHNIPKE
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
captivated our attention by sheer absurdity. “Saturday Night Live” is one of the only groups who seems to thrive in these conditions, using the material that the world seems to be writing just for them. Recently, Jessica Chastain hosted the show and it ran a skit in which she hosted a game show called, “What even matters anymore?” Sometimes I feel like Chastain’s character, who took a swig out a wine bottle after posing a question mid-skit. I check my news apps’ push notifications, only to find they all show the same dire news
stories. Every hour, there is a new top story that only grows in insanity as the weeks go on. If I took a drink every time I saw a negative headline describing United States politics, I’d be drunk all the time. I’m tempted to ask myself at least once a day. “Really… what even matters anymore?” It feels great when my phone dies and I leave it in my room. I walk into the kitchen, pour myself a healthy glass of water, grab the popcorn and watch Antiques Roadshow. Nothing can ruin Antiques Roadshow. For just one hour, I don’t hear how Russia is throwing LGBT+ people in prison or how Flint still doesn’t have clean water or how the Doomsday Clock moved closer to midnight. What is going on in the world is extremely important to me to know and understand, both as a US citizen and as a journalist. But the more often I see what’s happening, the more I want crawl into a hobbit hole and stay there. What even matters anymore? It’s getting harder and harder each day to decide what is important. At home, I know that
spending time during the evening talking about my day with my aunt and uncle is crucial to my mental health. The healthiness and happiness of my dogs. Reading poetry and finishing my homework assignments. Planning vacations with my mom and sisters. Happiness still matters, especially to me. At the IC, we don’t cover national news unless it pertains directly to University of Toledo students, which is great for my sanity. I interview people about their passion projects, achievements and lessons learned. We do cover the negatives as well as the positives, but I like to balance my news. If we only focus on the bad, good will never happen. Let’s hear the stories of those saved from the disasters in Montecito, a new test that could show cancer earlier on and, of course, the animals adopted from the Lucas County Humane Society. People and their lives are what matter, so let’s try to make our world better. Emily Schnipke is a fourthyear communication major with a minor in English.
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| The Independent Collegian | Wednesday, January 31, 2018
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IN BRIEF
Faculty Senate holds student crisis training
The University of Toledo Faculty Senate will hold training for graduate assistants and faculty members centered around identifying students in crisis and detecting mental health concerns. Amy Thompson, faculty senate president and professor of public health, scheduled the training in response to the lack of awareness surrounding teen dating violence. There will be three training sessions offered Feb. 1 in Health and Human Services Building Room 1711 on the Main Campus from 9 to 10 a.m., 10 to 11 a.m. and noon to 1 p.m. Training also will be held Feb. 15, from 10 to 11 a.m. in Collier Building Room 1200 on Health Science Campus.
UT Alumna to discuss Domestic and Foreign Policy University of Toledo alum turned foreign policy analyst based in Washington, D.C., Shamila Chaudhary will deliver a lecture titled “The Meaning of America, at Home and Abroad” Feb. 8, at 6 p.m. in Doermann Theatre as part of the second of this year’s Jesup Scott Honors College Distinguished Lecture series. Currently, Chaudhary is a senior adviser to the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies in Washington D.C.
The College of Business and Innovation offers free workshop The College of Business and Innovation at University of Toledo is offering one free workshop Mon. Feb. 5 from noon to 1 p.m. in Savage and Associates Business Complex room 3100.
Palmer
from page 1
The program even has an app that you can download that allows you to make requests and to include photos of the issue from your phone, according to Toth. “Renovation of the space is not envisioned because of the fact that we would be investing capital that would be demolished in the end,” Toth said. “We are making sure we are taking care of safety issues and building envelope issues.” Toth said that continued maintenance on Palmer will occur until the planned demolition of the building, which he estimates won’t begin for another five to six years. The construction is part of the 10-year master plan approved by the UT Board of Trustees in February 2017. For the engineering campus specifically, the plan will have three parts. The master plan outlines an extension to a public pathway going from the
UT study shows high schools lack teen dating violence protocols By Samantha Gerlach Associate News Editor
“Teen dating violence is a growing public health concern, and there really hasn’t been a ton of research on how extensive it is and specifically what resources are there at the school level to help students,” said Amy Thompson, a professor of public health at the University of Toledo. Thompson said that UT’s Department of Public Health began researching teen dating violence to help school administrators more effectively prevent it. In December 2017, Thompson and colleagues around the country wrote an article for Mary Ann Liebert Inc. publishers titled, “Preventing and Responding to Teen Dating Violence: A National Study of School Principals’ Perspectives and Practices,” to study the availability of training and resources at schools. The study found that, out of a randomly surveyed sample of 405 high school principals, 68 percent never received formal training on teen dating violence, and 76 percent of their schools didn’t have a protocol to respond to an incident of teen dating violence. According to the article, the most common way for a principal to assist a victim of teen dating violence is to refer the student to the school counselor. Thompson says that school officials need to be better informed about the sources available to help students with issues of teen dating violence. “It’s overlooked, more so than obesity or drug abuse, for example, and it can affect someone’s physical south side of Bancroft to the north side of Dorr. Toth said that the pathway will also connect to a bridge the university plans to install over Douglas Road. “Currently, the students come down the grass incline, and they have worn a path and illegally cross at an unmarked crosswalk near Savage Arena,” Toth said. “So, part of the master plan is to build a bridge that would allow safe passage for students.” The second portion of the plan is to install a high base space in North Engineering that will have updated classroom spaces and technology for student use. The number of classrooms available will be less than currently held in Palmer, according to Toth, to help increase efficiency. “What the data tells us is that, not unlike many other higher education institutions, we are not very efficient users of our space,” Toth said. “So that means that we may have a classroom that is only being
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health and mental health,” Thompson said. When asked if UT officials are trained on teen dating violence, Thompson said no, but she added that the UT faculty senate is offering first-time training to UT school officials and graduate assistants Feb. 1 on how to spot a student who might be in crisis or
“I feel that schools don’t consider important issues like this one when planning their policies.” Tevin Webb Third-year Film Student
who might have some mental health concerns. Alex Burton, a third-year media communication student, said that students and faculty need to be taught about teen dating violence because kids don’t always have parents at home to differentiate between right and wrong. utilized 30 to 35 percent of the time.” Which, Toth explained, is a core reason for consolidating classes in the new space. Finally, according to Toth, once the high base space can be used, Palmer Hall will be demolished and a multidisciplinary research building will be
“We are making sure we are taking care of safety issues and building envelope issues.” jason toth Associate Vice-President for Facilities and Construction
put in its place. “It’s not an engineeringbased building, it’s a university-based building, so you can have natural science and mathematics researchers, you can have physics researchers, you can have engineering re-
Last Week’s Solutions
“I think it needs to be incorporated in the lesson plan as early as middle school,” he said. Based on Thompson’s article on the national assessment of school principals’ perspectives, current practices in schools call for greater emphasis on preventing teen dating violence. “I feel that schools don’t consider important issues like this one when planning their policies,” said Tevin Webb, a third-year film student. “I never learned anything about it.” Thompson found several UT students who didn’t know the location of the counseling center on UT’s main campus. “A lot of the time, victims are made to believe that violence afflicted on them is their fault, and it’s not,” Thompson said. “There are resources available to help them and other people just like them. We need to create the social norm that violence is not okay.” UT’s Counseling Center is in Rocket Hall, room 1810. For more information or to schedule a meeting, call 419-530-2426.
searchers in a collaborative space,” Toth said. “That has come to show that that drives greater discovery.” As far as the master plan, Biernacki said he thinks it will be a good solution to confronting student needs on the engineering campus. “I’ve only known Palmer as what it is right now; it hasn’t drastically decreased in quality in the past four years I have been there,” Biernacki said. “I mean, obviously, the sooner the better, but it isn’t groundbreaking, like you can’t learn in it.” If you see something wrong and wish to report it to maintenance, you can download the app, go to the University of Toledo Facilities and Maintenance page or call (419) 530-1000 to make a verbal report.
Witte
from page 1
cares about student lives,” said Shelby Johnston, a third-year early education major. “If he wants us to succeed, we will succeed.” While working in a K-12 environment, Witte explained how he learned a sense of understanding of broader “systems” that could affect a student’s learning, such as looking for problems and addressing them. “Making good decisions is paramount, to make good decisions you need good data and that everything we are doing makes sense and is supported by the data,” Witte said. He plans to help expand upon this data-oriented decision-making and
from page 1
image of him…his treatments cause me to wake in a panic,” Hutchins said. “You didn’t heal me. You only hurt me.” Nassar was sentenced Jan. 24 to 40-175 years in prison. Although Nassar will spend the rest of his life incarcerated, a sense of closure is missing and years of abuse that went unpunished continue to raise questions about how major athletic and academic institutions allowed predatory behavior to thrive. According to ESPN’s Outside the Lines, MSU failed to turn over documents that outlined accusations of sexual assault by Nassar to federal Title IX investigators despite another ongoing investigation by campus police. Two University of Toledo athletic department officials who have dedicated their professional lives to sports explained how they work to make sure nothing like Nassar’s abuse happens to the students they serve. Brian Lutz, associate athletic director for compliance, stressed the importance of comprehension and awareness surrounding sexual assault. He described the athletic department’s “education and training” to “student athletes in the area of Title IX, sexual assault awareness and prevention.” “We make our student athletes aware there are resources to them on our campus should something happen,” Lutz said. “We include as much information as we possibly can to make sure that they’re aware that this is an issue, we take it seriously and that we are doing what we can to look out for their safety and wellness.” Brian Jones, associate athletic director for sports
Repair
from page 1
Orchard, Huss said. The second phase will reconstruct Bancroft from Secor Road to the Ottawa River bridge. It will begin in March and is expected to end by Nov. 1, Huss said. “Right now, Columbia Gas is replacing their main gas line in anticipation of the city project that is to continue,” Doug Collins, UT’s director of grounds and transportation at UT, said. Once Columbia Gas has replaced the gas line, phase two construction will begin, he said. Lane restrictions are expected during the spring and fall semesters, but the contractor is required to maintain one lane in each direction during these times, Huss said. Not only will the street be repaved, but it will also include island medians, bike lanes, improved crossings, and upgraded signal lights, Huss said. A new bike path will go along the University Hills apartment complex, connect to Ottawa Park and tie into the new bike lanes on Bancroft, Collins said. Workers will repave University Hills Boulevard in the strengthen it. Witte’s goals are to get to know everyone at UT, to continue to promote interest in programs at UT, increase enrollment to make viable and robust programs that students will want to be a part of and help with financial obligations, Witte said. “He’ll be a new perspective in the college,” said Haley Gerlica, a third-year early education major. Witte received his Ph.D. and master’s degrees in educational psychology and bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Kentucky, according to a UT press release. “He has a passion for student success, especially those of first-generation college students,” Hsu said.
medicine, watched the trial unfold and asked himself if UT would have done anything differently. “I don’t know,” Jones said. “We think we do things the right way.” Sometimes, though, institutions and officials have a difficult time stopping abuse due to “societally ingrained issues,” Hillary Thorpe, UT’s sexual assault and domestic violence clinical counselor, said. “There is so much victim blaming that goes on.” However, with an encouraging judge and a society in the midst of a movement where saying, “Me too” doesn’t leave a victim’s reputation in tatters, this is a “welcome change…from what most survivors have experienced in the legal system,” Thorpe said. Repeated requests from The Independent Collegian for interviews with coaches and female athletes were declined by Paul Helgren, associate athletic director for communications. “We have decided to leave the coaches and studentathletes out of the interviews, in fairness to them and the sensitive nature of this topic,” Helgren wrote in an email. “We think you will get all your questions about our policies and procedures answered by Mr. Jones and Mr. Lutz.” Counselors at the Center for Student Advocacy and Wellness will advise any student who does not want to discuss sexual misconduct with their peers. “Any student who has experienced sexual assault… can receive services through our center,” Thorpe said. “I always encourage people to report if they feel comfortable doing so [because] that is the only way we are ever going to make progress.” summer and are expected to close the Bancroft, University Hills and North Towerview Drive intersection sometime between May 5 to Aug. 21 for reconstruction, Huss said. The city and UT are trying to reduce the impact on students, but Huss said this may be difficult. “I have been communicating with UT communications and UT news for updates and any closures,” Collins said. Third-year mechanical engineering student Matt Wyman is not optimistic about the spring construction. “The road was extremely bumpy, and it took way too long to fix,” he said. “It also made the buses late.” Gretchen T., a fifth-year political science major, also expressed concern about the university communicating construction updates. “It makes me nervous to be late because I don’t know when I need to take a different route or use the back roads,” Gretchen said. “They should send construction updates through the text message service [UT Alert].” Construction updates can be found in UT News press releases and articles on the MyUT homepage and in the University News daily emails.
“He has a passion for student success, especially those of firstgeneration college student.” andrew hsu Provost and Executive Vice-Presiden of Academic Affairs
“I am glad to welcome him to the University of Toledo and look forward to working with him and the college to further improve our college and our student success.”
SPORTS Follow us on Twitter @IC_Sports
Wednesday, January 31, 2018 | The Independent Collegian | WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
MEN’S BASKETBALL
MAC EAST BUFF KENT MIAO AKRN BGSU OHIO
8-0 5-3 4-4 3-5 3-5 2-6
16-5 11-10 11-10 10-10 12-9 9-11
TOL BALL WMU NILL EMU CMU
MAC WEST 7-1 4-4 4-4 3-5 3-5 2-6
15-6 13-8 12-9 10-11 12-9 13-8
BUFF OHIO MIAO KENT BGSU AKRN
MAC EAST 7-1 5-4 4-5 3-6 2-7 1-8
MAC WEST
16-3 11-9 12-8 10-11 10-10 7-13
CMU BALL EMU TOL WMU NILL
8-0 6-3 5-4 5-4 5-4 2-7
16-3 17-3 9-11 14-7 12-9 10-10
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MEN’S BASKETBALL
OPINION
Toledo secures first place in MAC West
Cleveland drops controversial logo
By Justice Sunderland Staff Reporter
The Rockets men’s basketball team extended their winning streak to seven defeating Western Michigan University 85-81 and arch rival Bowling Green State University 101-75 last week. Toledo (15-6, 6-1 MAC) now hold a three game lead in the west division. “To be honest we don’t talk about how many in a row, we talk about how to get better” said Toledo head coach Tod Kowlaczyk. Fourth-year forward Tre’Shaun Fletcher led the way against WMU with 22 points while third-year guard Jaelan Sanford added 21. First-year guard Marreon Jackson recorded a career-high fifteen points. “Seven game winning streak, that’s cool,” said Fletcher, “we still haven’t done anything yet and we still have a lot of work to do.” He was not the only player to record a career-high as Western Michigan guard Thomas Wilder scored 40 points, but it was not enough as UT shot 46 percent from the field and the three-point line by the Mid-American Conference’s best shooting team. After four early lead changes in the first half the Broncos scored seven points including two jumpers by Reggie Jones that put them ahead 17-10. The Rockets regained a two-point lead after a three by Fletcher with 8:16 left in the first half. Three pointers by Sanford and third-year forward Luke Knapke saw the lead grow to six. A tip in by the Broncos’ forward Seth Dugan tied the game at 36 with two minutes remaining in the first half. After a three by Jackson and several free throws Toledo led at halftime 43-41. Wilder tied the game with a jumper on the first possession of the second half. Jackson hit two more triples and Toledo led 51-45 with 16:41 left. A block by Knapke led to a three by Sanford that gave UT it’s largest lead of nine. But Wilder was relentless getting to
the paint and the free throw line and helped cut the lead to just three. Wilder continued his tear with back to back threes that gave Western Michigan their first lead of the second half 75-74 with 4:40 left in the game. But UT answered strong with seven straight points to go back ahead 81-75. “Were still a young team” Kowalczyk said when asked about the potential of his team. Dugan converted an and-one to cut the Broncos deficit to just one with 22 seconds left. But the midnight blue and gold took care of business at the free throw line to walk away with the four point victory. Against BGSU Fletcher put on quite a performance recording 26 points 12 rebounds and eight assists. Sanford and Knapke both added fourteen points. The offense was on MEAGAN O’HARA / IC fire again as UT shot and unbeliev- Fourth-year guard Jaelan Sanford attempts able 67 percent from the field. a shot Jan. 27 against BGSU. Toledo started slow on the offensive end an trailed 13-8 after the thought we were efficient on both ends first six minutes. They picked it up quickly tonight” Kowlaczyk said. and tied the game with a three by first-year Fletcher knocked down a three with two seconds left in the half to stretch the lead to 54-30. “Seven-game winning In the first three minutes of the second streak, that’s cool. We still half the Rockets extended the lead again haven’t done anything yet, behind seven points from third-year forward Nate Navigato. and we still have a lot of The Falcons did not come within twenty work to do.” points the rest of the game as they could not stop the high powered Toledo offense. TRE’SHAUN FLETCHER “We didn’t want to take them lightly,” Fourth-year University of Toledo Forward Fletcher said “we got off to a slow start but we made up for it in the first and second guard Dylan Alderson. half.” The Rockets used a 15-2 run to create The 26 point margin of victory was the separation mid-way through the first half. largest ever for Toledo in the 171-game Another eight straight points including history between the two teams. four by Knapke put Toledo ahead by 21 The midnight blue and gold will play with three minutes left in the half. Ball State at Savage Arena on Jan. 29. Tip“We didn’t start the game well but I off is set for 7 p.m.
MORE ONLINE
Women’s Basketball drops game to Kent State, beats Bowling Green By Jackson Rogers Associate Sports Editor
Last week, the University of Toledo women’s basketball team lost against Kent State University on Wednesday, 62-55, then won against Bowling Green State University on Saturday, 77-67. The results move the Rockets’ record to 14-7 overall and 5-4 in MidAmerican Conference play. UT v. Kent State
Against Kent State, the free throw line proved to be an important factor in the
game. Kent State converted 30-of-38 (78.9 percent) at the line, while UT shot 12of-18 (66.7 percent). “This one hurts,” UT head coach Tricia Cullop said. “It hurts because it’s at home, and it hurts because I feel like we are a lot better team than the way we played tonight. I thought Kent State outplayed us tonight, and that is something I hate to see, especially at home, but they did. We didn’t have an answer for Jordan Korinek inside. I’m kind of at a loss
for words because I want us to play a lot harder than we did tonight.” Third-year guard Mikaela Boyd led UT with 19 points and a game-high 13 boards to post her fifth doubledouble over the last seven games. Boyd also recorded a game-best five assists and tied for the game high in steals, with three. Third-year center Kaayla McIntyre contributed eight points, 10 rebounds, a game-high three blocks and also had three steals.
As a team, the Rockets were held to 31.7 percent (19-of-60) from the field, including 21.7 percent (5of-23) from beyond the arc. “When we aren’t making shots, we just need to get stops,” Boyd said. “Tonight we weren’t doing that, and that made it 10 times worse, I thought. Even if our offensive isn’t going, we just need to be able to get defensive stops because our stops lead to transition.” The Rockets started off the game slow, missing 13
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5
On Monday, the Cleveland Indians announced that in 2019 they will be removing their controversial mascot Chief Wahoo from their uniforms after 71 years of use. This choice is a long time coming, and the Indians should be commended for this decision, although it is not as comprehensive as it could be since the mascot will remain on other merchandise. However, not everyone feels the same about this issue. Arguments on one side say that the classical cartoon depiction of Chief Wahoo is a racist symbol against Native American people. On the other side, Chief Wahoo is a beloved emblem, a symbol of the history of a team and not intended to be racist but rather a fun part of the game of baseball. People are very divided on this issue, even breaking down family lines. The same is true for my family. Growing up in suburban Ohio, my family has always been huge fan of Major League Baseball. As die-hard Indians fans, we spend every season listening to the games and attending as many as possible. When I was younger, we even had a wooden cut out of Chief Wahoo throwing a baseball that we put up in our yard throughout the year. I never thought anything about the mascot of my favorite team, or “Chief Yahoo,” as I used to refer to him. I was a child, and, to me, it was just a funny character that went along with baseball. However, I was five, and had all the naiveite of that age. I agree that, personally, I still attribute that old wooden cut out with a great many summers spent at the fields with my family. However, now I see as an adult the broader social and political scale Major League Baseball plays in this country. We do not play baseball in a social bubble. While it may be nice to remember Chief Wahoo as a fun mascot, and a symbol of earlier years, that is simply not what it means in the wider context of this country. No one can argue that a big-toothed, red-faced “Indian” mascot is not racist
JESSICA HARKER
OPINION EDITOR
in and of itself. Even having a Native American as a mascot, a slot almost exclusively held by animals and inanimate objects, is racially insensitive at best. The truth is that if you believe that Chief Wahoo is not a symbol of race, then you are attempting to live in a cultural bubble. But even if you don’t believe me about this, and still firmly hold that Chief Wahoo is not racist, there is still no reason to argue against the removal of the mascot. The understanding that this issue directly impacts a section of the population from being able to fully enjoy and immerse themselves in the game of baseball is enough of a reason to change it. Baseball will always be baseball. I will always have the sport I have loved from childhood. We all will.
“While it may be nice to remember Chief Wahoo as a fun mascot, and a symbol of earlier years, that is simply not what it means in the wider context of this country.” So why would we not do everything that we can to make sure baseball is as inclusive as it can be? I am happy that the Indians put their fans before everything else and made this choice. Today, I’m a proud Tribe fan. Jessica Harker is a fourthyear communication major with a minor in women and gender studies.
6
| The Independent Collegian | Wednesday, January 31, 2018
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RESEARCH
Hope fuels the search for a cure for cancer
By Kyeisha Muhammad Staff Reporter
Three-time cancer survivor Annie Parker hopes to live long enough to witness a cure for cancer. However, she’s not alone in this endeavor of helping patients treat cancer cases and ultimately finding a cure. “That’s what we’re all hoping for,” Parker said. “That is the ultimate goal. As I’ve always said, it’s about minutes and time, and people to get more time with their families. So whatever works, whether it’s a clinical trial, chemotherapy or radiation, that gets people more time to spend with their families.” University of Toledo President Sharon Gaber and Dr. Christopher Cooper, dean of the College of Medicine and Life Sciences, joined forces with Parker Jan. 24 to host “An Evening with Annie Parker” at the Maumee Indoor Theater. Parker’s lifelong battle with cancer first appeared in the public eye when she was the first woman in Canada to test positive for the BRCA 1 gene mutation that leads to a higher risk of many breast and ovarian cancers.
“Each year, about 1.7 million Americans are diagnosed with cancer. It’s important to know we are here with you.” DR. CHRISTOPHER COOPER Dean of the College of Medicine and Life Sciences
“I don’t consider this just my story,” Parker said. “I consider it so many other people’s stories too, and I often say I wish someone had given me my book because more stories that are told and more cancer patients now don’t need to feel alone.” She added that while the diagnosis of cancer will certainly test individuals’ emotions, faith and confidence, the efforts in cancer research of the Eleanor N. Dana Cancer Center at the UT Medical Center will no longer allow patients to feel uneducated and, more importantly, alone. In order to provide more information on cancer, the event included a panel with professors and researchers from UTMC. Gaber led the opening remarks, expressing her extreme gratitude and pride that this moment finally came to fruition because she is a cancer survivor herself. “…Thank you to everyone that is here today,” Gaber said. “Thank you to everyone who was able to make this moment possible.” The event also included the short film “Decoding Annie Parker,” inspired by Parker’s story. It highlighted her triumphant journey of overcoming cancer cases and, ultimately, almost discovering the cure for cancer. Dr. Charles Brunicardi, professor of surgery at UT and academic chief of surgery at ProMedica, shared that the vision for cancer care in Northwest Ohio is finding better targeting therapy. “So, you have genomics, you then try to figure out what the targets are and then you come up with better therapies,” Brunicardi said. “We’ve now formed a group with the support of UT and the support of ProMedica, and if we can figure out how to target it,
we can prolong life for patients with cancer.” He added that cancer patients will suffer less because they will be using targeting therapy that won’t be toxic. Brunicardi said their team is very close to changing the per diems for the way they treat cancer by having targeting therapy. It will transform the way cancer is treated in Northwest Ohio and hopefully even transform cancer care all over the country Brunicardi said. Ann Kujawa, vice president of the ProMedica Cancer Institute, added that UT’s partnership with ProMedica will allow education and research to move forward as clinical trials are driving them to targeting therapy. “We are better together to help and promote our communities,” Kujawa said. “We are better together to train medical students, residents, fellows and physicians to develop a loyalty to the community.” Kujawa said that these individuals will not only study and practice here, but that they will also discover and remain here so that they can develop our communities for what they strive to be. Another professional who contributed to this discussion was Dr. William Maltese, professor and chairman of the cancer biology department and McMaster endowed chair of biochemistry and cancer biology at UT, who shared information on the types of research being conducted at UT in the field of cancer biology. Another faculty member, Dr. Kate Icemen, is currently engaged in a study using ovarian cancer tissues she acquired through the ProMedica tissue bank, Maltese said. She has discovered a new class of drugs that can block the movement of the ovarian cancer cells. Even though there are tumor cells living in these little clusters, once they encounter a normal tissue, these drugs completely paralyze the tumor cells so they cannot move out into the normal tissue. “If we can prove that this process is not toxic to normal cells, we can move toward clinical trials,” Maltese said. He hopes the phase one trials can happen in their own cancer center. The program concluded with closing remarks from Cooper, who expressed his deepest appreciation to Parker, the panelists and those who financed the program with their contributions. “Finally, to each of you who are survivors, know that you’re not alone in your journey,” Cooper said. “Each year, about 1.7 million Americans are diagnosed with cancer. It’s important to know we are here with you.”
Counting on a good time Photos by Mike Miller
University of Toledo students volunteered Saturday, Jan. 27 to help grade exams for the Toledo area MATHCOUNTS competition. Students from surrounding schools competed in the ‘mathletes’ type competition. Top students from each chapter competition advance to their State competition, which takes place in March.
JUSTICE
UT’s new major paves way for a more peacful society
“We are better together to help and promote our communities.” ANN KUJAWA Vice President of the ProMedica Cancer Institute
After the program ended, each survivor and community member went home with a paperback copy of “Annie Parker Decoded .” She urges medical professionals, cancer patient survivors and all attendees to keep asking hard questions, innovating, pushing the envelope and not to stop dreaming of a cancer cure.
PHOTO COURTESY OF PEACE AND JUSTICE PROGRAM / IC
Dr. Dale Snauwaert speaks to students in Peace and Justice 1000 in Spring 2017. By Areeba Shah & Gabrielle Huff Community Editor & Staff Reporter
t editor@ind ail us a e p e nde , em ply nt c ap o lle to g
Education often plays a role in influencing how an individual perceives the world. It is a powerful tool that can pave the way for change to take place. The new Peace Studies minor offered at the University of Toledo focuses on doing exactly that by allowing students to understand the underlying root causes of violence and conflict so they can learn how to contribute to a more just and peaceful world. “I think that at the very least [these classes] could broaden the way you think about peace from a social standpoint or a political standpoint,” fourth year English major Isabel Abu-Absi said. She added that most classes influenced her worldview and framework for seeing different conflicts and injustices. While the classes encouraged her to think more critically about the way society functions in the U.S, they also spurned a desire to pursue law school after graduation. “I think it’s interesting and you can probably find application for most different subjects because its core is about cultivating tolerance within society and yourself, and also learning how to look at, and deal with conflicts which is always useful,” Abu-Absi said. The 18 credit hour minor includes four core courses and two electives that introduce students to forms of violations of peace and justice on a local and global scale so students can grasp an in-depth understanding of peace. After completing this interdisciplinary field of study, students can apply the methods they learned to their personal, professional and civic life. “So, we are concerned about peace and justice, but also peace in academic study,” Co-Director of Peace Studies Dr. Dale Snauwaert said. “We want students
to develop an understanding, and skills that transform conflicts of violence in the world. We do think it’s very important to be a part of the university curriculum.” Through the classes, Abu-Absi said she learned about the development of peace studies as a discipline. The classes also taught her how to eradicate structural, cultural and physical violence in the world today. “People think of peace as something that is kind of an unattainable ideal and in [these classes], we think of peace as something that can be measured and something that can be isolated and studied,” Abu-Absi said. Dr. Snauwaert said the minor can work well with any major with a purpose to educate future citizens to take a peaceful perspective on a variety of social and political issues of violence, conflicts, oppression and injustice. This major also prepares students to address issues relevant to the 21st century and requires them to develop knowledge and awareness on what’s happening in the world around them. Dr. Snauwaert said the courses are valuable for anyone in any profession as the classes discuss a wide range of conflicts. The first courses of this minor were only offered a year ago, however, this is the first semester they are offering all eight courses.
“People think of peace as something that is kind of an unattainable ideal and in [these classes], we think of peace as something that can be measured and something that can be isolated and studied.” ISABEL ABU-ABSI Fourth-Year English Major
m .co ian