Issue 29 (4-12-17)

Wednesday, April 12, 2017

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98th year • Issue 29

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AFFAIRS

The State of the University Gaber gives first address

By Bryce Buyakie Associate News Editor

University of Toledo President Sharon Gaber gave her first State of the University Address Wednesday April 5, outlining the school’s academic and athletic accomplishments, financial challenges and its plans for the future.

During the address, Gaber said she was initially faced with a multimillion-dollar shortfall and a university that had lost its footing; to address these problems, she established five goals that included raising UT’s national reputation, increasing fundraising, externally funded research and enrollment.

“The changes we’re making together are meant to help ensure the long-term sustain-

SAVANNAH JOSLIN / IC

UT President Sharon Gaber speaks about the state of the university April 5.

Communication Workers of America protest negotiations

ability of this university, and that means putting the needs of our students first,” Gaber said in her address. “Strengthening our foundation meant establishing goals and developing plans that focused on our students.”

Gaber said the university has increased enrollment by 2.2 percent and retention by 3 percent within Gaber’s first year. Alumni donations have doubled from less than 3 percent two years ago and total fundraising has increased by 69 percent, totaling more than $17.2 million.

To address the financial shortfall, Gaber said a combination of spending reductions, new revenue and cost avoidance has allowed the university to reach $50 million in savings.

“This stemmed from realigning our executive team, merging 16 colleges into 13, implementing a hiring freeze, instituting temporary holds on open positions and identifying numerous other ways to reduce our expenditures or generate revenue,” Gaber said.

Even though UT is in a better financial position now than it was one year ago, the university still faces serious economic challenges between tuition freezes and a state bill that would require public universities to help cover textbook costs over $300, which would cost UT nearly $14 million, Gaber said.

“The reality is that when we receive less financial support from the state, we need to find innovative ways to move forward to continue providing the same high-quality education that our students deserve — with less money,” said Gaber. “Based on feedback from faculty, staff and our students, we’re already making changes to help with expense management.”

Gaber did not go into detail about these expense changes, but she did say that further

By Jessica Harker Managing Editor

On April 5, the Communication Workers of America held a protest at the University of Toledo concerning contract negotiations that have been ongoing since November 2016.

The protest, which was held outside of the Lancelot Thompson Student Union, was motivated, according to the President of CWA 3319 Bob Hull, by the fact that communication workers have been without a contract since December 31, 2016. Negotiations have reached a standstill.

“I don’t think that it’s fair that the leadership of this university gets to hide when the workers of this university are out here fighting for fair pay, fair benefits and fair treatments at this university,” said Nolan Rosenkranz during the protest.

The protest occurred at the same time as President Sharon Gaber’s State of the University address. The University of Toledo responded to the protest in a statement.

“Negotiations are ongoing with the CWA, and we look forward to having a new contract in place soon. We respect the CWA employees and their right to demonstrate,” said Christine Billau, UT media relations specialist.

See Address / 4 »

One of the main issues discussed during the protest is the existence of a third party to negotiate the contract between the university and CWA. Another issue is the recent administrative raises, according to Hull.

“We believe that the University of Toledo needs to come to the table and bargain in good faith and we don’t believe they are doing that,” Hull SAVANNAH JOSLIN / IC said.

Ramon Deanda holds a protest sign April 5 Hull contin- outside the Lancelot Thompson Student Union. ued that the lar university,” Hull said. “For group’s main concern is that them to hire an anti-union this is the first time the univerattorney from a far-off city of sity has brought in an out-ofCleveland shows disrespect.” city third-party negotiator in According to Angie Craw30 years. Hull also expressed ford, a custodial worker at UT, concerns that the firm itself is a key example of problematic anti-union. administrative raises that con“This is a labor-intensive community; this is a blue-colSee Protest / 4 »

ELECTION

RECOGNITION

SG Candidates debate to win

UT professor selected as finalist for national teaching award

By Morgan Kovacs News Editor

Last week, the student body presidential candidates debated wideranging topics, including communication, mandating midterm grades and Title IX policies.

Each candidate stressed the importance put on reaching out to the student body to hear its ideas and concerns.

“Our platform is ‘Your UT’ because your experience at this university matters,” said Cameron Forsythe, a secondyear mechanical engineer major. “We want your voice to be heard, and we would like to be your representatives in the year going forward.”

Jared Enoch, a fifth-year double major in mechanical engineering and political science, stated that communication goes further than just talking to students; it’s also informing them of SG’s actions.

“We plan to include more student voices, not only in the decisions we are making but also in what Student Government is doing,” Enoch said.

Jimmy Russell, a second-year political science major, said he offers any student to “take a walk” with him in order to hear students’ concerns. He also said that in order for communication to improve, transparency must as well, with Russell promising to post weekly updates.

Each candidate agreed that there should be a mandate requiring professors to post midterm grades.

However, the question arose about how these candidates would realistically mandate professors to post grades,

when many professors do not even use Blackboard as their primary mode of communication.

“This is something I am passionate about,” Enoch said. “One of the concerns was that professors didn’t know how to use the system, so I think that is something we need to look at, making sure professors know how to use these things.”

Enoch added that working with the provost would help implement this change.

Russell argued that the best way to tackle this issue is on a department-bydepartment basis instead of starting from the top of administration.

Forsythe said that this is an issue he is currently working on. He said he has submitted a proposal to senate faculty stating that midterm grades need to be posted somehow, whether on Blackboard or on another platform for the time being.

Since October, there have been four reported sexual assaults within the UT community. Sexual assault and harassment is another issue the candidates took a stance on.

Forsythe believes that students need to know the resources available to them.

He said that he is currently working on make Title IX access and resources available through Blackboard.

“That way when you log in, the resources will be there,” Forsythe said.

“Admittedly, you’ll probably ignore them most of the time, but when you need

See Debate / 4 »

“

By Benjamin Morse Staff Reporter

JARED ENOCH

CAMERON FORSYTHE

JAMES RUSSELL

Distinguished University Professor Clinton Longenecker has been selected as one of three finalists for Baylor University’s 2018 Robert Foster Cherry Award for Great Teaching.

Longenecker, as well as working as a professor at the University of Toledo, is also the director of the Center for Leadership and Organizational Excellence in the College of Business and Innovation.

“I have never lifted myself up or tried to secure these awards. Other people have done it for me,” Longenecker said.

“The question is, ‘Why do people do that?’ And I think the answer is because I have made my mission to help other people. This has translated into some very cool things for me.”

The two other finalists include Associate Professor of Biology at Georgetown Heidi Elmendorf and Professor of Chemistry at UCLA Neil Garg.

As stated on Baylor’s website, individuals nominated for the award should have a proven record as an extraordinary teacher with a positive, inspiring and long-lasting effect on students, along with a record of distinguished scholarship.

INSIDE

“But I’m ashamed because I spent a lot of time wishing I was back in Toledo and right back to the 30-mile box I had trapped myself in.”

Toledo women’s track beats BGSU for first time since 2000 SPORTS / 6 »

MORGAN RINCKEY “The heart is where my home is” OPINION / 3 »

“It is inspirational to learn about each nominee’s accomplishments and dedication to great teaching,” said Michele Thompson, Baylor’s Cherry Committee chair and associate dean for undergraduate programs in Baylor’s school of engineering and computer science.

With a lengthy curriculum vitae, including the publishing of more than 190 articles and papers in academic and professional journals, several best-selling books and a spot on The Economist’s 2013 “Top 15 Business Professors in the World,” Longenecker meets Baylor’s credentials.

In an interview with UT Media Relations Specialist Christine Billau, UT President Sharon Gaber recognized Longenecker’s deservance.

“Dr. Longenecker is a UT alumnus who makes a difference every day for his students as an effective and passionate classroom leader,” Gaber said.

“This is a well-deserved honor, and we wish him luck through the Cherry Award experience.”

According to a news release, as Cherry Award finalists, each professor will receive $15,000, as well as $10,000

“

See Award / 4 »

“I think that sloppiness was inexcusable of a group whose leadership may one day become the leaders of our society.”

Quenching the thirst COMMUNITY / 5 »

PHILEMON ABAYATEYE

“Good lessons from Phoenicia’s fiasco”

OPINION / 3 »

2

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Malachi Moyer Third-year Exercise Science

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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 Contact the editor at editor@independentcollegian.com Advertise by emailing sales@independentcollegian.com Phone: 419-530-7788 Fax: 419-530-7770 EDITORIAL Editor-in-Chief Emily Schnipke Managing Editor Jessica Harker News Morgan Kovacs, editor Bryce Buyakie, assoc. editor Sports Sam Williams, editor Jackson Rogers, assoc. editor Community Emily Jackson, editor Areeba Shah, assoc. editor

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OPINION Send letters to the editor to Editor@independentcollegian.com

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EDITORIAL BOARD

Jessica Harker Emily Schnipke

Morgan Kovacs Sam Williams

Philemon Abayateye Emily Jackson

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.

OPINION

“The Internationalist” — a review

EVAN SENNETT IC COLUMNIST

I frequently walked in on Professor Caitlyn Tella conducting rehearsals for “The Internationalist.” Other times I have intruded on her instructing a small but eccentric group of theatre students on the subtleties of improvisation. I am usually trying to quietly pass through, so as not to interrupt their strange dances, conversations and screams, to make my way up to the film projection booth, which is located inside their rehearsal space.

As I shut the door behind me to resume my endeavors with celluloid, I always pause and reflect on the absurdities bellow.

Needless to say, when it finally came time for Tella’s directorial debut here at the University of Toledo, my curiosity was in desperate need of quenching.

Perhaps it was appropriate for Tella to adapt one of Anne Washburn’s plays.

Her work is always fresh, contemporary and blurs the conventional borderlines of theatre.

Needless to say, when it finally came time for Tella’s directorial debut here at the University of Toledo, my curiosity was in desperate need of quenching.

The 2012 satire of modern American culture and communication, “Mr. Burns: A Post-Electric Play” tackles the simple but frightening concept of what would happen if electricity vanished from America overnight.

Episodes of “The Simpsons” would become objects of folklore and the popular music of Lady Gaga would morph into historical hymns. When it comes to Washburn, audiences rest in an uncomfortable silence during intermissions; they are forced to consider themselves and their habits. Or at least that was my experience with “Mr. Burns” when I saw it in Louisville a few years ago.

An earlier Washburn play, “The Internationalist” (2004) has just been wrapped by the University of Toledo’s Department of Theatre and Film.

This work takes place in an unnamed foreign country, where everything is just slightly different from America. A businessman from the U.S. is sent abroad to work in an ambiguous office building for an equally ambigu-

ous reason. If it was to be anything like “Mr. Burns,” I knew I would not be in for the typical narrative, not to mention Tella’s knack for evoking a haunting atmosphere every time I invade her rehearsal space.

When I sat down to watch the play, I casually noticed the preshow music. It was an instrumental, maybe a cello or a viola, bowing a familiar tune. It sounded classical, but it was Hendrix — “Purple Haze” to be precise. Like with “Burns,” the theatre space was already adapting the modern, pop culture into a translated form. This created a subconscious tone that was disconnected from the familiar.

I knew I would not be in for the typical narrative, not to mention Tella’s knack for evoking a haunting atmosphere every time I invade her rehearsal space.

Stephen Caldwell and Stephen Sakowski should be given partial credit for evoking the eerie tone through their strong sound and lighting design. Tella directed many pregnant pauses within her show which were filled by ambient sounds and a “foreign” lighting pattern, as Tella notes in her director’s statement.

I find it effective when plays and films are bold enough to trust moments of silence. Washburn wrote clever dialogue, delivered sharply by leads Victoria Zajac and Carter Makiewicz. Much of that dialogue is even written in a fauxforeign language, but the cast was able to make it flow naturally.

Tella’s atmospheric direction melded perfectly with Washburn’s familiar yet otherworldly text. She had the insight not to place all her emphasis on the words from the page and instead force her audience to consider blank stares from her actors.

Tella has a way of abandoning me in a sea of raw human instinct. The pauses sent me back to my disorienting, awkward moments of interruption where my words had no power and my body language meant everything.

Evan Sennett is a secondyear studying film and English literature, and he is also an IC cartoonist.

The pauses sent me back to my disorienting, awkward moments of interruption where my words had no power and my body language meant everything.

OPINION

The heart is where my home is I used to live in a 30-mile box. I rarely went north of Dundee or south of Maumee, and Sylvania is about as far west as I’ve driven on my own. Until last September, the world could have dropped off at the edge of Stickney Avenue, and I would never have known. I didn’t realize how closed off from the rest of the world I had been until I left.

I went to study abroad in Reading, England last September. It was exciting; it was my first time out of the country and my longest time away from home. I saw things that people spend their whole lives wishing they could see. I drank a pint in Ireland. I learned the definition of frescoes by witnessing the whisper of air between God and Adam’s fingers. I made a wish as I tossed a coin over my shoulder into the Trevi Fountain.

But I’m ashamed because I spent a lot of time wishing I was back in Toledo and right back to the 30-mile box I had trapped myself in. I even considered changing my ticket to come home earlier than I first decided.

I was living a dream, so who was I to feel sad? It didn’t make any sense to me. I was in the UK where my literary heroes wrote. I was in Bath, where Jane Austen lived and set two of her novels. I saw a plaster

Glass City where my friends were continuing our weekly trivia game without me. Where my pregnant sister was and where my niece was eventually born. Where my dad was home alone, probably eating too much takeout. My heart was in Toledo.

I felt like I was missing out on so much by being away.

But I was also missing out on seeing the world by trapping myself in yet another tiny box.

I never ate my lunch in the cafeteria; I always brought it back to my room. I spent my evenings watching British Netflix by myself in my tiny dorm room. I made five new friends and called it quits after that. I was having fun, but my heart wasn’t in it.

A typical passenger airplane moves about 567 miles per hour, but a heart is much smaller and can’t fly, so it takes longer to catch up. It took awhile, but my heart gradually returned to me. Like a bottle tossed into Lake Erie, my heart eventually rode ashore.

My friends and family weren’t going to move on without me; they would all be there when I got back. There’s nothing that should stop me from doing the things I want to do. My heart was back, and I was willing to do new things.

I was running out of time to go places. I took day trips

MORGAN RINCKEY IC COLUMNIST

cast of Robert Burns’ skull. I was living in the town where Oscar Wilde went to prison (which is sad and terrible, but insane at the same time).

I felt ridiculous at the time for wishing to be back in Toledo, but Toledo was where my heart was. My heart was in the

But I’m ashamed because I spent a lot of time wishing I was back in Toledo and right back to the 30mile box I had trapped myself in.

A typical passenger airplane moves about 567 miles per hour, but a heart is much smaller and can’t fly, so it takes longer to catch up. It took a while, but my heart gradually returned to me. by myself when I wasn’t in class to make up for the time I had lost. I flew to Edinburgh on a whim after a class on a Tuesday, and I flew back Wednesday night to be in class on Thursday. I rode a train by myself to Liverpool to stalk the Beatles.

I chugged a butterbeer in London at the Harry Potter studio tour. It was amazing.

I’ve seen parts of the world, and now I want to see more. I need to see more. I’m no longer trapped in a 30-mile box.

No, my heart destroyed that box as it made its way back to me. Now, wherever I am, my heart is too.

Morgan Rinckey is a fourthyear English and communication double major.

OPINION

Good lessons from Phoenicia’s fiasco

Twenty-three years. That’s how long Phoenicia Cuisine’s doors have been open on the University of Toledo campus. That’s also how long the restaurant provided alternative dining that nourished the bellies of different generations of UT’s campus community.

Given that I’ve only patronized the cuisine a few times in my four-odd years on campus, I’m probably the least qualified to write an ode to Phoenicia. Yet, I was worried when Student Government announced that the UT administration was forcing our beloved restaurant to fold up next year. I tried in my mind to figure out what reasons the administration would proffer to justify this decision. At least by this point, I still believed the truism in that story.

For those who didn’t know, the story sounded like this: Ed Barakat, Phoenicia’s owner, approached Student Government and told them that discussions with UT’s administration suggested that he might have to give up his dining space to Aramark. He did not ask them to take any action — only to weigh in on students’ interest on the issue.

But the student body did more than that. They asked students to show their support for their beloved cuisine by tweeting at the administration. Well, students did. They also showed up in huge numbers to dine, of course at discounted rates, at the restaurant.

Soon, the administration noticed and responded.

Basically, they disparaged the story as baseless and illinformed. Many agreed it was an embarrassing moment for Student Government. I think that sloppiness was inexcusable of a group whose leadership may one day become the

posted on Facebook and had informal discussions in classrooms, the library and just about everywhere else.

For me, this was a victory for community action. It provides a reassuring satisfaction of what the future of our societies are going to be. After all, campus is a microcosm of society.

On a different level, the situation reemphasized our administration’s commitment to listening to students’ opinions and putting that into what they do. President Gaber’s reaction is a case in point. She said, “UT has enjoyed a long relationship with Ed and Sam Barakat of Phoenicia. We have no plans for Phoenicia to leave UT or to end our relationship.”

PHILEMON ABAYATEYE OPINION EDITOR

leaders of our society.

Beyond this embarrassment, however, I see many positive outcomes from the situation that we must embrace and celebrate.

The first beautiful thing about the situation is that it affirmed our community’s commitment to the importance of collective public action. Cast your minds back to the Boston Tea Party demonstration, the Boston Massacre, the civil rights movements and a host of others. What you realize is that collective action plays a crucial role in reforming society, in transforming it into something more desirable.

Cesar Chavez once said, “We cannot seek achievement for ourselves and forget about progress and prosperity for our community... Our ambitions must be broad enough to include the aspirations and needs of others, for their sakes and for our own.”

Without doubt, as students, our first commitment is to our studies. We want to excel in this, but we also want to do good by our community. In the heat of the moment, students showed up in great numbers to support what they thought was an important element of their society. They tweeted,

I see many positive outcomes from the situation that we must embrace and celebrate.

As we would eventually find out, the university was considering many options to increase the number of dining spaces on campus, and that included the possibility of taking away Phoenicia’s space.

Also, we heard the move was a matter of financial expedience. Yet, the President was willing to do what it takes to keep Phoenicia — an important part of our community’s history — going. For me, that is a great development from this unfortunate situation.

Finally, the situation provided the community an op-

portunity to engage ourselves in discussing an issue that has deep roots in our society — the issue of free choice and the value of alternatives to creating competition and food quality on campus. If Aramark ends up becoming a monopoly, it would mean that students’ power of free choice would be limited. Well, you could say that Aramark would provide a wide variety of food choices, but the reality would be that Aramark will be the only player in the market.

How does that idea of a food monopoly sync with our democratic ideals? If we’re training students to appreciate the values that made our societies great, then an Aramark monopoly wouldn’t be sending a good message.

By all means, we should pursue financial prosperity for our university. But, in doing so, we should not sacrifice elements of our society that contribute to UT’s unique campus experience. After surviving 23 years on this campus, Phoenicia just happens to position itself as an important part of that experience.

It is not my intention to justify Student Government’s sloppiness in handling the issue. I think their rashness is unacceptable and deserving of the criticisms they got. Yet, I believe that sloppiness also provided our campus community an opportunity to be excited about how great we are.

It gave us a chance to show our commitment to working together towards improving our shared campus experience.

Philemon Abayateye is a Ph.D. student in the Department of Geography and Planning and the IC’s Opinion Editor.

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| The Independent Collegian | Wednesday, April 12, 2017

Address from page 1

action will need to be taken to reduce costs, even with these changes.

“We have successfully increased externally funded research,” Gaber said, “This year, new competitive research awards are already 45 percent higher than the prior year. UT has more than 471 faculty and physicians who have brought in more than $225 million of sponsored research in the past five years.” Looking to the future, Gaber said the university will roll out a 15-week semester and require second-year students to live on campus in Fall 2018. She also announced the university will have mandatory Title IX and ethics training for faculty and staff starting in July, and a new AD-HOC committee will be co-chaired

Protest

“We are creating an AD-HOC taskforce on sexual assault awareness and prevention to compare our practices to…other universities. Student safety is a top priority, and we will continue enforcing zero tolerance of any type of abuse.”

from page 1

SHARON GABER President of UT

by Amy Thompson and Valerie Walston.

“We are creating an ADHOC taskforce on sexual assault awareness and prevention to compare our practices to…other universities,” Gaber said. “Student safety is a top priority, and we will continue enforcing zero tolerance of any type of abuse.”

Andrew Weisbarth, a third-year finance and sales major, said he was disappointed parking has not been addressed.

“She needs to improve on parking,” Weisbarth said. “I’m a junior living on campus, and it goes for the Greek Village too; I can’t park near my classes.”

Gaber closed by saying the state of university is strong, and it can be an even stronger.

“I think she’s done a very good job, but there is always more that can be done,” said first-year business major Tabish Phelps.

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cerns the CWA is when President Sharon Gaber received a $90,000 bonus and a two percent raise in September 2016 after her first year as president.

The CWA contract committee, who organized the original protest, aimed to get the word out to about these issues to the university and its student body.

“The CWA has issues with the fact that the university constantly says they don’t have any money, and we as students

Debate from page 1

them, you’ll know where to look, and you won’t have to go searching through a million different websites.”

Russell stated that sexual assault awareness needs to be increased on campus. He suggested confidential and anonymous meetings for those who have been victims.

“We need to work with the administration and make sure they know that there is a zero-tolerance policy on this campus for anything like that,” Russell said. “This university is a place for anyone and everyone.”

Enoch also stated that it must be made clear that sexual assault and harassment are not tolerated on campus, and they are punishable.

Award

from page 1

for their home departments to foster the development of teaching skills.

Each finalist will present a series of lectures at Baylor

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hear that all the time,” said Ronald Talon, president of UT’s College Democrats, who also attended the protest.

The CWA reached out to the College Democrats regarding the protest a week in advance and have received their full support, according to Talon.

“The CWA is the backbone of this campus,” Talon said.

“They do everything from residence halls, to the custodial work in the regular academic buildings, electricians, carpenters. It doesn’t matter what they do; they are represented by the CWA.”

Talon said that he had not yet heard anything about additional demonstrations being planned by CWA, but that if they were to be organized, the College Democrats would attend.

“The CWA: without them, we wouldn’t be able to get half the benefits student orgs do,” Talon said. “Your dorms wouldn’t be cleaned as often, all of the workers that do your mail, everything like that is CWA. There’s a lot of normal, everyday benefits that students enjoy that don’t even realize it’s communication workers.”

“Any cases that are being reported need to be taken seriously so that students feel comfortable coming to these resources and utilizing them,” Enoch said.

Russell also plans to implement a service award on campus, which he said would provide students with a cutting edge to land jobs more easily.

“Basically what that would look like is, throughout your time here at UT, you would fulfill so many requirements and then basically you would get a physical award of some type, and then on your degree it would say ‘graduated with a distinction in service.’”

Along with the service award, Russell added that another large goal of his is to gain TARTA access for students, which would allow

students to use TARTA buses to get into the city easily.

Enoch, too, wants UT students to obtain access to TARTA buses, claiming that most metropolitan school already use this system.

“Our platform is centered around three main ideas: inclusions, communication and improvements,” Enoch said.

Enoch promised that communication, school spirit and pride will improve if he is president.

“We want Student Government to be there for the students, and we want Student Government to be more reachable,” Forsythe said.

Voting began on Monday and will be open via OrgSync until April 13. A post-election festival will be held Thursday in Student Union room 2591 at 4:30 p.m.

during Fall 2017 and a Cherry Award lecture on their home campuses during the upcoming academic year.

“I always tell people I am a UT product,” said Longenecker. “I am UT. Students and faculty here can compete with

anyone on a world stage.”

If announced as the winner

by Baylor in spring 2018, Longenecker will receive $250,000 and an additional $25,000 for his home department and will teach in residence at Baylor during Fall 2018 or Spring

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FEATURE

‘Photographers Without Borders’ enacts world change

By Areeba Shah

Associate Community Editor

Could we possibly be contributing to the extinction of species without even knowing? Adjunct Communication Theory Professor Christy Frank took her first international trip to Sumatra, Indonesia, to find out.

There, as part of Photographers Without Borders, she learned about the impact the palm oil industry was having on both human and wildlife.

“I really didn’t know how devastating things were from here until I went there,” Frank said. “It’s amazing to me how, in our everyday life, in the United States, a ton of the products we are purchasing are contributing to that problem.”

Between 1990 and 2005, the palm oil industry hit its big boom, causing plantations to replace rainforests in Sumatra. Frank said the sad thing is that people depend on palm oil plantations for their economy.

“It’s a double-edged sword.

People really need ways to survive, to make money and support their family,” Frank said.

It’s not done in sustainable way, as the process involves illegal encroaching of national rainforests.

Frank said access roads segmented the forests, hindering animals traveling between their habitats.

Although Frank knew of these issues before traveling to Indonesia, she was still surprised. She added that over half of the forests have been lost due to palm oil plantations.

“We would go a three-hour trip in Sumatra and 90 percent of the time we were driving in this van, it was all palm oil plantations,” Frank said. “It’s amazing how much they’ve taken over the land.”

The reason why palm oil trees are so detrimental to the environment is because they deplete the soil of all its resources. The trees consume up to 20-30 gallons of water a day and have caused water shortage in surrounding villages, Frank said.

This problem continues to exists because palm oil is cheap and there is a great abundance of it, Frank added. They get cheap labor for it, and, when they establish the plantations, they burn acres and acres of rainforest.

“Not only are you killing animals with fire, but you are also releasing tons of carbon in the atmosphere,” Frank said.

Sumatra is the only place in the world where the Sumatran orangutans live. It’s also the only place where the orangutans, the rhino, the elephant and the tiger all coexist. Those four species are critically endangered, and other wildlife has been affected.

People have died and lost their homes because of palm oil trees. These trees have contributed to flash flooding, as their soil cannot handle floods.

Frank said her favorite part was working with the Orangutan Informa-

tion Centre. She said the founder of the nonprofit grew up in Indonesia and has rescued wildlife through his work.

“They’ve turned things around, and he has given hope to the area,” Frank said.

Panut Hadisiswowyo started the organization and now has rescued hundreds of orangutans, all while helping reclaim illegal palm oil plantations.

“Everyone kept telling him that

Frank said her trip to Indonesia was life-changing. She said it was special to see orangutans swinging so gracefully through the canopy of trees.

“I’m really hoping that I can be a voice for the voiceless by helping animals that have a very real chance of going extinct,” Frank said.

She believes that the only way to raise awareness on this issue is through sharing personal stories.

One of the stories she heard made everyone in the room cry. On a poacher’s last day on his job, he shot the mother orangutan to separate it from its baby. The mother kissed her baby, gripping it tightly in her arms until she took her last breath.

“I think when people realize how similar these creatures are to us, stories like that can really touch people because they realize PHOTO COURTESY OF CHRISTY FRANK what an impact our behaviors can cause on he couldn’t reforest a former palm wildlife,” Frank said. oil plantation, but he proved them She said every photographer that wrong,” Frank said. went had a different personal motiTo further prevent habitat loss, vation. Frank lost her grandmother Frank is also working with the Sumaa year ago. She said her grandtran Wildlife Sanctuary movement to mother’s passing made her think protect and conserve more than 40 about the legacy she wanted to leave hectares of rainforest land. behind, so she found a cause that “The land was amazing; it was wild would allow her to give back. like it was supposed to be, an actual Frank said some of the photogranatural habitat,” Frank said. phers will be submitting photos to help

ACTIVISM

raise awareness.

“If we don’t take action now, it won’t exist for future generations,” Frank said.

Frank, who has now caught the travel bug, hopes to get involved in more humanitarian projects. She plans on applying for other photographers’ programs to travel internationally and bring attention to other issues.

“I think sometimes we get very disconnected as citizens over here; we don’t realize how connected we all are on a global scale,” Frank said According to Frank, the Sumatran rainforests could be completely wiped out by 2030. She said people can help by making informed decisions on what they are purchasing. Consumers can cut back on how much they rely on palm oil products.

She suggested that people also support NGOs like the Orangutan Information Centre that have rescued animals and are providing a living space for people affected by the plantations. They have established coffee and orange farm plantations.

“It’s all sustainable, and they’re all helping local people get involved still make a living, but in a more sustainable eco-friendly way,” Frank said.

She believes connecting with people and working toward a common cause for a greater good is vital for humanity.

Her work is available on www. vanismedia.com and her fundraiser to support Sumatran Wildlife Sanctuary can be accessed at www.grouprev.com.

CHARITY

Quenching the thirst

By Anna Glore Staff Reporter

MARIAH WILLIAMS / IC

Women march near Woodward High School April 8 at the annual Toledo Area Take Back the Night.

Taking back the night

By Mariah Williams Staff Reporter

Cries of “Women unite! Take back the night!” rang out through the evening air as women took to the streets Saturday in a stand against domestic violence and sexual assault.

This year marked the 23rd annual “Toledo Area Take Back the Night.”

Community members and University of Toledo students participated in the event held at Woodward High School April 8. Holding signs, women marched a mile around the surrounding community.

Take Back the Night is a worldwide movement involving more than 600 campuses and communities in 30 countries with the goal of raising awareness and ending all forms of violence against women.

There was a separate men’s event held from 8—10 p.m. The night began with a resource fair, and people from organizations in the community presented tables with information.

During the fair, participants viewed T-shirts from the Clothesline Project, which allows women in the community who are survivors of violence to take the chance to express their feelings by writing on and decorating a shirt.

Lily Ostrander, a third-year pharmacy major, volunteered previous years to hang the shirts and said it was overwhelming to see how many stories of violence and survival these shirts represented.

“The Clothesline Project simultaneously breaks my heart and gives me hope,” Ostrander said. “It’s about unapologetically revealing your truth in a world that tells you again and again to stop talking about it.”

Following the resource fair, a rally took place in the high school’s auditorium featuring music and speakers.

Bianca Caniglia, a fourth-year student double majoring in environmental science and women and gender studies, performed an original poem entitled “10 Things.”

For the past three years, Caniglia attended Take Back the Night and has performed her poem each time. Caniglia said she felt honored to be a part of this event.

“Speaking out in the face of violence is really important to me,” Caniglia said.

“Getting the chance to do that through my poetry was very exciting.”

A total of 114 women of all ages chose to march after the rally. Women who were

unable to walk rode a bus following the march through the streets.

The march was a powerful experience for Courtney Campbell, a third-year nursing major. This was her first year attending Take Back the Night.

“Marching alongside other women and supporters made me feel a part of something important,” Campbell said.

Following the march, many of the women reconvened for the Survivor Speakout. During this time, women shared personal stories of how they were affected by domestic violence or sexual assault.

The speakout was important to many in attendance, including Alexandra Korsog, a fourth-year nursing major.

“The speakout made me feel like I was not alone and that I had love and support surrounding me,” Korsog said. “It was like I had armor and, for the first time, it felt great to talk about it.”

Throughout the night, women like Micki Pittman, a fourth-year social work major, volunteered as a safe person.

“As this is an event that many survivors attend, and the stories shared or topics discussed may make a person emotionally distraught or uncomfortable, a safe person functions to provide immediate care to someone who is in crisis or is triggered,” Pittman said.

These volunteers undergo a comprehensive advocate training offered through the Young Women’s Christian Association.

“Sexual and physical violence against women is a serious crime, and it happens everywhere,” Pittman said. “There is no reason to be ashamed or embarrassed; it is not your fault and you are not alone.”

The event covers difficult topics, which can be intimidating for some, but Ostrander believes this is why it is so important. The event had a profound impact on her and many others.

“Each year I take away more insight into my own experiences with sexual assault, as well as a deeper understanding of the experiences of those around me,” Ostrander said. “I hope others take away not only a list of resources for where they or a loved one can find help, but also a bit of healing in knowing that they are surrounded by a community who will listen and care about their experiences.”

Nearly one in 10 people live without clean water every day. That’s 663 million people worldwide. In Africa alone, women spend 40 billion hours a year walking for water.

This year, University of Toledo students and community members had the opportunity to experience a day in the life of one of these women. The Catholic Student Association hosted the sixth annual Walk for Water April 9 in UT’s Centennial Mall.

Participants carried gallons of clean water along the 5K course to raise money for Clean Water for the World.

Zach Gibbemeyer, a third-year exercise science major and event director, said that the money goes toward water purification units.

“They have both a solar and non-solar one,” Gibbemeyer said. “The solar ones are more efficient since you don’t need to have electricity, but they are both very well needed.”

Gibbemeyer said that 130 participants preregistered this year, topping last year’s total by 20. Even more signed up the day of.

Race and program director Kristy Kagy, a fourth-year exercise science major, has played a major role in the event since her freshman year.

“I think it’s just a good way to go out and show people what you really care about in the world,” Kagy said. “There is a global water crisis, and we have to acknowledge that.”

Kagy said that Toledo Public School students also attended the event for educational purposes.

Kagy is thankful for faculty and sponsors who played a role in putting the event on and encourages students to consider becoming a part of the team in the future.

“The way that I look at it is, clean water is a human right that not a lot of us have access to,” Gibbemeyer said. “This is something that is helping to provide people with that chance to have clean water, that human right.”

EMILY JACKSON / IC

University of Toledo students carry gallons of water April 9 during Walk for Water.

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| The Independent Collegian | Wednesday, April 12, 2017

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S O F T B A L L

B A S E B A L L

MAC EAST 5-1 3-3

17-9 10-17

BGSU

3-3 4-5

15-15 8-19

MIAO

2-7

8-23

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MAC WEST 17-14 6-0 12-19 4-2 9-22 5-4 10-22 4-5 14-18 3-6 13-14 3-6

OHIO MIAO BGSU AKRN KENT BUFF

UT softball wins 1 of 3 against Miami of Ohio Associate Sports Editor

Over the weekend, the University of Toledo Rocket softball team went 1-2 against the Miami University Redhawks by scores of 5-9 on Friday and 14-1 and 4-0 on Saturday. The results bring the Rocket record to 18-25 overall and 6-5 in Mid-American Conference play.

Miami 9, Toledo 5 Toledo’s offense was led by two-hit efforts from fourth-year second-baseman Chandler Rice (2-for-3, 2B, two runs), third-year outfielder Ashley Rausch (2-for-4, 2B, RBI, two runs), fourth-year outfielder Celeste Fidge (2-for-4, 2B, three RBI) and third-year outfielder Kylie Gross (2-for-4, 2B).

On the mound for the Rockets, second-year pitcher Kailey Minarchick was replaced by first-year pitcher Alissa Noble after allowing five runs off five hits in 0.2 innings of work. Noble (3-7) was given the loss after permitting two earned runs off five hits in 4.1 innings.

Second-year pitcher Heather Webb came in relief of Noble in the sixth and allowed two runs off one hit and three walks in one inning.

UT’s offense got off to a fast start when Rice reached on a leadoff walk in the first inning.

Rice advanced to third on a single

by Rausch. After Rausch stole second, Fidge hit a one-out double to right center to score both runners and give Toledo a 2-0 advantage.

Miami put two on base in the bottom of the inning off a single and a walk. Three consecutive, two-out singles scored three runs to give Miami a 5-2 edge by the end of the first.

Neither team threatened to score again until the fifth inning.

Rice ignited the Rockets’ offense with a leadoff double to left-center

off the second pitch. Rausch followed with a double down the right-field line to score Rice, and first-year IF Morgan Paaverud followed suit with a double to leftcenter to bring home Rausch and put UT within one. Fidge then drove a single through the right side, which allowed Paaverud to plate a run and knot the scoreboard at 5-5. Toledo was unable to take the lead and ended the inning with two stranded.

Miami took back its lead with a pair of runs scored off a double and single on two outs in the home half of the fifth.

Toledo received a leadoff double from Gross to begin the sixth, but no Rockets could get on base after that. The Redhawk team expanded its lead to 9-5 via a sacrifice fly and a wild pitch in the bottom of the inning.

Miami 14, Toledo 1 Toledo was the first to threaten after it put two runners on off a pair of singles in the second. Both runners advanced into scoring position off a passed ball, and second-year infielder Megan Choate loaded the bases on a two-out walk. Unfortunately, a popup to the shortstop left the runners stranded.

A solo homer and two-run shot by the Redhawks with one out in the third ended first-year pitcher Leah Allison’s day (0-2) on the mound, as Noble was summoned out of the bullpen in relief.

With a runner on first, Miami soon loaded the bases on a single through the right side, then drove a double to center to clear the bases to gain a commanding 6-0 advantage. Minarchick replaced Noble and allowed two more runs off a couple of hits to boost the Miami lead to 8-0.

Second-year third-baseman Katie Cozy lined a two-out double

MAC WEST

BALL CMU TOL NIU WMU EMU

9-2 8-3 6-5 6-5 3-8 2-9

25-18 23-11 18-25 18-15 15-20 14-22

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SOFTBALL

By Jackson Rogers

MAC EAST 26-10 7-4 20-16 6-5 20-22 6-5 16-21 5-6 15-21 5-6 8-31 3-8

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Toledo baseball powers through busy weekend

By Kenny Kruse Staff Reporter

COURTESY OF UT ATHLETICS

First-year pitcher Alissa Noble throws a pitch in Saturday’s double header against the Miami of Ohio Redhawks.

to center field in the next half inning, but a groundout to the pitcher quickly ended UT’s threat in the fourth.

Consecutive walks to the Redhawks and a single up the middle loaded the bases for Miami in the bottom of the fourth. A couple of RBI singles extended the gap to 10-0.

Toledo got a baserunner on in the fifth on a leadoff single to right by fourth-year catcher Ashley Maynard. Rausch put the Rockets on the scoreboard by lining a double to left field that brought Maynard home.

Toledo 4, Miami 0 A walk and a fielder’s choice put UT into business right from the start of the game. Fidge drove a one-out single to right to score both runners and nab a quick 2-0

lead. After a walk advanced Fidge to second, a fielding error by the Redhawk third baseman permitted the senior to score and extend the gap to 3-0.

Miami managed two base runners in the bottom half of the inning off a walk and a fielder’s choice but lined out to Cozy at third to end the frame.

Neither team threatened again until the fourth, when Choate led off with a free pass after being hit by a pitch. The second-year advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by third-year outfielder Marriah Wise and scored Toledo’s last tally on a double to right by Rice.

The Rocket softball team will head to Ypsilanti, MI, on April 14 to face off against the Eastern Michigan Eagles at 2:00 p.m.

The University of Toledo baseball team (10-22, 4-5 MAC) had a busy week, starting Tuesday and ending with back-to-back games over the weekend.

UT lost at Wright State 4-2 in the teams’ first matchup, then headed to Bowling Green to face off against the Falcons, losing again 5-4 early Saturday afternoon, but winning 20-4 late Saturday afternoon and 8-4 on Sunday in extra innings.

Wednesday’s game versus Dayton was postponed for Wednesday, May 10.

UT vs WSU Toledo took an early 1-0 lead in the opening inning. Third-year outfielder Brad Boss hit a longball to left-center field on the game’s first pitch. Riley Campbell, second-year infielder, bunted Boss to third base.

Third-year outfielder Matt Hansen had a flyout down the left field line into foul territory and hit it deep enough to score Boss.

This was the first time the Rockets would score, and the team would not repeat again until the seventh.

WSU answered with two runs in the second to take the lead with a triple, RBI single and a walk with the bases loaded.

The Raiders added another two runs, one in the third and one the sixth, to lead the Rockets 4-1 on eight hits.

Fourth-year catcher Corey Tipton came up to the plate in the seventh inning with two outs and hit his second home run of the season. This was the Rockets’ last Finish reading this piece online at www.IndependentCollegian.com

TRACK AND FIELD

HIMANSH BHATNAGAR / IC

Fourth-year high jumper Madeline Pacella bounds over the high jump bar ,April 7, during the University of Toledo’s meet against Bowling Green on Friday.

Toledo women’s track beats BGSU for first time since 2000

By Justice Sunderland Staff Reporter

The Rocket women’s track and field team faced off against crosstown rival Bowling Green on Friday, April 7; UT came away with the 100-99 victory.

This marks the first time Toledo has defeated BGSU since 2000.

With the teams so close, it came down to the final few events. In the triple jump, third-year Deja Martin jumped into third place on her final attempt with a 10.89 that landed the Rockets two points.

First-year distance runner Athena Welsh was neck-and-neck in the 3,000-meters with Rachel Walny. Welsh was able to pull away down the stretch to take the victory, which secured the win for UT. The jump crew for Toledo proved a big lift, winning three of the four events.

Fourth-year Madeline Pacella set a new meet record in the high jump, going 1.75 meters over the bar to win the event.

Fellow fourth-year Ty-Shai Freeman finished right behind her in high jump and won the triple jump, flying 11.74 meters.

In the long jump, second-year Madison Pierce jumped 5.63 meters, good enough

for a second place finish.

UT took first and third in the javelin throw. Second-year Anne Bellman paired with first-year Kallie Strauss with throws of 33.21 and 29.84 meters, respectively.

Toledo dominated in distance events as well. In the 2,000-meter steeplechase, second-year distance runner Olivia Chinn took first place at 7:03.17, and first-year teammate Zita Molnar finished right behind her at 7:07.05 In the 1,500-meter, the Rockets swept the podium, with Petrolena Simiuc, Joan Jepkuri, and Janelle Noe winning first, second and third, respectively.

Four events later, Simiuc took another victory in the 800-meter with a time of 2:17.51. Fourth-year Theresa Warsecke finished third for the Rockets at 2:21.41.

UT also won the 400-meter hurdles, as second-year Yana Khabina ran a 1:02.62, and graduate student Dandadeva da Silva and second-year Nautica Hill took second and third on podium in the 200-meter dash.

The midnight blue and gold will return to the track April 14-15 in Muncie, Indiana for the Ball State Challenge.