Issue 41 by The Independent Collegian

Sports, B4

Arts & Life, B1

Rockets faced 43-5 deficit in road loss to Western Michigan

Bookstore bankruptcy

Independent Collegian IC The

Thursday, February 24, 2011

Serving the University of Toledo since 1919

www.IndependentCollegian.com 91st year Issue 41

Employees fight Issue 5 Protestors rally against Issue 5 at State Capitol ‘Hell no, we won’t go’

By Vincent D. Scebbi Features Editor

COLUMBUS, Ohio – The cold air and snowy weather were not strong enough to stop the approximate 5,000 who rallied at the Statehouse prior to Senate Bill 5’s fourth hearing in the Ohio State Senate, Tuesday. With collective bargaining at stake for state employees, chants such as “kill the bill” and “O-H-I-O: Gov. Kasich’s got to go” echoed outside on the 3rd Street side of the capitol building.

The rally began around noon outside of the Statehouse and quickly swelled into the thousands as workers poured in from various parts of the state, while large groups of pro-union activists migrated into downtown Columbus by charter bus. State Highway Patrolmen stood in front of the doors limiting the number of protestors entering the building. At one point, the doors were locked, leaving thousands stranded outside for most of the day, causing a spike in the number

of protests and chants. “Whose house? Our house,” was just one a rallying cry being yelled outside the Statehouse doors. While the crowd was growing impatient, Democratic leaders held a press conference threatening a lawsuit if doors were not opened for public access. By 4 p.m. protestors were allowed access, but limited to only the Atrium and Rotunda rooms. The hearing was in a room with maximum capacity 100, — Protestors, Page A4

Faculty collectively support collective bargaining By Randiah Green News Editor and Managing Editor

“You’ve created a dictatorship; you’ve created a system where faculty have no say.” This is how Walt Olson, professor of mechanical, industrial and manufacturing engineering at UT, feels about Senate Bill 5, which will strip public employees of all collective bargaining rights. “[UT President Lloyd Jacobs] could decide he wanted to cut liberal faculty at this university if he wanted to,” Olson said. “It

has nothing to do with how good of a professor they are or how well they are at teaching their classes, but he could decide to lay them off. Those are the things that can happen [without a collective bargaining agreement.]” For faculty, staff and hospital workers at UT, having a collective bargaining agreement allows them to have a say in their pay rates, any pay raises, health care benefits and workload among others. “Collective bargaining means both sides promise to make

concessions and both sides promise to go into negotiations where they will make compromises,” said Ruth Hottell, professor and chair of foreign languages. “Then they agree to bring in an outside arbitrator if they can’t get along to listen to both sides and help them come to a decision. That’s the general concept of collective bargaining.” Without this agreement in place, Olson fears Jacobs could “hire and fire faculty at will” — Bargaining, Page A4

Photos by Vincent D. Scebbi / IC

Left, approximately 5,000 people rallied at the State Capitol Tuesday prior to Senate Bill 5’s fourth hearing. Above, Ohio Governor Ted Strickland speaks at the rally. Users reading the digital edition at Issuu.com/Independent_Collegian can click either photo to view a gallery of photos from the rally.

Gradkowski teaming up with Gateway project Former UT football player plans to open restaurant By Jason Mack Editor in Chief

Former University of Toledo star quarterback Bruce Gradkowski is coming home to partner with Arnie’s to open a sports bar called “Gradkowski’s” as part of UT’s Gateway project. “I consider Toledo home for me, so I’m excited to come back and try to give back to the university and help out

any way I can,” Gradkowski said. “I want to be part of it for years to come. I’m not looking to make this a one or two-year thing. I want to make it known for years to come, just like how Arnie’s has been around. I have so much respect for how long they’ve been around, their 30-year history and what they’ve been for the town of Toledo.” The UT Foundation and

(Josie Lepe/San Jose Mercury News/MCT)

Oakland quarterback Bruce Gradkowski plans to open a restaurant called “Gradkowski’s” as part of UT’s Gateway project.

Fairmount Properties are teaming up for a $12 million, 26,000 square-foot retail development located at the intersection of Secor and Dorr. Gradkowski’s is the second confirmed business after Barnes and Noble, which will move out of the Student Union Building and into a two-story, 6,000 square foot building. “The Gateway project, they’ve done a great job with the people that are going to get into the complex,” Gradkowski said. “It’s going to be an allaround great project for the university and for the community. It will be a great place that people of all different ages can enjoy.” Gradkowski has been in the NFL since he was drafted in 2006 and currently plays for the Oakland Raiders. He was placed on injured reserve last December with a third-degree separation of his throwing shoulder, but he has already recovered. “I’m back to 100 percent, throwing, lifting and running,” Gradkowski said. “I’m just getting ready to get this next season underway and see what’s in — Gradkowski, Page A4

Kevin Sohnly / IC

A study by Rich Martinko shows there were more than 100 traffic accidents in the same twoyear period at the intersections of Secor and Dorr, and Byrne and Dorr.

Safety on Dorr Street By Casey Cheap IC Staff Writer

Though the UT Foundation and Fairmount properties have elaborate plans to make the corner of Secor and Dorr Street into an “Ann Arbor-style” college town, severe safety issues of Dorr still have to be addressed. If approved, several new improvements to the road could be instituted in the next couple of years, including an additional turn lane, pedestrian crosswalks and possibly a lower speed limit. According to a study done by Rich Martinko, director of the

university transportation center and intermodal transportation institute, there were more than 100 traffic accidents at both the intersections of Secor and Dorr, and Byrne and Dorr in the same two-year period. There were 706 traffic accidents on Dorr between Upton and Byrne from 2006 to 2008, a large majority of them happening at intersections. These include automobile collisions, pedestrian collisions and motorcycle collisions, but most crashes were two car accidents occurring with drivers going under 20 mph. The intersection of Dorr and Secor, where the new college

town setup is supposed to be built, had the most crashes from 2006 to 2008 of any other Dorr intersection with 187 collisions. Martinko said the ideas to improve safety are still only proposals and nothing is set in stone. “I want to make it clear that the proposed countermeasures are a draft only,” Martinko said. “These are not in any way approved or final. A public involvement process will be a major part of the decisions.” Martinko said the city of Toledo will get the money for the — Safety, Page A4

Forum

Thursday, February 24, 2011

Jason Mack Editor in Chief

Elizabeth Majoy Business Manager

Randiah Green Managing Editor

Ethan Keating Forum Editor

- in our opinion -

Collective begging not OK can be replaced with relative ease. This is not to say that employees in these fields aren’t skilled professionals, but that there will tend to always be more workers seeking employment than available positions. This stacks the deck heavily in favor of employers. If an employer knows that they can fill their positions if they lose current employees and re-training costs are not prohibitive, they can confidently set working conditions below acceptable levels, knowing that any who quit or demand change can be easily replaced. Wealthier Americans who argue against increasing the standard of living for the middle and working class fail to realize that the bargaining table is skewed heavily in their favor. They sanctimoniously claim their “right” to enjoy the extravagant wealth they’ve “earned,” fighting tooth and nail to shift the tax burden from themselves to the majority of Americans. This continues in spite of the fact that cost-of-living increases hit the poor much harder than the wealthy few. In other words, these compromises involve the wealthy surrendering luxuries and the poor surrendering necessities. One gripes about delaying a vacation or declining to purchase a second personal automobile, while the other — righteously — explains that they will have to choose between food and life-saving medicine. Ohioans must decide how to distribute the weight of the state’s budget gap. Will tens of thousands of state workers suffer an undeserved burden, as SB 5 would cause? Or will we place the blame where it belongs, letting the beneficiaries of irresponsible fiscal policy pay their due and upholding workers’ essential power of collective bargaining?

Essential to the progress of workers’ rights in this country has been the development and expansion of collective bargaining. Whatever opponents of unionized labor might claim, there is no method other than collective bargaining by which workers can truly approach their employers with equal power. To strip workers of bargaining rights is to guarantee a decrease in their working conditions and total compensation. SB 5, currently being debated in the Ohio legislature, would deny all state employees in Ohio the right to collectively bargain for their working conditions. Perhaps the most odious element of this bill is its focus on state employees as the primary cause of Ohio’s massive budget gap. Governor John Kasich has disrespectfully and dishonestly blamed the “high salaries” of public school teachers and other employees for causing the gap, declining to mention that employees in the private sector, including teachers, are paid more than their state-employed counterparts. As a public university, UT employees will likewise lose their bargaining rights if SB 5 passes. This will eliminate any influence they have over their own pay rate and raises, health care benefits, etc. UT President Lloyd Jacobs would be granted sweeping powers to hire and fire faculty, adjust pay rates, alter curricula, etc. without any significant recourse. Considering the top-down, practically autocratic method by which Jacobs’ administration pushed through the recent academic restructuring, a decrease in faculty’s self-determination will undoubtedly invite further administrative abuses. Nearly all unionized employment sectors are those whose employees

Call, write, boycott — whatever it takes to convince eBay to refuse puppy mill patronage Despite agreeing two years ago not to do business with owners of puppy mills, eBay has continued to allow these unethical, profiteering breeders to sell dogs via eBay Classifieds. The outcry that previously arose against the company for reaping profits from the sale of mistreated animals is now louder than ever, as spokespeople amend the language on the Classifieds site to prevent any immediate legal action from cutting into eBay’s profits. “Puppy mill” is a term used to describe the operation of a dog breeder who maximizes profit by piling far too many dogs in too little space, keeping them in cages nearly their entire lives, forcing them to produce litter after litter, which involves inbreeding, and often killing them as soon as they become infertile or unsellable. Such businesses violate a number of laws, such as the 1966 Animal Welfare Act and others that protect animals from cruel treatment. The problem with making purchases online — especially of animals — is that the seller has incredible opportunity to deceive the buyer. One only

needs to have a professionally-designed website and pictures of healthy, happy animals to appear as a legitimate breeder. According to a recent ASPCA survey, 89 percent of those claiming to be breeders for online sales are not licensed by USDA. No responsible breeder or dog lover would think of buying a dog online without meeting its breeders in person and seeing the conditions in which it was raised. But most consumers are not informed or responsible enough to realize that dogs advertised strictly online are unlikely to come from a healthy puppyhood. EBay Classifieds provide the perfect opportunity for puppy mill owners to market their dogs under the pretense of legitimacy. Between government regulation and consumer activism, everyone needs to step in to end this system that allows people to profit from the disgusting abuse of puppies. Please join in holding eBay responsible for all items sold on any of its websites and closing legal loopholes that make animal cruelty easy and profitable.

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- in Your opinion OH sunshine laws going dark Access to public information is one of the most crucial and venerated rights on which our society depends, but it is not invulnerable to the whims of those who would rather keep the public in the dark. Ohio’s sunshine laws are a symbol of the determination of an informed public, a citizenry whose government shall not

operate under cover of darkness. These statutes bind our government institutions to serve us in an open, transparent and accountable manner. In a 2006 audit of our state’s public universities, all but one failed to provide basic public records. But that’s just the beginning — student journalists across Ohio have encountered cultures of fear and hostility by university leaders. The Ohio University chapters of SPJ and the Radio-Tele-

vision Digital News Association take these issues very seriously and are holding the firstever Sunshine Summit this Saturday in Athens, OH. More than 150 student journalists have registered to learn their rights and draft a resolution to ease access on our public campuses. National Sunshine Week starts March 13. We hope you’ll tell your elected officials, public institution leaders and fellow citizens to help us celebrate!

Infinity on trial At the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Mich. I saw my childhood encased in glass. It was a truly surreal sensation to view items from the Millennial Generation in a museum. Nintendo, Sega Genesis, V H S tapes, Discmans — these Stephen were artiBartholomew facts of my youth, with fond memories attached to them, on display as part of history in an exhibit called “Your Place in Time.” I remember playing Donkey Kong Country on Super Nintendo, listening to a cassette tape of Green Day’s “Dookie” in a cocoon of pre-adolescent satisfaction. Such fleeting, finite memories, shared in some collective way by my peers, now sit in a different context — with a looming shroud of antiquity. Never mind that anyone can go to a resale shop today and buy a GameBoy or Beanie Baby — these symbols of my younger years, I realized, will be preserved in a museum beyond this lifetime. I felt a little unnerved to see the progression of 20th century generational symbols — from jazz to Shirley Temple, “Gone With the Wind,” The Beatles, the moon landing and Watergate mixed with Alf, Pokémon and Michael Jordan. Although the development of both technologies has a longer history than most realize, stretching to a time before I was born, neither cell phones nor the Internet began to dominate the personal and public domain so rampantly as they do now until the 1990s.

Despite this realization of historical significance, my feeling of discomfort didn’t subside. A quote from the great American songwriter, Bob Dylan, came to mind, “Inside the museums, infinity goes up on trial.” Future historians and museum-goers alike will misconstrue the experiences of my generation — coming of age during the dotcom boom and the birth of a new century. I envision people of the future looking at the 8-bit video game console in wonder and amusement or looking at pictures from 9/11, without a full understanding of why or how it happened and no real connection to how it changed everything. Perhaps it is the same for me as I look at pictures of Pearl Harbor or images of the two atomic bombs dropped on Japan, not completely aware of all the implications. And so it is for each generation as they look back on their predecessors. My generation, the socalled Millennial Generation, knows the excitement of seeing Michael Jordan become the greatest basketball player of all time. We can remember the Y2K pandemonium. We lived through a presidential sex scandal and witnessed the emergence of the musical genres grunge and gangsta rap. We can remember the first bulky, brick-like cell phones and the weird noise a modem made when a computer connected to the Internet. What these personal experiences mean to those who lived through them will mean something entirely different to future generations. A degree of disconnect from history is inevitable. The primacy of experience is not transferable. But that does not

mean we cannot relate to historical events. We inherit the fruits of historical struggles and stand on the shoulders of ancestral giants. Even though we will never know what it was like to bargain with Native Americans as settlers expanded westward, it is important to understand the implications of such events. To understand history is to understand why the world is the way it is today - to understand that the collapse of the Soviet Union had nothing to do with Sputnik or the space race, as a certain former Alaskan governor had mistakenly asserted. History is based on facts, confirmed by primary documentation. But when people fail to learn such facts, then history can be rewritten by powerful media personalities, as is the current case with President Reagan’s legacy. Historical revisionism is dangerous. It creates a type of disconnect with reality and encourages people to form invalid judgments based on misinformation. Museums are a great way to learn about, come into contact with and understand history. But if there is no historical context for the museum-goer to frame the artifacts, then such objects will be lifeless, void of real meaning and only interesting because of their apparent foreignness. Historical knowledge is paramount in understanding the world as it works today. As George Santayana warned, “those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” —Stephen Bartholomew is an IC columnist and an English education student at UT.

The politics of crisis In 2007, Naomi Klein wrote a book called “The Shock Doctrine” that describes how over the past 30 years, right-wing decision makers have pushed through highly unpopular bills in times of crisis. These conservatives roll back effective social policy by exploiting crises. A “state of emergency” is manufactured in which there is supposedly no time for deliberation or dissent and massive rollbacks of constructive social policies are presented as measures that have no alternative. Over the past week, governors in Wisconsin, New Jersey, Ohio and other states across the country have provided a perfect example of what Klein wrote about by either introducing or backing radical anti-union legislation. With states across the country facing serious budget shortfalls, these governors are exploiting fiscal crises in order to launch an attack on public workers. It isn’t unreasonable to expect unions to make sacrifices. Union leaders in Ohio have said all along that they are willing to make concessions in areas such as wages and benefits. Former Governor Ted Strickland was able to compromise with union leaders, agreeing on salary freezes and furlough days. Governor John Kasich has chosen to take a different route, endorsing legislation in Ohio’s legislature that would prohibit collective bargaining. Kasich has made

it clear that he is unwilling to work together toward a compromise, explaining recently that public workers are either on his bus or under it. Sacrifices on wages and benefits are one thing. Sacrificing the right to unionize altogether is much more serious. Public workers are being made a scapegoat by Kasich. Ohio faces a serious budget shortfall and Governor Kasich is asking us to recognize teachers and police officers as the unyielding source of Ohio’s economic misery. Nothing could be further from the truth. Public workers didn’t cause the economic downturn. Lobbyist-fueled policy decisions played a much larger role. The states are facing trouble because of irresponsible policy decisions on the national level, not the tyranny of teachers’ salaries. Of course the reality remains that states are having trouble balancing budgets and negotiated pensions are part of what is making this a difficult task. But that does not explain why stripping public workers of their right to collectively bargain for benefits and working conditions is necessary. Or at least, it is unclear why such actions are necessary as budget balancing measures, as opposed to a thinly veiled political power grab. What Kasich and a number of newly elected governors across the country have managed to do is take a budget crisis that legitimately

demands immediate attention and turn it into an opportunity to meet big-picture ideological goals at the expense of America’s working and middle class. Our economic situation both here in Ohio and across the country demands that we all make sacrifices and we have. But our system of governance also demands that we recognize when those in power are attempting to constrict the democratic rights of any group of citizens. At the end of “The Shock Doctrine,” Klein writes that the way to resist exploitative and dishonest “state of emergency policy” is to recognize it when it is happening. Popular legislation doesn’t need the cover of crisis, but the rollback of rights is rarely unaccompanied by some sort of inflated emergency. The rights of workers to freely organize and work together for fairness has little to do with Ohio’s budget shortfall. Efforts to eliminate those rights are purely political. Any legislation suggesting otherwise should be recognized as what it is, and any politician suggesting otherwise should be recognized for what they are doing. —Jason Copsey is an IC columnist and a junior majoring in political science and public relations.

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Monday, February 24, 2011

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Gradkowski From Page A1 store.” With a labor strike potentially looming in the NFL, Gradkowski is confident they will be playing next season. “We just need to get that signed,” he said. “That’s something I’m sure they’re all working on. They’ll come to an agreement that’s for the players, the owners and especially the fans.” Gradkowski plans to use his connections in the NFL to help the restaurant grow. “With my relationships throughout the NFL, I know I’ll be bringing a lot of guys in throughout the years to come,” he said. “There will be many NFL players there throughout the years.” For now, Gradkowski is partnering with Arnie’s and owner Singh Grewal to develop the restaurant. “I have a great relationship with him,” Gradkowski said. “What they have done for the community of Toledo has been awesome. It’s going to be something that Toledo hasn’t seen. It’s going to be something new and exciting for people to come and enjoy. “Arnie’s is actually the first place I went on my recruiting

The

Independent Collegian trip. Hopefully people will be saying that about Gradkowski’s in the near future.” While football fans are an obvious market for the restaurant, Gradkowski plans to cater to all athletics at UT. “Of course we’re going to be excited for football and showcase football, but we also want to showcase all UT athletes and all the sports,” he said. “We want to tie everyone into it. It’s going to be an awesome atmosphere.” However, the opening of the restaurant could be centered on the football season as they are planning to open in summer or fall of 2012. “I’m sure we’ll have all kinds of specials set up for games and all kinds of different events,” Gradkowski said. “It would be awesome to open waiting for school to start and the football season to start. That would be ideal, but we’re just going to communicate with the Gateway project and see when we can get going. Everyone is excited and it can never get started soon enough, but we definitely want to make sure it’s right before we do it.” Most of the details are up in the air, but the menu at Gradkowski’s will feature Chicagostyle food. “All I know is the food will be good,” Gradkowski said. “I

might have both my grandmas involved in it. One thing I know for sure is it will be some good eating, and I’m looking forward to it. “I’ve always wanted to be tied back with Toledo. It’s been so good to me and it’s a place I consider home. That’s why I’m excited about this. We want it to be something for everyone to enjoy. It’s for UT athletes and students, but also for all the administration and the community of Toledo.” Toledo and Gradkowski were good to each other during his years at UT. He threw for 9,225 yards and 85 touchdowns and rushed for 1,018 yards and 14 touchdowns while leading the Rockets to a Mid-American Conference championship and two bowl games in three years as the starter. Gradkowski also met his fiancé at UT. They are returning to Toledo this summer for their wedding. “She’s definitely excited [for the restaurant] because she’s from the Toledo area and her family is around that way,” he said. “It’s just awesome to have something to bring us back. I always come back to the university. It’s been so good to me. It’s my turn to try to give something back and make something nice for people to enjoy.”

Illustration courtesy of UT Communications department

Former UT quarterback Bruce Gradkowski plans to open a restaurant called “Gradkowski’s” as part of the $12 million Gateway project being developed by the UT Foundation and Fairmount Properties.

Bargaining From Page A1 since the agreement prevents tenure, tenure track and lecturers from being fired. Without collective bargaining, the administration can decide to lower salaries at will and make important decisions without considering the faculty’s opinion. Olson said he does not doubt the administration will abuse its power in not taking the faculty’s stance in consideration on important decisions if they don’t have to. Andy Jorgensen, associate professor of chemistry, pointed to the recent restructuring of UT as an example where the administration did take the faculty view into consideration. “Without collective bargaining, you’re relying on the good grace of the administration and there are many decisions where the faculty do not agree with the administration,” Jorgensen said. “We just went through a major restructuring of the university. Restructuring was not in the collective bargaining agreement and the administration went ahead with restructuring but the faculty were opposed to it. The administration did it anyway. This administration clearly does what it wants to do whether the faculty want it or not.” Jorgensen was at UT 20 years ago when there was no collective bargaining or faculty union. Changes to curriculum and the hiring of more part time faculty are just some of the things Olson fears can happen without collective bargaining

rights for faculty. “One of the areas professors have been adamant about is core curriculum,” he said. “Consequently they can arbitrarily say ‘we’ll take away the need for the students to know the arts and sciences courses’ and say ‘we’re going to focus only on the technical things.’ They could say, ‘students don’t need to learn foreign languages.’ They could do many things that they’re prevented from because of the collective bargaining agreement.” Jorgensen expressed concern over an increase in faculty workload. “The [University of Toledo] Board of Trustees has recently suggested an increase in faculty workload, now they have to negotiate that,” he said. “Without the CBA the university could say, ‘ok everybody gets another course added to their load.’ And when you have a faculty member teaching five or more courses it is going to affect the students.” But Chair of the BOT Bill Fall said the university will continue to treat employees “with respect and pay them fairly.” Larry Burns, vice president for external affairs and interim vice president for equity and diversity, echoed Fall’s sentiment. “We will continue to pay employees at a competitive market rate regardless if there is a collective bargaining agreement or not,” Burns said. “It gets back to how we feel. To keep [employees], to recruit them, we need to be in a market comparable to other institutions like us so we want to offer very competitive salaries and benefits so we can recruit

employees the best we can.” Olson said faculty and staff at UT are paid at the lower limits of market equity and there is no way the university would pay them at the level without a CBA. “There’s evidence to that already,” he said. “We have had to fight for equity of salary at this university in order to ensure that faculty are at the limits of market equity. There’s no need for them to maintain that once the collective bargaining is gone.” Burns did mention salaries are the biggest cost factor at UT. “I think because of the budget challenges the university has and because the biggest cost we have is salary and benefits, with collective bargaining and without they’re likely to change if budget requirements need that,” Burns said. But without collective bargaining employees would not be able to negotiate where their salaries would be lowered to if needed to help reduce the budget gap. Olson blames the bill on the mostly conservative Ohio legislature. “They are united in the stance that unions are bad; employees should not have the right to bargain for their employment,” he said. “This is just a manifestation of that. They’re exerting their will in stating that they want to get rid of unions. Their easiest target right now is public employee unions.” Fall said he hasn’t decided whether he is for or against the bill, but Burns said the university doesn’t need collective bargaining “to do the right thing.”

Protestors From Page A1 but reports said the chants from protestors could still be heard below them.

Union workers unite

While the newly elected Republicans try to fulfill promises made during the election campaign and make drastic changes to help balance the budget, Democrats have been rallying union workers of both private and public sectors to join in the protests. “This is a great expression of people coming together and advocating not only for themselves, but for their families and communities,” said former Ohio Governor Ted Strickland in an interview with the Independent Collegian. “Firefighters, policemen, teachers, cement workers, coming together in solidarity because they understand that the Ohio middle class is under assault, being blamed for problems they did not cause, they are being disrespected and as a result of that, they are here today to say we will not allow this to happen to us.” Some protestors feel the recent events by the government are a wake-up call for middle class Americans. Vice President of Local 92 Union Firefighters in Toledo Dan Desmond quoted a Japanese Admiral of World War II, stating the Ohio House has awoken “a sleeping giant.” “I think that’s what [State Bill 5] has done too; not just for unions, but working people across America.” Senate Bill 5 would not only remove collective bargaining rights from state workers, but also deteriorate similar rights for other public employees such as public school teachers. “If it weren’t for collective bargaining and our unions, we may not have bulletproof vests in Cleveland,” said Tim Frinko, an executive board member of the Cleveland Police Association.. “One of my biggest issues is safety. It’s a safety issue and it’s not just about pay, like what they’re making it out to be.” Protestors speculated on the Republicans’ conservative agenda with the collective bargaining bill. Jim King, a contract coordinator for steelworkers and a member of United Steel Workers since 1975, believes the bill is a push to weaken the Democrats before 2012. “The attack on the public workers is the beginning and not the end,” the Lorain, Ohio

Protestors rally against Issue 5 on Tuesday at the State Capitol in Columbus, Ohio.

resident said. “The goal is obvious, at least to most union members: it’s to bust unions and we believe their approach and agenda is to decrease the Democrats’ power by going after organized labor unions.” Frinko believes the push is Ohio Governor John Kasich’s way of “getting rid of the middle class.” A lot of the protesters shared the view that the bill would cripple the economy in the long run if passed. Strickland described it as “decimating the middle class.” “The cities talk about saving money, but it will be at a point where these guys will be working for pennies, pocket change, and they won’t be able to afford to buy anything that will keep everyone else working,” said President of Local 92 Union Toledo Wayne Hartford. Strickland said Kasich’s agenda was not what Ohioans originally voted for in November when they elected him and the state became a Republican majority. “John Kasich only got 49 percent of the votes. He got more votes than I got. But most of the people in Ohio did not vote for Kasich,” Strickland said. “He has no mandate to destroy organized labor or to attack working people.” Whether from private or public unions, workers believe the best alternative to Senate Bill 5 is to open the table with Kasich and establish talks between the government and union heads in order to make slow progress, something Strickland said he accomplished during his tenure. “I think all unions would be willing for a compromise,” Frinko said. “The only thing is that they are jamming it down our throats right off the bat. They need to sit down and talk to the union heads and see what we can work out. We’re not pounding our fists on the ground to end any kind of discussion on the matter.” Another suggestion came from Charles Rose, a maintenance worker from the University of Toledo who said making the upper class take concessions first will motivate more working class members to make similar compromises. “You’ve got to start at the top, see where the money’s going,” Rose said. “You’ve got people who are getting bonuses that are four years of my salary. Start there. Once they take concessions, then come and talk to us and

maybe we can work something out.” Ohio now joins the ranks of Midwestern provinces in debate over similar bills. In Wisconsin and Indiana, for example, Democratic legislatures failed to show up, ultimately stalling both states’ efforts to wear away union’s rights. Frinko said he hopes politicians inside the capitol remember the series of rallies the next time elections come around. “Hopefully these politicians are watching and remembering we were the ones who voted them in,” he said. “We were the ones who put them there and we are the ones who can vote them out.”

Republicans reach out

The protests eventually reached the ears of senators. Yesterday, Republicans in Ohio made amendments to the bill which will grant state employees the ability to bargain for wages. Also, for the first time, workers would be prohibited from striking. “We’ve listened to the testimony,” said Senate President Tom Niehaus. “At the end of the day, our goal is to protect taxpayers. We believe with this change we would still be able to do that. Niehaus said using an independent third-party to negotiate contracts would not be used to bargain issues between state employees and the government for now. Niehaus said other adjustments to the bill are still being worked out, including issues dealing with binding arbitration between city governments, police and firefighters who are currently prohibited from going on strike. “We do have some ideas on how to address [binding arbitration], and that will become clear as we flesh it out over the next couple of days,” Kasich said. Kasich said it is too early to determine if or when law enforcement employees would be removed entirely from Senate Bill 5. Democrats appear skeptical toward the compromises offered, saying Republicans worked out the changes without consulting the minority party. “At this point, I’m less than impressed with what’s offered,” said Senate Minority Leader Capri Cafaro.

Vincent D. Scebbi / IC

Approximately 5,000 people attended Tuesday’s rally in Columbus, Ohio to protest Issue 5.

Safety From Page A1

Vincent D. Scebbi / IC

Thursday, February 24, 2011

project and not UT, because Dorr Street is the city’s responsibility, though Martinko did receive a grant from the Ohio Department of Transportation to perform the study. “In addition to the $4.4 million we got from the Ohio Department of Transportation for the safety project, additional funding ($1.7 million) through the Toledo Metropolitan Area Council of Governments for the Douglas-Dorr intersection project was approved,” Martinko said. “This most likely will be completed between 2014 and 2016.” The study included the stretch of Dorr Street between North Byrne Road and Upton Avenue and was conducted over a two-year period. “The total Douglas-Dorr project cost is estimated to be $1.7 million with $1.1 million coming from funds through TMACOG, and the remaining

$655 thousand coming from city funds,” Martinko said. “This brings the transportation improvements for this Dorr Street corridor to around $6.2 million.” The proposed safety improvement project on Dorr Street is a joint venture between UT and the city of Toledo, according to Student Government President Matt Rubin. “There would be smart technology in the traffic lights and possibly roundabouts as well,” Rubin said. “If Dorr Street is developed into a nicer area, it will make for a more pedestrian-friendly campus.” Karen Gallagher, bike friendly campus initiative director, said this could help SG see their vision for more bike transportation at UT come true. “The improvements they make should calm traffic and make the Dorr-Secor area much safer and appealing for

pedestrian travelers,” Gallagher, said. “It’s encouraging for bike initiatives on campus because it demonstrates there is a need to make our campus community more welcoming for pedestrian and bicycle travel.” Some of the solutions to the traffic issues on Dorr might include putting roundabouts at the intersections of Dorr and Parkside, and Dorr and Upton. Traffic signals would also be removed and video detection would be added. There also might be “bump outs” on certain corners at intersections for the purpose of “defining parking areas, shortening crossing distances and calming overall traffic,” according to the study. Improvements from Byrne to Secor would be adding a “pedestrian center and raised crosswalk” at the intersections of Dorr and Secor, and Dorr and Byrne.

“The universities are available only to those who share my revolutionary beliefs.” — Fidel Castro

Section

www.IndependentCollegian.com

Arts and Life Thursday, February 24, 2011

Around

Feb. 24 — Feb. 28

today Mickey Finn’s Pub — TIM IDE and JUSTAJUNKIE Films will present a local music and film night at the pub starting at 8 p.m. There is no cover charge.

Mitchell Rohrer IC Staff Writer

Toledo Museum of Art — There will be a “Smooth Glass Smooth Jazz” fundraiser held in the Glass Pavilion from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.; proceeds will benefit the Museum’s Committee for Cultural Diversity. Toledo School for the Arts’ Urban Jazz Collective will be performing for the first hour of the event and Kelvin Hughes Trio will be performing from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Tickets are $30 for members and $35 for nonmembers; this fee includes wine/beer tasting and appetizers. For ticket information call 419-255-8000 ext. 7432.

Frankie’s Inner-city — The Separation Tree will be performing a reunion show at Frankie’s with Goodbye Blue Skies, Fate of Orion and Tranquil. Doors open at 9 p.m. Tickets are $5 for those over 21 and $7 for under.

saturday

Valentine Theatre — The Ballet Theatre of Toledo will be performing Aladdin the Ballet at the Valentine Theatre. Showtimes include Saturday at 4 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets are $18, $28 and $38. For ticket information visit ValentineTheatre. com or call 419-242-2787. Frankie’s Inner-city — Two Cow Garage will be headlining at Frankie’s with Frank & Jesse, Little Black Mess and The Foreclosed. Doors open at 9 p.m. Tickets are $6 in advance and $8 at the door, the night of the show.

sunday

Frankie’s Inner-city — The World We Knew will be headlining featuring It Prevails, betrayal, Sovereign Strength and Trust Me, I’m A Doctor. Doors open at 6 p.m. Tickets are $10 in advance and $12 at the door, the night of the show.

monday

Frankie’s Inner-city — There will be at Auto Tune Karaoke night at Frankie’s on Monday night. Doors open at 9 p.m. The event will be hosted by Ian Thomas from the bands Rediscover, Sinker and Draw Blood. This event is free and all ages are welcome. There will be drink specials this night as well.

DC Guastella – Editor

Has the market for books tanked with the economy?

friday

Toledo Museum of Art — This weekend the museum will be hosting Art Hours where participants will be creating a glass flower. Art Hour times include Friday from 7-8 p.m. and 8-9 p.m., as well as Saturday and Sunday from 4-5 p.m. and 5-6 p.m. in the Glass Pavilion Hot Shop. Tickets are $15 for members and $25 for nonmembers. Tickets are available in person or by phone during museum hours, call 419-254-5771 ext. 7448 for more information. Adults and children 14+ with an adult are welcome. Participants should note that most items created in Art Hours require a 24-hour annealing (finishing) process and must be picked up at a later date.

Bookstore bankruptcy

town

Valentine Theatre — Evil Dead: The Musical will be performed at the theatre Friday and Saturday this week. Showtimes are at 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. for both days. This musical is recommended for those 16 years of age and older. Tickets are $15 plus tax. Visit ValentineTheatre.com for ticket information or call 419-242-2787.

Page

Nick Kneer/IC

After filing Chapter 11, Borders has been closing stores. The store on Monroe St. in Toledo is not one that the corporation headquarters is planning to close this year.

To join or not to join

A look at UT student organizations turned into more of an urge or an itch, as if there is something missing from t h i s experience. Although I devote every waking second to homework and my future career Throughout my as a journalA. Sharp college career it has By ist, which has IC Staff Writer always seemed as if bombarded there was something that I my life and is leaving me needed to do; lately that has with little to no time The following article is the first in a series in which staff writer A. Sharp will examine different groups on campus and explore how they interact with one another and the students who join them.

for myself, there is still something that shouts out to me “get involved.” But when trying to decide which organization to join, many questions arise. Which one would interest me? And how can I get involved? Who should I talk to? I have so many questions and I can’t help but feel overwhelmed in finding where to start. When I walk through the Student Union I can see the —Orgnizations, Page B2

Borders, the second largest US bookstore chain, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy last week. Like many Michigan companies, the chain is currently making adjustments in hopes to remain a major market competitor. This news should not come as a shock to those who have been following Borders’ revenue margins: the company has not posted a year of profit since 2006 and its annual revenue has fallen by approximately $1 billion since then. Stock shares have fallen below 50 cents a share and reported a 25 percent decline in profits over the holiday season. One problem could have been with its expansion plans. Even though Borders was in the red in 2006, it continued to open stores internationally, such as in Dubai, Sharjah, Omen and Malaysia, the last of which is Borders’ largest store at 60,000 square feet. Since this expansion, the store has sold its franchise in Australia, Ireland and the UK. Another could have been investment spent on technological development. Fourteen stores across the country got electronic upgrades, featuring MP3 players and e-readers on sale and to use in the store. In 2008, Borders began to roll out stores with highly technological store concepts, which their website

said would “present some of the most exciting and groundbreaking digital devices and services when, in for the way you live.” Select stores were also equipped with digital video monitors that also displayed news and sports. While executives may have been searching for a way to reinvent and eventually turn a profit, the company continued to dump money into unsuccessful ventures. The company showed a further turn for the worse when they broke free from Amazon.com, their sevenyear business partner for online retail. Instead, they began selling merchandise from the newly revamped Borders.com. At the time, Borders’ VP of e-business told the International Business Times that “We are a bookstore - and we have to be a real bookstore online. We really tried to make [the site] feel like a Borders store.” Between 2009 and 2010, several high-ranking positions within the company were vacated and filled by new executives. The position of CEO had changed four times in those two years, along with changes to the Chief Financial Officer, the Board of Directors, the Vice President and the President of the company. The new team consisted of a diverse group: board members Paul J. Brown and Dan Rose previously worked for — Borders, Page B2

Thoughts on the Grammy Awards For many artists, a Gram- not simply their own contrimy award is a sign that they butions that deserve recoghave finally made it in the nition, but that they had help along the way. music industry. Most people covMost artists lie between these et the Grammy two extremes award more than and it spans all any other award genres, from in the business bluegrass to and even a nomihip-hop. nation garners The real quesaccolades and tion about the respect. Grammy Awards I believe the By David Harris must be whethGrammy award IC Staff Writer er or not they does not necessarily make the artist “better.” If benefit the musician and the anything, being nominated, industry. The awards do bring recor even winning the award, can make an artist’s head get ognition—how many more bigger and cause the artist to people learned of Lady Antebelieve that they are some- bellum after this year’s prehow better than another sentation?— but music is simply based on the voting art, and art is subjective. of a few people. I am not so Awarding something subjecmuch singling out the Gram- tive with something as clearmys in this claim, but rather ly discernable as a gilded using this award show to trophy must be damaging to provide an example for all the art form, right? Searching for some altershows similar to the native opinions, I headed Grammys. Each award show tends to down to the UT Music Decreate a vacuum for those partment, hoping to hear artists who are “big-headed” from aspiring musicians and to increase their self-love. get their view on the Having the awards show Grammys. When I asked musician aired on a national stage doesn’t help these artists ei- Devin Gilbert if the awards ther. One acknowledgment improved the quality of an of a camera in the building, artists’ work, he gave a and the artist goes from a mixed answer of “yes and four to a nine on the ego no.” “I say yes because it’s good scale. On the flip side, there are to have a goal like the Gramsome artists in the world mys. It is something that an who tend to become more artist can reach for. I say no humbled after winning an award, realizing that it was — Grammy, Page B2

Nick Kneer/ IC

Toledo Photo Corner Ice covered American flag at the University Hills apartment complex.

The

Independent Collegian

Nick Kneer/IC

Does winning an award affect an artist’s success? Do music fans actually more likely to buy the album of a Grammy winner than not? Photo taken inside of Culture Clash Records on Secor Rd. in Toledo.

Grammy From Page B1 because winning an award like the Grammys can make you think that that you are bigger than you actually are,” he explained. Elliott Napier, a sophomore majoring in jazz drums, likes the Grammys, but for a different reason. “I like the Grammys because it’s good entertainment,” he said. “I watch it to see what musicians they have playing for the most part.” When asked about the effects of the Grammys on an artist’s ego, Napier shared a similar outlook to Gilbert: “I think it’s good to recognize what they’ve accomplished. I don’t think winning the Grammy makes them bigheaded either. Most of them are already big-headed.” Napier did agree with one of my points, however, that winning a Grammy does humble some artists. “I’m sure some artists realize that without God and the help of others, that they

wouldn’t have won the award,” he said. He also expressed satisfaction that jazz bassist and singer Esperanza Splading had won the award for Best New Artist. “I like her music so [winning a Grammy] was good to hear, “said Napier. “It would be great to be on that stage one day.” Pat O’Connor, an employee at Culture Clash Records on Secor Road in Toledo takes the stance that the Grammy is beneficial for the artist. “The more awards they win, the more likely people will see their music in a store and remember ‘Oh yeah, that group won a Grammy.’ Then they will buy the album because they recognize the credentials,” O’Connor said. As to be expected, O’Connor opposes illegally downloading music – though not for the reasons that you would expect. “The artist needs to make money. If you keep downloading their music off the

web, they can’t get paid,” he explained. Despite the fanfare and boost to record sales, MTV is planning an alternative quality barometer for music. The award is called “The Woodie,” and it is voted on by college students through MTV’s college marketed station mtvU’s website. The award show for the Woodies will be held in Austin, Texas, at the South by Southwest musical festival. Though it doesn’t yet have the glory of the Grammys, it is yet another award show. A spokesperson for the awards, Sharon Liveten began her press release asking “Are you disgusted by the musicians who receive the Grammy Awards?” Well, some people are, and some people aren’t. But I hardly see how giving different artists a different award is going to make any difference. — Contribution by Arts and Life Editor DC Guastella

Thursday, February 24, 2011

Organizations From Page B1

Borders From Page B1

massive banners and posters of an organization’s upcoming events, not to mention the bulletin boards and calendars plastering the walls. It just seems like there are so many to choose from -- over 180, according to UT’s website. One great attribute about the student organizations here on our campus is the wide variety available. These organizations cater to diverse groups of individuals. With so many different clubs, each offering something special, it’s difficult to pick which one deserves my time, dedication, and energy. Joining a student organization seems to be one of the first steps I can take in order to network with my peers who may have the same major or share the same long-term goals as I do. I realize this could be my chance to test my capabilities and to see if I can assess the qualities it will take to be successful in the professional world. Joining an organization could help me prove to myself that I have the skills to balance more than one thing at a time. Despite all these positive attributes, it seems like there may be some drawbacks to joining an organization on campus. I’ve noticed among the vast majority of student organizations, there is a sense of disharmony. It seems like some of these groups do not work together to create unity, which can be very uninviting for those seeking to join. Could that be the reason so many students like myself are leery or uncomfortable about joining organizations? Next Monday, the office of Student Involvement is holding its second annual Student Organizations Gala Event “A Growing Tradition.” This may be my only chance to see what opportunities await me and how I could be an asset to an organization. This event alone may help inspire more collaboration among organizations on campus to foster better success.

Hilton Hotels and Facebook respectively. One Borders employee, wishing to remain anonymous, explained that the new management team may be imposing a much more stringent business model, namely by closing down unprofitable locales. “Borders is just using the opportunity to close down old and underperforming stores,” said the anonymous employee. He also noted that the Borders in the Westfield Shopping Center in Toledo is not amongst the list of stores likely to be closing. A call to the brand-loyal A day after Borders announced their filing for bankruptcy, CEO Mike Edwards sent out an e-mail to all members their Borders rewards program. In it, he outlined plans the company has for the future and why some of the stores are closing. “Because of the ongoing impact of the difficult U.S. economy, coupled with the rapidly changing bookselling environment, we must restructure Borders and reposition our business for long-term success,” Edwards wrote. So far, that has meant Borders closing 200 of its 642 stores and receiving a $550 million loan from GE Capital. Marketing ‘experience’ Filing for Chapter 11 may not mean the end of Borders. The bylines – a part of the Title 11 United States Bankruptcy Code, is designed to prevent companies from closing, by allowing them to restructure their debt. “All print has been suffering lately, but you can’t really predict the decline,” explains Iryna Petina, professor of marketing at UT. “There is possibly a trend of people reading less – but overall electronic sales of books have been up. People are reading their news online, spending time checking social networking sites, playing video games on their phones. It’s not about books going down, however, people are choosing

to do different things with their free time,” Petina said. Reports last year from the Association of American Publishers show a 164 percent increase in the sale of electronic books. Borders, which is in the e-reader business, endorsing the Kobo e-reader, and making their books available for download. Still, the question remains whether or not the Ann Arborbased company can stay in their primary market – bookstores. “From the point of view of the marketing world, there is always a way to reinvent the brand. Frankly, I don’t think that anybody can predict what is going to happen.” “Even if they switched completely to e-readers, people may still consider coming to the store if there are entertaining settings for them to come and hang out with their friends,” Petina said. She went on to say that “the internet allows consumers to feel more empowered, because they have more control over their shopping experience. If you can do this with a store, you can attract people.” Petina pointed to the temperamental idea of “experience.” For marketing specialists, discerning why one consumer purchases one item as opposed to a comparable one often has little to do with rational decision making. Instead, shopping trends have shown that people are drawn to places that provide the desired experience, make their purchases and then rationalize the decision later. “Books are a sensory experience. Yes, it’s tangible, but you don’t buy it based on a rational decision; you can’t, you haven’t read the book yet,” she explained. Conversely, she also pointed to the aesthetic value of a physical book. Much like vinyl records, the purchase of a seemingly outdated technology is also related to the experience quotient of marketing. — Contribution by Arts and Life Editor DC Guastella

Thursday, February 24, 2011

Deficit From Page B4 deficit, while Western Michigan made 16-of-20 field goals, including 7 of 9 three-pointers. Toledo closed out the half on an 11-2 run, entering halftime down 45-16. The Rockets responded in the second half, outscoring Western Michigan 40-23 after the

break, losing 68-56. “In the second half we outtoughed them,” Kowalczyk said. “It was a tale of two halves. Unfortunately we put ourselves in a hole that we couldn’t get out of.” Redshirt-freshman forward Hayden Humes (4 of 6) had a team-high 13 points. Senior Forward Anthony Wright (4 of 8) and freshman guard Zack Leahy (3 of 7)

The

Independent Collegian had 11 points. Freshman center Delino Dear (3 of 5) was the last Rocket in double-figures with 10. Western Michigan guard Demetrius Ward (7 of 11) had a game-high 19 points. The Rockets will try to break a 10 game losing streak on Saturday when they face Northern Illinois (7-19, 3-10 MAC) at 7 p.m. in Savage Arena.

Jason Mack / IC

Lecretia Smith and the Rockets have won nine straight games and 11 in a row at Savage Arena.

Share From Page B4

Jason Mack / IC

Freshmen Reese Holliday (left) and J.T. Thomas (right) have been lost for the season with foot injuries. Holliday led the team in rebounding (5.5) and was second in scoring (10.5) and assists (2.33). Thomas averaged 4.5 points, 1.5 assists and 1.7 rebounds this season.

with 10 points, while redshirt-freshman guard Andola Dortch (3 of 9) added eight points and four rebounds. Forwards Melissa Goodall (2 of 11) and Lecretia Smith (3 of 3) tied for a team-high five rebounds. Goodall, the team’s second-leading scorer at 12 ppg, was held to six points. EMU (18-10, 9-5) was paced by senior guard Cassie Schrock (8 of 17), who recorded a team-high 23 points and seven rebounds along with seven assists, while junior guard Tavelyn James (8 of 19) added 21 points for the

Eagles. Eastern Michigan controlled the contest early, jumping out to a 25-10 lead midway through the first half. Toledo responded with a 2111 run of its own, cutting the gap to 36-31 at the break. Toledo continued to trim the Eagles lead after halftime and with 12:13 to go Shafir hit a pair of free throws to give the Rockets their first lead since a 3-0 score in the opening minutes. The contest remained close down the stretch and with the score tied at 62 with 55 seconds remaining, Shafir nailed a three-pointer that proved to be the deciding bucket.

“She gravitates toward the ball whenever the game is on the line and you have to love that about her,” Cullop said. “She’s not someone that’s going to shy away from an intense moment. She thrives in those opportunities.” “I think our coaches do a really good job of preparing us for every game and making sure we focus,” Shafir said. “Every team is going to come and try to beat us because of where we are so we have to be ready.” UT will look to take the outright MAC Championship on Saturday when they travel to Dekalb to face Northern Illinois (5-9, 11-16) in the Convocation Center at 3 p.m.

“

We didn’t compete. We felt sorry for ourselves. We are outmanned. You could make a list of 10 things [that went wrong]. Tod Kowalczyk UT Men’s Basketball Coach

Section B

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www.IndependentCollegian.com

Sports

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Thursday, February 24, 2011

Zach Davis – Editor

Rockets faced 43-5 deficit in road loss to Western Michigan By Zach Davis Sports Editor

Jason Mack / IC

Toledo head coach Tod Kowalczyk’s team trailed 43-5 yesterday with 4:40 remaining in the first half at Western Michigan. The Rockets rallied in the second half but lost 68-56 to the Broncos, extending the nation’s longest road losing streak to 46 games.

“Malcolm had his worst game of the year,” Kowalczyk Just over a month ago, To- said. “For the first time in a ledo won its lone conference long time we were much betgame of the year over Western ter when he was not on the floor.” Michigan. Since losing second-leading They got the Broncos scorer Reese Holliday attention. (10.5 ppg) for the seaWestern Michigan son with a stress fracjumped out to a comture in his foot last manding 43-5 lead Friday, Griffin has yesterday as the firstscored 10 points in place Broncos (16-11, two games. The soph8-5 Mid-American omore guard averages Conference) cruised a team-best 12.55 to a 68-56 victory over points per game this the Rockets in Kalamyear. azoo yesterday. ToleGriffin “We are going to do (4-24, 1-12 MAC) have a hard time winhas the nation’s longest road losing streak at 46 ning when Malcolm’s not playgames, and have a 1-61 record ing at a high level,” Kowalczyk on the road in the last three said. “Let’s face it, we are goseasons. They have lost all 14 ing to struggle. “When you are one games this season of the better players on the road under on the team, and first-year head coach let’s face it he’s probTod Kowalczyk. ably the best player “That had nothing now that Reese is to do with it,” said Kowalczyk of the W. Michigan 68 not here, that comes 56 with responsibility. Broncos avenging Toledo It’s about bringing it their 13-point loss to Toledo on Jan. 19. “We got every day. He picks and out-toughed to start with. chooses when he wants to Their physical presence and bring it.” The Broncos held their 43-5 ball pressure knocked us on advantage with 4:40 our heels and we remaining in the first didn’t respond until half. Jay Shunnar halftime. scored four of Tole“We didn’t compete. do’s five points, while We felt sorry for ourDelino Dear made the selves. We are outlone free throw. manned. You could Shunnar scored make a list of 10 those four points just things [that went three minutes in to wrong].” the game as Toledo Malcolm Griffin (1 of 6) scored just three Shunnar went on a 13-minute drought between field points and committed a career-high 10 turnovers in goals. The Rockets were 1 of 11 28 minutes. It was the worst scoring performance for Grif- from the field and committed fin since Nov. 19 against Illi- 11 of their 17 total turnovers nois-Chicago, when he scored at the time of the 38-point just two points off the bench — Deficit, Page B3 in 13 minutes of play.

UT sets school Second-half comeback propels record in first Toledo to share of MAC crown day of MAC Championships By Nate Pentecost IC Staff Writer

By Zack Butterfield Courtesy of UT Athletic Dept.

Day one of the 2011 MAC Swimming and Diving Championships in Athens, OH didn’t quite start out the way the University of Toledo swimming and diving team would have liked, but the Rockets finished strong, winning the 800 Free Relay and setting a new school record in the process. In the first event of the conference contest, the 200 Medley Relay, the Rocket relay squad of Christina Noens, Laura Lindsay, Amanda Thompson and Carly Harter was on pace for second place, but was disqualified during the fly to free exchange by a mere .02 seconds. The Rockets recovered in a big way in the second event, the 800 Free Relay. The team of Laura Heckroth, Harter, Kelsey Atchison and Dyer, who won the event last season, defended their title with a first-place time of 7:13.85. The time set a new school record and was just .64 seconds away from the all-time MAC record. “You never want to start out a meet with a DQ, but

our girls came back and fought hard in the 800 Free Relay,” said Head Coach Liz Hinkleman. “They competed tough tonight and got a new school record to show for it.” With the disqualification, the Rockets currently sit in eighth place with 40 points. Miami University holds the lead after the first day of action with 72 points. Action picks back up on Thursday with the preliminary heats for the 500 Free, 200 IM, 50 Free, and 1-Meter Diving beginning at 11 a.m., with the actual competition for the events beginning at 7 p.m. Live stats for the meet are available at: http://www. ohiobobcats.com/ livestats/c-swim/. Standings After Session One 1. Miami University (Ohio) 72 2. Ohio University 66 3. Buffalo, State University at N 60 4. Bowling Green State University 56 5. Akron, University of 54 5. Eastern Michigan University 54 7. Ball State University 48 8. The University of Toledo 40

Jason Mack / IC

Junior point guard Naama Shafir had 32 points, including the game-winning three-pointer with 55 seconds remaining, as the Rockets claimed the Mid-American Conference West Division Title and at least a share of the overall league championship yesterday. Users reading the digital edition at Issuu.com/Independent_Collegian can click the photo to link to a gallery of photos from the game.

Toledo overcame an early deficit to defeat Eastern Michigan 65-64 in Savage Arena yesterday. With the victory, the Rockets claimed the MidAmerican Conference West Division Title and at least a share of the overall MAC Championship for the first time since 2003. “It means an awful lot,” UT head coach Tricia Cullop said. “The thing that would mean more is to win [the MAC Title] outright. We are happy to be where we are. It has taken a lot of work to this point and all the credit goes to our players.” The Rockets (21-6, 13-1 MAC) have won nine consecutive games, as well as their last 11 contests at Savage Arena. Toledo’s 13-1 league record is the best start in school history, surpassing the 8-1 start in MAC play in 2002-03. The Toledo charge was led by junior point guard Naama Shafir (8 of 20), who had a career-high in points at Savage Arena with 32 along with seven assists and four rebounds. “I really was impressed with Naama’s tenacity,” Cullop said. “She found opportunities to get to the hole to take pull-up jump shots and get teammates involved.” Sophomore center Yolonda Richardson (5 of 8) also contributed to the Toledo effort — Share, Page B3