Issue 50

Arts & Life, B4

Sports, B1

‘West Bancroft’ premiers video “Party in the Glass City”

Shafir, Rockets top USC for WNIT Championship

Independent Collegian IC The

Monday, April 4, 2011

Serving the University of Toledo since 1919

www.IndependentCollegian.com 91st year Issue 50

Rockets win WNIT Championship Shafir scores career-high 40 points as Toledo beats USC 76-68

By IC Staff

The UT women’s basketball team beat USC 76-68 on Saturday to win the WNIT Championship. It is the first postseason tournament title in school history.

Junior guard Naama Shafir scored a career-high 40 points, including six free throws in the final 25 seconds, and was named the Tournament MVP along with

earning All-Tournament Team honors. Sophomore center Yolanda Richardson had two blocks in the game and also earned All-Tournament Team honors.

The game marked the end of the careers of seniors Melissa Goodall and Jessica Williams. Goodall scored 12 points with a game-high nine rebounds.

Junior guard Haylie Linn had 10 points and eight

rebounds in 26 minutes off the bench.

The win gives the Rockets an 18-game home winning streak as they finish the season 29-8 overall. The sellout crowd of 7,301 at Saturday’s game set a Mid-American Conference record. The attendance increased in each of the six games for a total of 25,699 throughout the tournament.

The Rockets led by 10

points with 1:05 remaining.

USC rallied to cut the score to 72-68 with 17 seconds left, but UT held on for the win.

Check out page B1 for the full story on the game. Turn to the Forum section on page A4 for an editorial on fan support. For more photos from the game, check out our photo spread on page A6 and hundreds more photos on the Independent Collegian Facebook page.

Jason Mack / IC

Nick Kneer / IC

Above, junior guard Naama Shafir scores two of her career-high 40 points in the first half of Saturday’s 76-68 win over USC. Left, the Rockets celebrate with their WNIT Championship trophy after the first post-season tournament win in school history.

‘Now! that’s what I call Songfest’ rocks Savage

By Jaimee Hilton IC Staff Writer

Blue Key National Honor Fraternity and Mortar Board National Honor Society sponsored the 74th Annual Songfest Sunday at Savage Arena.

The theme for 2011 was “NOW! That’s What I Call Songfest” and featured songs from various eras and hits from 2010. Some of the songs included “Beverly Hills” by Weezer, Lady Gaga’s “Bad Romance, “Dirty Little Secret” from The All-American Rejects, and the Backstreet Boys’ song “Drowning.”

The groups could choose songs from any of the NOW! That’s What I Call Music CD’s

and all songs from 2010.

“It gave a good variety for the groups to choose from,” said Cameron Caryer, Master of Ceremonies and Mortar Board Songfest Chair.

Twenty-four groups participated in the event, each with a different theme for their dance. Some of these themes included a circus, jail, Alice in Wonderland, baseball and a giant boom box.

The groups were split into three competitions: Men, CoEd, and Women, and the performances were judged by a panel of four judges, which included Peter DeWood, an American musician, writer, and founding member of

“Vos,” an influential avant garde music movement, John DuVall, who has been in the Toledo theatre scene for 20 years, Cynthia Ford, a former First Lady of Toledo, and first lady of the University of Toledo Ola Jacobs.

In the men’s competition, the Alpha Sigma Phi fraternity received first place. Sigma Phi Epsilon received second while Pi Kappa Alpha was third.

Campus Crusade for Christ received first place in the coed competition in its first year participating. Last year’s co-ed champion College Republicans received second and the Catholic Student Association/ Alpha Phi Omega/Toledo cam-

pus group placed third.

In the women’s competition, Kappa Delta received third, Alpha Xi Delta received second, and for the second year in a row Delta Delta Delta received first.

“Amazing,” said sophomore Emily Henry, a member of Delta Delta Delta, on how it felt to win a second year in the row. “It’s just a big honor to be the first women to win a second year in a row.”

This was Henry’s first time participating in Songfest and she said the event helped her get closer to her sisters.

Henry said she was anxious — Songfest, Page A5

Nick Kneer / IC

Brandi Barhite, Toledo Free Free Press associate editor and mentor to BG News, speaks Thursday during the Freedom Forum.

Panelists shine light on Sunshine laws

By Oreanna Carthorn IC Staff Writer

Nick Kneer / IC

Delta Delta Delta performs during yesterday’s “NOW! That’s What I Call Songfest.” They won the women’s competition, marking their second victory in as many years. Alpha Xi Delta received second place and Kappa Delta finished in third.

Members of the public have the right to request information from any public institution that utilizes taxpayer money under the Freedom of Information Act. In Ohio, these rights come in the form of the Ohio Sunshine Laws - but does the sun really shine on student journalists?

This was the topic of the 12th Annual First Amendment

Freedom Forum, which was held Thursday in the Law Center Auditorium.

Sponsored by the UT Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists and The Independent Collegian, the goal of the forum was to increase public awareness of pressing issues that threaten the flow of ideas and democracy.

The panelist of this year’s forum included Steve Leggett, UT law student and former — Sunshine, Page A5

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Independent Collegian

Monday, April 4, 2011

Songfest 2011 photos

Kevin Sohnly / IC

Kevin Sohnly / IC

Kevin Sohnly / IC

Nick Kneer / IC

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Monday, April 4, 2011

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For Rent 2,3,4,5,6,&7 Bedroom Homes. 2&3 Baths, all appliances including washer & dryer, security systems, free lawncare, plenty of parking, less than 1/2 mile from campus, some within walking distance. Call Rick at 419-283-8507! www.universityproperties.net

Real Seafood Company – now hiring experienced Servers, Line and Prep Cooks. Apply daily after 2pm, 22 Main St. in Toledo at The Docks.

HELP WANTED Bored?

Experienced energetic fun flexible babysitter needed for 4 children for occasional days, evenings, and weekends. Prefers non-smoker with own transportation. Please call Nadiya at 419-346-0150 if interested or email bnbuerk@yahoo.com

FOR RENT! Clean, spacious 4 Bedroom, 1 Full and 2 half bath home in Quiet, Safe neighborhood. Hardwood floors, full basement, large deck, plenty of parking. 3525 Rushland Ave. $1200 / mo. 419-236-2002 or email ut4rent@gmail.com 2 Bedroom Apt. 10 min. from UT on Tremainsville Rd. All appliances included. $400/ month plus gas & electric.

Call Carole 419-787-2191 Apartment for rent, 4022 Walker, Huge 1 Bdrm, Fully Renovated, New Carpet/Vinyl, Basement Storage, Gas/Electric, $430/mo + Utilities 419-787-5571

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FOR RENT: 3 and 4 bedroom houses for rent all close to UT, free lawn care, secruity systems, all appliances included call or text 419-250-2504

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Apartment; 2 Br, 3 Br, 4 Br Houses available.

Leases available beginning May, June, July, or August. www.utrentals.net Shawn 419-290-4098 Spacious Room private bathroom (Rent Negotiable) Car needed to reach campus. Location: Richard Rd. near Ottawa Hills Recommendations Needed Call (419) 531-7283 between 10am-10pm

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Forum

- in Your opinion -

A4 Reflections on NCUR

Monday, April 4, 2011

Jason Mack Editor in Chief

Elizabeth Majoy Business Manager

Randiah Green Managing Editor

- in our opinion -

Fan support from WNIT needs to carry over Congratulations to the UT women’s basketball team on winning the WNIT for the first postseason tournament title in school history. Also congratulations to junior Naama Shafir on being named the WNIT MVP and sophomore Yolanda Richardson on making the WNIT All-Tournament Team. The accomplishments mean more to the program, the university and the city as a whole than most people realize.

The energy and enthusiasm from the sold-out crowds at the Final Four and Championship games were greater than any since Savage Hall became Savage Arena. The players and coaches are the first to stress how important the crowd was in each game.

However, the fans, most notably the students, need to be more consistent with their support.

Attendance increased during each of the six games in the WNIT with back-to-back sellouts to end the season, including 7,020 fans at the Final Four and a Mid-American Conference attendance record of 7,301 at Saturday’s game. These numbers are phenomenal, but the first four games of the tournament totaled just 11,378 fans.

With six wins in the WNIT, the Rockets extended their home winning streak to 18 games. During the 12 games in the regular season, the team averaged an attendance of 2,881. With the exceptions of the Blue Crew, True Blue and student athletes, these games featured minimal student attendance. The students were often outnumbered in their own section by other fans looking to take advantage of the prime seating.

There is no excuse for not filling the approximately 1,200 student seats available at every game. This could have pushed the average attendance during those 12 games to just fewer than 4,000. It shouldn’t take a championship run to generate student support. It is free for UT students to attend quality Division I athletic events.

This goes for all athletic events at UT, not just women’s basketball. The baseball and softball team’s opened their home schedules last week, and the baseball team is off to a 4-0 start at home. Head coach Tod Kowalczyk and the men’s basketball team should be much improved next season with the addition of four transfers and several recruits. The football team will play its spring game on April 15 at 7 p.m. after going 8-5 last season.

There is also cross country, track and field, golf, tennis, volleyball, swimming and soccer. Each of the fifteen teams deserves the attention and support of UT students.

Fans should remember the fun they had during this championship run and realize they are capable of creating the same environment at all future UT athletic events.

We would also like to congratulate seniors Melissa Goodall and Jessica Williams on ending their careers in such dramatic fashion. Each has been the definition of a leader since head coach Tricia Cullop was hired before their sophomore season. They were an integral part of turning the Rockets into champions.

Continuing the spirit of support — attend local artistic events at UT and downtown 300 performing, literary and visual artists. There is plenty of live music each day and not to mention all performances and workshops are free and open to the public.

The biennial show gives these artists an opportunity to present their ideas, projects and talents. It’s open to any type of artist in any stage of their career.

These are just small samples of the night life that goes on in Toledo. It isn’t too difficult to find something fun to suit your entertainment - you just have to search for it.

Just as we showed our support during the Lady Rockets’ Championship run, it is important that the community continues its support of fellow students and community members in the arts community.

One of the more common complaints about Toledo is there is little entertainment for the college demographic.

However, even if this claim were to be true, this week would be an exception.

This week, UT is holding a series of concerts and musical workshops in light of the 34th annual UT New Music Festival, which includes a concert of electronic and mixed media Thursday night. Also, the UT Department of Theatre and Film will premiere “The House of Bernarda Alba” by Federico Garcia Lorca Friday evening.

Outside the UT community, the second of three consecutive weekends of Artomatic 419! will be going on downtown. The Artomatic is an art show hosted by the Arts Commission of Greater Toledo and features almost

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The Independent Collegian encourages your letters and welcomes the chance to publish as many as possible.

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Last November I submitted my honors thesis abstract for consideration to be chosen for the 2011 National Conference on Undergraduate Research at Ithaca College in New York.

Fortunately, I was chosen and spent l a s t We d n e s d a y through Anthony S a t u r d a y in the FinRusso ger Lakes region of New York between the two cities of Watkins Glen and Ithaca, New York.

The trip was sponsored by the Honors College and nine other students made the trip with me. Getting research recognized in a national conference is a great benefit to the university as well as the respective departments, so I would like to publically congratulate my fellow presenters – Robert Fischbach, Mallory Ladd, Steven Lombardo, Eric McCloskey, Joshua Mooney, Derek Mull, Laura Nedorezov, Rahul Prasad, and Cyndi Williams.

Ithaca College was a nice place to host a conference.

The campus was essentially shut down so over 2,000 presenters could display the research that they had been working on for months or even years. There were presenters in nearly every discipline one could think of from natural sciences to social sciences to the arts.

In addition to the intrigue of the conference and its presenters, there was the novelty of being in a new place that most of us had never experienced before.

Downtown Ithaca is a beautiful collection of old buildings, small shops and restaurants which was fun to take a walk around during the few down times during the busy days.

I didn’t know all of my fellow presenters when we left early Wednesday morning, but after 1,100 miles of driving – all done by yours truly in a 15-passenger van — and three nights in Watkins Glen’s finest motel, we all formed a pretty tight group - a wolf pack, if you will. You never know what you’re going to get when you’re dealing with a group of 15 honors students, but I think we were all pleasantly surprised as we got to

know each other.

Getting to Watkins Glen was no easy task. There are major highways for about 90 percent of the seven and a half hour trip, but once you get to New York State, the terrain gets pretty mountainous, and I’m not exactly a fan of heights – especially while driving a large box on wheels. The last 30 miles or so is all country roads, and I never knew what was around each corner or at the bottom of each hill.

The result was a mixture of breathtaking beauty and hair-raising anxiety. Like I said, I’m not a fan of heights and there were a lot of bridges and cliffside roads to deal with. It precipitated Thursday and Friday, and I say precipitated because what fell from the sky depended on the altitude.

I’d never experienced anything like it before because I’ve only been in mountainous terrain in the summer, but to drive up a mountain and literally watch rain turn into snow is quite a neat experience.

Humid, cold rain turned into large flakes of snow, and fog only added to the beauty. Imagine driving straight up a mountainside into a dense enough fog to where you can’t even see the top.

As if the road just continues forever - pretty neat stuff.

Besides the sightseeing and beautiful scenery, there was actually research that was presented. Watkins Glen is about 25 miles west of Ithaca, so each morning we would pile ourselves in the van and head over to Ithaca – about a 45-minute drive because there are no direct routes. Presentations were grouped in sets of three or four, with each one lasting 15 minutes. There were also poster sessions where students would display their work on easels for an hour or so while others walked around to view them.

The thing that I took away from the work presented by others was that our presenters from the University of Toledo did work that was at a similar or higher level than other colleges and universities. And they did just as good a job – if not better in most cases — of presenting it. It is a testament to what I’ve believed for a long time: what you accomplish in college is dependent on how hard you work.

UT offers plenty of research opportunities and

funding possibilities for students if they choose to take them. Compared to a lot of Mid American Conference schools, we do very well in getting our students and their work out into the academic community.

I dropped out of the Coast Guard Academy a few years ago and I was shocked to find that some cadets were presenting at NCUR. I went over and talked to one young lady who was presenting a poster about her research. We talked about the project because it was of interest to me, and then I told her how I was in her class.

It was especially interesting because I used to wonder what would’ve happened if I’d have stayed at the USCGA, and this sort of answered my question. I’d probably still be doing research, and presenting it at national conferences.

What’s even more ironic was what she was studying: seafood catch limits. As part of my environmental economics background I have experience with optimal catches and sustainable yield limits. So she was a little more hands-on with the work, whereas I had some theory ideas for her.

All in all the trip was a good one because I finally had an experience that was representative of what one expects when coming to college. A little bit of traveling, making new friends, and engaging in the exchange of intellectual ideas.

No one will ever confuse UT for Harvard, but we can all strive to do the best that we can in our academic careers.

I went from one of the best schools in the country to being a civilian here in Toledo, but at the end of the day, Cadet 4th Class Grimes and I both ended up at the same conference with experience studying the same issue. And I couldn’t be happier with the choice I made.

Anyone contemplating wading into research should definitely do so. And they should seriously consider applying for the NCUR next year. You’ll have a good time, learn a lot, and you won’t have to drive seven hours to get there.

It’s in Utah, so you’ll be flying.

—Anthony Russo is an IC columnist and a senior majoring in economics.

A reminder of dangers of texting while driving This week, April 4 through 10, is National Public Health Week. National Public Health Week is a nationwide event organized by The American Public Health Association (APHA) that promotes a national campaign each year to educate the public on specific health issues.

This year, the theme is “Safety is no Accident: Live Injury Free.”

The University of Toledo chapter of Eta Sigma Gamma, the health education honorary for health education and public health students, will focus this year on an ongoing dangerous activity: texting and driving.

Many people think texting and driving is not a big deal, or claim they only do it in an “emergency,” but distracted driving, particularly using a cell phone, is extremely dangerous and can be fatal.

For instance, drivers who use hand-held devices are four times as likely to get into crashes serious enough to injure themselves. Using a cell phone while driving, whether it is hand-held or hands-free, delays a driver’s reactions as much as having a blood

alcohol concentration of .08 percent, the legal limit.

Driving while using a cell phone also reduces the amount of brain activity required for driving by 37 percent.

Although texting is a fun and easy way to communicate with friends and family, texting and driving is a serious risk that can distract you from the surprises that happen on the road.

Considering the large commuter population at the University of Toledo, texting and driving is a huge temptation and likely an ongoing activity for students driving to and from classes.

There are no current bans in Ohio for texting and driving, but that will soon be changing. The Ohio House of Representatives passed a bill on Wednesday, March 23rd that would ban writing, reading and sending text messages while driving.

Drivers who get caught will be fined up to $150.

The state Senate still has to approve a texting ban before it becomes law, but members seem optimistic it will pass and follow the example of more than 20 states with laws against

texting.

If you or friends are ever tempted to text while at the wheel, here are some tips to help you avoid this activity: • Pull over to the side of the road. Staying off the road is the most preventive way to keep yourself and others safe from the distractions of texting and driving.

• Try putting your phone on silent while in the car and keeping it tucked away, to avoid being distracted - you won’t know that it’s buzzing or ringing.

• Lastly, if you are driving with a friend, ask them to text for you.

Please join Eta Sigma Gamma in the South Lounge of the Student Union on Monday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. for an interactive texting while driving exercise and obtain additional information about this topic. Hope to see you there!

—Karen Grajczyk is a sophomore majoring in public health and member of Eta Sigma Gamma.

Campus Briefly

UT Department of Chemistry

UT’s chemistry department will host a seminar today in Bowman-Oddy Laboratories Room 1059 at 4 p.m. Dionicio Siegel of the University of Texas, Austin will give a free presentation titled “Synthesis and Study of Natural Products with Regenerative Potential.”

For more information, contact Jianglong Zhu at 419-530-1501.

Sunshine From Page A1 intern to the director of public service for the city of Toledo, Tom Henry, staff writer at the Toledo Blade and mentor for The IC, Brandi Barhite, associate editor of the Toledo Free Press and mentor for the BG News and Ed Whipple, retired manag-

ing editor at The Blade..

The Ohio Sunshine Laws allow citizens to seek public records from the university, government, county agencies, and any place that receives taxpayer dollars.

“A lot of student journalists don’t know what they’re entitled to,” Barhite said.

Barhite explained that a public record could be an email, a personnel file, a text,

UT Department of Music

The music department will host four events over the course of the week as part of the Spring New Music Festival. The first is a student contemporary chamber concert tomorrow at in the Center for Performing Arts Recital Hall at 8 p.m.

The second will be a concert in the Center for Performing Arts Recital Hall Wednesday at 8 p.m. Guest conductor Mark O’Connor will be in attendance.

O’Connor will be giving an interview presentation in the Center for Performing Arts Recital Hall Thursday at 1 p.m., and there will be an electronic and mixed media concert at 8 p.m.

Each event is free and open to the public. For more information, contact Angela Riddel at 419-530-2452.

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Monday, April 4, 2011

Photos by Nick Kneer / IC

Ed Whipple (above), retired managing editor of the Toledo Blade, was on the panel at the First Amendment Freedom Forum which IC Editor in Chief Jason Mack (below) moderated.

Catherine S. Eberly Center for Women

The Eberly Center for Women will be hosting a brown bag seminar Thursday at 12:30 p.m. in Tucker Hall Room 0180. Sharon Barnes, associate professor of women and gender studies, will give a presentation about Toledo Take Back the Night. The presentation will be free and open to the public. For more information, contact Cheryl Skolmowski at 419-530-8570.

UT Department of Theatre

The UT department of Theatre will premier “The House of Bernarda Alba” in the Center for Performing Arts Center Theatre Friday at 7:30 p.m., Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets are $13 for general admission, $11 for faculty, staff, alumni and seniors and $9 for students. For more information, contact Angela Riddel at 419-530-2452.

police report, or any similar document.

One example given by Barhite was if someone at the university got fired, students have the right to request that person’s personnel file, and the university is required by law to provide it.

Barhite informed students that anyone can request information, not just journalists.

“My mom could just go in and ask to see a police report,” Barhite said. “You don’t have to identify yourself. You don’t have to tell them why you want it. You could just say ‘can I please have this information.’”

Barhite said the request could be written, verbal, over the phone, in an e-mail, or even written on a napkin.

She explained that people do not have to fill out any identifying paper work to request government held information, even if institution asks them to.

“So you maybe just want to do it because you want to be cooperative and lovely and you want to get that information as soon as possible,” she said. “But actually they can’t make you fill it out with your name and why you may want that information.”

According to Barhite, it is possible the information being requested is not compiled by a particular organization.

“Sometimes we as journalists are really quick to say, ‘I know you have it, you must give it to me,’” she said. “But if you ask for something that they don’t compile they are under no obligation to compile it for you.”

She also warned students to be mindful of collective meetings of public officials outside of scheduled meeting times.

If the majority of a government group is meeting and discussing government issues outside of a formal meeting, the public is entitled to that information as well.

Henry shared a variety of experiences with FOIA while working at the Blade and encouraged students not to be dependent on FOIA when trying to find out information.

“It’s not just a matter of going on a hunch and firing off a FOI letter and hoping something sticks against the wall,” Henry said. “Sometimes maybe you can do that but a lot of this comes back to one knowing what you’re looking for.

The more specific you can be with a FOI request the better, obviously.”

He also warned students to understand governmental institutions that are required by

law to release information can attempt to manipulate them.

“It sounds simple, freedom of information act, federal pay, everybody is going to be consistent,” Henry said. “Well, they are not. Everybody has their own personality, everybody’s interpreting it differently, everybody’s got their own strategies, whether they like reporters or not, to go into a four corner stall.”

Henry encouraged young journalists to use FOIA as a tool, not as a crutch.

“Use it to supplement your coverage, but like the internet, don’t use it like a crutch. Don’t use it in place of anything; use it to supplement what you’re going to do,” he said. “Get out their talk to people, look them in the eye. Get to know sources. Get to know people who are going to be able to help you.”

Though everyone has the right to access public information, the Ohio Sunshine Laws do allow for some exceptions specifically for journalists according to Barhite.

“There are a few things that you can request as a journalist, with proof that you are a journalist, and that includes autopsy and coronary reports, and if you went to the sheriff’s office you could request a list of everyone in the county who owns a concealed weapon,” she said.

According to Barhite, to enact these special journalistic rights journalists do have to say why they want the information and prove their credentials.

“I think that sometimes journalists shut down when they don’t get a request fulfilled,” Barhite said. “Actually that’s a story. It can be part of your story.”

The nine “ations” of FOIA

Whipple offered a list of nine things for student journalists and others to keep in mind when requesting information.

These include explanation, imprecation, investigation, revelation, intervention, fulmination, perforation, deviation, and litigation.

The principle of explanation is knowing the laws “Each state has them, the federal government has them,” Whipple said. “They are all a little bit different. They are all shot through with loopholes and there are all sorts of acceptations that are implemented through other types of laws that don’t have anything to do with the freedom of information, but it helps if you’re a

journalist, and it helps to know the laws at least in the part of the arena that you happen to be acting or fighting.”

Imprecation is going above the source to their boss and persuading the source’s boss to release the information.

“Imprecation: if the source won’t give it to you, why go to the source’s boss and sometimes you can persuade the boss who can then tell the other person to fork over the information,” Whipple said.

Investigation is finding the information elsewhere and revelation is reporting the withholding of information.

“Every once in a while, it’s good to dig into a source by saying so and so refused to comment or refused to provide the information,” Whipple said. “That sometimes is enough to shake loose some information but maybe not as often enough as you would think.”

Intervention, having someone of power do the talking, may produce results, according to Whipple.

Fulmination is the use of editorial writing to criticize an organization or individual for not providing the information, though Whipple warned this should not be overused and is not always appropriate.

Perforation is finding the major “leakers” or people who will talk about what they hear or witness and getting the information that way.

Whipple also spoke about deviation.

“I don’t recommend doing all these things, and I wouldn’t admit to having doing any of them, however, I guess if you want something bad enough it’s probably okay to hack,” Whipple said.

Elements of deviation presented by Whipple included reading upside down, listening at the door, bugging the room, and wandering in and sitting down in the room to take notes.

Whipple said a journalists last option should be litigation.

“The last thing you want to do if file a lawsuit,” he said.

His reasoning was that it cost money, it takes time, and journalists may lose.

“You may set a bad precedent, so save the litigation for the last resort,” he said.

Journalists may end up in negations regardless because many courts in Ohio do not like to make the media mad and they do not like to make big corporations angry, so they may suggest both parties reach an agreement before coming to court, according to Whipple.

Kevin Sohnly / IC

Nick Kneer / IC

Alpha Sigma Phi performs during yesterday’s “NOW! That’s What I Call Songfest.” They won the men’s competition. Sigma Phi Epsilon received second place and Pi Kappa Alpha took third.

Mistress of ceremonies and vice president of Blue Key Tia Hornish talks during yesterday’s event.

Songfest From Page A1 to see the other performances and how they were going to use their props.

She said her group had been preparing for the event since February and to her winning felt awesome.

“It was very well deserved; we’ve worked really, really hard,” she said. “We’ve just put all of our heart and soul

into this.”

This year’s Songfest was also the first for the Phi Mu Alpha fraternity. According to sophomore member Robby Anthony, going into the event was for the experience.

“It was our first year performing and we just wanted the overall experience of performing in Songfest,” Anthony said.

The philanthropy group for the event was Sponsored Silence, which raises awareness

about communication disorders and demonstrates the importance of language.

Throughout the event, the different groups could donate and at the end of the night the group with the most donations would receive an award.

The Kappa Delta sorority won the Philanthropy Award.

Throughout the event numerous awards were distributed and Mortar Board and Blue Key also held their recognitions and tapping.

“I think all in all it went really well and we had a great performance, but you’re gonna have your ups and downs.

But i think overall I’m very satisfied. We couldn’t have done it without the flexibility of Mortar Board, Blue Key and the university,” Caryer said.

For more photos from Songfest, visit the Independent Collegian’s Facebook page.

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Monday, April 4, 2011

2011 WNIT Champions

Jason Mack / IC

Nick Kneer / IC

Jason Mack / IC

Nick Kneer / IC

Joseph Herr / IC

Jason Mack / IC

Jason Mack / IC

Joseph Herr / IC

Nick Kneer / IC

Jason Mack / IC

Nick Kneer / IC

Jason Mack / IC

Nick Kneer / IC

Jason Mack / IC

“

This may have been the best thing to ever happen to our program. We got to be part of a national tournament and our fans got to enjoy all of this with us.

Tricia Cullop UT Women’s Basketball Coach

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Sports Monday, April 4, 2011

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Zach Davis – Editor

Shafir, Rockets top USC for WNIT Championship

By Nate Pentecost IC Staff Writer

Goodall (5 of 7) aided the effort with 12 points and a game-high Toledo captured the first nine rebounds while junior postseason tournament crown Haylie Linn (3 of 8) added 10 in school history with a 76-68 points and eight boards.

USC (24-13) was led by redwin over Southern California in the WNIT Championship on shirt-sophomore Briana GilSaturday in front of a Mid- breath (6 of 13) who had 14 American Conference record points and tied for a game-high nine rebounds. Jacki Gemelos 7,301 fans at Savage Arena.

Toledo (29-8) ended the sea- (5 of 18) and Cassie Harberts (6 son on an 18-game home win- of 13) also scored 14 points as a ning streak, including all six of total of five Trojans reached their victories in the WNIT. UT double figures. Gilbreath and defeated four power confer- Gemelos were each named to ence opponents en route to its the WNIT All-Tournament first WNIT Championship.

Team.

“Even though we would have With USC leading 47-45 at the loved to be a part of the NCAA 12:04 mark of the second half, Tournament, this may have Shafir put the Rockets on her been the best thing to ever hap- back, scoring nine of the next pen to our program,” UT Head 12 points to give Toledo a 57-47 Coach Tricia Cullop said. “We edge with under nine minutes got to be part of a national tour- to go. USC would close the gap nament and our fans to 70-66 in the final got to enjoy all of this minute but Shafir’s with us.” clutch free throw Junior guard Naashooting helped Tolema Shafir (13 of 27) do pull out the chamfronted the Rocket at- Toledo 76 pionship win. tack with a career- USC The Rockets will 68 high 40 points to go lose second leading with eight rebounds scorer Melissa Goodand four assists. She was all (14 ppg) and Jessica Williams named WNIT Most Valuable to graduation, but look forward Player and earned All-Tourna- to the return of sophomore forment Team honors along with ward Lecretia Smith, who has sophomore Yolanda Richard- been out since suffering a knee son (4 pts, 5 reb, 2 blk). injury in February. Junior center The Trojans closed to within Kyle Baumgartner, a former Allfour late, but Shafir drained six MAC performer who sat out this free throws in the last 25 sec- season after transferring from onds of the game to snap a 13-4 Akron, is also expected to make USC run and secure the game. an immediate impact for the “She steps to the forefront, Rockets next year. begs for the ball, and carries “We are going to miss Melissa us,” Cullop said. “She is as good Goodall and Jessica Williams,” as they come. I think she sophomore center Yolanda showed tonight that she is one Richardson said. “They helped of the best guards in the us out tremendously, but I think country.” that next year we are going to “She’s a great player,” USC be bringing in good people too.

Head Coach Michael Cooper If we keep working hard and said. “She did what she had to keep doing the things we need do to get this win for her team.” to do we will be good next year Senior forward Melissa too.”

Joseph Herr / IC

Junior Naama Shafir scored a career-high 40 points as Toledo secured the WNIT Championship over USC on Saturday.

Toledo remains unbeaten at home, sweeps Akron

By Zach Davis Sports Editor

Joseph Herr / IC

Shafir was named WNIT Tournament MVP after UT’s 76-68 victory over the Trojans.

Coming home was just what the Rockets needed.

After being selected to finish second in the Mid-American Conference in the preseason coaches poll, Toledo began the year winning just seven of its first 22 games, all of which were on the road.

Since their home opener last Wednesday, however, the Rockets have won all four of their games at Scott Park, including a three-game sweep against Akron this weekend.

“Obviously it’s nice to be at home with the long stretch we had,” UT Head Coach Cory Mee said. “At home we are just executing a little bit better than we were at the beginning of the year. Our guys all year long have given great effort but we are competing and executing better. That’s really been the key to our success the last few ballgames.”

Toledo, which entered the series with a 4.03 ERA on the season, was bolstered against the Zips thanks to its starting pitching. Starters Mike Hamann (1-2), Kyle Shaw (3-1) and Lincoln Rassi (1-4) combined to give up just three runs in 23 innings with 10 strikeouts and just one walk.

Hamann received a no-decision after throwing 10 scoreless innings on Friday. Shaw began Saturday’s doubleheader giving up just two runs over eight innings, while in game two Rassi earned his first win of the year allowing just one

Jason Mack / IC

Senior Chris Dudics and the Rockets are unbeaten in four games at Scott Park, including this weekend’s sweep of Akron. run in five innings.

“Our pitching was very good this weekend,” Mee said.

“Mike Hamman was outstanding. Kyle Shaw gave us a great outing too and I was really glad to see Lincoln Rassi pitch well Saturday. We got three outstanding starts.

“We made Akron earn everything they got. That’s one of our goals as a staff is to throw a lot of strikes and we executed very well this weekend.”

Ben Hammer led the way at — Unbeaten, Page B2

B2

Unbeaten From Page B1 the plate for the Rockets, picking up five hits against Akron. The junior centerfielder has a team-best .333 batting average on the year.

“I think he is really coming into his own,” Mee said. “You can tell he’s feeling better at the plate and is more confident. There’s no question he’s a big part of our success lately, in particular since we moved him into the threespot in our lineup. He’s really doing a great job for us.”

Dan Sherwood had four hits and five RBI on the

The

Independent Collegian weekend, including his teamleading third home run of the season. Second baseman Wes White had five hits and leftfielder Tyler Grogg recorded four hits and two runs.

The Rockets opened the series with a 1-0 victory over 13 innings over Akron. Third baseman Joe Corfman reached in the 13th on an error, leading to a game-winning single by Sherwood.

“We are doing the things in particular late in the game that you have to do to come out on top,” Mee said.

In the opening game of Saturday’s doubleheader,

Monday, April 4, 2011

Toledo trailed 2-1 before scoring four late runs to grab a 5-2 victory. The Rockets led throughout the second game, scoring five runs in the first three innings and cruised to a 6-4 win.

“We were making the plays,” Mee said. “You need to hit, pitch and make defensive plays in the clutch and this weekend we did that.”

The Rockets will look to add to their four game winning streak when they travel to Dayton to face the Flyers on Tuesday at 4 p.m. before returning on Wednesday to face Cleveland State at 3 p.m. at Scott Park.

Nick Kneer / IC

WNIT All-Tournament Team Alongside Naama Shafir, Yolanda Richardson (above) was selected to the WNIT All-Tournament Team. Shafir was selected as the tournament’s most valuable player.

Jason Mack / IC

Adam Tyson worked 1.2 scoreless innings of relief in Saturday’s 6-4 victory over Akron.

UT falls in doubleheader Courtesy of UT Athletics

The University of Toledo softball team fell twice at the hands of the Kent State bats in a doubleheader Saturday at Scott Park. The Golden Flashes took advantage of ten Rocket errors and scored a total of 31 runs, defeating UT 11-1 and 20-9 in the two run-shortened matchups.

Between the two games, Kent State utilized three big innings of five, six and 12 runs to pull away from the Rockets (5-22; 1-3 MAC) in the second MAC series of the season.

Even though the Golden Flashes often held large leads, the Rockets refused to quit.

Four players recorded multi-hit efforts in Game Two including Courtney McCarthy (2-for-3, 2B, 2 RBI), Lindsey Tobias (3-for-3, HR, 2 RBI), Keri Gallagher (2for-3, 2B) and Morgan Smith (2for-3, HR, 2 RBI).

Kent State’s offensive onslaught began early in Game One. The Golden Flashes struck for two in the opening frame on an RBI-double and an error, and added two more in the top of the second on an RBI-double to go ahead 4-0 through two. They then added an RBI-single in the third to go up five before striking for a big inning in their half of the fourth.

Two RBI-doubles, a two-run single and a sac fly piled on five runs for KSU in the fourth, while a solo home run in the fifth stretched the lead to 11-0 and forced the Rockets into their last at-bat. Toledo managed to take away the shutout as junior Kattie Palmer crossed the plate via a wild pitch in the bottom of the fifth, but was unable to push across any more and fell 11-1 in five innings.

Game Two proved to be a barnburner, with Kent State plating 18 runs in the first two innings to make any Rocket rally a difficult task. The Rockets did manage to score nine runs, including a big five-run inning of their own, but were unable to cut down the insurmountable lead of the Golden Flashes.

In their first two at-bats, Kent State batted around in each inning, took advantage of seven Rocket errors and plated 18 runs on 13 hits.

After a six-run first inning by the Golden Flashes, Tobias was

Jason Mack / IC

Senior pitcher Whitney Young allowed 12 runs (seven earned) on eight hits in one inning of work on Saturday. able to reduce the deficit with a two-run blast over the right field fence, her team-leading fifth of the season.

The top of the second proved to be the nail in the coffin, as KSU utilized a three-run home run, a two-run home run, a pair of two-run singles, a two-run double and an RBIsingle to score 12 runs and jump ahead 18-2.

Toledo again tried to cut into the overwhelming lead in their half of the second. Smith smacked her first round-tripper of the season to deep center field, scoring Gallagher and reducing the lead to 18-4.

After another two-run home run by KSU in the third pushed the score to 20-4, the Rockets put together a big inning of their own in the bottom of the fourth.

Gallagher and Smith started the inning off with back-toback singles. Palmer followed with a walk to load the bases

and sophomore second baseman Becki Heimbigner drew a free pass of her own to plate Gallagher. The next batter, McCarthy, drove a double to deep left field to score Smith and Palmer and put two runners in scoring position without an out recorded. Sophomore designated player Erinn Wright brought Heimbigner home with an RBI-groundout and McCarthy scored on a wild pitch to cut the KSU lead down to 20-9.

Neither team scored in the fifth as the game went final after two hours and fifteen minutes, with Kent State prevailing 20-9 in the run-shortened game.

Next up, the Rockets will take on Youngstown State in a mid-week doubleheader on April 6. Following that UT will continue conference play as they take on Central Michigan and Eastern Michigan on April 8-10.

Cobain From Page B4

Nick Kneer/IC

Joey DeMarco (Nick Kneer) is the male protagonist of “West Bancroft Side Story” and the star of the short “Party in the Glass City.”

Promo From Page B4 single girl that he sees,” said Gage Howell, who plays Marky in the show. “At the party, everybody’s having a good time and Marky’s struggling with his problem after he sees a good-looking girl.”

The video serves as the prologue of the show and, according to Kneer, the music is a little different from the others in the show.

“This song is more general – a lot of the other songs served to move the plot along.

This one is more of an establisher,” he said. “It just sets the scene, explains a little background and serves as the prologue.”

The promo’s theme of new beginnings echoed with the cast while they were filming.

“At the end, everybody’s dancing with each other – this

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Monday, April 4, 2011

is personally my favorite part of the promo because it looks really good – it’s the first time we actually danced all together, so that was really cool,” Howell said.

“Party in the Glass City” is a small sample of the vocal talents of the cast as well as the writing and choreography of the show. The video has been in production for quite some time and, to the members of the cast, has been a long time coming.

“We filmed the promo first semester,” Howell said. “We filmed in… November? Time’s kind of flown by, doing all of this, so it’s kind of surprising to think we’ve been filming since November.”

While the first episode of “West Bancroft Side Story” will be released later this week, interested viewers can check out the promo, which was released on Facebook

and YouTube Friday.

In fact, viewers were able to see something only members of West Bancroft Side Story’s editing staff have been able to see.

“It’s great to be able to see the promo, because it’s the first part of the show that I have seen edited,” Howell said. “It seems like we’ve been working for so long and I haven’t seen the edited versions of anything. It’s really awesome to be able to see.”

“Party in the Glass City” can be found online at YouTube. com/user/UTTVOnline (UTTV’s YouTube channel) or by searching “Party in the Glass City” in the YouTube search bar.

The first episode of “West Bancroft Side Story” will premiere April 9 on YouTube and campus channel 31.

that he may still be alive, but faked his own death to avoid fame as per his documented aversion to public life. These types of rumors are commonplace with the aforementioned group, regardless of confirmation of coroner’s reports and autopsy photos.

Cobain’s grandfather remains a steadfast objector to report of suicide, believing that his grandson was murdered.

After his death, Love’s public struggles with heroin and the custody of their child Frances Bean Cobain became a separate issue in the media altogether. It would seem that the memory of Cobain and his contribution to music were mostly forgotten.

Fans have chosen to honor the anniversaries of his death by staging public vigils, playing Nirvana’s music, and gathering at the couple’s former home in Seattle and his childhood home in Aberdeen, Wash.

The following is a playlist that not only highlights some of Cobain’s finer works, but can be used by fans to remember the artist on the anniversary of his death. Don’t just listen and remember Cobain, but remember a not-sodistant era of pop music where artists took greater risks - and suffered heavier consequences.

1.

Nirvana – Come As You Are – One of the singles from the band’s platinum Nevermind album released in 1992. As with the other songs on the album, producer Butch Vig subverted Cobain’s punk rock ethos of single-track recording, by using overdubbing and postproduction effects on Cobain’s guitar. Sound bytes of Cobain singing “I don’t have a gun” and “memoria” were sampled and played over the track at Vig’s behest. The song remains standard on many alternative rock stations across the country and the title is used on the sign welcoming drivers to Aberdeen, Wash., Cobain’s hometown. It was one of the band’s biggest hits.

2.

Nirvana – About A Girl – Two versions of the

song exist: the original recording on the band’s first album Bleach, and the acoustic version from 1994’s MTV’s Unplugged, later released as a posthumous single. The latter is the better of the two, as it accurately portrays a somber desperation of a man who had been contemplating suicide and sunken deep into drug addiction. The acoustic version also stands as a metaphor for Cobain’s career: it was written about girlfriend Tracy Marander before the band was famous, and after re-recorded in New York for the Unplugged session it was released as a single.

3.

Meat Puppets – Plateau – The Meat Puppets were an influence to Cobain, and Nirvana later covered the song in their Unplugged performance. The lyrics seem to suggest a dissatisfaction with goal-orientated actions and those hoping to reach their own “plateau,” which is described apathetically in the lyrics. This song deserves to be on the list for two reasons; both stem from the lines “many hands began to scan around for the next plateau… others decided it was nowhere except for where they stood, but those were all just guesses, wouldn’t help you if they could.” First, it relates to some of the text in Cobain’s suicide note, where he writes “…when we’re back stage and the lights go out and the manic roar of the crowds begins, it doesn’t affect me the way in which it did for Freddie Mercury, who seemed to love, relish in the love and adoration from the crowd… the worst crime I can think of would be to rip people off by faking it.” In Cobain’s mind, there was “nothing on the top,” as the song states, and he felt that he had reached his own plateau. The other reason is that years after his death, MTV News correspondent Kurt Loder wrote an editorial claiming that Swedish garage rock band The Hives filled the void of “great savior” left

by Cobain’s passing. Since his 2002 posting, it is obvious that Loder was wrong. The faulty assertion and lyrics seem to beg the question of whether there even is a rock’n’roll savior, or if the

idea is as trite and unrealistic as any longwinded goal. It is not surprising that Nirvana frequently covered this song in the time prior to Cobain’s suicide.

4.

Foo Fighters – My Hero – Frontman of the Foo Fighters and former drummer for Nirvana Dave Grohl has repeatedly stated that the song is not about Cobain, but instead about the everyday heroes in any person’s life. That being said, last year Grohl told online music source NME that news of Cobain’s death was “probably the worst thing that has happened to me in my life… usually it takes something like [suicide] for people to appreciate life as a gift and you have to take advantage of the time that you have.”

Thus, it is hard to listen to the lyrics “Don’t the best of them bleed it out while the rest of them peter out?” and not think of Cobain. As with any work of art, interpretation is in the eye (or ear) of the appreciator – notwithstanding the creator’s intentions.

5.

Nirvana – Rape Me – Possibly the band’s most controversial song, released on their final and most critically acclaimed In Utero album. The song was so controversial, that it was renamed “Waif Me” on albums sold at national retailers, and the band was specifically told not to play it at a number of venues. One of these venues was the 1992 MTV Music Video Awards, where the band began playing it, but then transitioned into their hit single “Lithium.” Cobain later remarked that it was a practical joke done to give event producers “a little heart palpitation.” Musically, the song is the reverse chord progression of their biggest hit “Smells Like Teen Spirit,” while lyrically it is both an anti-rape anthem and an introspective tale of Cobain’s hatred of public life. Cobain was a controversial and often enigmatic public figure, and though unearthing press releases of his strange behavior may be one way to relive the fanfare of Nirvana, listening to the song is perhaps a more nostalgia-friendly way

“I hope I die before I turn into Pete Townshend.”

— Kurt Cobain

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Arts and Life Monday, April 4, 2011

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DC Guastella – Editor

‘West Bancroft’ premiers video “Party in the Glass City” hit the web Friday

Nick Kneer/IC

The prologue to “West Bancroft Side Story” follows Joey DeMarco (Nick Kneer, right) as he meets his roommate Marky (Gage Howell, left) and new friend Ben (Katie Nelson, center.)

By Feliza Casano Copy Chief

“Got my hands up, my system is on, I know I’m gonna be okay – hey, it’s a Party in the Glass City!”

Those are just some of the lyrics in “Party in the Glass City,” a parody of Miley Cyrus’ “Party in the U.S.A.” and a music video promo released on YouTube by UTTV Friday in anticipation of the first episode’s re-

lease April 9.

The promo is set more than a year before the events of “West Bancroft Side Story” and follows the show’s protagonist, Joey DeMarco, as he meets his new roommate during his freshman year at college.

“The prologue is basically about a freshman coming to UT for the first time and experiencing college life for the first time, being nervous

about fitting in, making friends, just finding your way,” said Nick Kneer, who plays Joey.

In the beginning, the video follows Joey as he is first moving into Ottawa West, the not-so-fictional home of the fictional Ottawa group.

“He is nervous, he’s homesick, he doesn’t know what to expect,” Kneer said. “There’s a bit of a culture shock – ‘everyone seems outrageous,’ to

quote the song, but then he finds something very familiar to him.”

The lyrics of “Party in the Glass City” reveal a few important details about Joey – such as his passion for the Xbox 360 and the game Halo.

“The boy walks around in a Halo shirt, so that kind of tells you a little bit about him,” Kneer said. “Not to get philosophical or anything, but Halo is kind of his realization that he

can fit in and people are going to accept him, and no matter where you go you’re going to find ways to connect with people.”

The second part of the video focuses on Marky during the party that Ben (played by Katie Nelson) takes the two boys to at Parks Tower.

“Marky is already starting his ‘reign’ as the guy who hits on every — Promo, Page B3

Seventeenth anniversary of Kurt Cobain’s death Wednesday will mark abruptly in 1994, when the 17th anniversary of after a night of herointhe death of Nirvana fueled catharsis, he took guitarist and frontman his own life.

In the aftermath of his Kurt Cobain. For those growing up in the ‘90s, suicide, his widow the music of Courtney Love read his suicide Nirvana reprenote publically, sented the rewhere he cited bellious maindistaste for stream of popufame and media lar music. intrusion into Nirvana’s muhis private life sic was endemic as reasons for of the times – they were parhis suicide.

As with tially responGuastella many stars sible for popu- DC Arts and Life Editor who fit the larizing “grunof Neil ge,” a style of music archetype known for its gritty Young’s “it’s better to overdriven and distort- burn out than it is to ed guitars, as well as rust,” as stated in his gruff, often shouted lyr- 1979 song “Hey Hey, My ics ranging in subject MY (Into the Black),” matter from social the causes of Cobain’s awareness to melodra- early death have been disputed by fans – inmatic non sequitur.

Like many of his edgy cluding some specula‘90s contemporaries tion that Love may have been involved and belief Alan Berner/Seattle Times/MCT (Tupac Shakur, Bradley Nowell of Sublime, etc), “Miss U Kurt” is among the messages left on a bench in Viretta Park along Lake Washington next to the home where Kurt Cobain Cobain’s life ended —Cobain, Page B3 and Courtney Love lived and Cobain took his own life. His stature as a song writer/performer/poet remains undiminished.