Sports, B4
Arts & Life, B1
UT wins six straight; and Cullop addresses coaching rumors
Ethnic student groups at UT
Independent Collegian IC The
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Serving the University of Toledo since 1919
www.IndependentCollegian.com 91st year Issue 51
‘UT Matters’ to be cut By Jaimee Hilton IC Staff Writer
Joseph Herr / IC
Studying in the rain Aaron Jones, a junior recreation and leisure studies major, seeks shelter from the rain as he studies underneath one of the awnings outside of the Student Union.
The University of Toledo will be ending its “UT Matters” program and advertising campaign in order to save money for the Fiscal Year 2012 budget. The program, which was used to communicate with the community about the different programs, people and aspects UT has to offer, has cost the university $400,000 a year. “What we’re going to do is continue to work with the Toledo Blade and Buckeye Cable on ongoing programs,” said Larry Burns, vice president for external affairs and interim vice president for equity and diversity at UT. “We, within my division, will be doing more of the production work and things of that nature. We will still be getting our word out from a marketing perspective, but we’ll do a lot more of it internally.” Burns was faced with having to consider ending three programs at UT to save money for the university. The programs included the
One dress, one month
Blue and Gold Scholarship program, efforts to market UT to Michigan students and UT Matters. Burns said there were two major factors involved with choosing to continue the Blue and Gold scholar program and advertising UT to Michigan students over the UT Matters program. The Blue and Gold Scholars program has been very successful in recruiting students from all over Ohio, Burns explained. “It continues to be a financially positive program for the university,” he said. “It produces positive income as well as offering students the opportunity to go to college that would otherwise not go due to financial reasons.” Burns said the university’s investment in marketing to Michigan students has proven to be effective. “Not only are we recruiting
Fiscal 2012 Budget and Reengineering Taskforce
more students from a broader geographic range. Financially, it produces that positive bottom line for the university,” he said. According to Burns, keeping programs like the Blue and Gold Scholarship is important because “we are not yet where we want to be as it relates to top of mind and reputation across our region, so marketing and advertising plays an enormous role in getting the word out about what we offer at UT, where we are, who we are and where we’re going.” Associate Vice Burns President for Marketing Esther Fabian and her department oversee UT Matters and work with The Blade, Buckeye Cable and the other advertising agencies. They coordinate the ways in which all of the participants are involved and help with interviews and filming. “Well, I don’t know that there
President’s Recommended Budget
Board of Trustees FY 2012 Operating Budget
Raising money and awareness for the Daughter Project By Vincent J. Curkov IC Staff Writer
As dresses come out of the wardrobe as the weather warms up, some women are raising awareness for sex trafficking by wearing their Sunday’s best for a month. Erika Lowry, a senior majoring in social work, said the One Dress, One Month Project is an event where women wear one dress for a month to raise awareness about sex trafficking in Toledo. “[We hope] to open people’s eyes to what is going on,” said Shannon Longnecker, a junior majoring in biology. According to the Columbus Dispatch, over 1,000 youths were trafficked in Ohio alone - a majority of which pass through Toledo, making it the fourth highest city in the U.S. in terms of sex trafficking incidents. The One Dress, One Month Project also raises money for the Daughter Project, a Christian non-profit organization dedicated to helping victims of sex trafficking in Northwest Ohio. “It just struck something in me like, wow, women should not be treated like that,” Lowry said. The money raised by the Daughter Project will go toward building a house to act as a recovery center for victims of sex trafficking, Lowry said. The Daughter Project will not reveal the location of the house
until construction is complete because of the safety of the workers and victims. In the past, pimps and other nefarious characters have vandalized the site or assaulted workers. The event was inspired by a student at Bowling Green State University, Amy Scissert, who wears a dress for six months to support the effort. Lowry said a Facebook group started and “exploded” to almost 150 members. The One Dress, One Month Project was started by Lowry and Longnecker, who hope to raise money as well as awareness. In order to participate, students have to wear a dress from March 24 to April 24. They do not have to sleep or work out in it. Participants are also not shopping for clothes during the month and donating the money they would have spent to The Daughter Project. Some women are getting creative with how they wear their dress. “Some girls have worn their dresses as scarves, but me, I’m not as creative,” Longnecker said. The One Dress, One Month Project has several participants who are also members of Campus Crusade for Christ and International Justice Mission. CRU is a non-denominational Christian organization on campus and IJM is a program that helps victims of sex trafficking. The Toledo chapter was — Dress, Page A4
Photo courtesy of TheDaughterProject.org
will be negative effects. There will obviously be some fiscal benefits to discontinuing the program. We will be able to efficiently meet the same objectives in terms of letting people know things that are going on at the institution through other means,” Fabian said. No UT jobs will be lost when the program is cut. “The internal people will just have more work passed to them, the people in marketing and communication,” Burns said. “The external people we worked with, we just won’t be working with them any longer.” Fabian said when the program is cut they will be incorporating more marketing initiatives they have been working on for a while in order to continue advertising for the university and keeping the community informed on the happenings of the university. She said they’ll be using more traditional forms of advertising as well as newer forms including social media and other interactive ways through the Internet.
President
Special Liaison Senior Leadership
Responsibility Group
Fiscal 2012 Budget and Reengineering Taskforce
Finance & Strategy Committee
Budget Hearings
Colleges | Divisions
Constituency Representation Photo courtesy of Utoledo.edu
The flowchart above represents the process flow for the Fiscal 2012 Budget and Reengineering Taskforce at the University of Toledo.
Budget suggestions By Oreanna Carthorn IC Staff Writer
With imminent budget cuts looming for Fiscal Year 2012, UT’s Budget and Reengineering Taskforce is asking faculty, staff and students for cost-saving suggestions that would improve UT. Over 200 suggestions to help fill the more than $30 million shortfall have been collected, including furloughs, outsourcing student services and eliminating bonuses for all. Chuck Lehnert, special assistant to the president and interim director of the Scott Park Campus for Energy and Innovation, is leading the group to evaluate ideas on how to save the university money. The group is also seeking revenue-generating suggestions. “The budget is tight and getting worse,” Lehnert said. “We had to do something different than what we’ve been doing
traditionally because we need to come up with a bigger reduction.” Lehnert said the taskforce is trying to find opportunities to fix operational issues through the suggestions. Students, faculty and staff can submit their suggestions through the taskforce website or by simply telling Lehnert a suggestion in person. “They are all pretty much variations of the same thing,” Lehnert said. “They are either here is an opportunity for us to reduce or consolidate, here is an opportunity for us to generate additional revenue.” These ideas have been categorized as overarching ideas, span of control or department consolidation, faculty productivity,
outsource and co-sourcing, underperforming functional areas, best operational practices, efficiency and lowdollar impact improvements, bottom-up ideas, and revenue enhancements. All ideas are being considered and evaluated based on how feasible and valid they are, according to Lehnert. “It can’t be in conflict with the strategic plan,” Lehnert said, as a first step for evaluating the ideas submitted by the university community. Other examples of suggesLehnert tions submitted include smaller printing quotas, reevaluating marketing budgets, increasing faculty workload and eliminating tenure for faculty. “We haven’t adopted any— Budget, Page A4
Forum
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Thursday, April 7, 2011
Jason Mack Editor in Chief
Elizabeth Majoy Business Manager
Randiah Green Managing Editor
- in our opinion -
Let’s act like adults; save the govt. from closing As the week winds down, it appears to be last call in Washington as Congress continues its struggle to balance the budget. So long as no progress can be made by Friday at midnight, Congress will close for the first time in 15 years through Sep. 30, the end of the budget year. Last night, President Obama called in Speaker of the House John Boehner (R-Ohio) and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nevada) to help devise a compromise suited for both parties, who have been publicly criticizing the other. Obama called for lawmakers to “act like grown-ups, and when we are in negotiations like this, that everybody gives a little bit, compromises a little bit in order to do the people’s business.” The meeting was deemed as unsuccessful and Obama said prior that as long as there are no compromises being made, he will continue to meet with the two leaders until a middle ground is reached. Boehner said while in a meeting with fellow Republicans, he will bring a spending resolution to the House floor today which will cut $12 billion and fund the Pentagon for the rest of the year. While Republicans rallied behind his proposal, Democrats in the Senate stand opposed because of an unrelated provision which would ban federal and local government
funding for abortions in Washington D.C. The vote would be a political maneuver and open the party to criticism if the government closes. Reid said he and Democrats have been more than reasonable and fair and would be willing to compromise if the abortion funding clause would be removed. “All they’d have to do is say ‘yes,’” Reid said. A recent article from Fox Toledo said the closing will affect 800,000 government workers, but some will stay in work such as members of the military and law enforcement. The United States Secret Service will still protect the Obamas and the Bidens. There will still be Secret Service officers at various locations around the White House campus. The District would lose trash collecting for three days and libraries and the DMV would close until funding comes to aid. Although his frequent comparisons to children are upsetting Congressmen, Obama makes a valid point in calling for both sides to be willing to make concessions. When facing a congressional shutdown, party affiliation shouldn’t matter - rather the effects on the American people. Similar to the way any long-term relationship works, it is important to see the big picture as top priority versus personal gain, a lesson politicians should keep in mind after this week.
Cut was lesser of three evils; listen to suggestions vice president for equity and diversity. In addition to cutting UT Matters, over 200 suggestions from students, faculty and staff have been submitted to UT’s Budget and Reengineering Taskforce. Examples of suggestions range from smaller printing quotas and eliminating tenure to furlough days and eliminating bonuses for all. The system works similar to the system of taking suggestions during the restructuring of UT. However, with the all of the suggestions being evaluated, one concern raised is how many of the suggestions will actually be used when filling the budget. Although it is important to ask for feedback from students, faculty and staff when finding ways to balance the budget, it won’t do any good if the suggestions are ignored.
Fiscal Year 2012 has a gloomy outlook. With over $30 million to fill, the university has taken steps this week to help by cutting funding from the marketing department UT Matters, a program designed to communicate with the Toledo area. The program is said to cost $400,000. While it is unfortunate when there is news of a program being cut, however, UT Matters was the lesser of three evils. Other programs on the chopping block included the Blue and Gold Scholarship program and efforts to market UT to students in Michigan. Losing the Blue and Gold Scholarship would prevent Ohio high school students without strong financial backing from attending college. Cutting marketing in Michigan would ultimately cost money, according to Larry Burns, vice president of external affairs and interim
- in Your opinion The end of an era To The Editor, Today I attended the final Thursday morning meeting with the only Arts and Sciences College Computing Director that will ever serve at the University of Toledo. Fifteen years ago, Rob Bruno and Ray Gibson were the inaugural directors in a new world where every desktop had a computer and the support needs were more than ‘the guy down the hall’ could handle. They defined the position and the scope of services provided. Ray has long since moved on to pursue other interests, but Rob Bruno has continued to serve in that role until the
recent dissolution of the college rendered the title obsolete and budget reductions closed the position. All of the tasks that are expected of a director “ technical liaison to academic divisions, strategic planning, project management, personnel supervision and so much more “ were addressed and accomplished by Rob with efficiency and precision despite the ever-decreasing ratio of manpower to computers. Those of us who have served closely with Rob appreciate the other quality that has made him a special boss to work for. It is the rare supervisor who has the discernment to recognize the strengths of his subordinates and understands the importance of maintaining a team dynamic that works. Rob understands what each of us does
and respects our ability to perform our tasks without micromanagement. Over the last 15 years, he has handled staff replacements in a way that has kept that cohesion alive and well. Presumably, computer support in all of the areas Rob served will continue but as with other symbiotic teams in the past that have been dissolved, the dynamic will be gone. Lennon and McCartney, Stockton and Malone, the Big Red Machine, all were greater than the sum of their parts. Machines will be fixed, but there will never be another Arts and Sciences College Computing. Rob should be commended for his 26 years of service and the friendship he has shared with so many members of the University Community. Tim Sanderson
Saturated Superstition Many people have irrational superstitions, even if they don’t like to admit it. A broken mirror, a black cat, the number 13 and opening an umbrella indoors are all common signs of alleged imminent misfortune. No matter how absurd some superstit i o n s m a y s e e m , they are prevalent across w o r l d cultures. E v e n Stephen people Bartholomew w h o claim to be pure logical thinkers inevitably act in irrational ways according to some unexplainable superstition. Ahchoo, “God bless you.” This custom comes from the idea that when you sneeze a part of your soul flies out. Assumedly, not many people hold on to this belief. Rather, most just practice it to be courteous. Superstitions provide a window into the past where people struggled to find meaning in the world around them. Understanding how these superstitions reverberate today allows insight into what people of previous lifetimes were concerned about and valued. Spilled salt is a symbol of bad luck because long ago salt was a precious commodity used to preserve and season food. Wasting something so valuable would have been regarded as a sin of carelessness. People thought the sin of spilled salt would attract the devil and so they would throw a pinch of salt over their shoulder into the devil’s eyes to neutralize bad luck.
A superstition still believed by some remote cultures of the world is that a photograph captures your soul, or part of it at least. In such a camera saturated world this idea is either absurd or frightening, depending on whichever you believe. When the camera was first created this superstition was more widespread. Several Native American tribes refused to be photographed. Likewise in Africa and South America. The belief is based on the idea that a photograph is more than merely a representation of one’s own image. It is a part of oneself, linked to the soul. It is a moment in time, a subtle essence of oneself captured and then reproduced. Of course, I do not believe in this superstition, but I do find it interesting to see how much attitudes toward the camera have evolved since its creation and how it has affected the world in the process. Cameras were once extremely bulky, requiring tripods and needing considerable time to elapse before an image could be captured. It was once a status symbol to have your portrait taken and displayed in your home. Toady, nearly every cell phone has a camera. Whereas film cameras are mainly used by hobbyists or artists — digital cameras allow pictures to be uploaded to the Internet and sent anywhere in the world instantaneously. Beyond still photographs, video is easily accessible and producible as well. YouTube allows anyone and everyone to claim their 15 minutes of fame, as Andy Warhol predicted. When I go to check my email on Yahoo, I can’t help glancing across the
page at the mish—mash of media and advertisements. In the bottom corner, there is always some inane video. I occasionally click on it out of curiosity or boredom. It is typically some amateur video of a dog running into a wall or a celebrity saying something out of line, but recently it was a video of Good Morning America hosts talking about a YouTube video sensation that had spread rapidly across the web. I clicked on it hoping to be amused and saw a little baby shifting between terror and laughter at his mother blowing her nose. Sure, it was cute, but it seemed strange for this video to have gained such prominence as to warrant a segment on Good Morning America. It is great to share the joys of life. But is there a point where too much sharing is problematic? Do the joys of our own life diminish if we become so taken with the joys of other people’s lives we see on the Internet? Do amazing moments like a high school kid throwing a basketball at the buzzer across the full court and scoring the winning basket become less amazing if we see it happen more often through the Internet? I do not adhere to the superstition that cameras capture our soul. But perhaps we are loosing something of ourselves by becoming so immersed in the lives of others, while neglecting our own potentials. —
Stephen
B a r-
tholomew is an IC columnist and an English education student at UT.
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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
House 2 bed - 1205 Bowlus Ave. One block-main campus. Hardwood floors, wash/dryer, garage, basement, clean, $600 plus utilities. FREE RENT with 1 yr. lease. Call/Text (419)842-1004
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
For Rent 1513 LAWNVIEW $49,000 Located near UT, 2beds, 1 bath 1st flr, bed & full bath bsmt. Off street parking. 1524 PINEWOOD $19,900 Spacious home in older area, 4 beds, 2 baths, large pantry in kitchen, lndry in bsmt. 5708 SIMS $63,900 3 beds, 1.5 bath, brick ranch, 2 car garage, encl porch, FR. Sold “As-Is”. Great price. Jane Bretl 419.250.4039 Welles Bowen Realtors
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. 419-2362002 or email ut4rent@ gmail.com 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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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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A4 Police Blotter The following events occurred between March 22 and April 2. Anyone with information regarding these events should contact UT Police at 419-530-2600.
Theft from motor vehicle
On March 22, a police officer was dispatched to the West Parking Ramp to take a theft from motor vehicle report. The victim stated he parked his vehicle on the top level of the west ramp and returned to find the left rear window broken and four textbooks stolen from the vehicle. The window had been broken before and was replaced by a piece of Plexiglas that was taped into place. The victim contacted the Student Bookstore on Bancroft and asked if anyone had tried to sell back the books. The bookstore told the victim someone had sold back the books and the victim went to pick them up. The bookstore returned the stolen books to the victim. On April 2, a police officer was dispatched to parking lot 25 to take a theft from motor vehicle report. The victim stated he parked his vehicle in the lot a week prior and when he returned the passenger side front window was smashed and his GPS was missing. The GPS was valued at $120.
Theft
On March 23, a police officer was dispatched to Wolfe Hall to take a theft report. The victim stated someone entered her office, which was unlocked,while she stepped out and removed her purse from her desk. The
Dress From Page A1 founded last semester. Lowry said she doesn’t want people to think it’s too big of an issue and they cannot do anything. Anyone can participate. While only women are wearing the dresses for the month, men can get involved as well, said Brian Purdue, a sophomore majoring in theatre. Many are fasting, but not necessarily in the traditional sense: they are giving up
The
Independent Collegian purse included her $150 cell phone, $150 camera, bottle of prescription Zanax, social security card and birth certificate. The total loss was valued at $380. On April 2, a police officer was dispatched to Carter Hall to take a theft report. The victim stated she was at the women’s basketball game at Savage Arena when her purse was stolen from her seat in the south student section. The victim reported someone from the athletic department called stating they found her purse. When the victim received her purse back, she noticed her debit card was missing. When she checked her account she found six unauthorized charges. The charges included $2.56 at WalMart, $6.39 at a Shell gas station, $1 at a Marathon gas station and charges for $56, $90 and $64.93 at Secor Carryout.
Burglary
On March 23, a police officer was dispatched to the Crossings to take a burglary report. The victim stated someone entered her room and removed her Apple iPad valued at $238. The reporting person, who lives across the hall, stated she was in her room studying around the time the burglary occurred when a fat, white male pushed her door open but left very quickly when he saw her in the room. She believes he stole the iPad from the victim’s room. The victim stated the suspect must have gotten sick inside her room because there was vomit on her bed. The victim stated her door had been left unlocked. something, like buying fast food or video games for the month, and donating the money they would have spent to the Daughter Project. “I wish [boys] were [wearing dresses]; they would raise 10 times the awareness we would,” Longnecker said. Those interested in making a donation to The Daughter Project or learn more about sex trafficking in Ohio can visit the Daughter Project website at TheDaughterProject.org.
Budget From Page A1 thing at this point,” Lehnert said. Some people also suggested eliminating vice president positions and other administrative positions including Lehnert’s. The current status of the group is to investigate ideas and recommend the best suggestions to senior leadership to be modified or adopted. Interim Dean of Students Michelle Martinez said she believes the process is going well but there is a lot of fact checking involved in the process to ensure submitted ideas have value and could have a positive impact on the university. Martinez hopes the outcome of the taskforce will result in similar processes not only for employees but students as well. She said she believes the small things will make a big difference. “This is a difficult time,” Lehnert said. “The federal government is having its difficulties with the federal budget, the state is having its difficulties with the state budget and all those things have an impact on universities, not only the Toledo University but universities nationwide.” Lehnert said if the UT community can help find ways to reinvent itself and make the university run more efficiently it would be a great help during tough budget scenarios such as FY12. “If we can find ways to get additional students, find different ways to teach students through distance learning and social media, then it will have an impact on the university that might not include a lot of people losing their jobs,” he said. Lehnert encourages anyone who has an idea to submit it to the budget taskforce website and emphasized that no idea is a bad idea. -Ideas may be submitted to http://www.utoledo. edu/2012reengineering/
Thursday, April 7, 2011
IC earns two awards
Recieves second place for best non-daily paper By IC Staff
The Independent Collegian received two Society of Professional Journalists Region 4 Mark of Excellence Awards, which were announced last Saturday.
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After taking home third place last year, the IC earned second place in the Best AllAround Non-Daily Student Newspaper category while Central Michigan Life won first. Former forum editor Ethan Keating earned third place in the Editorial Writing
category behind Ryan Dunn of Ohio University and Brad Canze of Central Michigan University, respectively. In February, the IC earned second place in the photography category in the Ohio Newspaper Association Ohio Collegiate Newspaper Awards.
“My motto, as I live and learn is: ‘Dig And Be Dug In Return.’” — Langston Hughes
Section
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www.IndependentCollegian.com
Around
town Apr. 7 — Apr. 13
today Stranahan Theatre — Cirque Dreams, who are direct from the company’s critically-acclaimed Broadway debut, will grace the Stranahan stage with “Illumination.” Show times include 8 p.m. Thursday and Friday; 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. Saturday; and Sunday at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. For ticket information visit TheatreLeague.com or send an e-mail to Info@TheatreLeague.org.
Arts and Life Thursday, April 7, 2011
Page
1
DC Guastella– Editor
Ethnic student groups at UT Do they create diversity or insecurity on campus
saturday
Headliners — The 2nd Annual Jamboree Festival will be at Headliners this Saturday. Doors open at 11 a.m. and the show begins at noon. Tickets are $30 in advance and $35 at the door the day of the show. For more information visit HeadlinersToledo.com. Frankie’s Innercity — ANTiSEEN will be performing at Frankie’s with The Infernal Names, Sworn Secrecy and Revangelicals. Doors open at 9 p.m. Tickets are $10 in advance and $12 at the door, the night of the show. For more information visit FrankiesInnercity.com.
monday
Frankie’s Innercity — Romance of a Rocketship will be headlining with For The Foxes, Stay and Zenadare. Doors open at 5 p.m. Tickets are $8 in advance and $10 at the door, the night of the show. For more information visit FrankiesInnercity.com.
Joseph Herr / IC
(Pictured from right to left) Melanie Munoz, Maricruz Vielma, Selia Gonzales, Vicotria Delly, Tera McDonald, and Anthony McCurry. By A. Sharp IC Staff Writer
This article is the first in a two part series examining the importance of ethnic student groups and how they play into the overall goals of diversity at UT. A diverse community plays a role in student life here at UT where there are more than 18 ethnic student groups on campus. Several of these groups such as the American Muslim Association, the Filipino American Association, Korean Student Union, Persian Student Organization and many more are likely to be unheard of but are still active in their own way on campus.
Organizations such as the Black Student Union (BSU), Latino Student Union (LSU), African-Peoples Association and the Japanese Student Union maintain a larger presence than others – but why do these groups exist and what do they do? . The mission of groups like Black Nursing Students (BNS) and the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) bring a more clear purpose to their existence as they bring together members’ ethnicity as well as their academic and career goals. Because many of these ethnic organizations foster more than just being a social group
to the students here at UT, these groups have become more extended for their members: a family or a place where one can gain personal growth or even create their own image amongst those that look just like them. One advantage is that membership in one of these social groups may lead to a greater interest in cross-cultural contacts and bring a greater sense of bonding and belonging to this place that many of us call home. On the other hand, these groups seem to be working against diversity by segregating students into group activities based on race.
Frankie’s Innercity — Auto Tune Karaoke will hosted by the Wildman Ian Thomas Monday. Doors open at 9 p.m. This event is free. For more information visit FrankiesInnercity.com.
Stranahan Theatre — Church Basement Ladies-A Second Helping will be performed at the Stranahan on Thursday at 2 and 7 p.m. There is a group rate for tickets: $50 for lunch and a show and $55 for dinner and a show. Contact Mary’s Enterprises at 419-537-9106 or visit StranahanTheatre.com for more information.
By David Harris IC Staff Writer
Nick Kneer / IC
Jenna Weissman Joselit answering a question during the Q&A session. Joselit is the Director for Judaic Studies at George Washington University in Washington, D.C
Catwalk
wednesday Huntington Center — RUSH, the Holy Triumvirate, will be taking their Time Machine Tour 2011 to the Huntington Center. The show begins at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $86, $60.50 and $40.50 depending on the section and there is an 8 ticket limit. For more information visit TicketMaster.com or HuntingtonCenterToledo.com.
—Diversity, Page B2
Annual Jewish-Christian-Muslem Dialogue discusses Ten Commandments and America
tuesday
Frankie’s Innercity — The Rockabilly Rio Summer Series will head to Frankie’s this Tuesday featuring Al & The Black Cats, Death By Rodeo and more. Multiple vendors will be on site as well. Tickets are $5 for ages 21 and up and $7 for under 21. For more information visit FrankiesInnercity.com.
of their groups with them. Among other questions, I pondered if these ethnic groups create a sense of isolation and segregation between students on campus or if they foster a healthy social identity. Melanie Munoz, president of LSU, explained the group’s mission and how that particular group caters to students that come from all different cultural backgrounds, not just those of Latino descent. “The mission of LSU is to engage the Latino students academically and socially and to not only educate ourselves about our culture but to
Another ‘Big Ten’
Headliners — Comedians Neil Hamburger and Todd Barry with Brendon Walsh will be performing on Monday. Doors open at 7 p.m. Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the door the night of the show. For more information visit HeadlinersToledo.com.
A 2004 case study on ethnic identity on college campuses done by Harvard University raised many more questions. The study, called “Ethnic Enclaves and the Dynamics of Social Identity on the College Campus: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly” claimed that membership in any student group where members are ethnically ubiquitous can lead to “an increased sense of ethnic victimization and a decreased sense of common identity and social inclusiveness.” Earlier this week, I had had the pleasure of meeting with several members of both BSU and LSU to discuss the ethos
By Barb E. Dahl IC Staff Writer
There are few things more genuinely refreshing to the eye than a brilliant burst of color amidst a gray landscape.
These drab days are just one reason many people are not fond of early spring. However, it’s the rainy season in all of its misty glory, and this means it’s the most fun time for fashionistas to stand out. It should be noted that by ‘stand out’ I mean stand out. Literally. Stand out in the rain after a stressful class and watch the beady drops race down your favorite umbrella. While standing out, embrace the opportunity of requiring an umbrella. You’re welcome to feel as free as Mary Poppins while grasping the handle of a colorful, waterproof piece of art. Whether you call them umbrellas, bumbershoots or parasols, there is a design, color and style for everyone. Some are patterned with pizzazz and charm, proving to the rain that their style can’t be hidden behind storm
When you hear the phrase “Ten Commandments,” what is the first thing that comes to mind? God? The law? Charlton Heston’s portrayal of Moses in ‘The Ten Commandments’? This was one of the topics discussed during the Annual Jewish-ChristianMuslim Dialogue, which took place last night in the Ingman Room of the Student Union. The featured speaker was Dr. Jenna Weissman Joselit, professor of both Judaic Studies and History at George Washington
clouds. Others are clear and encapsulate the upper-half of the body, creating a perfectly personal shelter in which to stay dry. For the sassy city-slicker, a cheetah-print umbrella shows off an underlying wild side that’s sure to grab attention. A classic rainbow bumbershoot, on the other hand, is generally construed as genuine and cheerful. Child-inspired umbrellas are perfect for letting out anyone’s inner child. With smiling animal faces and pop-up ears, there are few passersby who won’t take a moment to wonder what fun-loving face is hidden beneath the plastic. In terms of fashion and waterproof protection, the same can be said for rain boots, galoshes, waders and wellies. This particular type of waterproof footwear is growing quickly and becoming
University in Washington, D.C., as well as the director of the university’s Judaic Studies program. During her speech, Joselit touched on a variety of subjects, including the recent issues regarding the Ten Commandments being displayed in public venues. She also mentioned the role of the Ten Commandments in American culture and the idea that the Ten Commandments have violated the idea of the separation of church and state. The JCM Dialogue events began with the student dinner, which was held yesterday at Corpus
Christi University Parish before the actual dialogue. During the student dinner, students were greeted with foods that spanned the dietary and culinary traditions of all three of the Abrahamic religions (Islam, Judaism and Christianity). Students also participated in table discussions, encouraging them to openly talk about their faith, recent events related to religion or combine both to discuss a particularly faith-related issue. During the dinner, one of the forum groups —Dialogue, Page B2
Outrage
increasingly easier to find at an affordable price. Of course, there will always be designer boots, but their prices tend to outweigh their worth. If you’re looking for a pair of galoshes that’s sure to pop out, unique, not Coach, is surely the way to go. Use the rain to your advantage instead of looking out your lonely window in despair. There’s no need to worry about how wet you’ll get on your walk to class when you have a spring outfit that’s prepared to take on even the stormiest of weather. There is certainly no reason to fret over other aspects of your look, even if the weather isn’t playing nice. If your hair day is bound to become a frizzy one, embrace your luscious locks and let them run wild, or sport a chic hat.
Spring is a time for fresh, new life and experimenting with colors in every area of the wardrobe, from head to toe. This season is too beautiful to be spent worrying over wardrobes and bad hair days. Instead of contemplating on soggy feet, pull on your boots and head outside. Puddle-hopping is fun, so take time to savor it and don’t be afraid to get a little dirty. If someone asks about that spot of mud on your jeans, you’ve just created a new look, now known as spring grunge. Flowers are found in the dirt anyway, right? In any regard, whether you choose hood up or hair wet, your confidence will carry you further than your new boots. It’s springtime, so go for it, whatever it is. This is the time to start anew.
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Diversity From Page B1 educate everyone on campus as well,” says Munoz. Culture is the main factor in why ethnic organizations are becoming more and more active on campus. Many groups hold events to educate students about heritage and why academics are very important. “We hold events especially during Hispanic Heritage Month to showcase what are culture is about and teaching about the different backgrounds such as Mexican, Puerto Rican and Black. This semester, we had our scholarship dance last weekend that raised almost $3,000 for Hispanic students,” Munoz said. Many students are discouraged when it comes to being involved with organizations that hold an ethnic name in front of it because they simply believe that it is just for that specific group of individuals. The aforementioned Harvard case study suggests that those students that support a multicultural perspective and are involved in ethnically oriented student organizations are more likely to enhance rather than
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Independent Collegian reduce the intensity levels of interethnic bias and conflict. So, the real question is whether these groups are aiding in a multicultural perspective, instead of a more narrow singular cultural perspective. One of the most frequently asked questions that most ethnic groups on campus may get is: “Can anyone of any race, ethnicity and background join?” Members of both BSU and LSU were very assuring that anyone can join their organization despite their race or ethnic background. “We are Latino-based – but everything is open, we have all types of members, white, black, and Hispanic. We encourage our members to be very multicultural,” Munoz said. BSU Chief of Staff Victoria Delly spoke proudly about BSU and what the group has to offer and that they too are willing to accept students of every ethnicity. When I spoke to her, Delly was prepared herself for last night’s executive board elections. “The main thing that sets us apart is our skin color but our values are the same. And this is
for all minorities, all,” she said. President Selia Gonzales and Academic Chair Maricruz Vielma of the Latina Sorority Sigma Lambda Gamma also said if an individual meets the group’s academic requirements and plans to discuss their heritage, then they have the opportunity to join the organization regardless of their ethnicity. Anthony McCurry, President of the Latino fraternity Sigma Lambda Gamma says that their organization is for all students that come from various ethnicities and backgrounds as long as they meet the requirement. “LSU is my family, but we try to become one with other organizations,” Vielma said. Although the case study shows the negative aspects of how most ethnic organizations on a college campus can be destructive to the growth of a cross-cultural community, at UT there is a sense of togetherness. Many of these groups collaborate together to uphold a diverse community by accepting members of all walks of life. In a recent update, Victoria Delly and Tera McDonald won the election last night as president and vice president of BSU.
Dialogue From Page B1 introduced a “prayer box” that they will place on campus for students to use. The idea of the prayer box came from a story told during a past meeting of the forum group. In an odd turn of events, the last activity of the night was the one that most resembled an icebreaker. In preparation for the following talk, students were given the challenge of naming, from memory, all 10 of the Commandments. The majority of the students were successful in naming all 10, although a few of the tables were unsuccessful in completing the challenge - including one table that forgot about the challenge altogether and continued discussing inter-religious matters. One table during the dinner elected to go the extra mile by adding two additional rules added to the list by Jesus in the New Testament Gospels. Overall, attendees appeared to be enjoying themselves, and the interaction between the students served as an excellent transition into the interfaith dialogue that followed. After the dinner, the
Thursday, April 7, 2011 students travelled over to the Ingman Room for Joselit’s talk. Following her lecture and discussion, Rev. Dee Baker, who oversees Toledo Campus Ministry, and Dr. Fatima Al-Hayani, the director of the Islamic School of Greater Toledo reflected on the topic. Following these reflections and a brief Q&A session, the evening transitioned to its advertised main focus: smallgroup interfaith discussions. The small groups discussed a set of questions, both students and community figures alike found the discussion to be enlightening and important. “I liked the lecture a great deal,” said Paul Okafor, a junior majoring in political science and a member of Toledo Campus Ministry. “It was my first experience and I got so much out of it. I have gained a better understanding of the other monotheistic religions.” Okafor said that the lecture made him think about how the Ten Commandments are portrayed in American culture, referencing comments made by Joselit about how prevalent and important the Ten Commandments have been here in America since the days of the Founding Fathers. “I never knew the Ten Commandments played such a
main role here in America,” he said. Okafor disagrees with the position that the Commandments form the present identity of Americans. “I feel that the Ten Commandments don’t make America what it is. Every religion has their own set of rules that tell them how to live a moral life,” he said. Ryan Hershberger agreed with Okafor’s comments to a degree. “Modern America can do fine without the Ten Commandments,” said the sophomore civil engineering major. “We already have a system of morals in place which guide our legislature.” Hershberger then turned to historical America to speak for the other side of the question. “America in the 1700’s, however, was shaped by not only revolutionary thinkers, but also theologians,” he said. “America would not be where it is without the Ten Commandments.” The discussion poses an interesting question of American identity, as well as pondering what role the Commandments play in our current culture. Joselit left the discussion open ended – it’s up for you to decide.
Nick Kneer / IC
Fatima Al-Hayina, director of the Islamic School of Greater Toledo, giving her reflections and remarks after Dr. Joselit’s lecture.
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Thursday, April 7, 2011
Indians From Page B4
Zach Davis / IC
Matt Delewski avoids a tag to score one of his two runs in a 5-1 victory over Cleveland State.
Cullop From Page B4 sat out this season after transferring from Akron, will be yet another plus for the Rockets when they take the floor next season. Baumgartner scored in double figures 30 times at Akron, including five doubledoubles. She averaged 10 points and six rebounds during her first two seasons of college basketball. “I’m really excited about the potential of next year, but it lies in what our team decides to do,” Cullop said. “I hope this tournament gave us the confidence to want to do even more.”
Locke From Page B4 thing. If he can do that for us he’s going to really be somebody that can help us.” The Rockets sent Cleveland State starter Nate Dick (1-2) packing early after he gave up two runs in the first two innings. UT added another in the third after Delewski scored on an error. Senior shortstop Chris Dudics drove in a run in the sixth and UT added an insurance run in the eighth to help seal the 5-1 victory. “We are doing the things we need to do to win right
now and it certainly feels good,” Mee said. “I think we are pitching good but we are also making defensive plays in the clutch and getting some big hits when it matters. I think it’s a matter of making plays and doing it in those tight spots in the games and hopefully we can continue to do that.” The Rockets will look to remain unbeaten at home while keeping their six game winning streak alive when they host Buffalo in a three-game series this weekend. Toledo hosts the Bulls on Friday at 3 p.m. and on Saturday and Sunday at 1 p.m.
jected as one of the top pitching prospects in baseball. Justin Masterson mans the third spot and had a stellar outing in his first start of the season. The question still remains, however, if he can regularly get lefties out. Lefthanded hitters hit .288 last season against Masterson compared to .259 against righties. Masterson also struck out 8.82 batters and while walking 2.9 per nine innings against right-handed hitters while lefties had more success, striking out just 5.49 times while walking 4.3 occasions per nine innings. Until Masterson can begin to post equal numbers on both sides of the plate, he will be more suited for a bullpen role. The rest of the rotation is rounded out by Josh Tomlin and Mitch Talbot. Neither pitcher is a lock to be in the rotation for the rest of the season. The Ugly – Attendance After an impressive Opening Day of over 40,000 fans, the Cleveland faithful followed it up drawing just 9,853 fans, the lowest total in Progressive Field history. That record has since been lowered to 8,726 as the local fans are failing to come out and support their team, despite some tickets being as low as $10 a seat. Obviously the ownership has alienated the fan base with some of the trades management has made, but this team has some quality players that deserve to be rallied behind. To think that this is the same town which once held the record for the most consecutive sell-out crowds just over a decade ago is staggering. The Underrated – Bullpen The most overlooked aspect of the Indians is undoubtedly the bullpen. Although it was generally looked upon as a weakness last season, the Tribe’s relievers posted the 13th best ERA in baseball and have a lot of young upcoming options.
Ed Suba Jr./Akron Beacon Journal/MCT
Shin Soo Choo has established himself as one of the best outfielders in baseball for the Cleveland Indians. Chris Perez has the stuff to be the closer for the foreseeable future, saving 23-of-27 chances while posting an impressive 1.71 ERA and 1.08 WHIP in 2010. Tony Sipp is at times erratic, but shows promise to become a very reliable bullpen arm. He alongside Rafael Perez give the Indians two solid left-handed relievers, something any major league team covets. Cleveland also has an abundance of young players already in the majors like Frank Herrmann and Vinnie Pestano as well as minor league arms like Josh Judy and Zach Putnam, who could all be regular contributors come season’s end. The Bottom line The Indians have a lot of pieces on this year’s team that could really help them make a
run. If they can find some stability in the rotation, get a healthy and productive Sizemore back and get some major contributions from upcoming prospects like infielders Lonnie Chisenhall and Jason Kipnis then they could really make a push for as high as third in the division. Unfortunately, that’s a lot of ‘ifs.’ Cleveland fans need to settle in for a tough season and look for positives in player growth and effort, because the talent is still a year or two away from competing for the division.
— Zach Davis is the Sports Editor and a senior majoring in communication. He contributes to FOX Sports Ohio covering the Cleveland Indians and Columbus Blue Jackets.
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We got a big pitching performance from Jared Locke. We have kind of been waiting for that. We knew he was capable of doing that. Cory Mee UT Head Baseball Coach
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www.IndependentCollegian.com MLB Preview 2011: Cleveland Indians Part 1 of 2, Detroit to be featured in April 11 issue
CLEVELAND – As Opening Day took place last week 41,721 Indians fans packed Progressive Field to celebrate the beginning of a new season – and then reality set in. The White Sox jumped out to a 14-0 lead just four innings into the new season, giving Tribe fans a taste of what to expect on the year. Zach A f t e r Davis Cleveland (3-2) was forced into trading Cy Young pitchThere are Cliff Lee positives on ers and C.C. Sathis year’s bathia along squad. Shin with All-Star catcher VicSoo Choo tor Martinez has estabdue to monetary conlished straints over himself as the past few one of the seasons, a drop-off was best outexpected. fielders in Add in the the league. decline in talent of Travis Hafner and recent injury problems to Grady Sizemore and the only race the Indians are in at season’s end is with Kansas City to avoid last place in the American League Central. Still, there are positives on this year’s squad. Shin Soo Choo has established himself as one of the best outfielders in the league, being one of just three players last season to hit .300 with 20 home runs and 20 stolen bases. Sizemore is close to returning to the lineup in the next few weeks and there is young talent everywhere on this year’s squad with position players like catcher Carlos Santana and outfielder Michael Brantley joining pitchers Carlos Carrasco, Justin Masterson and Chris Perez. The Good – Carlos Santana Santana broke onto the scene last year and made an immediate impact. Head Coach Manny Acta had him hit third in his first major league game and the 24-year-old catcher hit .260 with six home runs and 22 RBI in 150 at bats before a season-ending knee injury. He also showed a strong arm behind the plate and a good sense of managing the game. Santana told the Independent Collegian that while he is still not completely healed, he is still capable of making an impact in the lineup. “My knee is okay,” Santana said. “It’s a little tight but I can play. Right now when I’m playing in the field I am playing 100 percent but [my knee] is not 100 percent.” So far this season, Santana looks just fine hitting .368 through five games with one home run and four RBI. As one of the best prospects in baseball, Santana headlines the new wave of young talent slowly making its way to the major leagues for the Indians. The Bad – Inexperienced Starters Last season, Cleveland gave up the fourth-most runs in the AL, and that was with top starter Jake Westbrook before his trade to St. Louis. This season, the rotation is ripe with inexperience. Top starter Fausto Carmona, who allowed 10 runs in three innings in the opener, continues to perform in the clutch like he did in 2006 as the team’s closer, recording four losses and three blown saves in a seven-day span. Even at his best, Carmona is just simply not a top-of-the-rotation ace the Tribe need. After that who knows what to expect. Carrasco enters the season as the team’s No. 2 starter, but the 24-year-old allowed seven runs against the White Sox and has yet to sustain any real success after once being pro-
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Zach Davis – Editor
UT wins sixth straight By Zach Davis Sports Editor
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Thursday, April 7, 2011
Nick Kneer / IC
Jared Locke shut down Cleveland State yesterday allowing just one unearned run over seven innings of work as Toledo won its sixth straight game yesterday.
beaten at 5-0. “We are just coming out and Jared Locke stifled Cleve- hitting the ball a lot better, land State’s hitters as Toledo playing better defensively and secured a 5-1 victory over the pitching the ball well,” Locke said. “We are just doVikings yesterday at ing the right things Scott Park. now.” Locke (1-1) pitched Junior first baseseven innings and alman Matt Delewski (2 lowed just one unfor 3, 2 R) scored earned run on four twice for the Rockets hits with five strikewhile sophomore secouts. The sophomore ond baseman Wes starter entered yesterWhite (2 for 3, 1 R, 2 day’s game with a 10.8 RBI) drove in a gameERA and his longest high two runs. outing at just 3.2 Delewski “It was good to see innings. Matt have a couple “We got a big pitching performance from Jared hits today,” Mee said. “He’s a Locke,” UT Head Coach Cory guy that a year ago was an AllMee said. “We have kind of Conference player for us so we know he’s cerbeen waiting for tainly capable of that. We knew he that. We are hoping was capable of dowe have a number of ing that. Today he guys that kind of came out and heat up with the bat. pitched ahead of the 5 I’m seeing a lot of count all day, he was Toledo down in the zone Cleveland St. 1 really encouraging things in practice and really got the other team swinging and we and I think it’s a matter of made some plays defensively time before that starts to show itself in games.” behind him.” Freshman reliever “Being in my secCameron Palmer (0ond year I just have a 1) came in for Locke lot more confidence in the eighth and on the mound,” Locke pitched two scoreless said. “When you are innings, striking out ahead you just do all three while allowing the little things right.” just one hit, to collect With the win, the his first career save. Rockets (13-15, 4-2 “I thought he threw Mid-American Conthe ball well today,” ference) have now Mee said. “He’s got rewon six straight Palmer ally good stuff. He matchups in the last came out and threw eight days. The preseason No. 2 MAC team well. I’d prefer he threw a few struggled out of the gate los- more strikes and I’m sure he ing 15 of their first 22 match- would tell you the exact same ups before returning to Scott — Locke, Page B3 Park, where they remain un-
Cullop reflects on WNIT Title, addresses coaching rumors By Nate Pentecost IC Staff Writer
The UT women’s basketball team held off Southern California 76-68 last Saturday in the WNIT Championship, delivering Toledo its first ever postseason tournament title. Toledo was defeated by Eastern Michigan in the MAC Tournament, forcing the Rockets to settle for a WNIT bid. Toledo made the most of its invitation, reeling off six consecutive victories on their way to a WNIT Title, including a win over the nation’s leading scorer and former High School Player of the Year Elena Delle Donne’s Delaware squad, as well as four wins against power conference teams (Auburn, Alabama, Syracuse, USC). “I think slowly but surely it is setting in,” UT Head Coach Tricia Cullop said. “The strange feeling is getting over winning your last game as opposed to being knocked out of something. It is a great feeling. “I was very impressed with their focus and their tenacity and their resiliency against the opponents. We were outsized and we were outmatched sometimes by their quickness but we were not outmatched by heart and desire and I was extremely proud of that.” Junior guard Naama Shafir guided the Rockets on their road to the title, averaging nearly 20 points and five assists for the tournament. Shafir capped off the impressive run with a 40-point outburst in the championship game against USC on her way to earning All-Tournament and Tournament-MVP honors. “On the stage which she was able to pull that off, that is really one of the best performances I have ever seen,” Cullop said. “It was a nationally-televised game, in a National Tournament Title
game against USC. To not be intimidated and continue to play at the level she has, I’m excited for Naama because I think it really gives her an opportunity to open some eyes around the country and maybe garner attention toward some awards next season.” As is so often the case with mid-major programs, Toledo’s success has drawn the attention of power conference teams seeking to fill a coaching vacancy. According to the Toledo Blade, multiple sources with knowledge of the situation have confirmed to them that Cullop will soon interview with Wisconsin, if she has not done so already. “There was an article in a paper up there and I do not know where they got their information,” Cullop said. “But I assure you I have not talked to anyone.” If she should choose to stay at Toledo next season, Cullop will have the luxury of returning leading scorer Shafir as well as up-and-coming center Yolanda Richardson, whose stellar performance also earned her a spot on the WNIT All-Tournament Team. Richardson, who struggled to find consistency early in the season, averaged nearly 12 points and six boards per game in the WNIT. The Rockets will also benefit from the recovery of sophomore forward Lecretia Smith who has not played since suffering a knee injury in February against Eastern Michigan. Toledo was 2-0 versus EMU with Smith in the lineup but lost its only matchup against the Eagles without her. The addition of Kyle Baumgartner, an All-MAC selection who
Joseph Herr / IC
— Cullop, Page B3
Tricia Cullop told the Independent Collegian that in contrast to rumors in the media, she has had no conversations with Wisconsin about their head coaching vacancy.