The Independent Collegian, 91st year, Issue 25

Arts & Life, B4

Sports, B1

Jay-Z’s career to be ‘Decoded’ by fans; Black Friday workday.

Rockets top CMU 42-31; UT basketball still winless at 0-7.

Independent Collegian IC The

www.IndependentCollegian.com 91st year Issue 25

Monday, November 29, 2010

Serving the University of Toledo since 1919

Ongoing fuel production at university bio-refinery Year after $20 million grant, UT facility creating biodiesel

By Jaimee Hilton IC Staff Writer

Kevin Sohnly / IC

The bio-refinery above is on the University of Toledo’s Health Science Campus, and is owned by Red Lion Bio-Industry.

The facility is capable of creating fuel from many biomass products, such as grass and produce.

More than just giving thanks Professors provide holiday home for international students

By Weslie Detwiler IC Staff Writer

know where to go for Thanksgiving. They were invited to share the Wilson family’s turFor many students, Thanks- key dinner, and henceforth a giving break means heading tradition was born. home and spending quality This year, like years past, a time with family over a hot diverse group of people came meal. But for international to the Wilsons’ home for students who don’t have that Thanksgiving. Some students, same opportunity, there is a whose origins place they can go reach as far as that some considNepal, Poland, er a home away Russia, Puerto from home.

Rico and Serbia, Each year, Dashared the meal vid and Miriamin good Wilson host a tracompany. ditional ThanksAlthough David giving dinner at Wilson, who is altheir house for so a political scianyone without ence professor, family in the area, jokingly said his including internagoal is to try to tional students get his guests fatwho aren’t able to David Wilson tened up so they make it home for can open up their the holidays. belts a notch or Ten years ago, Miriam Wil- two, there’s more to the eveson, who has taught public ning than food. administration at the Univer“With an international group sity of Toledo and Bowling of people, there’s a nice Green State University, met several students who didn’t — Thanksgiving, Page A2

“ Ram Abishek

— Refinery, Page A2

‘Tours de Noel’ brings out spirit of the Old West End

By Vincent D. Scebbi Features Editor

Next Sunday marks The Women of the Old West End’s 21st Annual Tours de Noel, when five different houses throughout Toledo’s most historic neighborhood are decorated and put on display for patrons to tour the festive homes.

This year, three houses are located on Scottwood Avenue, one is found on Robinwood Avenue and the fifth house is on Collingwood Boulevard.

President of The Women of the Old West End Toni Moore led the Independent Collegian through three of the five houses, allowing the homes’ owners and family members to give background information on their houses and talk about their experiences as members of the neighborhood.

“We come because the houses are beautiful, and when you walk into the houses you’re like, ‘Oh my, I

Dean Mohr / IC

A home on Scottwood Avenue in Toledo’s Old West End neighborhood is decorated for “Tours de Noel,” an annual event that displays festive homes for neighborhood tours.

— Tours, Page A6

How much did you purchase on Black Friday?

“

”

“

I bought boots, some clothes for my girlfriend, and two boxes of chocolates.

Around 200 bucks.

Grad., Marketing

After receiving a $20 million federal stimulus grant last year, the bio-refinery owned by Red Lion Bio-Industry has been able to make diesel fuel out of many renewable sources.

Synterra Fuels, the joint venture between Red Lion Bio-Energy, LLC and Pacific Renewable Fuel Inc., received the grant and was housed in the bio-refinery.

The bio-refinery, located on the University of Toledo’s Health Science Campus, is making progress, according to Glenn Lipscomb, a professor in chemical and environmental engineering at UT. The grant money has allowed them to make advancements in the fuel industry, Lipscomb said.

“The Red Lion Corporation owns the refinery,” said Vice President of Facilities and Construction Chuck Lehnert. “What the refinery is doing is taking the synthetic gas and turning it into

biofuel.”

Red Lion has worked with UT to convert biomass into syngas, or synthetically made gasoline, for almost three years.

A bio-refinery is a machine that uses thermal chemistry as a way to turn biomass, such as grasses and produce, into fuel products.

According to Lipscomb, the refining process involves two main steps.

First, the biomass is heated in a furnace, absent of oxygen. The mass then turns into syngas from a catalyst reactor from Pacific Renewable Fuels to produce monoxide and hydrogen.

After the biomass is turned into syngas, the Fisher Tropsch chemical process is used to convert gas into biodiesel.

The Fisher Tropsch process involves a set of chemical reactions that convert the carbon monoxide and hydrogen mixture into a

Mingyang Liu

Grad., Res. and Mes.

”

“

I bought two coffees from Biggby’s.

That’s it.

Lacey Hymore

Junior, Comp. Sci. Eng.

”

A couple of jackets and a pair of shoes.

Tyrone Underwood Junior, Business

Check out our stories on Black Friday and Cyber Monday on Page B4.

”

“

A couple of t-shirts, pants and cups. All totaled about $200.

John Salid

Soph., Pre-Pharmacy

”

A2 Campus Briefly Want to be included in the next campus briefly? Send events for consideration to News@IndependentCollegian .com.

Kaffeestunde: German Social Hour

Come and join students and faculty for an hour of informal conversation in German every Monday in room 2440 of the Memorial Field House from 1 p.m. until 2 p.m. All levels of German are welcome including beginning, intermediate and advanced. For more information, contact Friederike Emonds at 419-530-7903.

UT Jazz Ensemble

The UT Jazz ensembles will step off campus to perform an evening of jazz favorites at Crystal’s Lounge at the Ramada Inn on Secor Road, just north of the University of Toledo’s main campus. Admission is $3 for students and seniors and $5 for the general public. Admission prices do not include food or drinks. For more information, contact Angela Riddel at 419-530-2452 or send an email to thearts@utoledo.edu

French Conversation Group

All levels of French speakers are invited for conversations and games in French on Tuesday from 1 p.m. until 2 p.m. in room 2295 of the Memorial Field House. Anyone interested in the French language or culture is welcome to come.

For more information, contact Deirdre Pettet at 419-530-2583.

La Tertulia

Come and join students and faculty for an hour of informal conversation in Spanish on Wednesday from noon until 1 p.m. in room 2420 of the Memorial Field House. La Tertulia is a bit of culture, cuisine and conversation in Spanish.

All levels are welcome including beginning, intermediate and advanced. For more information, contact Yolanda MoraCalderon at 419-530-7845.

Asian Studies Institute

The Asian Studies Institute will host its Asia Forum on Wednesday from noon until 1:20 p.m. in room 4100 of North Stranahan Hall. The topic of this forum will be China’s Economy: Threat or Opportunity to Toledo. The forum is free and open to the public and pizza and refreshments will be provided. For more information, contact Gene Chang at 419-530-4677.

Department of Women’s and Gender Studies

The Department of Women’s and Gender Studies invites students and the UT community to attend their film series on Thursday from 3:30 p.m. until 5:30 p.m. in room 4180 of University Hall. Films being shown include Europlex (2003) by Ursula Biemann, Performing the Border (1999) by Ursula Biemann and Women Organize (2000) by Joan E. Biren. Each film is a documentary.

African Peoples Association

The African Peoples Association will host an Aids Gala on Friday from 6 p.m. until 11 p.m. in the Student Union Auditorium. This will be an evening of music, food, dance and awareness to raise funds for the International Aids Alliance. There will be a performance by UT’s Distinctive Noise Choir and Mary K. Davies will be the speaker. Tickets are $10.

Department of Foreign Languages

The Department of Foreign Languages will celebrate its annual Holiday Sing-Along on Friday from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the first floor common-area of the Memorial Field House.

Come join in the singing of songs in Chinese, French, German, Arabic, Japanese, Latin and Spanish. Refreshments will be provided. All are welcome.

Relay for Life UT

The Relay for Life will be on Saturday from 6 p.m. until noon on Sunday in the Student Recreation Center. Relay for Life is an 18 hour event to signify the struggles of a cancer patient and to celebrate the lives of those that have survived cancer and remember those lost. Registration is $10 per person, however each participant is asked to raise at least $100 each. Register a team or join a team on at www.relayforlife.org/ut. The night includes music, games, food, and entertainment.

The

Independent Collegian

Refinery From Page A1 petroleum substance that is used in the syngas.

The biodiesel is the first product targeted.

The bio-refinery facility is adjacent to UT’s steam boiler plant on the HSC, where Red Lion connects its syngas output to the boiler system.

Lipscomb said one of the main benefits of having the refinery is that it serves as a large demonstration unit that shows the process of producing fuel from raw materials.

“It looks into using things such as the corn plant, rice hulls, wood chips and coal, even though it is not renewable, to convert into fuel,” Lipscomb said.

The goal of the refinery

is to make fuel in a way that is less harmful to the environment. Back in December, Lipscomb told the Independent Collegian that using biomass fuel is better for the environment than burning fossil fuels, which release carbon into the atmosphere.

Another environmental factor the bio-refinery is concerned with is controlling the temperatures in order for the gas to be created.

The fuels made by the refinery go towards the diesel used by busses and trucks, according to Lipscomb.

Lipscomb said they are now looking into putting the fuel to use in bigger markets.

“Maybe [we’ll] look into jet fuel for the future,” he said.

Nation

Lawmakers push measure to fight online bullying

By Patricia Alex The Record (Hackensack N.J.)

(MCT)

HACKENSACK, N.J. _ New Jersey’s congressional delegation is pushing a bill that would require all colleges and universities to have anti-harassment policies in place and would provide funding for antibullying programs.

Most, if not all, of the state’s schools already have such policies and programs in place. But advocates said the legislation will make sure strong measures are enforced at schools nationwide and will heighten awareness about the growing threat of cyber bullying.

The legislation was introduced by Sen. Frank R. Lautenberg and Rep. Rush Holt, both New Jersey Democrats, on Thursday. It is called the “Tyler Clementi Higher Education Anti-Harassment Act,” in memory of the Rutgers University student from Ridgewood who jumped from the George Washington Bridge after his roommate allegedly used a webcam to spy on him in their dorm room.

“While there is no way to eliminate the cruelty that some students choose to inflict on their peers, there should be a clear code of conduct that prohibits harassment,” Lautenberg said in a news release issued by his office.

Rutgers, in fact, does have a policy against verbal assault, defamation and harassment. The two students involved in spying on Clementi have withdrawn from the university. They have been charged criminally with violating Clementi’s privacy.

The Clementi family consented to the use of Tyler’s name for the legislation, said their attorney, Paul Mainardi, in a statement released by his office. “The family appreciates the

courtesy extended to them during the drafting of the bill, and hopes that the legislation, if enacted, will improve the well-being and safety of America’s college students,” the statement read.

Mainardi said the family is “humbled and gratified that the loss of their son, however painful for them, has inspired nationwide discussion and awareness of the need for a renewal of values of respect for human dignity and personal privacy, particularly for young people in this time of rapidly evolving technology.”

The proposed legislation would require colleges and universities that receive federal student aid to have in place a policy that prohibits harassment of students based on their actual or perceived race, color, national origin, sex, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or religion.

Schools would have to distribute that policy to all students, along with information about the procedure to follow should an incident of harassment occur, and notify students of counseling, mental health, and other services available to victims or perpetrators of harassment.

The legislation would require schools to recognize cyber bullying as a form of harassment, and it would create new grants to help colleges and universities establish programs to prevent harassment of students. Lautenberg’s office said funding for such programs has not been determined and would have to be included in an appropriations bill. ___ (c) 2010, North Jersey Media Group Inc. Visit The Record Online at http://www.northjersey. com/.

Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.

Monday, November 29, 2010

Kevin Sohnly / IC

The Red Lion bio-refinery pictured above received a $20 million grant last year from the federal stimulus dollars in order to expand their production of bio-fuels at the site.

Thanksgiving From Page A1 diversity of conversations,” he said.

And while it would be easy to take credit for giving a warm meal and home for a night to those who can’t be with their families, David Wilson remains humble.

“It’s nice to do something people appreciate,” he said.

“There’s no nobility here. It’s easy to do.”

Weronicka Kusek, a former UT student working on her doctorate at Kent State University, has been faithfully attending the Wilsons’ annual Thanksgiving dinner for three years.

Kusek, a native of Poland, was both an advisee and student of David Wilson while she earned her undergraduate degree at UT. She agrees that being an international student over the Thanksgiving holiday can be difficult.

“It’s always different because everyone around you goes to spend Thanksgiving with family, and you’re alone,” she said.

Since Thanksgiving isn’t celebrated in Poland, Kusek has enjoyed the learning experience presented to her

years as well, and said that the through Miriam Wilson.

Miriam Wilson prepared a evening is always “very laid presentation on the history of back and comfortable.”

While Radomyski has no Thanksgiving, then gave a quiz and asked the guests family in the area, he said that the Wilsons are able to recrequestions about the holiday.

“It taught me about the his- ate that closeness one expects tory of America,” Kusek said. of family.

“You get seated at a table She also said that the “great family atmosphere” of the Wil- that seems to fit more and more people sons’ home, every year,” along with the “very warm, It’s nice to do R a d o m y s k i extremely welsomething people said.

Like his wife, coming” enviappreciate. There’s Radomyski atronment, made the experience no nobility here. It’s tributes this like “a home easy to do. newfound cultural practice away from to his time home.” spent in the Since Kusek Wilson home. has been at- David Wilson “It’s a new tending the an- Professor, tradition I’ve nual dinner for Political Science been able to multiple years, she has enjoyed meeting oth- experience thanks to Dr. Wilers who join the Wilson son,” he said.

On an even more personal family.

“It’s always really nice be- note, Radomyski said he will cause you know you’ll see take everything he’s learned people who you know and and apply it to his own family.

“I’ll be able to continue the like,” she said.

Kusek’s husband, Jack Ra- tradition as my family grows,” domyski, who is working on Radomyski said.

Expressing her sincere grathis Juris Doctorate in the UT evening law program, is also a itude to Wilson, Kusek said native of Poland. He has been she “wishes everyone to have a guest at the Wilsons’ home a mentor and friend like Dr. for Thanksgiving for several Wilson.”

“

”

A3

The

Independent Collegian

Monday, November 29, 2010

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A.V. assistance needed in assistant living facility 2-4 hours a week $10.00 per hour Call for details: 419-699-0415 2 Positions Needed Light Housekeeping. Flexible Hours. Salary negotiable. Good Typist Needed 6hrs a week. Serious Inquires Only. Please call or leave message if necessary at 419-531-7283.

CHURCH ORGANIST NEEDED Apostolic/Pentecostal church is seeking an organist to play for Sunday morning services. Interested candidates please call 419.376.2331

Pino Holly Wealth Management Group (A division of Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network) Sales Assistant -- Part Time Position Located on Airport Highway in Holland, OH IMMEDIATE START! Duties Include: --Office Administration --Presentation Preparation --Client Contact --Prospect Contact Helpful Skills: --Typing Skills --Computer and Microsoft Knowledge Hours: Flextime -- 10-15 hrs. per week (M-F -- 1-8pm) Phone: 419-861-9838 Attn: Sandy E-mail Resume to: sdemascio@wfafinet.com NOW HIRING, POSITIVE MOTIVATED PERSONS! Wait Staff, Bartenders, for the Food & Beverage team. Full or Part Time Positions available. Requirements include basic knowledge of the food and beverage service. Need to work well in a team environment. Candidate must demonstrate an outgoing, guestoriented, and friendly demeanor.

Apply in person at Stone Oak Country Club 100 Stone Oak Blvd. Holland, OH. Ottawa Hills couple seeks experienced childcare for children ages 12, 10 and 6. Some light household duties required. 10-20 flexible hours per week (including weekends).

Must have car and relevant references. Competitive pay. 419 5364995.

419-535-0132 Need after school babysitter near campus. Call Jeff at 419245-1038.

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Contact Aryana at (419) 3202317 if interested.

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For Sale OLD ORCHARD HOME FOR SALE...2921 Barrington Drive. Neighborhood in walking distance to UT. This beautiful 4 bedroom, 2 full bath home with everything updated has been reduced to sell. It also has nice landscaping, great fenced in yard with a 2 card garage. This location is close to all the amenities that Criket West and Westgate have to offer, which enhances this university location and must-see home. Call Aaron Wozniak of Pathway Real Estate Company @ 419-304-7995

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Forum

A4

Monday, November 29, 2010

Elizabeth Majoy Business Manager

Hasan Dudar Editor in Chief Jason Mack Managing Editor

Ethan Keating Forum Editor

- in our opinion -

Not the eleventh hour The North says that the U.S. deliberately sought this conflict by planning to deploy naval forces in waters the North considers its territory in spite of the UN resolution that set the boundaries of the two Korean states. Though the U.S. and South Korea may be fully in their legal rights to operate war simulations in South China Sea waters, it is necessary to try to sympathize with the North Koreans.

This is far from the first time that the U.S. has been accused of engineering situations in which enemies would be motivated to make the first strike. A notable example is provided by Pearl Harbor, when the Japanese navy made a pre-emptive attack on the U.S. fleet.

While the brave soldiers and civilians who died that day are no less honorable for their sacrifice, the historical observer must also consider the perspective of the Japanese.

With the U.S. government strongly leaning toward intervention but a voting populace overwhelmingly against joining the conflict, a catalyzing event was needed in order to gain popular support for war. In spite of evidence that intercepted Japanese radio messages revealed the planned attack on Pearl Harbor, the official historical record maintains that the U.S. was attacked unexpectedly and without provocation.

It is unlikely that the current situation is a U.S. led effort to draw North Korea into attacking us and provoking popular support for a new war, but we as citizen observers must pay close attention to what our government says and does and urge our leaders to pursue peaceful solutions. Our nation doesn’t have the best record for starting wars under sound justification. After all, we all know what they say about “he who fails to learn from history.”

The Korean Peninsula is bristling with tension in light of the recent North Korean attacks against South Korean forces in the South China Sea. Last week, North Korean artillery launched a barrage of shells against an island occupied by South Koreans, killing four and raising alarms worldwide. While the United States and South Korean military commands may feel justified in continuing their planned naval exercises in the region, the involved parties should keep in mind the tremendous importance of maintaining peace.

Active combat between North and South Korea could quickly drag the United States, China, Russia and Japan into a massive regional struggle.

The increasingly devastating modern weapons available to the combatants would almost guarantee massive amounts of death and destruction.

With global economies struggling and several European nations approaching financial crisis, a new explosive conflict is the last thing the world needs. The constant hostility and provocation of the two Koreas is scary enough, but the thought of armed conflict between nuclear powers hints at terrifying consequences.

Officials from South Korea and the U.S. have acknowledged that North Korea may take provocative action against their forces during the coming naval combat simulations, but have expressed that the drills will continue as planned. While there is a certain apparent need to stifle the continuing aggression of North Korea, this may not be the best way to go about it.

Which is worse: admitting a small, symbolic defeat or initiating a military engagement that could escalate into all-out war?

Picture an Ugg boot stomping on your neighbor’s face — forever A man was knocked down and trampled by a mob of shoppers this Black Friday, echoing similar stories from recent years. This man survived with minor injuries, but others have been killed in such situations. Such senseless violence raises serious questions about the increasingly consumerist nature of the December holidays.

This is not to imply that these trends and traditions are wholly wrong or destructive, but that they deserve sober reevaluation. Granted, consumer purchases make up the majority of the U.S. economy and the December holiday season causes a vital portion of this spending. Also undeniable is the strength of the contemporary Christmas tradition of buying copious nonessential goods for family and friends.

American shoppers will wait for many hours in the cold, in lines numbering thousands, just for the chance to purchase goods — primarily luxuries and gifts — many of which are quickly returned to stores or sit unused until they are tossed into a landfill. Do the advertisers who bombard us with unnecessary goods have so much control over our desires that we

will sacrifice time, comfort and even safety in order to acquire them?

It is understood that there is an obvious need for people to purchase goods at the cheapest available prices, especially in tough economic times, but the consumerist urge cannot be allowed to dominate society’s true priorities. Perhaps moral values would be strengthened by focusing more on family and community than on the perceived need to give material items.

The U.S. is losing its position as the decadent, materialist capital of the world. Our economy continues to weaken relative to growing world powers. It was once reasonably expected that every honest, hard-working citizen with a college degree could live a life full of expensive gratification and material surplus. For more and more Americans, this has become a nostalgic fantasy.

Our violently materialistic holiday behaviors are out of line with current economic and social realities. As resources dwindle, will we learn to deny our wasteful tendencies, or will we continue stepping on our neighbor’s face to be the first in line for a wide-screen plasma TV?

The

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- in Your opinion -

The wealthy few The Bush-era tax cuts have been controversial since passed in 2001 and 2003. Inheriting a budget surplus, President George W. Bush interpreted his election as a mandate to cut taxes drastically across the board. At the time, these cuts were celebrated by proponents as tools to usher in a new era of American prosperity. Opponents called them irresponsible and misleading, sold not on economic rationality, but on false populist appeals.

Due to Senate rules regarding legislation that would significantly increase the deficit, congressional Republicans could not get enough votes in 2001 to permanently embed the cuts in the tax code. Instead they pushed legislation that required only a simple majority, but would expire after ten years.

As a result, the Bush tax cuts are set to expire on Dec. 31. Congress has one month to resolve the issue or else Americans’ taxes will increase in 2011. This shouldn’t be a problem, since we’ve seen over the past two years that this Congress just loves compromising with each other, and is always eager to cooperate on legislation. Right?

Not so much. This debate will most likely serve as a fittingly circus-like final act for one of the wildest Congresses in recent memory.

That being said, there is at least some common ground to work with.

First, neither side wants to see all of the cuts expire.

Both Democrats and Republicans recognize the harmful effects this would have on the economy and their political futures. This puts equal pressure on both sides to come to an agreement before the Dec. 31 deadline.

Second, neither side supports letting the tax cuts expire for anyone making less than a certain level of income. President Obama and a majority of congressional Democrats favor extending the cuts for everyone except for individuals who earn more than $200,000 or families that earn more than $250,000 per year. Republicans favor extending the cuts for everyone, without exception.

Whether or not to extend the cuts for those with the highest income is at the core

of the debate. President Obama has argued that the country cannot afford to extend the cuts to the wealthy.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell has vowed to filibuster any plan that does not include them.

The most likely outcome is one in which all of the tax cuts are extended temporarily, to be sorted out for good once the economy is healthier. But the plan offered by President Obama and the Democrats is the most reasonable, logical and responsible approach to resolving the issue.

The difference between the Democratic and Republican plans amounts to a small number of people, but a massive amount of money.

President Obama’s plan would extend the tax cuts to 98 percent of the public while allowing the top marginal tax rate to return to Clinton-era levels.

Though Republicans have spent the past two years rebranding themselves as fis-

“

The difference between the Democratic and Republican plans amounts to a small number of people, but a massive amount of money.

”

cally conservative and antispending, their plan to extend the tax cuts to the wealthiest 2 percent would add $700 billion to the deficit.

One of the most common talking points Republican leaders have used to justify extending tax cuts to the wealthiest earners is that tax cuts create jobs. “The bill that job creators and out-of-work Americans need us to pass is the one that ensures taxes won’t go up,” McConnell said in a statement released Nov. 20.

Despite the frequency with which Republicans portray cutting taxes for the wealthy as a silver bullet for restoring the economy, few acknowledge the fact that these tax cuts have been in place for a decade. A decade in which the cuts have failed to produce the effect

Republicans like McConnell are promising they will have in the future.

For example: According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the U.S. lost 8 million jobs from 2001 until 2008. Compare this to the Clinton years, during which 22 million jobs were created under the same highest marginal tax rate currently proposed by the Democrats.

Americans lost $2.74 trillion in income from 2000 through 2008.

Economic inequality is at its highest level since the Great Depression.

The national debt grew by 77.4 percent from 2001 through 2008.

Of course there are a number of external factors that combined to produce these results. The Bush tax cuts, though they underperformed on nearly every level, are by no means the sole cause of our current economic turmoil. But to say that extending them even further is all the economy needs in order to recover would be equally false.

Saving the $700 billion that would go toward extending the tax cut is one of the most appealing aspects of the Democratic plan.

While the money could go toward paying down the deficit, it could also be used for additional stimulus, aid to states, unemployment or even other proposals for resolving the tax cuts.

One compromise proposal that should receive consideration is Sen. Mark Warner’s idea to let the tax cuts for the wealthiest 2 percent expire, but spend the money on new cuts targeted on businesses such as a payroll tax cut.

It is a decent idea that incorporates priorities from both sides. It is one way the issue could be resolved productively. But in order for that to happen, the debate needs to become less about ideology and more about substance. While this Congress has certainly been unorthodox, and at times unpredictable, I won’t be holding my breath for that particular surprise. ­ Jason Copsey is an IC — columnist and a junior majoring in public relations and political science.

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The

Independent Collegian

Monday, November 29, 2010

That’s going to be me

The Sunday before break, I spent my evening watching one of the best movies I’ve seen lately. Although “The Bucket List” is a few years old now, it was being played on TNT. My roommate told me it was good, so I settled in with a buddy of mine and Anthony watched it.

Needless Russo to say, it was a pretty emotion-invoking movie. If you’re not familiar with the plot, Morgan Freeman and Jack Nicholson are a couple of older gentlemen who meet in the hospital where they have both been diagnosed with cancer. After they each find out that they have been given about a year to live, the unlikely duo decide to travel and cross items off of their “bucket list,” including driving muscle cars and skydiving.

The movie brought up a reoccurring worry that I share with at least a few other young men that I’ve talked to: that one day our bodies will also fail us. It’s bound to happen, and I’m not implying it’s right around the corner for me or anything absurd like that, but getting old is something that I don’t think is too crazy to think about.

In the movie, Morgan Freeman tells Jack Nicholson that a poll was done in which 1,000 people were asked something to the effect of, “If you could learn the exact day of your death, would you want to know?”

Freeman claims that 96 percent of respondents said “no” but that he tended to think that he was in the 4 percent who said “yes.”

Once he finds out he has only about a year to live, he explains that he wishes he didn’t know.

I’ve always thought that I wouldn’t want to know.

There’s a billboard that I pass every Tuesday and Thursday driving to and from the Art Museum that reads: “X Number of Men will Die Every Year from Stubbornness.” I don’t remember what X was, but the point remains the same.

Some men will let their health go and then eventually it will be too late for treatment.

Maybe we’re all just afraid to go to the doctor and find out that something’s wrong.

I know when I take my car to the shop I worry that the mechanic might find a leak, or tell me I need this or that.

If a man gets a physical, who knows what a doctor might find?

Anyhow, let me shift focus a bit. TNT also has a show called “Men of a Certain Age” that premiered early last spring. My roomies and I thought it looked good and it stars Ray Romano, so we became avid watchers. It focuses on three middleaged men who are dealing with getting older. Again, I’m not comparing myself to the characters in the show, but in the back of our minds, I believe we were all thinking, “That’s going to be us someday.”

I was out picking up an artificial Christmas tree with my girlfriend the other day and I saw a guy of maybe 30 years pushing his son around in a shopping cart, zooming back and forth. The kid was loving it and so was the dad. I thought, “That’s going to be me someday.”

“That’s going to be me someday” works in a variety of situations. When you’re a kid, you see high school athletes and you think, “Cool, that’s going to be me someday.” When

thing you could find when you graduated. You’ll settle and then tell yourself that it’s only temporary. We all have to settle from time to time. Things come up.

The other day I was thinking about how once each minute, hour or day goes by, you can’t get it back. Sorry to share the sob story, but you’re not going to have another high school track meet, prom or first car again. Once you mess up a good situation, you’re not going to be able to go back and fix it.

My friends and I often joke about how someone is “putting on the 18th.” Well, maybe I’m about to tee off on the 5th. Still plenty of time to do some good things, but I’ve definitely hit a few bad shots. What’s sad is coming to the realization that the people who you love or who love you are probably closer to dying.

I was talking with a friend of mine about that a few weeks ago, and he thought that was about the most depressing thing ever. I don’t dwell on it, but do you ever think about your parents dying? He put it in a nice way to me: “Well, yeah, but there are still quite a few years left, so I don’t really worry about it.” Neither do I, but like Jack Nicholson said in “The Bucket List,” “If you think 45 years goes by fast, how quick is six months going to feel?” Time flies.

I don’t really have any advice to counteract this problem of getting old and dying.

I didn’t write this column to be morbid or a downer. It’s not as though I think I’m going to be a Jack Nicholson or Morgan Freeman tomorrow. But how can you help but think about it from time to time?

Someday I hope to have a wife and kids. I hope to have a job I don’t hate. But along the way, I’m going to settle. I already have settled, and I probably always will settle for certain things in my life, from laying up on a par five to driving a bus because it’s the only available job.

“The Bucket List” shows that you shouldn’t be a downer, even if you only have a year to live. I just try to find little things that make me happy, whether it’s cranking up my radio when a good song comes on or thanking God after I chip in for a birdie. So, this will be the first and last time I cover this topic. Cheer up and have a good week.

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When you’re a kid, you see high school athletes and you think, ‘Cool, that’s going to be me someday.’ When you’re in high school, you feel the same way about your older siblings or friends who are in college.

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you’re in high school, you feel the same way about your older siblings or friends who are in college.

I’m about to graduate, and when I see the Buckeyes play football I think, “Wow, I’m older than them.”

I turned 22 on Saturday and I am not anywhere near being “old.” Heck, some would say my sense of humor is immature at times.

The point is, however, that the time horizon of certain opportunities is closing, and that stinks.

When you’re in high school, you feel like you can go anywhere for college. You can also study anything you want. After you get that college degree, though, options become a little more limited. You specialize in a certain area. An engineering degree won’t let you be an economist, and an economics degree won’t let you design cars.

Someday you’ll have a job.

And maybe you’ll spend 10 years doing a job that you hate because it was the best

Tell What Think Us You

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

Send your letter to the editor to forum@independentcollegian.com and let the campus and community know what’s on your mind.

Letters must be under 500 words and are subject to editing for content and length. All letters must be signed.

Conflict vs. cooperation Why have we become scared of conflict?

I am not referring to conflict in relation to fighting and violence, but conflict that arises from differences of opinions and objectives.

We don’t seek to learn why the differences are there or understand the merit behind the other’s idea. We simply write off the other as “different” and go about our day.

We see this most of all in our political system and the ideologies that shape it. We have taken differences in political opinion and turned them into something that is presented as hereditary. “I am conservative because I was born conservative” or “I am liberal because I was born liberal.”

Though I know some may disagree, there is not a person alive or who has ever lived that was simply born “conservative.” It is the environment in which we are raised and the experiences that we gain which shape our opinions. This does not mean that one side is ignorant while the other is enlightened, but simply that variation produces variation.

Realizing this is important because it gives merit and understanding to another person’s argument.

Keep in mind, this does not make everyone’s opinions right, it just mean that they do have a reason for feeling that way they feel. This principle is important because it means that you, as a

cognitive functioning human being, are obligated to try and understand the reasoning and merit behind another’s viewpoint or objective.

Trying to understand why a person feels the way they do is the first step in developing a compromise. Without this , we become divided in black and white, us vs. them.

It is people’s lack of understanding which has led to many of the political problems our country is facing. It

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We have taken differences in political opinion and turned them into something that is presented as hereditary. “I am conservative because I was born conservative.”

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is not a flaw with our political system but a flaw with democracy in general. You need compromise for it to work.

No one ever walks away fully happy when a compromise is made, but happiness is not what compromise is about. It’s about creating a world that people can live in, a shared vision of what society should be.

The reason for this diatribe is the recent actions of President Jacobs and the Board of

Trustees. The problem with the planned academic reorganization is not that the idea of reorganization is bad, but that President Jacobs has deliberately excluded the faculty, and to a smaller degree the students, from involvement in the process.

Simply allowing comments to be e-mailed and posting documents to a website was not sufficient to gather and consider the very real concerns of the faculty and students. Transparency and participation are two different things.

The university will always be forced to respond to the needs of the market, and part of its motivation should come from what the market needs. However, a university should not only respond to what the market wants, it should also have a foot grounded in what is purely academic.

In order be to a quality institution, a university must embrace both of these sometimes contradicting principles. The faculty preserves the academic side, while the administration continually pushes for relevance. President Jacobs has messed with this equation by shutting out the faculty and whether he chooses to believe it not, this decision will be detrimental to the university.

—Ken Evans is a senior majoring in political science and geography.

American institutions threatened by Islamish invasion It’s time to wipe the sleep from your eyes, drink some coffee and do some light stretching exercises. It’s time to WAKE UP, America!

We are in danger of being infiltrated by people who do not share our traditional American values, who do not appreciate all that this country has to offer and who would undermine our Constitution.

In short, these people are not like us.

They hold themselves apart from normal American society. They shun technology and the gifts of Western culture.

Unlike normal American women who prance around in bikinis, flash strangers who give them plastic beads and post their drunken escapades on Facebook, these women

cover themselves from head to toe in plain dresses. And their bearded husbands approve of this!

They don’t use the public school system, preferring their own religious schools.

They are permitted to marry only those of the same religion or risk being excommunicated by fellow members.

They refuse to serve in the U.S. military. Among themselves, they communicate using a foreign dialect that most Americans can’t understand.

As most probably have ascertained by now, I’m talking about the Amish — the Pennsylvania Dutch, whose very name hints at their dual allegiance. Are they Pennsylvanians or are they Dutch?

While the Amish are mostly

concentrated in Pennsylvania, they also have spread to communities in Indiana, Missouri, Iowa and even southwest Minnesota. And their numbers are increasing.

When disputes occur among

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courts operating right alongside of our American constitutional system? First, places like Lancaster, Pa., will go Amish, and then it will start to spread — to Indiana, Ohio and big chunks of the Midwest.

What we need, America, is a constitutional amendment banning Amish law in this country. What?

You say that’s unnecessary?

the Amish, they don’t like to call the cops like other Americans. They settle problems themselves! They don’t even like to sue people!

That is not the American way. How long can it be before we have Amish law and Amish

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Where will it end?

Soon, the American heartland will be under the thumb of the Amish. America’s men will be growing beards, walking around in overalls, straw hats and clunky black shoes.

Women will be draped in long,

plain dresses, aprons and bonnets, even in the summer!

Americans will start calling each other “thee” and “thou,” even though we don’t know the difference between those two words.

The Amish claim to be pacifists. They would love to see total disarmament in this country.

Well, once we are disarmed, then what? The perfect transport for one of those dirty bombs would be a little horse and buggy — parked right in front of Philadelphia’s Independence Hall, where our Founding Fathers signed the Constitution that allows us to openly discriminate against foreigners.

What we need, America, is a constitutional amendment

banning Amish law in this country. What? You say that’s unnecessary?

Well, you might be singing a different tune when electricity is illegal, zippers are banned and your fastest mode of transportation is one horsepower!

America, the Amish threat is real. These people aren’t like us.

Consider what happens when you add just three little letters to their name: “Islamish.”

Coincidence? I think not!

—James Werrell is the opinion page editor for the Rock Hill Herald.

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Tours From Page A1 want to live here.’ The neighborhood is so cool to live in and we are all here for one another,” Moore said.

The Old West End district is home to a diverse range of demographics, such as singles, young married couples and college students renting rooms in the larger Victorian homes.

Despite their age, residents agree the district is one of the last communities where neighbors are more than courteous acquaintances.

“We’re like a community: you take care of your house, you take care of your neighbor and you just be human and everything else takes care of itself,” said Michael CopelandShull, resident of 2016 Scottwood Avenue.

Just a short walk from the Copeland-Shull family is the Toledo Museum of Art, a weekly tradition for this young family.

Copeland-Shull said while raising his daughter, he and his wife did not have to do anything special in their parenting: the neighborhood’s rich diversity helped instill the virtue of tolerance of others in their daughter.

This community is one that pulls together, especially in the holiday season. David Wishart of 2232 Scottwood Avenue said his home decorations weren’t done by him alone: he

The

Independent Collegian received much needed help from his neighbors and friends.

“It’s one of the things that keeps drawing me back here,” the Toledo native and nineyear resident of the Old West End said. “It really is a neighborhood. If I’m out snow blowing my yard, I’ll do my neighbor’s yard and vice-versa. Everyone is helping out.”

The communal experience and watching 700 people walk through his house four years ago was what inspired Wishart to put his house on display this year.

“It was awesome. We had a lot of help from friends, families, neighbors and everyone came through and stepped up,” he said.

The Tours de Noel kicks off Saturday at 3:30 p.m. with Santa visiting the Commons Park at the corner of Robinwood Avenue and Bancroft Street.

The lighting of the tree will occur at 4:30 p.m. and Sunday is when visitors can begin touring the houses.

The Park Lane Luxury Apartments will host lunch and dinner from noon to 7 p.m. as well as the annual Arboretum Cookie Walk where, according to Moore, over 5,000 cookies will be baked and sold to raise money for the community.

A gift boutique will also be at the apartment complex, which will include 12 vendors who are going to bring gifts $25 and under to be sold, including handmade soaps, beautifully

designed jewelry, fresh roasted coffee and honey from Wine Bee Yard in Michigan.

“There will be children’s items and Christmas decorations for sale. There’s just a nice variety of things that can be purchased that day for gifts or for themselves,” Moore said.

Money raised from the Tours de Noel stays in the neighborhood and, according to Moore, funds “the projects that are part of The Women of the Old West End’s mission.”

Part of their mission is to “improve the safety and security of the Old West End residents and property; to improve the quality of education for children within the Old West End.” The fundraisers by The Women of the Old West End is not the only kind of fundraising residents do if their neighbors are in need, said resident of 2116 Scottwood Avenue Dennis Lange.

“The neighbors get together and do a big yard sale or a bake sale,” Lange said. “And the money raised by these two stays in the neighborhoods. We raise scholarships, we buy computers.”

Monday, November 29, 2010

Dean Mohr / IC

The fireplace and Christmas tree of one Old West End home is shown above. The house is on display for the neighborhood’s annual “Tours de Noel” for the Christmas season.

Tickets for the Tours de Noel are $12 pre-sale, $10 for seniors 55 and older, and $15 per person. For tickets, call 419-244-4921 and for more information, visit WomenOfTheOldWestEndInc.com.

Dean Mohr / IC

Dean Mohr/ IC

A room devoted to everything “Star Wars” at the Ferris Copeland-Shull home on Scottwood Avenue in the Old West End neighborhood is pictured above.

The living room of a home for “Tours de Noel” is pictured above. The event is in its 21st year, and according to Old West End residents, it helps foster a sense of community.

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My wife doesn’t like me home in December, so now I have the opportunity to fulfill her dreams.

Tim Beckman UT Head Football Coach

Section B

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www.IndependentCollegian.com

Sports

Page

Monday, November 29, 2010

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Zach Davis – Editor

Page’s five touchdowns lead Rockets past Central 42-31

By Joe Mehling Assistant Sports Editor

Joseph Herr / IC

Sophomore wide receiver Eric Page returns one of his two kickoff returns for touchdowns against Central Michigan on Friday. Page also had two receiving touchdowns and his second touchdown pass of the season against the Chippewas.

Toledo wins Iona Thanksgiving Classic

By Zach Davis Sports Editor

Toledo secured the Iona Championship Classic Tournament yesterday with a 6860 win against the host Gaels. The Rockets also topped Maryland, Baltimore County 77-72 on Saturday.

The preseason Mid-American Conference West Division favorites came into the tournament with just a 1-3 record. Toledo (3-3) suffered losses to Purdue (40), Missouri State (3-1) and Cleveland State (5-1), each of which qualified for postseason play last year.

“We didn’t start off with an easy schedule,” UT head coach Tricia Cullop said. “We had lessons to learn. The things that we have been working on have started to come through.

“I think that when we had the two losses to Missouri State and Cleveland State we had to take a step back and address some fundamentals that earlier on I thought we had a better grasp on. That’s just part of a maturity drop. When you play teams that have been to the postseason they know

how to win and they are go- competitiveness which realing to point out your mis- ly energizes our team.” takes. The one thing I really Junior point guard Naama challenged our team with Shafir had 16 points and six was to use those losses as assists with seven turnovers motivation as opposed to for UT while senior forward letting them second guess Melissa Goodall had 15 ourselves.” points and three rebounds.

Sophomore forward LecSophomore forward retia Smith earned tourna- Yolanda Richardson and jument MVP honors as she nior guard Haylie Linn led record 23 points, the way off the 17 rebench with nine bounds, and six points, three asrespectively. sists and “There were s e v e n some games when steals over Saturday Nov. 27 we were losing the weekwhere when we 77 subbed we didn’t end, in- Toledo 72 get positive minc l u d i n g UMBC her first utes off of our collegiate Sunday Nov. 28 bench,” Cullop d o u b l e - Toledo 68 said. “I really Smith d o u b l e Iona 60 thought the differwith a ence in Sunday’s 13-point, 10-regame was our bound performance against bench came through when Iona yesterday. we needed them.”

“Lecretia played outstandThe Rockets fell behind ing on the boards, defen- early to Iona (1-4) but sively and got some great scored 12 unanswered to transition baskets,” Cullop break out to a 25-14 advansaid. “The fun thing to me is tage with just over eight to watch her defense and minutes remaining and rebounding. Even though closed out the half leading she’s smaller in size, her 31-23. heart and desire outmatch After Goodall stretched other kid’s size. She just re- the lead back to 10 with a ally is scrappy and has that — Classic, Page B2 never-say-quit attitude and

blessing,” Donald said. “I came to Toledo because it is a Sophomore wide out Eric winning program. Going to a Page scored five touchdowns, bowl game is big and that is including tossing his second what we are looking forward touchdown pass of the year, to.”

Redshirt-freshman quarterfor the Rockets in a 42-31 victory over Central Michigan on back Terrance Owens completFriday at the Glass Bowl. The ed 24-of-32 passes for a careerhigh 304 yards and Toledo native hauled three touchdowns, inin two receiving cluding a 75-yard touchdowns and retouchdown to junior turned two kickoffs wide out Kenny Stafalong with a passing ford on the third play score to total 344 allfrom scrimmage for purpose yards. the Rockets longest “Eric Page is a phepass play of the year. nomenal player,” UT Owens was also the head coach Tim Beckrecipient of the touchman said. “He has a great surrounding Donald down pass from Page for a 28-yard score to cast. When we need to make a play, Eric seems to give the Rockets an 18-point make those and does a great lead in the fourth quarter.

“I was waiting on that play,” job not just offensively, but on Owens said. “I begged coach special teams too.”

With the victory, the Rock- Campbell to call that play for me and he called it ets improve to 8-4 at the right time.” overall, 7-1 in the Junior running Mid-American Conback Adonis Thomference, and await as led the UT ground word on which bowl game they will travel Toledo 42 attack with 73 yards to during the C. Michigan 31 on 19 carries and hauled in five catchholidays. es for 53 yards.

“It felt good beThe Rocket defense held cause we got the win at the end,” Page said. “I think we CMU (3-9, 2-6 MAC) to just 63 are just excited to play an- yards rushing and forced three turnovers, including an other game.” interception by Don“To me, it really ald after a tip from doesn’t matter where Molls. we go,” Beckman The Chippewas ansaid. “As I have menswered the Stafford tioned before, my touchdown with an wife doesn’t like me 11-play, 71-yard home in December, touchdown drive so now I have the opcapped off by a oneportunity to fulfill her yard plunge by Carl dreams.”

Volny.

Along with the caPage Page’s day began on reer day from Page, the ensuing kickoff as senior linebacker Archie Donald entered the UT he fielded the kick and took record books becoming the off down the sideline for a first Rocket to lead the team 99-yard touchdown, just one in tackles (134) for three- yard shy of the school straight seasons. Donald fin- record.

Following a three-and-out ished the regular season one tackle ahead of sophomore by the CMU offense, Page linebacker Dan Molls.

— Page, Page B2 “It’s been a

Late three keeps UT winless

By Zach Davis Sports Editor

Illinois-Chicago hit a threepointer with 7.8 seconds remaining to grab a 63-62 victory against the Rockets in Chicago, Ill. last night. The Flames also recorded a 57-51 win against UT in Savage Arena nine days ago.

“There’s no question it was a tough pill to swallow,” Toledo head coach Tod Kowalczyk said. “You fight to get a good road win and we are up two with under 10 seconds to play, and they hit a deep three on us. Give them credit for making a tough play and a tough shot.

Malcolm Griffin had a teamhigh 18 points and three assists in the loss to the Flames (4-3). The sophomore guard had an attempt to win the game with a jumper with three seconds remaining but couldn’t hit it as the Rockets dropped to 0-7 on the season.

UT is one of just 15 teams in the nation without a win.

Griffin has 48 points and 13 assists in his last three games since regaining his starting rotation spot.

“He’s playing better,” Kowalczyk said. “He’s done a much better job of doing things within the system and taking better shots and being balanced. He was prepared to play today and that’s something that is part of the process and he’s done a good job with that.”

— Winless, Page B2

File photo by Zach Davis / IC

Malcolm Griffin had a team-high 18 points and three assists in a loss to Illinois-Chicago. The sophomore guard has 48 points and 13 assists in his last three games.

B2

The

Independent Collegian

Monday, November 29, 2010

Winless From Page B1

Joseph Herr / IC

Redshirt-freshman quarterback Terrance Owens scores after catching a pass from receiver Eric Page on Friday. Owens threw for 304 yards and three touchdowns against the Chippewas.

Page From Page B1 hauled in his first receiving score of the day from Owens to take a 21-7 lead.

On the next UT possession, Page flew by the defender on a post route as Owens lofted the ball down the middle of the field and found Page in the end zone for a 25-yard touchdown.

The Chippewas cut the lead to 28-17 midway through the third quarter with a 33-yard

field goal by David Harman, but Page once again found daylight on the kickoff and followed his blockers for a 95-yard score.

However, Central Michigan recovered a blocked punt in the end zone and trailed by just 11 with 13:02 to play in the fourth quarter.

The Rockets answered with Owens throwing a backwards pass to Page and the Springfield graduate flinging the ball back to Owens to take a 42-24 lead.

Those two misses proved costly as senior Robo Kreps hit the three with nine secWith the loss, Toledo has onds remaining to give the lost 37 consecutive road Flames a 63-62 win.

“We shot 74 percent from games dating back to their March 2007 victory over Cen- the line, and I’ll take that any tral Michigan. The Rockets time with this team,” said are also 1-51 over the last Kowalczyk, whose team had four seasons on the road. shot 62 percent on the seaSenior forward Justin Anyi- son entering Sunday’s matchjong is the only remaining up. “We are not a very good player who played in that vic- free throw shooting team tory against the Chippewas and we are not a good shooting team—they correlate.” four seasons ago.

Redshirt-freshman for“This coaching staff was ward Hayden not here for this Humes had nine streak,” Kowalczyk points and five resaid. “The players bounds for the were not here for Rockets while that streak. I could Shunnar scored not care less about it. I’m not going to Ill.-Chicago 63 eight off the bench.

62 Freshman fortalk about it, I don’t Toledo ward Reese Hollithink about it and it day had nine points, four redoesn’t enter my mind.”

The Rockets held a 27-26 bounds and two assists in his lead at halftime but fell be- return from a head injury afhind 46-39 after the Flames ter missing the last two games. scored 11 unanswered.

“We needed him,” KowalcJunior guard Jay Shunnar tied the game at 58 with a zyk said. “We only have three three-pointer with 2:34 re- scholarship guys on the pemaining and UT took the rimeter with J.T. [Thomas], lead with a pair of free Malcolm and him. That’s it throws by freshman forward for the whole season. When Delino Dear with just over a one goes down, that is a big minute left. After UIC tied blow to us. To have him back the game at 60, Toledo was was a big plus.”

Point guard J.T. Thomas is sent to the line twice, with both Griffin and Dear split- still struggling adapting to the collegiate game while ting their attempts.

also playing through a foot injury which caused him to miss the first two games of the season. The freshman is averaging 4.1 points, 1.4 assists and 2.1 turnovers in five games this year for Toledo.

“You talk about playing freshmen and then you talk about playing freshmen point guards,” Kowalczyk said.

“That’s a difficult thing for a freshman to do, especially one who hasn’t really practiced a whole lot because of his injury. He’s trying to get better and will get better.”

The Rockets were outrebounded 37-20 as IllinoisChicago forward Paul Carter had 14 rebounds. Toledo has outrebounded their opponents in two of seven contests and has been beaten on the glass by nearly 5.3 boards per game.

“Part of it is length and athleticism,” Kowalczyk said.

“They’ve got [Carter] a 6-8 guy going against a 6-2 Reese Holliday—he just goes over top of him. The kid’s battling down there. He just can’t come up with it.

“It is just a matter of us going up and getting it. Tonight we took it on the chin on the glass, but we beat them in a lot of phases in the game as well.”

Toledo hosts Cincinnati (5-0) in their next matchup on Sunday at 7 p.m. in Savage Arena.

Tipton added his second touchdown of the day, but a clutch 18-yard reception by Page on fourth and three with two minutes remaining sealed the victory for the Rockets.

“I learned a long time ago that you get your [best] players the ball in those crucial situations,” Beckman said. “That’s exactly what we intended to do and that’s what we did.”

All bowl invitations must be offered by Dec. 5, but the Rockets could accept a bid at any time during the week.

File photo by Zach Davis / IC

UT head coach Tod Kowalczyk (right) talks with freshman forward Reese Holliday (left) during a game earlier this season. Holliday returned at UIC after missing the last two games with a head injury.

Classic From Page B1 layup to start the half, the Gaels reeled off eight unanswered to cut the lead to 3331 and reclaimed the lead with 14:50 remaining at 38-37.

Toledo used another run to score 10 unanswered to take a 50-40 advantage and Iona would not get closer than five points from UT the rest

of the way as the R o c k ets took their third win of the season 68-60.

Toledo made a season-high 11 three-pointers on Saturday against UMBC (1-5) in the opening game of the Iona Thanksgiving Classic.

Senior guard Jessica Williams hit six threes and finished with a career-high 24 points.

Shafir had 15 points and five assists while Goodall

had 14 points and seven rebounds.

The Rockets claimed their first second-half lead at 44-43 and followed that with a 14-5 run taking a 58-48 advantage.

UMBC cut the lead to two with 6:38 remaining, but a 102 UT run put the Retrievers away 77-72.

Toledo returns to action tomorrow as they travel to Jersey City, N.J. to face Saint Peter’s at 7 p.m.

Joseph Herr / IC

Senior linebacker Archie Donald led the Rockets in tackles for the third-straight season with 134.

File photo by Jason Mack / IC

Sophomore forward Lecretia Smith earned tournament MVP honors after recording 23 points, 17 rebounds, seven steals and three assists in the Iona Thanksgiving Classic this weekend.

WBSS From Page B4 members started showing concern. Was there enough light to continue filming?

Between the producer, Carina Cornieles, whom I mentioned in my last column, and the director, film major Scott Corsi, a solution was found: illuminate our outdoor set, the parking lot outside the Quad, with car headlights.

Originally, they only wanted to illuminate one set of dancers as they approached the other group. The crew then decided to also use the

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Independent Collegian

Monday, November 29, 2010 headlights as a backlight for the other group of dancers, the other side of the Ottawa-Quad faceoff.

The effect was fantastic. The set and the cast members looked amazing. Cornieles commented to me that, on film, “It looks just like a Backstreet Boys music video.”

While that may not have been precisely the effect we were going for, it was still a pretty awesome effect.

Our first day of filming was amazing, and I hope that carries over into the footage.

Plus, the guy playing Marky will never live down the Backstreet Boy thing.

Jay-Z From Page B4 worse, stagnation,” Jay-Z writes.

Because of the poetic nature of his book, we never really learn how one goes from street corner hustler to indulging in the finer things and personal congress with politicians.

In the era of “making it rain” – when a rapper not only claims to be the greatest living, but also the richest — it’s hard not to hold Jay-Z accountable. He has outsold his opponents across the board

and enjoyed a success untold to even yesteryear’s hip-hop greats. So is he the greatest?

In another simile, Jay-Z compares rapping to boxing.

Much like former heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali’s proclamation of being the “greatest,” it is hard to measure the accomplishments of Jay-Z. A clothing line, a vodka, a record label, critical acclaim – all have been acquired one by one by Jay-Z, yet as even he points out, hip-hop is an urban art form misunderstood by many.

“Great rappers from the earliest days distinguished themselves by looking closely at the world around them and describing it in a clever, artful way,” he argues rap’s benefits to society in great detail throughout the book.

Debating and agreeing with Chuck D of Public Enemy’s quote that rap is “black America’s CNN.” To Jay-Z, rap is multi-faceted – capable of embodying both shameless braggadocio and social conscience; both glamorizing the lifestyle of a crack dealer and bemoaning

the blight of a community due to crack consumption.

“Decoded” isn’t an introductory book to hip-hop by any means, nor does it help one “follow in [Jay-Z’s] footsteps,” as the aforementioned song explains. Like many of its peers on the autobiography bookshelf, “Decoded” is only capable of placating fans and providing some backstories to famous moments in the star’s life.

Those unfamiliar with the life and times of Sean Carter will most likely be bored and confused.

Francine Orr/Los Angeles Times/MCT

Best Buy employees get pumped up for the early shoppers in Burbank, California, at the Burbank Empire Center for “Black Friday” deals, Friday, November 26, 2010.

Friday From Page B4 American Eagle and several other stores in the mall were planning on opening an hour earlier.

But even at 2 p.m., the people who had been there since 4 a.m. were still in great moods and still willing to help

out people and treat them well.

From what I heard, the morning shift was absolutely insane. By the time that I arrived to work at 1:50 p.m., the store was a disaster. There were masses of people even at that time of the day and the tables that normally hoist up folded clothes were a com-

plete disaster.

We had a potluck in the back room, which kept us going all weekend long. We pigged out not only on our breaks, but any time we had to go to the stockroom, grabbing a cookie or chip on our way out.

For the new employees, this was undoubtedly a totally

Mark Boster/Los Angeles Times/MCT

Michelle Harrison, of Newport Beach, arrived at 5:30 a.m. for the 50 percent off everything in the Baby Gap store (until 10 a.m.) at South Coast Plaza, Friday, November 26, 2010, in Costa Mesa, California. crazy experience for them.

For some new people, it was even their first day on the job. This overwhelming experience really only helps them because if they can handle this, they can handle anything at the mall.

I worked for three hours before taking my half hour break. From 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., I stood at the cash register, or cash-n-wrap as we like to say, and rang out customers. Time seemed to fly by because there was a constant line of people.

For the most part, customers seemed to be in good moods. No huge arguments over the last sweatshirt since we were wellstocked and able to handle all situations.

One customer did, however, come back to our store on Saturday complaining that she did not receive her $20 coupon discount. Since she had that coupon along with a 40 percent off coupon, we had to take the $20 off one item. Even though I thoroughly explained this before she left, she still came back and received some money back for the difference.

But I don’t let customers like that ruin everything for

me. Almost every customer I rang out commented on how helpful or great a job someone was doing. It was nice to hear that since it is such a customer-focused job.

Even though I was scheduled to work until 11 p.m. that night, I volunteered to stay later. I wasn’t sure exactly how late those closing the store were going to be staying, but because of the condition of the store, I knew it would be a while.

People who were scheduled the latest were supposed to work until 1 a.m. the following morning, but we ended up staying a little bit later, clocking out at exactly 1:35 a.m. It took us over two and a half hours to recover from the fallout in the store. We all felt people didn’t seem to realize exactly how much work it takes in order to get a store ready for the next day, but Green Friday is worse.

Walking out of the store was especially weird. I was parked too far to walk by myself so someone had to drive me to my car. We knew we took a long time to close when we realized the only cars left in the parking lot were our own.

The next day, I had to go in to work a seven hour shift, working from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. I worked for three hours, took a break, and worked another three hours.

Before I clocked into work, I put my purse in my locker and hung my coat on the door of the locker like others had done.

I had my break at about 1:30p.m., and after that, I rang people up for the rest of my shift. As soon as I went into the back room to grab my bag and coat, I realized my coat wasn’t there. It turns out my coat was placed among other coats on the store floor, and was sold to a customer all within an hour.

I panicked and ran to my manager and told him what happened. He was able to look up the family’s transaction and saw they had paid with a check, which had their phone number on it.

My manager left a voicemail with them explaining the situation, but as of right now, they have not called back. I’m still hoping they return my coat; but if not, I will be reimbursed by American Eagle, so either way, no real harm done.

“Remind yourself. Nobody’s built like you, you design yourself ”

Jay-Z — A Dream

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Arts and Life Monday, November 29, 2010

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Vincent D. Scebbi - Interim Editor

Jay-Z’s career to be ‘Decoded’ by fans

By DC Guastella IC Staff Writer

Romain Blanquart/Detroit Free Press/MCT

Jay-Z performs at the Palace of Auburn Hills on Friday, April 25, 2008, in Auburn Hills, Michigan.

Digital shopping spree

By Mitchell Rohrer IC Staff Writer

After retailers spend a day of wrangling the stampede of customers from Black Friday, they begin to prepare for the online rush called Cyber Monday.

Cyber Monday begins the Monday after Thanksgiving and has easily become the second highest retail sales date for most companies. The term was coined in 2005 in a press release by Shop.org and has stuck around since. The online bargains often beat the sale prices during the 24 hours of Black Friday and can last the entire week.

Since the “holiday” exists completely online, it is only natural that the best deals would be on electronics. Big computer companies like HP and Dell plan to have prices slashed up to 25 percent off the listed retail. For example, the G Series laptops from HP, which are popular among college students, are already about $200 off with an extra 50 percent off the warranty and customer service packages that they offer, plus another 57 percent off a printer if bought with the computer.

For a one-stop shop for all electronic needs, not just computer-related, visit sites like Newegg.com and TigerDirect.com where featured items are 75 to 80 percent off,

most with free shipping.

From Xbox 360’s to speakers, computer monitors to video cameras, the Cyber Monday sales cover everything. MSNBC.com said, “Expect to see online retailers meet or beat Black Friday HDTV prices.”

However, Cyber Monday is not just for technology junkies. Clothing is on deep discount, with retailers like American Eagle offering up to 30 percent off. Some items are even 75 percent off at Aéropostale. Both retailers are giving away free shipping on all orders. Even larger companies like Macy’s, which sell everything from clothing to appliances, plan to keep their sales going from Black Friday online, which is an extra 20 percent off almost everything.

Amazon.com, America’s largest online retailer, has their award-winning Kindle ebook reader on sale for $139.

Not to mention, all college students can get a free trial for a year of Amazon Prime with their Rocket e-mail address, which gives free twoday shipping on everything and cheaper deals on certain items like textbooks or discounts on over-night delivery.

With the extreme discounts that Cyber Monday has to offer, one could easily go overboard with shopping for everyone they know, but always

remember to be cautious when using a credit card number on the internet.

Credit card theft is a constantly growing epidemic with online shopping, but there are ways to keep those numbers safe.

Many companies like Discover Card or banks like Citibank and Bank of America offer a one-time credit card number. Similar to a gift card, the companies ask for how much the customer wants on the temporary card and how long they will use it for and they will generate a new credit card number to help avoid fraudulent charges over this holiday season.

Companies will also keep a record of all purchases that have been made with the new number.

Another option is a website called PayPal.com, which is renowned for its security features and is accepted by almost any major retailer. When making a PayPal.com account, there is an option to tie it directly to a checking account instead of giving out a credit card number to all the stores.

Cyber Monday is quickly becoming the best way to get all the shopping done this holiday season. With stores offering deals equal to or better than Black Friday, avoid being trampled in the mall this year and try shopping from the comfort of home.

From a small-time crack dealer to one of this generation’s most successful musicians, entrepreneur and friend of presidents past and present, rapper Jay-Z, birth name Sean Carter, explains all in his autobiography “Decoded.”

“Each tale contains more of the truth, and the statute allows me to go into detail,” Jay-Z wrote in the song “Real As It Gets” on last years multiplatinum album “The Blue Print 3.”

Behind the pizzazz of editing, the book is more rhetoric and whining than anything else. Each chapter is loosely based around a theme, and an accompanying set of lyrics, which are “decoded” for the reader.

Each lyric sheet contains footnotes in the same vein as a high school Shakespeare reproduction, explaining to the unaware and unhip the

meanings of some of Jay-Z’s most popular songs. Chapters featured such themes as “Cautionary Tales” and “Balling and Falling.”

Perhaps more entertaining than any of this is reading a self-proclaimed former crack dealer cite wage statistics of dealers from Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner’s 2005 book “Freakanomics.”

To oversimplify, most of the slang Jay-Z explains in his book is about crack-cocaine.

The rest of it constitutes mostly run-of-the-mill hip-hop allusions to Spike Lee films, Donald Goine’s novels and basketball.

Like many rap songs, the book is full of similes – hiphop is like a social movement; Jay-Z is like Jean-Michel Basquiat or Ernesto “Che” Guevara. These similes run weaker as the book descends into complaints of scapegoated rappers and the woes of the adored, and he does allude briefly to Kurt Cobain’s sui-

cide note.

However, there are a few good puns along the way, such as “flyer than a paper bearing my name.”

It would be hard to rate “Decoded” without comparing it to two of the other autobiographies that recently stocked the shelves at bookstores – Keith Richards’ “Life” and George W. Bush’s “Decision Points.” Surprisingly, it’s more of the latter than the former.

Bush’s book centers on particular issues within his presidency, ignoring an overt chronology – Jay-Z’s is the same.

Unfortunately, the former president did not include a how-to guide to decipher some of his more confusing speeches and policy decisions.

“My life has been more poetry than prose, more about unpredictable leaps than simple steady movement, or — Jay-Z, Page B3

Black Friday workday

By Tegan Wilkinson IC Staff Writer

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Mercu n Jose old/Sa

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As a mall employee, Black Friday Weekend, or “Green” Friday as we like to call it, is what we live for. The hustle and bustle atmosphere at the mall is one of the best times of the year. There is always something to do, a ton of people working, and crazy stories about mad customers.

This holiday season is my second as an American Eagle employee. I have been working for just over a year now, so I knew it was going to be crazy -- just not how crazy.

On Green Friday, Westfield Franklin Park Mall was scheduled to open at 5 a.m.

However, in order to get the store ready to open, employees at American Eagle had to be at work at 3 a.m.

Even though the mall was set to open at 5 a.m., — Friday, Page B3

Keeping you up to date: West Bancroft Side Story

By Feliza Casano Copy Chief

Nick Kneer / IC

Cast members dance in the parking lot outside of the Dowd —Nash —White during the first filming session for “West Bancroft Side Story” Saturday, Nov. 20, 2010.

Who was it that said working is no fun? Whoever said that must not have been in the film business.

Just before Thanksgiving break, the cast and crew members of “West Bancroft Side Story” started filming what will eventually become the first snippet of the miniseries: a music video-style preview and the opening scene of the first episode.

The best way to describe the beginning stages of filming is “a process.” We had no idea how long each snippet would take to film, and we didn’t know how many takes we would need for each clip.

The answer to both of those questions: much longer than we expected.

On the Saturday that we filmed, the weather was absolutely beautiful – particularly considering it was November in Toledo – which was lucky for all of us, since WBSS takes place early in the fall semester.

It was also lucky for the crew members: any idea how difficult it is to handle a camera with gloves on?

As it turns out, the cast members may not have needed the heavy winter coats after all.

The first filming day was also the first day that the cast members worked with the WBSS choreographers for the dance sequences. We are lucky enough to have four choreographers, three of whom were at this particular filming.

My favorite part of filming had to be the dance practices, even though it took up quite a bit of time that we could have used other ways. There were also several different parts, but the sections I was most interested in were the two devoted to the same part of the song, danced by two different groups.

One major part of the miniseries is the Romeo-and-Julietstyle, Montague-versus-Capulet rivalry between the students living in Ottawa West and the students living in the

Dowd-Nash-White complex, which is usually referred to as “the Quad.” My favorite dance sequence deals with the rivalry in a rather interesting manner.

Yet that wasn’t the best part.

The two groups of dancers in the segment are separated

by Ottawas and Quads, focusing on two of the main characters: Marky, the Mercutio-like ringleader of the Ottawa circus, and Greg, the aggressive older brother of the Juliet character who leads the Quads.

The choreographers did a great job breaking down the dance steps for the cast members, many of whom had never taken any type of dance lessons. They taught them in segments and took it nice and slow for the ones who were having a little trouble learning the steps.

When we finally got to the point of filming my favorite segment, it was nighttime, and the cast members were starting to feel the cold. The crew — WBSS, Page B3