Wednesday, October 31, 2012
94th year • Issue 12
Women’s cross country takes home MAC title / 7 Serving the University of Toledo since 1919
Inside
Halloween at UT / 6
Work ethic helps Fluellen shine / 7 False alarm causes library evacuation / 3 Revise blood donation standards / 4
In brief Historian to discuss divide between India, Pakistan Ayesha Jalal, professor of history at Tufts University, will give a speech titled “The Pity of Partition: The Personal and Political Across the India-Pakistan Divide” Friday, Nov. 2, at 7 p.m. in Libbey Hall. The free, public talk will last two hours and be followed by a question-and-answer session. In addition to Friday’s speech, there will be a faculty seminar Thursday, Nov. 1 from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. in University Hall Room 4180.
Costume sale helps theatre program Members of the Alpha Psi Omega National Theatre Honors Society and the Department of Theatre and Film Costume Shop will host a costume sale today from noon to 4 p.m. in the Center for Performing Arts. All costumes are unique pieces which have been featured in UT theatre productions. Prices range from $1 to $15. For more information, email sean.koogan @rockets.utoledo.edu.
Open house set for adult student services The Office of Adult Student Extended Services, part of the College of Lifelong Learning, will have an open house Monday in Rocket Hall Room 1800.
www.IndependentCollegian.com
Prof told to stop giving extra credit for blood donations
Crime
Chief: Cameras helped with crimes this semester
By Danielle Gamble
By Danielle Gamble
For most of the 30 years he has taught, English professor Russell Reising has been offering 10 extra credit points for students who donated blood or volunteered at a blood drive. That practice came to an end last week after English department chair Sara Lundquist found out and told him to stop — and Reising isn’t happy about it. Lundquist said the policy is inappropriate, while Reising said he doesn’t see the harm. The issue arose when a student emailed Reising with concerns about her grade, and mentioned that she had taken advantage of the extra credit option. When Reising forwarded the email to Lundquist, she noticed the reference. “Please tell me that you did not give students extra credit for donating blood,” she wrote in a reply to Reising. Reising said he then spoke with Lundquist by phone and she emailed him later that day, telling him to stop. “I’m just confused — it all happened so fast,” he said. “It struck me as such a strange thing to be upset about. Why would they say don’t give blood?” But Lundquist said extra credit shouldn’t be given for things like donating blood. “I think it’s a very bad academic practice,” she said Tuesday. “You’re giving extra credit for something that is not related to the content of the course. You’re trading something else for credit that leads to a grade.” Reising said he first came up with the idea when he was teaching at Marquette University and students responded positively. When he came to UT 18 years ago, he continued to offer the same deal. “I’ve had people write letters, saying they had never given blood before, but now
The installation over the summer of 156 new cameras in residence halls has helped police investigate some of this semester’s more high-profile crimes, said University of Toledo Police Chief Jeff Newton. “In some cases we’ve had this year, they’ve been very helpful in making identifications,” he said. Newton cited the recent case in which two students were robbed at gunpoint their room at Horton International House. One of the suspects was caught on surveillance video letting another suspect into the residence hall. “I’m pleased in that we were able to make identifications and arrests within 24 hours,” Newton said. When cameras caught the image of a bike thief Oct. 5, he was later arrested after people who saw the video identified him. Newton said he hopes the cameras will help prevent crimes. “As we utilize these cameras again and again to solve cases, folks will hopefully understand that there’s a higher probability of catching the bad guys,” he said. Although police have dealt with some unusual incidents this year, Newton said officers have been prepared. “Up until these past few incidents, we’ve had a really quite year,” he said. “You have 23,000 students and 4,000 residential students, so while these things aren’t common they’re still going to happen over the course of the school year.” Newton said unusual cases include the recent Academic House disturbance in which resident JaVonn Morgan allegedly assaulted three police officers and four students. “It’s very hard to prevent someone who’s a resident of the hall coming into the building in some kind of manic state… and causing a disturbance in the building,” he said.
News Editor
News Editor
Bob Taylor / IC
English professor Russell Reising stands in front of a Red Cross truck during Tuesday’s blood drive on campus. Reising was told to discontinue his extra credit policy, which gives 10 points to students who donate blood.
they give blood three or four times a year,” Reising said. “That has just really gotten me excited.” He said between all of his classes, about 10 to 20 students take advantage of the option each semester, including four so far this semester. Reising said he introduced an alternate policy his first year teaching at UT when a student who wanted to participate could not give blood because she was underweight. “Those who can’t give blood can volunteer,” he said. “I wanted this to be as fair as possible.” Reising said he has also allowed students to offer up other types of community service for extra credit, like for those who participated
“You’re giving extra credit for something that is not related to the content of the course..” Sara Lundquist Chair, English department
“It never dawned on me that there would be anybody who would have any objection to it.” Russell Reising Professor, English
at UT’s Dance Marathon. “I have never had a complaint,” he said. “The students have been universally happy with the option, and a lot of them have taken it seriously and it’s something they have continued to do.” Lundquist said while she agrees that blood donation is a “wonderful thing,” she said the fact that it is not connected to the curriculum makes it unfair to students. “Maybe if you’re a nursing student and you’re taking a course in hematology, the study of blood, maybe it would be appropriate to even require students to give blood — I don’t know,” she said. See Extra credit / 3
Faculty
Business professor nominated for international honor By Lindsay Mahaney Staff Reporter
A University of Toledo business professor is in the running for an award honoring business professors across the world. Clint Longenecker, a professor of management in the College of Business and Innovation, was nominated by several former students for the Business Professor of the Year award. The award is sponsored by the Economist Intelligence Unit, which is connected to The Economist magazine. It was created to find the best business professor in the world and recognize their talents publicly. The winner is chosen through online voting by students, which began Oct. 23
and closes Nov. 23. 2 1/2-hour class for the “Clint is a positive role whole 2 1/2 hours,” Gatins model for all students, espesaid. “There is never a dull cially those in the business time. Everybody is engaged college, just More online way, way, way in the way above average.” Students can vote by Longenecker has he carries going online at business been a UT profeshimself and professoraward.com sor for more than goes about and completing a form. 30 years, and is also his life,” said Once a vote is cast, it graduate. UT graduate must be verified via email a UT Longenecker said Dan Gatins, before the 1 p.m. deadline he believes in setting on Friday, Nov. 23. a former high standards for student of his students to help Longenecker. “He taught me them better themselves. While to have a positive approach knowing his students on a professional level is important, to all situations.” Gatins said he was able to Longenecker said knowing get a job right out of college each student on a personal level with Longenecker’s help and helps them excel and become professionals in their field. has been working there “I believe that this is best since 2010. achieved by me working very “He’s always moving hard to make a personal conaround and can command a nection with each and every
Photo courtesy of Dan Miller / UT
Clint Longenecker has been nominated for Business Professor of the Year, an award sponsored by the Economist Intelligence Unit.
student in a wide variety of ways,” he said. “Students care how much you care before they care how much you know, so I want my students to see in clear and tangible
ways that I am committed to their development as people and professionals as well as the information they receive.” See Professor / 3