95th year • Issue 20
Wednesday, January 29, 2014
UT marks 29th year of gaming convention / 7 www.IndependentCollegian.com
Serving the University of Toledo community since 1919
INSIDE Survival Sunday Toledo men sneak past Kent State 81-78 to remain undefeated on their home court. SPORTS / 5 »
TRANSPORTATION
Keep on ridin’
University of Toledo bike-sharing program set to become reality by later this spring By Samuel Derkin News Editor
After a two-year delay, the longdiscussed University of Toledo bike share program is in its last stages, with plans set to be final-
RecycleMania sets goal to clean up UT Eight-week competition among 600 colleges runs from Feb. 2 to March 29. COMMUNITY/ 7 »
UTMC leader says goodbye to Toledo
ized later this week. The most recent discussions center around “smart bike” company B-Cycle, and a proposal to place 25 new smart bikes with three docking stations on UT main campus this semester, before students leave for the summer. Joy Seifert, director of finance and administration for auxiliary services, said UT will be deciding within the week if the Denver-
based company will be the final pick for the program. In charge of planning are Seifert and Sammy Spann, assistant provost in the Center for International Studies and Programs. The initiative was first put forward by Student Government two years ago and then delayed due to university-wide budget cuts and extensive research. See Bike share / 8 »
ART EXHIBITION
UTMC to showcase artwork from medical community
Jeff Gold reflects on his nine years with the University of Toledo Medical Center. NEWS / 3 »
“
“When governments become nanny states and tell you what size soda to drink, what kind of light bulb to use, or answer ‘paper or plastic’ for you, they are taking away your right ... to live your own life.”
RON JOHNS A bag ban is a bad ban OPINION / 4 »
NICOLE BADIK / IC
Austin Dupont, a student in the UT College of Medicine and Life Sciences, used oil to paint his work called “The Stunflower.” Dupont said, “I focused on shadowing technique, and tried to give the painting a vibrant color scheme.” All of the artwork will remain on display for the public on the fourth floor of the Mulford Library on the Health Science Campus through March 17. By Joshuah Hampton Staff Reporter
Melissa Straub, a third-year medical school student in a student fellowship of pathology, has dabbled in watercolors since she was 4 years old, and is now showcasing her talents that lie outside of medicine. “Art makes me happy — it clears my brain, and the whole world disappears once I start painting,” Straub said. Straub is one of about 25 artists, all affiliated with
the UT College of Medicine and Life Sciences, who will show off their artwork at the Ninth Annual Health Science Campus Art Showcase. The showcase consists of many pieces of art including mixed media, water color pieces, photography, sculptures and other traditional styles of art. All of the artwork will remain on display for the public on the fourth floor of the Mulford Library on the Health Science Campus through March 17. See Exhibit / 8 »
ENROLLMENT
Spring student count drops By Samantha Rhodes Associate News Editor
This spring’s enrollment is down from the year before at the University of Toledo, continuing a trend that has been going on since spring 2011. When comparing spring 2013 to spring 2014, undergraduate enrollment fell by 506 students and graduate student enrollment dropped by 252 students, making the overall drop in enrollment 3.83 percent. Cam Cruickshank, vice president for enrollment management and online education, said this enrollment decrease was expected, as enrollment from fall 2012 to fall 2013 also dropped by 3.34 percent. “Remember that enrollment is a combination of both new students and continuing students, so because we had fewer students in the fall that were enrolled relative to the previous fall, this is right in line with our expectations,” Cruickshank said. Several other factors have contributed to the enrollment decrease, Cruickshank said, including a decrease in the number of high school graduates. He said it’s a regional trend in the northeast and northwest areas, such as Toledo. “It’s just birth rates,” Cruickshank said. “When you examine data from the U.S. Census Bureau and you look at the number of live births 18 years ago, there were fewer people being born 18 years ago relative to four years earlier. It’s just kind of a demographic reality.” According to Cruickshank, the direct-from-high-school population represents twothirds, or the majority of the undergrad student population, while adult learners make up one-third. “I think in the past, we may have been spending a little bit too much of our time and institutional resources on See Enrollment / 8 »
UNIVERSITY STAFFING
Toastmasters assist students with presentation skills Glossophobia is fear of public speaking — a fear many share — but a club at the University of Toledo, called Toastmasters, aims to ease and improve the experience of public speaking for students, faculty and anyone else interested in joining. COMMUNITY / 7 »
Administration at UT undergoes many changes By Danielle Gamble Editor-in-Chief
Whether they realize it or not, next year’s freshmen will find a University of Toledo administration that looks pretty different than it did just a year before. Two top administrators are on their way out, while a list of others have seen a change in their responsibilities. Chancellor Jeff Gold, head of UTMC, is leaving this week to lead the University of Nebraska Medical Center, after he was offered the position at the end of November. Also leaving this year will be Vern Snyder, vice
president for institutional advancement, who is retiring after 12 years of working in fundraising at the UT Foundation. Separate search committees have been formed to find both Snyder’s replacement before he leaves on June 30, and a new dean for the College of Medicine and Life Sciences. However, a committee hasn’t been formed yet to fill the chancellor position. President Lloyd Jacobs said this is because he wants to “examine the job description and see if it’s still relevant.” He said he has asked the dean’s search committee to find a suitable candidate who can
be in place by July 1, something Jacobs said would be “a little bit of a squeeze, but I think we can do it.” By that time, he said he thinks administrators will have a better idea of what they are looking for in a new chancellor. “The first step is to look what kind of dean we can get, to study in a national-level search,” Jacobs said. “And then we’ll sort out the chancellor duties and decide what to do with them.” He said this was because the duties of a See Administration / 8 »
2 | The Independent Collegian | Wednesday, January 29, 2014
CAMPUS DIGEST Follow us on Twitter @The ICToledo
This week in UT history
STUDENT GROUP OF THE WEEK
Toledo Campus Ministry
50 years ago: President William S. Carlson this week gave the University stand in favor of academic freedom on the matter of controversial or unpopular speakers appearing before student groups. The matter was brought up by The Collegian following a rash of community comment to the University provoked by the scheduling of controversial speakers by the TU Humanist Club. “The public interest,” said President Carlson, “is not served when the academic community is fearful of experimentation, controversy and dissent.” 75 years ago: What’s that terrible noise in the halls? Wooden shoe like to know? In case you’re really interested, it’s the new clog shoes being worn by the coeds, who are making local a shoe style which has been the rage in the East for a long time.
JACKIE KELLETT / IC
Brrr, it’s cold out there!
Purpose: We are a strong voice for Christian Unity at the University of Toledo from a mainline Protestant point of view. Leaders: Director: David Montgomery; student president: Joseph Heuerman; VP for spiritual life: Tamar Sarpong; VP for Agape: Gabby Garn. Upcoming events: ”Soul Food” dinner and fellowship service Wednesdays 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at campus house “The Ark” 2086 Brookdale Road, just west of Parking Lot 17. Learn more: The director’s office phone number is 419536-4865, look up the website http://toledocampusministry. org or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/groups/TCM. Fellowship.
Campus has been dusted with a layer of snow, and subjected to numbing temperatures since the semester began. Snow and ice laid on top of a table and the frozen river as well as everywhere else on campus. Classes were canceled on Jan. 28 because of the record-low temperatures.
Would your group like to be featured as the IC’s Student Group of the Week? Email Morgan Rinckey at mrinckey@ independentcollegian.com.
AMANDA PITROF/ IC
NICOLE BADIK/ IC
QUESTION OF THE WEEK
Rocky’s Pub is being renovated; what would you like to see?
“To be able to use more than one meal swipe.” Scot Tumulty
Second-year Mechanical engineering
www.IndependentCollegian.com
Like us at Facebook.com/ICollegian
“More televisions, “TVs to watch “More places to more special days games.” study.” like Wednesday-half Jewlia Boose Nic Oen off-appetizers, more Third-year Second-year menu options and a Accounting Mechanical engineering way to host events.” Andrea Dammons
Third-year Accounting and finance
The Independent Collegian staff Visit us at Carlson Library, Suite 1057 Write to us at 2801 W. Bancroft St., Mail Stop 530 Toledo, OH 43606 Contact the editor at editor@independentcollegian.com Advertise by emailing sales@independentcollegian.com Phone: 419-530-7788 Fax: 419-530-7770 EDITORIAL Editor-in-Chief Danielle Gamble
BUSINESS Business Manager Jennah Romansky
News Samuel Derkin, editor Samantha Rhodes, assoc. editor
Advertising Scott Briddell, manager Zachary Hartenburg, account executive Haley Musser, graphic designer
Sports Blake Bacho, editor Community Amanda Eggert, editor Alexandria Saba, assoc. editor Opinion Morgan Rinckey, editor Photography Nicole Badik, co-director Jackie Kellett, co-director Copy desk Lauren Gilbert, copy editor
Distribution Mandi Jung, manager Operations Michael Gonyea, manager COLLEGIAN MEDIA FOUNDATION Adviser Erik Gable The Independent Collegian is published by the Collegian Media Foundation, a private, not-for-profit corporation. © 2014
NEWS Follow us on Twitter @TheICToledo
IN BRIEF
Art department receives accreditation
The University of Toledo’s Department of Art has gained full membership with the National Association of Schools of Art and Design. The department had achieved associate membership in 2004 and has made significant changes to its curriculum since then, according to a news release. The art department is also in the process of hiring an art education lecturer and wants to revise the New Media Design Practices Program as a bachelor of fine arts concentration, a project that is currently underway. The National Association of Schools of Art and Design commission made the decision to grant the university full membership in November.
Radisson Hotel receives renovations The Radisson Hotel at the University of Toledo, formerly known as the Hotel at UT Medical Center, received temporary new signage last month. Improvements are being added to the hotel due to the new affiliation with Radisson, including installation of 39-inch high definition televisions, new carpet, new wall vinyl, and window treatments. The lobby will undergo modifications as well.
Black History Month kickoff Feb. 8 Study Hour, the Toledo Chapter of the Links Incorporated, and the University of Toledo will present a kickoff celebration for Black History Month featuring guest speaker Yanick Rice Lamb from the Howard University Department of Media. This event will take place Feb. 8 from noon to 2 p.m. in the Student Union Auditorium and a free luncheon will be served. Attendance is free for UT students, faculty and staff. Reservations to save seats must be received by Jan. 31. To RSVP, call 419-530-2261.
UTPD seeks to identify robber from Nov. 18 incident The University of Toledo Police Department is attempting to identify the suspect in a robbery that took place Nov. 18 near the Center for Performing Arts building. He is described as a 6-foot-4-inch collegeaged black male weighing about 180 pounds with a deep voice. He was reportedly wearing a black zip-up hoodie and black sweatpants and ran across the bridge in the direction of Academic House after the assault. Anyone with information can call Detective Douglas Hoffman at 419-530-2601.
UT to seek to reduce paper W-2 distribution The University of Toledo Payroll Department is asking all employees to elect to receive their W-2’s online this year in an effort to reduce paper distribution. Beginning Jan. 29, employees can provide consent to receive their 2013 tax forms only in the myUT portal on the employee tab. Any questions should be addressed to the payroll department at 419-530-8780.
CORRECTIONS In last week’s story, “New VP to lead several student services,” we did not provide the correct title for Steve Schissler, who is the assistant vice president of financial aid and enrollment services. Cam Cruickshank’s title was also incorrect, as he is the vice president for enrollment management and online education. We regret these errors.
Wednesday, January 29, 2013 | The Independent Collegian |
Like us at Facebook.com/ICollegian
3
www.IndependentCollegian.com
MEDICAL CENTER
Gold says farewell to UT By Danielle Gamble Editor-in-Chief
As he packs his belongings into boxes bound for Nebraska, Jeff Gold has a lot of numbers he could focus on: the nine years he’s served as chancellor of the University of Toledo; the 3,700 new students he’ll be in charge of at the University of Nebraska Medical Center; the 1,500 emails he’s received since he’s announced his job change. But Gold said there’s an even more significant number. “Actually,” he said, “I quantify the process by counting the number of boxes of tissues I’ve gone through in my office — eight.” Gold, the former head of the UT Medical Center, will exchange one last set of farewells with the Toledo community at a farewell reception to be held on Wednesday, Jan. 29, at the Radisson hotel on Health Science campus. He will speak at a town hall meeting at 3 p.m., and a free public reception will follow from 4 to 6 p.m. Gold first came to UT in 2005 and was a part of the university’s merger with the Medical University of Ohio. He said that the merger was “a critically important thing to allow it to successfully compete with top- tier universities” because it allowed more diverse education opportunities in the medical college. “It had a big impact on the university, it had a big impact on the community — it had a big impact on the state,” he said. “It is looked at by many across the country as one of the most successful mergers ever accomplished in higher education.” But Gold said there were harder lessons learned, too — specifically, those taught by a botched kidney surgery in 2012 that resulted in a nurse throwing away a viable organ meant for
transplant. He described the incident as “a tragic, unforeseen event” that “represented a series of human failures.” “If I had my choice, I would not want to have gone through it,” Gold said. “But given the fact that I did not have a choice, I absolutely believe that this institution is far better and that I am far stronger and far more knowledgeable about human performance than I ever would have been.” When asked about how the incident impacted UTMC’s relationship with the community, Gold said he hasn’t seen negative effects reflected in the number of patients or referrals. However, he said those numbers are only part of the answer — an answer that he doesn’t have. “The themes are exactly the same — nobody gets up in the morning and says, ‘You know, today I’m going to make a mistake — I’m planning on it, it’ll happen just before I go to lunch,’” he said. Despite the setbacks, Gold has overseen a substantial amount of change at UT. His name is connected to UT projects like the Dana Cancer Center, an orthopedic center, a Parkinson center, a pain center, community clinics, the renovation of Mulford Library, the Collier building expansion and multiple off-campus clinics. “They’re not mine,” he said. “I’m part of a team of wonderful people who just leave me in power.” One of the projects Gold said he’s proudest of is the university’s Interprofessional Immersive Simulation Center, a $36 million project set to be unveiled April 22. Gold said the center will “transform this university and transform this region.”
“It will be the most advanced simulation center in the world, and probably will be for some time to come,” he said. But Gold said his favorite memories center around nonadministrative events, like when the UT women’s basketball team won the WNIT championship in 2011. Besides the confetti and cheering in Savage Arena, Gold said he cherishes what he felt was the meaning behind the win. “It had to do with the attitude of what happens when people work hard, form a successful team, and play as hard as they can play,” he said. It’s a philosophy Gold thinks runs through the entire university, an institution he said he’s “in awe of.” “We don’t just do it on the basketball court or on the football field,” he said. “We do it in the classrooms, we do it in the laboratories, we do it in the operating rooms and the clinics. We do it every day. We win and we are the very, very best in this community.” But Gold said that in the past, he’s been troubled by “a community that looks out, typically, before it looks in.” “People in this community, which I think is not uncommon, somewhat take for granted the excellence of the university,” he said. However, he said that he’s seen the feedback change to more positive over the years — “slowly.” Gold will become a part of a new community when he starts his chancellorship at Nebraska on Feb. 5. He said they’re challenges very similar to UT, but on a bigger scale. “I’ve been very warmly received,” he said. “It is definitely a warm and generous community. They’ve certainly made me feel very welcome.”
JEFF GOLD
Gold said he’ll be sharing his new home with his wife of 39 years, Robin, a physician who practices in New York. Joining them is Kahli, a 12-year-old tortoise-shell Persian cat — or rather, his “youngest child.” Gold’s son Matthew, 30, will remain in California where he works at Google, and Gold’s daughter Stephanie, 25, is staying at Cornell University where she is in her second year as a medical student. Even though he’s saying goodbye to his UT past, Gold said he plans to visit the campus again later this semester for two events — the College of Medicine and Life Science’s commencement ceremony, and the ribbon cutting of the Interprofessional Immersive Simulation Center. And even though he’s the owner of a new set of Husker memorabilia, Gold said he will always be a Rocket. “We’re not average, we’re not above average,” he said. “We are truly, truly excellent -- I mean really the top -- and I get just tremendous personal satisfaction from being part of an organization that does that.”
TOWN HALL PROGRAM
LAWSUIT
UT staff member to host live WGTE town hall program about bullying
UT Med Center to pay after patient sues for damages
By IC Staff
Lisa Pescara-Kovach, associate professor of educational psychology at the University of Toledo, will host a live WGTE Public Media town hall program on Jan. 30 at 8 p.m. at the WGTE Studios, 1270 S. Detroit Ave. in Toledo. Panelists will include young adults who have experienced bullying or witnessed it, and others are welcome to share their bullying experiences as well as how they overcame them. Students, faculty and staff from UT, as well as members of the general public, are invited to be a part of the studio audience and to ask questions and engage in conversation about bullying. Those in attendance will receive a pamphlet developed by Kovach with both local and national resources, information about bullying and prevention, and other tips.
The town hall program is part of the Preventing Bullying = Creating Safety collaborative effort of WGTE Public Media and Fostering Health Communities, which is a joint effort among Mercy Health Partners, ProMedica and UT Medical Center. The initiative focuses on decreasing bullying and increasing youth safety. The program will air on Jan. 31 at 2 a.m. on WGTE. Attendance is free, but RSVPs are required. To RSVP, call 419-380-4613.
If you go What: Live WGTE town hall program about bullying. Where: WGTE Studios, 1270 S. Detroit Avenue in Toledo. When: Jan. 30 at 8 p.m. Sponsered by: WGTE Public Media and Fostering Health Communities
By IC Staff
The University of Toledo Medical Center has agreed to pay a $214,403.55 settlement to a patient who said that while undergoing treatment for cervical and endometrial cancer, she received radiotherapy to the wrong sites. The settlement was approved Jan. 24 by the Ohio Court of Claims, after a complaint was filed in December 2012 According to court documents, the wrongful treatment was applied in December 2011 to Meigan Maher, a resident of Tecumseh, Mich. She said she suffered severe burns and permanent and substantial disfigurement. The settlement agreement states that $200,000 will be paid directly to Maher, while the remaining $14,403.55 will go to the University of Toledo Physicians to cover additional medical expenses Maher incurred because of the alleged mistake. The agreement states that the settlement is not to be construed as an admission of liability by UTMC.
4
| The Independent Collegian | Wednesday, January 29, 2014
OPINION
Like us at Facebook.com/ICollegian
Follow us on Twitter @TheICToledo
EDITORIAL BOARD
Danielle Gamble Editor-in-Chief
Morgan Rinckey Opinion Editor
Samuel Derkin News Editor
Editorials appearing on this page represent the consensus view of the editorial staff. Columns and letters to the editor reflect the opinions of their authors, not those of The Independent Collegian.
EDITORIAL
Gear up for bike share
Bike sharing promotes better alternatives to driving on campus Bikes get talked about a fair amount at the University of Toledo. Sometimes it’s because some jerk almost hit a pedestrian while riding his bike on the sidewalk, or because some jerk almost hit a bicyclist on the road. But more recently, the chatter has focused on more students being able to have access to bikes, courtesy of a campus bike share program. And we can’t wait to jump on. The history of UT and campus bike sharing is pretty extensive. The topic resurfaced this September when Student Government passed a resolution supporting the idea of program. They were bringing up a topic brought to the spotlight in fall 2012, when the board of trustees approved $2 million to improve bike trails and add 100 parking spots on campus. Keep looking back, and you’ll continue to see evidence of an unrealized plan. Some have credited much of the momentum for bike sharing to former SG President Matt Rubin, who led a bike-friendly campus initiative between 2010 and 2012 to improve bike paths and furbish two campus bike corrals with lockers and air pumps. Actually, one could argue that the topic started gaining traction before him in 2009 when UT installed the campus’ first bike corral. Students have been waiting a long time for bike sharing. The current plan has been passed around for a few years, and it has always received positive feedback. But for whatever reason — perhaps the scope of the project, perhaps budget questions — it’s been shuffled around between different administrative offices and student groups without ever really becoming a reality. Finally, there is an official plan in the works with fairly strong timeline attached. And no matter what, it’s time we implemented this program. There are so many benefits to having a strong bike share program that they’re hard to quantify. Here’s a list of just the basics: • More bikes equal less traffic. As a commuter student, it’s easy to be seduced by the idea of moving your car across campus instead of taking the extra 10 minutes to walk. Bikes available for checkout cut down on the amount of drivers and bikers. • Bikes are eco-friendly. Obviously, bikes don’t release emissions like cars do, unless you count the carbon dioxide the biker is exhaling. Campus bikes mean there won’t be as many idling cars wasting gas as their owners search for an empty parking space. • Cycling will save students time and stress. Bikers can park their bikes in the bike racks just outside the building or in a bike corral. That way, a freshman who accidentally scheduled back to back classes across campus can use a campus bike to dash to class. • Biking is a quick, fun workout. Bike sharing allows students to go about their daily schedule while enjoying a healthy dose of exercise that’s lower impact than walking. Who doesn’t want to work out their glutes on the way to biology? • This program should lead to a better connection with the community. Adding to the metro parks and bike paths open now, the city of Toledo is looking to become even more bike-friendly and embrace a similar bike share program. The university’s adoption of bike sharing means more opportunities to explore the city and make students more connected to the surrounding area. Now, the only question left to answer is one of funding. UT, much like every other university in this country, is dealing with a complex budget that doesn’t have a lot of wiggle room. But the question of money will always be there when it comes to a program like this — grants fall through, there aren’t enough donors, nobody wants to foot the bill. That’s one of the main reasons it’s taken this long to get this far. It’s not optimal to use university funds to pay for this program, but small investments that are made smartly and from the correct areas of the budget wouldn’t be a bad idea. This should be funded in part by grants, or outside partnerships with private industries, and students should ultimately put up a little cash (maybe in the form of a membership fee, or optout general fee). No matter what the circumstances are now, it’s important to continue to watch this initiative as it develops and hold its leaders accountable. But the fact that it is developing is a great thing. The bottom line is that this program is too good to not invest in. At the end of the day, we’re not just investing in bikes — we’re investing in a happier and healthier community.
www.IndependentCollegian.com COMMENTARY
A bag ban is a bad ban
Recently, our student newspaper each, and paper ones cost 5 cents to 23 here at The University of Toledo cents.” So with this being said, how do penned an article telling the Toledo think that kind of expenditure increase City Council to create a ban of plastic would affect small business? Common bags throughout the sense can tell us the city. The editors failed increase would affect to look at the actual efthem negatively. Instead fects of such a ban and of businesses reinvesting the real costs to the money back into operaconsumer. tions or their exterior, Editors of The Indeit must now go into pendent Collegian are expense for paper bags. under the impression It should come as that the elimination of no surprise to those plastic bags from the city who think this policy would lower city-wide litthrough, that the effects ter, but it wouldn’t. I can would be horrid. We speak from personal exknow this would increase perience as someone who costs on both small and IC COLUMNIST picks up trash wherever big businesses. However, I go that coming across a the hit taken by most big plastic bag is kind of a rarity. Other items businesses will not affect them as much are discarded far more often, so the ban as the capital lacking small businesses. wouldn’t cut a big dent into litter. This plastic bag regulation would be Stores would just switch to paper another protectionist policy from Uncle bags, which are even worse for the Sam, and a barrier to entry to anyone environment. Those who throw plastic wishing to give you better customer bags on the ground would do the same service or lower prices. This means the with the paper. Sure, plastic uses more ban could very easily lower competition oil to create than paper, but that isn’t the by small businesses closing down which only time resources are used. Bags don’t would raise prices and lessen customer magically teleport to stores and stockservice. rooms, but they must be transported. Now these bans don’t only affect groPaper bags, according to the Reason cery stores, but a vast array of local retailFoundation, are ten times heavier than ers and restaurants. The Mirage Express plastic, and take up seven times as much on Byrne may no longer be able to afford room. So the extra oil that was used to-go bags or would have to pay more to making plastic bags in the end makes get them. The shops at the mall would no difference because they still use less be forced to pay more for bulky paper oil, factoring in transportation costs. bags, which many do not have room to Another thing regulators don’t often store. With this being said if you ever take into consideration is the cost on the wanted new stores in the Franklin Park economy. Noemi de la Puente, a board mall, good luck! A majority of stores will member of an eco-friendly program in intentionally locate themselves outside New Jersey, ironically supports an arguthe city lines so they don’t have to follow ment different to her own. She pushed such a ludicrous regulation. for regulation on bags. Noemi said in Many customers benefit from plastic July of last year, “Plastic bags cost retailbags obtained from places like Wal-Mart ers like grocery stores 2 cents to 5 cents or the Chinese restaurant down the street.
RON JOHNS
Anyone with a dog should know the bags are often used as free doggie doo-doo bags for cleaning up messes. If they are banned, a lot of people will just switch to buying the doggie doo-doo bags putting more of a strain on the economy and putting more plastic in landfills. Plastic bags are widely used for garbage bags in small trash cans. After Ireland began taxing plastic bags the country saw a 77% increase in the sale of kitchen garbage bags and San Francisco had similar results with their ban. Once again the need to purchase new bags puts a new strain on the local economy and puts even more plastic in landfills than before. When governments become nanny states and tell you what size soda to drink, what kind of light bulb to use, or answer “paper or plastic” for you, they are taking away your right to decide what is good for you — to live your own life. The government doesn’t know what you will use your plastic bags for or even the oil used to produce and transport plastic and paper bags. This whole article could have been avoided if more of us looked at the unseen consequences which Frederic Bastiat talks about in his book “What Is Seen and What Is Not Seen.” We all clearly understand that a ban of plastic bags means no plastic bags, but many forget something will replace the bag. For if the plastic bag was useless, it wouldn’t be used. Unintended consequences are sure to come from a bag ban. Regulation tells businesses to find new places to go and hurts our city financially, but business owners listen. For those who are really concerned about litter, the best step would be to do something on their own personal level, such as joining a community service group like The Litterbugz — not put others through financial misery. Ron Johns is a fourth-year double majoring in marketing and entrepreneurship.
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Meatless Monday At this time of year, many of us are likely thinking about New Year’s resolutions and how we can make the world, and ourselves, better in 2014. We’ve all made far-fetched and vague New Year’s resolutions that don’t stick. So how about making a resolution to do something that’s easy and can make a big difference for animals, the environment, and our own health, plus has a lot of staying power? It’s called Meatless Monday. Meatless Monday, which stems from a U.S. government resource-saving initiative from World War I, has gone mainstream. Household names like Oprah and Al Gore are touting the benefits of eating less meat, and even the Norwegian Army is going meatfree one day a week. Meatless Monday has also taken off on college campuses, with over 200 colleges and universities now participating, including the University of Toledo, and over 20 percent of college students reporting that they’re consciously cutting back on meat consumption. Why the shift toward eating more plants, and fewer animals? The current high levels of meat consumption in the U.S. support inhumane practices in industrial factory farms, and push small family farmers out of business. Eating less meat is better for animals, creates less waste and pollution, and places more value on humane and sustainable agriculture which benefits family farmers and generates more income for rural communities. Going meat-free one day a week can make a big difference for the chickens,
pigs and cows raised for food, most of whom suffer in factory farms. For example, egg-laying hens are confined in small metal cages. Each bird has less space than an iPad on which to live, leaving her unable to even flap her wings or engage in other natural behaviors. Breeding pigs in the pork industry are usually locked into cramped crates barely larger than their own bodies for virtually their entire lives, suffering from intense physical and psychological distress. By choosing meat-free options just one day a week we can all help prevent an enormous amount of cruelty to animals who feel pain and pleasure just like all animals. In addition to helping animals, humans have a lot to gain from participating in Meatless Monday. A number of studies have found that “meat-reducers” — those who eat less meat than the average American — tend to have lower rates of high blood pressure, cholesterol, heart disease and even certain types of cancer. Former president Bill Clinton, once known for his love of fast food, has been making headlines with his recent dietary change. After years of battling heart problems and undergoing quadruple bypass surgery, Clinton took his doctor’s advice to reduce his meat consumption and increase his intake of plant-based foods. He swapped the chicken nuggets and fried fish for veggie burgers, lo mein with green beans, hummus and fresh fruit smoothies and reports that the results have been tremendous: he said he has lost 24 pounds, feels more energetic and saw a drop in cholesterol levels.
Lastly, eating less meat in the New Year is one of the most effective ways to help the planet. According to the United Nations, meat production is responsible for 15 percent of all humaninduced greenhouse gas emissions. Perhaps the Sierra Club put it best when they said, “If Americans reduced meat consumption by just 20 percent, it would be as though we all switched from a sedan to a hybrid.” The Humane Society of the United States advocates compassionate eating — or the Three Rs: “reducing” or “replacing” consumption of animal products, and “refining” our diets by choosing products from sources that adhere to higher animal welfare standards. And yes, there’s an app for that. Download VegOut onto your phone to find the closest restaurants to you that offer delicious vegetarian options. Plus, national food chains like Chipotle and Denny’s offer meat-free dishes, and international cuisines, from Thai to Ethiopian to Chinese, are never short on meat-free options. Want to try your hand in the kitchen? Visit HumaneSociety.org/recipes to keep your Meatless Monday resolution going throughout the year. We all know that New Year’s resolutions can be tough to stick with, but that’s often because our goals are either too lofty or difficult. That’s where Meatless Monday comes in: it’s not only easy; it’s effective in improving our health, helping animals stuck in factory farms, and protecting the environment. Here’s to a New Year and a new tradition — bon appétit! — Kenny Torrella, The Humane Society
COMMENTARY
Use the phrase YOLO for good instead of evil YOLO seems to be the saying evizing the acronym. But hear me eryone is hashtagging these out: despite the meme shirts and days. You only live snapbacks ridden with once. the acronym, “YOLO” Now I know what is actually a really you’re thinking: great way to look at really? YOLO? things in life. We’re going A problem to talk about people have with YOLO? So 2012. YOLO is the way But whether you we use it. YOLO use it ironically shouldn’t be about or seriously, you extreme crimes or have to admit it is cheating on your popular. The rapgirlfriend. And it per Drake actually shouldn’t be about apologized recently silly things like sayon “Saturday Night ing you are going to Live” for popularbury your money in IC COLUMNIST
EMILY MODROWSKI
your backyard because banks are known to fail, like Andy Samberg said in the song “YOLO” by The Lonely Island. YOLO should be about creating a better world for yourself and all the people around you. We need to use YOLO for good, not evil. You only live once, so why not show the world what you can do? Nelson Mandela and Malala Yousafzai, although they probably never said, “YOLO,” embodied the ideal of this idea to make the world a better place. In his quest to end apartheid in South Africa, Mandela spent 27 years in prison for taking part in anti-apartheid groups. Yousafzai wasn’t afraid of
the Taliban when she promoted female education and blogged about what it was like living under Taliban rule; she was even shot because of it. That is what YOLO is about on a large scale. On the other hand, you can use a small-scale YOLO to be your ideal self. Living life with the “you only live once” mentality can help achieve happiness. You might wake up one morning, look in the mirror when you’re not feeling so good about yourself, and say, “You know what? You only live once, so I’m going do what I want to do and not let anyone bring me down.” Every single one of us is capable of unimaginable things. We have
the power to change the world. Small changes that may seem insignificant like smiling at someone could make a difference in someone’s life. Life is too short to be worried about little things. Let YOLO give you the freedom to enjoy the little things in life, like eating that extra piece of cake every once in a while. Let it inspire you to do what makes you happy. If moving across the country will make you happy, then so be it because you only live once. We’ve all only get one life, so it’s important we try and make the best of the time we have. Emily Modrowski is a first-year majoring in communication.
SPORTS Follow us on Twitter @ IC_Sports
IN BRIEF
UT studentathletes earned a 3.145 GPA last semester
University of Toledo Athletic Director Mike O’Brien announced Monday that UT studentathletes earned a grade point average of 3.145 in the 2013 fall semester. This is the tenth consecutive semester in which Toledo student-athletes earned a combined GPA of 3.1 or higher. 12 of the 15 Rocket sport programs also earned team GPAs of 3.0 or better. “UT student-athletes have consistently excelled in the classroom and this past semester was on exception,” O’Brien said in a school statement. “For the past ten semesters, our student-athletes have earned a combined grade-point average of at least 3.1, which I think is a tremendous indication of our dedication and commitment to academics. “Our student-athletes should be applauded for their efforts, and we should also commend the coaches, athletic department academic staff and University faculty members who support and nurture their pursuit of excellence.” Women’s golf had the highest team GPA of the semester at 3.625. Baseball had the highest GPA for a men’s team with 3.435.
UT swimming and diving edged out by .03 seconds in final event to lose to Bowling Green The Toledo women’s swimming and diving team lost its first MidAmerican Conference meet of the season last Friday, falling to Bowling Green 151-143 at the UT Student Recreation Center. The Rockets held onto a 139-138 lead heading into the 200yard freestyle relay, but they were defeated by .03 seconds in the event, giving BGSU the win. Toledo falls to 3-1 in conference play with one MAC meet left before the conference championships. The Rockets will hold senior day on Saturday, Feb. 1, at 1 p.m. when they welcome Akron for Toledo’s final MAC meet of the year.
Rocket coaches to host signing day on Feb. 5; event will be streamed live The University of Toledo football coaching staff will host a special presentation of its 2014 recruiting class in Savage Arena on Wednesday, Feb. 5 at 4 p.m. All Rocket fans are invited to attend free of charge, and a concession stand will be open for fans to purchase snacks and beverages. Head coach Matt Campbell and his assistant coaching staff will announce their 2014 recruiting class and show video highlights of each signee at the event. Feb. 5 is the first day that high school seniors are allowed to sign national letters of intent. The event will be streamed live on UT’s official website, www. utrockets.com, beginning at 4 p.m. Each of Toledo’s previous four recruiting classes have been ranked No. 1 or No. 2 in the Mid-American Conference by Rivals. com and Scout.com.
Wednesday, January 29, 2014 | The Independent Collegian |
5
Men and women’s tennis teams open home seasons The University of Toledo men and women’s tennis teams opened their home seasons this past weekend. The men’s team then traveled to Columbus to take on No. 5 Ohio State. To read the recap and more visit www.independentcollegian.com/sports
Like us at Facebook.com/ICollegian
www.IndependentCollegian.com
MEN’S BASKETBALL
Survival Sunday
COMMENTARY
BLAKE BACHO
SPORTS EDITOR
Cullop’s team is young, but talented
JACKIE KELLETT / IC
Junior guard Justin Drummond’s two handed slam dunk in Toledo’s Sunday night matchup with Kent State. Drummond finished with a team-high 15 points as one of four Rockets to end the game with double digit scoring numbers against the Golden Flashes. Toledo will hit the road for an away contest at Miami on Wednesday.
Toledo men sneak past Kent State 81-78 to remain undefeated on their home court By Blake Bacho Sports Editor
After the Rockets’ 81-78 victory over Kent State, men’s basketball coach Tod Kowalczyk summed up his team’s performance in just a few simple sentences. “I think good teams find ways to win [even] when they don’t play particularly well,” he said. “That was the case tonight. I don’t think we played particularly well — we certainly didn’t play like we have been playing to be honest with you — but give credit to Kent State for making us play that way.” The Rockets, who remain undefeated at home this season, exchanged ownership of the lead 13 times with the Golden Flashes, nine of those changes coming in the first half alone. “We knew they were going to come in and fight and battle,” Kowalczyk said. “I’ve got a lot of respect for their staff and I knew we were going to get a great shot from them and tonight we did.” Toledo held on to a one-
point lead when they left the court at halftime, but Kent State junior guard Derek Jackson added three to the board at the beginning of the second period, bringing his team up 39-37. That lead evaporated quickly when junior guard
“I think good teams find ways to win [even] when they don’t play particularly well. That was the case tonight.” TOD KOWALCZYK UT men’s head coach
Juice Brown put up a trey of his own a few seconds later, giving UT a 40-39 edge. Kent State controlled most of the second period, and it wasn’t until the very last few minutes of play that Juice and his teammates were able to gain the momentum
needed for a slim victory. “We just told each other to keep fighting,” Brown said. “We knew it was time to go win the ball game so we just told each other, ‘Get stops, step up and do what we do, and let’s play Rocket basketball.’” Playing Rocket basketball meant junior forward J.D. Weatherspoon was once again going to go airborne. The transfer from Ohio State took a pass from Drummond and went vertical for his second two-handed dunk of the night, putting Toledo up 72-70 with 2:14 left to play. But playing Rocket basketball also meant very little defense was played during crunch time, allowing Kent State to continue to fight back. After a timeout at the 1:06 mark junior guard Justin Drummond added a dunk of his own to give Toledo more of a cushion on a lead they didn’t relinquish again. “It was a very exciting play,” Juice said. “Coach just drew that play up in the huddle and
[Drummond] went strong to the basket and finished like how we expected him to.” Drummond finished with a team-high 15 points — one of four Rockets in double digit scoring on a night where not one member of the squad seemed happy with the team’s overall performance. The team, however, seemed to be happy with the overall result. “On games where we don’t play good as a team, getting these wins really shows our team character and our morale,” Drummond explained. “No matter how bad it’s going we’re not going to give up, we’re going to keep fighting, and that’s what we’ve been doing all this season.” Toledo will hit the road this week for a pair of away contests. The first is a 7 p.m. matchup against Miami on Wednesday, Jan. 29, followed by a 1 p.m. game at Ohio University on Saturday, Feb. 1.
When I sat down to write a column on the University of Toledo women’s basketball team’s struggles this season, I fully intended to focus on the negatives. Honestly, I figured it wouldn’t be too hard. The Rockets are 9-9 overall (4-3 in the Mid-American Conference) this season, and they have struggled in every facet of play at one point or another this year. Toledo has lost as many as three straight during their current campaign, and the team has already lost six more games than last year’s squad lost the entire season. And after each loss, the team is forced to repeat the same old rhetoric: the one where they have to explain letting leads slip away as their defense crumbled and they failed yet again to get enough production from an extremely young bench. The Rockets are also reminded over and over again of the missing guidance — and talents — of last year’s runnerup for league player of the year, Naama Shafir. Not to mention the other three of last year’s seniors, an impressive collection of talent just on their own. The only thing about Toledo women’s basketball that hasn’t seemed to falter this season is the overwhelming support the Rockets receive from their fan base. But even their devoted fans can’t be happy with what they have seen from their team this year. With all of this in mind, I think I can be forgiven for believing I could verbally tear See Talented / 6 »
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
Rocket women’s basketball team defeats Ohio 64-62; first conference road victory of season By Marcus Dodson Sports Reporter
The University of Toledo women’s basketball team secured their first Mid-American Conference road win of the season on Sunday, improving to 9-9 overall (4-3 in the MAC). The Rockets sunk a 64-62 victory at Ohio after overcoming a 17-point second half deficit last Sunday, putting them officially at .500. All five starters for Toledo finished in double-digit scoring as Toledo overcame the 36-19 half time deficit. Senior point guard Andola Dortch led her team with 17 points, nine assists, five rebounds and two steals while playing the entire 40 minutes of the game. Junior small forward Inma Zanoguera tallied 13 points for the Rockets, while center Brianna “Crunch” Jones, senior guard Janelle Reed-Lewis and sophomore small forward Ana Capotosto all contributed 10 points each. After a shaky shooting performance through the first half, UT put up 57 percent from the field as a team while holding the Bobcats to just 29 percent shooting. Toledo got a big help from Dortch, Zanoguera and Capotosto as they account-
ed for 31 of their team’s 45 second-half points. Kiyanna Black paced the Bobcats (8-10, 3-4 MAC) with a game-high 18 points, while Hannah Boesinger and Quiera Lampkins had 10 points each. In the first half UT struggled to take care of the ball, committing 12 turnovers in the face of the Bobcats aggressive style of defense. Black was responsible for three of six steals and nine first half points. Ohio carried a 41-20 lead with 17:37 left to play, but UT found a groove shortly after with a 13-2 run by the 14:17 mark. Zanoguera sparked the run by accounting for seven points, while Dortch helped with a pair of layups. UT found success behind the arc as Reed-Lewis was able to knock down two for the Rockets and Capotosto was able to hit another to make it 56-54 with 3:30 left on the clock. After a costly OU turnover, Dortch was able to cash in at the free throw line, making both shots. Zanoguera was able to answer with a layup of her own giving the Rockets their first lead, a 58-56 advantage, since the opening four minutes of the game.
JACKIE KELLETT / IC
Senior guard Andola Dortch (pictured above) finished Sunday’s game with a teamhigh 17 points, nine assists, five rebounds, and two steals while playing the entire 40 minutes of the game. Dortch was instrumental in Toledo’s late-game comeback against Ohio, making a pair of layups and going two-for-two from the freethrow line.
The Bobcats fought back by tying the score for a third time, but Toledo sank the last basket. The Rockets return to Savage Arena at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 30, to host the Akron Zips.
Whats ahead for women’s team: The Rockets next game brings them back to Savage Arena to face the Akron Zips on Thursday, Jan. 30, at 7 p.m. Toledo will then host Bowling Green on Sunday, Feb. 2, before hitting the road to face Miami on Thursday, Feb. 6. Tip-off for that game is scheduled for 7 p.m.
6
| The Independent Collegian | Wednesday, January 29, 2014
Talented
from page 5
apart Cullop’s ability to salvage her team’s 2013-14 campaign. But maybe not. Not when you consider that during each and every home basketball game I sit underneath the ten banners that Cullop has won in only five seasons in the Glass City.
For a team that experienced five consecutive losing campaigns before hiring Cullop, ten banners in five seasons is pretty impressive. For a team that experienced five consecutive losing campaigns before hiring Cullop, ten banners in five seasons is pretty impressive — especially considering that one of those banners
says “2011 WNIT Champions.” And it’s not just the rafters at Savage that speak to Cullop’s coaching abilities. The four-time reigning MAC West Division champions have won 40 of the last 43 league contests held on Bob Nichols court under the current coaching regime. The team is continuing that tradition this season; they remain undefeated against MAC opponents at home this year following a 73-61 defeat of Ball State last week. So maybe I couldn’t find a good pessimistic argument by looking at Cullop; maybe I couldn’t even find it by looking at Toledo’s divisional record. Maybe I can find it by looking at statistics? No such luck. Four of Toledo’s women are averaging in double figures in the scoring column, led by junior forward Inma Zanoguera with 15 points a game. Statistically, the Rockets have outscored their opponents in both the first and second periods.
Even if their defense hasn’t been perfect this season, all the numbers say it’s been good enough. But if the Rockets are scoring more than they are allowing the other team to score, why have they lost nine games this season? The answer is in what I acknowledged at the beginning — Toledo is young. With youth comes inexperience, and with inexperience comes inconsistency. Not a single Rocket is making better than 50 percent of their taken shots. This number increases substantially from the free throw line, but it absolutely plummets out in the three-point zone. Consistency is something that can be learned, and it is definitely something Cullop knows how to teach. Each game this season will be another opportunity for both to happen, and the Rockets’ current two-game winning streak is testament to that. Whether the improvement is too late to make a difference
this year is something we will have to wait to find out. In the end, I think I was too quick to judge the Toledo women’s season. But I know I can’t be the only one wondering if the Rockets have dug themselves too deep a hole to recover from. And I think I know where we need to look for the answer: Cullop. Look at what Cullop has accomplished in her brief time here. She sits atop the MAC history books in league winning percentage with a minimum of 40 contests. Toledo has only lost 53 games since she started prowling in front of the team bench, and the Rockets are one of only 13 programs in the country to win at least 24 games in each of the last four seasons. In the end, uncertain fans need look no further than the rafters to see all the proof of what Cullop and her team are capable of on the court.
IC FILE PHOTO
University of Toledo head coach Tricia Cullop (pictured above) sits atop the MAC history books in league winning percentage with a minimum of 40 contests. She has only lost 53 games during her UT coaching career.
CLASSIFIEDS PUZZLES To place a classified ad, go to independentcollegian.com and click on the “Classifieds” tab. You can also call 419-530-7788 or email classifieds@independentcollegian.com. Ads must be received by 5 p.m. Monday. Please read your ad on the first day of publication and call immediately if there are any errors; we accept responsibility only for the first day of publication. All classified ads must be prepaid with a check or credit card.
HELP WANTED PROMOTER/MARKETING STAFF Ohio Insulators/RetroFoam of Toledo is seeking a Promotions Representatives for its' Northwest Ohio operation. Qualified applicants will represent RetroFoam of Toledo and promote our products to prospective customers at locally based shows and events. The positions are ideal for anyone looking for extra weekend income. Outgoing personality a must. Pay is a day rate of $100 - $150 plus incentives. Part-time responsibilities will include: setup, teardown and staffing of RetroFoam booths at home shows, fairs, festivals and other events. Qualified candidates should possess excellent verbal communication skills, have valid license/auto insurance with reliable transportation and access to internet and email. To apply: email your qualifications to sales@retrofoamtoledo.com or call 419-779-4617. www.retrofoamtoledo.com Email laurabytwerk@bex. net
CHILD CARE Experienced child care provider needed for country club in Holland. Must be available Fridays from 5:00pm-9:00pm. Email resume to beth@stoneoakcc. com.
Why just read the newspaper ...
when you could help write it? To learn how you can be a reporter for The Independent Collegian, email Amanda Eggert at aeggert@independentcollegian.com.
������ �
�44 4 44 4 s �4 4s �44� 4 4 � 44 4 4 � 4 4 s 4 4 44� 44 4 4 4 4 4 Editor in Chief
4 4
�44 44 s 4 �s� 44 4 44 4 4 44 4 4 4 44 4 4 4 44 4 4 �44� � 4 4 4 4 s �4 4 4 4� 44 4 � 4 �44 4 44 �4 s 4� 44 4 4 4 44 44 � 4 s 44 44 4 4 4 4 44 4 4 � 44 4� 4 �4 4 44 4 4 44 4 4 4 4 44 s �4 4 s 44 4 444 4 4s � ���� 4 44 � 4 4 4 444 4 4 4 4 4444 � s 44 44 � 4 4 4 4 4 4 44� � � 44 44 4 44 4 44 4 4 4 4 4 44 4 5 p.m. Friday, Feb. 14444444444444444444444444444444444 4444444444444444444444J.R. Hoppenjanssssssssssss sssssssssssssssssssssjrh@toast.nett COLLEGIAN MEDIA FOUNDATION 2801 W. Bancroft St., Mail Stop 530 Toledo, OH 43606 Phone: 419-530-7788 Fax: 419-530-7770 Online: www.IndependentCollegian.com
THEME: VALENTINE’S DAY
ACROSS 1. *”Love Me Tender” performer 6. “And She ___” by Talking Heads 9. “For Whom the ____ Tolls” 13. Wall coat 14. B&B, e.g. 15. *He fell in love with a face “that launched a thousand ships” 16. February “People,” e.g. 17. Parental involvement org. 18. Trojan War story 19. *He fell in love with Little Red-Haired Girl 21. ______’s fee 23. Old age, archaic 24. Display displeasure 25. *Bride and groom say their “I ___” 28. Choir voice 30. Part of Yugoslavia 35. Iris holder 37. Paleozoic and Mesozoic 39. The fourth prime number 40. Rigid necklace 41. Of the kidneys 43. Baseball points 44. Was attached 46. Jittery 47. It should be opened when starting a fire 48. Winslow _____ and _____ Simpson 50. Back talk 52. “C’___ la vie!” 53. EU currency 55. *”Just an ___-fashioned love song” 57. *Cyrano de Bergerac’s love interest 60. *Popular Valentine’s delivery 64. Disturbances 65. Get it wrong 67. Spur on 68. Strong adhesive 69. By means of 70. Fragrant resin 71. “I, Claudius” role 72. Bird-to-be 73. *What Snow White did before Prince Charming’s kiss DOWN 1. Larger-than-life 2. Alfred “____” LaRue 3. Americans need one to enter Australia 4. Accustom 5. Sister to Blanche DuBois 6. Clean the blackboard, e.g. 7. Symbol of
industriousness 8. Mix-up 9. Like white-headed eagle 10. Albany-Buffalo canal 11. His pants are on fire? 12. Hallucinogen 15. Slang for communist sympathizers 20. Lazybones 22. Breed 24. What’s-his-name 25. *Even-Steven kind of date 26. Convex molding 27. Red Cross supply 29. Arborist’s concern 31. Lord’s worker 32. Egg cell 33. *Aphrodite’s Roman counterpart 34. Early stage of sickness, e.g. 36. High school breakout 38. *”The Twilight ____,” romantic film series 42. Popular disinfectant 45. Like Danny Zuko’s hair 49. *”Your Love is Like
Last Week’s Puzzle Solved
the Morning ___” 51. Skiers’ turfs 54. *His character fell in love with Lois Lane 56. Be situated within 57. Tug-of-War equipment 58. Emanation 59. *Kisses and hugs
60. Hand grenade 61. “All for one, one for all” sword 62. Beef cut 63. Rotisserie skewer 64. *Dudley Moore/Bo Derek romantic comedy 66. 18-wheeler
Last week’s solution
Wednesday, January 29, 2014 | The Independent Collegian |
COMMUNITY www.IndependentCollegian.com
Like us at Facebook.com/ICollegian
By Amanda Eggert Community Editor
If you go What: 29th annual BASHCon. Where: Student Union. When: Friday, Feb. 14, from 5 p.m. to midnight, Saturday, Feb. 15, from 9 a.m. to midnight and Sunday, Feb. 16, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sponsored by: BASH Cost: Free for UT students/faculty/staff, $10 single day pass, $15 weekend pass, $25 special pass.
7
Even if you don’t like Dungeons and Dragons or role-playing games, Kelson Craigs says you are a gamer — whether you want to admit it or not. “Everybody has played a game — whether they like Angry Birds or Tic-Tac-Toe, or just like playing chess or playing euchre or other card games,” said the fourth-year chemical engineering major. “…Gaming is about interacting with people and it’s a great way to meet new people, which is huge in college.” The sights and sounds of passionate gamers from around the country will fill the Student Union on Feb. 14 as part of the 29th year of BASHCon, one of the oldest events held on the University of Toledo’s campus. About 1,000 people attend every year, said Clayton Notestine, a third-year political science major and the programming director of the event. He said one of his favorite parts of the weekend-long convention is seeing the excitement on newcomers’ faces. “BASHCon is sort of like the gateway game convention,” Notestine said. “You come and you’ve never been to a game convention before and you get hooked and then you go to this next one with 50,000 people.” This year’s BASHCon will center around a theme of pulp fiction — a genre of storytelling featuring drama and overthe-top action that is often seen in comic books from the 1950s which included popular characters like Tarzan, Zorro and
Celebrating 29 years of gaming festivities at UT
The Shadow. Jared Hightower, a third-year communication major and the convention’s executive coordinator, described it as “essentially a superhero-fiction theme.” Magic: The Gathering, Super Smash Brothers, costume play (cosplay) contests, live action roleplaying, the annual Games Bazaar and other events make up the convention for this year. Evil Hat Productions and Plaid Hat Games, a local Ohio vendor, are among some of the vendors for this year. Notestine said there will be panels that talk about the different kind of games and adventures that people can be involved in. At the convention will be demonstration events hosted by representatives from different companies, Notestine said. “We have a couple of people who are running events that are free, including a couple of different companies, that are coming with new games hoping to demo them out — and some of these games have either not hit the market yet or they have, but they are new and nobody knows about them yet,” Notestine said. Notestine said Campus Activities and Programming (CAP) will have Wii games for students to play in the Trimble Lounge and there will also be games that cost $1 to play. “We also have a library of 300 games you can play from,” Notestine said. “You pay a dollar and you have access the entire weekend to play those games.” Freebies and prizes will be awarded at gaming tournaments that are more expensive to enter, Notestine said. Craigs, a staff coordinator of the event, said BASHCon is not all about gaming, but about the opportunities each attendee has that allows them to interact with others they usually don’t and who enjoy the same things. “It lets you meet new people in a lot more casual or competitive environment, depending on what you are playing, and I like looking out and seeing people
interacting with each other — that’s my favorite part,” Craigs said. Hightower said BASHCon is a good stress relief from college life. “Part of a game is that it is a challenge that people willfully accept. In choosing the challenge that they want to do and completing that, it is fulfilling to do,” Hightower said. “We like people to walk away with that feeling of fulfillment from accomplishing tasks that they want to do. “Instead of the daily, ‘I have to do this, I have to do that’, it’s ‘I want to do this and I did it.’” Maxwell Barnt, a fourth-year criminal justice major and volunteer for the event, said BASHCon is a great way to spend the weekend. “You have an entire gaming convention taking up the Student Union,” he said. “It’s good fun and it’s a great way to spend time with people just playing games.” Craigs said since there tend to be stigmas about gaming, students should experience BASHCon for themselves. “I just really want people to come try it and if you don’t like it, you can go home, but if there is something you like, there’s so much there,” Craigs said. “It’s a way to step into a new world and meet a lot of new people. It’s such a great experience and there’s no reason to miss out on it if you don’t have to.” BASHCon runs from Friday, Feb. 14, from 5 p.m. to midnight, Saturday, Feb. 15, from 9 a.m. to midnight, and Sunday, Feb. 16, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. UT students, faculty and staff have free admission to the convention and there will be a $5 discount to other university students on the one-day and weekend badges with valid university ID. A single day pass is $10, a weekend pass is $15 and a special pass is $25. To learn more about BASHCon, visit www.BASHCon.com or contact them at info@bashcon.com.
ORGANIZATION
RECYCLE
Toastmasters assist students with presentation skills By Jessica Liner Staff Reporter
RecycleMania sets goal to clean up UT’s campus By Sohan Mutha Staff Reporter
Reduce, reuse and recycle will be the mantra across campus as the University of Toledo takes part in the eight-week long, nation-wide “RecycleMania” competition for the fourth consecutive year. RecycleMania runs from Feb. 2 to March 29 and is a friendly competition among 600 college and university recycling programs in the United States and Canada. UT will compete in the “Gorilla Division,” which is an overall recycling category where it was placed 111th in last year’s rankings. “Usually really large schools are going to win that,” said Brooke Mason, interim sustainability specialist. “We don’t compete to win but just to see where we stand.” UT was 42nd in the nation and first in the MidAmerican Conference school rankings in recycling paper. In the inaugural electronics recycling category, UT was ranked 15th in the nation last year. Mason said that UT will be competing in the recycling categories of paper, cardboard, electronics, bottles and cans. “In order to bring it closer to home, we also do an internal competition among our residence halls as well,” said Erin Baker, project manager at the Office of Residence Life. Residence halls will compete against each other on a per capita basis where the results will be calculated by dividing the overall weight of recycled waste by the number of residents. Baker said that weekly results will be posted in the
residence halls and on social media networks. The winner will get a hall trophy, T-shirts and a pizza party. Parks Tower won the competition last year with an average of 3.5 pounds being recycled per resident. To increase student involvement this year, Baker said that each residence hall will have a special program for RecycleMania. Mackinnon Hall and Academic House will have a “Swap Table” from Feb. 2 to March 29 where students place unwanted items on the table in exchange for items left by other students. “Swap tables have been really successful because you never know how to one person, it might be trash, but to another person, it might be totally cool,” Baker said. A “Cardboard Collection Program” will be held at the Presidents Hall from Feb. 9 to Feb. 15 where students will donate unwanted cardboard boxes for recycling. Mason said that the focus is to reduce first by reusing things, but if there is going to be waste, students should make sure to put the right waste in the right container. “Basically, this is just about changing the culture of students not just throwing things away or getting rid of them in dumpsters but being more cognizant of the fact that they need to put recyclable items in the recycle bins,” Baker said. “Make the Useless into the Useful” will be held at the McComas Village on Feb. 20 at 5 p.m. Students will bring together all of their unwanted items and make the most out of them. See Recycle / 8 »
Glossophobia is fear of public speaking — a fear many share — but a club at the University of Toledo, called Toastmasters, aims to ease and improve the experience of public speaking for students, faculty and anyone else interested in joining. “When you first walk into the club, you’re greeted with warm handshakes, eye contact, with introductions from one person to another,” said Richard Clarke, student success coach, “and everyone finds a place to sit and to continue conversation until order is brought for the meeting to start.” The club began in 2009 when Heather Lane, club officer and UT alumni, was working with an associate professor in communication. They began the club but it never became known by students and when the professor left, it fell apart. “I’ve been a Toastmaster since 2007 and I also graduated from the University of Toledo,” Lane said, “and I’ve always been interested in things at the University of Toledo. I heard they wanted to start a club at UT and I said, ‘Hey, I’m interested to get involved with that.’ So, I came in, and started to help with it.” As each meeting begins, the club president welcomes everyone to the club and introduces the Toastmaster of the day, who acts as leader or host of the meeting. The Toastmaster introduces the audience to the speechmakers, and the other members taking on certain roles for that meeting. Each member can volunteer for the following roles: • Ah-Counter: counts the number of filler words — uh, so, like — that a person uses. • Grammarian: listens for grammatical inconsistencies, praises for extensive vocabulary and challenges members to incorporate a word-ofthe-day in their speeches. • Timer: ensures each person speaks within their time frame. • Evaluator: evaluates the speeches. • General Evaluator: evaluates
what worked and didn’t work for the meeting. Part of the meeting is designated towards something called Table Topics, a process that prepares members for speaking on-the-fly. A Table Topics Master calls upon each member of the club to talk for two minutes about a random experience or answer a question without preparation. After Table Topics, two or three members make their speeches. Members record their thoughts of the presentation on an evaluation log, and the log is given to the speechmaker. When everyone is done speaking, the Ah-Counter, Grammarian, Timer, Evaluator and General Evaluator come forth with their reports of the overall meeting. At the very end, members vote on who gave the best speech. Students haven’t been the only ones to utilize the benefits of the club. Vani Cheruvu, a math lecturer, said the meetings have helped her communicate math better to her students. “I’m an international, and I teach math, and so I do not want the communication to be a trouble to my students, which is why I’m making an effort to go to this club,” she said. Members can opt to receive two manuals — the Competent Communication manual or the Advanced Communication Series manual. Both manuals outline speech objectives, with the first speech being called the Icebreaker, where members See Toastmasters / 8 »
8
| The Independent Collegian | Wednesday, January 29, 2014
Exhibit from page 1
The showcase will also feature guest speaker Jennifer Giovannucci, a lab technician in the department of Neurosciences. Giovannucci has had numerous pieces of art in past showcases and will be speaking about her experiences at 4 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 31. Gerald Natal, a Mulford Library instructor in the Department of Physical Therapy and a participant in the show, said this event gives staff, faculty and students a chance to show a side of themselves that most people don’t get to see. Natal also said that the showcase coordinators do not turn down art sub-
Administration from page 1
chancellor are much more complex than when Gold took the position in 2005. “What Jeff Gold has done over the last 10 years is improve the stature of the hospital, improve the accreditation standing of the college of medicine, improve the joint commission and other relationships with the hospital — but it’s just time to look at all of that before you jump in and immediately, reflexively fill it.” In the meantime, Imran Ali has been named as a senior associate dean for education in the College of Medicine, and Mary Wroblewski has been named assistant dean for student affairs. On Main Campus, other administrators have changed titles. Penny Poplin
Enrollment from page 1
serving just the 18- to 22-year-olds,” Cruickshank said. Cruickshank said his philosophy is that enrollment is like an investment portfolio — the more diversified a person’s investments are, the less susceptible they are to environmental changes. Diversification, Cruickshank said, means directing more energy into reaching out to adult learners, nontraditional students, purely online students and international students. “The number of students that are graduating from high school is decreasing, so if we put all of our eggs in that basket, then we could continue potentially to see enrollment decreases, just like that person who makes all of their investments just in the stock market,” Cruickshank said. According to Cruickshank, in spring 2013, 49 new only-online students enrolled at UT compared to the 153 new only- online students that enrolled this spring. The number of new 100-percent-online students enrolled has tripled in one year. While online learning remains a popular debate in the academic community, Cruickshank said higher education has changed over the years and pure online learning is a must-have for some students. “The fact is that the market of individuals that want a higher education can’t all be here between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., but they still have a need and desire to attain higher education,” Cruickshank said. “So for those non-traditional students that work and have children and other obligations, online education is a
Bike share
from page 1
“We have put a lot of research into this,” Spann said. “We wanted to be sure that we were choosing the right fit for the students, for the campus, not just put on a flashy show.” UT explored several companies before deciding to pursue B-Cycle. The cost of these bikes will hopefully be sustained through advertising, Seifert said. “Each bike has a basket on it and baskets can have walls, if you will. So instead of just a wire basket you can actually put advertising on the outside,” Seifert said.
missions, so many artists have multiple pieces of art in this year’s showcase. David Lymanstall, a graduate nursing advisor at the UT College of Medicine and Life Sciences, said his favorite piece in the showcase is his own carved print titled, ‘Thoreaus’s Bird.’ “The image actually started out as a sketch in one my journals, then I transferred it to wood and carved it to make a print of it,” Lymanstall said. “The image is of a nuthatch, which is a bird that can climb up and down tree trunks. I think it really exemplifies that nature really is full of genius.” Donna Woodson, an artist in the showcase and a physician at the UT College of Medicine and Life Sciences, said that par-
ticipating in the showcase is a real delight. “Art is an act of creation and communication that allows physicians to explore life beyond the stethoscope. It allows me to improve my skills of observation, which is extraordinarily important for a physician,” Woodson said. The showcase is on the fourth floor of the Mulford Library at the Health Science Campus. It’s open Monday through Thursday from 7:30 a.m. until midnight, Friday from 7:30 a.m. until 9 p.m., Saturday from 9 a.m. until 9 p.m. and Sunday from 9 a.m. until midnight. For more information, contact Jodi Jameson at jodi.jameson@utoledo.edu.
Gosetti was officially appointed the dean of the Judith Herb College of Education after serving in an interim role for about a year. Also, William Messer was appointed in December to the position of vice president for research. Jacobs said this “rapid turnover” is inherent in both the medical field and higher education, and that UT’s current administrative shifts are “normal business.” “Change is constant; change is part of the landscape,” he said. These changes include turnover in the fall semester, including the appointment of David Morloch, executive vice president of finance and administration. His role now comprises work left behind by now-retired chief financial officer David Dabney, as well as duties formerly performed by Chuck Lehnert,
who was formerly the VP of facilities and construction and is now VP of corporate relations. Jacobs said that while change isn’t optimal, he doesn’t see it as inherently negative. “The tradeoff is, presumably, that you lose institutional memory and you gain fresh ideas, new faces, new thoughts,” he said. “It’s part of the world of institutional life.” Jacobs added that his “most important constituents are the students, and the students I think are feeling OK, feeling solid around this.” “We’ll get through this thing easily,” he said. “Does that mean that I don’t care about Vern Snyder or about Jeff Gold? No, quite the contrary, I care about both of them — I care deeply about both of them. But we’ll be fine.”
really good option for them.” Cruickshank also said the number of new international degree-seeking students is 166. Additionally, the American Language Institute, or the English as a second language program, has around 350 students enrolled for the spring 2014 semester, the highest number in the program’s 37-year history, Cruickshank said. Sammy Spann, the Center for International Studies and Programs Assistant Provost, said the American Language Institute has also increased over 300 percent in the last two years due to strategic recruitment and collaboration between international student and scholar services and the office of international admissions. Spann said international students are important to UT’s overall enrollment because of the financial boost international fees provide, but more so because of the culture they bring to campus. “They diversify the campus,” he said. “It makes us more of a universal melting pot where we have people from over 80 countries worldwide coming to the University of Toledo and also going back to their country and noticing Toledo and sending their children, their grandkids, and nieces and nephews, sisters and brothers to this university.” Spann said he is confident that the UT international student population will continue to increase. “We rock. We’re going to continue to grow and I guarantee you in a few years to come, our international student population is going to increase even more,” Spann said. Though overall enrollment at UT is down, retention rates are up, meaning the
number of new students who come back for their second semester has increased. “Our retention rates from first semester to second semester are up again this year, relative to previous years,” Cruickshank said. Cruickshank said retention rates are best measured in the spring. This is because the biggest intake of new students occurs in the fall, so it’s easy to track if they continue at UT for the spring semester. According to numbers released by the university, retention for full-time, degree-seeking students from fall 2012 to spring 2013 was at 85.9 percent, while retention from fall 2013 to spring 2014 was 86.6 percent, which is a 0.7 percentage point increase from last year to this year. Cruickshank said two programs he thinks affect retention numbers include the success coach program, launched last fall, and an emphasis on enrolling students who are “more well-prepared academically.” When asked if enrollment will increase by the fall 2014 semester, Cruickshank said he couldn’t say for sure but that the leading factual indicators are positive. These indicators include the number of applications filled out by prospective students, the number of admitted students, the number of students who send their FAFSA information to UT and the number of students who visit campus. “I’m very optimistic that at some point, we’ll be able to say that we enrolled more students than the previous year instead of us talking about decreases,” Cruickshank said. “We should see that turn around within the next three or four semesters.”
Seifert said advertising revenue will hopefully allow UT to purchase more bikes. The initial funds will come from various capital budgets throughout UT. “It’s very important for people to know that this money is not coming from out of salaries or general fees,” said Spann, who also said that UT is looking into applying for grants for this initiative. “We’re going after everything,” Spann said. Bike repair and maintenance will be overseen by Parking Services and Auxiliary Services, and the yearly upkeep of the bikes will come out of the Parking Services operating budget. “Parking Services is 100 percent
student run, with the exception of management,” said Seifert, who said she is interested in keeping this initiative in the hands of students. Spann said students will be kept informed as the initiative progresses. “Every step we take, we want you to know about,” said Spann. Seifert said she believes the impact on UT will be “amazing.” “It will help expedite, in a green fashion, students around our campus,” she said. “If it has great success then we can expand it over to [the Health Science Campus] and Scott Park, and that is a truly exciting prospect.”
Recycle from page 7
decorative and useful items to decorate residence hall rooms in “Trash to Art” on Feb. 24 at 8 p.m. in the Ottawa East lobby. Parks Tower will have a “Clothing Swap” on March 12 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. for students to exchange unwanted clothing items on the table for ones left by other students. On March 17, the International House cafeteria will host a “St. Patrick’s Day All Green Everything Bingo Night” at 7 p.m. All residents will be asked to bring a recycle item as donation for entry. The prizes will be made of recycled goods or materials and wrapped in newspaper. Green-themed
Toastmasters
from page 7
introduce themselves. The members can talk about any inoffensive topic, as long as they stay within the five-to-seven minute time frame and attempt to meet the objective. Speaking isn’t the only thing that people learn at Toastmasters. Clarke, who has ambitions of giving a motivational speech to 1,000 people, said his experiences at the club have helped him become a better listener. Toastmasters brought to his attention his weakness with establishing eye contact. The Evaluator provides feedback using something Toastmasters calls the “sandwich” technique. First, the speechmakers are informed of
snacks and drinks will be served at the event. A “Trash to Treasure” event will be held at the Carter Huddle on March 18 at 7 p.m. where students will make use of unwanted items for craft. “The residence hall programs are to build excitement and overall recycling on campus,” Mason said. “Hopefully, the habits that students develop during the eight-week competition stick and after that they continue to recycle bottles, paper and cardboard. “I hope that RecycleMania makes people excited and sort of rejuvenates the interest in recycling,” she said. “I think that’s the overall point, just to make sure you bring it back to the surface.” what they did well, something they can improve on, and another thing they did well. “The reason we do this is to encourage the speakers,” said Lane. “We want them to know ‘hey even though you think you’re not a good speaker, and maybe you’re not there yet, you’re moving in that direction.’” The next meeting is Feb. 3 at 6 p.m. at 1492 in Rocket Hall. Anyone is welcome to join, and membership dues are $6 a month. “I have yet to see the limits on how beneficial this can be for all people, for all walks of life. Young, old, professional or not, students — it doesn’t make a difference,” Clarke said. “All people come into Toastmasters for one reason and they end up staying with Toastmasters for far more than that reason.”
MORE ONLINE
Say It Without Saying It: Make the right impression with the perfect coat In marketing, the “first moment of truth” (defined by Proctor and Gamble), is the first three to seven seconds FASHION EDITOR shoppers take to make a decision on a product. As a vital moment for any brand, companies must take advantage of that opportunity, and market their products correctly. It’s about what’s on the outside...and then we’ll get to what’s on the inside. Apply this notion to the real world: first impressions are everything, but how do you sell yourself strictly from appearance? The “first moment of truth,” begins as soon
ISIS DARKS
Finish reading this piece online at www.IndependentCollegian.com