Feb. 6, 2014

Thursday, February 6, 2014

95th year • Issue 21

UT celebrates Black History Month COMMUNITY / 8 » www.IndependentCollegian.com

Serving the University of Toledo community since 1919

INSIDE

CAMPUS FACILITIES

Pipes burst in Sullivan

By Samuel Derkin News Editor

Rian Pearson: Student, father, basketball star Senior guard Rian Pearson reflects on his award-studded time on the UT men’s basketball team.

SPORTS / 5 »

Water cascaded into the third floor of Sullivan Hall Jan. 30, forcing communication classes to relocate and displacing a professor from his office.

The damage occurred after a pipe cracked in a fire suppression unit.

College of Communications and the Arts (CoCA) Dean Debra Davis said janitorial staff reported the leak around 11 p.m.

“It just poured water,” Davis said.

Sullivan Hall was not one of the previously reported 23 buildings that suffered from water damage during

January’s Polar Vortex. The majority of those buildings dealt with a variety of systems failing, such as steampowered heating units and air intakes.

“We have not compiled an estimate of the cost yet,” said Jason Toth, assistant vice president of facilities. Toth said in a previous interview that he is certain UT buildings have full blanket coverage on its buildings.

Independent contractors from Cousino Harris Disaster Kleenup have been brought in to clean and replace drywall as well as work on mold prevention.

See Sullivan pipes / 7 »

NICOLE BADIK / IC

This room on the second floor of Sullivan Hall is one of the areas damaged after a pipe cracked in a fire suppression unit Jan 30.

STUDENT VETERAN

‘I just want to serve this country’ UT Explorers combine learning and experience Students both international and domestic students are learning about each other in this university program.

COMMUNITY / 8 »

“

“What I was experiencing, lost in the middle of the beverage aisle, was a minor culture shock.”

SHAGUFTA SAMI Stuck between two countries OPINION / 4 »

Outstanding Teacher Awards open until Feb. 26

Countless teachers will be nominated by students and alumni, but only six will be recognized in 2014 through the 39th Outstanding Teacher awards, spearheaded by the UT Alumni Association.

NEWS / 3 »

Veteran discusses military life versus student life

News Editor

Community Editor

NICOLE GREEN / IC

Josh Ortiz, a second-year communication major at UT, is a Marine veteran who has served in both Iraq and Haiti. Ortiz said it was the events that took place on Sept. 11 that cemented his final decision to become a military man because he wanted to “make sure nothing like this ever happens again or at least do my part to make sure.”

frustrated with him because he had scholarships to attend college to run track and field.

But Ortiz said it was the events that took place on Sept. 11 that cemented his final decision to become a military man.

“I think that definitely sealed the deal,” he said. “I want to grow up and make sure nothing like this ever happens again or at least do my part to make sure.”

After he graduated in 2007 from Old Fort High School in Ohio, Ortiz went to recruiters in Tiffin to fill out the paperwork that would make him a Marine — without his parents’ knowledge. He calls it “the sneakiest thing” he’s ever done.

His parents called him when he was on the bus to boot camp.

See UT veteran / 7 »

Purr-fect eyes Fashion Editor Isisi Darks explains four ways to pull off a classic look — the infamous cat eye.

COMMUNITY / 9 »

Dean of Students takes on new duties

By Samuel Derkin

By Amanda Eggert

Since Josh Ortiz was 8 years old, he knew he wanted to be a Marine. It was when a Marine, buttoned up in full uniform, came to his second grade class to talk about the military.

“I remember asking him and being kind of blunt about it and saying ‘What do you do?’ And he kind of smiled and said, ‘We make sure the world is safe for everybody else,’” Ortiz said.

“To this day I still remember saying that, and then right then and there thinking, ‘I don’t know what you do, but I want to do it. I want to be you when I grow up.’”

Ortiz, now a second-year communication major at UT, grew up in a very close-knit, traditional Hispanic family who would get together and “eat massive amounts of unhealthy foods and laugh.”

But despite their close ties, Ortiz said they were against him going into the military.

“They knew since the second grade, and I think they were secretly hoping it was a ten year phase like, ‘Oh you will grow out of it, go to college and get a real job,’” he said.

Ortiz said his father was

ADMINISRATION

COURTESY OF JOSH ORTIZ / IC

Josh Ortiz (right) posing aboard a British ship at Dubai with a Royal marine. He was serving as part of Doha International Maritime Degense Exhibition. Ortiz was enlisted Jan. 14, 2008.

COURTESY OF JOSH ORTIZ / IC

Josh served as Quick Reaction Force in Iraq, to support Operation Iraqi Freedom 9.1. He was deployed to the country in February 2009.

After serving as the Dean of Student Experience since June 2013, Tamika Mitchell is now taking over one of the most dynamic areas of student life on campus.

Dean of Student Experience Tamika Mitchell has made her office “more traditional,” according to assistant provost Sammy Spann, by adding the Office of Student Involvement to her responsibilities.

As Dean of Student Experience, Mitchell works throughout the University of Toledo with educational programs, the Office of Student Involvement, and with students and their families. Mitchell also works closely with Spann and the Office of Excellence and Multicultural Student Success “She has a lot of experience in [Residence Life],” said Spann, “working with students and student organizations and policy and procedures.”

Mitchell also works as a middle person with students, their families and faculty members.

“I’ve been a central place for problems or concerns, that parents or faculty staff may have,” Mitchell said.

Mitchell said that one of her responsibilities include meeting with classes regarding disruptive behavior.

“I am the middle person.

Besides student conduct, education is about what is expected in class and I help before there is trouble,” said Mitchell, “ If a student is acting out, there is usually underlying circumstances and other reasons why they are acting out,” As dean, Mitchell reports directly to Spann but collaborates often with other offices within UT such as OSI and Student Affairs.

Spann said that Mitchell works for the students in building relationships between organizations and making sure that students have a voice present at UT

See Dean / 7 »

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| The Independent Collegian | Thursday, February 6, 2014

CAMPUS DIGEST Follow us on Twitter @The ICToledo

This week in UT history

STUDENT GROUP OF THE WEEK

University of Toledo Wrestling

10 years ago: Promoting UT pride and thereby attacking student apathy on campus was among the key points made by Student Government President Guy Beeman and Vice President Cain Myers in their State of the Students address.

35 years ago: Fat Daril’s, the pizza restaurant located on the fourth floor of the University of Toledo Student Union, generated $24,546 more in gross sales in 1978 than the Pizza Hut formerly located there did in a similar period in 1977.

75 years ago: Students within the next two weeks will be asked to indicate whether they intend to raise a fund to support German refugees here on scholarships. President Philip C. Nash has offered to ask the Board of Directors for scholarships for German refugees if students raise a fund to support them.

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AMANDA PITROF / IC

Stop on the stop sign?

A SUV drove into and rested on top of a stop sign in the parking lot east of the student bookstore on Feb. 2. Police were still on scene at 12:30 a.m. Charges will be settled in court.

QUESTION OF THE WEEK

Purpose: The purpose of our group is to continue the tradition of excellence in wrestling that has made UT a desired place to compete for more than a half century. From NCAA champions to NCWA champions, UT wrestling builds champions in life. We also do philanthropic events like volunteering at homeless shelters and helping to serve food.

Leaders: Captains: RJ Breisacher, Bubba Wallace and Mike Mueller; Freshmen leaders: Nick High and Codi Bettencourt.

Upcoming events: Glass City Duals at the UT Rec Center on Feb. 8, at 10 a.m. Great Lakes Conference Tournament at GVSU on March 1. NCWA Individual National Championships in Allendale, Texas on March 13 through 15.

Learn more: Facebook at University of Toledo Wrestling, on Twitter @ToledoWrestling or by email at Wrestling@utoledo. edu.

Would your group like to be featured as the IC’s Student Group of the Week? Email Morgan Rinckey at mrinckey@ independentcollegian.com.

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

What is your favorite game?

EDITORIAL Editor-in-Chief Danielle Gamble

BUSINESS Business Manager Jennah Romansky

News Samuel Derkin, editor

Advertising Zachary Hartenburg, account executive Haley Musser, graphic designer

Features Samantha Rhodes, editor

“Battlefield 4 because it seems more realistic.”

Matt Berkey

Fourth-year Computer science and engineering technology

“Euchre—it involves “Card games— it’s a lot of thinking and more interactive than watching a strategizing.” screen.”

Kyleigh Holtsberry

Fourth-year Math education

Navindi Weerasinghe

First-year Biology

“Super Mario Brothers. I love Yoshi.”

Shayla Smith

Second-year Business and theatre

Sports Blake Bacho, editor Community Amanda Eggert, editor Alexandria Saba, assoc. editor Opinion Morgan Rinckey, editor Photography Nicole Badik, 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 onTwitter @TheICToledo

IN BRIEF

Health insurance help available

A free program to help people sign up for health insurance under the Affordable Care Act will take place in March.

People looking for help may attend one of these sessions: • Monday, March 3, at Lagrange Library from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

• Saturday, March 8, at Mott Branch Library from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

• Saturday, March 8, at Kent Branch Library from 2:30 p.m. to 5:15 p.m.

The program is hosted by Women in NAACP, the Neighborhood Health Association, and NAACP. There are over 30,000 uninsured residents in the area, according to a news release.

Those who attend will need to bring along their email address, birthdate, Social Security number, and the names of the members of their household.

Additionally, they should bring their 2013 income for household members, an income estimate for 2014, and any current health coverage guidelines they may have.

For more information, call 419-2140043.

Baseball camp to be held Feb. 8 The Toledo baseball program is holding a prospect camp Feb. 8 at the Fetterman Training Center for players in grades 7 through 12.

The camp provides coaching on certain aspects of baseball. Participants will be able to display their skills in their preferred position for the UT coaching staff, which will be doing the instructing and evaluating.

Players will need to bring their glove, bat and helmet; catchers should bring their own equipment. Cleats and comfortable attire for workouts should be worn, and a pair of gym or turf shoes should be brought along in case the weather sends the participants indoors.

The camp will take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., and costs $125.

For more information or to sign up, visit toledobaseballcamps.com. For any remaining questions, Assistant Baseball Coach Nick McIntyre can be reached at 419-530-3097 or nmcinty@ utnet.utoledo.edu.

New York Times columnist to speak Feb. 19 A New York Times op-ed columnist and author will speak Feb. 19 at noon in the McQuade Law Auditorium.

Ross Douthat, the youngest op-ed columnist in the history of the Times, examines politics of both domestic and international nature and government in the editorial pages of The New York Times. He has contributed to myriad publications, and has written about subjects such as higher education, national politics, and celebrities’ religious conversions.

Douthat has also written two books of his own – “Privilege: Harvard and the Education of the Ruling Class” and “Bad Religion: How We Became a Nation of Heretics” – and co-authored “Grand New Party: How Republicans Can Win the Working Class and Save the American Dream” with Reihan Salam.

In his talk Feb. 19, Douthat will speak about the scope of modern conservative opinion, including differing viewpoints of the recent government shutdown, the Affordable Care Act, and the role of religion in society.

The forum, hosted by the University of Toledo College of Law and its chapter of the Federalist Society for Law and Public Policy Studies, is free and open to the public. Pizza will be provided.

Thursday, February 6, 2014 | The Independent Collegian |

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UT ALUMNI ASSOCIATION

UT to recognize outstanding teachers

By Samantha Rhodes

“Mistakes are good. If they aren’t going to make mistakes, then why would they need my class?...I always say, ‘It’s okay to make mistakes in this classroom. In fact, that’s what I want to see.’”

Features Editor

Stop for a moment and think — is there a special teacher at the University of Toledo who has impacted or inspired you in some way?

When it comes to defining an “outstanding” teacher, Glenn Lipscomb should know — the 54-year-old chair of the Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering was a recipient of the 2013 Outstanding Teacher Award.

Lipscomb said it’s essential for teachers to show enthusiasm and be energized about their subject matter so their attitudes can rub off on students.

“If you are not enthusiastic, others will sense it,” Lipscomb said.

Up to six more teachers will be recognized in 2014 for their enthusiasm through the 39th Outstanding Teacher awards, spearheaded by the UT Alumni Association.

“We are looking for teachers who have touched your life in some way,” said Amanda Kessler, associate director in the Office of Alumni Relations. “Did you change your major? Change your college? Choose a different career path after graduation? Did they mentor you? We look for qualities that go above and beyond what is required of a teacher at UT.” According to Kessler, the award was created 39 years ago by Ed Schmakel, who was running the Alumni Association at the time and

“I taught a first semester freshmen class...Nothing captures a student’s attention as much as calling on them by name as they walk into class the first day.”

GLENN LIPSCOMB Chair of the Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering

wanted “a way to engage graduates and students to recognize the faculty for their amazing work.”

UT students, faculty, alumni, and staff can enter any full-time UT faculty member who exemplifies excellence in teaching into the contest. Recipients of the award will win a cash prize of $1,500 and previous winners are not eligible.

A committee of previous UT instructors who won the award along with one student representative will review every Outstanding Teacher nomination that is submitted.

According to Kessler, the committee has received up to 750 applications at one time.

Kessler said after reviewing every application, the committee discusses which teachers they feel deserve the award and why.

“The criteria of how they are judged is simple — content is key,” Kessler said. “If you want to let me know that Professor X is awesome through the nomination form online, that is great and I’m sure they are awesome. But that kind of content doesn’t tell us why Professor X is awesome. We need to know how and why.”

According to Kessler, up to six winners are chosen each year and the entire process is very private. Nominations and nominees are considered confidential information.

After the awardees are announced, the deans of each college are notified if someone in their department was nominated. The winning names are then sent to the Provost’s Office, where the recipients are called directly.

Lipscomb said receiving the honor meant “a great deal” to him.

“Often your contact with students ends after class,” Lipscomb said.

“The award provides additional contact that lets you know you have been successful. Moreover, it reenergizes you.”

Robert Yonker, 40, an associate professor of management in the College of Business and Innovation, also won the award in 2013 and thinks it’s “the ultimate compliment to a professor.”

ROBERT YONKER Associate professor of management

“I think most professors become professors to help students find their way in life,” Yonker said. “To me, it’s the best award you can possibly win in a university.”

Winning the award in 2011 was Heather Hug, 38, an associate professor in the kinesiology department who said it meant the world to her that a student took the time to nominate her.

Lipscomb, Yonker, and Hug all discussed their own personal ‘outstanding teacher’ strategies they use to engage students in the classroom.

Hug spoke about the importance of making students into “life-long learners” by showing them respect and taking an active interest in their lives.

“Once they figure out I care about them and want them to be successful, they try harder and begin to value all their hard work,” Hug said. “They take ownership of their education and I am simply there to guide them through the journey of understanding.”

One strategy Lipscomb uses in his teaching to engage students and help them focus is to try to learn student names before the first class of the semester.

“I taught a first semester freshmen class for many years and spent some time before the first class meeting matching names to photos,” Lipscomb said. “Nothing captures a student’s attention as much as calling on them by name as they walk into class the first day.”

In order to be an effective professor, Yonker said “giving people permission to fail, make mistakes, and learn from those mistakes” is key.

“Mistakes are good,” Yonker said. “If they aren’t going to make mistakes, then why would they need my class? So the first day of class, I always say, ‘It’s okay to make mistakes in this classroom. In fact, that’s what I want to see.’”

Continually evaluating his teaching style for effectiveness is a must for Lipscomb, as he said he cares immensely about each of his students’ success.

“I care deeply because I feel my success as a professor is reflected by student success,” Lipscomb said. “The students I interact with become a part of my extended academic family.”

“Once they figure out I care about them and want them to be successful, they try harder and begin to value all their hard work. They take ownership of their education...”

HEATHER HUG Associate professor of kinesiology

Completed nomination forms must be electronically submitted online at www.utoledo.edu/offices/provost/outstandingteacher or received in the UT Alumni office no later than 5 p.m. on Feb. 26 to be considered in this year’s competition.

For more information, contact Kessler at 419-530-7859 or Amanda.

Schwartz@utoledo.edu.

Students to submit artwork for exhibition

By IC Staff

University of Toledo students may submit artwork for the annual Juried Student Exhibition, which will be held Feb. 21 to March 29

by UT’s Department of Art. All currently-enrolled UT students are invited to submit their art. Work can be submitted Feb. 13 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., or Feb. 14 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Any form of media may be submitted, with a limit of three works per student. All frames,

video equipment, or other necessities for installation must be present when turning in the piece to be displayed.

Each of the artworks submitted must have an identification tag attached to it and a completed entry form. The tags and forms are available in the CVA Department of Art front office and on the department’s website.

Work will not be accepted if the appropriate paperwork is not filled out, or if it was exhibited in a previous Student Juried Exhibition.

Jury results will be posted Feb. 17 on the main office door of the CVA Department of Art. Any submissions that were not accepted must be picked up that day or the next, Feb. 18, between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.

All accepted work must stay for the duration of the exhibition, and may be picked up after it closes March 29.

For more information, contact Greg Jones, CVA Gallery director, at Greg.Jones2@utoledo.edu.

4

| The Independent Collegian | Thursday, February 6, 2014

OPINION

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EDITORIAL BOARD

Danielle Gamble Editor-in-Chief

Morgan Rinckey Opinion Editor

EDITORIAL

The weather needs to chill We ask UT facilities about ice problems on campus.

The winter wonderland of snow, ice and cold temperatures is starting to get old. At first it was beautiful, the ice and snow on the trees like a vision straight out of the Chronicles of Narnia. But now the blistering winds and snow storms have caused harm as we drive and walk to school. Even the most cautious of us have slipped, slid or swerved because of weather-related problems — fishtailing in front of the parking garage and falling in the library parking lot.

We get mad having to go to school on such bad days. We get aggravated having to walk like penguins to class when there is ice on the sidewalks. It can be tiring having to wake up early to get to a morning class on time. And it’s one thing to have slippery sidewalks and roads the day after a storm — but it’s another when it’s the week after and there are still ice pools lying like sheets of glass on the sidewalk.

Here at The Independent Collegian, we are frustrated with the ice that seems to be everywhere. There haven’t been many days when temperatures rise above freezing, so snow has accumulated in parking garages, causing problems for many of us. One of the editors almost got into a car accident with four other vehicles when she overcorrected her car after fishtailing in the East Parking Garage. And the rest of the editors have had similar experiences — we’ve had to drive at 5 mph to avoid hitting the ice wrong; make new walking paths through packed down snow with ice on top; and fit into all kinds of weird parking spots because the lines aren’t visible.

In light of these frustrations, the Independent Collegian spoke with Dave Collins, director of facilities maintenance, grounds and transportation to find out how UT deals with snow and ice problems.

The winter storms have all had different negative factors.

The drifting snow and the cold temperatures have different ways of being treated compared to the storms that bring a mixture of snow and sleet. “You can’t just have one blanket approach to all,” Collins said.

Even though some places can be bad to drive or walk on, not a lot can be done about the weather we are having. And despite what some think, putting more salt down doesn’t necessarily help slippery roads — salt doesn’t work effectively in 20-below-zero weather.

The winds often pile up new snow on the road. When this happens in Michigan, some of the roads get treated with sand instead of salt because it helps with traction and is effective in low temperatures.

Sand isn’t usually used at UT, though, and Collins said that’s for a reason. The weather changes frequently, so it would create a dirty mess when the ice thaws. No one wants to walk around in mud. But more importantly, the mud could clog the drains when the water melts.

Calcium chloride is sometimes used in small areas around UT. It is a chemical solution that dissolves snow. It is more expensive than salt so it can’t always be used, but when salt isn’t working, calcium chloride can be used as an additive.

Collin said the grounds crews are “trying to be flexible and just try to readjust and be cognitive that people are walking through campus.”

So, what’s the solution? Stay home? Invest in a snowmobile for campus?

Well, after hashing it over and over, all we can really come back to are the standard precautions we all hear every winter.

Everyone needs to be wary of snow and ice in potentially dangerous situations. Slow down in the parking garages when you see the shiny gleam of ice. Be careful when you walk on top of packed up snow around campus.

No, these aren’t really solutions to the problem, nor are they that satisfying. But they’re clichés for a reason — they’re true, and there aren’t really any other real options.

But the next time you see a problem, remember that you can help alleviate some of the weather-related stress by calling the work control station with a location and time of the problem at 419-5301000. Collins said grounds crews work around the clock during bad weather, and a crew will be dispatched when a problem is reported.

And before you know it, the snow will be gone — and it will be pothole season.

COMMENTARY

Stuck between two countries

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.

www.IndependentCollegian.com

Fifty-one kilograms. One hundred aisle, was a minor culture shock. I had and twelve pounds. It’s all I had to pack heard people talk about culture shock away for my future. Everything was set but I hadn’t experienced it first-hand and arranged in my American tourist — I’d read about it in a novel, but never luggage before I embarked upon my experienced it. It felt to me like moving voyage to the USA — documents, to a UFO. books, shoes, cosmetics More than upset, I and warm clothes. was baffled. My family in My comically India didn’t feel anything melodramatic family had changed. To them, said good-bye to me I was still gone. Only, in early December the time difference at the Rajiv Gandhi was now 12 hours, and International Airport they had to count and in India. I showered calculate a little more my family with my before they gave me a love and ensured my call. When I rambled overly panicked mother on about experiencing and surprisingly stoic a culture shock, they father that I’d be safe. listened patiently on the I realized, like every phone, even though they other international wondered how different it student, I sadly couldn’t possibly could be except IC COLUMNIST pack away the part of the weather and people.

India I love. I felt like I was going to be Everything was different than I an outsider joining the awesomely cool thought it would be. If only I could University of Toledo. explain to my family that the same perAs if living and leaving a familiar son who blabbered at every opportuway of life was not enough, I’ve had to nity and was an epitome of confidence, adjust to the unique academic, social now only spoke when someone else and cultural challenges of living and made an attempt at a conversation. studying in the U.S. Meeting these new My confidence level went downhill challenges has been the motivation quick. I couldn’t explain how I felt and, subsequently, the reward for comwhen I stood outside the airport for ing to America in the first place. hours, freezing and waiting for the The U.S. has taken time to get used airport pickups. I was worried about to. The first time I went to Toledo’s housing.

Walmart, I walked through the aisles The freaked-out feeling settled in looking for something to drink. Even when I first saw our university — it though I knew I wasn’t in India, I still wasn’t anything that I expected. I looked for my favorite brand of pop. doubted being able to succeed as a stuAll I found was a Pepsi or Diet Pepsi. dent. Understanding the plan of study My hand hovered above the can, and and adapting is an exhausting process. didn’t seem to want to grab it. I was And then there was the homesickness. confused because it wasn’t really a big And all I could think about was my deal. I wanted to grab it — it was still home in India — the food, my wora soda. But my mind screamed that ried mother, my comforting father, my it sounded wrong, it wasn’t what I annoying siblings and the friends who always got for myself. It was not what made life easy.

I drink.

But as the days passed, I learned And then the reality sank in, right how to breathe, eat and sleep everythere and then. What I was experiencwhere, and I got confused about which ing, lost in the middle of the beverage place was home, and which home to

SHAGUFTA SAMI

As if living and leaving a familiar way of life was not enough, I’ve had to adjust to the unique academic, social and cultural challenges of living and studying in the U.S. miss. I’m here to stay, to feel tired and exhausted of understanding everything new, and to meet new people and to prove to the people back home that I am fine.

Before, it felt like it wouldn’t be easy to spend the next couple of years alone traveling the ‘saath samundar paar’ (far across the seven seas) and jumping what seemed to be a quantum leap from normality. But studying abroad has been a fresh slate where I can really try to be who I want to be in life.

I wouldn’t say it’s for everyone. You have to be sure that it’s what you want.

It shouldn’t be because you want to get away, but because you want to get something out of the place you’re going to. And of course, it’s the size of the challenge that determines the greatness of the reward in the end.

And the reward is the strong sense of confidence one gains in adjusting, adaptation and compromising.

So far, America has taught me how to adapt, how to deal with different lifestyles and perceptions, to stand equally with others — quickly. I’m sure the pressure to make a mark will push and pull me into dangerous pits, but then who doesn’t like the adrenaline rush? It brought me two homes. And being in one of them, I’ll always miss the other. I know that now.

And knowing that, I’ll adjust by drinking any kind of soda.

Shagufta Sami is a first-year computer science graduate student.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

End bad health policies In his State of the Union address, President Barack Obama urged employers to end “Mad Men” era personnel policies that make it hard for women to both work and care for their families. This comment by the President received one of the longest and loudest periods of applause from the audience. Clearly many people believe that despite significant gains in equality, women still face obstacles that limit their ability to excel in the workplace and at the same time fulfill their roles as wives, mothers, and daughters.

Three years ago, the University of Toledo Women’s Leadership Forum, an organization created by a former provost to address the concerns of women faculty, staff, and students, urged UT to end one such “Mad Men” era policy—a policy that penalizes unionized staff for taking earned sick days. For readers unfamiliar with this policy, employees represented by the two largest unions (who are more than 70 percent women) receive a “point” for each time they are sick for more than two hours. After 12 points for

AFSCME employees and 16 points for CWA employees within one year, the employees are terminated.

While this policy applies equally to men and women, it is women who bear the brunt of its enforcement.

Women are responsible not only for their own health care (and women’s health issues tend to be more complicated than those of men), but also for the health care needs of their children, spouses, and increasingly, their elderly parents. This is the role society has given to women, and while it is true that many men are taking on more such responsibilities, it will be a long time before these duties are equalized.

The policy has many negative outcomes. It can force employees to come to work sick because they fear earning points that could lead to losing their jobs. It could lead to firing good employees for reasons that have nothing to do with their job performance.

It adds unnecessary stress to lives that are already overstressed. And for an institution where health care is a major part of our mission, it seems odd that we would choose to penalize those who are sick.

It is not a policy that “improves the

human condition.”

Last year, the university conducted a climate survey that asked employees to gauge how they felt about the workplace environment. While in aggregate the survey results seemed to show that most employees were happy working at UT, when broken out by gender, an entirely different picture was revealed. In nearly every category, women rated the institution as less supportive and more stressful than men.

I urge the university to answer President Obama’s call, and revisit the sick leave policy that is better suited to a time when men ran corporations, drank two martinis at lunch, expected their secretaries to sit on their laps to take dictation, and gave little thought to family life. The world has moved on from this view of the workplace. It is time for the University of Toledo to embrace policies that are supportive of families and women. While the climate survey surely showed that there are many areas where women employees are unhappy with this institution, let’s end just one policy that contributes to this feeling. End this punitive staff absence policy.

—Barbara Floyd, UT faculty member

COMMENTARY

Leave law enforcing to those sworn to protect The right to bear arms is a highly As criminology professor James Fox debated topic, discussed everywhere points out in the Time magazine arfrom the halls of government to ticle, “Mass Shootings Are on the Riseessays written by coland Falling,” the rate of lege students. In remass shootings does not cent years, the debate appear to be rising. Achas heated up, due cording to the FBI, mass to several recent shootings make up less shootings. While than one percent of it may seem that homicides or about guns in the hands 20 every year between of citizens is the 1980 and 2010. best way to ensure But it is important everyone’s safety, the to remember that just actual need to carry a because mass shootgun is unjustified and ings are less common puts more people at than public perception risk of harm. suggests, it does not Some invoke Secmean these murders ond Amendment are any less tragic.

IC COLUMNIST rights due to the beWe live in a 24-hour lief that mass shootnews world, and due to ings are a common occurrence. We this, we hear about practically every have the right to defend ourselves. shooting in the United States that ocHowever, it is wrong to think that curs. If instances of particular events shootings happen all the time. come easily and quickly to mind,

MATTHEW EVANS

such as shootings, then it is human nature to assume it is commonplace.

In psychology, this concept is known as the availability heuristic.

Another example of this concept is the belief that shark attacks are ordinary because they are so widely reported in the media. According to the International Shark Attack File, only about five people are killed worldwide every year by sharks. In both cases, the chances of either happening are actually extraordinarily rare. Shootings have actually been decreasing in the past several decades.

Another reason average citizens should not be allowed to carry guns is lack of training. While there are no doubt many gun-lovers who have had experience handling firearms, most lack experience shooting under extremely nerve-wracking conditions.

Military servicemen and women and police officers are oftentimes trained to shoot a gun under stressful conditions, sometimes even being

shot at with rubber bullets. Even the accuracy of people who are incredibly good marksmen under tranquil states drops very low. Also, if a public shooting were to occur, everyone's adrenaline would be pumping which results in tunnel vision, significantly reducing one's line of sight. That seems like reason enough to regulate the sale of guns to those who are licensed.

A study conducted by ABC news on YouTube called “Proof that Concealed Permit Holders Live in a Dream World” that put gun aficionados into situations unexpectedly where they can fire back at potential shooters with a paintball gun. Due to lack of training and the suddenness of the attack, every one made glaring mistakes such as not taking cover while shooting back or almost hitting innocent bystanders.

If a shooting were to occur, who is to say that a citizen would not actually kill more people trying to protect themselves and others than

the actual shooter? Many people would be running in different directions trying to find cover and get away. Additionally, bystanders may not know who the actual shooter is and end up trying to tackle or harm the wrong person or give out the wrong description to police.

Guns should not be allowed in the hands of private citizens. They are ill equipped to handle dangerous situations. There is no need for people to own guns because the chances of being involved in a shooting are incredibly slim.

The right to bear arms should only be considered in the historical context in which it was written: when average citizens were the only militia our government could count upon.

We need to leave enforcing the law and controlling crime to those whose sworn mission it is to protect us.

Matthew Evans is a second-year double majoring in women’s and gender studies and criminal justice.

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IN BRIEF

Juice named MAC West player of the week

Junior guard Julius “Juice” Brown has been named Mid-American Conference West Division Player of the Week for the fourth time this season and for the eighth occasion in his Toledo career, the league office announced on Monday.

This is the sixth time this season that a Rocket has been honored with the weekly award.

Brown averaged a team-high 18.0 ppg and 8.0 apg for the Rockets last week in road games at Miami and Ohio, posting a 48.3 FG% (14-of29) and was a perfect five-of-five from the free throw line in UT’s 83-70 road victory over Miami.

Juice then posted 28 points, one shy of his career best, and dished out eight assists in a 9590 overtime loss at Ohio.

Juice made a careerhigh 11 field goals, including a game-tying jumper that sent the game into overtime.

Brown is leading the MAC this season with 6.7 assists per game and a 2.3 assist/turnover ratio, and he is tied for seventh with 14.5 points per game.

UT swimming and diving beats Akron on senior night The University of Toledo swimming and diving team honored the eight seniors scheduled to graduate this May, and they defeated MidAmerican Conference opponent Akron 183-117 to move to 4-1 in conference play in the process.

Of the team’s 11 firstplace finishes, the Rockets had three swimmers win multiple events against Akron. Senior Christina Noens had her typical day at the natatorium, winning the 100-yard backstroke (56.95) and 200-yard backstroke (2:01.95), and senior Beth Rogers turned in first-place finishes in the 50-yard freestyle (23.50) and 100-yard butterfly (53.35).

The Rockets’ next competition will be against Big Ten foe Michigan State, as they dive into action on Saturday, Feb. 8, at 1 p.m. at the UT Student Recreation Center. It will be the team’s final home meet of the season, and the last before the MAC Championships begin on Feb. 27.

Seth Taylor joins women’s soccer program University of Toledo’s two-time Mid-American Conference Coach of the Year, head coach Brad Evans, announced Monday that Seth Taylor has been named the assistant women’s soccer coach.

Taylor comes to UT following a very successful three-year stint as an assistant coach at California Baptist University, where the Lancers won two PacWest Conference titles and two NCCAA National Championships during his time there.

“I’m absolutely thrilled to have Seth join our program,” Evans said in a school statement. “What he brings is both passion and experience doing the things that will help our program compete at a championship level. One good indicator of future success is past success, and Seth has demonstrated in two previous stops the ability to do good work both as a recruiter and as a coach, not to mention giving him the opportunity to get closer to home. I’m looking forward to having a full staff as we strive to return to the top of the MAC.”

Thursday, February 6, 2014 | The Independent Collegian |

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UT men’s tennis weekend recap: The University of Toledo men’s tennis team spent last weekend on the court, facing off against Youngstown State and IUPUFW. To find out how they did, as well as read other sports stories, visit www.independentcollegian.com/sports.

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MEN’S BASKETBALL

Leaving a legacy

IC FILE PHOTO

Rian Pearson is a Mid-American Conference Player of the Year candidate, and, according to his coach, one of the best defensive players in the league right now. The senior guard transferred to Toledo in 2010, and he has finished his two previous seasons as a Rocket ranked no lower than third in the MAC in points per game, ending the 2012-13 campaign with a career-best 14-game double-double scoring streak.

Rian Pearson reflects on his time as a Rocket

By Blake Bacho Sports Editor

In 2010, as men’s basketball coach Tod Kowalczyk headed into a meeting with his team at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay to tell them he had accepted the head coaching position at the University of Toledo, he knew it would be an emotional farewell.

What he did not know, however, was that one of his younger players, a freshman guard by the name of Rian Pearson, was going to come along for the ride.

“I just gave him a big hug and he said ‘Coach I want to come,’ and I said ‘Ok, let’s go,’” Kowalczyk said. “It happened so fast.”

Pearson, along with fellow former Green Bay freshman Matt Smith, and two assistant coaches from Kowalczyk’s UWGB staff, made the trip with their head coach to Toledo.

The group was tasked with rebuilding a Rocket program that had certainly seen better days.

“I knew about the school, but I didn’t know about the program or anything,” Pearson said. “I just felt that we were a family and a familyoriented group my freshman year at Green Bay. They had a great coaching staff and three of the coaching staff left, so I felt that I wanted to come along with them.”

Four years, countless personal awards, and a share of last year’s Mid-American Conference West Division title later, Pearson says the decision to become a Rocket speaks for itself.

“I think I made a great decision to come here,” he said.

“It’s all panning out now.”

Pearson and the Rockets are eying the MAC West

banner, as well as an outside chance at an invitation to the NCAA tournament, thanks to the team’s current 18-3(6-2 in MAC play) record.

The 6-4 senior has made a name for himself in Savage

“Without question he is going to be one of the greatest players to ever play here.

He’s going to be a first-ballot hallof-famer here in Toledo.”

TOD KOWALCZYK UT men’s basketball coach

Arena and beyond as one of the most talented guards in the

league. Pearson has finished his previous two seasons in Toledo ranked no lower than third in the MAC in points per game, and the MAC Player of the Year candidate ended the 2012-13 campaign with a career-best 14-game doubledigit scoring streak.

“Without question he is going to be one of the greatest players to ever play here,” Kowalczyk said. “He’s going to graduate in the top five all-time leading scorers, he’s going to have an unbelievable career, [and] he’s going to leave a legacy of turning around a program.

“He’s going to be a first-ballot hall-of-famer here in Toledo.”

According to Kowalczyk, both Pearson and Smith have been huge contributors to what the Toledo program has become during the trio’s tenure here.

“Having him and Matt here is immeasurable,” Kowalczyk said.

“They knew the culture we had going at Green Bay, they knew how we wanted to play and how we wanted to work.

“I think they both did a very good job at trying to teach the new guys the Rocket way, and I think that really helped us get out of an unbelievably bad situation very quickly.”

The family-minded atmosphere that Pearson knew during his brief time in Green Bay carried over when he arrived in Toledo, and it’s apparent when watching the Rocket player’s interactions with one another, as well as with their coach.

“Even after I’m gone, [the program] will still be familyoriented,” Pearson promised.

That family mindset is even

See Legacy / 6 »

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

Women’s basketball team falls 66-59 to Bowling Green State Falcons last Sunday

By Austin Henry and Blake Bacho Sports Reporter and Sports Editor

After UT’s 66-59 loss to the Bowling Green State Falcons on Sunday, Toledo women’s basketball coach Tricia Cullop showed a very different mood from her team’s previous defeat.

“I criticized our team a lot after the Akron game,” Cullop said. “I even had to take a strong look at our staff and what we are doing and make some decisions about what we are going to do to get our team motivated. I couldn’t have been more proud of the way they responded.”

“It wasn’t the outcome that we wanted, but I think me, my teammates, we fought to the very end.”

BRIANNA JONES UT senior center

Her moods were actually just as different as the squad’s last two losses.

UT fell to their I-75 archrivals during Sunday’s showdown

in Savage Arena, but unlike their previous defeat, a 20-point home-court drubbing at the hands of Akron, the Rockets managed to stay competitive with BG up to the final buzzer.

“This could have gone one way or the other,” Cullop said. “Win or lose, you just want to be a part of a program that is trying to do everything in their power to win games. You may not win every game — not many teams do — but you want to give everything that you have every night.”

Toledo junior forward Inma Zanoguera and senior guard Andola Dortch led the Rocket attack with a team-high 13 points each, while senior center Brianna Jones trailed right behind her teammates with 12 points. Unfortunately for UT, these performances weren’t enough to overcome Falcon forward Alexis Rogers’ 22 points and 12 total rebounds.

Despite the loss, the Rockets’ coach and players said that this game showed their team’s growth and competitive spirit.

“We are at a point in our season where our coaching staff shouldn’t even [have to] question us about our See Sunday / 6 »

JACKIE KELLETT / IC

Senior center Brianna Jones lost her starting spot heading into the Bowling Green game, but she still managed to put up 12 points. She said after the game that the coaching staff shouldn’t have to question her or her teammates about their effor, or desire, and that the Rockets’ efforts against the Falcons shows the team’s maturity.

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| The Independent Collegian | Thursday, February 5, 2014

PHOTO COURTESY OF RIAN PEARSON AND UT ATHLETICS

Pearson and his daughter, Maell (pictured above) don’t see much of each other during the school year, and, according to Pearson, they use the summertime to really bond.

Legacy from page 5

more apparent when watching Pearson’s interactions with Kowalczyk.

“He and I have a very close relationship,” Kowalczyk said.

“Just like a family, we are going to argue –and we do argue, we’ll argue a lot – but at the end of the day he understands that he has my back and I have his back. I think that’s why we’ve been like we are.”

Family has been a recurring theme during Pearson’s time in college — especially since he welcomed his daughter, Maell, into the world in April 2010.

And while he smiled when talking about basketball, Pearson positively beamed when asked about his little girl.

“That experience humbled me and made me grow into a man when she was born,” he said. “My daughter means

Sunday from page 5

effort, heart and desire,” said senior center Brianna Jones. “I think that shows a lot about where our mental state is and our maturity, to come to a big game like this and bounce back.

“It wasn’t the outcome that we wanted, but I think me, my teammates — we fought to the very end.”

The Rockets’ first-half effort almost ensured a different outcome to the game. Toledo jumped out against Bowling Green early, gaining a 7-2 lead by the first media timeout courtesy of a pair of Zanoguera baskets. BG countered with a 9-2 run to gain an 11-9 lead with 12:36 left to play in the half. The teams traded blows –and leads– for the remainder of the first half, with the Rockets holding a 21-20 advantage heading into the locker room.

“We talked to the team before the game [about] the old quote, ‘People are like teabags, you put them in hot water and you find out what they are made of,’” Cullop

the world to me. When I am here at school that’s all I do, is think about her. I enjoy, after the season is over, getting home and relaxing and getting to spend time with her.”

Pearson’s daughter may or may not play basketball someday like her father. But according to both him and Kowalczyk she certainly has impacted how her father plays basketball — as well as how he lives life.

“I would never recommend a college student or a college student-athlete have a child at a young age,” Kowalczyk said.

“But in this case, it might have been the best thing that ever happened to him. His maturity level definitely took a step, a huge step, in the right direction, and I am very proud of the father that he has become.”

Kowalczyk also seems very proud of the ball player said. “We could have wilted, we could have been made out of nothing and [had] no heart today, and yet we didn’t. The first half effort was one of the best halves of effort I’ve seen of this team in a long time.”

Toledo continued their backand-forth battle with Bowling Green once the teams returned to the court for the second half of play. Rogers took advantage of a slow Rocket start by putting three treys up in a span of less than three minutes, giving the Falcons a 34-30 edge with 14 minutes left to play.

Toledo continued to fight back for the rest of the contest, but their last attempt was cut short when Zanoguera fouled Falcon guard Jillian Halfhill, allowing her to cap BG’s scoring with a pair of free throws. “[The Falcons] are a great team, a talented team,” Jones said. “It was a great game today; both teams fought to the end [and] you couldn’t have asked for a better game. I give credit to Bowling Green. They came to play.”

Cullop and her players made it clear that they were not happy with the result of

Pearson has become during his collegiate career, even promising that when the time comes for him to try to play professionally, it won’t be a question of if he can do it.

“It’s just a matter of what league and where,” Kowalczyk said. “But that is going to be up to him to continue to get better and prove he is capable of that.”

And that’s what Pearson says he wants for the future: to continue to play the game that he loves while supporting the daughter that he is devoted to.

“I’m trying to play for money somewhere,” he said. “Trying to get some of my own money in my pocket. I don’t know where I’m going to pan out, but at the end of the season I am going to continue to play basketball.”

What’s next for the Rockets: Toledo will hit the road to face Miami University on Thursday, Feb. 6. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m.

The Rockets will then head to Kent State on Sunday, Feb. 9, for a 2 p.m. tip-off against the Golden Flashes, before returning home to face Ohio on Saturday, Feb. 15, at 2 p.m.

this season’s rivalry matchup, but the Rockets’ head coach says they are on the right track to getting back to winning.

“I thought our players, despite losing tonight, gave a valiant effort,” Cullop said. “We lost to a very good team that shoots the heck out of the basketball.

Unfortunately, they shot it a lot better than we shot it tonight, but I love the effort that we displayed. I’ll coach that any day.”

Toledo returns to action Thursday, Feb. 6, when they travel to Miami University for a 7 p.m. tipoff.

Thursday, February 6, 2014 | The Independent Collegian |

PUZZLES

Sullivan pipes from page 1

THEME: U.S. PRESIDENTS

ACROSS 1. Burp 6. Flapper’s feathers 9. Struggle for air 13. Wombs 14. *Degree common to many Presidents 15. *Presidential Medal of _____ 16. Show of contempt 17. On vacation 18. Beat the Joneses 19. *The first whom women could vote for 21. Perfect world 23. Bit of binary code 24. Bohemian, e.g.

25. Part of T.G.I.F. 28. One from the Magi 30. Feel bitter about 35. Exercise group, pl.

37. Kicker’s field ____ 39. Return the debt 40. Hurry up!

41. Dark organic soil substance 43. Seed cover 44. Cover 46. Agitate 47. Encore!

48. *Peanut farmer 50. Partner of “void” 52. To blemish 53. Dwarf buffalo 55. Bygone bird 57. *First Medicare cardholder 60. *Old Hickory 64. Jelly fruit 65. Rocks in drink 67. Thin mountain ridge 68. “A Doll’s House” playwright 69. Military ___ 70. One of several species of lemurs 71. California valley 72. Bolt’s companion 73. *Presidents call on Congress to do this DOWN 1. *41st or 43rd president 2. Europe’s highest volcano 3. Lecherous look 4. Belief 5. “Now ______” sign in window 6. Cyberspace soliloquy 7. Stumblebum 8. More than bad 9. Climb the stairs 10. Against or opposed to 11. Fountain liquid 12. A Super Bowl participant, e.g.

15. *He never promised “a chicken in every pot” 20. Secretariat’s sound 22. Feather glue

24. Enduring strength 25. Biblical patriarch 26. Famous physicist Nikola 27. Part of stairs 29. *Number of Presidents named John 31. Clothes line 32. Erasable programmable read only memory 33. Nigerian money 34. *a.k.a. “His Accidency” 36. Falling-out 38. Comic strip Moppet 42. 1965 march site 45. Sinbad, e.g.

49. Genetic info carrier 51. Scene of event or action 54. “The _____,” “America’s Finest News Source” 56. Ohio rubber hub 57. Marching band member 58. Coarse file 59. Eye part

Last Week’s Puzzle Solved

Associate CoCA dean Holly Monsos said she thinks the pipes “froze and split, but the freeze held until it thawed.”

As of Tuesday, there were several sections of drywall that had been removed throughout the building.

“We put ourselves in the repair mode the minute we found out,” Davis said. “And the very first thing we attended to were the classes and the students.”

According to CoCA chair Paul Fritz, the two classes held in Sullivan Hall that are affected by the damages will be moved to a communication lab in Rocket Hall room 1562. These classes are COMM 2400 and COMM 2100.

“We’re kind of tough,” Fritz said. “These kinds of things happen all the time — you’ve just really got to be prepared to do something different. We have nice facilities over at Rocket Hall we can move into and a nice crew that cleaned this place up spick and span.”

Paullette Kilmer, a communication professor said the flooding was bad, but the workers “are doing the best they can to clean up everything.”

“Of course, everyone is inconvenienced,” Kilmer said. “But the room they set aside for us in Rocket Hall is easy for students to locate.

The tech people installed computers and brought in a projector for us.”

Although the extent of the damages is not yet known, two computers in the computer labs were damaged as well as a 70-inch plasma screen TV. But Davis said the majority of the equipment was not touched by the water.

“We’re making lists of things that were destroyed and the insurance company picks that up and replaces that,” Fritz said.

Despite the displacement of one faculty member, Professor Brian Patrick, both Davis and Fritz said the department is still functioning well.

“It hasn’t affected productivity majorly,”

UT veteran

from page 1

60. Court fool’s joke 61. Plural for “serum” 62. Auditory 63. Hitler’s Eagle’s ____ 64. Bathtub liquor 66. PC brain

Last week’s solution

“My mom was crying and my dad was upset, and I told them this is what I want to do,” he said.

Ortiz described boot camp as a 13-week “mind-blowing experience.”

“I had always lived in a sheltered bubble, and that popped pretty quickly,” he said.

“Once I got there, I started getting yelled at by all of these bald guys — so yeah, that was interesting.”

Coming from a small high school and a tight circle of friends, Ortiz said everything about his life was “nice and compacted,” something that changed quickly. But he said having family back home made the transition easier.

“I think it is safe to say I was more homesick than the average person, but at the same time it offered this huge foundation of support,” he said. “My friends would send me letters and I received care packages from my parents.”

Ortiz was enlisted Jan. 14, 2008, and went through boot camp and a month of marine combat training, which includes learning individual combat and survival skills.

Next, six months of specialty training, where Ortiz learned his Military Occupational Specialty (MOS). His was aviation ordnance, which included making sure that all of the weapons, bombs, rockets and missiles on aircrafts worked properly.

After his training was complete he was stationed at the Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) New River in Jacksonville, N.C. But not for long. After three months, in February 2009, his unit deployed for Iraq to support Operation Iraqi Freedom 9.1, something Ortiz was not expecting.

“I wasn’t naive about it, that we were in a time of conflict and there was a very realistic possibility that I would be sent over. But I didn’t think it would happen that quickly,” he said.

To make it through the rougher times of deployment, he joked that coffee helped, but said family played a key role.

“Whenever possible I would give them a call,” he said. “Just hearing certain messages would make your day so good and help you get through another week.”

His deployment lasted until Aug. 2009. But soon after, Ortiz volunteered for a second deployment in Jan. 2010. This time, he was headed for Haiti, which he said was “completely different from Iraq.”

Aboard the Mesa Verde, a navy ship, Ortiz helped deliver medical supplies, food and water to the civilians after the Haiti earthquake.

“It was kind of a cool feeling to know that we were helping others out,” Ortiz said.

“When people think military, they think of, you know — violence, guns, war. That is only part of the picture. A lot of what we do

Dean

from page 1

committee meetings.

“Tamika is the voice of the students, and so she’s building the relationship with all students and organizations,” Spann said, “She goes to all these committees and speaks on behalf of the students. She makes sure that the committees, whenever they have meetings, to discuss things that are going to affect students; she makes sure that students are going to be at those meetings.”

Mitchell said that as dean it is her job to continue to provide an avenue for students to impact change in order to bring more substance to students’ growth and

7

Fritz said. “You have to think flexibly in today’s world.”

Davis also said other faculty members of the CoCA staff are able to work from home and do a lot of their work online.

“Everybody’s functional,” Davis said. “The beauty of being able to work online or on your computer and pick your computer up and move and everything makes it really very easy. It’s not like we’re tied into these spaces.”

Patrick, who has moved into a temporary office in Rocket Hall, joked in an interview that his office was “no longer tranquil”.

“I got flooded out pretty good,” said Patrick, “To the point where they say it’ll take three weeks or so to pull up all the carpet and even take the drywall out.”

Patrick said that even though he isn’t worried by the flooding, he did lose his professional library that was held in his office.

“It is alleged that the insurance company will compensate for this kind of stuff,” Patrick said, “although I’ll tell you flat out — I’m hopeful, but those insurance companies didn’t build those big towers with the marble covered halls by being generous on their settlements.”

Davis said even though it’s “business as usual” and faculty is functioning normally, she still finds the flooding discouraging.

“They’ve really stepped up and everybody has been very supportive about it,” Davis said.

“I think I’m just more depressed about it than anyone else. It’s just really disheartening.”

Patrick said that the flooding was affecting his classes “a little bit” due to the damaging of some reading assignments he planned to send out to students.

“But for the most part I know my material and I can come in and talk,” Patrick said, “I can tell them what I planned to tell them and it’s not a major upset — it’s just one of those silly things that happen and so you say, ‘OK, we’ll fix this.’”

“It’s inconvenient, but it’s not the end of the world,” Patrick said. “We could regard it as punishment from God, but I doubt it — I think it was just a broken water main.” behind the scenes that people don’t talk about is humanitarian efforts.”

Ortiz returned from Haiti in Aug. 2010. He stayed in North Carolina for one year before his four-year enlistment ended and decided to attend college.

Ortiz said college life is very different from being a Marine — and sometimes a little difficult. But he said the advice he received in the military helps him in everyday life.

“A really good leader once told me was that the secret to success is that as long as you know where you are, where you want to go and you have the tools to get there, that’s like 80 percent of the work. The rest is just putting it all together and making it happen,” he said. “I use that with everything, I use it with homework, I use it with exams, I use it with putting together a grocery list.”

Ortiz said he is currently working with the Officer Selection Center in Ann Arbor, Mich., to become a leader of the Marines, which is his goal.

“I just want to serve this country; I love it,” he said. “It has been great to me and I like the idea of knowing that something I am doing is going to help somebody out somewhere. To me that is not a job, that’s a purpose, that’s a calling.”

Ortiz is also the vice president of UT’s Student Veterans of America (SVA).

“I know how frustrating and how it can be to come from a military life, so if I can do something to help out other veterans, that’s even better,” he said.

Ortiz said there are about 300 veteran students on campus and he wants them to know the SVA is there for them and will help them with whatever they need, including assistance with school and buying books.

Beth Gerasimiak, senior director of educational services and college relations of the College of Adult and Lifelong Learning, said the Military Service Center is important for student veterans because they receive advantages like free parking.

The Military Service Center also provides assistance in obtaining and posting military transcripts, campus and community referrals and military payment plan options.

“The campus is big, so just being able to transition successfully from the military, I think our center really helps with that,” she said. “Having one place to go, someone speaking familiar language to them that they are used to and a place where they can be very comfortable and at home and then also being able to have resources outside of school.”

Ortiz said he loves serving in the military.

“You stop thinking about yourself and you dedicate your life to something bigger than you,” he said. “You dedicate yourself to an idea. The idea being that your work, everything that you are doing is somehow making the world a better place, and a safer place for everybody and it brings a huge amount of fulfillment.” development.

“I see students on committees, I see students speaking out about things that are affecting their experience and so then you can see the change,” said Mitchell, “It might not come instantly but over time you see the improvement and I think that’s what’s most important. So my focus, being the dean of student experience is just making sure that we are continuing to offer, not only what you want but what you all need, what will be substantial for your growth, your development “I think the greatest challenge that we have as student affairs professionals is staying current with trends, making sure that students know that we value their input, we value their feedback,” Mitchell said.

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| The Independent Collegian | Thursday, February 6, 2014

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BLACK HISTORY MONTH

Yanick Rice Lamb to speak about culture

By Sohan Mutha Staff Reporter

A “Kick Off Soul Food Luncheon” will get the ball rolling for the annual University of Toledo Black History Month celebration.

The event will take place on Saturday, Feb. 8, from noon to 2 p.m. in the Student Union Building Auditorium.

The keynote speaker is Yanick Rice Lamb, an award winning journalist, author and associate professor at Howard University. The topic is “Socially Accepted: Where Are We Now?” Rice Lamb was born in Akron, Ohio, and started her career with the Toledo Blade where she first worked as a copy editor before becoming a reporter. She’s worked in other major media outlets such as The New York Times, Essence Magazine and Black Entertainment Television (BET).

Erin Thomas, project manager at the Office of Residence Life, said that Lamb’s mission is to give voice to the voiceless and share the gift of knowledge through the written word.

“I’m excited about coming back to Toledo.

Toledo is where I started my career,” Rice Lamb said in a phone interview. “I have a lot of fond memories there and I met a lot of great people in Toledo so it’s kind of a homecoming of sorts, so I’m excited.”

“I will be encouraging and talking to students about going after their dreams,” Rice Lamb said. “Sometimes they’ll think they have a lot of challenges out there with the changes in technology, in economy and it’s tough graduating with student debt and so I want to be kind of encouraging about that.”

The focus is to “drive the message to students that anything is possible,” according to Merida Allen, associate director of student affairs at Office of Excellence and Multicultural Student Success and chair of the Black History Month committee.

Allen said that Rice Lamb will also talk about how media and society looks at black culture and looks at the community as a whole.

“She’ll touch on a lot of different subjects related to black community. I’m excited — it’s going to be really interesting I think,” Allen said.

Allen hopes that the students will walk away feeling empowered and have a sense of responsibility to their community.

“I hope the students enjoy every word of

COURTESY OF YANICK RICE LAMB

Yanick Rice Lamb is the keynote speaker for the “Kick Off Soul Food Luncheon” on Feb. 8.

it,” Rice Lamb said. “The world is kind of at their fingertips and whatever they want to do they should go for it.”

According to Allen, as a soul food luncheon, there will be plenty of food that relates to the black community and she wants the students to walk away with good food in their bellies.

“Any opportunity to network and to engage in programs that are geared solely to help you, encourage you and I think this is a great opportunity for students,” Allen said. “You have to reach outside of the box a little bit, you have to network and meet people and it’s important to give back and be role models to some of the younger students that will be there.”

The event presented by UT, Study Hour Club and Toledo Chapter of the Links Incorporated will also feature music by the UT Gospel Choir.

The event is free for UT students, faculty and staff who RSVP at the Office of Excellence and Multicultural Student Success via phone at 419530-2261 or email oemss@utoledo.edu.

Tickets are $20 for general public.

Throughout the month, there are several more events that Allen said are a result of collaborative efforts and support from all the departments and students, highlighting the theme of unity.

“It’s an opportunity for UT and our general Toledo community to come together and celebrate the history, the heritage, culture and all of the important aspects and also understanding the future of students of the black community,” Allen said.

STUDENT GROUP

UT Explorers combine learning and experience

By Alexandria Saba

Associate Community Editor

Adventure abounds at UT Explorers, a University of Toledo program aimed at both international and domestic students who want to learn about each other.

“The UT Explorers are trying to enhance both the international student’s experience and the domestic student’s experience,” said Xinren Yu, a graduate assistant and a member of the UT Explorers leadership committee. “We are creating events so that both the international students and the domestic students can go to these events and just interact together,” Diane Engbretson, the assistant director of UT Explorers, said the group is “a chance for international students that came here to have an ‘American experience’ and a chance for them to interact with domestic students.”

Engbretson said it gives UT students a chance to explore the local community — and then a little more.

“Because a lot of times with our international students, when they come here they don’t know things that are nearby and it’s a way to get them out of their shells as much as you can early on,” said Engbretson. “They are getting a chance to see what’s out there and what they normally wouldn’t have done on their own.”

The events range from local sight-seeings and outings, to popular tourist attractions.

“The last two trips we’ve taken this month have been to the Detroit Auto Show and then we took them on a ski trip,” Engreston said.

“But we do all sorts of things, they’ll get the chance to go to the circus or come to events that we have at UT.” Yu said he really loved the ski trip because of how interactive the students were with each other.

“All the students will have things to do. They practice while they interact with each other and ski together, watch each other falling over — it’s just a lot of fun for that,” Yu said.

Another event that Yu enjoyed was the trip to Disneyworld because he said it is a very diverse place to visit and there are always topics to talk about.

“Sometimes it becomes really hard for international students to try to communicate with domestic students, just because they don’t have those common things together. [But] for Disney everybody knows about Disney and when you are there, you got a lot of things to talk about or to interact with each other,” Yu said.

Engbretson said it was interesting to see the difference between cultures. She talked to two international students during Autumn Adventure, their trip to the pumpkin farm, and was willing and excited to teach them American culture and what we do with pumpkins after they are picked.

“Just understanding that it was a great experience for them,” Engbretson said, “and then we had to go further into teaching them a little bit more [about American traditions] like, ‘No, this is the way: we take them home, you decorate them, you carve them.’”

Sammy Spann, assistant provost for International Studies and Programs and creator of UT Explorers, said the group is an opportunity for international students to “come and explore the wonderful world of Toledo, the city and the university.”

“I created the group two years ago because we had a huge, huge problem with our international students getting involved and being a part of the culture here at the University of Toledo,” Spann said, “and it was just designed to give international students and domestic students an opportunity to do fun activities together.”

Sherif Abdelsalam, a graduate student and also a member of the UT Explorers leadership committee said his favorite trip was going to Washington D.C. last semester during fall break.

“If I went by myself, I wouldn’t have the same learning experience as I did with UT explorers,” Abdelsalam said.

Abdelsalam said for the Washington trip, there were students from many different places like Indian and Middle Eastern countries, but there were also domestic students.

“I think it’s an important learning experience,” he said. “Sometimes there is an opportunity to learn and for domestic students, it’s a big thing for them to actually have the chance to interact with different cultures.”

Since Yu is an international student, he said he always assumes since he is interested in an event, then there may be a chance that the rest of the international group might be interested.

“I’m trying to figure out what kind of events will interest the international group,” he said.

Yu said one way that he comes up with the trips is by taking from his own experiences with his friends.

“It’s just whatever events we think that would pull interest of international students and then get them in a venue where they’re interacting with domestic students or we see if we can pull domestic students in as well and make it a collaborative trip,” Engbretson said.

There is not a set price students have to pay for each trip, but the trips are at a reduced rate.

“We try to do at least one trip, if not two every month,” said Engbretson.

The next event the UT Explorers is sponsoring is DiversiTea from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Feb. 11 at Snyder Memorial 100, in the Center for International Studies and Programs (CISP) Lounge.

For more information go to their website at http://www.utoledo.edu/cisp/utexplorers/.

COMMUNITY Follow us on Twitter @IC_Arts

CALENDAR

Friday, Feb. 7

7:30 p.m.-- Stars: the powerhouses of the universe, focuses on how stars are born, how they die, and how human understanding of them has changed over time. Admission is $5 or UT students and employees,children 5-12 and seniors; $7 for adults, Ritter Planetarium.

Saturday, Feb. 8

10 a.m. -- Piano Series, Guest pianist Jerry Wong will conduct a master class with students but the general public is also welcome to attend and invited to ask questions. The event is free and will take place in the Center for Performing Arts-Recital Hall.

Monday, Feb. 10

7 p.m. -- Agreeing to Disagree: The Power of Sacret Dissent, presentation done by Devorah Schoenfeld. Schoenfeld will explain the venerable Jewish practice of hevruta, a form of learning that invites pairs to dispute the interpretation of a text. A free dessert reception opens the event and all are welcome. This event is located in the Ingman Room, Student Union, Main Campus of The University of Toledo.

7:30 p.m. -- UT Jazz Nights, listen to jazz music in Crystal’s Lounge at the Ramada Hotel, 3536 Secor Rd. Tickets are $5, or $3 for students and seniors, and will be sold at the door.

Wednesday, Feb. 12 10 a.m. -- Study Abroad Information Table, table in the Student Union offers information about Study Abroad, National Student Exchange and Camp Adventure.

5 p.m. -- Chinese movie screening: American Dreams in China will be shown in Student Union 3020.

GREEK LIFE Thursday, Feb. 6 10 p.m. -- Grilled Cheese with the SAEs – at the Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity House in McComas Village philanthropy dinner, all members are encouraged to support.

Friday, Feb. 7 10 p.m. -- Nacho Night – Alpha Chi Omega sorority house in McComas Village philanthropy dinner, all members are encouraged to support.

Saturday, Feb. 8 2 p.m. -- Spike Out Arthritis – Hosted

by Alpha Omicron Pi. There will be a raffle, prizes, music and free food. All proceeds go to the Arthritis foundation. It is $20 per team pre-sale and $25 at the door, located in the Health Ed. Building.

For more information, contact stacie. baranobic@rockets.utoledo.edu

Thursday, February 6, 2014 | The Independent Collegian |

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ORGANIZED EVENTS

Commuter activities to engage students

By Joshuah Hampton Staff Reporter

Commuter students are being called to the University of Toledo’s campus through a series of programmed events.

The first event is the Interactive Murder Mystery Dinner, which is set for 6 p.m. on Feb. 18, in the Student Union’s Ingman Room.

“The Mystery Dinner is like a game of Clue that will have the audience interactive,” said Mathew Williams, a graduate assistant for Commuter Services.

“Everybody that walks in the room will be a character, and one person in the room will be guilty of murder. The audience must put together the pieces and solve the case.”

The second event of the month is the Spring Training for your Break Event on Feb. 26.

“Spring Training for your Break is a session we are giving students on awareness and how to be prepared for their spring break,” said Williams.

AMANDA PITROF / IC “There will be games and A group of commuter students utilize the commuter lounge in the Student Union on Feb. 4 to take advice given on how to be safe a break from their classes. A series of programmed events will kick off Feb. 18 with an Interactive Murder Mystery Dinner. over break.”

Later in the semester the Spring Housing Fair will take programs just to get commuter time off campus,” he said. the new commuter lounge in place on March 19 and the UT students on campus, involved and “I believe administrators are the Student Union. It is quite Commuter Walleye Game will loving the culture that UT has fulfilling their mission of help- a comfortable place for us take place on April 4 at UT. established for students.” ing out commuters/off-campus students to do work in peace “All of the students who live Lino Baits, a third year pharmastudents to the best of their and relax.” on and off campus can come ceutical science major, said he likes ability,” said Donovan ThompOther ways for commuter meet different owners of apart- being a commuter student, but son, a third-year criminal students to get involved on ments around Toledo for the sometimes he has trouble finding justice major and president of campus are listed on UT’s webSpring Housing Event,” Wilthings to do on campus.

UT’s chapter of Iota Phi Theta site at www.utoledo.edu/stuliams said. “And the Walleye “I do not hear much about the Fraternity Inc.“I do not neces- dentaffairs/osi/commuter. For game is where commuters can events held for off-campus students sarily have a favorite event more information, please email pay to come watch, possibly though, because I spend most of my as a commuter, but I do love commuter@utoledo.edu. go back stage, and just have a good time.”

Williams, who estimates about 20,000 students living off-campus “I believe administrators are fulfilling their at UT, said commuters “add many mission of helping out commuters/off-campus positive life experiences and students to the best of their ability. ” contribute to the rich culture of diversity.”

“We plan to get commuter DONOVAN THOMPSON Third-year criminal justice major and students involved in UT culture president of Iota Phi Theta Fraternity Inc. by immersing them in it,” Williams said. “We have developed

FASHION

PURR-fect eyes: four ways to have a great cat eye ISIS DARKS FASHION EDITOR

If there was one item I couldn’t live without, it’d be eyeliner. Eh, it’s really more like two —lipstick being the other — but lip wear is pretty cut and dry. Mastering eyeliner is tricky.

Perfecting great eyes is a satisfaction that is worth the trouble, and is a great way to pump up an outfit without adding any clothing/accessories.

My go-to is the timeless cat eye, (very ancient Egyptian), but even a cat eye can become redundant in my fast-paced life.

Sometimes I need more drama, pizazz; I just need my eyes to be everything.

Making eye contact in a conversation is a must. Hold the greatest convo you’ll ever have with these eye-catching tips:

Thin line If you’re more modest with your make up, a thinner cat eye is sufficient. When drawing your cat eye, a small, thin wing should be able to meet the tip of your eyebrow. To elongate your eyes, extend the line further out.

First timers: be patient. Mistakes are easy to clean up with Q-tips! Try out your cat eye at night so you’ll feel comfortable in the morning.

You can achieve this look with Wet n’ Wild’s black liquid liner, or a sharp black pencil.

Transform the conservative thin line into a sultry night look by adding black liner to your bottom lid.

For a softer look, opt for brown or plum for your cat eye/bottom lid.

Find these items at any drug store, or Ulta which carries most brands of makeup $1-$10. If you’d like to invest, try the liners from Sephora brand, $12-$20.

Thick line This Amy Winehouse-inspired look is meant to grab and keep eye contact with whomever you may be speaking to. To thicken the line on your eyelid, fill it in with a pencil, then perfect the wing with a liquid liner. For a rocker chick look, add a jewel tone lipstick like amethyst, a deep ruby or a darker blush. For a 50s pinup look (without the corsets of course), try fire hydrant red or hot pink along with a lighter blush.

There are also thick eye liner pencils that create a thick line without the two-part steps.

Again, shops like Ulta and Sephora are your best friends — and Ulta offers coupons every month if you sign up for an Ulta Rewards Card. Rack up those points for dollars off your purchase or opt for a Sephora Beauty Insider Card to save points towards prizes.

Shadow You can elongate your eyes with a thin line while simultaneously faking a thick line by using eye shadow to make your cat eye.

Use a primer as a base (to keep your makeup from creasing or wearing off). Start off by placing a small piece of tape at the angle you want your cat eye to be (usually from eyelid to the end of the eyebrow).

Take a lighter shadow like gold as your first coat. Next, take a transition like brown or gray to blend into the darker shadow, and place it toward the middle of your eyelid.

Finally, choose a black or navy, which will be the cat eye.

Blend the transition and darker color together for a smoother finish, remove the tape and voila! You have a cat eye fashioned with eye shadow.

I prefer this look for a night out. As a day look it may be a bit much, especially with harsher colors. For a quality, inexpensive eye shadow, try NYX (found at ULTA). At $2.99 you’ll get more value for your dollar.

ISIS DARKS/ IC

Isis Darks displays four different ways to have a great cat eye using a thin line, thick line, eye shadow and color liner. Isis says a colored line is great for drawing attention to your eyes, while thick cat eyes are for a rocker chick look.

Color A color liner is great for drawing someone to your eyes. Color liners are offered in thick pencils, thin pencils and liquid.

With the previous steps above, you can create a fun look with any bright color. Don’t overdo it with a bright lipstick, a neutral or light gloss is fine.

You can find inexpensive color liners at Walmart in a multi-pack for $10.

For those who want to make an investment,

NARS and Stilla (NARS is found at Sephora and Stilla is found at both Sephora and Ulta) have great colors with deep pigment that lasts.

I bought a NARS pencil four years ago and still have it.

At $20-$22, they’re a beauty buy that gives you a bang for your buck.

Isis Darks is a fourth-year majoring in marketing and has a blog at The Naiive.com.

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| The Independent Collegian | Thursday, February 6, 2014