Feb. 17, 2016 by The Independent Collegian

Wednesday, February 17, 2016

97th year • Issue 22

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INSIDE

ASSAULT

FACILITIES

TPD drops Rocket Hall suffers student maintenance issues

assault case, UT charges with code violations

Rockets thaw bats in opener The team opened their spring season with a 5-4 win over UMass.

By Colleen Anderson Managing Editor

SPORTS / 5 »

Gamers roll the dice BASHCon celebrates 31 years with guest D.C. Douglas.

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COMMUNITY / 6 »

“As student admission increases, along with last semester’s increase in student retention, we are happy to see this growth and hope the trend continues.” EDITORIAL An increase in enrollment will benefit students OPINION / 3 »

CMU snaps Toledo’s four-game win streak The Rockets fell 77-69 on the road to Central.

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SPORTS / 5 »

“Death is death and there’s nothing praiseworthy about the unjust death of a person — police or civilian.”

PHILEMON ABAYATEYE Society dictated by the “we” vs “them” mindset OPINION / 3 »

Rockets finish weekend perfect Men’s tennis won all three of their matches this weekend. SPORTS / 5 »

PHOTO COURTESY OF ZEINAB CHEAIB

University of Toledo students were evacuated from Rocket Hall Feb. 15 at 12 p.m. when a pipe burst and the building became waterlogged. Manager of Structural Maintenance Christopher Levicki was unavailable for comment.

ENROLLMENT

Enrollment and retention increases for Spring 2016 By Colleen Anderson Managing Editor

As the University of Toledo continues to develop its enrollment strategy, undergraduate enrollment numbers increased for the first time since 2010 while retention also rose and graduate enrollment continued to decline. The enrollment numbers, which were released by the university on Jan. 26, mark a turning point in the university’s enrollment trend. The number of students in Spring 2016 at the 15-day mark was 18,849. At the same time last year, UT had 18,783 students enrolled, 66 students fewer than the current number. “As the university develops a strategic enrollment plan to grow our student body, we intend to continue this momentum to both recruit and retain more UT students,” said UT President Sharon Gaber in a press release. “Every member of the UT faculty and staff is committed to the success of our students to ensure that they succeed in their studies and graduate on time. We will continue to see the enrollment numbers reflect that commitment.” A job description for a permanent vice president for strategic enrollment management was posted Feb. 15, with a description saying the application review will begin on March 14.

“As the university develops a strategic enrollment plan to grow our student body, we intend to continue this momentum to both recruit and retain more UT students.” SHARON GABER UT President

According to an article written by the Toledo Blade on Jan. 27, Interim Vice President for Enrollment Management James Mager said the university hopes to hire someone for the position by summer. Mager wrote in an email interview that UT has been making efforts to be more engaged with students and to personalize interactions, which he feels has contributed to the positive enrollment and retention rate. “We are seeing a positive response from our increased communication to prospective and current students in a way that is See Increase / 4 »

Several students have been charged with Student Code of Conduct violations following an off-campus student assault, according to a Feb. 1 University of Toledo press release. The Toledo Police have chosen not to press charges. UT spokesperson Meghan Cunningham confirmed that the UT chapter of the Pi Kappa Phi fraternity is still suspended, since the process is still ongoing. All students charged will have the chance for a hearing in accordance with the Student Code of Conduct. William McKether, special assistant to the president for diversity, wrote in a universitywide email that while the Office of Student Judicial Affairs is moving forward with charges, the process is not yet concluded. According to the email, TPD contacted UT to inform them that after receiving conflicting accounts, they would not be moving forward with pressing charges. “Most of us were not present when this incident occurred and do not have first-hand evidence of what happened. Those who were present have been interviewed as part of the investigation. Trust the process to achieve a fair conclusion,” McKether wrote. The names of the students have not been announced. Cunningham said the names will not be released unless the students are found to have violated the code, which will not be determined until after the investigation and any hearings are finished. At this time, UT does not have a projected date of completion for the process. The investigations were prompted after Rayshawn Watkins, a second-year majoring in marketing, said he was assaulted and called racial slurs Jan. 24 at a Pi Kappa Phi off-campus party. Accounts of the night conflicted, with a few claiming Watkins instigated the incident after intruding on a private birthday party. McKether urged students to avoid stereotyping in his email, regardless of the results of the Student Code of Conduct process. “Please do not fall into the trap of stereotyping all of a group of people based on experiences with individuals. Life is too rich to have it weighed down by stereotypes,” McKether wrote. Lance Price Jr, president of the Black Student Union, wrote in an email interview that he thinks the investigation was handled fairly considering the amount of evidence, and he does not fault TPD for dropping charges. “From a criminal aspect, I don’t think there was any room for the police to operate. However, because we do know that an assault took place at the frat house, I think there should be some type of disciplinary action from the school....after that I think it’s time to move on from this incident,” Price wrote. The presidents of several fraternities did not respond to requests for comment. McKether wrote that administration will continue to update the UT community on the investigation as more information is available. “I am proud of the way this university and our students have responded to this incident,” McKether said.

DIVERSITY

Administrators handle diversity on campus

By Amanda Pitrof Editor-in-chief

With the social and political climate of the country, universities have been tasked with handling racism from both internal and external sources over the past year, with some schools rising to the occasion while others become cautionary tales. The assault case Jan. 23, 2016, between a UT student and several fraternity members received a considerable amount of attention from the UT community, with allegations of racism popping up on twitter. “Clearly there was an issue,” Gaber said. “Photo and comments went viral, and it was important that we responded promptly and that people understood that we care and that that’s not acceptable on this campus.” UT isn’t the only school where

conversations about race and diversity have been prompted by incidents both on and off campus. Many students at various colleges are protesting racism on campus and the lack of administrative action in response to it. However, UT is one of the colleges that has not yet seen that kind of protest in the 201516 school year. “I think what happened elsewhere was that there wasn’t an adequate communication out to the community to say, ‘Hey, I’ve heard you. We’re going to look into this and we’re going to fix it,’” said President Sharon Gaber. The University of Missouri is one notable example of where administrative members faced the backlash of a community who felt not enough was being done to address racism on campus. After

“I think what happened elsewhere was that there wasn’t an adequate communication out to the community.”

SHARON GABER UT President

shouted racial slurs and a swastika made of feces that was smeared on a bathroom wall, students began to protest. Even the faculty was worried, and the University of Missouri Faculty Council on University Policy released a statement Nov. 5, 2015, to voice their concern. As a result of the negative feedback from the community, both President Timothy Wolfe and Chancellor Richard Bowen Loftin resigned Nov. 9, 2015. Ithaca College saw similar protests against the administration,

attended by both students and faculty. A group of alumni published an open letter in The Ithacan newspaper, calling for Ithaca President Tom Rochon’s resignation. “Throughout his tenure, President Rochon has only exacerbated this adverse racial climate, and his removal would signal a direct challenge to the top-down, culturally incompetent administration that currently inundates campus operations,” the group wrote in the open letter. See Administration / 4 »

| The Independent Collegian | Wednesday, February 17, 2016

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QUESTION OF THE WEEK

Who is your favorite person and why?

“George S. Patton. He got results and respect from his men.”

Sean Durivage

Second-year Mechanical Engineering

“My brother. He’s always been there for me.”

Devonte Lander

Second-year Electrical Engineering

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 Amanda Pitrof Managing Editor Colleen Anderson News Jessica Harker, editor Community Joe Heidenescher, editor Emily Schnipke, assoc. editor Opinion Maisha Rashid, editor

Sports Marcus Dodson, editor Jenna Nance, assoc. editor Copy desk Lauren Gilbert, editor Jared Hightower, editor Photography Savannah Joslin, director BUSINESS Advertising Aaron DeGuilio, sales manager Cassandra Mitchell and

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William Woodson, sales representatives Distribution Megan Gaysunas, manager Operations Andrew Rassel, manager Production Nick Wells, manager COLLEGIAN MEDIA FOUNDATION General Manager Danielle Gamble The Independent Collegian is published by the Collegian Media Foundation, a private, not-for-profit corporation. © 2016

Wednesday, February 17, 2016 | The Independent Collegian |

OPINION Send letters to the editor to Editor@independentcollegian.com

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EDITORIAL BOARD

Colleen Anderson Amanda Pitrof

Jessica Harker Maisha Rashid

Joe Heidenescher Emily Schnipke

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

An increase in enrollment will benefit students

The University of Toledo can finally boast an increase in enrollment numbers, as the number increased from 18,783 from last spring to 18,849 total undergraduate and graduate students this spring semester. Enrollment numbers have declined for five years, so this increase is much to be celebrated. As student admission increases, along with last semester’s increase in student retention, we are happy to see this growth and hope the trend continues. While it’s difficult to gauge exactly what caused the increase, UT cited new strategies centered on personalizing interactions with students, as well as a new College Credit plus program that may have led to the increase. Whatever the source for this, something is going right and we certainly hope the progress continues. Why? Increased enrollment is crucial for university success, and the falling enrollment over the last few years has dramatically affected the budget.

An increase in enrollment is an increase in revenue. It means more students are able to use the available facilities, and more money is available to hire faculty members, be used for athletic teams, fix infrastructure and enact required changes on campus. An increase in enrollment is an increase in revenue. It means more students are able to use the available facilities, and more money is available to hire faculty members, be used for athletic teams, fix infrastructure and enact required changes on campus. With enrollment increasing, we hope that measures like the hiring freeze that were necessary to cut costs will no longer be needed, and that the administration can focus more on improving the university instead of deliberating on what and where to cut. Colleges around UT, including BGSU, are also showing an increase in enrollment numbers. Even though enrollment decreased at Owens Community College, their administration actually says the incoming number was more than what was projected for the school year. Our hope is that with the economy improving, more people are choosing UT over community colleges because they have the money to spend on a university, and that this trend will continue into the next few years. The incoming freshmen indicate a gross increase in monies for the university, which would mean there would be more resources available for further increase in student numbers. Importantly, we recognize that the increase in monies would mean the ability to improve university infrastructure by modernizing facilities, replacing outdated equipment and upgrading areas in and around campus. The growth in student numbers may also call for an increase in room and board accommodations for the new students, and despite being primarily a commuter college, UT can accommodate more students — we have the room and the resources for it. Not only are there extra rooms available in dorms, there are off-campus housing opportunities and new on-campus housing complexes, and these promise sufficient space for the new students. They might be outdated, but if we knew more students will be using them in the future, the administration might make it a priority to invest money in them.

UT had undergone a period of five years when enrollment numbers kept showing decreases. However, the trend seems to have changed now and we hope it will continue to be in the positive. President Gaber emphasized a focus on the negative enrollment numbers from the time she took office, and said she would work to see an increase in the numbers. Her administration has been developing different strategies to achieve that. For example, she has visited local high schools as part of her recruitment efforts and her administration is holding focus groups with current students to identify the marketable assets of UT that bring in new students, as well as hiring an outside firm to help boost enrollment and changing the direction of UT’s enrollment strategy after Cruickshank stepped down. We predict that continuing with such efforts will keep up the numbers we have seen this semester, and we are happy to see Gaber making continued efforts to bring her plans to fruition. Our point is not to identify each and every factor that dictates enrollment, but to acknowledge and applaud the increase, which has come after a long hiatus. UT had undergone a period of five years when enrollment numbers kept showing decreases. However, the trend seems to have changed now and we hope it will continue to be in the positive. While we cannot say that the increase was entirely a result of Gaber’s efforts, as she has been here for a short term only, her efforts are definitely moving towards keeping enrollment numbers positive.

COMMENTARY

Our part in combating slave labor We’re all complicit in modern-day known to be produced by forced labor and using slave labor and go undetected for slavery. At the very least, we should the countries in which they are made. As quite some time. acknowledge this fact. of 2014, the list contained 55 items and To add to the problem, it seems that In December, the Asincluded things like coffee, many companies do not invest in proper sociated Press released an beef and clothing, which resources to ensure ethical and moral article which horrified sumajority of people use. boundaries aren’t being crossed. A number permarkets and seafood However, it is difficult to of tech publications reported in 2014 that eaters: shrimp produced know for sure the prodamong large producers of smartphones, using slave labor is being uct you’re using has been only Nokia could prove that its supply sold at most major produced through slave chain did not involve forced labor. As for grocery chains, from labor. Not all clothes are the others, there seemed to be strong indiKroger to Whole Foods made with slave labor. Even cations that forced labor was being used in to Wal-Mart. Accordwith the labor department’s the manufacture of their devices. ing to the article, shrimp warning that, for example, Given how widespread slavery is and has become one of the clothing made in Vietnam is how common most of the products of most popular seafoods produced with slave labor; slavery are, I think all of us need to recogin America in recent deit seems extremely unlikely nize our complicity in the process. Even cades. The labor-intensive that all Vietnamese clothing when we make efforts to shop ethically, the processes of gutting, veinis made by slaves. complexity of the global economy prevents ing and peeling are done We justify our purchases us from making truly informed decisions. IC COLUMNIST manually by hundreds, if by giving them the benefit of From an individual’s perspective, it not thousands, of facilities the doubt and assume they would be completely unrealistic for all of in Southeast Asia. weren’t produced us to make significant These facilities are unregulated and from slavery. lifestyle changes by not don’t have the best environment. They If there isn’t buying certain products ... many companies do often use human trafficking victims or definitive proof to help prevent slave not invest in proper rechildren to do the work in brutal condithat something is labor. In other words, sources to ensure ethical everyone isn’t about tions. Workers peel for 16 hours a day, are made with slave beaten if they work too slow and threatlabor, then why to simply give up their and moral boundaries ened with execution if they want to leave assume that it phones and stop buying aren’t being crossed. the facility. The de-humanized workers are is? The problem clothes. assigned numbers in place of names. The with that type of It might seem futile to child laborers are known to cry for days on thinking is that even acknowledge our end as they toil away helplessly. supply chains are extremely complicated complicity in slavery given the enormity of The facts presented in the article are and slavery is difficult to detect when it is the problem. However, even at least realizappalling, and as someone who has occurring. For example, seafood needs to ing there is a problem is a start. Acknowlpurchased seafood (the problem isn’t just be caught, cleaned, processed, transported edging we’re part of the problem does not limited to shrimp) from a number of the and packaged before it’s sold to a retailer. mean we’ll all make significant changes. companies mentioned above, I can’t help Each step involves different companies But we will start thinking of ways to but feel nauseated thinking about it. In a who do not necessarily answer to each change things. As a society we may come small way I feel like I’m responsible for other and who may each be using slave to demand the regulation and oversight contributing to the suffering and misery. labor. Even when a major retailer does innecessary to reform a “free market” that is Unfortunately, slave labor is not limited vest the resources to verify that a product run on slaves. to the seafood industry. The Department is being sourced ethically, conditions are Kyle Novak is a masters student of of Labor maintains a list of commodities always changing so a supplier might begin philosophy.

KYLE NOVAK

COMMENTARY

Society dictated by the “we” vs “them” mindset Let’s face it. The world we know sits with us?” How is it ever justifiour society. We’ll know the story about the does well when our choices and able that Officers Jason Gooding great number of lives that these terroractions are framed in terms of the of Seaside, OR and Greg Barney of ists continue to take. Our lives have been extreme. It’s black or white, rich Riverdale, GA were killed last couple changed in fundamental ways but is that or poor, good or bad, Christian or weeks on the line of duty arresting enough reason to condemn a whole group Muslim, Republican or Democrat. criminals? How do you convince of people for the crimes of a few? But of You know what I mean. Whether it’s Officer Jason Moszer’s family that his course, when the discussion is framed in a social, economic death, while respondthe ‘we’ versus ‘them’ dimension, there’s or political issue, we ing to a domestic only room for hatred. insist on taking a side, disturbance, was So much that we forget about our sides which have been justifiable? sense of compassion even when we previously made for On the other hand in see the gory pictures of starving and us. However, we can a Mesa, AZ apartment, a drowning Syrian child refugees. We make another choice co-worker’s call for police have no space for them because we — taking a broader to pay Clarke, a transgen- think they’ll eventually grow and harm perspective and seeing der man, a welfare check us. Let’s not forget about the 31 goverpeople on the diverse ended up with him been nors who refused to accept Syrian refucontinuum of humankilled. These killings are gees into their states last year. Perhaps a ity. Along those lines I wrong. But instead of teaser from Gov. Nathan Deal’s tweet in want to reflect on one focusing on addressing the heat of the turmoil will put things divide that has grown these issues as evil and in perspective. He wrote, “I’ve issued an today — the ‘we’ verfinding solutions to them executive order directing state agency sus ‘them’ grouping. we choose to use the ‘we’ heads to prevent the resettlement of As we grow, we need and ‘them’ yardstick. Syrian refugees in GA.” The security to challenge the ideas True reforms will concerns are real, but how impossible IC COLUMNIST that limited our thinkrequire that we first is it for the US to provide help to those ing to this. Is there an breakdown these artifineedy fellows while concurrently securethical and a factual basis for these cial walls we’ve created separating police ing its frontiers? I’d think the greatest convictions? Or are we just indoctriand civilians in competing parties. We country on earth can do that. nated by our surroundings to believe each exist for each other. What unites We continue to live our lives within this that we have to take a particular side? all these victims is neither the badge the ‘we’ versus ‘them’ framework in differI believe the ‘we’ versus ‘them’ group- officers held nor ent ways. The ing generates mistrust and misplaced Clarke’s civilian immigrants I believe the ‘we’ versus fear in our societies. It’s common to status. It was want our jobs, hear people say “They don’t like us,” their humanity. Republicans ‘them’ grouping generates “They want to hurt us,” “We’re better Like any of us, are taking away mistrust and misplaced fear than them,” etc. they had famiour votes, the in our societies. It’s common government As an example I want to talk about lies, aspirations how we react to issues of police killand feelings. is against us, to hear people say “They ing unarmed civilians versus civilians In 1996, Samand it’s Blacks don’t like us,” “They want to killing police. Unfortunately, we react uel Huntington against Whites. hurt us,” “We’re better than differently to this evil depending on predicted cultural The big issue is which side of this ‘we’ and ‘them’ wars among the about defining them”... category we belong. Civilians accuse world’s largest what is right in the police of killing ‘them’ while the civilizations. each of these police accuse the civilians of killing Unfortunately, situations we ‘us’ in these situations. Death is death these cultural wars have also become face. Sometimes we may not like “the right and there’s nothing praiseworthy religious wars — particularly between position” but at the end, the choice should about the unjust death of a person — Christians and Muslims in our terrorismbe based on what is ethically acceptable. police or civilian. antiterrorism conversations. It’s not comThat choice builds goodwill and better Let’s give it some perspective. Sher- mon to hear anti-Muslim sentiments in friendships. It may be a utopian dream but riff Paul Laney of Case County, ND, our society simply because some group of at least we’ve got to try. said about police deaths, “People are people using the banner of Islam have carPhilemon Abayateye is a doctoral hunting us. How do you think that ried out unprovoked terrorist acts against student in geography and planning.

PHILEMON ABAYATEYE

| The Independent Collegian | Wednesday, February 17, 2016

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PUZZLES STATEPOINT CROSSWORD

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Last Week’s Puzzle Solved

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Administration

Increase

Like the administrators at Missouri, Rochon resigned Jan. 14, 2016, following votes of no confidence from students and faculty alike. The students of Missouri and Ithaca proved that student voices can be extremely impactful on university campuses. So far, UT has not been the site of any protests, and Gaber aims to keep ensuring students have ways to be heard. “I think there are lots of ways to respond when you feel like something has happened and you want to make sure that you’re heard,” Gaber said. “Our students have lots of options and I am very appreciative, and I believe that they understand we’re going through this process and they’re waiting to see what happens and how it works its way through, and they’ve been supportive of that.” Gaber said having avenues of communication in place before the assault happened means that the administration is paying attention and is interested in doing the right thing for the campus. While there is a process to deal with issues once they arise, Gaber wants to prevent the issues entirely. “I got here in July,” Gaber said. “I spent some time looking around and said, ‘What are we doing about diversity and inclusion?’ and I asked Dr. McKether … I said, ‘I’d like you to work with me on putting together a diversity plan.’” The diversity plan is being created with the voices of both the campus community — students, faculty, staff — and the greater community, according to Willie McKether, special assistant to the president for diversity. “Even though we have completed the focus groups, there’s now going to be an online survey, and that’s going to be critically important … the purpose of that is to allow all students, faculty and staff the opportunity to weigh in,” McKether said. In addition to feedback from these groups, McKether said he is looking at the successful diversity plans of other schools, like the University of California, Berkeley and Auburn University. He wants to see what they have put in place to see if anything can be modified to work for UT. “I think we have uncovered that there are some issues related to inclusion, and the plan is to make sure that we address those,” Gaber said. She said students go to college to become better educated and prepared for the future, and that ensuring students feel safe and included is part of that. “This is our home,” Gaber said. “Why wouldn’t we want to be the best that we can be?”

more timely and personalized. Ongoing efforts to support students, such as the Success Coaches, also have helped retain more students,” Mager wrote. One factor Mager said has helped increase enrollment is the College Credit Plus program, which the state created in conjunction with universities to replace postsecondary enrollment options and dual-credit enrollment. College Credit Plus allows high school students to earn college credit at no additional cost, and Mager wrote that the number of participating students has contributed to increased enrollment numbers. Retention increased by roughly two percent, from 87 percent from last year to 89.1 percent this year. This is the second semester that retention increased, following a 1.9 percent increase in retention for the Fall 2015 semester. While overall enrollment and retention increased, graduate enrollment continued to fall, down by 135 students since Spring 2015 for a total of 4,170 students. Mager wrote that the university projected this based on enrollment numbers from the fall, where the number of graduate students enrolled decreased by 279 students, and that graduate enrollment will be a focus in the coming months. “We will work to encourage more students to pursue and complete graduate degrees at UT in addition to our efforts

from page 1

to reach and graduate additional undergraduate students,” Mager wrote. Ruffalo Noel-Levitz, the firm UT hired to help boost enrollment, is still in the process of developing an enrollment strategy for the university according to Mager, but one component of the strategy is “to continue our efforts for outreach to prospective and current students that is more personalized, customized and timely.” Mager wrote that enrollment numbers for Spring 2016 matched the predictions they made based on fall numbers, but said it is still too early to make any exact estimations.

“Ongoing efforts to support students, such as the Success Coaches, also have helped retain more students.” JAMES MAGER Interim Vice President for Enrollment Management

The last increase UT saw in enrolled students was in 2010, when the head count increased from 23,119 to 23,144. Following 2010, the head count of enrolled students fell to 22,642 in 2011, and numbers continued to fall for the following five years. According to past press releases, UT cited a slowing economy and more focus on bringing in prepared students as a few of the reasons for this decline.

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IN BRIEF

Men’s Basketball

School

MAC Overall

WEST DIVISION Ball State Northern Illinois Toledo Central Michigan Eastern Michigan Western Michigan

8-5 7-6 7-6 7-6 5-8 4-9

17-9 18-8 16-10 14-12 13-13 10-16

FU TA THL

PH OT OC OU RTE SY O

Akron 10-3 21-5 Ohio 8-5 17-8 Kent State 8-5 17-9 Buffalo 7-6 14-12 Bowling Green 4-9 13-13 Miami 3-10 9-17

ETI CS

EAST DIVISION

Women’s Basketball

Wednesday, February 17, 2016 | The Independent Collegian |

What to watch for... The Toledo women’s basketball team will travel to Bowling Green on Wednesday for the Battle of I-75. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. in the Stroh Center. The Rockets have already faced the Falcons this season, defeating them 75-61 at home.

SOFTBALL

Rockets thaw bats in opener UT UMass

5-4

By Jackson Rogers Sports Reporter

MAC Overall

first collegiate hit, which was pretty special,” Butler said. In the night cap of Saturday’s double header, the Penguins jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first coming off of Toledo’s only error in the game. The Rockets ended up tying the game with two runs of their own in the fifth inning. Freshman Megan Choate singled, then advanced to third on a fielding error by YSU’s right fielder that caused freshman Kaitlyn Cozy and Bergman to score. Choate was then driven in by a sacrifice fly to the center fielder by freshman Danni Ryan to give Toledo a 3-2 lead. In the bottom of the seventh YSU’s Sarah Dowd hit a two-run walk-off home run to give the Penguins a 4-3 victory. “I think it showed good character by our team that we kept fighting back,” Butler said. “We came from behind and held a one-run lead in the seventh inning.” In the weekend finale on Sunday against Charlotte the Rockets ran out of gas, as they only managed to score one run in a 9-1 beat down. The Rockets played some sloppy softball, committing three errors on the night. Charlotte started out the gas with some help scoring on a past ball in the top of the first. The 49ers put three runs in at the top of the second, forcing Butler to pull freshman pitcher Danni Ryan after the inning. Charlotte brought in a single run in both the fourth and fifth inning before UT’s Choate broke the shutout with a double to center bringing in freshman Kim Frank, making the score 6-1. The Rockets will return to action at the Houston Hilton Plaza Invitational on Feb.19-21.

MEN’S TENNIS

Rockets finish weekend perfect By Keith Boggs Sports Reporter

The University of Toledo men’s tennis team had a successful home outing this weekend, winning all three matches against their opponents. The Rockets first defeated Detroit on Friday by a score of 4-3, then proceeded to beat Aquinas College 7-0 and Wayne State 6-1 on Saturday’s double header. The Rockets got off to a quick start against the Titans, with junior Stjepan Sisko and freshman Luka Vitosevic taking the first doubles match by a score of 6-1. Sophomore Omar Espinosa and freshman Juan Carranza followed that up with a quick 6-2 victory of their own. Toledo was well on their way to a sweep in the doubles competition when the No. 3 double match was called. Freshmen Vince Anzalone and Serjen Olmedo were ahead in the match 5-1 when the officials intervened after Toledo won their first two matches. In the No. 1 singles Sisko set the tone, winning his match 6-2, 7-6 extending his singles match winning streak to four. Olmedo also won his set in the No. 5 singles, topping Adam Zychowicz 6-1 in two straight sets. Unfortunately for the Rockets, they lost their next three matches — played

by Espinosa, Vitosevic and sophomore Stephen Miller respectively — and the game was tied at 3 a piece. With the game on the line, Anzalone faced off against senior Titan Rafael Orantes. The two dramatically split their first two sets 6-4. In the final set, Anzalone was able to hold off the senior, winning the set 6-2 and giving UT the win. The Rockets surely would take advantage of that momentum.

If you go What: Tennis Match Where: Shadow Valley Tennis Club When: Friday, February 19 at 5 p.m. Against: Denison

Facing off against Aquinas College, Toledo got off to another fast start, again taking the first two doubles points. Sisko and Vitosevic defeated Gunner Peery and Daymon Johnson 6-4 in the No. 1 doubles. Olmedo and Anzalone then went on to win their match in the No. 3 doubles slot 6-3 to win the doubles point for Toledo. Anzalone also won his match in two straight sets with the score of 6-2 in No. 2 singles. Freshman Reid Teat-

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The University of Toledo softball team got its 2016 season underway on Saturday at the Charlotte First EAST DIVISION Pitch Classic in Charlotte, NC. Ohio 11-1 19-4 The Rockets opened up with a 5-4 victory over the University of Akron 6-6 12-11 Massachusetts before dropping to Buffalo 4-8 12-11 Youngstown State 4-3 in the night cap. Toledo finished the weekend Bowling Green 4-8 8-13 off with a 9-1 defeat to Charlotte. Miami 3-9 9-14 “All day I thought we had good Kent State 2-10 5-17 fight,” said Head Coach Kristen Butler. “We stayed very aggressive. WEST DIVISION We have ten newcomers to our squad this year and I think it was Central Michigan 11-2 17-7 great experience for them.” Ball State 8-4 16-7 The Rockets started the season off Toledo 8-4 13-10 hot with an RBI single to left field from sophomore DH Celeste Fidge Western Michigan 7-6 15-10 bringing in redshirt freshman center Eastern Michigan 6-6 15-8 fielder Ashley Rausch with the hit. UMass responded in the botNorthern Illinois 3-9 10-13 tom of the third with four runs, but wouldn’t score for the rest of the day. With the bases loaded in the top Softball of the fourth, redshirt freshman School MAC Overall Kaitlyn Bergman singled to bring in EAST DIVISION two runs to make it 3-4. In the top of the seventh Toledo Kent State 0-0 5-0 put two more runs in to take a 5-4 Bowling Green 0-0 1-3 lead off of a base hit to right field by sophomore Ashley Maynard. The Buffalo 0-0 1-4 right fielder for UMass made a fieldMiami 0-0 0-0 ing error, allowing both runs to score. Ohio 0-0 0-0 That was the fifth error of the day for the Musketeers. Akron 0-0 0-5 “(Getting the first win) It sets the tempo for the season,” Butler WEST DIVISION said. “I know with Toledo being a rebuilding program that getting Central Michigan 0-0 3-2 wins is a step in the right direction Ball State 0-0 2-3 for these young ladies.” Toledo 0-0 1-2 Toledo dominated the hit department against UMass with an 11-5 Northern Illinois 0-0 0-0 advantage. Nine Rockets picked up Western Michigan 0-0 0-0 a hit in the process. “The big thing there was that we Eastern Michigan 0-0 0-5 had a couple of freshman get their

School

sorth won his match in two straight sets to claim victory in the No. 5 singles slot. Vitosevic, Espinosa, Miller and Pejovic all needed three sets to claim victory for the Rockets. The Rockets enjoyed similar success in their evening match against Wayne State University. Sisko and Vitosevic picked up another doubles victory in the No. 1 doubles slot, winning 6-3. Carranza and Pejovic claimed the No. 3 doubles winning their set 6-2 and capturing the doubles point for UT. The Rockets then went on to win five of the six singles matches for the day, coasting to a 6-1 victory on the day. Sisko picked up a win in the No. 1 slot in two straight sets to continue his winning streak to five matches in the No. 1 slot. Anzalone and Pejovic also only needed two sets to win their matches in the No. 2 and No. 6 singles spot. Teatsorth was the only Rocket to fall short on the night losing in three sets (6-4, 3-6, 6-4) in the No. 5 singles. The two Saturday victories moved Toledo’s record to a respectable 5-5 on the season. The Rockets will look to keep the winning trend going, as they face Denison college at home on Friday.

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MEN’S BASKETBALL

CMU snaps Toledo’s four-game win streak By Marcus Dodson Sports Editor

The University of Toledo men’s basketball team fell 77-69 on the road to Central Michigan on Tuesday, snapping its four-game win streak. With the loss, the Rockets dropped from the top spot in the Mid-American Conference West division and now trail Ball State by a game. UT (16-10, 7-6 MAC) was led by senior Nathan Boothe with team-highs 23 points and 10 rebounds. Joining him in double-figures were juniors Jonathan Williams and Zach Garber with 16 and 11 points respectively. Williams had a rough night shooting the ball like many Rockets, and finished 0-of-7 from beyond the arch. Toledo was held to just 12.9 percent from threepoint land and 37.9 percent from the field. Central (14-12, 7-6 MAC) was paced by junior Braylon Rayson with a game-high 26 points, knocking down 7-of-11 from beyond the arch. He also grabbed a team-high 9 rebounds. Senior Chris Fowler contributed 16 points, 8 rebounds and a game-high 5 assists. Rayson knocked down a 3-pointer for the first points of the game to give Central an early lead. Boothe hit a jumper at the 17:10 mark to give UT its first lead of the game, 6-5, but it was short-lived as CMU went on a 12-2 run over the next six minutes. Toledo chipped away at the Chippewas and tied the game up at 20 after sophomore guard Stuckey Mosley’s layup at the 8:05 mark. UT took over the lead after a corner trey by junior Jordan Lauf to take a 23-20 lead. Central Michigan then caught fire from beyond the arch going on a 16-4 run and taking a 36-27 lead with just under three minutes left in the quarter.

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Junior center Zach Garber throws it down in UT’s dominating 93-49 home victory over Miami of Ohio.

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Garber knocked down a pair of free throws after a Central Michigan foul to cut the lead to seven but Central finished the half with three consecutive treys’ and took a 45-29 advantage into the locker room. The Chippewas came out the break scoring first but the Rockets cut into CMU and trailed 51-42 after a Boothe three. With 10:19 left in the game, freshman Jaelan Sanford knocked down a three to cut the lead inside of ten for the first time in the second half at 58-50. Toledo continued trying to take back the lead and trailed by just three after a pair of Boothe free throws with just over five minutes left in the game. The next three possessions for UT resulted in missed 3-point attempts and allowed Central to take a 68-62 lead with under four minutes to play. The Rockets would get as close as 3 points to the lead but couldn’t get over the hump, falling 77-69 on the road. Toledo returns to the court on Saturday when they travel to face Eastern Michigan. Tip-off is scheduled for noon.

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Read more online... UT students perform “No Exit”, a play written by philsopher JeanPaul Sartre. Directed by theater student Andrés Medina, the play focuses on three people trapped together to spend eternity in hell.

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CONVENTION

Gamers roll the dice

BASHCon celebrates 31 years with guest D.C. Douglas By Lauren Gilbert Copy Editor

Choose your character and jump in the game this weekend at the 31st edition of BASHCon, the University of Toledo’s annual hobby gaming convention. Spread across the entire Student Union, BASHCon aims to celebrate traditional and modern games such as roleplaying games, board games, card games and video games.

“This will be definitely a year for people to go to and it’s something that I don’t think many people would want to miss.” JACOB MERKLE BASHCon sales coordinator

“I guess the biggest thing you can expect to see at BASHCon is a bunch of like-minded people coming together to talk about board games and video games, as well as a vendors’ hall which is going to incorporate many different fandoms,” said Ben Wieland, staffing coordinator of BASHCon and president of BASH, the student hobby

gaming organization that runs the event each year. Throughout the weekend, attendees can participate in RPGs, cosplays, miniatures games, workshops, panels, live-action RPGs, board games, computer and console tournaments, card games, arcade cabinets, demonstrations, mock combat and more. A featured event during the convention is a charity Android: Netrunner tournament led by Jacob Merkle, the sales coordinator for BASHCon. The game pits two players, one representing a selfish megacorporation and the other representing a vigilante freedom fighter, against each other in a dystopian, cyberpunk future. All proceeds from the tournament will go toward Gamers Outreach, a gamingbased charity that helps provide equipment, technology and software to help children cope with treatment inside hospitals. BASHCon will also feature its first indie game showcase, also led by Merkle. Volunteer staff members will teach event attendees how to play games created by independent game developers. This showcase is to show people that they can make their own board games if they want to, according to Max Barnt, event and program coordinator of BASHCon. “[The indie game showcase] is allowing smaller, somewhat unknown gaming companies and different types of games to reach out to more people in the community and to receive publicity,” Merkle said.

This is the first time since 2013 that BASHCon will welcome a special guest: actor and voice actor D.C. Douglas will participate in a panel, signings and a Q&A session, and will also be playing games throughout the weekend. Douglas is most known for voicing Albert Wesker from Resident Evil and is “an all-around hilarious guy,” according to Barnt.

“We all believe in this event, which is why it’s going on BASHCon 31 and we just want to make sure that people have a good time.” MAX BARNT BASHCon event & programming coordinator

“That’s one thing that we’re really excited about … it’s something that I don’t think many people would want to miss,” Merkle said. Barnt said people should attend the convention because there will be something for everyone to enjoy. “The way I see it is, we are giving back to not just the UT community, but the general community as a whole. We put on this event free of charge for UT students, faculty and staff every year and there’s just so much going on and whatever kind of gaming you like, even

if you don’t necessarily enjoy gaming, there’s almost always something for everyone,” Barnt said. Barnt also said the students in charge of BASHCon are all volunteers and who dedicate their time because they deeply believe in the event. “I just want people to know that our volunteers are that: they’re volunteers. We’re all college students here and we’re putting a lot of stuff on the line to help bring this event to not just the UT community but the community in general. We all believe in this event, which is why it’s going on BASHCon 31 and we just want to make sure that people have a good time,” Barnt said. Merkle said students should go to BASHCon because of the immense variety of games that will be there for serious and casual gamers alike to play and learn. “It’s a phenomenal experience. We try to cover all types of nerd culture I guess you would say,” Merkle said. “We try to make it as entertaining as possible for all types of people, not just people who are seriously into it but also more

casual-like people.” Fun is Rule Zero of BASH, according to their website, and that’s why Wieland said students should go to the convention. “Students should go to BASHCon to … support an organization that’s been around for 31 years now, and … to have a good time and have fun — to find other people that are just like them. Everyone likes to play a game once in a while and these are a bunch of people who like to play games all the time,” Wieland said. Wieland said for those who have never been to a convention before, BASHCon is a good one to go to since it’s smaller than most. His favorite part of the annual convention is getting to see the people who come year after year. “You get to know those people really well and it’s really cool to get to see them again … it’s just really cool to see all those same people

and make those connections with them,” Wieland said. “It’s a great time to just come and have fun over the weekend when not a lot of things are going on and just see how a convention works.” BASHCon is free for UT students, faculty and staff. Otherwise, a weekend badge is $20 or $15 for a single-day badge. For $30 — or $10 for UT community members — attendees receive a commemorative T-shirt and a pass to many events for free. For students, faculty and staff who are not from UT, there is a $5 discount on all admission types. BASHCon will run from 5 p.m. to midnight on Friday, 9 a.m. to midnight on Saturday, and 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sunday. For more information, you can visit http:// www.bashcon.com.

If you go What: BASHCon 31 Where: Student Union When: Friday, Feb. 19 to Sunday, Feb. 21 Sponsored by: BASH

University of Toledo

STUDENT HOUSING GUIDE THE INDEPENDENT

COLLEGIAN

2 | The Independent Collegian | Spring 2016

Spring 2016 | The Independent Collegian |

HOUSING DIRECTORY Campus View Apartments

1700 Secor Road (419) 535-6667 info@campusviewapts.com www.campusviewapts.com Units available: 1-bedroom or 2-bedroom apartments. Description: Conveniently located next to the University of Toledo’s Student Medical Center, Rocket Hall, and the Law Center. Campus View offers lighted off-street parking with covered parking spots. Private balcony/patio, 24-hour emergency maintenance, landscaping, dishwasher, trash removal, window coverings, and cable/Internet-ready suites are also provided.

Edge 1120

2540 Dorr Street 419-214-6999 www.Edge1120.com Units available: Studio, 1- to 4-bedroom apartments and townhomes. Description: Edge 1120, Toledo’s most contemporary student housing community, is just steps off UT’s campus. Amenities include a 24-hour fitness center with on-demand fitness trainers, a yoga studio, a sand volleyball court, and super-fast WiFi throughout each building. Each apartment comes with brand-new furniture and a full washer/dryer.

Honors Academic Village

2801 W. Bancroft Street 419-530-5925 www.honorsacademicvillage.com facebook.com/HonorsAcademicVillage Units available: Studio, 2-bedroom 1-bathroom double semi-suite, 2-bedroom 1-bathroom semi-suite, 4-bedroom 2-bathroom. Description: Honors Academic Village is the newest on-campus housing option featuring modern living with on-campus convenience. Amenities include a 24-hour fitness center, business center, study lounges, iPad bar, a recreation center featuring billiards, foosball and Golden Tee arcade game. With furnished apartments and Wi-Fi throughout, HAV is the place to be!

Lofts at Gateway

1450 Secor Road 419-530-1330 www.loftsatgateway.com www.facebook.com/loftsatgateway Units available: 2 bedroom-1 bath, 4 bedroom-2 bath Description: Located just steps away from the University of Toledo, the Lofts at Gateway provides furnished modern units featuring fully equipped kitchens including stainless steel appliances. Washer & dryer, cable TV, and internet are all included at Lofts at Gateway. Right where you want to be, and right in your budget.

Vivo Apartments

1473 Secor Road 419-535-9096 www.govivotoledo.com Units available: Studio and 1- to 3-bedroom apartments. Description: Located close to the university and within walking distance of major shopping and dining areas, Vivo Toledo’s apartments are sure to satisfy. We have affordable and premium rental options for students who wish to live alone or with others. Amenities include on-site laundry facilities, premium luxury units, and optional furniture packages. We’re also pet friendly!

Olde Towne University Square Apartments

1744 N. Westwood 419-530-5900 www.toledostudenthousing.com facebook.com/OldeTowneApartments Description: Olde Towne offers fully furnished student apartments in a variety of floor plans to choose from, individual liability leases, cable, internet and water are included. Each unit comes with a washer and dryer and every resident has their own private bathroom. Our clubhouse has on-site managers and maintenance throughout the week and 24-hour maintenance. Other amenities include 24-hour computer lab with free printing, 24-hour fitness center, game room, movie theater, pool and basketball court.

University Hills Apartments

2247 University Hills Blvd 419-330-1229 www.liveuhills.com Description: University Hills offers University of Toledo students a great living experience! Choose one of our 1, 2 or 4 bedroom student apartments and you’ll be able to enjoy a walk to a campus that is just 450 feet away. We just finished work on our outdoor fireplace and gathering area. With the opening of the new building in Fall 2015, students can enjoy a 24-hour fitness and business center as well as free tanning, complimentary coffee and more.

CONTENT DIRECTORY Signing your first lease: Tips to remember before you make your apartment official

To help answer some common student questions about signing your first lease, we’ve interviewed Charlon Dewberry, managing attorney at the University of Toledo’s Student Legal Services. PAGE 4

10 signs to help you choose the right apartment

Before you sign a lease, here are some tips that will help you quickly separate the quality apartments from the subpar ones. PAGE 9

Settling in: A complete checklist of move-in essentials

Here’s a handy checklist that will help you keep track of the must-have items every new apartment needs, broken down room by room. PAGE 10

4 | The Independent Collegian | Spring 2016 HOUSING

Signing your first lease

Tips to remember before you make your apartment official By Samantha Rhodes For the IC

You toured the place, asked all the right questions and decided you want to be a renter. But first, you have to finalize the agreement with your landlord. Signing a lease can be an intimidating process, but doesn’t need to be. To help answer some common student questions, we’ve interviewed Charlon Dewberry, managing attorney at the University of Toledo’s Student Legal Services.

In legal terms, what is a lease? “A lease is a legally binding contract which sets forth the rights and obligations agreed to by the property owner (landlord) and the person renting the property (tenant),” Dewberry said. “If either party does not perform their obligations under the lease, then they can be sued for breach of contract.”

What types of leases will students see? Contrary to popular belief, Dewberry points out there is no such thing as a “standard lease that fits all situations.” Some landlords may give the tenant a one-page document while others will present a longer one with multiple pages. “Some leases are on a monthto-month basis, other leases are for a short term – such as 6 months – while other leases are for a longer term, such as one year or two years,” Dewberry said.

Why is it important to read the entire lease? According to Dewberry, the landlord-tenant relationship is governed by Chapter 53 of the Ohio Revised Code, which explains the tasks and responsibilities that the tent and landlord

should each perform. “However, one party in a lease can agree to assume some of the tasks and responsibilities that the other party was to perform,” Dewberry said. Dewberry urges students to make sure the landlord isn’t “trying to transfer some of their statutory obligations to the tenant,” or forcing the tenant to assume responsibility for things the landlord is normally under obligation to do. For example, if the tenant signs a lease which says he or she is responsible for paying the cost of repairs to appliances provided in the rental, then the tenant is then responsible for those costs. The lease can also require the tenant to pay a “non-refundable” appliance fee, according to Dewberry. Dewberry said the lease should, at the very least, include provisions concerning the amount of rent to be paid, the date rent is due, identification of the property or premises to be rented, the contact information for the landlord, any fees for late or missed payments, default provisions, how long the lease will last and any responsibilities that the tenant has to pay, such as utilities.

“Take the time to ask questions, to ask for modifications to the printed lease and to investigate multiple properties before making a decision.” CHARLON DEWBERRY Managing Attorney at UT Student Legal Services

Leases should also explain how much advance notice the tenant must give the landlord if he or she does not plan to renew the lease.

the rent, utilities, etc. These agreement forms are available at Student Legal Services in Rocket Hall Room 1610.

What are some red flags to look for?

“Unfortunately, a lot of people assume that they only have to give 30 days advance notice … then they get hit with a bill for another month’s rent or more because they moved without either giving notice or they gave insufficient notice,” Dewberry said. “We have also seen leases automatically renew for an additional year.” Dewberry reminds students that a lease is a binding contract and if signed, the court will assume all of it has been read.

What if you aren’t 100 percent sure? First and foremost, don’t allow yourself to be pressured into signing a lease you don’t understand or agree with. According to Dewberry, tenants have the right to speak up and ask to have terms they don’t like or agree with changed or removed from the lease. “There is a lot of rental property around the university and so tenants should not give in to the hard sale and the pressure tactics that some landlords will engage in to get you to sign the lease as soon as possible,” Dewberry said. “Take the time to ask questions, to ask for modifications to the printed lease and to investigate multiple properties before making a decision.”

What about roommates? According to Dewberry, finding well-matched roommates to live with should be a priority. “Before you sign the lease and definitely before you move in together, have a serious conversation with anyone you plan to move in with,” Dewberry said. “Discuss your study habits, your housekeeping preferences, your socializing preferences … Keep in mind that living with someone is different from hanging out with someone.” According to Dewberry, most leases are “joint and several,” meaning that everyone who signs the lease is jointly and individually responsible for all of the obligations under the lease. “Your liability under your lease does not go away just because your roommate moved out or you are no longer getting along with that person,” Dewberry said. Consequently, it’s crucial to ask yourself the question: “If my roommates move out or never move in, can I afford to rent this place on my own?” Dewberry advises students to fill out a roommate agreement, or a written contract between all roommates that acknowledges their liability to each other for paying their respective share of

According to Dewberry, the following are warning signs: 1. The prospective landlord refuses to give you a written lease – while Ohio law recognizes oral leases, you are running the risk that a dispute is going to arise at some point about what was promised. 2. The prospective landlord won’t let you take a copy of the lease to have someone review it with you. Ask yourself – what are they trying to hide? 3. The property management or ownership keeps changing. 4. You are asked to sign a lease that has blank spaces on it, and your landlord refuses to give you a copy of what you are signing.

Need more help? Student Legal Services and Commuter Services will host a Landlord/Tenant Walk-In Lease Review Clinic on Feb. 27 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Student Union Commuter Lounge. Students need to bring their leases, photo identification, and any emails, photos, or correspondence with their landlords. Dewberry urges students who do not understand their leases to consult with an attorney at Student Legal Services before signing, where proposes leases can be reviewed by a licensed attorney. “We would be happy to review your lease with you and explain to you in plain English what the lease says and how those terms will impact your rights and obligations,” Dewberry said. For more information, contact Student Legal Services at 419-530-7230.

Spring 2016 | The Independent Collegian |

6 | The Independent Collegian | Spring 2016

Spring 2016 | The Independent Collegian |

8 | The Independent Collegian | Spring 2016

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Spring 2016 | The Independent Collegian |

RENTING

By Samantha Rhodes For the IC

Considering which apartment complex will best suit your needs as a tenant can be a long and tedious process. However, before you sign a lease, here are some tips that will help you quickly separate the quality apartments from the subpar ones.

GOOD SIGNS

WARNING SIGNS

Good lighting and availability in the parking lot

Evidence of pests

If the parking lot seems to have spaces available during all times of day, there’s a good chance you’ll be able to snag a spot without waiting. The guest parking policy is also important to ask about if you plan on having people visit. Good lighting and visibility at night means the landlord cares about your safety.

Shine a flashlight in the nooks and crannies of cabinets in the kitchen and bathroom. Other common hiding places for pests include under the refrigerator and laundry room appliances. If you see bug droppings, which look like black pepper, or mice droppings, which resemble maggot-shaped black pellets, then it’s time to start looking elsewhere.

Positive reviews from the neighbors Knock on doors and talk directly to the neighbors within the complex about how responsive the landlord is. Does he or she respond quickly to maintenance requests and act professional? These people will give you honest reviews based on firsthand experience.

A new-looking water heater and other appliances Having hot water is vital — the newer the water heater looks, the less chance you’ll be stuck taking cold showers. Other appliances will also work more effectively the newer they are.

A phone number for a maintenance person

Warping and stains Leaks in the ceiling or under a sink can potentially turn into mold problems, so take a close look at ceilings for blotches of discoloration. Signs of warped wood or linoleum under bathroom and kitchen cabinets, black specks along baseboards or damp-feeling carpet are all sure signs that the landlord isn’t fixing these mold and mildew related problems.

Obvious odors or drafts If a room smells musty, moist, smoky or like bug spray, these strange odors mean there’s an underlying problem the landlord doesn’t want to tell you about.

Good apartments have a phone number tenants can call for a maintenance person — even after hours. Inquire about how many maintenance people work on the property, how to get in touch with them, and when they are available.

A lack of working smoke detectors

Soundproof walls and insulation

A burglary bulletin board in the office

Some apartments have a concrete sheet between the walls and under the floors to minimize outdoor sounds, such as street traffic. Ask the landlord about details such as insulation that you can’t see with the naked eye.

If the complex office has a burglary bulletin board that’s covered, chances are your area has a high crime rate. Be sure to check out the surrounding houses near the apartment, not just the complex itself.

If the landlord doesn’t care enough to install or replace a smoke detector’s batteries, he or she doesn’t value the tenants’ safety.

10 | The Independent Collegian | Spring 2016

SETTLING IN

PLANNING

A complete checklist of move-in essentials Moving in is a pretty stressful experience — and if you’re doing it by yourself for the first time, you might get overwhelmed by the number of things you’ll need to really make your place liveable. Here’s a handy checklist that will help you keep track of the must-have items every new apartment needs. We’ve broken it down room by room, and we’ve included some suggested amounts.

ADDITIONAL PACKING AND UNPACKING TIPS • Know exactly where you packed everything you’re going to need the first night. Those things are going to include your bedding, toiletries and a towel. • Get toilet paper as soon as possible. • Measure the door to your apartment before you bring any big items through, like a couch or set of dressers. • If you’re moving heavy stuff, don’t forget to bend from the knees. • Don’t throw away your boxes if you can help it — they’ll come in handy when you pack up again. Just slice the tape on them, fold them straight and store them in a closet. • Make sure to check with your landlord before putting tacks or nails in the wall.

The kitchen • Plates (at least 4) • Cups (both mugs and glasses) • Bowls (at least 4) • Silverware PRO TIP: Pack a lot of spoons and forks. You’ll run out faster than you think. • Two pots (a small one and a big one) • Two non-stick skillets (a small one and a big one) • A baking sheet • A cake tin OR cupcake tin • A can opener and bottle opener • A vegetable peeler • Measuring spoons and cups • A strainer/colander • An oven mitt • Kitchen towel • A cutting board • One good kitchen knife • Tupperware • Saran Wrap / tinfoil / plastic bags • Dish washing supplies

The bedroom • A mattress (bed frame optional) • Sheets and a comforter • At least on dresser or chest • Full length mirror • Hangers • Shoe rack

The living room • Couch or futon • Blankets and throw pillows PRO TIP: Comfy blankets can get pricey, but they’ll be worth the investment the next time you decide to Netflix and chill. • Coasters • Small lamps • Coffee table • Wall décor • Book case • TV cabinet

For cleaning purposes • An all-purpose cleaner PRO TIP: Many useful ways to clean up things include baking soda, vinegar and club soda, so it wouldn’t hurt to keep those on hand. • Sponges • A toilet brush and cleaner • Broom and dust pan • Mop and mop bucket • Vacuum • Paper towels

The laundry room • Laundry basket • Detergent • Bleach • Dryer sheets • Iron and ironing board

For around the house • Duct tape • Flashlight • AA and AAA batteries • Fire extinguisher • Basic tool set • Sewing kit with needle and thread

The bathroom • Toothbrush, mouthwash and floss • Basic medicine including ibuprofen, cough syrup, Pepto Bismol and antihistamine pills. • First aid kit with bandages and antiseptic • Plunger • Bath mat • Towel set • Drain catch PRO TIP: Drain catches (aka hair catches) will help you avoid getting your pipes clogged. Sure, emptying them is a disgusting task, but standing in inches of gross water is so much worse.

Spring 2016 | The Independent Collegian |

12 | The Independent Collegian | Spring 2016