March 12, 2014

Rockets head to MAC tournament / 5 » 95th year • Issue 25

Wednesday, March 12, 2014

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Serving the University of Toledo community since 1919

INSIDE

Crossing the country for a good cause

TOBACCO BAN

Trustees hear input about tobacco ban

Alejandro Vera and Nicholas Horning will participate in two annual biking events to raise awareness for people with disabilities.

COMMUNITY / 7 »

“

“If someone on the board of trustees can leave when their term is up and, a year later, land a lucrative contract with the university, what incentive is there for the board to be a watchdog?”

IC EDITORIAL Questioning the actions of the administrators OPINION / 4 »

NICOLE BADIK / IC

Mark Templin (left), associate professor in curriculum and instruction, spoke against the campus-wide smoking ban while Tavis Glassman (right), an associate professor who teaches drug awareness and health behavior courses, spoke in favor of the ban at the Board of Trustees meeting March 11. The board will vote on the ban April 14.

Final vote is expected April 14

By Samuel Derkin and Samantha Rhodes News Editor and Features Editor

Spread the Thread The non-profit organization will collect clothing donations through March 14 to provide clothes for the impoverished.

COMMUNITY / 8 »

Faculty members, students and University of Toledo staff presented their conflicting opinions regarding the campus wide tobacco to the Board of Trustees on March 11, who will then deliberate and vote on the ban at the next meeting April 14.

Each speaker had three minutes to discuss why the campus wide tobacco ban should or should not be approved. Three people spoke in favor of the ban.

Michael Peachock, Student Government senator and author of the smoking ban legislation, spoke at the meeting to advocate for the smoking ban. Peachock said that last year in October, the student body made it “very clear” that they wanted smoked to be banned at UT. “We [SG] offered a survey through the

myUT portal, in which we had a very impressive turnout of about 5,000 students participate,” Peachock said. “That’s about a sample size of about 25 percent of the student body participating and 60 percent was in favor of the smoking ban. So that’s pretty impressive I think — 3,000 votes” Peachock said both University Council and Faculty Senate approved the measure, and after surveying UT employees, SG found that 60 percent of UT employees also favored the ban.

“On behalf of the student body, I’m here to say we want this to happen,” Peachock said. “Frankly, I and Emily and Lauren included find it simply unconscionable that an institution such as ours that prizes medicine and healing and improving the See Tobacco ban / 10 »

The first karaoke night will take place on March 19 in Rocky’s Attic in the Student Union.

NEWS / 3 »

International Student Association dinner The event will take place on March 14 from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. in the Student Union Auditorium.

COMMUNITY / 7 »

By Thursday, all candidates for this year’s Student Government presidential election must turn in their paperwork at a mandatory meeting in the SG office at 8 p.m. Thursday, March 13.

Any referendum issues — studentwritten policies or opinions to be voted on by the whole student body — must be presented at the same meeting in order to be placed on the 2014 election ballot.

Senators will also declare Thursday.

Packets of paperwork can be found online and in the Student Government office.

It may take a few days to check which candidates are eligible to run for office, but board chair Kaitlyn Filzer is confident eligible candidates will be known within a week of the paperwork deadline.

Filzer said those looking for more information about election procedures can send an email to kaitlyn.filzer@ rockets.utoledo.edu or call 419-2177276.

For SG election updates on Thursday night, visit independentcollegian.com.

FACULTY SENATE

Faculty Senate seeks voice in hiring

By Samuel Derkin News Editor

UT INNOVATION ENTERPRISES

Poodles and music at Sigma Gamma Rho karaoke night

Student Government presidential candidates to be finalized March 13

UT’s economic development agency to be restructured

By Samuel Derkin News Editor

University of Toledo’s Innovation Enterprises (UTIE) is in the process of being restructured after its former chairman and chief executive Rick Stansley stepped down from his post several weeks ago.

The restructuring proposal, which would split the positions of chairman of the board and chief executive into two roles, has been in the works for roughly six months, said University of Toledo president Lloyd Jacobs.

“To some degree,” Jacobs said, “I think to take a very high-level view, this is a separation of powers issue, sort of like the federal government to separate the judiciary from the legislative from the administrative arm of government. It is a separation of powers. And we have many places around the institution where one person occupies two jobs, or two roles. Those positions always require a little extra work to make certain that there is a check and balance between them.”

The newly appointed chairman, William Fall, previously

“Fall is a well-respected community leader above reproach in so many ways. He’s been a valuable contributor to the University of Toledo. And, too, a valuable member of the board of UTIE.” LLOYD JACOBS President of the University of Toledo

the vice-chair, was voted in by the UTIE board and needs to be ratified by the full board of trustees at its April meeting.

Jacobs said Fall was a natural choice for the post.

“Fall is a well-respected community leader above reproach in so many ways,” Jacobs said. “He’s been a valuable contributor to the University of Toledo. And, too, a valuable member of the board of UTIE.” The UTIE board also has recommended four new operating committees, according to a March 6 news release from UT. Three of those would oversee specific portfolios of firms invested in by UTIE. A fourth com-

mittee will provide business development services to new companies that may not have all the marketing, finance, grant writing or other expertise they need.

Stansley’s time at UTIE was controversial, with faculty members questioning his $1,200-a-day contract and The Blade running multiple articles questioning UTIE”s actions.

Jacobs, when referring to questions about Stansley’s time with the organization, said it would be a “serious mistake” to “throw the baby out with the bath water” when it comes to supporting UTIE. He said UTIE is still highly beneficial to the Toledo community.

The University of Toledo’s Faculty Senate passed a resolution March 11 requesting that the senate be involved in designing a new hiring plan.

“We passed that resolution because we’re very concerned about the number of people that are retiring and it’s predicted that we’re going to have a lot of retirements in 2015 just because of the demographics of the faculty,” said Linda Rouillard, president of Faculty Senate.

Rouillard said that the senate is on the search committee for new faculty members but she is concerned with how little she has heard from President Lloyd Jacobs about a plan to rehire faculty members.

“We’re concerned that this could jeopardize programs, we’re concerned that this could leave students without courses to enroll in,” Rouillard said. “ We don’t want students to be enrolled in a course while we’re scrambling to hire adjuncts. It’s extremely important that we have some stability for our programs.”

Faculty Senate passed this resolution, asking Jacobs to present a hiring plan to them instead of just taking it to University Counsel.

“It’s important that we have a chance to hear what he proposes and that he hears what the faculty can contribute to the hiring plan,” Rouillard said, “I think we have a better sense of where the programs need people and what kinds of staffing needs we have and what kinds of directions that we might want our programs to go in.”

Rouillard said that the new faculty members could come from a variety of places, whether they be new hires or junior members of faculty.

“They could be more senior scholars,” said Rouillard, “We might bring in some junior faculty, that is, faculty at the assistant professor level.”

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| The Independent Collegian | Wednesday, March 12, 2014

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CAMPUS DIGEST

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The hall of presidents

AMANDA PITROF / IC

Daniel Johnson, a former president of UT, stands in front of the wing that is named after him in Presidents Hall. He gave a speech at the Presidents Hall renaming ceremony on Feb. 28 at 1 p.m. in the residence hall. He was president from 2001 to 2006 and was UT’s 15th president.

This week in UT history 35 years ago: Rocky the Rocket, the University of Toledo’s official mascot, revealed his identity Saturday night at the UT-Eastern Michigan basketball game. This year, Rocky is Nick Kissoff, a junior at UT. 50 years ago: The approval of an observatory and planetarium was announced by President William S. Carlson. The structure, to cost in excess of $400,000, is the gift of Mr. and Mrs. George W. Ritter of Toledo and will be known as the Ritter Planetarium and Observatory.

QUESTION OF THE WEEK

Where will you be living next year?

75 years ago: A house-to-house campaign to collect several thousand books for the University library was approved by Student Council this week. The library needs browsing books for the dormitory residents and for other students who like to “loaf” in the library or in the Student Union library.

STUDENT GROUP OF THE WEEK

Dollars 4 Change

“I’m not sure if I’ll be in the states.”

Czelene Longalong

Masters student Public health

Purpose: Our mission is to assist various community non-profit organizations in any way that we can to try and better the community that The University of Toledo and its students are a part of.

Leaders: President: James McSherry; vice president: Alex Kamp; volunteer coordinator: Abbigail Schwarzbek; marketing director: Samantha Rhodes; secretary: Jordan James Upcoming events: Dollars 4 Change presents: The Give Back Gala. Monday, March 17 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. in the SU Trimble Lounge and Ingman Room. Free pizza will be at this event.

General Meeting: March 26, from 8 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in SU room 2561.

Learn more: President’s contact information: james. mcsherry@rockets.utoledo.edu. Facebook: https://www. facebook.com/D4CToledo.

“Probably Ottawa.”

Kristi Keil

First-year Nursing

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 EDITORIAL Editor-in-Chief Danielle Gamble News Samuel Derkin, editor Amanda Pitrof, assoc. editor Features Samantha Rhodes, editor 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

BUSINESS Advertising Zachary Hartenburg, account executive Haley Musser, graphic designer

“A house off campus.”

Brandan Marr First-year Pharmacy

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

“On the streets.”

Basil Khuder Fourth-year Psychology

NEWS Follow us on Twitter @TheICToledo

IN BRIEF

Aspiring Filmmakers Showcase to be held March 15

The 2014 Aspiring Filmmakers Showcase (AFS) will be held Saturday, March 15, at 7:30 p.m. in the Center for Performing Arts Theater.

Top University of Toledo student work in film, video and animation chosen in a juried competition will be screened at the event.

Tickets will be sold at the door and cost $5 for the general public and $3 for UT students and adults over 60 years old.

To learn more, visit the AFS Facebook page.

Applications for Student Composer Contest due March 17 The 26th annual Student Composer Contest is now open for entry.

The competition will have two levels involving both high school students and college students. Students can be from any secondary schools, colleges, or universities in the Northwest Ohio or Southeastern Michigan region.

Entries must be original compositions for SATB (soprano, alto, tenor, bass) Jazz Vocal Quartet or Ensemble, and compositions can be with or without accompaniment.

Craig’s Pianos and Keyboards will sponsor the contest, and $500 in prizes are available this year. The deadline to enter is Monday, March 17.

For more information or to find the entry form, visit the Music Department homepage at www.utoledo.edu/ comm-arts/music/pdfs/ UTComposerContest2014Flyer.pdf.

Student group to host gala Dollars 4 Change (D4C), a student volunteer organization, will host the 2014 Give Back Gala on March 17 in the Student Union South Lounge from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

D4C will invite multiple non-profit organizations and charities from the Toledo area to set up tables in the Student Union Trimble Lounge where students can then talk to organization representatives and swap contact information or learn more about volunteering.

Free pizza will be provided for students.

Wednesday, March 12, 2014 | The Independent Collegian |

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Spring 2014 Housing Fair to be held March 19 When: March 19 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Where: Student Union South Lounge.

For more information: Email commuter@utoledo.edu or call 419-530-8521.

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GREEK LIFE

Sigma Gamma Rho to host karaoke night

By Samantha Rhodes Features Editor

Poodles and music — both will be present when the Xi Beta chapter of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. hosts their first karaoke night on March 19 in Rocky’s Attic in the Student Union.

Xi Beta President Sanquise Powell, a third-year law and social thought major, said the chapter’s karaoke night will begin at 6:22 p.m. Because Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority was founded in 1922, the chapter starts all of its events precisely 22 minutes after the hour in honor of the organization’s founding.

The sorority, which sports a poodle mascot and royal blue and gold colors, has

over 500 chapters in the U.S., Bahamas, Bermuda, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Canada, Germany and Korea.

Powell said that although karaoke is always entertaining, she wanted the location of the event to suit the atmosphere as well as students’ needs, and she said Rocky’s Attic was the “first place that came to mind.”

“Karaoke is fun no matter where you have it, but we wanted to make sure that the venue was as fitting as possible,” Powell said. “Rocky’s Attic is perfect because it has a great atmosphere for karaoke; it has a stage, low lights and intimate seating.”

Anyone is welcome to attend and the event is free,

according to Powell.

Refreshments will be provided, and Powell encourages everyone to participate “regardless of singing abilities.”

If you go What: Karaoke Night.

Where: Rocky’s Attic in the Student Union.

When: March 19 at 6:22 p.m.

Sponsered by: Xi Beta chapter of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc.

“Whoever chooses to sing will pick the song that they want and we’ll have it displayed on a projector for them to sing along,” Powell said.

However, liking karaoke is only one characteristic of the chapter’s personality. When asked what three words best describe the Xi Beta Poodles, Powell responded with “humble, generous and hard working.”

“These words represent our chapter because we are very easygoing, appreciative, dedicated and ambitious,”

Powell said.

Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority has not been active on the University of Toledo’s campus for the past seven years, according to Powell. She said its current five members reactivated it on November 17, 2013.

Though the chapter was inactive for a period of time, the Xi Beta Poodles are not inexperienced when it comes to helping their community and university.

Powell said despite having only five current members, including herself, the women of Xi Beta are “focused on service and giving back to the community” as well as “actively being involved on campus.”

Charities and events the Xi Beta Poodles have participated in include March of Dimes, an organization that helps moms have full-term pregnancies and researches problems that threaten the health of babies, and Operation Big Book Bag, a nationwide Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. initiative to provide children with school supplies and tutoring aid.

Other events include Youth Symposium and RockeThon, a student-run philanthropy that raises funds and awareness for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, specifically Mercy Children’s Hospital in Toledo.

“Rocky’s Attic is perfect because it has a great atmosphere for karaoke; it has a stage, low lights and intimate seating.”

SANQUISE POWELL Xi Beta chapter President

Though the karaoke night is not a charity event, Powell urges students to attend and estimates that at least 35 students will be present.

“Karaoke night is a fun way to enjoy music, singing, meeting new people and making new friends, so I’d highly recommend it,” Powell said.

IN BRIEF Scholarship for vocalists to be held April 19 The annual Barbara Rondelli-Perry Scholarship Competition for Superior Achievement in Vocal Performance will be held Saturday, April 19 at 1 p.m. in the Center for Performing Arts Recital Hall.

Application packets are available in the College of Communication and the Arts main office. For more information, contact Angela.Riddel@utoledo.edu.

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| The Independent Collegian | Wednesday, March 12, 2014

OPINION

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EDITORIAL BOARD

Danielle Gamble Editor-in-Chief

Morgan Rinckey Opinion Editor

Samuel Derkin News Editor

Editorials appearing on this page represent the consensus view of the editorial staff. Columns and letters to the editor reflect the opinions of their authors, not those of The Independent Collegian.

EDITORIAL

Questioning the actions of administrators

Who watches the watchmen?

At the University of Toledo, it’s supposed to be the UT Board of Trustees.

The trustees are people appointed by the governor to set tuition, rules and regulations, oversee finances and approve presidential appointments.

But recent events have us questioning how well they have been carrying out their responsibilities.

There have been questions surrounding the University of Toledo’s economic development agency and its former chairman that should have everyone wondering if the board is really doing its job.

Rick Stansley was chairman of the UT Board of Trustees when UT President Lloyd Jacobs was hired in 2006. A year after Stansley’s term was up in 2009, the president he helped hire appointed him to a $1,200-a-day job as director of the University of Toledo Innovation Enterprises.

According to The Blade, he was paid as a contract employee through Jacobs’ office. In February of this year, he quit his job a year before his contract was supposed to end.

But Stansley wasn’t paid directly – the payments went to Stansley Mineral Resources of Sylvania, a company owned by his brother. Jacobs told the IC in a story published this week that he didn’t see anything unusual about that. But we think a red flag should have been raised at some point in the last four years.

Why? Because the Ohio Department of Taxation was pursuing Stansley for more than $1 million in unpaid sales taxes, a fact that was published by The Blade in January 2013. Later that year, the Lucas County Common Pleas Court sent UT a notice seeking to deduct money from his wages to pay the lien – but because his UT paychecks were being sent to his brother’s company, Stansley technically had no income from UT to be garnished.

This put UT in the position of appearing to help somebody dodge a tax collection by the state, whether intentionally or not.

And it doesn’t need to have been intentional to be a problem.

Somebody in charge, whether in Jacobs’ office or at the board level, should have asked the kinds of questions that could have saved UT this embarrassment.

But this story may actually call attention to an even bigger issue.

If someone on the board of trustees can leave when their term is up and, a year later, land a lucrative contract with the university, what incentive is there for the board to be a watchdog?

Will trustees look out for UT when they know their decisions could help them profit personally later?

Now, some conflicts of interest may be inevitable. One trustee works for Huntington Bank and another works for Medical Mutual of Ohio, and the University of Toledo has relationships with both of these companies. That’s one reason trustees need to be very careful.

But when a trustee can collect big bucks from a UT contract a year after leaving the board, that elevates the problem to a new level.

If trustees don’t do their jobs, who will? Who is watching out for the money invested in UT if the board isn’t?

Who watches the watchmen?

CORRECTIONS In the editorial entitled, “Keeping up to code?” we listed an incorrect phone number to reach Wendy Wiitala, UT’s Americans with Disabilities Act compliance officer. Her phone number is 419-530-5792.

The email address for the ADA hotline is no longer in use.

We regret these errors.

COMMENTARY

3-D Printing: from auto parts to beating hearts Imagine waking up one morning our case means that the printer can and not having to head over to your be loaded with separate raw materiwardrobe to do a groggy-eyed als that make up the core, layers, scan of the clean clothes peel and sequentially you could possibly wear. programmed to make it Instead, you hit Cmd+P look authentic. on your computer and What this example go take a shower. And demonstrates is a by the time you’re revolutionary way of done with breakfast, making things. Most you have a Chanel suit manufacturing proready to wear. cesses are subtractive That’s how I picture — they make objects by life with a 3-D printer. cutting off the superThe technology surfluous material from a rounding 3-D printing mold or by grinding or isn’t new; it has been milling them. 3-D printhere since the late ‘80s, ing is additive. It adds when it was called only as much material stereolithography. But it as required, in precisely IC COLUMNIST has entered the mainthe shape it’s required, stream recently and found a curious thereby tremendously saving material audience in us — and enamored bigwig costs. investors like Google, Siemens, Boeing The 3-D printing technology itself and Nike. is not as glamorous as the products it So what is 3-D printing? It builds an promises to dish out. Its easy cusobject in cross-sectional layers using tomizability makes it ideal for rapid the precise dimensions its computer prototyping and building mock-ups— model specifies. just one step short of the final usable So as an example, let’s suppose you version. Even that tiny hurdle has been want to print an onion. You have a kicked to the curb by the introducmodel of what it should look like. You tion of fully functional 3-D–printed load your printer with the raw materiproducts. als that make up the onion. When you This phenomenon is epitomized by the hit print, it adds layer after layer of fashion industry. It has flawlessly incorliquid onion material which is solidiporated 3-D printing elements into its fied using ultraviolet light along the production. Printed designer clothes and curve or angle specified by the comshoes are flooding the virtual marketputer design. place and may soon find their way up the Each layer is perfected before adding ramp. Companies like Nike and Continuanother. Electron beams or lasers could um are using this to make custom-made, also be used to solidify the material. fantasy-inspired shoes that fit perfectly Some even let you simultaneously print and have a seamless design. layers of different materials, which in Healthcare is another sector in which

APARNA RAGHAVAN

3-D printing is growing. Researchers are using human stem cells embedded in a gel-like matrix as biological ‘inks’ for the printer to build viable tissue. Its successful scale-up could make transplanting organs made up of your own cells a medical reality.

Moreover, according to ongoing research headed by Professor Lee Cronin in the University of Scotland, life-saving drugs could be delivered to the masses using printers, too. Chemical inks that contain the building blocks of drugs and drug-synthesis software developed by pharmaceutical companies could serve as veritable dispensers for hard-to-obtain drugs in inaccessible locations around the world. Regulations would still have to be worked into this sci-fi idea to avoid misuse, but is a concept that could unclog drug-distribution channels and make drug discovery less skewed towards diseases with the most lobbying currency.

While it might be a few years before this takes shape, 3-D printing is already being used to fabricate stents, sensors, prosthetics and other medical devices.

In fact, our very own Engineering Center for Orthopedic Research Excellence or ECORE at the University of Toledo specializes in the design and development of such 3-D-printed prototypes.

Will it replace traditional manufacturing? Not anytime soon. It is suitable to make one-off products, but not currently cost effective for mass production.

But it’s something to pay attention to — 3-D printing forklifts manufacturing out of grimy factories and drops it into our homes. These printers can churn out chocolates in a way that Willy Wonka wished he could.

Aparna Raghavan is a fifth-year majoring in medicinal chemistry.

COMMENTARY

Is there a good compromise for the smoking ban?

The smoking/tobacco ban has resmoking really causing a health risk? ceived a lot of coverage since its emerAccording to Ronald Bayer, a gence as a survey in October. We have professor at Columbia University’s all heard the arguments from both Mailman School of Public Health sides, and although and lead author on there is true concern an article published and valid points on in Health Affairs in both ends, neither July 2013 that looked has supported sufat the arguments ficient evidence to brought forth for back their claims. the rise in smoking There have bans, “the evidence been columns and was really weak. The letters to the editor evidence of harm to published in The non-smokers on the Independent Collebeach or in a park gian in support and from someone smokopposition of the ing is virtually nonban. The IC has also existent. The evidence IC PHOTOGRAPHER covered the protests that fish and birds are just as much as the dying because of cigaprogression of the legislation. rette butts is virtually non-existent.

Those in opposition to the ban And even the evidence that seeing argue that their personal freedoms someone in a park or beach will enare being infringed upon, and that courage kids to smoke is extremely this is a matter that “the governweak.” ment shouldn’t regulate,” according What is the reason then? Bayer to Ron Johns, president of Young went on to say that the bans were Americans for Liberty here at the driven “to protect smokers themUniversity of Toledo. selves from a behavior that’s going The problem here is that as Michael to increase the risk of disease and Peachock, who drafted the legisladeath.” He does admit that public tion that was originally proposed to bans do create a sense of paterStudent Government, has adamantly nalism that many may find as an explained that when the health of the excessive use of power, but he also public is put at risk, there is a right to points out that the overarching goal regulate that behavior. So is outdoor to reduce smoking has worked ef-

JACKIE KELLETT

fectively.

Patrick Reynolds, an antismoking activist and grandson of Tobacco Company founder R.J. Reynolds, also states that public smoking bans have reduced smoking in the American population.

So what should be done? Well, 5,080 students voiced their opinions in the survey put on by SG through the myUT portal. Out of these students, 3,049 agreed and clicked yes to the ban. But is the stamp of approval from about 14 percent of the student population enough for SG president Emily Kramp and vice president Lauren Jencen to push forward past student government’s decline to back the legislation?

I wonder, along with many other students, why wasn’t some sort of compromise presented by Kramp and Jencen instead?

The IC proposed a good compromise in their editorial “No to the smoking ban.” The editorial staff, which I was a part of at the time, said that “the smart thing to do here would be to enforce the smoking restrictions already in place, and make those areas more comfortable.”

Many students agreed on the “University of Toledo Memes” Facebook page’s post from Oct. 17, if the current arrangement with the smoking huts was enforced, they wouldn’t have a problem. Other

students commented with a call for improvement and increase of available smoking huts, stating they would be used more.

However, others like Peachock and Bob Taylor, an IC guest columnist, stated that the huts are unsafe and often harbor illegal activity which is a reason for them to close.

There has been at least one reported incident this year that happened in a smoking hut, which involved a male who was not a student brandishing a gun, after which he was later charged with aggravated menacing. As for other questions that have been raised — like the sale of drugs such as marijuana — the simple solution is to simply enforce the law. The activity wouldn’t occur there if people actually got in trouble when caught.

Another concern is if a ban can be enforced. Peachock wrote a letter to the editor addressing publicly raising the concern, and Steve Kapela, a student, inquired whether there was to be a crazy old lady running about yelling at smokers in his sardonically written letter to the editor. Student president Emily Kramp even addressed it in her tweet encouraging students to take the survey on Oct 16, “Have you voted about the smoking ban yet? Log into your myUT portal and vote now! Don't focus on feasibility; just if you want it or not.”

But the IC editorial staff is the only group to have publicly brought forth any feasible solution. “UT could have police or parking enforcement or possibly even create a mini-smoking task force to encourage smokers to stay in the smoke huts. If people disobeyed, they could receive a small fine or some type of referral to a behavior program.”

Those might not be the right answers, but they’re not meant to be. Those suggestions were meant to be conversation starters, because the leadership at UT should be going over all feasible solutions — not just the easiest or over-hyped ones.

The University of Toledo needs to do something because there is obviously a lot of concern on the students’ behalf.

However, a complete smoking ban is not the answer.

I think the student population would have fewer problems with the smoking population if the university made more of an effort to accommodate and protect them. Larger, better-designed smoking huts and an implementation to better ensure smokers’ safety is an effective way to get smokers out of the public’s clean air, and let them exercise their rights.

Jackie Kellett is a second-year double majoring in law and social thought and art history, and she is a photographer at the IC.

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IN BRIEF

Zanoguera and Dortch earn All-MAC honors

Toledo junior Inma Zanoguera and senior Andola Dortch received all-league recognition, the Mid-American Conference office announced Monday afternoon.

Zanoguera was placed on the All-MAC second team and Dortch on the third team. Voting was done by the conference’s 12 head coaches.

A three-time All-MAC honoree, Dortch is averaging 12.4 points, 4.0 rebounds, a team-high 5.5 assists, a squad-best 0.3 blocks, and a teamhigh 2.3 steals in 34.9 minutes per game. She currently ranks second in the league in helpers and minutes played, third in thefts and assist/turnover ratio, and 18th in scoring.

A two-time all-conference recipient, Zanoguera currently ranks first in the league in minutes played (35.7 mpg), second in offensive boards (3.6 rpg), fourth in overall rebounding (8.8 rpg), and free throw percentage (85.7 %, 84-of-98), sixth in overall field goal percentage (49.5%, 161-of-325), tied for eighth in defensive caroms (5.2 rpg), 10th in scoring (14.3 ppg) and steals (1.7 spg) and 14th in assists (2.6 apg).

The No. 6 seed Rockets will face No. 7 seed Western Michigan at 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland for Toledo’s second game of the MAC Tournament.

Four Rockets named to AllMAC squads, Williams earns spot on AllFreshman Team Junior guard Juice Brown, senior guard Rian Pearson, junior guard Justin Drummond, and junior forward J.D. Weatherspoon were each recognized today by the Mid-American Conference as the all-league squads were announced.

Brown was named to the first team, Pearson to the second team, Drummond to the third team, and Weatherspoon was an honorablemention selection. In addition, freshman guard Jonathan Williams was named to the MAC’s AllFreshman Team to mard the third straight season a Rocket has been included on that squad.

Toledo returns to action on Friday, March 14, at 9 p.m. in Cleveland when they will face an opponent to be determined in the semifinals of the Mid-American Conference Tournament.

Drummond earns MAC West Division Player of the Week award Junior guard Justin Drummond has been named the Mid-American Conference West Division Player of the Week, the league office announced today.

Drummond led the Rockets to a pair of wins over Central Michigan and Eastern Michigan last week as UT clinched a share of its eighth MAC regular-season title. Drummond averaged a teamhigh 18.5 ppg along with 5.0 apg, 4.5 rpg, 2.0 spg, and 1.0 bpg while posting a 63.6 FG% (14-of-22) and 87.5 FT% (7-of-8).

Drummond opened the week with 15 points, four rebounds, and a season-high tying three steals at Central Michigan.

He helped UT hold off a scrappy CMU squad by scoring seven of the team’s final nine points, including a pair of free throws with 4.8 seconds to play in a 73-69 victory.

Wednesday, March 12, 2014 | The Independent Collegian |

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WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

TEAM VICTORY

COMMENTARY

BLAKE BACHO

SPORTS EDITOR

Toledo teams in for quite a ride this week at MAC Tourney

JARED SIZEMORE / IC

Nine different Rockets scored against the University of Ohio in Toledo’s 61-44 victory over the Bobcats. UT arrived in Cleveland Tuesday, and they will play Western Michigan University on Wednesday in the second round of the Mid-American Conference Tournament. WMU won both games against UT during the regular season.

Toledo women defeat Ohio 61-44 in first round of MAC Tournament play

By Austin Henry Sports Reporter

University of Toledo women’s basketball coach Tricia Cullop preached amnesia after her team’s 61-44 victory over the Ohio Bobcats in the first round of Mid-American Conference Tournament play on Monday night.

According to her, the 14-15 record that the Rockets posted in the regular season no longer matters.

“Going into the postseason, we feel as if we almost have a clean slate,” said Cullop. “Anything can happen, and we must stay focused.”

Toledo never allowed the Bobcats to lead during the matchup, taking a 33-14 advantage into the locker room at halftime. Nine Rockets found their way into the scoring column — led by senior guard Andola Dortch with 13 points.

Bobcat sophomore forward Lexie Baldwin led Ohio with 13 points and 10 rebounds for her third career double double. She

was the only OU player to finish with a double digit scoring total.

“We were very proud of our team’s effort today overall,” Cullop said.

“When we went back to our last game, the biggest criticism I had was that I didn’t think that we came out of the gate well, and that I didn’t think our bench was ready to play. I think that today everybody showed up ready to play, and it was a big difference.

“It really helped us gain some momentum.”

Senior guard Janelle ReedLewis finished just behind Dortch with 11 points, and freshman guard Elena de Alfredo put up nine points off of a perfect 3-3 from behind the arc.

“I just want to help the team as much as I can,” Alfredo said. “I think we were working so hard to be here and I just wanted to play for the team, so I am so happy to help them.”

Cullop said “bus legs” might have helped the Rockets as well. The Bobcats were just two days removed from

a 68-63 loss at the University of Miami when they rolled into Savage Arena for the first round of the MAC Tournament.

“It is a tight turnaround for any team,” Cullop said.

Toledo now faces a similar challenge. The Rockets will arrive in Cleveland on Tuesday to prepare for a Wednesday match up in the second round of the tournament.

“Going into the postseason, we feel as if we almost have a clean slate.

Anything can happen, and we must stay focused.”

TRICIA CULLOP Women’s basketball coach

“[Tuesday] we actually get the benefit of practicing on the floor the day before the game,” Cullop said. “You don’t think that makes a difference, but it does. We are really excited to be able

to head over there tomorrow and get a feel for the arena, especially our younger kids.

I think that is a huge advantage to have a chance to get on the floor early.”

Toledo needs a run of four consecutive wins for the Rockets to claim the Tournament title and a ticket to the team’s first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2001.

“This team has hung in with everybody,” Cullop said.

“The scoreboard hasn’t always shown a ‘W’ but there is not a team in our league that we can’t play with. I think that is the exciting thing heading over to Cleveland is that, if we continue to play and everybody shows up like they did tonight, stays focused, we have a chance.

“We have just as good a chance as anyone.”

The journey will start with a face off against No. 7 seed Western Michigan at 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday at Quicken Loans Arena. The Broncos defeated UT during the team’s two regular season match ups this year.

MEN’S BASKETBALL

UT men defeat EMU Eagles 77-66, claim share of eighth MAC regular season banner in program history

By Blake Bacho Sports Editor

After the Rockets’ 77-66 win over Eastern Michigan on Saturday, head coach Tod Kowalczyk asked the almost 6000 fans inside Savage Arena to journey to Cleveland, Ohio, for next weekend’s Mid-American Conference Tournament.

For Kowalczyk and two of his seniors — Rian Pearson and Matt Smith — Cleveland means a chance

“There were so many things to play for tonight. I thought our energy, I thought our toughness, and I thought our togetherness were maybe the best they’ve been all year.”

TOD KOWALCZYK Men’s basketball coach

to complete a journey they started together nearly four years ago.

“First of all, I am so thankful that we have had this opportunity to come to Toledo,” Kowalczyk said. “Not just myself and my family, but also Rian Pearson and Matt Smith.

It didn’t take us long being here to figure out and know that it was the right move we made, all of us, even though we had a lot of pains along the way.”

Toledo’s defeat of EMU marks the 26th win for the Rockets, and also a perfect 15-0 record inside Savage Arena this season.

The victory — which also happened to be the 200th win of Kowalczyk’s career — ensured Toledo a share of the eighth MAC regular season title in program history.

“There were so many things to play for tonight,” Kowalczyk said. “I thought See Banner / 6 »

PHOTO COURTESY OF DAN MILLER / UT ATHLETICS

Rian Pearson finished with 17 points and 12 rebounds for a double double against EMU, scoring the first seven points for Toledo in UT’s regular season finale.

As the University of Toledo basketball teams head to Cleveland for the Mid-American Conference Tournament this week, I couldn’t help but reflect on how different the two team’s arrivals will be.

The men, led by head coach Tod Kowalczyk, walk into Quicken Loans Arena as co-champions of the MAC after a record-breaking 26-5 season.

As the No. 2 seed, UT gets to kick their sneakers up and relax as the rest of the conference spends the week fighting through a bracket full of opponents for the right to face either the Rockets, or No. 1 seeded Western Michigan, in the semifinals on Friday, March 14.

If Toledo survives the semifinals, they will have earned the right to play in the championship game on Saturday. A win there means not only another banner for the rafters of Savage Arena, but also an automatic ticket to the NCAA Tournament.

Women’s head coach Tricia Cullop and her team have a lot further to travel if they want the trophy and ticket waiting for the women’s champion.

I am not about to predict either team’s final destination this week. I only promise that the journeys will be a lot of fun to watch.

Toledo will spend the week fighting through a bracket full of opponents as the consequence of finishing the regular season with a 14-15 record.

After taking advantage of the exhausted Ohio Bobcats, who were only two days removed from a defeat at Miami, UT arrived in Cleveland Tuesday to prepare for a matchup with Western Michigan on Wednesday.

The Broncos handed the Rockets defeats during both of this year’s matchups between the two schools, and they represent the first of several hurdles that UT will have to overcome this week.

If Toledo makes it to the semifinals, they will have to face No. 2 seeded Central Michigan, who will have had their sneakers kicked up all week long relaxing.

Whether either Rockets team will be stepping out onto the court Saturday for the championship games is anyone’s guess. I am not about to predict either team’s final destination this week.

I only promise that the journeys will be a lot of fun to watch.

To paraphrase what Cullop said after her team defeated the Ohio Bobcats See Ride / 6 »

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| The Independent Collegian | Wednesday, March 12, 2014

Banner from page 5

our energy, I thought our toughness and I thought our togetherness were maybe the best they’ve been all year. “[Eastern Michigan is] a frustrating team to play, as we all know. Their zones are so good, and I thought we held our composure during the first half when we had a hard time scoring and ended up having a great offensive game by the end.”

Pearson’s offensive game was strong from start to finish. The senior guard started his final game in Savage by scoring Toledo’s first seven points, and he finished with 17 points, and 12 rebounds for a double-double.

“I was excited to come in,” Pearson said. “It’s senior night, my mom is in town, and to win the championship, I was very excited.”

Toledo struggled against Eastern Michigan’s infamous zone defense early on, not gaining a lead until junior guard Juice Brown was able to put UT up 9-8 with a jumper at the 14:48 mark in the first half.

Junior guard Justin Drummond, who tallied 22 points, a career-high seven assists, and five rebounds against EMU, said Pearson’s energy was what inspired the entire team to rebound after a slow start. “[Pearson]’s a player that just brings a lot of energy,” Drummond said. “That just feeds right through our team.

When we see him pick it up, the rest of the guys, it’s like a current through the team and we start playing well.”

Drummond scored all of his points in a second half that never saw an Eagle’s lead.

“I wasn’t too happy with my play in the first half, especially defensively,” he said.

“I just used that mindset to come out in the second half and just perform. I knew my teammates would need me down the stretch to win this

Ride

from page 5

at Savage Arena during Monday night’s opening round of the tournament, everyone arrives in Cleveland with a blank slate.

That means that whether you set records for most wins in a single season, or even if you failed to post a winning record, anything can happen inside Quicken Loans Arena during tournament week.

The Rocket men are one of a handful of favorites to walk away with a trophy, but to get there they will have to stay focused and energized, something their own coach has said they struggle with at times.

Do they know how to handle the success? Can they keep a competitive edge with so much down time between games? My gut says no. But, even at their

PUZZLES THEME: MARCH MADNESS

PHOTO COURTESY OF DAN MILLER / UT ATHLETICS

Junior guard Justin Drummond finished with a team-high 22 points, a career-high seven assists, and five rebounds against the EMU Eagles last Saturday at Savage Arena.

game, so I brought it during the second half.”

Four Rockets finished with double digit scoring totals Saturday. Junior forward Karrington Ward led Eastern Michigan offensively with 20 points, but it was not enough to counter Toledo’s secondhalf scoring attack that posted its best three-point shooting mark of the conference campaign.

“To beat a zone like that you have to knock down threes,” Pearson said. “That is one thing we didn’t do the first time [we faced EMU], so I’m glad everybody came in focused and did what we had to do. If you make shots, we can beat a team with a zone like that.”

Toledo will now look ahead to Friday, March 14, when the Rockets will face a yet-to-be-determined opponent in the MAC Tournament Semifinals at Quicken Loans Arena. Tip-

off is set for 9 p.m.

“I am excited,” Pearson said. “When I was a sophomore, Quicken Loans down at Cleveland was a lot of fun, so I am ready to go back there and share the experience with my teammates and the players that haven’t been there.

“I am really excited to get on the floor and play.”

worst, this year’s Rockets have been able to survive.

Cullop’s women are stuck at the bottom right now,

how dangerous a team branded as underdogs can become in a tournament situation.

Is it really possible to clean away the stink of this season and start new in the MAC Tournament? Again, I would go with no, but I also didn’t see them making it past Monday’s matchup with the Bobcats.

The storylines that will play out over the next week are what every college basketball fan waits all year to watch. The possibility of victory, either as a favorite or an underdog, can be completely captivating, and Toledo fans get a little bit of both with this year’s Rockets teams.

So in the end it won’t matter how either Toledo squad arrived in Cleveland. The truth is, no one will remember how any of the teams arrived.

They will only remember which teams leave victorious Saturday night.

The story lines that will play out over the next week are what every college basketball fan waits all year to watch. The possibility of victory, either as a favorite or an underdog, can be completely captivating. much farther away from the trophy, but everyone knows

What’s next for the Rockets Toledo will return to action on Friday, March 14, at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland to face a yet-tobe-determined opponent in the MAC Tournament Semifinals. Tip off is set for 9 p.m.

If the Rockets win that game, they will then play the victor of the other semifinals match up in the championship game Saturday. Tip off for that game is set for 6:30 p.m.

ACROSS 1. “Haste makes waste,” e.g.

6. Helicopter landing 9. Deadly slitherers 13. Bad car 14. Pub offering 15. Do this or forever hold your peace 16. Say pretty please 17. Junior’s junior 18. Down and out 19. *Sweet number in March 21. *Point and shooting players 23. Coltrane’s woodwind 24. Not in favor of 25. Final, abbr.

28. Essen basin 30. Firstborn 35. Story part 37. Plenty 39. 6 in 1/6 40. Fill to satisfaction 41. Pisa attraction 43. Not far 44. Correct 46. Japanese stringed instrument 47. Any of several languages of Celts 48. It’s to be brushed off 50. Invitation letters 52. England’s favorite drink in French 53. Exclamation of disgust 55. Diamond stat 57. Gluteus, pl.

60. *Grid 64. Grassy plain 65. *What teams do 67. Brownish gray 68. Fluorescent red dye 69. Down with the flu 70. Blew it 71. Wild goat 72. Red Cross bed 73. Midway attractions DOWN 1. “The Sound of Music” backdrop 2. Kosher establishment 3. Unacceptable to some merchants 4. *As opposed to heroes 5. Ingratiate 6. Sacrificed for gain?

7. Formerly Cassius Clay 8. Condescend 9. Copycat 10. *One of basketball sixteen 11. Stationer’s stock 12. *NCAA’s Big ___ Conference 15. Escargot

20. Feel like a champ 22. Shoshonean 24. MOMA display 25. *A #16 over a #1, e.g.

26. Andean pack animal 27. Luggage handler, e.g.

29. *Kind of shot down low 31. Eat 32. Make an effort 33. Money under mattress 34. *Value outside the arc 36. Backpacker’s shelter 38. Best of 5 of these in men’s tennis 42. Red _____ 45. *Opening round locale in OH 49. To feel regret 51. Chatterbox 54. Kind of duty 56. Ticks and mites and such

Last Week’s Puzzle Solved

57. Lump 58. Function as a laser 59. Computer operating system, not Windows 60. Aaron Rodgers’ mimed accessory

61. Kurdistan native 62. D’Artagnan’s weapon of choice 63. Kennedy and Turner 64. Waikiki wear 66. United Nations labor agency

Last week’s solution

COMMUNITY Wednesday, March 12

All day event -- Unexpected conclusions: the artwork of Clifton Harvey, will have some of his most creative works on display in the UT Clement Gallery located in the UT Center for Visual Arts, next to the Toledo Museum of Art. This exhibit is free and open to the public.

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CALENDAR

Wednesday, March 12, 2014 | The Independent Collegian |

Biking for a purpose STUDENT FEATURE

All day event -- UT Juried Students Exhibition, a competitive annual exhibition of works created by University of Toledo students, Center for the Visual Arts.

Thursday, March 13 4 p.m. -- Results from the weather on other worlds spitzer campaign: photometric Variability is ubiquitous on brown dwarfs, presented by Stan Metchev, Western University. It is free and open to the public, McMaster Hall 1005. Refreshments in McMaster Hall room 4009 at 3:30 p.m.

Friday, March 14 7:30 p.m. -- The birth of a solar system, travel back in time nearly five billion years and learn how the sun and planets formed, and how astronomers have pieced together the clues of our ancient origins. Tickets are $5 for students and senior, $7 for adults, Ritter Planetarium.

Tuesday, March 18 7:30 p.m. -- Stories thrown upon rocks and stones, play presented at Driscoll Alumni Center- Auditorium.

ABOVE: NICOLE BADIK/ IC RIGHT: COURTESY OF ALEJANDRO VERA

Above: Alejandro Vera poses in uniform with his bike by Pi Kappa Phi Greek letters.

Right: Alejandro Vera and Nicholas Horning train for their bicycle events to raise awareness for people with disabilities.

Two UT students set to travel for charity with their fraternity

By Joe Heidenescher Staff Reporter

Riding bikes across the country for charity is how two University of Toledo students will be spending their month of May. Alejandro Vera and Nicholas Horning, members of the University of Toledo’s chapter of Pi Kappa Phi, are participating in two annual bicycle events to raise awareness for people with disabilities. Vera and Nicholas will join other Pi Kappa Phi fraternity members from across the United States in the events organized by Push America.

Vera, a third-year professional sales, marketing and international business major, is participating in Gear Up Florida, an 865 mile bike ride across Florida. Horning will participate in Jour-

ney of Hope which is a 3,600 mile ride across the U.S. from San Francisco to Washington D.C. Throughout their trips, cyclists will stop and promote awareness about people with disabilities and present funds that were raised for the cause.

Along with visiting disability centers, Gear Up Florida will present raised funds to the centers they visit. Gear Up Florida has a goal to raise $110,000, Vera said.

Vera said this cause is important because everyone knows someone with a disability.

“Abilities are more important than disabilities — that’s why I’m doing this,” Vera said.

Push America is Pi Kappa Phi’s philanthropic organization that was founded in

INTERNATIONAL STUDENT ASSOCIATION

See Bike / 8 »

STUDENT GROUP

Annual Filipino conference to teach students networking and leadership skills COURTESY OF INTERNATIONAL STUDENT ASSOCIATION

Members of the Persian Students Association show off their international attire as part of the international fashion show at last year’s dinner. The theme for the event this year is Masquerade and will take place on March 14 at 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. in the Student Union Auditorium. Included with dinner will be student performances from their international cultures.

Masquerade dinner to highlight international students and their culture

By Lauren Bridgewater Staff Reporter

Cultural diversity, student performances and food from countries around the world will be at the International Student Association’s (ISA) 38th annual dinner.

The theme for the event is Masquerade and will take place on March 14 at 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. in the Student Union Auditorium.

The dinner is a way to showcase other cultures from around the world. It will feature different cuisine and performances from the cultures.

“The dinner is to celebrate and recognize all the different cultures and international students in the University of Toledo,” said Stephanie Cai, president of the ISA. “This is achieved through the food selection we will be providing for dinner and various talents that will be performed during the International Dinner by individuals or student organizations representing

their respective culture.”

Kaye Patten Wallace, vice president of the student experience, will be the opening speaker of the event.

Sohan Mutha, secretary of the ISA and a staff reporter for the Independent Collegian, said “It is one of the biggest events held at UT.” Everyone is welcome to come to the dinner said Michael Miranda, a fifth-year mechanical engineering major and vice-president of the ISA. This year’s theme was picked because of its relativity to the ISA’s goal.

“Masquerade was chosen this year because it captures the essence of why ISA exists. Although we all come from different places, and wear different ‘masks,’ we can still come together to accept each other and share with each other what we are about,” Miranda said.

Masks will be provided to all who attend but Cai also encourages attendees to bring their own masks to keep with

the theme.

“The purpose of the International Student Association is to help international students acclimate to American culture,” Cai said. “In addition, we help our member organizations to display and spread awareness of their culture and help each organization grow.”

The ISA is not just limited to the international students — any UT student can become involved.

One of the association’s major goals is to have more domestic students involved, Mutha said.

“We would love for non-international students to become involved in ISA to help us ease the international students’ assimilation into life in America/Toledo,” Miranda said.

The dinner costs $10 for students and $15 for the general public. Tickets for the dinner will be available at the door or can be purchased at Ask Rocky.

COURTESY OF UT FILIPINO-AMERICAN ASSOCIATION

At last year’s conference, members of UT Filipino-American Association work as a team in a workshop to solve a problem that their organization experiences with group members.

By Sohan Mutha Staff Reporter

Over 300 people from 20 universities will be on campus for the annual Midwest Filipino-American Summit (MFAS), from March 14 to March 16.

The University of Toledo FilipinoAmerican Association (UT FAA) was chosen to host this annual travelling conference by the Midwest Association of Filipino-Americans (MAFA), a regional non-profit organization.

John Carlo Miranda, a fourth-year exercise science major and the cocoordinator of MFAS, said that the huge sense of cultural pride present at the previous events is what drove them to host this conference at UT. “It’s a conference centered around Filipino culture,” said Michael Miranda, a fifth-year majoring in mechanical engineering and the president of MAFA. “We also incorporate heavily on leadership and networking.”

Michael said that 20 universities will come from Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.

The conference will start off with a “Formal Awards Night” on Friday, March 14 at 8 p.m. at the Ramada

Hotel on Secor Road.

A range of free workshops will be held from 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday in the Student Union and Memorial Field House with registrations starting at 8 a.m. in the Student Union Auditorium.

John Carlo said that they are offering a lot of great workshops that include a high-ropes course, a language workshop and a workshop centered around the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and asexual community.

“There’s a plethora of workshops,” Michael said. “There are some for working out and exercising with a mixed martial arts fighter, some for women empowerment, one for language and Filipino culture, one for multiculturalism for mixed race people.”

John Carlo said that the experience from the workshops is “a great learning opportunity” to develop some necessary skills for success in life.

“Being an organization affiliated with UT, it puts us in a position where we have a moral obligation to teach our fellow students the importance of certain skills,” John See Conference / 10 »

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| The Independent Collegian | Wednesday, March 12, 2014

NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION

Spread the Thread collects clothing for the less fortunate

AMANDA PITROF / IC

From left to right: Jered Hill, Jen Craig, Brooke Rudasill and Kelsey Scheerer sort through donated clothes at Olde Towne apartments. They will be accepting clothing donations through March 14.

By Jessica Liner Staff Reporter

The residence halls, Greek Village and Olde Towne apartments have acquired a few more garbage bags than usual — but what lies inside isn’t trash.

They’re there because of Spread the Thread, a non-profit organization that is collecting clothing donations through March 14 to provide clothes for the impoverished.

On Saturday, March 22, tables will be set up in the parking lot on the corner of Michigan St. and Adams St. from 10 a.m. to noon. People are free to rummage through the clothes and take as needed.

Brooke Rudasill, a sophomore exercise science major, started Spread the Thread in Lima in 2011. A high school student at the time, she and her sister realized they had way too many clothes — clothes the less fortunate needed. Thus, they started Spread the Thread, and held it quarterly in their hometown.

Jered Hill, a sophomore exercise science major, said he’s “excited to give back to the community” and to “potentially make a difference in someone’s life.”

Rudasill said that the clothes are sorted into sizes and organized in a way reminiscent of a department store. The aim is to not make people feel like a number,

but to establish a personal connection.

“People always leave with a hug and a ‘God bless you,’” Rudasill said.

When Rudasill and her sister first started, they helped 80 people in Lima.

But at the last event in November 2013, 300 people came. She estimates they have helped “a thousand people” overall.

Hill, who is also from Lima, helped Rudasill as she needed.

“I started out just helping out if they needed it,” he said, “but I loved it, so I’m really excited to have the opportunity to help bring it to Toledo.”

Shortly after Spread the Thread began, a preacher gave Rudasill a quote that inspired her: “What you care about, you’ll confront.

What concerns you, you’ll change.”

“And then I found out what concerned me, and what I care about,” she said. “What I care about is generational poverty. I care about the 12-year-old girl who has never known any different than going to a soup kitchen every day. I care about that 18-year-old boy who wants to have an interview, and who wants to have a job, but he doesn’t have good enough clothes to get that job.”

The following week, Rudasill heard Toledo’s poverty rate is the fastest growing in the nation that is why this is the first time

Spread the Thread is being held in Toledo.

Rudasill recalled an elderly lady, Helen, who came to Spread the Thread. Helen said she was just searching for clothes for her daughter, but Rudasill encouraged her to find clothes for herself. Helen doubted they had her size, but left with two garbage bags full of clothes.

“There’s tears rolling down our eyes, and she says, ‘I am so excited. I am so blessed to be given these clothes because now I can go to church, and no one will make fun of me for just wearing sweatpants.’ And that’s why we do it,” Rudasill said.

Another little girl told Rudasill that she only ever owned two stuffed animals, both of which she acquired through Spread the Thread.

“Now, if you think back to your childhood, and I think back to my childhood, I had enough stuffed animals to fill my whole bed,” Rudasill said. “So four times out of the year, it’s a very humbling experience. It really opens to your eyes to how blessed you are.”

She said she hopes to host Spread the Thread, with the help of the UT’s Bridge Club in sorting the clothes, on a quarterly basis. To volunteer, students can e-mail utspreadthethread@ gmail.com.

Bike

from page 7

1977. Since it was established, the organization has raised over $10 million for people with disabilities.

Vera will begin his bike ride in May. He will ride from Miami to Tallahassee over the course of 16 days.

Although Vera will not leave until May, he has begun preparation. His fundraising efforts have raised $2,524.13 as of March 9. This amount surpassed his original goal of $2,000.

Vera said he is the second in the nation to meet his goal.

Alongside raising money for the venture, Vera said he has trained for the journey by learning to ride a bike.

“I’m training to raise awareness for people with disabilities,” Vera said.

Vera said he has a personal reason to participate in this cause.

“I had a walking disability when I was four,” Vera said.

After surgery he was able to walk normally again.

He overcame his adversity and is currently the captain of his fraternity soccer team.

“I’d like to show people that you shouldn’t look at disabilities, but abilities,” Vera said.

Horning, a third-year exercise science major, will be performing similar tasks for disability centers across the nation.

Horning will leave for his bike ride from San Francisco to Wash-

ington D.C. that starts on May 26.

“It will be 62 days long and we will ride 75 miles on average,” Horning said.

Horning has raised $4,200, but needs to raise $5,500 to participate. Horning’s goal is to raise $7,000.

Horning said Journey of Hope will stop at disability centers every few days while biking 3,600 miles. At their stops they will visit people with disabilities, “develop friendships, play games, and eat dinners” with them.

Gear Up Florida, in addition to biking 865 miles, will make stops 3 to 5 times per day at disability centers across the state, Vera said.

At these visits Vera will be interacting with people with disabilities and he said many of the teenagers didn’t go to traditional high schools and have opportunities like prom.

Vera said he will watch movies, play games and participate in events with people with disabilities.

“It’s stuff like that that makes them happy,” Vera said.

Vera and Horning said they want to make a difference in the lives of people with disabilities and by participating in this event, Horning said they will.

For more information, e-mail Vera at Alejandro.VeraCorzo@rockets.utoledo.edu and Horning at Nickhg30@ gmail.com. To make a donation visit http://support.pushamerica.org/site/TR.

MORE ONLINE

Fifty Shades of Green Every year on that particular day in March, you somehow find yourself to be the only one at The Irish Pub in Franklin Park Mall without green on. Although you like to participate in the St. Patrick’s Day festivities, you refuse to wear any “Who’s Your Paddy” screen tees or obnoxious plastic top hats that refuse to stay on. To add to your burden, finding clothing that is both green and stylish is never easy.

ISIS DARKS FASHION EDITOR

There are fifty shades of green, and shamrock has never been my favorite. To avoid being pinched this year, here are three ways to standout in a good way during the upcoming Irish holiday.

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Wednesday, March 12, 2014 | The Independent Collegian |

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| The Independent Collegian | Wednesday, March 12, 2014

Tobacco ban from page 1

human condition allows a practice that basically kills the smoker and will increase the likelihood of killing everybody but.”

He said he wants a smoking ban that is educational as well as helpful.

“We ask for a smoking ban that is not necessary punitive,” Peachock said. “We ask for one that is educational, one that is helpful — one that doesn’t punish smokers for having an addiction but empowers them to kick the habit.”

Tavis Glassman, an associate professor who teaches drug awareness and health behavior courses, was also in favor of the ban. Glassman said everyone has the right to be in an environment free of carcinogens, which is also an environment free of tobacco smoke.

“We know there is carcinogens in second hand smoke, so as an employee, I feel that I have the right to be in an environment without those carcinogens,” Glassman said.

According to Glassman, though each individual has the right to decide whether or not to smoke, when the accumulation of people who smoke pile up for years, it takes a toll on the economy.

“It’s estimated a pack of cigarettes costs $5 to $6 nowadays, and for every pack of cigarettes that are purchased, it costs tax payers $10 to $12 in fees associated with providing medical services and lost productivity,” Glassman said. “So it really does impact us all.”

Glassman pointed out that “the more people see tobacco utilized, the more normalized it becomes.”

He said that those who are trying to quit smoking may be tempted to grab a cigarette when they see so many others smoking.

Glassman also said that the smoking huts have had an “unintended impact” on UT. “Anecdotally, it’s been said that people are using elicited drugs in these smoking huts, and that’s certainly not something we want to happen at the University of Toledo,” he said.

S. Amjad Hussain, Vice Chair of the Academic and Student Affairs Committee and member of the Clinical Affairs Committee, expressed his approval of the ban by saying that there are instances when societal needs trumps individual needs, and in the case of the smoking ban, he believes this is one of those instances.

When asked why the topic wasn’t further discussed, Hussain said the board still needs to “mull it over.”

“There is a small segment of the student body who would like to keep things as they are, and the question is let the board hear our different opinions and then mull it over,” Hussain said. “We will deliberate.”

With a background in thoracic cardiovascular surgery at the UT College of Medicine, Hussain said he has witnessed the evolution of smoking from the 1960’s, when it was “accepted as a cultural norm,” to today, where he said smoking is now “socially unacceptable.”

Conference from page 7

Carlo said. “That way their future careers can be more fruitful.”

According to Michael, following the workshops will be a “Variety Show” featuring a range of diverse performances from singing to dancing to spoken word.

“The variety show is a pretty cool show in general with cultural dances,” John Carlo said.

“We have a variety of other talents like someone’s coming in to perform yo-yo tricks.”

The highlight of the show will be a performance by Apollo Riego, a magician from New York.

“Not only is he a magician but he is also Filipino,” John Carlo said. “So we shared a culture and that was something that was so profoundly different from the other acts, so that’s what really spoke to us.”

Michael said that Riego’s performance involves “a whole bunch of crazy stuff ” and is very entertaining and will be followed by a symphony performance from UT FAA. Tickets for the “Variety Show” are $5 and will be available at the door.

MAFA will donate all proceeds to Advancement for Rural Kids (ARK) to help the victims

Hussain said people used to be able to light cigarettes anywhere in the medical college hospital, but now, the smoking area is limited to one chair in a gallery.

“Who would, in his or her right mind, go there and sit in that one small area in public view?” Hussain asked. “These are social pressures. We have done that for the sake of the society. The class-action suits against the cigarette companies, which gave billions and billions of dollars to many states, was to compensate for the money they have spent for the effects of smoking.”

Because Hussain said he knows the negative health effects of smoking, he thinks society’s safety should come first and that the ban should be passed.

“I am not against individual freedom, but in my mind, the society’s need and safety should come first,” Hussain said.

Matt Purdue, a student at UT, was the first to speak in opposition of the ban. Purdue said that because the current policy of smoking huts is not well enforced, a campus wide tobaccos ban would be difficult to control as well.

“If you’re seeing that people are using elicited substances in a known location and you’re unable to stop that from happening, there’s clearly issues with enforcement policies on campus,” Purdue said. “I feel that these are compelling reasons against an acting campus wide tobacco ban, that it would be impossible or at least very difficult to enforce without major reallocation of resources.”

Purdue also said that because main campus is a residential campus, students who live there want to be able to smoke and banning them from doing so is “unreasonable.”

“The reasons for a campus-wide tobacco ban on the health science campus? That’s pretty reasonable, but people live on Main Campus, and a lot of them smoke. Preventing them from doing that? I find that to be unreasonable.”

Mark Templin, associate professor in curriculum and instruction, said he is not a smoker, but is against the tobacco ban because he thinks it “won’t stop anyone from smoking in and of itself.”

He also said the ban won’t “add significantly to revenues generated through fines and penalties,” an issue which he said came up in Faculty Senate earlier.

Templin said the ban could even reduce campus safety, especially for students.

“This would take people off campus in order to smoke, and that risks them getting involved in vehicular accidents if they’re running across the street,” Templin said.

“Campus is a relatively safe place, but as soon as you step off campus, the safety is a little bit reduced, particularly at night.

There’s not as much patrolling going on in the city of Toledo as there in on campus itself.”

He also brought up the point that a tobacco ban may potentially cause some smokers to leave UT as well as cause some smoking students not to come to UT at all.

of Typhoon Haiyan.

Michael said that a closing ceremony will be held on Sunday, March 16 at noon in the Student Union Auditorium to wrap up the conference.

Attending the conference will help expose the students to Filipino culture and also give them a chance to branch out and network with students and professionals from across the Midwest, Michael said.

John Carlo said that the conference will help give recognition to UT among all the other schools and also put Toledo on the map.

“What I’ve learned throughout this is that players don’t win games, teams win games,” John Carlo said. “So our theme is “Pagkakaisa” which means unity in English.”

John Carlo said that understanding the Filipino culture, which is enriched by Arabic, Chinese, Indian, American and Spanish influences helps to give a greater understanding of humanity.

UT FAA will be sponsored by the Center for International Studies and Programs (CISP), Campus Activities and Programming (CAP) and the International Students Association (ISA) for this event.

For more information go to their website at http://wearemafa.weebly.com or email them at utfaamfas2014@gmail.com