95th year • Issue 4
Wednesday, September 4, 2013
New exercise combines acrobatics and yoga / 9 » www.IndependentCollegian.com
Serving the University of Toledo community since 1919
INSIDE
Bike-sharing program could be on the move Student Government passed a resolution Sept. 3 calling for action for an on-campus bike-sharing program that’s been stalled. News / 3 »
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“This should be remembered: the university’s brightest minds came together to try to work out an innocuous technical detail, and their months of effort turned out to mean nothing.”
auxiliary services
Dining dilemmas Students voice concern over on-campus dining choices By Lindsay Mahaney and Rebecca Wittkofske News Editor and Staff Reporter
With fewer on-campus dining locations, fewer hours of operation for many venues and a re-designed Rocky’s Grill, some University of Toledo students are voicing concern about changes to dining services unveiled this fall. The Horton International House dining hall, Presidents’ Hall iCrave and the College of Business and Innovation convenience store located in Stranahan South were all closed. Additionally, the hours
at the South dining hall, located in the Student Union, were decreased. However, the Ottawa East dining hall hours were increased. Director Joy Seifert said the auxiliary services department tracks the number of meal swipes used at every dining location, which helps them determine the amount of locations, hours and staff members required for service. Seifert said the highest amount of activity last spring was found at the Ottawa dining hall, with about 70,000 swipes, and the Carter Provisions On Demand (POD), with
about 99,000 swipes. “We just didn’t have the numbers that supported keeping that many dining halls open,” Seifert said. “So we kept the ones open that made sense. Statistically, we closed those that were truly just underutilized and didn’t have as much traffic.” Auxiliary Services is given a budget of $13.17 million to use for all costs including labor, facilities and products. Seifert said there have been
See Dining / 4 »
Student entrepreneur
By Samantha Rhodes and Amaris Smith Associate News Editor and Staff Reporter
Isis Darks asks three Chinese international students about their home country’s fashion trends. Courtesy Laurel Lovitt
Laurel Lovitt, a second-year majoring in sales and marketing, launched Laurel’s Princess Parties in May. At the parties, Lovitt becomes Princess Laurel and hosts “princess training,” which includes proper posture, tiara-making, story-time, how to curtsy and bow and why manners are important. Lovitt’s parties are currently booked for 6 months out.
A dream come true
Senators have started gathering student opinions once a week around campus. News / 3 »
Rockets head to Missouri If Terrance Owens improves his performance, Toledo could deliver an upset. Sports / 6 »
Courtesy of UT Auxiliary Services
Sexual assault prompts reminder of victim resources
Harajuku for you
Student Government starts ‘Tabling Tuesday’ initiative
Carter POD: 98,321 Ottawa East: 69,224 Parks Tower: 45,951 South Dining: 25,517 Crossings: 17,811 I-House: 17,668 Croutons: 14,901
Crime
IC Editorial “A waste of brain power” opinion / 8 »
Community / 10 »
Number of dining swipes for Spring 2013
UT student starts business to teach young girls respect, self-confidence
By Amanda Eggert
Associate Community Editor
While some young girls fantasize about growing up to be a princess, a University of Toledo student is living that dream. It started as a one-time thing, dressing up as a princess for a family friend’s birthday party. But it turned into a small successful business for Laurel Lovitt, a second-year majoring in sales and marketing. Her business, Laurel’s Princess Parties, was launched in May 2013 and is currently booked for 6 months out. Lovitt said as Princess Laurel, she helps young girls build confidence and teaches them to respect others. “It’s not the crown and the dress that you wear, but it is how you uphold yourself and how each of us can be a role-model in our community,” she said. “We can all be leaders, but how can you do that? That’s the role of a princess.” At the parties as Princess Laurel, Lovitt hosts “princess training,” which includes proper posture, how to curtsy and bow and why manners are important. But it’s not all hard work — there’s
also story-time and tiara-making. “They make their own tiara, but they are not allowed to put those tiaras on because I bring the red carpet and I actually crown each of the girls a princess,” she said. “They have to take a royal oath and it’s that they are going to be respectful and kind to one another, and that they are going to live out the life of a princess and be a leader and role model.” After the coronation ceremony takes place, the girls enjoy a celebration ball filled with music and dancing. Lovitt signs pictures as Princess Laurel when the party ends, and the girls each get a copy. But signing autographs isn’t what Lovitt said it’s all about; it’s about the smiles. “Each and every weekend when I put on that dress and that tiara, I know what it stands for,” she said, “and it’s not just an item, but it’s what’s inside … that’s the inner princess.” Being a positive role model is something Lovitt said she values in her life and in her business. “I think with me it’s the greatest college experience because I get to run my own business, work my own hours and have so much fun being a role model for the com-
munity,” she said. Along with the support of her family and boyfriend, Lovitt said her friends and members of the community have supported her dream as well. “It’s been a very positive reaction in the community and I’m just thankful,” she said. “I was able to leave my job at the Disney store and do this full-time, and it’s just been a blessing.” In pursuit of those dreams, Lovitt plans to franchise nationwide or franchise as a non-profit organization after she graduates from UT. “I see that vision of leaving a legacy and helping the future generation to grow and all of us can do that with working together.” Lovitt also wants to create a line of ball gowns that are affordable for girls. And on top of that, she is also considering writing and illustrating children’s stories about anti-bullying and respect. “You dream big or you go home,” she said. Dreaming big is advice that Lovitt has taken to heart and recommends for everyone — as long as it comes with action. “I just had this dream of becoming a princess,” she said, “and now it’s a reality.”
In the wake of a report last week of a woman being sexually assaulted in a residence hall, University of Toledo officials are reminding students of the options available to victims. UT’s Chief of Police Jeff Newton said that at about 4 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 25, a male student met a female student in Ottawa West residence hall, where she lives, and that “some sexual activity” then took place. “At some point, the female indicated she wanted the activity to stop and she stated that it did not,” Newton said. “She went to the hospital and a sexual assault kit was done for evidence and we began to investigate the case.” Newton said this was the first case of sexual assault reported to university police this academic year. Sexual assault cases involve people who know one another, he said, which was the case in this report. “The situation where the unknown person and unknown assailant jumps out the bushes and sexually assaults you is the rare situation,” Newton stated “What we more commonly see is people that are familiar with each other and consent is not clearly communicated and a sexual assault occurs.” Newton added that drugs and alcohol were not a factor in this case. Though the suspect has not yet been charged, he has been interviewed by UT police, and Newton said the investigation will continue. “You have to keep in mind sexual assault survivors may or may not want to pursue criminal charges,” Newton See Assault / 4 »