UT 101 2016

Serving the University of Toledo community since 1919

UT101

A student-to-student guide to life at the University of Toledo

2 | The Independent Collegian | Fall Semester 2016

Fall Semester 2016 | The Independent Collegian |

3

Welcome to UT! A letter from the IC staff New Students, Congratulations and let us be the first to formally welcome you to the University of Toledo. Whether you’re just like most people and recently graduated from high school, or if you took a few years off to get ready, or are coming back to finish a degree, you will likely be spending the next few years here at UT, which, if you do them right, have the potential to be the most exciting, fulfilling and mind-blowing years of your life.

Starting off at any new school can be a challenge, but making the switch from high school to college adds in the extra step of learning how to take care of yourself. While you try to navigate your way around campus you’ll often have a lot of questions about what to do and where to go. Luckily, the staff here at The Independent Collegian knows what it’s like to be a freshman, and not want to look like you’re a freshman, which is why we print our UT 101 edition.

This paper is chock-full of useful information, tricks to surviving on campus and advice from students who have already been there. Anything you need to know about parking, busses, dorm life or how to break out of your

personal bubble into a beautiful social butterfly you can find here.

Other than UT 101, during the regular academic year we run a weekly paper that comes out every Wednesday. We distribute these for free from stands across campus and in local business around Toledo. All you have to do is walk around pretty much any building on campus and find a stand that says ‘The Independent Collegian’ and there you have it. It’s the perfect way to stay up-to-date on all things UT during the year.

Overall we hope that your freshman year here at UT is everything you’ve ever wanted it to be. Our goal is to make your navigation through this process as easy as it can possibly be. And if you’re ever interested in writing or working for a newspaper or if you just like what we do here, don’t be afraid to stop by and let us know. You can contact us any time at editor@independentcollegian.com or come to our office located on the first floor of Carlson Library by the entrance closest to the Student Union. Have a great year and go Rockets!

CURTIS LANE / IC

A student shows his UT pride at the 2015 homecoming football game against Kent State.

Homecoming is one of the many events can participate in throughout the year.

A letter from the Student Government president

AMAL MOHAMED

IC Staff

SG PRESIDENT

Welcome Rockets!

IC FILE PHOTO

The IC staff poses for a photo at their end of the year banquet, where editors are honored for their hard work

I would like to personally welcome each and every one of you and congratulate you on your excellent decision to attend the University of Toledo! As a freshman, college may seem like a daunting experience, but rest assured that you will be provided with the necessary tools and resources to succeed. As a rising senior, I’ve been reflecting on the last three years that I’ve spent at the university, and find myself in awe of how

much Toledo has helped me grow as a person. As you enter your freshman year, I’d like to share with you five things that are essential to a successful first semester. WARNING: You have mostly likely heard these things once before — probably multiple times, actually.

It’s not because this is the generic thing to say to freshmen. It’s because they are so, so true. I am telling you these things, not as a parent, not as a teacher, not even as a friend. Rather, as a once struggling freshman at this very school. If you want a successful first semester, do the following: 1. Grab that free planner they are handing out on every corner first week classes.

More importantly, USE IT. Professors will not remind you of due dates, and it is very hard to get used to.

Planners are essential to time management.

2. Utilize office hours. This is an important one. You are going from 20+ people in a class to 200+ lectures. Get to know your professors. They want you to succeed, but they may not know who you are.

3. WE HAVE A TUTORING CENTER. I put that one in caps because I did not know about it until my second semester. Its free to all students and they help you with everything from papers to chemistry problems.

The learning enhancement center is located in the basement of the library. Visit them!

4. Get involved, but not TOO involved. I truly believe there is a club on this campus for everyone. Explore your options! However, as a freshman, do not join too many too soon. Make sure you are comfortable with

the workload that accompanies college first.

5. Leave time for a social life. College is overwhelming, and it is easy to burn yourself out. Make sure you leave time for friends and yourself. Sometimes it is okay to take the night off from studying, and watch a movie with your roommates!

If you ever have any concerns and/or questions, be sure to contact your Student Government! Our office is located on the third floor of the Student Union and it is always open to students. I hope that you all have the experience of a lifetime and, again, welcome to Toledo! Go Rockets!

Amal Mohamed University of Toledo Student Body President

4 | The Independent Collegian | Fall Semester 2016

Mapping the ins and outs A guide to navigating UT’s web and portal systems

By Bryce Buyakie Staff Reporter

You need to know these two important resources when you become a student at the University of Toledo: MyUT and Blackboard.

Knowing how to navigate these two sites will save you a big headache when it comes to bills, grades and other important resources.

To make things easier for your freshman journey, here’s a guide to each of those sites.

MyUT Portal:

SCREENSHOT FROM UT PORTAL HOMEPAGE

What it is: MyUT is your life — everything in these four tabs are essential to college life.

How to find it: Go to The University of Toledo homepage and look for MY UT under the Menu dropdown at the top of the page.

Then, click “LOGIN” in the top right and type in your

UT username and password.

Student Tab: Under here, you can access a number of important links that will allow to you to organize and complete tasks necessary to college life. Under My Toolkit, you can register and drop classes, request parking permits, check your final grades, apply for financial aid, pay for tuition and other expenses via View/Pay Bill (e-statement), make Rocket card deposits and apply for student housing.

The right hand side of the Student tab holds Blackboard and Rockets Email, both of which are extremely important. Teachers and student organizations will send you information through email. Blackboard is essential for homework and grades, but that will be See Navigate / 5 »

Fall Semester 2016 | The Independent Collegian |

Navigate from page 4

covered in more depth later in this article. Lastly all of the important dates, deadlines and calendars are listed for each college and for the campus at large.

Student Resources: The Student Resources tab is where information on student organizations, government, sports and Greek Life can be accessed.

Campus health care and other links pertaining to life on and off campus are listed on the left side as well. These include links to the Rec Center, Rocket Card, My UT Pharmacy and dining services.

On the right there are student academic enrichment links including the honors college, undergraduate research, study abroad, tutoring and college specific services. Also listed is Career Services, which can help find internships and assist in build resumes.

UT Community: The third tab is UT Community is dedicated to services such as dining, campus safety, directions, maps, bus routes and health and wellness. The right side includes student shopping, electronic services and requests to be put in for specific facilities and services. At the bottom are links for printable forms and information on college specific technology and software.

5

The final tab is where the information and news for the related libraries is located. From here you can search for books, check your account and record with the library, and access online resources for research. The right-hand side has up-to-date news for related library services and lists the various academic collections UT has to offer.

Tip: Keep Blackboard bookmarked, so you don’t have to go through myUT portal. You can also download the app, which will then send you notifications when things are posted.

Blackboard: To access Blackboard, return to the Student tab on the My UT homepage and navigate to UT Online on the right side.

Under here is the link to Blackboard. The login information will be the same for Blackboard as it was for My UT. Blackboard is where all important information such as grades, homework, readings, quizzes and resources will be held for each class. The homepage is split into

IC FILE PHOTO / IC

The UT portal is the homepage for all UT related links and resources. Here, students can find links to apply for housing, pay bills, buy parking permits and check final grades. There are also links that will take the student to the UT email and the Blackboard Portal embedded on the page.

three columns. On the left is where new updates will be added and announcements for each class will be listed. The middle column will list the courses being taken, student organizations and overall grades for the semester. Click on any of the courses listed to go to their homepage. Listed here is ‘A Guide to UT Online Learning’ and UT Portal Services that assist with any Blackboard or My UT Portal problems. On the far right there are Tools for student use, tasks and a “To Do” section listing

IC FILE PHOTO / IC

Blackboard is an online resource for students to keep track of their grades and class assignments. Teachers will often post announcements, due dates for projects, and other useful information here for students. Any student enrolled at UT should check their Blackboard regularly for useful information.

upcoming assignment, due dates and past due items.

Clicking on a course from the course list will take you that course’s respective homepage. On the left there should a table of contents with Start Here at the top or somewhere in the mix followed by Syllabus, Lecture Slides, Course News, Learner Support LibGuides, My Grades and anything else the instructor puts there.

Start Here will be an introduction to the course describing the course and listing the required books. Syllabus and Lecture Slides will be similar to Start Here, but will include handouts, notes and slides.

Course News will keep you upto-date on the course. Learner Support will provide a variety of technical aid if you encounter Blackboard-related problems. LibGuides will redirect you to resources related to the course that may be useful for research or further explanations of a subject. Lastly, My Grades lists your grades from the semester along with any comments your instructor may have on an assignment.

In the upper right-hand corner is your name and power button, below that is My Institution, Student Support and Starfish. Student Support is a way for students to access academic resources and get help

with Blackboard related problems. Starfish is a program used

by Success Coaches and instructors to reach out to students as a way to improve students’ chances of success.

Clicking on your name will open a drop box with five options on the left, and recently visited courses on the right. On the left you can access the Blackboard homepage, posts from assignments, updates, grades and a calendar for each class.

For students who have any issues with either the UT Portal or Blackboard, there are two links at the very top of the UT Portal page which say My UT Help and Account Maintenance.

Both of these links will lead students to pages where they can either troubleshoot issues or contact support for assistance.

Tip: Your UT email can be accessed by going through the myUT portal. However, you can go to email. utoledo.edu if you want to check your email without having to go through the portal. ments are posted.

6 | The Independent Collegian | Fall Semester 2016

Why I chose a Living Learning Community

JESSICA HARKER EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

As a freshman in college, everything is new. You have to share a new room with a new person on a new campus with new professors and new peers.

Freshman year is truly just a mass amount of freshly freed adults, wandering aimlessly through the year and making mess after mess as they try to figure out, “What the hell am I supposed to do now?”

Most resident advisers will say the first step is to go out and be

As a freshman, you need to pounce on every opportunity to force yourself out of the personal bubble called your dorm room and socialize.

involved in the community, but reaching out and making friends with everyone is a lot harder than it’s cracked up to be. This can be especially true if it’s one of your first times away from home, or if you and your roommate aren’t the instant best friends all the chick-flicks said you’d be. This is why joining a Living Learning Community as a freshman is such a good idea.

As a freshman in 2014, I joined what was then called the Arts Living Learning Community. Housed in the 5th floor of Ottawa East residence hall, we got course credit both fall and spring semester for joining the “class.” Though to call it a class wouldn’t really do the ALLC justice — we didn’t take tests or learn anything really, we just hung out.

As a communication major, I wasn’t even sure I was going to be allowed to join, and almost didn’t even try. But I figure the college I was in is the college of College of Communication and the Arts, so they can’t really tell me no, right?

Well, they didn’t, and as it turns out, anyone with any major could have joined. All that was required was that you went to a weekly meeting and paid a small fee, which financed a huge number of trips during the year. The year I joined, we went to plays, saw movies, took trips to museums and even went to Chicago for a

I got to live on the same floor with people who had similar interests.

We all became very good friends, and even almost two years later I’m still best friends with the people I met there. weekend trip.

I got to live on the same floor with people who had similar interests. We all became very good friends, and even almost two years later I’m still best friends with the people I met there.

The benefits of finding a Living Learning Community that fits your interests are substantial. As a freshman, you need to pounce on every opportunity to force yourself out of the personal bubble called your dorm room and socialize.

I spent too much time in a blanket fort watching The LWord and Bob’s Burgers on Netflix — being part of the ALLC was just the push I needed to join the land of the living.

This is also a great way to find groups of people to study with and create a squad of your own for support in your classes, since you’ll likely be surrounded with people

who have the same or similar majors. So if you do decide that your bed is just too cozy and it’s just too cold to walk to class that day, you’ll have someone to help you out.

Although the ALLC no longer exists at UT, there are still a bunch of other cool Living Learning Communities you can join on campus. There’s one for business students, for engineering students, medical students, honors students and many more. If you don’t feel like any of them fit you, there’s also the First Year Experience community which is broader than the other communities and that every freshman who lives in Parks Tower is required to join.

Overall, joining a Living Learning Community as a freshman made my first year bearable, even

But the ALLC pushed me out of my comfort zone and helped me make lifelong friends. It’s an experience everyone should have, and I encourage you to do it. enjoyable! It’s not easy, being new, and sometimes it’s more about surviving than “realizing the true freshman experience.” But the ALLC pushed me out of my comfort zone and helped me make lifelong friends. It’s an experience everyone should have, and I encourage you to do it.

Specialized Living Communities Available at UT Living Learning Communities: •

• • • •

Business and Innovation Living Learning Community Engineering Living Learning Community Health Professions Living Learning Community Health, Wellness, and Leisure Living Learning Community Politics, Law and Humanities Living Learning Community

• •

Honors Living Learning Community Multicultural Emerging Scholars Program

Special Interest Communities: • • • •

Alcohol & Substance Free Floors Diversity in the Arts Special Interest Community First Year Experience Gender Neutral Community

Fall Semester 2016 | The Independent Collegian |

7

Off the beaten track

Club sports offer UT students the chance to get involved

By Ian Davis Sports Editor

If you enjoyed playing high school sports and wish you could keep playing, you don’t necessarily have to join one of the official athletic teams to stay involved.

At the University of Toledo there are alternatives like table tennis, Quidditch, hockey, and 19 other sports that might interest you. Club sports at the UT are not like the football, basketball, or baseball teams who compete at the division one level that you see on ESPN. The clubs sports at UT do compete with other universities and travel like a division one team travels for away games.

Baseball

The baseball club was just recently founded in 2015 and is looking to grow. In the spring of 2016 they played ten games

going 5-4-1. The club traveled to Cleveland State University, Ball State University, University of Akron, and the University of Dayton to play games. They also hosted Wright State University for a double header on April 30th, and ended up sweeping the Raiders.

Track

On your mark, get set, check out the track and field team. With six meets this spring, the track and field team hosted one meet and traveled for the others to schools like University of Michigan and Defiance University. They have practice five days a week on the outside track by Fetterman in the spring.

Fencing

Ever think of playing with swords? Fencing would be

perfect for you. The fencing team practices every Tuesday and Thursday in the Health Education Center (HEC) 7:3011:00 p.m. Personal equipment isn’t required, although participants are welcome to bring their own if they want.

Hockey Men’s hockey is in the fall with games going on around the Midwest, and gives students the opportunity to hit the ice with their pucks and sticks.

“I joined club hockey at UT because I wanted to further my hockey career in college. It is a great time, with even better people!” said sophomore defensemen Devin Gabella.

Table tennis

Table tennis is normally a basement activity but here at UT they have a club for it.

Practices at the HEC Tuesday and Fridays 6-9 p.m. The table tennis club has the biggest roster of all of the sports clubs, so students looking for a big community will have plenty of people to meet.

Sailing

IAN DAVIS / IC

Two members of the hockey team hover near the goal, ready to assist their teammates for a goal. The hockey team’s games begin during the fall and they travel across the Midwest to compete.

Sail the ocean blue on the sailing team. This is a co-ed sport that travels around the Midwest sailing against varsity teams. It is committed in helping new and interest students in getting involved in the sport of sailing, as well as developing nationally competitive sailors.

WAYNE HABERSTRO

A member of the men’s bowling team aims for a strike as he competes in a tournament. The University of Toledo has both a men’s and a women’s bowling team.

Frisbee Frisbee is a basic college sport that many students play casually, just for fun. The Ultimate woman’s and men’s teams takes that to the next level.

Both teams regularly travel to tournaments across Ohio.

Lacrosse

Men’s and women’s lacrosse is run by the students, who fundraise during the year to cover travel costs. Practices are generally spaced out through the week, and most games are on weekends.

“I love club lacrosse because I is a great way to stay active

during the school, and you are involved around the University.

It is also a great way to improve leadership skills and also practice responsibility,” said junior offensive forward Rebecca Kukalis.

Other clubs include men’s and women’s bowling, rowing, men’s and women’s soccer, tennis, men’s and women’s volleyball, and wrestling.

All information can be found on the UT Rec Center’s website.

If you have any interest in joining club sports or who want to know more about them, email utreccenter@utoledo.edu, again welcome to UT!

8 | The Independent Collegian | Fall Semester 2016

Looking forward: a preview of fall sports at UT

By Jackson Rogers Staff Reporter

The University of Toledo fall sports will begin their seasons late August. UT will field nine varsity teams, four being from the men’s side and five being from the women’s side.

The men’s and women’s cross country teams had a decent 2015 campaign. Both teams had a couple of top ten finishes in their races over the year.

Both the men’s and women’s best finishes came at the UB Stampede Invitational, where the women finished third overall and the men finished fourth overall.

The teams made to both the MAC and NCAA championships, with the men finishing ninth and 24th respectively and the women finishing ninth and 18th. The

2016 schedule for both teams has still been yet to be released.

Thefootball team comes off of a successful 2015 season, compiling a 10-2 record and defeating Temple 32-17 in the Boca Raton Bowl.

The team won its first seven games, and pulled off an upset against No. 18 Arkansas, resulting in being nationally ranked in the AP Top 25 Poll as high as 19th.

The team returns leading rusher Kareem Hunt who ran for 999 yards and scored 12 touchdowns. Toledo also returns leading receiver Corey Jones, who caught 55 balls for 577 yards and scored five touchdowns.

Rocket Football will kick off again on Sept. 3 when they travel to take on Arkansas State.

Both golf teams enjoyed success in 2015. The men had a

first place finish at the Notre Dame Kickoff Challenge and the women place first in 11 tournaments. The teams finished middle of the pack in their respective NCAA tournaments.

The women return seniors Manisa Isavas, Sathika Ruenreong and

Morgan Salm, while the men return seniors Otto Black and Thomas Shindler.

There has been no schedule released yet for either team.

The men’s and women’s tennis teams had records of 7-17 and 9-13 respectively.

Quality wins for the men were against Youngstown State and Detroit. Quality wins for the women were against Cincinnati and Bowling Green.

The men return only one senior, Stjepan Sisko and the women return juniors Sidnay Huck, Megan Miller and Colleen O’Brien.

There has been no schedule released for

either team.

The women’s soccer team went 9-12 in 2015 and lost in the first round of the MAC tournament to Western Michigan 3-0. Quality wins for the team were against Detroit and Bowling Green.

The team will return leading scorers senior Isa Echeverri, who scored six goals and senior Kiersten Johnson who scored four goals.

There has been no schedule released for the women’s soccer team.

The women’s volleyball team had a record of 6-23 and did not make the MAC tournament.

Quality wins for the team were over Bowling Green and Akron.

The team will return seniors Maggie Johnston and Lindsay Smith.

The team will start its season on Aug. 26 at the Wright State tournament in Dayton, Ohio.

Fall Semester 2016 | The Independent Collegian |

Football Stats 2015-16 12/22/15 Boca Raton, FL: Toledo 32, TEMPLE 17 11/27/15 Toledo, OH: Western Michigan 35, Toledo 30 11/17/15 Bowling Green, OH: Toledo 44, Bowling Green 28 11/10/15 Mount Pleasant, MI: Toledo 28, Central Michigan 23 11/03/15 Toledo, OH: Northern Illinois 32, Toledo 27 10/24/15 Foxboro, MA: Toledo 51, Massachusetts 35 10/17/15 Toledo, OH: Toledo 63, Eastern Michigan 20 10/10/15 Toledo, OH: Toledo 38, Kent State 7 10/03/15 Muncie, IN: Toledo 24, Ball State 10 09/26/15 Toledo, OH: Toledo 37, Arkansas State 7 09/19/15 Toledo, OH: Toledo 30, Iowa State 23 09/12/15 Little Rock, AR Toledo: 16, Arkansas 12

9

10 | The Independent Collegian | Fall Semester 2016

What are you really paying for?

A look into the fees students pay at UT

By Morgan Kovacs Staff Writer

Tuition and student loans are such a hot topic that it’s good for students to know the ins and outs of the University of Toledo’s tuition and fees. Full-time undergrads will pay $4,025.88 this year in tuition alone, before all the fees. Add in just the required fees, and the total bill is $5,391. We’ll break down each fee and tell you what it does, starting with the largest one: the general fee.

You must pay $49.60 for each credit hour you take. (So a “full” part-time student taking six credit hours would pay $297.60.). The maximum you can be charged is $595.20 each semester, the amount for 12 credit hours. In the summer, that fee is $29.76 for a maximum total of $357.12.

“The library resource fee goes to support the purchased library books and electronic sources.”

BARBARA FLOYD Interim director of university libraries

According to some of UT’s literature, this fee pays for “activities sponsored by the Student Government,” athletic programs and events, and many of the activities student organizations host. You are also entitled to free admission to the student section at sporting events, and free or discounted admission to most student org events.

Each college charges its own fee which covers program, technology and lab fees.

Generally you will only be charged a lab fee if you are taking a lab class, but program and technology fees are common for all students. Those pay for special classes and upkeep for computer labs and other college-specific resources.

Facility fees pay for infrastructure maintenance and renovation. Right now, UT is renovating the Memorial Field House and Carlson Library, so there is a charge of $5.20 per credit hour, to a maximum of $62.40. Some colleges have previously charged facility fees of their own, but we are unaware of any collegespecific ones at this time.

The Library Resource Information Fee costs $6 per credit hour for undergrads and $8 per credit hour for graduate students. Barbara Floyd, the interim director of university libraries, said the library uses this money to purchase books and provide access to online research platforms.

“The library resource fee goes to support the purchased library books and electronic sources,” Floyd said. “This year, the library purchased over $3 million worth of electronic journals and books, databases and resources purchased cooperatively through [library consortium] OhioLink.”

Law students get access to special resources for $16 per credit hour. Undergraduate students enrolled in at least one business class pay a flat fee of $19 each semester for a subscription to The Wall Street Journal.

Students who take online classes pay an additional $25 per class. Joely Giammarco, senior business manager and assistant to the See Fees / 11 »

Example of the costs per semester Tuition $5,391.00 General fee $595.20 College tech & lab fee $150.00 Facility fees $62.40 Library info fee $90.00 Wall Street Journal $19.00 Online classes (2) $50.00 Rocket Card $35.00 Legal services fee $10.00 Green Fund fee $5.00 Parking permit $125.00 TOTAL: $6,532.60

Fall Semester 2016 | The Independent Collegian |

Fees

from page 10

assoc. VP of academic finance, said UT’s fee for online courses is smaller than at most universities. Giammarco said the standard is $35 per credit hour.

UT requires all students to have health insurance to a minimum standard equivalent to UT’s most basic plan. If you already have that kind of insurance, you can waive the fee by completing the appropriate form in MyUT. Otherwise you must pay to enroll in one of UT’s health insurance plans.

You must also have a UT identification card, commonly called a Rocket Card, which costs $35. Most incoming students take their photo at orientation, but you can submit your own profile photo if it meets UT’s guidelines.

Some fees are optional, like the legal services fee. The $10 fee allows access to lawyers at Student Legal Services, who provide minor counsel, such as reading your lease agreements and facilitating the process of waiving UT parking tickets.

The Student Green Fund fee is an optional $5 which, according to fund administrators, goes toward projects that promote sustainability

and renewable energy.

If you plan to park on campus, you must purchase a parking permit for $125 per semester. Some lots are restricted to upperclassmen, faculty and administrators.

When looking at the cost of tuition, it is important to remember to add all the extras, which will be different for everyone after taking optional fees, living arrangements, textbooks and supplies into consideration.

If you’re looking for more detailed information, take a look at UT’s finance brochure by visiting the finance page on UT’s website.

Tips to knowing your fees: All students must pay $49.60 for each credit hour. A “full” part-time student taking six credit hours would pay $297.60.

The maximum a student can be charged is $595.20 each semester, the amount for 12 credit hours. In the summer, that fee is $29.76 for a maximum total of $357.12.

11

7

12 | The Independent Collegian | Fall Semester 2016

1. The BIG Event

things to look forward to at UT 5.

UT students come together for one-day community service projects around Toledo to show appreciation to the surrounding community. It began in 1982, is usually held in March and has been called the largest student-run service project in the nation. About 2,500 students volunteered last academic year.

Student Organiz

SAVANNAH JOSLIN / IC

Do you fancy fe wanted learn ho 2. Food Trucks: dance? Want to Local food trucks occasionally visit UT’s campus. All members of the UT community dents who have are welcome to come and enjoy this opportunity to taste something different while you’re and interests as on campus. nual student org is a great way to interests and get

7.

AMANDA PITROF / IC

3. BGSU vs. UT For nearly 100 years, Bowling Green State University and the University of Toledo have been bitter enemies. Since 1919, the two have fought it out on the football field for glory and a shiny trophy. This year’s rivalry game is also our Homecoming game on Oct. 15. Go show your support and school spirit and help cheer on the team. Let’s go Rockets!

SAVANNAH JOSLIN / IC SAVANNAH JOSLIN / IC

Fall Semester 2016 | The Independent Collegian |

13

4. Homecoming Homecoming week includes traditions such as the parade, bonfire, court and of course, the football game. This year’s Homecoming is the week of Oct. 10. Celebrate the gold and blue and learn what it means to be a Rocket.

CURTIS LANE / IC

5. Student Organization Fair Do you fancy fencing? Always wanted learn how to ballroom dance? Want to meet other students who have the same likes and interests as you? The annual student organization fair is a great way to pursue these interests and get connected with other students. During the first week of classes, members of Greek, religious, athletic and academic groups will have information tables set up on Centennial Mall.

6. New Student Convocation and BBQ Celebrate your first week on campus and become part of the Rocket family at convocation on Aug. 19 in Savage Arena. Be inducted into the UT family and kick off the school year right with tips on how to navigate your first semester of classes and campus life. You will also have the opportunity to meet other new students and interact with professors. After convocation, enjoy a free BBQ lunch, music and lots of giveaways.

CURTIS LANE / IC

7. Songfest Sororities, fraternities and UT organizations gather every year to compete in Songfest. Since 1937, the springtime competition features groups singing and dancing with props and costumes as they try for the top spot. But winning isn’t everything — the money raised by each group goes toward a different charity every year.

SAVANNAH JOSLIN / IC

14 | The Independent Collegian | Fall Semester 2016

Fall Semester 2016 | The Independent Collegian |

Living in the dorms helped me discover my college experience

COLLEEN ANDERSON

MANAGING EDITOR

Dorm life can get a pretty bad rap when you start out at college. No one wants to live in a place where they feel like their freedoms are limited, especially after they’ve just finally been liberated from their homes. But what a lot of people don’t know is all the joys and benefits that come from living in a dorm.

While an apartment and all the luxurious freedom that comes with it can seem tempting, dorm living has a lot to offer, and can help ease the transition from living at home to on your own.

Personally, I would never have been as successful as I am at college without having lived in the dorms for the last two years.

On top of giving me a taste of living on my own, living on campus forced me to learn how to balance the time I spent with my family with my new life at school.

COURTESY OF NEERA MARTIN

To me, dorm life provided security and consistency in an often changing environment. My first year, I lived in Parks Tower, which is full of freshman

who are all struggling to find their way around campus.

Though it was hard at times, looking back now living in Parks was exactly what I needed to get me acclimated, both with the good and the not-so-great.

At first, it mostly meant getting used to being around lots of people in a busy environment, with both people that I liked and people that I didn’t like. I did laundry in the basement for the first time by myself, figured out how much fresh fruit you can buy without it rotting before you eat it, and learned how to iron my skirt in a room barely big enough to set up the ironing board. It was the perfect balance of being autonomous and having the structure that I needed, and it was always reassuring to know that there were people all around if I needed help.

On top of giving me a taste of living on my own, living on campus forced me to learn how to balance the time I spent with my family with my new life at school, and figuring out where I fit in in a new community. Being from Toledo it was hard at first not to spend a lot of time at home since it was so close and it was what I had been used to for 18 years. The welcome week events that I went to with my roommate were probably the only reason that I left my room throughout that first week, because by nature, I’m a pretty shy person. Having something to get me out of my room and meeting people, even when it was hard, helped me realize how important it was going to be to put myself out there and take a chances in order to make friends, instead of hiding in my room or with my parents at home.

After two whole years of living in the dorms there’s never been a day where I didn’t see a poster for an event that you can go to.

Whether it’s a Frisbee match or an ice-cream social the night of

15

scheduling, dorm life is constantly active, and if you look for it you can always find something to do.

But living in a dorm is different from living in an apartment or at home because it comes with its own built-in community, but there’s no pressure. This can be good for those who like to make a lot of friends as well as people like me who occasionally need a little nudging to socialize. Whether you want to go or not is entirely up to you, and I’ve never felt bad about saying either no or yes.

After two whole years of living in the dorms there’s never been a day where I didn’t see a poster for an event that you can go to.

There are a lot of benefits to living off campus that I’m excited to experience, but I know that even when I do make the move, I’ll miss life in the dorms. I’m going to miss the convenience of never having to worry about parking at 9:45 when my class starts at 10, and I’m not looking forward to having to remember which bills to pay when.

Being close enough to campus that I can wake up five minutes before my classes and still make it to them on time has saved my life a couple of times, but it’s more than just the convenience. I’ll miss the walks across campus to the POD for cookie dough at 1 a.m, hearing sounds of every football game echo across campus from the Glass Bowl and being able to see UHall from my bedroom window. Right now, I’m enjoying it while I can, and any freshman living on campus this year should know that just like me, they’ve got a lot to look forward to.

16 | The Independent Collegian | Fall Semester 2016

How to

THRIVE

while living with

ANNA GLORE IC COLUMNIST

I have so many memories of my first two eventful years living on campus at The University of Toledo, and I shared a lot of those memories with my roommates.

Living with a roommate was intimidating at first, especially because I never had a roommate before, and I had no idea who this new person was. I had to remind myself often to not be afraid, because no matter who I got as my living partner, everyone can teach me something — even if it’s just how to live with someone I had nothing in common with.

My first roommate was the opposite of me.

She was outgoing, bubbly and could make friends with just about anyone. On the other hand, I am reserved and shy when it comes to meeting new people.

So, how did I deal with this scary situation?

Well, it was actually not scary, and having her as a roommate allowed me to break out of my shell and feel more comfortable talking to other people.

There were some things, as everyone has, that I wanted to keep private.

But it was also important for me to remember that I was sharing a home and a lot of time with this person.

Opening up to her was hard at first, but I knew I would regret it if I

didn’t get to know her.

The rooms in Parks Tower are just a bit too small for two people to be living in. Sharing everything from space to clothes is inevitable, and this was something that I had a hard time with at first.

If you are not someone who likes sharing your belongings, then make sure you make this clear with your roommate right away.

Label things you do not wish to share, or keep them in a place where only you will have access to them.

Personal space is a whole other issue in and of itself, and is certainly something that can be violated while living with a roommate. Personally, living with my first roommate allowed me to be more comfortable with sharing my personal space. But, if you are someone who

Of course, communication is key with roommates, so just like sharing, you need to tell them if you don’t want them hopping in your bed with you, or want them getting changed in front of you. needs your own “bubble” then there are ways to make sure you can maintain that.

In the mornings, my roommate and I would wake up and get ready right around the same time, because we had class at the same time.

Some days, I did not mind this. On others, it drove me nuts.

Our “dressing room” was tiny, and on top of this, I am not a morning person. I was not about having to share this space at eight in the morning and then feel obligated to make conversation.

However, just because I didn’t like to talk to her in the morning didn’t mean I hated conversations at other times. Almost every night we would have our

Hi is e m a my n

e t a m m oo

r r u Yo

“Midnight Giggles” — a term we coined to describe the countless talks we had while lying in bed at night. We would laugh, cry and share a lot of great conversations.

Of course, communication is key with roommates, so just like sharing, you need to tell them if you don’t want them hopping in your bed with you, or want them getting changed in front of you. It is also important to make sure you spend enough time out of your room too, with or without your roommate.

Dorm rooms can get cramped very quickly, so going to get food or going for a walk through campus will help to clear the air.

If I was the quiet one my freshman year, I was the eager beaver my sophomore year. My new roommate was the polar opposite of my roommate from the year before, and she was also nothing like me. She was extremely quiet, and I felt like I had to do the talking all the time.

It wasn’t hard to get along. We got by just fine, doing our own things and not exchanging so much as a “Hi” throughout the course of the day. But I reminded myself again that all roommates can teach me something, so it was important to get to know her as well as I could.

I planned my move-in day strategy. I wouldn’t be so bewildered this time. She and I talked about a lot of things, and I found out a lot about her. But conversations dwindled after the first while, and I was annoyed at times because I just wanted someone to talk to.

In this experience, I learned not only how to start a conversation, but how to keep one going. In the few conversations we had, I asked basic questions about her major, interests, hometown, family and such, just to see if we did have anything in common. Even though

we

didn’t, it didn’t hurt to ask.

If you are someone who simply cannot stand not talking to your roommate more than a few minutes a day, that is completely okay, but just remember, bombarding them with questions and stories will not make them like you. Take it slowly, ease into conversations, and if they don’t want to talk, then don’t make them.

It is possible to live with someone that is nothing at all like you,;I have done it twice and I managed just fine. The important thing to remember is that everyone has something different to offer. Whether you hate the person or love them, be sure to give them a chance. It will make life easier for you and for them.

SAVANNAH JOSLIN / IC

Staff writer Anna Glore stands outside Ottawa East residence hall with one of UT’s famous blue moving bins.

Fall Semester 2016 | The Independent Collegian |

A true Rocket family

By Emily Schnipke Community Editor

From the moment prospective University of Toledo students step onto campus, it’s the main job of UT administrators and spokespeople to get students amped up to go to UT. Students and staff are considered part of the “Rocket family,” which sounds really great to students who come here to school knowing no one. The family consisting of current students and alumni is there to help you and guide you along during what are supposed to be the best years of your life.

But for me, the “Rocket family” really is my own family. My older sister Amanda attended UT for her senior year when I was here beginning my first. Now my younger sister Hana just finished her first year while I finished my second year. But it goes back even farther than that.

My family is truly a Rocket family, three of my uncles, four of my aunts and even my own mother all attended UT. You would think that it would be hard to not want to go to a university where most of your family spent their formative years. But I didn’t, at first. I even fought the idea for most of high school. It was all too familiar to me. My family all spoke about the great times they had while in Toledo and talked about buildings and professors that were long gone, and I believed that my own memories would be overshadowed by their own.

Students and staff are considered part of the “Rocket family,” which sounds really great to students who come here to school knowing no one.

When I seriously started to consider my college choices, I thought that touring at UT wouldn’t hurt, right? It certainly didn’t lock me into my college choice. But it was on that tour that I started to gain my own love of UT.

Actually, I fell in love with a little bit of everything. The Gothic architecture of University Hall that’s reminiscent of Hogwarts, the sunny Centennial Mall, the crazy football games that I never got to experience in high school and even the food (I practically live in the IHouse dining hall).

But it was on that tour that I started to gain my own love of UT. Actually, I fell in love with a little bit of everything. The Gothic architecture of University Hall that’s reminiscent of Hogwarts, the sunny Centennial Mall, the crazy football games that I never got to experience in high school and even the food.

When my aunts and uncles attended college back in the late 80s and early 90s, it was a completely different time from now. An hour from home, they depended on each other entirely and not their parents. They didn’t have the technology to FaceTime home every other day or even to text their mom and tell her they got an A on an exam. Today, we have the ability to constantly be in tune with our family back home, but still have time for our family here.

My older sister Amanda had one year to teach me the tips that she had learned in five years at UT. As a senior preparing to move on from college, she had amassed a world of handy tips and techniques for keeping afloat.

She taught me the ins and outs of Blackboard and the MyUT portal. She and her friends took me to dinner and treated me to their favorite places to eat in Toledo. I got the chance to explore the engineering campus, a place I would have never visited as a See Rocket family / 21 »

COURTESY OF EMILY SCHNIPKE

17

18 | The Independent Collegian | Fall Semester 2016

Park the car

IC FILE PHOTO

An inside look at all the policies and procedures of the University of Toledo parking system

By Meg Perry Staff Reporter

To avoid being ticketed at the University of Toledo, it is essential for all first-year commuters to know where to park, when to purchase parking passes and how to nab a decent parking spot before class.

At the beginning of every semester, each student who plans to have a car on campus should purchase a parking permit, the current cost of which is $125.00 per semester. You can purchase your parking pass by going to your MYUT portal and going to the correct tab.

UT offers many parking lots and garages available to students.

Once registered for a parking permit, students are assigned a permit type. While there may be many parking spots available, students can only park in lots where their permit type is allowed.

The most typical type of permits amongst students include: C, D, F and K. Both C and D permits are obtained by upperclassmen

and F and K are given to freshman: F permits for residential students and K permits are assigned to commuting students.

“Make sure to know which parking lots you are allowed to park in or else you will get ticketed, and also get to campus at least 20 minutes before your class starts to find a spot,” said Margaret Hill, a senior studying business at the University of Toledo.

On UT’s main campus, freshman commuters may park in the following parking lots: • Parking lot 2, which is in front of the East Ramp • The East Ramp • Parking lot 3, 4 and 5, all located in the John F. Savage Arena • Parking lot 8, (Carter East & West) • Rocket Hall • Parking lot 20, located south of Palmer Hall • Parking lot 18, which is behind the University Computer Center.

Third-year commuter and Women and Gender Studies

major Caitie Johnson said, “Get there early, the earlier the better! The garage and lots fill up quickly.”

If a friend or parent is visiting for the day, guest permits are available for them to purchase on UT’s website. Guest permits are $3 per day and is equivalent to a C permit, meaning the guest may park in any unrestricted lot.

A weekend visitor will not require a guest pass because there is no enforcement for parking violations on the weekend. For further information and/or to purchase a guest pass, visit http:// guestparking.utoledo.edu.

UT’s parking policy states that Main Campus commuter student parking spaces are indicated by white lines painted directly on the parking surface, and between the hours of 4 p.m. and 7 a.m., commuter students may park in any approved faculty/staff (yellow-lined) space.

To avoid receiving a ticket, students should also park so that their license plate faces the aisle.

If a student has a Michigan

license plate, they would have to pull into the spot so that any UT police officer that comes past can easily see, and scan, your plate.

Sam Danko, a senior in UT’s Environmental Science program said, “If you’re arriving before 10 a.m., go ahead and look for parking wherever is closest to your class. If you’re arriving later than that, give yourself time to find a spot wherever you can and time to walk to class.”

Student parking permits are based on earned credit hours, on- or off-campus residency and program types. What parking permit type a student has can be accessed from the student’s account on the student tab under “My Other Resources.” Selecting “Request/Update Parking Permit” will display current and past permits.

For additional information concerning the UT’s parking system, students and parents may visit www.utoledo.edu/parkingservices or call the Main Campus’s Transportation Center at (419) 530-4100.

Freshman commuter student parking areas: •

Parking lot 2, which is in front of the East Ramp

•

The East Ramp

•

Parking lot 3, 4 and 5, all located in the John F. Savage Arena

•

Parking lot 8, (Carter East & West)

•

Rocket Hall

•

Parking lot 20, located south of Palmer Hall

•

Parking lot 18, which is behind the University Computer Center.

Fall Semester 2016 | The Independent Collegian |

Parking woes

19

IC FILE PHOTO

The ups and downs of making your way around campus and finding a place to park

AMBER THOMAS ASSOC .COMMUNITY EDITOR

Walk up to any student on the University of Toledo’s campus and you can start a conversation with just one word: parking. Anyone and everyone has an opinion about parking passes, lots and the difficulty of finding a decent parking spot.

Ask them if they’ve ever received a parking violation and you’ll never hear the end of it.

Parking is a major sore spot

UT has a very special system for telling you where you can park.

Pay close attention to the letter you are assigned after purchasing your pass. The letter dictates where you can and cannot park.

among UT’s student population, but not without reason.

I’ve incurred over 15 tickets over the course of one semester at UT and let’s not even talk about the semesters prior to that. You are already wearing a mortgage around your neck with all of the loans you’ve taken out, welcome to the “I am going to be paying off debt for the next 22 years” club. No one wants to pay even more for parking in the wrong location, whether on accident or knowingly.

In my opinion, unless you’re a freshmen commuter, having a car during your first year of college is completely pointless.

Your car can only be parked at Scott Park which is a good walking distance away. Students can ride the bus to Scott Park to pick up their car, but even then you can’t park on Main Campus. Scott Park is securely guarded, but unless you drive home often enough for you to need a car, paying for $125 parking pass isn’t worth it.

One thing I’m happy my tuition pays for is UT’s transportation services. It has

saved me in the harshest of weathers. UT’s buses run Blue and Gold routes on campus, but they also make runs to Scott Park, Walmart, Franklin Park Mall and several apartment complexes. Downloading the app on your phone and figuring out the bus routes will save you from parking hassles, take it from someone with first-hand experience.

In my opinion, unless you’re a freshmen commuter, having a car during your first year of college is completely pointless.

After your freshman year, the commuter life at UT gets a little easier. Parking permits still cost $125 unfortunately. That’s just for one semester — don’t be like me and think that will cover the entire

year. Make sure you’re ready to fork up another $125 dollars for every semester here, even during the summer if you’ll be on campus at any point. Once I received a parking ticket for “Failure to register vehicle” because I thought that I was all set after purchasing the first pass and boy, was I wrong.

UT has a very special system for telling you where you can park. Pay close attention to the letter you are assigned after purchasing your pass. The letter dictates where you can and cannot park. “F” is for freshman residential, “K” is freshman commuter, “D” is for upper class residential and “C” is for upper class commuter. Administrators, faculty and special exceptions can be issued an “A” pass, which is for all parking lots on campus. As you navigate your way around the campus, you will notice the letters connected to the light posts in parking lots around the campus. A handy tip I learned is that yellow parking spots are for A passes and white lines are for everyone else. If you park in a parking lot where your pass isn’t allowed, you are in danger of getting a ticket.

If you really don’t like following rules, you can be a rebel like myself who parks anywhere because I hate walking long distances. Unfortunately, due to this lethargic

attitude, I’ve received several parking violations, including ones that say, “Failure to observe posted parking restrictions,” for $30 and “Failure to register vehicle,” for $50. Parking violations will be sent to your UT email address.

Lucky for you and I, UT allows us to appeal our tickets. The appealing process has become my best friend. When you get a ticket, a reminder will come to your email and near the end is the option to appeal.

Whether you feel like your ticket was unjust or just can’t deal with paying for all those tickets, appealing is the right way to go.

After all, who wants to pay $80 to UT when you can appeal a ticket and use that money to treat yourself to a mani-pedi and still have some left over to go to Auntie Ann’s and get an almond crunch pretzel with cream cheese on the side.

Parking on campus can suck at times, but if you know how to navigate it the right way you hopefully won’t end up like me with 15 tickets into my second year and I’m sure still more to come next year.

If you really don’t like following rules, you can be a rebel like myself who parks anywhere because I hate walking long distances.

20 | The Independent Collegian | Fall Semester 2016

From

lpha

to

mega:

A guide to Greek Life on UT’s campus

By Jenna Nance Staff Reporter

Whether it’s getting familiar with a new class schedule, figuring out housing arrangements or finding ways to get involved on campus, freshmen are often bombarded with choices from all sides. For those looking to get involved, Greek Life is one of many options.

Greek organizations are brotherhoods or sisterhoods that students join through fraternities and sororities. In addition to joining Greek Life, students in certain Greek organizations have the option to live in McComas Village, a collection of houses for social Greek organizations built in 1990.

Dana Breese, a fourth-year majoring in accounting, said she believes going Greek was one of the best decisions she made in her college career.

She found herself very involved in Greek Life as the financial vice president of social sorority Alpha Xi Delta and a member of professional business fraternity Alpha Kappa Psi. Breese said her experience with Alpha Kappa Psi encouraged her to join the sorority.

“I rushed because of the great bonds I made with my fraternity brothers and I wanted to have the same with sisters as

SAVANNAH JOSLIN / IC

Two members of greek life play a fun game of cornhole at the annual event the Greek Carnival.

This is just one of the many events hosted by and for Greek member at UT every year.

well,” Breese said.

Professional Greek organizations — like Alpha Kappa Psi — focus more time on the profession the organization is dedicated to.

The social Greek organizations — like Alpha Xi Delta — can include a group of students studying various majors in college.

Brittany Graham, program

manager for Greek Life, said giving students a “home away from home” is one of the best parts of Greek Life.

“When you ask people why they joined or what moment did they know that was the right chapter for them, and a lot of people will say they walked in and just knew that it felt like home for them,” Graham said.

Andrew Sokol, a fourth-year in Civil Engineering and previous Triangle president, said he decided to join Greek Life after not feeling involved in high school.

He was introduced to Triangle fraternity by an advisor in the engineering college.

“I really liked what they stood

for and enjoyed being apart of something that builds better men,” Sokol said. “One of the most fulfilling parts of being in Greek Life is surrounding yourself with like-minded people, and having them help you push yourself to be the best you can be. It has also taught me so much more about being a leader.”

According to Graham, being a member of Greek Life can enhance a student’s college experience and positively affects their academic performance. Due to certain chapters’ requirements for academic performance, the Office of Greek Life said students do better in the classroom as a Greek member than those who are non-Greek. “[Greek Life] has made me into a more well-rounded person. Academic-wise I have received higher grades once I became a member and I enjoy helping out my community,” Breese said. “My sorority is working towards being 100 percent involved, meaning that every sister is also involved in another organization.”

Many students involved in Greek Life experience unique opportunities outside of the classroom. Members of Greek organizations are given leadership development and networking opportunities through their respective sororities and fraternities.

Greek members are also encouraged to participate in campus activities and philanthropic opportunities such as intramurals and traditional events on campus like Big Event, Relay for Life, Songfest, RockeTHON and See Greek / 21 »

Fall Semester 2016 | The Independent Collegian |

Student Resources

Carlson Library Phone: (419) 530-2298

Center for Experiential Learning and Career Services Student Union 1533 Phone: (419) 530-4341 Center for International Studies and Programs Snyder Memorial 1000

ABIGAIL SULLIVAN / IC

A member of the sorority Delta Delta Delta helps to construct a fort at Wrap Up Toledo.

The event, which Greek organizations

Greek

from page 21

Homecoming.

Graham said members of the community are appreciative of the efforts of Greek students and this support drives those students to continue their work within the community.

Sokol suggested that freshmen considering Greek Life should at least give the idea a chance, and that going to to Meet the Greek night is a good opportunity to learn more about it.

“I feel the Greek community has bad image in a lot of people’s eyes. But if you truly give it a chance, you will find out there are some real amazing Greek

Rocket family from page 17

communications student. Amanda took me to Walmart for those grocery runs when all I would buy was Oreos and Gatorade.

Now that I am the older sibling at college, I get to apply those lessons along with my own when I talk with my younger sister, Hana. For Hana, I get to be the person driving her to Walmart to stock up on cheese sticks and lemonade.

I help her navigate campus and, now that she’s a commuter, make sure she doesn’t get a parking ticket. I make sure she stays healthy and gets her yearly flu shot. I’m basically a satellite version of our mom, hovering nearby and sending positive messages back to home base.

However, our relationship is different than mine with my older sister. I’m teaching Hana my secret tips, but she’s

SAVANNAH JOSLIN / IC

A member of Alpha Xi Omega sorority participates in Songfest, an annual singing competition between the Greek organizations to raise money for a chosen organization. This year’s proceeds went to the Daughter

organizations on this campus and they have so many things to offer,” Sokol said.

Along with tips and resources for students looking to join Greek organizations, the Office of Greek Life also offers information to parents as well.

“Not only the students, but also the parents will have questions as well,” Graham said, “and UT Greek Life knows that and wants to help make this decision and experience a beneficial one for all parties.”

During new student orientations, parents and students are encouraged to ask as many questions as they can so they can feel comfortable with this transition. Graham said that the office of Greek Life will be present at the orientations and is prepared to help out in any way they can.

For the 2015-2016 school year, recruitment

dates have been set and the recruitment process must be signed up for in advance. Online sign-up will be available by the start date of the new student orientations.

There is no cost for fraternity recruitment, but sorority recruitment has a $30 fee. Sorority recruitment is from Sept. 6-11, and fraternity recruitment is from Sept. 5-9.

“If you’re interested, definitely try it and see what happens,” Graham said. “If you have any questions you can always contact our office. We’re always willing to talk to students and give them more information.

And don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t do something—we’re here to help.”

To learn more about Greek Life, contact the Office of Greek Life at 419-530-4036 or email greeklife@utoledo.edu

also helping me out as well. I don’t mean that she uses her dining dollars to buy me Starbucks on deadline nights (which she does) or that she picks me up from my classes when it rains (which she also does), but that she also is one of my best friends. She encourages me to be myself and I guess in that way she seems like she should be my older sister, my mentor. We are so close in age that I rarely experience things much before her. I think that going to the same college has made us closer than we would have ever been if we had been separated. We’ve got the next two years ahead of us still and I think there is nowhere to go but up.

At the end of my time here at UT, when I get to walk across that stage and accept my diploma, I’ll be able to look out into the crowd and see my Rocket family, real and imitation. They’ve been

exactly the way a family really is and cheered me on through good and bad times. Being able to share the same alma mater with my sisters is something that I would never change. Because once a Rocket, always a Rocket.

Now that I am the older sibling at college, I get to apply those lessons along with my own when I talk with my younger sister, Hana. For Hana, I get to be the person driving her to Walmart to stock up on cheese sticks and lemonade.

Commuter Student Services Student Union 3504 Phone: (419) 530-8521 Counseling Center Rocket Hall 1810 Phone: (419) 530-2426 Learning Enhancement Center Carlson Library B0200 Medical Center on the Main Campus Across from International House Phone: (419) 530-3451 Mulford Health Science Library 3000 Arlington Ave. Phone: (419) 383-4225 Office of the Registrar- Main campus Rocket Hall Suite 1100 Phone: (419) 530-4844 Office of the RegistrarHealth science campus Mulford Library 114 Phone: (419) 383-3600 Office of Student Involvement Student Union 3504 Phone: (419) 530-4944 Rocket Solution Central Rocket Hall 1200 Phone: (419) 530-8700 Student Legal Services Rocket Hall 1610 Phone: (419) 530-7230 Student Disability Services Rocket Hall 1820 Phone: (419) 530-4981 University of Toledo Police Transportation Center 1302 Police/Fire/Medical Response: (419) 530-2600 Non-Emergency: (419) 530-2601

21

22 | The Independent Collegian | Fall Semester 2016

Exploring University Hall

Looking into the past of the university’s central building

By Jamie Snyder Guest Columnist

The academic institution we all know today as the University of Toledo all started with the construction of University Hall.

Although the university started in 1872, it was in the 1920s that it started to be too small, and the need for a new campus became apparent. In 1922, the

Being a student of the class, I can say that hours of research, both in class and out, were dedicated to perfecting the tour.

classes moved from a few downtown buildings to an old auto mechanics training facility, but the space still wasn’t enough. It was from 1930 to 1931 when what was then known as Toledo University decided to move the location of their campus.

Henry J. Doermann, the sixth UT president, was the reason this all happened. It was his goal that, through the construction of University Hall, UT would meet its academic potential. The university hired a local architectural firm to design the new campus, who created a design based on Doermann’s desire for a structure which took inspiration from the universities of Europe. The construction took 11 months, 400 men and 50,000 tons of limestone to

complete. University Hall’s building is 63 feet tall, but the tower stands tall at an impressive 205 feet.

It was this information that prompted UT to create a public history class. In this class, students were asked to create a tour to show how University Hall is the heart and soul of UT. Students were responsible for researching and finding information on certain parts of U-Hall. From the 205-foot bell tower located at the front entrance to the more than 600 seats that make up Doermann Theater, a whole history of facts was researched by the 11 students of the class under the

guidance of Steven Bare, a graduate assistant at UT. Being a student of the class, I can say that hours of research, both in class and out, were dedicated to perfecting the tour.

Henry J. Doermann, the sixth UT president, was the reason this all happened. It was his goal that, through the construction of University Hall, the University of Toledo would meet its academic potential.

Thanks to the help from the Canaday Center and their collection of archives located in Carlson Library, we were able to look at the original blueprints of UHall as well as read the personal diaries and journals of people like Doermann and workers who dealt with the construction of the building. The class was a hands-on experience that most students don’t get to have, and the amount of knowledge I gained from this class is priceless. I’m sure I can say for my fellow classmates that they feel the same way. Learning about University Hall’s history has brought me closer to my university, and hopefully it will do the same for all the new students who are learning about it in anticipation of their enrollment in the fall.

Fall Semester 2016 | The Independent Collegian |

23

24 | The Independent Collegian | Fall Semester 2016 About this publication UT 101 is a special edition produced by The Independent Collegian, the University of Toledo’s student newspaper.

Editor-In-Chief Jessica Harker Editors: Colleen Anderson, Savannah Joslin, Emily Schnipke Copy Editors: Lauren Gilbert and Jared Hightower Cover photo: Curtis Lane Cover model: Rocky Advertising sales: Duane Grifith Adviser: Haley Schmucker

About The Independent Collegian UT’s student newspaper was founded as The UniversiTeaser in 1919. For much of its life, the paper was simply called The Collegian and was funded in part by UT. But in 2000, facing attempts by thenpresident Vik Kapoor to exercise more control over the paper — including trying to install his own hand-picked candidate for editor-in-chief — the paper began the move toward organizational independence.

Kapoor was forced to resign that spring, and in the fall, The Independent Collegian was born. With help from members of the faculty, board of trustees and local press, The Collegian severed legal and financial ties to the university and eventually moved off-campus.

Although the IC now leases space in Carlson Library, it is still run independently by the Collegian Media Foundation, a 501(c)3 nonprofit. The IC is committed to remaining a strong, independent voice for the UT community.

2801 W. Bancroft St. Mail Stop 530 Carlson Library Suite 1057 419-530-7788 IndependentCollegian.com

The Struggle Bus A guide to the UT transportation system

By Jessica Harker Editor-in-Chief

Whether you’re living on campus at the University of Toledo or you’re commuting every day, there are lots of ways to get around campus. Diana Watts, the transit services coordinator, said the transportation system is easy to use if students take the time to understand it.

“UT Transit Services is available to students, faculty and staff free of charge with a valid UT ID,” Watts said. “All current schedules, maps and times of departures are on our website at http:// transit.utoledo.edu. You can also call our office if you need more explanation.”

For transportation on campus, Watts said there are two main busses, the Gold Loop and the Blue Loop, that circle campus most days of the week.

They make loops in opposite directions all days of the school week from 7:30 a.m. until just after 10 p.m. They make stops at the busiest places on campus, including the Student Union, the engineering campus and West

Ramp parking garage.

“Parking around the center of campus can be challenging, and I have seen students circle lots sometimes up to 15 minutes to try and find a parking spot, when they could have parked in Lot 25 or 20 and ride the shuttle into the center of campus quicker,” Watts said.

Along with transportation on campus, the university has multiple opportunities for transportation off campus as well.

There are routes to the Toledo Museum of Art and the Health Science Campus on weekdays.

“Many students are surprised to learn that our bus takes you directly to the Toledo Art Museum, which has free admission,” Watts said. “The museum does

“Freshmen who are having to park on the Scott Park Campus can utilize our shuttle to obtain their vehicles Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. After-hours service to Scott Park is provided by Night Watch.”

DIANA WATTS Transit Services Coordinator

charge for parking, but if you ride the shuttle, you have a nice afternoon of exploring one of the most amazing museums in the United States for free.”

There is also a stop to a Wal-Mart incorporated into the Health Science Campus route Monday through Friday starting at 5 p.m., allowing students to get the things they need that they cannot buy on campus.

Freshmen living on campus must park at the Scott Park campus. There are a couple of options available to students looking to retrieve cars.

“Freshmen who are having to park on the Scott Park Campus can utilize our shuttle to obtain their vehicles Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. After-hours service to Scott Park is provided by Night Watch,” Watts said.

“Freshmen can park on Main Campus on Friday night and return cars to Scott Park on Sunday evening, or the evening before the start of school when it concerns a break or holiday.”

Sound confusing? There’s an app for that. You can download what’s called “TransLoc Rider” or point your browser to utoledo.transloc.com and

routes.

Route 3 stops at the transportation center on its way north to the Franklin Park Mall and south to the veterans’ affairs office on S. Detroit.

Routes 5 and 5R run along Dorr outbound from downtown to Holland-Sylvania and Cen-

“Parking around the center of campus can be challenging, and I have seen students circle lots sometimes up to 15 minutes to try and find a parking spot, when they could have parked in Lot 25 or 20 and ride the shuttle into the center of campus quicker,” DIANA WATTS Transit Services Coordinator

track your bus on its route, so you can plan your schedule.

Those who don’t own a smart device can find locator kiosks outside popular stops. Route schedules are available on the transit service page.

Those who can’t or don’t wish to drive can use ride-sharing services like Uber or Lyft, which cost about $7 between each campus (according to one of our copy editors).

Lastly, the city’s transit system, called TARTA, serves UT with three

tral, also stopping at the transportation center.

Route 22F runs on Bancroft, outbound from downtown to the Franklin Park Mall.

TARTA fare is $1.25 per ride, with no transfer. You can find routes and information at http://tarta.com.

Both UT transit and TARTA have paratransit services. More information on that can be found on the UT transit website and at http://tarta.com/ services/tarps for the city service.