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Independent Collegian IC The
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Serving the University of Toledo since 1919
www.IndependentCollegian.com 92nd year Issue 2
Mushroom-based coffee shop brings atmosphere to Toledo By Sura Khuder IC Features Editor
When purchasing a latté from a coffee shop, chances are its secret ingredient isn’t a mushroom. However, if purchased from the Atmosphere Coffee Lounge, a recently established organic coffee shop in the Rocket Center Plaza on Dorr St., then it’s a guarantee.
Vincent D. Scebbi/ IC
Atmosphere Coffee Lounge, located in the Rocket Center Plaza on Dorr Street, will have its grand opening Sept. 17. The coffee lounge offers services such as free wireless internet, laptop rentals and X-Box 360 rentals for $5 an hour. medicinal purposes in China for thousands of years. According to manager Keisha Greer-Serrant, ganoderma has over 100 healing components which include treating high blood sugar, sleeping problems, pain and fibromyalgia. “It’s known as an
adaptogen that works on every cell of the body,” she said. “It’s been known to heal a wide variety of ailments in different people. My own carpal tunnel syndrome was healed because of it.” The mushroom has been in the United States for
three years and was first introduced to Organo Gold coffee company. They decided to include ganoderma into their coffee and market their product to prospective business owners. Earl heard about the coffee when he attended a meeting about Organo Gold
in Tampa, Florida. “I’m real big on health and I know that coffee is the number two commodity, and when I saw that there was a healthy coffee that affected people in many ways, I wanted to become a part of it,” he said. — Atmosphere, Page A2
Hybrid and bio-diesel buses come to campus UT and ProMedica By Paige Wilson For The IC
With record-high fuel prices, the university is looking for a way to save money on fuel costs for campus buses as well as build a more environmentally friendly bus fleet. UT recently purchased four new biodiesel-powered buses and one new hybrid to start replacing the oldest of 14 campus buses. The old buses have been in service since the early 1990’s, According to, Steve Wise, manager of facilities and construction, getting the new buses was part of creating a larger fleet that are up to 20 percent more fuel-efficient. Wise said the older buses were no longer feasible to repair. “UT has taken great initiative to be a leader in green technology,” Wise said. “The initiative of the student government [was] where I requested this one time to borrow money from the student general fee.” Wise said, the four fuel efficient buses cost $175,000 [all together], and UT’s para transit bus cost $139,000. Asia Jackson, a sophomore majoring in business, said “I’ve had issues with
License plate readers take place of parking passes By Casey Cheap IC News Editor
Rob Earl
Rob Earl, founder of Atmosphere, wanted to bring something new to the Toledo area. Atmosphere features a selection of traditional coffee shop favorites such as mochas and lattes. Unlike other coffee shops, these drinks were not made with shots of espresso and steamed milk — they are made from a powder. The powder is infused with the mushroom ganoderma, an ancient and rare oriental mushroom used for
UT develops new parking system
the transportation on campus arriving late. I prefer the Gold Bus, because it usually arrives on time and I’m not late to class. While on the other hand, the Blue Bus is the one that’s always late, [considering] that it was six minutes late picking me up for class today.” Jackson said she was caught off guard with the reintroduction of Rocket Cards being used to get on the bus, a practice not used last semester.
Wise said the university has also implemented a paratransit hybrid bus used more frequently than the transportation buses. It holds up to 15 people and will serve as UT’s primary bus for students who have mobility devices such as wheelchairs or walking sticks. The hybrid bus is expected to arrive on campus in the next few weeks. Two of the fuel-efficient buses are already on campus assisting students, while the rest of the new buses are expected to arrive shortly.
Nick Kneer / IC
UT has invested in four new bio-diesel buses to upgrade the bus fleet making it more environmentally friendly. A hybrid bus has also been included but has not made it to campus yet.
celebrate one year anniversary By Brittany Jackson For the IC
UT ProMedica are celebrating the one year anniversary of their partnership. The partnership has allowed UT medical students to practice at ProMedica. The students are then able to meet new people, become established, and ultimately continue their careers in Northwest Ohio. “The affiliation crafted began July 1, 2010,” Chancellor of Health Affairs Jeff Gold. “We have looked at the progress over the past year and our expectations have been exceeded in every way possible.” Gold said the medical field in Northwest Ohio is suffering due to a lack of physicians practicing. The collaborative medical opportunity will focus on keeping UT medical students in the region “The community was very skeptical about the unusual nature of this partnership,” Gold said. “We will continue
to grow, get better and stronger. It was crafted as a six year relationship and was recently changed to an evergreen relationship. Until one party decides to end the partnership, it will continue. We are both investing heavily in building newer and stronger programs.” This partnership also funds a $5 million “better together” scholarship fund. “Twenty five thousand a year, times four years equals $100,000 to two students a year for every year they attend medical school,” Gold said. “Our annual scholarship dinner on Aug. 25 will announce the first two students to receive this scholarship.” Difinni Johnson, a sophomore majoring in nursing believes receiving the scholarship will make students feel proud and accomplished. According to Johnson, students who graduate from UT, are looking for jobs in the area. If hospitals advertise jobs they have available, students — ProMedica, Page A2
A new license plate enforcement system will remove the “hangtags” students used to place on the rearview mirror of their vehicle. The University of Toledo is the first university in the nation to combine both a license plate recognition system and the scanning system in an effort to patrol the parking lots on such a large campus. The new license system cost the university $175,000, and expenses are expected to be regained within one year. The parking enforcement system was paid for through the parking services budget which is primarily funded by parking permit costs according to Joy Gramling, director of auxiliary services. The system will scan license plates to check a vehicle’s registration and make sure it is parked in the correct area. “The new system makes it much easier for our faculty, staff and students to register for parking,” Gramling said. “We have eliminated any need to wait in line, make a trip to physically pick up a hangtag permit, or any other inconvenience.” Students are required to register the make, model, color and year of their vehicle, along with the state of registration and the license plate number. Once registered, the parking permit fee will be posted to the student’s
Nick Kneer/IC
A license plate reader inside the West Ramp Parking garage. account. Gramling said the university was pleased with the results of their test-run this summer. The new system is able to scan up to 90 license plates per minute making things more efficient when checking for improperly parked vehicles, according to Gramling. “The largest benefit to students, as well as faculty and staff, is the ease of use to simply register a vehicle online at their convenience. The immediate nature of the system allows you to quickly make a change,” Gramling said. Students can only have one car on the UT campus at a time. The new system will force students to use MyUT Portal to register another car if students drive an unregistered car to campus. — Parking, Page A2