2014 Orientation Edition

UT 101 Summer/Fall 2014

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

Your guide to UT trivia, quirks and traditions / 24

Seven annual events you’ll want to be sure to watch for / 4

Should you go Greek? / 14

A new Rocket’s guide to UT athletics / 20

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2 | The Independent Collegian | Fall Semester 2014

Fall Semester 2014 | The Independent Collegian |

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

Editor-In-Chief Amanda Eggert Contributors Blake Bacho, Samantha Rhodes, Alexandria Saba, Morgan Rinckey, Nicole Badik Copy Editors Lauren Gilbert and Jared Hightower Cover art Samantha Rhodes Advertising sales Zachary Hartenburg Adviser Erik Gable

About The Independent Collegian UT’s student newspaper was founded as The Universi-Teaser 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 then-president 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

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Welcome to UT! A letter from the IC staff New students, Congratulations, and welcome!

Whether you just graduated from high school, took a few years off to get ready, or are coming back to finish a degree, get ready for the next few years at the University of Toledo — if you do them right, they’ll be the most exciting, fulfilling and mind-blowing years of your life.

While you’re getting settled in and trying to figure things out, you may feel a little dazzled, a little unsure of yourself. Your first year of college, while exciting, is also complicated, confusing and terrifying. But don’t be too worried: the staff here at The Independent Collegian, UT’s student newspaper, wants to help you out.

During the academic year, we print a weekly edition every Wednesday that we distribute for free from stands across campus and in local

business around Toledo. But what you’re holding in your hand right now is different. “UT 101” is a special edition for new students, filled with advice from upperclassmen who have been in your shoes.

We’ve tried to fill this issue with things you should know, things that made our freshman years easier, or things we wish someone had told us as freshmen. More importantly, we tried to add information that isn’t available anywhere else. You know, the kind of stuff you can only get from a real student who’s been through this.

As you begin to figure out this college thing, we hope this guide speaks to you in some way. But remember — the best parts of the journey are the ones you figure out by yourself.

Good luck, The IC staff

NICOLE BADIK / IC

One of UT’s most recognizable landmarks is the Bell Tower on top of University Hall. It has 156 steps and is 206 feet tall. Completed in 1931, University Hall was the first building constructed on the Bancroft campus.

A letter from the Student Government president I could write about my journey and fill up this column about Student Government. I could talk about the opportunities this university has given me, and the fraction of them I took. This isn’t about our programs, the internships, or the classroom, and how we’ll inevitably only pick a few. This isn’t the message.

It’s about you.

A couple of us picked out UT, with our honors diplomas and scholarships, because we knew this was the place to be. Others came as average students, parents, veterans or the underprivileged.

Maybe, like me, a few of you came here because you didn’t have a choice, because of money, grades or plain luck.

When I first stepped on the campus, I was a kid. I adhered (or pretended to adhere) to the rules of a small rural town. My leaders had only last names, taught me how to think, and worked a system I understood. When I came to UT I didn’t see the leaders or the system, and I excused myself to pretend there weren’t any. I broke rules, ran organizations that were as well known for helping the community as tossing chandeliers into public fountains and drinking whiskey before class. I wrote papers

about binging Netflix and using words like prosaic because I knew they buzzed.

This university is going to offer you opportunities. You can choose any of them. You can get real-world experience, write nationally recognized papers, help the world with shoes for Haiti, or get one step closer to curing my mom’s multiple sclerosis.

Or you can choose not to.

I found my place building UT from inside Student Government: attending meetings, representing students. I walked into meetings like an old curmudgeon.

My fellow senators didn’t think I was anything besides the ties I wore: dull and overly reasonable.

I dichotomized myself into two separate entities, and now I realize I need both.

One thing the University of Toledo will grant you, no matter how you choose, is yourself.

This is what higher education is about; it’s not about the amazing résumé or the diploma you’ll mount on your wall. It’s about getting perspective about ourselves and seeing everything differently.

It’s this point of the message where I talk about how you’ll become well-rounded. This, however, is not about the future you. Not

CLAYTON NOTESTINE

about who’ll graduate, but who’s reading the paper right now. Feel the pulp between your fingers. This paper is called The Independent Collegian. It’s called The Collegian because it represents everything that higher education is: community, hard work and purpose.

Years ago that family of coffee-drinking, loudmouthed journalists separated from the university. They became independent, with all its flaws and imperfections: uncertainty, mediocrity and sometimes failure. I’m telling this story because the paper exists. Those students still work, and they created something more powerful and more interesting than if they had been normal and only fought to be well-rounded.

This is a message about you, about them, about me, and this campus: the University of Toledo with its old gargoyles, frigid winters and unlikely underdogs. Wherever we find ourselves, whether it’s student government, a newsroom or somewhere else like the Greeks or the geeks; it’s about us, and UT needs us.

Don’t forget: we enrolled in higher education to be something more and not something else.

This university needs the movers and the shakers, the people who won’t settle for UT for what it is or was, but what it should be. This is your home: build whatever opportunities you want in it, and welcome to the University of Toledo.

Clayton Notestine Student Government President

7 4 | The Independent Collegian | Fall Semester 2014

SEVEN UT EVENTS YOU WON’T WANT TO MISS

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1. Music Fest

Music Fest is a free outdoor concert put on by the University of Toledo around the time of the Rockets’ first home football game. It is an all-day event, usually held on campus in September and open to the UT and Toledo community. Last year’s line-up included The White Panda, Reel Big Fish and Josh Gracin.

2. BG vs. UT football game:

Every year, the Rockets go head-to-head against archrival Bowling Green State University in a game known as The Black Swamp Showdown. The winner of this annual competition gets bragging rights, and also becomes the temporary owner of the Battle of I-75 trophy. UT has defeated the Falcons for the last four years, and the teams are scheduled to face off again on Wednesday, Nov. 19, at the Glass Bowl Stadium.

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Fall Semester 2014 | The Independent Collegian |

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3 3. Homecoming

Though there’s no dance, our university still holds a homecoming celebration. It’s a time filled with traditions, events and concerts, and culminates with the annual Homecoming Parade and game. Various organizations around campus build floats that represent that year’s homecoming theme. The 2014 UT Homecoming theme is “A Blast From the Past” and will be held on Oct. 25.

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4. Relay for Life

Like many communities across the country, UT hosts its own Relay for Life, usually in November. Over the course of 12 hours, students and community members walk to raise thousands of dollars for the American Cancer Society. Last year, 57 groups and about 1,278 people participated. Attendees gathered at the Student Recreation Center to walk around the track and participate in activities and games.

About $49,000 was raised total.

5 6. RockeTHON

UT’s RockeTHON, formerly Dance Marathon, is a tradition that began at Penn State and has spread to universities across the nation. Students For this service project, UT students come to- spend several hours learning dances and playing games to raise funds for the Children’s Miracle Network, a non-profit that works to fund associgether for one day to clean up the residential areas in Toledo, Bancroft Hills and Secor Gar- ated childrens’ hospitals. UT students began participating in 2002 and dens in order to show their appreciation to the raised over $18,000 for Toledo Mercy Children’s Hospital. Last year, over 800 students attended the event and raised over $102,000. surrounding community. It began in 1982, is usually held in March and has been called the 7. Songfest largest student-run service project in the naSororities and fraternities have gathered every year since 1937 to pertion. The number of volunteers climbed to form in UT’s Songfest. The competition, usually held in April, features about 1,500 for last year’s event. groups singing and dancing live with props and costumes as they vie for the top spot. But winning isn’t everything — the money raised by each group goes toward a different charity each year.

5. The BIG Event

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6 | The Independent Collegian | Fall Semester 2014

A survival guide for UT commuter students Life may not be as easy when you live on the other side of Toledo (or even out of town), but there are ways to reduce the hassles.

It can feel strange as a firstyear commuter student.

You experience all the pressure and responsibility of being a college student, but you are in the minority of your freshman group, over half of whom are in a residence hall.

But look at the bigger picture — the most recent figures from the university tell us that less than a quarter of the entire undergraduate population is living on-campus.

For you first-timers, here are a few tips from someone who’s

commuted her entire college career. Follow these suggestions and you just might survive your first year driving around UT.

Don’t be afraid to pack a lunch

It’s fun to spend money at places on campus to eat — that is, until you’re broke. A commuter meal plan can help, but Rocket Dollars only go so far, and the plan itself isn’t affordable for everyone.

Bringing a packed lunch to school may make you feel like a kindergartner again, but it’s better than being poor (and honestly, it’s not weird — a lot of upperclassmen do it). Just buy a sexy

AMANDA EGGERT

lunchbox if you need to feel more like an adult. Don’t want to carry around your food? There’s a commuter lounge located in Student Union Room 2505 with a microwave and refrigerator. Also, you can ask around your department if there’s a faculty fridge or kitchen you can use.

Get to classes early, especially on test days You’re a commuter student, so you’re going to deal with traffic every day. Depending on construction or accidents, your 10-minute drive could turn into 30. Many professors have strict late policies that affect your grade, so try to be at your class at least 15 minutes early. And even though you’re going to go to all your classes because every class is important (right, Mom and

Dad?), this advice is twice as important for exams. If you don’t show up on time, you could be in for some difficulties — like the instructor not allowing you to take the test. And hey, if you’re early, the extra time you have before a test can be spent reviewing the material you should have studied last night if you hadn’t been busy watching Netflix.

Keep an extra set of clothes in your vehicle It’s a sunny morning, but the afternoon brings a torrential downpour that you have to walk through to get to class. It’s the day of a formal presentation you were supposed to dress up for, but you’re wearing sweatpants.

Your really cute lab partner asks See Commuting / 7

Fall Semester 2014 | The Independent Collegian |

Commuting from page 6

some athletic gear and an emergency multi-purpose outfit. You’ll thank yourself later.

Be prepared for parking woes Parking sucks and it’s been that way at every university, everywhere, for the history of forever. And on top of that, the majority of UT’s students are commuters; our lots fill up fast.

Don’t be surprised when you show up five minutes before class and every spot is full. So, if you want to get to class on time, give yourself at least 20 minutes to find a spot and walk to your destination (unless you’re trying to park between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.

— then you’ll need about 40 minutes). On the main campus, freshman commuters can park in lots 3, 4, 5, 18, 20 and the East Ramp parking structure.

spot and stay on campus in between classes. First, parking sucks (see the above entry for details) and you don’t want to deal with that multiple times a day.

Second, why waste gas? It’s not getting any cheaper.

And third, you shouldn’t fill the air with any more fossil fuels than necessary.

Instead of driving around between classes, bring a bike or skateboard with you, or grab a seat on the campus bus. Or, if you’re totally desperate, you could walk or something.

Know where your classes are before your first day

It’s your first day of college, and you’re nervous but excited as you slide into a seat for your first class, Psych 1010. But suddenly, the instructor begins talking about the thermodynamics of a hyperbolic parabola, and you’re forced to leave and search for the right class (which you’re already late for). You could Don’t drive more have avoided this if you’d than necessary found the correct classroom As a commuter, you have before school started. Of course, this advice is unieasier access versal, to your vehibut it’s Parking lots fill up cle than very freshmen fast, so give yourself imporwho live on extra time. Lots of it. tant to campus. So comnaturally, muters you may feel the need to — those living in dorms drive your car back and have plenty of time to exforth a lot. But resist that urge — leave your car in its plore campus once they

move in. Sometime before the first day, take a trip to campus and physically visit the buildings and rooms in which each of your classes are being held. And if you take a friend, you can turn the day into a cool scavenger hunt.

THE INDEPENDENT

[EDITORIAL POSITIONS]

[ADVERTISING POSITIONS]

Enjoy your time on campus and use it wisely

Staff Reporters. Reporters research and write stories about many campus topics, from Student Government to theater and music to the decisions that affect people’s lives every day.

Sales Representatives. If you’re outgoing and love meeting new people, selling advertising space in The Independent Collegian is a great way to get real-world business experience.

Advertising sales representatives approach businesses that want to connect with UT students and talk to them about the benefits of advertising in the student newspaper.

It’s inevitable — at some point, your schedule will have a gap in time that will leave you with hours to kill on campus. But when there’s a big break, don’t just sit outside your next class and Instagram your Starbucks cup.

Use it as an opportunity to get familiar with the university; if you’re going to be here for four years, you might as well enjoy your surroundings. Be social — if you know you’ve got a break after class, invite the nice person who sits next to you in lecture to grab a bite or play Frisbee in Centennial Mall. And if you’re in a “loner” mood, why not explore campus? (For some ideas on where to explore, check out our “Campus quirks and superstitions” guide on page 24.) The more time you spend on campus, the more opportunities you’ll find to make friends and have fun.

Amanda Eggert is the Editor-in-Chief at The Independent Collegian and commuter student.

Where to go Maybe you have a big break in between classes, or you’re waiting for a fun oncampus event that starts later at night. Either way, you may want to lounge around, study quietly, or even take a nap, but the couch in Field House isn’t cutting it. Well, you’re in luck — there are lounge areas all around campus. n The Trimble Lounge. It’s a hot spot for commuters, located on the second floor of the Student Union. There are comfy chairs, as well as theater-style seating in front of a bay of televisions. n The commuter office. It’s in Student Union Room 2505 and has a lounge area to relax and do homework. The commuter office is in the same place as the commuter student lounge. n The library. Did you know the library is open 24/7 during the week? There are plenty of study rooms and quiet areas between the six floors. Computers and laptops are available to use as well. n Student group offices. Besides all the opportunities to meet new friends and grow as a person, many student organizations also offer members a physical space to hang out. It’s just an added bonus to getting involved.

COLLEGIAN We’re looking for people to join our team.

Want to know what you could do at the IC? Read on ...

Sports Reporters. Sports writers cover UT Rockets games, write profiles of interesting players, and much more.

Staff Photographers. IC photographers get a front-row seat to life at UT. Cover everything from sports to student activities to breaking news.

Opinion columnists. Columnists write opinion-driven pieces about a variety of issues, both on campus and off.

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[DISTRIBUTION POSITIONS] Newspaper Carriers. Nobody can read the paper if it doesn’t get delivered!

Our delivery force drops copies of the IC at about 100 locations on and around campus. (Wednesday morning availability required.)

Email jobs@independentcollegian.com to learn more!

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8 | The Independent Collegian | Fall Semester 2014

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Fall Semester 2014 | The Independent Collegian |

ADVICE FROM RECENT GRADS What advice do you have for incoming students?

“Get to know your professors, go to office hours. Also get to know your adviser and your success coach.

Most importantly, get involved! Becoming a part of an organization will help you to get to know an abundance of people and meet the faculty and staff that care about students! Make sure to work hard your freshman year so you won’t spend the remainder of your college career making up for it and balance hard work with fun.

These are great years that you will remember forever!”

“Don’t ever let anyone here — administrator, faculty member, student — make you feel intimidated or stupid.

Sometimes, you’re going to get treated like you’re too young, or dumb, or whatever, to understand. But don’t let anyone bully you just because they have some type of authority. You have a gut and a brain, so use them to decide what is right for you.”

DANIELLE GAMBLE

TIARA GREEN

“If you do not speak up, no one will. If you do not act, nothing will change. If you do not listen you will never learn. You are the deciding factor; what you chose to consciously do will be the difference between the world you live in and the world you want to live in. That starts now!”

ALI ELTATAWY

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10 | The Independent Collegian | Fall Semester 2014

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Fall Semester 2014 | The Independent Collegian |

Starting college with your best foot forward

By Lauren Gilbert and Morgan Rinckey Copy Edittor and Opinion Editor

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ollege life can be tough when you try to stay on top of your school work and have a social life.

The experiences and memories you make in college will last a lifetime, so you want to make the best of it. This begins with doing well in class — and there are many things to be aware of in order to put your best foot forward in college.

Go to office hours On the first day of the new semester, make sure to write down where your professor’s office is and the time they will be available. It’s important to find out if your professor prefers you to just walk in during office hours, or if they would prefer you to set up an appointment with them.

Take advantage of office hours for help with homework and test preparation. Taking time out of your day to visit with your professor shows them that you care about what you’re learning, and it will help to make them take you seriously.

Get to know your professors We all know the feeling of being stuck with a teacher that you just don’t get along with. A great thing about college is that when you schedule your classes, you’re able to choose which professor you want. There are websites like ratemyprofessor.com that allow you to see how other students felt about an instructor.

As you progress in your college career, try to figure out which professors you liked best. You can decide this based on their personality, their grading scale, their teaching method, etc. Sometimes it is better to take a class that you need for your degree for the professor who is teaching it, rather than only being interested in the course material. Liking or disliking your professor can have a big impact on the grade you end up receiving in that class.

Create a study group The material that you have to learn for some classes can be hard, and having a group of people there for you for support

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can help you tremendously. Make friends with a few people in your class, and work out a time where all of you are available to meet and study for quizzes and exams. Study groups can be especially helpful for those of you who are more socially inclined.

Know the way you study There are some good study strategies that you can do on your own besides forming a study group. You can make flashcards whenever a new concept or chapter is introduced in class. The physical task of writing out the information by hand helps to commit information to memory. Then you can quiz yourself. You can also outline chapters, review lecture notes or watch Khan Academy videos to learn the material.

Just remember to study over time because one cram session before an exam won’t help you.

Join groups During the first few weeks of school every student group is pushing for new members. If you want to join a group, this is the time. New groups are great places to make friends with people who share the same interests.

The first few group meetings are very non-committal — just because you go to the first meeting doesn’t mean you have to go to the rest. That way you can meet with different groups and join the ones you are interested in.

If you go to a meeting further into the semester, it might be a little more stressful because you’re the new frog on the log. But you shouldn’t let that stop you from joining a group. Every group wants more committed members who want to participate. See what your friends are interested in and maybe they will join with you.

Go to first-week activities The first week activities are awesome for everyone — they let you meet new people, try new things, get free goodies and not have to buy food for two weeks. Campus Activities and Programing (CAP) puts on events throughout the year, but over the first few weeks they do activities that allow students to get to know one another — like bonfires and

barbeques. You won’t want to miss out on any of these events. You can learn when and where the events are by reading the newspaper, looking at fliers in the Student Union or by liking different University of Toledo student groups on Facebook.

Be ready before class starts It is best to be prepared for class. Knowing where you’re going is vital. It will be helpful when you want to go to different events on campus. So, get to campus early to map out where you have to go. Showing up late to class because you don’t know where you’re going can be awkward if there are only ten people in the class, and it can be difficult to find a good seat if you are in a large lecture.

Get a good seat in class On the first day, and on every day thereafter, get to class 15 minutes early and snag a seat near the front row. After the first week of class, everyone will usually sit in the same seat every day. Sitting in the first few rows of the classroom will show your professor that you are interested in learning, and that you are taking your grade in the class seriously. If your professor is someone who uses the projector and has a slideshow to enhance that day’s lecture, sitting in the front will help you take better notes. It will also help you focus on the lesson.

Lauren Gilbert is a second year majoring in English, and she is a copy editor at The Independent Collegian Morgan Rinckey is a second year double majoring in English and communication, and she is the Opinion editor at The Independent Collegian.

12 | The Independent Collegian | Fall Semester 2014

Rocket Dollars or Dining Dollars?

A guide to what you can use where

What’s the difference between Rocket Dollars and Dining Dollars?

Rocket Dollars can be used at any place where Dining Dollars are accepted. The main difference is that Dining Dollars are specifically meant for on-campus food and Rocket Dollars can be used at off-campus locations and for other services like grocery stores, restaurants and retail stores.

An important note is that any remaining Dining Dollars from the end of fall semester can transfer to the spring semester. However, Dining Dollars will not carry through the summer semesters or for the next academic year in the fall.

Dining Dollars can be used at the following locations for on-campus food, which includes residence halls and restaurants at the Student Union: Magic Wok — Student Union KFC Express — Student Union Subway — Student Union Croutons — Student Union Pizza Hut Express — Student Union Rocky’s Pub — Student Union Phoenicia Cuisine — Student Union Starbucks — Student Union Java City — Rocket Hall International House Bottle Rocket Carter Hall POD Convenience Store North Engineering POD Student Union Bottle Rocket Ottawa House East Dining Student Union South Dining Parks Tower Dining Rocket Cards can be used like debit cards for all the locations on-campus that accept Dining Dollars. Rocket Dollars can be used for at Barnes and Noble, Launch Pad, Center for Performing Arts box office, Health Science Campus book store, Satellites Gift Shop at UTMC, vending machines and residence laundry machines. They can also be used at the following off-campus locations:

Carryout/Grocery Stores Foodtown: 2735 W. Central Ave., (419) 517-7072 Mission Nutrition: 3606 W. Sylvania, (419) 340-3179 Secor Carryout: 3241 Dorr St., (419) 536-3968 Toledo Market: 3410 Dorr St., (419) 539-4262 Restaurants/Cafés Al Smith’s Place: 3550 Executive Pkwy. #12, (419) 531-0600 Arby’s: 1455 Secor Road, (419) 531-0495 Bambino’s Pizza: 4466 Monroe St., (419) 475-5155 Barry Bagels: 3301 W. Central Ave., (419) 537-9377 Burger King: 1441 Secor Road, (419) 535-1638 Chipotle: 3305 W. Central Ave., (419) 536-4296 Del Taco: 3348 Secor Road, (419) 720-8060 Five Guys Burgers & Fries: 3305 W. Central Ave. A2-30, (419) 464-0000 Jamba Juice: 3305 W. Central Ave., (419) 724-0721 Jed’s On Campus: 3534 Dorr St., (734) 777-2624 Jimmy John’s: 3255 Dorr St., (419) 720-6333 Jojo’s Famous Chili Dogs: 1122 N. Byrne, (419) 536-5764 Jo-Jo’s Original Pizzeria: 4336 Monroe St., (419) 473-1223 La Liban Cafe: 1471 Secor Road, (419) 531-6814 Marco’s Pizza: 3510 Dorr St., (419) 535-3001 Papa John’s Pizza: 3235 Dorr St., (419) 539-7777 Penn Station East Coast Subs: 4798 Monroe St., (419) 475-7366 Quiznos Sub Shop: 3015 Glendale Ave. #400, (419) 389-7782 Rockets Coney Island: 1223 N Byrne Road #D, (419) 725-2117 Ruby’s Kitchen: 4933 Dorr St., (419) 578-5388 Sonic Drive-In: 3225 Secor Road, (419) 536-8222 Subway: 1223 N. Byrne Ave., (419) 537-9557 Subway: 1465 Secor Road, (419) 536-3914 Taco Bell: 3149 Dorr St., (419) 531-2008 The Oasis Restaurant: 3303 Dorr St., (419) 536-3663 The Original Gino’s Pizza: 3981 Monroe St.. (419) 472-3567 Toledo Museum Of Art Café: 2445 Monroe St., (419) 255-8000

Vito’s Pizza: 3130 Central Ave., (419) 724-4054 Wendy’s: 3454 Dorr St., (419) 535-7963 Personal Services Cocoa Beach Tanning: 2903 Dorr St., (419) 949-5009 Continental Defense Protection: 200 W. Scott Park Drive, (567) 661-0500 Electrik Beach: 3324 Secor Road, (419) 725-9999 Express Laundry Service: 4919 Dorr St., Suite B, (419) 539-9274 Studio 14 Professional Tattoo: 2903 Dorr St., (419) 475-4292 Studio Nails & Spa: 3324 Secor Road #D, (419) 725-2117 Retail Stores Rockets Bookstore: 3407 W. Bancroft St., (419) 536-9154 The Art Supply Depo: 29 South Saint Clair St., (419) 720-6462 Auto Services Tireman Auto Service Center: 2779 West Central Ave., (419) 479-7010 Valvoline Instant Oil Change: 3620 Secor Road, (419) 535-8604

Fall Semester 2014 | The Independent Collegian |

Understanding your bill

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What do all those items on your UT bill mean? Here’s a breakdown.

Tuition: Every student at colleges everywhere pays tuition — it’s the overarching fee to attend the school. Tuition rates vary depending if you live in or out of state, or depending on your status as a part-time or full-time student. If you exceed 16 credit hours, you will have to pay per extra credit hour, and each hour is worth several hundred dollars.

General Fee: This supports activities sponsored by Student Government, campus activities and campus athletic events. This money also goes towards the upkeep of the Student Union building, intramural sports, transportation services and other student organizations who require funding. The money is allocated at the end of each academic year by a general fee committee, made up of students and approved by upper administrators.

Special Service Fee: It’s a mandatory semester fee that covers processing of official academic transcript requests made through Rocket Solution Central and the Office of the Registrar. The fee also goes toward the processing of graduation applications.

Lab Fee: Despite the name, lab fees are not just for science classes. A lab fee can be applied to almost any specialized class, and are requested to cover equipment and materials used in a class.

Tech Fee: It’s used to fix or buy technology and supplies in labs, classrooms and computer labs for whatever college designated on your bill.

Library Information Resource Fee: This money goes toward Electronic Library resources.

Parking Permit (Optional): You can request a parking permit on your myUT portal, and the system will assign you a permit type based on several factors, including your year in school and your commuting status. Your permit information will automatically update as your student status changes. While you don’t necessarily have to purchase a parking permit, you will be ticketed if you park on campus without one.

Health Insurance: UT requires all students registered for six or more on-campus credit hours to have health insurance. You will automatically be issued a bill to be a beneficiary of UT’s plan, but you can waive the fee if you have comparable health insurance or are covered by your parents’ plan.

Payments: Anytime you make a payment on your bill, the amount you paid and the way you paid it will appear.

Loans and Scholarships: If you earn a scholarship or receive loans, this is the amount applied toward your bill.

What about those optional fees?

Student Legal Services Any student who has paid the $10-per-semester legal services fee is eligible for counsel from Student Legal Services with no additional fees.

The Student Legal Services program was initiated in 1995 to provide quality legal counsel to students. The program assists students with a wide variety of legal issues including, but not limited to: • Traffic citations • Criminal matters • Landlord-tenant issues • Debt collection or consumer issues • Insurance issues The cost of hiring a private attorney in the Toledo area can range from $100 to $500 per hour, so even if you don’t think you’re likely to need legal services, $10 per semester may be a small price to pay for security.

Student Legal Services is located in Room 1610 in Rocket Hall.

Green Fund The UT Student Green Fund (SGF) serves to finance student-proposed and executed projects that promote sustainability, renewable energy, efficiency, waste reduction, and educational initiatives such as conferences, workshops, public classes and internships.

The UT Student Green Fund is a student-conceived, student-created and studentled program. It is a self-replenishing pool of money collected from students that is used to finance student-backed projects that serve to support the SGF’s mission to make the University of Toledo a greener, more sustainable and environmentally friendly campus.

During the fall semester of 2011, several students met to outline their collective goal to implement a voluntary, $5-per-semester fee intended to dramatically increase the speed at which students and student organizations could receive funding to make impactful, eco-friendly changes to the campus. The fund is supported by a voluntary, opt-in fee of $5 available to students each semester.

Projects funded by the SGF may range from campus-wide sustainability initiatives such as high-quality water bottles and filtered water refill stations to cut down on plastic waste, providing capital for senior capstone projects or research and internship stipends, and possibly implementing more renewable energy resources such as wind and solar power, lowering the utility cost and carbon footprint associated with every UT community member.

14 | The Independent Collegian | Fall Semester 2014

Should you go

?

By Amanda Eggert Editor-in-Chief

Everyday student organizations are great for advocacy or that really cool event you like, but there’s nothing quite like living your life in and for a brotherhood or sisterhood. But ask any member of a fraternity or sorority and they’ll tell you there’s a great deal of commitment that goes with it, and it’s not for just anyone.

Is going Greek right for you? Greek Life Coordinator Ceci Rivera offers the Alphato-Omegas of brotherhood and sisterhood.

What is a sorority and what is a fraternity?

A sorority is a student organization for female students while a fraternity is a student organization for male students. There is one coed fraternity at UT.

What are the different types of governing councils?

According to the Office of Greek Life, there are 31 sororities and fraternities.

The organizations fall under four different umbrella organizations: Panhellenic Council (PHC), Interfraternity Council (IFC), National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) and Multicultural Greek Council (MGC).

Panhellenic Council is made up of

BOB TAYLOR / IC

Pi Kappa Phi fraternity won first place in the men’s division on March 29 at Songfest 2014. Songfest is a singing and dancing competition that takes place every year to raise money for a philanthropy.

traditional sororities that have formal recruitment proceedings and 8 of the 9 chapters live in McComas Village on the south end of campus and recruit members in the fall, Rivera said.

Interfraternity Council has 10

chapters; 6 of them have residences in McComas Village. They hold formal recruitment in both the fall and spring semesters.

National Pan-Hellenic Council, which consists of African-American Greek orga-

nizations, has 9 fraternities and sororities.

Multicultural Greek Council has a Latino-based group, one sorority, one fraternity and one coed group.

See Greek / 15 »

PHOTO COURTESY OF CECILIA RIVERA

Rho Gammas are women who are members of sororities on campus, but who take a period of time off from their own sorority to help usher new students through the Greek Life recruiting process.

COURTESY OF ALEX WISNIEWSKI

Sigma Phi Epsilon pose for a group picture. The group is part of Interfraternity Council.

Fall Semester 2014 | The Independent Collegian |

Greek

from page 14

What is the cost?

Along with a Greek sister- or brotherhood, new members also accept some financial responsibilities.

New membership fees can range from $250 to $1,000 for women and $250 to $500 for men, depending on the Greek organization.

Interfraternity and Panhellenic Councils have dues which include the cost of maintaining the individual houses at McComas Village, Rivera said.

“The initial fees are expensive because it includes your certificate and your pin and all of your educational modules,” Rivera said. “After that, your dues go down.”

Dues for multicultural groups are in the range of $250 because they do not have to accommodate for a house or a Homecoming parade float, Rivera said.

What is the difference from other groups?

“What separates a student organization from a Greek-letter organization is the brotherhood or sisterhood aspect of the organization,” Rivera said. “Typically when you join a fraternity or sorority, whether it’s a professional or a social, that’s something that stays with you for the rest of your life, not just for your 4 or 5 years of college.”

Why should I join?

Rivera said every chapter is different, and anyone thinking about joining Greek Life should ask themselves if they’re ready for that kind of commitment.

“You have to really want to be a member of the Greek community because it’s a lifelong commitment,” Rivera said. “If you are initiated, if you are fully joined and you are a full-fledged member, you can’t go anywhere else. So you have to make sure it is what you really want and it is the group you really want.”

Who should I contact?

To receive more information, visit the Office of Greek Life in Student Union Room 3504 or send an email to greeklife@utoledo.edu.

Interfraternity Council Alpha Sigma Phi Kappa Delta Rh Phi Gamma Delta Pi Kappa Alpha Pi Kappa Phi Phi Kappa Psi Sigma Alpha Epsilon Sigma Phi Epsilon Theta Chi Triangle

Panhellenic Council Alpha Chi Omega Alpha Omicron Pi Alpha Xi Delta Chi Omega Delta Delta Delta Delta Phi Epsilon Kappa Delta Pi Beta Phi Phi Sigma Rho

15

National Pan-Hellenic Council

Multicultural Greek Council

Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Iota Phi Theta Fraternity Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority

Alpha Psi Lambda Nu Phi Psi Sigma Lambda Beta International Fraternity Sigma Lambda Gamma National Sorority

16 | The Independent Collegian | Fall Semester 2014

Fall Semester 2014 | The Independent Collegian |

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18 | The Independent Collegian | Fall Semester 2014

Student resources Carlson Library Phone: (419) 530-2298 Hours: Monday through Thursday 8 a.m.

- 9 p.m. Friday 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Saturday 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Sunday noon - 8 p.m.

Catharine S. Eberly Center for Women Tucker Hall 0168 Phone: (419) 530-8570 Hours: Monday through Thursday 8:30 a.m. - 6 p.m. Friday 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Center for Experiential Learning and Career Services Student Union 1533 Phone: (419) 530-4341 Hours: Monday through Friday 8:15 a.m.

- 5:00 p.m.

Center for International Studies and Programs Snyder Memorial 1000 Phone: (419) 530-5268

Mulford Health Science Library 3000 Arlington Ave. Phone: (419) 383-4225 Hours: Monday through Thursday 7:30 a.m. - midnight. Friday 7:30 a.m. 9:00 p.m. Saturday 9 a.m. - 9 p.m. Sunday 9 a.m. - midnight.

Office of Excellence and Multicultural Student Success 2500 Student Union Phone: (419) 530-2261 Monday through Friday 8:15 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Office of the Registrar- Main campus Rocket Hall - Suite 1100 Phone: (419) 530-4844 Monday through Friday 8:15 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Commuter Student Services Student Union 3504 Phone: (419) 530-8521

Office of the Registrar- Health science campus Mulford Library 114 Phone: (419) 383-3600 Hours: Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m.

– 5:00 p.m.

Counseling Center Rocket Hall 1810 Phone: (419) 530-2426 Hours: Monday through Friday 8:15 a.m.

- 5:00 p.m.

Office of Student Involvement 3504 Student Union Phone: (419) 530-4944 Hours: Monday through Friday 8:15 a.m.

– 5 p.m.

LaValley Law Library Law Center 1825 W. Rocket Dr., 3rd Floor Phone: (419) 530-2733 Hours: Monday through Friday 7:30 a.m.

- 11:45 p.m. Saturday 9:00 a.m. - 9:45 p.m. Sunday 9:00 a.m. - 11:45 p.m.

Rocket Solution Central Rocket Hall 1200 Phone: (419) 530-8700 Hours: Monday, Thursday and Friday 8:15 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday 8:15 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.

Learning Enhancement Center Carlson Library B0200 Phone: (419) 530-2176 McMaster Engineering Library Palmer Hall 2600 Phone: (419) 530-3948 Hours: Monday through Thursday 8 a.m.

- 5 p.m. Friday 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday closed.

Medical Center on the Main Campus Across from International House Phone: (419) 530-3451 Student Clinic Hours: Monday through Thursday 8:15 a.m. - 9:00 p.m. Friday 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Student Legal Services Rocket Hall 1610 Phone: (419) 530-7230 Hours: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Tuesday 8:30 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Student Disability Services Rocket Hall 1820 Phone: (419) 530-4981 Hours: Monday through Friday 8:15 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

University of Toledo Police Transportation Center, 1302 Police/Fire/Medical Response: (419) 530-2600 Non-Emergency: (419) 530-2601

Fall Semester 2014 | The Independent Collegian |

The pros and cons of buying used books, e-books and renting

By Morgan Rinckey

Buying used

E-books

I hate having to buy books for college. Don’t get me wrong, I am an English major, and I love buying books to read in my spare time. But I’ve seen books that cost up to $200, and that might be even more for different classes and majors.

Now if you are like me, you like a deal and you don’t like spending more than you have to on something you are only going to need for a semester. I enjoy buying a book from a garage sale for a quarter, and I shop around for the best price on textbooks.

I’m sure you all know about the bookstores on or near campus from Rocket Launch (the Barnes and Noble on the corner of Secor and Dorr and Rockets Bookstore on Bancroft). You can rent, buy new, used. Here are some pros and cons of buying used, buying an e-book and renting that may help you with your book-buying decision.

Pros: • It costs less than buying new • It’s yours to resell • It’s yours to mark up

Pros: • You don’t have to carry around books • On some websites you can print off the text • You don’t have to worry about reselling • You can highlight it without diminishing its value

Opinion Editor

Morgan Rinckey is a second-year student double-majoring in English and communication. She is also the Opinion editor at The Independent Collegian.

Cons: • You could buy from a bad source • It could be a junky copy with pages missing • It could be something you don’t need for class I usually use Amazon to buy used books because I can both buy and sell my books on one site. I like to buy used because I can resell the books and in total only lose a few dollars. Other sites that can be used as well are Chegg. com, Ebay, AbeBooks.com and Half.com.

Cons: • Have to have Internet access to get to it • It can be hard to skim for information • You are constantly looking at a screen It can be hard to get to certain pages quickly I’ve bought my e-books through Chegg. com, and it let me print off my chapters which I liked because I could write my notes on them. Other sites to use are the ones that sell the actual book copy like Amazon as well as eCampus.com.

19

Renting

Pros: • You don’t have to worry about reselling • At some places return shipping is free • At some places you can buy the book after you rent it Cons: • You are at fault for damages • There is a due date • You might want to keep it for the next semester If the book you need was recently published and you need to buy it new, look for it at the publishing company’s website. Usually you can get it for a lesser cost and you might even be able to get more of a discount by signing up for their email list.

20 | The Independent Collegian | Fall Semester 2014

Athletics 101 JACKIE KELLETT/ IC

By Blake Bacho Sports Editor

The University of Toledo’s athletic programs offer something for fans of every sport. Here is a quick look at some of the most prominent Rocket teams to watch out for next season.

Football Last year didn’t go exactly as third-year UT head football coach Matt Campbell would have liked.

He and his Rockets were denied a bowl bid after finishing the season 7-5, and, with the graduations of former running back David Fluellen and a slew of other prominent seniors, Toledo was left with several big holes to fill before next year.

But Campbell’s Rockets are far from a program in need of an overhaul.

Toledo’s squad will feature 19 starters from last year’s team, including 10 defensive regulars and four offensive lineman, as well as six

All-Mid-American Conference players. UT’s defense returns five of its top six tacklers, including All-MAC senior linebacker Junior Sylvestre.

On the offensive side of the ball, four members of Toledo’s offensive line will be back, as well as Jeremiah Detmer, a first-team AllMAC selection and one of the most accurate placekickers in the country.

The major question heading into Toledo’s season-opener against New Hampshire on Saturday, Aug. 30, is who will line up behind UT’s veteran offensive line. Campbell will have to make the correct decision between his three potential quarterbacks if he hopes to turn things around from last season.

Soccer Women’s head soccer coach Brad Evans is on a See Athletics / 21 »

JARED SIZEMORE / IC

TOP: Former Toledo quarterback Terrance Owens prepares to run during last year’s game against Bowling Green State University, which the Rockets won 28-25. UT will host this season’s version of Toledo’s annual rivalry matchup against the Falcons. ABOVE: Guard Justin Drummond heads to the basket against Kent State. Drummond will be one of four returning Rocket starters for a team that finished last season with a program-record 27 wins and a share of the eighth MAC regular-season title in program history.

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Athletics from page 20

mission to bring a conference-record fifth tourney championship to the city of Toledo.

After a 6-12-1 overall finish last year placed the Rockets sixth in the MAC West Division standings and denied them a slot in the league tournament for the first time in nine seasons, some might say this sounds like “Mission Impossible.”

But Evans and his team ignored the critics and the past during their spring season and it paid off. The Rockets, who are returning 15 letter winners in 2014, will be paced this fall by returning leading scorer sophomore Kiersten Johnson, who led the team with nine points (four goals, one assist).

Toledo’s successful spring schedule was highlighted by victories over archrival Bowling Green, IPFW and Wright State, a series of wins in which the Rockets did not concede a single goal.

Men’s Basketball A record-breaking season came to a heartbreaking end last year for men’s basketball coach Tod Kowalczyk and his players.

The Rockets racked up a program-record 27 victories and captured a share of the school’s eighth MAC regular-season title before falling to the Western Michigan Broncos in the MAC Championship game.

UT also appeared in the eighth National Invitation Tournament in program history at the end of the 2013-14 season. Toledo posted their

first unbeaten home record since 1966-67, and they established school records for most points (2,694), free throws made (643) and free throws attempted (887).

As if all of that weren’t enough, UT’s 277 overall record last year ranks fourth for most wins ever by a Mid-American Conference men’s program.

Kowalczyk, who has a 61-37 win-loss record over the past three years, will welcome four of last season’s starters back for the 2014-15 season. The Rockets are already receiving national attention, as ESPN’s Jeff Goodman recently included them in his “Fab 50 for 2014-15.”

Women’s Basketball Not even a disappointing 2013-14 season was enough to damper the spirits of the University of Toledo women’s basketball team’s rabid fan base.

Toledo finished 24th-best in the country in NCAA home attendance figures last season, averaging 3,932 fans per contest, which is good for the third-highest total in school history. The Rockets also led the Mid-American Conference in attendance for an unprecedented 24th consecutive season, drawing at least 4,000 fans on seven occasions.

In head coach Tricia Cullop’s six years so far at the helm of Toledo’s program, the Rockets are 81-18 (.818) on their home court, including 43-7 (.860) against conference opponents.

Toledo has won at least 11 home contests in five of six seasons under Cullop, including a school-record 19 wins during their 2010-11 campaign.

JACKIE KELLETT / IC

Former UT forward Rachel MacLeod dashes to the ball against Buffalo. The Rocket soccer team finished last season with a 6-12-1 overall record, but, after a successful spring season, head coach Brad Evans and his team are hoping to turn things around.

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22 | The Independent Collegian | Fall Semester 2014

How to thrive while living with a roommate You’re all packed to move into your new pad at UT, but there’s one thing making you anxious — your roommate.

Day-to-day living with a roommate can be a stressful or enjoyable situation, depending on how you handle the relationship.

If handled poorly, it can make for a pretty awkward living arrangement. Our goal is to help you prevent that from happening.

In order to help you foster good roomie habits, here are ten tips for developing a better relationship with the people who will come to know you best this year.

1. Communicate

taking yours? Are your clothes borrowed faster than you can wash them? Do you hate how your roommate always hits his or her snooze button ten times every morning? If you don’t address the issues that bug you while they’re small, your roommate may never be aware of the frustration you’re feeling.

Saying something sooner rather than later is much easier and allows you to be more polite, rather than waiting until the situation escalates and you end up losing your temper saying words you’ll later regret. Being clear from the beginning and letting your roommate know about your quirks and preferences is the best way to eliminate problems before they become even bigger problems.

SAMANTHA RHODES

As with any relationship, you and your roommate absolutely must speak with one another frequently. Regardless of whether this is a short-term living arrangement or a long-term one, communication is key for making sure both parties are on the same page. Though it may be awkward at first, having a conversation about setting rules will help ease tension later. Some people find it helpful to write up a “roommate agreement” in which they write down rules, responsibilities and conditions you both agree with. This way, everyone has a clear description of their responsibilities and understands the rules they must follow. Have everyone sign a copy, print it off and post it where it can be easily accessible in case you need to refer to it.

2. Address things while they’re small Is your roommate always forgetting his or her stuff for the shower and

3. Be prepared to compromise You are not the tyrant of the room and neither is your roommate. Don’t allow yourself to be walked on, but don’t be stubborn either. Compromise is an essential part of a roommate relationship — if you both want something to change, talk it over and meet in the middle. You can’t expect your roommate to budge if you refuse to acknowledge his or her wishes as well.

4. Be courteous of your roommate’s sleeping habits Are you a night owl? If so, keep your noise down and turn the lights down as soon as your roommate goes to bed. If you go to bed early, don’t be annoyed by your roommate’s sleep schedule, but

instead try to find ways you can sleep undisturbed by asking them to move locations or use a dimmer light. The same thing applies for rising in the morning or taking naps. Sleeping habits are something that need to be addressed immediately and it never hurts to know the little details (“I need dead silence to fall asleep,” “ I need a fan running at night to relax” or “I need at least fifteen minutes after waking up before I can speak to anyone,” etc.)

5. Spend time with your roommate Say hello and goodbye, ask them how their day was, and show interest in their life. By getting to know the person you live with, you’ll gain valuable perspective into their life and, in turn, they will more fully be able to understand yours. Once you’ve developed a rapport with that person, dealing with problems that arise won’t feel as nerve-wracking.

Bonding with that person will help you relax more when you’re together. Set a time you both can hang out each week and try to cook dinner together or watch an occasional movie. Doing something nice for your roommate will really show them you care, and they may even return the favor. Try performing random acts of kindness for them — bake them cookies, offer to drive them somewhere if they don’t have a car or make their bed after they leave for class: the little things speak volumes.

6. Stay flexible and be empathetic Be understanding about what’s going on in your roommate’s life and work to accommodate their needs. If they have a big test coming up, leave the room for a few hours to give them time to study undisturbed. If you know your roommate’s parents are coming for a visit, help tidy up the room to rid them of any inclination they may have that the two of you are slobs. Try to put yourself in your roommate’s shoes and think about how you would want your roommate to act in a given situation. Be courteous.

After all, wouldn’t you like your roommate to give you the same consideration?

7. Respect your roommate’s stuff This may seem obvious, but it’s probably one of the biggest reasons why roommates experience conflict. Don’t think he’ll mind if you open his bag of pretzels to snack on? For all you know, you just stepped over an uncrossable line that will infuriate your roommate.

Don’t borrow, use or take anything without getting permission first. It’s beneficial to talk about what the two of you are willing to share and what is off limits.

See Roommate / 23 »

Fall Semester 2014 | The Independent Collegian |

Roommate from page 22

8. Watch who you bring into the room, when and how often A person’s room is equivalent to his or her sanctuary. By bringing swarms of unknown people into your roommate’s ‘safe place,’ you may betray their trust. Learn your roommate’s preferences and comfort levels with visitors. If you know your roommate is an introvert, don’t embarrass them by bringing a crowd of people into the room without their knowing. Always introduce anyone who enters the room and be especially careful not to invite your boyfriend or girlfriend over for hours on end.

Public displays of affection or making out in front of your roommate is not acceptable either — think about how you would feel in that scenario. Other hang out locations, such as the library, Student Union or another friend’s room, may be better options to give your roommate space.

9. Be open to change and new things College is jam-packed with people who were raised differently from you, partake in a variety of hobbies and especially those whose brains don’t function the way yours does. That’s the great thing about college — being exposed to others who aren’t a mirror image of you. So get used to the diversity and try to keep an open mind. To you, your roommate’s passions or beliefs may sound strange or seem like a waste of time, but keep in mind that he or she may feel the same way about your hobbies, which could include your love of science fiction or your obsession with Pinterest, which is evident from your wall, covered with half-finished crafts you started last week and failed to finish. Whatever it is that makes you and your roommate smile, you both deserve to engage in those activities — without judgment from one another.

10. If nothing else, follow the Golden Rule Treat your roommate like you’d like to be treated. Regardless of what happens during the course of your relationship, if you treat your roommate with the same respect you know you would want, you can take comfort at the end of the year knowing you did the right thing and acted as an adult.

Samantha Rhodes is a third-year double majoring in communication and English.

She is the Managing Editor at The Independent Collegian.

23

The trial and tribulations of life as a commuter student They say that at the end of every journey you should find not only your destination, but yourself. Now, in this case I’m not exactly sure who “they” are but it sounds too good to be true right? So let me share with you my journey of hundreds of little journeys that make up a commuter student’s life.

I’ve been a commuter student for the entirety of my college career; in that time I’ve had three cars, been driven to school by my dad, ridden my bike when I was without cars, and worked the bus schedule. I probably have made every commuting mistake in the book, let’s be honest.

So I will share with you some of my pain and joys, and hopefully, through my journey of modest self-discovery I can share something that goes beyond this page.

My first painful confession is I have left my house late probably hundreds of times only to circle the parking lots for an hour praying and cursing in the same breath. I have hoped against hopes that I would find a parking spot only to give up and cut class because, before I knew it, I was 45 minutes late.

I have skipped meals because I forgot my lunch in my car and I knew that by the time I walked back to my car, ate, and made it back I would again be late for my class.

I have played many unsuccessful games of hide-and-seek with parking services — most of these games were played in lots I had no pass to be in. I’ve become first-name friends with a family in the Old Orchard neighborhood because I parked in front of their house every day for two semesters.

I have braved snow storms, ice storms, rain storms with two broken windows, slid on sheets of ice and gotten into fenderbenders trying to work on my homework while driving.

I have used the fact that I had a car to make friends and escape from them. I have accumulated way too many parking tickets and fines; I’ve timed my commute to a cup of coffee and three cigarettes.

I wake up almost every day halfway through my commute. I have learned that Toledo has a mad rush on Secor, Central and Talmadge every day from 4:30 to

around 6:00. As a commuter forced to be on campus early, I know that the on-campus Starbucks gets really busy by 9:00 but if you get there at 8:45 you can usually get in without a line.

But do you remember what I said at the beginning? About every journey, yadda yadda yadda?

Well, I didn’t just say that to make you feel good. I said it because it’s true.

Whether we like it or not, we as commuter students live a transient, almost nomadic lifestyle.

I personally am at school more than I am at home. And at school I have no home. The closest thing I have had to my own living space in three years is my car. I’ve slept in my car. I’ve packed my car full of “just-in-case” crap.

And every day I take a journey. I travel to school, to home, to work. And every time I travel I am forced to sit with myself and listen to all of the thoughts in my head.

When I drive home, I review my day. I tell myself that tomorrow I’m going to be on time, and that if I was just a little more organized I wouldn’t leave the house every morning in a panic. I remind myself that parking really should factor into my planning more than it does. And at least once a week, I realize that even though these reflections could be done anywhere, I have

SAMUEL DERKIN

learned to do them in my car, while I drive.

And I think this is best thing that I have taken out of commuting, and possibly the best advice that I can give incoming commuter students.

However you get to school, however long it takes, you will be faced with all sorts of challenges. You may have to force yourself to plan ahead, force yourself to play by the parking rules, leave on time, and manage your time. All of the things that you will see other kids getting away with not doing, you may find yourself fighting against every day — I know I have.

But you want to know something? I would have to fight against those things no matter where I lived. I know myself well enough to see that. I know that even if I lived on campus, closer to campus, even if I camped out in the damn classroom itself, I would still have to fight against these things, and if you’re anything like me, you will too.

But if you are like me, and if you are a commuter, enjoy the journey, take your college life one mile at a time and savor it. Because in a world that allows you to shop, work and talk to people online while you sit at home in your underwear, your time commuting may just be the only time you get to really sit down and talk with yourself about who you really are.

Sam Derkin is a fourth-year double majoring in English and communication and is a staff reporter at The Independent Collegian.

24 | The Independent Collegian | Fall Semester 2014

The Fountain The Toledo Edison Memorial Fountain was built as a gift by Toledo Edison Co. in 1979 to mark the 100th anniversary of Thomas Edison’s invention of the lightbulb. It was built the followCannon at football games ing year, when Centennial Whether you go to football Mall was constructed. The games or not, as long as fountain also spent four you’re outside on campus, years as a flower bed when you’ll be able to tell when rusted pipes forced it to shut the Rockets score by the down and the $50,000 repair “boom” of a cannon. The cost was too high. It was retradition dates to 1953 and stored as a fountain in 1997 was started by the men of after a fundraising effort by Pi Kappa Phi fraternity.

Student Government PresiThe cannon, which is at dent Kevin Hopkins, Toledo the northeast corner of Edison and many others. the stadium, is fired at the FUN FACT: beginning of every home The Glass Bowl can game, at the end of each hold a little over quarter and after every 26,000 people.

Rocket score.

FUN FACT:

On the top four corners of the Bell Tower are four gargoyles who are said to guard the university.

FUN FACT:

The Bell Tower atop University Hall has 156 steps and is 206 feet tall. Finished in 1931, UHall was the first building built on the Bancroft campus.

Echo point outside Ottawa East (pictured at bottom left) Between the Ottawa East dining hall and the railroad tracks, there’s a special section of sidewalk surrounded by a circle of knee-high brick. If you stand precisely in the center (marked by the

seams of the sidewalk) and speak at a regular volume, your voice will sound like you’re standing in a large echoing chamber. However, only you will be able to hear the reverberations.

The curse of the University Seal The University of Toledo’s Seal was placed in the middle of Centennial Mall and dedicated on October 23, 1995, by the Student Alumni Council. Superstition states that if you step on the seal, you will fail your next exam; this was started

by Omicron Delta Kappa to discourage people from standing on the dais.

FUN FACT:

UT’s 16th and current president, Lloyd Jacobs, was appointed in 2006 when UT merged with the former Medical University of Ohio, which he headed for about three years.

Spirit Rock The Spirit Rock on the Flatlands area of Main Campus was donated to the university in 1997. The rock has been painted hundreds of times, but is traditionally painted after dark. It

Fall Semester 2014 | The Independent Collegian |

be a faculty parking lot and Army barracks, was completely covered by snow.

FUN FACT:

President Henry J. Doermann, the father of the Bell Tower and the university’s structural design, went against the objections of many Toledoans who felt the design was extravagant and too costly. replaced a spirit rock that was donated to UT in 1968 and located between Carlson Library and the Student Union. That rock was moved to make room for an expansion of the Student Union and is now by the pond on the Scott Park campus.

FUN FACT:

There are almost 300 trees in the 9.7 acres of the Centennial Mall area.

Rocky the Rocket and Rocksy the Rocket Rocky became UT’s mascot the 1966-67 school year.

The tradition was started by the Spirits and Traditions committee, a part of Student Government, with various students being chosen to dress up for games. Then

in fall 1968, the first official Rocky the Rocket emerged in a costume made by the theater department seamstress. The costume was essentially a wastebasket with a pointed rocket top made of papier-mâché.

Over the years, Rocky’s costume has changed many times, including an authentic spacesuit, helmet and boots donated to the university by the NASA Space Center in 1977. The latest Rocky, which was unveiled in fall of 2008, maintains the futuristic space concept but is depicted more as a cartoon superhero. Then at UT’s Music Fest in 2011, Rocksy, the female version

of the 2008 Rocky, was introduced.

FUN FACT:

Last November 2013, the UT Green Fund headed a project which installed water bottle refill stations around main campus in locations such as in the Carlson Library. Here, students can refill their water bottles for free.

Centennial Mall sidewalks During the Blizzard of 1978, the area in the middle of campus, which used to

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Graduate students in the university’s geography department photographed the paths on the snow made by students walking to class. The design of the sidewalks in Centennial Mall was then constructed using the layout of those paths.

Falcons in the Bell Tower Though the Bowling Green Falcons are archrivals to the Rockets, another type of falcon has made its home at UT. In 2006, a mating pair of Peregrine falcons nested in the bell tower, making it one of about 36 nesting sites across Ohio.

The Ohio Division of Wildlife monitors the falcons and bands the young falcons just before they leave the nest.

FUN FACT:

The Collegiate Gothic structural design for University Hall set the standard for all other campus buildings to be constructed on UT’s main campus.

Sources: UT and Blue Crew. Photos: The IC and UT.

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Ways to get around UT and the Toledo area TARTA (Toledo Area Regional Transit Authority) Terminal: 1127 W. Central Ave. Phone: 419-243-RIDE (7433) Cost: $1; passes available.

TARTA is the transit system that services Toledo and many surrounding communities.

It can be used to go to anywhere in Toledo and has a dedicated stop at the Transportation Center on main campus. You can also use TARTA to get to surrounding communities such as Perrysburg, Maumee, Rossford, Ottawa Hills and Spencer Township. The fare is $1 or one token; passes are available for $10 per week or $40 per month. Check tarta.com for more information. TARTA buses are equipped with bike racks.

Black and White Cab Phone: 419-536-8294 Service Hours: 24/7 Cost: Varies based on distance.

Black & White Cab Co. is a taxi service serving the Toledo area. It offers a Designated Driver service.

University of Toledo Transit Services Phone: 419-530-1026 Cost: Free for students.

UT bus service is provided at no cost to UT students. To ride, just show your Rocket ID. Buses run to the Health Science Campus, Scott Park Campus, Toledo Museum of Art, Westfield Franklin Park Mall, Walmart and various apartment complexes.

Night Watch (Escort Service) Phone: 419-530-3024 Cost: Free.

Equipped with two-way radios and in constant contact with the police dispatcher, two-person teams of escorts will provide assistance to people requesting an escort from one UT location to another late at night.

Night Watch operates from 7 p.m. to 3 a.m. Sunday through Thursday and 7 to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday when school is in session. To request an escort, call 419-530-3024.

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PUZZLES

Puzzle solutions on page 30

THEME: TV SHOWS

ACROSS 1. Thoroughly enjoy, as in food 6. European peak 9. Gulf war missile 13. *Howdy Doody’s partner “_____bell” 14. Singular of #29 Down 15. _____ Apso 16. *Alf was one 17. Back then 18. Painter’s support 19. *Phil, Si, Jase, Willie and Jep made one 21. *How I met your what?

23. *Homer’s exclamation 24. Physicist Niels ____ 25. Trigonometric func.

28. Cry like a baby 30. *Both Jan and Peter were this type of child 35. Eye layer 37. Like a bow string 39. Jeopardy 40. Event that fails badly 41. Match play?

43. Of the highest quality 44. One of three hipbones 46. Eye affliction 47. Classic sci-fi video game 48. *Ty Burrell to Julie Bowen, e.g.

50. Biblical twin 52. Pressure unit 53. Brooding 55. *”The Closer” network 57. Neolithic tomb 60. *”Game of _______” 64. Free-for-all 65. *”___-T” of “Law & Order: SVU” 67. Muse of love poetry 68. Birdlike 69. “___ Elise” 70. From the East 71. New Mexico art community 72. Asian capital 73. “Valley of the _____” DOWN 1. A large amount 2. Comrade in arms 3. “You’re So ____” by Carly Simon 4. Artemis’ companion 5. Kidnapping goal 6. Home versus ____ game 7. Time delay 8. Movie trailer, e.g.

9. ____ of Iran 10. Detective’s assignment 11. One who takes drugs 12. Indian restaurant staple 15. Talk rapidly and angrily 20. It follows eta 22. Unit of electrical resistance 24. Bravado 25. Having three dimensions 26. Convex molding 27. 18-wheelers 29. *Storage-related conflicts 31. *They walk?

32. Sag

33. Linoleums, for short 34. Fragrant resin 36. Adjoin 38. Misfit Island dwellers 42. Poet’s “below” 45. *Draper, Cooper, Sterling 49. Poor man’s caviar 51. Like emails in bold font 54. Make one 56. Body center 57. Deity in Sunskrit 58. Assortment 59. Grassy land tracts 60. Seaside bird 61. Hit this on the head 62. And others, for short 63. *”____ of Anarchy” 64. Dojo turf 66. Pool stick

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MEDICAL AMNESTY

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What is it and what does it mean for you?

It’s a an almost inevitable fact of college applicable to your situation, you “will not — there’s a good chance that even as a be subject to disciplinary action nor refreshman, you’re going to have an oppor- quired alcohol and other drug sanctions tunity to drink underage or try illegal under the UT Student Codes of Conduct, drugs. And even if you’re not aching to Residence Life or Greek Life.” do a keg stand or roll a blunt, what about However, if your circumstances are your new free-spirited friend, or your more complex, like if you get arrested by wild roommate? city police, there’s nothing the university If a “good time” turns dangerous, don’t can do. be afraid to call for help. Since 2010, the University of Toledo’s medical amnesty pol- Are my parents going to find out? icy has protected students who find themYes — it’s part of the policy. selves or a friend in an emergency from “Even though disciplinary action may be having the incident affect the students’ aca- waived, The University of Toledo requires demic records that the office of student or lead to disconduct or student affairs If you, a friend, or any other notify the parents or ciplinary action. guardian of the student student is facing a medical That’s right affected.” emergency due to alcohol or — if you request emerWhat happens after? drugs, call 911. gency assisThe university will contance for yourtact you and set up a time self, another for you to be evaluated by student or a friend experiencing an alcoa student affairs or student conduct officer. hol- or drug-related emergency, neither the Then, they decide whether or not you need person who calls nor the person in distress additional counseling or help. You could be will face any punishment from UT. “subject to referral for assessment, counselHere are some answers to further quesing, and possible treatment.” tions you might have.

What if I just blow off the followup Who does this policy apply to? process?

“UT students who initiate and seek assisPlease follow through. If you don’t comtance and/or medical treatment on behalf ply with the entire process, you could face of themselves, another student or a friend.” much tougher penalties.

Does the incident really not go on my reWho should I contact to report a problem cord at all? under medical amnesty?

It doesn’t go on your permanent record, Just react the same way you would in any but the university will keep tabs on you unother emergency situation — call 911 first. til you graduate.

Then, the policy suggests you next inform “Although a record of the incident will be “the UT Police Department… and Univerfiled and used as a prior record should subsity officials.” sequent alcohol or other drug violations occur, it will not be reflected in the stuDoes this only apply if I’m on campus? dent’s academic transcripts and the file will The policy states students who are “on be maintained in accordance with student the UT campuses and satellite grounds” are conduct records management. In cases in under its protection. If you are functioning which amnesty is applied, the records will as a representative of the university, it apbe used for internal use only and will be plies as well — even if you’re part of group destroyed upon graduation.” while outside of Toledo, or even Ohio.

What if this happens more than once?

Are there other punishments I might “If the student is involved in any subseface? quent alcohol and/or drug abuse incidents, The policy states that if a student conthe situations will be evaluated by a student duct officer decides the amnesty policy is conduct or student affairs officer to see if the

student qualifies for medical amnesty. Typically those situations will be handled through the regular judicial process and will be considered for sanctioning purposes. The availability of medical amnesty for students with repetitive or severe violations will be determined on a case-by-case basis.”

Are there other situations where this policy could help me out?

Not really; that’s not how it works.

“The medical amnesty policy applies to medical emergencies related to alcohol and drug use. It does not apply to other prohibited behavior such as disorderly conduct (including physical or verbal abuse), property damage, or distribution of illicit substances.”

— IC staff

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My first-year mistakes

When I was a first-year student, I thought I was prepared for college, and for the most part I was. I had a ton of pens and pencils like I did when I was in high school and I had taken courses at a community college during high school. But there were mistakes I made that community college didn’t prepare me for.

Don’t buy used lab manuals

lab manual for nearly the same cost, and I couldn’t sell them back because they both had pages missing by the end of the semester.

So when you have a class that requires a lab manual or a workbook that has chapters that you have to turn in, make sure you buy the book new. It will save you from a lot of hassle and money in the long run.

Parking tickets

I bought a used During the first lab manual online month of my freshman for my geology class year, a lot of the people last year. I was excitI knew were getting ed because it was a parking tickets. They lot cheaper than what parked in places for upthe book store was perclassmen. All the unselling it for, and derclassmen parking since it was a book lots were full because published by the some of the lots were OPINION EDITOR University of Toledo, closed for a football it was typically only game so they parked in available through UT. a wrong place.

When I got the book it looked I really didn’t think I would get a like a usual used book. There were ticket. bends on some of the pages and When I went to a parking lot to notes along the margins. But I get my car and go home there was didn’t notice until the first day of something on my windshield. As I class that pages were missing — was driving I kept looking at it. It whole chapters. wasn’t bright or a small square I ended up having to buy a second shape like most fliers that get stuck to my windshield.

It was a long, thin NOTICE OF VIOLATION sheet of pale yellow paper.

I didn’t know NAME: Morgan Rinckey what it would be for.

I had a parking pass, I was parked in the right section and there wasn’t a game that day so I Not buying the right book shouldn’t have been in trouble for parking there.

When I got home I took the note out Parking violation from under the windshield wipers and was shocked to find out what the ticket was for. I parked in a pullNot knowing there was food in through spot that the Student Union hid my license plate from the street.

You know when

MORGAN RINCKEY

you sign up for something online and you are supposed to read the rules and stuff before you accept?

Well, you have to do that for a parking pass too. I didn’t read the rules carefully apparently, and I got a ticket for it.

I tried and succeeded in getting it appealed because I honestly didn’t know I wasn’t allowed to park that way.

So if you have to sign up for a parking pass, make sure you read the rules because you don’t want to get a ticket. And also be aware of where you are supposed to park.

Upperclassmen commuters can park in “C” lots, underclassmen commuters can park in “K” lots, upperclassmen who live in residence halls can park in “D” lots, underclassmen who live in residence halls can park in “F” lots and faculty, staff, TAs and grad assistants can park in “A” lots.

Food on campus

The first month of school I didn’t realize there was food in the Student Union. When someone had a bag from Subway with them I just assumed they drove off campus to get it.

I knew there was a Starbucks in the Student Union, but I consider that a drink vendor.

But one day I was running late for class and discovered more food stations as I was walking to the Field House. But lucky for me there were crowds of people everywhere, and I had to navigate through the students only to get to class late.

A lot of students go to the Student Union during the first weeks of class.

There are lines everywhere and no empty tables except the ones right by the doors. But as the semester goes on or during non-peak hours the lines become shorter and other tables are available to sit at. From 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. the lines are at their longest. By getting food at any other time, you are saving yourself time, and you will probably be able to find a good table to sit at.

You can always pack food from home, too. It’s usually healthier and cheaper.

Morgan Rinckey is a second year double majoring in English and communication. She is also the Opinion editor at The Independent Collegian.

Puzzle Solutions from page 28

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