Spring12Issue35

Arts & Life, A5

Sports, A6

The politics of campus

UT gets some ‘Juice’ in 72-67 win over CMU

Independent Collegian IC The

Thursday, February, 23 2012

Serving the University of Toledo since 1919

www.IndependentCollegian.com 92nd year Issue 35

Higher Learning Commission visit scheduled for next week UT community to give input for accreditation process Monday and Tuesday

By Danielle Gamble Copy Chief

Students, faculty and staff should be prepared for questions next week, as a consultant-evaluator team from the Higher Learning Commission assesses UT’s accreditation.

Forums open to all students will be held Monday at the Student Union and Tuesday at the Health Education Building on Health Science Campus, both for 50 minutes each. Faculty and staff will also be given the chance to speak at their own forums, Monday on Main Campus and Tuesday on the Health Science Campus.

Unlike standard forums, moderators from the HLC will ask UT members about their experiences at the university as well as possibly interview students going about their business on campus, according to Penny Poplin Gosetti, vice provost for assessment and strategic planning.

“It’s very common for them to go to a research lab or the cafeteria or just walk around residence halls,” she said. “They’re

here to seek answers, and they’re going to get them the ways they think are best.”

Student Government President Matt Rubin encouraged students to attend the forums, saying this visit gives students a chance to “be heard in a unique way.”

“Our job as students is to provide important feedback on the UT experience,” he said.

Government regulation and higher education

The HLC is part of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools and they are one of six regional accrediting agencies across the United States. Representatives from these agencies are sent to oversee regulations concerning both K-12 schools and centers for higher education.

“The accrediting bodies are made up of peer institutions, and when you belong to the commission like our university does, it means when we get continued

accreditation, you are evaluated by peers in your area,” Poplin Gosetti said.

The HLC consultants will check several components of the university, including the correct appropriation of federal funds and the proper disburse-

“

Our job as students is to provide important feedback on the UT experience.

Matt Rubin President, Student Government

”

ment of financial aid through Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965. This is the same act that funds federal loans like Pell Grants or Federal Direct Loans.

“That’s the fed’s money,” Poplin Gosetti said. “So they require that the accrediting bodies monitor certain activities within an

institution, to ensure [the school] is in compliance with the rules and regulations related to giving that money to students.”

Currently, the private accrediting board is asked by the government to oversee certain areas of higher education. These private boards decide issues like the value of a credit hour and the value of distance and online learning.

But Poplin Gosetti said government oversight in the accreditation process has become an issue for those working in higher learning.

“It’s sort of a national conversation right now,” she said. “Every time there’s a new rule that comes into higher education, those institutions cringe because it means more federal oversight.”

Poplin Gosetti said there is a federal connection to the accreditation process, even though the accrediting bodies are somewhat independent.

“There’s a tension right now

Schedule: Higher Learning Commission Forums Faculty Forums  Monday, Feb. 27 Student Union 2582 at 4 p.m.  Monday, Feb. 27 Health Education Building 110 at 4 p.m.

Student Forums  Monday, Feb. 27 Student Union 2584 at 4 p.m.  Tuesday, Feb. 28 Health Education Building 103 at 4 p.m.

Staff Forums  Monday, Feb. 27 Student Union 2591 at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 28 Hilton Oak Room at 11 a.m.

— HLC, Page A2

UTMC unveils hyperbaric patient chamber One of a kind treatment center uses pure oxygen to heal wounds and severed limbs

Students volunteer at local elementary school

By Megan M. Vollmer IC Staff Writer

Andrew Kurtz / IC

Leaders and doctors gathered at the University of Toledo Medical Center on Friday to debut the region’s first multiple-patient hyperbaric chamber. The unit uses 100 percent pure oxygen to treat patients suffering from severe ulcers, tissue damage and crushed or severed limbs.

By Andrew Kurtz For the IC

The region’s first multiple patient hyperbaric chamber opened in the Heal and Wound center at the UT Medical Center’s Wound and Care Center last Friday.

The chamber is the only of its kind in the United States, where 10 million people suffer from chronic, non-healing wounds too difficult to cure without special treatment, according to a press release.

In one treatment session, the 21-foot long, 10-foot wide hyperbaric chamber, provided by OxyHeal Health Group Inc., can simultaneously seat up to 10 patients or four lying down.

Dr. Gerald Zelenock, professor and chair of the Department of Surgery, said the treatment

method administers 100 percent pure oxygen to patients while under pressure, increasing oxygen levels in the blood plasma and deprived tissues. The presence of high oxygen concentration at the site of a chronic wound promotes the healing of damaged tissues.

Treatment is also administered to patients with crushed injuries or severed limbs as well as emergency cases of carbon monoxide or cyanide poisoning.

“This is a great day for the citizens of Northwest Ohio, particularly those with complex wounds,” Zelenock said.

Munier Nazzal, medical director of the Wound Care and Hyperbaric Chamber Center and director of the vascular surgery lab, said bringing the model to UTMC was the fruit of the labor of many and

that OxyHeal helped make everything possible by working hand in hand every step of the way. The complex and chamber may not have been possible at UTMC had the hospital funded the entire venture.

“Patients now will get the most advanced treatment technology for wounds,” Nazzal said. “They will receive treatment for vascular, plastic surgery, rehabilitation and nutritional needs.”

The treatment patients receive will be from a team of physicians, nurses, medical assistants and hyperbaric technologists certified in hyperbaric oxygen therapy.

Treatments last for two hours per session, with five sessions a week, Nazzal said. After six and eight weeks, treatment is typically complete for severe wound and

tissue damage patients.

During treatments patients may talk with other patients, play cards, or watch one of two televisions inside of the chamber, Nazzal said.

This policy does not affect patients with pacemakers or other medical devices inside of the body.

The program is part of a contract with OxyHeal that currently runs five years. Revenue will be dispersed amongst the hospital and OxyHeal, Nazzal said.

After the five years, a new contract may be negotiated.

The venture cost the hospital $200,000 in the renovated north entrance.

For more information about the UT Wound Care and Hyperbaric Center, call 855.59.

WOUND.

A new charter school specializing in teaching academically underdeveloped and economically underprivileged children is looking for student volunteers for two programs.

Great Expectations Elementary, located on Hill Avenue, works closely with UT’s Speech Language Pathology Department and education majors to teach children how to better enhance their phonological awareness, oral and receptive language skills.

Alyssa Bifulco, a senior major in Speech Language Pathology, said volunteers make lesson plans for the students based around their current curriculum.

Bifulco said they teach initial sounds, rhyming and phonemics.

“They know we are coming to teach each week so this gets the children used to a routine. We work on pre-reading skills, as well as working to create structure in their daily lives,” Bifulco said.

Many of the students at Great Expectations are not at the academic grade level they should be.

For example, a student may be at a third-grade age, but his or her current knowledge may only be at a first-grade level.

Erica Pharis, director of instruction at Great Expectations, said the elementary school requires new students to take a diagnostic computer test once they are enrolled, and the resulting data allows the school to place the child at the academic level that best fits them. “[Great Expectations] involves teaching science and social studies through art instruction,” Pharis said. “Large group instruction introduces the state standards to the entire class, then ability groups

break apart and attack the skills missed or needed to be able to successfully maintain the knowledge and understanding of the state standard.”

Great Expectations recently added a lunch/mentor program where UT students mentor children and eat lunch with them on Friday afternoons. The purpose of this program is not based around academics, but rather to build relationships between the student and volunteer.

“Volunteers from the university come in during lunchtime to eat lunch with certain children who are working on social skills, good behavior and emotional stability,” Pharis said. “The children earn this special time to interact with university students through conversation, board games, gym activities and computer time.”

Along with the lunch/ mentor programs, UT students tutor on afternoons throughout the week. They spend time with the children honing in on specific areas the individual child needs improvement on, such as reading and math skills.

Pharis said the goal of this program is to let children see what it looks like to go to college.

Bifulco said the mentor program is about one-onone interactions where the mentor and child can form a special bond and build a trusting relationship.

“I feel a sense of excitement every time I go,” Bifulco said. “The students look forward to seeing you and you feel the same way back; you could not ask for a better environment.”

Pharis said UT students have the power to make a difference in these kids’ lives and give them an insight into the potential the kids’ lives can hold.

— Volunteers, Page A2

A2

HLC From Page A1 between the accrediting bodies and the federal government. Historically, the government has not been involved in higher education some besides federal funding,” she said.

The government, including the United States Secretary of Education, cannot accredit post-secondary institutions, according to the U.S. Department of Education website.

Preparing for the visit

Next week’s visit is the culmination of a process 10 years in the making.

Poplin Gosetti said the university created a self-study steering committee about four years ago, of which she is coordinator for.

The purpose of the committee was to gather information from all factions of the university to compile a report for the HLC team.

“While we’ve had a lot of people contribute to this, hundreds of people, the commission still wants to come in and talk to people about how this is playing out, what we see for our future and how that’s sustainable,” Poplin Gosetti said.

The

Independent Collegian Heather Huntley, HLC project assistant, said after nearly three years of development, the self-study report was posted online in rough draft form.

Students, faculty and staff were then able to leave comments and submit revisions.

After that, hundreds of “factcheckers” were enlisted to validate the report’s findings.

“The question we kept asking was, ‘Are we providing a balanced perspective,’” Poplin Gosetti said.

Rubin said students should glance at the 368-page final report, currently posted online on the university’s website.

Poplin Gosetti describes the commission’s feedback not so much as restrictive, but evaluative.

“We tell our story,” said Poplin Gosetti. “And while we have to tell our historical story, they are more interested in how we’re moving forward.”

While this year’s evaluation is based on a 10-year plan, the HLC is renovating their assessment process by holding smaller scale evaluations over smaller sections of years.

“It would be like going through four years of school and then taking a test at the end, as opposed to assessing your knowledge the whole time. For us, I like to think of it as more of a doctoral dissertation,” Poplin Gosetti said.

Volunteers From Page A1 “Knowing that giving one hour per week will enhance a child’s learning, encourage them to be a better citizen, show them they have the potential to attend college someday, the ability to

change their current living situation, it is simply priceless the feeling a volunteer will have leaving us at the end of the day, week or year,” Pharis said.

For more information regarding volunteer programs, please contact Erica Pharis at 419-490-6252.

SUBS SO

FAST

YOU’LL FREAK!

FREAKY FAST DELIVERY! ©2011 JIMMY JOHN’S FRANCHISE, LLC ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Thursday, February, 23, 2012

Forum

A3

Thursday, February 23, 2012

Randiah Green Editor-in-Chief

Marina Schaberg Business Manager

Vincent D. Scebbi Managing Editor

Jantzen Ridenour Forum Editor

- in our opinion -

Beautiful, beautiful anarchy Instead of the true American spirit, as a society we are given one that says everything can be fixed with stuff. Have a mental disorder? Buy some stuff. Feel inadequate?

Buy some stuff. Unhappy? Buy some stuff.

There’s stuff for cars, stuff for stars, stuff for husbands, stuff for wives, stuff for kids, stuff for cats and stuff for dogs. Heck, there is even stuff which shows all the new stuff that can be bought because, clearly, the old stuff did not do the trick − but this new stuff will! Well, maybe.

Many Americans are realizing that this Styrofoam-cup-culture and paper-plate-spirit just isn’t worth it anymore. It’s not worth it to them, their families, the environment or society for that matter. For the ones that realize this and sincerely believe it, they go off the grid and refuse to be dependent on the whole system. They embrace the now fledgling American spirit, rescuing it from being bludgeoned to death by Apple, Big Macs and premature heart attacks.

They live without laws, too far away from anybody for the government to care. They sometimes live alone or in communities.

They live by dedication and determination.

They live like very few people ever really will: with absolute liberty. To some it sounds foolish. To others it sounds American. However, with all those different vantage points, one can’t help but think that whatever it sounds like, it’s beautiful.

Anarchy. The first thought that comes to most people’s minds is a disestablishmentarian punk hurling Molotov cocktails at police officers and government buildings. Anarchy in its principles is sublime and in its spirit transcendent. After really digging into what anarchy is about, one might even find that the anarchist spirit is in fact the American spirit.

In the book “Off the Grid” by British-born Nick Rosen, the author sets off on a cross country journey to find and interview American citizens who aren’t quite American citizens anymore. They said no more government, no more giant corporations, no more consumerism, no more taxes and no more being plugged into the grid which powers it all.

They have cast off their chains of bondage.

They refuse to be dependent on the grid and everything it represents. They are ordinary families, retirees, millionaires, foreclosure victims, environmentalist and survivalists.

The grid, government, corporations and the system as a whole have let them down and left them to pursue a life of their own accord.

They have embraced individuality, a do-ityourself spirit, rock-hard determination and a profound refusal to obey illegitimate authority. All of these traits are anarchistic and unquestionably American in spirit. That spirit of course has been covered up and omitted by blatant commercialism, creating a culture as disposable as paper plates and Styrofoam cups.

Band-Aid for a broken arm At first glance, charity seems like a good thing.

In the case of homelessness, it is easy to agree

Charity helps those in need — the impoverished,

that helping the homeless is a good thing. Yet due

the sick, the downtrodden and so on. It makes

to the individualistically-oriented thought process

those involved feel like they’ve made a difference,

that dominates American society, it is often the

like they have truly benefited another’s life.

homeless themselves who are blamed for their condition. No regard is given to factors pertaining

The truth is, within the context of the individu-

to current sociology, economy, group psychology,

al, it does make a difference. But to the whole of

demography or political initiatives with negative

society, charity itself fails in one crucial way.

side effects. Instead, blame is often put on the in-

Charity in many cases acts as small bandage.

dividual, despite the fact that very little of what

For a small injury a small bandage is just fine.

has happened to them has been in their control.

However, this particular injury is more akin to a

Homeless shelters and other initiatives are all

broken arm.

very good things. The question is would not it be

In most charitable organizations, focus is put on

better to facilitate the creation of enterprises

the symptoms of the ailment which are our cur-

which would reduce the need for such initiatives

rent modes of thought, which are capitalistic, indi-

in the first place? Rather than working within the

vidualistic and imperialistic in nature.

confines of a capitalistic system, which is benefi-

What charitable organizations and their mem-

cial to the few and at its best is exploitative of

bers fail to do is inquire why the symptoms they

many, perhaps a new modus operandi should be

are trying to alleviate actually exist. Logically

striven for.

speaking, if one fails to identify the reason for the

While it is indeed a good thing to be charitable,

symptom’s existence they will also fail to cure the

it is misguided to think that charity alone will cure

actual ailment. This results in a perpetual bandag-

any social ailment. It is far greater instead to re-

ing of a wound rather than an attack on the root

move the symptoms by eliminating the cause of

cause and elimination of the symptoms all

the ailment itself. In short, as the saying goes,

together.

“Destroy what destroys you.”

The

Independent Collegian Staff Editorial

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- Letter To the editor Next week the University of Toledo and campuses nationwide will take part in the nationally recognized “Israel Apartheid Week,” sponsored by Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP). Using the very term “apartheid” by SJP in its characterization of Israel is patently false and deeply offensive to all who feel a connection to the state of Israel. This spreading of misinformation by SJP chapters both locally and nationally is creating a bias against Israel in the media and jeopardizing a timely resolution of the IsraeliPalestinian conflict.

Using the term “apartheid” is a very deliberate attempt to associate the current Israeli Government with the racist South African regime of the 20th century. This offensive claim is highly objectionable to anyone who knows the truth about Israel’s record on human rights, and is a stark contrast to that of South Africa.

Under apartheid, Black South

Africans could not vote and had no rights in a country in which they were the overwhelming majority of the population.

This analogy is not credible, as SJP chapters have chosen to manipulate rather than inform on this issue. Therefore, we request that SJP immediately stop referring to Israel as an apartheid society, and acknowledges that the Arab minority in Israel enjoys full citizenship with voting rights and even representation in the government. SJP should acknowledge that there are 14 Arab members in the Israeli Knesset, an Arab member of the Israeli governing Cabinet, an Arab member of the Israeli Supreme Court, and Israeli Arabs involved in Israeli businesses, universities and the cultural life of Israel.

A true hope for justice, peace and reconciliation in the Middle

East compel us to demand an immediate cessation to the deliberate mischaracterizations of Israel. SJP’s compliance with this request will be viewed as a responsible and appropriate first step toward raising the level of discourse.

— Casey Cheap Christians United for Israel (CUFI-Toledo) Chairman — Matt Rubin UT Student Government President — Patrick Richardson UT College Republicans Chairman — Brent Teal UT College Democrats President — Maxwell Gold Former UT Hillel President 2008-2011

SJP and Israeli Apartheid Week Next week marks the international Eighth Annual Israeli Apartheid Week in the United States. According to the website apartheidweek.org, Sunday to Mar. 3 will see select U.S. cities host events that aim to educate people about Israel’s apartheid — a militarized and legalized system of segregation and subjugation like that of South Africa until 1994 — as well as making the call for the Boycott Divestment Sanctions, or BDS, movement.

The BDS movement was issued in 2005 as a call by Palestinian Civil Society to boycott Israeli products and companies that profit from Israel’s violation of international law and Palestinian human rights; to assure universities do not invest in or finance such companies; and to call for countries to sanction Israel so they are not complicit in its violations of international law.

The BDS call was endorsed by over 170 Palestinian political parties, organizations, trade unions and movements.

These methods are meant to make Israel fulfill three international law requirements: end its occupation and

Butheina Hamdah

colonization of all Arab lands occupied in June 1967 and dismantle the Wall; recognize the fundamental rights of the Arab-Palestinian citizens of Israel to full equality; and respect, protect and promote the rights of Palestinian refugees to return to their homes and properties as stipulated in UN Resolution 194.

IAW’s events include presentations, lectures, film screenings and demonstrations. UT’s Students for Justice in Palestine will follow suit this year with three major events on campus.

First, informational tables will be setup in the Student Union Building across from the Huntington Bank office Monday to Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Students interested in learning more about IAW, BDS and SJP should visit.

Next, SJP will collaborate with African People’s Association, Black Student Union and Student African American Brotherhood to host a panel discussion titled “Confronting Apartheid: From South Africa to Israel.” A panel will explore the parallels between the respective apartheids of South Africa and Israel and discuss how social movements during South Africa’s apartheid can be applied to the Israeli situation. Speakers will include Dr. Carter Wilson, professor of political science; Dr. Morris Jenkins, chair and professor of criminal justice and social work; Dwight Hasse, assistant professor of sociology; and myself.

The event is Monday, at 6 p.m. in the

College of Law Auditorium.

Then, SJP will host a screening of Julia Bacha’s “Budrus,” an award-winning documentary about Ayed Morrar, a Palestinian community organizer who led an unarmed movement to save his village from destruction by Israel’s Separation Barrier. The screening begins at 6 p.m. in Snyder Memorial Room 2110.

We as students are behind in the movement for social justice. Throughout our school years we’ve all taken world history classes of some sort. In history, we have all learned about the Berlin Wall — constructed in August of 1961, dividing East and West Berlin, Germany. Moreover, we remember such moments in world history and condemn the infringement on the Germans’ freedom of movement caused by the Berlin Wall — yet we fail to notice that as we speak, Israel’s Separation Barrier surrounding the West Bank stands as a haunting parallel to Berlin.

The barrier, still under construction, is planned to be four times as long and twice as tall as that of Berlin.

History is repeating itself, and the suffering of the Palestinian people will continue to fall on deaf ears unless freethinking students dedicated to humanity educate themselves and speak out against apartheid.

— Butheina Hamdah is an IC columnist and a senior majoring in political science.

A4

The

Independent Collegian

Thursday, February 23, 2012

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Help Wanted

Help Wanted

For Rent

BARTENDERS WANTED! Make up to $300/day. No experience necessary. Training available. 800-965-6520 ext.

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Experienced child care provider needed for country club in Holland . Part time position, 8am-Noon, 3 days per week. Email resume to beth@stoneoakcc.com

For Rent: 2634 Calverton, 2119 Kensington, 2115 Kensington, others on Kensington, Calverton, Perth and Alvin.

3-6 Beds, $250/Person.

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TELEMARKETERS NEEDED $8/HR-NO SELLING REQUIRED Mon-Fri 5-9PM, Sat 9-2PM MUST WORK EVERY DAY START MARCH 12 goes until end of Semester Good Communication Skills Needed Call Kris @ 874-1945 or Apply at TruGreenToledo. com Models wanted for Life Drawing Art classes. M/F, 18 yrs +, $15 per/hr. Undraped.

Class meets every Wed. night from 6 - 9 p.m. No experience needed. Contact Paul @ 419-243-4944 experienced typist needed: evenings Call 531-7283 from 11am-11pm.

Salary Negotiable

For Rent 2-4 br. All appliances included central air. leases beginning June July or August. www.utrentals.net Shawn 419-290-4098 5 blocks from main campus!

Spacious duplex’s now renting for spring and fall 2012 semesters. 2-8 bedrooms, 1-3 bathrooms, garage, basement, small pets’ o.k., washer and dryer included. 419-376-2444 WWW.UTDUPLEX.COM For Rent 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, & 7 Bedroom Homes, 2 & 3 Baths, all appliances including washer & dryer, security systems, free lawn care, plenty of parking, less than 1/2 mile from campus, some within walking distance. Call Rick at 419-2838507 ! www.universityproperties.net Bedroom for rent fully furnished with cable and television wireless internet.

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Hardwood floors, full basement, large deck, plenty of parking. Quiet, Safe neighborhood. Minutes from Campus and nightlife $1300 / mo. Call 419-236-2002 or email ut4rent@gmail.com

Services Available TAX SEASON! Any UT student/employee return $50.

Don’t pay high fees to national chains. Don’t be fooled by one day RAL loans few are approved!

5808 Monroe Street B1 by Wendys. 22yrs experience. Assisted Refund(AR) and Debit/ Credit cards available.

Walkins ok appointment recommended.

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Thursday

46

32

Friday

39

34

Saturday

35

24

Sunday

45

20

Weather courtesy of www.northwestohio.com/weather

www.IndependentCollegian.com Around town

Feb. 23Feb. 29

Thursday

Arts and Life Thursday, February 23, 2012

Page

5

Caitlin Arthurs – Editor

UT Groups of the Week: Dueling Oppositions

The politics of campus

ner “Jersey Boys” all through

College Republicans College Democrats

February. Show is not recom-

By IC Staff

Stranahan Theatre — Experience 2006 Grammy Win-

mended for children due to smoke, violence and adult themes.

The

show

runs

through Feb. 26. Tickets can be purchased at http://theaterleague.com/toledo/jerseyboys. Show starts at 8 p.m.

Friday Valentine Theatre — Come and experience Toledo’s new old-fashioned night out with Silver Screen Classics. This week’s feature is “The Sting” (1973). Full bar and $2 popcorn will be available. Admission is $3 and the show starts at 7:30 p.m.

Toledo Repertoire Theatre — See the funniest trage-

Ever since Thomas Nast created the Republican Party’s elephant, the tradition of honored membership in the GOP has persisted. Beth Mellinger, a senior majoring in communication, said she is proud to be a part of this tradition.

“It is important to be united and share core conservative values,” she said. Mellinger is the current secretary of UT’s College Republicans and has been a member for four years.

This year, the membership of the organization has increased, and Mellinger said she loves the idea of the organization’s growth.

“We have a few hundred members and about 20 solid. The membership increased this year because of the [national] election, which is cool,” Mellinger said. “People should be passionate all year long, not just during the election.”

College Republicans have already put on

several events and are planning many more.

Earlier this month, 15 members traveled to Washington D.C. for the annual national Conservative Political Action Conference, or CPAC. Many prominent Republican speakers were featured, including current GOP candidates Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum.

According to Mellinger, the organization is very active in the current Republican primary race. During election season, the organization works with voter registration and many local campaigns.

“America isn’t just red and blue — it is all over the board,” she said. “The primary determines what our voice will say and who it will be.”

Despite the Republican Party’s attempt to reach out, many college students are Democratic and support President Obama. Mellinger believes this is

because they lack experience.

“Most students have their parents help, and until they stand on their own two feet, support themselves and work for a paycheck, they don’t really understand their political views,” she said.

College Republicans are also pushing for improvements to UT’s campus. According to Mellinger, the group is a forum for discussing political backlash and discrimination.

Two years ago, the group publicly claimed that several professors had liberal biases and graded unfairly. Melligner believes this problem is still relevant. “[We have to] let the professors know it is not okay and we are not going to stand for it,” she said.

College Republicans are always welcoming new members. They meet Tuesdays at 7 p.m. in the Student Union Building, room 2582.

By IC Staff

Many college students think they can’t effect politics or the government, regardless of if they vote or not. With the help of student political organizations like College Democrats, they can feel differently.

The College Democrats organization was established 1932 during the campaign of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt.

During that time, democratic leaders decided the younger generations could have a big part in the political development of our country.

As a national group, the College Democrats of America became a part of the official democratic student branch aligned with the Democratic National committee, with the help of former Vice President Al Gore and his staff in 1990.

More locally, a chapter can be found at UT.

According to College Democrats President Brent Teall, the group supports public institutions, regulated capitalism, civil rights and government spending in the big picture of the American economy.

This year, the group plans to support Rep. Marcy Kaptur’s bid for re-election. Teall interned at Rep. Kaptur’s Washington D.C. office last summer, and he said the group supports the congresswoman’s stances on the economy, poverty, energy and health care.

“Whether a Republican or Democrat runs for the primary, a Democrat is definitely going to win in this district, and we’re rooting for Marcy,” Teall said.

The group also endorses the re-election of President Barack Obama and plan to promote his campaign.

Last year, UT’s

College Democrats protested against Issue 2 in alliance with the UT American Association of University Professors. The organization also backed the “We Are Ohio” campaign which petitioned to veto Issue 2.

“Toledo is run by Democrats, so if a student is looking to gain political experience while studying at the University of Toledo, College Democrats is the organization to join,” Teall said. “Due to the strong party ties in the community, a lot of great opportunities for internships are also presented to members of UT’s College Democrats as well.”

Anyone interested in the Democrat side of politics is welcome to join. Meetings are held weekly in the Student Union Building, room 2562 at 6:30 p.m.

dy ever seen on stage with “The Seussification of Romeo and Juliet.” The combination of classic Shakespeare lines and silly Dr. Seuss rhymes is sure to make for a fun and entertaining theater experience.

Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children. The show starts at 7 p.m.

Saturday Valentine Theatre — “Forever Plaid” is being performed.

Saturday show starts at 8 p.m.

The show runs on weekends through Feb. 26. Tickets can be bought at http://www.valentinetheatre.com.

Sunday Bar 145 — Test your real ability to rock at the Rock Capitol 10-week live-band karaoke competition. Become one of the top four competitors and advance through the ranks as the weeks progress. Winner receives a $500 grand prize.

Competitions start each Sunday at 9:30 p.m.

Photo courtesy to Patrick Richardson

The College Republicans meeting with Republican candidate Mitt Romney at the Conservative Political Action Conference earlier this month.

Photo courtesy to Landyn Jordan

The College Democrats pose together, showing their support for Democratic candidate Barack Obama in the 2012 Presidential election.

Shedding a light on theater

Theatre student clarifies some misconceptions about the world of the stage

By Sean Koogan For the IC

Whenever I mention working as assistant stage manager for the College of Visual and Performing Arts’ upcoming production of Sophocles’ “Oedipus Rex,” I am often reminded of people’s misconception of plays and the multifaceted collaboration of which they consist.

I would like to dispel any misunderstandings that may be floating about campus.

While I am never opposed to hearing another individual’s opinion and, in fact, revel in the exchange of ideas, possessing a basic understanding of a topic retains more validity than just spouting off nonsense.

With the hopes of introducing a new perspective, I want to provide a basic understanding about the “easiness” of theater. First, I would like to clarify that the following column is not a complaint — rather, it is meant to be informational.

Theater is in no way easy or simplistic. Just because a performance can be viewed

in two hours does not mean the production manifested in the same amount of time.

The culmination of dedicated work from multiple areas of expertise used to make a production takes numerous months.

Believing a production assembled overnight is like saying a research paper required only ten minutes to write because the paper is only ten pages long. Anyone who’s ever pulled an allnighter can confirm how baseless that statement is.

The same goes for any theater production. It takes months of meticulous, emotionally and physically draining preparation to get everything done before the lights of opening night. In fact, lights are an essential aspect of any production.

Without lights, a majority of productions would fail due to a lack of vision and clarity — unless darkness is part of the concept. The long hours of careful plotting and appropriated placement, however, are rarely mentioned. A light designer wrestles with anywhere

from one to a few hundred lights, colors, effects, transitions and intensities when developing the scheme.

Once the schematics have been created, it’s time for the accurate placement of the various lights. This may seem easy, but “Oedipus” demanded constant retrieval and delivery of lights, racing up and down four stories of stairs and hooking them all up. Finally, adding an array of gels — different colored light coverings – was necessary. It was at this moment, when a little less than half my body had been hanging off the catwalk more than 40 feet in the air to add a gel, that I discovered I am not necessarily afraid of heights — merely falling from heights.

Moving to ground level — sets, sound and properties — is a bit safer yet equally as important. I find that people usually equate sound with music. While this is spot on, sound also deals with sound effects, including loops that help to conjure a certain emotion.

Properties, otherwise

known as props, are the items that actors and actresses interact with onstage. They help to further develop characterization and a play’s mood.

Sets also play a huge role in defining a play’s world, whether it be a graveyard for a horror-based production or a saloon for westerns. Long hours are dedicated toward the design and construction of sets.

Costumes function in a similar manner. Costumes help set character mood, time period and set conditions. Without costumes, a play’s authenticity and overall message can remain lost to the audience, making garb an essential part to any production.

Acting is the final noticeable element consistent amongst any production.

Acting is a finely honed craft with numerous intricate techniques. It is more than repetition and regurgitation of written lines as most people believe; it is the mental and physical transformation of oneself into a character. It is a

specialized craft requiring years upon years of training in order to deliver a believable, relatable and consuming experience. Typical college level rehearsals consume 25 to 30 hours a week on top of a full class load and work. If after you attend a performance and believe an actor’s character portrayal, then the actor has properly executed his or her job.

Next time you walk past a performance flier and think, “That’s easy,” refer back to this column for a refresher course in your naivety. If you hear anyone spouting off about how there is nothing to a production, at the very least kindly inform them that there is a crap load of work that goes into any production.

If you do attend a future production, keep in mind each element and allow yourself to be transported.

Hopefully, a better knowledge of each aspect will mean a better theater experience.

— Sean Koogan is majoring in theatre.

“

We went in there and got blown out, they punked us. We felt that when we left and we won’t let that happen again

Curtis Dennis UT Forward

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www.IndependentCollegian.com

Linjustice be gone The sports world is currently suffering from a bout of “Lin-sanity.” The rapidly spreading fever is a result of New York Knicks’ point guard Jeremy Lin’s rapidly rising success. Known symptoms include amazement, incredulity, speaking in puns and in a handful of severe cases, racial insensitivity.

It’s been 18 days since Lin’s impressive run began. In that time, there have been six documented cases of raciallycharged c o m m e n t s and headlines negatively highlighting Lin’s Russell A s i a n Axon ethnicity.

The rem a r k s r a n g e from the uncreThe mind- ative to the vulgar set needs to the

Sports Thursday, February 23, 2012

Page

Joe Mehling – Editor

UT gets some ‘Juice’ in 72-67 win over CMU

By Joe Mehling Sports Editor

“

to change to Lin is a great player who is of Asian ethnicity.

lcompletey ignorant.

The respective intents and contexts of each rem a r k should be judged individually.

The troubling issue is that the remarks were published in the first place and with such high frequency. The problem lies in the media’s prioritizing of what makes Lin newsworthy.

By focusing on Lin’s ethnicity, the media seems to imply that there is something remarkable about an above-average Asian-American athlete.

In the U.S., Asian sports stars are few and far between.

Lin’s ethnicity in American sports is rare and ironically belittled, his success marred by individuals who act like they’ve never seen an Asian before. These comments and headlines seem to suggest that Lin is a great player despite his Asian ethnicity. The mindset needs to change to Lin is a great player who is of Asian ethnicity.

The important distinction is that Lin’s ethnicity should not become irrelevant. Instead, the unique ethnicities of Lin and his colleagues should be celebrated. For Lin, it is part of what defined and cultivated his life to reach where he is now.

His surprise step into the limelight provides an opportunity to celebrate diversity. Lin is the first American player of Chinese or Taiwanese descent to play in the NBA. This is a huge achievement that should be celebrated as a big step in racial equality. He stands as a role model for Asians and Asian-Americans and among that large demographic, he generates interest in the game. People who had never watched a basketball game now count down the days to the Knicks’ next match-up.

Beyond that, basketball fans should celebrate the energy and excitement Lin brings to every game. Regardless of personal opinion, there’s no denying that Lin is a talented player. He still has an immense amount to prove before he can enter the pantheon of basketball greats, but everyone — regardless of ethnicity — should be eager to see what he does next.

6

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File photo by Nick Kneer

Freshman guard Juice Brown torched Central Michigan for 29 points in the 72-67 Rocket victory last night at Savage Arena.

Julius “Juice” Brown fueled the Rockets 72-67 win over Central Michigan last night at Savage Arena with 29 points, knocking down 10 of his 11 shots from the field.

“He is playing as good as any point guard in our league,” said UT head coach Tod Kowalczyk. “I have seen his leadership abilities increase these last two weeks.”

Junior forward Curtis Dennis once again provided the spark off the bench with 18 points, shooting 3-of-5 from beyond the arc while sophomore guard Rian Pearson had 11 points and seven boards.

“Earlier in the year we didn’t know how to grind out games and win games, but tonight we did that,” Kowalczyk said. “We didn’t play good, but when you get a win in late February, there all great wins. We didn’t take a step back but we certainly didn’t perform at the level we were playing at over the last four to six weeks.”

Trey Zeigler led Central Michigan with 33 points on 15-of-25 shooting and added eight rebounds.

Toledo has won three straight games and are now serious contenders for the MAC West Division. However, a loss against Western Michigan on Saturday could do serious damage to their regular season title hopes.

“This game is personal,” Dennis said. “We owe them big. We went in there and got blown out, they punked us.

We felt that when we left and we won’t let that happen again.”

Toledo turnovers lead to ugly loss against Eastern Michigan

By Nate Pentecost Assistant Sports Editor

Toledo’s loss Tuesday night was surely not from a lack of motivation. With first place in the division on the line, and a chance to avenge themselves against the last team to hand them a loss, the Rockets match-up with Eastern Michigan was likely the most meaningful of the season.

So it goes without saying that UT did not anticipate having its 10-game winning streak snapped in a 54-33 trouncing in Ypsilanti, Mich.

It’s also safe to assume that Toledo (18-8, 11-3 MAC) did not anticipate turning the ball over 28 times, missing eight of 14 foul shots and allowing 15 offensive rebounds to the Eagles (20-7, 12-2).

“I didn’t expect us to play as poorly as we did tonight based on what we had done the last 10 games,” said UT head Tricia Cullop. “But Eastern is a different kind of team than the teams we’ve played. They have great quickness and athleticism. If you turn the ball over, good luck catching them.”

With the win the Eagles all but locked up the No. 2 seed in the Mid-American Conference Tournament (Saturday, March 3) which would give them three byes and a spot in the semifinals. Toledo would need either Eastern or Bowling Green to lose twice in order to move up from the No. 3 seed.

The Rockets got off to a disappointing start against

EMU, committing eight turnovers in the first 12 minutes.

Down 12-6 by the 9:36 mark, this time Toledo was unable to recover.

A nearly eight minute scoring drought did little to help the Rockets, and though sophomore center Brianna Jones ended it with fourstraight points, Eastern responded with a 12-5 run to take a 28-18 lead at the half.

UT’s struggles continued in the second half, as they scored just four points in the final ten-plus minutes to end the program’s longest winning streak in over a decade.

Junior center Yolanda Richardson was the only Rocket to have consistent success, recording 18 points on 9-of-12 shooting to outscore the rest of her teammates combined.

She also added nine rebounds and six blocks.

MAC Player of the Year candidate Tavelyn James led the Eagles with 20 points as forwards Paige Redditt and Natachia Watkins added 11 and 10 points, respectively.

“We’ve got two more games to play before we go to the conference tournament,” Cullop said. “I’m looking forward to coaching those two games and I know this team will bounce back.”

The Rockets will return to Savage Arena to face Northern Illinois (12-13, 6-7) on Saturday before closing out the regular season on Tuesday at Ball State (9-17, 4-10).

File photo by Nick Kneer

Yolanda Richardson scored 18 of Toledo’s 33 points in Tuesday night’s loss at Eastern Michigan.