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Independent Collegian IC The
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Serving the University of Toledo since 1919
www.IndependentCollegian.com 92nd year Issue 31
Student petitions for gender-neutral housing By Randiah Green Editor-in-Chief
For students who do not fit the “gender norms” of their sex, sharing a dorm room with someone of the same sex can prove to be difficult. “I know I was harassed when I lived in a dorm by some ultra-masculine guys on my not-so-masculine traits,” said David Holtzapple, a fourth year pharmacology
student at UT. Holtzapple is part of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Questioning and Allies community on campus. “I would feel so much more comfortable if I didn’t have to live up to gender stereotypes and could feel more at home in on-campus housing,” he said. “I moved into an apartment my sophomore year because of that.”
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I would feel so much more comfortable if I didn’t have to live up to gender stereotypes and could feel more at home in on-campus housing.
David Holtzapple Senior, Pharmacology
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Matt Ellis, a junior majoring in medicinal and biological chemistry, is trying to provide a better atmosphere for students with experiences similar to Holtzapple’s by petitioning for gender-neutral housing at UT. Ellis has been circulating the petition on campus for a week and though he is unsure exactly how many students have signed it, he said most students he approached were
supportive. “Every now and then there are some who are hesitant to sign it,” he said. “But if they — Gender-neutral, Page A5
Online and Active Have thoughts about genderneutral housing? Leave them on at IndependentCollegian.com
SG aims to make professor evaluations available online By IC Staff
In an effort to better address students’ concerns when it comes to picking the right professor for a course, Student Government passed — Evaluations, Page A5
Black History Month at UT
A look at the upcoming events in February scheduled in celebration of Black History By Megan Vollmer For the IC
File photo by Dean Mohr
A speaker at one the University of Toledo’s previous Black History Month Kick-off events. This year’s kick-off will be Monday from noon until 2 p.m. in the Student Union Building Auditorium.
Christopher Scott, president of Student African American Brotherhood, believes Black History Month is a powerful accomplishment. “I think we should celebrate Black History Month because it gives us a moment of remembrance, to remember those who not only fought for justice but those who fought for peace among all nations.” Throughout February, various UT organizations including SAAB will host events for the UT community and the public as part of the month-long celebration. The festivities start with the upcoming Black History Month Kick-Off Event Monday from noon to 2 p.m. in the Student Union Building Auditorium. It will host poets and guest speakers as well as a dance group and choir. The first event of February, entitled “Black Leaders History,” will be hosted by SAAB next Thursday at 8 p.m. Basheer Jones, a motivational speaker and graduate of Morehouse College, will be speaking at the event. SAAB is also hosting “A Good Grade Makes a Difference” on Feb. 9 at 8 p.m. Keathun Gale, a leader in the Greater Cleveland Urban League and graduate of the College of Wooster, will be speaking about
the importance of building positive relationships with peers and staff. Another event is the Black History Month Poetry Slam on Feb. 6 from 7 to 9 p.m. in the Student Union Building Auditorium. Emily Hardcastle, community outreach coordinator for the Office of Equity, Diversity and Community Engagement, said students are encouraged to come and showcase their poetry and listen to Brandon Thornton, the featured guest poet of the night. “The Black Greek Xperience” will take place Feb. 9 from noon to 2 p.m. in the Student Union Building Auditorium. This is an informational session for individuals who are in an African American sorority or fraternity and wish to share any stereotypes or misconceptions about Greek life. Rasheed Ali Cromwell, author of the book “The Miseducation of the Black Greek,” will be giving a 90-minute lecture about the African American perspective on Greek life. Free food will be available. The Black Student Union will host two popular events next month. The first event is the second-annual “Harlem Renaissance” in Rocky’s Attic on Feb. 28 from 6 to 8 p.m. BSU President Victoria Delly said last year’s event had a successful turnout and they wanted to keep the
spirit of the Harlem Renaissance alive. It will be a mock event based off the New Negro Movement in the 1920s and ‘30s. Delly said it will be a time for students to come together to celebrate the innovative and intellectual poetry, art and dance of the movement. BSU will also host their 43rd annual Black Fashion Show on March 2 from 6:30 to 9 p.m. in the Student Union Auditorium. The theme is “Sakosa.” Delly said the theme represents “stepping into your future but looking back at your past to know where you came from.” “Black Student Union Fashion Show is focusing on black history and of the growth of black people within our community at UT,” she said. “We have a very diverse community at UT and a large part of the population is African American. People are ignorant on the subject of black history and slavery and it is important to cater to the needs and wants of all students.” Sponsoring these events are the Office of Multicultural Student Success, Office of Dean of Students, President’s Lecture Series on Diversity as well as SAC partnering with CAP. For more information, contact Megan Woodruff at 419-530-2992 for a full detailed schedule of events.
Renovations at Carlson Library continue By Allison Seney IC Staff Writer
UT’s Carlson Library will receive some new improvements, like a new writing center, as part of its recent restoration beginning this semester. Ben Pryor, vice provost and dean of the College of Innovative Learning, said the renovation will consist of a series of projects spread over the next several months. “Our short term plan is to accommodate more learning space. If you look at what is going on in libraries like ours, nationwide, most of them have found extra space because of transforming from print to digital,” Pryor said. He said the plan is to separate the second floor into two parts. One will be a gathering area with a monitor showing information in the center of the floor by the elevators. The other half will be for library and COIL faculty to tutor, mentor and assist students with academic issues.
A writing studio will be included with the goal of helping students develop academically by allowing them to work with faculty in a smallgroup setting. Barbara Schneider, associate professor of English, and Anthony Edgington, associate professor of English, aim to offer composition under a new, experimental model that challenges students to set their own pace to meet writing goals. “It offers students a more self-directed way to fulfill their composition requirements here at the university,” Schneider said. “It’s an experimental model that draws on research both from composition and a writing center’s small group instruction. The Writing Center will provide a technological environment for students to work in.” Pryor stressed the Writing Center is separate from the new studio and its new location is to be determined. Pryor said a new second
floor classroom will be involved in the remodeling. “A new classroom containing state-of-the-art mediation for teaching and then the floor will also have more group study areas,” he said. “When it comes to the class, it will not be traditional. It will have the podium in the middle and desks fanning out.” He said the idea is not an extension of the first floor, but more conducive to work. “Last year when I started working with the library I had a lot of students complain about the noise on the first floor,” he said. “It turns out that it is about 50-50 and when students are told there are other areas to study, they get very angry and feel like they don’t think they should have to move.” The long-term plan is to differentiate among floors, Pryor said. Each floor would determine the noise level with the first being the loudest to the fifth being the quietest. — Library, Page A2
File photo by Nick Kneer/ IC
Renovations at the library have been ongoing. Now there are plans to seperate the second floor into a gathering area with a monitor showing information and a place for library and COIL faculty to tutor and mentor students. A new writing studio is also in the plans.