UT 101: Summer/Fall 2013

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

Serving the University of Toledo community since 1919

Fall 2015

2 | The Independent Collegian | Fall Semester 2015

Fall Semester 2015 | The Independent Collegian |

Welcome to UT! A letter from the IC 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. “UT101” 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

What are we painting on the cover?

Photographer Neera Martin and IC News Editor Trevor Stearns painted the University of Toledo’s main campus spirit rock on May 27 for the 2015 issue of UT101.

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A letter from the Student Government president Welcome, new Rockets!

everyone I have ever known. However, once I participated in college visits and experience days, I immediI would like to formally congratulate you on your ately felt as if I had found my new home. decision to make The University of Toledo part of your When the day finally came to attend Rocket Launch, life’s journey. Regardless of your academic past, I beI decided to cast aside the shy demeanor I used to poslieve that you will quickly discover and take interest in sess when meeting new people. At every possible opmany of the endless opportunities portunity, I went out of my way to that UT provides. With over 300 meet as many new people as I could. student organizations, nationally When doing this, I quickly realized recognized academic and athletic that many of the other incoming programs, top-tier facilities, and freshman around me began to step positive relationships with hunoutside of their comfort zones to indreds of companies, there are innutroduce themselves to others as well. merable possibilities along your Also, to my surprise, most of the peopath to success. Whether you asple I spoke with reflected the outgopire to study abroad in Spain, host ing, positive attitude that I was cona radio talk show, conduct groundveying. As a result, I made many new breaking research, or even form friendships that day, including a your own company, the University young man who would eventually beof Toledo can lead you to achieving come one of my greatest friends. the unthinkable. Even if you are not Thus, I would strongly encourage certain about what career path is you to not shy away from the opporSG PRESIDENT the right fit for you, or are unsure tunities to network that you will be about what impact you plan on presented with during orientation and making, the extraordinary staff, facmove-in week. College will allow you ulty and fellow students on campus are here to allow to develop yourself in ways you cannot even imagine, you to recognize and achieve your but it is the friendships you make along the way that dreams, regardless of any doubts or will truly allow you to fill these next few years with fears you may have. memories that you will cherish forever.

Personally, I can remember the All in all, whether or not The University of Toledo beginning of my collegiate experiwas your first choice, I can assure you that if you are ence like it was yesterday. Coming willing to take advantage of what this university has to from a rural high school in a gradoffer — forming lifelong friendships along the way — uating class of only 58 students, I you will quickly realize that you have made the right initially felt overwhelmed by the choice. On behalf of Student Government, the student idea of attending a larger university. body, faculty, staff and alumni, I warmly welcome you Although one of my best friends to the University of Toledo.

from high school chose to attend

Best of luck, and Go Rockets!

UT as well, I still recall feeling mo rose at the thought of attending a

Cody Spoon university quite distant from nearly

Student Government president

CODY SPOON

4 | The Independent Collegian | Fall Semester 2015

From

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The national founding date for Alpha Xi Delta, pictured below, was on April 17, 1893. Nicknamed Alpha Xi’s and Fuzzies, the chapter symbol for the sorority is the quill. Their colors are double blue and gold. To be in Alpha Xi Delta, the GPA requirement is at least a 2.75 college GPA. Alpha Xi Delta’s chosen philanthropy is Autism Speaks, and the sorority hosts events like Fuzzie Funnelcakes and AmaXIng challenges to raise money for Autism Speaks.

CURTIS LANE / IC

CURTIS LANE / IC

The national founding date for Delta Delta Delta, pictured above, was on November 15, 1888. Nicknamed Tri Delta, the chapter symbols are a dolphin, a pearl, a pine tree and a pansy. Their colors are blue, silver and gold. To be in Tri Delta, the GPA requirement is at least a 2.5 college GPA. Tri Delta’s chosen philanthropy is Children’s Cancer Research, and they are in a national partnership with St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital.

By Jenna Nance Staff Reporter

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

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

Dana Breese, a third-year majoring in accounting, said she

believes going Greek was one of the best decisions she made in her college career.

She found herself very involved in Greek Life as the financial vice president of social sorority Alpha Xi Delta and a

member of professional business fraternity Alpha Kappa Psi. Breese said her experience with Alpha Kappa Psi encouraged her to join the sorority.

“I rushed because of the great bonds I made with my

“[Greek Life] has made me into a more well-rounded person. Academic-wise I have received higher grades once I became a member and I enjoy helping out my community,” Breese said. “My sorority is working towards being 100 percent involved, meaning that every sister is also involved in another organization.”

DANA BREESE Financial Vice President of Alpha Xi Delta

fraternity brothers and I wanted to have the same with sisters as well,” Breese said.

Professional Greek organizations — like Alpha Kappa Psi — focus more time on the profession the organization is dedicated to. The social Greek organizations — like Alpha Xi Delta — can include a group of students studying various majors in college.

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

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

felt like home for them,” Graham said.

Egor Antipov, a fourth-year majoring in chemical engineering and member of Pi Kappa Phi, said he found his family through his fraternity.

“My fraternity, Pi Kappa Phi, is truly my family. Without a doubt, the friendships I have created through being involved in Pi Kappa Phi will last well beyond my college time,” Antipov said.

According to Graham, being a member of Greek Life can enhance a student’s college experience and positively affects their academic performance. Due to certain chapters’ requirements for academic performance, the Office of Greek Life said students do better in the classroom as a Greek member than those who are non-Greek.

Fall Semester 2015 | The Independent Collegian |

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A guide to going Greek and Greek Life on UT’s campus CURTIS LANE / IC

The national founding date for Pi Kappa Alpha, pictured below, was on March 1, 1868, and the fraternity was originally founded by six men at the University of Virginia. Nicknamed Pike, the chapter symbols for the fraternity are an oak tree and a white horse. Their colors are garnet and old gold. To be in Pi Kappa Alpha, the GPA requirement is at least a 2.6 college GPA. Pi Kappa Alpha’s chosen philanthropy is the Fight Against Domestic Violence.

CURTIS LANE / IC

The national founding date for Pi Kappa Phi, pictured above, was on December 10, 1904. Nicknamed Pi Kapp, the chapter symbol for the fraternity is a star shield. Their colors are white, gold and royal blue. To be in Pi Kappa Phi, the GPA requirement is at least a 2.7 college GPA. Pi Kappa Phi’s chosen philanthropy is Push America (disability awareness). The philanthropy was founded by and is currently run by the fraternity itself.

“[Greek Life] has made me into a more well-rounded person. Academic-wise I have received higher grades once I became a member and I enjoy helping out my community,” Breese said. “My sorority is working towards being 100 percent involved, meaning that every sister is also involved in another organization.”

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

Greek members are also encouraged to participate in campus activities and philanthropic

opportunities such as intramurals and traditional events on campus like Big Event, Relay for Life, Songfest, RockeTHON and Homecoming.

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

Antipov suggested being open-minded when thinking about which Greek organization to join, and that you will know in your heart when you find the one that fits you best.

“Don’t let any assumptions or anything you hear prevent you from exploring your options. Be sure to have an open mind and meet as many members as possible before you commit to

one,” he said.

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

If you go What: Sorority and fraternity recruitment Where: The University of Toledo Campus When: Sorority Recruitment: August 31 to Sept. 6 Fraternity Recruitment: Sept. 13 to Sept. 18 Sponsored by: Panhellenic Council, Interfraternity Council, and the Office of Greek Life

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

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

For the 2015-2016 school year, recruitment dates have been set and the recruitment process must be signed up for in advance. Online sign-up will be available by the start date of

the new student orientations.

There is no cost for fraternity recruitment, but sorority recruitment has a $30 fee. Sorority recruitment is the second week of school in the fall, and the fraternity recruitment is the fourth week of school in the fall.

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

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

To learn more about Greek Life, contact the Office of Greek Life at 419-530-4036.

They can also be reached at greeklife@utoledo.edu

6 | The Independent Collegian | Fall Semester 2015

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.

Is your roommate always forgetting his or her stuff for the shower and 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.

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.

8. Watch who you bring into the room, when and how often.

See Roommate / 20 »

Fall Semester 2015 | The Independent Collegian |

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8 | The Independent Collegian | Fall Semester 2015

What’s in the Gateway?

There are a lot of little places that offer a variety of services in the long building on campus by Secor Road. If you are spending the afternoon in Rocket Hall, here are the things you can check out over there.

Barnes & Noble - On the far corner, there’s a two-floor Barnes & Noble bookstore with books, school supplies, UT clothing and a cafe that sells Starbucks coffee.

Gradkowski’s - Named after the former UT football player who opened it, Gradkowski’s is a restaurant that serves everything from pizza to pasta.

Great Clips - If you are in need of a haircut, there is a Great Clips in the Gateway.

Huntington - There is a Huntington bank and ATM near the bookstore.

Jimmy John’s - This sub shop offers food both in the restaurant and for delivery.

Lofts at Gateway - Students can rent apartments on campus at the Lofts over the shops in the Gateway.

Rice Blvd - If asian food suits your tastes, you may want to visit Rice Blvd.

Verizon Wireless - New phones or plans can be bought here.

Fall Semester 2015 | The Independent Collegian |

Student resources

Carlson Library Phone: (419) 530-2298

Center for Experiential Learning and Career Services Student Union 1533 Phone: (419) 530-4341 Center for International Studies and Programs Snyder Memorial 1000 Commuter Student Services Student Union 3504 Phone: (419) 530-8521 Counseling Center Rocket Hall 1810 Phone: (419) 530-2426 Learning Enhancement Center Carlson Library B0200 Medical Center on the Main Campus Across from International House Phone: (419) 530-3451 Mulford Health Science Library 3000 Arlington Ave. Phone: (419) 383-4225 Office of the Registrar- Main campus Rocket Hall Suite 1100 Phone: (419) 530-4844 Office of the RegistrarHealth science campus Mulford Library 114 Phone: (419) 383-3600 Office of Student Involvement Student Union 3504 Phone: (419) 530-4944 Rocket Solution Central Rocket Hall 1200 Phone: (419) 530-8700 Student Legal Services Rocket Hall 1610 Phone: (419) 530-7230 Student Disability Services Rocket Hall 1820 Phone: (419) 530-4981 University of Toledo Police Transportation Center 1302 Police/Fire/Medical Response: (419) 530-2600 Non-Emergency: (419) 530-2601

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COMMENTARY

Freshman year in review Buying or renting books from the school bookstore is a bad idea.

Almost all the books that I needed could’ve been purchased or rented elsewhere for so much less than they cost at Barnes & Noble. Also, it seems to be a really good idea to wait until classes start to figure out which books and access codes will actually be necessary.

But here, my academic advisor emails me back within minutes, answers all my questions, and is generally just very sweet. Since guidance counselors and academic advisors seem to have similar job roles, I didn’t expect such a stark difference between my experiences with them.

I really don’t care about a lot of my old classmates.

There are, of course, several people I like and talk to (even if it’s just occasionally), but for the most part, I don’t care if I ever see most of my high school class ever again. Everyone always said that’s how it would be, but I didn’t believe it until I got here and realized how true it is for me.

It’s really easy to gain weight.

In high school, I stayed in shape thanks to sports, but when I got to college, I didn’t have the motivation to go to the Rec every day. It’s a lot harder to go work out when it’s completely voluntary, rather than having a mandatory practice schedule laid out. I haven’t had any morning classes all year, and I’m a bit of a night owl. All that late-night snacking has led me to put on a couple of pounds.

Class really isn’t optional.

ASHLEY GEARHEART

I learned to like coffee, but I also learned that I can’t drink it.

My first real experience with coffee (I’d tried a sip once or twice before, but never liked it) came after I stayed up ‘til 4 a.m. the night before an exam. I was in desperate need of a boost to get me through the day, so I decided to give coffee a shot. After all, everyone talks about its magical abilities to wake one up and increase concentration! Unfortunately, that hasn’t been my experience. Instead, when I drink coffee, I get jittery and start to shake, my head starts hurting, and I’m more tired than I was before I consumed the caffeine. So even though I’ve learned to like coffee, and I sometimes have random cravings for it, I’ve learned that consuming it only hurts me.

IC COLUMNIST

Most of my professors have taken attendance (and usually it’s been counted as a grade), but even in the classes where attendance is “optional,” not going would mean missing out on important information for exams. An exam I took recently actually included a question that was completely irrelevant to the course itself, but it was something our professor mentioned several times in class, so all of us who actually showed up had a leg up on those who didn’t.

Studying also isn’t optional.

I can count on one hand the number of times I ever studied in high school, and I had hoped that college would be the same way. Unfortunately, that is not the case.

Watching Netflix instead of studying is a terrible idea.

It’s also a great idea. Priorities.

My room is a terrible place to study.

It’s almost impossible to study in my room (especially if I’m sitting in bed). If I really need to get something done, I have to go to the library.

Going to get lunch between 11 and 1 usually means standing in line forever.

Rarely leaving my room didn’t help much with making friends.

Except on Fridays, because campus is pretty much dead on Fridays.

My academic adviser is so nice and helpful.

I can wipe down everything in my room with Clorox wipes, spray Lysol everywhere, and sanitize or wash my hands several times a day, but none of that matters — I’m still going to end up sick.

In fact, it wasn’t until near the end of my first semester that I even talked to several of the people on my floor. (And actually, I still don’t know the names of a majority of the people I’ve been living down the hall from since August. Oops.)

In high school, sometimes it was like pulling teeth to get the guidance counselors to help us (and be nice about it).

No matter how much Lysol and hand sanitizer I use, I’m still going to get sick.

Ashley Gearheart is a second-year majoring in international business.

10 | The Independent Collegian | Fall Semester 2015

Parks Tower is a residence hall exclusively for first year students, located near the Glass Bowl, Flatlands, and Student Recreation Center. Parks Tower mostly consists of two-person rooms, but has limited one-person rooms available. A limited number of lofts are also available for rent. The building was the University of Toledo’s first largescale dormitory. Despite the common perception, Parks Tower is not actually the tallest building on campus. The Bell Tower clears Parks Tower by 34 feet and six inches.

Making it as a UT resident: a guide to on-campus living

By Amanda Pitrof Editor-in-Chief

Everyone knows the stereotypes of living on campus — you get the roommate from hell, eat questionable dining hall food, and overload yourself by joining half a dozen organizations in your first week.

While these stereotypes are sometimes true, campus life isn’t all that bad. It can be pretty great if you do it properly, and these are a few of the best ways to survive on campus.

Use the POD The POD is open until 2 a.m. The name is short for “Provisions on Demand,” but you’ll probably never hear anyone call it that. It’s extremely useful for everything from late-night snacks to grabbing a meal at the odd hours between lunch and dinner when the dining halls only serve pizza and salad.

In addition to fresh food, the POD gives students the option to get food that can be saved for another time. It’s a great way to use up extra meal swipes on Fridays and Saturdays, which is a good idea because your meal swipes for the week are gone once Sunday comes around.

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Get involved As exciting as joining several organizations at once can be, remember that moderation is the key. Joining one or two at a time is one of the best ways to make friends quickly. It provides a niche that can help you to feel like you belong and give you something to do in your downtime.

This also can be a way to create a really strong support system for yourself, which is nice when school gets stressful.

Manage your time Doing your homework so you have time for other things is important, but a more motivating — and arguably more important — reason to manage your time wisely is to give yourself more time to sleep. Sleep is a very precious resource to most college students, so it is nice to get everything done and take advantage of the time you have to sleep.

Stanford University professor and sleep medicine pioneer William Dement wrote in a 1997, “The average sleep requirement for college students is well over eight hours.” Keeping this in mind, it is crucial to manage your time so you fulfill most of that sleep requirement. Some students even keep track of how long it takes them to get to various classes from their dorms because then they can determine exactly how long they can sleep in for.

Stock up for winter

NEERA MARTIN / IC

We’ve experienced in the last two winter seasons what felt like small-scale versions of the Ice Age. We were even told to stay home for a couple of rare snow days because all the roads in the entire Lucas County area were closed so cleaning crews could make them safe to travel.

This was a relaxing break for students, but it also meant there was no access to food or other necessities besides what was already in your dorm room. There will likely be heavy snow storms again this winter, and it would probably be a good idea to stock up on food and supplies just in case.

Save your rocket dollars With certain meal plans, students are given both Rocket Dollars and Dining Dollars. The Dining Dollars can be used only for food on campus, but the Rocket Dollars are more flexible.

They can pay for washers and dryers when you do laundry, which is very helpful when you run out of quarters. Rocket Dollars can also be used at the bookstore for textbooks and supplies, and at the many vending machines around campus. Buy your latte with your Dining Dollars and save those Rocket Dollars for laundry or off-campus restaurants.

Get off campus In spite of all the things to do on campus, you can feel a little cooped up here now and then. It is healthy to change your surroundings sometimes and go off campus.

Walking is always an option, but if that isn’t your style, there are also UT shuttle busses you can ride for free, taxis and the TARTA public transit system.

Keeping these tips in mind, your dorm experience will be a positive one. Living the on-campus life can be exciting and fun — many students find more freedom than they have experienced before. With no parents around to give you a curfew and tons of chances to join different groups, you can be as busy or lazy as you want to be. Just remember to not overload yourself!

L R E T U M M T O N C UDE L T A S IV

V R SUGUIDE

BY TREVOR STEARNS NEWS EDITOR

et’s face it. You don’t live far from campus and you don’t need to leave home just yet, so you decide to commute to campus for your first year. It’s a tough decision, especially if you know what lies ahead of you.

Commuting means you’ll have to fight for your parking spots occasionally, you’ll be running to your classes to make it on time and you’ll be stuck eating campus food more than you’d like to admit. The commuter life is a tough one to live and one that will take time to master. As someone who survived their first year of commuting, I offer these suggestions to help you first-timers survive in the world that is UT commuter life.

Arrive early This is probably the simplest, yet most important rule for parking at UT. On my first day of class, I got to campus 40 minutes before my class began, and I still managed to be late. Parking is a free-for-all here, and I just wasn’t prepared.

Parking spaces fill up fast every day, so give yourself plenty of time to allow for traffic and construction you may not be expecting. It’s Toledo after all, and that kind of stuff happens all the time.

Being early on exam days is doubly important. Some teachers understand the parking woes students have to suffer, but that won’t buy you any extra time to finish that test.

Fall Semester 2015 | The Independent Collegian |

Know your destination Knowing where each of your classes is located ahead of time is crucial. This could save you 1020 minutes on your first day, especially if you don’t quite have your bearings down yet.

The week before classes started last fall semester, three of my friends and I took a whole day to learn each of our schedules. We explored Field House, Rocket Hall, University Hall and the whole engineering campus.

This is essential for commuters. Those living on campus have an advantage because they can explore the campus whenever they want after they move in.

Commuters should make a day out of this. It allows for you to be prepared for your first day and it may turn out to be kind of fun if you go with friends. You’ll avoid the embarrassment of walking into the wrong classroom Monday morning, too.

Car closet We live in northwest Ohio.

This means the weather could switch between all four seasons in a single day if it wanted to.

The best way to deal with this is to keep a spare set of clothes in your car. If you don’t know what the weather’s going to be, this is a real life saver.

I’ve gone into class while it was bright and sunny only to walk

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out into what looked like a monsoon. I was forced to run to my friend’s dorm through the pouring rain and tornado sirens. I didn’t have a raincoat or umbrella and I was dressed in a T-shirt, jeans and Converse high tops. I wasn’t prepared.

Don’t be surprised by the popup snow showers that come in late fall and early winter, either.

Be prepared with a hat, gloves, scarf and a pair of boots if it starts to get bad. It definitely isn’t fun being caught off-guard by the weather when you’re on campus.

Have somewhere to go At some point during your first year, you’ll most likely have a huge gap in your schedule. You don’t want to go home and risk losing that PERFECT spot you parked in this morning, do you?

There are plenty of things you can do or places to go and spend that time, so plan ahead. Check with your friends to see if any of their schedules align with yours.

It helps to have a friend who lives on campus that will let you hang out in their dorm for those few hours a week that you have to kill.

If you’d rather be more productive, you can always go to the Carlson Library and study or do your homework. There’s also the Trimble Lounge on the second See Commuter / 17 »

The Commuter Student Lounge is Room 3504, located in the Student Union by the entrance from Centennial Mall and the Trimble Lounge. It is staffed Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and remains open until midnight. It is a study area with lockers, a refrigerator and a microwave.

NEERA MARTIN / IC

12 | The Independent Collegian | Fall Semester 2015

Parking at UT

By Ashley King Staff Reporter

I’ve been a commuter student at the University of Toledo for a year and a half now. This time has not come without stress over parking.

It’s come with bumping and nicking other cars and even finding dents on my own car. I have been late to class because I couldn’t find a spot in time. I’ve had tickets. I’ve even had to ask a professor for change to put in the parking meter because all I had were nickels and pennies.

My biggest anxiety about parking was the fact that I have a wider car; which makes it that much more difficult to pull in and out of the spaces. Certain parking lots were a nightmare for me, but it has gotten better. I understand how UT parking works now, from where I can park to what time I should arrive on campus.

UT determines where you may or may not park by examining three main categories: how many credit hours you’ve obtained at the beginning of a semester, if you live

on campus or not and which program you’re a part of.

People with less than 30 hours are typically first-year students.

They are identified by the letters: F and K. The F identifies freshmen residential and the K identifies freshmen commuters. If you have more than 30 credit hours, your identification letters will be either a D for upper class residential or C for upper class commuter. Those with the parking permits of C and D may park in various parking lots throughout the UT campus, including East Ramp, West Ramp, and Rocket Hall. Each parking lot has signs stating which letters are allowed in that specific area.

What I’ve experienced with parking at UT is it’s always best to arrive on campus an hour before your class starts.

If you have to park in area that is known for filling up quickly, you may want to arrive even earlier, or have another place that is still in walking distance from your class as a backup. When you arrive

“What I’ve experienced with parking at UT is it’s always best to arrive on campus an hour before your class starts. If you have to park in area that is known for filling up quickly, you may want to arrive even earlier, or have another place that is still in walking distance from your class as a backup.” early, it gives you more time to find a parking space without stressing and rushing to class.

I also find it best to try to park in one specific lot instead of driving around to different places. This past semester, I had classes in two buildings that were close to each other, so I found a nice in-between lot and walked to my classes from there.

Parking spaces can also be color coded for different people, so it’s good to take notice of colors when parking. Certain parking lots may include spaces for faculty along with students.

For example, Lot 13 by Memorial Field House includes parking for students and professors. The student spaces are white, while the faculty spaces are yellow. Although it’s all in one parking lot, students aren’t allowed to park in the yellow spaces.

The parking services do drive through the parking lots making sure people are in their designated spots. If they see that a student is parked in a space for a faculty member, you will be notified through

your rocket email stating you’ve received a ticket. My very first semester, I received not one, but two tickets in a one week span because I was parked in a space for faculty.

The parking garage situation is one that I had to recently deal with.

I never wanted to park in the garages simply because tight spaces scare me and my car is wider than most.

I figured if I was having trouble parking in the outside spaces, I

didn’t even want to imagine the trauma of an indoor parking space.

But truth be told, I’ve enjoyed the parking garage more than the outdoor parking spaces. I honestly wish I would have conquered my fear sooner; maybe I wouldn’t have been as stressed as I was before.

By keeping these hints and tips in mind this upcoming semester, it might make parking a little easier for you and your car.

For any more questions or concerns about parking at UT, please log on at: www.utoledo.edu/parkingservices/index.html Here you will find a list of links from the campus map, student permits and UT’s parking policy. You may also contact the parking services at: Main Campus Transportation Center Room 1400 419.530.4100

Fall Semester 2015 | The Independent Collegian |

Rec Center Opportunities Here are some things to check out next time you’re at the rec center: Climbing Wall — The Rec Center has a climbing wall that is available for use. Bouldering (moving horizontally across the wall) is free, may be done at any of the open hours and doesn’t require any gear or experience from students.

However, being able to top rope (vertical climb) requires a climb card, which can be obtained by completing a climb clinic.

Fitness Programs — There are multiple fitness programs available to Rec members, including RocketEx Group Exercise, personal training and the Wellness Center.

Rocket-Ex is available to all members who are 18 and older and pro-

vides an exercise schedule personal training is available to members 14 and older. Forms are available to fill out on the Rec Center’s website.

The Wellness Clinic is available two days a week and tests multiple fitness levels. Appointments can be made through the website.

Intramurals — If you like to play sports for fun and you’re looking to meet new people, intramurals are a great way to do this. UT offers multiple intramural sports ranging from bowling to ultimate Frisbee.

Information on the clubs can be found through UT’s website.

Others — Aside from those listed above, the Rec Center offers a lot more to its members, including Red Cross certification classes, summer day camp, swim lessons, wilderness expeditions and regularly hosted special events.

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14 | The Independent Collegian | Fall Semester 2015

Fall Semester 2015 | The Independent Collegian |

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16 | The Independent Collegian | Fall Semester 2015

We’re looking for REPORTERS who have Critical thinking Good writing Curiosity Integrity Guts

Students of any major can apply.

Email editor@independentcollegian.com for more information.

Applications available in Carlson Library Suite 1057 (419) 530-7788 IndependentCollegian.com

Fall Semester 2015 | The Independent Collegian |

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COMMENTARY

Leaving home, and the challenges that come with it I’ve always been a pretty independent person, so I never really considered the possibility of feeling homesick. I was excited to get away from my irritating siblings and closed-minded hometown and jump into all the new experiences that were waiting for me in Toledo. I never even imagined how much these new experiences that I craved would affect me.

Homesickness isn’t just about missing home or missing family, it’s about missing what’s comfortable to us. College is a stark change from what many of us were used to before — no more parental supervision, we’re basically feeding ourselves, it’s on us to get to the doctor if we’re sick and (often for the first time) our professors treat us like adults. It can be difficult to make a smooth transition into all of these new “adult” responsibilities.

Not everyone experiences homesickness, of course. But for those of

us who do, it’s something that can be hard to deal with, especially if your home is far away from Toledo.

Luckily, there are a number of things you can do to combat homesickness when it hits.

You can talk to an RA. Residence assistants help freshmen transition smoothly into college. If you’re struggling with anything, they’re a good place to go.

Sometimes, when you’re upset or dealing with homesickness, all you really need is someone to listen to you — and your RA is there to do just that.

You can get involved.

Join a club or some other type of organization. If you’re taking foreign language classes, you might be interested in joining one of the many different foreign language clubs on campus. If you enjoy athletics, you

can join a club sport team or create an intramural team with some friends. If you’re into the idea of Greek life, there are a number of sororities IC COLUMNIST and fraternities on campus. Getting involved in something and staying busy can help fend off some of that homesickness.

ASHLEY GEARHART

You can stay connected with the people back home.

Keep in touch with home through

Commuter

UT Traditions

from page 11

Fight Song “U of Toledo” U of Toledo, we’ll fight for you (Fight! Fight! Fight!)

U of Toledo, we love the Gold and Blue (Let’s go Blue!)

Men of the Varsity, the enemy must yield, We’ll fight just like our ancestors and march right down the field!

T-O-L-E-D-O, Toledo!

Alma Mater In tower shadows voices now raising, To alma mater Golden and Blue, Fair Toledo praise to thee, Portal of learning ever be, Hallowed halls we shall revere, Vow to keep thy memory dear.

AMANDA PITROF / IC

FaceTime, Skype, phone calls, texts, etc. Don’t spend all of your time talking to family and friends from home, because that could prevent you from getting the most out of your college experience, but it could definitely be helpful to check in with them every once in a while.

floor of the Student Union which provides a large sitting area for students and theater-style seating in front of multiple TVs. The commuter office is also available in Student Union Room 2505 and is an area for commuters to relax and do homework if they please.

Lastly, many student organizations have an office that they allow their members to hangout in. This allows you to get involved in campus activities while providing you a place to go in your off time.

Bring Your Own Lunch You may think to yourself, “Doesn’t packing a lunch seem a little childish? I’m a college student now, after all.”

You won’t be thinking that when you look at your bank account after the first few weeks of buying yourself lunch every day. The cost of eating on campus adds up quickly. Besides, if you’re limited to eating at the

You can keep something that reminds you of home.

Maybe it’s a photograph, maybe it’s a stuffed animal someone close gave you, or maybe it’s the blanket you’ve had since you were a baby. Whatever it is, bring it along.

Who knows — maybe one night when you’re feeling extra homesick, you’ll wrap yourself up in that blanket, turn on Netflix and feel like you’re back in bed at home.

restaurants provided to you in the Student Union, you’re going to tire of them extremely fast. Not to mention the dreaded “Freshman 15,” the traditional 15 pounds freshmen are known to gain once becoming free to set their own dietary limits.

You may be surprised at how many people bring their own lunch. If you’re worried about people thinking you’re weird for carrying a lunchbox around, there’s no need to worry. You’re on a college campus now and others have a lot more on their minds than poking fun at someone with a lunchbox.

The lines in the Student Union at lunch time are ridiculous as it is.

You’re a busy college student now; you don’t have time to wait for that!

It gets better Being a commuter comes with its own special perks. Sure, you have to pay for a parking pass and you waste a lot of your extra time on campus, but you’re provided with many luxuries that students living on campus miss out on. After you’re done with all of your

You can spend time with your friends.

At college, when you’re living just seconds or minutes away from your friends, there’s a good chance they’ll become a second family to you. If you’re feeling homesick, go and spend some time with them, and those negative feelings will likely fade.

Homesickness isn’t ideal, but it happens. It’s actually pretty common, especially for college freshmen. If you’re struggling a lot with homesickness in the fall semester, there’s a good chance those feelings will be gone in the spring. By then, college will feel more normal and comfortable.

The important thing to remember is that it’s only temporary.

Eventually, your homesickness will subside, and it gets easier as time goes by.

Ashley Gearheart is a second-year majoring in international business.

classes for the day, you get to drive back to your own house and relax in your own bed, instead of being crammed into a tiny room on a floor full of loud neighbors.

For those of you who live with your parents still, how nice is it that you can have meals already prepared for you? A lot of the on campus students have to live off of food they get from the POD convenience stores or the restaurants on campus. They don’t have the luxury of eating a home-cooked meal multiple nights a week.

Think of the money you save by doing your laundry at home as well. Laundromats aren’t provided for free to students, and it’s quite expensive, too.

Residents have easy access to the services and activities UT offers, but would you really trade your freedom to go wherever you want, whenever you want, for that?

Being a commuter gets easier as you learn the ebb and flow of your own schedule and of UT. Just keep these tips in mind and you may successfully survive your first year as a commuter.

18 | The Independent Collegian | Fall Semester 2015

7 things to look forward to on campus FOR THE IC

Music Fest is a free outdoor concert put on by the University of Toledo around the time of the Rocket’s first home game. It is an all-day event, held on campus in the fall and open to the UT and Toledo community. Last year’s line-up included The Infatuations, David Cook and Mike Posner.

FOR THE IC

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 five years, and the teams are scheduled to faceoff again on Tuesday, Nov. 17, at Bowling Green.

FOR THE IC

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 2015 UT Homecoming will be held on Oct. 10.

Fall Semester 2015 | The Independent Collegian |

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FOR THE IC

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.

Each year, over 13,000 students participate. Attendees gathered at the Student Recreation Center to walk around the track and participate in activities and games.

SAVANNAH JOSLIN / IC

For this service project, UT students come together for one day to clean up the residential areas in Toledo, Bancroft Hills and Secor Gardens in order to show their appreciation to the surrounding community. It began in 1982, is usually held in March and has been called the largest student-run service project in the nation. The number of volunteers jumped to about 2,500 this past year.

SAVANNAH JOSLIN / IC

UT’s RockeTHON, formerly Dance Marathon, is a tradition that began at Penn State and has spread to universities across the nation.

Students spend several hours learning dances and playing games to raise funds for the Children’s Miracle Network, a non-profit that works to fund associated children’s hospitals.

UT students began participating in 2001 and in 2013, UT raised over $70,000 for Toledo Mercy children’s Hospital. Last year, students raised over $102,000.

CURTIS LANE / IC

Sororities, fraternities and UT organizations have gathered every year since 1937 to perform in UT’s Songfest. The competition, usually held in April, features groups singing and dancing live with props and costumes as they try for the top spot. But winning isn’t everything — the money raised by each group goes toward a different charity every year.

20 | The Independent Collegian | Fall Semester 2015

Honors offers students options

By Colleen Anderson

Students enrolled in the honors program also have We’re surrounded by countless commu- the option to live in housnities, organizations and activities that ing built exclusively for strive to enrich our college experience.

Honors students, which inBut there’s a major arm of the University cludes the Honors Acaof Toledo whose mission is to enrich our demic Village, MacKinnon academic experience.

Hall, and Scott and Tucker The Jesup Scott Honors College website Halls. says their mission is to nurture and chalTo receive an Honors dilenge high-achieving students while ofploma at graduation, the fering them opportunities. The college college has several requireencourages experiential learning in a ments for students to fulnumber of ways, including connecting fill. The requirements liststudents with internships, study abroad ed on the website include: programs, undergraduate research and • Fulfilling all the norservice learning. mal requirements for each Samuel Duling, a third-year majoring student’s respective degree in political science and economics, wrote program in an email interview that he has benefit• Complete 33 credit hours ed from the experiential learning opporof honors courses. Six of tunities offered by the Honors College. these hours — Honors 1010 “The Jesup Scott Honors College is the and Honors 1020 — are mankey I needed to seize experiential learndatory classes for all Honors ing opportunities, both in the community students. The remaining and abroad,” Duling wrote. “Without hours can be filled by taking Honors, I would have no career to look various types of courses. forward to.”

• Earn a minimum GPA Duling said the most beneficial part of of 3.3 the Honors College has been meeting the • Complete an Honors people involved, and that he is particuthesis or project larly thankful for the opportunity to • Complete the requirelearn from role models among the faculments for honors within each ty, staff and administration. student’s respective degree “The greatest benefit of being a student Honors College lecturer NEERA MARTIN/ IC of the Jesup Scott Honors College has Page Armstrong said the The Jesup Scott Honors College offices are part of been learning from the inspiring faculty, requirements in place can MacKinnon Hall, where students can go with any staff and administrators,” Duling wrote. be challenging, but she feels questions regarding the college. MacKinnon Hall also serves as a residence hall for Honors students.

“For example, Dean Ransom is one of the they actually enhance stugreatest role models I have ever encoundents’ experiences at UT. “It’s just a way of offering our students tered. Role models are never easy to “You’re going to have opportunities to be active in the commucome by, and I have cherished every secsome requirements that go beyond those nity, whether culturally, or with enterond of learning from her immeasurable you have in your regular degree, but I wealth of knowledge.” think all those are very valuable,” she said. tainment, or to social outreach,” she said.

Some of the activities the honors LLC According to Honors College website, For Honors students seeking to meet participated in this year included trips to Honors students receive preferred admis- other students from the college, they sion to advanced degree programs, inhave the option to join the Honors Living the Toledo Museum of Art, a trip to Cedar Point, hosting speakers from the communicluding admission to UT’s graduate proLearning Community while signing up ty and various social outreach activities. grams in law, medicine and pharmacy. for housing. Living Learning Communities are on-campus hous- Armstrong said the activities had an attendance ranging from five to 60. ing based communities “The Jesup Scott Honors College is “It really allows them to connect with of students in the same each other outside of the classroom,” she residence hall who share the key I needed to seize experiential said. “It gives them a chance to find peoacademic or special learning opportunities, both in the ple within the Honors College that have interests. community and abroad. Without Armstrong, who is also similar interests, and not just academically related. It’s a whole support system, the director of the HonHonors, I would have no career to look basically.” ors College division of forward to.”

For more information about the Honthe program, said being SAMUEL DULING ors College, students can visit their office involved in the Honors Third-year political science and engineering student in MacKinnon Hall room 2000, call the College LLC helps stuoffice at 419-530-6030, or email them at dents stay active in the honors@utoledo.edu community.

Managing Editor

Roommate from page 6

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 fourthyear double majoring in communication and English.

Fall Semester 2015 | The Independent Collegian |

Understanding your bill

21

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 which 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: All students registered for six or more on-campus credit hours are required by UT 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 amount going 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 free counsel from Student Legal Services.

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 1533 of the Student Union.

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 free 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.

IC file story

22 | The Independent Collegian | Fall Semester 2015

Small steps for big pay-offs Why starting healthy habits in college will benefit you in the long run

NEERA MARTIN / IC

The Student Recreation Center has a wide selection of workout equipment, including the exercise bikes pictured above. Individual machines are available to visitors, who can also opt to join a group fitness cycling class. The Rec Center also has weight lifting rooms, basketball courts, a swimming pool and a climbing wall available.

By Samantha Rhodes Staff Reporter

It’s inevitable — you’re going to stand naked in front of a mirror at some point in your college career.

Perhaps you’ll try not to glance at your reflection too long, horrified of what may become apparent once you start analyzing your physique. Or maybe you’ll love admiring every inch of your ever-changing bod.

Regardless of your attitude, one thing is absolutely crucial during college: being mindful of your health.

I’ve been in your shoes and experienced binges of postmidnight snacking, gulping cream-overloaded coffee and skipping the gym for a study session. All of these will likely happen to you.

You’ll try to be mindful of labels, flip the package over and gasp when you see a calorie number higher than you’ve counted since you were 10. But let’s be honest — the word ‘no’ doesn’t top your cravings’ vocabulary list.

So in record-breaking time, you’ll shove the entire thing down your pie hole in exchange for the surge of endorphins to spike your

mood. Nobody is guilt-shaming you. It’s the rational decision college students make while enduring mental fatigue.

As per the famous acronym, YOLO, you already have an excuse to eat that third brownie. But I take a slight twist to this same idea — you’re only young once.

Because your young metabolism is most likely still burning at a rampant pace — and you truly are only young once — it’s okay to engage in unhealthy eating at times. After all, none of us boast of perfect control.

However, keep in mind that college is a developmental period in your life. You’re going to repeatedly make decisions that will form subconscious habits, rituals and routines, some of which may be increasingly difficult to change later on.

Take a crisp, new piece of notebook paper and crumple it in your fist. Now try to flatten it back out to its original appearance. It’s nearly impossible.

No matter what you do, the creases are deeply embedded in the page’s physiology.

The same concept applies to the habits and routines you form in college — they will be impressively difficult to change

later on if you allow them ownership of your life now.

We’ve all heard it: “Go hard or go home.”

This ideology has been ingrained into our minds by muscle-bulging athletes, eye-catching Nike T-shirts and risky people who often spout it off the tips of their tongues when they’re about to do something incredibly stupid and need an excuse. Sadly, this phrase has destroyed motivation to do things that are seemingly small, simple or don’t provide immediate results.

It’s total bologna.

Newsflash — the world (and your body) accept small contributions. You don’t have to transform into a gym rat, train for a marathon or partake in a hardcore, no-margin-for-error diet. You will most likely fall and thus are setting yourself up for devastation. Instead, take small, habit-forming steps in a direction that will reap life-long health benefits.

For example, try eating smaller meals or snacks more frequently throughout the day to keep your metabolism burning at top speed, maximizing calorie output and reducing hunger pangs. Start a workout schedule, even if it’s only twice a week. Go for a jog, even if it’s only a half-mile. Avoid constantly consuming red meat and NEERA MARTIN / IC

Victoria Grieshop, a third-year nursing student, works out using the Rec Center free weights collection.

The Rec Center is free to all UT students, and is open every day with the exception of holidays.

fried foods every day in the dining halls and opt for poultry, salad or grilled options instead.

Some form of action is always better than nothing.

If you accustom yourself to occasional workouts, turning down French fries and choosing water over pop, these painfully dreaded decisions will slowly become easier and require less on-the-fence mental debating.

It’s a simple matter of calories in vs. calories out. Eat more calories than you burn, and you’ll gain weight. Burn more calories than you consume, and you’ll lose weight. Therefore, every prevented or burned calorie adds up and may even contribute to weight loss over a period of time.

Your mind’s willpower is like a muscle; in order to be strong, it must be trained over time.

The lure of junk food and the desire to sit on your bum all

day make an impressively persuasive duo that will never fully be banished from the back of your mind. But if you always choose the easy route, the harder route will never get easier.

Perhaps Anthony Robbins said it best: “If you do what you’ve always done, you’ll get what you’ve always gotten.”

With ongoing persistence and mental awareness, you can offset the formation of unhealthy habits (and unwanted weight gain) by slowing integrating positive ones into your day-today lifestyle.

Studies say it takes between two and eight months for our brains to solidify a habit. Repetition becomes regularity — and so it can go with your health habits.

One time becomes two and two becomes three. And before you know it, you’ll stop counting altogether.

Health Tips • Don’t drink your calories. This means avoid pop, juices, energy drinks or any high-calorie beverage if there’s an available alternative like water. These calories sneak up on you and often contain absurd amounts of sugar.

• Eat smaller meals more frequently. This will control your hunger and maximize your metabolism’s calorie burning process. Plus, who doesn’t like more opportunities to put food in your mouth?

• Carry a bottle of water with you wherever you go. Drinking water will keep you hydrated so your brain isn’t tricked into believing you are hungry. Drinking ample water throughout the day also helps clear your body of toxins.

• Create a work out plan that fits your needs, even if it’s only twice a week. Regardless of whether you’re doing crunches in your dorm room or lifting weights at the Student Recreation Center, any movement and strength training is better than none. If you schedule time in advance for activity, you’ll have less of an excuse to blow it off later.

• Do little activities that add up. Take the stairs instead of the elevator. Flex your abdominals while sitting in class. Break into a random jog in the middle of a walk. At the end of the day, your calorie output is compared to the number you consume, so make every effort possible to burn as many as you can.

• Make a concentrated effort to practice saying ‘no.’

Occasionally turn down French fries or ice cream. Swap your hamburger for a deli sub. Hone your self-control skills and you’ll realize that denying yourself unhealthy food isn’t as hard as it used to be.

Fall Semester 2015 | The Independent Collegian |

23

The ins and outs of UT’s transport systems

By Jessica Harker

Watts said. “All current schedules, maps and times of departures are Whether you’re living on camon our website at www.transit.utopus at the University of Toledo or ledo.edu. You can also call our ofyou’re commuting everyday, there fice if you need more explanation.” are a lot of quick, easy-to-use For transportation on campus, ways to get around campus.

Watts said there are two main bus Diana Watts, the transit coordiroutes, the Gold Loop and the nator at UT, said the transportation Blue Loop, that circle campus system is easy to use if students take most days of the week. the time to understand it.

These busses make loops going “There are many ways to get in the opposite direction of each around campus and the city of To- other on all days of the school week ledo. UT Transit Services is availfrom 7:30 a.m. until 10:30 p.m. able to students, faculty and staff They make stops at the busiest placfree of charge with a valid UT ID,” es on campus including the Student Union, the engineering campus and the Lot 2 parking garage.

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

CURTIS LANE / IC Along with The Transportation Center, which is also home transportation to the University of Toledo Police Department, sits by a bus loop on the south side of campus. on campus, the Staff Reporter

Samantha Heinze

university has multiple opportunities for transportation offcampus as well.

There are busses running to the Toledo Museum of Art and the Health Science Campus Monday through Friday that stop half an hour before the Blue and Gold Loops do — all of which are free to ride with a valid UT ID. “Many students are surprised to learn that our bus takes you directly to the Toledo Art Museum, which has free admission,” Watts said. “The museum does charge for parking, but if you ride the shuttle, you have a nice afternoon of exploring one of the most amazing museums in the United States for free.”

There is also a stop to the local CURTIS LANE / IC Wal-Mart that is incorporated inThe UT transit system operates on two main loops, the Blue Loop to the Health Science Campus and the Gold Loop. During the school year, the busses on each route Monday through Friday loop travel in opposite directions from 7:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. starting at 5 p.m., allowing stuDuring the summer, select shuttles run from 6:45 a.m. to 6 p.m. dents to get the things they need 10 p.m. After-hours service to Scott bus routes in real time, and is availthat they can’t buy on campus.

Park is provided by Night Watch,” able on most smartphones.

For freshmen living on campus Watts said. “Freshmen can park on “So let’s say you are at the Stuwho also have cars, they will have Main Campus Friday night and redent Union and want to know to park at the Scott Park Lot off of turn their cars back Sunday evening, when the next bus will be there Main Campus. There are a couple or the evening before the start of to take you to your residence of options available to those stuhall, you can look that up on dents looking to retrieve their cars. school when it concerns a break or holiday.” your smartphone, computer or “Freshman who To keep students tablet on the spot,” Watts said. are having to park on Busses make from being overFor those who don’t have a the Scott Park Camwhelmed by all the smartphone, any of the bus pus can utilize our loops from 7:30 transportation opstops with kiosks can also show shuttle to obtain a.m. until 10:30 tions, there is an students where the busses are, their vehicles Monp.m. each day of app called Transand the times are also listed on day through Friday loc.

It allows stuthe transit service page of the 7:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. the school week. dents to track the UT website. and Sunday 5 p.m. to

Eateries in the Student Union Looking for somewhere to grab a bite to eat? Here are the locations open in the Student Union over the summer.

Subway: Monday-Friday 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

Magic Wok: Monday-Friday 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

Starbucks: Monday-Friday 7:30 a.m.-3 p.m.

Phoenicia Cuisine Take-out: Monday-Thursday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Friday 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Dine-in: Monday-Thursday 11 a.m.3 p.m, Friday 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m.

24 | The Independent Collegian | Fall Semester 2015 COMMENTARY

Starting college with your best foot forward College life can be tough when you try to stay on top of your schoolwork and be outgoing. The experiences and memories you make in college will last you a lifetime, so you want to be sure 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.

Going to office hours On the first day of the new semester, make sure to write down a note of where your professor’s office is and when he or she 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. Finding time to visit with your professor shows them that you care about what you’re learning, and it will encourage them to take you seriously.

Getting to know your professors

We all know the feeling of being stuck with a teacher 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 professors.

As you get further along in your college career, try to figure out which professors you like best. You can decide this based on their personality, their grading scale, their teaching method, etc. Sometimes it is better to take a class you need based on 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.

Creating a study group

The material you have to learn for some classes can be hard and having a group of people there to support you can help you tremendously. Make friends with a few people in your class and work out a time when all of you are available to meet and study for quizzes and exams. Study groups can be especially helpful if you’re more socially inclined.

As someone who stays more focused when studying on my own, there are some good study strategies you can do on your own. My favorite way to study is to make flashcards whenever a new concept or chapter is introduced in class. The physical task of writing out the information by hand helps me remember it. Then I quiz myself over and over until I have no trouble recalling the information for any flashcard. If you decide to use this strategy, make sure to spread out the time you spend on studying. You will remember the information for the test better if you spread out your studying — rather than trying to learn it all in one huge cram session.

Know the way you study

There are some good study strategies that you can utilize 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 at www.khanacademy.org to learn the material. Find out which way you like to study the most and ace all of your tests.

Just remember to study in increments, because one cram session before an exam won’t help you.

Joining 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, find out what they are all about 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. Find out what your friends are interested in, and maybe they will join with you.

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. Student organization Campus Activities and Programming 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. 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. Plus, you won’t make a good impression.

Where you sit during class

As an incoming freshman, you may think that sitting in the way back of a 100-plus person lecture hall and catching up on some Z’s during class is the way to go.

It’s not.

On the first day, and on every day thereafter, get to class 15 minutes early and snag a seat in the front row. After the first week of class, everyone will automatically sit in the same seat every day. Sitting in the front 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 one to use the projector and put up a PowerPoint to coincide with that day’s lecture, sitting in the front will help you be able to take better notes. It will also help you focus on the lesson better.

Lauren Gilbert is a copy editor for The Independent Collegian.

Morgan Rinckey is the Opinion editor for The Independent Collegian.

Fall Semester 2015 | The Independent Collegian | COMMENTARY

#UT’s social media

Whether it’s finding out about a class cancellation from a classmate’s tweet or ranting anonymously about your problems, it’s more important than ever to stay on top of the social media scene. Now that you’re starting college, here are a few social media accounts you should be watching out for.

to swear publicly, the greatest thing about Twitter is its hashtag ability (which Facebook and Instagram have now implemented.)

If something interesting or potentially dangerous or just plain fun is happening on campus, tweeters on campus can add hashtags to the end of their posts. If other people also hashtag the Facebook same thing, it will start to Despite claims that trend in the local area.

Facebook is useless and You can check Twitter outdated, it isn’t all that trends and hot hashtags horrible, and it can still by clicking on them or be quite useful while in searching for them. college. (And if your old For example, UT had a high school friends clog host of water main break up your feed, you can issues last year, and UT block them.) students showed just A majority of student orhow savage they could ganizations, fraternities be. Many tweeters and sororities use Facethought it was funny to book groups to stay in steal a hashtag that was intouch with all the members tended to prompt students of their organization. to tweet about the positive If you are going to be inreasons they chose UT. InIC COLUMNIST volved in any campus student stead, the hashtag #whyUT organization, you should became a common comprobably have a Facebook. plaint trend where students would comIn addition to being involved in groups, plain about why UT was not the greatest.

Facebook is also a great platform for event Follow and create as many hashtags as planning, and to stay on top of rememberyou want this year — we will be sure to ing birthdays. keep track of them — but whatever you do, Even if you aren’t involved in any UT you should also find tweeters that tweet clubs or organizations, you might get invit- about UT-relevant things. ed to one of their super cool events on One of UT students’ favorite Twitter acFacebook. counts is @UT_Problems. The account will If getting involved socially isn’t your occasionally retweet UT students comthing, Facebook also functions as a wonplaining about problems they face in class, derful online host for your millions of while parking or the Arctic winter. bathroom mirror selfies. You can even creThe account will also tweet their own ate different albums for each year. (If you gems like, “The only thing falling faster forget this, you might miss a #Throwbackthan my GPA is the value of my textbooks,” Thursday next year.) or “BGSU is a respectable institution of higher learning. #AprilFools.”

JOE HEIDENESCHER

Twitter

Now it’s probable that on Facebook you have some friends that you might not want reading certain, more vulgar, statuses that you post. (Our parents’ generation is starting to find it easier to like and comment on our posts.)

Therefore, it’s time to graduate to Twitter if you haven’t already. If you create an interesting enough handle, most people that you wouldn’t want seeing your 140 character tweets, won’t. (You can also set your account to private.)

Besides having a little bit more freedom

Yik Yak

If you need to post about your bottled-up hate for BGSU, or if you want to complain about how annoying people in Carlson Library are, you should post about it anonymously on Yik Yak. Yik Yak is a lot like Twitter and Reddit combined, and it’s completely anonymous.

The social media site has just started to become really popular on college campuses and at UT. In fact, UT crashed the Yik Yak server back in September because we yaked so much.

Download the app on your phone — it is free, and you can instantly see what thousands of students on campus are talking about.

One of my personal favorite yaks is “On a scale from 1 to nature valley granola bar, how much is your life falling apart?” and aptly the top-voted response was, “Pretty close to a Jenga tower.”

The great thing about Yik Yak is if something worth talking about it happening on campus, students will usually upvote the Yak and more people can see it at the top of their feed. And when people say very stupid stuff, which happens often, students downvote that into oblivion. (The posts actually disappear after five downvotes.)

As long as you are posting hilarious BGSUcks puns or jokes about the struggles of living in Parks Tower, then your yaks will surely be read by pretty much every smartphone user on campus.

Word of caution Social media is not real life. Do not let yourself become addicted to it. There are still tons of people on campus to meet and interact with socially. There is no need to check Yik Yak five times in one day; set some limits for yourself — otherwise you’ll never finish that paper that’s due tomorrow.

Being yourself on social media also comes as drawback if you post more “risqué” things. Employers these days have been known to look employees up on social media sites to see if they want to hire them.

To avoid this, avoid posting crazy things that would make you look bad, set your account to private or create a username that is not your name — this way people cannot just Google search you and find out you were partying last night.

But what happens if other people tag you in some embarrassing pictures that might tarnish your otherwise flawless social media presence? On Facebook, Twitter and Instagram you have the ability to report any post or photo that is considered harmful. For the most part these sites are good at removing this material. Yik Yak will not allow users to post names, photos or any identifying material.

Just like being social in the real world, there are rules and cautions. Make sure to have fun out there on the Internet and to get safely involved.

Joe Heidenescher is a third-year majoring in English, and he is the associate Community editor for The Independent Collegian.

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26 | The Independent Collegian | Fall Semester 2015 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 Pitrof Editors: Colleen Anderson, Trevor Stearns, Morgan Rinckey Copy Editors: Lauren Gilbert and Jared Hightower Cover photo: Amanda Pitrof Cover models: Neera Martin and Trevor Stearns Advertising sales: Zachary Hartenburg Adviser: Danielle Gamble

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

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

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

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

COMMENTARY

This isn’t high school anymore I arrived on campus 40 mineven bothered to look around utes early on my first day of colat me. I breathed a heavy sigh lege. “Perfect, I’ll have a few min- of relief. Not the professor, not utes to spare after I find a spot, a single student, nobody at all walk to my noticed that I was first class and late. Or cared for be early,” I that matter. That thought to mywas a turning self. Little did I point for me and know what my my college life. first day of colHonestly, you lege had in could lie in bed store for me. all day and do It took me nothing in col45 minutes to lege. Sleep in, find a parking skip all of your spot that day, classes for the which didn’t day, avoid doing bode well for your homework a college freshand eat whatever man straight out the hell you feel of high school. I like and no one was fresh to the will stop you.

IC COLUMNIST college scene There’s no school and already late bus you need to to my very first class, which hurry to catch, the teachers gave me a small panic attack. aren’t going to pester you about Being late to a class in my high your missing homework or school wasn’t the best thing to about you skipping those three do. Teachers weren’t afraid to class periods in a row. It’s up to throw a detention or someYOU and you alone to be rething your way. But I knew sponsible for yourself. this was college. It’s way differClasses were something else ent from what high school was too. None of my professors relike. ally told me what to take notes There I was, a little college on or what to write down. For freshman running as fast as I the most part, they left it up to could to my first class. When I me to figure out. Yes, there are arrived, to my surprise, nobody some of the occasional

TREVOR STEARNS

Samantha Heinze

professors who tell you everything you need to know for the exams and finals and what to take notes on. But when you’re in a lecture with 100 other students, they aren’t going to slow down or wait for you to write what was on that last slide.

If you’re going to succeed, you have to work fast and efficiently in your classes. Only take the notes that you think will be on exams or finals.

Most professors post their lectures online after the class, so there’s always time to go back on your own if you think you missed something.

About two weeks in was when the actual feeling of change between high school and college kicked in. There I was, sitting in my classes and not really talking to anybody.

My sister had told me before I started that the first day is your gateway to easily making friends because more than likely, no one else knows anybody else either. That’s your chance to simply introduce yourself to the person you’re sitting next to without any risk of sounding “weird” or anything.

Of course, being the socially awkward person I am, I didn’t do this at all. I virtually had no new friends even two weeks into the semester, until I noticed

this one girl in my math class who was in three of my other classes as well. I noticed this as my chance and I said, “What the hell. Why not?” So I introduced myself and she said she thought I looked familiar. Her name was Jess. It happened as fast as that. I had made my first college friend.

Things are different here.

You’re not always going to see your small group of friends everyday like you did in high school. You won’t be playing those annoying ice breaker games where you get to introduce yourself to everybody. It’ll be up to you to say, “What the hell,” and take that first step to introducing yourself.

My biggest takeaway following my freshman year is simply that this isn’t high school anymore.

Have fun, but keep working hard for your classes. There’s also no need to limit yourself anymore for fear of being “the weird kid.”

Take chances that you might not otherwise take. Say hi to that person sitting next to you on your first day of class, there’s a good chance that you’ll make a lifelong friend.

Trevor Stearns is a second-year majoring in communication, and he is the news editor for the Independent Collegian.

Fall Semester 2015 | The Independent Collegian |

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28 | The Independent Collegian | Fall Semester 2015