Issue 40

Sports, B1

Arts & Life, B4

Holliday, Thomas out for year as Toledo loses 75-58 to EIU

Game on!

UT hosts gaming convention

Independent Collegian IC The

Monday, February 21, 2011

Serving the University of Toledo since 1919

www.IndependentCollegian.com 91st year Issue 40

Toledo holds Law Symposium

By Jaimee Hilton IC Staff Writer

Legislators, public officials and other elected officials gathered at the University of Toledo to discuss Ohio’s sentencing policies Friday.

The goal of this year’s Law Symposium, hosted by the Toledo Law Review, was to address questions about the pros and cons of the state’s prior and current sentencing policies and how spending less on sentencing inmates could be accomplished while still keeping the community safe.

More than 50,000 inmates are incarcerated in more than 30 penal institutions in Ohio.

On average, Ohio spends more than $25,000 on each inmate annually.

According to Chief Counsel of Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections Greg Trout, Ohio, which

has the sixth largest state and courts, makes up apprison system, exceeds the proximately 55 percent of the top 35 European countries in budget. the number of incarcerated “Our first goal is to have residents. people realize that we can’t In Fiscal Year afford to 2009, Ohio continue to Our first goal is do s p e n t what to have people re- we’re do$1,798,374,334 on housing alize that we can’t af- ing,” said inmates.

Beazford to continue to do Mike There are ley, a city many other what we’re doing. administracosts associattor from Ored with the prisegon, Ohio. on system be- Mike Beazley According yond housing City Administrator, to Beazley, Oregon, Ohio inmates. the United These include States incarconstruction cerates a costs, the cost of new prisons higher percentage of the pop– which is about $100,000 – ulation than any other counas well as utilities, language try in the world. barriers, clothing, medical He said as the economy needs, education and changes, people have to understand there’s not going to visitation.

The cost of staff, including be enough money to continue police departments, sheriffs housing inmates at this rate.

“

”

“We’re going to have to change and get people as informed as possible about options that are out there,” Beazley said.

The Columbus prison system costs the city $70 per day to keep each inmate, which is much more than Lucas County, according to Ted Barrows, a municipal court judge in Franklin County, Ohio.

One of the panels discussed the chances of taking the issue to the Ohio General Assembly.

State Rep. Dennis Murray discussed a list of factors he came up with.

Murray said the first factor is the work done by groups such as the American Civil Liberties Union, who argue the current system is unfair, ineffective and as others have told Murray, “we are sitting on a time bomb.”

— Symposium, Page A4

Photos by Jason Mack / IC

Above, Marc Levin, director of the Center for Effective Justice at the Texas Public Policy Foundation, gives the keynote speech Friday during a symposium in the UT College of Law auditorium. Below, a panel discusses alternatives for change. Users reading the digital edition at Issuu.com/Independent_Collegian can click either photo to link to different videos from the symposium.

MLK scholarships awarded

By Vincent J. Curkov IC Staff Writer

Nick Kneer / IC

University of Toledo Student Government President Matt Rubin will conduct a presentation Saturday at Texas A&M during the Conference on Student Government Associations on “how to re-brand yourself after a down year.”

Rebranding SG

By Casey Cheap IC Staff Writer

After last year’s UT Student Government President Krystal Weaver broke the rules by peeking at the 2009 election results before they were released, SG struggled to reform their reputation on campus.

“We were doing positive things, but they were overshadowed by all the bad things,” said SG President Matt Rubin.

Last year’s SG tried to impeach Weaver after finding out she used her former position as 2008 election committee chair to access the results for the election in which she

won presidency.

Weaver accessed the votes four times before they were made public.

Weaver was not able to change any voting results and apologized for her actions.

SG failed to impeach Weaver after she vetoed her own impeachment and the Latino Student Union protested her remaining in office.

Since then, the new SG leadership has been working to get students to take them seriously again.

“We want to highlight some of the positive things we have done, such as broadcasting Student Senate — SG, Page A4

Photos by Kevin Sohnly / IC

Junior Joseph Martin (above) and sophomore Ashley Phillips (below) receive scholarships on Friday night as part of the 42nd annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Scholarship Banquet.

A $1,000 scholarship was awarded to Ashley Phillips as part of the 42nd annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Scholarship Banquet Friday.

“No matter how hard it gets, [I] keep on trying,” Phillips said.

Despite having a physical disability and a sixmonth-old son, the sophomore majoring in speech language pathology is a member of the University of Toledo track and field team and the Health and Human Service Committee.

“Life has not always been easy for Ms. Philips: she is deaf in one ear and suffers from a condition that cause a ringing or roaring in one’s ears,” said Beverly Schmoll, Dean of Judith Herb College of Education, Health and Human Service.

Phillips was one of four students who received a scholarship.

The scholarship was established one year after King’s assassination in 1968.

“This has been a longstanding event and I would like to continue seeing it that way,” said Terrina White, chair of the MLK Scholarship Selection Committee.

Other recipients included David Grant, a sophomore majoring in psychology and Jimmy Rigsby, a

senior majoring in exercise science. Both students received awards totaling $4,000 each.

Despite being two years out of high school, Rigsby is a peer mentor for Rocket2Rocket and works at the UT Medical Center.

He attributes his success to his organizational skills.

“If anything falls out of place and I don’t put it back, I fall out of place,” he said.

Grant is focusing his education on family and marriage counseling and plans on using his education to help the city of Toledo.

“I would want to go and start my career somewhere else, but eventually make it back home to Toledo,” he said.

The MLK Scholarship had 20 applicants this year.

The judges examined how well the candidates related to King in choosing the scholarship recipients.

“He is someone I aspire to be,” Grant said, “and [like King] I hope to take a proactive approach to the problems in our community today.”

The first annual United Way African American Initiative Outstanding Black Male Scholarship was also awarded.

The $1,500 scholarship was presented to Joseph Martin, a junior majoring in early childhood education.

“My endeavor is to work — MLK, Page A4

Forum

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Monday, February 21, 2011

Jason Mack Editor in Chief

Elizabeth Majoy Business Manager

Randiah Green Managing Editor

Ethan Keating Forum Editor

- in our opinion -

Manufactured crisis The recent budget “crisis” in Wisconsin proves a pervasive and relevant fact often ignored in the American political discourse on the economy: that there is more than enough money in this country to end the budget deficits used as arguments against social programs. The problem is simply that the vast majority of this money is controlled and fiercely protected by a tiny minority of elites.

The prosperous and politically-entrenched use their huge influence to frame the public discussion and push their economic agenda. A tactic that has seen tremendous success in recent years is politicians’ exaggeration of budget shortfalls into stories of cataclysmic, imminent collapse.

Once it has become accepted that “government spending” is the out-ofcontrol cause of impending doom, the ulterior motive is revealed: to use hardworking Americans as a scapegoat for the fiscal irresponsibility and corporate greed that pervade, finance and define the agents of the political right.

Republican Governor Scott Walker of Wisconsin entered office with a sizable but long-term budget deficit, which he quickly spun as a matter of urgent attention, pushing through two tax breaks for businesses in the state as well as a conservative and experimental healthcare policy.

On Feb. 15, an estimated 15,000 citizens surrounded the state capitol to oppose Walker’s latest plan to use his “crisis” as a reason to accelerate the movement of wealth and power from workers to the wealthy elites.

The targets of Walker’s new ploy are the quality of life and rights of all public workers except state troopers, police and firefighters. Having invented a crisis from a manageable situation, Walker’s plan would take away nearly all collective bargaining rights from

Wisconsin’s 175,000 public employees, as well as force these workers to pay a great deal more into their pension and health insurance funds.

These benefits are terms of contracts made by workers with their employers.

To reduce or remove these rewards for years of labor is to break those contracts and should be called exactly what it is — selfish and dishonest abuse of power by politicians who cater to their campaign financiers at the expense of those whom they represent.

If there is not enough money to make payouts for pensions and retiree benefits, it is because conservative decision-makers have redistributed the agreed-upon money to corporations and wealthy individuals instead of those who worked to earn it.

Such deceptive political moves suggest that budget crises are only a pretense used to legitimize the more extreme elements of the conservative agenda. Debates about which services to cut and which group of people to exclude from safety, comfort and happiness have already admitted defeat by denying any responsibility for the fellow members of our democracy.

The conservative ideology hinges upon the primacy of personal over social responsibility, allowing individuals to live in extravagant comfort and waste while writing policies that cut off thousands of people from their only sources of food, shelter and lifesaving medical treatment. One’s inability to afford a second home or retire early are lamented, while growing masses of unemployed and homeless families fill our streets.

What does it mean to you to “be an American”? Are there factors of empathy, compassion and equality, or is yours an America of isolated individuals struggling to get ahead and leave others to suffer?

Re-branding Student Government means more than just ‘improving school spirit’ effectiveness, but there are many other less obvious issues in which they can and should be working on for all students’ interest.

The most notable and recent failure of this category is the near silence from Rubin, Maddocks and other SG leaders in the debate over academic restructuring that raged and largely concluded last semester. While bicycle facilities and student resource rooms are clearly helpful for many students, major changes to the academic structure and processes are relevant to all students.

SG should have used its voice to properly inform students where the UT administration failed to do so and ensure that students were represented in the process. However, they did not and critical, lasting decisions were made with hardly any input from students.

While this year’s SG can easily claim improvement over last year’s in terms of pride and accountability, it remains to be seen whether or not they have rebranded the organization.

The current leadership of UT’s Student Government has had impressive success in correcting some mistakes of the previous administration and bringing a degree of respect and dignity to the organization, but their success at re-branding SG is more dubious. While it was necessary to restore some respect for SG lost by last year’s president, Krystal Weaver, simply rebuilding relationships with student groups and administrators is a small first step.

Why has no SG administration ever prioritized something other than the vague, catch-all term “school spirit”?

While it seems an obvious means of gaining approval, is it not also obvious that the administration who finally worked toward something other than “spirit” would be praised at the very least for originality and honesty?

Obviously, SG wants to create tangible, visible improvements that can be photographed and emblazoned with their seal. A certain amount of overt accomplishment helps SG claim its own

The

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- in Your opinion Successful recruiting year I would like to inform you that our administration, admissions, staff, faculty, and support services helped us have a very successful recruiting year.

It was a total team effort.

I was extremely pleased with the campus-wide support and cooperation we received.

Many people gave their own

time and efforts to make each weekend successful.

As we brought each prospective student-athlete on our campus, we really felt it was important to show each individual and their parents the warmth and friendliness of UT. We also wanted each prospect to be exposed to all facets of our great university. Upon my final exit interviews with each family it was especially gratifying to hear their positive

remarks in regard to everyone’s commitment to our students here. They left Toledo with an extremely positive impression.

On behalf of our staff, I would like to thank everyone that assisted in our recruiting.

Their efforts are what make this fine university the “Class of College Football.”

Tim Beckman, Head Football Coach

Lesser of two evils This past Friday I had a nice adventure down to Kent State University to look into their graduate programs. If you recall, last Friday was a very lovely day — it must have been 58 or so with plenty of sunshine.

So after my visit with a couple of professors I Anthony went for a Russo stroll and pretended that I was a real graduate student on-campus.

The students at KSU were smoking like chimneys — that’s for darn sure — but it didn’t bother me one bit.

Would you care to know why? Because I was outside! When people smoke outside, it diffuses into the air. When the smoke diffuses — and likely rises because it’s hot — it doesn’t really bother anyone.

Oh, but Anthony, what about if you’re walking right behind someone who is smoking? Here’s the simple solution for the collegeeducated populous: don’t walk directly behind someone who is smoking. Why would you be following someone that closely to begin with?

You could take a quick step to the side or speed up and pass the person. Heck, you could even stop for ten seconds and then keep walking so the smoker gets ahead of you further. And for the record, I don’t even smoke.

The way I see it, smokers already pay very high taxes on the cigarettes they purchase. Whether or not they’re enough is debatable. However, the one thing that should not be done is to ban smoking altogether on this campus, or any college campus.

Look, I enjoy smoke-free bars, restaurants and other public places. The idea of smoking indoors in a public

building now seems so odd.

But we’re talking about being outside, where bystanders aren’t being forced to inhale smoke.

Furthermore, smoking is prohibited within 30 feet of the entrances of public buildings. This makes sense.

So just paint a nice yellow line on the sidewalk — a radius if you will — so it’s clearer to smokers. Don’t treat them as outcasts; they too are members of the UT community. We don’t have to celebrate smokers, but we also shouldn’t treat them like lepers.

UT promotes healthiness.

This is a big thing for colleges and universities — we all need to be healthy. I believe that we should all strive to be healthier, but there is an assault on smokers that isn’t being carried out on others who also engage in unhealthy activities.

UT offers busing service around a campus where no two buildings are more than

“

Think of all the lost calories that could be burned by a quick jaunt across campus.

”

a 15-minute walk apart.

Should we really be discouraging walking by doing this?

Think of all the lost calories that could be burned by a quick jaunt across campus.

Also, I’m pretty sure that we serve KFC in our Union.

Maybe Pizza Hut is healthier. But I kid, I kid. These foods are fattening and very unhealthy. In my capacity as a bus driver, I see a lot of the same people who refuse to walk regularly consuming these foods, as well as gigantic cups of pop.

A lot of people are against fast food taxes because they claim such taxes are regressive, that most of the

tax is being paid by those who can least afford to pay.

That may be true — I haven’t read enough analysis of such a tax — but what is certain is that smokers are at least paying some sort of tax on the externalities they produce.

The point is that being overweight is an unhealthy lifestyle choice. I’m not Mr. Fitness, USA, but I try to keep in good enough shape to be healthy. This isn’t an attack on those who are overweight because I understand how difficult it is to find time to exercise and cook healthy meals. Instead, I want people to think about whether smoking is really that much more unhealthy than being overweight or obese.

If we’re going to ban smoking on college campuses, perhaps we should look into banning sodas and fast food as well. Oh, but that would reduce UT’s revenue.

Smokers make a much easier target and many people feel that they are “harmed” more by smokers than the obese.

But if you take a look at rising healthcare costs, you can see that those who are overweight create externalities in much the same way.

Take a look at the Emory University study, “The Future Costs of Obesity: National and State Estimates of the Impact of Obesity on Direct Health Care Expenses.”

If you smoke or engage in any unhealthy practice, there are going to be externalities. But so long as we can identify, measure and place corrective taxes on these externalities, society can function like a welloiled machine. Compared to the healthcare costs obesity is creating, having to yield to a smoker isn’t all that bad.

—Anthony Russo is an IC columnist and a senior majoring in economics.

S&M in the main “O na na, what’s my name?” “Umbrella-ella-ellaeh-eh-eh,” “Please don’t stop the music,” are just a few of the song phrases singer Rihanna has made famous throughout her career. With her upbeat rhythm and catchy lyrics, one cannot help but to get up and dance every time one of her songs comes on the radio.

She regularly debuts new material and nearly every one of her songs makes it to the Top 40 charts. Not to mention, her music videos are frequently featured on VH1’s Top 20 Countdown.

So naturally, when the thumbnail for her newest music video, “S&M” popped up on YouTube, many clicked on it, assuming the fresh-out-of-the-box tune would make them want to dance. For many, it made them sit back in their chair, shocked.

S&M, an abbreviation of the term “sadomasochism,” is “sexual activity in which one person enjoys inflicting physical or mental suffering on another person and derives pleasure from it.” This is the theme of Rihanna’s new song/video in which she features herself

flaunting gossip guru Perez Hilton on a leash as he pretends to relieve himself on a fire hydrant.

In other scenes, she is seen participating in imprisoning acts such as being taped against a wall, whipping and beating people after strapping them against mattresses and walls and being entangled in a rope.

Other activities include her deep-throating a banana, dry-humping other people and objects, and lyrics such as “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but chains and whips excite me.”

Overall, “S&M” shows sadomasochism as a fun, enjoyable activity. But is that what we should be encouraging in today’s society?

Should we really embrace pain as the new pleasure?

With thousands of domestic abuse cases being reported each year and thousands more being kept behind closed doors, sadomasochism should not be considered in society as an everyday norm. It will only blur the line between what is abuse and playfulness.

What makes Rihanna’s message worse is that less than three years ago, her

Tell What Think Us You

then-boyfriend singer Chris Brown was charged for allegedly beating her up. Photos soon surfaced on the internet of a battered Rihanna, with black eyes and marks on her face. She did not appear to be enjoying the impact of “chains and whips” as much then.

I am not implying that the beat and energy of the song itself is not good; perhaps the lyrics could be changed into something a little less violent and the video could instead feature people dancing and partying it up.

Sexual relations are — or are supposed to be anyway — a way of two people expressing love and affection for one another, not a battle between people trying to inflict pain upon one another.

There is nothing fun or enjoyable about being abused. Perhaps those who abuse should take part in therapy and learn what love is really all about. It is about passion and respect, not chains and whips. Love should never hurt.

—Written for the IC by Sarah Fatemi.

Send your letter to the editor to forum@independentcollegian.com and let the campus and community know what’s on your mind.

Letters must be under 500 words and are subject to editing for content and length. All letters must be signed.

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For Rent 2,3,4,5,6,&7 Bedroom Homes. 2&3 Baths, all appliances including washer & dryer, security systems, free lawncare, plenty of parking, less than 1/2 mile from campus, some within walking distance. Call Rick at 419-283-8507! www. universityproperties.net Apartment; 2 Br, 3 Br, 4 Br Houses available.

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Symposium

Campus Briefly

WPI Brown Bag Seminar

There will be a brown bag seminar tomorrow from noon to 1 p.m. at the Mulford Library Garden Café located on the Health Science Campus.

Mary Kay Smith, assistant professor of psychiatry, will present on HIV/AIDS and women in Sub-Saharan Africa. For more information, contact Rebecca Diaz at 419-383-6133.

Black Student Union

BSU will host a discussion on the successful and negative stories of blacks in the media Wednesday from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. in the Student Union Building Room 2592.

For more information, contact Victoria Delly at Victoria.

Delly@rockets.utoledo.edu.

BSU will also host its annual fashion show Friday from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Its location is yet to be determined.

For more information, contact Victoria Delly at Victoria.

Delly@rockets.utoledo.edu.

Department of Theatre

Performances of “The Hothouse” this week will be Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. in the Center for Performing Arts Center Theatre. There will also be a performance on Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $9 for students, $11 for UT faculty, staff, alumni and seniors and $13 for general admission. For more information, contact Angela Riddel at 419-530-2452 or send an email to TheArts@utoledo.edu.

College of Engineering

UT’s College of Engineering is hosting engineer/comedian Don McMillan Thursday at noon at Nitschke Auditorium. Pizza will be served 30 minutes before the show. For more information, contact Jon Wimer at Jon.Wimer@ rockets.utoledo.edu.

Monday, February 21, 2011

Jason Mack / IC

Levin discusses Ohio’s probation rate during his keynote speach at the law symposium on Friday.

MLK From Page A1 in the educational field and [press] for equality of education for children,” Martin said.

Martin did not start college right out of high school; instead he spent time working with children in ministries.

“If I could do anything for free, I would work with children,” he said.

UT Board of Trustees member Joseph High and his wife donated $4,000 to the King scholarship.

“What is this scholarship for? $4,000? Tell you what, my wife is going to write a check for $4,000 cause we believe in this cause,” High said.

From Page A1 “We are at 133 percent capacity on its way to 150 percent of capacity if nothing changes,” he said. “We will have some very serious consequences if we don’t act on this very soon.”

The second factor is the reduction of crime rates and the public’s perception.

He compared it to the stock market saying if people wait for it to get high before they rush in, they make a mistake.

“Public opinion is shifting,” Murray said. “We have 52,000 people in some form of incarceration or probation or parole and people understand that we have quadrupled the number of people in prison.

We now spend three and a half to four percent of our budget on just prisons. I think people understand that we are out of step in the rest of the world with our incarceration rate.”

The third factor deals with term limits in the state government. There are 33 brand new legislatures out of 99 people in the state House.

Murray, who is in his second term, said there is no institutional knowledge of the issues.

Jason Mack / IC

John Murphy, executive director for the Ohio Prosecuting Attorneys Association, talks about alternatives for change at Friday’s symposium at the UT College of Law auditorium.

High said it is important for UT to work alongside organizations such as the United Way. “When we look at the challenges we are facing, none of us are great enough [alone] but together we are,” he said.

High reminded the winners they received scholarships because the university expects great things from them.

“To whom much is given, much is required,” he told the recipients.

Paramount Advantage was a major contributor to the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Scholarship. UT President Lloyd Jacobs said they have been very kind to continue to donate in these tough economic times.

Alpha Omicron Pi

The ladies of Alpha Omicron Pi are hosting a volleyball tournament Friday from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Health Education Gym. The cost is $30 per team and it is best of three games. Proceeds will go to arthritis research. For more information, e-mail Bvore@rockets.utoledo.edu.

Alpha Zeta Omega

AZO will host Bowl-a-Thon Saturday from 9:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the New Glass Bowl Lanes located at 5133 Telegraph Road. Tickets are $12 with a donation of two canned goods or $15 at the door without canned goods.

Two delivery pizzas will be provided for each lane. For more information, contact Adam Mierzwa at Adam.Mierzwa@rockets.utoledo.edu.

Kevin Sohnly / IC Kevin Sohnly / IC

Joseph High, a UT Board of Trustees member, speaks at the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Scholarship Benefit Reception on Friday.

SG From Page A1

File photo by Dean Mohr / IC

Last year, UT Student Government attempted to impeach then president Krystal Weaver, but she vetoed her own impeachment.

meetings [suspended for now], building relationships with administrators, and running ads in the student newspaper,” Rubin said.

UT’s SG will conduct a national presentation at Texas A&M on “how to rebrand yourself after a down year” at the Conference on Student Government Associations on Saturday.

“UT has been present at COSGA for the past 15 years but will be presenting our first workshop in over 10 years,” Rubin said.

Rubin said under his leadership this year’s SG has been working to bring several new projects, initiatives and resources to the university to overshadow last year’s scandal.

He said the B.G. Ball Run and opening the Student Organization Resource Room are two things SG has done to reach out and revamp school spirit at UT. “At the beginning of our term, [SG Vice President Jordan Maddocks] and I met with 30 to 40 student organizations to start building relationships damaged by the last SG President,” Rubin said. “A year ago, SG

BashCon Tim Peasley of Ashland, Ohio examines a playset yesterday during the BASHCon held in the Student Union. was a joke.” election board to the StuRubin said bringing cred- dent Judicial Council, acibility back to SG was a cording to a press release. high priority for the new “It works out better this leadership. way because these people “There will be about 150 have already been reviewed schools from across the and appointed by the Stucountry there,” Maddocks dent Senate once as SJC said. “We want to get our members,” Rubin said. name out there and spread Some of the responsibiliour name to other parts of ties of the SJC will be writthe region and state.” ing the election’s rules Maddocks manual, said netcamIn the past, it’s holding working paign combeen a pretty diffi- plaint hearwith the student govern- cult and dramatic ings and pements at nalizing process other unicampaigns versities will Matt Rubin not complyhelp UT in President, ing with the long run Student Government rules. and bring Rubin said some crediin years bility back past, the SG to the group.

President would appoint a “We have a lot of stuff to separate election board present to them, and they that was approved by the have a lot of things to pres- Student Senate. This led to ent to us. It will be mutu- less transparency and ally beneficial,” he said. slowed down the election SG is also modifying their process. election process to ensure “The election board proanother incident cannot cess has been messy the happen and make the elec- past few years,” Rubin said. tions go smoother.

“This year, we’re about “In the past, it’s been a three weeks ahead of pretty difficult and dramat- where we were a year ago. ic process,” Rubin said.

When the idea came up, The new election process everyone was really recepwill be cutting out the tive to it, and I think it will “middle man” by handing be a positive change.” the responsibilities of the Because the SG

“

”

Constitution cannot be amended during a one-year time period, this will serve as a “dry run” until the policy can be officially changed.

Rubin said he is trying hard to make the elections a big deal this year.

The SG Constitution allows for a maximum of 50 Senators, but last year only 17 students ran for those seats.

This year, SG assembled a public relations committee to get the word out about the elections.

“It is a reformation that needed to be done a long time ago,” Maddocks said.

“SJC is a non-partisan body.

Why not dissolve one into another?”

Both Rubin and Maddocks are urging students to run for president and vice president as well as a seat on the senate.

They are hoping to have as many competitive races as possible this year.

“All potential senators are required to have 10 signatures from students in his or her own respective college,” Rubin said. “All presidential and vice presidential candidates must have 200 university-wide signatures. The signatures will be due March 2 at the candidate meetings.”

“

Without Reese we physically just got pushed around and out-toughed Tod Kowalczyk UT Men’s Basketball Coach

Section B

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www.IndependentCollegian.com

Sports

Page

Monday, February 21, 2011

1

Zach Davis – Editor

Holliday, Thomas out for year as Toledo loses 75-58 to EIU

By Zach Davis Sports Editor

on Friday that J.T. Thomas, who had missed the last four Without the help of fresh- games, would be sidelined for man forward Reese Holliday, the remainder of the year. The Toledo fell 75-58 on Saturday freshman point guard reinto Eastern Illinois at Savage jured the fifth metatarsal in his foot. He averaged 4.5 Arena.

“Without Reese we physi- points, 1.5 assists and 1.7 recally just got pushed around bounds on the season.

“It’s hard,” Shunnar said. and out-toughed,” Toledo head coach Tod Kowalczyk “You see one kid go down and then another go said. “We are already down and it takes a outmanned in every toll on the team. game we have been Guys have to step in – [the players] up. We are not goknow that. We starting to put our heads ed two walk-ons to75 down and stop night. Find another E. Illinois 58 fighting.” team in the country Toledo The Rockets (4that started walk-ons tonight. I guarantee you there 23, 1-11 MAC) had just five isn’t another team that started scholarship players, and nine players overall, available two walk-ons.

“Anybody that says we against Eastern Illinois (9-18, didn’t compete tonight would 4-12 Ohio Valley Conference).

Sophomore guard Malcolm be crazy. Anybody that thinks that or says that is dead Griffin (3 of 10) had seven wrong. Our guys played hard, points and a game-high eight we are just not a very good assists with two steals against team right now. We are down the Panthers.

“We don’t have anybody to five scholarship guys. We are asking some guys to step right now that can step up up and play roles that maybe consistently and help Malthey are not capable of play- colm and that’s why we are ing right now but it is a good struggling right now,” Kowalczyk said. “We don’t have experience for them.”

Kowalczyk told the Inde- anybody that can consistentpendent Collegian on Friday ly step up and help him. We that Holliday would miss the are standing around looking for him to make too many remainder of the seaplays.” son with a stress fracShunnar (5 of 8) ture in his foot. He had a team-high 16 had not practiced points, including over the past two three triples on the weeks and the injury night. He has averhad worsened over aged 11 points in 32 time. minutes the last four Holliday leads the games. team in rebounding “Jay was good to(5.5 rpg) and is secnight,” Kowalczyk ond in scoring (10.5 Holliday said. “He just needs to ppg) and assists (2.33 do it every day. The apg). He leads the Mid-American Conference in only one that is really consisoffensive rebounds (55) and tent offensively is Malcolm. has played a team-high 35.23 Jay needs to have energy and minutes per contest on the enthusiasm every day. Tonight, particularly in the secyear.

“Reese brings that grit and ond half, he did.”

Justin Anyijong scored 12 toughness to the team,” junior guard Jay Shunnar said. “He’s points on 5-of-13 shooting.

6-1 and leading the MAC in The senior forward has scored offensive rebounds. He keeps in double-figures in three of possessions alive. We need the last four games.

EIU had four players score possessions and that’s something we were missing in double-digits, led by tonight.”

Kowalczyk also told the IC — Holliday, Page B2

Jason Mack / IC

Eastern Illinois forward Curry McKinney dunks in the 75-58 victory over the Rockets on Saturday night at Savage Arena.

Rockets clinch a share of MAC Title in win over Ball State

By Nate Pentecost IC Staff Writer

Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times/MCT

Slam Dunk Champ Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin won the NBA Slam Dunk contest after leaping over a car in the final round.

assists and Goodall had a game-high nine rebounds.

The Cardinals (9-17, 4-9) kept The Rockets women’s basketball team won their eighth the score close early but would straight contest with a 67-49 not regain the lead after a threevictory over Ball State and pointer by junior guard Courtsecured themselves a share of ney Ingersoll, putting the Rockthe Mid-American Conference ets up 10-8 with 13:51 left in the first half. Toledo addWest Division Title. ed to the lead in the Toledo will have a remainder of the pefirst round bye in the riod and went into upcoming MAC halftime ahead 35-23.

Tournament.

The Rocket advan“That’s going to be Toledo 67 key going into the Ball State 49 tage swelled to as many as 22 in the tournament with a second half as UT little fresher legs than the teams that are going took control of the contest to play a game in that first down the stretch, cruising to a round,” UT head coach Tricia 67-49 victory.

Senior guard Ty’Ronda BenCullop said. “There are a lot of teams in this league that can ning fronted the BSU effort with a game-high 16 points, upset someone.” the only Cardinal to Toledo (20-6, 12-1 reach double-figures.

MAC) also snapped a Senior foward Emily six game losing streak Maggert, the team’s at Worthen Arena with leading scorer at 15 the win on Saturday ppg, had only six points with their last win comand fouled out with ing in Jan. 10, 2004.

11:43 remaining.

“There have been “I told them after some very good teams the game, don’t be to come in here and Goodall satisfied because any not come out with team can surprise much success,” Cullop said. “We were very you,” Cullop said. “Eastern happy to get a victory today.” Michigan certainly has a lot of Toledo was led by junior talent and we’re going to have guard Naama Shafir and senior to be prepared for them.”

The Rockets will host EastMelissa Goodall who tied for a team-high 15 points. Shafir ern Michigan (18-9, 9-4) on added five rebounds and three Wednesday at 7 p.m.

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The

Independent Collegian

Monday, February 21, 2011

UT loses three games on opening weekend

By Tony Bibler IC Staff Writer

Jason Mack / IC

Sophomore wide-out Eric Page received the 2010 National Kickoff Returner trophy from College Football Performance Awards at halftime of Saturday’s men’s basketball game vs. Eastern Illinois.

Holliday From Page B1 Jeremy Granger’s game-high 20 points. Granger also had eight rebounds and made all 13 of his free throw attempts.

The Panthers led the entire game against Toledo, jumping out to an early 13-5 lead. The Rockets cut the lead to 13-12, but EIU stretched the lead to as many as nine in the first half.

Two consecutive

three-pointers by Anyijong and Shunnar in the last minute of the first half cut the lead to 30-28 but the Panthers took the momentum halftime after Granger banked in a three from nearly half court at the buzzer.

After cutting the lead to one at 35-34, EIU scored 12 unanswered and cruised to a 75-58 victory. The Rockets trimmed the lead down to six but trailed by as much as 18, down by double-figures most of the half.

“We need to get stops,” Shunnar said. “We were fighting. I felt like a couple times the ball didn’t bounce our way and other than that we will be alright. We just have to keep fighting.”

The Rockets return to conference play when they travel to Kalamazoo to take on MAC West leader Western Michigan (15-10, 7-4) on Wednesday at 7 p.m. Toledo defeated the Broncos 73-60 on Jan. 19 for its lone conference victory on the year.

responded with three runs living on the edge, sooner or as Edwards doubled in two. later it’s going to catch up The Rockets opened the Dudics promptly singled with you and that’s what hap2011 season on the road in home Edwards to give Tole- pened this weekend.”

On Saturday, Toledo lost Cary, N.C. at the USA Na- do a 3-1 lead. its only matchup of Canisius scored a tional Baseball Training the weekend against Complex, dropping all three run in the third but Creighton 5-1. contests over the weekend. the Rockets reJunior lefthander UT lost two one run games sponded with an Kyle Shaw (0-1) took against Canisius on Friday RBI single in the the loss after giving (6-5) and Sunday (7-6) as fourth by junior outup four runs in four well as a 5-1 defeat to Creigh- fielder Mark Lapiinnings of work. Jukas, making the ton on Saturday. nior reliever Alex Ra“Everyone is disappoint- score 4-2. Canisius don pitched a reed,” UT head coach Cory tallied two runs in spectable four inthe top half Mee said. “This is nings in relief and alof the fifth not the way you Dudics lowed one run to the to tie the want to open up Bluejays (2-1). Sophgame at the season. We four. The Rockets omore infielder Wes Wight have to recognize pulled ahead in the knocked in the Rockets only it is only one bottom of the fifth to run with an RBI single in the weekend out of Fri, Feb 18 take a 6-4 lead after fourth. the season, learn 6 Toledo opened the season junior Matt Delewski what we need to Canisius 5 and senior Jim Vaha- with a 6-5 defeat against Caimprove on and Toledo lik each singled in nisius on Friday. The Rockuse that while we Sat, Feb 19 ets held a 5-0 lead but a sixruns. prepare this 5 Junior reliever Ty- run eighth inning by Canisius week. We’ve got Creighton 1 ler Scott gave up two sealed the loss for UT. Fresha lot to work on.” Toledo runs in the eighth in- man reliever Adam Tyson Toledo (0-3) ju- Sun, Feb 20 was handed the loss ning that nior right hander after giving up a run pushed the 7 Lincoln Rassi Canisius over two-thirds of an game into started Sunday’s Toledo 6 inning. e x t r a game against Ca“I’ve told the guys innings. nisius (3-1) and before that the key to After Canisius struck out a career-high sevsuccess is to play en batters while giving up plated a run in the great defense and four runs over 4.1 innings. 10th, senior outpitch well,” Mee said.

Senior Matt Zahel (0-1) fielder Dan Sher“This weekend we earned the loss in relief after wood doubled himjust didn’t do enough allowing the go-ahead run self into scoring poEdwards of that to win.” across to score in the top of sition with a oneThe Rockets return out double but the the 10th.

Senior outfielder Chris Rockets failed to capitalize to action this weekend as Dudics went 3 for 4 Sunday as the next two batters struck they travel to Louisville, Ky. with an RBI while classmate out and popped out to end to take on No. 22 Louisville.

First pitch for Friday’s game Jason Edwards was 1 for 5 the game.

“We have pitched ourselves is scheduled for 3 p.m. while with two RBI. UT found themselves down 1-0 head- into some tough jams,” Mee Saturday and Sunday will ing into the home half of the said. “We pitched ourselves start at 1 p.m. and noon, second inning but out of some but when you’re respectively.

Bayne’s World

Jeff Siner/Charlotte Observer/MCT

One day after turning 20 years old, Trevor Bayne won the Daytona 500 on Sunday.

The

Independent Collegian

Monday, February 21, 2011

Kevin Sohnly/ IC

Field House From Page B4

Motown From Page B4

halfway around the wide opening to get to the other side, and Bellmyer walked across the lower part of the Field House and back.

It wasn’t all good news though; one scene in particular posed numerous difficulties to the crew. Quads 1 and 2 (Brian Purdue and William Toth) hold back Greg so he won’t start a fight, but filming a scene in which one actor struggles to break free can be hard.

One of the best clips to film was a clip of Jaleeah and Marky on the stairs.

The stairs in the Field House are broad and open, so we were able to film the same clip from several angles: from the top of the stairs, from the bottom of the stairs and on the landing the actors were standing on to deliver their lines.

Overall the location had a huge effect on the look and feel of the scene.

airing March 1 on PBS stations.

While Motown music has been no stranger at the White House _ artists such as Robinson, Stevie Wonder and the Four Tops have played for several presidents _ next week’s event is unique.

“I don’t think the company and genre have been recognized in this way by any administration,” said Audley Smith, chief executive officer of the Motown Historical Museum, which will transport several items from its collection for display at a pre-concert reception.

“I think it kind of says it all, that this administration has seen fit to honor this music that is unique to Detroit,” said Smith.

President Obama _ who was born two years after the label’s 1959 inception _ has long shown a fondness for Motown: Stevie Wonder’s “Signed Sealed Delivered (I’m Yours)” was a major theme song during his 2008 campaign, and he has described Wonder as his “one musical hero.”

In a video message taped for the label’s 50th anniversary gala in November 2009, the president paid tribute to Motown’s cultural impact, saying the music “defined a style, lifted up a city and moved an entire generation.”

The Detroit group, which includes students from Mosaic Youth Theatre and the Sphinx Organization, will spend an extra day touring Washington, D.C. They’ll also meet with U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, a Motown fan who last summer was treated to a private tour of the Motown museum on West Grand Boulevard.

While Motown will be the focus of the White House events, the Grammy Museum’s Santelli said his lecture will emphasize Detroit’s broader role as a music capital and what “the city has given over the years to the American music legacy.”

“I want the students to realize this wasn’t a one-shot deal _ that Detroit music was serving American culture for many years before and after,” he said.

UT gamers playing Dagorhir, a live-action combat game, played with foam coated weapons and shields.

Convention From Page B4 six other friends came to the convention with the sole intention of playing X Crawl, a dicebased board game Teare describes as a “specific setting of [famed RPG] Dungeons and Dragons.”

Teare and friends took turns rolling dice and scrawling data onto score card sheets laid in front of them. One of the friends at his table, Michael Jones, is a Toledo native currently attending the University of Cincinnati. He returned for the convention just to play X Crawl with his friends.

“You don’t need [a convention] to play X Crawl; all you need is a dining room table,” Jones said. “I don’t go to any other conventions. I came back to Toledo to play with my friends and while I was here I bought a book and some dice.”

Another one of the players was Teare’s sister Nicole. Now in her sixth year of her pharmacy degree, she has attended every BASHCon since she came to UT. She has also volunteered at the event in the past.

Talking with attendees and vendors, one quickly learns that

BASHCon is one weekend for the larger gaming community, which has shown itself to be a tight-knit one. It is common to hear an attendee say that they’ve volunteered at past events, assisted in coordination, or are a part of UT BASH or another campus-based gaming community.

Nathan Young, a local business owner who runs Gameology on West Central Avenue, hosted Magic: The Gathering tournaments in the Ingam Room throughout the weekend.

For the past 15 years, Young has volunteered at BASHCon, Gen Con and other gaming conventions in the Midwest.

Young explained he brings snacks for his volunteers and that BASHCon volunteers are treated to a party at the culmination of the weekend.

“I’ve been to a number of events, and I plan to go to more,” Young said.

He mentioned conventions in Akron, Ohio and Fort Wayne, Ind. where he’d like to participate as a vendor.

Young also takes credit for creating Eaten Alive, which he claims friend Steve Stallkamp invented, but was uncertain if he wanted to suggest the idea to event coordinator Trent Novak. Lucky for everyone,

Stallkamp’s idea has been a huge hit.

Taking role playing to a whole new level

Eaten Alive isn’t the only event where players have to do more than sit in a chair and roll a die. Dagorhir, a fullcontact scuffle between contestants wielding foam coated weapons, carried on in various spots throughout the convention.

Though different scenarios are dictated as the purpose for the battles, the goal is ubiquitous: eliminate all members of the other team. This is done through a series of carefully executed body shots by an opponent’s foam ax, sword, spear or projectile.

“Sometimes we let players ‘resurrect’ – they can return to the game after they’ve been ‘killed.’ It makes it more balanced and more fun,” said UT alum Crystal “Dakin” Bennett.

While battling, competitors use pseudonyms, called “Dagnames,” to address each other, and more or less stay in character throughout the battles.

This means some players arrive and participate dressed in

medieval and fantasy-themed clothing. Others however, simply wore shorts and t-shirts.

“This isn’t role playing, our characters are the same as us,” said a player who wished to be identified by her Dagohir name Viveca.

Like BASH, UT also has a Dagorhir club, where enthusiasts practice weekly at the Health Education Center on campus.

“We use events like BASHCon to recruit people. Maybe they walk by and see what’s going on, and think that they might be interested,” said Austin “Goggles” Barth, a junior double majoring in computer science and engineering technology. He is also the treasurer of the UT Dagorhir Club.

Wisdom comes with age As the vendors begin to pack their unique supplies onto carts and contestants file out, one aficionado remains in the ballroom.

Dressed in a black suit and a cardboard party hat, Matt Purdue waxes on the past, present and future of BASHCon.

B3

Purdue, known as “Jailbait” to his gaming friends, has been a member of UT BASH for eight years. He earned his nickname from his early years at UT BASH, which he first started attending when he was 8 years old. He continues to attend events despite leaving UT for Stautzenberger Community College in Maumee.

“At BASHCon, you find like-minded people. These people want to play card games, video games, other games – whatever you like to do, you can find somebody here who likes to do it,” Purdue said.

For Purdue, the standout event of the weekend was on Friday night. When much of the campus lost their electricity around 11 p.m., BASHCon was still going strong.

“The lights went off.

Within a few seconds, everybody all at once took out their cell phones, pointed their screens at their games, and went on playing. No panic whatsoever – true gamers.”

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Section

B

www.IndependentCollegian.com

Arts and Life Monday, February 21, 2011

Game Game on! on!

Page

4

DC Guastella – Editor

The show must go on Filming scenes from ‘West Bancroft’ at the Memorial Fieldhouse

UT hosts weekend-long gaming convention in Student Union

There are two basic ways we film that’s nearby, a pubto film a movie or television lic area that the characters show: using sets, which are are likely to see one another built in studios to look ex- in, but without large crowds actly how the director or of people on a Saturday?”

“Why, the Memorial Field producer wants it to look, and filming on location, House, of course.”

That said, we shifted gears which requires crews and and headed to actors to go to a the second floor real-world place of the Field to film and move House near the to another realelevator and cenworld place to tral staircase. film a scene in a As most film different area. students can “West Bancroft probably explain, Side Story” is the location a filmed on locascene is shot in tion, which presadds specific dyents a number of namics to the issues to the pro- By Feliza Casano filming.

The duction crew Copy Chief Field House gave when we have limited time with an actor to us an opportunity to film the scene in two places at once. film.

Since the scene started We planned to film one particular scene in the Stu- with Marky wanting to fight dent Union Building Satur- with the Quads for fun, we day that leads up to a musi- set the Ottawas on the seccal number. In the scene, ond floor of the Field House Marky (Gage Howell) picks overseeing the lower floor, a fight with Greg (Nick where the Quads could Bellmyer), making Greg so walk.

The filming then took an angry he “want[s] to burst interesting turn because of into song.”

All lame musical jokes the wide range of camera aside, the production crew angles available. Since we – consisting of producer Ca- shoot on location – and rina Cornieles, cameraman many of the locations are Larry Williams and myself – smaller spaces, such as inhad a few issues to deal with side dorm rooms – the placwhen we headed to the es we can safely stow a camSouth Lounge to set up the era, boom mic and crew members are not exactly filming.

Foremost of the issues: numerous.

Inside the Field House, during this past weekend, from Feb. 18 to 20, UT host- though, there were many ed an annual event called camera angles to choose BASHCon, a gaming conven- from: first-floor angles to tion hosted by the student follow Greg and the other group dedicated to gaming Quad actors, second-floor angles for Marky and the of all kinds, BASH. Ordinarily, an organized other Ottawa actors and event would be no cause for even angles on the staircase problems, except that there during a part in which Greg’s were too many people walk- girlfriend, Jaleeah (Sarah ing around dressed like pi- Fatemi) confronts Marky.

Working around the larger rates for Carina’s taste, and we had to scout another lo- movements of the actors cation at noon – which was tricky, since we work meant we had only an hour with only one camera. Howand a half to shoot before ell had to move from one Bellmyer had to leave. end of the Field House Our conversation very well may have gone like this: — Fieldhouse, Page B3 “Come on, guys. Where can

File Photo by Nick Kneer

‘WBSS’ Director Scott Corsi and Producer Carina Cornieles.

Kevin Sohnly/ IC

Conventioneers compete in a Magic: The Gathering tournament in the Ingham Room at UT’s Student Union Building during BASHCon’s 26th annual gaming convention.

By David Guastella Arts & Life Editor

Football fans have the Super Bowl, music fans have the Grammy Awards and fans of role playing games, competitive collectable card games, and other subcultural pastimes have conventions. The biggest convention of the gaming variety is Gen Con Indy, held annually in Indianapolis. Arguably one of the biggest in the region is BASHCon. BASHCon XXVI has called Toledo home since its inception 26 years ago. From Friday evening until Sunday night, the convention took over several rooms in the Student Union Building. During this time, cadres of characters clad in costumes and sporting event lanyards filled the halls and eateries of the Union.

The event’s name is derived from the student group UT BASH which does the planning and staffing of the annual

event . The name is an acronym for “Benevolent Adventurers’ Strategic Headquarters.”

UT BASH hosts games throughout the year including chess and euchre as well as cult favorites like Magic: The Gathering. The club’s logo sports the phrase “Alia iacta est,” Latin for “the die has been cast,” famously uttered

by Julius Caesar before he lead his army across the Rubicon River.

Inside the rooms, attendees participated in organized gaming events, watched anime features and played arcade games. Vendors plied wares ranging from anime based board games to hand crafted swords.

“BASHCon isn’t as big as Gen Con, but it is nowhere near as expensive for the vendors,” explained Sword Vendor John Bowen. “I’ve been coming here for twenty years; this year, I had a 10 percent increase in sales.”

Bowen operates BowenDragon1, a nationally recognized website that deals gaming books and pocket games, in addition to swords. He’s a 37-year veteran of the business and drove 260 miles from his Baldwin, Mich. home to appear at the convention.

Many vendors like Bowen make the convention rounds annually. Bowen visits about 50 conventions a year, and plans to continue returning to BASHCon for the foreseeable future.

This year’s convention saw an increase in patrons – up nearly 25 percent from last year’s attendance of around 900. Unlike larger conventions like Gen Con, BASHCon is organized and staffed by volunteers, many of whom are students.

“It is really a lot of fun; you’re running around different tables, playing a bunch of different games – this event always brings a lot of people,” said Qusai Al Shidi, assistant

coordinator for BASHCon XXVI and a junior majoring in physics.

Al Shidi also serves as president of UT BASH. He mentioned two special tournaments added to BASHCon this year that have been popular with convention attendees: Eaten Alive and Pathfinder.

Pathfinder is a normal “table top” Role Playing Game.

Eaten Alive, in contrast, is a live-action zombie-themed battle employing the use of Nerf weapons by participants.

Gamers of a feather flock together On Sunday evening, as the fanfare was winding down, many dedicated players remained in the top floor of the Union.

Phillip Teare, a freshman majoring in engineering, and —Convention, Page B3

White House Motown President to pay tribute to record label

By Brian McCollum

Detroit Free Press (MCT)

DETROIT _ Detroit is back on the White House agenda. And this time it’s got a backbeat.

Motown Records will be in the spotlight Thursday as President Obama and first lady Michelle Obama welcome Berry Gordy Jr., Smokey Robinson and more than 120 students for a tribute to the record label that bears the city’s nickname.

An East Room concert that evening will feature Robinson, Sheryl Crow, John Legend, Jamie Foxx and several other musicians playing Motown classics for the first couple and the

student group, including 10 metro Detroit high schoolers handpicked by the Motown Historical Museum.

The students will also participate in an afternoon workshop hosted by Michelle Obama, to include a question-and-answer session with Gordy and Robinson. Bob Santelli, executive director of the Grammy Museum, will speak about the social and cultural influence of Motown and Detroit music.

Produced by the Grammy Museum in Los Angeles and timed to Black History Month, the Motown tribute is the latest in a series of music events hosted by the Obama White House. The concert will be taped for — Motown, Page B3