Full Issue (4-18-18)

99th year • Issue 28

Wednesday, April 18, 2018

THE INDEPENDENT

Big Event continues service / 5 »

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Serving the University of Toledo community since 1919

INSIDE

conflict

leadership

Students question Israeli apartheid

By Bryce Buyakie News Editor

Festival celebrates diversity in Toledo Community / 5 »

Clothesline project raises sexual assault awareness

“ “ “

News / 4 »

“I’ve learned that I don’t need a man in my life to be happy. My son is a vibrant, happy, healthy twoyear-old, and I’m a year from...”

samantha gerlach ‘I am a rich man’ opinion / 3 »

Celebrating the golden pride of Africa community / 6 »

“I don’t need my hand to be held, but as a student, I would like to be reassured that the university has my back if I need help.”

vickie dugat Letter to the Editor opinion / 3 »

Is Toledo prepared for cyberattacks?

News / 4 »

“The rustic, and even satanic, tones radiating from the center-stage harshly conflicted...”

evan sennett Thoughtful but unbalanced opinion / 3 »

Nearly 1,000 Palestinians were injured Friday as the protestors entered their third week along the Gaza-Israel border. Since the protest started on March 30, Israeli forces have killed 34 Palestinians.

Josh Ruebner, a political analyst and author, discussed the state of IsraeliPalestinian poli-tics and the history of the nations in light of these protests as the keynote lecturer for Students for Justice in Palestine’s Israeli Apartheid Week.

SJP, a student organization that advocates for Palestinian human rights, was one of many college organizations across the country that held the internationally recognized Apartheid Week to bring awareness to Israel’s discriminatory policies, said Liat Ben-Moshe, faculty adviser for SJP. The word “apartheid” is used to draw attention to these policies, she said.

“It was a tactic used to counter South Africa’s discriminatory policies back in the day,” Ben-Moshe said.

“This is not something Toledo related, but something internationally related.”

Ruebner argued that “apartheid” is more than just a tactic – it’s the reality Palestinians face in Israel.

Even though Palestinians are enfranchised, they have the third largest political party and had judicial representation in recent years, there are 55 laws in Israel that discriminate against Palestinians including lingually segregated school systems –

bryce buyakie/ IC

Toledo City Councilor at-large member Sandy Spang, College Democrats President Sydney Jones, Lucas County Auditor Anita Lopez and former Toledo Mayor Paula Hicks-Hudson (left to right) discussed their roles as female leaders in politics at the Political Science Students Association Panel April 11.

bryce buyakie / IC

Josh Ruebner, political analyst and author, asks the audience April 13 to support the U.S. Campaign for Palestinian Rights.

Hebrew and Arabic – that are not equally funded, he said.

He also cited Israel’s continued demolition of villages that drive Palestinians out of their homes and replace them with Israeli residents and housing on the West Bank, such as the village of Susiya.

“The Façade of Israeli democracy is crumbling,” Ruebner said, using the recent protests in Gaza and the increase in Jewish settlements in occupied territory as evidence.

Not everyone shared Ruebner’s arguments though, with one audience member saying he ignored the shared histories of Israel’s neighboring countries – Egypt, Jordan and Lebanon.

“Apartheid is really a unique event to South Africa,” said Rachel Pointer, a third-year communication major, in an interview prior to the event. “Israel doesn’t have any of the same laws, and Arab citizens are treated equally.”

Pointer said Palestinians can join the Anti-Defamation

League and have their rights guar-anteed in Israel’s Declaration of Independence.

SJP promoted the event on campus with signs and flyers posted around the Student Un-ion and on social media.

Several individuals including Pointer commented on SJP’s Facebook post promoting Israeli Apartheid Week, saying the event coincided with Holocaust Remembrance Day. “I want to believe it was unintentional, but IAW was scheduled in such a way that it also coincides with our Day of Remembrance for the Shoah,” Netaniel Chernyk wrote on Facebook.

A number of comments were deleted and some Facebook users like Pointer were blocked from the organizations social media page, Pointer said.

In response to the complaints SJP received about the event, they posted a statement on March 30 stating the purpose of the event and the unintentional timing of the event.

See Conflict / 4»

Female leaders shaping Toledo’s politics

By Haris Ahmad Staff Reporter

Toledo’s female leaders in politics joined the Political Science Students Association for its Women in Politics Panel Discussion April 11.

Among the panelists were former Toledo Mayor Paula Hicks-Hudson, Lucas County Auditor Anita Lopez, Toledo City Councilor at-large member Sandy Spang and Sydney Jones, fourth-year political science major, president of College Democrats and vice president of PSSA. Moderated by PSSA Head of Public Relations, Kayla Williams, the panelists started off the event discussing their inspiration behind pursuing a career in politics.

“If you don’t get involved, someone is going to make decisions for you, and you will ultimately have to live with those decisions,” Lopez said. “Right from the beginning, I wanted to be someone who could make decisions, rather than hoping someone would make good decisions for me.”

Spang highlighted how politics was not her first career choice, and how true passion can come later in life.

“I think people reinvent themselves many times in life, and I think women especially reinvent themselves many times,” Spang said.

“Although I can say I was very involved in the community and was interested in politics, I was actually an art major in college.”

Spang relayed the story of her and her husband managing a strip of properties in the Beverly neighborhood in Toledo.

The success of her work led to her career in local government.

“I bought a building right at the beginning of the recession, and now, that is a vibrant little strip in the Beverly neighborhood,” Spang said. “I am a problem-solver at heart, but the part I really like is the ability to connect people and make a difference.”

The panelists also discussed the advice they would have given to themselves at the start of their respective careers.

“My advice is to be braver and instead of sitting in the back of the room, sit in the front,” said Hicks-Hudson.

“Be fearless, be relentless, but also be respectful,” Lopez said. “It’s not going to be as easy as it sounds. It’s hard to push change.”

All panelists emphasized the need for hard work to make it in politics, but Spang also pointed out the importance of rest.

“I had this sense that I always had to be in motion,” Spang said. “I wish I had been willing to let myself

take a gap.”

Spang also stressed the importance of maintaining a core set of networks as one’s career progresses.

“If you lose touch with people as time goes by, you will sometimes regret it,” Spang said. “As you grow and your sphere of influence increases, you need more people.”

Jones wishes she could tell her freshman self to “unapologetically” be herself.

“I feel like a lot of times as women, especially as a black woman, I have felt the need to dial myself back and keep some of my dreams to myself,” Jones said. “Now I’m at a place where I’ll speak up and stand up for myself.”

The discussion then turned to what each panelist was proud of in their respective careers.

Lopez was pleased with her continued efforts to “restore government faith in the community.”

Hicks-Hudson mentioned her work towards the downtown Toledo renaissance of recent years and the handling of the 2014 water crisis as highlights of her time as mayor.

The floor was then opened to questions, where both Lopez and Jones shared their aspirations to work in federal government.

See Leadership / 4 »

Riding horses to end human trafficking

By Gabrielle Huff Staff Reporter

UT’s equestrian team held Horses for Humanity last Wednesday, donating all proceeds to the Lucas County Human Trafficking Coalition.

The team brought four horses to campus and set up an area for students to ride them around the grassy field south of the Memorial Field House, next to the Student Union. Each rider was asked to make a donation of at least $3.

“Everyone had smiles on their faces and loved it, for a lot of people, it was their first time riding a horse,” equestrian team Co-President Nicole Archer said.

She added the team loved introducing students to riding horses, as it’s an everyday thing for them.

This was the second time the team held the event. They first came up with the idea last semester when they wanted to raise money for hurricane victims in Texas, said Andrea Woo, equestrian team co-president.

The event raised $402 last semester, and about $330 last Wednesday to support the Human Trafficking Coalition, Woo said.

“Last semester after it went really well, we thought why not raise money for different causes every semester,” Woo said. “We decided to raise money for victims of human

trafficking because it is a huge issue in Toledo.”

Archer also said that the International Justice Mission Chapter on campus was instrumental in linking the team with the Coalition. The team was also happy they could raise money for the cause during April, Sexual Assault Awareness Month, she said.

Founded in 2009, the Lucas County Human Trafficking Coalition’s mission is to, “Unite the community to combat human trafficking,” according to their website.

Sandy Sieben, co-chair of the Coalition, is also a visiting assistant professor of social work at UT. “We collaborate with a lot of community partners, so we are always appreciative and welcoming to it,” Sieben said. “It was a nice surprise from the team.”

Broken down into five different subcommittees, including education, programs and services, events and Marketing, grants and development, the Coalition does a large range of different things to combat human trafficking and educate the public.

Services they provide include training local EMTs, frontline hospital workers, law enforcement and educators on human trafficking detection and protocol, Sieben said.

They also provide grants for victims

Meagan O’Hara/ IC

UT equestrian team member leads a horse outside Field House during Horses for Humanity in an effort to raise funds for the Lucas County Human Trafficking Coalition April 11.

and those supporting victims.

The Coalition hosts monthly meetings at the Kent Branch Library on the third Wednesday of the month from 9:15-11:00 a.m., which are open to the public.

Both team co-presidents said they plan to continue the event each semester, picking a new cause to support each time. They are not yet sure what they will be fundraising for

next semester.

Archer also said getting approval to do the event was much easier than she expected and, “The university was actually very supportive and thought it was a good idea so we really appreciated them.”

For anyone who missed out on the event, there will be another chance to ride horses on campus next fall, supporting another worthy cause.

2

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Wednesday, April 18, 2018 | The Independent Collegian |

OPINION Send letters to the editor to Editor@independentcollegian.com

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Editorials appearing on this page represent the consensus view of the editorial staff. Columns and letters to the editor reflect the opinions of their authors, not those of The Independent Collegian.

COMMENTARY

‘I am a rich man’

SAMANTHA GERLACH

ASSOCIATE COMMUNITY EDITOR

Every girl wants her “white picket fence.”

You know, the fairy-tale life that’s portrayed in movies, the one where the guy falls in love with all the girl’s awkward quirks, and they live happily ever after with their two perfect kids and beautiful ranch home with the white picket fence.

Maybe I just described what I was taught to believe I should have.

Maybe it is what I want, but I’m tired of people telling me that it’s “bound to come along soon enough.”

Because what if it doesn’t?

Does it make me a bad person because I had a child out of wedlock and am continuing to raise him as a single mom?

You see, I was born and raised in the Catholic church, where it’s considered a sin to have sex before marriage and a sin to have a child out of wedlock.

Oops.

Obviously, it’s not like I planned it. I met my son’s dad here at UT in 2013, and two years later, I became a mom.

The day my son, Vinny, was born was the best day of my life.

Vinny’s dad and I didn’t work out, so Vinny and I were forced to move in with my mom.

It was weird at first. Being a single mom was never something I wanted or something I saw for myself.

I was taught I was going to hell if I wanted to be a single mom, so I wanted my white picket fence.

I soon became resentful of the comments. Everyone seemed to have so much sympathy for me.

“It has to be hard being a single mom living with your own mom,” some would say.

“Oh, Sam, I’m so sorry you guys broke up,” others

would say.

The best comment was from my brother: “It just looks kind of sad that he left, and you had to move back in with mom with your kid, you know?”

No, I don’t know. Why does it look kind of sad?

Why aren’t my friends and family happy that I’m a single mom, free to raise Vinny however I want? What if I want to be a single mom now?

I wonder if it’s because it’s not the norm that I grew up with.

I don’t believe it should be something that I should be made to feel abnormal for, though.

I love being dependent on myself, and moving back in with my mom has some awesome advantages.

As a devoted grandmother, she’s willing to watch my son whenever she’s available.

That alone has allowed me to get back to school, work and even have occasional time with my friends.

My mother is a very strong woman as well. We lost my dad 10 years ago, but instead of turning toward new love, she accepted being a widow and relied on her faith in God to bring her through the turmoil.

Now, she helps other widows and those suffering from grief, setting a good example for me, as watching her affirms that I can, in fact, be a mom and a dad to Vinny.

I’ve learned that I don’t need a man in my life to be happy. My son is a vibrant, happy, healthy two-year old, and I’m a year away from graduating. Living with my mom allows me to save money, too, so I’ll be better prepared when we finally do get back out on our feet.

Most importantly, I’ve learned to trust myself.

I’m doing everything my own way, at my own pace, for both Vinny and I, and I’m proud of that. I could have crumbled. I could have sunk without my mom’s help, but I didn’t. I fought back, and I continued to climb.

So, for the next person that tells me I need to find a rich man to marry, I’m just going to quote singer Cher when she said in a 1996 interview that her mother told her the same thing.

“Mom, I am a rich man,” Cher said.

Samantha Gerlach is a third-year student majoring in media communication.

COMMENTARY

It’s OK to be a work in progress

ALEXIS NIESZCZUR IC COLUMNIST

The seamless process: shadow colleges, pick a major, have your family celebrate your achievements at your high school graduation party, enter college, ace your classes, land that dream job and do it for 40-plus years. Easier said than done, right?

According to a December 2017 report, the U.S. Department of Education found that at least one-third of college students change their majors within three years of college, and 10 percent of students change their major at least twice.

That means that, out of a high school graduating class of 300 students, 100 of them will not complete the major they originally started in.

With graduation less than a month away, I’d imagine that the future seems ominous for some of you.

You just put in three, four, maybe five-plus years of hard work to earn that diploma.

Maybe some of you have a job lined up, while some of you have no idea what

you’ll do after May 5.

What if I get into my job and hate it?

What if I’m still in school and starting to question my major? Is it too late to turn back? Did I just waste all this time and money?

I will be the first person to tell you that it’s OK not to know what you want to do when you grow up.

Perhaps you’ve been groomed to be the next family lawyer or accountant, or maybe you took an unpopular route that your parents tried to discourage you from.

It’s never too late to become what you truly desire to be or to figure out what that might be.

A 2011 study published in the Journal of Vocational Behavior found that people often stay unhappy in a career for one to two years before finally having enough and switching.

Those interviewed named loss of identity, fear of making the wrong choice and being comfortable in their current jobs as reasons for staying despite unhappiness. I beg of you: Don’t be a part of this statistic!

Time is the most valuable resource.

Although it may seem easier to stay in a current major you don’t like or take a job in a field you find that you no longer enjoy, it may be worth the extra cost to go back to school, switch majors or take an even lower-paying job that makes you happy.

A 2017 meta-analysis published in Frontiers in Psychology found a positive link between job satisfaction and life satisfaction, meaning that your unhappiness in your career could affect your relationships, activities, marriages and friendships.

I will be graduating with my bachelor’s degree this May with two years remain-

ing until I achieve my PharmD. Regardless of how straight and narrow my path may seem, I will be the first to admit to you that I do not even know what I want to do with my life. Sure, I want to be a pharmacist, but what kind?

In what practice setting? In what state?

With what patient population?

I keep hoping for that “a-ha!” moment where I discover my passion and feel 100 percent certain in what I want to do. As for right now, I’m still figuring it all out— and that’s OK. So, whether you have three years left of school or are graduating in three weeks, make sure you are doing what makes you happy or keep searching until you find it.

Measure the opportunity cost of time wasted in a career or schooling that you really don’t want or love.

...it may be worth the extra cost to go back to school, switch majors or take an even lowerpaying job that makes you happy.

Take the jump: go back to school, switch your major or take some extra time in searching for that coveted first job.

Make sure that at the end of the day, you are really happy with your choices and you are living the life that you (not anyone else!) want for yourself. It’s OK to be a work in progress.

Alexis Nieszczur is a fourth-year student in the PharmD program.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Counseling Center concerns I am writing to express my concern that the mental health resources on the main campus of the University of Toledo are either poorly promoted or seriously missing the mark when it comes to the mental health of students. Too many times have I heard, “I don’t know where the Counseling Center is,” or “I’ve had a horrible experience with the mental health services on campus too!”

Just because it’s not you today, it may be you one day!

Our mental health and academic success are UT’s business. It affects the institution one way or another, either through school retention rates or longevity and success of the university.

As a full-time Ph.D. student with a graduate assistantship, multiple research projects, bills out of the wazoo, a committed relationship and family living over 1,000 miles away, stress has become my new normal, similar to many of the students here

walking these very halls.

I don’t need my hand to be held, but as a student I would like to be reassured that the university has my back if I need help—NOT help in six weeks or three months but help NOW. Why deal with a crisis when we can prevent the crisis from happening in the first place? It’s easier to row a boat downstream than it is upstream.

For new students who do not come in as freshmen, the Counseling Center is almost non-existent. I didn’t learn of the center until one month ago, and I still don’t know how to get there. As a growing institution, this needs to change, and we students are here to help make it possible.

We cannot afford to wait any longer! According to the National College Health Assessment, 1.5 percent of students attempted suicide in 2017; this is 1.5 percent too many.

—Vickie Dugat, MPH; Ph.D. student in health education

REVIEW

Thoughtful but unbalanced—reviewing ‘The Tempest’

EVAN SENNETT IC COLUMNIST

The Department of Theatre and Film has just wrapped its latest production of Shakespeare’s swan song play, “The Tempest.” This clever interpretation of the Bard’s final dramatic work was directed by department chairman Ed Lingan, who borrowed heavily from theater of the occult traditions.

The magic of this Renaissance drama was effectively accompanied by Lingan’s transformation of the Center Theatre into a rotating arena stage.

The audience was treated to a

360-degree angle of enchanting spirits, creatures, spells and violent storms as this classic plot unfolded before them.

Often read as a meta-theatrical reflection on Shakespeare’s departure from playwriting, the plot revolves around magician Prospero (Kurt T. Elfering) as he conjures revenge against his usurping brother Antonio (Kevin Upham), who robbed the succorer of his rightful dukedom.

Prospero’s vigilantly crafted revenge is very commonly interpreted as a reflection of Shakespeare’s own craft of storytelling. Like Prospero, his trade involved the manipulation of drama, evoking truth and beauty for his observing audience.

As if to punctuate his oeuvre of theatrical works, Shakespeare made his last play ultimately a story of letting go of one’s past and moving toward a future without legacy.

With Shakespeare placing such a heavy emphasis on reflection, I found Lingan’s decision to place his version of “The Tempest” on a rotat-

ing stage especially inventive.

Not only was Lingan able to visualize the occult with a giant rotating pentagram, he was also able to force his audience to consider the form of their space at every given moment.

With Shakespeare placing such a heavy emphasis on reflection, I found Lingan’s decision to place his version of “The Tempest” on a rotating stage especially inventive.

Due to the nature of the arenastage format, there is no angle a spectator can view without seeing at least part of the audience across from them on the other side.

While Shakespeare’s text preaches

meta-theatrical reflection, the audience was indeed viewing a constant reflection of themselves.

This concept was subtle, clever and effective. Unfortunately, the execution of it was often inconsistent, and many of the design and performance elements of the play did not harmoniously work together.

While the stage design was thoughtful and simple, I found the costumes to be anything but. The rustic, and even satanic, tones radiating from the center-stage harshly conflicted with the glossy and colorful garments worn by the characters.

Everything on stage implied dirt and grit, while everything around the stage shrieked sharp and clean.

After 12 years of living alone on an island, shouldn’t Prospero adorn tattered rags?

This stylistic inconsistency carried into the performances as well. Most notably, Ariel (Kenzie Phillips) suffered the worst of this tonal flaw.

As Prospero’s angsty servant, this character often works well demonstrating subtle contempt for his

master. In Lingan’s production, Ariel came across as bubbly and mischievous—more of a Puck/Robin Goodfellow à la “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” than an Ariel.

Ariel’s benign but pointless presence as a mischief was annoying and exaggerated. Meanwhile, rich characters like Caliban (Faith Murphy) were completely understated—even upstaged by the less-interesting clown characters Stephano and Trinculo.

At times, Stephano (David Wanhainen), who is supposed to be intoxicated throughout the entire play, over-performed so much that I believe I saw him accidentally damage a part of the stage with his boot!

It often seemed more like he was drunk with cocaine than liquor.

These inconsistencies were sloppy, but could definitely be overlooked thanks to Lingan’s otherwise clever take on the classic play.

This viewer left the Center Theatre feeling engaged, entertained and anxious for next season’s treasures.

Evan Sennett is a fourth-year student double majoring in film and English literature.

4

| The Independent Collegian | Wednesday, April 18, 2018

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ACTIVISM

FOR RENT

Clothesline Project raises sexual assault awarenwess

By Olivia Rodriguez Staff Reporter

The YWCA and the Center for Student Advocacy and Wellness hosted this year’s Clothesline project, making it the first time the YWCA center hosted the over 10-year-old project.

This project showcases shirts designed by victims of sexual abuse or domestic violence and their family members in Centennial Mall to bring awareness to sexual assault.

The shirts conveyed emotions, personal stories and remembrance for other people with sayings like “I trusted you,” and, “You will not break me.”

The YWCA created the project for victims of sexual assault and domestic abuse, but family and

friends were encouraged to participate and show their support, said Megan Stewart, programming director at the Center for Student Advocacy and Wellness.

“One in three women and one in eight men will be sexually assaulted in their lifetime and unfortunately, most of them happen on a college campus,” Stewart said. “New surroundings, new living space and new relationships with people you do not know as well, things happen and we want people to know we are there to support them.”

The idea came from a time when women were mostly caretakers of the home and hung up the laundry, they would talk about the problems they were

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having in their lives, said Keri Black, program manager with the YWCA Hope Center.

A few days before hosting the showing of the shirts, people gathered to make the shirts and counselors are present if they need emotional support.

They also gave away water bottles, stress balls and shirts to bring awareness to the center so more people know they are there and that there is someone on campus that can help.

No one should feel alone because they are not, Stewart said.

Hanna Gerlica, a second-year business major said, “I thought it was amazing to see the innovative ways people come up with to get a point across to students.”

“Distinguished Lecture Series”

SECURITY

Is Toledo prepared for cyber threats?

By Ben Morse

Associate News Editor

The city of Atlanta fell victim to a ransomware attack last month after hackers unleashed a program known as SamSam, compromising the area’s technological infrastructure and demanding $51,000 in bitcoin.

And according to Charles Bethea, a New Yorker staff writer, “The hack has, among its many consequences…made courts unable to validate warrants; created parking-system problems and, perhaps most consequentially, initiated the loss—maybe permanent—of digital city files.”

The vulnerability of Atlanta’s cybersecurity prompted local Toledo city officials and institutions to reevaluate their own technological protection efforts.

Atlanta’s attack “really amazed me,” said David Scherting, Toledo’s director of Information Communication Technology, before explaining a chart detailing the city’s IT Security.

In order to prevent something like this, “we do several things,” he added, referencing the chart’s branches, ranging from preventative

measures to data backups.

But, preparedness doesn’t always coincide with prevention.

Sherting said major companies have been hit and, “they spend millions on trying to prevent cyberattacks.”

Acknowledging the office’s budget of $250,000, Sherting added they’re “prepared and ready to find [security threats],” but, can’t guarantee there won’t be a cyberattack.

“You never know what the next thing is going to be.”

With news of another city’s technology breach, came a subsequent aura of self-protection.

Since the attack in Atlanta, there’s been a “heightened sense of security” in Toledo’s IT office. And eventually, Sherting said, there will be a full time, around-the-clock, cyber security monitor.

While the attack in Atlanta was aimed at an entire city, it’s not uncommon for hackers to target specific institutions.

“Organizations including hospitals [and] schools…have been popular targets,” wrote Weiqing Sun, UT’s associate professor of Computer Science and Engineering.

And like Sherting, who acknowledged every system’s vulnerability, Sun added no organization is completely immune from a cyberattack, and, “therefore, UT is also at risk.”

But, the IT department is “working around the clock to ensure the security of the campus network and university computing infrastructure.”

To “prevent and thwart the potential ransomware attack,” the IT department uses regular security patching and updating, proactive vulnerability scanning, effective network security defenses and penetration testing.

UT uses frequent backup service[s] to ensure that critical data can be readily recovered in case of a ransomware attack.

Because of Atlanta’s “slow recovery,” Sun called the effectiveness of Atlanta’s backup measures into question.

“The situation would have been much better if the organization had taken sufficient efforts in securing and backing up the systems on a regular basis,” wrote Sun.

GIVING BACK

Big Event continues service tradition

By Christopher McCormick Staff Reporter

Over 1,000 UT students gathered on more than 50 job sites around Toledo on Saturday for the nation’s largest, student-run, annual service project, the Big Event.

Students showed their appreciation for their surrounding community by performing services for local businesses and residents.

Gabrielle Latrielle, director for The Big Event and thirdyear recreational therapy major, stressed the importance of community service.

“Our main purpose is one big

thanks back to the community for everything they’ve done for us as students and growing professionals,” Latrielle said.

The Big Event started in 1982 at Texas A&M University as a way to give back to the community and has since spread to over 11 college campuses nationwide. This is UT’s ninth year participating in the event.

Things were kicked off with musical performances and a speech from Toledo Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz.

The event united UT’s student organizations including Greek

life, religious groups and multicultural organizations, providing them with an opportunity to work side by side.

An important goal of Big Event is to forge a relationship between students and their community.

Alayne Herevia, co-director of programs for Big Event and fourth-year exercise science major said service is an essenConflict tial ingredient from page 1 See Service / 5 »

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Laurie Garduque, director of Justice Refrom at the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, spoke Monday at the Jesup Scott Honors College Distinguished Lecture Series.

A panel discussion followed the lecture and featured city officials.

Leadership from page 1

Spang talked about her current goal of running for local office.

“I am seeking the position of County Commissioner because I’ve come to understand what an impact that office can have and some of the things I’ve become really passionately interested in,” Spang said.

All four panelists agreed that women still face many obstacles in the political world, and each shared their stories of how gender barriers affected their professional goals.

“I think the biggest barrier I faced when I became mayor was the thought that I wouldn’t be able to handle the job and that men would have to come in and be the ones that would do the job,” Hicks-Hudson said.

When she was pregnant, men questioned Lopez’s ability to complete a political campaign and the job.

“I had to explain to them that not only am I capable physically and mentally of running a campaign, but it should be irrelevant whether or not I am pregnant,” Lopez said. “It is my decision, not yours. I want people to know that I am proud to be an intelligent, powerful and fearless female.”

Jones described the misogyny

“As many of you are aware, Israeli Apartheid Week 2018 has been scheduled for the week of April 9th,” the statement said. “It has been brought to our attention that Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day) also occurs on this week. We had no intention to plan events to occur at the same time. We designated Israeli Apartheid Week to be on the week of the 9th due to this being the general time frame of Israeli Apartheid Week in the United States as well as to coordinate with the schedule of our speaker. We would not intentionally plan an event around a Jewish holiday as to not exclude participation.”

Ben-Moshe didn’t know the specifics of the social media comments, but said the SJP Executive Board contacted her and asked her if they made any mistakes in planning the week-long event.

In response to the event’s timing, UT’s Jewish organization Hillel released a statement.

“During the week of April 9, Jewish communities around the world observed Yom HaShoah – Holocaust Remembrance Day, in commemoration of the six million Jews and millions of others killed by the Nazi’s,” the statement said. “The scheduling of Israel Apartheid Week during this time showed disrespect to the victims of the Holocaust and did not keep with the school’s principals of respectful dialogue.”

she faced while volunteering in a national campaign recently.

“When you’re spending 12-15 hours seven days per week with the same group of people, the lines of professionalism get blurred,” Jones said. “I found that misogyny crosses all political parties. There were people who think you don’t really deserve to be there and who think you only got that position because I’m feminine and have a certain personality.”

Spang touched on external barriers to her career, but also highlighted internal barriers that women especially face.

“You may have some internal messages that create barriers that you’re going to need to overcome,” Spang said.

The American Association of University Women and Women of Toledo sponsored the event, and ended the event with each emphasizing how women can succeed in Politics.

“I hope that they know that they can run for office, that great things come out of the University of Toledo and that it’s important for women to be supportive of those who run for office and that opportunities exist if you’re dedicated and willing to work hard,” Lopez said.

As an Israeli Jew who had family members die in the Holocaust, Ben-Moshe had no qualms with the event’s timing because it didn’t coincide with the United States’ Holocaust Remembrance Day in January.

“I don’t see why we need to acknowledge all the countries’ different days, unless it pertains to an individual, which I completely understand,” she said.

Many SJP Facebook posts refer to Zionism rather than the state of Israel, which Pointer said was “troubling.” “[Zionism] is wanting to have a place where we can be safe and practice, because there isn’t really any place in the world that is safe,” she said.

Pointer said this criticism is a slippery slope.

“It’s when you demonize Israel and Zionism at the same time,” Pointer said.

“One of the big things is that antiSemitism in leftist spaces such as with pro-Palestine spaces is really subtle and insidious.”

Ben-Moshe said there are some problems with anti-Zionist rhetoric, but she doesn’t believe anti-Semitism and antiZionism are connected.

Even though there is tension surrounding the subject of Israel and Palestine, Ben-Moshe was glad individuals who disagreed with the event attended the lecture.

“It is not necessary to agree on everything, but to learn,” she said. “I don’t think [discussions] happen on social media in the same kind of way like when someone comes to an event with an open mind.”

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CALENDAR

Capitalism Trumps Socialism?

Naturally!

Wednesday, April 18 from 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. in Student Union room 2584 Flag Retirement Ceremony and Collection

Thursday, April 19 from 11:00 a.m. - noon on the Student Union steps, Centennial Mall area BASH Bash Friday, April 20 from 5:00 - 11:45 p.m. in Student Union room 3018 ALM Falafel and Hummus Friday, April 20 from 8:00 p.m. - midnight in the basement of Sig Ep Ballroom Dance Lessons Sunday, April 22 from 4:00 - 6:00 p.m. in the Student Union Ingman Room General Meeting: Snowpile of Toledo

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UNITY

Sister cities celebrate diversity in Toledo

By Samantha Gerlach Associate Community Editor

Cultures from all over the world united at the Seagate Convention Centre to promote ethnicity.

The Toledo Sister Cities Ninth International Festival was held on April 14 from 11 a.m. – 8 p.m.

Program booklets were available upon entry into the festival that detailed Toledo’s 10 sister cities including Spain, China, Hungary, Poland, Japan, Tanzania, Germany, Lebanon, Pakistan and India.

During his welcoming speech to the crowd, James H. Hartung, president of Toledo Sister Cities International, said that 2018 represents the 25th anniversary of the organization.

Sara Clark, interim director of the Center for International Studies and Programs at UT, also spoke to the crowd and said that

UT is home to over 2,000 international students from over 90 different countries.

“The University of Toledo is so pleased to have a continued and growing partnership with Toledo Sister Cities, so thank you, Toledo Sister Cities, for including the university and allowing us be part of your continued growth,” Clark said.

Clark added that UT students taught foreign languages to groups of participants at the festival’s Language Corner.

Olivia McAdams, UT graduate transfer student from the University of Albany, studying Japanese, said that she volunteered at the Language Corner after a flyer advertising the festival peaked her interest.

Vendors sold authentic ethnic foods, crafts, clothing and other goods while groups held performances onstage.

Former Toledo Mayor Mike

Bell was the first emcee to introduce the performances.

“Y’all ready to have some fun?” he asked the audience, to which members replied with cheers and applause.

Julie Alley, 2011 visual communications graduate from Bowling Green State University, said that she and her boyfriend, Paul Seeger, were at the festival with hand-crafted bracelets to promote their ministry in the Philippines.

“Currently, we have 700 bracelet makers we’re keeping out of human trafficking,” Alley said.

Joseph Zielinski was there to represent the Multifaith Counsel of Northwest Ohio, a lay organization of people from a wide variety of diverse religious traditions.

“Our goal is to get people from different faith organizations to talk amongst themselves and find out about each other. One of the biggest things that contributes to a

Monday, April 23 from 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. in Rocket Hall room 1542

SAMANTHA GERLACH/IC

Members of UT’s Center for International Studies and Programs pose for a picture at the Sister Cities International Festival April 14 at the Seagate Convention Centre.

significant amount of strife in the world is not knowing the people that we somehow find ourselves in opposition to,” Zielinski said.

Beth Anne Varney is a volunteer of the Alzheimer’s Association, who said it was the organization’s first year at the event.

“Alzheimer’s and memory related disorders have no

Service from page 2

General Meeting: Vietnamese Student Association Tuesday, April 24 from 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. in Sudent Union room 2591 Weekly Meeting: Impact Tuesday, April 24 from 7:30 - 8:30 p.m. in Student Union room 3020 General Meeting: Student Government Tuesday, April 24 from 8:15 - 11:00 p.m. in Student Union room 2592

Wednesday, April 18, 2018 | The Independent Collegian |

EMILY SCHNIPKE/ IC

Students wait in Savage Arena before heading out into the city for a day of community service April 14.

that makes up a community.

“I think service just drives people,” Herevia said. “I think it’s really nice that these people really want to do the service and really want to go make people happy.”

Travis Brege, the Big Event’s codirector of programs and fourth-year bio-chemistry major, explained service is an important method of establishing and

nationality bias, so it’s an awareness for everyone in all nationality groups,” Varney said.

Crafts and an inflatable bounce house were also available for kids to enjoy.

“We’re here to celebrate diversity. We’re here to celebrate world peace, the acquisition of world peace,” Hartung said.

strengthening bonds between members of a community.

“All these organizations are always compartmentalized to [their] own little roles,” Brege said.

“The thing I like most about Big Event is seeing everyone on campus come together to help the community.”

This is the first time that city government also participated in Big Event and the organizers plan to strengthen their partnership with Toledo.

Latrielle understands the importance of students coming together to help those members of the community that are in most need of assistance.

“We have a couple of residents who have partnered with Big Event since the beginning… so we help them do things they can’t really do on their own and that human to human interaction makes a world of difference,” Latrielle said.

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| The Independent Collegian | Wednesday, April 18, 2018

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BASEBALL

Rockets battle in Detroit

By Kenny Kruse Staff Reporter

UT’s baseball team (12-20, 6-6 MAC) battled through five games in six days. Game two and three against Central Michigan were played on Sunday as a doubleheader at Grand Park near Indianapolis, Indiana, due to inclement weather.

The University of Dayton Flyers (8-22, 2-7 A-10) scored a quartet of runs to start the game, taking a 4-0 lead.

UT responded with a run to cut UD’s lead, 4-1, in the second inning as Chris Meyers, first-year infielder, slugged his first collegiate home run.

Dayton tacked on a run in the third and fifth innings, 6-1, to keep a distant lead.

The Rockets scored a pair of runs later in the inning, trailing 6-3. John Servello, first-year outfielder/right-handed pitcher, hit an RBI-single, scoring Ross Adolph, third-year outfielder.

Toledo pitching held the Flyers scoreless for the remainder of the game. UD collected six hits.

UT came within two runs of Dayton, 6-4, in the seventh inning. Adolph hit a sac-fly as bases were loaded and brought in a run.

The offense came alive in the eighth for the Rockets, as a trio of runs helped UT take the first lead of the game, 7-6. AJ Montoya, fourthyear outfielder/catcher, began the rally with a home run. Meyers scored a wild pitch and Servello singled to center field to score Brad Boss, fourth-year fielder.

Toledo collected 11 hits in the

victory and Austin Calopierto, second-year right-handed pitcher, earned his first win of the season.

Servello’s hitting streak continues to 18 games and on-base streak to 22.

Toledo traveled to the Motor City last Wednesday to take on the Madonna Crusaders (27-11, 18-4 WHAC) in a rare opportunity to play in Comerica Park. UT took control of the game in the second inning as 13 runs, on 20 hits, were scored through the sixth. Meyers had himself a game playing shortstop with diving efforts to keep MU from reaching base.

Joey Prechtel (1-1), second-year right-handed pitcher, dazed the Crusaders in the first four and two-thirds innings before allowing a pair of hits, earning his first win of the season. The rest of the pitching performances picked up where Prechtel left off.

The top half of the Rocket offense went 16-25 with eight RBIs, nine runs scored and a quartet of extrabase hits. Servello and Boss each collected four hits while Adolph and Dalton Bollinger, fourth-year infielder/catcher, tallied three hits.

Montoya blasted a three-run home run over the centerfield wall into the visitor’s bullpen.

The series was originally scheduled to take place in Mount Pleasant, Michigan, but the weather dealt bad luck on Friday the 13th. Despite playing the series opener at Scott Park, CMU played as the home team.

Central Michigan got on the board with a trio of runs in the first two innings, taking a 3-0 lead.

UT responded in the third with a run, to trail 3-1. Michael Ryan, second-year catcher, scored on a bases-loaded groundball during a double play.

The Chippewas tacked on a pair of runs, 5-1, split between the fourth and sixth innings.

Toledo rallied in the ninth with a pair of runs, trailing 5-3. Boss’ right-field double scored Trace Hatfield, first-year infielder, and Servello’s fielder’s choice groundout scored Corey Tipton, fifthyear catcher.

The Rockets’ ninth inning rally wasn’t enough in the 5-3 loss to CMU. UT collected seven hits and an error while the Chippewas collected nine hits.

The Rockets offense and fifth-year right-handed pitcher Sam Shutes, took control of this matchup.

Adolph homered a solo shot in the first inning for the Rockets and then hit a three-run home run the following inning. Adolph has 10 home runs on the season and collected a career-high of five RBIs. Servello hit an RBI-single and Meyers homered in the second, extending the Rockets’ lead, 6-0.

Three more runs came in for Toledo in the third inning, leading 9-0. Gose’s squeeze bunt scored Meyer, the first run and two bases loaded walks followed, scoring a pair of runs.

Another Rockets trio of runs scored, 12-0, all split between the fourth through sixth innings.

Bollinger’s RBI-single in the eighth tacked on another UT run, 13-0.

IC FILE

First-year pitcher Jacob Youngpeter follows through on a pitch April 8.

The Chippewas answered with a run, 13-1, later in the inning, but couldn’t get anything going for the offense on the eight collected hits and four errors.

Toledo collected 19 hits in the 13-1 victory over the Chippewas.

Shutes (7-0) earned the victory for the Rockets as he threw seven shutout innings, striking out seven.

CMU scored a pair of runs in the second inning to take a 2-0 lead in game two of the Sunday doubleheader.

Toledo responded in the following inning with a run to cut the Chippewas lead in half, 2-1.

Boss singled to right field, allowing Gose to score.

The Rockets tacked on another run in the seventh to tie the game, 2-2. Boss singled to advance Meyers to second and

scoring Hatfield.

Central took the lead in the eighth inning with a run, 3-2, and secured another victory over the Rockets to take the series. Both teams collected eight hits apiece.

The midnight blue and gold were scheduled to travel to Rochester, Michigan, today to take on the Oakland Golden Grizzlies at 3 p.m., but the game was canceled.

The team will instead play the Spring Arbor Cougars at Scott Park today at 3:05 p.m.

Eastern Michigan will come to town this weekend to continue MACtion for three games. First pitches against the Eagles are 3 p.m. on Friday, April 20 and 1 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, April 21 and 22. Lawrence Tech (Mich.) comes to T-Town on Tuesday, April 24 for a 3 p.m. game.

SOFTBALL

COMMUNITY

Toledo MAC series cut short

Celebrating the golden pride of Africa

By Adam Jacobs Staff Reporter

The Rockets started their week with what proved to be a tough double-header against Mid-American Conference Rivals Eastern Michigan University.

Eastern Michigan, who came into the doubleheader against the Rockets with a less than desirable record of 6-28, pulled off the upset in the first game. It took an offensive flurry for that upset to take place, as Eastern Michigan put up 10 runs on the Rockets.

The Eagles would lead by as much as 10-3, before the Rockets would make an incredible run.

The Rockets scored six runs in the bottom of the seventh inning, but left the game tying run at the plate as the final out was recorded, giving the game to the Eagles.

In the second game of the double-header, the Rockets would capitalize on an explosive offensive outing, and down the Eagles. The big hitters for the Rockets were first-year Bailey Curry, third-year Megan Choate, and fourth-year Ashley Rausch. Curry and Choate each had a home run, and Rausch went 4-5. The trio combined for six RBIs. As the weekend approached, a familiar MAC foe challenged the Rockets. Northern Illinois traveled to Toledo for what was scheduled to be a three-

game series over two days; however, the third game of the series was canceled. The Rockets and Huskies settled for two games, a double-header on Friday, April 13th.

Third-year Kailey Minarchick, the Rockets leader for wins for pitchers, was the star for Toledo in the double-header. Minarchick pitched both games and received both wins for the Rockets, who won 5-3 and 3-0. These wins gave Minarchick 15 wins on the season.

In the first game, multiple Rockets recorded hits, but the standout was Kylie Norwood, who notched an RBI for the Rockets. Northern Illinois climbed out to an earl 2-0 lead, but the Rockets would rally for the win.

The last game of the week for the Rockets was utter dominance from Minarchick. The Huskies would not record a run, and Minarchick would strike three batters out. Curry aided the offense with a RBI, but offensively the Rockets struggled in the 3-0 win.

With only a few games left in the season, the Rockets sit at 28-14, 12-2 in the MAC. They are in first place in the MAC west division and have shown poise and determination all season to be the MAC champions. For now, though, their journey continues to Kalamazoo, Michigan, where they will have a series against Western Michigan.

Emily Bruns Staff reporter

The African People’s Association hosted African Night April 14th in the Student Union. The theme was “Our Pride is Gold,” and people of different African cultures performed in music performances, a dance showcase and a fashion show.

“Learning about new cultures helps you see the world in a completely different way,” said Jaye Olaniran, vice president of the African People’s Association and nursing major at the University of Toledo.

The association hosts events throughout the year to educate students about African cultures.

With approximately 300 people in attendance Saturday, African Night was its biggest event since 2007.

“I have been involved in the African People’s Association

since my freshman year here at the University of Toledo. Ever since then, I will always make sure to be a part of every big event going on by volunteering to help them with each event,” Olaniran said.

The organization holds general meetings every Monday at 7 p.m. in the Student Union. Its goal is to unite African students and develop culture for nonAfrican students.

“Africa means everything to me. I was born in Lagos, Nigeria and was partially raised there, so everything I do now traces back to my roots. I feel like everyone should be proud of their heritage and try to hold on to them as much as possible no matter where they are in the world,” Olaniran said.