Issue 23 (2-22-17)

Wednesday, February 22, 2017

98th year • Issue 23

Toledo gets jazzy / COMMUNITY 7 » www.IndependentCollegian.com

Serving the University of Toledo community since 1919

INSIDE

DIVERSITY

LECTURE

Seven countries, seven stories

By Benjamin Morse Staff Reporter

UT men blow huge lead in eighth overtime game of season SPORTS / 6 »

SAMS changes the lives of Syrian refugees COMMUNITY / 5 »

“

“We aren’t naïve enough to believe that victims of sexual assault are typically assaulted by strangers.”

EDITORIAL UT cares about students’ safety

OPINION / 3 »

Standing in front a podium with their cultural identities soon to be exposed, students and community members presented personal stories to depict their struggles with cultural differences and present the value of accepting diversity.

The event, entitled “7 Countries, 7 Stories” and organized by a collaboration of student organizations, follows a “March Against Injustice” led by campus members as a response to President Donald Trump’s executive order banning travel to the United States from seven countries for 90 days.

Vice President of Diversity and Inclusion Dr. Willie McKether was key in bringing the event to fruition and began the evening with a statement regarding the pride the faculty and staff have in all of those they serve.

“The University of Toledo is 100 percent behind our stu-

Nour Djema, second-year biology student from Algeria, speaks at the “7 Countries, 7 Stories” event on Feb. 15.

See Culture / 4 »

ADMINISTRATION

University of Toledo Medical College names new CEO

By Bryce Buyakie Associate News Editor

The University of Toledo Medical Center has announced Dan Barbee as the new chief executive officer after serving as interim CEO for nine months.

Barbee, who has worked at UT’s medical center for six years, said he will be responsible for the strategic activities at UTMC and its clinics.

He will also keep the hospital’s goals in

Rockets strike out in Florida

“

RACHEL NEARHOOF / IC

line with those of the university.

“When I came into the interim roll,” Barbee said, “Dr. Gaber and Dr. Cooper said, ‘You know, you run the place like you’re going to be here forever, so it’s not a good time to take your foot off the gas and see what happens.’”

Barbee began serving as interim CEO in June after previous CEO Dave Morlock resigned.

“Dan has been with the hospital a

long period of time and has sort of risen through the ranks,” said Sharon Gaber, UT president, during a previous IC interview. “There is a good level of respect for his work.”

As the new CEO, Barbee said the only thing he is changing is his stationary.

The goals he had for UTMC remain unchanged, and he is still following the five goals Dr. Gaber established when she first

arrived as president.

“She laid out her five overarching goals,” Barbee said.

“Number one was enhance the reputation of the University on a national stage. We try to do that here at UTMC. The reputation of the hospital has been beaten up in the press over the years, but we have had a lot of good things going on, and we want to continue See UTMC / 4 »

SPORTS / 6 »

“Normally, it starts with trivial comments like ‘anyone can bowl.’ Or ‘all that you do is throw a ball at pins; it’s not even hard.’”

SAVANNAH JOSLIN

Bowling IS a sport — trust me OPINION / 3 »

MADDIE TOMCZAK / IC

EDUCATION

Saturday mornings are for science

By Maryam Jawaid Staff Reporter

The best school days growing up were spent watching Bill Nye teach young children more about science. Learning about the effects of our own impact on the Earth is a vital part of every person’s education. Professors at the University of Toledo are continuing these lessons for the Toledo community.

Saturday Morning Science is a program aimed at

“I think everyone needs an exposure to some level of science.”

JOSEPH SCHMIDT Chemistry Professor

educating the Toledo community about various relevant scientific topics. The talks are organized by Joseph Schmidt,

a professor of chemistry, and John J. Bellizi, an associate professor of biochemistry.

“I think everyone needs an exposure to some level of science,” Schmidt said. “We can’t just ignore the way the world works around us.”

The public programs are presented by the UT Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and the College of Natural Sciences and

See Science / 4 »

RACHEL NEARHOOF / IC

Alex Sheen talks about his “because I said I would” campaign.

Journey to become a ‘man of your word’

By Emily Lorton Staff Reporter

After becoming an accidental, viral phenomenon overnight, Alex Sheen turned his instant success into a national movement to change the world one promise at a time.

Sheen shared the story of his journey at the University of Toledo’s Doermann Theater on Feb. 16 to nearly 400 audience members.

As CEO and founder of “because I said I would,” Sheen said he makes and keeps promises to strengthen humanity’s will because he simply doesn’t believe in superheroes.

“It doesn’t matter how much money you make, the color of your skin or what language you speak; we all understand the importance of a promise,” Sheen said.

On Sept. 4, 2012, Sheen was asked to eulogize his father at his funeral. There was one thing that kept coming to his mind.

“My father was a man of his word,” Sheen said. “When he said he was going to be there he showed up. He always kept his promises.”

The day after his father’s funeral, Sheen wrote his first post about the concept of promises and how that connected to his father.

Later that night, he made the Facebook page “because I said I would.”

Sheen said he

wasn’t satisfied with the concept of everyone being sad over his father being gone and not doing anything different. He thought if he could get a few people to make and keep a promise, his father’s legacy would continue on.

“It doesn’t matter how much money you make, the color of your skin or what language you speak; we all understand the importance of a promise.”

ALEX SHEEN CEO of “because I said I would”

“My first goal was to have my father’s memory live on a little bit, be more meaningful, but also to say goodbye in a manner I thought was respectful to him,” Sheen said.

Sheen made a Reddit post that said he would send out five promise cards to anyone in the world.

A promise card is the size of a business card but is completeSee Promise / 4 »

2

| The Independent Collegian | Wednesday, February 22, 2017

CAMPUS DIGEST Facebook.com/ICollegian

www.IndependentCollegian.com

QUESTION OF THE WEEK

What �ictional character do you wish you could meet?

“Mulan, because she “Wolervine. He was so powerful and never gives up.” strong.”

Darrea Ragland

Fourth-year Individualized Degree Program

Jaye Olaniran

Second-year Nursing

The Independent Collegian staff Visit us at Carlson Library, Suite 1057 Write to us at 2801 W. Bancroft St., Mail Stop 530 Toledo, OH 43606 Contact the editor at editor@independentcollegian.com Advertise by emailing sales@independentcollegian.com Phone: 419-530-7788 Fax: 419-530-7770

EDITORIAL Editor-in-Chief Jessica Harker Managing Editor Emily Schnipke News Morgan Kovacs, editor Bryce Buyakie, assoc. editor Sports Sam Williams, editor Jackson Rogers, assoc. editor Community Emily Jackson, editor Areeba Shah, assoc. editor

3

“Tyler Durden. He understands the value of depending on one’s self.”

Opinion Philemon Abayateye, editor Photography Savannah Joslin, director Rachel Nearhoof, assoc. director Website Rachel Nearhoof, webmaster and social media coordinator Carla Marzari, associate Copy desk Kristen Buchler, copy editor Callie Staton, copy editor

Peter Fulshaw First-year

Environmental Engineering

The Independent Collegian is published by the Collegian Media Foundation, a private, not-for-profit corporation. © 2017

BUSINESS Sales Duane Griffith, manager Courteney Buchanan, sales Operations Hana Schnipke, accountant Advertising Joe Heidenescher, director Distribution Jed Shilling, manager COLLEGIAN MEDIA FOUNDATION Adviser Haley Schmucker

REASONS TO LOVE MONDAYS

INDUSTRY NIGHT! FREE jukebox and pool Kitchen after 9 pm open late 7 nights a t h ig N ia iv r T UTMC week!

M o n days 7-9 p m ! pm!

0 1 8 s y a d s r u h T ia iv r T Li ve m us ic: 2/24 Pi ckin g Ke lly @ 10p 2/25 Sl im @ 10p

Join us for Toledo Restau ra nt Week 2/27-3/5 in support of Leaders hip Toledo youth p ro g ra ms

Best Breakfast in town Tue - Sat 7 am - 11 am & Sun 8 am - 1 pm

Showcasing Toledo’s BEST BLOODY MARY BAR on Saturdays & Su ndays

1515 S. BYRNE ROAD, TOLEDO OH 43614

Check out our website for special offers & entertainment www. DocWatsonsToledo.com

JOBS & CLASSIFIEDS

To place a classified ad, call 419-530-7788 or email classifieds@independentcollegian.com. Ads must be received by 5 p.m. Monday. Please read your ad on the first day of publication and call immediately if there are any errors; we accept responsibility only for the first day of publication. All classified ads must be prepaid with a check or credit card.

FOR RENT

SERVICES

WWW.UTRENTALS.NET 2-4 bedroom houses. Central Air, all appliances included, all houses within 3 blocks of campus. Call Shawn 419-290-4098

Math Tutor Available Geometry , Algebra , Trigonometry , Calculus, Business Calculus.

20/hr 30/2hr first session free Email dzapadka@yahoo.com

PUZZLES THEME: AMERICAN WILDLIFE

ACROSS 1. Upright monument 6. Likewise 9. *Eagle's talon 13. *Entrances to groundhogs' burrows 14. Objective male pronoun 15. Curaçao neighbor 16. Islam's Supreme Being 17. A in IPA 18. More silent 19. *Beaver-like rodent 21. *a.k.a Brown bear 23. Popular Thanksgiving tuber 24. SWAT attack 25. Between game and match 28. O. Henry's "The Gift of the ___" 30. Make numb 35. ____sack 37. Drinks through a straw 39. Red Sea peninsula 40. Beyond natural 41. Single-mast boat 43. Soda pop recyclables

44.

Little Boy and Fat Man 46.

Way, way off 47.

"Cogito ____ sum" 48. It's meant to be 50. *Great leaper 52.

Who's from Mars?

53. Not that 55.

Bobby sox dance 57. *Nocturnal mask wearer?

61. "Red sky at night, sailor's ____" 65. Cool & distant 66. Public health approver

68. One who dares 69. Reg. alternative 70. Singer-songwriter Stewart 71. Accustom 72. One of many in an arena 73. "Four score and seven years ____" 74. Norbert, to his momma?

DOWN 1. Pillow that's not for sleeping 2. Cough syrup balsam 3. Corner pieces 4. Prone to communicate secret info 5. Hindu retreat 6. Not this 7. Tin Man's necessity 8. Last letter of Greek alphabet 9. Actress Penelope 10. Figure skating jump 11. Cain's unfortunate brother 12. Extra cautious 15. NaNH2 and H3CONH2, e.g.

20. What hoarders do 22. Human cage part 24. Heists 25. *Striped stinker 26. Boredom 27. Flyer holders 29. *Desert monster 31. Likable

OPINION

The Independent Collegian | Wednesday, February 22, 2017 | 3

Send letters to the editor to Editor@independentcollegian.com

www.IndependentCollegian.com

EDITORIAL BOARD

Jessica Harker Emily Schnipke

Morgan Kovacs Sam Williams

Philemon Abayateye Emily Jackson

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.

EDITORIAL

UT cares about students’ safety

During the Fall 2016 semester, there were three sexual assaults reported at University of Toledo. Earlier this month, within a single weekend, three rapes were reported at Ohio University.

According to the National Sexual Violence Resource Center, one in five women are sexually assaulted while in college.

These sobering statistics have led us at the Independent Collegian to find out what the University of Toledo is doing to ensure student safety on campus and whether or not it is enough.

According to the National Sexual Violence Resource Center, one in five women are sexually assaulted while in college.

We aren’t naïve enough to believe that victims of sexual assault are typically assaulted by strangers. In fact, according to the NSVRC, in 8 out of 10 rape cases, the victim knew the perpetrator.

So what is UT doing to prevent sexual assault amongst students and acquaintances? Perhaps the first step begins in orientation class where new students are educated about what constitutes sexual assault.

UT requires incoming freshmen to complete a sexual assault education course called Haven. Many professors also require their students to attend presentations aimed at preventing sexual assault. While some professors go above and beyond to dedicate two or three full classes to educate students about sexual assault, other professors would rather teach students only about proper study methods.

While these presentations are incredibly informative, they alone are not enough.

All orientation classes should cover sexual assault because it is such a prevalent issue on college campuses, including our own. We understand that sexual assault can be uncomfortable for some people to talk about, but that’s not a good enough excuse to avoid the topic.

Another safety measure at UT are the blue emergency phones located across UT’s campuses. There are 120 of them. By activating one of these phones, the campus police are immediately contacted and aware of the caller’s location.

All orientation classes should cover sexual assault because it is such a prevalent issue on college campuses, including our own.

Even with no words spoken, campus police are supposed to respond to these calls. Rumors abound on campus about whether these blue towers are even functional. Naturally skeptical

as most journalists are, we decided to test the claim by using the phones ourselves.

To our pleasant surprise, our call was immediately answered and we were connected with the authorities.

Students can use these emergency calls not only to report an assault but also to report a suspicious person or circumstance on campus.

Another service available to ensure student safety is the university night watch, which serves as an escort service for anyone walking alone on campus during the evening hours.

By calling 419-5303024, a two-person team equipped with radios allowing them to be in constant contact with dispatchers will escort any student from building-to-building or campus-to-campus.

Though night watch is valuable service, the limited hours of contacting Night Watch are a concern. Night watch is available on Monday through Thursday from 7:30 p.m.-2:30 a.m. and Sunday from 10 p.m.-3 a.m. but only from 8:00 p.m.-12 a.m. Friday and Saturday.

According to NSVRC, sexual assaults are most likely to occur on Friday and Saturday between the hours of midnight and 6:00 a.m.—when UT night watch is off duty.

Also, night watch is a student job. They have to be cleared by campus police before being offered employment. They must also pass a background check.

Though Night Watch is valuable service, the limited hours of contacting Night Watch are a concern.

The NSVRC states that students living in sorority houses and dorms are more likely to experience sexual assault than students living off campus. So what is being done to prevent sexual assault in dorms at UT? A good start to preventing sexual assault is the required card access to enter residence halls. All visitors to the dorms must also register at the information desk. But, as students, we know that this is not often the case. Students don’t check their friends in; some even give them their Rocket card to access the building.

Many dorms combat this lapse in student security by installing security cameras in stairwells. All dorms also have a 24-hour information desk with a panic button, and RAs must complete nighttime rounds. Selfdefense demonstrations are also provided by professional staff for on campus students.

Clearly, UT does care about student safety. They send alerts and emails when sexual assault is reported, campus police are readily available for emergencies and extensive services are provided for victims.

As students, we just want to make sure that UT is doing all that they can to lower the sexual assault on campus statistics. By watching out for each other, we can all fight off danger.

OPINION

Becoming a stronger woman

ALEXIS NIESZCZUR IC COLUMNIST

Life as you know it: Gone.

Vanished. Changed. The girl with every second of her life planned out is now sitting with a blank slate facing her. It is an ominous, vulnerable and terrifying feeling. How can she trust again? How can she pick herself up? Who will be there for her? Who will understand?

These are all the thoughts that have been haunting my mind for the past few months.

Life suddenly changed and stopped me in my tracks. No longer did I have my perfectly planned out life sitting in front of me.

Instead, I was faced with uncertainty, doubt and guilt.

First, it was disbelief. I refused to accept my situation. I convinced myself that it wasn’t real, that it was a phase and that it too would pass. Then it hit me like a brick in the face. The reality of my situation set in.

I was alone for the first time since I was 14. What would my life be like without a significant other? Who even was I without him? How would anyone view me without being attached to him? Who

was I even, really? I was devastated and depressed.

I am the eternal optimist, but I found myself loathing and wallowing in my situation. I tried to avoid help from those who cared. I shut myself out from situations that would involve me giving explanations. In all honesty, it was the darkest time of my life.

Thankfully, in my case, I found acceptance. I know that it is all too easy to get stuck in the rut of disbelief and depression. However, I came out a stronger woman. I picked myself up, brushed myself off and decided that I would choose happiness. I wouldn’t have any regrets, and I wouldn’t cover myself in hatred anymore.

Life is all about living and learning, picking yourself up and making for better days.

I moved on because I had to and because it was what the all-too-long hushed strong woman inside of me was yelling at me to do.

No longer did I have my perfectly planned out life sitting in front of me.

Instead, I was faced with uncertainty, doubt and guilt.

I decided I would no longer let this unfortunate life event determine my mental state.

Through this experience, I found a whole new degree of

self-love that I had never previously experienced.

I saw myself as a strong, independent woman who knew her own worth. I didn’t feel the need for attention or sympathy. I found myself and focused on her for the first time in much too long.

They often say that it takes a difficult situation like mine to truly make you appreciate the support system that has been around you the whole time.

This was true for me. People stepped up when they needed to. My friends and family checked in to make sure I was doing well. I was offered places to stay and was given plenty of comfort, food and girls’ nights. My relationships with those around me grew stronger, and I grew more thankful for those who took the time to care about me.

The unsure road ahead no longer seemed as ominous.

Rather, it looked like a clean slate: It is a time to live, experiment, have fun and fall more in love with myself.

For the past six years, I had only known myself as a package deal with my significant other. I had never given myself the chance to truly get to know me and embrace who I was really meant to be.

Today, however, I am loving who I am. My self-confidence, which was eternally low, has found a new reason to rise.

No longer did my happiness depend on the opinions of others; I found it within myself and in my own strength.

I became my own hero, and I sought endlessly to better develop myself. It was truly refreshing to not know what the next day, month, year or

People stepped up when they needed to. My friends and family checked in to make sure I was doing well. I was offered places to stay and was given plenty of comfort, food and girls’ nights. several years looked like. I put my situation in God’s hands and trusted that he would take care of me — and he has.

I’m using my painful experience to encourage you that life cannot always be planned and may not always turn out the way we expect. You truly cannot “put all your eggs in one basket” and know what your future will look like five years down the line. Life happens, and we must be willing to adjust to the changing times.

Live in the moment, and don’t let your happiness be tied to anyone but yourself because you are stronger than the battles that are before you. You will come out of the hardest situations stronger than you ever imagined. See the beauty in the chances of a fresh start.

Love yourself and embrace the strong woman within you, for she is in every one of us, just waiting to be discovered.

Alexis Nieszczur is a third-year PharmD student in the College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences.

OPINION

Bowling IS a sport — trust me I get the same look when I tell strangers that I bowl collegiately — a cocked eyebrow and a face full of disbelief.

And then they start to explain why they’re so surprised.

Normally, it starts with trivial comments like “anyone can bowl.” Or “all that you do is throw a ball at pins; it’s not even hard.” It doesn’t take long before they harshly conclude that “bowling isn’t a sport.”

Having played soccer, basketball and softball growing up, I can definitely say that bowling is the hardest sport I’ve ever played. It is so much more than just throwing a ball at pins.

First and foremost, you can’t see the one thing that’s going to influence the game the most—the shot-glass worth of oil spread across the lane.

More oil in one spot can cause a ball to slide, not hooking at all. But less oil in one spot can cause a ball to find friction and hook. You may think that’s simple enough, right?

Not so fast. If you were looking at the oil on a lane as a topographical map, a difficult pattern would be a similar landscape to a craggy steppe, and an easy pattern would resemble a gentle hill. The only way to tell the difference is to watch how your ball moves.

To make things worse, this invisible opponent changes with every throw of the ball.

SAVANNAH JOSLIN DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY

Oil can be carried farther down-lane by your ball, pushed inside, outside or even burned up entirely. No two lanes are going to play the same way, even if they were originally the same pattern.

Paying attention to these transitions and minor differences is key to high scores.

The next difficult thing about bowling is ball selection. You may think that all bowling balls are the same, but that couldn’t be further from the truth.

If you want to move past bumpers and glow bowling, then you must abandon the desire to choose your ball based on appearance. Gone are the days of six-pound neon colored balls that glow under black lights.

Instead, say hello to differences in ball materials, core materials, core shapes, cover-

stocks and differentials.

Say hello to heavier weights and personalized drilling. Say hello to having multiple balls that all do different things.

Also say goodbye to your paycheck because all bowling balls run anywhere from $100 to $250 each — not including that customized drilling.

Over the course of a tournament, you will be faced with moments when you could make a switch in balls and drastically change the game. However, there are no field guides to when to make these transitions. Instead, you have to rely on watching ball movement and knowing how the rest of your equip-

Gone are the days of sixpound neon colored balls that glow under black lights. ment might compare.

But even with all that, the most difficult part of bowling is entirely in your head.

You have to trust yourself to consistently make wellexecuted shots. Missing your target by an inch can lead to a nasty split or a dizzying washout. A deceleration in arm speed can lead to a completely different ball reaction.

Not bending your knee at the line can lead to an opposite reaction. The list goes on.

You have to fight past bad breaks and errors in judgment and move on to the next frame.

You may throw what you think is a perfect ball, but leave a 9 pin. Or worse yet, a pocket 7-10 split. It happens. But the game goes on.

You have to take your time to analyze your shots but at the same time avoid overthinking your way into a mistake.

A missed spare one frame can lead to a string of missed spares if you over-adjust. A missed lane adjustment can leave you tens of pins behind the competition.

Now imagine combining all of those things while spending 12 hours straight on your feet with no breaks for meals — only the occasional snack here and there. Then imagine having to repeat that process over again the next day with little sleep. Complete physical and mental exhaustion are the result, yet you must push forward.

In times like those I wish it were as simple as just throwing a ball at some pins.

If you don’t want to consider bowling a sport, that’s fine.

Keep your neon balls and rented shoes. I’ll continue to think that it is a sport, even without your approval.

Savannah Joslin is a fourthyear communication student with a focus on public relations.

4

| The Independent Collegian | Wednesday, February 22, 2017

NEWS Follow us on Twitter @TheICToledo

Like us at Facebook.com/ICollegian

UTMC

IN BRIEF

UT Approves Master Plan

The board of trustees has approved the Master Plan that will set out to improve the campus and student experience.

Graduation Changes

Students graduating this spring will walk the stage at the graduation ceremony.

Black History Month Luncheon

from page 1

doing that.”

The four other goals Barbee said he strives for are an increased number of patients and quality care provided, more research opportunities, philanthropic donations and a decrease in administrative costs.

“Our overarching goals are good patient care, good relations with our faculty, staff and students, financial stability and meet the needs of the UT and Toledo communities,” Barbee said.

ly blank except for the words “because I said I would” written near the bottom.

Sheen said the concept of a promise card is to make that promise tangible; it becomes more real on paper.

“Once you write the promise on a card, you give it to the person you’re making the commitment to and you get it back after you do it,” Sheen said.

“You say ‘this card is a symbol of my honor and I’m coming back for it.’”

Today, “because I said I would” has distributed 4.47 billion cards to 153 countries upon request. Sheen said sometimes we make promises so small we tend to forget, but, to another person, that promise could mean the world.

“I’ve had to go a long journey to get better at my promises, and I’m still flawed in many ways, but I would put my batting average up against anybody,” he said.

While at work in February 2013, Sheen received a letter from an anonymous person explaining that Sheen’s blog and organization is the reason this person is still alive and made a promise to Sheen to never give up.

Sheen said he remembers sitting at his desk crying because of how this letter affected him. That was the day he quit his

“Our overarching goals are good patient care, good relations... ”

A luncheon about Black History Month will be held Monday, Feb. 27 at the Law Center SLK Lounge from 12-1 p.m.

Environmental Law Meeting A meeting about Environment law will be held Tuesday, Feb. 28 at Law Center 1011 from 12-1 p.m.

DAN BARBEE UTMC CEO

Science from page 1

Strategic Planning Discussion Sessions Students, faculty and staff will have the opportunity to discuss the proposed goals for UT’s strategic plan. Students can attend sessions on Tuesday, Feb. 28, 12-1 p.m. at CCE 0111, HSC and SU 2582, 7-8 p.m. The public can attend sessions on Wednesday, March 1, 5:30-6:30 p.m. at RH 1551, MC.

Spring Engineering Career Expo Employers will be looking for future employees and students in search for co-op opportunities at the College of Engineering Complex on Feb. 22 from 12:30-4:30 p.m.

Reception for UT Employee A retirement celebration will be held for Chris Spengler in the Driscoll Alumni Center Schmakel Center on Monday, Feb. 27 from 3:30-5:30 p.m.

Grow Well With Us UT Family Medicine residents will hold eightweek sessions to help promote a healthy lifestyle for ages 18 and younger.

Spring sessions will be held at Dowling Hall Room 3324 on March 1, 8, 15 and 22, and April 5, 12, 19 and 26.

Promise

from page 1

Mathematics and are open to the entire community.

“It’s also bringing science to the public in a way that can make people understand and appreciate what science does for us and what it can do for us,” Bellizi said.

Last weekend, Saturday Morning Science welcomed Monique Wilhelm, laboratory manager and lecturer from the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at the University of Flint-Michigan.

Her talk was called, “From the River to our Taps: The Poisoning of a City.”

Wilhelm spoke about the origin and causes of the water crisis that occurred in Flint, Michigan, which began in 2014. She explained that the problem started when the city’s water source was changed to the Flint River.

“They went to the Flint river water because it was used previously as a source, and it was only supposed to be temporary,” Wilhelm said.

The chemistry involved in changing the water supply from a lake to a river was explained by Wilhelm. Audience members were provided with kits to carry out demos to assist in their understanding.

The demonstration utilized vinegar, salt and pennies to illustrate the effect that acidity can have on pipes.

“It was the change that caused this to happen,” Wilhelm said. “If we would have continued to get the lake water and never switched to the river water, we would never have had problems.”

After explaining the cause of the crisis, Wilhelm reflected upon the devastating impacts

DAN BARBEE

Barbee has served as chief nursing officer, associate executive director, vice president of patient care services and chief operating officer at UTMC. Prior to his experiences with the university, Barbee said he has worked in the field of healthcare since the 1980s and in leadership positions since the 1990s.

“I think he has the best interest of the employees in mind and expects them to perform their jobs to the best of their abilities,” said Alex Wilhelm, UT nursing graduate and current UTMC employee.

the water issue has had on the community.

“Flint is a community that is already living mostly in poverty,” Wilhelm said.

“They can see the external effects, but they don’t know when they’re pregnant that the lead is possibly changing the developing fetus, that infants drinking formula are going to have neurological effects for a lifetime.”

This talk was well-attended by both UT students and faculty as well as local community members.

“It’s also bringing science to the public in a way that can make people understand and appreciate what science does for us and what it can do for us.”

www.IndependentCollegian.com job to start his non-profit organization, “because I said I would.”

For Sheen, it all comes down to accountability.

“Sometimes we don’t need a miracle; we need people to do what they said they would,” Sheen said. “There’s no such thing as superheroes in this life; it’s up to you to offset the bad.”

Sheen’s current goal is to further develop the organization’s chapters.

“Sometimes we don’t need a miracle; we need people to do what they said they would.”

ALEX SHEEN CEO, “because I said I would”

It starts with an adult chapter to provide funding and connections.

From there, he wants the chapters to spread to high schools, middle schools and elementary schools.

“I want to give someone a way to come up being a good person,” Sheen said.

“That’s our goal.”

Heidi Appel, Dean of the Jesup Scott Honors College, said Sheen’s success shows us how effective social entrepreneurship can be.

Culture from page 1

JOHN BELLIZI Associate Professor of Biochemistry

“I thought it was very good; I learned a lot,” said Rick Ray, a member of the community.

“I’ll probably go to most of them if I’m in town. I especially want to hear the pollen one.”

This year, the series of talks begin at 9:30 a.m. in Memorial Field House room 2100. Before the talks, attendees can enjoy a light breakfast sponsored in part by Barry Bagels.

Schmidt emphasized that the organizers enjoy receiving feedback from their attendees. He asked for suggestions for future events to be emailed to joseph. schmidt@utoledo.edu

l a i c e p S s t Rocke UNIVERSITY OF TOLEDO

dents,” McKether said. “We are very proud of you, and we will continue to do these types of events.”

Francis Mok, an American-born Chinese and first-year student, was among the first to speak and stressed the importance of accepting and conversing with those around us.

“At the end of the day, we want to make the world a more diverse place,” Mok said. “We should do things we normally wouldn’t do. Interact with people you normally wouldn’t think of. Have a conversation. Start a dialogue.”

The succession of speakers progressed, and their message of acceptance continued through personal battles with individuality and the difficulty to assimilate.

A Muslim American student used a poem describing a preschooler different from those around her to convey the belief that what one says to another matters.

“I wanted to apologize,” said the speaker. “Sorry I don’t look like you. Sorry I don’t have the words. Words are invisible, but they are thicker than milk and honey.”

First-year student Alexx Rayk recognized a message of unity in the presenters’ stories.

“Everyone is coming together from different backgrounds and giving their own take on a situation, yet they are all giving

“I was pleased to see the level of support by the administration.”

SAMIR ABU-ABSI Former University of Toledo Professor

“‘Because I said I would’ compels us to follow through on promises we make to ourselves and to each other,” Appel said.

“This is critical to our leading successful and satisfying lives as social beings and is really the finest expression of our humanity.”

Taylor Burchfield, an honors college communication intern, said Sheen’s speech was very impactful, especially to college students.

“As college students, we don’t always understand the impact of everything we do or the promises we make,” Burchfield said.

“What Alex said really put things in perspective to be more mindful of the commitments we make to others and ourselves.

Sheen said he wants to change the world, and he doesn’t care if that sounds ridiculous. “’Because I said I would’ is not about me; I would go so far as to say it isn’t even about my father,” Sheen said. “It has always been, and forever will be, about you.”

“It has always been, and forever will be, about you.”

ALEX SHEEN CEO, “because I said I would”

“Everyone is coming together from different backgrounds and giving their own take on a situation, yet they are all giving the same message of coming together and unifying and supporting each other.”

ALEXX RAYK First-year Student

the same message of coming together and unifying and supporting each other,” said Rayk.

The event comes at a time of a political culture dealing with issues of acceptance and, for former professor at the University of Toledo and community member Dr. Samir AbuAbsi, an occasion of this nature strengthened the campus’s culture of inclusion.

“It is really important for the students and the community to be involved,” AbuAbsi said. “I was pleased to see the level of support by the administration.”

Students have the opportunity to continue the conversation surrounding topics of acceptance and may attend an event with McKether, entitled “Lunch with the VP,” March 2 from 12:30 to 1 p.m. in SU room 3016.

Joining him will be Senior Vice President for Student Affairs, Dr. Kaye Patten.

This is an opportunity to talk with Dr. McKether and Dr. Kaye in an intimate setting about topics surrounding diversity at UT and in the community.

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COMMUNITY Follow us on Twitter @TheICToledo

CALENDAR

Shapiro Essay Revision Contest

WednesdayThursday, Feb. 22Feb. 23

Undergrad students are welcome to participate and don’t need to register in advance.

The contest will require you to revise a badly written essay and make changes to improve the quality of the writing. All sessions will be held in Field House 2420 on Feb. 22 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., 5 to 7 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. and Feb. 23 from 5 to 7 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. Fifteen cash awards ranging from $75 to $500 will be given to winners.

Black Girlz Rock Monday, Feb. 27 6:00 p.m.

Join the women of Zeta Phi Beta and the Africana Studies programing to celebrate Feminism! Black Girlz Rock will be held in the Student Union Ingman Room. For more information, contact Zeta Phi Beta at UTZetas_1920@yahoo. com or the president of African Students programing at Angela.

Siner@utoledo.edu.

Open Kayaking Saturday, March 11 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.

Interested in Kayaking?

Visit the Student Rec Center to enjoy free lessons! Registration information is available on UTRecCenter.com.

5

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SERVICE

SAMS changes the lives of Syrian refugees

By Areeba Shah

Associate Community Editor

Only 60 percent of children who have left Syria are enrolled in school to get an education according to Melisa Fleming, author and chief spokesperson for UN Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees.

Touched by her words and motivated to change that percentage, Farrah Alarmanazi, co-president of the University of Toledo’s Chapter of Syrian American Medical Society, said she is working to raise that number to 100 percent.

Second-year biology majors and sisters F0arrah and Marah Alarmanazi founded the UT chapter of SAMS — a non-profit, medical and humanitarian relief organization aimed towards helping Syrian refugees — at the beginning of the fall semester.

“When I was a sophomore, that’s when the refugee crisis hit its peak,” Farrah said. “There were Syrian refugees headed here, and I started looking for an organization on campus that would focus on that issue, but I didn’t find any.”

Determined to create change, the Alarmanazi sisters got to work and contacted the Ohio chapter of SAMS to start a university chapter for students.

With the help of UT faculty, such as lecturer and director of Honors Learning, Page Armstrong; Associate Director of Undergraduate Research, Dr. Larry Connin; Associate Professor, Dr. Melissa Gregory and Dean of the Jesup Scott Honors College, Heidi M. Appel; Farrah was able to spread the message and find members to build the organization.

In August 2016, a friend of their mother’s, Rania Taher, asked Farrah and Marah to help four Syrian kids learn English. In the process of helping the children learn their alphabets, Farrah said she came to realize that these children deserved, and were in dire need of, education.

“They didn’t have any background in English and were struggling when they came here because they moved from Syria to Jordan just before start-

ing school and then again to Toledo,” Farrah said. “One of the children even had a speech impairment.”

With the drive to help, Farrah and Marah contacted people within SAMS to establish a program to tutor Syrian refugee children between the age of five and 18. With Taher’s help, they contacted the principal of the Central Academy of Ohio and figured out a plan to hold the tutoring sessions at the school.

“In the beginning, it was tough since we didn’t have a lot of supplies, and were working with just pen and paper,” Farrah said. “We had about 20 children and only 12 to 13 volunteers.”

The program has since grown to 30 Syrian children, but the problem of too few volunteers still remains. Since the sessions are only held from 5:00 – 6:30 p.m. on Tuesdays, most volunteers are unable to make it.

However, the Alarmanazi sisters are planning to change the weekly session to two meetings for more volunteers to be able to tutor the children.

“You would think just because they’re refugees, they wouldn’t worry too much about education, but really they did,” Farrah said.

“SAMS has opened my eyes to a different perspective, to people’s different lives and I think it has made me care more about people.”

ANNALISA HAN Student Volunteer

She said that while the refugees struggled with issues like health insurance, finding a job and a place to live in, no one was focusing on helping the children with their education.

“The thing that made me want to help was when I realized how much the children were in need of education and how their parents were ready

MUSIC

to do anything for their kids to be educated,” Marah said.

She said that when she sees the progress and how pleased the parents are with how well their kids are doing, she feels more motivated to continue helping those children. The kids don’t get tired from all the learning and never want to take any breaks.

Farrah added that, until last semester, most of the kids didn’t even know their alphabets and now they are starting to spell, read and make conversation.

“One kid came up to me and asked, ‘How do I say what my favorite kind of food is?’ He told me he was trying to make conversation with his tutor and didn’t know how to say it,” Farrah said.

“I asked him if he wanted me to translate it for him and he said, ‘No, I want to know how to say it!’ It made me so happy to see him trying.”

Marah said that the children have formed such a strong bond with their tutors; they are sad when they are not there to work with them.

“This has also changed the volunteers’ perception of refugees since they are actually interacting with them,” Farrah said.

Hemaa SreeKumar, second-year pharmacy major, said that she enjoys spending her time tutoring the children.

“I never had an impression of Syrian refugees, but I’ve always wanted to help and do something to help the community,” SreeKumar said. “I meet all these different kids and it’s kind of a good stress reliever.”

SreeKumar said that people have a misconception that they cannot help since they don’t speak Arabic, but she says anyone can help. The goal is to teach them English, and you don’t have to be Syrian or Arabic to volunteer.

Another volunteer, Annalisa Han, fourth-year pre-pharmacy major, said, as an international student, she really loves to learn about different cultures from different parts of the world.

“I have interacted with Europeans, Asians and Americans, but I’ve never

met someone from the Middle East,” Han said. “SAMS has opened my eyes to a different perspective, to people’s different lives and I think it has made me care more about people.”

First-year nursing student Carly Gerogosian says she feels the same way. As a result of volunteering, she has become more open-minded and open-hearted as a person.

“My role in this organization is to help the kids and spread the message of all that I’ve learned through these tutoring sessions,” she said.

Due to the growth of the organization, Social Services for Arab Community has reached out to the SAMS Toledo chapter and asked to collaborate with them to have a separate section for the parents to be tutored.

The sisters have now started a program called the Family Education Program, where parents are also being tutored to learn English.

During the session, parents take lessons to learn English. For the half hour of the session, a volunteer speaks to the parents about living in the United States and how to adapt.

Farrah and Marah Alarmanazi say they are very happy with the success of the organization and the progress the Syrian refugee children have made in their education.

For more information about SAMS or volunteering opportunities, visit their Facebook page or follow SAMS-UT Student Chapter on Instagram.

THEATRE

The King and the Clown Anna Glore Staff Reporter

EMILY JACKSON / IC

Pianist Phil DeGreg plays a jazz number alongside UT faculty members and fellow jazz musicians at the Art Tatum Memorial Jazz Scholarhsip Concert Feb. 20 in UT’s Center for Performing Arts.

Toledo gets jazzy Mariah Williams Staff Reporter

Each year, more than 200 music lovers in the Toledo community gather for a jazz-style piano concert.

The University of Toledo Department of Music Jazz Studies Program hosted their 26th annual Art Tatum Memorial Jazz Scholarship Concert Feb. 20 from 7 – 8 p.m. in UT’s Center for Performing Arts Recital Hall.

Gunnar Mossblad, director of jazz studies and professor of saxophone, introduced this event as one installment of the UT jazz concert series presented every semester.

The program sponsors many jazz events both on and off campus and hosts weekly jazz nights, which feature both faculty and students.

The jazz department also hosts various ensemble concerts throughout the semester where a number of groups perform, including CrossCurrents, which is made up of only faculty members.

“Jazz is a performance art form that offers a palette of colors and textures that a jazz artist can use to create a personal musical statement,” Mossblad said.

This year’s featured performer was award-winning musician Phil DeGreg, a professor of jazz stud-

ies at the University of Cincinnati and a professional jazz pianist who performs internationally.

DeGreg was inducted into Cincinnati Jazz Hall of Fame this year, won eight Citybeat Magazine Cincinnati Entertainer Awards and a Fulbright Fellowship in Brazil and was a finalist in the Great American Jazz Piano Competition in 1996.

He is proficient in a wide range of jazz styles and has been playing piano since his childhood.

Before becoming a professional musician, he received his undergraduate degree in psychology from Yale University. He then went on to study music in Kansas City and later obtained his master’s degree from the University of North Texas.

It was at the University of North Texas that DeGreg and Mossblad met.

“We ran into each other at the Jazz Education Network convention recently and he suggested bringing me in for this,” DeGreg said.

During the performance, the two played a duet together with Mossblad on saxophone and DeGreg on piano.

DeGreg has recorded and published much of his music into eleven albums and has worked alongside fellow musicians on numerous proj-

ects. In addition, he created a book with piano lessons and exercises for aspiring jazz pianists.

According to DeGreg, his most significant achievement to date is a jazz trio recording that is set to be released this spring.

“As musicians, we have a lot of fun making improvised sound together.

Hopefully the process and the result are something people find interesting,” DeGreg said.

The proceeds from the event go to support the UT Art Tatum Memorial Jazz Scholarship. This scholarship is presented yearly to one student studying jazz performance at UT. The concert and the scholarship are given in honor of Art Tatum, a Toledo-born jazz pianist, who became famous in the early 1900s.

The scholarship is awarded in the fall, and the amount awarded varies based on the availability of funds from the foundation.

Last year’s recipient was Michael Reed, a third-year jazz performance major who specializes in percussion.

“The jazz department has been very instrumental in my growth as a musician, and I am very appreciative of them,” Reed said. “I really enjoy jazz music and being able to express myself through my playing.”

The University of Toledo’s Department of Theatre and Film is giving students and community members the chance to immerse themselves in a different culture in the form of theatre.

The stage production “The King and the Clown” was performed this past weekend, Feb. 17 – 19, and will be again this coming weekend, Feb. 24 – 26.

The production is written by Taewoong Kim and directed by a UT theatre student, Keeyong Hong.

Hong said that he was anxious for the show, since it is his first performance as an American actor; however, he is excited for this unique opportunity.

“I am very excited because I really want to share Korean culture and play,” Hong said. “Through this show, I have a big chance to share our culture and play with an American audience.”

First-year theatre major Xaverie Baker said she is very excited to be participating in this American debut.

“From everyone I’ve talked to who has seen it, they’ve really enjoyed it and they’re really into the way it looks because visually the show is beautiful; it’s really beautiful,” Baker said.

Baker said since the original script was in Korean, some tweaks had to be made along the way.

“From everyone I’ve talked to who has seen it, they’ve really enjoyed it and they’re really into the way it looks because visually the show is beautiful; it’s really beautiful.”

XAVERIE BAKER Actress

“It’s based off of a true story. It’s basically just about a clown who is kind of struggling to rise in power,” said Baker. “The way he does it is by coercing the king, because he’s very feminine and the king eventually thinks he’s beautiful. The king is very violent and kind of sadistic, so it’s kind of like a power struggle to

climb to the top of the food chain.”

Baker, who will be playing Clown 1, explained that the type of “clown” used in the play is not the kind you see at the circus.

“They’re performers, essentially, of a lower class,” she said. “They didn’t have anything, and they’re dressed in a way that very much shows that they don’t have money.

They’re regular people and they’re very afraid of the king, but they’re still funny like you would imagine a clown to be. It’s very much political commentary.”

“I am very excited because I really want to share Korean culture and play.”

KEEYONG HONG Director

Both Hong and Baker said that since the show relies heavily on dance and body movement, it is important to follow the main characters’ desires and emotions to make the show more enjoyable as opposed to just watching it absent-mindedly.

“It’s a kind of connection you get watching real people perform in front of you versus watching on a screen, and you’re never going to have that connection unless you’re there,” Baker said.

Theatre and Film Department Chair Edmund Lingan said that he has no worries about the performance and describes it as “almost Shakespearean.”

“This performance will lead to some great discussions about the issues in the play, and it will introduce people to a new playwright whose work has never before been presented in English in North America,” Lingan said.

He encourages students to attend the performance in order to better their understanding of culture and other important topics.

For tickets and showtimes please visit utoledo.tix.com.

Due to mature content, this play is not recommended for audience members under the age of 17.

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| The Independent Collegian | Wednesday, February 22, 2017

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SOFTBALL

Rockets strike out in Florida

By Kenny Kruse Staff Reporter

The Strike Out Cancer Tournament in Boca Raton, Florida, was not very kind to the University of Toledo Rockets softball team. The midnight blue and gold carry a 2-8 record as they continue their season.

On the opening day of the tournament, Feb. 17, the Rockets were defeated

by Tulsa 4-5 and then by the host of the tournament, Florida Atlantic, 0-8.

On the second day, Feb. 18, the Rockets lost to Syracuse 0-5 and St. John’s 3-4. On Sunday, Feb. 19, the final day of the tournament, the Rockets surpassed Savannah State 14-4.

UT was close to winning the opening game against Tulsa when fourth-year second baseman Chandler Rice (3-for-4) hit a solo home run in the top of the third inning. Rice also hit a two-out, three-run homer in the top of the fifth inning, giving the Rockets a 4-3 lead.

“I think we showed a lot of resilience today,” said head coach Kristen Butler in a UTRockets interview. “Chandler was clutch all day by recording all of our RBI on her two home runs. That was a big showing of her senior leader-

ship, and I’m expecting to see that from her all season.”

Unfortunately, this wasn’t enough when Heather Webb, a second-year pitcher for the Rockets, gave up two runs on two errors in the seventh for a Hurricane victory.

“We just have to do a better job at closing out our games,” added Butler in the UTRockets interview. “Chandler came up big for us in the seventh, and we needed to be able to close out defensively. Heather threw a great game up until the last inning. We need to be able to put away the game when it matters.”

Against Florida Atlantic University, Samantha Golden, a first-year third baseman for the Rockets, and first-year first baseman Morgan Paaverud each went 2-for-3 at the plate, giving the Rockets four hits.

The FAU Owls scored a run in the opening inning off of a wild pitch and added a run in the second with a home run. FAU extended their lead in the fourth inning with two doubles, scoring four runs. A few at-bats later, the Owls tallied two more runs on an RBI double to deep center field.

Hitting early and often is what lifted the Syracuse Orange over the Rockets in their third

game of the tournament. An RBI triple to left field in the first inning and two additional runs in the third inning gave Syracuse a comfortable lead early over UT. Another run was scored off of a wild pitch in the fifth inning and an additional run SAVANNAH JOSLIN / IC in the seventh from an RBI Third-year in-fielder Samantha Showalter swings at a pitch thrown during a game last single closed out the victory season. for the Syracuse Orange.

The Rockets scored early close out the final inning due also went 3-for-4, scored three The Rockets added a run to against St. John’s from fourthto a game-winning RBI single runs and collected a pair of make their lead 7-4 in the fifth year outfielder, Celeste Fidge, from the Red Storm.

RBIs. Megan Choate, a second- before scoring seven additional collecting an RBI. “We fought hard today, and year shortstop, was another runs in the sixth and final inUT added another in the we hit the ball well,” said ButRocket to go 3-for-4. ning. Rice hit her third RBI second inning due to a pair of ler in a UTRockets interview.

After the first inning, Toledo double of the game and thirdRed Storm errors.

“We need to do a better time took a 2-0 lead. Second-year year outfielder Marriah Wise of closing out games and com- third baseman, Katie Cozy was hit her first triple as a Rocket ing through with clutch hits. part of the lineup to contribute to collect two RBIs for the final “We just have to Our pitching is improving, to bring in runs along with runs of the game. do a better job at but we need to focus on the Golden, fourth-year catcher Next weekend, UT softclosing out our little things that will help us Ashley Maynard, and Fidge. ball will be on road to South get the win.”

Savannah State quickly Carolina for four games, games.”

Sunday treated the Rockets hit a three-run triple in the taking part in the Buffalo KRISTEN BUTLER kindly with a promising second inning before the Wild Wings Classic TourSoftballl Head Coach victory over Savannah State.

Rockets extended the lead nament. On Friday, Feb. Kailey Minarchick, a second- two innings later. Golden 24, the Rockets will play year pitcher, collected her hit her first career double Sacred Heart at 11 a.m. and The Red Storm fought first collegiate victory while to left-center field, allowing Furman at 1 p.m., with the back and tied the game from throwing four innings.

Rausch to score. games splayed in Greensa sacrifice fly out to right Hitting for the Rockets was SSU did fight back to score ville, SC. The following day field and a Rocket throwing consistent. Rice went 3-for-4 another run, cutting Toledo’s in Spartanburg, SC, the error to home plate. with three doubles and multiple lead 6-4 in the bottom of the Rockets will take on WestBack and forth the game RBIs and scored runs. Thirdfourth. This was the final run of ern Carolina at 11 a.m. and continued with runs scored, year outfielder Ashley Rausch the game for the Tigers.

USC-Upstate at 1 p.m. but the Rockets were unable to

MEN’S BASKETBALL

UT men blow huge lead in overtime

By Sam Williams

tant for the first half of this game, with UT managing to outscore and Toledo headed into last night’s outrebound the Broncos. game against Western Michigan Toledo dominated the boards University looking to make up for in the first half, outrebounding their 90-74 loss to WMU earlier this the Broncos 24-18. These reseason. Unfortunately, the Rockets bounds helped the Rockets build gave up a massive 15-point lead, los- their advantage with six seconding the game 56-61 in overtime. chance shots.

“Well, obviously an extremely disThese second-chance shots also appointing game,” said men’s head helped UT control the ball inside the coach Tod Kowalczyk. “We’re up paint, where the Rockets outscored eight at halftime and not even playthe Broncos 20-14. ing all that well. I thought we would Another impressive stat for the have guarded better, and offensively Rockets in the first half was that the we weren’t very good” team only gave up one turnover, Toledo managed to maintain an while WMU gave up four. early lead for most of the first half, The Rockets carried their first half but a late 5-0 run by the Broncos momentum into the second half brought the score back within six with ease, where a three-ball from points late in the half.

Jaelan Sanford and a Steve Taylor Jr. The Rockets managed to stop the layup extended the lead to 11 just WMU run and even gained back three minutes into the half. much of their earlier lead before This lead continued to build to a time ran out, giving UT a 31-23 lead 15-point advantage for the Rockets, heading into halftime. and the game became increasingly How the teams played in the paint out of reach for Western Michigan. turned out to be extremely imporWestern didn’t slow down and managed to bring the score within three points, 44-41, on the back of three straight scores from third-year WMU guard Thomas Wilder.

After a Toledo timeout, the Rockets turned off cruise control and managed to put a stop to Western Michigan’s dominating run, not allowing the Broncos to score on five straight possessions.

This defensive control did not last long when a putback and a Toledo turnover brought the game back to only a two-point lead for the Rockets.

Two free throws put the Rockets back up by two, but fouls started to catch up to the team.

A foul by Sanford put Western into the bonus, where two easy free throws put the lead RACHEL NEARHOOF / IC within one score for the Fourth-year guard Jonathon Williams Broncos. pushes past Western Michigan University.

Sports Editor

A controversial call on a loose ball ended in the Rockets favor and led to an extremely heated Western Michigan bench, but, after a review, the ball stayed in Rocket possession.

With the game still within two points, a massive intentional foul call on John Williams gave the Broncos the free throws necessary to tie the game up with only 50 seconds left in regulation and the ball in Bronco possession.

After a botched WMU shot, the ball was back in Rocket possession with 30 seconds left and an electric Savage Arena.

The ball was knocked out of bounds with three seconds left, giving the Rockets one last chance to avoid overtime.

A bricked jump shot from Taylor Jr. put the Rockets into their eighth overtime of the season, tying an NCAA record.

A three-pointer solidified a lead for the Broncos as both teams traded layups, putting WMU up by three with 53 seconds left to go.

Coming out of a timeout, second-year forward Nate Navigato nailed a massive three-point shot to tie the game up again with 45 seconds left to go.

This shot was matched on the other side of the court with a WMU three-pointer, putting the Broncos up by three points again.

This shot put the ball back in Rocket possession with only one shot left to either send the game into double overtime or solidify a massive Bronco comeback.

The ball swung around to Lauf, but the shot barely missed. Coming off the rebound, an offensive foul was called on Steve Taylor Jr., giving the Broncos the foul shots necessary to put the game out of reach for the Rockets by a final score of 56-61.

“It’s very disappointing because we had a 15-point lead and we blew it,” commented Steve Taylor Jr. after the game. “We just have to get back in the lab and not get down because we still have a chance to do some great things.”

The UT men will look to bounce back from this loss this Friday when they face off against Central Michigan at 6:00 p.m. in Savage Arena.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

Rockets split against Akron and CMU

RACHEL NEARHOOF / IC

Second-year guard Halee Printz evaluates the offense in their game against University at Buffalo on Feb. 1 where they won 85-63.

By Jackson Rogers Associate Sports Editor

The University of Toledo women’s basketball team defeated University of Akron by a score of 61-57 on Feb. 15 and lost to Central Michigan University 72-61 on Feb. 18. With the results, the women’s record is now 17-8 overall and 8-6 in Mid-American Conference play.

“We just didn’t hang our heads,” head coach Tricia Cullop said. “We kept fighting, stayed focused on what we could control and we were able to break through and get the victory.”

Second-year center Kaayla McIntyre led UT with a career-high 20 points, with third-year guard JayAnn Bravo-Harriott following close behind, scoring 19 points.

After a back-and-forth opening period, the Zips broke the game open with a 15-4 run to create a 24-17 lead at the 3:51 mark. Five different UA players scored in the quarter-opening burst to force UT to burn two timeouts in a span of two-plus minutes.

The Rockets were held without a field goal over the final 4:44 in the first half. As a result, they were limited to a season-low six points in the quarter and found themselves down 24-19 at the half.

UT began its comeback with a

quick 8-3 rally early in the third period to cut the deficit to 35-31 at the 4:33 mark. They did all of their damage down low, receiving two baskets from McIntyre and one each from Bravo-Harriott and fourth-year forward Janice Monakana to make it a two-possession difference and set the stage for an action-packed final quarter-and-a-half.

The Rockets trailed 40-32 with 2:45 left in the third quarter before going on a 9-2 run to close the margin to a single point with 9:48 remaining in regulation. BravoHarriott scored the first four points in the rally, McIntyre accounted for the next four and second-year guard Mikaela Boyd finished it off with two to pull the visitors within 42-41.

The teams then traded baskets over the ensuing three-plus minutes, before UT rattled off five straight points to make its advantage 58-54 with 2:16 left in the final period. Monakana registered the initial two points with a pair of free throws, while Bravo-Harriott was credited with a traditional three-point play.

Monakana successfully converted an offensive putback with only 13.9 seconds remaining to make the score

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