Inside

Section A
Positive but risky guarantee; and the war candidate.

Review Thursday
A review of 'Quarantine;' and a review of The Pretenders' latest album.

Rockets arrested
Two football players arrested after victory; and UT takes on the Huskies on Saturday.

Todays weather

Independent Collegian IC
The
Thursday, October 16, 2008

Forum, A6

Arts and Life, B1

Sports, B4

Hi 61 Lo 43

www.independentcollegian.com
89th year

Serving the University of Toledo since 1919

UT guarantees full rides

UT will offer full tuition to public high schoolers in need
By Joe Griffith News Editor

Issue 15

Nick Kneer / IC

Presidential candidate Senator Barack Obama takes the stage of the SeaGate Convention Centre for a rally on Monday.

Obama makes stop in Toledo

By IC Staff

The public school students of Ohios six largest cities are targeted by a new enrollment program known as the UT Guarantee. Students who meet the eligibility requirements are guaranteed 100 percent full tuition and student general fees at UT. Were trying to make sure that students within these urban communities realize at a very young age, regardless of their families financial situation, that they

Guarantees, Page A3

Presidential candidate Barack Obama visited downtown Toledo earlier this week to talk to voters about the current economic crisis and his plan to save the country from financial ruin. Holding a rally at the SeaGate Convention Centre in front of more than 3,100 spectators, the Illinois senator offered the crowd specific initiatives he will pursue either as a senator or as a president, if elected. To name a few, he proposed new legislation allowing American families to withdraw up to 15 percent of their retirement savings untaxed to make ends meet, a 90-day period during which home foreclosures for those acting in good faith would be suspended and a freezing of unemployment insurance benefits taxes. Obama also talked about the economy of Ohio in particular. Unemployment here in Ohio is up 85 percent over the last eight years, which is the highest its been in 16 years, he said. Youve lost one of every four manufacturing

jobs. The typical Ohio family has seen their income fall $2,500. Despite these difficulties, the Illinois senator praised the work ethic of Americans, saying that they are the most dedicated and talented workers in the world. Recognizing the work the city of Toledo has been doing in solar energy, Obama said the nation would soon take a page from Toledo when developing its own solar energy infrastructure. Obama called on his supporters at the rally to take advantage of the vote early option in Ohio and to volunteer for his campaign by making phone calls and canvassing. Obama arrived in Toledo Sunday to engage in debate camp for last nights debate with Republican presidential candidate John McCain at Hofstra University in Long Island, N.Y.

AAUP contract passed

By IC Staff

Online and Active

Have thoughts about the upcoming elections? Leave them on our message board.

UT adds to Ohio healthcare boom

By Melissa Chi News Editor

Nathan Croak / IC

While there is a slump in the economy nationwide, the health care industry is growing rapidly, said David Black, professor of economics. According to the National Conference of the State Legislatures, the nation now spends more than $2 trillion dollars annually on health care. Ohio has seen the largest jump in economic impact on the state within the last five years, said Health Science Campus Provost Jeff Gold, who is also the chair-elect for the Ohio Council of Medical Deans.

With the combination of the seven medical schools in Ohio, there is a $37.2 billion impact on the econMedical omy in 2007, from schools do a $20.7 billion in 2002, lot more according to the 2008 economic imthan just pact report commisteaching sioned by the OCmedical MD. UTMC is affiliated students, with St. Vincent [and] that is Mercy Medical Censometimes ter, the Toledo Hosnot a well- pital, Toledo Childrens Hospital and recognized Mercy Childrens fact. Hospital and nine other non-core Jeff Gold teaching hospitals. Provost, I'm not aware of Health Science any industry in the Campus state of Ohio that

Cool, freezing science

Carl Nelson, director of facilities and exhibits for COSI Toledo, begins a demonstration by pouring liquid nitrogen into a plastic bottle. The presentation was put on by COSI Toledo on Tuesday in Centennial Mall.

As the last of the votes from unionized UT faculty were counted yesterday evening, professors passed the proposed contract agreement with UT by a slim margin, while it was passed by lecturers. The American Association of University Professors is a union for college faculty, founded on the principal of protecting professors right to academic freedom and a shared relationship of governance between faculty and the university. The tenured and tenuretrack professors passed the proposed contracts 53 percent in favor, to 47 percent against, while 85 percent of lecturers voted in favor of the proposed contract agreement. After the UT-AAUP contract expired on June 20, 2007, the UT Board of Trustees passed a tentative agreement on Sept. 4, 2008, after 19 months of negotiations. Despite the lengthy process, the AAUP Board rejected the proposal on Sept. 25, based on three major issues; health care, the extension of the federal guidelines on grants and the fact that the proposal neglected to offer merit to faculty with ratings less than 2.5. Read more about the agreement in later editions of The Independent Collegian.

Capital campaign raises $106.2M

By Kevin Kutscher IC Staff Writer

Healthcare, Page A8

UT raised a record-breaking $106.2 million in the span of about six years, which administrators say exceeded their expectations. The Time is Now Campaign

began on Oct. 29, 2002 and ended Sept. 26 this year. It raised money to address the needs of UTs rapid growth, and it will continue to apply to individual colleges as well as other university projects such as campus beautification. We thought we could go

$100 [million], then we kicked around $75 [million], and at that time the [MUO and UT] merger went through, so we decided on $100 [million], said Vern Snyder, UT vice president for institutional advancement. UT received the largest gift in its history, a $15 mil-

lion donation from Marvin and Judith Herb, during the campaign. This donation has been memorialized through the naming of the Judith Herb College of Education. Another major contribution to the campaign was
Capital, Page A2

Graphic by Joseph Herr / IC

have every reason to work hard because they can attend the University of Toledo regardless [of] if they have any money or not, said Larry Burns, vice president of external affairs. These public school students must meet eligibility requirements before they can receive the Blue and Gold Scholar Award offered under the UT Guarantee. These requirements include: applying for admission before Jan. 5, 2009, filing for a Free Application for Federal Student Aid

Thursday, October 16, 2008

Independent Collegian mechanical, industrial and manufacturing engineering, expressed concerns at a Oct. 14 meeting of Faculty Senate that without an exact constraint on the number of applicants who qualify, the program may potentially become overwhelming to UT. The program has quite a chance of being overly powerful, Olson said. Based on the economic times and so forth, what would happen if, say, we got 700 students in this program? Could we handle them? Would it not still be cost neutral to us? Despite the potential for 700 students enrolling at UT next year through the program, Kucera explained this is highly unlikely, considering the 59 combined students from the five urban cities and the 280 students from TPS who enrolled at UT this year. The more students we get, the better off were going to be on the financial piece. Theres no question about it, Kucera said. As far as the potential for the program to become overwhelming, Kucera said its a problem UT would be thankful to have. Thats a problem we would love to have, and I think were very creative and we could deal with that type of situation absolutely, he said. Paul Lehmann, professor of medical microbiology and immunology, said the program has potential as an experiment, but there are concerns and issues that need to be resolved. Basically I think its a great idea and a great experiment, but I am concerned about the pressure it will put on teachers to get people to the B average in schools, he said. The public schools are very variable in what a B average means, and so Im concerned a little bit about maintaining the quality of students coming in. The students quality of education may not be a problem now, but the future of the program may experience a pressure on grade inflation from high school teachers in order keep students eligible for the guarantee, Lehmann said. The experiment is a good one, he said. We are a city university, and [UT Guarantee] does support the city. UT, as a state funded public institution of higher education, has a crucial role in contributing to the further education of public school students, said TPS Board Member Bob Vasquez. To me, public education is the foundation of our community, if not our total society, because what were talking about is the right for everyone to have an education through the public sector, Vasquez said. The UT Guarantee is an investment by UT that secures the ability of every student in the city of Toledo to attend college, he said. In order to advertise the potential for higher education to public school students of Ohios urban cities, UT is working with guidance counselors and community clubs and organizations, Burns said. Since this is a program we hope to have around for a long time, we really want to get out immediately to the junior high and eighth grade people, Burns said. We want the young men and women that are in the eighth grade [and] seventh grade to say, OK, when I get to high school I better start out with a bang, do well and get that 3.0 or above so I can qualify. The majority of students in Ohios five urban public school systems are minorities, and a trend can be seen in students from these minority communities giving up on the opportunity to go to college at an early age, Burns said. If [public school students] quit going to school, they quit achieving, Burns said. We want to reach [the students and their families] and

The

A3
A closer look at ... UT Guarantee
UT G Guarantee will target six of Ohios l t ill t t i f Ohi largest urban public school systems; Akron, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton and Toledo. In the fall semester of 2008, a combined 59 freshmen enrolled at UT from the five Ohio cities above besides Toledo. In the same semester, UT had 280 freshmen enrolled from Toledo Public School system, 127 of those students had a 3.0 GPA or higher. Enrollment of freshmen at UT increased from 3,100 in the fall semester of 2007 to 3,900 in the fall semester of 2008.

Guarantees From Page A1

future success of UT is the base principal for which the program will manage to eco(FAFSA) by April 1, 2009, dis- nomically support itself, playing eligibility for a Pell Burns said. We, right now, are an instiGrant and retaining a minimum high school GPA of 3.0 tution that is progressing and growing very nicely, he said. or higher. Higher education, in my Institutions that are successopinion and the opinion of the ful at growing, be it a univerpresident, has a very serious sity or a company, are in a responsibility, particularly a much better position to start school like ours, which is new programs than if youre state funded, to create pro- declining. So this program will grams that make the universi- basically be funded by continty accessible, obtainable and ued enrollment growth. The more desirable, students the Burns said. We want to reach program can According the to Kevin Kuc[the students and enroll, era, associate their families] and say, more revenue is generated, vice president for the divi- No, no, no, regardless which can then sion of enroll- of what the situation is be put back into programs ment services, financially at your like the UT UT enrolled home, you can go to Guarantee and 3,100 freshmen in the fall school if you others, Burns said. of 2007. This work hard.' After stufall, 3,900 dents file for freshmen were Larry Burns FAFSA and reenrolled. From Vice President, ceive their those 3,900 External Affairs awards, UT will freshmen, 280 contribute the came from Toledo Public Schools, and 127 remaining amount, Burns of those students held at least said. If you qualify for any Pell a 3.0 GPA in high school, he money or a state thousandsaid. As we looked at that dollar grant, we take that first, growth, we found something and then we make up the difrelatively surprising, and that ference, Burns said. If you is that we have not drawn have savings or you, at home, well from the five other urban get a scholarship from some cities [in Ohio] beyond Tole- neighborhood group, that can go toward your room and do, Kucera said. Of the 3,900 freshmen en- board. If the financial need of the rolled at UT this year, a combined 59 students with a 3.0 students family is high GPA or higher came from Ak- enough, higher financial conron, Cincinnati, Cleveland, tributions from the governColumbus and Dayton, Kuc- ment will result in a lower difference UT needs to pay, era said. Do to the proximity of TPS, Kucera said. Take Cleveland for exUT has had relatively significant success in enrollment of ample, he said. 80 percent students from Toledo, he of students in Cleveland public schools are on a free said. Im seeing the potential for lunch program from the fed75 to 100, first year at least, 75 eral government. So you got to 100 new students that a $4,800 Pell Grant, not a would come in via this pro- $400 Pell Grant in Cleveland. gram, Kucera said. Walter Olson, a professor of The previous growth and

say, No, no, no, regardless of what the situation is financially at your home, you can go to school if you work hard. One of the largest concerns surrounding the programs potential to increase the enrollment of public school students at UT is that students and their families often neglect to file for FAFSA, Burns said. That is going to be one of our biggest objectives and challenges, Burns said. Convincing mom, or dad, or grandma or whoever, we gotta fill out this form, because without that, the guarantee wont happen. In order to educate students and their families about filing for FAFSA, UT is partnering with schools and community groups, Burns said. The first step is that we have to get to all our students who have a 3.0, or a 2.9 or even close, and all their families this information, Vasquez said. After students are awarded

the Blue and Gold Scholar Award, they must continue to meet eligibility requirements while enrolled at UT. These requirements include: keeping a minimum 3.0 GPA, completing 30 credit hours per academic year, and they must file for FAFSA every year. While enrolled at UT, students will continue to receive the guarantee regardless of their families fluctuating financial situation and the amount of their Pell Grant, Burns said. Once youre in the guarantee, even if your Pell eligibility changes, youre still a guarantee student, Burns said. You just have to fill out the FAFSA every year. Burns said this program is expected to run far into the future, so the UT Guarantee program will evolve to cope with any problems or concerns that arise. This is a real marathon, he said. This is something thats going to take a lot of work, a lot of effort and a lot of rolling up your sleeves and doing it right.

Crazyfficiency From Page A2

tion of effort." Perhaps the time taken in logging on, pursuing the files and selecting material that seems pertinent could have been spent on actually being present at the birth of the lecture and [on] personal ideas on the material, Blatz said.

We should consider the riches we have at the tips of our fingers in the instructors we could learn from personally as well as en masse. Some students also expressed concern about the sites potential to hinder education. If a student continues to go to all their classes and uses this source only to add to

their current studying, then this could be a very helpful site, said Robert Pollock, a freshman majoring in business. Although, I can see where a student may use the site as a crutch rather than just an extra resource for studying. The Class Connection sign up process is comparable to that of, for example, Face-

book.com or Myspace.com. The academic Web site also guarantees a better GPA in just one semester or the creators will reward $1,000 worth of personal tutoring from Smarthinking.com for the next semester. Director for the Center of Teaching and Learning Bernie Bopp expressed concerns about students use of the Web

site. The most important goal for any student is to learn how to learn, he said. If students believe that the route to good grades is having a copy of the notes and memorizing enough stuff, then they are deceiving themselves. Bopp said the tools such as study groups, flashcards and public notes seemed like they

would be helpful, but he thought the opportunity to always be able to retrieve a copy of notes would be a bit tempting. It is [tempting] if students believe that having a copy of the notes, or of somebody else's notes, is the same as learning the material, he said. I see this as potentially a serious downside.

The

IC Get Involved
Dont just News
Access our Web sites message board to leave your comments about our most recent stories. on the

Read

the news

Write the

Comment

News

Were always hiring writers for all of our sections. Visit our office to pick up an application. Get experience writing and interviewing while working to meet specific deadlines.

Use our Web site to send in your letter to the editor or send it to Forum@independentcollegian.com

Spread
the

News News
Post articles or columns you think your friends need to read directly on Facebook by using tools found at the bottom of each article.

Add our RSS feeds to your Web site or Home Page to get continually updated headlines.

Visit our office:

Contact us

2132 Middlesex Dr. Toledo, OH 43606

Call or e-mail:

419-534-2438
editor@independentcollegian.com

www.independentcollegian.com