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Wondering where to find Huntington Bank? In the past, students have had easy access to the Huntington location right outside the Eatery at the Student Union for their banking needs. This year, things are a little different as The Market has taken the place of Huntington Bank. The Market, which has moved from its old location on the first floor of the Student Union, is open seven days a week, from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday, and 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Here, students can find a variety of essential items, such as snacks, fresh baked goods, cold drinks, school supplies, and chargers for electronic devices. An extension of the Barnes & Noble Bookstore at UT Gateway has taken up residence on the first floor of the Student Union where The Market used to be. Although there are no textbooks at the Student Union location, the presence of this branch saves those looking for school supplies, UT apparel, and other merchandise a walk to Gateway. Anyone looking for Huntington now should stop by the Huntington ATM on the first floor of the Student Union across from the Federal Credit Union, or visit Huntington Bank at the UT Gateway next to the Barnes & Noble. The hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, with ATM access 24/7.

Many UToledo students and fans may be familiar with the missile located outside the Glass Bowl Stadium. The rocket is painted in UT's school colors--navy and gold--and acts as the centerpiece of the northeast entrance to the stadium, commanding the attention of anyone entering the Glass Bowl. More interesting than the structure of the missile itself is the origin and positioning of the missile. To the untrained eye, the rocket may look like nothing more than an interesting statue after the school’s namesake, however, it is not just any statue. The rocket was donated to the university by the US Army Missile Program back in 1961-- the same year that the program was disbanded--and is an actual Nike-Ajax Rocket. This particular type of rocket can reach subsonic speeds and altitudes of over 50,000 feet when launched. The rocket outside of the Glass Bowl Stadium is no different, fitted with a propellant booster that would theoretically be able to carry UT’s own rocket to those same speeds. Not only would this rocket be able to reach subsonic velocities if launched, but due to the positioning of the rocket itself, it would also be launched directly into the 50-yard line of our arch-nemesis’s stadium. This rocket was positioned specifically with Bowling Green’s location in mind, making it the perfect statement piece for the Glass Bowl Stadium. Furthermore, although Ajax missiles laid the groundwork for several breakthroughs in their field--even outside of the militant world--they were decommissioned in 1960, making the one that now resides on campus a relic of the past in more ways than one. Although it would not be possible to launch the missile as it is now for several reasons (including the lack of fuel and the age of the rocket among other things), the mere existence of it as both a playful reminder of UT’s rivalry with Bowling Green and as a thoughtful gift from the now dissolved US Army Missile Program makes it a beautiful piece of UT’s rich history.

Available parking at the University of Toledo is a pressing issue on campus for students and staff members alike. Students in particular have chimed in with their opinions on the situation as it currently stands, offering their concerns and critiques regarding it as well as a few suggestions for future improvements. It is worth noting that, of the students that have responded to the line of questioning at hand, the majority of them have C parking passes, though a few of the other students that responded use other passes. Significant issues that have been mentioned by several of the questioned students included a range of difficulties from pricing to distance from campus to availability and accessibility- each of these issues having its own merit. The most talked about issue is the one of how expensive the parking passes are when compared to how many parking spots are actually available for students to access. There are about 15,603 students currently enrolled for the fall semester at UToledo, yet the majority of these students are displeased by the current parking situation. Every student interviewed commented that the number of available spots was too small compared to how much money they were paying for this service. Although some students pay up to $300 for their parking passes, many of them found that they could not even access the parking spots that they were paying hundreds of dollars to use. Several students have reported driving around campus searching for available spots for up to an hour at a time. In many of these cases, students would be forced to park in spots that were not suited for their needs and often so far from their classes and the rest of campus that paying for parking on campus barely seemed worth it to them with how much extra time they would have to spend walking. In more unfortunate cases, some students even found themselves unable to access a parking spot even after driving around for an extended period of time and would either have to resort to returning home for the day or parking in the parking lot of a nearby business instead and walking to campus. This is not only a massive inconvenience to many students attending this university but also an incredibly unsafe practice that could lead to students finding themselves in dangerous situations simply because they are trying to find viable parking so they can attend the classes they are paying so much for. This scarcity of parking spaces becomes an even bigger concern when the time for events, games, and tours comes around. These occasions lead to parking spaces being blocked off from students for entire days, making the already sparse parking options an even bigger obstacle for students to overcome on their way to classes. The frequency with which these events occur makes this an even bigger issue for students who find that there are several days a semester where parking is almost impossible for them to deal with. Days when football games are hosted on campus are the worst days for parking, students report, and several have stated that they often simply skip their classes for the day rather than struggle through a sea of other students to find a parking spot for the day. Playing into this issue is the problem of parking tickets. Students have claimed that they see the current ticketing system as a “money grab” with only a small number of students reporting that they viewed the pricing of tickets to be reasonable for the offense. Nearly every student interviewed believes that the prices for the parking tickets were unreasonably high and given out at a ridiculous rate. Prices for parking passes are already quite hefty considering how much students struggle with even finding spots to use, making some students wonder whether or not parking on campus is worth the money and the hassle of the process. Several students have even reported being ticketed unfairly, receiving tickets without deserving them. The process for receiving information regarding ticketed vehicles also frustrates many students who find that the process is too slow and difficult, many not receiving notice in the mail regarding the tickets until too much time has passed for them to attempt to argue the ticket. Fear of this issue not being taken seriously and not seeing a resolution has left students distraught. Another complaint voiced by several students was the lack of accessibility in the parking lots seen around campus. Although most of the lots do have handicap spots, there are usually only a handful of handicapped spots available and several disabled students have reported that they are not even able to use these spots. Often, this is because professors and other faculty members- both disabled and able-bodied- use the spots instead. Although the faculty members who are disabled have every right to be utilizing these spots, it is ridiculous that there are so few that most disabled students find themselves unable to use them. The fact that several students have found able-bodied people using the handicapped parking spaces and leaving none available for the people who actually need them displays a lack of respect and concern for the disabled students and faculty of UToledo. As for the positives of parking on campus, students do generally agree that they appreciate how simple the process of obtaining and paying for a parking pass was. Students find the process straight-forward and appreciate how that impacts When asked what improvements could be made to the parking situation at UT, the biggest suggestion was expanding available parking through the addition of parking structures such as the garages that were previously torn down due to safety concerns. The reconstruction of these types of structures would provide students with much-needed parking spots that they all need and would help cut down on the issues currently being faced by students while trying to park on campus. This, of course, implies adding more handicapped spaces to these new structures. The students of the University of Toledo plead to be heard and for their concerns to be seen and addressed as the serious issues that they are.

The Toledo Rockets started the season with three back-to-back wins, two of which were at home, one of which was in front of a packed house. According to UT Athletics, 25,515 fans filled the Glass Bowl for the season home opener, the largest in the stadium since Sept. 28, 2019, when Toledo played Brigham Young University in front of 24,889 fans. During the home opener on Aug. 29, the Rockets defeated the Duquesne Dukes 49-10. Junior quarterback Tucker Gleason completed 15 of 23 passes for a total of 205 yards and three first-half touchdowns. Six different Rockets found the end zone that day, with a pair of rushing touchdowns – one by senior running back Jacquez Stuart and the other by junior running back Willie Shaw III. Freshman wide receiver Zy’marion Lang, senior wide receiver Jerjuan Newton, senior tight end Anthony Torres, and junior wide receiver Junior Vandeross III all snagged passes for touchdowns. Toledo’s defense held Duquesne a total of 282 yards and forced three turnovers. Sophomore safety Braden Awls led the defense with a career-high nine tackles, a sack, and an interception. The Rockets went on to defeat the University of Massachusetts Minutemen 38-23 on Sept. 7 in a hard-fought matchup in front of 21,668 fans at the Glass Bowl. Gleason connected with Newton for a 40-yard touchdown, scoring the first points of the game. During the game Newton continued to add to his career total of receiving yards, and surpassed 2,032, which makes him the fourteenth Rocket to surpass 2,000 receiving yards in a career. With 2:44 left in the first half, a 98- yard kickoff return by Stuart to gave Toledo a narrow 17-13 lead going into the locker room. In the second half, Vandeross caught Gleason’s pass over the middle and bolted to the end zone for a 73-yard touchdown, increasing Toledo’s lead to 24-16. Toledo’s defense came through with a solid performance for the second week in a row, breaking up six passes and sacking UMass’ quarterback Taisun Phommachanh five times. With 4:23 left in the third quarter, Phommachanh’s pass was intercepted by Awls at Toledo’s 27-yard line. The Rockets took their winning way on the road the following week and notched a 41-17 blowout victory at Mississippi State on Sept. 14. The victory was Toledo’s first win against a “Power Four” opponent in nine years and its second ever versus an SEC opponent. The last Rocket victory over an SEC opponent was a 16 to 12 victory over No. 18 Arkansas in 2015. Toledo was never seriously challenged during the game. The Rockets took the Bulldogs for a walk, never relinquishing the lead through all four quarters. The Rockets held a 7-0 first-quarter lead and upped the margin to 28-3 by halftime. The Rockets led 35-10 headed into the fourth quarter. Gleason had perhaps his best overall game as a collegiate athlete; he connected on 23-of-28 passes for 285 yards and three TDs. Gleason was recognized among the Manning Award Stars of the Week and the Davey O’Brien Foundation’s “Great 8” on Sept. 16 following Toledo’s victory at Mississippi State. The game marked Gleason’s third consecutive performance of three passing touchdowns. With his weekly selection, Gleason has been added to the Davey O’Brien Award Watch List. The following week, on Sept. 21, the Rockets fell 26-21 to the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers in Bowling Green, Kentucky. The Rockets took a 21-20 lead in the third quarter before lightning paused the game for 75 minutes. After the delay, a safety and two rushing touchdowns by WKU quarterback Caden Veltkamp in the span of 10:23 gave the Hilltoppers the lead with 5:16 left in the game. The Rockets were unable to score, despite getting within the 10-yard line on two different drives. The following week, Newton was named to the watch list for the 2024 Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year. This award honors one college football student-athlete who demonstrates a record of leadership through exceptional courage, integrity, and sportsmanship, both on and off the field. Twenty semifinalists for the Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year will be announced on Oct. 22. The Rockets return to the Glass Bowl Oct. 5 at 3:30 p.m. in the conference opener against Miami University for the Homecoming Game. Students get free entry to all athletic events with their Rocket Card.

It took the University of Toledo Board of Trustees less than a week to pick the person they wanted to lead UToledo once President Gregory Postel announced on April 23 that he was leaving UT to accept a position at the University of Cincinnati. On April 29, Matt Schroeder, then UT’s chief financial officer, was named interim president. More than five months in, it appears the trustees are pleased with their decision, as there is no ongoing search for a permanent president. Meghan Cunningham, vice president for marketing and communications, said a search committee has not been formed and she is “not familiar with those plans” of if and when one will be formed. Either way, Schroeder has every intention of being a candidate. “At some point, the board of trustees will do a search, and they should do a search. When that happens, I have every intention to throw my hat in the ring,” Schroeder said. “I think what I have to offer this university at this time and at this point of need has great value.” Schroeder received his bachelor’s degree in management at UT’s business college and has an MBA in business administration from the University of Michigan. “My vision for the University of Toledo is to be a regional force powering opportunities to learn, care, work, and play,” Schroeder said. In early June, Larry Kelley was hired as the CFO to fill the void created by Schroeder’s new position. Kelley had served as UT’s CFO from 2015 to 2018 but left for other opportunities “I can’t do two jobs, and it would be a disservice to the University to do two jobs,” Schroeder said about the hiring of Kelley. During his brief tenure, Schroeder has dealt with an array of issues. Perhaps the most pressing is the continuing decline in enrollment. On Sept. 10, UT announced the fall enrollment numbers. UT tallied 14,440 students total, which is down 573 from last fall semester, a 3.8 percent decline. Schroeder defended the overall number decreasing, but acknowledged it’s time to stabilize and grow after the recent slide in enrollment, while also saying growing clinical margins is one of his top priorities as acting president. “Just because enrollment is down, there are wins within the overall numbers,” Schroeder said. “Transfers up, pharmacy is up, engineering is up, law is up a record number.” Schroeder said identifying who they are as a university is critical. “Invest in those programs that the students want and need and that the economy wants and needs.” While the fall enrollment numbers may be the most tangible issue the interim president has faced, in July he dealt with the reaction to UToledo’s latest re-branding efforts. On July 16, officials announced the University was adding magenta and cyan to the branding color palette, but stressed that midnight blue and gold will still be the primary school colors. “Our midnight blue and gold is not changing, that is who we are, that is who we will always be,” Schroeder stressed. The introduction of additional colors to UToledo’s marketing efforts is something that Schroeder inherited, as the process was started long before he was named interim president. Either way, he is hopeful that this, along with the new campaign slogan “The Power To Do,” will help UT have a clear marketing plan. “Going back to 2006ish, the University of Toledo lacked a comprehensive marketing campaign,” he said. He hopes the new slogan, aided with the additional colors, might help unify the university’s recruitment efforts.

Secor Road has reopened in time for the start of the Fall semester. The road has been closed since January 3 for a full bridge replacement, hindering student flow and increasing car traffic on campus. The bridge opened one-lane traffic in both directions on August 23. West Centennial Mall (the space between Wolfe Hall, Memorial Field House, and the Student Union) was complete in time for the start of the Fall semester as well, with previous desire paths between buildings now paved sidewalks. North Engineering will undergo continued internal renovations, which are slated to end by January 2023. All classrooms and laboratories currently in Palmer Hall will then move to North Engineering, allowing for the eventual destruction of Palmer Hall. Construction on a pedestrian bridge across Douglas Road is scheduled to begin in "early 2024," according to a previous interview with Nicole Baden, University Architect and Director of Planning, Design, and Construction.

Planned Parenthood has introduced a new online feature that provides clients with a safe and reliable way to receive virtual healthcare. Telehealth, also known as Telemedicine, is an online platform that allows or medical personnel to connect with patients virtually, rather than in-office. "Patients can use today's technology as a secure platform to interact with healthcare providers without physically going to the site and still have the face-to-face component of an in-person appointment" said Dr. Adarsh Krishen, the Chief Medical Officer of Planned Parenthood of Greater Ohio (PPGOH). Why Telehealth? Although Planned Parenthood debuted their Telehealth services during the COVID-19 Pandemic, the need for access to quality healthcare within this online service has continued to grow. The community of college students and staff on campus may uniquely benefit from this new service. The online aspect of Telehealth works to eliminate any anxieties or fear that students may have while seeking professional healthcare, and there is no need to worry about transportation or scheduling conflicts, considering same-day appointments are available for your convenience. "A primary goal of Planned Parenthood's Telehealth service is to provide more access to patients who need our resources, and to ensure that it is available for patients in a timely manner," said Dr. Krishen. Planned Parenthood services that are offered through Telehealth include HIV,STD, and UTI testing and treatment, birth control, emergency contraception, PEP/PrEP, and gender affirming hormone therapy. After the appointment, the healthcare professional will walk you through the next steps of your treatment plan, discuss options for medications, and assist in scheduling any follow up appointments, if necessary. How To Access Telehealth Services Telehealth is a service that is utilized nationwide, but in order for patients to be served by PPGOH, they must be within the borders of the state of Ohio at the time of the appointment in order to be helped. The Telehealth service is available through video, phone, chat, or text. It is completely private and confidential; students just need to find a private and safe space with internet access to have the appointment. Appointments can be scheduled online via the Planned Parenthood website.

The University of Toledo became “Tobacco Free” in 2014, but, despite the ban, vaping is still evident on main campus. UToledo is not alone. According to a report by the American College Health Association (ACHA), in the fall of 2022 78 percent of students reported using e-cigarettes or other vape products within the last three months, while 40.8 percent reported having used cigarettes within the same time frame. ACHA collects vape and cigarette usage data each semester from approximately 125 institutions across the country. In 2011, UT restricted tobacco use on the main campus to designated outdoor areas, with the University going so far as to erecting “butt huts” in several locations so smokers would have some protection from the elements when getting their fix. Two years later, a student-led initiative prompted UT Trustees to re-examine the University’s policy. In fall of 2013 a UT Student Government survey found 60 percent (3,049) of all respondents were in support of a complete ban across campus. Despite Student Senate refusing to support legislation backing a smoking ban, then UTSG President Emily Kramp and her Vice President Lauren Jencen moved forward on the proposal “without the SG brand.” With the support of the University Council and the Faculty Senate, the pair brought the proposal to the administration. After listening to arguments from both sides of the issue, the Board of Trustees adopted the ban in April 2014. It took effect in fall of that year. The policy bans the use of tobacco— including cigarettes, snuff, chew, and other smokeless tobaccos—and the use of electronic cigarettes on all UToledo campuses. As part of the new policy, “Tobacco Free” signs were posted around campus and advertisements and sales of tobacco on campus were halted. The policy encourages people to confront smokers themselves, or to report those they see violating the smoking ban. The ban is not a law, and therefore is not enforced by campus police. Student violators should be reported to the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards (OSC&CS). The conduct office handles violations on acase-by-case basis, avoiding punitive measures altogether, according to Alex Lewin, Associate Director of OSC&CS. Students who have violated the policy will receive sanctions that “aim towards helping the student learn from the incident and understand the impact they have made for themselves and others,” Lewin said. The sanctions attempt to guide the student toward repairing harm and figuring out how to make different decisions moving forward. The philosophy behind the conduct focuses on aiding students with making choices that align with the values of the collective and themselves, he said. For faculty and staff violators people should report them to their respective unit head. Dr. Jason Rose, a psychology professor at the University, said communityis very important when attempting to quit. He encourages students to rely on their peers for support as well. “Research shows that people are more likely to engage in a health behavior when they have social support and interact with someone going through a similar situation,” he said. The UToledo Counseling Center has a specialized programming for quitting, but students can also utilize outside resources such as 1-800-QUIT-NOW, which pairs callers with a specialist who will help them set up a plan. Another external source is smokefree.gov, where the user is able to find support and aid, no matter where they are on their tobacco cessation journey. People who spot a violation of the tobacco ban can report it to OSC&CS in person in SU 2518 or by contacting atodprevention@utoledo.edu.

A decline in the number of meal plans sold has forced Chartwells, UToledo’s Dining Service contractor, to reduce the hours of operations of its two main dining areas on campus, leaving students with fewer options for certain meals. The changes have negatively affected service according to some students, with reports one facility constantly runs out of food and does not have enough seating to accommodate customers, so some students are forced to eat standing. The Eatery in the Student Union provides breakfast and lunch and is open from 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Monday to Friday, while the Food Hall in Ottawa East is only open from 2 to 8:30 p.m. Monday to Friday and 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekends. According to Justin Rose, Student Government’s Dining Chair, Chartwells was 250 meal plans short of keeping the old dining hall schedule for the cafeterias at the Student Union and at Ottawa West. Last year, the Eatery in the Student Union was open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., while the Food Hall in Ottawa East was open from 7 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. The time and location of meal swipes from last year determined the new hours, Rose said. Labor was the biggest factor that led to the reduced hours, citing Chartwells’ mission is to not risk quality over quantity, he said. Karina James, Jaydon Cirincioyce, and Ella Kurto are three sophomores who have lived together in Ottawa East since last school year. Members of the cross country and track and field teams, last year they would get breakfast in the Food Hall before heading off to morning practice. Now, with breakfast only available at the Eatery in the Student Union, they do not have enough time to eat in the Union before heading to practice and starting their day. According to James, no one in charge of the dining halls has paid attention to students with complaints about the new hours of operations and cafeteria services have not improved since the beginning of the semester. Cirincioyce said various foods continually run out in the Food Hall at Ottawa East and since the start of the semester the dining hall has not been able to accommodate all of the students who show up for meals. She said it is not uncommon that some students are forced to eat their meals standing up due to the lack of chairs and tables. Ashley Westgate, Student Government’s Campus Culture Chair and a resident of MacKinnon Hall, said she has avoided the Food Hall for dinner this semester. It takes her about 15 minutes to get from her dorm on the north side of campus to Ottawa East. She saidshe has also avoided Ottawa East this year due to the lackluster service and the long distance when compared to the dining options offered at the Student Union. As an alternative, she has been using her Dining Dollars and Meal Exchanges weekly with her Rocket 14 Weekly plan. Dining Dollars are used to buy from dining retail locations, dining centers, and/or convenience stores on campus. Meal Exchanges can be used in place of Meal Swipes that offers one meal per swipe at The Eatery in the Student Union and the Food Hall in Ottawa West. Meal Exchanges also cover a select number of menu items from on-campus dining services. A list of items can be found at www.dineoncampus.com/utoledo/meal-exchange. An upside of Food Hall at Ottawa East, according to Westgate, is the facility opens an hour early for students with allergies, such as her friend who has peanut, soy, and egg allergies. The allergy hours have had no marketing from Chartwells, but anyone who is eligible can contact Dietitian Lisa Langhals for more details (lisa.langhals@compass-usa.com). Brian Kulpa, Executive Director of Auxiliary Services, who supervises all outside contractors, including Chartwells, declined requests for an interview without questions being furnished in advance.

The Black Student Union’s 54th Annual Fashion Show on Feb. 29 capped off a month of programming celebrating Black History Month at UToledo. Black-owned vendors collaborated with student models for the show and sold items during the event. Models also presented alternative forms of art, such as paintings and dance. The event was organized by Rylee McBride, the director of special events for BSU, and presented by emcees Majesty Ali and Cole Fullen, who kept the audience engaged with their excitement and energy. This year’s theme was “The Four Seasons,” designed to highlight the resilience and strength of Black students throughout all change. Each year, as part of the Fashion Show, the Black Student Union Scholarship is awarded to one or two UT students. This year, however, BSU president Christina Charley and vice president Shirrell Williams announced BSU is currently unable to provide the scholarship due to the federal upending of affirmative action on Jun. 29, 2023. Under new affirmative action guidelines, “the university considers this to be an unfair advantage to a specific ethnic group,” Charley said. Currently, BSU and other racially and ethnically based organizations on campus are “fighting to ensure their members can receive the assistance they need to thrive in their college experience,” she added. According to Charley, the university was given the choice to approve this change in funds or to decline it. UT chose to approve the change. “Organizations that are targeted towards a particular race are at risk of losing not only the ability Models, emcees, and organizers of the Black Student Union’s 54th Annual Fashion Show celebrate another successful night. to reward a student with financial aid, but also their space on the campus as an organization in general,” she said. The two student leaders ended their speech reassuring students they were still looking for ways to present the scholarship, potentially at a later date.

Toledo has the 48th highest sexually transmitted infection (STI) rate of all cities in the U.S., according to a report by Innerbody Research, Inc., a California-based collective of researchers, scientists, and medical professionals. Interbody used 2023 data gathered by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The primary STIs affecting the Toledo area are chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis, the last of which is on the rise nationwide. The U.S. has experienced a 28.6 percent rise in syphilis since the CDC’s last annual study. The statistics for northwest Ohio mirror national trends, particularly regarding syphilis. In 2023, 70 percent of cases in Ohio were found in men who have sex with other men, over 60 percent of cases were reported in people 40 and younger, and 48 percent of cases last year were African American. “Toledo is the hub of people who actually travel to other areas,” said Donna Fox, an HIV and STI Prevention and Management Specialist for Lucas County. Fox referenced I-475 and I-75 passing through the city as contributing factors to Toledo’s high rates of STIs. According to Fox, 42 percent of the individuals with syphilis met their partner online and 12 percent contracted the illness through transactional sex. "They may be exchanging it for a safe place to sleep, they may be exchanging it for drugs, so a variety of ways that transactional sex is there,” Fox explained. Danielle Van Fleet, HIV testing coordinator for UTMC, said one issue affecting college students’ sexual health is insurance, noting “an explanation of benefits will be sent home to the guardians and will likely say something about a sexual health screening or sexual health testing or something, and if that person isn’t comfortable talking to their guardians about their sexuality or their sex practices, that’s going to bring up a conversation they might not really be willing to have and might not be safe for them.” Yet another barrier to sexual health is the stigma around getting tested. “It’s important that we’re not shaming about sex practices, you know, it’s just we want people to be more educated,” Van Fleet said. “Ohio is an abstinence only state, meaning that the schools only have to teach abstinence. They can teach more if they choose.” Nationwide, there were 220 cases of infant death due to prenatal syphilis in 2023, with this disproportionately affecting people of color. According to the Innerbody Research report, “nearly 90 percent of these cases of newborn syphilis were preventable through testing and treatment during pregnancy.” The report cites lack of health insurance, lack of public health infrastructure, housing insecurity, and substance abuse disorders as the primary causative factors of the uneven distribution of STIs. UT resources include the Sexuality Health Clinic, which provides free HIV testing, condoms, pregnancy tests, and sexual health information. The recurring event is hosted in Carlson Library room 1009, from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., on each first and third Tuesday of the month. Planned Parenthood of Northwest Ohio provides STI/HIV testing and treatment, emergency contraceptives, and free safe sex materials such as condoms. For more information, call 419-255-1115 or visit Planned Parenthood at 1301 Jefferson Ave. All Ohio residents 16 and older can go to OHIV.org and order free discreetly packaged condoms right to their doorstep.

More than 18 months after Karen Bjorkman stepped down as Provost, it was announced in February that Dr. Scott Molitor will continue as interim provost and executive vice president for academic affairs for the 2024-25 academic year. This is despite indications in January that a new permanent provost was at hand. Two finalists vying to be UT’s next provost visited campus in January to meet with students, faculty, and staff. Both finalists had a 75-minute forum with the UToledo community where they gave personal presentations about themselves and answered questions. Dr. Amy B. Hietapelto, the interim executive vice chancellor for academic affairs at the University of Minnesota Duluth, visited campus on Jan. 18 and Dr. Abby L. Parrill, dean of the college of arts and sciences and former interim provost at the University of Memphis, visited campus on Jan. 22. On Feb. 20, the University announced Molitor’s contract was extended through June 30, 2025 “following a decision by UToledo President Gregory Postel and leadership of the Board of Trustees to end the current provost search allowing for a continued conversation about the restructuring of the roles of the University’s provost and strategic enrollment leader.” “We felt like bringing in somebody from the outside at this point would be too disruptive again,” Molitor said. In the announcement, President Postel praised Molitor’s work as interim provost, saying, “Scott has quickly become a trusted and highly respected leader as our interim chief academic officer in a period of robust change in both higher education more broadly and at UToledo specifically.” “I appreciate his continued leadership as we position the University for continued success,” Postel added. Molitor was originally named the interim provost in September 2023 after Dr. Risa Dickson was removed as interim. Dickson was appointed in 2022 after Karen Bjorkman resigned as provost to return to a faculty position. Prior to assuming the interim provost role, Molitor was vice provost for academic affairs and acting dean of the College of Graduate Studies. Molitor has been a member of the UToledo bioengineering faculty since 2000 and held a number of administrative roles in the College of Engineering before joining the Office of the Provost staff in 2022. Molitor is not interested in the permanent position. “I just don’t think I have the background and the experience to be the best provost this university can get,” Molitor said.