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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.

Top Shelf as seen from the intersection of Secor Rd. and Door St. Top Shelf, a chain of Ohio Liquor stores, has opened a new location at 3303 Dorr St., in the building that used to house Campus Pollyeyes. The restaurant closed its doors in March and Top Shelf opened Aug. 23. Ohio Liquor (OHLQ) is a unique public/private partnership that works to ensure “the safe and fair distribution of high-proof liquor” across the state. It funnels profits from the sale of liquor to economic development initiatives in Ohio, according to the OHLQ. One of the store’s closest neighbors is the University of Toledo Public Safety Center, right across the road. UT’s top cop, Chief of Police Rod Theis, doesn’t expect any issues with the new business on the edge of campus. “I do not feel it will create any type of issue for the campus or campus community,” Chief Theis said. “I typically do not comment on businesses or property not associated with the university.” The chief ’s assessment was shared by at least one UToledo professor. “I don’t think it’s going to have a big difference,” said Dwight Haase, a sociology professor on campus. “My understanding is that with younger generations, they’re consuming less alcohol and more of other substances. “If people are accessing alcohol, they’re already doing it anyway,” he added. Reaction from students was philosophical. Eighteen-year-old film and video major Natalia Wilson has not visited the store, and quipped “I just know it’s there – like heaven.” Cam Taraszka, a 21-year-old marketing major, didn’t think the proximity of the liquor store would have any impact on campus culture. “Truthfully, no. I think it’s inevitable that college kids are going to be drinking,” they said. “If people want alcohol, they’re going to get alcohol. The OHLQ operates under the auspices of the Ohio Department of Commerce, and “advocating for responsible consumption is always [their] top priority.” Top Shelf has state oversight and provides several support resources on their website for those struggling with substance abuse at ohlq.com .

The University of Toledo is taking an extensive review of its anti-hazing policy, initially effective on February 11, 2011, to ensure all aspects of Collin’s Law are accounted for. “One of the things that we’re looking at is making sure that the way we define hazing in the policy is current and truly reflects all of the different ways that hazing can appear and show up,” said Alex Zernechel, associate director of The Office of Student Engagement. Senate Bill 126, or Collin’s Law, is the Ohio Anti-Hazing Act signed into law by Governor Mike DeWine. The bill went into effect October 7, 2021. The enactment of Collin’s Law makes Ohio the 11th U.S. state to make hazing a felony offense. Collin’s Law defines hazing as doing any act, or coercing another to do any act, of reinstatement or initiation into any student or other organization that causes or creates a substantial risk of causing mental or physical harm to any person, including coercing another to consume alcohol or a drug of abuse. Hazing can include acts of servitude and other acts demeaning in nature. According to the law, no person shall recklessly participate in the hazing of another nor permit the hazing of any person, a violation of which is a fourth degree misdemeanor. If the hazing incident causes serious physical harm to the victim, it is chargeable as a first degree misdemeanor. If the hazing incident involves coerced consumption or drugs or alcohol that results in serious physical harm, it is a third degree felony offense. The creation of Collin’s Law came after the hazing-related death of Collin Wiant, a freshman at Ohio University, at a privately-owned location off campus in November 2018. Wiant died from asphyxiation after a hazing ritual for the Sigma Pi Fraternity, Epsilon Chapter, involving sleep deprivation, physical beating, and the forced ingestion of drugs or alcohol. Wiant’s parents, Kathleen and Wade Wiant, didn’t let their son’s story go untold, advocating for the passing of an anti-hazing law in his name. Collin’s story sparked a national conversation about hazing, and it hit especially close to home for the Rockets when Stone Foltz, a sophomore at Bowling Green State University, died of alcohol intoxication in March 2021 after attending a Pi Kappa Alpha new member initiation event, also held at an off-campus house. Members of the fraternity were later charged with multiple counts of hazing, manslaughter, homicide, and others. Zernechel said these incidents and the creation of Collin’s law led to the development of the Anti-Hazing training at The University of Toledo to accompany the policy. “This is an ongoing conversation and it is not a conversation that is unique to us,” said Zernechel. “Every institution is struggling with trying to get the campus and the community to understand the significance of hazing.” UToledo partnered with AliveTek in 2022 to offer an online anti-hazing training to the campus community, but in 2025, the university will be moving its modules to the online platform Vector, which currently houses all other educational modules for students. The anti-hazing modules offered include Hazing 101, Fraternity and Sorority, and a Faculty and Staff module. Per Ohio law, these modules are to be completed yearly by all members of a student organization, including fraternities and sororities who have a specific training, and staff members who advise or coach an organization and who have direct contact with students. The University is required to provide a hazing report with a five-year expiration window on their website, to be updated twice a year, once on January 15, and again on August 15. It is only required that incidents with people who have been found responsible for hazing are listed, which excludes allegations or findings of other violations. The most recent listing on the Hazing Report is an alcohol related hazing incident in October 2018. The older members of the Kappa Delta Sorority encouraged new, underage members to drink a mass amount of alcohol at a Big/ Little event and as a result, the sorority was placed on social probation and received other sanctions including fees, fines, trainings, and placed on a restorative action plan. Given that this event occurred before Collin’s Law, Zernechel says the consequences for this kind of incident would be much more strict now. Director of The Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards Alex Schwartz says the office receives between two and four hazing allegations per semester, and based on the low number of hazing allegations confirmed, it is not a common occurrence on UToledo’s campus. The Office of Student Conduct investigates every hazing report they receive to determine credibility and the likelihood that an incident of hazing did occur. The investigation includes gathering information on the report and the event, charging an individual or organization with a violation of the student code of conduct and or the law, depending on the situation, and serving individual or group sanctions. There are also sanctions for not completing the Anti-Hazing training, but the university is still working to clearly define what those consequences are, which will be addressed by the Office of Legal Affairs, Division of Student Affairs, and the Compliance Office in the policy review. “The sanctions are going to be aimed at being educational, but they may include a restriction from participating in that organization for a certain period of time or until they’ve completed the training,” Schwartz said. Alpha Psi Lambda Vice President Nya Quimbaya says that she and her leadership team enforce the anti-hazing training in their co-ed fraternity because they understand the importance and severity of avoiding and reporting hazing incidents on campus. “I think it’s very important to have continued education,” Quimbaya said. “Always have it in the back of your head to be educated on the subject because there are simple things that people do that can be considered hazing. Quimbaya and her team ensure all organization members complete the training by delegating tasks, holding members accountable at weekly chapter meetings, and reaching out to members individually if the training has not been completed. She said her advice for new organizations who are looking to complete the training is to try and get it done sooner rather than later to avoid having someone who cannot continue their participation in the organization. If a student knows about an incident of hazing or any other student conduct violation, they are encouraged to fill out a student conduct report by using the Report A Concern option at the bottom of the UToledo website. The form can be submitted anonymously, if preferred, and should include all supporting evidence of the claim.

Dr. Tony Bourne, vice president for strategic enrollment management The University of Toledo has recently hired a permanent Vice President for Strategic Enrollment Management: Tony Bourne. Bourne began his position at the University on Oct. 28. The decision to hire a permanent vice president has been ongoing for several years, with previous positions being interim or from external consulting firms. The University of Toledo President’s Office made the ultimate decision on the pick, with many different university departments and offices as well as a search committee assisting and providing feedback on the candidates. All candidates went through an extensive interviewing and search process, including forums with the search committee and consulting firm, surveys and feedback from a variety of different university departments, and a day long interviewing process which narrowed down the candidates to Bourne. Bourne has decades of experience in enrollment and student success, beginning his career in enrollment management at Wright State University, then expanding his experience at Rhode State College, Heidelberg University, and the University of Memphis before applying for the position at Toledo. “It’s about time we stand on our own two feet and have our own internal enrollment management vice president,” said Interim Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs Scott Molitor. The Division of Enrollment Management is currently responsible for the recruitment of traditional, nontraditional, and transfer students, as well as enrollment marketing and communication with prospective students, data analyzation, and financial aid for students. One of the main goals for the Division of Enrollment Management is to create a more integrated partnership between enrollment and student success at Toledo, ensuring that students are recruited and provided with what they need to succeed at the University. While Toledo and other universities across the state and country have experienced some declines in enrollment, it is the hope that this new hire and direction will help to increase enrollment at Toledo, for not only traditional students, but nontraditional and transfer students as well. The Division of Enrollment Management is hoping to be more informed and integrated with various academic and student departments of the University. It is also their goal to increase efficiency within their division, and the University as a whole, as well as making changes to allocation of administrative resources, student engagement and recruitment, and financial aid for students. “If I go out and I recruit a student, I want them to have a very good chance of being successful, and that we are going to do everything possible to make sure that that happens,” said Vice President for Strategic Enrollment Management Tony Bourne. The Division of Enrollment Management is also hoping to work more closely with the University’s Department of Marketing and Communication, hoping to use resources to recruit slightly larger incoming classes throughout the years. “It’s about telling our story, it’s about showing the potential, showing what current students have done so that future students can envision themselves in those same positions,” said university Communication Specialist Tyrel Linkhorn. On Nov. 19, Bourne presented and answered questions at a University Faculty Senate meeting, introducing themselves to faculty and discussing how they planned on interpreting and reaching the goals of Toledo’s five-year strategic enrollment plan. “There’s lots of room for his ideas and his leadership to help us achieve the goals in that plan,” said Faculty Senate President and Associate Professor Jerry Van Hoy. Bourne discussed their plans to increase student enrollment by increasing the quality of recruiting events and tactics rather than quantity. They also highlighted the importance of consistent messaging and marketing as well as recruitment of nontraditional students and workforce development. The importance of highlighting hands-on experiences at Toledo was also discussed by Bourne, as well as the importance of involving staff and current students in the recruitment and enrollment process. “We have to remember what we do well and focus on it, and I think he will help us do that,” said Van Hoy. Bourne answered a variety of questions from faculty regarding recruitment of nontraditional students and declining enrollment at Toledo, as well as how faculty could help. The overall faculty reaction to the hiring of Bourne was a positive one, with excitement regarding the permanence of his position at Toledo. “He showed a lot of enthusiasm for this job, and he answered questions without any hesitation,” said Van Hoy. Bourne began his position less than a month ago and is currently focused on learning more about various University departments and increasing efficiency within the enrollment division, as well as creating a strategy for slightly increased University enrollment that is more integrated with student success. “I believe in everything that’s happening here, and I think that we can do some really great things. We just have to have the commitment,” said Bourne.

Enrollment wasn’t the only elephant in the room during Interim President Matt Schroeder’s state of the university address. The student organization Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) organized a silent demonstration during the address, where members held signs with slogans such as “UT funds genocide,” while others held up their hands covered in red paint. After a student referendum calling for divestment won the majority of the student vote in the spring, SJP has expressed frustration with the university’s continued investments in the state of Israel. Ohio Revised Code Section 9.76 prohibits state entities, including public universities, from divesting from Israel. When the new Rocky and Rocksy statues were found vandalized on Oct. 8, along with several spots across Centennial Mall, SJP commended the “brave person who took this action” via Instagram. The president’s office emailed out a statement on Oct. 9, which reported that the incident was being investigated as felony vandalism and criminal damaging with an ethnic intimidation component. SJP, while declaring no responsibility for or association with the crime, responded via Instagram. YikYak Screenshot An anonymous student posted a screenshot of SJP’s response to the anonymous app YikYak, captioning the post, “They are all in on it and all support the vandalism. It’s not one rogue member, expel them and deport them.” “We have no problem with the statement that comes out that says, you know, vandalism is bad, don’t do it, things like that,” said Omar Heif, SJP president. He said the application of the ethnic intimidation charge was “loaded language.” “If you see a lot of the messaging of what was actually spray painted,” Heif said, “it was things like, ‘Israel’s committing genocide,’ which is a fact that many human rights organizations have attested to internationally... If that is hateful, then I honestly—I don’t know what to tell you.” Hoda Elahinia, Vice President of SJP, said the ask is pretty small when compared to other universities. “We have, from the numbers that we were given, less than a million dollars invested in Israel,” Elahinia said. She called on the university to work with SJP to either adjust the language of the resolution to account for Ohio law that prevents divestment from Israel, or acknowledge student government and the student body’s vote to divest. “This is clearly the will of the students,” Elahinia said.

University employee works to remove vandalism Police investigation is still ongoing and cleanup is finally complete following an incident of graffiti vandalism on Tuesday, Oct. 8. The incident, which occurred between 12:54 and 1:01 a.m., included several messages spraypainted across Centennial Mall and red spraypaint on the hands of recently added Rocky and Rocksy statues. Some of the messages, including “from Lebanon to Palestine, killing children is a crime” and “UT invests in genocide,” took weeks to remove from the cement. “They must’ve found a good paint,” said an anonymous contractor who was hired by the university to remove the vandalism. “I hope they got what they wanted out of it.” “It’s not affiliated with SJP in any way, we didn’t orchestrate it or have any knowledge of it,” said Omar Heif, president of Students for Justice in Palestine. On Oct. 9, SJP posted pictures of the vandalism on Instagram, thanking the “brave person” who committed the crime, and shaming the university for “taking such swift action to cover these statements up and [for] their continued silence. If only the University would move as quickly to divest from genocide and death.” The incident was initially reported as criminal damaging and felony vandalism. Assistant Vice President of Public Safety and Chief of UToledo Police Rod Theis said the event is also currently being investigated as ethnic intimidation, which is defined by the Ohio Revised Code Section 2927.12 as committing certain crimes “by reason of the race, color, religion, or national origin of another person or group of persons.” Ethnic intimidation is not a charge in and of itself, but rather elevates the degree of the criminal damaging charge. “It appears some of our Jewish students, at least what we’ve heard from them, is that there’s a feeling that they’re trying to be intimidated, harassed, targeted, by some of the messaging that’s consistent with some of the messaging... they’ve heard over the last year,” said Theis. “It comes back to a cost to all students,” Theis said, referring to the financial consequences of the crime. Centennial Mall was re-paved in 2021 and 2023, and the university unveiled new donor-funded statues of Rocky and Rocksy just days before the incident. “There’s many good ways to get your message across... but committing criminal acts is not a favorable way to get your opinion across, whoever did this incident,” said Theis. “Honestly, I just see it as the students being tired of the administration not listening to them,” said Heif. “For it to get to that point, there has to be a lot that went wrong before that happened... I guess people are just fed up.” “Ultimately, it’s up to the prosecutor to decide if those crimes fit,” Theis said. “But when we complete a police report, we want to list the potential crimes that did occur... it doesn’t necessarily mean that the person that committed the act will get charged with all those.” “We just gather the facts and we do the best we can, looking at the different crimes that may or may not have occurred,” said Theis. “Ultimately, the prosecutor will make a legal opinion on if the line was crossed and if those are appropriate charges.”

Student leaders of Latino student organizations were joined by university administrators at the Diamante Awards. The Thirty-Fifth Annual Diamante Awards Featuring Special Guest Margarita De Leon. The Diamante Awards, hosted by the Latino Alliance of Northwest Ohio and including four local colleges and universities, raises funds to support Latino youth through scholarships and recognize individuals in the Latino community for their achievements and leadership. Oct. 10 marked the 35th annual collaboration between the University of Toledo, Bowling Green State University, Lourdes University, and Owens Community College. “The hope is the same today as it was then,” said Diamante Awards Founder Margarita De Leon, “to celebrate Latinos who are making contributions in Northwest Ohio and to lift them up as examples in our community.” De Leon emphasized the Latino Alliance of Northwest Ohio’s goal to “recapture” and “reinstate” those scholarships currently suspended by the university in response to the federal overturning of affirmative action last summer, in hopes to award them to future deserving recipients. She highlighted the University of Toledo as “near and dear to her heart,” having served on past committees and worked as an advisor. In light of the scholarship suspension, De Leon expressed her hope that the University of Toledo would “build and expand” its “wonderful outreach and programs for Latino students,” rather than regress. This year, the event was held at the Franciscan Center on Lourdes University’s campus and hosted by the charismatic UToledo alum Josh Flores. University of Toledo Interim President Matt Schroeder spoke about witnessing firsthand the positive impact the Latino Alliance of Northwest Ohio has had in supporting Latinos in the community and in their educational journeys. Schroeder celebrated Aleiah Jones, director of the office of multicultural student success, for her contributions, not only in helping to organize the ceremony on behalf of UToledo, but also for her leadership in the Primo Youth Summit and her mentoring work through the university. This year, Alina Edmunds won the award for Latino Youth Leadership, CaSandra Martinez-Salas won for Latino Adult leadership, Mely Arribas-Douglas won for Latino Adult Professional, Mely Arribas-Douglas won for Friend of the Latino Community, and El Corazon de Mexico Ballet Folklorico won for Latino Community Agency. While the date has not been selected for next year’s 36th ceremony, it was announced that the awards will be held at the University of Toledo.

UToledo English professor Daniel Compora presented a lecture on “Suburban Nightmares” on Oct. 24 as part of the Carlson Conversations Lecture series. The lecture examined horror films which take place in suburban settings. “Over the years, I’ve had a big interest in horror,” said Compora, who gave a presentation years ago on slasher films from the 70s-90s, which had a peculiar focus on teenagers in the suburbs. “It’s really more of an attack on suburban lifestyle, as much as it is teenagers.” This lecture is different from Compora’s past lectures because it’s from material that he’s already published, and he’s whittling down the presentation instead of building it up. Compora has done several horror-themed lectures in the past; however, he differentiated this lecture with, “This one is the only one that I’m already, I’m working from something that’s already been published. Now, I did one on clowns a couple years ago, and that was in the process of publication.” When asked about next year’s theme Compora added, “I would like to do something that combines the folk my interest in folklore at some point in horror, possibly local hauntings. That would be something I’d like to look into in the future.” Compora is on Sabbatical this semester, but came to give the lecture anyway, saying “I just like seeing people... it’s always just nice to meet new people and can see that other people have my interest.” Compora also added, “there aren’t many horror people in my department, so I don’t have a lot of people to talk about horror with at the university”

Parking Area 18 air compressor For the past three years, ParkUToledo has been in control of all faculty and student parking services at the University of Toledo. While students with vehicles are certainly familiar with who ParkUToledo is, they may not be as familiar with what they do, and what they can offer for students beyond simply parking passes. “It just feels like they’re kind of this entity that everybody knows about, but nobody really understands,” said senior economics student Adelei Marie Cundiff. According to ParkUToledo, they are working to change these perceptions by becoming more engaged and connected to students and staff alike. One way that they have done this is by offering select free vehicle services to students. ParkUToledo has installed an air compressor in Parking Area 18, near the student recreation center. This air compressor is completely free to use, and since its installation in 2023, has been used over 383 times ParkUToledo also has the ability to give free battery jumps to vehicles in any of their parking areas if a waiver is signed before the service is performed. While these services are not required of ParkUToledo to perform for students, they are offered as a perk, using extra funding from the nonprofit’s 30-year concession agreement with the University to provide these services. “We know it’s not fun having a dead battery or a flat tire,” said Sherri Kaspar, ParkUToledo’s executive director. These battery jumps can be accessed through calling the Park UToledo office during business hours at 419-530-4100. Outside of business hours, ParkUToledo recommended that students attempt to flag down their patrolling vehicles. If a student would like to contact the office through email, their email is info@parkutoledo.com . “We try and have as many open lines of communication as possible,” said Claire Dau, ParkUToledo’s communications manager. According to ParkUToledo, requests for battery jumps are sporadic, yet increase in the colder months of the year as there are more issues with vehicles during this time. Yet, many UToledo students are unaware that these services are offered for them at no expense. “I did not know. It’s nice that they do it, but I feel like it should be more publicized,” said sophomore Lacey Comer. As things start to cool down around campus, students can begin to take advantage of both the free air compressor and battery jumps offered by ParkUToledo.

The Board of Trustees plans to have a new University President selected by July 1, 2025. Interviews have not yet begun for the position. Board of Trustees Chair Patrick J. Kenney has been tasked as the co-chair of the search committee, with board member Stephen P. Ciucci. This comes after the board announced that there will be a nationwide search for the University’s next president in October of 2024. Former President Gregory Postel announced he would be leaving UT in April of 2024 for a position at the University of Cincinnati. Shortly after, UT alum and CFO Matt Schroeder was named Interim President. The search committee is collecting resumes and cover letters from candidates, and they feel they've assembled a good group. “We are looking for the best and the brightest,” Kenney said. “We are open to any opportunity and any possibility.” As for the interview process, they will begin virtually, and they will not be limiting the number of people that are interviewed. “When we start the interview process, we are open to any well-rounded qualified individual to lead the University of Toledo,” Kenney said. Schroeder has made it known publicly several times that he wants the job. He told The Collegian in September that he has every intention on fighting for the permanent president job, but noted that they must go through the process. “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.” Ciucci says they would “absolutely” consider any internal candidate that wants the job, including Interim President Schroeder, who has made his candidacy public. Kenney said that the board has "no preconceived area of expertise." “We’re supportive of the interim president competing for the job,” Ciucci said. The University of Toledo conducted a nationwide provost search in late 2023 into early 2024, even bringing two finalists to campus, before extending Interim Provost Scott Molitor's contract through June 30, 2025. Having a president picked is a priority to the trustees so the president can weigh in on the selection of the next permanent provost. Molitor has said that he does not want the job permanently. “Steve and I and the rest of the board are extremely enthusiastic about the future of the University of Toledo," Kenney said. “We certainly have our challenges, but we have an immense amount of opportunity, and we plan to capitalize on opportunities going forward.”