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Student worker Lisa Moguel stands by the new office name. The Office of Student Involvement and Leadership (OSIL), which functions under the Division of Student Affairs to provide out-of-classroom experiences for students, will now be operating under its new name, the Office of Student Engagement (OSE). “Our hope and drive as an office is to make sure each and every student finds some way to connect and engage with their fellow Rockets during their time at UT,” said Alex Zernechel, director of student engagement and campus events. Zernechel said the office began discussing the name change in fall of 2023 after considering the multiple services the office is responsible for.  “With all of the different individual functional areas our office is responsible for, we didn’t feel like our name fully encompassed everything,” he said. OSE provides services for student organizations, fraternities and sororities, involvement initiatives, leadership development, service learning, event planning, and the online Involvement Network (Invonet).  The office took a collective approach in discussing the future of the office’s name and finalized their decision in May. The summer months were dedicated to changing marketing material and office signs around campus before students returned for fall semester.  Zernechel said starting this fall, OSE will be taking a closer look at their mission statement to ensure it aligns with the goals laid out in the University of Toledo’s new strategic plan that was announced in spring 2023. Vice Provost of Student Affairs Sammy Spann said while students won’t be able to physically see the changes being made in the office, they will feel it in the shift of atmosphere following the name change. “This name change wasn’t made just to change the name on a door or a sign but it’s more of a changing of a culture, a culture shift,” Spann said. “This is a culture shift that students are going to be involved in, every step of the way.” Spann said this culture shift is one that will support diversity and inclusiveness while encouraging students to become more involved on campus.  “To all students, please come and let your voice be heard,” he said. “We want to hear the voices of students, and we want to make sure that not only do we hear it, but we find the things that we can tweak to better serve students and make that culture shift.” The Office of Student Engagement is located at SU 1532 and can be contacted by calling 419-530-4944 or emailing getinvolved@utoledo.edu

While Toledo is known world-wide as the Glass City and the birthplace of Jeep, it used to have a different nickname. In the 1830s, Toledo was just a small settlement in the northwest corner of Ohio, a portion of the state that consisted of a vast expanse of marshy wetlands. The yet-to-be-drained marshlands were the perfect habitat for some of our favorite slimy friends: frogs. Thus, Toledo’s first moniker: Frog Town. Before Toledo’s glass industry took off in the late 1880s, the county was an environmentally diverse area with prairies, forests, and the aforementioned swamps, thanks to its poor drainage and proximity to the Maumee River. While the Glass City was built over many of the wetlands that were once home to all of the frogs and toads that previously claimed the land, they were not completely driven from the area. Even with the industrialization and loss of wetlands, frogs continued to call Toledo home, remaining to sing their frog song and protect the people of Toledo from mosquitoes. Their legacy was so lasting, that in 2001, a civic project by the Arts Commission to fill the streets of Toledo with massive, artful fiberglass frog sculptures was launched. Businesses all over the city commissioned local artists to create frog sculptures near their buildings to reflect the aesthetics and goals of the sponsors. More than 100 artists were involved in the initial attempt to spread the frogs across the city, and as the effort gained traction, even more businesses and artists joined the initiative. This allowed lesser-known artists of Toledo to get their work out into the world, while also adding to the beauty of the city and helping to support local businesses. In the 22 years since the initiative was launched, several frogs have migrated from their original building sites to different locations across the city and others have apparently hopped off into anonymity. Many frogs, however, are still prevalent landmarks around the city.

The new buses operated by Groome Transportation If you’ve been wondering what the latest bus changes are all about, you’re not alone. Many students have been puzzled by the recent updates to the bus system. Students had grown to be comfortable with the ‘blue loop’ through TARTA. However, these buses have been replaced with dull-white school buses, running the same route as before. Brian Kulpa, the Executive Director for Auxiliary Services, reported that TARTA’s reign over shuttle services came to an end after a ‘contract impasse.’ He cited many reasons for the change, including poor customer service, lack of technology, large price increases, and charging for rides outside the Blue Loop. The new vendor is Groome Transportation, which serves many universities throughout the country. These vehicles are ADA-compliant, with enhanced levels of security, featuring video-camera surveillance and Rocket-card-only entrance. The buses occasionally have the radio on, with music to accompany you while you travel. While the previous app used for live bus tracking was the ‘Passio GO!’ app, a new app titled ‘TransLoc’ is currently being used. These all-too-dull jail buses are soon to be replaced by Fall. Ford Motor Company has a recall on the new ‘22 passenger buses’, and supply chain delays will hopefully clear up in time so that the buses can arrive and be branded for UT. While this new change has been confusing to deal with, international students were one of the most impacted groups by this change. Many of them don’t own cars, and have a huge dependency on buses. The new updates have finally settled in and students are slowly getting the hang of the new app as the days pass by. The newly branded buses will be much awaited for.

Construction in Centennial Mall The University of Toledo’s Facilities and Construction team continues to demonstrate their commitment to the University’s mission to improve the human condition with new capital construction projects that will extend throughout the 2023-2024 academic year. “Students are always a priority for us when we are considering construction projects,” says Nicole Baden, University Architect and Director of Planning, Design, & Construction. There are a few profound changes that University students and faculty can expect to see when returning to campus for the Fall 2023 semester. One of the major undergoing projects is the improvement of hardscapes in the West Mall, located South of the Memorial Field House. This project is a continuation of the improvements made to the Centennial Mall in 2022, aimed to improve student circulation and activity. The concrete sidewalks in this space will be replaced, additional seating will be equipped, and an informal recreational space will be added to provide opportunities for student leisure. The estimated budget for this construction project is just over one million dollars and is expected to reach completion near the start of the Fall semester. Another major project taking place on campus is the three phase North Engineering Laboratory/Classroom renovation led by Senior Associate Vice President for Administration Jason Toth. Toth and his team completed phase one in 2020, phase two in Fall 2022, and the final phase will continue throughout the Fall 2023 semester and be completed by the new year. Phase I The First phase of this project included building exterior envelopes and windows, as well as replacing the old roof of the North Engineering building with a new one. Phase II The Second phase of these renovations focused on the building of a structure to create a second floor and also reinforcing the existing structures within the building shell. Phase III The Third and final phase of this project will consist of finalizing all building renovations with an emphasis on interior classroom and laboratory spaces. An immediate goal after the completion of this phase is to transfer all of the classrooms and laboratories that are currently located in Palmer Hall to the newly renovated North Engineering building. “When that project is completed, it will allow us to demolish a building by the name of Palmer Hall, where the labs and classrooms exist today. In the end we will achieve a net space reduction of over 45,000 square feet,” said Toth in a previous interview. This large renovation project is estimated at a budget of $22.5 million across all three phases and will be completed in December 2023. Classes and laboratories currently located in Palmer Hall will remain in that location until Spring 2024. The Facilities and Construction team is also working to begin construction on a pedestrian bridge over Douglas Road near Savage Arena that will safely link the academic centers on Main campus to the engineering neighborhood. Baden says that the bridge will make for an exciting way for commuters to cross campus while avoiding traffic. The construction on this project will begin in early 2024. Along with these major projects, Baden says there are constantly small renovations and maintenance projects happening around campus. “Our projects aim to improve general quality of life, ensure students are interacting with the campus, and make sure that the physical space of the campus meets the academic, safety, living, and accessibility needs of the students,” says Baden.

Title IX's Purple Ribbon Campaign in Centennial Mall Title IX, a federal program through which victims of sexual misconduct can receive guidance and advocacy, is hosting their annual Purple Ribbon Campaign all throughout October in Centennial Mall. The goal of the campaign is to bring awareness, share knowledge, and start conversations about domestic violence. The stories are from Bethany House, a Toledo-area shelter for those escaping domestic violence situations. For “Empty Place at the Table,” which takes place throughout October, Title IX partners with Residence Life and Bethany House to share stories of those who lost their lives to domestic violence by displaying it at empty tables throughout dining spaces on campus. Title IX has made it clear they not only focus on reported misconducts, but prevention as well. Keeping a solid presence on campus helps them with that goal. “When we aren’t silent about things, there’s less room for sexual misconduct to go unaddressed,” Title IX Compliance Manger Brittany Kupresanin said. Title IX tables outside The Eatery in the Student Union every Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Title IX’s Instagram will feature an informational post on domestic violence every day throughout the month of October. Their office is located in Snyder Memorial room 1120. To report a concern, visit utoledo.edu , scroll to the bottom, and click “report a concern.” Victims choose how their reporting process will affect them and any parties involved. A formal grievance process, including an investigation and hearings, is used to dictate if a Title IX policy has been violated. Informal resolutions, on the other hand, have no disciplinary action taken and therefore will not appear on any disciplinary record. In the case a student does not feel comfortable filing a complaint, Title IX can still provide supportive measures. Confidential resources (will not share information with Title IX) include YWCA Rape Crisis Center, 1-866-557-7273; Bethany House, 419-727-4948; the University Counseling Center, 419-530-2426; and Mercy Health St. Vincent Medical Center, 419-251-3268.

Scott Molitor, Ph.D Scott Molitor, a member of the UToledo faculty since 2000, was named interim provost in September. Molitor, who had most recently served as interim vice provost for academic affairs and acting dean of the College of Graduate Studies, replaced Risa Dickson, who was appointed interim provost in July 2022. He will lead the Division of Academic Affairs as interim provost and executive vice president for academic affairs while the University continues its search for a permanent chief academic officer. Molitor joined the College of Engineering as an assistant professor in the Department of Bioengineering in 2000. He served as senior associate dean for academic affairs, associate dean of undergraduate studies, and undergraduate program director. He represented the college on Faculty Senate for nine years. He joined the Office of the Provost staff in 2022. Molitor earned his Ph.D. in biomedical engineering from Johns Hopkins University and bachelor’s degree in engineering science from the University of Michigan. He completed postdoctoral fellowships at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and the University of North Carolina School of Medicine. Molitor has announced a pair of additions to the provost’s office. Mary Humphrys, associate professor in the Department of Applied Organizational Technology in the John B. and Lillian E. Neff College of Business and Innovation, will serve as acting vice provost for academic affairs. Dan Hammel, professor in the Department of Geography and Planning in the College of Arts and Letters, has accepted the position of acting vice provost for graduate affairs. The pair are assuming the responsibilities previously held by Molitor. In a release announcing the changes, Molitor said: “Mary brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to the position and will be instrumental assisting during this transitional period … And Dan’s vast experience and expertise related to graduate students and programs will ensure the continued success of graduate affairs.” Humphrys joined the UT faculty in 1989 and during her tenure has served as a department chair on two separate occasions for a total of 13 years. In addition, she has served as president of Faculty Senate, the faculty representative on the Ohio Faculty Council and on the UT Board of Trustees Trusteeship and Governance Committee and the Academic and Student Affairs Committee. Most recently, Humphrys has been a special assistant to the provost for adult and transfer maintaining ongoing partnerships with community colleges, fostering new collaborations and ensuring transfer student success. Hammel has been a faculty member at UT since 2005. During his career he has served as associate dean in the College of Arts and Letters where he oversaw graduate programs. He also has held department chair and graduate program director roles. Hammel currently serves as the College of Arts and Letters social sciences representative on the University Research Council.

A trio of distinguished UToledo alums were honored at the 2023 Homecoming Gala last month. The UToledo Alumi Association presented the Gold T, Blue T, and Outstanding Young Alum Award. The Gold T is awarded to an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to their field and has been of service to the University, community, or nation. Martino Harmon was honored this year for dedicating his career to improving college students’ well-being. He has made an impact at institutions including Iowa State University, Cincinnati State Community College, and UToledo. He is the vice president for student life at the University of Michigan. Harmon helped transform UM’s approach to holistically addressing student health and well-being, leading to the formation of a collective impact group and the signing of the international Okanagan Charter for health-promoting universities. His career in higher education began when he returned to UToledo after a nine-year stint in professional sales. At UT his leadership roles included interim assistant dean of students, director of the African-American student enrichment office, and progressive leadership positions in admissions that culminated in his appointment as director of first-year admissions. The Daniel J. Saevig Blue T is awarded in recognition of an individual’s outstanding service to the UToledo Alumni Association and the University through committee and community involvement. This year’s recipient is Barbara Floyd, who served UToledo for 31 years as the University archivist and director in the Ward M. Canaday Center for Special Collections. Upon retirement in 2017, she was granted the title of Professor Emerita of Library Administration. As the University archivist, she collected and preserved the University’s rare books, manuscripts and archives. She worked to expand the center’s collections to include the historical records of many Toledo corporations and organized more than 20 exhibitions that interpreted the center’s collections for the general public. Many exhibits received national awards. Floyd is a frequent speaker to local community groups on Toledo history. She has also authored numerous monographs and peer-reviewed articles on aspects of Toledo history, including her most recent book, “An Institution for the Promoting of Knowledge: The University of Toledo at 150.” The Edward H. Schmidt Outstanding Young Alum Award is presented to a UT grad under the age of 35 in recognition of outstanding achievement in their field. This year’s recipient was Joel Whitcomb. A senior in high school on Sept. 11, 2001, Whitcomb felt called to serve his country and enlisted in the United States Navy shortly after. He would go on to serve around the world until he was honorably discharged in 2006. At UT, Whitcomb was a founding member of the UToledo Student Veterans of America and would later serve as president. He has served on the advisory board of the UToledo Military Service Center, Heroes in Action and Task Force 20. Additionally, he has also volunteered countless hours with Operation Enduring Warrior, Wreaths Across America, Honor Flight and The Cherry Street Mission. An Eagle Scout, Whitcomb has led fundraising activities that raised thousands of dollars for the Boy Scouts of America through their Friends of Scouting program.

Rocket Kids Logo Rocket Kids, a new internship program housed in the University of Toledo’s Judith Herb College of Education, sent more than 20 college students to U.S. military bases in Europe, where interns ran summer camps for the children of deployed U.S. service men and women. The program allows students, most of whom were education majors, to implement the activities and skills they had been learning in their classes. Sam Simpson, who spent the summer in Vicenza, Italy, said one of his favorite memories was “building a deep connection with the kids and knowing I left an impression on them.” Rocket Kids interns were provided with plane tickets, room and board, and a $2,000 stipend to cover food and other necessities. Students covered the cost of uniforms, tuition—$500 for 15 credit hours—an intensive background check, and the cost of CPR and First Aid training. When the Rocket Kids interns weren’t at summer camp, they were able to explore the surrounding areas to their heart’s content. Popular destinations included Paris, Amsterdam, and Berlin. Rocket Kids is hoping to increase its number of interns threefold for the summer of 2024. Interested students should visit utoledo.edu/studentaffairs/rocketkids/ for more information or to fill out the interest form.

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 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 .