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By: Anthony Nassar Photo taken of mural painted by Liam Ginter on the first floor of the Carlson library - Anthony Nassar for the Collegian TOLEDO, Ohio — Greening UToledo Through Service Learning (GUTS) held a Student Sustainability Summit, showcasing two students’ creative projects and other sustainability-themed posters, last Thursday at the Carlson Library. The event aimed to highlight how students from any field can get involved with on-campus initiatives. GUTS has helped the University of Toledo become a more biodiverse environment, with student volunteers involved in the process. Carlson Library Director of Operations Dave Remarklus said that over 600,000 people have walked past gardens created by GUTS. Student Caleb Thompson took the stage to screen his short film about the organization, “It Takes GUTS,” highlighting GUTS' impact on campus thus far. The film featured interviews with multiple members of the organization, along with b-roll footage showing the work behind the projects. “Films bring people together and transcend time,” Thompson said. “Like the gardens, you may plant a seed as a senior and never see it grow, but you know that the impact continues to persist.” Thompson said he was motivated to create the film as he believed the organization was underrated and wanted to show the importance of GUTS to the community. Former student Liam Ginter showcased his Native Plant mural designed for the library. The mural features a lush landscape with various native plants. The mural’s makeup is acrylic paint, and Ginter aims to maintain the illusion of 3D within a 2D wall while also keeping an emotional space that allows for depth and creativity. “The thing I want people to walk away with is a feeling,” Ginter said. “I think that people are disconnected from the world, so I think feeling something from this is important.” Ginter said he encourages students to join the GUTS program and expresses his gratitude to the Carlson Library for allowing art like this to be created. Project Manager Todd Crail said there are many different facets to solving our current environmental crisis. He hopes to leverage the momentum of these gardens to show that multiple departments can get involved and participate. Crail encourages students and faculty to get started immediately and begin making an impact. “GUTS showcases the hidden work of campus, which has been great exposure for the students,” Crail said. “The guy who cuts the grass and the person who answers the phone are the two most important people in any organization.”

Feature Written By: Juan Drown The filmmaker duo Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, known for their films "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs" (2009) and "The Lego Movie" (2014), have taken it to space with their latest work, "Project Hail Mary". This marks the 2nd book of American author Andy Weir being adapted into a film, the previous being "The Martian" (Ridley Scott, 2015) starring Matt Damon. The film follows Grace (Ryan Gosling), a science school-teacher who holds a doctorate degree, who awakens on a spaceship with no memory of how he got there. Gradually, he remembers that an alien bacteria, known as Astrophage, is slowly eating the Sun by absorbing its radiation. Along the way, he runs into an alien, which he names Rocky (voiced by James Ortiz). The story is not anything particularly special. It treads the path of the usual tropes related to the genre. However, what makes it more than just your average space-fare is the charismatic performance from leadman Gosling, its optimism, and its dual-narrative structure. Lord and Miller employ a dual-narrative structure where memories of Grace break up the present timeline to provide context for certain objects and Grace’s overall feeling about this task. To differentiate between these timelines, they change the resolution for the memory scenes, which creates black borders on the top and bottom of the screen to give the sense of a subjective perspective. Gosling infuses the film with an undeniable charm, with his down-to-Earth personality and his reluctance to carry out his Atlas-esque responsibility. He is completely out of his depth, and Gosling captures this feeling of helplessness combined with determination as the film progresses. The film does not fall into a doomer-esque feel as one would expect, but rather, with Rocky and Grace, it manages to find a fun, optimistic identity. Two individuals from different worlds coming together to save their respective worlds creates a theme of cooperation despite differences and optimism even in the face of a planet-extinction event. These qualities of the film allow it to be more than just a standard “ordinary man tasked with saving the planet” movie. It is also one of those few movies that was made for the theater-going experience. Experiencing it on a small screen would be doing a disservice, not only to the team behind "Project Hail Mary", but to yourself, too.

Written By: Lauren York TOLEDO, Ohio – This afternoon, Centennial Mall became the grounds for a debate over reproductive rights. Members of the Foundation for Life, a regional advocacy group, gathered on campus to engage students in conversations regarding abortion. This prompted a counter-protest from student organizations, including the Women’s and Gender Studies honor society, Triota.  The day showcased a sharp contrast in messaging, visual aids, and perspectives. The Foundation for Life organizers stated that their presence was part of a continuous outreach program targeting local universities.  Daniel Holliker, a leader of the foundation, explained that the group aims to utilize the university setting as a forum for intellectual discussion. He noted that their main goal was to have educational conversations with the students on campus.  “We believe in human rights from fertilization to natural death,” Holliker said. “One of the biggest issues in that category these days is abortion. We see how big it is, both in Ohio and across the nation. We're just simply trying to engage in conversations.” Ed Sitter, another leader with the organization, was more direct about the group’s intent to use graphic imagery. “We want people to feel uncomfortable with the gravity of what’s happening,” Sitter said, comparing the legal status of abortion to historic human rights violations. “Our goal is to try to get people to wake up to the Holocaust that's taking place with abortion and realize the real atrocity that it is.”  Word of the event traveled to the Women and Gender Studies department; Triota members then organized a counter-protest in response. Students walked through the mall with handmade signs, chanting and distributing papers outlining abortion access and reproductive resources.  Counter-protesters and students walking on campus expressed frustration with the foundation’s methods, specifically pointing out the graphic nature of the displays provided and the alleged pushing of ideologies on students.  Nev Stacy, a student walking on campus, expressed concern that the graphic nature of the foundation’s signs was inappropriate for a public campus, especially one that hosts frequent tours for high school students.  “There are people that are 14 years old walking around here. They shouldn’t have to see that,” Stacy said.  Hannah Goins, a counter-protester, criticized the disruption to the academic day.  “It’s stupid that an outside group came to protest on a college campus and bother students who were just trying to get into their classes,” Goins said. Goins also mentioned that several students joined the counter-protest after reportedly having negative interactions with the foundation members.  The intersection of the two groups at Centennial Mall displayed a fundamental disagreement over bodily autonomy and the definition of human rights. While Foundation for Life members emphasized the full right to life, student advocates like Lilly Spaethe argued that personal opinions should not dictate medical choices.  “I understand everyone has the right to their own opinions,” Spaethe said. “But at some point, I feel like if our opinions are touching other people's bodies and taking away their choices, that's not fair. Everyone has the right to make their own decisions.” As the Foundation for Life finished up on campus, the atmosphere remained an example of the larger American divide. The foundation maintains that college campuses are the primary location for thought-provoking questions on human rights, while the student protesters maintain that their campus should be a space protected from graphic imagery and what they deem to be intrusive advocacy.

Photo Courtesy of the Global Latin Student Union Written By: Brandon N-G TOLEDO, Ohio — The Global Latin Student Union (GLSU) is hosting its fifth annual Scholarship Gala. This year is the biggest yet, with a ton of activities planned. The gala features a theme inspired by the "famed city of gold", intended to reflect the richness of Latino culture. The event includes catered food from La Fiesta Mexican Restaurant and performances by local talent, featuring acts like El Corazon de México, a Toledo-based Mexican folkloric group, Los Halcones, a mariachi group from Bowling Green, Ohio, and various student performers. A central focus of the evening was the announcement of the organization's two primary scholarships: Unidos y Diversos and Latinos del Futuro Josie Kuth , current vice president for the Global Latin Student Union, explains more of what these scholarships are for. “Unidos y Diversos is meant for everyone in the general body of GLSU, and Latinos del Futuro is a scholarship for underclassmen.” Kuth says. Both awards are need-based and require a minimum GPA of 2.8 to 3.0. Applicants can submit essays with the prompt asking them, “How has the Global Latin Student Union impacted you personally, and what has your involvement been with the Global Latin Student Union?” Kuth also noted that Senate Bill 1 has led to a decrease in support from the university. “Funding did take a big hit because now we are fending for ourselves for it instead of having that support from the university. This and the fear of ICE on campus doesn't help it either," Kuth said. In response, GLSU pointed Latino students toward external resources like the Diamante Awards, awarded by and hosted by the Latino Alliance of Northwest Ohio. An organization dedicated to uplifting Latinos not only in Toledo but also in the entire northwestern Ohio. Despite concerns regarding a lack of support from the university and the rumor of ICE on campus, GLSU continues to advocate for a safe, inclusive environment. “Morale took a hit because it made us feel like we were not wanted, but we persevere and push forward. We make sure our voice is heard.” Kuth says.

Graphics Provided By The University of Toledo’s Theatre and Film Department Written By: Megan Matthews TOLEDO, OHIO – The University of Toledo’s Theatre department is putting on “The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical”. Performances will run from April 9-12th and April 15-19th and are free for students with a valid rocket ID. This musical is based off the book “The Lightning Thief” by Rick Riordan, and follows Percy Jackson (Joseph Schreiner), Annabeth Chase (Whitney Bechstein), and Grover (Brooklyn Mitchell-Nelson) as they attempt to return Zeus’s stolen lightning bolt. “Theres a lot of crazy stuff going on, gods, monsters, a lot of fight choreo.” says Schreiner.  The set for the musical brings in some fantastical elements, with Ed Lingan working with the crew to create a unique look for the Center for Performing Arts (CPA) stage. “This was a decaying world of the gods, and the universe has a cyberpunk and sort of a roleplaying, DnD floor look to it.” Lingan states A lot of work is put in to make this show run. Lingan is the director and associate dean of the JHCASE, has been planning this musical for a while. “We decided to do this show a year ago, and we start working on our shows very far in advance.” Lingan says The cast and crew have had a lot of rehearsal time because of this, and have not taken that for granted.  “It's quite a lot of work, it's a five day a week, 4 hour commitment,” says Schreiner. “It's a lot of work but it's rewarding, because it's a lot of fun and it's not draining.” For some cast, the hours put in are even greater. “I am putting minimum 40 hours a week into this show everyday,” says Tevy Dembski, playing Clarisse, daughter of Ares. Rehearsals for this production didn't begin in the spring semester, In fact, this production has been in the works for about 5 months. “We started preparing in late November and have been working everyday with 4-6 hour rehearsals, a lot of time has been put into this.” Nicole Dail, Head of Wardrobe, shared.   The musical will be held in the Center for Performing Arts at the University of Toledo. Thursday, April 9th, will be the free campus and community preview.  Additonally, shows running on Thursday, Friday, or Saturday start at 7:30 p.m. with Sunday performances starting at 2:00 p.m.

Written By: Anthony Nassar TOLEDO, Ohio — Rice Blvd has quickly become a popular dining spot for students at the University of Toledo. Its rise in popularity led to a petition to add the restaurant to the list of places students can spend their dining dollars, which are prepaid funds that students can use at certain restaurants on campus. Rice Blvd offers authentic Japanese and Korean dining for the Toledo area, using all-natural ingredients to make a variety of menu items. Owner Jun Park said he is grateful to students who helped make the petition happen and said that many students want to use their Rocket Card when buying food. Rice Blvd has collected four packets worth of signatures, signaling that students are interested in having the restaurant join dining dollars. “Our majority of customers are students and faculty,” Park said. “It’s going to be more convenient for the students.” Park said that current discussions are happening with the administration to see if joining the meal plans is feasible. Employee Jason Klotz said he has had students come in and express that they’d like to see the restaurant join the list of options. “Majority of students do have dining dollars over other disposable income,” Klotz said. “I think it’s a benefit towards students and towards us because we can hire international students.” Klotz said that they no longer have to pitch for signatures anymore, as all available pages have been signed. Student Cat Liu said she would be happy to see the restaurant join the meal plan for students. “I’m excited for the possibility of Rice Blvd being more accessible for students,” Liu said. “They have great food, and I’m happy that the owners could be expanding their business to UToledo students.” In addition, the restaurant noted that they will be closed on the last Saturday of each month moving forward.

Graphic Courtesy of Good Luck, Have Fun, Don't Die Creators OPINION Review by: Juan Drown “Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die” is director Gore Verbinski’s stylistic return since his last feature, “A Cure for Wellness” (2016). It follows “The Man from the Future”, portrayed by Sam Rockwel, who is hellbent on saving mankind from extinction by the ultimate villain — Artificial Intelligence. The Man from the Future uses a self-made time-travel suit to repeatedly return from the future to our present to recruit a ragtag team to implement safeguards on the A.I. before it gains sentience. The film’s premise is a mix of “The Terminator” (James Cameron, 1984) and “Everything Everywhere All at Once” (The Daniels, 2022). Rockwell plays The Man from the Future with an off-kilter eccentricity. He uses information he learned about the restaurant patrons during visits to alternate timelines to convince them he is from the future. He recruits a team of misfits; two teachers on the run from students turned into mental zombies from watching too much TikTok, (Michael Peña and Zazie Beetz), a grieving mother of a school shooter victim ( Juno Temple), and a mysterious suicidal princess (Haley Lu Richardson). A third of the film’s runtime is devoted to these dystopian Black Mirror-esque insights following the film’s misfits–the teachers, the mother, and the princess–as they struggle to connect in an increasingly disconnected society due to technology. Despite the filmmakers’ attempts to connect us with the characters, the viewer is left largely indifferent to their struggles and whether they live or die. Not enough nuance is given to them as actual characters, and they come off as stilted caricatures. Verbinski is too focused on the extreme consequences of an increasingly technologically dependent society. The insights serve as his commentary: he pushes doomscrolling and A.I. to absurdly dystopian heights. Verbinski comes off as increasingly absurd in his vision of the future, using doomscrolling-addicted teens to kill their teachers and a confetti-urinating cat-taur. Matthew Robinson and Verbinski aim to leave viewers with a strong anti-A.I. message. Still, Verbinski’s message gets bogged down in his creative scenarios, leaving the film feeling vapid. In the end, the film is technically well-made and entertains viewers, but just like A.I., once you peel back that glossy surface, it is vapid and has no real significance.

Logo Provided By "The Great Gatsby" Team Feature Written By: Ray Wisda The Stranahan Theater’s production of Broadway’s "The Great Gatsby: A New Musical" arrives with all the shimmer, perfume, and excess of a hothouse flower – lush, fragrant, and just a little overwhelming. Adapted from F. Scott Fitzgerald’s 1925 novel, the production leans into spectacle while trying to preserve the story’s fragile emotional core. In doing so, it also introduces "The Great Gatsby" to a new generation of audiences who may know the title more from TikTok aesthetics than from literature class. This adaptation, with music by Jason Howland and lyrics by Nathan Tysen, takes a more romantic and emotionally explicit approach than the novel. Nick Carraway remains the narrator, but he’s more active and expressive, guiding the audience through Gatsby’s world with a clarity Fitzgerald intentionally avoided. The musical trades subtlety for accessibility, making the story easier to follow for viewers encountering Gatsby for the first time. One of the production’s strengths is that it relies on a full live orchestra, not pre-recorded tracks or pop-song repurposing. The orchestra’s presence gives the score warmth and depth, especially in the jazz-infused ensemble pieces and the sweeping romantic ballads. The live instrumentation helps the show feel rooted in the 1920s rather than borrowing from modern playlists. Jake David Smith’s Jay Gatsby is magnetic, a man who glitters as brightly as the parties he throws. His voice soars in “My Green Light,” where he sings “There’s a future I can almost see,” capturing both ambition and delusion in a single breath. Senzel Ahmady’s Daisy Buchanan is equally compelling. Her rendition of “Beautiful Little Fool” brings a rare vulnerability to the character, especially when she sings, “I hope she’ll be a beautiful little fool,” with a mix of resignation and self-awareness that deepens Daisy beyond her usual portrayal. Nick Carraway, played by Joshua Grosso, provides warmth and grounding, while Leanne Coogan’s Jordan Baker adds sharp humor and a cool, modern edge. The costume design stands out – beaded gowns that shimmer like dew, tailored suits sharp enough to cut, and party ensembles that bloom across the stage in gold, silver, and jewel tones. The visual world feels alive, like a garden bursting into color under stage lights. The set design uses sweeping staircases, art-deco lines, and projected skylines to create a sense of grandeur. Gatsby’s mansion glows like a dream – beautiful, excessive, and slightly unreal, just as Fitzgerald intended. The choreography blends classic Broadway movement with 1920s social dance, giving ensemble numbers a buoyant, champagne-bubble energy. The opening number, “Roaring On,” sets the tone with the lyric “We’re roaring on into the night,” promising a world where the party never stops. The score mixes jazz, pop-Broadway, and sweeping ballads. Not every song is equally memorable, but the emotional peaks land – especially in Gatsby’s solo “For Her,” where Gatsby repeats throughout the musical, “I built it all for her,” with heartbreaking conviction. The musical follows the novel’s major beats: Gatsby’s mysterious rise, his reunion with Daisy, Tom Buchanan’s unraveling, Myrtle’s tragedy, and the inevitable collapse of Gatsby’s dream. The storytelling is more linear and emotionally direct than the book, which may divide purists, but it helps audiences unfamiliar with Fitzgerald’s story absorb the story and character nuances. "The Great Gatsby: A New Musical" is a visually stunning, emotionally earnest adaptation that captures the glittering surface of the Jazz Age while reaching for the novel’s deeper melancholy. It dazzles first and reflects second, much like Gatsby himself. And perhaps most importantly, it keeps Fitzgerald’s legacy alive for a new generation – one that may find its way back to the novel through the music, the spectacle, or the glow of that ever-present green light. For students looking for a glamorous night of music, dance, and literary nostalgia, it’s a show worth seeing – one that blooms brightly, even if some petals fall along the way. The touring production will be at the Stranahan Theater from April 7-12, 2026, offering eight performances during this time.

By: Connor Barrus TOLEDO, OHIO - The Toledo Rockets baseball team picked three straight wins on Thursday and Friday for their second conference sweep of the season as they faced Eastern Michigan at Scott Park. In Game 1, the Rockets went back and forth in the first four innings, but a 5 run surge in the bottom of the seventh inning secured a 10-2 win behind 14 hits and 8 RBIs. Third baseman JP Wagner led at the plate, going 2-4 with 3 RBIs and right-handed pitcher Nathan Leininger led the mound with eight strikeouts, improving to 6-0 on the season. Game 2 resulted in a close 6-4 victory to secure the series for the Rockets, holding off a late comeback attempt from the Eagles as Eastern scored 2 runs in the final two innings. The Rockets recorded 7 hits, 5 RBIs, and 2 home runs from first baseman Jacob Payne and out fielder Cade Baker with one each. Left-handed pitcher Hayden Frey bagged seven strikeouts, improving to 4-0 on the mound. In Game 3, Eastern at first looked to at least walk away with one win over Toledo, leading 4-0 midway through the third inning until JP Wagner scored off a ground out from infielder Charlie Scholvin to finally get Toledo on the board. In the fifth inning with Eastern leading 8-5, Toledo began to get the bats going as they lit up the inning with 14 runs, issuing a mercy rule by the seventh inning, 23-8 with three home runs and 16 hits. Toledo loaded the bases five times and forced three pitching changes from Eastern in the same inning. Infielder Troy Sudbrook and catcher Carson McCaleb both had grand slams and first baseman Jackson scored a two run homer. Left-handed pitcher Deron Swanson led the mound, handing out four strikeouts. The Rockets now stand at 15-15 overall and 12-4 in MAC Play, overtaking Ball State for second in the standings behind Kent State. Toledo will travel to Rochester, Michigan on April 7th for a single game against Oakland.

Aidden Johnson for The Collegian By: Lauren York, Aidden Johnson TOLEDO, Ohio – The University of Toledo and families from the Children’s Miracle Network came together for the RockeTHON Dance Marathon to raise funds for the local Nationwide Children’s Hospital.   This year’s event took place on Feb. 22, marking the 25th anniversary of RockeTHON. Since its creation in 2001, RockeTHON has raised over $1 million for pediatric care.  For Alyssa Beach, RockeTHON’s Overall Director, the cause is extremely important as well as personal.  “I connected on a personal level. I grew up with a few medical issues, so connecting with philanthropy was really important to me,” Beach said. “I got to meet the families in person and discuss how much our funds are impacting their lives, which is really impactful.”  Beach emphasized that the funds raised go directly to the families who may struggle to afford treatments.  “It’s been an amazing year,” Beach said, crediting her executive board. “I just have to thank them.  The marathon isn’t just about the dancing or fun games; it’s a large event that gives the opportunity to bring many student organizations together, including the International Student Association (ISA), Greek Life, and professional fraternities and sororities.  “I love watching the university come together,” Beach said. “It’s such an impactful movement to have everyone together for one day.” Ella Grosteffon, Chi Omega’s Sisterhood Director, attended the RockeTHON event to support her sorority’s mission of helping children. Chi Omega’s philanthropy is Make-A-Wish, so this event complimented it well. “We already raise money, love to help out, and host wish parties for chronically ill children,” Grosteffon said. “Supporting the Children’s Miracle Network today was really important for us and we’re so happy to be here.”  Brandon Navarro-Garcia for The Collegian Throughout the day, students participated in fun games and had fun with inflatables and other games, but the heart of the event remained the stories of the CMN families. The families that have received help through CMN shared their stories and experiences. For more information visit: https://events.dancemarathon.com/rockeTHON2026