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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.

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.

A group of individuals gained access to the roof of University Hall on Mar. 18 and unfurled a pair of banners showing their support of the Palestinian people.  The two nearly 30-foot-long banners were hung from the edge of the roof of Doermann Theatre around 1 p.m. by several protestors. The banners were removed about 15 minutes later by a UToledo employee.   One banner read “UT DIVEST” while the other read “FROM THE RIVER TO THE SEA.”    The Collegian  met with four individuals involved with, or who had knowledge of, the banners. Their common message: “Divestment [from Israel] is long overdue.”   “We sort of have to dispel this myth that if we say nothing, we’re being neutral, or we’re being fair to everybody... the issue with that is that when there’s a very clear oppressed party, and you’re silently contributing funds to the oppressor, you’re very clearly not neutral,” said one individual. “We know our university has already taken a side, no matter what they say about wanting to remain neutral. And we know our university is complicit in the genocide of Palestine.”  “I don’t think the average American would want to see their taxes put towards this kind of situation. It’s killing people by the thousands. It’s providing weapons and machinery to a murderous occupation,” said one individual.  Asked if they felt safe on campus, one said, “just not having to be in Gaza is a privilege... how on earth can I complain about being here?”   “It feels like safety is a buzzword, almost,” said another.  “As a Palestinian, we kind of just want the university to say, like, anything,” said one individual. “Stop ignoring us. Say anything about what’s going on in Palestine.”     “Spend less time hunting down banners and more time acting, more time speaking,” urged one individual, “because we know that they have taken a position regardless of their ‘neutral’ stance.”  “We’re doing this for them [the people in Palestine], and we don’t have much time to act,” said one individual.  The group stressed “there is no direct affiliation” between Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) and the individuals who hung the banner.  “I loved it,” SJP President Ahmed Amrou, said. “It was really disappointing to see how quickly it got taken down... but the fact that they got put up in the first place was really heartening.”    “SJP obviously isn’t affiliated with the banner drop, but we fully support it. It’s not to say this is something that SJP would do, because we’re not an organization that tries to get in trouble with the university,” Amrou said, “but if doing things that might get us in trouble with the university is the only way that we can publicize, you know, the ongoing genocide and inform people, then that might be the method that we take. But like I said, this wasn’t SJP.”  “It’s kind of a spectacle, right? You don’t see people climb buildings and drop banners from them every day,” said Amrou. “This kind of forced people to start talking about it. And I think it’s likely that whoever dropped the banners probably wanted that to occur.”   “It was time a long time ago for the university to come clean about how they’re not remaining neutral, how they have investments in Israeli-backed companies, and I think UT divesting from these companies is long overdue,” Amrou said.

Pat Bowe, president and chief executive officer of The Andersons Inc., will be the keynote speaker at commencement ceremonies on Dec. 16. He was named CEO at The Andersons in 2015. The Maumee-based agribusiness was founded in 1947, and today conducts business in the commodity merchandising, renewables and nutrient and industrial sectors. Bowe previously served as corporate vice president of Cargill Inc. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Stanford University and a master’s degree from the Stanford Food Research Institute. Bowe is active in the community and sits on the boards of the Toledo Alliance for the Performing Arts and the Toledo Museum of Art. UToledo’s two fall 2023 commencement ceremonies are scheduled at 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. Dec. 16 inside John F. Savage Arena. The morning ceremony at 9 a.m. will recognize students in the College of Arts and Letters, the John B. and Lillian E. Neff College of Business and Innovation, College of Law, College of Medicine and Life Sciences, College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, College of Nursing and the College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences. Students in the Judith Herb College of Education, College of Engineering, College of Health and Human Services and University College will be recognized at 1 p.m. Tickets are required.

With fall semester rapidly coming to a close, UT Student Government is slowing making progress on its to-do list. Lucas Will and Tanner Schultz, UTSG President and Vice President, respectively, have also been working to make good on their campaign promises. As of October UTSG had increased its cap for senators by 60 percent and filled all 80 available seats, which leads to a stronger student voice, according to officials. UTSG plays a key role in bringing student concerns to the University administration directly. At the University of Toledo Board of Trustees meeting on September 27, representatives from UTSG discussed their initiatives for the remainder of the school year, including a proposal from Student Senator Thomas Rega to expand the University’s Sustainability Committee. “Rega’s initiative is connecting student organizations together to work with the UToledo Green Fund to allow students to make decisions on where this funding is going,” Will said. “We want to promote the sustainable initiatives that students want.” UTSG also hosted a parking Q&A in October to allow students and staff to voice their parking concerns and receive feedback from administrators. It also created a new parking committee that consists of eight students. The committee will meet with Park UToledo on a monthly basis to discuss parking concerns. Chaired by Aesha Patel, the committee will hold its first meeting Dec. 1. UTSG is also working alongside the International Student Association to update any outdated country flags on display in the Carlson Library. They have plans to continue fostering a connection with identity-based organizations on campus and have recently appointed Makenzie Moman as the Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Spring semster will bring formal meetings with these organizations to address concerns and improve the campus community. Also for spring semester, similar Q&A meetings will be held to address dining hall concerns and campus safety with UTPD. Student leaders also discussed the fluctuating involvement of students and organizations on campus. “Post COVID involvement is increasing, so student organizations need to be prepared and think bigger,” Schultz said. “There should be a focus on connectedness and collaboration to communicate with each other and work together, have fun together, and increase the campus community.” With over 450 active student organizations and recording breaking attendance at sporting events, it seems that UT students are getting involved more than ever before, officials said. “I have always felt proud to be a Rocket, but it is so much more rewarding to see that sense of pride being instilled in others for the first time,” says Will. A key focus of UTSG looking forward is creating connections between student and local government through the Government Relations Committee. In March 2024, a meet and greet with elected officials will be held for students to interact with their local government and learn about the impact they have in their community. Students are encouraged to contact UTSG with concerns, comments, and questions. For more information, email UTSG@utoledo.edu or stop by the UTSG office in Student Union 3512. General body meetings are held every Tuesday at 8:15 p.m. in Student Union room 2592. Students and staff are welcome to attend.

ParkUToledo is “not the villains people want to make us out to be,” according to the non-profit’s Executive Director, Sherri Kaspar. Kaspar was answering questions about parking at UToledo during a Parking Q&A on October 10. ParkUToledo handles all aspects of parking—permitting, ticketing, maintenance, etc.—at the University of Toledo. The agreement between UT and ParkUToledo requires meetings be held twice a year so the campus community can give feedback on parking on campus. At October’s meeting, a number of people complained about ParkUToledo’s ticketing policy. Some students were upset there is no leniency for first time offenders of the parking regulations, claiming a zero-tolerance stance gives parking on campus a negative stigma and makes people afraid to visit. “If you show up to campus and you park the way you’re supposed to park, there shouldn’t be a problem,” Kaspar said. If someone believes they have been improperly ticketed, they can appeal the ticket by contacting ParkUToledo. All tickets must be appealed within 10 days of being issued. If someone gets a ticket and cannot pay it, they can ask to set up a payment plan with ParkUToledo to pay the ticket off over time and avoid racking up extra fees. The prices of student parking passes went up $4 this year, making permits $137 per semester, and the price of faculty parking passes went up by $59, making them $100 per semester. This is because ParkUToledo wants to close the gap between what students and faculty must pay to park on campus. Participants were required to submit their questions digitally, through a live online forum. In one such question, someone claimed parking prices at nearby schools like BGSU are muchcheaper and students should have had a say in how much parking would cost. According to Kaspar, the price of parking passes is set based on the price of parking at “peer schools” around the area including “MAC schools and Ohio State.” Another common theme at the Town Hall was that students and faculty have a hard time finding parking. Kaspar said the most desirable parking lots, such as areas 10 and 13 are “full a majority of the time.” She suggested people go directly to lots 18, 20, or 25, rather than circling the more desirable lots, because those three are consistently empty. There are no plans to construct new parking facilities in the immediate future, Kaspar said. “Until we start seeing the campus fill up, which we are not seeing the South end at all filling up, no additional parking is expected to be put in, surface lot or parking garage.” According to ParkUToledo, permits are always required to park on campus. Their enforcement hours are from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Mondays to Fridays and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends. For more information on parking at UT, visit parkutoledo.com.

The Jesup Scott Honors College will be restructured in the coming weeks, but the changes should be “seamless” for students, Interim Provost Scott Molitor said. “Honors is not an academic discipline,” Molitor said, explaining the plan is “to reorganize the college itself so that the faculty will go to their academic homes. We intend to continue offering an excellent honors program and experience. It’s just a matter of where faculty belong, and how it’s administered.” Dr. Ashley Pryor, Associate Professor of Humanities, is currently housed in the Honors College and will “fold into the existing structure” of the Department of Philosophy in the College of Arts and Letters, where she will continue teaching generally the same courses she does as a member of the Honors College. “Faculty should have academic homes that reflect their expertise and their discipline,” Molitor said. “We will still deliver an Honors program, students will still receive an Honors medallion, the program will still be called the Jesup Scott Honors College,” Molitor said. The difference is there will be no Honors administration or exclusively Honors faculty. Molitor said current Honors students should not notice a change this year, but there may be changes in the future. “Curriculum always changes, there may be discussions about revisioning the honors program,” he said.  Any changes to the Honors program will only affect new students, according to Molitor. “Currently enrolled students will be able to finish the program as it is.” Molitor will present the proposed changes to Faculty Senate later this month. Barring any major complaints, the changes would take effect starting with Spring Semester, he said. “Honors is not going away,” said Dr. Linda Rouillard, President of Faculty Senate. The change is mostly structural, she said.

The University provides a variety of complimentary services to assist students, including temporary food assistance, free laptop rentals, and a headshot booth. Among the services offered are: Food Pantry – The Student Union food pantry provides temporary food assistance for students in need. Most of the pantry’s food has a long shelf life, and includes items such as canned sauces, microwavable meals, peanut butter, and bulk bags of pasta and cereal. The pantry also can also provide hygiene items such as deodorant, paper towels, toilet paper, and shampoo. Students receive ten dollars worth of merchandise each visit and are limited to one visit per week. Item prices range from 25 cents to two dollars. Students may be eligible for additional items if they are experiencing a qualifying event, such as job loss. Located in room 2514 of the Student Union, the food pantry is open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. every Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Computer Rentals – Business majors or students enrolled in a business class may borrow a Dell Latitude Laptop for 24-hours without a fee. Rentals are available every Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. They are available for overnight use, but not for weekend use. Students who qualify should bring their Rocket Card to Stranahan Hall 5007 to complete the rental process. Sensory Room – The sensory room is a room dedicated to providing students a space where they can decompress. The room is decorated with a huge bean bag chair and alternative lighting such as LED galaxy lights and curtain fairy lights. It contains Rubik’s cubes, kinetic sand, noise-canceling headphones, coloring pages, and fidget toys. The sensory room is located within the Office of Access and Disability in Rocket Hall. It is open from 8:15 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Resource Room – The Resource Room is filled with craft supplies including markers, colored paper, construction paper, stamps, and stencils for students to use free of charge. Its purpose is to give students in campus organizations creative supplies. It is in Student Union room 1532 and is available Monday through Friday from 8:15 a.m. to 5 p.m. Swipe access is required to enter, or the building manager can make the space accessible. Headshot Booth – The Headshot Booth is on the Student Union’s first floor, down the hall from the Resource Room. The Headshot Booth is a self-serve photo booth that offers business-quality headshots for professional use. The Headshot Booth is used to help boost UT students’ career readiness. It walks students through the process of taking a professional photo of oneself, providing tips along the way and allowing students to edit their finished products afterwards.

After defeating No. 5 seed Iowa State 80-73 in the first round of the NCAA tournament, the No. 12 seed UToledo women’s basketball team fell to No. 4 seed Tennessee 47-94 in the second round, ending the Rockets’ shot at a national title. The 2022-23 season was one of the most successful in UToledo history, with the Rockets chalking up 29 wins, tying a school record. The team enjoyed a record-setting 17-game winning streak and easily claimed their second consecutive Midwest Athletic Conference (MAC) title by defeating perennial rivals the Bowling Green State University Falcons 62-56 in the final game of the regular season on Mar. 4 and 73-58 in the MAC Championship game Mar. 11. Quinesha Lockett, number 5, helped lead the Rockets on their winning ways and was named MAC Player of the Year. Rockets head coach Tricia Cullop was named MAC Coach of the Year.