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The University of Toledo’s Japanese Program has reached new heights after ranking second in Ohio. The data, published by the Consulate General of Japan in Detroit, is based on student enrollment and course offerings. This is the third time in a decade UToledo has earned this distinction. Ryo Kitamura, a part-time professor of Japanese at UT, is not shocked. The program has often sat between 3rd and 5th place, he said. However, he is happy there is a strong interest in the language at UT. This achievement is prompting students and faculty to examine what distinguishes UT’s Japanese program from larger universities and consider prospective expansions as enrollment increases. Despite being the second largest Japanese program in the state, the classes are small and are individualized based on students’ needs. Students of all language abilities can take the classes, and support is provided for all participants regardless of proficiency. Students are motivated and studying the language as a supplement to their major coursework, rather than as a requirement, said Erika Marcet, visiting associate professor of Japanese. For incoming faculty, she said the program’s greatest appeal is its growth potential. “I feel like the students are very much, like, motivated to learn Japanese and they are taking the minor because they want to learn the language,” Marcet said. “And it is not always that case in other universities.” The language learning community is close-knit and promotes comfortability to explore Japanese, said Keirstin Timpko, a junior in the program. She said the strong relationship between staff and students enriches the experience. “I’ve been able to grow in confidence in speaking in Japanese; I’m not afraid to make mistakes,” Timpko said. “I definitely feel like that’s one of the best environments you can have for students to learn.” Compared to universities with more intensive programs, UT offers a citizen-driven and hands-on learning environment. Though the university has fewer resources available, its foundation is organically grown, said Kasumi Yamazaki, associate professor and director of the Japanese program. As universities transition toward a business model, fine arts and foreign language departments are often neglected. Decreased funding results in fewer course offerings and cultural exposure within the academic community, Yamazaki said. Former visiting professor of Japanese Taichi Yamashita emailed students in language courses last spring, urging them to send letters to the university to advocate for better funding. The program also solicited messages from diverse stakeholders such as regional Japanese organizations and graduate students. “We just have to keep our fingers crossed to see, you know, how the climate would change,” Yamazaki said. “And as students grow, the needs grow as well.” Most students perform well in class and earn accomplished positions abroad. They should voice their experiences learning another language and how it contributed to their education and careers, said Yamazaki. In addition to funding advocacy, she said student opinions will shape opportunities offered in the program’s future. Timpko’s largest concern is the lack of access to study-abroad opportunities. She said progressing in fluency is difficult when students surpass the highest language level classes and cannot experience a native-speaking environment. Studying abroad during the academic year may not be viable for students in certain degree programs, such as engineering or education students with required internships. One solution Timpko suggested was to introduce an affordable two to four week study abroad program for those that cannot take the typical route. A three to four week summer intensive language seminar at Aichi University was once available, but it was discontinued after former Japanese program director, Joseph Hara, retired. Five to ten UT students participated each year it was offered. The university regularly receives collaboration requests from schools in Japan. Demand from students could create a pathway toward similar study abroad opportunities like Hara’s, said Yamazaki. Timpko said she would like to see more cultural classes become available as staff increases. Many of these courses were canceled after the start of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020. With restrictions lifted, Timpko’s hope is now a possibility. A Japanese major has also been proposed by several students. Case Western Reserve University, ranked 3rd in the Consulate General of Japan’s list, offers a major with 15 course offerings and has 182 students. UT offers a minor with 12 courses and has 184 students. The similarities between the total number of classes available and student enrollment prompts consideration of a Japanese major. “It was the first thing that came to mind when I was switching majors back in 2020,” said Trenton Miller, a senior in the minor program. “When I was growing up I was always fascinated by Japanese culture and tradition.” The possibility of a Japanese major at UT depends on the desire of students to enroll, said Yamazaki. She asks those interested in a major voice their interest to her. Currently, UT offers a 22-credit-hour minor program. These credits are in addition to completing the elementary language classes. For those enrolling later in their academic careers, it may be impossible to complete the minor alongside their major requirements. Yamazaki said she is hoping to make the program more flexible by easing upper-level requirements, incorporating cultural classes as electives, and creating a curriculum that allows students to take multiple Japanese classes in one semester. Though no proposal has been finalized for a change in the program, staff and students alike are optimistic for a bright future.

More than 50 students sampled tea and sweets from across the world at the Department of World Languages and Cultures’ Intercultural Tea Ceremony Feb. 23. In coordination with the Center for International Studies and Programs, Arabic language program, Japanese language program, and Asian Studies Director, the department hosted the event for the first time since the coronavirus pandemic in 2020. Ornate teapots and tea containers decorated three divided sections of the classroom, representing Arabic, Chinese, and Japanese culture at the event. Students and faculty shared conversations while testing up to nine different types of tea and a variety of biscuits, cakes, and red-bean confectionaries. The Japanese Tea Ceremony Club, revived after the reintroduction of the fall tea ceremony course, encouraged the participants to kneel alongside them as they hand-whisked matcha and introduced typical tea ceremony equipment and decorations. The nontraditional course is one of few across the United States. Professor Mariko Johnston offers the class annually to students who have completed introductory Japanese language courses. Students learn the intricate history of the ancient art, how to be a polite guest and knowledgeable host, and how to whisk the perfect bowl of matcha. Also at the event, Asian Studies Director Dr. An Chung Cheng, showed a video about the deep-rooted origins of tea in China. Tea is the second most consumed beverage in the country, and it is one of its oldest exported products. Its 3,000-year old background leaves much to be discovered for tea enthusiasts. The department plans to continue hosting the Intercultural Tea Ceremony on an annual basis.

Four student leaders are vying for the two top spots in Student Government for the 2023-24 school year. Justin Rose, the speaker of the Student Senate, is running for president. His running mate is Christina Charley, secretary of the Black Student Union. They are running against Lucas Will and Tanner Schultz, who both joined SG during their freshman year in 2021 and hope to be elected president and vice president, respectively. Will is SG’s Recording Secretary and Schultz is SG’s Campus Culture Chair. Will-Schultz wants to build a stronger relationship between Student Government, minority organizations, and the University administration. They are proposing monthly meetings between SG and minority organizations, so concerns can then be relayed to the administration. Rose-Charley would like to increase student retention by creating spaces where people can be active on campus. They aim to “increase student involvement and create a livelier campus where people want to spend their free time.” Charley, a Resident Advisor at Parks Tower, said younger students have energy that isn’t currently being tapped into. “Freshmen at Parks want to be hands-on. They want to be forced out of their comfort zone,” she added. The duo is also proposing a new, less expensive parking permit valid only on the outskirts of campus. The idea is to encourage the budget-conscious student to park further out and utilize the UT shuttle buses. Parking is also a plank in the Will-Schultz platform, with the ticket advocating for students to be given “a larger voice in parking issues on campus.” They want to see a student serving on the ticket appeals committee. Will pushed last year’s referendum for free menstrual products in campus bathrooms and Schultz helped create the Sustainability Committee within Student Government. Another focus of their campaign is the “We are a Rocket” initiative, a strategy to build a stronger sense of community. They want to “be the change that implements a better sense of community involvement and engagement.” “So many things are possible, and we want to be the ones that make it happen,” Will said. “We are loud and make our presence known. We want to advocate for the quiet person.” Will is a Spanish and Economics major, while Schultz is a Biology major with a concentration in Neuroscience and Pre-med. Another plank in the Rose-Charley platform is excused mental health days for students. They would like to see them included in every syllabus. “We want to work the CASE Center which already has a touchpoint system for students” Rose said. The program would use the CASE Center to reach out to the students and work with professors as the filter for mental health days. “I hear the complaints [from the students] but no one implements those changes. I want to make a campus where I can find solutions to those problems,” Rose said. Rose is a Psychology major with a minor in Counseling. He also serves on SG’s Dining Committee, which works with Auxiliary Services. Charley is a Nursing student and is also involved with the Black and Latino Excellence Mentorship Program. “Not too many people who look like me are [SG Vice President],” Charley said. “I want to make sure the students are heard.” Voting is open April 3 through 8 on Invonet. For more info on all the candidates visit their Instagram pages at @justinandchristina4change and @lucasandtanner4ut

“Before coming to America, I knew guns were entrenched in American Culture,” said Yash Shingan, a fourth-year student at the University of Toledo. What took Shingan by surprise was when he went to Walmart for the first time and saw guns in the Walmart. “It was so casual.” Shingan, a Media Communications major, went on to explain, “I knew people liked to carry guns, but I didn’t realize how common it was.” Shingan is originally from India and came to the United States for college. Discussing gun culture, Shingan gave his perspective on gun culture in India, “even some gang members [in India] do not have guns. They just use knives.” Shingan talked about “how rare guns are. We do not even see them.” “I found it surprising that school kids were worried about guns,” said Ruchita Kulkarni, a sophomore at the University of Toledo. Kulkarni grew up in India. After the shooting in February at Michigan State University, Kulkarni was more nervous than ever about being on campus. “[the shooting] felt wild to me.” Kulkarni was scared and decided to confide in her roommate. Her roommate responded with “that cars have the same statistics” when compared with gun violence. “Still safer than in America,” was a running joke used by Kulkarni’s family in India when comparing violence to other countries. Neither Shingan nor Kulkarni were friends with anyone who owned a gun. Both only heard about guns in the context of the shootings in their time here. Kulkarni stated that, “guns [and the topic of guns] makes me feel uneasy.” Shingan had the opinion that “assault weapons have no place in civil society.” Mai Mang is a student at the University who is from Vietnam. Mang has “been here for four years and in Vietnam we can’t have firearms.” Mang went to high school in America, and did not pay too much attention to guns and gun violence until she started attending college. “It seems that there is more gun violence now and it is scary.” “I thought people had to go through training to get a gun,” Mang explained. She went on to talk about gun culture in Vietnam and how “there are no guns, period. The only people who have guns are criminals. Why do you need a gun just to walk around?” Like most Americans, Mang went through training for school shootings while in high school. During one of her first drills, she had thought there was an active shooter on campus. “I texted my mom ‘I am going to die’.” Mang was asked if she was friends with anyone pro-gun, “No. While I understand the second amendment has a place in American life, you shouldn’t have the ability to kill others.” Tram Nguyen, a junior from Vietnam, first came to America in 2016. When talking about guns in America Nguyen explained, “I don’t remember my first mass shooting since I have been in America.” Nguyen, a biology major, talked about how, “There was a false alarm scenario when I was in High School in South Carolina.” The whole school went into lockdown and all Nguyen could think was, “is this normal?” The first family to host Nguyen owned guns. “It took me by surprise. He [the dad] talked about how they were necessary.” Explaining that if someone broke into the house, he needed to protect Nguyen and his family. “There should be more mental health advocacy. It is too easy to get a gun.”

Before attending the University of Toledo, she was a Production Assistant in Cleveland. While working with various news stations in Ohio, she reported on missing persons. According to Elyse Chengery’s bio, her stories helped the police find 350 missing people. Today, she covers everything from sports to investigative stories. Elyse Chengery is an evening anchor who has worked for NBC and Fox affiliates as well as iHeartMedia. Chengery, a former student at the University of Toledo, will be the commencement speaker on Saturday, May 6th at 9:00AM and 1:00PM. Both Undergraduate ceremonies will be held in the Savage Arena. During her time at Toledo, she worked as an anchor and reporter for an NBC affiliate. Chengery has worked at multiple NBC and Fox affiliates since attending the University of Toledo, from Washington, DC to Michigan to Cape Coral, Florida. The 9:00AM ceremony is for the College of Arts and Letters, College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, College of Nursing and College of Health and Human Services. Students should arrive by 8:15 AM to line up for the ceremony. The 1:00 PM ceremony is for John B. and Lillian E Neff College of Business, Judith Herb College of Education, College of Engineering and University College. Students should arrive at the Savage Arena by 12:15 PM.

UT student organizations held the annual on-campus Earth Day 2023 celebration “Earth Fest” on April 19th and 20th. Hosted by BOSEF (Building Ohio’s Sustainable Energy Future) every year “to promote sustainability on campus and environmental education,” the event included food, crafts, plant sales, and more. BOSEF kicked it off by hosting a drop-in DIY Tote Bag event at the Catharine S. Eberly Center for Women from 3:00pm-6:00pm on Wednesday, April 19th, where students could sew their own bag–with pockets! The main events took place at Centennial Mall on Thursday, April 20th from 9:00am to 3:00pm. The SGF (Student Green Fund) approved funds for the Leaf and Seed, a Toledo-based vegan cafe, to have a food truck on the mall for the second time, where they served samples of their main menu dishes. According to the President of SGF, Olivia Onago, their goal with having the Leaf and Seed at Earth Fest is to “promote sustainable eating by providing vegan samples free-of-charge, introducing students to foods they may have never tried before, while helping to protect the planet.” EGS (Environmental Graduate Students) collaboratively organized a plant sale with the UT Garden, where they sold the garden’s variety of plants, as well as a spread of succulents planted in coffee mugs. Images courtesy of Garrett Moots, a member of EGS. Even Parks Tower got involved in an Earth Fest event. From 6:00pm-7:30pm on the 20th, students painted terra cotta pots and planted seeds in them to watch their plant grow. The event also provided tips on what properties plants might have or how they can boost your mental health, perfect for the final few weeks of the semester. Though not explicitly a part of the Earth Day celebration, UT Recreational Services and Juice House hosted a “Yoga Under the Stars” event at the Flatlands at 7:30pm on the 20th. They even offered the first 25 participants a free yoga mat for their relaxing conclusion to the event. The Catharine S. Eberly Center for Women set up a follow-up event to use the leftover fabric scraps from DIY tote bags to make toys with Rocket Service Dogs. The toys made at the event on Monday, April 24th from 7:00pm-8:00pm will be donated to the Ability Center of Greater Toledo and Lucas County Canine Care and Control. All of UT’s sustainability groups rely on volunteers to help with various projects on campus. You can help these student organizations keep our campus green in any way that suits you best: promoting recycling at sports or electronic waste events, tending to garden beds, completing internships, or even participating in student government. If you’re interested in what they do outside of Earth Fest, you can find out more at www.utoledo.edu/sustainability/involvement.html

Question: Hello Collegian, To be brief, things have been less than ideal these past few months. I’m a sophomore here at UT, and school has been a lot for me lately. I often find myself struggling to find motivation to do anything, whether it be homework, clubs, or even spending time with friends and family. I wonder if I’m smart enough or even motivated enough for my degree (I’m an engineering major). It’s a lot of work and truth be told, my mental health has been suffering. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Answer: Hello and thank you very much for writing to The Collegian. I am very sorry to hear that things have not been the greatest for you lately. College is a lot to handle and it is certainly not a walk in the park most days. There are moments of struggle throughout, but you’ve gotten far already and I truly commend you for your perseverance. Something that I sincerely believe is that acknowledging your progress is an extremely powerful practice in everyday life. We continuously emphasize our faults and shortcomings, yet forget the improvements we make throughout. Even though your progress may be difficult to see when things are heavy, search through the chaos to find the growth you’ve made - this is what you’re working for and I promise it is there! You are doing the best you can do in your current state. Being gentle with yourself can go a long way when it comes to accomplishing your goals. It is increasingly important in such a hectic world to find the time to care for yourself - and it does not have to be time consuming. When you imagine an activity or practice that makes you content, try incorporating that (at least a little bit) into your daily routine. Remember what you are working for, and remind yourself of what you truly value and need. You are putting in your best effort and it will most definitely pay off. You are fully capable of achieving what you put your mind to. You have every ounce of skill required to get your degree and make a powerful difference in the world. Remind yourself every day that you are good enough and you deserve to be here in college with your peers. Best wishes from The Collegian!

A set of odd new landmarks that has made its way onto the University of Toledo’s campus are the orange chimneys on the sidewalks, particularly between the Rec Center, Savage Arena, and the Glass Bowl. These strange pieces of equipment have raised several questions from students: what exactly are these things? How long will they remain here? What is their purpose? Robert Huntsman, the manager of Mechanical Maintenance, had the answers. Steam power is one of the most efficient and safe forms of energy transfer. On campus, thermal energy released from the steam is used not only to heat the sinks and showers all across campus, but to regulate building temperatures—particularly to keep laboratory equipment at a safe storage temperature. This works much like a pot on the stove: as the water boils, releasing steam, the pressure builds until the pot either boils over or the steam and pressure are released in a controlled way. This is where the orange chimneys come in; the chimneys act as a point where this steam and pressure may be released in a safe way. This avoids the negative effects of the energy “boiling over” and being lost as well as preventing hot steam from causing students any discomfort. These chimneys, however, are not a permanent fixture on UT’s campus. They are acting as temporary placeholders until the system may be briefly shut down so that the chimneys can safely be replaced by an alternative means of release. Although their time on campus will be short, the impact these chimneys have is shockingly powerful for life on campus.

Since opening its doors in Fall 2022, the Center for Advocacy and Student Experience (CASE) has continued to work hard to “ensure that every student has exactly what they need on campus,” according to Sara Clark, assistant dean of student experience and belonging. The CASE is committed to supporting the academic and personal successes of UToledo students, faculty, and family. The office consists of several areas of support within the Division of Student Affairs and partners with services across the University to provide resources and support for members of the UToledo community. The center’s office is in Thompson Student Union room 2518. It is intended to serve as a first line of contact for UToledo students and faculty in need. The office is staffed by employees from the Office of Student Advocacy and Support, the Division of Student Affairs, and the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards.  In an effort to create a “culture of belonging,” the Division of Student Affairs has appointed two assistant deans to oversee campus resources. Clark is responsible for student advocacy and support, student conduct, multicultural student success, career services, and the Center for International Studies and Programs. Demond Pryor, the assistant dean for engagement and success, is responsible for student involvement and leadership, operations for the Student Union and Recreation Center, Upward Bound, and Toledo Excel. According to Clark, in addition to CASE’s efforts on campus, the center is also working to strengthen connections with local Toledo resources to provide students with opportunities beyond the UToledo Campus. CASE is intended to be a hub for all student concerns and to provide convenient access to a variety of resources for students and staff. The center coordinates meetings with other campus offices in advance to a student’s arrival, and uses a five touch point system to ensure students in need are connected with at least five resources, on or off campus, to assist with their situation. The CASE office provides many resources for students in need. The office addresses academic issues and concerns, mental health crises, academic grievances, situations of sexual misconduct, withdrawal from the university, and other immediate emergencies.  With the appropriate documentation, if a student were to have a death in their family or a mental health emergency, CASE could notify all of their instructors of the situation, ask for the student to be excused from class for a period of time, and request instructors allow the student to make up any missed coursework. The decision to grant any requests, such as an extension on missed classwork, is solely the instructors decision. The Center also oversees the Rocket Fuel Food Pantry. The pantry is in SU 2514 and is available for all current UToledo students. Within the CASE’s first academic year, 4,000 students battling food insecurity have utilized the pantry.   Faculty are often the first to notice when a student needs help, and in these situations, the CASE can help. Faculty concerned about a student can initiate a wellness check through the CASE office. Upon assessment of the concern, a member of CASE can attempt to contact the student and determine if a long-term follow-up is needed.  The CASE website offers tips on how faculty can support students, but in the instance a staff member is unsure how to help a student, they can submit a “Rocket Care Report” through the CASE office to provide outreach and support to a student in need. Last year, during the Center’s first academic year, 520 Care Reports were made to help Rockets in need.  “We are trying to impact the community in two ways: through direct service to the students and by providing services and support to our faculty and staff members in the classroom,” Clark said.  The CASE Team is also available to present information to faculty, staff, and students who may benefit from the office resources. For more information, contact the office at 419-530-HELP (4357) or email CASE@utoledo.edu   If parents or family members are concerned about their Rocket, they too can contact the CASE office to offer consultation, resources, and outreach for their student.

The collegiate experience is more than just classes, labs, and research. A key aspect of college life is community, with clubs, fraternities, sororities, and other student organizations offering individuals of different backgrounds the opportunity to get together. The University of Toledo is no exception, with the school proudly boasting more than 400 active clubs and organizations. For both new and established students looking to become more involved on campus, the Involvement Network, commonly referred to as Invonet, is a handy portal to campus organizations. Invonet is a UToledo website campus organizations use to promote events and recruit new members. The main page list all the events being offered on campus in the near future while a sub-menu titled “Organizations” allows students to scroll and sort through all available campus organizations. UToledo organizations offer loads of services to students, and those services are the main draw for many of them. The International Student Association which manages many of of the school’s cultural organizations. For those students looking to go Greek, fraternity and sorority rush events are held throughout the year. There are also many other common interest groups active on campus, from the Hot Chocolate Club to BASH, just about anything to fit your niche. Looking for something more administrative? Organizations like Campus Activities and Programming or Student Government allow students to make change across campus. With more than 400 groups across campus, one would hope there is a place for everyone, but if there isn’t, the University has a streamlined process for starting a new student organization. Each year, from Sept. 1 to Oct. 31 and again from Jan. 1 to June 1, any student in good standing, along with six of their friends can create their own student organization. To get started, you need to come up with a unique organization that isn’t active on campus. Two of your members need to be trained as President and Treasurer. You will also have to submit your organization’s mission statement and constitution to Invonet. For more information on how you can get involved on campus, visit the Office of Student Involvement and Leadership, on first floor of the Student Union around the corner from Frogtown Cafe and across from the Student Lounge/Game Room.