The University of Toledo, with license from the American Foundation for Equal Rights (AFER) and Broadway Impact, is proud to announce a one-night-only reading of “8,” a play on October 7, 2012, chronicling the historic trial in the federal constitutional challenge to California’s Proposition 8, written by Academy Award-winning screenwriter and AFER Founding Board Member Dustin Lance Black.

“8” is an unprecedented account of the Federal District Court trial in Perry v. Schwarzenegger (now Perry v. Brown), the case filed by AFER to overturn Proposition 8, which stripped gay and lesbian Californians of the fundamental freedom to marry.

Black, who penned the Academy Award-winning feature film Milk and the film J. Edgar, based “8” on the actual words of the trial transcripts, first-hand observations of the courtroom drama and interviews with the plaintiffs and their families.

One-night-only staged reading on October 7, 2012 at 7:30 p.m. at the University of Toledo Doermann Theatre in University Hall. Admission is free and open to the public; no tickets necessary.

Click here for more detailed information and play line up: utole.do/xfp4.

For more information contact Amelia Acuna at 419.672.8250 or  amelia.acuna@utoledo.edu.

Media Coverage
The Blade (Oct. 4, 2012)
The Independent Collegian (Oct. 10, 2012)

Shaheen

Dr. Jack G. Shaheen, internationally acclaimed author and media critic, will discuss images of Arabs and Muslims in popular culture during a free public lecture Sunday at The University of Toledo.

Shaheen will present “Images of Arabs and Muslims in Popular Culture: Problems and Prospects” at 3:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 7 in the Richard & Jane McQuade Law Center Auditorium on the UT Main Campus. It will be the University’s 12th annual Maryse and Ramzy Mikhail Memorial Lecture.

“The purpose of the Mikhail Fund is to support an annual lecture dealing with Arab culture, literature, history, politics, economics or other broadly defined aspects of life in the Middle East,” said Dr. Samir Abu-Absi, UT professor emeritus of English and member of the Mikhail Memorial Lecture Committee. “The committee is very excited about this year’s program as it addresses some very timely issues related to the proliferation of negative images of Arabs and Muslims in the media and popular culture.”

A committed internationalist and a devoted humanist, Shaheen is a Pittsburgh native and former CBS news consultant on Middle East Affairs. His lectures and writings illustrate that damaging racial and ethnic stereotypes of Asians, blacks, Native Americans and others injure innocent people. He defines crude caricatures, explains why they persist, and provides workable solutions to help shatter misperceptions.

Shaheen is the author of five books and more than 300 essays in publications such as Newsweek, The Wall Street Journal and The Washington Post. He has given more than 1,000 lectures and has consulted with numerous entities including the United Nations.

The Mikhail Lecture is made possible through the Maryse and Ramzy Mikhail Endowment Fund, established in 2000 by the Mikhail family.

Click here to download a photo of Shaheen.

For more information, contact Dr. Samir Abu-Absi at samir.abu-absi@utoledo.edu.

Media Coverage
The Blade (Oct. 5, 2012)

Come one, come all to The University of Toledo’s Homecoming to “Rock-et Under the Big Top at the Greatest School on Earth!”

Homecoming week kicks off today with a Student Organization Carnival Day until 9 p.m. in the grassy area south of the Memorial Field House where you can meet the Homecoming Court candidates, play some carnival games, and check out the inflatables and food. The day concludes with a concert featuring the band Hellogoodbye at 7 p.m. in the same location.

The week of school spirit continues with events such as a talent show, pep rally, parade and more leading up to the Homecoming game Saturday when the Rockets take on Central Michigan in the Glass Bowl.

Homecoming 2012 events include:

• “Ring of Fire” Pep Rally, 7:30 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 4 in the Flatlands with free food, music by WXUT, and Toledo football players and coaches. Psyche up for the Toledo-Central Michigan football game by taking your best shot at the Triangle Fraternity Car Bash.
• Homecoming Alumni Gala and Awards Ceremony, 6 p.m., Friday, Oct. 5 in the Student Union Auditorium when the Alumni Association will present this year’s Blue T, Gold T and Edward H. Schmidt Young Alum awards, and college and affiliate award winners will be honored.
• Edward C. Schmidt Homecoming Parade, 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 6. Sponsored by Blue Key, the parade will begin at West Bancroft Street and go to Middlesex Drive to Hughes Drive to Cheltenham Road and back on West Bancroft Street.
• Toledo vs. Central Michigan Homecoming Game, 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 6 in the Glass Bowl.

For more information and a full listing of events visit utoledo.edu/homecoming or call the UT Alumni Relations Office at 419.530.2586.

Media Coverage
WTOL 11 (Oct. 4, 2012)

Join The University of Toledo for an open house today, Thursday Oct. 4, to celebrate the Center for Excellence in Autism’s first anniversary.

The event will be held from 3 to 7 p.m. in the center, located in the Kobacker Center on the UT Health Science Campus. Guests are encouraged to park in lot 43, enter the building from that direction and follow the signs to the event.

The first 10 guests will receive a free copy of a new release from the Autism Asperger Publishing Company. There also will be a book sale to allow those who show up later to purchase the latest titles about autism spectrum disorders.

During the open house, guests are welcome to partake in refreshments while learning about the center’s service plans, 48 Hour Pledge, lifespan of services, specialities in adolescent girl’s and woman’s wellness, trauma and post- traumatic stress disorder services, transition to adulthood assistance and new parent classes.

For more information contact Amelia Acuna at 419.672.8250 or amelia.acuna@utoledo.edu.

The history of people with disabilities in the United States is chronicled in a new book by Dr. Kim Nielsen, who recently joined The University of Toledo as a professor of disability studies.

A Disability History of the United States, published by Beacon Press, was released today (Tuesday, Oct. 2) and already is getting attention with a review from Inside Higher Ed and Nielsen was interviewed for today’s The Takeaway public radio program.

“I have spent more than five years chronicling this history that spans 800 years. It begins prior to the European arrival and follows how history has changed over time,” Nielsen said. “It’s marvelous to see this work published and to receive early attention for this examination of the sharedAmerican story.”

Nielsen illustrates in her book how concepts of disability have shaped the American experience in relation to immigration, establishing labor laws and justifying slavery and gender discrimination. Her work includes powerful stories spanning narratives of women being involuntarily sterilized to accounts of veterans returning with disabilities securing civil rights.

It is the first book to cover the entirety of disability history, from pre-1492 to the present.

Nielsen

Nielsen joined UT in August from the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay. She also is the author of Beyond the Miracle Worker: The Remarkable Life of Anne Sullivan Macy and Her Extraordinary Friendship with Helen Keller; Helen Keller: Selected Writings; The Radical Lives of Helen Keller, and Un-American Womanhood: Anti-Radicalism, Anti-Feminism and the First Red Scare.

Click here for cover art for the book and click here for a photograph of the author.

For more information contact Meghan Cunningham at 419.530.2410 or meghan.cunningham@utoledo.edu.

Two additional stores will open tomorrow, Wednesday, Oct. 3, in Gateway at The University of Toledo.

Rice Blvd., a Japanese-style restaurant, and Wireless Zone, an independent Verizon Wireless store, are the newest stores to open in the Gateway on the corner of Dorr Street and Secor Road. 

As part of the grand opening celebrations, Rice Blvd. will offer a 10 percent discount on all menu items through Wednesday, Oct. 31 for UT students, faculty and staff and Wireless Zone will offer a 10 percent discount for UT students, faculty and staff through Wednesday Oct. 10, on all accessories.

Rice Blvd. will feature Japanese- inspired cuisine such as sushi, rolls and bento boxes. Owner Jun Park said he wants the customers to enjoy a great Japanese meal in his restaurant.

Wireless Zone will sell many of the same items that other Verizon Wireless stores sell such as the new Apple iPhone 5 as well as other popular phones, tablets and more. Owner Frank Toma said he hopes to supply the communication needs of everyone that comes in his store.

For more information contact Amelia Acuna at 419.530.5874 or amelia.acuna@utoledo.edu.

UT student Tommy Pitzen will represent the United States at the fourth annual World Kickboxing Council World Championships this week, Tuesday through Sunday, Oct. 2-7.

The U.S. National Karate team will go head to head with approximately 30 other countries in the championships in Montreal.

“I’m excited to fight against people that I’ve never competed against,” said Pitzen, who is studying criminal justice at The University of Toledo. “I’ve been all over the country and a little into Canada, but to an extent you don’t really get that international flavor.”

UT student Tommy Pitzen, right, sparred with Tom Gears to prepare for the World Kickboxing Council World Championships. Photo by Daniel Miller

Pitzen placed second at the March 10 regional qualifier in Toledo and went on to win the June 9 national qualifier in Detroit. The top four at each regional qualifier advanced to compete at the national level, and the top four at the national qualifier made the American team.

He has been training in martial arts for 16 years and competing for 11. He has won several state and national championships, including a world title in 2002 in Panama City in the National Black Belt League’s Super Grands.

Pitzen had been in retirement up until Richard Plowden, president of the World Kickboxing Council and coach of the American team, began putting events on Facebook and reignited his interest in competition. He began training four weeks before the regional qualifier.

“Given the fact that I wasn’t training and wasn’t in shape, I was very happy to perform as well as I did,” Pitzen said. “I was also excited to be able to compete with one of the guys who I looked up to — Jeff Gears.”

Gears, who owns Jeff Gears Mixed Martial Arts on Monroe Street in Toledo, is a big part of why Pitzen became involved with tournament competition karate in the first place. His original trainer was partners with Gears and told stories about his successes.

“It’s like getting to play golf with Tiger Woods every day or basketball with Michael Jordan,” Pitzen said. “The first time we sparred, I was in awe that someone who is considered one of the greatest middleweight fighters was standing in front of me and willing to share his wisdom, knowledge and experience.”

Pitzen plans to graduate from UT with a bachelor degree in criminal justice.

“UT is a very respected institution, especially in the criminal justice field,” Pitzen said. “I really want to finish my degree and maybe move on to a graduate program — possibly even law school.”

Click here to download a photo of Pitzen training with Gears.

For more information contact Meghan Cunningham at 419.530.2410 or meghan.cunningham@utoledo.edu.

Media Coverage
The Independent Collegian (Oct. 17, 2012)

Shauna Prewitt, a Chicago-based attorney and advocate for rape survivors who bear children conceived in rape, will give a lecture Oct. 4 at The University of Toledo College of Law about her experiences and the limited legal protections afforded to mothers of rape-conceived children.

Prewitt

Prewitt will speak at noon, Thursday, Oct. 4 in room 1013 of the Law Center. Her talk, “The Absence of Laws Restricting the Parental Rights of Men Who Father Through Rape,” is free and open to the public.

Prewitt is an author, attorney, advocate, and public speaker. She conceived a child as a result of rape while a student at the University of Chicago. Having made the difficult decision to raise her child, Prewitt was forced to battle her rapist for custody of the child.

After enduring these events, Prewitt committed to changing custody laws around the nation. In August 2006, she enrolled at the Georgetown University Law Center and began to examine the custody rights of men who father through rape.

After learning only a small number of states protected survivor-mothers, she sought to answer the question “Why?” Her efforts culminated in the article “Giving Birth to a Rapist’s Child: A Discussion and Analysis of the Limited Legal Protections Afforded to Women Who Become Mothers Through Rape” published in the Georgetown Law Journal. Prewitt graduated from the Georgetown University Law Center in 2009 and is now a litigation attorney at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom, LLP & Affiliates in Chicago.

“Ms. Prewitt’s advocacy reveals a large gap in our legal system’s protection of women who mother through rape,” said Kara Bruce, assistant professor of law at the College of Law. “Her experiences lead us to question how we as a nation think, speak, and legislate on the topic of rape. I am glad that The University of Toledo College of Law is working to encourage awareness of this issue among UT students and the local legal community.”

Prewitt’s lecture is sponsored by the Women’s Law Student Association, Public Interest Law Association, Student Bar Association, The University of Toledo College of Law, and the Toledo Women’s Bar Association.

Click here to download a photo of Prewitt.

For more information visit www.shaunaprewitt.com  or contact Rachel Phipps, assistant to the dean for communications in the UT College of Law, at 419.530.2628 or rachel.phipps@utoledo.edu.