Will no longer have students serve on Title IX adjudication panels

Interim President Nagi Naganathan updated University of Toledo Board of Trustee members on UT’s ongoing efforts to prevent sexual assault and the resources available to support survivors at its Oct. 20 Academic and Student Affairs Committee Meeting.

Naganathan announced that UT will contract with Bisi Okubdejo of BallardSpahr to conduct a review of the University’s response to sexual misconduct on campus and its policies and procedures regarding Title IX.

Okubdejo is a former supervisory general attorney with the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights with extensive experience in advising colleges and universities on Title IX and Clery Act compliance.

“Ms. Okubdejo recently conducted a similar review at the University of Cincinnati,” Naganathan said, “and I believe this overview is consistent with The University of Toledo’s commitment to creating a culture of sexual assault prevention as well as a culture where survivors are encouraged to come forward and are well-supported through medical, academic, counseling, law enforcement and other resources.”

In addition, based on recommendations from the White House, students will no longer be included on the student code of conduct adjudication panel for any cases involving sexual misconduct or Title IX complaints. Instead, a single panel of specially trained faculty and staff will hear all cases involving Title IX. UT’s Student Senate recently passed a measure also calling for students to no longer be included on the panel.

Naganathan also highlighted that Dr. Kaye Patten Wallace, senior vice president for student affairs, and Jovita Thomas-Williams, associate vice president for human resources and talent development, just returned from a week of advanced Title IX certification training.

“This was an opportunity for top UT officials to hear from Title IX experts about the most recent recommendations from the White House as well as gain access to best practices from four-year and two-year colleges across the country in the areas of Title IX as well as sexual assault prevention and response,” Naganathan said.

Additionally, approximately a dozen UT employees took part in a Title IX training last month organized by the Ohio Attorney General’s office and led by Okubdejo.

“Based on these sessions, it is clear that many of the best practices across the nation are already part of current UT processes, including strong partnerships with external organizations and law enforcement. However, no process is perfect, and we are always striving to improve.”

Ohio is home to the sixth largest population of veterans in the United States, with a total number of veteran residents nearing 900,000.

The University of Toledo Military Service Center is hosting the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Mobile Service Office and the Department of Veterans Affairs Mobile Vet Center to help further their efforts to assist veterans in northwest Ohio.

The Mobile Service Office and Mobile Vet Center will be in the parking lot of UT’s Rocket Hall, near the corner of Dorr and Secor, on Monday, Oct. 20 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Mobile Service Offices travel across the country to counsel and assist veterans, and to educate veterans and their families on the benefits and services available to them in thanks for their service. Mobile Vet Centers provide readjustment counseling and information resources to veterans, focusing on services that help ease the difficult transition between military and civilian life.

“We are committed to helping not only our student veteran population, but veterans throughout our communities,” said Navy Reserve Lt. Haraz N. Ghanbari, UT military liaison. “Ohio is working toward becoming the most veteran-friendly state in the nation, and it is important for service members, veterans and their families to know what benefits they may be eligible for and how to apply for them. Our intent is to help provide a platform for that to happen.”

The University of Toledo and The University of Toledo Military Service Center is committed to helping service members, veterans and their families with a successful transition from military service to the classroom and beyond.

For more information, contact Ghanbari at 419.530.4137 or haraz.ghanbari@utoledo.edu.

Media Coverage
The Blade (Oct. 21, 2014)

In an effort to stay on the forefront of safety and emergency preparedness, The University of Toledo Medical Center (UTMC) is filming a training video showcasing safety processes and procedures related to the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD).

The informational video will feature how to safely put on and remove Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). Filming will take place on Wednesday, Oct.15 at 10 a.m. at the Interprofessional Immersive Simulation Center on UT’s Health Science Campus in room 10A, located on the second floor.

UTMC staff members have been following the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) recommendations to prepare for EVD-related issues and have established a plan of action and training program for employees.

Preparations are dynamic with the understanding that the CDC will adjust response efforts, and training will continue until EVD is no longer a threat in the United States.

Dr. Kris Brickman, professor and chair of the Department of Emergency Medicine, along with other health and safety professionals will be available for interviews.

For more information, contact Aimee Portala at aimee.portala@utoledo.edu or 419.530.4279.

Media Coverage
The Blade (Oct. 15, 2014)
WTOL 11 and FOX Toledo (Oct. 15, 2014)
19 Action News Cleveland (Oct. 15, 2014)
NBC 24 (Oct. 15, 2014)
13 ABC (Oct. 15, 2014)

Laughter is the best medicine, especially when it brings awareness to social issues in the community.

“Free to Laugh,” a national comedy concert tour that has raised nearly $400,000 for child sex trafficking survivors, will stop in Toledo this weekend.

Comedians Carlos Oscar, Daren Streblow and Bob Stromberg will do two shows at 5 and 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 18, in The University of Toledo’s Nitschke Hall Auditorium. The show will raise money for the Daughter Project, a Toledo faith-based organization that offers healing services to girls and women who have been freed from sex traffickers.

Toledo is ranked fourth in the nation for sex trafficking with an estimated 1,800 people trafficked in Ohio at any given time.

“People think this happens in New York and Chicago, that it’s not a problem here, but it is,” said Jeff Wilbarger, director of the Daughter Project. “It’s a real issue. Trafficking takes place everywhere.”

Wilbarger, who is also a UT alumnus and a former UT mathematics faculty member, said that the comedians all have clean humor, making the show appropriately funny for all ages.

“We want it to be a family show,” he said. “There won’t be any crude jokes or foul language.”

Sponsors for the show, including Munn Wealth Management, The Andersons, Mannik Smith Group, Haven of Hope, The University of Toledo and Nova Faith Community, ensure that the event is entirely paid for so that 100 percent of the proceeds are donated to the Daughter Project, Wilbarger said.

Tickets cost $20 and can be purchased at Georgette’s Grounds & Gifts, located at 311 Conant St., Maumee, or online here.

For more information, visit thedaughterproject.org.

Media Coverage
Toledo Free Press (Oct. 17, 2014)

Electricity as a medical treatment has changed over the years. These advancements will be the topic of the sixth annual S. Amjad Hussain Visiting Lecture in the History of Medicine and Surgery on Thursday, Oct. 16.

Dr. Peter W. Kaplan, professor of neurology and director of epilepsy and electroencephalogram at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, will come to The University of Toledo to present “Electricity and the Brain — From Mary Shelley’s Dr. Frankenstein to Now.”

The free, public lecture will be at 5 p.m. in Health Education Room 100 on UT’s Health Science Campus.

Kaplan will cover practices that were performed by scientists and educational institutions during the 18th century and how they led to today’s knowledge of the brain.

The visiting professor received his medical training from St. Bartholomew’s Medical School, University of London, and completed his residency in neurology at Duke University School of Medicine, where he also completed fellowships in epilepsy and clinical neurophysiology.

He has written many works involving his specializations in clinical neurophysiology, epilepsy, epilepsy and pregnancy, and neurology, including Neurologic Disease in Women, Imitators of Epilepsy and A Practical Handbook for Neurology Consults.

The lecture series is named after Dr. S. Amjad Hussain, an award-winning writer and photographer and an internationally known explorer. Hussain holds an emeritus professorship in cardiothoracic surgery in the UT College of Medicine and Life Sciences and currently sits on the UT Board of Trustees.

To RSVP, contact Karen Edwards at k.edwards@utoledo.edu or call 419.383.5416.

Join the Confucius Institute as it continues the celebration of its fifth anniversary at The University of Toledo and as part of the local community. Be at the Toledo Museum of Art Friday, Oct. 10, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Experience a slice of Chinese culture with traditional dances; tea and wine tastings; performances of traditional and contemporary Chinese music; a 50-foot Chinese dragon that will be on display; and hands-on art-making activities that will fill the museum galleries.

Carolyn Putney, chief curator and curator of Asian art at the museum, will discuss works of art from China that are part of the collection.

There will be buses leaving from the Student Union bus stop at 5:45 p.m. and 6:15 p.m., with return transportation.

Read more about the free, public event here.

A walk raising awareness and fighting hunger will take place Sunday, Oct. 12 at The University of Toledo.

The Communities Responding to Overcome Poverty (CROP) Hunger Walk will begin and end in front of the Toledo Campus Ministries building in lot 13 on UT’s Main Campus. Registration is at 2 p.m., and the walk will start at 2:30 p.m.

Before the walk the UT Food Pantry, which will serve UT students in need, will celebrate its grand opening with a ribbon-cutting ceremony presented by Sabina Serratos, director of experiential learning and career development; Dr. Sammy Spann, assistant provost for student engagement; the Rev. David Montgomery, executive director of Toledo Campus Ministry; and Donnajean Stockmaster, community connections director for Feed Your Neighbor.

CROP participants are asked to bring a college-friendly canned good as a donation to help kick-start the pantry.

Following the ceremony, face-painting, corn hole, music by local bands, popcorn and lemon ice stands will be available in lot 13.

The pantry will be open four days a week: Monday from 5 to 7 p.m., Tuesday from 9 a.m. to noon, Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., and Thursday from 2 to 5 p.m. It is sponsored by Toledo Campus Ministry, the Interfaith Center, Toledo Area Ministries, Feed Your Neighbor Program, and Experiential Learning and Career Services.

Walk pledge packets can be picked up at the following locations: Toledo Campus Ministry located at 2086 Brookdale Road, Toledo; Toledo Area Ministries located at 2043 Monroe St., Toledo; Sylvania United Church of Christ located at 7240 Erie St., Sylvania; and in Student Union Room 1533.

For more information, contact Serratos at 419.530.2992 or sabina.serratos@utoledo.edu.

Media Coverage
CR80 News (Oct. 13, 2014)

Northwest Ohio’s largest entrepreneurial networking event, Pitch & Pour, takes place on Thursday, Oct. 9 at 5:30 p.m. in the Nitschke Technology Commercialization Complex at The University of Toledo.

Pitch & Pour demonstrates the emergence of a vibrant technology community that is growing and thriving. Six teams will make their investment pitch before five business judges in a “Shark Tank”-style event.

“We are seeing a true technology community developing here at LaunchPad Incubation and all around northwest Ohio,” said Molly Reams Thompson, director of LaunchPad Incubation at UT. “We expect some of the teams competing will be extended an invitation to join the LaunchPad, but all of them will get to experience the exciting dynamic of investors, business leaders and other new tech companies coming together to celebrate innovation and the entrepreneurial spirit taking place in the community.”

This year’s competitors include a diverse range of tech companies including T & E Designs, who make prosthetic joint models for special testing; Daily Fantasy Cricket, who offer an online fantasy cricket experience; Grocery Heroes, LLC, who have developed an on-line grocery shopping service platform; StatSims, a developer of a unique NFL football prediction system; Petrichor, an automation services and web software company; and Happinin, who has developed a social media mobile application for places and events.

Some of the companies have products and services already generating revenue in the marketplace, but all have been deemed to have potential for success and growth by the event selection committee. More than $10,000 in cash and prizes is available for winning companies.

Pitch & Pour judges include Jason Bacher and Brian Burge, co-founders of GFDA; Kristin Kiser, senior director of Digital Strategy for Communica, Inc.; Richard Shulman, a lawyer turned mobile app-developer; and Bradley Hoos, head of Community Partnerships and co-founder at Grand Circus.

“This year’s judges are amazing,” said Thompson. “They are dynamic strategists, marketing leaders, designers and business consultants with significant hands-on experience with entrepreneurial ventures. I believe they will be insightful and entertaining for the crowd, too.”

Teams have five minutes to pitch their business concepts. Investors, bankers, start-up companies and future entrepreneurs will learn about the companies and their potential, and receive helpful insight from the judges. UT students will get a taste of what the funding process for starting your own business looks like.

“While there are a number of technology-related events in the area, Pitch & Pour is unique in terms of the energy, entertainment and level of networking that takes place,” Thompson said. “The event offers music, great food, local micro-brewed beverages and the opportunity to mix with tech companies, investors and budding young business talent. This will be a great event for Toledo businesses, students and the tech community.”

Pitch & Pour is being held in conjunction with UT’s second annual uHeart Digital Media Conference, which will take place Thursday and Friday, Oct. 9 and 10, at the Radisson Hotel on Health Science Campus. For more information and to register, visit uHeartDigitalMedia.com.

UT’s LaunchPad Incubation Program works to bolster innovation in northwest Ohio by providing access to capital, resources, and expertise focused on enhancing community collaboration and communication for entrepreneurial development.

For more information on the competition, visit pitchandpour.com or contact Thompson at 419.530.6044 or molly.thompson@utoledo.edu.

Media Coverage
Toledo Free Press (Oct. 9, 2014)
Toledo Free Press (Oct. 11, 2014)
The Blade (Oct. 28, 2014)

Experts will consider the intersection of law and medicine and recent developments in health law at The University of Toledo College of Law Friday, Oct. 10.

The free, public event titled “Scalpel to Gavel: Exploring the Modern State of Health Law,” is sponsored by the UT Law Review and will be held from 8 a.m. to 4:20 p.m. in the Law Center McQuade Law Auditorium.

Four panels will discuss areas of health law that shape the modern legal landscape, including the influence of provider liability on the administration of health care; public health; the ethical considerations that accompany clinical decision making; and the problem of fraud within the health-care industry.
Presenters’ scholarly contributions will appear in an upcoming volume of The University of Toledo Law Review.

Dr. Maxwell Gregg Bloche, the co-director of the Georgetown-Johns Hopkins Joint Program in Law and Public Health, and professor of law at the Georgetown University Law Center, will deliver the keynote address.

“The College of Law has vastly increased its health law course offerings, added two faculty with expertise in the area, and established a certificate of concentration in health law,” said Daniel J. Steinbock, dean of the College of Law. “This symposium highlights our focus on this increasingly important area of law.”

Members of both the legal and medical communities are expected to attend. Continuing legal education and continuing nursing education credits are available.

For more information and to register, visit utole.do/lawsymposium or call 419.530.2962.

The University of Toledo Press will celebrate the publication of its two latest titles with “A Little Bit Polka, a Little Bit Rock ‘n’ Roll” party Friday, Oct. 17, from 5 to 8 p.m. on the fifth floor of Carlson Library.

The event marks the publication of American Originals: Northwest Ohio’s Polish Community at Home, Work, Worship, and Play and Can I Get A Witness: The Photographs of John Gibbs Rockwood.

The party will feature music by two Toledo bands: Polka Zone and Voodoo Libido. Polka Zone is a long-standing local band that plays traditional polka music. Voodoo Libido is a rock and blues band featuring John Rockwood.

Polish-American food will be served, and a cash bar will be available. And there will be a dance floor for those who want to kick up their heels to polka music, rock music or both.

Copies of both books will be available for sale at a special price of $20 (cash or checks only) and can be signed by the authors at the party.

The free event is open to the public, but reservations are requested. RSVP by Monday, Oct. 13, by calling 419.530.8549.