A panel discussion on “Black Lives Matter” will be held 6 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 17 in Student Union Room 2592 on The University of Toledo’s Main Campus.

Topics will focus on violence within the African-American community and the killing of the unarmed across the nation, according to David Young, director of the UT Office of Multicultural Student Success.

“This discussion will take an honest look at all sides of this issue, and all opinions are welcomed,” Young said. “The purpose is not to lay blame on any group, but to hear each other clearly and provide possible solutions.”

The panel will consist of Albert Earl, community activist; UT Police Chief Jeff Newton; Alicia Smith, leader of the Toledo Black Lives Matter Movement; and Lance Price Jr., president of the UT Black Student Union. Young will be the moderator.

“Following the discussion will be a time of reflection in order to articulate plans of action,” Young said. “This time of reflection would give participants the opportunity to develop and discuss a personal action plan and then a community action plan.”

The free, public event is sponsored by UT Office of Multicultural Student Success. It is part of the office’s “Panel With Purpose” program, which gives students the opportunity to engage in honest conversations on critical issues that affect the African-American, LGBTQA and Latino populations, and also impact the community.

The University of Toledo will celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with several events to spotlight the culture.

The month begins with a Street Fair Kickoff 11 a.m.Tuesday, Sept. 15 in Centennial Mall. Yvonne, known for performing with the Tejano band Fuego, will sing, and El Corazon de Mexio Ballet Folklorico will demonstrate cultural dances. The event will have free food, games, health screenings and informational tables.

Events continue throughout Hispanic Heritage Month, which is Sept. 15 to Oct. 15, and include a Latino Idol competition, Cocina Latina food demonstration and a panel discussion about “The Role of Latinos.”

Click here for a full list of events.

Media Coverage
NBC 24 (Sept. 16, 2015)
The Blade (Sept. 16, 2015)
The Blade (Sept. 16, 2015)
The Blade (Sept. 21, 2015)
La Prensa (Sept. 22, 2015)
La Prensa (Sept. 29, 2015)

Suffering from a headache is one of the most common ailments for people in the United States, which is leading health care providers to strive to stay on top of the latest in headache medicine.

Headache education will be furthered at the inaugural North Central Headache Society (NCHS) Conference, “Advances in Headache Medicine,” on Saturday, Sept. 19 at the Hilton Garden in Perrysburg.

Dr. Gretchen Tietjen

“Headaches are the No. 1 reason for referrals to neurologists and it is one of the most common complaints in the emergency room,” said Dr. Gretchen Tietjen, University of Toledo professor and chair of neurology and director of the UT Medical Center Stroke Program.

Tietjen, the host of the conference, will be among 11 headache experts from five of the states composing the NCHS, Ohio, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Kentucky and New York. About 100 physicians are expected to attend to further their knowledge and better treat patients.

“More than 70 percent of Americans seek medical attention for headaches at some point in their lives, and nearly 5 percent of the population have a near daily headache. Headache disorders account for 9 percent of lost labor in the United States,” Tietjen said. “This is an important topic to address because physicians from all specialties will encounter patients who have disabling headache complaints.”

The treatment of headaches and migraines can include medications, injections, supplements, lifestyle changes and behavioral therapies. Emerging treatments including neuromodulation and monoclonal antibodies will be discussed at the conference.

“Neuromodulation therapies involve electrical or magnetic stimulation,” Tietjen said. “Some devices are portable and offer benefit when used 20 minutes per day. Others are implantable and activated via remote control. For many headache sufferers, these may provide great benefit.”

Tietjen said monoclonal antibodies are another promising treatment option under investigation. The antibodies target calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) or its receptor. CGRP is elevated during migraine attacks and believed to provoke throbbing headache.

While the latest technologies hold a promise of relief for headache sufferers, Tietjen said the use of stress-reduction techniques are still an important part of her recommendations.

“Deep breathing, progressive muscle relaxation and guided imagery are all ways that headaches can be minimized,” she said. “When it comes to headache and migraine relief, all evidence-based option should be considered.”

For more information, go to http://utole.do/fx.

New UToledo president was previously Arkansas Provost

Sharon Gaber will return to Arkansas this weekend for Razorback football, but this time she will be cheering for the away team.

As The University of Toledo’s new president, Gaber has traded in her cardinal and white for blue and gold and will be rooting for the Toledo Rockets as they play her former institution at 3 p.m. Saturday at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock.

“I’ve told Coach Campbell that I’m counting on a Rocket victory that I can brag about and hold over my friends’ heads,” Gaber said.

Gaber served as the University of Arkansas Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs from 2009 until she became UT’s 17th president on July 1.

UT alumni from across the country are traveling to Little Rock to join President Gaber in the excitement of the matchup. More than 165 people are participating in a pre-game event noon to 2 p.m. Saturday at Rick’s Armory (4700 West 8th Street) near the stadium.

Media Coverage
Arkansas News (Sept. 11, 2015)

Men must be proactive when it comes to surviving prostate cancer because symptoms are not always present.

Routine prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening is recommended for appropriately selected men, according to Dr. Samay Jain, UT assistant professor and chief of the Division of Urologic Oncology.

“Prostate cancer is usually advanced when men start to experience symptoms such as weight loss, back pain, blood in the urine and the inability to go the bathroom,” Jain said. “The hope is to find the cancer before it ever gets to that stage so that we can talk about a treatment and cure.”

Dr. Samay Jain

Jain will discuss prostate cancer screening and treatment options at 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 17 in the Eleanor N. Dana Cancer Center at The University of Toledo Medical Center.

The free, public lecture is part of the Tie One On Awareness Lecture Series hosted by the Dana Cancer Center.

“We are going to discuss prostate cancer screening and treatment, really focusing on who we should be screening and who is appropriate to be treated because not all men need treatment for prostate cancer,” Jain said.

Every year, there are about 225,000 new diagnoses of prostate cancer. It is the second most common cancer death in men next to lung cancer and leads to upward of 30,000 deaths a year.

Jain said any man between the ages of 55 and 69 should be screened every other year. Men outside of that age range should discuss it with their physicians.

PSA is a protein produced by cells of the prostate gland. The PSA test measures the level of PSA in a man’s blood.

“If you have a first-degree relative with prostate cancer that will increase your risk of being diagnosed with prostate cancer,” Jain said. “That seems to be the only real proven risk factor, other than age. As you age, your risk of developing prostate cancer increases.”

Jain said prostate cancer is curable with a decrease in deaths in the past 10 years because of screening and early treatment.

“There is no known way to prevent prostate cancer, although healthy living is going to be what is best for you,” Jain said. “Do what is right for your heart, do what is right for your lungs. Let us worry about the prostate.”

Even though men are sometimes sensitive when it comes to talking about their genitals, Jain said this is no excuse to avoid getting a routine screening.

“The reality is that the prostate is a part of your body just like your heart is a part of your body,” he said. “We have to open the door and break down some of the barriers to discussing these type of topics.”

The Tie One On Cancer Awareness Lecture Series continues this fall. Upcoming Thursday lectures will be:

• Oct. 15 — Dr. Iman Mohamed, UT professor and chief of the Division of Hematology and Oncology, will discuss lymphedema.
• Nov. 19 — Dr. James Willey, lung cancer expert and UT professor of medicine, will present information on lung cancer.

Each person who attends the lecture will be entered into a drawing for tickets to an upcoming sporting event or a gift certificate for spa services. To reserve a spot, email christopher.kosinski@utoledo.edu.

The Diamante Awards, hosted by The University of Toledo, will be Thursday, Sept. 10 at 6 p.m. at The University of Toledo Driscoll Alumni Center. The awards honor Latino leadership and achievements in northwest Ohio, and take place right before the beginning of National Hispanic Heritage Month, which is celebrated Sept. 15 through Oct. 15.

Founded in 1989 by IMAGE of Northwest Ohio, a local chapter of a national Latino nonprofit organization, the Diamante Awards recognize individuals and organizations for their outstanding achievement and service to the Latino and greater Toledo community. The event, a collaboration between Bowling Green State University, Herzing University, Lourdes University, Owens Community College and The University of Toledo, also serves to raise scholarship funds for Latino youth seeking advanced degrees.

The 2015 award recipients are:
•  Latino/Latina Youth Leadership: Benjamin Quintanilla became involved in helping others at the Sofia Quintero Center and the Toledo Area Metroparks when he was a middle schooler. In high school at Toledo Technology Academy, he worked with Youth to Youth, assisting community members in need. Quintanilla continues his service to others as a Civic Ambassador at Owens Community College, working in the Office of Service Learning, Civic Engagement and Leadership.
•  Latino/Latina Adult Leadership: Josh Flores is a founding member of Sigma Lambda Beta International Fraternity Inc., Espsilon Alpha chapter at The University of Toledo. He mentored several at-risk youth through the YWCA-Incentives for Excellence Program. A Spanish teacher at Waite High School, Flores currently serves as the president of UT’s Latino Alumni Affiliate and is a member of the mayor’s Hispanic Affairs Commission.
•  Latino/Latina Adult Professional: Mark Urrutia has been active in the Latino community for decades. He was very involved with the Midwest Hispanic Unity Conference when it was held in Toledo. He is a member of Latinos United, the Latino Alliance, the Spanish American Organization and the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. Urrutia helped initiate UT’s Latino Alumni Affiliate TIOS Mentoring program, which helps guide upperclassmen to graduation and beyond.
•  Corporation/Community Agency: The Spanish American Organization (SAO) aims to support the Hispanic community and its youth by providing positive role models, stressing family bonds, morals and the values of the Hispanic culture. SAO was founded in 1994 with the focus of education for Hispanic youth and stopping the decline of those bound for college.

Visit DiamanteToledo.org for more information and to register for the event.

Media Coverage
The Blade (Sept. 10, 2015)
La Prensa (Sept. 15, 2015)
The Blade (Sept. 20, 2015)

University of Toledo undergraduate retention increased nearly two percentage points while total enrollment dipped according to official 15-day census numbers released by the University today.

“Our first-year to second-year undergraduate retention number is higher than it’s been in more than a decade. Once we get our students enrolled, more of them than ever are receiving the resources they need to succeed and earn a degree,” said President Sharon Gaber, thanking the faculty and staff who create the environment that makes this advancement possible.

“Clearly we are disappointed by the decrease in enrollment and we have a lot of work ahead of us to reverse this trend and grow the number of students taking UT courses,” Gaber said.

In addition to enrollment increases, one of Gaber’s primary goals is to boost retention and graduation rates. The state of Ohio’s subsidy formula for higher education is now based on course and degree completion rather than the number of students enrolled.

“Increased retention is key to ultimately achieving higher graduation rates,” she said.

In Fall 2015, UT enrolled 20,325 students. At the same time last year, UT’s enrollment was 20,626. The majority of the decrease came among graduate students, which dropped from 4,536 in 2014 to 4,257 this year.

“The University of Toledo is committed to increasing scholarship and externally funded research,” Gaber said. “While this is critical to recruiting and retaining top faculty, it also plays an essential role in graduate student recruitment. Refocusing UT’s efforts in this area is critical financially, but also as we seek to advance our reputation on the national stage. Research thrives at great universities.”

In the past months, The University of Toledo has engaged enrollment consultant Ruffalo Noel Levitz as it continues its efforts to increase student populations across the institution.

“Student recruitment and academic success are the responsibility of every UT faculty and staff member,” Gaber said. “We all play an important role creating the culture that we are asking students to join. UT offers students far-reaching educational opportunities and it is up to every one of us to communicate that message.”

Media Coverage
The Blade (Sept. 8, 2015)
The Blade (Sept. 9, 2015)
1370 WSPD (Sept. 9, 2015)
The Independent Collegian (Sept. 16, 2015)

The University of Toledo will host the 12th Annual Human Trafficking and Social Justice Conference in a year that has seen national public attention on the issue led by two U.S. senators from Ohio.

The conference will be held Thursday and Friday, Sept. 10 and 11, in the Student Union on the UT Main Campus.

Hosted by The University of Toledo’s Human Trafficking and Social Justice Institute and the Lucas County Human Trafficking Coalition, the conference brings together researchers, practitioners and others to educate attendees on human trafficking and lay the groundwork for future collaborative research, advocacy and program development. 

Dr. Celia Williamson, director of UT’s Human Trafficking and Social Justice Institute and UT professor of social work, has worked on the issue of human trafficking for the past 22 years conducting research, building programs, and working with legislators to pass necessary laws.

The UT Human Trafficking and Social Justice Institute opened in April with a mission to respond to human trafficking and social justice issues through teaching, research and service. The institute also works to educate practitioners to serve on the front lines of efforts to combat human trafficking and assist victims, Williams on said.

Also this year, U.S. Senators Sherrod Brown and Rob Portman, both from Ohio, played key roles in the passing of the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act, a bipartisan and comprehensive trafficking bill that enhances services for victims of human trafficking, as well as for runaway youth who are especially vulnerable to being trafficked. The bill also expands victim restitution and support services, and provides additional resources to law enforcement to help improve human trafficking reporting and investigation.

Portman’s Bringing Missing Children Home and Ensuring a Better Response for Victims of Child Sex Trafficking Acts were signed into law, and provisions of his Combat Human Trafficking Act were included as part of the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act.

Brown proposed three amendments that were included in the bill; one was Amendment 310, which provides grants to local law enforcement for tracking down homeless youth and runaways, as well as grants to support retired law enforcement who volunteer to assist in these investigations.

The 2015 trafficking conference this week will include two keynote speakers. Baldemar Velasquez, president and founder of the Farm Labor Organizing Committee and former member of the UT Board of Trustees, will speak Thursday at 12:30 p.m. in Student Union Room 3010. On Friday at 12:30 p.m. in the same location Dr. Mark Sherry, UT associate professor of sociology, will discuss research and advocacy for and with human trafficking victims with disabilities.

More than 70 presenters from around the world will address attendees during the two-day conference. Additional speakers include:

•   Awkash Kumar, a PhD research scholar from the Central University of Gujarat, India, will present “Targeting Poverty: Risk of Trafficking Among Women and Children in India.”
•   Dr. Kamala London, UT associate professor and associate chair of psychology, will discuss “Developing Rapport During Forensic Interviews With Adolescents: A Review of Evidence-Based Practices.”
•   Judge Connie Zemmelman, Chief Probation Officer Demecia Wilson, and Alicia Komives from the Lucas County Juvenile Court will present “Understanding Trauma and Its Impact on a Person’s Life.”

A number of presenters are survivors of human trafficking: D’Lita Miller; Michelle Moore, a local survivor; Dr. Joel Filmore, a victim of homelessness, drug addiction and prostitution in Chicago who went on to earn his doctorate in counselor education and supervision from Northern Illinois University; and Barbara Amaya, senior technical adviser on survivor services at SeraphimGLOBAL, an organization that provides technical support for human rights and humanitarian efforts throughout the world.

Click here for a full schedule of events.

More than 300 juniors and seniors also are expected to participate in high school workshops taking place Wednesday, Sept. 9, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

For more information, visit traffickingconference.com or email traffickingconference@gmail.com.

Media Coverage
FOX Toledo (Sept. 11, 2015)
WTOL 11 (Sept. 11, 2015)
The Independent Collegian (Sept. 16, 2015)

U.S. Senators Sherrod Brown and Rob Portman, both from Ohio, have worked to help put an end to human trafficking.

Both senators played a key role in the passing of the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act, a bipartisan and comprehensive trafficking bill that enhances services for victims of human trafficking, as well as for runaway youth who are especially vulnerable to being trafficked. The bill also expands victim restitution and support services, and provides additional resources to law enforcement to help improve human trafficking reporting and investigation.

Portman’s Bringing Missing Children Home and Ensuring a Better Response for Victims of Child Sex Trafficking Acts were signed into law, and provisions of his Combat Human Trafficking Act were included as part of the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act. Portman is the co-chair of the Senate Caucus to End Human Trafficking.

Brown proposed three amendments that were included in the bill; one was Amendment 310, which provides grants to local law enforcement for tracking down homeless youth and runaways, as well as grants to support retired law enforcement who volunteer to assist in these investigations.

Brown consulted Dr. Celia Williamson, director of The University of Toledo’s Human Trafficking and Social Justice Institute, on the amendment, which was inspired by a group of retired Toledo FBI agents who approached his office about the need for additional resources in the field.

Williamson has worked on the issue of human trafficking for the past 22 years conducting research, building programs, and working with legislators to pass necessary laws.

The 12^th Annual Human Trafficking and Social Justice Conference will be held Thursday and Friday, Sept. 10 and 11, in the UToledo Student Union. Hosted by The University of Toledo’s Human Trafficking and Social Justice Institute and the Lucas County Human Trafficking Coalition, the conference brings together researchers, practitioners and others to educate attendees on human trafficking and lay the groundwork for future collaborative research, advocacy and program development.

Two keynote speakers will address conference attendees this year. Baldemar Velasquez, president and founder of the Farm Labor Organizing Committee and former UToledo board member, will speak Thursday at 12:30 p.m. Velasquez is an internationally recognized leader in the farmworker and immigrants rights movements, with a commitment to justice and human dignity. On Friday at 12:30 p.m., Dr. Mark Sherry, UToledo associate professor of sociology, will discuss research and advocacy for and with human trafficking victims with disabilities.

More than 70 presenters from around the world will address attendees at the two-day conference. Speakers will include:

•   Awkash Kumar, a PhD research scholar from the Central University of Gujarat, India, will present “Targeting Poverty: Risk of Trafficking Among Women and Children in India.”
•   Dr. Kamala London, UT associate professor and associate chair of psychology, will discuss “Developing Rapport During Forensic Interviews With Adolescents: A Review of Evidence-Based Practices.”
•   Judge Connie Zemmelman, Chief Probation Officer Demecia Wilson, and Alicia Komives from the Lucas County Juvenile Court will present “Understanding Trauma and Its Impact on a Person’s Life.”

A number of presenters are survivors of human trafficking: D’Lita Miller; Michelle Moore, a local survivor; Dr. Joel Filmore, victim of homelessness, drug addiction and prostitution in Chicago who went on to earn his doctorate in counselor education and supervision from Northern Illinois University; and Barbara Amaya, senior technical adviser on survivor services at SeraphimGLOBAL, an organization that provides technical support for human rights and humanitarian efforts throughout the world.

More than 300 juniors and seniors are expected to participate in high school workshops taking place Wednesday, Sept. 9, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

UT’s Human Trafficking and Social Justice Institute opened in April with a mission to respond to human trafficking and social justice issues through teaching, research and service. The institute also works to educate practitioners to serve on the front lines of efforts to combat human trafficking and assist victims.

In July, the Human Trafficking and Social Justice Institute partnered with TARTA to expand Toledo Youth Pages, a prevention tool for at-risk youth in the area. Youth Pages provides resources on issues such as substance abuse and teen pregnancy, with a special focus on the risk factors that make youth vulnerable to human trafficking.

For more information, visit traffickingconference.com or email traffickingconference@gmail.com.

Media Coverage
FOX Toledo (Sept. 11, 2015)
WTOL 11 (Sept. 11, 2015)
The Independent Collegian (Sept. 16, 2015)