Dr. John M. Finnis, professor emeritus at the University of Oxford and Biolchini Family Professor of Law at the University of Notre Dame, will deliver this fall’s Stranahan Lecture titled “A Conversation With Professor John Finnis.”

The conversation will take place noon Tuesday, Sept. 20, in The University of Toledo Law Center McQuade Auditorium.

Law Professor John Finnis. Photo by Matt Cashore/University of Notre Dame

“John Finnis is the greatest living natural law theorist in the world. He is widely considered the person most responsible for reviving interest in natural law with his path-breaking book, Natural Law and Natural Rights (1980),” said Lee J. Strang, the John W. Stoepler Professor of Law and Values at the UT College of Law.

During the conversation, Finnis will explain natural law and some of its implications.  The lecture format will encourage audience members to ask questions and engage with the professor.

“Finnis’ lecture is sure to spark thought and conversation on this important topic,” Strang said.

A prolific scholar, Finnis has authored and edited numerous books and written dozens of articles and essays. Recently, he was honored when Oxford University Press published his collected works in a five-volume series. Finnis’ publications have focused on law, legal theory, moral and political philosophy, theology and late Elizabethan-era history.

Finnis earned a bachelor of laws from Adelaide University in Australia and doctorate from Oxford University, where he was a Rhodes Scholar. Until 2010, he held positions of lecturer, reader and chaired professor in law at Oxford. He also has held positions at the University of California at Berkeley, the University of Malawi in Africa, and Boston College Law School. He is admitted to the English Bar, known as Gray’s Inn.

The free, public lecture is a part of the Stranahan National Issues Forum and is sponsored by the UT College of Law and its chapter of the Federalist Society for Law and Public Policy Studies. Food and drink will be provided.

The University of Toledo will join colleges across the country for Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network (RAINN) Day from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 15, on Centennial Mall.

RAINN Day is held every year to raise awareness and educate students about sexual violence on college campuses. RAINN is the nation’s largest anti-sexual violence organization.

An umbrella decorating competition is held among student groups, residence halls and other organizations on campus. Groups are encouraged to decorate an umbrella with positive messages in support of sexual assault survivors.

RAINN created and operates the National Sexual Assault Hotline and works to carry out programs to prevent sexual assault, help victims and ensure perpetrators are brought to justice.

This is UT’s fourth year hosting RAINN Day with the Clothesline Project, a visual display that bears witness to violence against women. T-shirts are created by victims, survivors and their families as part of their healing process.

Those who wish to make a shirt are invited to contact the Sexual Assault Education and Protection Program, which will provide materials, a private room to decorate and a counselor or advocate to talk to if the person wishes.

“RAINN Day is meant to empower students and other members of the community,” said Lena Salpietro, graduate assistant for the Sexual Assault Education and Protection Program. “It assists in efforts to raise awareness and educates others about the important issues of rape, sexual assault, incest and other acts sexual violence on college campuses.”

“It is important for the voices of those who have been silenced to be heard, and RAINN Day, paired with the UT Clothesline Project, allows for survivors and victims to be heard, as well as empowers students to take action,” Salpietro said.

Media Coverage
NBC 24 (September 14, 2016)
13 ABC (September 14, 2016)

The University of Toledo is showcasing the beauty of the Ottawa River by hosting a photography contest, participating in a cleanup and recognizing two new projects during UT’s Celebrate Our River Week.

Students, faculty, staff, alumni and community members learned about a new walking path that will be constructed along the waterway that cuts through Main Campus. The gravel trail will extend from the Law Center to Secor Road.

“This trail, which was paid for by the Student Green Fund, will be a great way to experience the Ottawa River,” said Dr. Patrick Lawrence, chair of the UT President’s Commission on the River and associate dean of social and behavioral sciences in the College of Arts and Letters. “You never know what you might see. We have more than 40 fish species in the river. And this summer we’ve also reported muskrats, deer, turtles, frogs, blue heron, mallard ducks and Canada geese.”

Another great vantage point to look for wildlife and observe the river is the new David Leigh Root Bridge on Stadium Drive. The span will be dedicated during a ceremony at 3 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 15.

President Sharon L. Gaber and Lawrence are scheduled to speak during the event. David Leigh Root, the local businessman the bridge is named after, also will be at the ceremony.

The new span features UT’s signature lannon stone as well as six-foot-wide sidewalks on both sides of the road.

“The bridge now provides ample walking room, a safety measure for all pedestrians,” Jason Toth, associate vice president for facilities and construction, said. “In addition, the new bridge incorporates aesthetics that blend with the Gothic architecture on campus.”

“Two new signs that identify the Ottawa River have been added to the bridge,” Lawrence said. “We all worked together to make sure the new structure complemented our campus and the river.”

Following routine inspection, it was determined the bridge, built in 1961, needed to be replaced due to age and condition, according to Toth. The project started in March, and the new bridge opened Aug. 5.

Other events for Celebrate Our River Week are:

• Clean Your Streams — UT is participating in the 20th annual event from 8:30 a.m. to noon Saturday, Sept. 17, by hosting two locations — by the Law Center on Main Campus and by the Collier Building on Health Science Campus. University community members may volunteer to help pick up along the Ottawa River and Swan Creek. Participants must register at partnersforcleanstreams.org by midnight Sunday, Sept. 11.
• Fifth Annual Student River Photography Contest — Entries are due by noon Wednesday, Sept. 14. Winners will be announced at noon Friday, Sept. 16, in the Student River Plaza, located behind the Student Union and Carlson Library. Click here for details.
• Informational posters and videos will be on display in Carlson Library during the week.

Celebrate Our River Week is presented by the UT President’s Commission on the River.

“We’re lucky to have the Ottawa River running through our campus,” Lawrence said. “We’ve worked hard to improve the aquatic and forest habitat along the 3,700 feet through Main Campus.”

Aging is inevitable and health issues can start to arise as our bodies get older. While some aches, pains and forgetfulness are a normal part of this process, other symptoms can signal a more serious problem.

September is Healthy Aging Month and UT Health physicians want to remind caregivers that now is a great time to take a closer look at the health of the senior citizens in their lives.

Dr. Anu Garg

“When most people think of health care concerns as we age, they most commonly think about memory loss and dementia. It is a major concern because it limits the physical, mental and financial independence of the elderly,” said Dr. Anu Garg, program director of the Geriatric Medicine Fellowship. “It’s important that seniors and their families seek out care early. We can help to maintain their quality of life longer.”

Darletta Snyder said she sought out a geriatrician when she felt her husband’s needs were no longer a good fit for their family practice physician.

“Sam had some concerns about his memory and I thought it would be best if we found a doctor that was specially trained in caring for us,” she said. “Dr. Garg listened to our concerns and felt it would be a good idea to have a more detailed evaluation done. Everything came out fine for Sam, but she has continued to care for us and does a great job in seeing we stay healthy.”

Garg said warning signs of dementia can include repeating questions, forgetting to pay bills or take medications and leaving the stove or oven on.

“As we age, we do become more forgetful, but this forgetfulness should be seen as a warning sign and the patient should be evaluated,” she said. “We use the St. Louis University Mental Status (SLUMS) evaluation to determine if there are signs of early dementia and can start medications that can slow its progression, if necessary.”

Garg said there isn’t a cure for dementia or Alzheimer’s disease at this time, but she has begun collaborating with a UT assistant professor of neuroscience to explore new medications for treatment.

Dr. Joshua Park received two grants this year to assist in funding his research into how a common food additive could reverse brain cell damage caused by the disease. Midi-GAGR, a byproduct of low acyl gellan gum, has already shown promise in lab testing to reverse the effects of Alzheimer’s disease in mice.

“There is still much more testing to do before we will be approved for human trials, but it should move fairly quickly as low acyl gellan gum is used as a thickening agent in foods like pudding and has already been approved for human consumption by the FDA,” he said.

Until a cure is found, patients and their caregivers need to know there are support systems available for individuals who are experiencing memory loss and early symptoms of dementia.

“This is a progressive disease and it can become very difficult for caregivers to support their loved one as they become less independent,” Garg said. “We work with social workers to reach out to organizations and programs and connect them to families as they travel this path.”

Social workers connect patients with community resources such as the Alzheimer’s Association, Area Office on Aging and Lutheran Village at Wolf Creek which provide geriatric wellness and caregiver support programming.

UT’s Center for Successful Aging is another resource for education and finding resources within the community.

“Our focus is on education, research and service,” said Victoria Steiner, assistant director of the Center. “We offer a graduate certificate in gerontology to support those who wish to work with seniors, participate in local research to determine our community’s needs, and work closely with area support organizations to provide educational outreach programs and to connect individuals with the support they need to age well.”

Garg created a support fund for the Center to continue to promote geriatric medicine education for students, residents and fellows, enhance research activities and education activities, and promote teambuilding and support activities for those who provide senior care.

“It is important that all caregivers, including medical team members, take time to get the support they need when caring for elderly patients,” she said. “It can be very taxing as patients can progressively lose their independence and it’s easy to get burnt out.”

While caring for aging patients can be challenging at times, Garg said she is confident she is making a difference for older adults and their families.

“Going to see Dr. Garg is enjoyable,” Snyder said. “She is very knowledgeable and listens to us and has a great sense of humor. It’s comforting to know we are with someone who cares and stays on top of our health.”

Surgery and radiation therapy for prostate cancer can cause undesirable side effects for men including erectile dysfunction and incontinence, but a cancer diagnosis does not mean a man’s quality of life needs to suffer.

 A seminar aimed at educating men about available options for prostate cancer and improving their overall urological health will be held 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 15 at UT Health’s Eleanor N. Dana Cancer Center. Registration begins at 5:30 p.m.

“It is important for men who are diagnosed with prostate cancer to ask about the treatment options that are available to them,” said Dr. Samay Jain, UT Health vice chief of staff and division chief of urologic oncology. “Men with low-risk prostate cancer may be good candidates for active surveillance, which means we monitor him closely, but delay surgery or radiation treatment until it is needed.”

If active treatment cannot be avoided, Jain says there are options to help preserve a man’s quality of life.

“Our surgeons are trained in robotic surgery and other minimally-invasive therapies for the cure of prostate cancer to help you get back to living your life with less pain and scarring and reduced risk of side effects,” he said.

Jain encourages men experiencing incontinence or impotence to talk to their doctor about the treatment options available including medications, therapies and surgical options.

“Shifting Focus: Thinking Beyond Prostate Cancer and into Survivorship” is part of the Eleanor N. Dana Cancer Center’s Wellness Information Series. Jain is certified through the American Board of Urology and focuses on urologic oncology, minimally invasive robotic procedures and prostate MRI.

Space is limited and reservations are required. Email EleanorNDanaCancer@utoledo.edu or call 419.383.5243.

The University of Toledo Stranahan Arboretum is helping save monarch butterflies with the creation of a rest stop and nursery for the black, orange and white-patterned pollinators.

The arboretum’s new monarch waystation is a flower garden made up of milkweed and nectar plants to help nourish and protect the butterflies as they reproduce and migrate.

The public is invited to celebrate at the March of the Monarchs 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 10 at the UT Stranahan Arboretum located at 4131 Tantara Dr.

A butterfly parade showcasing the different stages from caterpillar to butterfly begins at 1 p.m. Children are encouraged to wear butterfly costumes.

The event shines a spotlight on how families can help bolster the species’ dwindling population.

“Every fall, the monarch migration from the U.S. and Canada to Mexico and California is a great natural wonder, but it’s threatened by habitat loss,” said Pam Struffolino, event coordinator at the arboretum and research operations manager in the Department of Environmental Sciences. “It’s up to all of us to help preserve this beautiful species through gardening.”

A graduate student at The University of Toledo recently won an award from the Ecological Society of America for his study that shows why the combination of high carbon dioxide levels in the air and chronic global warming will contribute to a decrease in crop production and food quality during the next few decades.

“We have provided a better understanding of what scientists need to do to improve the heat tolerance of crops in the future,” said Dileepa Jayawardena, a PhD student in the Department of Environmental Sciences who conducted the climate change study as a project for his master’s degree. “They can use this information to generate new climate-change-tolerant crops to help feed the growing human population.”

Using tomato as a model, Jayawardena investigated the way plants absorb nitrogen fertilizer from the soil.

Over the course of 18 days inside controlled growth chambers at Bowman-Oddy Laboratories, Jayawardena’s team subjected the plants to conditions that mimic future climate.

Individually, elevated carbon dioxide and warming did not have large effects on tomato responses.

However, when combined, researchers saw a large decrease in the uptake rate of soil nitrate and ammonium through the roots. At the same time, researchers saw a significant drop in the concentration and function of the proteins that roots use to acquire soil nitrogen. The result was a crop with lower nitrogen levels and thus lower nutritional value.

Jayawardena’s work also shows that the combination of heat and carbon dioxide is bad for the plant in terms of being able to convert inorganic nitrogen, like nitrate and ammonium, into organic form, like protein, which is the form of nitrogen that humans require.

“If climate change intensifies, this impact on plant nitrogen concentration means that plants will not grow as big in the future, and they will be poorer-quality food for people and other animals that eat plants,” Jayawardena said.

Jayawardena won the New Phytologist Poster Award for his presentation at the Ecological Society of America annual meeting last month in Florida. It is the nation’s largest organization of professional ecologists with a membership of more than 10,000 scientists.

“By itself, increases in atmospheric carbon dioxide levels tend to increase plant growth, which is a positive,” said Scott Heckathorn, UT ecology professor and Jayawardena’s faculty advisor. “However, increasing carbon dioxide is the primary cause of current global warming, which will increase heat stress for much life on the planet. The question then arises as to whether benefits of elevated carbon dioxide will offset the negative effects of increasing heat stress. What is new about Dileepa’s work is that it provides a mechanism for why the combination of elevated carbon dioxide and heat is detrimental.”

The research was funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

It is the 10th leading cause of death in the United States and the third leading cause of death for people ages 10-24, yet suicide remains a difficult topic for many people to address.

September is National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, and a University of Toledo psychiatrist wants to change the conversation surrounding mental illness and suicide to move toward a culture of acceptance and tolerance.

Dr. Tanvir Singh, medical director of Child and Adolescent Inpatient Psychiatry at the UT Kobacker Center, says mental illnesses should be treated the same way physical ailments are treated.

“We have shown that there are physical changes that occur with mental illness, but we don’t look at it with the same lens,” Singh said. “There

Dr. Tanvir Singh

are different, personalized treatments for someone who is experiencing chest pain. We need to do the same for patients who are experiencing emotional pain.”

He says mental illnesses are a made up of a delicate balance of biological, psychological and social components, and there is not a one-size-fits-all method to treatment.

“Medications can work for some people, while others need more intensive treatment,” Singh said. “There have been improvements in the way we treat mental illness, but we need to focus more directly on evidence-based therapies to help each individual patient.”

Singh said patients having suicidal thoughts are in a state of dilemma. They make a conscious effort to try to stay positive and strong, but it isn’t long before they revert to old habits of thinking. He said it is this self-talk that can push people into isolation and put them at risk for suicide.

“These individuals struggle with their own thoughts,” Singh said. “They can begin to feel like they are a burden to their families or that they are not needed. These thoughts keep them from wanting to reach out to others, and they begin to pull away from friends and family.”

Maintaining a close relationship with those who are struggling mentally and emotionally is key, but Singh advises a careful approach to conversation.

“We always want to get to the bottom of a problem. We push for answers and can appear aggressive when we only want to help,” he said. “It’s best to just talk with the individual in a non-judgmental way. If they are having suicidal thoughts, it will likely come to the surface naturally.”

Singh advised not every person will open up immediately, but they will know you care. He said engaging in regular conversation can reveal someone may be struggling emotionally.

“If an individual exhibits personality changes, is increasingly more irritable, begins to lose function or spends more and more time alone, it’s time to seek help,” he said. “The key is avoiding isolation. Everyone needs someone to talk to.”

If a loved one is experiencing mental health issues or having suicidal thoughts, Singh said an assessment by a mental health professional at a crisis center or hospital is the best place to start, but quality, on-going care is critical.

“Every person is so important,” Singh said. “Mental health is just as important as physical health, and we need to support those struggling with mental illness and see that they continue to receive the individualized, client-centered care they need.”

The University of Toledo Military Service Center has partnered with Harley-Davidson to host the first Veterans Matter Ride to help house homeless veterans as part of the University’s “Hero Appreciation Day” and football game Saturday, Sept. 10.

Organizers are hosting a news conference to invite the public 3 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 7 at the UT Veterans Memorial Plaza.

“No one who has served our nation should have to live on the streets,” said Navy Reserve Lt. Haraz N. Ghanbari, UT’s director of military and veteran affairs. “Our commitment to veterans extends beyond the sidewalks and boundaries of our campus, and directly into the communities in which we serve.”

Registration for the motorcycle ride is from 8 to 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 10 in parking lot 5 at Savage Arena. The ride begins at 11 a.m. with a police escort through campus and ends at Toledo Harley-Davidson at 7960 W. Central Ave. Riders will be greeted at Toledo Harley-Davidson by music and food from local vendors, including Nick & Nino’s and Deet’s BBQ.

“These men and women have been through a lot in their lives, and this is our chance to give back,” said Tim Sherman, owner of Toledo Harley-Davidson and Signature Harley-Davidson in Perrysburg. “The land of the free can help to provide homes for the brave. These veterans deserve it.”

Before the Rocket football game begins, two veterans will transport the American flag and UT mascots into Glass Bowl Stadium at 7 p.m. just prior to a fly-over by the 180^th Fighter Wing.

Those interested in riding can pre-register by texting “Harley” to 41444 or online at VeteransMatter.org/ride. The cost is $10 per rider or $25 for the premium registration, which includes a pin and event shirt. All proceeds will help house more homeless veterans in our community, state and nation.

Veterans Matter, a program run by a non-profit organization in Toledo called 1Matters, was started to house 35 local veterans and provides deposits directly to landlords to eliminate the last barrier preventing homeless veterans from crossing the threshold into VA-supported, long-term, voucher-assisted housing. Founder Ken Leslie grew the program to become a national campaign that has now housed more than 1,100 veterans in more than 160 cities.

Media Coverage
NBC 24 (September 7, 2016)

The number of students taking classes at The University of Toledo in the fall semester increased by 267 students, marking the first enrollment gain in six years.

Total enrollment for fall semester 2016 is 20,648, according to official 15-day census numbers. UT had 20,381 students enrolled in fall semester 2015.

Along with adding students who came directly from high school or transferred from other institutions, the University also increased by 2.2 percent the first-year to second-year undergraduate retention rate.

“We are thrilled with the increase in enrollment,” President Sharon L. Gaber said. “UT provides an excellent education, and we are proud to offer that experience to more students. We have now reversed the previous declining trend and look forward to continuing a positive momentum moving forward.”

This is the third year that UT has experienced an increase in its retention rate. As part of the University’s efforts to retain and graduate more students, Dr. Brian Ashburner was named recently to the new position of vice provost for retention and undergraduate studies. He is responsible for coordinating the many programs UT offers to its students to ensure their success.

The fall 2016 enrollment includes an increase in both undergraduate and graduate students. There are 16,247 undergraduate students currently enrolled, an increase from 16,068 this time last year. There are 4,401 graduate and professional students, an increase from 4,313 in fall 2015.

Significantly, the fall 2016 enrollment is not only higher than fall 2015, it also is higher than the 20,626 students enrolled two years ago in fall 2014.

The Division of Enrollment Management, led by Interim Vice President Stephanie Sanders, continues to work with consultant Ruffalo Noel Levitz on a strategic enrollment plan to develop long-term strategies to position UT for continued growth.

Media Coverage
13 ABC (September 2, 2016)