“I permit no woman to teach or to have authority over a man; she is to keep silent,” according to St. Paul in the Bible (1 Timothy 2:12).

In the modern age, this thousand-year-old scripture is being challenged in many Christian denominations.

The University of Toledo Annual Murray/Bacik Lecture in Catholic Studies will tackle this question. The presentation titled “Should Catholics Have Women Priests?” will take place 7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 6 in the Law Center McQuade Auditorium.

Dr. Peter Feldmeier, the Murray/Bacik Professor of Catholic Studies at the University, will be the speaker.

“My hope is that people coming to the lecture become informed on the complexity of the issue, its arguments for and against, and perhaps even come to their own conclusions,” Feldmeier said. “While it is something of an in-house debate in Catholicism, it ought not to be imagined as merely a Catholic issue.”

It also is a cultural issue: Should feminism as it is being advanced in the larger culture be advanced in religion?

Feldmeier said he and Dr. Yonatan Miller, director of the UToledo Center for Religious Understanding and assistant professor of religious studies, pondered the Catholic Church’s investigation on the possibility of ordaining women as deacons. The conversation moved to the priesthood itself and how Catholicism has responded to the challenge — or failed to respond.

Presented by the UToledo Center for Religious Understanding, the free, public lecture will be followed by a dessert reception.

The number of graduates from The University of Toledo College of Law who passed the July bar exam in Ohio on the first try is well above the state average.

It’s also UToledo’s highest result for first-time takers on the summer exam in a decade.

The newly released data shows the first-time passage rate for UToledo law graduates taking the bar exam is 89%, up from 84% in July 2018. The state average in Ohio this year is 82%.

“I am very proud of our graduates for their success on the bar exam,” said College of Law Dean D. Benjamin Barros. “We have done a lot of work at the College of Law over the past several years to help our graduates succeed on the bar exam.  At the end of the day, though, it is the graduates who do the hard work needed to pass the exam, and this result is the payoff for their efforts.”

The UToledo College of Law is committed to preparing students for a successful career with programming and partnerships dedicated to bar passage.

In the last few years, the college aligned its curriculum to bar-tested subjects, developed a first-year support program, expanded its third-year bar prep course, and implemented a legal analysis course and academic success contracts.

The UToledo College of Law also created the position of director of academic success and bar preparation, designed to prepare both third-year students and graduates for the bar exam. Through post-graduation mentoring, every law graduate is paired with a faculty mentor to provide support during bar exam study.

Plus, the UToledo College of Law partnered with BARBRI, a company headquartered in Texas, to offer students access to its comprehensive bar review course with flexible classroom, online and mobile learning environments.

Five local startups will present their business ideas at the eighth annual Pitch & Pour competition sponsored by The University of Toledo’s Launchpad Incubation program.

A Wi-Fi-enabled sump pump controller, a speech-therapy device to help children pronounce the “r” sound, and a system to protect Lake Erie from pollution are among the innovations vying for the $10,000 grand prize at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 24 in the Nitschke Technology Commercialization Complex.

Teams have five minutes to pitch their business concepts to the top investors, venture capitalists, professors and business leaders in the area. Second place wins $5,000, and third place wins $2,500.

Attendees must pre-register for the free, public event at the Pitch & Pour website.

“Pitch & Pour has been a staple event for the entrepreneurial community for the past seven years, and we feel that this year’s competitors have a lot of potential for growth and success,” Brian Genide, director of incubation and venture development at UToledo, said. “We continue to work with the competitors and applicants once the event has ended. We act as advisors to ensure our entrepreneurs meet the growth milestones necessary for success.”

The 2019 Pitch & Pour teams are:

• Bite-R, a speech therapy device designed to help children produce the “r” sound. This device has been shown to reduce the time spent in speech therapy – saving schools money and improving children’s lives.
• Jaberu Sump Pump Controller, a Wi-Fi-enabled sump pump controller with a mobile app interface. The device can monitor and regulate multiple pumps, provide notifications of long cycles, and alert for high water levels and power failure.
• PedoEndo Dental Innovation, a multi-sensor, hand-held dental probe that determines the health of a tooth without the need for verbal feedback from a patient.
• Pelham Precious Metals, a disruptive antimicrobial, anti-odor, anti-infective and anti-HAI (healthcare-associated infection) coating for textiles. The coating adds protection to fabrics without interfering with the functionality of underlying coatings, such as fire retardants, wicking layers, water repellants and fabric softeners.
• cHorizon, a three-tier system that measures, controls and extracts nutrients from a farm’s water run-off before it makes its way to Lake Erie. It helps farmers monitor and manage soil and water resources to ensure the supply of clean water, improve soil health, build regenerative practices, and maximize profit within agricultural and hothouse industries.

This year’s judges are all UToledo alumni and active entrepreneurs in Ohio and Indiana. They are:

• Tony Pietrocola, president of Agile1, investor and board member with Metisentry;
• Jason Daniels, president and CEO of JAYRAMON LLC;
• Tracy Momany, vice president of plastic technologies at Guardian Medical USA and director of medical operations at Plastic Technologies Inc.;
• Doug Rammel, president and founder of Abstract Reality Ventures and Social Net Watcher, and founding partner/investor of Didgebridge; and
• Akib Amin, 2018 Pitch & Pour Winner and founder of GAFFL.

Pitch & Pour competitors are invited to join UToledo’s Launchpad Incubation Program, which 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.

Launchpad Incubation at UToledo is one of northwest Ohio’s leading business start-up and entrepreneurial assistance programs for innovative and high-tech concepts.  Launchpad specializes in concept advancement for new ventures and works with entrepreneurs to create profitable businesses for the region and beyond. Launchpad provides access to capital, business development resources and expertise focused on enhancing community collaboration and communication for entrepreneurial development.

The great Greek physician Galen of Pergamon was one of the most influential forces in medical history, with his theories informing the profession for centuries.

Unfortunately, many of Galen’s ideas were wrong.

“For nearly 2,000 years we were practicing medicine like it was the stone age. There was nothing scientific about it,” said Dr. Syed Tasnim Raza, a cardiothoracic surgeon and associate professor of surgery at Columbia University Medical Center.

Thankfully real scientific discovery eventually won out, helping to lead medicine into the cutting-edge field it is today.

Raza, who has spent the last decade studying the history of medicine after more than three decades as a heart surgeon in Buffalo, N.Y., will outline those radical changes at the 11th annual S. Amjad Hussain Visiting Lecture in the History of Medicine and Surgery at 5 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 17.

Dr. Syed Tasnim Raza

The lecture, to be held in Health Education Building Room 110 on UToledo Health Science Campus, is free and open to the public. RSVPs are requested; email hscevents@utoledo.edu or call 419.383.6300.

One of Galen’s primary mistakes was assuming the anatomy of animals he dissected was wholly applicable to humans. For 1,300 years, no one dared question him.

“The thinking was, ‘If Galen said it, it has to be true,’” said Raza. “We need to have the strength to challenge conventional wisdom, dogma and current thinking to improve and continue to change.”

The S. Amjad Hussain Visiting Lecture in the History of Medicine and Surgery was created in honor of Hussain, professor emeritus of cardiovascular surgery and humanities, emeritus member of the UToledo Board of Trustees, and columnist for The Blade.

“Dr. Tasnim Raza has had a deep interest in the history of medicine and has just finished a book manuscript on the history of heart surgery. He is a man who is well versed in not only in the subject of surgery, but also in the arts and humanities,” Hussain said. “The study of history of medicine is important because it shows us the distance we have covered and the path we have traversed to reach the present. History being a continuum, we cannot chart a future unless we know the past.”

In part, the lecture series helped further inspire Raza’s interest in the history of medicine after he came to Toledo in 2013 to hear author Wendy Moore speak about her biography of the 18th century Scottish physician Dr. John Hunter.

Raza’s sister has also presented the Hussain lecture. Dr. Azra Raza, a well-known oncologist and cancer researcher, and Chan Soon-Shiong Professor of Medicine at the Columbia University Medical Center, visited Toledo in 2017.

Azra Raza will join Tasnim Raza in Toledo to kick off a book tour for her forthcoming title “The First Cell: And the Human Costs of Pursuing Cancer to the Last.”

The University of Toledo alumni, faculty and staff members, students, and friends will come together Tuesday and Wednesday, Oct. 15 and 16, to support the University’s third annual Day of Giving.

The 36-hour campaign, “Rocket Forward: You Launch Lives,” will begin at midnight Oct. 15 and end at noon Oct. 16.

“Our Day of Giving offers Rockets everywhere a chance to make a real impact on our students, research and critical programs,” UToledo President Sharon L. Gaber said. “Each year, the generosity of our alumni and supporters worldwide helps fuel the success of so many determined people in our community. We’re thrilled to see that positive energy and momentum continue this year.”

The Day of Giving Fall Festival will take place from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 15 on Centennial Mall. The event features a dog-petting station, corn hole games, a basketball contest, pie in the face, wax hands, pumpkin bowling and pumpkin golf. Participants can donate dollars for game tokens, and donations may be made with cash and credit cards.

Giving stations will be set up across Main Campus and Health Science Campus. Donations also can be made at utfoundation.org/rocketforward.

You can designate a gift to any of the more than 2,000 University of Toledo Foundation funds, supporting specific causes and programs that you are passionate about. Every donor and every dollar will make a difference in support of scholarships, athletic and educational programs, research, healthcare, and community services.

Last year, the campaign raised $717,375 from 3,156 donors — including many students and first-time supporters.

Lightweight materials are critical for advancing the energy efficiency and range of electric vehicles.

The University of Toledo and the U.S. Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) in Tennessee signed a memorandum of understanding to team up for collaborative research into the advanced design and manufacturing of lightweight, strong, intelligent materials for the automotive industry.

The partnership will play a key role in developing new processes to produce alloys and metals, as well as enhance northwest Ohio’s leadership in research, innovation, development and production in the automotive industry.

Frank Calzonetti, UToledo vice president of research (left), and Moe Khaleel, associate laboratory director for energy and environmental sciences at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, sign the memorandum of understanding.

“We are proud to collaborate with Oak Ridge National Laboratory on this critical research to drive the next generation of automotive manufacturing,” said Dr. Mike Toole, dean of the UToledo College of Engineering. “Our partnership teaming innovative mechanical engineers at UToledo with some of the country’s preeminent scientists will focus on finding solutions to ensure the U.S. remains a global leader. The research will have spillover from the national level to the regional level.”

The researchers plan to engage with the automotive industry in Ohio and Michigan as they combine ORNL’s expertise and capabilities in manufacturing, carbon fiber and composites, machining, energy storage and metrology with UToledo’s expertise in manufacturing system modeling, metals engineering and assembly systems.

“This partnership will develop technological solutions to enhance the competitiveness of the U.S. automotive manufacturing sector,” said Moe Khaleel, associate laboratory director for Energy and Environmental Sciences at ORNL. “ORNL is looking forward to providing access to its research facilities, along with expertise and guidance in advanced materials and manufacturing to the University in this valuable partnership.”

The collaboration will focus on monitoring and control systems for metal forming processes; optimizing joining techniques for high-strength materials such as steel, aluminum and composites; and exploring the combination of new materials such as shape-memory alloys with additive manufacturing to create strong, resilient, active structures for vehicle applications.

ORNL provides researchers with sophisticated equipment and unique facilities to solve some of the nation’s most compelling challenges. As the largest DOE open science laboratory, ORNL’s mission is to deliver scientific discoveries and technical breakthroughs that will accelerate the development and deployment of solutions in clean energy and global security while creating economic opportunities for the nation.

Representatives from The University of Toledo and the U.S. Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) in Tennessee team up for collaborative automotive materials research.

The University of Toledo also is a member of another organization that closely interacts with the U.S. Department of Energy, Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU), which includes more than 100 Ph.D.-granting institutions as its members. ORAU works with the U.S. Department of Energy and other agencies in providing scientific and technical solutions to a wide range of topics as well as supporting science education and workforce development.

Later this week, UToledo will host for the first time National Lab Day to connect students and researchers with scientists from DOE national laboratories across the country and explore opportunities for additional partnerships.

The event to enhance northwest Ohio’s collaborations to make discoveries, find innovative solutions and create groundbreaking technology is Thursday and Friday, Oct. 10 and 11 on the University’s Main Campus.

Media are invited to the kick-off ceremony at 8:45 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 10 in Nitschke Auditorium featuring UToledo President Sharon L. Gaber, Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur and Chris Fall, director of DOE’s Office of Science.

For the first time, The University of Toledo will host National Lab Day to connect students and researchers with scientists from U.S. Department of Energy national laboratories and explore opportunities for additional partnerships.

The event to enhance northwest Ohio’s collaborations to make discoveries, find innovative solutions and create groundbreaking technology is Thursday and Friday, Oct. 10 and 11 on the University’s Main Campus.

“We are proud to welcome to our campus the country’s preeminent scientists from world-class facilities across the country,” UToledo President Sharon L. Gaber said. “This event presents an extraordinary opportunity for our students and scientists. We appreciate the Department of Energy recognizing UToledo’s momentum in advancing science and selecting us to host National Lab Day.”

Media are invited to the kick-off ceremony at 8:45 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 10 in Nitschke Auditorium featuring Gaber, Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur and Chris Fall, director of the Department of Energy’s Office of Science.

“From manufacturing the first Jeeps for the U.S. government at the onset of WWII, to the founding of America’s largest solar company — First Solar – Toledo has a long and storied history as a world leader in manufacturing, national security and cutting-edge research and development,” Kaptur said. “That is why Toledo is the perfect place to host an event like National Lab Day. Partnership is at the core of the success of our national labs, and National Lab Day will help facilitate important and long-lasting partnerships that bring students and faculty together with the National Lab directors.”

The Department of Energy maintains 17 national labs that tackle the critical scientific and national security challenges of our time – from combating climate change to discovering the origins of our universe – and possess unique instruments and facilities, many of which are found nowhere else in the world.

Toledo native and director of Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Mike Witherell, who grew up just blocks from the University, is a key organizer of the event.

“The University of Toledo is experiencing tremendous growth in its research enterprise,” Witherell said. “As a resource for the nation, the Department of Energy national laboratories are a resource for the University as it innovates and drives economic growth for Toledo, the northwest Ohio region, the state and the nation. My colleagues from the labs and I are delighted to join with the University and Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur at National Lab Day to explore the many exciting possibilities for engagement.”

Participants in National Lab Day 2019 at UToledo will meet laboratory directors and researchers; explore funding and fellowship opportunities; discover facilities open to academic and industry scientists; and learn about student internships and postdoctoral fellowships.

UToledo scientists will lead panel discussions with national laboratory scientists on a variety of topics, including:

• The Land-Water Interface: The Great Lakes Region and the World
• Sustainability and Life Cycle Assessment
• Structural Biology, Imaging and Spectroscopy
• Astrophysics
• Exposure Science – ‘Omics’ Applications for Human Health
• Materials and Manufacturing
• Photovoltaics

Registration, which is open for the academic and commercial research community, is required. Visit utoledo.edu/research/national-lab-day to register.

As part of National Lab Day, about 100 high school seniors will be on campus to learn about career paths in STEM, meet national laboratory scientists, and learn about each of the national laboratories.

Media are invited from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 11 in Nitschke Hall during the speed networking lunch and STEM Fair.

This week The University of Toledo Alumni Association will present its most prestigious honors: the Gold T, Blue T and Edward H. Schmidt Outstanding Young Alum Award.

These three recipients will be recognized — along with distinguished alumni from each UToledo college — at the Homecoming Alumni Gala and Awards Ceremony 6 p.m. Friday, Oct. 4 in the Thompson Student Union Auditorium.

Tickets for the gala are $30 each and may be purchased by calling the Office of Alumni Relations at 419.530.ALUM (2586) or by visiting the UToledo Alumni Association website. A limited number of tickets remain.

The Gold T is presented to a University of Toledo graduate in recognition of outstanding achievement in his or her field of endeavor while providing leadership and noteworthy service to the community.

Alan Barry

The 2019 recipient of the Gold T is Alan Barry of Commerce Township, Mich. A 1966 graduate of the College of Business and Innovation with a bachelor’s degree in accounting, Barry is the retired president and chief operating officer of Masco Corp., a Fortune 200 company with interests around the world. Masco’s well-known brands include Delta faucets, Behr paint and KraftMaid cabinetry. Named the College of Business and Innovation’s Outstanding Graduate in 2005, Barry and his wife, Karen, a 1964 graduate of the former UToledo Community and Technical College, have been major philanthropists to their alma mater. They have created laboratories in accounting and leadership in the College of Business and Innovation, as well as scholarship and fellowship funds in that college.

The Blue T is presented to a University of Toledo Alumni Association member and UToledo graduate who has made outstanding contributions to the progress and development of the Alumni Association and the University.

Tom Schuster

Tom Schuster of Maumee, Ohio, is the 2019 Blue T honoree. Schuster earned an associate’s degree in industrial technology from the former Community and Technical College in 1965 and a bachelor’s degree in adult liberal studies from University College in 1985. A past member of the Alumni Association’s Board of Trustees, he has served on numerous association committees over the past three decades. Schuster is also a past president of the Downtown Coaches Association, a support group that raises thousands of dollars for the UToledo Athletic Department each year. He and his wife, Marilyn, are members of the President’s Club and Heritage Oak Society, the latter in recognition of a planned gift that will provide support to generations of future Rockets. Since graduation, Schuster has financially supported many areas across campus; these include University College, Savage Arena, the Larimer Athletic Complex and the Koester Alumni Pavilion. Retired from Daimler Chrysler since 2001, Schuster was a senior manager in charge of IT computer operations for 27 plants in the United States and five in Canada, while overseeing 175 employees.

The Edward H. Schmidt Outstanding Young Alum Award is presented to a University graduate who is 40 years of age or younger in recognition of outstanding achievement in her or his field of endeavor, while providing leadership and noteworthy service to the Alumni Association, University or community. This award is named in memory of Ed Schmidt, a 1942 alumnus and a longtime supporter of The University of Toledo and its Alumni Association.

Bret Babcock

The 2019 recipient is Bret Babcock of Nashville, Tenn. Babcock earned a bachelor’s degree in finance and organizational development from the College of Business and Innovation, and the Jesup Scott Honors College, in 2010. Babcock is chief operating officer, chief financial officer and partner at LOGICFORCE, a technology consulting firm that provides eDiscovery, IT optimization and network service consulting, as well as digital forensics to clients in the legal industry. Since joining the company four years ago, Babcock has played a key role in driving success, achieving a compound annual growth rate of more than 40% and helping expand to more than 40 employees across 16 states. Previously an assistant vice president and portfolio management officer at Bank of America, Babcock is involved with several nonprofit causes and organizations, including A Child’s Place, the Orchard and LIFE Fellowship. Babcock earned an MBA from the University of Mississippi and in 2017 was awarded the Ole Miss MBA Outstanding Young Alumnus Award.

Come to campus — if you dare… Rocky’s Haunted Homecoming will unleash unbridled UToledo enthusiasm as students, employees and alumni psych up for Halloween and the big game.

“We have a lot of fun events planned throughout the week,” said Ashlen Torio, director of the Homecoming Committee and senior majoring in operation and supply chain management. “We brought back Eat the Streets and our movie night. Both events are even bigger this year. Eat the Streets is being moved to Centennial Mall during the day to give more students an opportunity to come. And our movie night is now a double feature.”

Scaring up fun is the plan before the Toledo Rockets face the Western Michigan Broncos 3:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 5 in the Glass Bowl.

“Students can expect a good time and a lot of school spirit,” Torio said. “This is a time when everyone on campus is showing their UToledo pride.”

This year’s Homecoming activities, which include:

Tuesday, Oct. 1

• Eat the Streets, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Centennial Mall. There’ll be food trucks and music.

Wednesday, Oct. 2

• Lip Sync Battle, 7 to 9 p.m., Thompson Student Union Ingman Room. Watch the top 10 Homecoming king and queen candidates take the stage.

Thursday, Oct. 3

• Fright Night, 5 to 11 p.m., Thompson Student Union Rooms 2582 and 2584. It’s a “spooktacular” movie double feature: Watch “The Haunted Mansion” and “The Nun.” Paint pumpkins and have fun with other Halloween activities.

Friday, Oct. 4

• Homecoming Gala, 6 p.m., Thompson Student Union Auditorium. The Alumni Association will present this year’s Gold T, Blue T and Edward H. Schmidt Young Alum Award, and college and affiliate award winners will be honored. Tickets are $30 per person, $10 for children. For more information or to make a reservation, contact the UToledo Office of Alumni Engagement at 419.530.ALUM (2586) or go to the association’s website.

Saturday, Oct. 5

• The Edward C. and Helen G. Schmakel Homecoming Parade, 10:30 a.m. Sponsored by Blue Key National Honor Society and supported by the Office of Student Involvement and Leadership and the Office of Alumni Engagement, the parade will begin at West Bancroft Street and Campus Road and go east to Cheltenham Road to Christie Street to Middlesex Drive and back to West Bancroft.
• Alumni Pregame, 12:30 to 3:30 p.m., William and Carol Koester Alumni Pavilion. Stop by for free hot dogs, chips and non-alcoholic beverages. There will be a cash bar for those 21 and older with proper ID, and live music from Mile Marker 1.
• Toledo Rockets vs. Western Michigan Broncos, 3:30 p.m. Glass Bowl. Root for the Rockets and see the crowning of the Homecoming king and queen. Tickets are half-off for UToledo employees; UToledo students are admitted free with ID. Go to the Toledo Football Central website, stop by the UToledo Athletic Ticket Office in the Sullivan Athletic Complex at Savage Arena, or call 419.530.GOLD (4653).