2019-2020
The M Book Miami University 2019-2020 Editors Joy Usner ’03 Josh Chapin ’02 Jesus Jimenez Adam Raab ’20 Paige Spata ’20
Designer Brad Campbell
Illustrator Dave Sauter ’77, M.S. ’82 Miami University Oxford, Ohio MiamiOH.edu | MiamiAlum.org
The high school experience is behind you, and the Miami Experience is just beginning. To help you settle into your new home of Oxford, we offer you the M Book, a guide to life at Miami from history to mystery, academics to athletics. The M Book isn’t just for first-year students, so don’t be afraid to keep it with you throughout your college years. You never know when you may need it!
The M Book This is it. It is sometimes known as the Handbook. It is the Freshman’s ‘Bible’ and one should read it from cover to cover, assimilate its contents and digest them thoroughly. It is published mainly for the yearlings, so, reader, if you are a Freshman, peruse its contents thoroughly, or if you are an upperclassman, read it so you can answer the Frosh questions intelligently. – The 1947-48 M Book
Table of Contents Message from the president...................................... 1 Message from MUSF.................................................... 2 History............................................................................... 5 Traditions.........................................................................21 Academics.................................................................... 33 Involvement.................................................................. 45 Athletics......................................................................... 53 Living in Oxford.......................................................... 63 The future...................................................................... 67 Glossary of terms........................................................75
Lewis Place
A message from the president Welcome to Miami University! The M Book is a navigation “app” of sorts to guide you on your Love and Honor journey. This fun, insightful book tells the Miami story through its traditions, history and ideals. The M Book provides a sense of place, both within an idyllic campus setting and as part of a welcoming Miami family that bonds more than 200,000 alumni worldwide. Miami offers boundless opportunities! So set your expectations high – challenge yourself and reach out to assist others – that is how we begin to live Love and Honor. Form relationships with your professors; join a student organization; take advantage of service and leadership opportunities; learn about and tap into the many resources that exist to support your success; make lifelong friendships; and above all, embrace every moment! When the Class of 2023 graduates four years from now, your story will be part of Miami’s proud past, its promising present and its bright future. We look forward to enjoying the journey alongside you! Love and Honor, Greg and Renate Crawford
A message from the Miami University Student Foundation Congratulations incoming Miami students! Miami University cannot wait to officially welcome you into the community as a RedHawk. Over the next four years, you will create some of the best memories of your lives. You will have many opportunities to become an active participant in Miami’s community and, along the way, develop relationships that will last a lifetime. The people around you will share knowledge, traditions and memories with you. Miami’s academics will offer you the chance to strengthen your abilities, challenge yourself and begin to grow as a future leader. These upcoming experiences will become a way of life: a life of Love and Honor. Since 1972, the Miami University Student Foundation (MUSF) has exemplified its motto, “Students helping students; past, present and future.” As we continue to grow our events and membership to support the Miami community, we remain consistent in our desire to bring alumni back to campus, foster a home for Miami traditions and raise money for incoming student scholarships. 2
For many years, MUSF has presented the incoming class with a physical collection of information about Miami’s campus, history and traditions through what is known as your M Book. Within this book, you will find everything from a checklist of activities and events to attend during your time as a student to short biographies on widely recognized Miami alumni. It is important that you keep this book through senior year, as the reflected information is relevant for each of your four years. Be sure to enjoy your experiences at Miami, find your own Miami moment to hold onto, and remember to look back at your M Book as a reminder of Miami’s rich history and abundant traditions.
Cassidy Hemm ’20 Executive Chair Miami University Student Foundation
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History
Sesquicentennial Chapel 6
History of the M Book Throughout its existence, the M Book has provided students with information on a variety of topics, including campus activities, customs and traditions. It originally was designed to give students practical information while also instilling the enduring spirit of what it means to be a Miamian. From the freshman’s “Bible” to the “School Yell,” here is a brief overview of how the M Book came to be a Miami tradition: 1897-98: The YMCA Handbook precedes the M Book as a pocket-sized volume with a calendar of events and “School Yell.” 1909: The Students’ Handbook is published as part of Miami’s Centennial Celebration. It features a “Memoranda” section for notes. 1915: Campus organizations produce another Students’ Handbook. 1916-21: The university YMCA and YWCA publish freshman guidebooks intermittently. 1924: The YMCA produces “The Freshman Handbook,” a pocket-sized volume with a single letter M on the cover. 7
1925-26: The first M Book is produced and acquaints readers with “the histories of all the phases of Miami life.” It sets the general pattern for the M Book’s next 31 years. 1973: After a decade of declining luster, production of the M Book is discontinued. 2002-Present: The M Book is rediscovered and published, first by the Office of Orientation and New Student Programs and intermittently by student groups. MUSF now produces the book annually. Information courtesy of Robert F. Schmidt, former university archivist
Today’s M Book The Miami University Student Foundation (MUSF) presents this all-new edition of the M Book exclusively for the Class of 2023. You are encouraged to take full advantage of your time here, and the M Book is your key to living Miami for the next four years. May you live it to the fullest!
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The story of Miami: A timeline 1809: Miami University is chartered by the state of Ohio on Feb. 17 (Charter Day) 1824: President Robert Hamilton Bishop is installed; classes begin 1826: The Miami Student established as the nation’s oldest university newspaper 1835: Miami Chapter of Alpha Delta Phi established as Miami’s first fraternity chapter 1839: Beta Theta Pi (Alpha chapter) becomes the first fraternity founded at Miami 1848: “Snowball Rebellion” – Old Main sealed with snow, 17 students dismissed 1873: Miami closes its doors due to low enrollment, no endowment, national financial panic 1885: Miami University reopens; the era of “New Miami” begins 1887: Miami admits first female students 1888: Miami’s first football game is played vs. the University of Cincinnati 1902: Delta Zeta, a women’s fraternity, is founded at Miami 9
1903: Nellie Craig becomes the first full-time, African-American student to enroll at Miami; she earns a teaching degree in 1905 1909: Miami celebrates its centennial 1919: Miami’s “no-horse rule” is replaced by the “no-car rule” 1959: Miami celebrates its 150th year with construction of Sesquicentennial Chapel and its first formal Charter Day celebration 1964: During Freedom Summer, studentvolunteers train on Western College for Women campus to register black voters in Mississippi 1970: Rowan Hall is occupied by Vietnam War protesters, 176 arrested; “flush-in” protest floods basements, depletes city water pressure; President Shriver closes campus for 10 days 1974: Western College for Women closes, merges with Miami 1982: Miami institutes Summer Reading Program for first-year students 1997: Responding to Miami Tribe of Oklahoma, trustees change mascot from “Redskins” to “RedHawks”; “no-car rule” ends for seniors, juniors (1998) and sophomores (2004) 1999: Men’s basketball team makes Sweet 16 appearance in NCAA tournament 10
2000: Freedom Summer Memorial created on Western Campus 2004: Miami Football reaches Top 10 in final Associated Press poll for 2003-04 season 2009: Miami celebrates its bicentennial 2010: Ice hockey team makes second consecutive NCAA Frozen Four appearance 2013: Miami University Marching Band represents state of Ohio in 57th Presidential Inaugural Parade 2014: Armstrong Student Center opens as “the future of the Miami Experience� 2014: Miami’s collegiate synchronized skating team wins its 10th straight national title, setting a U.S. Figure Skating Association record 2015: David and Anita Dauch Indoor Sports Center (DISC) and Jay Hayden Baseball Center open 2016: Gregory P. Crawford appointed 22nd president of Miami University 2016: Miami becomes the first team in modern college football history to finish 6-6 and play in a bowl game after starting the season 0-6
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The story of Miami: Old Miami One of the nation’s oldest public universities, Miami University dates back to a grant of land made by Congress and signed into law by President George Washington on May 5, 1792. In 1809, the General Assembly of the state of Ohio approved the university’s charter and named the new institution after a tribe of American Indians who had once lived in Ohio and Indiana. After considering several locations, the lawmakers situated the new university in the valley of the Tallawanda, a tributary of the Great Miami River. It was here that the town of Oxford, named for the oldest British university, was founded by the school’s board of trustees in 1810. The War of 1812 and an unsuccessful attempt by Cincinnati officials to locate the campus there delayed the efforts to build the new university. It was not until 1824 that Miami University welcomed its first all-male class. Miami’s first president, Robert Hamilton Bishop, envisioned the university becoming “the Yale of the West” and worked to polish the curriculum, academic standards and faculty to reflect the 12
Yale image. The first two residence halls, Elliott and Stoddard, were patterned after the oldest Yale dormitory, Connecticut Hall. By 1838, Miami’s reputation as the preeminent institution of higher learning in the new West had spread far and wide. With a student body of 250, the university’s enrollment was exceeded only by that of Harvard, Yale and Dartmouth. An outstanding faculty enhanced that reputation. The Civil War cost Miami dearly. Most of the all-male student body and faculty went off to military service, leaving a host of unpaid bills. The struggle to keep Miami going ended in bankruptcy and the university closing in 1873. With help from alumni contributions, quitrents (levies and land taxes) from the college township and first-time financial aid from the state of Ohio, Miami reopened in 1885.
The story of Miami: New Miami As the opening line of Miami’s Alma Mater anthem suggests, the history of our university is divided into two eras.
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“Old Miami” was the all-male liberal arts institution, which was more of a church school than a state school. In fact, all of Miami’s first seven presidents were Presbyterian ministers. “New Miami” is the name by which the university became known when it reopened in 1885 with its first non-clergy president, Robert White McFarland. A couple of other firsts soon followed. Admission of the first female student occurred in 1887. And, the first African American student was admitted in 1903. Miami’s decision to admit women was part of a national trend toward coeducation. As more female students opted to attend Miami, Oxford’s all-female institutions began to suffer declining enrollments. In 1928, Miami absorbed Oxford College for Women and, in 1974, it acquired Western College. In recent years, Miami has been highly ranked among national universities for the quality of its undergraduate programs. Were President Bishop living today, he would be proud of the school he helped establish in the beech woods of Southwestern Ohio. Excerpts from works of the late Phillip R. Shriver, president emeritus 14
The story of Miami: Growth From some 200 students in 1900, Miami grew to a student population of 8,000 by 1960 and 17,327 undergraduates in 2018. With the addition of regional campuses in Middletown (1966), Hamilton (1968) and West Chester (2009), together with the John E. Dolibois European Center in Luxembourg, the total Miami enrollment has surpassed 24,000. Academic programs at both the undergraduate and graduate levels kept pace with growth in enrollment. Schools of Fine Arts (now College of Creative Arts) and Business Administration (now Farmer School of Business) were added in 1928, and Applied Science (now College of Engineering and Computing) in 1963. Though the first master’s degree was awarded in 1830, it was not until 1948 that a graduate school headed by a dean was formally established. Doctoral programs in 10 disciplines were introduced in 1966.
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The story of Miami: Alumni Since our first commencement in 1826, Miami has graduated more than 220,000 of her sons and daughters. Many have gone on to exemplary careers, including the following notable alumni: William Dennison (1835): One of the earliest members of the U.S. Republican Party and chairman of the convention which nominated President Abraham Lincoln for re-election Benjamin Harrison (1852): 23rd president of the United States Caroline Scott Harrison (1853): 23rd first lady of the United States Samuel Spahr Laws (1848): Inventor of the stock market ticker Calvin S. Brice (1863): Railroad magnate and U.S. senator Alfred H. Upham (1897): Longest-serving Miami president (1928-1945) and composer of Miami’s fight song and alma mater Sidney Souers (1914): U.S. Navy rear admiral and first director of the CIA Weeb Ewbank (1928): Super Bowl-winning NFL head coach, only professional coach to win championships in AFL and NFL 16
Paul Brown (1930): College/professional football coach, general manager and partowner/founder of the Cincinnati Bengals Paul Smucker (1939): Former chairman and CEO of J.M. Smucker Co. Ambassador John E. Dolibois (1942): U.S. Army intelligence officer who interrogated Nazis at the Nuremberg Trials, former U.S. ambassador to Luxembourg and Miami’s first alumni director John Pont (1951): NCAA Division I-A Football Coach of the Year in 1967 Bo Schembechler (1951): Former athletic director and head football coach of the University of Michigan Wolverines Richard T. Farmer (1956): Chairman emeritus and founder of Cintas Corporation Admiral Stanley Arthur (1957): Former vice chief of naval operations at the Pentagon, served as commander of the U.S. Naval Forces Central Command during Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm Wayne Embry (1958): First African-American NBA general manager C. Michael Armstrong (1961): Former chairman and CEO of Comcast Corporation and AT&T Corporation 17
Donna Shalala (WC, 1962): U.S. secretary of health and human services under President Bill Clinton and former president of the University of Miami General Joseph Ralston (1965): Former vice chairman for the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff and former commander, U.S. European Command and Supreme Allied Commander Europe, NATO Mike Oxley (1966): Former U.S. representative and chairman of the House Financial Services Committee P.J. O’Rourke (1969): Best-selling author, NPR panelist and former editor-in-chief of “National Lampoon” magazine Chung Un-chan (M.A. 1972): Former prime minister of South Korea Rita F. Dove (1973): Winner of the first Pulitzer Prize in poetry and first African-American poet laureate of the United States Jonathan Miller (1974): Current president of programming for NBC Sports and NBCSN Wil Haygood (1976): American journalist known for a 2008 article that inspired the 2013 movie “The Butler” Maria Cantwell (1981): U.S. senator (D-WA) 18
John Harbaugh (1984): Super Bowl-winning head coach of the Baltimore Ravens Marne Levine (1992): COO of Instagram Paul Ryan (1992): U.S. House of Representatives (R-WI 1st District), 54th speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Steve Reineke (1993): Music director of The New York Pops Adam Bain (1995): Former chief operating officer at Twitter, Inc. Katie Lee (2003): Co-host of “The Kitchen” on Food Network and former host of “Top Chef” on Bravo Network Sean McVay (2008): Head coach of the Los Angeles Rams and the youngest head coach in modern NFL history Brandon Brooks (2011): Super Bowl-winning guard of the Philadelphia Eagles
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Traditions
Fisher Hall
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Miami traditions Traditions run deep at Miami. It can be sensed in the red brick buildings, the sounds of the Beta Bells and the annual university events, such as Family Weekend and Homecoming. Each class of new Miami students also learns some traditional superstitions, too.
The University Seal The University Seal, located on “The Hub” in the center of campus, bears Miami’s Latin motto of “Prodesse quam conspici.” Translated, the phrase means “to accomplish without being conspicuous.” According to legend, anyone who steps on the seal is mocking the university’s ideals and will therefore be punished by failing his/her next exam. Winter will go by with nary a footstep in the snow over that seal! There is still no consensus as to whether the same rules apply to the Great Seal within the Armstrong Student Center, but who wants to take that chance?
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The Tri-Delt Sundial Similar to the seal, students also perpetuate a popular superstition connected to the sundial in Central Quad, which was donated by Delta Delta Delta sorority. The sundial, which tells the correct time four times a year, is propped on copper turtles. Tradition says rubbing a turtle’s head before an exam ensures good luck.
The Upham Arch The Upham Hall Arch is a popular student meeting spot by day, but it is said sweethearts who kiss under the arch at midnight will eventually marry and become a “Miami Merger.” Miami’s percentage of students/alumni marrying other students/alumni is a whopping 14 percent. In 2019, the Miami University Alumni Association mailed nearly 14,000 Miami Merger valentines, an annual MUAA tradition honoring Miami’s Merger couples.
Miami mysteries and ghost stories Similar to the aforementioned superstitions, Miami mysteries and ghost stories are an important part of the university’s tradition. 24
The following stories and legends are especially popular around Halloween, as well as any dark, stormy night.
The strange story of Henry Snyder Henry Snyder, professor of chemistry from 1885-1898, was one of Miami’s most popular faculty members. Part of his appeal, undoubtedly, was his wife, Minnie, a slender, seductive woman who dressed exotically and performed classical and gypsy songs accompanied by her own band. The couple presented a series of lecture-recitals, with a talk on chemistry by professor Snyder and a musical performance by Minnie. For many years, the Snyders seemed to enjoy a happy existence. But in August 1889, Henry fell ill with what was termed “heat prostration.” When he returned to campus the following month, he was clearly not himself. On Sept. 14, he ingested a fatal dose of potassium cyanide in his Brice Hall laboratory. At the time, observers believed professor Snyder had committed suicide, but Minnie asserted that her husband’s health and mental equilibrium had been damaged by overwork.
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Sometime later, Minnie married William Pugh, a young man who frequently accompanied her gypsy numbers on his guitar. He also had been professor Snyder’s lab assistant and was knowledgeable about chemicals and poisons. The Pughs moved to Columbus. Miami officials next heard from Minnie in 1926, when she wrote a rambling letter to President Raymond Hughes. Her letter stated William had “walked away, being tired of married life” in June 1919. There is no evidence William was ever seen or heard from after that date.
The ghost of Helen Peabody Throughout most of its existence, Western Female Seminary enjoyed a civil, if not always warm, relationship with neighboring Miami University. During the 19th century, in particular, contact between the men and women of the two institutions was strictly controlled by administrators concerned for the moral wellbeing of their charges. Seminary Principal Helen Peabody, an outspoken opponent of coeducation, always was suspicious of the Miami men who occasionally wandered onto Western property. Imagine how she would react nowadays to the sight of Miami men freely roaming the corridors of the building bearing her name! 26
It appears Peabody may have done more than merely turn over in her grave. According to some witnesses, her spirit occasionally leaves the tomb to watch over the women of Peabody Hall and to haunt the men who now dare to inhabit it. Those who have seen her claim that Helen Peabody remains in death, as she was in life, a very formidable woman.
The Reid Hall murder On the night of May 9, 1959, Reid Hall RA Roger Sayles was shot and killed while attempting to break up a fight between two men in the residence hall. According to accounts of the incident, the dying Sayles fell bleeding onto a nearby door, leaving two bloody handprints. His assailant fled to a phone booth on the second floor of Ogden Hall where he shot himself in the head.
What happened to Ron Tammen? On the surface, Fisher Hall resident Ronald Henry Tammen Jr. appeared to be a typical college student. He played string bass in the university dance band, The Campus Owls, belonged to Delta Tau Delta fraternity and was a member of the wrestling team. 27
On the night of April 19, 1953, the sophomore left his room to get new sheets because somebody had put a fish in his bed. Tammen took the sheets and returned to his dorm room to study – the last time he was seen. When Tammen failed to return the following day, his roommate became worried and a search began. To this day, Tammen’s fate is unknown. Some believe he was murdered; others feel he may still be alive. A resident of nearby Seven Mile, Ohio, claimed Tammen – dazed and unable to remember his name – came to her home early on the morning of April 20, seeking directions to the nearest bus station. Sightings of Tammen and his ghost occasionally have been reported. In 1973, the Butler County coroner in Ohio revealed Tammen had visited his office exactly five months before his disappearance seeking a blood test. In his 35 years of practice, the coroner said Tammen was the only person to visit his office with such a request. When Fisher Hall was demolished in 1978, an extensive search of the rubble revealed no sign of Tammen’s remains.
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Harry Thobe’s fountain Oxford stonemason Harry Thobe was known as Miami’s self-styled No. 1 sports fan and the nation’s leading gate-crasher. He was a familiar figure at Miami sporting events virtually until his death in March 1950. Decked out in a white suit and hat, carrying an umbrella and megaphone, Harry was loved by students, but his antics were a headache for administrators. Whatever Harry’s contemporaries thought of him, everyone agreed that he loved Miami. In the early 1900s, he gave the university a hand-built fountain between what is now King Library’s northeast corner and Harrison Hall’s southwest end. As with all of his work, Harry left his signature on the fountain. The fountain quickly fell into disrepair after Harry’s death and has since been replaced by a plaque and monument. This token of remembrance may not have been enough for Harry, though. Legend says his spirit still resides at his fountain’s former site, ready and willing to greet all passersby. Stand west of the fountain, facing the nearest oak tree, and call Thobe’s name; Harry’s spirit supposedly will answer you by echoing his name back. 29
Miami University Fight Song Words by R.H. Burke Love and honor to Miami, Our college old and grand. Proudly we shall ever hail thee, Over all the land (fight, fight, fight!). Alma mater now we praise thee, Sing joyfully this lay. Love and honor to Miami, Forever and a day.
Old Miami, New Miami (Alma Mater) Original verses by A. H. Upham Old Miami from thy hillcrest, Thou hast watched the decades roll; Generations questing from thee, Sturdy hearted, pure of soul. Chorus (between each verse and at end): Old Miami! New Miami! Days of old and days to be; Weave the story of thy glory, Our Miami, here’s to thee! 30
Additional verses added April 1989: Our Miami, alma mater, Ages old yet ever new; Sons and daughters from your hillcrest Roam the world, yet ne’er leave you. You’ve embraced the generations, Men and women, young and old; Of all races, from all nations, And your glory will be told. Though the years may bring their changes, Your bright lamp will ever burn; Giving wisdom, truth, and knowledge To each one who comes to learn. Our Miami, you were founded In our nation’s early days; Now we join with generations In this song of love and praise.
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Top 10 Miami traditions Honor these traditions and create some of your own over the next four years! 1. Rub a turtle’s head on the Tri-Delt Sundial for good luck on your next exam. 2. Sidestep the University Seal at the Hub to avoid bad luck on your next exam. 3. Visit the Freedom Summer Memorial on Western Campus. 4. Celebrate Family Weekend each year with family and friends. 5. Walk around trees and make sure everyone in your group passes on the same side. 6. Eat a Tuffy’s Toasted Roll in Pulley Diner – there’s nothing like it! 7. Participate in Homecoming with the “Homecoming Huddle” pep rally/carnival and house/dorm decorating contest. 8. Live in a named, off-campus house. 9. Kiss your sweetheart at midnight under the Upham Arch. 10. Play broomball at Goggin – one of Miami’s favorite pastimes! 32
Academics
Upham Hall
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“I am Miami” The Code of Love and Honor The Code of Love and Honor is a personalized pledge derived from our Values Statement. Its first line is “I am Miami,” signifying that each and every one of us, through our choices, and supporting and caring for each other, contributes to who we are and what we aspire to be – individually, yes, but also collectively – as Miamians. The Code of Love and Honor, inspired by the Miami Board of Trustees’ formalized Values Statement, unites Miami traditions and values and was introduced during convocation 2013: I Am Miami. I believe that a liberal education is grounded in qualities of character and intellect. I stand for honesty, integrity and the importance of moral conduct. I respect the dignity, rights and property of others and their right to hold and express disparate beliefs.
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I defend the freedom of inquiry that is the heart of learning. I exercise good judgment and believe in personal responsibility. I welcome a diversity of people, ideas and experiences. I embrace the spirit, academic rigor, opportunities and challenges of a Miami Experience, preparing me to make the world a better place. I demonstrate Love and Honor by supporting and caring for my fellow Miamians. And because I Am Miami, I act through my words and deeds in ways that reflect these values and beliefs. With a deep sense of accomplishment and gratitude, I will Love, Honor and make proud those who help me earn the joy and privilege of saying: “To think that in such a place, I led such a life.�
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Global Miami Plan for Liberal Education Miami University was founded on the belief that education in the liberal arts provides the best possible foundation for life in a changing world. That emphasis on liberal studies continues today and is referred to as the Global Miami Plan for Liberal Education. Your academic and extracurricular experiences here will enhance your ability to ask important questions, examine your assumptions, exchange views with others who see things differently and take action to make our world a better place. We hope you will choose courses that introduce ideas that are unfamiliar to you and that you will continue this liberal learning throughout your lifetime. The Global Miami Plan offers a broad education to complement the more specialized studies required by your major. It provides a rich context for exploring personal and career choices. The Global Miami Plan provides a liberal education that prepares you not only to participate in the world but also to change it.
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The Global Miami Plan • Extends liberal education course work across your four years of study. •
Introduces in-depth work in topics outside your major.
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Provides an integrated capstone experience during your senior year.
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Coordinates a broad range of campus programs to complement your classroom work.
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Exposes you to the humanities, natural sciences and social sciences as well as fine arts, world cultures, laboratory work, mathematics and formal reasoning, and technology.
Educational enhancement opportunities Performing Arts Series The Performing Arts Series is a vibrant part of Miami University. Offering a mix of world music, jazz and classical music as well as modern dance, ballet, opera and theater, the series is a 38
unique resource for students. Ticket prices for students always are discounted, making it easy and affordable to attend. Previous events have included concerts from a variety of musical artists such as Bob Dylan and O.A.R., as well as stand-up comedy performances. This fall, the Performing Arts Series welcomes comedian John Mulaney during Family Weekend. Each fall, the Performing Arts Series welcomes a headliner act during Saturday night of Family Weekend. Reserve tickets for all Performing Arts Series events through the Miami Box Office, located in Campus Avenue Building or at MiamiOH.edu/BoxOffice.
Lecture Series Speakers and presenters are brought in annually by professors, departments and organizations to discuss current events and areas of special interest, or strictly for entertainment. Come hear these special guests speak and take advantage of the opportunity to explore ideas and further your learning beyond the classroom. Professors often announce upcoming speakers, but electronic displays, posters and flyers across campus also advertise these events. Most lectures are free and open to the public 39
but require tickets through the Miami Box Office.
Study abroad Did you know 49 percent of Miami students study abroad before graduating? Hundreds of study away and abroad opportunities are available in dozens of countries for all academic majors. Program types range from week-long workshops to full academic years, and scholarships are available. The Miami University John E. Dolibois European Center (MUDEC) in Luxembourg is one such option that gives students a unique combination of academics, local community engagement and various travel opportunities. Visit MiamiOH.edu/MUDEC or MiamiOH.edu/ StudyAbroad for more information.
Myaamia Center Miami University is proud to carry the name of the Miami Indians who once called this region home. The tribe now resides in Miami, Oklahoma, and the university maintains relations with the tribe through the presence of the Myaamia Center on campus and a series of
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other activities. Created in 2001, the Myaamia Center is a tribal initiative to advance the Miami Tribe’s language and cultural revitalization. The center conducts research to assist tribal educational initiatives aimed at the preservation of language and cultural programs, and exposes Miami students to tribal initiatives. Students benefit from visits to the tribe in Oklahoma, direct involvement in research, class visitations by staff, and access to Miami Tribe language and cultural resources. Learn more about the Miami Tribe activities and how to connect with the Myaamia Center at MyaamiaCenter.org.
Center for Career Exploration and Success Miami University’s Center for Career Exploration and Success empowers undergraduate and graduate students to engage in career exploration and experiential learning to optimize their professional and personal potential through connections with employers and the Miami career community. The Center for Career Exploration and Success prepares students to deepen their
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self-knowledge, enabling them to choose meaningful career paths and excel in a diverse, global society. Even though your college journey just began, it is never too early to start planning your future. Visit the Center for Career Exploration and Success in 45 Armstrong Student Center or go online at MiamiOH.edu/student-life/careerservices for more information.
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Top 10 tips for new students Make the most of your academic experience at Miami with these tips: 1. Introduce yourself to others in your classes. 2. Take a class you don’t know anything about or are curious about. 3. Speak your opinions and start discussions. 4. Attend lectures and Performing Arts Series events. 5. Go to office hours with your professors. 6. Get to know your academic adviser and the Degree Auditing Report System (DARS). 7. Explore your study abroad options and take advantage of them, if possible. 8. Go on campus to study at the Armstrong Student Center, King Library and other locations. 9. Don’t procrastinate – write the rough draft first and study a couple days ahead of time to avoid the all-night cram sessions. 10. Keep your “Code of Love and Honor” card and “I Am Miami” pin with you throughout these next four years! 43
Involvement
MacCracken Hall
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Armstrong Student Center College is a time of exploration. During your Miami years, you will become more self-reliant as you manage your life without the 24-hour care and attention of your family. Personal exploration begins by exposing yourself to as many different ideas as possible. Read more, attend lectures and programs, and interact with people of all backgrounds so you can begin to comprehend the richness and diversity of the world around you. In doing this, you’ll be “getting involved” by taking advantage of what college life has to offer. And what better place to do this than in the symbolic heart of the Miami Experience? The Armstrong Student Center began a new era of student involvement and engagement at Miami. The Armstrong Student Center serves as the central “family room” on campus for interactions that enhance student learning as well as personal and professional development. At a university that prides itself on placing you, the Miami student, first, the Armstrong Student Center undoubtedly will be a focal point of your “Miami Experience.” 47
Student organizations We find comfort in feeling we belong somewhere. Most groups that students join, and with which they remain active, satisfy that need to belong and to contribute. Organizations are also wonderful ways to meet others, explore interests, learn new things and discover how to function in group settings. College is a great time to try new things and go outside your comfort zone, so don’t be afraid to face that challenge! The Center for Student Engagement and Leadership (SEAL) inside the Armstrong Student Center is the home for Miami’s student organizations. Visit MiamiOH.edu/hub to learn more about Miami’s 400-plus student groups/ organizations, including the following:
Associated Student Government Associated Student Government (ASG) gives Miami students the right and obligation to play a significant role in policy formation and application. As a result, those who serve on ASG directly affect university academics as well as the student body itself. Learn more at MiamiOHASG.com. 48
Diversity Affairs Council Under the umbrella of ASG, Diversity Affairs Council (DAC) is committed to enhancing Miami’s climate of respect for diversity. The council sponsors a variety of campus-wide programs throughout the year to promote understanding and appreciation for diversity. Learn more about DAC opportunities at MiamiOH.edu/DiversityAffairs.
Fraternity and sorority life Since Miami’s earliest days, Greek organizations have played an integral part in campus life. Miami is known as the “Mother of Fraternities” because of the number of Greek organizations that were founded here and then branched out across North America. In 1835, the Miami Chapter of Alpha Delta Phi was the first fraternity chapter at Miami. Greek life quickly caught on, and Beta Theta Pi (1839) was the first fraternity founded at Miami. Phi Delta Theta (1848), Sigma Chi (1855), Delta Zeta (1902) – a fraternity for women – and Phi Kappa Tau (1906) all followed, and all grew to be prosperous international Greek organizations. With more than 50 fraternities/sororities recognized, composing approximately one-third of the student body, fraternity and sorority 49
life is very active on campus. Although there are many different fraternities/sororities, they share common core values and principles, including scholarship and learning, service and philanthropy, leadership, community, and brotherhood and sisterhood. Formal recruitment activities occur during spring semester, with plenty of introductory opportunities and registration in the fall. Learn more about Miami’s fraternity and sorority community at MiamiOH.edu/FSLL.
Late Night Miami Late Night Miami hosts free events to all students every Thursday, Friday and Saturday night of the semester. In partnership with the Division of Student Affairs, Miami students organizations and university departments, the campus comes alive each weekend with free concerts, coffee houses, box office hit movies, block parties, casino nights and more!
Miami Activities and Programming/ Late Night Miami Miami Activities and Programming (MAP) strives for interaction and involvement from the wide spectrum of students at Miami. With more 50
than 50 members, MAP works to creatively program events that strengthen students’ Love and Honor for Miami. MAP is involved in planning many campus-wide activities including Family Weekend, concerts and more. Stop by the MAP office in the Armstrong Student Center or visit MiamiOH.edu/Hub to learn more about MAP-sponsored programs.
Miami media Miami University students can become involved in a variety of student-media outlets. The Miami Student, the oldest university newspaper in the United States, is the bi-weekly student newspaper. The Recensio, a Latin phrase meaning “to look back,” is Miami’s official yearbook and was created in 1893. Miami Quarterly (MQ magazine) is the student-run campus magazine that is published twice each semester. Finally, WMSR (RedHawkRadio.com) is Miami’s student-run online radio station, and it features all kinds of music and student talk shows 24 hours a day.
Miami University Student Foundation The Miami University Student Foundation (MUSF) sponsors major campus programs and raises thousands of dollars annually for undergraduate scholarships – all while strengthening the link 51
between current students and alumni. Some of MUSF’s major activities include the annual Family Weekend Auction and Brunch, the Homecoming House Decorating Contest, Chicago bus trips for school breaks, Senior Send-Off, Charter Day celebrations – and even the M Book itself. MUSF was founded at Miami in 1972 and remains one of the university’s most active groups. Learn more about becoming involved in MUSF at MiamiOH.edu/MUSF.
Residence Hall Association Residence Hall Association (RHA), a subset of ASG, was founded in 1996 to unify and give representation to the entire on-campus student body. RHA creates and organizes campus-wide programming, promotes community service, and represents the needs and concerns of on-campus students. Most importantly, RHA is the direct link to the Community Councils, a leadership outlet that reaches nearly 7,000 students each year. RHA is made up of oncampus residents, and anyone living in a residence hall is welcome and encouraged to join their Community Council.
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Athletics
“I couldn’t be more excited about where Miami is going with these student-athletes, this group of coaches, these alumni and fans and an administration that wants to be excellent in athletics and academics. Why can’t we be the best in the country at everything we do?”
John Harbaugh ’84 Head Coach, Baltimore Ravens
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Origins of Red and White and the Miami mascot Miami’s school colors originated in the early 1800s. Literary societies were the first large student organizations on campus, and the Erodelphians and Union Literary Society, whose colors were red and white, respectively, gave Miami the school colors that still exist today. Prior to 1928, athletic teams at Miami were referred to as “The Miami Boys,” “The Big Reds” and “The Reds and Whites.” The nickname changed to “Redskins” during the 1930-31 school year, when Miami’s alumni magazine announced the new nickname as the successor to “Big Red,” which also was the nickname for Denison University’s teams. At the urging of the Oklahoma-based Miami Tribe, the Miami Board of Trustees voted Sept. 25, 1996, to discontinue using “Redskins.” More than 3,000 nickname suggestions from alumni and current members of the Miami community were received. At its meeting on April 19, 1997, the board selected the nickname “RedHawks” (one word, capital “H”) over “Thunderhawks” and “Miamis.” The new nickname was made official July 1, 1997. 55
Then-Miami University President Dr. James C. Garland revealed the RedHawk logos at a press conference on Oct. 18, 1997, prior to a football game against Marshall University. Swoop, the mascot of Miami teams, made its first appearance on Dec. 9, 1997, before the men’s basketball game with Xavier University.
Miami Athletics tradition “So many Miamians have gone on to distinguished careers in coaching that we are known throughout the sports world as the ‘Cradle of Coaches.’ Our reputation is especially fitting because the Oxford campus hosted the first football game in the state of Ohio, played on December 8, 1888, between Miami and the University of Cincinnati.”
Phillip R. Shriver, President Emeritus
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Miami is well-known nationally for its academic reputation and beautiful campus. But there’s a third noteworthy aspect of the university – one that many students often overlook: our rich athletic tradition. Several outstanding athletes have gone on from Miami to distinguished careers in professional sports. They include Ron Harper, a five-time NBA world champion with the Bulls and Lakers; the late Bill Mulliken, an Olympic swimming gold medalist; Bob Babich, a firstround NFL draft pick and an eight-year NFL player; Travis Prentice, who set seven NCAA records for rushing and touchdowns; Wally Szczerbiak, a 1999 basketball All-American and 10-year NBA pro; Alec Martinez, a twotime Stanley Cup winner; Ben Roethlisberger, a first-round NFL draft pick and two-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback; and John Harbaugh, Super Bowl-winning NFL head coach.
Cradle of Coaches Miami has been playing football since 1888 and possesses a rich football tradition, launching the careers of numerous famous professional and college football coaches, including Paul Brown, Woody Hayes and Bo Schembechler. Throughout the sports world, this tradition has 57
earned Miami the reputation as the “Cradle of Coaches.” Miami has been the training ground for 21 National Coach of the Year recipients at the professional and collegiate levels across all sports. John Harbaugh ’84, current head coach of the NFL’s Baltimore Ravens, was the most recent addition following the Ravens’ win over the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl XLVII (2013). Harbaugh also joined Earl “Red” Blaik, Paul Brown, Carm Cozza, Paul Dietzel, Wilbur “Weeb” Ewbank, Ara Parseghian, John Pont and Glenn “Bo” Schembechler with a statue in his honor at Yager Stadium’s Cradle of Coaches Plaza. The statues honor Miami graduates who have earned recognition as National Coach of the Year (collegiate or professional), have been inducted into the College Football/Pro Football Hall of Fame, or whose teams have won national championships (collegiate or professional/Super Bowl).
Battle for the Victory Bell rivalry Miami and the University of Cincinnati square off each fall for the famed Victory Bell. The Miami-Cincinnati series ranks fifth on the list 58
of most played rivalries in college football and is the second-oldest college football rivalry in NCAA Division I FBS. The original bell hung in Miami’s Harrison Hall (Old Main) near the site of the first football game in 1888 and was used to ring in Miami victories. The traveling trophy tradition began in the 1890s when some Cincinnati fans “borrowed” the bell. The current Victory Bell trophy exchanged between the two schools is a replica of the original bell and is kept in the possession of the winning team each year. The original bell can be found beyond the Yager Stadium end zone on football game days, where it rings each time the RedHawks score.
Intramurals, club sports and recreation Not a serious athlete but still want to play in a low-pressure environment? You can create single-sex or coed teams with friends and engage in a variety of intramural sports competitions. While many sports are offered, broomball is by far the most popular, and there are several seasons each school year. If running around on ice without wearing skates is not for 59
you, there are many other opportunities for you to get involved. Visit MiamiOH.edu/intramurals for a full listing of intramural sports deadlines. Miami University’s club sports bridge the gap between intramural and intercollegiate athletics by providing competition at many levels. The program gives students an opportunity to take part in the leadership, responsibility and decision-making processes of club activities. In addition to their own scheduling, practices, tournaments and special events, the clubs also participate in fundraising and community service. Club sports, which often compete nationally against other universities, include baseball, basketball, broomball, equestrian, ice hockey, soccer, tennis and many more. Visit MiamiOH.edu/ClubSports for a full list of club sports. One of the best things about attending school at Miami University is the amazing Recreational Sports Center and its facilities. The Rec Center is a huge, 210,000-square-foot facility that contains all the cardio and weight amenities you could imagine. Additionally, “The Rec� offers fitness classes, a first-class aquatic center and the always-popular climbing wall. 60
Athletics bucket list Check these off your list over your four years at Miami: 1. Attend the Victory Bell game against the University of Cincinnati. 2. Form a broomball team with friends and/or roommates. 3. Join the student section at Goggin for a RedHawks ice hockey game. 4. Make Millett a true home court at men’s and women’s basketball games. 5. Get active in club sports, either as a fan or athlete. 6. Conquer The Rec’s two-story climbing wall. 7. Visit the Cradle of Coaches Plaza at Yager Stadium to learn more about Miami Athletics tradition. 8. Grab a seat at McKie Field and Miami Softball Stadium for baseball and softball, respectively. 9. Grab your friends, and take a road trip to an away game for any sport(s). 10. Know the fight song by heart! 61
Living in Oxford
Center for the Performing Arts
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From Uptown to Downtown Oxford, Ohio, is the quintessential college town. It is small enough to walk and bike to get around, yet still big enough to fill the needs of the Miami student population. Beyond the Phi Delt Gates lies Uptown Oxford (simply referred to as “Uptown”). When you feel like getting off campus for a cup of coffee, a bite to eat or even some shopping, Uptown is the place to go. The Uptown Farmers Market on Saturdays is the perfect excuse to get outside, and Uptown Park offers a haven for those looking to study outside the library. Oxford’s surrounding natural beauty also offers the perfect backdrop for a walk or hike, and if you head over to nearby Hueston Woods, you can go on a canoeing adventure. If you are looking for a weekend out of town, Cincinnati is just 35 miles south of Oxford. Home to the Cincinnati Reds and Cincinnati Bengals, museums with world-class exhibits, concert venues and plenty of shopping, the Queen City has the perfect metropolitan feel if you want to visit the city. Indianapolis and Chicago are not too far away, either!
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Living off campus While all college towns have things in common, there are more than a few reasons Oxford stands apart. In fact, there are about a hundred of them. One might be called “Cornered Inn.” Another might be “The End Zone.” These are names given to off-campus student houses, and the names are as unique as the students who pass them down from year to year. Names are created by the residents themselves, and it is a tradition that started with one house. Suddenly, it became a trend (later a tradition), and it is one of the things that makes living in Oxford – and attending Miami – an experience unlike any other. Undergraduate students are required to live on campus the first two years, but that just means more time to come up with the perfect name for your future off-campus home.
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The future
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The Question With the ideals and the traditions of a great school to help you, and with the chance to take part in school life to its fullest extent, are you going to remain a drifter? Are you going to be content to “pass,” to let the other people do the work while you look on? Or are you going to take advantage of every opportunity offered you, to work and help to the utmost of your ability? What you will get out of your four years at Miami will be measured by just what you expend in hard work during that time. The result is up to you. – The 1947-48 M Book
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Your next four years at Miami Reflecting on past experiences and situations can be one of the most rewarding learning tools. When you rationalize something that happened in the past, you may be better prepared for the future. In other words, you need to sometimes take a step back to take a step forward. The payoff is reflection, which leads to self growth and personal understanding. Think back to some of your happiest moments; these are some of the most important treasures of your life. Think about what you want from life. Do you have a strategy to go for it? Identifying your strengths and weaknesses might be the first step in the right direction for your next four years. If you find yourself or others headed in the wrong direction, simply change your course. Follow through with those spontaneous missions to change things for the better. If you see something on campus that you do not like, have the strength to make a difference and change it.
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Examine your passions. Figure out a way to live through, around or in your happiest surroundings – your passions. By the end of your Miami journey, you will want to say, “Been there, done that.” But, you want to say it with pride and confidence – that every moment spent here, every challenge you faced and every person you met, you did it with integrity, Love and Honor. Life is what you make of it, and the next four years may seem like a long road. So, take some stops along the way to relax and enjoy the scenery. There will be roadblocks along the way, but you will get over them with the help of friends, family and your fellow Miamians. As the alma mater suggests, “Weave the story of thy glory.” What kind of story are you going to weave for yourself the next four years? How will you set yourself apart? You have the power to be anything and anyone you want to be. Show Miami – and the world – what you have to offer!
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“This is the time you will never forget. All of your life, in distant years and distant places, you will remember these August afternoons. In a few hours you will leave this old building, some of you in groups, some of you in pairs, some walking in silence. You will go through these memory-haunted grounds, and as you pass by mostly modern buildings, some old landmarks stand, and the names of Bishop, McBride, McGuffey, Elliott, Stoddard, Peabody and Pearson are still at home. Then as you pass the campus woods, although the old forest is gone, every spring you will see the redbud blooming among the white sycamore trunks, and when you walk on up to the Slant Walk where students have dreamed and reveled for over a hundred years. You will begin lifelong friendships and loyalties. You will discover Miami University.
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In the moonlight you will feel the old college brooding on the endless questions of truth and error, right and wrong, ignorance and knowledge. With the discovery of Miami each of you will begin to discover yourselves. And when you come four years from now for your commencement, you will be enlarged and uplifted. You will be more of a person than ever before. And when asked to stand and sing our Alma Mater, you can stand realizing that you received the greatest education in this country, met the highest caliber of students and faculty in this country, and graduated from the greatest institution in this country: Our Miami University. This, today, is only the beginning!�
Adapted statement from former professor Joseph Bachelor, who gave this speech to incoming residents in the 1930s.
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Top 10 tips for the next four years Make the most of your time at Miami: 1. Set aside time each Sunday to plan your week ahead of time. 2. Meet someone new as often as you can. Remember, all new students are going through the same things you are. 3. Make rules but also compromise with your roommate(s). 4. Develop constructive ways to handle stress. 5. Don’t back down from a challenge – chances are you will learn something new! 6. On the same hand, never be afraid to ask for help and/or advice. 7. Pay attention to your interests to follow your own path. 8. Don’t be afraid to make a change, even if it’s something as small as your daily routine. 9. Stay in constant contact with friends and family from home. 10. Enjoy yourself! These will be some of the best years of your life. 74
Glossary
Kumler Chapel
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Glossary of Terms #MiamiOH: The official social media hashtag of Miami University. Armstrong Student Center: Opened in 2014 to serve as the “family room” for student interaction, learning and engagement; includes meeting and study spaces, several dining concepts and a 500-seat theater. Broomball: Miami’s most popular intramural sport. Two teams in sneakers on the ice trying to outscore one another. Butler County Regional Transit Authority (BCRTA): Miami’s bus system, which takes you all over campus and the Oxford community. CAB: The Campus Avenue Building, where you pay your bills, buy your parking pass and register for graduation. Code Red: Student group that ignites school spirit and tradition on campus. DARS: Degree Auditing Report System, which shows your completed course work and degree requirements. Get to know this system! DISC: The Dauch Indoor Sports Center, located north of Yager Stadium. 77
High Street: The main street Uptown, complete with shops, restaurants and other businesses. The Hub: The center of campus, where all sidewalks interlock around the University Seal. “The Hub”: THE online place to find YOUR place at Miami. Learn how to become involved in campus life and about the groups or events that may interest you. MiamiOH.edu/Hub “Lux” or MUDEC: Miami’s Luxembourg campus. Miami Merger: When two Miamians join in the union of marriage, usually sealed with a kiss under Upham Arch. Murstein Alumni Center: Home of the Miami University Alumni Association, located on a hill overlooking Peffer Park – perfect for sledding! Outdoor Pursuit Center: Miami’s own outdoor superstore. They offer trips and equipment for skiing, inline skating, spelunking, rafting, climbing and more! Phi Delta Theta Gates: Gates separating campus from Uptown at the end of Slant Walk; commonly known as “Phi Delt Gates.” Prodesse Quam Conspici: The university motto, meaning “to accomplish without being conspicuous.” 78
Red and White: Our school colors, adopted from the first two student organizations, literary societies formed in 1825, the Erodelphians (red) and the Unions (white). The Rec: The Recreational Sports Center, which offers racquetball, weights, swimming, aerobics, a track, a climbing wall and more. RedHawks: Athletic team nickname. Slant Walk: The sidewalk extending from the Armstrong Student Center’s Spring Street entrance to the Phi Delt Gates, connecting Miami’s campus to the Oxford community. Swoop: Miami University’s feathered mascot. Talawanda/Tallawanda: The valley in which the university was built. Also a street and the name of the local high school. Toasted Roll: A classic Miami dessert. A blend of powdered sugar, butter and bread, fried to perfection. Uptown: Area of shops and restaurants around High Street; when surveyors chose the site for the university, they chose an area “up” a hill.
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Acknowledgments The Miami University Alumni Association (MUAA) extends its sincere gratitude to David Sauter for his beautiful pen-and-ink illustrations featured throughout the 2019-20 edition of the M Book. A Miami University alumnus, Sauter graduated with his bachelor’s degree in 1977 and went on to earn his master’s degree in 1982. From 2006 to 2017, he served as university registrar at Miami, and from 2008 to 2014, he served on the MUAA Board of Directors. A Miami Merger, Sauter and his wife, Janet ’81, have three sons, two of whom are also Miami graduates.
Keep in touch! Don’t wait until your four years are up! Your Miami Experience is just beginning, but the Miami University Alumni Association wants to get to know you while you are on campus. Connect with MUAA in person and online: Murstein Alumni Center 725 E. Chestnut St. Oxford, OH. 45056 513-529-5957 | 866-682-5867 alumni@MiamiOH.edu | MiamiAlum.org Facebook.com/MiamiAlum @MiamiAlum @MiamiAlum connect.miamialum.org
Notes