The Miami Student Oldest university newspaper in the United States, established 1826
VOLUME 139 NO. 36
TUESDAY, January 31, 2012
MIAMI UNIVERSITY OXFORD, OHIO
TODAY IN MIAMI HISTORY In 2001, The Miami Student reported that a federal judge had dismissed the final claim of a lawsuit against Miami University regarding Title IX. The suit,
filed by former athletes on the men’s soccer, tennis and wrestling teams, had said the athletes’ 14th Amendment rights had been violated when their teams were cut by the university. The judge in the case said Miami acted “justifiably.”
CNN’s Gupta speaks at Hall By Jenn Smola Campus Editor
Dr. Sanjay Gupta spoke to a packed Hall Auditorium Monday as part of Miami University’s Lecture Series. Gupta is the chief medical correspondent for CNN and has won several Emmy Awards for his coverage. Though he continues to actively practice neurosurgery while reporting for CNN, he has covered many events such as the 9/11 attacks, the recent tsunami in Japan, the earthquake in Haiti and flooding in Pakistan. Gupta answered questions from a small group of students in Bishop Hall Monday afternoon, followed by a short interview with Miami’s weekly television program, Oxford Week in Review, as well as dinner before his speech at Hall Auditorium at 8 p.m. Gupta’s busy day at Miami mirrors his busy life as a doctor, medical journalist and a father of three children. “I love what I do,” Gupta told students. “If you love what you do, you never have to work another day in your life, and that’s how I feel.” Gupta spoke about how health care and medicine are practiced around the world, the healthcare system in the United States, and gave a behind-the-scenes look at the medical stories covered on television.
When asked how he deals with the conflict of being both a doctor and a journalist, Gupta said the decision isn’t that difficult for him. “If the call ever came, it was an easy one,” he said. “I’m a doctor first.” He also told students that CNN respects that he is in surgery one or two days each week and understands he has big commitments as a doctor. Faculty members and students alike were in attendance for Gupta’s lecture. “This is the second time in two years we’ve had a major CNN correspondent here on campus,” David Keitges, director of international education, said. Soledad O’Brien, a correspondent for CNN’s special investigations unit, spoke at Hall Auditorium in April 2011. “I hope that lots of students have the chance to meet him while he’s here,” Keitges said, adding that Gupta does not accept all invitations to speak at universities. First-year Kelsey Wagner and sophomore Jasmine Sandhu said they were interested to hear Gupta speak. “I think [Gupta’s lecture] is a really good opportunity for students,” Wagner said. “It’s cool to see where we could be years down the road,” she said. “I’ve always watched him on CNN,” Sandhu said. “I thought it would be a cool experience to see him live.”
JULIA ENGELBRECHT THE MIAMI STUDENT
Dr. Sanjay Gupta, chief medical correspondent for CNN, speaks to a full Hall Auditorium Monday night. Gupta is a neurosurgeon who still practices medicine and performs surgery despite his duties at CNN. Gupta’s lecture focused on health care and medicine and how they are practiced around the world. He also talked about how medical stories are reported on television. As for his future plans, Gupta said he has a novel being released in March called Monday Mornings. The book, which Gupta said is not autobiographical, is about doctors openly discussing their mistakes, a topic that Gupta said involve “tough issues, tough stories to give.”
Cook Field to become half turf, half grass as Western prepares for new hall By Rebecca Peets
For The Miami Student
On Friday, the Miami University Board of Trustees will consider a proposal to make major improvements to Cook Field, including installing artificial turf on half of the field, according to David Creamer, vice president for finance and business services and treasurer. According to Creamer, one of the reasons for putting artificial turf on Cook Field is because of plans for new housing on Western Campus. The new plans will displace two of the three fields used for intramural sports behind Bachelor Hall. Because of this, Cook Field will host most of Miami’s intramural activities. “We hope by installing artificial turf on Cook Field losing the fields on Western won’t disrupt intramural activities,” Creamer said. The improvements would cost $3.4 million, according to Creamer. Installing artificial turf on Cook Field will allow for more activity to take place on it without destroying the fields, which is currently a problem for recreational facilities. “Cook Field takes such a beating from all the use it gets in the fall,” Creamer said. “It is very intense on the wear of the field and the constant use produces a negative impact. It also takes a lot of care to make sure the fields are restored for fall after use in the spring.” The university plans to start work after commencement in May. According to Creamer, the
north half that is receiving artificial turf and the other improvements being made to Cook Field will be completed prior to Aug. 15, the beginning of fall semester 2012, while the south half of the field will be kept closed until September 2013 to allow one full year for the grass to grow in and be established for play. The Recreational Facilities
Gupta, who worked with the Bill Clinton administration in 1997 and 1998, was also considered for surgeon general when President Barack Obama took office. He said he hopes to revisit that kind of work. “Getting back into public service would be on the check list,”
Gupta said about his future plans. When asked by a student how to make a difference in the world, Gupta offered this advice: “You can make a huge impact in the world in a lot of different ways. Do what you’re good at and what you love to do.”
Flower Hall bids farewell to a column over the weekend
intramural sports. “Being able to walk through Cook instead of around when the field is torn up or muddy will save me 10 minutes walking to class,” first-year Dane Weeks said. “Coming from someone who lives on East Quad and uses the field to get to classes every day it is definitely a hassle walking through mud in the mornings.
If we had the funding to install turf on the entire field we would, but we’re also setting aside money for maintenance and future replacement of the turf.” DAVID CREAMER
VICE PRESIDENT FOR FINANCE AND BUSINESS SERVICES
department will be working to find alternatives while the south half of Cook Field is closed. They are planning to use park spaces in Oxford. Also, the fields on Western will also be usable until Cook Field is fully back in operation, according to Creamer. The $3.4 million to make the improvements comes from a portion of student fees set aside for recreational facilities that have been saved for construction such as this. “Financial resources do come into play in these decisions,” Creamer said. “If we had the funding to install turf on the entire field we would, but we’re also setting aside money for maintenance and future replacement of the turf.” The improvements to Cook Field will be experienced by all students, not just those who play
Turf would be helpful for intramural sports as well being able to play more games, because games often get cancelled due to muddy conditions,” first-year Steven Pickel said. Other improvements to Cook Field will include new backstops, an improved walking track, irrigation for the newly seeded grass field, bathrooms and a storage building. Some improvements will be made in the walks and drives as well. The new retention pond on the other side of State Route 73 will provide water for the irrigation of Cook Field, Creamer said. The new restroom and storage facility, installation of the irrigation and seeding of the south half of the field will occur in the latter part of fall 2012. “If approved, operations will commence after spring graduation,” Creamer said.
JULIA ENGELBRECHT THE MIAMI STUDENT
A pillar on the porch of the southeast entrance to Flower Hall is still absent Monday afternoon.The pillar, which was previously damaged, was reported to have fallen down Saturday night.
By Jenn Smola Campus Editor
A wooden porch pillar at Flower Hall was completely torn down Saturday evening, according to the Miami University Police Department (MUPD). According to Lt. Ben Spillman of MUPD, the resident director of Flower Hall called MUPD after a resident reported seeing three males near the southeast entrance to the building. The three males were reportedly
taking pictures with the damaged pillar, but ran away when they were seen, Spillman said. The pillar had been damaged at an earlier time, but was still standing until about 8:45 p.m. Saturday, Spillman said. The physical facilities department was at Flower Hall earlier that day, but was planning to return at a later date to finish the repairs, Spillman said. The pillar was not structural, Spillman said, but simply for decoration.