The Miami Student Oldest university newspaper in the United States, established 1826
FRIDay, FEBRUARY 1, 2013
VOLUME 140 NO. 34
MIAMI UNIVERSITY OXFORD, OHIO
TODAY IN MIAMI HISTORY In 1973, The Miami Student reported that Oxford City Council heard and rejected an initial marijuana petition that would call for a $5 fine for “casual possession of marijuana;” that is, quantities for four ounces or less. A second similar petition was rejected by City Council on a technicality, because it failed to list the committee members proposing the change.
MU expects $6M surplus Trustees still consider raising tuition By Emily Glaser Senior Staff Writer
Miami University officials are projecting that the institution will have a budget surplus of nearly $6 million when this fiscal year ends in June. The surplus is a result of greater enrollment, according to David Creamer, vice president for finance and business services. “[The surplus] is a little larger this year because of the enrollment situation where the incoming class was larger than projected,” Creamer said. Michael Trivelli, treasurer of the Associated Student Government (ASG) believes recommendations from the Strategic Priorities Task Force could have also led to the surplus. “Under the leadership of the administration and the guidance brought forth by the task force, every department has made cuts that are critical to make us a more sustainable university and enabled us to be more fiscally responsible than some of our peer schools,” Trivelli said. According to Creamer, when the fiscal year ends there is a discussion with the Board of Trustees to decide what to do with the excess money, though one option is accumulating the funds to use in more difficult budget years. “We all too often get cuts in state support,” Creamer said. “Accumulating surplus funds helps us be able to absorb those without dipping into other funds.
We look at how we can use the money to provide the best benefit for the institution going forward.” Trivelli agreed that rolling funds over for more difficult fiscal years is a good idea. “I think setting aside some money would be good and investing in academics is always a top priority, I mean that’s why we’re here,” Trivelli said. Despite the expected surplus, university officials and the Board of Trustees are still discussing a tuition increase, according to Creamer.
much as a 6 percent increase. Currently, the state of Ohio prohibits a tuition increase of more than 3.5 percent per year, according to John Stefanski, student body president. Stefanski said ASG is discussing the possibility of legislating a lock-in policy, which would keep tuition the same for students for every year they are enrolled at Miami. “We want to make it easier for prospective students to predict what a Miami education is going to cost,” Stefanski said. “We are
I think setting aside some money would be good and investing in academics is always a top priority, I mean that’s why we’re here” MICHAEL TRIVELLI
ASSOCIATED STUDENT GOVERNMENT TREASURER
“The unfortunate part is that tuition increase is almost an annual thing, though the size of the increase is expected to be smaller than in past years,” Creamer said. “The amount currently being contemplated is 2 percent for both resident and non-resident students.” According to Creamer, last year’s tuition increase was 3.5 percent for Ohio resident students, and 3 percent for non-resident students. In years past it has been as
starting to talk to people about the feasibility of a lock-in policy.” In addition to the potential tuition increase, beginning next January when the Armstrong Student Center opens, students will pay a fee of $125 each semester to help pay for the building, an agreement previously agreed upon between ASG and the university. According to Creamer, the new dining halls and residence halls will not increase the cost of room and board.
University alumna helps students ‘chow’ down on Bagel & Deli, online By Freeland Oliverio
Senior Staff Writer
Bagel and Deli is making another change, and this time, it doesn’t involve adding another bagel to the wall. Beginning Feb. 8, the bagel shop, located at 119 E. High St will allow customers to place orders online. Lauren Sudekum, a 2007 graduate of Miami University, works as the Director of Corporate Communications at ChowNow. “ChowNow is a company based out of Santa Monica California, and we provide restaurants with online ordering through three different branded channels,” Sudekum said. These channels include a personalized online website, a customized app and an ordering option on Bagel and Deli’s Facebook page, according to Sudekum. “[Bagel and Deli] will soon have a button on their Facebook page which says ‘Order now,’” Sudekum said. “The entire website will have a digital menu, so you can order your blonde bombshell directly through Facebook. The second channel is that we provide every restaurant with a custom app, so you go to the app store and download the free Bagel and Deli app. You don’t have to call, wait in line, or be on Facebook [to order]. You can order from an app while studying at King Library and it will all be paid for when you pick it up.” Additionally, Bagel and Deli will have an online ordering menu on its website, which
allows customers to order via the website, according to Sudekum. The recent association with ChowNow is a result of popular demand, according to Gary Franks, co-owner of Bagel and Deli. “We have had customers asking about online ordering for some time now, so I researched it
ordering process convenient for the customers as well, according to Sudekum. “You can add the tip online, and for college students it’s a nobrainer,” Sudekum said. “A lot of our users are college students, so I think Bagel and Deli will be a great fit in that regard.” Some Miami University
I think that that app will make it so much easier to order a Sarah’s Secret [with] no mustard while depleting my bank account like never before.” LAUREN DELK MIAMI UNIVERSITY SOPHOMORE
over break.” Franks said. “After I researched eight or nine online ordering websites and talked to different people who use them, I decided to go with ChowNow.” The online ordering forms will cater to both pickup and delivery orders, according to Franks. “Generally our policy is to stop accepting delivery and pickup orders at midnight because we get really busy because of the bar rush. The same will apply to the online orders.” Franks said. Although online ordering for restaurants is nothing new, what sets the ChowNow website apart from other programs is that the company completely designs the app, website ordering, and Facebook page to fit the specific restaurant, according to Sudekum. “It’s all about the restaurant’s specific brand,” Sudekum said. “Users love it because it’s really easy and intuitive.” ChowNow seeks to make the
students said this will be a positive addition to an iconic local venue such as Bagel and Deli. “I think that that app will make it so much easier to order a Sarah’s Secret [with] no mustard while depleting my bank account like never before,” sophomore Lauren Delk said. Sophomore Matthew Bricklebank also plans to use the online ordering app and website. “I would definitely use this program,” Bricklebank said. “Bagel and Deli is a Miami staple and an iconic place to go eat when thinking about the Oxford life.” Sudekum said she is enthusiastic to be a part of the connection between ChowNow and her alma mater. “I hope students enjoy it as much as me and hopefully we can do a lot of online ordering in Oxford and hopefully continue the relationship,” Sudekum said.
DAMIEN WATSON THE MIAMI STUDENT
THE MOST BEAUTIFUL CAMPUS THERE EVER WAS Miami’s famed Upham Hall glows at sunset. Can you spot the Miami mergers?
Miami women weigh in on newly lifted combat ban By Rebecca Peets
For the Miami Student
In the wake of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, women will be allowed to fill certain combat roles as the ban on women serving in combat has been lifted. Thursday, Jan. 24 Defense Secretary Leon Panetta announced at a press conference at the Pentagon that the ban barring women from combat positions would be lifted. “The intent is to open up all positions in the U.S. military to women,” Captain Joleen Young of the U.S. Marine Corps said. “Whether this is feasible or realistic, we’re not sure, but that is the intent.” First-year Cara Wicklein is part of the Naval Reserves ROTC program at Miami University and plans to become an Officer of the Marine Corps after graduation. As the only woman in the Marines unit she has high hopes for the change. “I am absolutely thrilled about the change in the rules because it opens up so many more opportunities for what jobs I can do in the Marine Corps,” Wicklein said. “One of the reasons I picked the Marines is because I wanted to be out fighting on the ground, not in a plane or on a ship or even worse, stuck behind a desk, so with this change in the rules it means I am much more likely to be able to do that.” Lifting the ban allows women to serve in combat and allows them more opportunities within the military. “It will have an effect on all the branches, and however way they cut it, thousands of new positions will be open to women now,” Wicklein said. Several higher up-positions and promotions in the military can only be attained with a tour in combat. “Just like a higher position in the Air Force requires flight experience, some combat infantry positions require combat experience,” Young said. Opening combat positions to women allows them to gain the necessary experience for those certain positions, confirmed Young. “I think with the combat exclusion law being removed means that women will have more
opportunities for advancement because according to the research I’ve done combat experience is key to advancement,” Wicklein said. The nature of war in Iraq and Afghanistan has changed the way women and combat are seen in the military. Women are already fighting side by side with men in combat, only they are labeled as “attached” to a unit instead of being “assigned.” Young confirmed, “Women have been in combat a long time.” In the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan over 150 women have died and over 800 were wounded while under the “attached” term. Lifting the ban is recognizing the women who are already in combat. The plan is for a three-year implementation of women into combat and other positions within the military. Most of these are primarily in the Army with a small number in the Marines. The Navy and Air Force have had fewer restrictions for women as far as combat positions in recent years. First-year Caitlin Jones is a part of Miami’s ROTC Navy Division. “I do not think the change will affect me personally because what I think I want to do in the Navy is submarine warfare, and that has already been open to women,” Jones said. The combat positions will have gender-neutral standards. Still, certain positions may be harder for women to achieve. “A woman and a man who are the same height and weight are still very different,” Young said. “They have different physical capabilities and different strengths and weaknesses. The physical requirements may need to be changed if the intent is to open up every position to women.” Some of the more demanding positions include the Navy SEALs, the Army’s Rangers and the Green Berets, which are known to be highly competitive to begin with and have stringent physical requirements. “I am still skeptical that the special warfare units will be opened up to women, but if women can perform to the same standards
military, SEE PAGE 3