February 7, 2012 | The Miami Student

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The Miami Student Oldest university newspaper in the United States, established 1826

VOLUME 139 NO. 38

Tuesday, february 7, 2012

MIAMI UNIVERSITY OXFORD, OHIO

TODAY IN MIAMI HISTORY In 1961, The Miami Student reported that Miami University was creating co-educational quads on campus, replacing “Men’s Quad” and “Women’s Quad.” The move was to be done after the completion of three new residence halls and a dining hall, giving these quads the names of “East Quad” and “South Quad.” South Quad later came to be known as Central Quad after the completion of the Morris, Emerson, Tappan Quad.

Franco irks USC with show Miami rejected By Lauren Ceronie Campus Editor

Miami University administrators can breathe a sigh of relief over the decision to reject actor James Franco and his company’s proposal to film a “documentary” at Miami, but attendees of the University of Southern California (USC) are not so lucky. Franco and his company Rabbit Bandini Productions approached Miami officials during summer 2011 with the idea of filming student life on campus but were rebuffed by the university after some discussion. At the same time Rabbit Bandini was talking to Miami, they were feeling out Xavier University and Ohio University for the project but were turned down at both schools as well, according to Claire Wagner, associate director of university communication. With no takers in Ohio, Franco and company

returned to California where they filmed at USC and produced a show called Undergrads. Undergrads, which is scripted and will play online only, follows a group of students around USC, shows a lot of partying and a lot of alcohol. Although the show is fictionalized, USC officials are not pleased with what it portrays. Carl Marziali, assistant vice president for media relations at USC, would give only the university’s official statement: “The University of Southern California does not endorse nor did it authorize the web series Undergrads. The scenes in the series trailer could have been filmed on many college campuses. More accurately representative of USC are the students who provide hundreds of hours in community service, who rank among the country’s most academically and artistically gifted and who value diversity in cultures, nationalities and socio-economic

backgrounds among their peers.” Ann Austria, a 2011 graduate of USC said she doesn’t feel the show accurately portrays what her time at USC was like. “I think the film portrays one aspect of campus life,” Austria said. “I’m not going to deny that stuff like this doesn’t happen, I mean partying happens on all college campuses, but I believe it is a student’s choice to participate in it or not.” The film shows the university in a negative and biased light, Austria said, but students aren’t that upset. “It doesn’t seem that many students are completely upset by this, maybe because they don’t care or they just feel it’s stupid and brush it off, but I know the administration was upset by it because it doesn’t accurately portray the student body,” Austria said. “I personally did not see any of the episodes, but to sum up my reaction of the filming in one word ... stupid.” After seeing previews for

Undergrads, Wagner said there are some people who are very relieved Rabbit Bandini did not get the chance to film at Miami. “The company said they wanted to film student life so that’s why we didn’t say no right away,” Wagner said. “We had more discussions, however, and found that they were planning on showing only the party aspect.” While Miami couldn’t stop Rabbit Bandini from filming off-campus, they could deny the company

permission to film inside classrooms or inside residence halls, according to Wagner. “Any time someone wants to portray Miami University, we want to make sure we can control the content and image,” Wagner said. Wagner didn’t rule out the possibility of filming happening at Miami someday, but she did offer thoughts on Franco’s latest films. “He’s a PhD. student, I’d really like to see him do some serious academic work,” Wagner said.

TLC series causes uproar in sorority community By Amanda Hancock

For The Miami Student

Sorority members at Miami University are making Elle Woods proud by showing off their law-savvy sides. When TLC premiered its new series Sorority Girls Jan. 31, it set off a wave of angst that caused Greek organizations to take action. A petition requesting TLC to cancel the series traveled across the nation and reached Miami students. Sorority Girls is about five American girls on a mission to establish Britain’s first-ever sorority chapter. The girls will be monitored 24/7 as they go through eight weeks of rush on a quest to fill five

message of the show that has gained most attention. “The real impact of this show is promoting false stereotypes of the sorority community and potentially discouraging young women from the opportunity to join the sorority community,” Kiminas said. According to Kiminas and other officers, the show’s content can be summarized in one word: inaccurate. Molly Kenney, vice president of community service and engagement, said the show is not an accurate representation of the mission at Miami. “We have high standards in academics and behavior, and this portrayal of five women does not provide the full perspective

The real impact of this show is promoting false stereotypes of the sorority community and potentially discouraging young women from the opportunity to join the sorority community.” AMY KIMINAS PRESIDENT, MIAMI UNIVERSITY PANHELLENIC ASSOCIATION

SPREADING THE LOVE AND HONOR

FELICIA JORDAN THE MIAMI STUDENT

A Miami University tour guide shows prospective students the Corwin M. Nixon Aquatic Center at the Student Recreational Center. Miami received more than 20,000 applicants this year, breaking the threshold for the first time in school history.

Sigma Chi undergoes membership review Nationals: ‘good possibility’ of hazing, drug use By Sam Kay

Editor in Chief

Sigma Chi’s national organization has concluded an investigation and membership review of the Alpha chapter at Miami University. As a result, about 30 percent of the current chapter members – including some officers – have been placed on alumni status, which bars them from any interaction with the active chapter, according to Mike Dunn, executive director

of Sigma Chi. Some of those switching to alumni status volunteered to do so. Most of those moving to alumni status are juniors and seniors, according to Dunn. Dunn said there is a “good possibility” that hazing, underage alcohol use and illegal drug use took place. “We didn’t specifically get into what [each person] was responsible for, but there’s a general question of ‘do you realize that hazing, underage drinking and drugs are

not acceptable?’” Dunn said. Dunn and other representatives of Sigma Chi flew into Oxford over the weekend of Jan. 28-30 to conduct interviews with chapter members. “The process is to ascertain whether or not members of the chapter actually realize that maybe some of their practices are against the fraternity and university policies … and if they’re willing to go

sigma chi, SEE PAGE 9

final spots. As Miami’s Greek population makes up around 30 percent of students, the series quickly caught the interest of Miami’s Panhellenic Association executives. Like many sororities across the nation, the officers were disheartened by the show. According to Alanah Raykovich, a junior and vice president of Public Relations, this issue was brought up during their past tri-council meeting and officers were encouraged get the word out about the petition. “We’re encouraging all the Miami chapters to sign the petition because the show is sending a really bad example and is truly a negative take on our own experiences,” Raykovich said. Amy Kiminas, president of Miami’s Panhellenic Association, said “It is important for Miami Sorority members to recognize the inaccuracies of this show and demand for a truthful representation of our community.” Previews for the Sorority Girls feature drama-filled scenes, excerpts of drinking and possible hazing, but it’s the overall

of what Greek life is about,” she said. Allyson Yoder, a firstyear Kappa Kappa Gamma member, agrees. “Miami’s rush process is definitely not as shallow and mean as this one appears,” Yoder said. But is this inaccuracy enough cause for canceling the show? “I don’t think it’s that big of a deal because we have other shows about pregnant teenagers and like Jersey Shore; it’s just the way our media is,” first-year Chelsea Visk said. “I didn’t think it was offensive; that’s exactly how I picture sororities,” sophomore Erica Howes said. Although many non-Greeks share this sentiment, for sorority members, the series is yet another obstacle they’re fighting to overcome. “It plays to the stereotypes that we have worked so hard to erase and that’s upsetting when what we actually value is so

sorority, SEE PAGE 9


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