The Miami Student Oldest university newspaper in the United States, established 1826
FRIDay, FEBRUARY 8, 2013
VOLUME 140 NO. 36
MIAMI UNIVERSITY OXFORD, OHIO
TODAY IN MIAMI HISTORY In 1980 The Miami Student reported a string of unusual and malicious behaviors occurring at King and Hughes libraries. The most common offenses
were cases of book theft or students ripping out pages for personal use. The report also mentioned that students had begun urinating and defecating into the trash cans at both libraries, often in locations less than 20 feet away from the bathroom.
ASG tweaks election rules By Victoria Slater and Allison McGillivray
Senior Staff Writer and Campus Editor
Vice President of the Student Body senior Lizzie Litzow presented two conflicting bills to Senate that proposed changes to the way the President and Vice President of the student body are elected, at the Associated Student Government (ASG) meeting Tuesday Feb. 5. Currently, two elections are held for the two positions: a primary, followed by a general election. If any of the president and vice presidential platforms receive more than 50 percent of the vote in their primary election, they are automatically elected to their positions. Litzow determined that in the past, the platform that possessed a 10 percent or greater lead over its opponents during the primary election tended to retain the lead after the general election. The first bill, which was proposed by the Senate Election Committee, was the Election Bylaw Amendment. It states that a second election is unnecessary if
the president and vice president are to obtain at least a 10 percent lead over their opponents during the primary election. The second bill, the 2013 Student Body Election Rules, which was proposed by the Executive Cabinet, holds that “if a candidate receiving the largest number of votes in the primary election receives more than 50 percent of the vote, a general election will not be held.” During the debate over the two bills, various senators argued that a plurality vote is necessary for the president and vice president, which is a method the United States government and student governments at acclaimed colleges have adopted. A plurality vote occurs when a candidate takes more votes than any other candidates without attaining a majority. Senior senator Calvin Davis argued that ASG should not compare Miami to other colleges and instead focus on establishing the most efficient voting process for the student body. “We are forever Miami,” he said. “We should not compare our processes to other colleges. We
ASG,
SEE PAGE 5
Trustees plan to OK $99 M in campus construction contracts By Allison McGillivray Campus Editor
The Board of Trustees will meet Friday Feb. 8 to discuss the Miami University budget, faculty tenure and nearly $99 million in contracts for the construction efforts on Miami’s campus. The Board will be asked to approve the $99 million for construction contracts for sidewalks, landscaping, roof replacements, electrical system upgrades and heating, ventilation and air conditioning, according to Claire Wagner director of University News and Communication. Director of Finance David Creamer said due to the size of the projects, approval from the Board of Trustees is required for
the university to begin work. “Each of these are reasonably large so they need to go through not only the planning process here inside the university but before we actually proceed toward contracts for those projects,” Creamer said. The contracts were unanimously endorsed by Board committees on Thursday and will be presented to the full board on Friday. The Trustees will also be asked to approve the promotion and tenure of eligible faculty as well as approve promotions and continuing the contracts of eligible librarians, according to Wagner. Wagner also said the Trustees will review how the university budget projections match the actual budget to date.
D.C. insiders debate democracy in America at inaugural JANUS Forum
KYLE HAYDEN THE MIAMI STUDENT
Ari Fleischer engages the audience during the JANUS Forum. Fleischer is a former White House Press Secretary for the Bush Administration and is now a political analyst for CNN. Fleischer discussed democracy in America with Washington Post journalist Ezra Klein.
By Allison McGillivray and Katie M.Taylor Campus Editors
Miami University students engaged in a political dialogue about democracy in the United States with two major political figures, Washington Post writer Ezra Klein and former White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer. The conversation took place at the first JANUS Forum Wednesday Feb. 6. The two speakers gave a presentation on the question “Is democracy working” for 20 minutes and then answered questions related to the topic that were posed by students at the forum. One of the organizers behind the event, graduate student, Tyler Sinclair said the success of the JANUS Forum exceeded his expectations. “I’m very very pleased with how everything turned out,” Sinclair said. Sinclair expected close to 300 students and was surprised to see a packed Taylor Auditorium. Senior political science major Peter Dougherty said he was also impressed by the level of student interest. “The best part about it was
seeing how interested students were in it,” Dougherty said. “The fact that people were standing in the back of the room shows that this is the sort of thing that Miami wants.” Sinclair hopes to see the same level of interest moving forward.
The best part about it was seeing how interested students were in it.” PETER DOUGHERTY
MIAMI UNIVERSITY SENIOR
“I’m looking forward to continuing to sustain this type of dialogue on campus,” Sinclair said. “I’m glad to see that students appreciate this type of political discourse and I hope that they continue to turn out to events like this.” Klein won a coin toss before the event and he deferred to Fleischer to give the first presentation. Fleischer began his presentation by revealing that he was raised a liberal democrat. Fleischer’s father was interviewed about his son’s change in political parties.
“He said it was better that I became a Republican than a drug dealer but not by much,” Fleischer said. Fleischer argued that democracy works because there is a peaceful exchange of power between political parties. He said the United States experienced a peaceful exchange of power when the Supreme Court had to issue a ruling in 2000, which confirmed that former president George W. Bush had won the election over former vice president Al Gore. Fleischer said just as this transfer of power between political parties was peaceful, so was the first exchange of power between John Adams and Thomas Jefferson. Klein mentioned in his presentation that a peaceful exchange of power is a low standard in which to judge that democracy is working, and that though the system has improved over the years, it does not mean it is perfect. “We do not have a perfectly democratic system,” Klein said. “The fact that it is much more democratic than it once was does not make it democratic.” Fleischer argued that democracy is working in the way that
JANUS,
SEE PAGE 5
Brotherhood’s new ‘Warrior Award’ commends sacrifice on ice By Joe Gieringer Senior Staff Writer
As long as hockey has been played, it has been a tradition for the coach of the winning team to award the game puck to the player who contributed the most to the squad’s on-ice success. Whether it be stellar net-minding, precision passing or netting a few clutch goals, the puck is usually presented to a player who got into the stat book one way or another. Unfortunately, Head Coach Enrico Blasi’s RedHawks hadn’t been doing much scoring as they ushered in 2013, and he knew that had to change – enter the Warrior Award. The idea came to Blasi and associate head coach Brent Brekke one afternoon while jogging early in January. “I don’t know if you’ve ever seen video of the story I tell about the warrior,” Blasi said. “We just
started talking about that and came up with an idea of building a shield and giving it out as an award after every game to the guy that sacrifices the most.”
It’s something other than the guy that scored the goal. Maybe a guy blocks a shot, or takes a big hit. Whoever plays his heart out for his team that night gets rewarded.” Enrico blasi
HEAD COACH
The shield is more accurately described as a chest plate, reminiscent of one worn in ancient Rome. After a few calls around Oxford, Blasi had his armor constructed, and he introduced
it at the RedHawks’ first home game of 2013. The move is an inventive one, as it highlights the play of individuals that is not glorified on the scoreboard – rather, it brings attention to the behind-the-scenes efforts that often aren’t noticed by the fans: blocked shots, hustle on the back-check, poise and puck control in the offensive zone, etc. “It’s something other than the guy that scored the goal,” Blasi said of the player who is awarded. “Maybe a guy blocks a shot, or takes a big hit. Whoever plays his heart out for his team that night gets rewarded.” The players have bought into this mentality as well. Sophomore forward Austin Czarnik won the award at its inception, and it has been well-received in the locker room, most likely in part because the award is given from its former recipient to a new player. Some of the guys have even
taken to wearing the plating into the post-game press conference as a badge of honor. “Whoever was the hardest worker and who he thinks deserves it, [Blasi] will give it to that guy and it just goes down the chain, that guy gives it to another guy,” Czarnik said. “I just think it’s been really good for us. I think there’s been no repeat [winners] so far, so guys are working for it for sure.” Though the actual date that the Warrior Award was first presented is not definitive, the on-ice results since its creation have been positive, as the RedHawks are winners of their last five contests. Senior captain Steven Spinell said that while the award isn’t the reason for the winning streak, it does add to the focus and goals that the players and coaches have set for the season. “It’s important to recognize players that are working hard,”
Spinell said. “They’re doing the gritty stuff … that people don’t always pay attention to. It just adds to the atmosphere of having fun with it, it’s another element. And it’s an honor, because it’s your teammates giving it to you.” In the past few weeks, Spinell and Czarnik have both been recipients. Other winners include senior forward Marc Hagel, freshman forward Kevin Morris, freshman goaltender Ryan McKay and sophomore forward Cody Murphy. Blasi noted that he plans to keep this tradition around the rest of the season and beyond, so the armor will grace the shoulders of players for years to come. But for now, as the Brotherhood heads to Kalamazoo this weekend to face off against conference rival Western Michigan, the Warrior Award will make the trip with them, waiting to be worn by the next RedHawk deemed worthy.
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CAMPUS
Editors KATIE TAYLOR ALLISON MCGILLIVRAY
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2013
campus@miamistudent.net
Student teachers grapple with lack of aid By Amanda Hancock Senior Staff Writer
For senior Anne Chesnut, fulfilling her education major requirements is riding on one semester; one semester of her Miami University career where she can’t be late to class or shuffle into the back wearing sweatpants. It’s an important semester, but Chesnut is afraid she won’t be able to afford it. Chesnut is so worried about having enough money that she’s trying to start a fund for Miami’s student teaching program. She will be student teaching in Cincinnati in the fall as part of Miami’s Urban Teaching Cohort. While she is excited, she has discovered downsides to how the process works. “The process leaves a lot in the air for us,” she said. The State of Ohio requires students pursuing an education degree to student teach for a semester and Miami students are typically assigned to a school for their senior year. Because of this, students prepare for student teaching beginning their first year. But when it comes time for that particular semester, a sense of uneasiness enters in. “Usually when you’re placed,
there’s a scramble to figure out housing and if you’re going to have a job,” Chesnut said. The main concern for Chesnut and others is that they have to pay a full semester of tuition while they are student teaching. “We are constantly encouraged to think of it as an internship that the school has set up for us, which is nice, but nobody else that does an internship has to pay tuition,” she said. Plus, there’s a virtual absence of scholarships, grants or financial systems in place to help student teachers offset the cost of student teaching. According Brent Shock, director of Student Financial Assistance, there are no financial grants or scholarships specifically for the student teaching program. He advises people who are struggling to visit the financial aid office. “We’ll do our best to look through all the options, there might be something you haven’t seen before and we have many resources available,” Shock said. Haillee Gibbons, a graduate assistant for the school of education, said the financial burdens of the education major can turn many away. “I do worry that some low-income students do not go into education, or
change their major from education to another field, due to its various financial requirements,” Gibbons said. After crunching the numbers, Chesnut asked several faculty members if they knew about any funding available. They all said no. “No one outside the students really seems to know it’s a problem,” she said. Chesnut, who has worked at least three jobs since she was 16, won’t have an income next semester. “We are strongly discouraged from having jobs, yet many of us need to have one in order to pay our bills,” she said. There are several other expenses that come up for student teaching that tend to add up, including cost of gas, getting fingerprinted, lodging, proper teaching clothes, miscellaneous supplies and food. Reimbursement is not available, according to Gibbons. “Obviously all of these factors are necessary, but since there are currently no scholarships or grants available to students with financial need while they are student teaching, it can be a financial hardship,” Gibbons said. Transportation becomes a huge issue, too, when students get placed at faraway locations.
Emily Vandercook, a junior art education major, cannot afford to buy or rent a car, so she’s limited to local school options. “It’s not that these [local] schools are inadequate in any way, I just feel that I should have the same opportunities as my peers,” Vandercook said. Senior Cassie Cramer went through a semester of student teaching last semester and acknowledges several money woes within the program. However, she was fortunate to have other financial options. “I was lucky that I could just rely on my parents for money, but I know a lot of people just can’t do that,” she said. Chesnut said these issues rise from a broader systemic problem at Miami. “With a high financial base for your students, some of us who are on the lower end, on those fringes, don’t necessarily get thought about,” she said. Because of this, Chesnut said the costs associated with student teaching haven’t been dealt with in the past. “It probably just hasn’t occurred to anyone before, with as many students we have that are doing student teaching, I can see a lot of money
being necessary to deal with that and that’s difficult to come up with,” Chesnut said. She said many people in the Miami community are just unaware, and that’s why real solutions are lacking. “One person in the faculty encouraged me to take a semester off so that I could work to earn money and come back and student teach later, which I didn’t think was the best option for me,” she said. After hearing a few similar responses, Chesnut said she really did not know what her next step should be. “I was annoyed at first, because I just don’t feel like being poor should take away my right to do this program,” Chesnut said. But then, she decided to take action. Now, she’s in the beginning stages of starting a fund for student teachers. “This is really in the beginning stages, just rallying the troops and seeing what we can do,” she said. Vandercook said providing basic aid specifically for student teachers would take some of the burden off her shoulders. “Having more resources for student teachers would be fantastic,” she said.
Five Miami University seniors named Singles, couples still take finalists in Fulbright student program Valentine’s Day to heart By Christina Ferrell For The Miami Student
Five of the 18 Miami University students who applied for the Fulbright U.S. Student Program have been named finalists. The program awards grants to students to study, research or teach abroad. Last year, about 1,800 Fulbright Awards were granted out of almost 9,500 applicants. Seniors Brian Cash, Jessica DeCandia, Ryan Martini, Priya Mehta and Jacob Hofstetter are all finalists. The Fulbright Award is a grant opportunity for graduating seniors, graduate students and young professionals. Applicants can choose either an individually designed research project or an English Teaching Assistantship. The five Miami finalists all applied for English Teaching Assistantships in various countries. The Fulbright U.S. Student Program began with a bill submitted by Senator J. William Fulbright to the United States Congress in 1945, which proposed that war surplus funds be used to fund “promotion of international good will through the exchange of students in the fields of education, culture, and science.” President Harry S. Truman signed the bill on Aug. 1, 1946, and Con-
increase my knowledge of German culture,” Cash said. Cash said he applied for an English Teaching Assistantship in Germany because of his experience studying abroad in Raunheim, Germany. As an architecture major and German minor, Cash is interested in the layout of the country. Hofstetter, a history major and Spanish minor, applied for an English Teaching Assistantship in Spain. “I was incredibly excited,” Hofstetter said. “Just to be in the finalist round is a huge honor …Who wouldn’t want to go abroad and teach English? You get to learn about the world and come back as globalized leaders. I value the idea of cultural exchange and to be able to represent students abroad is an amazing opportunity.” Martini, who is currently student teaching in Australia, said he is interested in teaching, and that’s why he applied for an English Teaching Assistantship in Indonesia. Martini said because he had no real strong argument for why he should be accepted by Indonesia, he thought he should have been ruled out immediately, so he was excited to hear he was a finalist. He said he sees the Fulbright as an opportunity to expand his teaching experiences and learn how to work
At the end of the day, you are you, and there’s only so much you can change to make your application stronger.” Priya Mehta
MIAMI UNIVERSITY SENIOR
gress created the Fulbright Program. The program allows students to travel abroad to study, research and teach, while observing the cultural, political and economic foundations of other countries. The program also allows students from other countries to do the same here in the U.S. Since its founding in 1946, the program has had more than 307,000 participants. One of the Miami finalists, DeCandia, said she sees the Fulbright program as a starting point for future endeavors. Her initial reaction to the news was happiness, and a look ahead. “The Fulbright program is a way to propel myself to the things I want,” DeCandia said. “I could see my future unfolding. It’s our government at its best.” Cash was also excited to find out he was a finalist. He said he expects it will be a great learning experience. “It’s a great opportunity to strengthen my language skills and
with diverse learners. Priya Mehta applied for an English Teaching Assistantship in Mexico, stemming from her experience studying abroad in Barcelona, Spain and her experience with a Mexican student program this past summer. “I don’t want to be a teacher, so I see this program as more of a segue into something else,” Mehta said. “I want to be an attorney. I want to work with international law, possibly in corporate America with import and exports, possibly in immigration, and those issues are very involved in the Mexico/U.S. relationship, which is another reason I was attracted to Mexico.” Mehta noted the helpfulness of Karla Guinigundo, the international grant coordinator and advisor, and Fulbright Program adviser at Miami. “Karla is a wealth of information,” Mehta said. According to Guinigundo, the application process is pretty lengthy.
“Our campus deadline is always in mid-September with a national deadline in mid-October,” Guinigundo said. “We have an earlier campus deadline because we’re required to do campus interviews.” Because of this step in the process, Mehta said she was surprised to find out that she was a finalist. “That interview didn’t go so amazingly, so I was a little bit worried about my application after that interview, but I guess that’s what they’re trying to do, they’re trying to make your application stronger by pointing out weaknesses in it,” Mehta said. According to Mehta, she was nervous to send in her application after the interview. “At the end of the day, you are you, and there’s only so much you can change to make your application stronger,” Mehta said. Guinigundo said most students apply during the fall semester of their senior year. “If students want to do a Fulbright, they want to do it right after graduation as sort of a buffer between either graduate school or finding a job,” Guinigundo said. Recruitment for next year’s applicants is going on right now, which Guinigundo attributed to the long application process. “During spring semester students generally start formulating their projects and their proposals, then, hopefully over the summer, they start working on their essays, and when we come back in the fall, they finalize their essay and do the final editing in order to be able to submit for our campus deadline in mid-September,” Guinigundo said. According to Guinigundo, this year’s finalists were competitive because of their backgrounds and previous experiences. “They’re all such unique individuals, and one of the things that makes them competitive is that they all have a very compelling case for the country where they’ve applied,” Guinigundo said. “It’s a really good fit for them.” Guinigundo also attributes the students’ successes with their applications to their international interests and academic successes. “With each of our finalists it’s a combination of having a fantastic academic record combined with demonstrated international interest that pertains to the country where they’ve applied,” Guinigundo said. Final decision announcements will be made from mid-March to July, though most finalists expect to hear back from their countries by April or May.
DAMIEN WATSON THE MIAMI STUDENT
Sophomore Kathleen Klein and junior Jake Warren talk about their Valentine’s Day as they stroll through Upham Arch, hand in hand.
By Cynthia Marcinek for the miami student
Valentine’s day—students either love it or hate it. For some, it’s a day spent with a loved one. For others, it’s a day spent sitting with friends, mainly Ben and Jerry. Sophomore Sarah Workman has been dating her boyfriend for almost a year and a half. For her, Valentine’s Day isn’t that different from any other day. “I like spending time with my boo but we hang out all the time anyways,” Workman said. “Valentine’s Day is mostly great since it’s nice to see your man to cook dinner for you.” Sophomore Kasey Meckert said she’ll be spending her Valentine’s Day a little differently than she did in 2012. “I had a boyfriend last year and as nice as it was to have someone say ‘happy valentine’s day’ to, I’m more excited to just hang out with all my friends and eat chocolate and watch sappy movies,” Meckert said. “There’s not pressure that way, and it’s just laid back fun.” Junior Erin Necht said she likes Valentine’s Day even though she’s not in a relationship, and sees the holiday as a chance to relax and eat chocolate. “I celebrate me on Valentine’s Day!” she said. For first-year Jeremy Fine, the age difference between he and his girlfriend, who is a year older and also attends Miami, kept them apart last Valentine’s Day when Fine was still in high school. “I like that finally being at school together, we can spend time together when it’s convenient and she’s a short walk away,” he said. In contrast, single senior Katie Kirchner doesn’t feel the pressure to have a valentine this year.
“I don’t feel any pressure because it’s never been something I’ve been pressured into by my friends or family.” Kirchner said. “However, I’m probably in the minority of senior girls that feels this way.” First-year Allison Brougher said she is one to feel a little pressure around Valentine’s Day. “The more I think about it, the more I think there is pressure,” Brougher said. “There doesn’t seem to be any disadvantages to having a boyfriend.” Senior Jake Westfall has been dating his girlfriend for almost a year. “I believe that college relationships are very mature relationships and two people can really get to know and understand each other more than they could have in previous stages of their life,” Westfall said. “In college we are all adults and that goes the same for relationships. As I got older I viewed relationships differently because you get to that point where going out to meet random people at a bar or at a social gets old and you want something deeper and more personal.” Sophomore Tyler Saint-Germain and his girlfriend have been dating for a year and he feels there are a lot of advantages to having a college girlfriend. “You always have a girl wanting to hang out, whether it’s a chill Wednesday afternoon or a party on the weekends,” SaintGermain said. “It’s also really comforting knowing someone is willing to take care of you when you’re sick. The best part is having a best friend to experience the greatest years of your life with.” Mergers are huge at Miami according to the Miami University website, which indicates that of living alumni, 14 percent are married to each other.
Editors OLIVIA HNAT HANNAH STEIN
COMMUNITY FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2013
COMMUNITY@miamistudent.net
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POLICE Nursing students ‘focus’ on sex-ed
BEAT
By Lauren Williams Senior Staff Writer
Third-year Miami University nursing students will serve as peer educators for FOCUS, the teen pregnancy prevention program sponsored by the Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA) in Hamilton. A five-year grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services provides all funding for the initiative, which is in its second year. Sarah Kinley, recent Miami graduate and YWCA community health educator, said the curriculum, which provides information for both abstinance and safe-sex practices and behaviors, is modeled after recommended pregnancy and STI prevention projects within the department. Miami assistant nursing professor and FOCUS coordinator, Brooke Flinders, teaches an OB/GYN course at the Hamilton campus. Flinders teaches the FOCUS program curriculum during
the course and the nursing students fulfill their service learning requirement by serving as peer educators to the young women in the program. The FOCUS team and nursing students implement PowerPoint presentations, role-plays and visualizations to teach young women to navigate sexual health issues that may be difficult to discuss, such as reading a pregnancy test, getting tested for STIs at a health clinic and understanding the ovulation cycle, Kinley said. “It’s reinforcing the idea of having a plan and sticking to it, so you’re not engaging in risky behaviors,” Kinley said. Flinders said the students are incredibly involved and have a voice in the organizational process and implementation of the program. A pleasant surprise since the program began is how open the young women are to engage in sexual health topics with the nursing students, Flinders said. “There’s definitely a big difference in the reception of young,
college-aged students teaching the course than if I was standing in front of them,” Flinders said. The mission of the FOCUS sessions is to educate young women about the sexual health issues for which they may not have previously received information, Kinley said. This is what inspired Miami nursing student and peer educator Sarah Martin to join FOCUS. “With all of the decreased funding and the politics of sex education in schools, a lot of these young women are missing out on the opportunity to learn how to protect themselves,” Martin said. According to Flinders, basic reproductive anatomy, types of contraceptives available and methods of STI transmission are some of the topics in which young women exhibited a lack of knowledge of before participating in the program. FOCUS works to give young women an empowering knowledge base to create goals for their sexual health and change
their behaviors to prevent risks of pregnancy and STIs. “It’s very hard to expect someone to make an informed decision without giving them all the facts,” Kinley said. Young women ages 16 to 19 are eligible to participate for free in any FOCUS program offered in Butler, Hamilton, Montgomery and Warren counties. Each participant receives $50 gift card after attending both sessions of the program. After the program is completed, a four-month and twelve-month survey is issued to follow up with participants about their experience and they receive another $50 after they complete each one. Flinders said the findings from the survey data can contribute to the design of future FOCUS sessions. The two sessions will take place 9:30 to 2 p.m. March 9 and March 30 at Fairfield Lane Library, 1485 Corydale Drive. To register for the FOCUS program, go to http://focusonsexualhealth.org.
Ohio officials consider Kasich budget change may not affect Talawanda immigration law reform By Chris Curme
For The Miami Student
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Ohio Gov. John Kasich proposed a budget Thursday that aims to level the playing field among Ohio’s 613 school districts. The budget has yet to pass through either house of the state legislature. The plan, called “Achievement Everywhere,” would provide $1.2 billion in total new funds for Ohio K-12 schools over fiscal years 2014-2015. Kasich cites a stronger Ohio economy and added gambling revenue as primary sources for the boost. Kasich has advocated that a zip code should not determine the quality of a child’s education in Ohio. His plan works to create equity among school districts and to increase accountability and performance. “Core Opportunity Aid” accounts for over half of the fiscal year 2014-2015 formula funds. This aid ensures that every school district is funded as if its per-pupil property tax base were $250,000. Only four percent of Ohio school districts enjoy property values above that threshold, according to the proposal. “Those [districts] that are wealthy will not receive as much [as poorer districts] from the state, because the burden will fall on tax payers that can afford to pay more,” Mike Davis, Treasurer of
the Talawanda School Board and CFO of the Talawanda Board of Education, said. According to Davis, Talawanda School District’s (TSD) average per-pupil property valuation in fiscal year 2011 was $221,700. Considering the state average of $140,500 over the same period, Davis said he believes TSD may fall in the highest quintile of property values and should not expect much additional funding. Preliminary district funding estimates released by the Ohio Office of Budget and Management (OBM) project TSD will experience exactly no change in funding between fiscal year 2013 and fiscal year 2014. Mark Morris, a visiting assistant professor of political science at Miami University, serves on a school board in Fairfield, Ohio. He declined to comment on how the plan may affect his district. By the Ohio OBM’s estimates, Fairfield City School District should expect a 25 percent funding increase in fiscal year 2014 over fiscal year 2013, the largest in Butler County. Kasich’s proposal states that no district will receive fewer state dollars than it did in fiscal year 2013. “[Funding] can only go up; it can’t go down,” Davis said, “But
kASICH,
SEE PAGE 8
By Amanda Harr
For The Miami Student
A pressing issue in D.C., the topic of immigration has created a buzz in Butler County. Dave Ward, director of Constituent Services for Governor Kasich, said the immigration issue is more of a federal issue and there is not much Ohio can do at a state level except enforce current law. “Our first priority is to secure the border and since we’re not a border state like Arizona, we don’t have that issue,” Ward said. However, Ward said that Ohio still has an immigration problem. The next priority is to enforce current law, which mandates the deportation of undocumented immigrants. “I think Sheriff Jones of Butler County is a good example of enforcing current law,” Ward said. “Ultimately, it’s an enforcement issue.” According to the Butler County Sheriff website, Butler County Sheriff Richard Jones takes a firm stance against illegal immigrants. His website is dedicated to tracking down illegal immigrants and asking for the help of Butler county citizens. Jones could not be reached for comment on this issue. For more information about Jones’ call for action about the immigration issue, go to www.butlersheriff.org/illegals.
Ward said it is beneficial to have such an outspoken representative such as Jones doing something about enforcing the law. “[Jones is] a very outspoken representative; if folks had a sheriff like Jones, it would be helpful with this problem,” Ward said. Ward said some states are not willing to enforce the law regarding immigration, and some mayors are even calling their cities ‘sanctuary cities,’ safe havens for illegal immigrants. Yolanda Vazquez, assistant professor of law at the University of Cincinnati, said the term ‘illegal’ is not used in immigration law. Instead, she said the term ‘unauthorized immigrants’ is used if these individuals have overstayed their visa or crossed the border illegally. “When the sheriff talks about people about being an immigrant, who have overstayed their visa, I really question whether he is concerned about visa overstays or about the presumption of the Latino living in the United States,” Vazquez said. “Then we get into a racial profiling problem. How do you determine if this person has come into the country illegally?” According to the 2011 U.S. Census, people with a Hispanic or Latino origin comprise 4.1 percent of the Butler County population, an increase compared to
immigration, SEE PAGE 8
Council lowers maximum hire age of police officers By Freeland Oliverio Senior Staff Writer
Feb. 5, the Oxford City Council repealed an ordinance that established the maximum age limit of new hire police officers. The previous ordinance established 60 years of age as the maximum age at which the Oxford Police Department can hire police officers fresh out of the academy. “I can tell you that 60 years old is awfully old to start a career in law enforcement,” Oxford Police Chief Robert Holzworth said. “We only established 60 as an age because we realized that [the OPD] didn’t have any established maximum age for hiring new officers.” According to Holzworth, the OPD surveyed 15 different police departments, all of which use 35 as the maximum age. Following the repeal of this ordinance, OPD will also use 35 as the maximum age, according to Holzworth. “It has been voted on by myself and the civil service commission
that the age be changed to 35,” Holzworth said during the City Council meeting. “[Sixty years old] was established in 2004 by our former police chief,” Councilor Kate Rousmaniere said. “I don’t know why he chose that number, but I believe now is an appropriate time to change it.” According to Mayor Richard Keebler, original concern was raised when it was thought that this rule applied to police officers who transferred from other police departments. However, it was clarified that this ordinance only applies to officers fresh from the academy. “This applies to appointments to new, uncertified police officers,” Keebler said. “This does not apply to officers who have any experience with another department. Also, we’ll need to change the wording of the ordinance. Since it is written to apply for ‘an original appointment to the Oxford police department,’ it implies that the rule applies only to officers new to Oxford. So that will be changed as well.”
TIPS APPRECIATED
TYLER GRAVES THE MIAMI STUDENT
Senior Tristan Clark working at uptown’s La Bodega Deli. Clark is a engineering physics major and mathematics minor.
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CAMPUS FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2013
Job search becomes topic of discussion Local film series urges MU students to go green By Katie M. Taylor Campus Editor
Seniors dive into the applicant pool head first as they continue their search for post-graduation jobs. With the various Career Service tools Miami University has to offer, many have already found what they’re looking for; others fear they’ll sink. With less than a semester left, senior mass communications major Taylor Janszen said the topic of discussion is employment. “A lot of kids in my class, in my major, a lot of those people are starting to talk about getting jobs and just every other person will probably bring it up,” Janszen said. “Everybody seems a little worried about it.” Though graduation draws near for seniors, junior Catherine Page said the job search begins even before students realize it. According to Page, it wasn’t until taking a summer art class at Miami, after switching majors several times, that she figured out what she wanted to do with her future. “Once I took that class it was like the crack that let the light in,” Page said. “A lot of decisions and internships, trying to plan for my future became much more clear for me. Once you find out what you want to do you’re more inclined to go out and explore.” Interim Director of Career Services Mike Goldman said the labor market for college graduates is improving. According to a survey conducted by the Office of Institutional Research, 54 percent of Miami’s 2012 graduates had received at least one job offer by the time they left college. Goldman also said he’d like to remind students that current numbers are in their favor. “According to the Department of Labor, there are about four and a half million advertised but unfilled jobs in the United States today …” Goldman said. “We also know that the hidden labor market is nearly as
large as the market of posted jobs, so there’s millions of other jobs that will only become available to students through networking.” Goldman reassured those who have yet to find employment. “For students who are having a difficult time finding internships or full time employment, I would first tell them not to be discouraged,” Goldman said. “There are multiple resources available to them within the Miami community, and we’re eager to help them.” Such recourses include but are not limited to career advisors, career fairs and Miami Career Link, a website in which employers can post available positions and students can submit resumes. “We just need to connect each student with the appropriate job search strategy based on their major using their resume, LinkedIn profiles and their interviewing skills that we can teach them,” Goldman said. “We’re very confident that they will be very well received by employers.” A number of students experienced relief after finding full-time employment and internships at the fall Career Fair. Senior business economics major Ricky Duffield was one such student. According to him, the career fairs hosted by Miami offer valuable experience to even those who don’t find positions at the events. “I would definitely recommend going there because that’s a great way to get exposed to a lot of things,” Duffield said. “Even if you’re not interested in some of the jobs there, I’d urge you to still apply because you’ll get interview experience; that’s the most important thing.” Along with the fall opportunity, Miami provides a Spring Internship and Career Expo (Spring ICE), and this year’s event is right around the corner. According to Goldman, 180 employers will gather Feb. 13 in Millet Hall for the opportunity to see what Miami students have to offer. “No matter what your strategy
is, you need to gain experience speaking to employers, presenting your resume, addressing appropriately and learning how to network,” Goldman said. “The fair is a wonderful training ground for that.” Though the fair will mainly cater to business and engineering majors, Goldman encouraged all students to attend. “What we hear often from nonbusiness and engineering students is that career fair is not organized for them,” Goldman said. “They shouldn’t feel discouraged because, depending on your major, companies recruit very differently. Just because there isn’t a company at the fair that’s recruiting for your major doesn’t mean there aren’t hundreds if not thousands of jobs available for you—you just require a different strategy.” Janszen said he plans to attend despite the lack of focus on mass communication majors. “Last career fair I started looking for jobs, and ever since [I’m] just doing a little bit here and there, just applying and fixing up my resume in the meantime,” Janszen said. “I just went to a training [for Spring ICE].” Though they’re all at different stages of the job search process, Janszen, Duffield and Page agreed that Miami and Career Services has provided the tools they need to get them going in the right direction. “The best connections you can get are from your school, especially Miami,” Page said. “I’ll be looking around definitely before graduation for internships to have that experience under my belt before I graduate.” Goldman said he’d like all students to understand that though it can be a difficult time, they are not in it alone. “We want to encourage every student, no matter what their year is, to use career services to the fullest,” Goldman said. “No one needs to manage a job search by themselves.”
By Ariel Wiley
For The Miami Student
The Oxford Community Arts Center (OCAC) is collaborating with ICCWG, (Interfaith Climate Change Work Group) to create a series of films called the Green Screen Film Series to show students and families the way the environment is today compared to what it has been in recent past. OCAC will show a film one Wednesday out of the month at
Students want to know, ‘how can I help and what can I do about this?’ and the great thing about Green Screen is we can talk about how we can make a positive change in the environment.” peyton allEn
GREEN OXFORD VICE PRESIDENT OF PROJECTS
7 p.m. in the North Parlor room. The first film, Defend the Gulf, will be shown Feb. 13. Defend the Gulf is about the BP oil disaster and the efforts to rebuild the Gulf after the disaster. Last Call at the Oasis will be on March 27. This film will show all the roles water plays in people’s everyday lives and it will show the problems with the current system. And the last film, Switch, will be screened April 10. Switch is about the exploration of the world’s biggest and most powerful energy areas. Erica Fox, vice president of communications for Green
Oxford, talked about the message behind the films. “Awareness about the environment, it helps students to figure out how to make their lives more sustainable and environmentally friendly,” Fox said. “Usually we have a professor talk about the film afterwards for discussion and students are welcome to join the talk.” Peyton Allen, vice president of projects for Green Oxford, said the ICCWG partnered with Green Oxford to get more students to attend the film series. “The ICCWG have been doing Green Screen since 2009 and they just really wanted more student involvement since the Oxford Community Art Center is walkable for any student on campus,” Allen said. “There is a very big disconnect between Miami University and the Oxford community. The ICCWG just wanted more student involvement.” Allen said he has heard interest from students in improving the environment. “Students want to know, ‘how can I help and what can I do about this?’ and the great thing about Green Screen is we can talk about how we can make a positive change in the environment,” Allen said. Fox, along with other members from Green Oxford, want Miami students to be aware of the amount of water they use and to try not to waste too much, which is discussed in Last Call to the Oasis. Caroline Croswell, executive director of the Oxford Community Arts Center said the OCAC has partnered with ICCWG several times to put on the film series. “It is a fantastic opportunity for us to work with them and we were happy to do it,” Croswell said.
BE CAPTIVATING.
CAN I KISS YOU?
BEN TAYLOR THE MIAMI STUDENT
Mike Dormitz speaks about consent, sexual assault and the pressures of dating at Can I Kiss You? Monday, Feb. 4 in FSB
Students kept in the loop on severe weather protocol By Katie M. Taylor Campus Editor
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A listserv created by ASG made up of all undergraduate, off-campus students, serves a variety of purposes including informing individuals of severe winter weather protocol. To keep Miami University running smoothly, according to Chief John McCandless of the MUPD, it’s vital for Oxford to keep roads plowed. In turn, Oxford prohibits parking on specified streets in the event that snow accumulation surpasses three inches, so that plows can successfully clear the roadways. According to ASG’s Secretary for Off-Campus Affairs senior Ari Frum, many students are unaware of this policy, so the listserv is one way to inform them to move their vehicles. In addition to the listerv, which is already being utilized, Frum suggested students sign up to use Nixle, a program that sends information from the local police department directly
to students’ phones. McCandless said along with messages sent out by the MUPD, he does his part to ensure roads are drivable after severe winter weather. “Our officers are always out there 24/7,” McCandless said. “A lot of the time I’ll be up at odd hours and try to drive in on roads that students and faculty and staff might have to drive in on, and then I share that information with Dr. Creamer.” David Creamer, vice president for finance and business services plays a role as well. “I usually make a recommendation [of whether to cancel or delay classes] to the President based upon both the condition of the campus walks, the roadways in the region and what the weather forecast is,” Creamer said. It’s a case by case process Creamer said. “Our goal is to be able to operate each day, but there are times when conditions make that difficult or impossible,” Creamer said.
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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2013
ASG,
FROM PAGE 1
need to focus on what is easier and more efficient for the students.” Senate passed the first bill, the Election Bylaw Amendment, with a vote of 18-10-2 after a series of amendments were made during debate. Only 30 senators were present for the passing of the bill. The election protocol is now that if three or fewer candidates are vying for the president or vice president positions, winners will take all, no matter what vote percentage they have other their opponents. If four or more candidates are running, a platform, or presidential and vice presidential candidates, must obtain a 15 percent lead over its opponents in order to forgo a second election. President of Student Senate, senior Peter Dougherty said the new rules ensure the platform wins that should win, while also allowing the candidates to spend less of their time and financial resources campaigning. The new election protocol was passed with the minimum majority needed for a bylaw change. This bill will be instated
JANUS,
FROM PAGE 1
people want it to work because they are the ones who elect their government. “The American people keep choosing of their own free will to have a divided government, a government that they themselves vote for instead of choosing the united one.” In contrast, Klein said he felt the American people’s say in their government is limited. “We do not have a particularly democratic system,” Klein said. “It is not being very smooth in translating the majority’s wishes into law by design.” Fleischer said that democracy can and always should be trusted. “We had inherently a
5
during the upcoming student body presidential elections occurring on March 29. President of the Student Body, senior John Stefanski said he does not believe the new election rules will make any major difference in the upcoming election. “I don’t really know how much of a difference it is going to make,” Stefanski said. Dougherty said he was impressed by how Senate was able to compromise to create the new election procedure. “I think it’s a fantastic thing that senate has really come together and worked together to create a new version of the rules,” Dougherty said. ASG also held elections to fill the vacant treasurer spot, due to the resignation of former treasurer senior Alex Busam. First year Nathan Holaday and sophomore Kyle Hees vied for the position. Ultimately, ASG voted Hees into the position based on his extra year of experience with ASG, as well as various leadership positions with his fraternity, Pi Kappa Phi, Mock Trial and the student senate funding committee. As treasurer, Hees said he hopes
to enhance the credibility of ASG, especially pertaining to its ability to allocate money to campus organizations and activities. “The money we give out during funding meetings directly reflects us and what we are doing,” Hees said. “I want to make sure that the money that the student body is giving goes appropriately and is spent appropriately.” Following the election, Vice President for Student Organizations senior Michael Trivelli presented the student organizations’ budget for this semester. ASG plans to fund 163 organizations with $333,000 after a 16 percent projected cutback is applied. Subsequent to Trivelli’s presentation, senate unanimously passed amendments to the Senate Attendance Standing Rules that were presented at last week’s meeting. The amended resolution states that senators that leave before an hour and half elapses during a senate session will receive the same punishment if they were to be absent from senate without appointing an alternate. Those senators will receive two points each time they leave senate early; if they accumulate eight points they will be censured.
self-correcting democracy, and we always have and we always will,” Fleischer said. “It is rough, it is noisy it is bumpy, but it always eventually gets things just enough right.” Klein protested that democracy’s immortality cannot be relied upon. He concluded by saying it’s the people’s responsibility to keep it alive. “So is American democracy working? I’m not actually sure, but I am positive that we have to keep making sure it does function,” Klein said. Fleischer asked something different of the audience. “The youth vote has become a key, gigantic strength in American politics,” Fleischer said. “So, my advice to all of you–if
you’re wondering about our democracy, if you’re wondering about what your role should be–your role should be to dive in. It works, and it only works to the degree that people with good will decide to participate in it.” During the question and answer period students peppered Klein and Fleischer with questions about party compromise, gerrymandering, filibustering, deadlock, voter suppression, culture of political parties and career politicians. Dougherty said he likes that the students were able to question the speakers. “It’s something you always want to do but you never actually get the chance to,” Dougherty said.
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OPINION
Editors RACHEL SACKS NICOLE THEODORE
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2013
editorial@miamistudent.net
EDITORIAL
The following piece, written by the editorial editors, reflects the majority opinion of the editorial board.
Sex-ed program brings helpful information to young women Third-year Miami University nursing students will serve as peer educators for the Mar. 9 and Mar. 30 sessions of the teen pregnancy prevention program FOCUS, sponsored by the Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA) in Hamilton. The comprehensive sex education program, in its second year, provides information for both abstinence and safe sex practices and behaviors for young women ages 16 to 19. The team educates young women about sexual health issues that may be uncomfortable to talk about, such as getting tested for STIs and understanding ovulation cycles, through roleplay and presentations. The editorial board of The Miami Student feels this program is a beneficial way to teach sex education. The nursing students serving as peer educators will gain valuable experience for real world application, and the young women participating in the program will receive valuable information on an important aspect of their lives and wellbeing. In this situation, everyone wins. These young women will perhaps respond better to another young adult talking to them about sex and protection, as opposed to
someone older, where there may be a generational disconnect. The Miami students involved in the program will gain constructive experience of their own as they learn to teach others and train to become nurses themselves. These students are helping to form a better society—one where the more educated we are, the better choices we make. The particular age group the program educates is important as well, as these are the ages where many young women are either becoming sexually active or already are sexually active. In today’s society, younger people are constantly bombarded with negative and unrealistic standards, such as MTV and “16 and Pregnant” where teenage mothers become celebrities. The peer educators will serve to be positive and helpful influences for these young women. The editorial board is proud of the fact that this national Christian organization is supporting classes on the reality of sex— including contraceptive methods in addition to abstinence. Overall, the program allows everyone the best and most trustworthy information from reliable sources, while not making the subject of sex a taboo in any way.
Rule of Thumb New football recruits Congrats to the new Miami players who signed letters of intent.
Fulbright finalists Congratulations to the five finalists! 1
Cheap chocolate Don’t be a cheap Valentine.
‘Can I Kiss You?’ The talk on consent, sexual assault and pressures of dating was successful.
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Financial aid problems Dealing with the bursar can be frustrating at times.
Green Screen Green Oxford and ICCGW are partnering for the environment. 2
Winter storm Nemo Looks like the North East will find Nemo.
JANUS Forum Thanks to Ezra Klein and Ari Fleischer for participating in Miami’s first JANUS forum. 1
LAUREN CERONIE EDITOR IN CHIEF SARAH SIDLOW NEWS EDITOR RACHEL SACKS EDITORIAL EDITOR NICOLE THEODORE EDITORIAL EDITOR BILLY RAFAEL ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT
OLIVIA HNAT COMMUNITY EDITOR HANNAH STEIN COMMUNITY EDITOR ALLISON MCGILLIVRAY CAMPUS EDITOR KATIE TAYLOR CAMPUS EDITOR TOM DOWNEY SPORTS EDITOR
www.miamistudent.net
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2013 OP ED
7
MILAM’S MUSINGS
Obama administration has no right to claim ‘self-defense’ in civilian assassinations NBC broke the story of the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) “white paper” or memo Feb. 4, which covers the parameters for lawfully targeted drone assassinations of American citizens affiliated with alQaeda or an BRETT “an associMILAM ated force.” This comes ahead of the Senate confirmation hearing of John Brennan, President Barack Obama’s top pick for CIA director. Essentially, there are three conditions that the memo specifies to justify the assassination: the citizen poses an imminent threat to the United States, the citizen cannot be captured and that the strike is in accordance with “applicable law of war principles.” Brennan has stated publicly that targeted drone strikes are “consistent with the inherent right of self-defense.” Moreover, Attorney General Eric Holder has said that the drone strikes are constitutional because of a potential imminent threat to the United States. However, what is troubling is that the memo states that the United States need not have
specific evidence pointing to an imminent attack, as the memo states, “an informed, high-level official” would make such a determination about continued imminence of a threat enabling extrajudicial assassination. Such a high-level official would ascertain if the person targeted for assassination had been “recently involved in activities posing a threat of a violent attack” and “there is no evidence suggesting that he has renounced or abandoned such activities.” While this memo is not an official legal document, it is the policy framework for the drone program in the Obama administration. There are U.S. laws and a presidential executive order banning assassinations, but the memo also has that covered; it states, “A lawful killing in self-defense is not an assassination.” The memo is clearly playing a delicate game of semantics. Words are either intentionally vague like “recently,” “activities” and “associated force,” or broadened or altered completely like “imminence.” This memo should rightly concern any American who worries about executive power overreach and the Constitution. Even beyond the Obama administration continuing the Bush legacy of dubious legal frameworks
that dismantle civil liberties and give the government undue power post-9/11, is the sense of hubris associated with it. A telling example of such hubris is an exchange Oct. 23 on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” between Joe Scarborough, a former Republican Congressmen and Joe Klein, a left-leaning political columnist with Time magazine. “This is going to cause problems in the future,” said Scarborough in response to the drone program. “If it is misused and there is a major possibility of abuse if you have the wrong people running the government…” Klein responded. As Jameel Jaffer, deputy legal director at the ACLU, points out, “Even if the Obama administration is convinced of its own fundamental trustworthiness, the power this white paper sets out will be available to every future president…” Oddly enough, throughout the memo the 2004 Supreme Court case Hamdi v. Rumsfeld is routinely cited as justification for the legal framework inherent therein. However, in that case, the Court decided that while the U.S. government could detain U.S. citizens thought to be enemy combatants, they must afford them due process. Justice Sandra Day O’Connor declared, “A state of war is not a blank check for the president
when it comes to the rights of the nation’s citizens.” Yet, the memo clearly thinks so, as no judicial review or due process exists before deciding upon the targeted assassination of American citizens. Some people will assert that surely no Americans are actually going to be killed under this drone program. However, in September 2011, drone strikes killed U.S.
approved for targeted killing.” The Obama administration has peddled this notion of being transparent and open. However, when it comes to the drone program and the targeted assassination of American citizens, the administration is secretive and unaccountable. It has been over a decade since 9/11. As a country, we have yet to engage in a meaningful dialogue
This memo should rightly concern any American who worries about executive power overreach and the Constitution.
citizen Anwar al-Aulaqi in Yemen, along with U.S. citizen Samir Khan, alleged to be engaged in terrorist activities, and two weeks later killed al-Aulaqi’s 16-yearold American son (born in Denver) Abdulrahman with a separate drone strike in Yemen. The New York Times first uncovered the “hit list” the Obama administration has, which targeted individuals like Anwar al-Aulaqi back in April of 2010. Stated in the article, “It is extremely rare, if not unprecedented, for an American to be
about governmental power, civil liberties and terrorism. As it stands, it does appear the Congress and the American people have given the Bush administration and now the Obama administration carte blanche to do whatever is necessary in the name of the “War on Terrorism,” without regard for civil liberties. All citizens, whether Americans or not, ought to be weary of governmental power, especially if that power grants the government the legality to target its citizens for assassination.
ESSAY
NICOLE’S TWO CENTS
Soft news vs. hard news, the future of journalism Government needs to create lies in what we need, not what the public wants balanced budget to cap defecit I firmly believe that the role the media plays in a democracy is extremely important, concerning educating citizens and at times, even protecting them. One of the first things I learned as a journalism student in my 101 class was that the role of the journalist is unbiNICOLE ased, timely THEODORE and gives the people what they need, not what they want. I think the American people have been crying, “I want this,” “no I want that,” “why aren’t you covering this,” for far too long now. The media has been sucking up to them and dishing it out so their ratings don’t drop and shareholders are kept happy. Reading that sentence over again makes me cringe with disdain and complete disbelief that this is what is actually behind the wheel driving media down a very drunken long road. Washington Post and contributor to MSNBC Ezra Klein at his Q&A Wednesday at Miami touched on how the media has changed in recent years towards larger, often soft coverage, solidifying my deeper fears. When you plan on entering the role as a journalist as a recent graduate, you would like to think that you would uphold the basic principles of a journalist till the day you step out of the newsroom. But what if that isn’t what networks and newspapers want anymore? Klein made a great reference to how the media works often by telling students to imagine a schoolyard fight, and those around the circle are the media. They are pointing and telling others, “Hey! There is a fight going on,” and antagonizing who ever is in the middle, whether that metaphorically is a politician, a celebrity beef, or a president to keep fighting the other. I couldn’t believe how true this was, and how scary that scenario actually is when
our media is supposed to inform and educate citizens about our government and the world around us. In reality, the media has become just a bunch of big bullies mixed with teenage gossiping girls. How do young journalists, eager to enter the reporting or media world, not become like this? Do we even have a choice? These are questions I have been asking my self lately. As opinion writers and columnists, sure, we have a future. We don’t have to back up most of what we say because that isn’t our job. But what about
How do young journalists, eager to enter the reporting or media world, not become like this? Do we even have a choice? being a reporter? Most of the media has become storytellers, picking and choosing what they think will get the most views and what will make people buy papers. That isn’t serving democracy; it is giving in to a needy nation that wants soft news and not the reality of the world around them. Though we have the most amounts of news outlets than ever before, with the most amount of information than ever before, does that mean we are getting quality, factual information? I don’t think it does. Klein brought up another valid point about how when knowledgeable Republicans who watched and digested news daily were asked if they believed the economy was doing better during Bill Clinton’s presidency, they said no the economy was worse. The economy had in fact actually gotten better. There are maybe several reasons why this error occurred in their projection, but is it because there is
too much media? Solid reason can be thrown out the door when an incorrect graph on a news network is shown depicting a steady decline in the economy. You don’t know if its true, but you believe it because you trust the media. There is so much media that we don’t even know what to do with it. Another problem with this profound increase in media is that there is an equal amount of wrong information as there is correct information. If you want to believe that guns increase violence in the United States, there are hundreds of websites dedicated to that single topic. On the other hand, if you believe guns do not increase violence in our country then again, you can find hundreds of websites devoted to that. Increased media does not eliminate bias; it rather gives people a choice on what they want to believe. That isn’t what I signed up for when I decided I wanted to become a journalist. As a journalist it is your job to report fairly and provide what the American people need to know. Turning back the clock in how Americans digest media and how the media behaves isn’t going to happen, and that is a waste of time for anyone to talk about. What isn’t a waste of time is getting Americans to realize that the old saying, “you are what you eat,” is also true for news, “You are what you watch.” Staying on top of the news, researching, and watching multiple networks can eliminate bias and help people become more informed voters and citizens. As for graduating journalists, only time will tell how our role will play out. As Klein put it quite perfectly, no one wants boring analysts anymore. Somehow, as journalists we have a duty to not just our editors, but to the American people. We have to creatively merge in ways to make hard news viewable news and somehow eliminate the soft news such as investigative reports, celebrity sightings uand even food recipes that clog up news networks so often.
ESSAYISTS WANTED. t n e d u t S i m a i M The is looking for essayists. Email editorial@miamistudent.net for more information.
National debt diminishes our generation’s prosperity Recently I read The Hoisington Investment Management—Quarterly Review and Outlook, Fourth Quarter 2012, which clearly explained the consequences of tax increases and increased government spending. Unfortunately, many people get caught up in rhetoric and distractions, such as a “War on Women,” and do not seem to care about the federal deficit and debt or economic growth. I think people have become desensitized to our stagnant economy. It is especially important for our generation to wrap our minds around this realization and understand the impact of economic deterioration. Twenty-two decades have passed since 1790. The most recent decade—that is, with data from 2000 to 2009—was the second-worst decade for economic growth. The only decade with worse economic growth occurred during the 1930s due to the increased taxation and government spending of FDR’s administration. History has shown that high taxation cannot cover high government spending, which leads to a deficit. Each year the federal budget deficit is added onto our total national debt, which is approaching $17 trillion, according to the U.S. National Debt Clock. Don’t mistake this article as an opinion against any one president or party. If anything, this article is an opinion against the idea that it’s okay to spend more than we raise in revenue, and that the government can deficit spend the country into prosperity. Spending was increased under President Bush, and President Obama has drastically increased spending during just one term. Unfortunately, what has not been answered by this past election is how all these trillions of dollars were spent. Where did the money go? It’s not stimulating the economy, so why are we still deficit spending? Government spending is going to entitlements that consume capital instead of growing it. A prosperous economy occurs 1) when capital is left in hands of individuals and 2) when the government debt is low. (1) Prosperity is achieved from the hard work, creativity and ingenuity of individuals. But through borrowing, spending and taxation, the government diverts dollars from those productive individuals. Think about it like this: capital is like fuel and prosperity is like a flame. When the government taxes capital away
from individuals, individuals have less capital to fuel that flame. Individuals would spend capital more prudently in order to grow it, while the government spends capital only for it to be consumed. When taxes increase, many businesses will move jobs overseas to countries with lower taxes, and those that do not leave will not be able to financially support hiring new employees. Not only does this reduce employment, but businesses cannot hire the people necessary to produce and sell more—which makes the economy grow. (2) High government debt diminishes more profitable long-term decision-making, because individuals and businesses are unsure of the future and cannot plan for it. High debt raises the possibility of increased taxes or a future financial crisis. Therefore, individuals and businesses play it safe, making less profitable short-term decisions resulting in a slow growth economy. High taxes and a high debt inhibit prosperity. Determining what tax rate is too high or too low can be challenging, because at a certain rate businesses and individuals will decline in wealth creation, and the government will end up taking a large slice of a small pie, bringing in less revenue than if it took a small slice of a big pie. The best guideline is to have lower rates and a broader tax base. But what is definitive knowledge is to have a balanced budget, which we need to do in order to stop adding annual deficits that grow the debt. While rhetoricians claim that through collective action the government can tax and spend its way into prosperity, the reality is that government will tax and deficit spend us into poverty. The challenge for young people used to be just graduating from college. Having a college diploma served as a gateway to lasting and rewarding employment. Now the challenge for our generation—because of government policies that inhibit prosperity—will be trying to find a job. Those in political offices have betrayed both the public’s and our generation’s trust. They’ve failed in their fiduciary responsibility to oversee the finances of the United States of America. If we want to be a generation of prosperity we need to elect only those who will fulfill that fiduciary responsibility.
OLIVIA BROUGH
broughol@muohio.edu
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COURTYARDS OF MIAMI: Too many roommates? The COURTYARDS of MIAMI might be just what you are looking for. Located at the corner of S. Main Street and E. Central Ave, the MU red, green, and blue bus stops right in the front yard. We offer neat, clean, and colorful housing to students only, at affordable prices. A 2 bedroom apartment shared by 2 students is $2500. and includes HEAT, water and trash. A 1 bedroom with a study is $3700. for those wanting to live alone, (just a few of those open) All residents enjoy free off street parking, on site laundry, and yard space with a shelter. Always upgrading, we are just down the street from the REC, and inside one block from Campus. On site office, flexible hours, and excellent upkeep, make the COURTYARDS a place worth looking at. Ask about free summers and the referal plan. Stop by, contact Carolyn at 513-659-5671, or thecourtyardsofmiami@yahoo. com for more info. www.thecourtyardsofmiami.com
BRING YOUR HORSE Bring your horse to our stables 6 miles south of Oxford and board for 2 wks all cost on us. Look us over and hopefully sign up for permanent boarding at our fine facility. Indoor / Outdoor Arena Jump Course Turn Outs 5 Miles of Riding Trails, Lounge with Restroom, Nice Grass Pasture, Knowledgeable Barn Manager, Royale Oak Stables, 3080 Minton Rd. Just off of 27 Call: 513-370-0053 or 513-385-8855
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IMMIGRATION, FROM PAGE 3
the 1.4 percent in 2000. The percentage of illegal immigrants, however, is undetermined. “While both the number of Latinos and undocumented people, who are not all Latino, of course, is relatively low in Butler County compared to the country as a whole, there is a history of tension in this area,” Walter Vanderbush, Miami University interim director of Latin American studies, said. Vanderbush said a good national policy is preferable to the harsh local and state policies that have become apparent over the last several years. President Barack Obama has been heavily lobbying his immigration reform proposal for about a month. According to the speech given on comprehensive immigration reform in El Paso, Texas last year, Obama stated that under this reform, there would be a pathway to citizenship, including amnesty for the 11 million illegal immigrants now living in America. Obama specified that he wants better enforcement of immigration laws, in addition to reforming the legal immigration system. Vazquez said there are more questions that need to be addressed about the reform, such as the intersection between immigration and criminal law. “Now people can be deported for pulling someone’s hair or jumping a turnstile,” Vazquez said. “This, amongst many other issues, has not been addressed at all in the Senate press hearing or in Obama’s speech.” According to Vazquez, the reality is that most people who are deported are not deported for serious crimes. Miami’s College Democrats and College Republicans each aligned themselves respectively to the bipartisan Senate that is currently negotiating the reform in Washington D.C. Baylor Myers, President of the Miami College Republicans, said he understands why people oppose the issue. “Obama has recklessly disregarded border security in favor of an ambiguous plan for expedited citizenship,” he said. Eden Thompson, communication chair for College Democrats, said her group supports Obama’s push for immigration reform. “We are very optimistic about President Obama’s push for reform, as opposed to Romney’s campaign trail call for immigrants to ‘self-deport,’” she said. “Immigration reform is necessary to give immigrants the opportunity to achieve the American dream.” Vanderbush said he believes it is important to pass immigration reform that includes a
reasonable pathway to citizenship for all undocumented people. Vanderbush said the reform could affect some students, too. He said he believes that one aspect of one of the proposals that seemed to have widespread support included helping international students who get advanced degrees in science, technology, engineering and math in this country to stay here legally. “Providing visas to that group of people may be the part of immigration reform that most directly affects some Miami students,” Vanderbush said. According to the Miami University Office of Institutional Research, Hispanic/Latino students made up 3.6 percent of the student body in 2011, gradually increasing each year since its 2 percent in 2006. While the College Republicans and Democrats had different opinions, there are a few things they both agreed on regarding immigration reform. Both Myers and Thompson exuded confidence that the bipartisan lawmakers will find success in an effective program, but acknowledge that this may be a long process in order for both sides to negotiate. According to President Obama’s speech about Comprehensive Immigration Reform in El Paso, Texas, he said that there is a consensus about fixing what is broken with the immigration system and now it is up to Congress to catch up. Miami’s College Democrats and Republicans also agreed that Miami students need to take this reform seriously. Myers said he believes the reform will impact students’ future and the complexion of the American economy. “If the millions of illegal immigrants become citizens, that will mean a dramatic increase in individuals able for entitlement programs and for full-time jobs,” he said. Thompson said she thinks Miami students should put themselves in college-aged immigrants’ shoes. She said students should consider what it would be like if they were denied their education. “Is it fair for immigrants who were brought into this country at such a young age to be denied the same opportunities as us?” Vazquez said. Vazquez said it is important for us to remember how we, as Americans, all got here. “As Obama said, we are all immigrants, Vazquez said. “We don’t really know how our families got here. All we can say is we didn’t start here, unless you’re Native American. So that’s something to remember.”
HOUSES SCHMATES HOME RENTALS Secure your home for next year. Only a few homes remain for the 2013/14 school year. Go to: www. schmatesrentals.com ROOM FOR RENT Room for rent. Includes all utilities, internet, satilite tv and use of inground pool. $300 per month. Available March 1st. Call 513-461-5402
KASICH, FROM PAGE 3
I don’t know about 2015.” These “Guarantee Funds” are a stopgap intended to protect school districts with eroding enrollment, according to Davis. School districts have a minimum funding threshold determined by a preset level of enrollment. If this level is not met, state dollars make up the difference. According to Davis, Talawanda is already funded above its minimum and does not receive guarantee dollars. “[This isn’t] because we’ve had significant growth, but because the formula keeps changing, and they keep ratcheting down what that guarantee threshold is.” Davis said. Additionally, “Achievement Everywhere” proposes a $300 million “Straight A Fund” to which districts may apply for competitive, one-time grants. Kasich said the grants should be used to modernize facilities or find cost savings. “This is what’s near and dear to my heart as a CFO,” Davis said, “is to achieve cost savings and invest those in the classroom.” Davis said one measure of current inefficiency at Talawanda is its exceptionally high overhead cost, which pays 29 percent, about $900,000, more per pupil in administrative costs, than Ross, a similar school district. If Talawanda were to receive a “Straight A” grant, Davis said he would like to see it go toward a quantitative investigation into TSD to get rid of waste and improve efficiency. Whether the grants could fund new buildings, specifically a new Kramer Elementary, is a question that is currently unanswerable, according to Davis. “If it’s not constructing brand new buildings, it’s certainly upkeep and maybe providing infrastructure to put in technology.” Davis said. Davis said he also sees Kasich implementing a more private sector diagnostic approach toward school performance and transparency. According to Davis, school districts will be ranked against similar Ohio districts, in wealth and enrollment, by their fiscal performance; individual schools will be ranked among similar schools by academic performance; and student performance will be tenuously linked to teacher performance. Davis said he is unsure whether the increased level of funding will continue two years from now. Morris said that although proposed education dollars have increased, schools are still funded well below levels of two years ago, when the education budget was cut by $1.8 billion. He said he does not expect this level of funding to be renewed in two years. Along with the proposed formula for distributing K-12 funds is a change in how public university funds are rewarded. Completed degrees and other factors, rather than enrollment, would earn state dollars, by the proposed budget, according to Morris. “Miami and all other state universities will have to respond to any new incentive system,” Morris said. “The question will become how do we get students to finish degrees and more quickly. There are many potential implications with this type of incentive starting with three-year Bachelor’s degrees.”
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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2013
FOOTBALL, FROM PAGE 10
is a pleasant surprise. ‘I thought it was going to be this guy but it turned out to be this one.’ That is just icing on the cake.” The RedHawks also brought in several offensive linemen with good size, something Treadwell said he and his staff have been looking to improve since he was hired as head coach. “I remember looking out on the field noticing some of the top teams in the MAC and looking over at our lineman and going ‘whoa. We have our work cut out for us.’ You can’t make them any taller, so our thought is that if we bring them in and they are tall enough, in our minds 6-4 to 6-6 and then you allow the strength coach to do his job.” The ’Hawks certainly found a few of those, signing three lineman who are at least 6-foot-5 inches and 290 pounds in Collin Buchanan, Randy Heidman, and Jake Hilvert.
The RedHawks ranked 118th in rushing offense last season, relying heavily on the arm of Dysert. Treadwell said the team would like to rely more on the run next season, and incoming freshman Falon Lee is a dark horse to get some carries. “He is the most versatile and durable running back I have ever coached and I have coached three running backs that have been drafted into the NFL,” Lee’s high school coach Ryan Sulkowski said. One of the running backs Sulkowski coached is former Clemson star and current Buffalo Bill C.J. Spiller, who was taken ninth overall in the NFL Draft. Much like last year’s recruiting class, Treadwell says this one will have a chance to compete for playing time. “Our philosophy is that every freshman class will have an opportunity to compete to see if they are ready,” Treadwell said. “Some are, and some need to be groomed a little bit.”
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HOCKEY, FROM PAGE 10
around the corner, it would be easy for Miami to look farther down the schedule, even in the face of a challenging opponent such as WMU. But the Miami coaching staff has made sure that the RedHawks focus on the game in front of them – and nothing else – for the entire season; not an easy task for any team, especially one so young. Head Coach Enrico Blasi maintains that it’s a mentality that is now fully engrained in his players. “You don’t want to live in the past or the future,” Blasi said. “Why? If you live in the future, you put pressure on yourself and you’re thinking of things that are out of your control. If you’re living in the past, you’re living with guilt. If you’re focused on the present, you’re just here, today, getting better. It’s in your control. If you’re in the moment, you’re at what I call ‘optimal performance.’
MEN’S BBALL, FROM PAGE 10
Johnson. One final 6-0 run put the ’Hawks up 64-62 with over three minutes left to play. The stalemate lasted until 1.4 seconds left to play, as Boothe heaved up a prayer that saw nothing but the bottom of the net. Aside from Johnson’s performance, Miami had redshirt junior guard Allen Roberts, freshman guard Geovonie McKnight and Felder score 15, 11 and 10 points respectively. Overall, Miami outplayed Toledo, shooting 46 percent from the field and 83
9
We just remind the guys to continue to do that.” Sophomore forward Austin Czarnik is familiar with his team’s in-conference foe. The RedHawks took two of the three games in which they squared off last year, the loss coming in the CCHA semifinals. If anything, Miami has a healthy respect for Western Michigan, who is favored by some heading into the weekend. “They’re a really good team, we give everything to them,” Czarnik said. “Their power play has been red hot lately, and their penalty kill has been right up there. A lot of people aren’t believing in us right now to beat them at their barn. So you know what? We’ve just got to keep doing what we’re doing.” Indeed, Lawson Arena is not an easy place to play for visiting teams. It seats 3,667 spectators, and is home to one of the rowdiest student sections in the country, affectionately known as the “Lawson Lunatics.”
“It’s great,” Blasi said of the opponents’ facility. “It’s loud, the student body is crazy. They call them the ‘Lawson Lunatics’ and they’ll be swearing obscenities at you, so it’s fun – It’s a college atmosphere.” But the building isn’t as much of a worry to Miami as the opposing team. Western is one of the hottest squads in the country, and this weekend’s matchup could very well help to define the CCHA standings with just a month of play remaining. “It’s a big series, and I think they are the best team in the league to this point,” Blasi said. “It should be a lot of fun. There’s a lot of hockey to be played still, but this is obviously an important weekend, and we’re trying to prepare our best to play our best on Friday night.” The two game series will be held at Western Michigan University, Feb. 8-9. The puck drops at 7:05 p.m. on both Friday and Saturday.
percent from the foul line, while yet again outrebounding the Rockets by four, 29-25. “I’ve only had one gamewinner in the rest of my life, and that was off a free throw,” Boothe said. “Nothing compared to this tonight.” Boothe was among the top three scorers for the Rockets, with 13 points as well. “I’m not going to make any apologies for winning, but we didn’t play well defensively tonight,” Toledo Head Coach Tod Kowalczyk said. “I thought our perimeter defense was very, very poor. Their guards drove our
guards. That was the reason we could never put them away.” Trying to get the bad taste of losing out of its mouth, Miami now returns home tomorrow for a showdown with the University of Akron at 1 p.m. Last season’s bout saw Miami get romped by 15 points, 74-59. The first place, 18-4, 9-0 Zips are a very balanced team, boasting three players scoring in double figures. Miami’s defense will have to play a factor in a win, as the Zips average 75 points a contest, ranking 37th nationally. With a win, Miami could move into fourth place in the MAC East.
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10
SPORTS
Editor TOM DOWNEY
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2013 Justin Maskulinski Linski’s List
the brotherhood’s even brighter future
The Miami University Men’s Ice Hockey team (17-6-5) has 11 freshmen and seven sophomores on its 26-man roster. The future of the RedHawks appears to be very bright. After a sweep of the University of Alaska (12-10-4) last weekend, Miami sits alone at the top of Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) and is ranked third in the NCAA according to the United States College Hockey Organization (USCHO). The only two teams ranked higher than the ’Hawks are the University of Minnesota (18-4-4) and Quinnipiac University (19-3-4). Other teams toward the top of the USCHO poll include fifth ranked Boston College (15-7-2) and CCHA foe Western Michigan University (17-6-5), ranked sixth. All of these teams have a lot of talent and definitely deserve their ranking but Miami has one major difference that separates them from the rest. That difference is youth. The statistics prove that the RedHawks are continuing to play top notch hockey with very young players leading the way. Minnesota, Quinnipiac, Boston College and Western Michigan all have one underclassman in their team’s top five scorers. Miami has two freshmen and two sophomores in its top five scorers. Curtis McKenzie, a senior forward, is the only upperclassman in the ’Hawks top five scorers. Austin Czarnik is a sophomore forward for the ’Hawks and he leads the CCHA with 30 points. Riley Barber, a freshman forward, is in second place in CCHA
scoring with 28 points. Freshman defenseman Matthew Caito and sophomore forward Cody Murphy both have tallied 14 points this season. One month ago Barber and freshman forward Sean Kuraly participated in the IIHF U-19 World Junior Championships and won gold medals with team USA. Two more notable freshman players take turns between the pipes for the RedHawks. Ryan McKay leads the CCHA in goals against average (GAA) with a 1.08, which is accompanied by his .960 save percentage. Jay Williams holds a 1.76 GAA, which is fourth best in the CCHA. His save percentage is .930. The Red and White’s youth has made them current front runners to be the final champion of the CCHA. The ’Hawks have been toward the top of college hockey all season long, but next season could prove to be even more successful. The ’Hawks will be a part of the new Central Collegiate Hockey Conference, and the young team will have one more year of experience. The new conference will mean new, unfamiliar opponents for the ’Hawks (with the exception of Western Michigan) and the ’Hawks’ experience could help them rise to the top once again. Miami should bring in even more young hockey players as it continues to rise in popularity and attract young hockey players all over the Midwest. I am excited to see how far this young team can advance in the CCHA tournament and the NCAA tournament this year, but I cannot help but wonder what is in store for the next couple years. It’s going to be a fun ride.
Twenty-two high school athletes signed their National Letters of Intent to play football for Miami University Wednesday. It is another large class for Head Coach Don Treadwell and his staff. The class is not as highly ranked as last year’s, which was ranked third in the Mid-American Conference (MAC) and featured six three-star recruits according to Rivals.com. This class is ninth in the MAC and has three three-stars in offensive lineman Randy Heidman, quarterback Tommy Tupa and linebacker Zack Smierciack. Treadwell has preached the importance of recruiting the state of Ohio and this class reflects that mentality, with 10 recruits coming from the state. Treadwell said the size of the class will help increase the depth of the RedHawks, something that was proven to be lacking when injuries hit the squad during their 4-8 season. This class is also a versatile one, with several players that could potentially play on either side of the ball. Several players could also double as returners, an area of concern for the RedHawks, as they ranked 102nd in average kick return yards and 112th in average punt return yards. The ’Hawks lose quarterback Zac Dysert to the NFL draft, but have added a potential gem in quarterback Tommy Tupa. That name should ring a bell, as Tupa’s father, Tom Tupa, played in the NFL for 18 years as quarterback and punter after playing for Ohio State. The younger Tupa already has NFL size, at 6 foot 4 inch and 220 pounds. “Tupa comes from a strong family background and we like that about him,” Treadwell said.
Red and White battle Broncos for CCHA lead
KIM PARENT THE MIAMI STUDENT
Miami University sophomore forward Jimmy Mullin attempts to get past an Alaskan defensman during a 6-2 RedHawk win. Mullin has scored four goals and recorded seven assists on the season.
By Joe Gieringer Senior Staff Writer
The stage is set for a Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) showdown between the league-leading Miami University men’s hockey team and rival Western Michigan University (WMU) Miami, No. 3 in the country according to the USCHO.com and USA Today national polls, recently jumped to the top spot in the CCHA standings with 44 points
“As a quarterback you want a QB who comes in understanding the value of being a student of the game. So we don’t have to coach him up and tell him how important that is. If anything, we may have to kick him out of the office because he’ll just want to be there all day, which is what good QBs want to do.” The Red and White’s defense is in need of a few upgrades, after ranking in the bottom 20 in total defense, turnovers forced, scoring defense and sacks. They also came in second to last in rush defense. Defensive coordinator Jay Peterson had high praise for a pair of incoming defensive linemen in Kris Davis and AJ Burdine. Burdine, who hails from Elder High School in Cincinnati, is a 6 foot 3 inch and 270 pound athlete who may not be limited to playing on the defensive side of the ball. Burdine played some running back at Elder. “His ceiling is unbelievable,” Peterson said. “The sky is the limit for that kid. Once he figures out ‘oh you mean this and I can be 290 one day and I can do this and I can do that.’ He don’t know what he don’t know.” Davis hails from Warren Central High School in Indianapolis and will likely be a defensive tackle for the ’Hawks. Peterson described Davis as explosive and likened him to current RedHawk Austin Brown. Peterson also mentioned defensive backs Heath Harding, Xavier Swinton and Damon Washington as players that could have an impact early. “I’m very excited about those five guys in particular, but I love them all,” Peterson said. “I’ve been doing this long enough that I know there is always a guy who
Football, SEE PAGE 9
after a sweeping the University of Alaska Fairbanks Nanooks on home ice this past weekend. The No. 6 Broncos are hot on the RedHawks’ heels, however, and are sitting just a single point back in second place. Though the Red and White (176-5, 12-4-4-4 CCHA) are winners of five straight, sweeping their last two series in the process, their opponent boasts similar numbers. Western Michigan (17-6-5, 13-4-3-1 CCHA) has only lost one game in regulation since the
start of 2013, going 6-1-3 in that span. The Broncos also possess the best special teams numbers in the league, converting 23 percent their 96 power plays, in addition to successfully killing off 88 percent of penalty kill situations this year, resulting in a special teams net of +13 – all three stats are tops in the CCHA. With the upcoming Hockey City Classic and playoffs just
Hockey, SEE PAGE 9
MEN’S BASKETBALL
Rockets eclipse RedHawks at buzzer Senior Staff Writer
’Hawks sign 22 recruits Sports Editor
HOCKEY
BY Win Braswell
FOOTBALL
BY TOM Downey
sports@miamistudent.net
After snapping a four-game losing streak, the Miami University men’s basketball team had its heart broken in a buzzer-beating 65-64 loss at the University of Toledo in Wednesday night. Miami’s record now stands at 8-13, 3-6 in the Mid-American Conference (MAC). Freshman guard Reggie Johnson led the RedHawks with 16 points, being critical late in the game with what appeared to be the game-winner with less than five seconds to play. Unfortunately for Miami, redshirt junior guard Quinten Rollins was called for travelling on a steal with 2.8 seconds left, keeping the ball with
the Rockets, giving freshman center Nathan Boothe the opportunity he needed to sink the desperation shot as the clock expired. “Certainly a tough way to lose a game,” Head Coach John Cooper said. “But I thought our guys were really pretty good and stuck together and competed their tails off.” The ’Hawks were down at halftime by three points, 35-32, after a first half dominated by Miami, but closed out with hot shooting from deep by Toledo. The Rockets were hot from the field in the first half, draining 5-10 three pointers and shooting over 55 percent. The second half was started with redshirt junior forward Will Felder closing the deficit to one,
but Toledo quickly mustered up a run, taking a 10-point edge with 13 minutes remaining. With all the momentum, Toledo was unable to keep Miami at bay, allowing a 9-0 run to pull the Red and White to within one yet again. Momentum swung back in favor of Miami on a three pointer by junior forward Jon Harris, giving Miami its first lead since seven and a half minutes to play in the first half. Then, a stunning four-point play opportunity arose, as Johnson sank a three, while being hacked. Despite missing the free throw, the RedHawks made a quick swing of five points, as Rollins hit a shot off an assist by
MEn’s BBALL, SEE PAGE 9
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
Toledo defeats Miami in blowout win By Justin Maskulinski For The Miami Student
The Mid-American Conference (MAC) had a clash of mid-season leaders as East Division-leading Miami University (14-8, 6-3) took on the West Division leading University of Toledo (20-2, 8-1) in Millett Hall on Wednesday. The Rockets ran away with the game early and beat the RedHawks 80-49. “Toledo is a very strong team,” Head Coach Maria Fantanarosa said. “It was a good learning experience for us.” Toledo sprinted out to an early 5-0 lead before Miami senior guard Courtney Osborn hit two shots from beyond the arc 18 seconds apart from each other. Toledo took a timeout with 16:26 left in the first half after Osborn’s three pointers. Three minutes later the ’Hawks found themselves down 13-8 and called a timeout. After the timeout junior Hannah Robertson hit two three pointers to put the ’Hawks up 14-13 with 11:25 remaining in the first half. The teams were tied at 17 with 8:22 left in the first half. Toledo then went on a 24-2 run to end the half.
Toledo shot 44 percent from the field in the first half. “We could never get in a rhythm,” Fantanarosa said. “I am not disappointed that we lost; I am disappointed that we lost by as much as we did.” Toledo led 41-19 at half led behind senior forward Kyle Baumgartner’s 11 first half points. She finished with 17 points and shot 5-7 from behind the arc. “We are learning about the importance of fundamentals,” Fantanarosa said. “We will be focusing on rebounding and turnovers.” Toledo began the second half the same way they ended the first half, on a run. The Rockets jumped out to a lead of 55-19 with 16:09 remaining in the game. The RedHawks made a quick 10 point run shortly after but the deficit was too large to overcome. “We knew Toledo was a good team,” Osborn said. “Whenever you give up 80 points it’ll be hard to win.” The ’Hawks will prepare to take on the University of Akron Zips (157, 6-3) at 3:30 p.m. Saturday at Millett Hall. The winner of the game will become the new leader of the MAC East Division.
The ’Hawks understand the importance of the game against the Zips, but they won’t be forgetting the Toledo loss anytime soon. “The loss hurts, and we don’t want to forget about it,” Osborn said. “We will be going forward with a chip on our shoulder.” Fantanarosa said the team needs to be introspective after the loss. “The team needs to find their personality again,” Fantanarosa said. “The most important thing after this loss is that they find out who they are.” The ’Hawks just began a home stand against three top teams in the MAC. Toledo is now the outright leader of the MAC West, and have a conference high 20 overall wins. After Wednesday’s loss the RedHawks fell to a tie with Akron for first place in the MAC East. The game after Akron is against the second place team in the MAC West, Central Michigan University (13-8, 7-1). Fantanarosa said the players need to avoid feeling sorry for themselves if they can move forward for a key game on Saturday. “It’s about how they respond.” Fantanarosa said.