Feb 22, 2011 | The Miami Student

The Miami Student VOLUME 138 NO. 41

Oldest university newspaper in the United States, established 1826

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

MIAMI UNIVERSITY OXFORD, OHIO

In 2002, The Miami Student reported Miami alumna State Rep. Linda Reidelback introduced a bill that would require all schools to teach the intelligent design theory of evolution. The theory was disregarded by some as “too religious.”

Shifting schedules

ASG proposes cutting fall break, adding reading days

By Adam Giffi and Matt Levy For The Miami Student

Those banking on some extra days off during future breaks should make sure they write any plans in pencil. Although Associated Student Government (ASG) is looking into changing fall break and adding dedicated reading days before finals starting in fall 2011, it will be a complicated road to get any changes made.

Narmar Doyle, ASG secretary for academic affairs, said the body has proposed a wide variety of options for Miami University to consider. Doyle said one option they have suggested is dropping fall break and increasing the length of Thanksgiving break.

“We could eliminate fall break and have the whole week off for Thanksgiving,” Doyle said.

According to Doyle, a consistent problem and a reason ASG has been proposing schedule changes is students skipping classes the week of Thanksgiving break, creating a difficult

situation for professors and class schedules.

“You may have 30 or 40 percent of the class missing, and teachers don’t want to move forward with the material or they want to repeat it when everyone returns,” Doyle said. “I think it’s a better option to at least consider eliminating fall break for a full or enlightened Thanksgiving break.”

Another change suggested by ASG is adding reading days between when classes end and final exams begin.

“It could be more efficient if we shift the calendar so classes end on that Wednesday or Thursday and then the reading days come on Thursday and Friday,” Doyle said. “There is so much pressure with finals, so it’d give them more time to prepare.”

According to Doyle, many schools Miami compares itself to already have dedicated reading days in their academic calendars.

While Doyle said changes to the academic calendar could go into effect during the fall 2011 semester at the earliest, Steven Wright, chair of the senate executive committee, said chances look bleak for immediate calendar adjustments.

As the issue currently stands, Wright said the academic policy committee has already given its recommendation to the senate on the ASG proposal.

“They’ve recommended not pursuing the extension of fall break at the moment,” Wright said. “They’re not ruling it out altogether. There are a lot of calendar issues, and we need to consider all of them together rather than any of them one at a time.”

There are so many calendar issues, the academic policy committee has recommended to the senate executive committee that they form an ad hoc calendar

wSee CALENDAR, page 3

SAMANTHA LUDINGTON The Miami Student

Faculty offices in Bachelor Hall have fallen victim to recent thefts.

Police investigate thefts in Bachelor Hall offices

By Emily Glaser For The Miami Student

SAMANTHA LUDINGTON The Miami Student

Bottled water for sale at the Haines Food Court is a popular beverage choice for Miami University students.

Schools bring new meaning to dry campus

By Jenn Smola For The Miami Student

Various universities across the country have begun to ban and restrict the sale of bottled water on their campuses, according to a report in The Chronicle of Higher Education.

While Miami University has not yet implemented any water bottle restrictions, David Prytherch, sustainability coordinator, said water bottle restrictions are being considered.

“We’re in the exploratory stages,” Prytherch said. “Housing and dining has considered this sort of thing, but there’s no formal process right now.”

Washington University in St. Louis banned the sale of water

bottles on campus in 2008, and Muhlenberg College in Pennsylvania has removed bottled water from its meal plan.

American University has yet to instate a ban but has begun installing various filtered water stations around campus in order to cut back on bottled water sales.

Establishing more eco-friendly ways to hydrate doesn’t come without challenges. Many universities are locked into contracts with beverage companies, making it difficult to impose bottled water bans.

Other options, such as installing filtered water stations, have proven to be expensive for some universities.

Muhlenberg College has spent

$40,000 on bottle-filling stations and filtration units around its campus, according to the report in The Chronicle.

Prytherch said offering students at Miami more access to filtered water would be ideal, but cites the cost of filtration units, filters and maintenance as obstacles.

Prytherch also said he believes there could be a business model for implementing such changes at Miami that can be both economically and environmentally sustainable.

According to Prytherch, members of Miami’s environmental organization, Green Oxford, recently teamed up with business

wSee WATER, page 3

Two Miami University faculty members reported their locked offices in Bachelor Hall were broken into in the first two weeks of February, according to Miami University Police Department (MUPD) crime alerts.

The two professors reported unknown suspects stole textbooks and other items.

Lecturer Paula Byrkett said she was teaching a class when her office was broken into Feb. 3. Her purse and two textbooks were stolen.

“About a half hour after I got back into my office, I was getting ready to leave, so I started looking for my purse,” Byrkett said. “I thought I had just misplaced it. I called my cell phone immediately because I knew it was turned on and fully charged, and it went straight to voicemail.

Someone had turned it off.”

According to MUPD Lt. Benjamin Spilman, this isn’t the first time offices in Bachelor have been targeted. A similar incident was also reported Nov. 4.

According to an MUPD employee, the November case is no longer being investigated unless a suspect comes forward.

The crime alert from Feb. 16 said “Miami University Police are investigating this and several similar, previously reported incidents in Bachelor Hall.”

Byrkett said she believes someone broke into her office and stole textbooks twice in the past, but she did not report the previous two incidents to police.

“The more (my co-workers) talk about this, the more incidents we become aware of,” Byrkett said.

“We have so many textbooks in our

GRE undergoes historic change in content

BY THE NUMBERS

By Hannah M. Biggs

The new top GRE score:

For The Miami Student

Miami University students planning to attend graduate school will likely be taking the revised Graduation Record Examination (GRE).

The Educational Testing Service (ETS) will launch the new revised general test in August 2011. All aspects of the current exam have been overhauled in the most significant change in the test’s 60-year history.

According to the GRE

website, the changes to the test will better show knowledge of skills necessary for graduate school programs. The revised test will feature changes in test content, design and scoring.

The exam will no longer include antonyms and analogies, which will be replaced by more reading comprehension and sentences, according to Andrew Mitchell, director of graduate programs for Kaplan Test Prep and Admissions. “(The new test shows a) shift away from memorizing and

more toward critical thinking,” Mitchell said.

With the addition of a calculator, the test will feature more data interpretation in the quantitative portion of the exam, Mitchell said.

One of the major changes in the design of the test is the ability to change answers and skip questions.

When Miami senior Kelsey Bishop took the current version of the test, she didn’t like that she could not go back to answer questions she had skipped, so she

170

had to guess to finish within the time allowed.

“The big change is the scoring scale,” said Bruce Cochrane, dean of the graduate school at Miami.

“People will have to think differently about the numbers.”

The scoring system will go from being a 200 to 800 point scale in 10-point increments to

office, we don’t realize sometimes that they are missing.”

According to Spilman, textbooks are stolen because they are easy to sell online for top dollar.

Spilman said during the day Bachelor is essentially a public building.

“Door locks are the primary line of security,” Spilman said. “There is no access control that would prevent someone who is not affiliated with the university from entering the building.”

Jennifer Eden, a visiting assistant professor, reported a computer adaptor cord and several textbooks were missing from her office sometime between 5:30 p.m Feb. 14 and 5:30 p.m. Feb. 15.

“I noticed right away because the books on my bookshelf were kind of tousled, not the way I normally leave them,” Eden said. “The stack I normally have was much smaller.”

Sophomore Becca Taustine has a lot of classes in Bachelor. She said the reported thefts left her feeling uneasy.

“It makes you uncomfortable to think that something like that can happen right under your nose,” Taustine said. “It’s just scary.”

According to Spilman, there are no current suspects in either case, but officers are still investigating the reported crimes.

“The first thing we are encouraging people to do is make sure they lock their doors,” Spilman said. “We want to make sure people are aware of this problem so they pay attention to people who might not belong in the building so we can check them out and make sure they do in fact have a reason for being there.”

According to Spilman, there have been no similar break-ins in other academic buildings this year. a 130 to 170 scale in one-point increments, according to the GRE website.

The tighter scoring scale makes it harder to stand out when applying to graduate school and makes admission more competitive, Mitchell said.

“ETS has been very proactive about what has been going on,” Cochrane said.

Kaplan is working on new materials and a course for the revised version of the test, but Mitchell recommends students try to take the current exam because there is a lot of preparatory

wSee GRE, page 3

2

Campus

Tuesday

February 22, 2011

Editors Stephen Bell Amelia Carpenter Amanda Seitz campus@miamistudent.net

NEWS MU permits name use online BRIEFS

By Maria Kreighbaum For The Miami Student

FYI Students create energy phone application A new smartphone application created by two Miami University seniors can help cut energy costs for its users by automatically monitoring electricity prices for Miami’s Physical Facilities Department.

Alex J. Hancock, a mass communication major, and Emily Schmidt, a computer software engineering major, developed the application to monitor the Midwest Independent Transmission System Operator (MISTO and alert energy buyers when prices are up or down and whether it is best to generate electricity.

Hancock and Schmidt’s application checks the MITSO website prices every five minutes beginning at the top of the hour and sends energy purchasers an e-mail if the current price is equal to or more than $90 per megawatt.

Miami became a retail buyer of electricity in 2010.

Sheet, banner contest offers cash prize Student organizations are encouraged to participate in an Anti-Hazing Hero sheet and banner contest for the chance to win cash prizes toward the Outdoor Pursuit Center, Carillon Catering or expenses related to an on-campus event or philanthropy.

The first place winner will receive $400, second place receives $200 and third place receives $100.

The sheets and banner must adhere to Miami University and City of Oxford policies.

To be considered, submit the online form to 356 Shriver Center with the location of the sheet or banner.

All entries must be displayed and submitted by 5 p.m. Feb. 28. For a form, visit www.units.muohio.edu/saf.sac.

EVENTS Theatre production tells story of small town family Miami University’s School of Fine Arts and Department of Theatre will present the production Independence by Lee Blessing.

The play, student-directed by Kaleigh-Brooke Dillingham, will follow the Biggs, a small-town American family.

The play will take an in-depth look at the family’s daughters and their interactions with one another when one daughter, Kess, returns after a long retreat from the Biggs household.

Upon Kess’ return, tensions rise between the sisters, as each sister searches for her own independence.

The play will open at 8 p.m.

Wednesday, Feb. 23 and run until Saturday, Feb. 26. Two matinee performances will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 26 and Sunday, Feb. 27.

For tickets, contact the Miami University Box Office. Student tickets are available for $6, adult tickets for $9 and senior citizen tickets for $8.

CORRECTIONS It is the policy of The Miami Student to publish corrections for factual errors found in the newspaper.

➤ In the Feb. 18 issue, “Pepsi CEO to address graduates” said Indra Nooyi became PepsiCo CEO in 2001. Nooyi began working the position in 1994.

@GossipGirlofMU, your tweets may not be as scandalous as you think.

Despite recent university responses to Facebook events like “The Annual Ghetto Fest” and “Indian Theme Party,” Miami University does not discourage the use of its name or logo in social media. University officials think the use of Miami’s name on sites like Facebook and Twitter can act as a positive affiliation with the university.

“We want our students to be proud and identify themselves as Miami University students,” Associate General Counsel Chris Wilson said.

Trouble arises if a student’s social media activity violates the Student Code of Conduct or Miami’s trademark policies.

Director of Ethics and Student Conflict Resolution Susan Vaughn said conduct violations are only addressed if the office receives

a complaint.

Director of Business Services Paul Allen said trademark infringements, like conduct violations, are not actively monitored.

“We don’t have a large trademark office that spends a lot of time

surfing through social media and the Internet to find people using our trademarks,” Allen said. “Every now and then people will point to one that is questionable and we’ll take a look at it.”

Wilson said Twitter or

Facebook titles that include the words “Miami” or “MU” are deemed acceptable by the university. He said the university exercises discretion with its trade-

wSee SOCIAL MEDIA page 3

GRAPHIC COURTESY OF TWITTER

MUgossipgirl is one Twitter username that posts social media content related directly to Miami University.

University approves new biological physics major

By Shane Corcoran For The Miami Student

University senate passed a proposal to create a new biological physics major at its meeting Monday, Feb. 21.

The proposal, which was created by Physics Department Chair Mike Pechan and presented to the senate by Associate Professor Paul Urayama, was inspired by the popularity of the biomedical track of the engineering physics major. The major was inspired by the increasing need for “physicsoriented interdisciplinary STEM (science-technology-engineeringmathematics) options,” according to the official proposal for the new major.

“We have to recognize that there is a societal need for this major,” Pechan said. “This is an area for growth.”

According to Urayama, the major includes an updated

curriculum, increased elective major would bring approximately options and additional advis- 15 new students to the physics deing tracks that have been cre- partment, increasing the number ated for program emphasis. of students majoring in the departThree new courses will be cre- ment by 50 to 100 percent.

“The biological physics major ated for the purpose of defining the would create biological an additional physics major. path for preThe program is “We have to med students,” based on the current engineering recognize that there is Urayama said.

Pechan said physics major, but a societal need for this the biological the “core emphamajor. This is an area physics prosis (is) on physfor growth.” gram could ics, mathematics, potentially pull chemistry and biMIKE PECHAN students from ology, while proASSISTANT PROFESSOR zoology, mividing a framePHYSICS DEPARTMENT crobiology, kiwork for electives nesiology and that suits a range of career goals,” according to engineering majors.

Pechan’s proposal.

Urayama said there are few Pechan said the proposal universities that offer a biological is a strategic realignment of physics major. existing resources.

According to Urayama, within According to Urayama, the es- a 50-mile radius, only Xavier tablishment of a biological physics University offers a biological

Fraternity to discuss diversity issues at forum In an attempt to foster understanding between students, Delta Upsilon (DU) fraternity will host a diversity panel from 8 to 10 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 24 in the Shriver Multipurpose Room.

The panel is meant to help “bridge the gap” between members of Miami University’s campus by bringing members of the university, Greek and Oxford communities to discuss problems on campus.

Several people will sit on the panel and answer questions people bring dealing with issues of diversity, according to DU member Jeremy Johnston.

Johnston said he estimates six people representing different groups on campus will sit on the panel.

Johnston said DU’s advisers initially proposed the idea to hold such an event and one of the advisers will act as a moderator, taking questions from the crowd.

“The advisers thought it would be beneficial to all the incoming Greek members,” Johnston said.

Johnston said the event will not address any specific issues dealing with diversity but hopes the panel will clarify any misunderstandings individuals at Miami have about one another.

“There’s nothing in particular,” Johnston said. “Just anything someone feels necessary to

bring up.”

Johnston said the panel is an important event for the community because Miami is often stereotyped as a homogenous university.

“In general, Miami is stereotyped as the white university,” Johnston said. “We just want to make sure that we bridge that gap to all of the other different ethnicities and religions and try to become more together as a community.”

The panel will help students recognize diversity does exist on the campus, according to Johnston.

“Even thought a large portion of the university is made up of white individuals, we still have a lot of diversity here,” Johnston said. “We don’t want those people to feel like they’re left out.”

Miami is becoming a more diversecampuseveryyear,Johnston said, and he hopes the panel will help all students feel welcomed on campus both today and in the future.

“We do have quite an influx of foreign students, different ethnicities, religions and backgrounds that are slowly working into our community, and we can’t ignore that,” Johnston said. “If it goes unaddressed and ignored, that’s when problems happen.”

Reporting by Amanda Seitz

physics major.

Associated Student Government (ASG) senator Meghan Wadsworth questioned the need for a biological physics major when there is already a biomedical track in the engineering physics major.

“How much do the two overlap?” Wadsworth asked. “What is the difference between biomedical and biological physics?”

The creation of a new major raises the question of adding without eliminating, especially in a time of economic disparity. However, Pechan and Urayama said they do not anticipate the need for new faculty members.

While the proposal for the creation of the new major was approved by the senate, final approval must be made by the department, division, graduate council and council on undergraduate curriculum. If approved, the new biological physics program will be implemented in spring 2011.

Miami to build Hueston Woods resource center

By Natalie McKerjee Senior Staff Writer

Miami University prides itself on the research opportunities it provides students, and evidence of that is a new project that involves students and faculty from a variety of majors.

The collaborative effort watershed education and research center aims to create plans for a new research facility located on Acton Lake in Hueston Woods.

According to Don Kaufman, director of Miami’s Hefner Zoology Museum and the GREEN Teachers Institute, Miami was given a planning grant in December 2010 from the National Science Foundation to create a detailed plan of the facility.

“There have been various focus groups and planning groups, and the neat thing is that students are involved in all of them,” Kaufman said.

Students from majors like graphic design, architecture and other fine arts have all contributed to the planning process in addition to students from traditional science majors like zoology and biology, according to Kaufman.

Ann Rypstra, professor of zoology and director of the Ecology Research Center, said the students involved have already benefitted from the facility even though it is

yet to be constructed.

“There are 45 students involved in the design and contraction ideas, and if it is contracted, then these students could serve as models for other students,” Rypstra said.

Kaufman said it would be a rewarding experience for the students to bring their families and friends to the facility to allow them to enjoy a research center to which they contributed.

According to Kaufman, some features of the facility will include glass viewing areas that allow visitors to watch the research being conducted as well as aquariums to see underwater wildlife in the lake.

This feature will allow researchers to study how the watershed functions, while visitors can view the research process and appreciate the natural resource.

Kaufman said the center will focus on watershed education and research to learn more about the ecological aspects of watersheds that drain into lakes.

According to Rypstra, Miami students will have the opportunity to conduct research at the facility alongside Hueston Woods staff and visiting researchers.

The project is not set in stone.

Rypstra said after plans are completed, the next and more complicated step in the process will be

wSee WATERSHED page 3

THE MIAMI STUDENT

WATER

continued from page 1 students and faculty to develop a proposal for Brita’s “Filter for Good Eco-Challenge,” in which Brita awards recipients small grants to make schools more sustainable.

Christopher O’Brien, director of sustainability at American University, said these challenges are worth overcoming.

Money being spent on bottled water, O’Brien said, could be better spent on public water infrastructure.

“Bottling takes resources,” O’Brien said. “It takes two-thirds of a quart of petroleum to produce one 16-ounce bottle of water.”

According to O’Brien, American University is in the process of installing 100 filtered water stations around its campus.

Spokesperson Tom Lauria from the International Bottled Water Association said the anti-bottled water movement is “purposeless.”

“It’s not going to improve the environment,” Lauria said. “It’s

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2011 ♦ 3 going to take a healthy choice away from students.”

Lauria said even if bottled water is banned, there are still numerous other sodas and sports drinks that are available in plastic bottles.

“Why are we singling out the one healthy beverage we can drink? No one’s doing anything for the environment by banning one thing,” Lauria said.

Miami students have mixed feelings about the bottled water issue.

First-year Jamie Wilson would like to see a program to reduce the amount of bottled water at Miami.

“I would definitely be in support of taking action to decrease water bottle sales,” Wilson said.

“People buy so much bottled water, which is unnecessary when they can just refill reusable water bottles.”

First-year Lisa Gehring understands concerns surrounding bottled water but doesn’t think it should be banned.

“Everyone should be concerned about the environment, but people should still have a choice about whether or not they want to buy bottled water,” Gehring said.

www.miamistudent.net

L VE WHERE Y U LIVE

‘Teach me how to Bernie’

SAMANTHA LUDINGTON The Miami Student

Members of Kappa Alpha Order strut their stuff at the philanthropy event, “Puttin’ On The Hits” in Millett Hall Monday night.

CALENDAR continued from page 1

they form an ad-hoc calendar subcommittee to discuss scheduling questions.

“That body will probably hold meetings over the course of the next year or so,” Wright said of the planned committee.

It is in this subcommittee that the proposed extension of fall break and the suggestion for reading days will still have life. Both issues are set for discussed in the future.

GRE

SOCIALMEDIA

material available.

Students who take the revised version of the exam in August, September or October will have to wait until November to view their results. Students may have to submit scores without knowing what they are and whether they should practice more, Mitchell said. One thing that will not change about the exam is that scores will still be available for five years.

Cochrane said he met with students about the GRE, but has not received any feedback about the changes.

“Feedback from the students is mostly going to come after the changes and is hard to predict,” Cochrane said.

For students preparing to take the exam, Kaplan is offering a free practice test Feb. 26 at the Oxford Kaplan Center at 13 B E. High St.

marks, but doesn’t want to restrict student usage.

“If it’s clearly a student site and they are simply using it for a reference location, then I don’t see that as problematic,” Wilson said.

Allen said students can also use university trademarks to express their opinion on social media websites.

The Office of General Counsel’s website cites certain phrases such as “Miami University” and “Miami University RedHawks” as trademarks. Images including the RedHawk and lantern logos are also owned by the university, according to the website.

However, there are limitations.

Wilson said it is prohibited to use the trademark to sell products without a licensing agreement.

He said using the Miami name

continued from page 1

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Wright said the main roadblock facing the proposal of any additional days off is a state rule that for every semester credit hour there must be 750 minutes of instruction.

According to a memo sent from the academic policy committee to the senate executive committee, the university satisfies this by having 75 instructional days in the fall and 74 in the spring.

The memo stresses the discrepancy in dates is not because the fall semester has an extra day but because the spring semester is missing a day.

According to Wright, finding

continued from page 2

yet another day to lose will likely be problematic.

“If you take a day out in the middle of the semester for students, where do you buy that day back somewhere else?”

Wright said. “They have to have a certain number of days in class, according to the 750 minute rule, and so what do we do?

Do we start classes two days earlier so we start at the end of the previous week in August? Do we go into the middle of next week near Christmas break? Do we buy it back from the extra day at Thanksgiving?

Who knows where that day could come from?” or logo as a form of affiliation is prohibited if the person has no connection to the university.

Logo usage could also be problematic if students are using an outdated version of the logo or alter the image in an inappropriate way, Allen said.

Allen said a committee reviews questionable trademark uses and determines a reasonable enforcement action. According to the Office of General Counsel, a common response is sending a cease and desist letter to unauthorized users.

Sophomore Kelly Durkin said the Miami name can have a positive impact on social media.

“It makes (the content) more relatable,” Durkin said. “You see the MU attached to the name and you know they’ll be talking about things you’re familiar with.”

Students aren’t the only ones taking advantage of the affiliation.

The Miami University Alumni Association created a group on LinkedIn to connect students, alumni and Alumni Association members across the country and around the world.

According to site, the group has approximately 14,000 members and discussion is continuous about topics such as the recent Redskins and RedHawks mascot controversy.

WATERSHED continued from page 2

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funding the facility.

Rypstra said the funding process will likely commence at the end of the semester.

“We hope by the end of the semester we will have a good design, and on the fourth of May we will have a reception for the public, which will showcase the designs made by students,” Rypstra said. “Then, the next step will be to strategize how to get funding.”

Some funding options include state funding from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, the state parks system or donations, according to Rypstra.

Kaufman said construction of the facility would impact more than just Miami students.

“The overall purpose is to educate the public so they can learn about the lake and watershed and also enjoy the wildlife,” Kaufman said.

Rypstra said the facility will also benefit visitors to Hueston Woods. “(The project) has helped the outreach activity that Miami does with local teachers and is a model for integrating design, development and research,” Rypstra said.

4

Tuesday

February 22, 2011

Community

Editor Bethany Bruner community@miamistudent.net

State confronts union issues

By Bethany Bruner and Leslie Scott

Officer witnesses junior throwing punch At around 2:30 a.m. Sunday, an Oxford Police Department officer on patrol near 75 S. Main St. reportedly observed a younglooking male punch another male in the face.

The officer reportedly parked his cruiser and approached the male, later identified as Miami University junior Ryan McMahill, 20, who told the officer he was about to be jumped by four other males.

According to police reports, the officer noticed the victim McMahill had punched was gone.

The officer reportedly noticed the odor of an alcoholic beverage on McMahill’s breath and asked him for identification.

McMahill reportedly told the officer he did not have an ID, but the officer noticed he had a wallet in his back pocket.

McMahill reportedly admitted he was underage and told the officer he did not have his own ID. He said he was holding a 21-yearold friend’s ID. McMahill also reportedly told the officer he had been drinking with his parents in the bar, but he refused to go find his parents to confirm the story.

McMahill was cited for underage intoxication.

Mud-covered female emerges from woods At around 2:15 a.m. Saturday, Oxford Police Department officers were dispatched to 507 N. Campus Ave. in response to a lost and disoriented female.

According to police reports, officers met with the residents of the house, who heard yelling from the woods behind the residence.

The officers reportedly went outside to find the source of the screaming and noticed a female covered in mud emerging from the woods.

The female, who reportedly appeared to be lost, was identified as Miami University first-year Amanda Wolfe, 18.

Wolfe was reportedly wearing a dress, and officers asked her why she had been in the woods alone.

Wolfe reportedly told officers she likes to run around in the woods.

Officers reportedly noticed the odor of an alcoholic beverage on Wolfe’s breath.

Wolfe also reportedly admitted to attending several house parties earlier in the evening.

She was cited for underage intoxication and taken home.

Male almost runs into drive-thru speaker At around 3:40 a.m. Sunday, Oxford Police Department (OPD) officers were dispatched to McDonald’s in response to a reckless driver.

According to police reports, a vehicle almost drove into the drive-thru speaker while placing an order.

Officers reportedly intercepted the vehicle at Speedway and identified the driver as Dushan Sekulich, 21.

Sekulich was reportedly asked to perform field sobriety tests, and he did poorly.

Sekulich was arrested and taken to OPD, where he was found to have a 0.15 blood-alcohol content.

Sekulich was cited for operating a vehicle while intoxicated and prohibited blood-alcohol content.

For The Miami Student

Senate Bill 5, recently introduced into the Ohio Senate by Sen. Shannon Jones, could eliminate collective bargaining for public employees.

Public employees include firefighters, police officers, teachers and government workers among others.

The bill centers on whether public employees should have the right to collective bargaining through unions. Some have called the bill “union-busting.” Supporters of the bill have said the measures included would cut costs for the state.

Senate Bill 5 would also ban public employee strikes, remove health insurance as an item to be debated in collective bargaining, take away automatic pay increases for public employees, no longer allow teachers to pick their classes or schools, eliminate minimum numbers of employees and maximum class sizes and

allow schools or governments determined to be in “fiscal emergency” to change or cancel collective bargaining agreements.

Miami University senior Courtney Reeves is nervous about the bill because she is an education major.

“Finding work is hard for any college graduate these days,” Reeves said. “This bill could lead to further cuts, making it even harder to find a job in a local school district.”

Reeves said unions help negotiate important employee needs such as better pay, health care and other benefits.

“Without this negotiating, employees will simply be told by their local government what they will be paid,” Reeves said. “Nothing is stopping wages from being pushed down to the minimum, which can not only affect the teachers, but the school districts and ultimately the children.”

According to Jones’ testimony before the Senate Insurance, Commerce and Labor Committee Feb. 8, the need for collective

bargaining reform became apparent to her through her work in public service.

“I am not doing this to punish employees who serve the people of this state day after day,” Jones said. “I am not doing this to punish unions or serve as some sort of political payback. Simply put, I am doing this because I want to give government the flexibility and control over its workforce.”

Jones said the bill would not end current bargaining agreements immediately, but would allow them to expire according to their terms.

Jones also said the bill would not eliminate collective bargaining for local governments but she was not opposed to doing so at a later date.

Senate Bill 5 has caused a stir throughout Ohio. Students at the University of Cincinnati participated in a rally Monday, Feb. 21 to express their feelings against the bill.

If the bill passes the Ohio Senate, it would then move to the House of Representatives before being presented to Gov. John Kasich.

Building leads to more empty beds

By Cindy Moore For The Miami Student

New apartment buildings have been going up left and right in Oxford, especially in the uptown district.

Having new apartments going in while beds are still vacant can cause problems for small landlords, but provides more options for renters, according to Alan Kyger, Oxford’s economic development director. “(Renters) win, the prices of rentals drop and units must be improved to compete,” Kyger said.

For the 2009-10 academic year, there were 455 empty apartment units in the city, according to the City of Oxford’s website. Off-campus housing has a capacity of 16,263 beds, and more than 1,500 beds were empty last year, according to Kyger.

Landlords are continuing to add beds because of city ordinances.

“Most buildings uptown are getting bigger, and they can only obtain a permit to be built if they contain residential housing,” Kyger said.

This ordinance not only provides extra housing, but also allows for owners to make a profit on the building.

“Before, you had to rely on the commercial business to be stable enough to support the building financially,” Kyger said. “This (ordinance) takes stress off of the business.”

The capacity for on and off-campus housing has steadily increased over the past five years in correlation with an increase in enrolled students, according to Miami University enrollment records and the Oxford Housing Development Department.

Some people may believe the twoyear campus residency rule, requiring sophomores to stay on campus, is a part of the problem, but Kyger said the sophomore residency rule causes less than 1,000 additional students to stay on campus.

“It’s not the main issue, but it is a factor,” Kyger said.

Although students seem to be coming out on top in the situation, there are still some losers.

Local landlords have been facing new financial hardships due to new development. Landlords are now considering options like exchanging properties or financing buildings.

Although there are many apartments for sale with hefty price tags, some apartments are still selling, according to the City of Oxford housing website.

Candlewood Terrace Apartments were recently purchased by Phillips Acquisitions.

Other apartments like College Suites, built in 2007, are already facing some hardships. The complex is in receivership and is currently looking for a new owner.

“College Suites will not be closing, they will just be under new management,” Kyger said.

Some apartments, like College Suites and Hawk’s Landing are offering early bird specials.

College Suites enters renters into a drawing for prizes ranging from an iPad to an LCD TV. It also advertises that each student who signs a lease will receive an on-campus parking pass if they sign before Oct. 15 of the previous year.

Hawk’s Landing offers a discounted monthly rent of $399 instead of the regular $410 if students sign a lease early.

Free printing, free parking passes and specials on leases have all become staples in the new competitive renting arena.

Sophomore Reyna Smith is excited about the new perks.

“I feel like they are fighting for me, they need me more than I need them,” Smith said.

Despite the struggles some landlords are facing, not all landlords are lowering prices.

Hawk’s Landing’s regular prices rose from $379 in the 2009-10 academic year to $410 in the 2010-11 academic year, according to Leasing Manager Maurine Mitchell.

This price increase has not necessarily been a disadvantage to Hawk’s Landing. Mitchell said the complex has a waiting list for fall 2011.

Michele Prater, spokesperson for the Ohio Education Association, said the union is aggressively opposing the bill and has seen teachers becoming active opponents in grassroots-level politics.

“Rather than creating jobs, this legislation will hurt local communities, reversing Ohio’s positive economic outlook,” Prater said via e-mail. “Teachers know best what’s needed to improve student learning, and collective bargaining gives them the opportunity to focus on teaching rather than time-consuming employment issues.”

Prater said the bill would affect all public school teachers in Ohio, who represent the largest segment of public employees in the state.

Holli Morrish, Talawanda City Schools community relations director, said the teachers union does not have a comment at this time because Senate Bill 5 is only proposed legislation.

Members of the Fraternal Order of Police were unavailable for comment.

Prosecutor investigation continues Former Butler County Assistant Prosecutor Jason Phillabaum has been subpoenaed to answer questions about whether he altered a grand jury indictment.

The subpeona is part of the case involving 17-year-old Tyree Johnson. Johnson has been indicted on five charges in relation to an October shooting in Hamilton.

Johnson is being tried as an adult.

Butler County Prosecutor Michael Gmoser claims Phillabaum instructed a court stenographer to add gun specifications to each count without the charges being presented to the grand jury.

Gun specifications would add an additional three years in sentencing for each count.

A hearing on the matter has been scheduled for March 9.

Phillabaum was let go from his job in the prosecutor’s office in early February after being beaten out for chief prosecutor by Gmoser.

Reporting by Bethany Bruner

Hospital hopes exhibit will aid in healing

By Katherine Mitchell For The Miami Student

Whoever said artwork doesn’t soothe the mind and heal the body was mistaken, at least according to employees at McCulloughHyde Memorial Hospital.

The hospital has recently started putting together a program called “Healing Art.” By displaying pieces of artwork around the hospital, employees hope it will put patients, staff and visitors at ease and help with the healing process, said Jean Vance, art consultant and curator for the exhibit.

Vance said she is very excited and cannot wait to see the pieces.

“It is well known that art can be healing, and so I did a project down at Bethesda North Hospital in Cincinnati, and when they contacted me on a bigger scale for McCullough-Hyde I was very interested. The original idea was to have a wall of art, but it expanded to wanting more original art that was more inviting

to everyone.”

Miami University junior fine The goal is to have the hospi- arts major Alyssa Johansen said tal be more open and relaxing to she was unaware of the contest everyone who walks through it, but excited to hear about it.

Vance said.

“I would like to see some art “It gives peothat defies the ple something natural limits of “Art that includes hospital paintto do and something to look at,” the greater context ings,” she said. she said. of modern life would She said most hospital paintAccording to insert some vibrancy ings tend to be Vance, there are that may be sterile and uningoing to be apteresting and if proximately 60 lacking in the pieces of artOxford hospital.” there was a way for the hospital to work chosen pick pieces that and local artists ALYSSA JOHANSEN challenge mowithin a 50-mile MIAMI UNIVERSITY JUNIOR notonous landradius can scapes, it would submit pieces. be cool to see.

Vance said ac“I would like to see something cording to the rules developed like a vibrant mural or a work inby the hospital, art will be disspirited by street art,” Johansen played in the hospital for a year said.

“This would look cool in beginning in mid-April. After such a contained space.

Art that being displayed, the art can then includes the greater context of be bought and new pieces will modern life would insert some be displayed. There will be a new competition in April 2012 vibrancy that may be lacking in the to determine the new pieces for Oxford hospital.”

Vance said she was unsure of the hospital.

what she wanted the art in the hospital to look like, but hoped it would be beautiful and enhance the hospital.

There will also be a plaque next to each piece on which the artist can write 75 words or less about the meaning and inspiration of the art so the viewer can understand it better.

“It is a competition, so out of whatever number of pieces are entered 60 will be chosen and then the committee of the hospital will choose four for the Purchase Awards,” Vance said.

A local artist and arts administrator, Nelly Bly Cogan, will decide which 60 pieces of art are going to be chosen for the exhibit. There will be a reception for the opening of “Healing Art” at a later date to be announced.

Vance said four lucky artists will receive Purchase Awards from the hospital in recognition of their art and will be eligible to win up to $4,000.

wSee ART, page 9

Editor Hunter Stenback features@miamistudent.net

Features

Tuesday

February 22, 2011

5

By Alex Butler Senior Staff Writer

Connor Knapp and Cody Reichard compete everyday. Most of the time, the duo locks eyes from across the ice as they sit in their respective creases, working to prevent the puck from slipping by. After the practice week, there is only one spot in the starting lineup for a goaltender on the Miami University hockey team.

When Knapp and Reichard aren’t on the frozen floor or in school, they can be found lounging, eyes fixated on the TV, fingers on the trigger button of their videogame controllers. The goaltenders don’t hang out everyday and actually live on opposite ends of the Oxford campus, but they come together more often than not to play videogames like Call of Duty.

“We’ve been playing that a lot lately,” Knapp said. “We’re competitors in that too, but we get along great. It’s been a great relationship the past three years.”

It was three years ago when hockey Head Coach Enrico Blasi found out he had a good problem on his hands.

The coach was replacing Jeff Zatkoff after the Los Angeles Kings drafted the goaltender in the 2006 National Hockey League entry draft.

“Our hopes were that both of them would develop,” Blasi said. “Our track record is that we’ve played two goalies in the past. Even with Zatkoff here, we played (Charlie) Effinger, so we owe it to the two goaltenders to develop them both for whatever comes after. Fortunate for us, both of them played really well.”

Knapp is 6-5-4 this season, while his counterpart stands at 11-4-2. Knapp leads the Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) with just a 1.82 goals against average, while Reichard’s 0.643 winning percentage is third in the CCHA. Reichard’s 0.706 winning percentage overall is top in the country.

Friends, not foes The 24-year-old Reichard is the son of Martin and Barb Reichard of Celina, Ohio. He is a finance major who was on the honor roll for four years in high school. Prior to suiting up for the RedHawks, Reichard played in 51 games for the North American Hockey League (NAHL) Fairbanks Icedogs. His record stood at 33-15-10, making him the NAHL’s top goalie and most valuable player.

Knapp hails from York, N.Y. and is the son of Gregory and Colleen Knapp. A 20-year-old management and organizations major, Knapp played juniors with the Boston Junior Bruins of the Eastern Junior Hockey League (EJHL), where he earned goalie and defensive player of the year honors. He was 22-1-0 in 2006-07 with the Junior Bruins prior to his Oxford arrival.

Knapp was an EJHL all-star in 2007-08.

With seniors Andy Miele and Carter Camper lighting the lamp this year offensively, the goaltending duo has denied scoring chances for an average of 0.908.

“We both knew the situation coming in and it hasn’t changed since we got here,” Reichard said. “We both want to play every game, but that’s not the case here. We are good friends off of the ice and we just try and be supportive with whoever is playing. We both just battle as hard as we can and try and stop every puck and just leave everything else up to the coaches.”

Usually Reichard and Knapp don’t know who will guard the cage until the day before a game. When the week’s battle is too close to call, it is anyone’s guess who will get the starting nod.

“There have been a few mix-ups this year,” Knapp said.

“Obviously, there were times when the team was struggling and the coach had to mix things up, but ultimately it’s up to us. We know when we’re playing well and when we’re playing bad, and it comes down to how we’re practicing and how we’re playing.”

Although competiveness strikes a similar chord in them both, the like traits may end there.

Knapp stands at 6 feet 6 inches and 220 pounds, while Reichard measures in at 5 feet 11 inches, one inch taller than the two shortest RedHawks on the roster.

Reichard said his stature is helpful and integral to his rapid reflexes.

“Me and Connor are two totally different goalies from Jeff Zatkoff and from each other,” Reichard said. “We are both trying to be as good as we can be. Connor is a big kid, and he moves really well and he handles the puck really well. I’m not as big, but maybe a little more athletic.”

A tough decision In 2008-09, Reichard backstopped the RedHawks all four games of the NCAA tournament and he holds the school record with three NCAA wins. He guarded the cage all of the way to the national championship and the RedHawks’ second-place finish.

In 2010, Blasi faced a tough decision about who to start in the Mid-West Regional against the rival University of Michigan Wolverines.

Reichard, the 2010 CCHA player of the year and RedHawks’ most valuable player, had all of the credentials. He was also one of 10 finalists for the Hobey Baker Award given to the nation’s top player. His 0.788 winning percentage was the best in the country, and he had an unbeaten record of 15-0-2 in the CCHA. Reichard even broke the record of Michigan State University goaltender Ryan Miller’s goals against average with a 1.23 mark. His conference save percentage of 0.950 tied him with Miller for best in CCHA history.

Still, the coach believed the skilled net minders deserved an equal chance to backstop the RedHawks prior to the matchup.

“Right now, they both deserve to play and they are both going to play, and until something tells us otherwise, that is the way we are going to go,” Blasi said at the time. “I think we are in a very good situation when it comes to our goaltending. We have two of the top goalies in the country, so I think you will see the dynamic duo hopefully continuing to do what they do.”

Ultimately it was Knapp, the other half of the “dynamic duo,” who earned the start against the Wolverines and did not disappoint. He finished the regional final with a career-high 55 stops, and the RedHawks won the game in double overtime to advance to the Frozen Four.

Knapp was named Most Outstanding Player of the 2010 Mid-West Regional.

The duo earned time in a disappointing loss to Boston College in the Frozen Four. They combined to surrender seven goals in the defeat.

A common denominator As RedHawks, Knapp’s career mark is 29-14-11, while Reichard owns a 40-16-7 mark. Reichard’s 40 career wins tie him for third place in RedHawks history, while Knapp’s 29 wins place him at ninth.

Winning is the common denominator between the two net minders, and Blasi often has a tough decision before each weekend battle. Both Reichard and Knapp have a choice to make after this season in whether or not to go professional. Right now, Blasi recommends waiting until the end of the week to ask who will be his starter.

“Every team you go to, you compete against a goalie,” Knapp said. “Coaches never give you the starting job. You’ve got to earn it every time. It’s always been like this all the way on up, so it will continue to be like this. It’s nothing new and it’ll never get old.”

HANNAH MILLER The Miami Student

6

Opinion

Tuesday February 22, 2011

Editors Sam Kay Jessica Sink editorial@miamistudent.net

➤ EDITORIAL

The following pieces, written by the editorial editors, reflect the majority opinion of the editorial board.

Proposed bottled water ban restricts student choices U

niversities across the nation are the university offers. To take away looking for ways to become more the right to purchase bottled water energy efficient and eco-friendly. One is invasive. strategy implemented by various camInstalling water filtration systems puses is the restriction of plastic bottled as some other universities are doing is water sales in an certainly comeffort to encourmendable, but This board supports age the use of reprobably not the eco-friendly practices usable water conbest option for tainers. Although Miami, which is but does not believe Miami University in the middle of restricting sales of has not fully exa budget crisis. bottled water is a good Instead of spendplored the option option. Students of limiting bottled ing thousands of water, officials dollars on water deserve choices. said they are looksystems, encouring at all options to aging recycling improve sustainability. practices and promoting the practice The editorial board of The Miami of refilling water bottles will be more Student supports eco-friendly practices effective in the long run. In general, but does not believe restricting sales students should be conscientious of of bottled water is a good option. Stu- their bottled water purchases and find dents deserve choices and should not ways to become more Earth friendly. be limited in their choices of healthy Right now, though, Miami is facing options like water when soft drinks bigger, more pressing issues than dealcontinue to be readily offered in simi- ing with the concept of water filtration lar plastic containers. Many students or taking the drastic step of banning living on campus are limited to what bottled water.

Destroying unions’ ability to negotiate would hurt Ohio O

hio Senate Bill 5, touted by its candidates will go elsewhere. Everysupporters as a measure to re- one from college students to parstore balance between public em- ents considering whether to move to ployees and their management in Ohio will be given another reason to negotiations, would, in the opinion of stay away. the editorial board of The Miami StuSenate Bill 5 would strip public dent, in fact destroy any semblance of employees of privileges that function balance by rendering unions toothless as part of a vital check and balance and without negotiating leverage. between workers and managers.

Teachers, police, firefighters, liSome of the most pointed provibrarians and others would see their sions of the bill would apply to teachability to strike limited, be unable to ers. Teachers would lose the right to include health care in collective bar- pick which school within a district gaining or receive they would like to pay increases based work in, and districts This bill will not solely on length of in fiscal emergency solve Ohio’s current would be able to tertenure. While unions should certainly be fiscal problems, but minate agreements expected to do their with teachers unions. is only under part and make conThese steps send the serious consideration wrong message to cessions during a at all because of the teachers and school difficult fiscal time for Ohio, this board districts.

Teachcurrent hysterical believes Senate Bill ers are discouraged budget climate.

5 is a politicallyfrom setting down motivated attack on roots in a particuunions, not a level-headed reaction lar community, and districts on the to the current fiscal crisis. Unions are edge are given an incentive to go into not the enemy, fiscal mismanagement fiscal emergency. and economic recession are.

By the admission of its supporters, If Ohio lawmakers are looking this bill will not solve Ohio’s current for innovative solutions to problems fiscal problems but is only under seranging from the “brain drain” to re- rious consideration at all because of placing the unconstitutional system of the current hysterical budget climate. education funding, having less-quali- While unions should be prepared to fied public servants is not the answer, shoulder the same sacrifices the rest but that is exactly what Ohio will get of the state budget will soon face, perif Senate Bill 5 becomes law. Without haps by the elimination of automatic the ability strike or include health care pay increases, the current budget criin collective bargaining, pay and ben- sis is not a good reason to single out efits will suffer and highly-qualified unions for destruction.

Rule of thumb The downside of spring.

Rain

JINGHANG HUANG The Miami Student

➤ LETTERS

Vagina Monologues critics disregard goal of feminism Leaving class in Harrison Hall Thursday, I happened to pass by a poster from the Claire Booth Luce Institute that was, presumably, hung by the True Feminists of Miami University student organization. The advertisement, designed by the Institute, lambasts the production of Eve Ensler’s The Vagina Monologues claiming that the play is disgusting and degrading to women. I’d like to voice concern over the True Feminists’ decision to paper the campus with these flyers.

I understand that not all people espouse the same political and social views and that The Vagina Monologues means different things to different people. However, I find it unfortunate that a student organization would so explicitly decry the production without offering any form of alternative discourse on the matter.

Understandably, there are elements to Ensler’s play that some may find objectionable, but to dismiss it entirely seems to demonstrate a callous disregard toward the personal sentiment of other members of the feminist community. For many, The Vagina Monologues has been an affirming and transformative experience. The play’s exploration of female sexuality, sexual assault and other topics of female empowerment is a powerful display of self-ownership and the reclamation of power that has been used against women in the United States and abroad. To blithely denigrate the importance of this play is a clear exhibition of the True Feminists’ exclusivity and disregard for the full spectrum of feminist ideology. Given that the proceeds of the Association for Women Students’ production of The Vagina Monologues benefit the Butler County Rape Crisis Program, it is especially troubling that the True Feminists would attack these efforts.

On a campus that occasionally struggles with social issues, the True Feminists seem to be engaging in an overt act of horizontal hostility that creates discord among groups working toward the same vertical goal. No social change can be brought about if we disregard the perspectives that differ from our own. Furthermore, to name a group in a manner that claims supremacy over a school of thought bears a degree of responsibility, and the exclusion of other perspectives is illustrative of an irresponsible, autocratic intellectual imperialism.

MATTHEW HALL

HALLMG@MUOHIO.EDU

Legislation forfeits rights guaranteed in the Constitution In light of the recent wave of anti-worker rights legislation being pushed as a false means to right the fiscal problems of state budgets, I believe it’s time that the unions and other such groups start an initiative to be put on the ballot to ensure such rights in the state

constitution. That would mean no governor or legislature would ever be able to gut the rights of workers to organize and collective bargain again since it would be part of the state’s constitution. Case closed.

The amendment can simply state that workers of all types, public and private, have the right to form unions for collective bargaining of all aspects of their working environment.

That’s it, plain and simple.

Now is also the perfect time to get the initiative on the ballot. Since tens of thousands of people are at the capital and other cities protesting, they will surely get the signatures needed to sign the petition to get it on the ballot. They can also throw in that overtime is to be paid for any hours worked over eight in a day instead of the usual 40 for the week that is the current law. This would help the nonunion workers as well.

I’m sure it would pass overwhelmingly in nearly every state in the country, starting with Ohio and Wisconsin, doing it one state at a time. This is simply about state constitutions and not the United States Constitution. It would ensure the rights of all working people the rich live off of to have the option to collectively bargain. It would not force unions on people who have never been in unions. I’m sure, though, the corporate Right will paint it out as such with many more lies worse than that to try to defeat it. It’s simply their way.

It is time for the working people to stand up and fight once again for their rights. It’s not going to be given to us. Our grandparents did it during the Great Depression. People died protesting to get those rights.

It’s time Generation X, Y and Z start earning what was provided to them and making it better. Ignore this and you will pay because what’s happened before can happen again. It could be you the next time who will join in the pain if you don’t get up and stop what’s happening. Now, where’s your freedom?

LEIF DAMSTOFT

THEDIFFRENCE@AOL.COM

➤ Write us All letters must be signed in order to be printed. Please send letters via e-mail to: editorial@miamistudent.net We reserve the right to edit for length, content and clarity.

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

EDITORIAL BOARD Erin Fischesser Editor in Chief Thomasina Johnson News Editor Erin Maher Managing Editor Scott Allison Online Editor Sam Kay Editorial Editor Jessica Sink Editorial Editor Stephen Bell Campus Editor

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Opinion

THE MIAMI STUDENT

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2011 ♦ 7

➤ STRATEGICALLY SPEAKING

➤ ESSAY

It’s all a matter of opinion

Learning self-control first Laughter too step on path to achievement often beats

Everyone has an opinion. For each and every topic, there are diverse viewpoints, beliefs and attitudes to consider. These different perspectives greatly affect the way the world functions. Words have great power, and nowhere is this concept more evident than in today’s media.

Jessica It is virtually imSink possible to eliminate all bias from news reporting because each journalist brings unique experiences, knowledge and beliefs to the table. What readers do request is that facts be presented accurately and fairly. There is a place in a news publication, however, for all views to be heard, the editorial page.

But what is the editorial page really all about?

As editorial editor of The Miami Student, I have learned a lot about the power of opinion.

The section filled with editorials, columns, essays, cartoons and letters to the editor may seem a bit insignificant to the average reader, but it is an important forum for political, social and economic discourse. It takes courage to present an opinion for others to read, and opening up to certain criticism is not an easy feat. The creation of a logical, thoughtful and credible opinion piece is commendable.

An opportunity to share opinion, the editorial page is also meant to serve as a check to the media outlet.

The writers and readers of the section have a responsibility to keep one another accountable for the topics presented and to offer thought-provoking

As the nation becomes increasingly polarized, remember that everyone has an opportunity and obligation to respectfully offer opinions.

Freedom of expression is invaluable and what makes America great. commentary on current issues. It is not meant as an outlet for harsh personal attacks or an opportunity to rant without valid foundation. Editorial writers should seek the truth and review all available information before forming any conclusion. This is what responsible journalism is all about.

I challenge all future writers, readers, editors and contributors of not only The Miami Student, but all publications, to respect the power of opinion and the gift of freedom of the press. There is a time and place for all voices to be heard.

As citizens of a free nation, we have the ability to share our beliefs openly and should treat that opportunity with respect.

Freedom of the press is not something to be squandered or taken for granted. It is something to be cherished and upheld with the highest esteem. “If I had to choose between government without newspapers and newspapers without government, I wouldn’t hesitate to choose the latter,” Thomas Jefferson once said.

As the nation becomes increasingly polarized, remember that everyone has an opportunity and obligation to respectfully offer opinions.

Regardless of biases that may get perpetuated on news channels and in newspapers, readers and audiences should feel secure in their ability to share their own attitudes and beliefs.

Freedom of expression is invaluable and what makes America great.

Disagreements are impossible to avoid. It is not in our power to create a world in which everyone has the same outlook. It is in our power, however, to control how we present our thoughts and arguments.

We must formulate opinions logically and constructively and respect those who disagree. This is the key to creating a strong nation and world.

That’s my view anyway, so take it or leave it. In the end, it’s all just a matter of opinion.

You may live with one.

You may even be the type yourself. My little brother is a snooze bar person. Most days of the week at 5 a.m. his alarm would buzz, whereupon he groaned and groggily slapped it into silence.

This process would repeat for nine-minute increments for the next two hours. One day, I had to ask “Josh, how come you don’t just set the alarm for 7 a.m.?”

His answer, I believe, reveals something particularly sublime about human nature. “It gives you time to find the energy,” he said.

Indeed, we ourselves all know that as humans we don’t always have the energy to make ourselves do the things we don’t want to do.

Psychology defines the impulse that allows us to do those activities we would rather not as self-control. Waking up for class, geology homework or changing our 2 percent lattes to skim. If we wish to engage in these activities without actively wishing to do them, we must tap into our pool of self-discipline resources.

So, how do we effectively use our cognitive ability of self-discipline without wearing ourselves out? Thankfully, psychology has the answer.

Both researchers and my little brother have found that selfcontrol is limited, but only scientists know how to navigate its narrow straits.

Ego depletion occurs when our willpower has been overused or overextended, at which point our efforts may backfire. According to an April 2008 edition of The New York Times, willpower “is depleted when people control their thoughts, feelings or impulses, or when they modify their behavior in pursuit of goals.”

A study by Roy Baumeister and colleagues describes how Baumeister presented two experimental groups with a choice, one of just radishes and the other of radishes and

➤ ORIANA’S OBSERVATION

cookies, and then had the two groups pump hand flexors.

The group that had no choice and only radishes squeezed the flexors a significantly larger number of times than the group that did not. In choosing between the radishes and cookies, participants depleted their willpower, making it less available in the subsequent task.

Perhaps the best explanation of all of these pitfalls of the human psyche and how to sidestep them come from Columbia University psychologist Walter Mischel. During his time at Harvard University in the 1970s, Mischel conducted a study on decision-making in toddlers. The choice was seemingly simple, they could have one marshmallow now, or, if they waited for 15 minutes while the researcher stepped out of the room, they could have two when he got back.

Two-thirds of the toddlers ate the marshmallow before Mischel returned.

However, for the third that didn’t, something remarkable emerged in the data. Little more than a decade later, when these toddlers were teenagers and applying to college, those who could wait 15 minutes had SAT’s separated by 230 points from those who lapsed after 30 seconds.

The grade point averages, the standardized test scores, the tier of the institution they got accepted into, all were correlated with their ability to delay gratification.

How do we build our ability to self-control and delay? A May 2009 edition of The New Yorker compares free will to a muscle, borrowing Roy Baumeister’s idea from the radishes vs. cookies study. Self-control will improve with repeated use, and it will also depend on who your friends are. There is a strong relationship between the ability to self-control and whether you hang out with others who already can, according to a January 2010 post

out empathy

GRAPHIC COURTESY OF PUBLIC-DOMAINPHOTOS.COM

on Medical News Today.

As with most things about conformity, like tends to breed like, and this situation is probably no exception. The 2009 Journal of Personality and Social Psychology reports having a well-envisioned long-term goal is among the best ways to combat lapses in self-control.

Perhaps we can return, if only briefly, to how Mischel’s participants navigated these narrow mental straits. Some sang songs to themselves, others would tell Mischel they imagined the marshmallow as a cloud, still more told themselves stories or danced. They ignored the marshmallow entirely, devoting their attention elsewhere, saving themselves the energy.

As we have seen, ego depletion proves our self-control flimsy, ironic reversal with its dreaded white bears is sadistic, and perhaps, even with all the ability to improve ourselves, we’ve not trained enough to conquer our Facebook addiction or our desire for that Krispy Kreme. Perhaps we can’t bring ourselves to pump the hand flexor of life once more or hit the snooze bar one time less. Maybe our salvation involves just a little imagination and effortful distraction.

That’s not an alarm clock, it’s a chance to fight your demons.

Wake up to it.

ANDREW DUBERSTEIN DUBERSAJ@MUOHIO.EDU

➤ ESSAY

Social media holds too much power over our lives It’s a well-known fact that people are more seeking internships and jobs need to seriously connected than ever. We document every place consider what they post and the pictures in we go and what we do on Facebook, Twitter which they are tagged. Even if you choose and Tumblr. Some of us even create videos to to deactivate your Facebook account while post on YouTube. Most of the things we share you are involved in the interviewing process, are pretty irrelevant, but still millions of us the page is still accessible. It doesn’t comwould feel lost without this technology. pletely get deleted and can be brought back Is social media making us less personal or at any time. making us more powerful and independent?

Where does the pressure come from for Social media did help fuel the recent revo- people to feel they need to post pictures, stalution in Cairo, Egypt by allowing citizens tuses and tweets throughout the day? Pressure to communicate on a global might come from friends. With level with others for support. the majority of students utilizSocial media has also given ing social media, no one wants Connectivity is everyone a voice, many of to be the one who is left out, boundless with the whom didn’t have one bethe one person in a group of Internet and fore. Everyone is becoming friends who isn’t on Facebook smartphones, but a “citizen journalist,” a bit or Twitter. No one wants to of a scary thought for those feel out of the loop. with so much studying to become writers Social media certainly has capability, it begs the and reporters. its benefits and advantages. It question of whether is connecting people together Soraya Mehdizadeh, an this overload of undergraduate psychology like never before regardless student at York University, connectivity helps or of location. Connectivity is examined 100 Facebook usboundless with the Internet hurts us. ers at her school between the and smartphones, but with so ages of 18 and 25 years old. much capability, it begs the Her study found that individuquestion of whether this overals who regularly use Facebook rate higher in load of connectivity helps or hurts us. We can narcissism and lower in self-esteem. These only estimate its real effects. students also filled their profiles with more Many would say there are more benefits than self-promotional content. costs, and some would say there are too many This study shows just how much people negative consequences. Whatever your belief, are seeking approval from their peers and balance is certainly needed to avoid getting feel somewhat pressured to be constantly carried away. updating their profiles to keep up with new Give yourself some face time with friends technological trends. and time off of the computer. It will probably Students need to keep in mind that once do you some good. something is placed on their Facebook proSAMANTHA FRIEDMAN files, Twitter accounts and blogs, it is there for FRIEDMS3@MUOHIO.EDU the whole world to access. Students currently

The ability to receive information faster by means of smartphones and the Internet has revolutionized the way we process and exchange knowledge amongst ourselves, but technology has a way of depersonalizing the way we have started talking to one another and even how we feel about Oriana what we see.

Pawlyk A Los Angeles TV anchor reporting on the Grammys had a small snafu. She mixed up her words and couldn’t form a coherent sentence. She pretty much spoke gibberish right into the camera.

When people started questioning what happened, some said she had a speech impediment, while others said the poor woman had a stroke. Whatever the conclusion was, she sought medical attention and was reportedly treated. How the public decided to express its “concern” for the reporter was another story.

The video of the newscast spread quite quickly. I even saw it when looking at the morning news on my homepage. When I saw this poor woman trying to speak, I felt that she needed medical attention and actually felt bad for her, while others did not. According to CNN.com, when the video was posted to a UK Telegraph website, 9,388 people “liked” the video and 6,027 people recommended it to Facebook friends.

After this, I decided to research how this video was viewed on YouTube.

What I found was that someone had remixed this poor woman trying to speak into a song called “LA Reporter goes Bonkers-Autotune.mp4.” Regardless of the compassionate way this story was reported by news affiliates, the general public saw it as a funny event, turning this unfortunate scene into a social experiment of mockery.

This leads me to question the way we exchange information and the sympathetic nature that humans tend to learn when we are very young. Has that sort of information died out when it comes to viewing videos that go viral like this?

The way sensitivity to situations develops is crucial to a full, adult understanding of how we can empathize with other human beings.

It’s like looking at a car crash on the highway. Do you ask if that person is OK or do you just wait to see how badly hurt they are to tell someone later what you saw? It’s the same thing with Internet stories like this one. How do we put emotion back into the things we view online?

According to a study presented at the British Association for the Advancement of Science Festival in the UK a few years ago, young adults and teenagers do not have the ability to process empathy and guilt like adults do.

Since it isn’t possible to see who “liked” the L.A. reporters’ video or made the YouTube song, it only causes us to question how many of these people were teenagers. I’m sure it was more than a few.

The way sensitivity to situations develops is crucial to a full, adult understanding of how we can empathize with other human beings. Apart from the neuroscience involved in all of this, there is also another problem on our hands. Technology is probably not helping young adults understand what empathy truly is.

We’re all curious to know what’s going on in the world. That is just human nature. Even if your brain is still in its underdeveloped stages of how to empathize, here’s a hint: it is the ability to be in another person’s shoes and feel what they feel. It’s the ability to recognize someone else’s situation as your own.

Even if you cannot feel it yet, just give it a try for now. Technology is not always to blame for humanity’s lack of sensitivity.

Tuesday

8

February 22, 2011

FYI Page

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

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For Rent

FOR RENT

PLUM ST. APARTMENTS newly remodeled 2 bedroom units located across from Miamis Rec Center.

W/D, DW, air condition, carport. $2350 per person/per semester for 2 or $4000 per semester for 1.

Summer Move-In available for $400 per person. 513-839-0354 for more info.

House for Rent 2011/12 4 Bedrooms, 1 bath. Permit for 4. Laundry room includes W/D. Next to Ace Hardware. $10,000 per semester.

513-255-4100, www.odcproperties.com

For rent New, Spacious 4 bedroom/ 2 full bath house available for 11-12 school year. $2050 pp/per sem.

Contact Red Brick at 524.9340.

NEW ENGLAND SQUARE 2 bdrm units, only 1 block from Campus!

Newly remodeled with stainless steel appliances, new ceramic tile/carpet, heat/air. W/D, DW in each unit. Offstreet parking. $2650 per person/per semester. Summer Move-In available for $400 per person. 513-839-0354 for more info.

For rent: Single units available for 11-12. Roommate Matching available for 11-12. 513-523-2015 or www.parkplacerealestate.net for more info For rent: Singles available and roommates needed for next year.

Contact Red Brick at 524.9340 or www.redbrickoxford.com for more info.

Help Wanted Summer Camp counselor SUMMER OF YOUR LIFE! CAMP WAYNE FOR GIRLS Childrens sleep-away camp, Northeast Pennsylvania 6/18-8/14. If you love children and want a caring, fun environment we need Counselors for: Tennis, Swimming, Golf, Gymnastics, Cheerleading, Drama, High & Low Ropes, Team Sports, Waterskiing, Sailing, Painting/Drawing, Ceramics, Silkscreen, Printmaking, Batik, Jewelry, Calligraphy, Photography, Sculpture, Guitar, Aerobics, Self-Defense, Video.

Other: Administrative, CDL Driver, Nurses, Bookkeeper, Nanny.

Interviews on the Miami Campus March 3rd. Select The Camp That Selects The Best Staff! Call 215-944-3069 or apply at www.campwaynegirls.com Now hiring: Spring and Summer painters wanted. Contact Matt @ 513.257.7237

Sales 1991 Jeep great condition 513-523-5866

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SINGLES available in the Mile Square for 11-12 school year. Contact Red Brick at 524.9340 or www.redbrickoxford.com

Apartments

1 Bedroom condo 2011/12 1 Bed, 1 Bath. Furnished Condo, includes W&D, Water, Waste & Trash Permit for 2, $3,000 per sem.

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SOUTH CAMPUS QUARTER OPENED August 2010 Modern Living ~ Contemporary Design -Located across from the REC Center. For more information call (513) 523-1647 or visit southcampusquarter.com

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Roberts Apartments 2011/12.

One-Bedroom Apartments. Great Location! Close to Campus. 2 Blocks from Uptown. Laundry Facilities.

Off-Street Parking. Spacious and Well-Maintained. 513-839-1426 www.roberts-apts.com

2 BR TOWNHOUSE NOW RENTING for fall 11-12. Great Location one block from campus: 22 E Central. Well maintained. Large spacious rooms. Off-street parking. Call First Financial Bank (513) 867-5576.

Uptown Apts 2011-12 Across from BW-3s, behind Pour House. 108 S. Main, Permit for 3, $1900 per semester/person. Large kitchen, big living room, A/C, some furnishings.

Call Dan, 513-543-4470 GREAT 4 BDRM HOUSE 2011/12.

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Call Barry at 864-680-7913 or email barrykeith1@gmail.com.

For Rent 2011-2012Great Properties available for the 2011-2012 school year. Contact OXRE at 513-523-4532 www.OXRE.com For Rent 4 Bedroom, 2 full bath, kitchen, laundry, washer/ dryer, $1000.00 per semester. Call 513-821-0937 or 513-529-1374 AFFORDABLE CONDO!!! 4 BR Fully Furnished Flat for 4 people or less - Special discount for 11-12 school year. ONLY $1,125/pp/sem (based on 4 people). Summer rentals also available. Call 614-746-2582 or watros@aol.com TODAY! Nice Condo for 2011-12Lrg. 2BR, 2BA condo convien. to metro and north side of campus. 2200.per tenant per sem. or $750.mo. T. 513-255-0433 For rent 4 bedroom duplex available in Northridge in a quiet residential area beginning in May. Perfect for graduate students and professors.

Call 513.257.7237 for more info.

THE COURTYARDS OF MIAMI Located on CENTRAL and MAIN, at the bus stop, only students live at the COURTYARDS, and enjoy a 2 minute walk to the REC. There is plenty parking, laundry and yard space.

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Flexible lease terms.Check Us Out www.foxandhounds-apartments. com www.oxfordrents.comCall 523-2440Text 335-7044

Houses NEWER CONDO TRENDY 4 BEDRM~2 FULL BATH~EQUIPPED KITCHEN~LAUNDRY~OFF STREET PARKING GARAGE~CAN HELP WITH FURNISHING Mike 513 266-1685 m2deuce21@hotmail.com HOUSE FOR RENT 4 Bedroom House, 2 full Baths, 2 car garage, washer/dryer, full kitchen, cable and hi speed internet in every room, large closets, all electric utilities, landlord pays water, sewer, and trash. Less than 4 years old. Call Lou @ (513) 658-2590 For rent Available for 11-12: Large 2 bedroom house located 1 Block from Uptown and Slant Walk. Includes parking for 2 and 2011 summer at no extra cost. $2450 pp/ per sem. Call 524.9340 House for rent Spacious 4 Bedroom, 3 Full Bathroom House now available for 11-12 school year.

One Block from Metro Stop. $2650 pp/ per sem. For more info call 513.524.9340 or visit www.redbrickoxford.com

THE MIAMI STUDENT

TUESDAY FEBRUARY 22, 2011 ♦ 9

ART

continued from page 4 These pieces will also become permanent in the hospital collection.

“I want to make it clear that students can submit art,” Vance said. “Being an artist myself, I can say this type of project and recognition looks great on a résumé. Plus, there is the opportunity to win Purchase Awards as well.”

Entry forms to submit a piece of art are in brochures around Oxford.

Each entry is $15 and up to three may be entered on a CD. The deadline for entry is March 14. Interested artists can also contact Jean Vance at jeanvanceartist@msn.com.

10

Tuesday February 22, 2011

Title IX approaches 40 years

BASKETBALL

Sports

NEXT GAME: 7 p.m. Wednesday at University of Akron

Dukes end ’Hawks win streak

By Alex Butler

With two minutes left, McHenry connected from downtown.

Junior Julian Mavunga managed Whirling winds caused a to net two points to tie with 30 power outage at the Convoca- ticks on the clock. With just 2.9 tion Center Saturday in Harri- seconds left, the Dukes drove sonburg, Va. as Miami Univer- to the dish, but a RedHawks’ sity tested its five-game winning foul put them on the line for streak against the James Madison two shots.

University Dukes.

It was at the charity stripe Although the lights did come where the Dukes sank the faback on, the Dukes denied the tal free throw, making one of RedHawks from shining with two from the line and forcing a 70-69 triumph. The ESPN the Red and White (14-13, 9-3 BracketBuster event makes Mid-American Conference) the ’Hawks 0-7 in road non- to answer. conference games this season Mavunga, who led the ’Hawks with one of the strictest slates in with 24 points and four threes, the country. would have liked to board the “If you watch their RPI (rat- bus with a 27-point night as his ing percentage index) and their deep three fell short along with record, they won their play the RedHawks at the buzzer. in game today,” Miami Head “It kind of puts us back down Coach Charlie Coles said. “I to earth,” Mavunga said. “We think they had a lot of good tal- had a five-game winning streak. ent. On the other hand, they hurt Now we have no winning streak. us with their dribble penetration It’s something where we can say and their overall athleticism kind even though we lost today we of hurt us. I thought we played can still build another winning a really good game, I just think streak. We can compete and fight we couldn’t come up with it at hard in every single one of these the end.” games, and it’s what we look forThe Dukes (20-9, 9-7 Colonial ward to doing.”

Athletic Association) dropped The ’Hawks’ defense did have in a duo of buckets to take a 4-0 one bright spot. Denzel Bowles lead early. With 11 minutes re- came to the Convocation Center maining in the half, the ’Hawks averaging 18.8 points per game. and Dukes were knotted up at A hive of ’Hawks held the for14-14 before the Red and White ward to just 10 points. went on a 10-0 run. Junior Chris “We did a great job on their McHenry, sophomore Allen Rob- big guy, Bowles,” Coles said. erts and senior Nick Winbush “He was averaging 18 points and each drilled three pointers during he’s probably going to be in the the stretch.

NBA one of these days. We did The RedHawks led 28-18 be- a great job on him and held him fore the Dukes dribbled back to 10, but then the three guards with an 8-0 run. Roberts reached combined for 45 points.” the rim for a four-point, 30-26 That same defense allowed lead with three minutes to go the Dukes’ group of guards before the half. The Dukes de- to shoot 57 percent from fense denied the ’Hawks from three-point range. scoring before the halftime horn “At this stage of the season, after Roberts’ bucket and closed a coach has got to be very, very the lead to one point as the teams careful,” Coles said. “You can’t headed to the locker rooms. go to them like you do in No“In no way was this an aver- vember and December and yell age ball club,” Coles said. “It and scream. You have to be very, was a very good team. I’m going very specific in saying ‘Hey guys, to talk to them about taking the what is it that we need to do to good and working with the bad.” get better?’ Let’s get better.”

Sniffing their 20th win of the Winbush went for his second season, the Dukes fought blow straight double-double with 11 by blow with the RedHawks’ points and 10 rebounds. Roberts shooters. Roberts hit a three with netted a dozen points, while Ma8:46 remaining for a 52-48 lead, vunga handed out six helpers. but the Dukes stormed back to All five starters reached take its largest lead of the game double figures in points for at 69-64.

James Madison.

Senior Staff Writer

Bethany Bruner

Buzzer Beater

I

n 1972, an act of legislation later called Title IX was put into effect.

Title IX gave both men and women a chance to participate in sports.

In 2011, women’s athletics are a staple of high school and college life. More than 3 million girls participate in high school sports every year.

This is what makes what happened at a high school wrestling match in Iowa all the more surprising.

A high school wrestler forfeited a match in the state championship because his opponent was a female.

While some may say wrestling is a guy’s sport and girls should stay out, the wrestler in Iowa had every right to participate.

Under Title IX, any girl who wants to play a sport can play on the guy’s team if there isn’t an equal girl’s team available.

This principle is why there are girls on some high school football teams. Since there wasn’t a girl’s wrestling team, she wrestled with and against the guys.

The wrestler who forfeited was within his rights as well. He didn’t have to wrestle if he didn’t want to, but he had gotten to the state meet and was a few matches away from a state title.

He worked all season long to walk away from it because of the gender of his opponent.

I know if I had worked for months to get to the state title, I wouldn’t back out because I had to wrestle against someone who was different from me.

As Title IX approaches its 40th anniversary, women’s athletics have made great strides and female athletes have more opportunities than ever before.

MICHAEL GRIGGS The Miami Student

As a girl, playing against the guys has always been a bigger deal to others than it is to me.

My high school basketball team practiced against the boy’s team on a weekly basis.

This wasn’t a big deal to the other players or myself, but our local newspaper published a lengthy feature about us.

Apparently, practicing against the boys was a novelty.

To hear someone say girls can’t or shouldn’t play with the boys still irritates me.

We beat the boy’s team regularly in practice. Granted, we probably couldn’t go out and beat a boy’s varsity team every night, but we had our days.

I would argue there are some women’s basketball teams on the collegiate level that could beat a lot of the men’s basketball teams.

Take the University of Connecticut women’s team for example. The ladies on that team won 90 straight games and beat opponents by double digits as habit.

Most men’s teams likely would have to push their limits to compete with this team.

As Title IX approaches its 40th anniversary, women’s athletics have made great strides and female athletes have more opportunities than ever before.

It is a shame that there are still athletes who can’t see past gender.

It should be about the heart and the ability of the competitor, not the gender of the athlete.

Maybe in another 40 years this will all change.

Editor Michael Solomon sports@miamistudent.net

Sophomore guard Allen Roberts goes up for two points Wednesday against Kent State University. Roberts scored 12 points in the losing effort Saturday.

HOCKEY

NEXT GAME: 7:05 p.m. Friday at Lake Superior State University

Lakers host Miami in regular season finale

By Alex Butler Senior Staff Writer

The hue of black and blue offers a not so subtle reminder of a brutal January and February for the Miami University hockey team.

With a win over Western Michigan University, the RedHawks clinched a first round bye in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) tournament and at least a fifth place finish. The taxing toll of facing the University of Michigan Wolverines, University of Notre Dame Fighting Irish and Western Michigan University Broncos in three consecutive weeks left The Brotherhood’s bodies bruised, but its mission is not nearly finished.

“I’m focused on this season,” goaltender Connor Knapp said. “Taking it game by game. We are not done yet. We are still going for that national championship, and we are all just focused on that right now.”

After netting a 3-0-3-1-2 record against the top three teams in the CCHA, the Red and White had the week off to rest. Now its time to fight again, and the next foe on the calendar is the Lake Superior State University (LSSU) Lakers (10-129, 8-9-8 CCHA).

The Lakers boast a 6-3-7 home record compared to its 4-8-2 road mark. The RedHawks are 1-0-1 against LSSU this season.

“It’s been a brutal January and February for us, so we got to rest up a little bit,” Head Coach Enrico Blasi said. “Some guys are banged up, so they need to rest and get back to work. We’ve done it before, so it’s not something that we aren’t accustomed to. It’s just a matter of staying focused and doing what we need to do.”

The ’Hawks have not lost in seven straight contests. However, with the idle week, the Red and White sit at third place in the CCHA with 49 points. The Irish and Wolverines lead the CCHA with 53 and 52 points respectively.

With the mantra of staying focused on a game-by-game basis, the Red and White are only thinking about the Lakers for now.

Lakers goaltender Kevin Kapalka is right behind Knapp in goals against average with a 1.91 mark. His 0.934 save percentage is one point behind Wolverines goaltender Shawn Hunwick on the CCHA list.

“We are going to get right back out there this week and hopefully we can fix a couple of things

MICHAEL GRIGGS The Miami Student

Senior captain Carter Camper leaves two Western Michigan University skaters behind Feb. 11 at Steve Cady Arena. and keep working and get everyone back on the same page,” Knapp said.

The RedHawks goaltenders and defense will be eyeing forwards Rick Shofield and Domenic Monardo. The duo has combined for 18 conference goals and 39 assists this season.

Look for the RedHawks to

take advantage of a Lakers unit that has scored 36 fewer goals.

With an attack composed of conference leaders Andy Miele, Carter Camper and Reilly Smith, the Red and White have scored a conference-high 91 times.

The second round of the CCHA tournament begins Friday, March 11 and lasts through March 12.