February 24, 2012 | The Miami Student

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

VOLUME 139 NO. 43 TODAY IN MIAMI HISTORY

FRIDAY, february 24, 2012

MIAMI UNIVERSITY OXFORD, OHIO

In 1963, The Miami Student reported that Ohio House Bill 214 was passed out of the Education Committee in the Ohio House of Representatives. This bill would design a Board of Regents that would have the power to review the appropriations of six state higher learning institutions, including Miami University.

Swimmer prepares for Olympic trials By Libby Mueller

For The Miami Student

For many, the Olympics have been a distant exhibition of raw athletic talent and faces uplifted in triumph, but for Miami University junior swimmer Bekka Westrick, a shot at the Olympics is a not-sodistant reality. Her time of 1:01.86 in the 100-meter butterfly at the Speedo Championship Sectional meet over the summer qualified her for the Olympic Trials. The trials will take place June 25 to July 2 in Omaha, Neb. Head swimming coach Dave Jennings, who has coached Westrick for three years, said that preparation for the Olympic Trials will be a grueling process for Westrick. “[Westrick’s qualifying time] is just under the qualifying limits by about a couple tenths of a second,” Jennings said. “Certainly we’ve

got some work to do in terms of moving forward.” Westrick said the competition will be intense. “It’s going to be intense but it’s going to be a good fight,” Westrick said. Only the top two swimmers in Westrick’s event will be named to the US Olympic Team and swim at the 2012 Olympics in London. Westrick will compete against top swimmers all across the country, not only college students but club swimmers, high school swimmers and any others whose times qualified them for the trials. Westrick has trained well over this season and has improved her control and performance, Jennings said. Westrick has continued to train for the regular college season, but once the season is over, she will start the arduous process of training for the Olympic Trials, Jennings said.

“I’ve seen her really mature as a swimmer and especially as a competitor,” Jennings said. “I’ve just seen her grow, developing a lot more confidence and believing in herself.” Throughout Jennings’ tenure as head women’s swimming coach at Miami, eight swimmers

where she will encounter stiff competition, Jennings said. “She’s also one of our harder workers,” Jennings said. “She always brings her A-game.” Junior swimmer Maddie Kete said Westrick’s competitiveness distinguishes her and gives her an edge.

I’ve seen [Westrick] really mature as a swimmer and especially as a competitor. I’ve just seen her grow, developing a lot more confidence and believing in herself.” DAVE JENNINGS HEAD SWIMMING COACH

and divers have qualified for the Olympic Trials. Westrick’s sound technique and fast starts will give her a huge advantage at the trials this summer,

“She’s very, very competitive, so she always has that drive to win,” Kete said. “Her work ethic is above and beyond. [The Olympic Trials are] going to be a pretty

exciting meet. I wish I could go and watch live!” Westrick said qualifying for the trials meant yet another chance to do what she has loved to do since the age of seven: swim. “I’m really excited just to be able to race again,” Westrick said. “I’m just going to go in there and try to do my best.” Westrick said her favorite part of swimming has always been her teammates and the feeling of strength and accomplishment after a swim. More than anything, she said she is looking forward to the thrill of swimming against the most elite swimmers in the country. Westrick has a passion for what she does and will meet her competition with spirited drive, Jennings said. “I think she loves what she does. She enjoys it,” Jennings said. “She certainly brings a full package.”

‘Mozart of Madras’ will speak at commencement By Sam Kay

Editor in Chief

BOYS (AND GIRLS) WILL MAKE PEOPLE LAUGH

MIKE ZATT THE MIAMI STUDENT

Members of the Harvard Sailing Team Billy Scafuri (left), Fayrn Einhorn (center) and Mike Smith (right) perform in the Farmer School of Business’s Taylor Auditorium Wednesday night. The show was part of Campus Activities Council’s Spirit Week activities.

State windfall nets Miami $19 million By Jenn Smola Campus Editor

A commission of seven leaders from higher education institutions in Ohio recently came to an agreement on how to spread $400 million amongst Ohio public universities. Although the plan still needs to be approved by Ohio Gov. John Kasich, Miami University tentatively has $19.3 million of that money coming its way, including $18.2 million to renovate Kreger Hall on the Oxford campus and $1.1 million for projects on the regional campuses. According to David Creamer, Miami’s vice president for finance and business services, Gov. Kasich requested that representatives from Ohio’s public schools collaborate to determine how to divide state capital funding. “This funding has to do with capital improvements,” Robert Keller, associate vice president for planning and operations said. “That basically means projects.” Capital funding is generally for things like renovations and occasionally new construction projects, and separate from Miami’s general operational budget, according to Keller. A commission was formed to

recommend how the money should be spent. The commission first set several guiding principles to focus the use of state resources, including that the state’s funding should be categorized into one of four areas: public-private partnerships, workforce development, interdisciplinary approaches, and longterm maintenance, according to the commission’s report. “Each institution got an opportunity to make a presentation about their projects and the request they were making,” Creamer said. The commission consisted of Miami President David Hodge, Ohio State University President Gordon Gee, Toledo University President Lloyd Jacobs, four representatives from various two-year institutions and a representative from the InterUniversity Council of Ohio, according to Creamer. Previously, Ohio’s colleges and universities received state capital funds according to a formula based on the age of an institution’s facilities, its enrollment and the amount of infrastructure it must maintain. In the report, the commission said that while the old process ensured fair and expected fund distribution, it was viewed as being less responsive

to state needs. “The previous system was formula-driven, so it was fairly predictable,” Keller said. The new collaborative method, the report said, is equally fair, as well as more flexible and accommodating. The report also said the collaborative budget process “presented a more strategic vision for the State of Ohio’s investment.” Included in the state money Miami will receive is $1.1 million for projects on its regional campuses, according to Creamer. “The projects that were prioritized [by Miami] were all fully funded,” Creamer said. The money that Miami will receive should the commission’s recommendations be approved will go towards renovating Kreger Hall. Once renovated, the physics department will be moving to Kreger Hall from its current Culler Hall home, Creamer said. The Kreger Hall project also falls under the interdisciplinary approaches category of funding. According to the commission’s report, Kreger Hall will house facilities that will unite physicists and

FUNDING, SEE PAGE 5

Indian composer A.R. Rahman will cap off Miami University’s Year of the Arts May 5 as he gives the commencement address and receives an honorary doctorate. Rahman has composed over 100 movie soundtracks and albums, and has sold more than 150 million copies of his work. The Academy Award-winning composer of the Slumdog Millionaire soundtrack has been collaborating with Miami for about a decade as a result of his friendship with visiting professor and Miami graduate Srinivas Krishnan. Krishnan is the director of Miami’s annual Global Rhythms concert. In September, Rahman made a surprise visit to Miami to listen to students prepare to perform his music in the Global Rhythms concert. “The impact that [Rahman] has had through the years, having Global Rhythms performances here, has touched tens of thousands of people through his generous contributions of music, instruments and funding,” senior music education major Sean O’Neill said. Performing Arts Series Director Patti Liberatore said having

Rahman as commencement speaker is an excellent way of recognizing his collaboration with Miami during the Year of the Arts. “It’s wonderful to have someone with that kind of accomplishment come, but even more special because he’s been working with Miami students for many years,” Liberatore said. “I think it will be a very singularly memorable day for graduating seniors and their families.” Liberatore was on the committee that recommended Rahman as commencement speaker. Executive Assistant to the President Ted Pickerill also served on the commencement speaker committee. “Mr. Rahman … has a great record as a humanitarian and serving others,” Pickerill said. “He is globally focused. At Miami, we certainly believe that students should have learning and understanding of other cultures – and opportunities to directly experience other cultures – as part of their college experience.” O’Neill has had just that kind of experience because of Rahman. O’Neill first became familiar with Rahman’s work as a first-year when the Miami Men’s Glee Club

RAHMAN, SEE PAGE 5

ANDREW BRAY THE MIAMI STUDENT

A.R. Rahman, an Academy Award winning composer, speaks to students during his visit to Miami in October. Rahman has been selected as the speaker for this spring’s May 5 commencement ceremony. Rahman will also receive an honorary doctorate from Miami.


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