The Miami Student Oldest university newspaper in the United States, established 1826
FRIDAY, APRIL 5, 2013
VOLUME 140 NO. 49
MIAMI UNIVERSITY OXFORD, OHIO
TODAY IN MIAMI HISTORY In 1971, The Miami Student published a section titled, “Pictures Define Fall Moods of Oxford Campuses.” Accompanying the black and white photographs of students becoming one with nature, a poem read, “Autumn To Winter, Winter To Spring, Spring Into Summer, Summer Into Fall. So Rolls The Changing Year, And So We Change, Motion So Swift, We Know Not We Move.”
JAKE BRENNAN MANAGING EDITOR
EARNING YOUR WINGS King of the Wing, a wing eating contest, brought students together Thursday in Central Quad.
Football team suspends Harwell after charges BY TOM DOWNEY SPORTS EDITOR
Miami University football Head Coach Don Treadwell has suspended rising senior wide receiver Nick Harwell from the team as a result of the Oxford Police Department’s (OPD) recent charges against him. “He is currently suspended from all football team related activities,” Treadwell said. “And that is kind of it in a nutshell… [It is] indefinite right now until further notice.” OPD charged Harwell with vehicular trespass, unauthorized use of a vehicle, criminal damaging and theft, according to the police report. The charges were filed after Harwell kicked down a door at Miami Commons and stole a cap and gown from a car early Saturday morning, according to OPD. Harwell has a year of eligibility
remaining on the football field. Harwell will likely be facing a violation of the code of conduct from the university in addition to the criminal charges, according to Claire Wagner, director of university news and communication. “The charges from the police report would match some of the charges listed in the code of conduct,” Wagner said. Wagner could not comment specifically on Harwell’s case, but did confirm Harwell is still enrolled at Miami. Wagner also said while the court system needs proof beyond a reasonable doubt, Miami only needs a “preponderance of evidence” to discipline a student. Harwell was arguably the top returning player for Miami and had a legitimate chance to set several Miami and Mid-American Conference (MAC) records. Harwell needed 30 catches, 531 yards and nine receiving
touchdowns to set the Miami record in those categories. He currently ranks second in catches and yards at Miami, and third in receiving touchdowns. He needed 78 catches and 1,021 yards to set the MAC records in those categories. For a team that will lose its star quarterback, Zac Dysert, to graduation and to the NFL, the potential loss of Harwell would be detrimental. Miami also entered spring practice having already lost former wide receivers Andy Cruise and Luke Swift to graduation. Treadwell said the incident could be a learning experience for the current players. “I think all the experiences are learning experiences no matter what,” Treadwell said. “We try to teach from the good number one, and if there is a negative experience we try to teach from that as well.”
Miami increases security after key logging scandal BY JOHN FRAHM
FOR THE MIAMI STUDENT
Miami University plans to amp up online security following the recent grade changing scandal that revealed security loopholes in the grading system. Two former Miami students were charged March 25 with firstdegree misdemeanors for unauthorized use of the university’s computer system. An investigation by the Miami University Police Department (MUPD) found a key logging device had been used to obtain usernames and passwords that allowed the students access to change the grades, according to director of university news and communications Claire Wagner. According to information security officer Joe Bazeley, key logging is a simple task for the university. Bazeley said key logging devices are available online for only $50. The device itself is about two inches long and resembles a typical USB drive that can easily go unnoticed.
Installation of the device requires that the keyboard be plugged into the key logger and then the key logger into a computer. The device tracks every keystroke made on the keyboard and stores it into a text file. Once the device has been removed, the text information can be retrieved, according to Bazeley. “A specific three-key combination turns it into a flash drive,” Bazeley said. “Like a password.” He added that students had access to the instructor stations in classrooms and were able to put the key logger into place while the room was empty. They could later remove the device to get the information they desired. Bazeley said that at this stage, the university is telling faculty members to report any mysterious devices found in the instructor stations to IT. He also encouraged faculty members to use their own laptops in the classroom setting to provide more protection from the installation of key logging devices. Bazeley had one big piece of advice for the faculty members.
Oxford settles 2008 Taser case involving student death for $750,000 BY JESSICA BARGA STAFF WRITER
The City of Oxford and the Oxford Police Department (OPD) recently settled a 2008 incident with a $750,000 payment. The incident involved the death of a Miami University student after the use of a Taser. Miami University student Kevin Piskura was stunned with a Taser April 19, 2008, when police intervened in a fight outside Brick Street Bar and Grill. Piskura went into cardiac arrest as a result and was transported to University Hospital in Cincinnati, where he died
five days later, according to public records. Several charges were originally brought against the City of Oxford and OPD by the Piskura family, including excessive force by the police at the scene. Doug Elliott, Oxford city manager, said the settlement amount, which was determined March 6, will be covered by Oxford’s insurance. The money will be paid to the Piskura family. Although the case against Oxford has been settled, the Piskura family is now bringing charges against Taser International, the manufacturer of Taser stun guns, according to Elliott.
The City of Oxford and the officer involved in the incident, Sgt. Geoff Robinson of OPD, have been dismissed from the case. Elliott said the original charges against the city of Oxford were about to expire a year ago, but were reinstated by the Piskura family leading to this year’s settlement of the case. The closure of the case against Oxford was mutually agreeable to both the city and the Piskura family. “We felt the settlement was in the best interest of all parties,” Elliott said. “…Our officer was confronted with a
fast-moving situation and responded as trained.” Taser International spokesman Steve Tuttle said the company does not comment on private litigations. Taser International has sold about 655,000 Tasers in 107 countries around the world to date, according to Tuttle. U.S. District Court Judge Herman J. Weber, who presided over the case, could not be reached for comment. Miami students shared mixed feelings about the use of Tasers on college students. “[I think] officers are quick to use their authority,” sophomore
Rick Snyder said. “I think there are other outlets for that, unless the person is harming themselves or others. You also don’t know if someone has a medical condition that would make it dangerous for them to get tased.” Sophomore Mark Johansen said he thought most situations that would arise in a college setting would not justify the use of a Taser. “Even if a situation were to get out of hand, I think that just having two or three officers [to respond] would take care of it,” Johansen said. “Police shouldn’t tase college students unless they really need to.”
Voters settle election despite violations MU FIRES WOMEN’S BY VICTORIA SLATER CAMPUS EDITOR
Election Violation The Charlie Schreiber/Courtney Bernard student body presidential ticket was issued a major campaign violation Thursday. According to the Associated Student Government (ASG) Elections Committee, volunteers for the ticket’s campaign violated policies during the runoff election by vandalizing and removing posters belonging to the opponent ticket Forrest McGuire/
Lot Kwarteng. The Elections Committee said the vandalization involved pasting the McGuire/ Kwarteng violation on its posters. The McGuire/Kwarteng ticket was issued a violation during the primary election after volunteers to their campaign pressured other students to vote for their candidates, according to the Elections Committee. The McGuire/ Kwarteng campaign fund was cut $100 as a result; however their campaign as whole was not affected. The Elections Committee noted that the same is expected for the Schreiber/Bernard ticket.
Election Results The Charlie Schreiber/ Courtney Bernard ticket was elected student body president and vice president Thursday, According to the ASG Elections Committee. The election had a total of 4,606 votes with 51.04 percent toward the Schreiber/Bernard ticket and 49.95 percent toward the Forrest McGuire/Lot Kwarteng ticket, according to the Elections Committee.
BASKETBALL COACH Miami University has fired women’s basketball Head Coach Maria Fantanarosa. “I want to thank Coach Fantanarosa for all that she has done for Miami in her 15 seasons as Head Women’s Basketball Coach,” Athletic Director David Sayler said in a press release. “She has been a valued member of the Miami community, and we wish her success in the next chapter of her career.” Fantanarosa was 237-212 during her time at Miami. She won one Mid-American Conference Championship and made the NCAA tournament in 2008. A national search for a new head coach will begin immediately.