The Miami Student Oldest university newspaper in the United States, established 1826
TUESDAY, APRIL 8, 2014
VOLUME 141 NO. 44
MIAMI UNIVERSITY OXFORD, OHIO
TODAY IN MIAMI HISTORY In 1983, The Miami Student reported 59 eggs had been splattered across the architecture building’s floor after visiting professor Allen Chapman chal-
lenged students to build a toothpick structure capable of transporting an egg intact 20 feet down to the ground. “Up to two points could be awarded for elegance – the aesthetical appeal – of the solution,” he said.
Publisher closes book on prof research on Putin BY VICTORIA SLATER CAMPUS EDITOR
TAYLOR WOOD THE MIAMI STUDENT
FAST AND THE FURIOUS Miami junior runner Elisa Frazier leads the pack during the women’s 3000 meter steeplechase Saturday at the Miami Invitational. Frazier went on to take first place in the event. Both the men’s and women’s teams took first place in the invitational.
A book five years in the making, Miami University’s director of the Havighurst Center for Russian and Post-Soviet Studies Karen Dawisha’s research on Vladimir Putin’s links to organized crime was set to take an unprecedented glance at the criticized Russian president. However, fear of stringent British libel law has put the book back on the shelf for now. The Cambridge University Press (CUP), a 500-year-old company in Britain through which Dawisha sought publication, has decidedly pulled the plug on her book, saying some of her claims run too high of a risk of libel. Dawisha has previously published five books with the CUP. This book, however, is particularly significant, given the existing tensions between Russia and Ukraine. “When Putin came into power in 2000, he was elected, he was chosen,” Dawisha said. “He has made choices. He could choose to go in one direction or the other. He chose to go down the authoritarian road. I believe the main reason why he has done that was because he has a group
around him of what the White House calls his ‘cronies’ who have risen up with him since the 1990’s.” Dawisha’s book analyzes how Putin and these associates systematically utilized the buffer of his presidential position to deal in illegal financial exchanges. The United States and the European Union, Dawisha argues, are now targeting the regime for this particular reason. “This is why, when the U.S. decided to punish Russia, the state, for invading Crimea, they targeted this group,” she said. “The U.S. government and the EU have decided that this is how the [Russian] system works, and in order to make them hurt, they need to actually get their money. This is something quite new in international relations.” Discerning the controversial nature of her work, Dawisha and CUP sent her 500-page manuscript, a quarter of which is an accumulation of evidentiary footnotes, to a team of lawyers for review in November. Five months later, she learned the approval she garnered from CUP in 2011 was no longer valid. “Given the controversial subject matter of the book, and its basic premise that Putin’s power is founded on his links to organised
KAREN DAWISHA
crime, we are not convinced that there is a way to rewrite the book that would give us the necessary comfort,” CUP Executive Publisher John Haslam wrote to Dawisha in a March 20 email, published Thursday in the Economist. Haslam noted the decision “[had] nothing to do with the quality of [Dawisha’s] research or [her] scholarly credibility” and was simply a matter of “risk tolerance.” “… At the very time that the US and EU governments, obviously fully in possession of intelligence that points to precisely this conclusion,
DAWISHA, SEE PAGE 9
Students rev up at Boston Marathon BY OLIVIA BRAUDE STAFF WRITER
They are a different breed of people. The ones who are up before dawn, braving wind, rain, snow, heat, sun. They are the ones who push through the pain, the exhaustion, the hunger. Uphill, downhill and back up again, never stopping until they reach their destination. They are admired by a few, seen as crazy by most, but they have each other and the bond of loving something so much they are willing to put it all on the line. They are brothers, sisters, friends, students, but most of all, they are runners. Like Forrest Gump, who never thought running would take him anywhere, Miami University sophomore Addie Rupert never dreamed she’d qualify for the crown jewel of races, the Boston Marathon. “All my goal was, was to finish,” Rupert said of her first marathon. But Rupert, a member of Miami’s club running team, the Striders, did more than just finish. Running at a 7:38 minute per mile pace for 26.2 grueling miles in Columbus, she landed herself a spot in one of the most prestigious races in the world. The Boston Marathon started in 1887 with the establishment of the Boston Athletic Association, a non-profit organization committed to promoting a healthy lifestyle through sports, especially running. In its 118th year, the marathon is on Monday, April 21, Patriot’s Day in Boston. The World Marathon Majors— London, Berlin, Chicago and New York City marathons—are all races for which a runner has to qualify. According to Rupert, she had to run in a participating marathon—such as the Columbus Marathon held every October—and finish in a time faster than three hours and 35 minutes. However, Rupert never set her sights on this mark. It was, after all, her first marathon and who qualifies for Boston, the king of marathons, during their first marathon? “I never even trained below eight [minute per mile pace],” Rupert said. But she did have some helpful tricks up her sleeve come race day in Columbus.
“I remember when I was doing Columbus I saw a lot of people walking when they hit the wall,” Rupert said, “And I hit the wall, I had to slow down a little bit, but I told myself over and over again, ‘you will not walk’ and I didn’t.” Other strategies Rupert used included staying optimistic and picking a runner to try to keep up with throughout the race.
It’s great to have goals and things to strive for. That being said, marathons are the worst.They really hurt.Your mind, your body, your soul.” RYAN MOORE
SENIOR, PRESIDENT OF STRIDERS
“Some guy had really colorful shoes so I was like, ‘OK, I’m just going to stay with him.’ So I stayed with him for as long as I could,” Rupert said with a grin. Admittedly, he was too fast for Rupert, but her method must have worked because she crossed the finish line of the 2012 Columbus Marathon in three hours, 21 minutes and two seconds, beating the time she needed to qualify by more than 10 minutes. Her training for Boston has been a little more regimented this time around. Rupert has been following a schedule of runs that increases in distance every week, culminating in a final long run 22 miles in length. But Rupert fell victim to a runner’s worst nightmare: a leg injury. During her training-running 10 miles of hills-she strained her quad and the bad timing of the injury is affecting her in many ways. “On Saturday,” Rupert said, “I was supposed to do 22 [miles], but I limped through 10.” Her initial excitement has turned to nerves as the day of the Boston Marathon approaches and her injury is still not healed. “My goal now is to finish,” Rupert said, sighing. Despite the injury, Rupert is still
physically active. Preparing to teach a spinning and total body tone class at Miami’s Recreation Center, Rupert said that although running is her exercise of choice, she enjoys all types of fitness classes and is always trying new workouts. “It’s just like a part of me, fitness in general,” Rupert said. As the weather changes for the better, there is no place Rupert would rather be than outside enjoying a run. “It’s just the way I am. I have to run. If I don’t run, I’m not in a good mood,” Rupert said. As April 21 and the Boston Marathon approach, Rupert is continuing to take it easy with her quad injury and tapering her runs to shorter distances. While Rupert is shortening her runs, senior Ryan Moore, president of Striders, is beginning to strategize his training plan for the 2015 Boston Marathon, for which he qualified this past October at the 2013 Columbus Marathon. It had taken him about five marathons, but he and two other Striders ran within the qualifying parameters for their gender and age group: a taxing three hours and five seconds. Moore, along with senior Brian Breitsch and sophomore Alex Schachtel, trained together over the summer despite being located in different parts of the state. “We spent all summer training independently but we tracked our mileage online so it was a lot of ‘Hey, good job! Saw you had a good week of running!’” Moore said. The goal for the three teammates was to qualify for the Boston Marathon during the Dayton Marathon held this past September. After a late arrival set a bad tone for the race, the three decided to give qualifying for Boston one last shot and vowed to run the rapidly approaching Columbus Marathon. “That last month I don’t think any of us trained like at all, so we were really out of shape by the time and I think we all just got lucky,” Moore said. “It was a lot of motivating
BOSTON, SEE PAGE 5
AMANDA PALISWAT THE MIAMI STUDENT
LET’S TALK ABOUT SAX, BABY
The Miami University Jazz Ensemble performed on Wednesday March 19 in Hall Auditorium.
MU career services helps students pinpoint passions BY EMILY C. TATE
SENIOR STAFF WRITER
She steps into the classroom every day, five days a week, looking onto a sea of eager first-grade faces. They are sticky and silly and at times hard to control. Not everyone gets it, but these six and seven-year-olds are her true loves. She loves their unbridled curiosity and unpredictability, but perhaps most of all she loves the endless possibilities these children carry with them. She is Laura Dewire, senior and early childhood education major at Miami University, and she has found her passion. This process is unique to every student and does not always come easily. As Director of Career Services Mike Goldman said, one size does not fit all when it comes to choosing majors and eventually careers, and that is crucial for students to understand as they embark on their college years.
“Students need to remember they are attending [one of the top] public universities for undergraduate teaching,” Goldman said. “They can and should allow themselves to dream about different career options.” Junior Matthew Meeks has allowed himself to do just that. Even before college, Meeks said he knew he wanted to be a doctor, but it was not until his first semester at Miami that he discovered where he truly fit in that field. Meeks was taking an African Art course – specifically, “ART 235: The Gods are Here” with professor Dele Jegede – and the final assignment was to create a presentation relating the course materials to your own field of study. “So I studied the healthcare problems in the countries we had learned about all semester,” he said, “and I absolutely loved it.”
MAJOR,
SEE PAGE 5
2
CAMPUS
EDITORS REIS THEBAULT VICTORIA SLATER
TUESDAY, APRIL 8, 2014
CAMPUS@MIAMISTUDENT.NET
Caps off to Whitaker: MU welcomes celeb BY CASEY KALDAHL FOR THE MIAMI STUDENT
The recent announcement of Oscar-winning actor and humanitarian Forest Whitaker as the 2014 commencement speaker has generated a good deal of excitement on campus. In the past, Miami has been host to a number of notable commencement speakers including “Good Morning America” host Robin Roberts, U.S. representative and civil rights activist John Lewis, U.S. representatives and Miami alumni Steve Driehaus (’88) and Paul Ryan (’92), and most recently, class of 1976 author and journalist Wil Haygood. The process of selecting and recruiting speakers is long. It begins approximately nine months in advance. Ted Pickerill, secretary to the board of trustees and executive assistant to President David Hodge, has been on the selection committee for the past three years. “Normally, we assemble a committee of faculty members, staff members, but most importantly students,” Pickerill said. “We have students from every academic division and also a student from the graduate program.”
The committee creates a list of characteristics in an ideal speaker and then brainstorms people who fit the criteria and will also be able to speak to the theme of the academic year, said Pickerill. When the committee reconvenes they narrow their list of potential speakers down to five or six candidates which are then presented to Hodge. From there, Hodge reaches out to the candidate he believes would be the best fit for the year, according to Pickerill. The theme for the 2014-15 year is “Celebrating Freedom” to commemorate Freedom Summer of 1964. In June of 1964, volunteers from around the country, of different backgrounds gathered in Oxford, Ohio on what was then the Western College for Women for a training session in non-violence protesting, voter registration and Freedom School education. Volunteers then went down to Mississippi and spent the summer fighting. With this year marking the 50th anniversary of Freedom Summer, the committee was looking for someone who could speak to civil rights along with being wellknown in their field, Pickerill said. The process for reaching out
to Forest Whitaker this year was unique as they made a connection through Wil Haygood. Haygood, the 2013 commencement speaker and Miami graduate, wrote the Washington Post article that inspired Whitaker’s most recent film “The Butler.” “Wil was very excited about having someone from the movie being the commencement speaker,” Pickerill said. “Forest Whitaker is the lead character of the movie but he is also a humanitarian and a great personal example.” Because of “unique and special circumstances” Hodge reached out to Whitaker without the help of a committee. Hodge is responsible for reaching out to potential commencement speakers and inviting them to come to Miami. According to Pickerill, this invitation is typically sent in the form of a letter outlining the unique focus of the year and also informing speakers that part of the ceremony will be awarding them with an honorary doctorate. Pickerill said the recruitment committee looks for candidates who are well-known and well-respected in their fields, someone who can deliver a
meaningful message but also someone who contributes to the greater good of society. Miami does not have a set fee for commencement speakers as it varies depending on who the university decides to bring in. According to Pickerill, the typical fee is anywhere in the $25-35,000 range.
to,” Spiewak said. Faculty and staff are also sharing in student’s excitement. Kate Rousmaniere, associate professor and chair in the Department of Educational Leadership, said she likes that Whitaker fits well with the legacy of civil rights activism on campus.
Whitaker is the lead character of [“The Butler”] but he is also a humanitarian and a great personal example.” TED PICKERILL
EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT TO PRESIDENT HODGE
“Most of the people who are commencement speakers don’t do it for the fee and I think, in many cases, they take a fee less than what they normally would for a typical speaking engagement,” Pickerill said. Excitement is high on campus following the Whitaker announcement. Senior, Becky Spiewak, is excited about Whitaker’s wide appeal and the energy he will bring to campus. “I think Forest Whitaker has a very interesting background and I feel like he will be very energetic and easier for students to relate
“He’s cool because he played the main part in “The Butler” which was a really thought-provoking civil rights film, but he’s also a humanitarian in his own right,” she said. Rousmaniere said she hopes Whitaker can challenge students to think broadly and creatively about their futures and about social change. “He’s more than a movie star,” Rousmaniere said. “He’s got great social activist work that he does and supports and I’m really excited that we’re going to learn about that.”
Actor Geena Davis talks gender equality in media BY KAILA FRISONE SENIOR STAFF WRITER
Academy Award winning actor Geena Davis spoke to a full house Thursday evening to begin the Women in Leadership Symposium. Her keynote speech addressed the issue of gender inequality in the media and the impact it is having on society. Davis shared several surprising statistics as well as personal accounts from her experiences in Hollywood. She said the film that changed her life was “Thelma and Louise,” in which she starred as Thelma. The film led to her thinking about how women perceive her character and how it would make them feel about themselves. “I’ve only played roles that are empowering to women,” Davis said early in her speech. She received rousing applause in response. She said after filming “A League of Their Own”—a movie about a women’s baseball team—she had several teenage girls approach her and say they were inspired to take up sports. She asked the audience to imagine if there were more movies with females representing strong leadership roles and how that could impact young girls. Davis explained how self-esteem in girls decreases when they watch movies, yet self-esteem increases in boys. “What message are we sending to boys and girls at a very vulnerable age if female characters are one-dimensional, sidelined,
stereotyped and not important to the plot or simply not there at all?” Davis asked. “We’re saying that women and girls are not as important as men and boys.” Davis said females represent only 18 percent of Congress, 22 percent of television journalism, ten percent of military officers and 17 percent of crowds in movie scenes. Davis also surprised the audience with the statistic that the United States ranks 90th in the world for female representation in elected office. “As Americans, we are used to thinking of ourselves as leading the way,” she said. President David Hodge attended the speech and said he was inspired by her words. “We, both men and women, have internalized these impressions (of gender) and don’t even know it,” Hodge said. Davis’s speech, while on a serious topic and full of shocking statistics, was also very light-hearted. The audience laughed frequently in response to her quick sense of humor. She shared a story of her first day in college at Boston University as an acting major. The professor informed the class that they had chosen a tremendously difficult profession because only about one percent of the students would be able to earn a living as an actor. “I swear to God, I was like ‘these poor kids, somebody should have told them,” she said in response. She said she had an unshakeable faith and her tenacity is what has led to her successes.
CONTRIBUTED BY MU EQUESTRIAN TEAM
REINING IN VICTORY
Miami’s equestrian club team, Hunt Seat division, qualified for Nationals, which takes place next weekend in Harrisburg. Penn.
MANY THE MILE
AMANDA PALISWAT THE MIAMI STUDENT
Runners take off at the beginning of the fourth annual Run To Be Heard 5K Saturday to raise money and awareness for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders through Autism Speaks. Autism Speaks is an organization that sponsors research for treatment for the disorder.
Campus jobs pay in more ways than one BY SAMANTHA AIZEN FOR THE MIAMI STUDENT
Being a student at Miami University is no free ride. The cost of living, as well as books, tuition and just some pocket change all add up. For this reason and others, more than 4,000 students are on the university’s payroll. More than 2,000 of those students work in the dining services, the Culinary Support Center (CSC), Carillon Catering trucking and residence halls. Jaime Kimbrough, interim director of staffing and administrative services for the department of housing, dining, recreation and business services (HDRBS), explained how having a job on campus is beneficial for the students’ futures. “We have had students in the past come and speak to the student managers, and they talk about how much the experience working at Miami has helped them in their current jobs,” Kimbrough said. Student managers have said how much these jobs have helped
them get to where they are today. They have gained confidence and become independent because of these jobs as well as taught the importance of discipline and skills with communication. “It’s the responsibility and the leadership opportunity that I really enjoy,” Chris Andersen said, a senior marketing major, who too on additional student manager duties at the new student center. Eric Yung, executive chef in student dining, said he is surprised how dedicated Miami students are at working, despite their busy schedules and course loads. “I find in general Miami students are very focused, bright and inquisitive ... there is a certain level of pride in Miami students. They are the classic over achievers and want to do a good job at everything that they do,” Yung said. He said students are easy to work with and provide benefit given they are also consumers. They are in a position to give great suggestions for improvement. Students work for many reasons. Tuition and paying for
books are a big reason for the necessity of a job. Others are just looking for some pocket change. Some students work not necessarily just for money, but for a way to give back. Sophomore Carson White works at the Howe Writing Center in King library and helps improve fellow students’ writing pieces. “I also wanted to help students on campus and I thought that being a writing center consultant would be a great way to do so while still doing something I love,” she said. On average, most students work about eight hours a week while working for about $8.25 an hour. According to White, the only downside to her job is that shifts are not very flexible if she is in need to get her shifts covered. Carson said she is grateful to be able to participate by working at one of the best writing centers in the nation and added having that experience is hard to come by. “I strongly suggest students try and take advantage of these wonderful opportunities we have here at Miami,” she said.
EDITORS JANE BLAZER CHRIS CURME
COMMUNITY TUESDAY APRIL 8, 2014
COMMUNITY@MIAMISTUDENT.NET
3
POLICE
BEAT
Man resists other’s arrest, and then his own At 2:30 a.m. Friday, an OPD officer was in his cruiser doing paperwork regarding a suspect detained in the backseat when a male knocked on his window. The male outside the cruiser demanded the officer let the man in the backseat go, according to OPD. When asked if he knew the suspect, he said he did, and his name was “Edward.” The man, whose name was not Edward, said he had never seen the male before. As the male spoke into the cruiser, the officer smelled his intoxicated breath and told him he needed to buzz off. The male said he refused to leave until the officer released the male in the back of the cruiser. The officer again demanded the male vamoose, which he did. Almost immediately, the male returned with a troop of friends. He again yelled at the officer to release the incarcerated suspect. After he was told he would be arrested if he remained by the cruiser, the male walked about 30 feet away, OPD said. However, he quickly returned a third time, determined to free the total stranger in the cruiser. When asked for ID, the male said his license was in his wallet and the officer could get it if he really wanted. Two additional officers dispersed the male’s friends, who left saying, “F**k OPD” and making “offensive hand gestures.” The officers asked the male to join the male in the back of the cruiser. He refused. He was placed under arrest, but not without resistance. Two officers brought him to the ground and forced his hands behind his back. Since he refused to sign his citations for obstructing official business and resisting arrest, he was taken to Butler County Jail.
Night of the living drunk: man asleep in parking lot At 2:30 a.m. Friday, an OPD officer reported to a parking lot at 110 N. Poplar St in response to a male lying on the ground. Upon arrival, the officer found a male splayed on his back on the asphalt. Identifying himself as an officer, he asked the male if he was OK. The male said he was OK. Stooping over the body, the officer could smell liquor on his breath and noticed his eyes were glassy and bloodshot. Like a hand from the grave, the male stuck his arm straight into the air and asked the officer to help him up. The officer told him to get up on his own, which he was unable to do. After the limp male was unable to haul himself to his feet, the officer helped him. The male began to stagger away and the officer asked for his ID. While still walking away, the male pulled out his wallet and asked why the officer wanted to see identification. The officer grabbed the suspect’s arm to keep him from wandering away. A second officer arrived, and it took both authorities to place the male in handcuffs. While the man was restrained, the officer identified the male and discovered he was 21 years old. While at the station, the male began “yelling and screaming.” While in the holding cell, he banged on doors and screamed at passersby. Officers warned him to stop, and had to restrain him in the holding cell. He was cited for disorderly conduct and taken to Butler County Jail.
JALEN WALKER THE MIAMI STUDENT
‘MOTION’S’ 11
Citizens and Miami University students alike gather at the Oxford Kinetics Festival Sunday afternoon on the sidewalk leading to Millett Hall.
Archdiocese to change contract BY MARISSA STIPEK
FOR THE MIAMI STUDENT
The Archdiocese of Cincinnati has created a new contract for what they are calling their “teacher-ministers” for the 2014-15 school year. Aside from outlining work schedules, sick days and salaries, the contract focuses heavily on teacher and staff codes of conduct. The contract states, “The Teacher-Minister also agrees to exemplify Catholic principles and to refrain from any conduct or lifestyle which would reflect discredit on, or cause scandal to the School or be in contradiction to Catholic doctrine or morals.” The contract goes on to list examples of unacceptable actions such as improper use of social media, sexual activity out of wedlock, support or use of abortion, support or use of surrogate mothers, artificial insemination or in vitro fertilization and support of or participation in a homosexual lifestyle. Violation of any part of this contract is grounds for termination. While the changes may seem harsh, Communications Director for the Archdiocese Dan Andriacco said the contract aims to reinforce the archdiocese’s fundamental beliefs. “What the new contract is
doing is making more explicit the expectations we have had all along,” Andriacco said. He said no specific recent events spurred the revisal of the contract, but it is something many people worked together to create while drawing from past experiences. He said the spelled-out guidelines are a favor to the teachers. “In the past, we had cases where [teachers] publicly violated expectations without knowing it,” Andriacco said. The new contract makes it easier for teachers to know specifically when they might be violating a rule, which will prevent them from doing so, according to Andriacco. In this way, he said. it can help protect their jobs. However, some are questioning whether teachers’ human rights are being protected. A “Frequently Asked Questions” (FAQ) document issued by the diocese to its schools’ principals clearly dictates how the archdiocese defines the phrase, “in support of,” particularly when it pertains to matters of gay rights. The answer states the main concern is specifically public support. For example, while a teacher may not utilize social media to actively promote a homosexual lifestyle,
they may attend the wedding of a family member or friend who is homosexual and would not be penalized if photos from the event were to appear on social media. Another example references female teachers who take contraceptives. The FAQ document states, “unless the female minister voluntarily shares that she is using contraception, it would be impossible to take any kind of employment action.” Andriacco said other dioceses have been making clarifications as well. “Some have done it before,” Andriacco said. “Some of the wording had come from their contracts.” Superintendent of Catholic Schools and Director of the Department of Educational Services for the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, Jim Rigg, wrote an opinion piece for the Cincinnati Enquirer in response to the public’s shock at the new contract. In the piece, he said Catholic schoolteachers have always been asked to uphold the church’s principles. However, he also wrote, “As Christians, we are called to love and serve all people.” The contract is not intended to be discriminatory in the way
many people have interpreted it, Rigg wrote. Despite intentions, many people may find the new contract offensive. “There’s no question that some teachers won’t like it,” Andriacco said. “We are a very decentralized organization. Each local school is its own hiring agent, so it’s up to the principal to present this to the teachers.” As of now, it is unknown whether any schools have officially presented the document to their teachers. Miami University sophomore Sarah Topogna, alumna of St. Ursula Academy in Cincinnati, said while she was in high school, she was not aware these rules existed. “We didn’t have anything that specific that I’m aware of,” Topagna said. “We had gay teachers, Jewish teachers, and teachers who married other teachers at my school. I didn’t think it was a big deal, because if they aren’t imposing alternative beliefs then they have every right to teach there.” Topogna said she believes every person should be free to choose what they want to believe in. “Didn’t even the pope recently say ‘Who am I to judge?’ in reference to gay marriage?” Topogna said. “I think that’s a great way to think about it.”
Sweet satisfaction: Local baker serves cookie creations BY KATIE TAYLOR EDITOR IN CHIEF
Alone in back, he silently stares at the shelves. Behind fixed eyes, his mind works through the list. Marshmallows, peanut butter, candy canes and candy corn. Bananas, chocolate, ginger and jelly. With a spontaneous jerk that would startle any observer, he launches his hand toward the top shelf. The decision has been made. He works in the ingredients, carefully calculating just the right amount. Once he is satisfied, he throws the batch into the oven and when they’re ready sets them on the shelf in the window to cool. “What are those?” the customer asks, leaning down to peer into the glass case. “That’s our Cookie of the Week, strawberrymint. Would you like to try?” he offers, picking up the peculiar pink creation. Reaching into her wallet, she responds, “I’ll just take a chocolate chip…” It’s not the first time a customer has passed up his original for one of the classics. Twentythree-year-old Oxford resident and Baked Sweets employee, Ben Marks, hands over the warm treat with an even warmer smile. Undiscouraged, he heads back to the shelves to contemplate next week’s ingredients. “I don’t actually eat sweets; I ate so many as a kid I just can’t stand them now,” Marks says with a guilty grin of a kid who got into the cookie jar. “Now I just make them. It makes me happy.” Marks attended the Miami Valley Career Technology Cen-
ter, a two-year public joint vocational school founded in 1971 and located in Clayton, Ohio. He then came across the job opportunity through his sister, who first began working at Baked Sweets. Though she has since moved on, Marks remains, mixing masterpieces, baking batches and welcoming walk-ins at the local cookie shop since its doors opened last August. Jennifer Ward, one of Baked Sweets’ two owners, along with her fiancé Jason Cramie, explained the motivation behind the shop’s unexpected location. “We just wanted to start out small and see how people received it, so [my fiancé and I] were looking when we were sitting in Quiznos and we just said, ‘You know, why don’t we just do it in here?’” It was less than a month later the chain bakery, Insomnia Cookies, moved in right down the street. Insomnia Cookies came to be when Seth Berkowitz, a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, began delivering freshly baked cookies from his dorm in 2003. Its 32 locations can be found scattered around the United States. Despite the competition, Ward says the community’s support, along with the time and creativity put in by staff members like Marks, has kept Baked Sweets going strong. “People in Oxford just seem to like to support smaller local businesses over chains,” Ward says. “We make our products from scratch so we hope that makes a difference in the quality.” The care Marks puts into his
baking comes with years of experience. With an absentee father and a working mother, he and his siblings learned to cook for themselves at a young age. Marks has been experimenting with recipes and testing them out on friends and family since he was just seven. “I particularly like to make food when I have company, otherwise I just do a frozen pizza for myself,” he says. “I’m not so sure if it’s their reaction or just the simple fact I know they like my food.” After proving his passion and ability, Ward says Marks was designated to come up with recipes for the Cookie of the Week, which comes out each Monday and is featured on the store website. “He’s kind of our lead guy on the Cookie of the Week, and
then our other staff just give him suggestions,” she explains. “Sometimes we combine our double-chocolate and our peanut butter. Those are probably my top two cookies and when they’re combined together it’s my personal favorite.” Marks says the freedom that comes with creating the Cookie of the Week makes up for having to follow the rules on all the other menu items. “Really, you don’t want to follow any recipe. That’s my basic guideline,” he offers his advice. “I still have my one Cookie of the Week I get to play around with … I go with whatever I think sounds good and I think will taste good and pray for the best.” His face leaks excitement as
COOKIE, SEE PAGE 8
KATIE TAYLOR EDITOR IN CHIEF
A sneak peak at Marks’ craziest Cookie of the Week yet.
4
ARTS & EVENTS
EDITOR LAUREN KIGGINS
ARTS@MIAMISTUDENT.NET
TUESDAY, APRIL 8, 2014
MU students take on Ultra Music Festival
CONTRIBUTED BY JORDAN LOYD
DJ/producer MOTi performs at Ultra Music Festival main stage on March 29 as part of Miami Music Week.
BY E.J. BLAIR
FOR THE MIAMI STUDENT
Miami University’s spring break saw students jetting off to a number of southern, sunny weather destinations, such as Gulf Shores, Panama City Beach and Cancun. But for those seeking a more music-oriented vacation, it all went down in Miami for Miami Music Week and Ultra Music Festival. “Ultra is a great place to blow off steam and go nuts,” senior Paul Van Wert, who attended Ultra last year said. “It’s also a great environment with awesome music.” Held in downtown Miami’s Bayfront Park, the annual three-day music festival is one of the world’s biggest music festivals for electronic dance music (EDM). Estimated crowds of 55,000 on each of its three days came from all over the world to see over
College of Creative Arts gains new dean LAUREN KIGGINS A&E EDITOR
Elizabeth Reitz Mullinex, interim dean of the College of Creative Arts since 2013, has been
200 acts perform. Among them were popular EDM artists such as Hardwell, Tiësto, Nicky Romero, Alesso, Krewella, Martin Garrix and the unprecedented debut of Jack U (Diplo and Skrillex). “This was my first time to Ultra so I really did not know what to expect,” senior Christina Welch, said. “But it was amazing how many different types of people were there. Everyone was extremely happy and just enjoying good music.” Ultra’s waterfront location is convenient for artists and music industry personnel. The Biscayne Bay separates Miami’s South Beach from its downtown area where, in the days leading up to Ultra, record labels and talent agencies hosted private and ticketed events at the upscale nightclubs around Miami. One of the 80 acts making its Ultra debut, DJ /producer MOTi specifically values Ultra fans. “Ultra is great because its mostly ravers,” MOTi said. “They
really want to party. EDM is waiting for the next big development in EDM productions. There’s going to be a new talent who’s gonna change it all. Not sure who this DJ’s gonna be!” With the hype and international attention for this year’s Ultra festival accruing since the end of last year, security issues inevitably arose from the high price of the single Ultra ticket: $490 after taxes and extra fees. Fans unable to attend jumped the fences to get in Friday, March 28, causing the fence to fall on top of a female security guard, who suffered brain hemorrhages. Both Welch and Van Wert, who were not witnesses to Friday’s incident, felt safe despite the security breach. “I honestly did not notice much hostility in the crowd, there were 100,000 people there so I’m sure some aggression was present but I didn’t witness any in my vicinity,” Welch said. Van Wert agreed.
“I don’t notice them [security] because I’m not doing anything wrong so I couldn’t tell you but the bike army of cops around after [the incident] would indicate that there is indeed a strong security presence, and so would the hour long search lines with patted down checks to get in,” Van Wert said. On all three days, the DJs played their infectious, bass-driven tunes well into the night. One could hear and feel the reverberating sounds from the festival’s house and trap anthems up to the 13th floor of the InterContinental hotel, across the street and behind Ultra. A common theme of Ultra 2014 was surprise. Not only did “Selfie” singers, The Chainsmokers, who played in Oxford last month, substitute for Laidback Luke on Friday’s main stage, but also Deadmau5 played in place of EDM superstar Avicii. Almost every artist deployed
appointed dean of the College of Creative Arts. Mullenix first became part of the Miami community in 2006 as chair and professor of theater, and as artistic director and producer of Miami University Theatre. She holds a bachelor’s degree in theater and in English from the University of Vermont, a master’s
in theater studies from the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana and a doctorate in theater studies from the University of Illinois. Prior to teaching at Miami, Mullenix held the position of associate professor of theater at Illinois State University, with additional roles as associate chair of theater, director of graduate studies for
the School of Theater and Dance, and associate dean of the College of Fine Arts. Three candidates, including Mullenix, were up for the position of dean of the College of Creative Arts. Both open forums and informal drop-in sessions were held for each candidate. The College of Creative Arts
ARTS & EVENTS CALENDAR
Business student explores life as a singer-songwriter
Tune in to redhawkradio.com/ live at 7:30 p.m. to hear the participating Associated Student Government student body presidential candidates discuss their platforms live in the WMSR studio.
Scott Erb of the University of Main-Farmington will present his lecture, “From Nie wieder Krieg (Never Again War) to Nie wieder Auschwitz (Never Again an Auschwitz): How Germany’s Past Shaped German Policy in the Balkans,” at 5 p.m. in the MacMillan Hall Great Room.
SATURDAY APRIL 12 Miami Opera presents “Albert Herring” in celebration of Benjamin Britten’s Centennial year. The production is directed by Delaware Opera’s former Artistic Director Leland Kimball and is conducted by Benjamin Smolder. Tickets are available at the Shriver Box Office, $15 adult, $13 senior, $12 student. The show is at 7:30 p.m. in the Gates-Abegglen Theatre.
THURSDAY APRIL 10 Copywriter for Michael Kors, Olivia Krawcyzk, will share her perspectives on writing as a part of the Oxford Writing Festival, hosted by Students for the Promotion of Writing. The 6:30 p.m. event is free and open to the public in Irvin Hall Room 40.
SUNDAY APRIL 13 Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park: Off the Hill presents “The Short Tree and The Bird That Could Not Sing” as part of the Oxford Community Arts Center’s Family Performance Series. The 2 p.m. event is free and open to the public.
is home to approximately 1,000 undergraduate and graduate students, and more than 110 full-time faculty and staff. It offers accredited programs in architecture and interior design, art, music and theatre. A new bachelor of arts degree in interactive media studies has also been added to the college’s offerings.
BEN’S BOOMBOX
TUESDAY APRIL 8
WEDNESDAY APRIL 9
new music to the sights of their own kaleidoscopic lights, scintillating lasers and fierce pyrotechnics. The colorful fireworks that lit up the cloudless night skies on all three nights could be seen in the distance as far as Coral Gables, approximately 30 minutes away. Special guests including Waka Flocka Flame appeared, unannounced, joining Borgore and Flosstradamus, for live performances. MOTi played a Saturday afternoon set on the main stage. “It was amazing,” MOTi said. “I played a lot of new tracks for the first time. So it was great to see the response of the crowd on my new tracks. The craziest song was def my new collab with Tiësto or my new collab with DVBBS.” With the 16th edition of Ultra officially in the books, MOTi shared advice that Tiësto would give to aspiring producers. “Be creative,” MOTi said.
FRIDAY APRIL 11 Celebrate “Second Friday” at the Oxford Community Arts Center with exhibits from Opening Minds Through Arts and After School Art and live music from Molly Bowers Franklin. The free event, sponsored by the Elms Hotel, starts at 5 p.m.
MONDAY APRIL 14 Jim Raiola will give his famous “Joys of Censorhsip” talk at 6 p.m. in Armstrong Student Center Room 1056. The event is free and open to the public.
Since picking up the guitar his sophomore year in high school, Jeremy Myeroff has performed on stages around the world. He has sung on a cruise ship, helped found the Miami Men’s Glee Club a capBEN pella group MEINKING and enjoyed his moments Uptown on the O’Pub and Sidebar stages. Myeroff, a business management student with a passion for performance, spent the summer before his junior year onboard the “Celebrity Eclipse,” a cruise ship that routes a trip around Europe, as a part of a singing quartet. Even after the summer ended, he chose to continue the job through what would have been his first semester of his junior year. He eventually ended the cruising life a few months later and returned to Oxford. The guitar hasn’t always been what brought Myeroff in the spotlight. In fall 2009, he founded The Cheezies, an all-male a capella
group, as a tanget to the Men’s Glee Club. The Cheezies sung the national anthem at a NFL game in 2011, and recorded their first studio album, which debuted on iTunes in 2012. When asked about recording and original content, Jeremy said right now, he does not see himself pursuing anything of the sort. “Music is a hobby for me,” Myeroff said. “I tested it out as a career [once] and it wasn’t for me.” His website, www.jmyeroff. com, not only holds his business blog but also various music videos he has filmed of himself singing covers of famous songs. His favorite is his latest, “Wake Me Up” by Avicii. The song uses a finger picking technique rather than the strumming pattern that it is known for. The filming is good, plus singing and dancing on a rooftop is always fun to watch. His live covers are still true and sound great when backed by adoring fans and a student crowd. He plays every Tuesday at O’Pub and every Friday night at Sidebar next to The Woods. If you find yourself nearby, come in, grab a seat and order a drink. He will make you want to sing along.
www.miamistudent.net
BOSTON, FROM PAGE 1
each other.” Breitsch and Moore agree that the best part of the Columbus Marathon was when they, along with Schachtel (known to teammates as Schaq), crossed the finish line just in time to earn a spot in one of the most renowned marathons in the world. Brietsch added, however, that the worst part of the Columbus Marathon was every moment before he crossed the finish line. Moore elaborated on Brietsch’s comical cynicism, “It’s great to have goals and things to strive for. That being said, marathons are the worst. They really hurt. Your mind, your body, your soul.” To further illustrate, Moore recalled a time he was so hungry during a race he thought he actually went crazy. “I literally just lost my mind at mile 20. I was so hungry that I was pulling leaves off the trees and thinking ‘this is kind of like lettuce. I could eat this,’” Moore said. But misery loves company, and through the trials and tribulations of marathon running, Moore, Brietsch, and Schachtel developed a support system, one they agree is the reason
TUESDAY APRIL 8, 2014 for their success. “Brian and Schaq finished before me,” Moore said, “and every time I’d fall behind they’d start yelling at me and point to the ground next to them, like ‘hurry up!’” Running with his two friends is one of the things Moore is most excited for during his race in a year. He is also glad to have the support of his friends and family, who will be joining him in Boston when the day rolls around. For now, Moore does not have a set running schedule. He is working on being injury-free and when the time comes he will use a tentative running schedule, like Rupert. It seems runners have a great deal in common, as Moore and Brietsch also stressed the importance Rupert placed on having an optimistic mindset. “I think smiling during the race was a huge help. Even though you feel really bad, you just smile, fake it till you make it,” Brietsch said. Whether running Boston in a few weeks or running Boston in a year, it is clear that a little positivity, race strategizing and a few good friends can make the difference between average and extraordinary, between everything else and the Boston Marathon.
HEALTH CARE CHOICES IN OXFORD Student Health Services Hours: Monday & Wednesday Tuesday, Thursday & Friday Saturday
513-529-3000 8:00am - 7:00pm 8:00am - 5:00pm 10:00am - 2:00pm
When Student Health Center is closed, an alternate would be: Urgent Care at Ross Medical Center 513-856-5944 2449 Ross-Millville Rd., (US 27 S), Hamilton Hours: Monday - Friday 10:00am - 8:00pm Saturday - Sunday 10:00am - 6:00pm Emergency Department
9-1-1 or 513-524-5353
110 N. Poplar St., Oxford, OH 45056
513-523-2111
MAJOR,
FROM PAGE 1 It was this class project that ultimately led Meeks to move his entire career path in a different direction. “I shifted my focus from working with medicine inside the U.S. to working in global medicine,” he said. As a result, he added the Global Health Studies minor, keeping his Zoology major and pre-medicine emphasis. Meeks said one of the reasons he was driven to this particular field is because its problems will never be solved; major health crises are at the root of many other issues, including unemployment, low income and quality of life. “Of all my career options and major choices, I chose this path because it is such a rewarding [one],” he said. “My passion for this field is sustained by the fact that I love to travel… I will get to travel to exotic places and it won’t just be for vacation. I will be helping people as well.” However, not every student realizes his or her passions so definitively. Senior Associate Director of Career Development and Employer Relations Heather Christman said she could break it down to a couple different kinds of students, when it comes to their career choices. The first is students who select a major based on what they have heard about it – the salaries, the job opportunities, the demand for jobs in that field. The students’ parents might be behind the scenes of this decision, Christman said, and passion is not the driving force. Goldman also recognized the challenges of outside influences in making career decisions. “We know [students] are influenced by parents, friends, relatives, mentors – all which is normal and can be positive – but at this liberal arts college, with this liberal arts education, we want them to find their own voice,” he said. “Our goal is to help students make self-directed decisions about their eventual career goals.” This idea ultimately defines the second kind of students Christman identified.
YOUR PARENTS GAVE AWAY YOUR BEDROOM. BETTER BRING THAT COUCH HOME. VISIT PENSKEU.COM OR CALL 800-281-9084
“[These] are students who are driven by passion,” she said. “There’s a tremendous pressure in that way too because if they don’t find that one right thing, they feel like they have failed.” Christman also emphasized the importance of students accepting there is not one right or wrong way to reach your goal. “We want students to understand you don’t have to be a marketing major to have a career in marketing,” she said. “There are many pathways [that lead] to the same place.” Some students do not find where they fit until later on in their college careers, which can result in feeling trapped by a certain major or program, Christman said. There are certain ways of avoiding this, though, and it starts by engaging in your classes, study abroad and other significant college experiences. “If students aren’t thinking critically about the experiences they are having – why they liked or didn’t like a class, what they learned about the subject or about themselves – then they are less likely to connect those experiences to a passion,” Christman said. “If you are just going through the motions, you are less likely to find things that [give you insight] about yourself and allow you to pursue something you love.” According to Goldman, this is seldom an area in which Miami students come up short. “Miami students tend to be extremely engaged … and engaged human beings create opportunities,” Goldman said. “Because of how Miami is organized as an institution, there are [endless] opportunities – in our laboratories, our studios, our classrooms. The Miami experience, by design, leads students to explore their passions and gain real world experiences that are an outlet for those passions.” Miami’s education program, for example, allows students to gain such real world experiences through student teaching during their final year in the program. Dewire is doing her student teaching this semester and said it has been particularly validating. “Of course I love kids, that’s
5
innate,” she said, “but that’s not why I want to teach. [I want to teach because] I really believe in education, I always have. I believe in what an education can do for a person. I also believe that every person, no matter where you live or who you are, deserves an education, and that is the foundation for why I am here.” Dewire said she was drawn to early childhood almost as soon as soon as she entered the education program at Miami. “[My students] aren’t only going to learn to be students but eventually citizens of the world,” she said. “They are going to learn to be team players, to be a friend. I am going to be able to help them develop as a person, which I think is very special and unique.” Dewire said she would not be where she is today if it were not for her faculty and peers along the way. “They’ve been really wonderful, they really have,” she said. “The professors push you and develop you at teaching this craft, and I [have also] found that what I believe about education now as opposed to four years ago has been so strongly influenced by those who have worked alongside me in my classes.” Meeks said the resources at Miami provide him endless support and guidance. “I am happy to say that I have received nothing but support from faculty and friends [at Miami],” he said. “Professors like Dr. Hay-Rollins, Dr. Craig Williamson, Professor RojasMiesse and the entire staff of the Honors Program have pushed me to accept any challenges and opportunities that come my way.” After years of notoriety, such close consideration and concern for undergraduates has become deeply ingrained in Miami’s core principles, permeating all angles of the faculty and staff. Career Services at Miami is no different. “Our focus isn’t just getting students a job – but getting students a job they love,” Christman said. “Career services across the country is focused on ‘job placement,’ but we want don’t want students to just find a place. We want them to find the right place.”
6
OPINION
EDITORS EMILY ELDRIDGE NICOLE THEODORE
TUESDAY, APRIL 8, 2014
EDITORIAL@MIAMISTUDENT.NET
EDITORIAL The following piece, written by the editorial editors, reflects the majority opinion of the editorial board.
TMS editors proudly endorse the ‘Voice of Miami’ After hearing all three candidate pairs argue why they should be the next president and vice president of the Miami University student body, The Miami Student editorial board is proud to announce its endorsement of Cole Tyman and Natalie Bata in the upcoming election. While “Voice of Miami” may sound a bit cliché, their experience and objectives really impressed our editorial board and we hope you see as much potential in this dynamic duo as we do. She is a cancer-researching sorority girl and he is a highly personable businessman; they complement each other and already have the experience and connections to the student body and university administration that will allow them to hit the ground running. Tyman and Bata have focused on making their campaign realistic, relevant, new and specific. Though this isn’t their slogan, they have made sure the initiatives they plan to tackle check all four of these boxes. What makes the “Voice of Miami” campaign different from the rest is its recognition of long-term and short-term goals. The two candidates made it clear they want to focus on bettering the lives of current Miami students, but they also understand that great things take time and they aren’t afraid to admit that. They will also continue to work on existing initiatives of their predecessors. Their Platform Tyman and Bata must have been reading our “Rule of Thumb” section lately because their list of goals couldn’t be more wellreceived by our editorial board. From bike-share to upperclassmen peer-advising, Tyman and Bata’s platform seems to cover it all. Their first goal is to tackle the
common concern of academic advising. Oftentimes, we reach out to friends or classmates to determine which classes to register for. Though this may be relatively effective, Tyman and Bata want to introduce a formalized adaptation of this concept to students by starting a peer advising program. Academic advisors are undoubtedly a valuable resource to students, but who better to turn to for advice on a class or major requirements than someone who has just recently gone through it themselves? Our editor in chief really liked their next proposal. Tyman has already put his work with parking services over the last three years to good use by changing on-campus parking lots to open up to non-pass holders at 6 p.m. instead of 7 p.m. starting next fall. But he and Bata don’t want to stop there. They also tell us they hope to implement a more generous accelerated ticketing system that would allow parking violators to not only start with a warning but to receive a less expensive ticket the second time, as opposed to getting a warning the first time and then going straight to a $75 fine on your next violation. Cole and Natalie simply want to relay to parking services that a $75 parking fine is ridiculous and way above the average $35 ticket on other Ohio college campuses. Next, Tyman and Bata introduced the idea of “mini-gyms” in the basements of residence halls to put those awkwardly large “study rooms” to better use. Tyman and Bata propose putting older gym equipment in the basements of residence halls instead of selling them off to third parties. This would eliminate long walks back from the REC Center at night and would help free up some equipment at the REC Center for off-campus students. Tyman said he has already started the
conversation with Doug Curry, executive director of recreational sports and housing administration, to get the ball rolling on this objective. The man who pushed for ASC’s Pulley Diner and Emporium Market to be open 24 hours is hoping to do the same for King Café. Tyman, along with many students who frequent King Library, would love to see the doors downstairs lock much later than 11 p.m. like they do now. He already has connections with dining services, so we are anxious to see how this pans out. The final thing on Tyman and Bata’s agenda was the issue of communication between ASG and the rest of the student body. Though this issue is brought up year after year, we really liked Tyman and Bata’s approach. Tyman said he wants every cabinet member to visit one student organization per week. With about 12 cabinet members and 12 weeks in a semester, that equates to about 144 student organizations per semester. Other candidates seemed to want to lump several student organizations together to make it easier to connect, but Cole did the math to make sure everyone has a voice. The “Voice of Miami” campaign not only brings new, exciting and relevant ideas to the table, but it makes it easy for students to reach out and voice their concerns. “It shouldn’t be required for the students to come to us with their concerns; we need to seek out what changes they have,” Tyman said. We believe Cole and Natalie not only bring relevant and new ideas to the table, but they approach longlasting, challenging issues from a different angle. That is why the editorial board so eagerly endorses the “Voice of Miami” campaign.
You want to like this.
friend us become a fan of
The Miami Student on Facebook.com
KATIE TAYLOR EDITOR IN CHIEF EMILY CRANE NEWS EDITOR EMILY ELDRIDGE EDITORIAL EDITOR NICOLE THEODORE EDITORIAL EDITOR LAUREN KIGGINS ARTS AND EVENTS
CHRIS CURME COMMUNITY EDITOR JANE BLAZER COMMUNITY EDITOR VICTORIA SLATER CAMPUS EDITOR REIS THEBAULT CAMPUS EDITOR TOM DOWNEY SPORTS EDITOR
Rule of Thumb
Miami equestrian team MUET’s Hunt Seat team won the 2014 Hunt Seat Reserve Championship.
Miami track and field Senior Rob Stein broke the longest standing Miami Track & Field record in shot put.
ASG elections Make sure to listen to the candidates debate live at 7:30 p.m. tonight at redhawkradio.com/live.
Forest Whitaker Getting an Oscar-winning actor to speak at commencement is pretty cool...good job Miami. p. 2
Seasonal allergies We aren’t ill — it’s just the influx of flowers and pollen that has us wheezing and sneezing. MILAM’S MUSINGS
Ignoring “rape culture” is fueling the ongoing problem in society The United States has a “rape culture” – meaning a systematic apparatus that allows rape to flourish – and we should reject those who say it does not exist. T h e r e seems to be a lot of chatter lately about rape BRETT culture, what MILAM it means, whether it is helpful to victims and if it even exists at all. Much of it on the heels of the recommendation “The Rape Abuse & Incest National Network” (RAINN) made to a White House task force aimed at fighting sexual assaults on college campuses. Among those recommendations, RAINN rejected the idea of “rape culture.” While the recommendations, written by its president, Scott Berkowitz and vice president for public policy, Rebecca O’Connor, acknowledge systematic barriers to addressing the problem, they say not to lose sight of a simple fact: “Rape is caused not by cultural factors but by the conscious decisions, of a small percentage of the community, to commit a violent crime.” This is disheartening news to me, as RAINN is the biggest and best organization fighting sexual assault in the country. I follow them regularly and have donated to them in the past, but this rejection of rape culture is truly puzzling. Nobody I know of who believes rape culture exists would deny the claim made by RAINN: Of course rape is about an individual committing a violent crime on another individual. Rape culture addresses the issues around why reporting numbers are shockingly low, why victims are still blamed and why people still don’t understand what rape entails. Caroline Kitchens in a Time column agreed with RAINN that the focus on rape culture is distracting from helping victims. However, her article is predictable in that she slams feminists for positioning women versus men. Again, she misses the point. A facet of rape culture is the idea that men are largely unrecognized victims and also face barriers to reporting. The FBI only recently changed their definition of rape to include male victims. “Rape is a horrific crime, and rapists are despised. We have strict laws that Americans want to see enforced,” she said. According to RAINN’s own study, 97 percent of rapists never
spend a single day in prison for their crimes. We despise the caricature of rapists — the monster lurking around the corner — not the real face of rape; people we know. Look no further than Steubenville, Ohio for an example. Just a short four-hour drive from this campus, a young girl was gang -raped while passed out drunk and left naked in front of her house on a cold night. The video of the rape was circulated around the high school and on social media. Police refused to investigate. One boy, when asked why he didn’t intervene when witnessing the rape, said, “It wasn’t violent. . . . I thought [rape] was forcing yourself on someone.” That is rape culture: the systematic barriers the victim faced to receiving justice against her violent attackers. Those systematic barriers include a personalized belief that “our boys couldn’t rape” and more telling, the problem of perception regarding false allegations of rape. When polled, people believe 3040 percent of rape victims are lying. The actual number is more in the low single digits. While it is not illegitimate to discuss false allegations, when that is the first thought that comes to people’s mind when talking about rape, then it’s a problem.
That is rape culture — the systematic barriers the victim faced to getting justice against her violent attackers.
Brad Pitt’s production company, Plan B, has plans to turn the case into a film. That is good news for anyone looking to get the message out about rape culture. Unfortunately, many rapes go unreported and victims do not receive any justice, as the Steubenville victim did much less a potential film on it. Again, the under-reporting is an ugly facet of rape culture. Victims fear coming forward and facing reprisal or attacks on their character or some are not even sure they were raped, if alcohol was involved. Rape culture is when Miami University allowed Antonio Charles to remain on campus for two years after his own fraternity kicked him out, only to rape again in 2011. In 2009, according to City Beat,
RAPE CULTURE SEE PAGE 7
www.miamistudent.net
TUESDAY, APRIL 8, 2014 OP ED
RAPE CULTURE, FROM PAGE 6
Charles’ fraternity brothers reported him to OPD for criminal voyeurism; he had been videotaping his sexual assaults. Another woman reported him even further back in 2008. Apparently, that still wasn’t enough for Miami to take action. He wasn’t kicked out of the school until that 2011 assault came out. Zerlina Maxwell, a TV commentator, writer and sexual assault survivor, helped lead the hashtag #RapeCultureIsWhen in response to Kitchens’ Time article. A few of the tweets from her speak to what I’m getting at here – rape culture is not just some fairy tale feminists are weaving: “#Rapecultureiswhen you go to friends for support and they ask you what you were wearing.” “#RapeCultureIsWhen too many people think consent to drinking means consent to everything else. Nope.” “#RapeCultureIsWhen we think rape is rare and that feminists R just being hysterical. It’s not rare and I’m not going to be quiet.” #RapeCultureIsWhen Zerlina
7
Maxwell receives rape and death threats for starting that hashtag. In a Time article in response to Kitchens’ piece, Maxwell spoke about her own sexual assault. The first person she went to after her assault said, “You were drinking, what did you expect?” More people she went to asked about what she wore or if she had done something to cause the assault. “The truth is ugly. But by denying the obvious we continue to allow rapists to go unpunished and leave survivors silenced,” she said. Indeed it is and contrary to Kitchens’ belief, rape culture is not just some over-hyped theory from “hysterical feminists.” I am a proud feminist, so I find the connotations associated with feminists – we’re just nuts whining in the corner – irksome. But more than that, I find RAINN’s rejection of rape culture terribly troubling. Their refusal to acknowledge rape culture just adds more fuel for those who think it’s not a “thing.” Rape culture is a “thing” and we should be seeking solutions, not misguided ignorance. SENIOR, PHILOSOPHY MILAMBC@MIAMIOH.EDU
COMMENTARY
What the ASG elections could look like without any promises
PATRICK GEYSER THE MIAMI STUDENT
COMMENTARY
Putin’s game: What is next in line for Russia? On March 18, in a speech rivaling those of former Soviet leaders in its detachment from reality, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the end of the postCold War era; no longer would Russia attempt to integrate with the West; and more importantly, Moscow will play by its own rules in what it considers “its” historic sphere of influence, i.e. the former Soviet Union. Putin’s Anschluss (the German word given to Adolf Hitler’s dubious “reunification” of Nazi Germany and Austria) of the Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea came as a shock to the West because of its seamlessness, belligerence and pure disregard for international law and norms.
(foolishly) seen both by Russians and even some abroad as a legitimate world power that must be given its “due respect,” Crimea is officially a Russian territory (at least as far as Russia’s concerned), Ukraine is collapsing and gripped by a state of terror with Moscow intensifying economic pressure and keeping tens of thousands of Russian troops on the Ukrainian border, in and of itself constituting a warning to other former Soviet states thinking of integration with the West. Moreover, the fissures in the West over how to deal with Russia have become painfully apparent. And now, Christmas may come early for Putin if President Obama bows to Russian demands
In Putin’s head, cracking down on corruption — objectively one of the main obstacles to Russia’s economic growth — would inevitably lead to the return of foreign capital, even in a more autacratic Russia (see: China). However, the West and Russia were on a collision course since the mass demonstrations throughout Russia following the 2011 parliamentary elections – universally accepted as having been rigged – and Putin’s subsequent illiberal (not like Putin ever had much Trudeau in him), authoritarian turn. With the Russian economy on the precipice of an extended period of anemic growth, the outlook for Putin’s regime didn’t look great, particularly in the mid-term. Putin was essentially in a catch-22. He could modernize Russia’s political and economic systems, entailing closer association with the West – which would also carry risks to his system and power— or he could replicate Aleksandr Lukashenko’s model in Belarus: a nationalistic, autarkic, authoritarian, kleptocratic state. Putin, now completely excluding more liberal elements from the decision-making process, opted for the latter. Putin’s plan has worked splendidly thus far. He has accomplished all of his goals: the regime’s domestic popularity has soared, Moscow is now
over the future of Ukraine. To say that Putin didn’t know the risk of his Anschluss of Crimea would be foolish, in my opinion. He was prepared for a Western response and may have even desired it, although he guessed – correctly, as we see now – that Europe had no stomach for seriously punishing Russia because of their pathetic reliance on Russian natural gas and corrupt money. The harsher U.S. response, involving financial sanctions for Putin’s innermost circle – including many who’ve profited handsomely under Putin and/or abet high-level kleptocratic activity – may lead to the “deoffshorization” of the Russian elite, i.e. bringing officials’ corrupt money home in order to reduce Moscow’s exposure to Western economic pressure. This would likely be the prelude to a serious and broad anti-corruption campaign, fundamentally changing the modus operandi of the Putin regime from one of an exchange of unquestioning loyalty to the regime for the latter turning a blind eye to corruption, to one where loyalty is given based on charismatic,
revanchist populism. In Putin’s head, cracking down on corruption – objectively one of the main obstacles to Russia’s economic growth – would inevitably lead to the return of foreign capital, even in a more autocratic Russia (see: China). Sure, in the meantime the Russian economy will be a dumpster fire, but now all Russia’s faults can be blamed on the conniving, Russophobic, decadent West and its allies in Russia (“national-traitors” in the Putin lexicon). Another populist measure may be ordered up, possibly another campaign in Russia’s historic “sphere of influence” to protect “Russian speakers” and/or “ethnic Russians” (both loaded terms), as was ostensibly the reason for Russia’s invasion of Crimea. Ultimately, the end game is the continuation of Putin’s regime in the long-term through the creation of a Belorussian-style, more conservative, anti-Western Russia which the states of the former Soviet space will naturally gravitate towards. There’s much reason to doubt that this will happen, starting with the vital question of whether Putin can successfully crack down on corruption while retaining the loyalty of the elite based on new rules. Furthermore, Western sanctions and the sizeable economic fallout from the Anschluss of Crimea may fatally weaken the Russian economy to the point where enough citizens stop believing in the regime and abandon it. It must be noted as well that Russia’s relations vis-àvis its former Soviet co-republics just suffered immeasurable damage. And this is truly just the tip of the iceberg with regard to the long-term damage Putin’s actions in Ukraine have done to Russia. Nonetheless, one thing’s for certain: Putin’s Russia will chart a new, different, and more dangerous course to the future. The author is a junior fellow at the Miami University Havighurst Center for Russian and Post-Soviet Studies.
KEARY IARUSSI
SENIOR, DIPLOMACY & GLOBAL POLITICS
IARUSSKP@MIAMIOH.EDU
It’s that time of year again – Associated Student Government (ASG) campaign season. Marked by the familiar signs and friendly introductions, this year’s campaign is swinging into high gear. Currently, the latest crop of candidates is preparing for the primary election and pitching their platforms that promise change. Change this year, ironically, sounds a lot like the change of years past. Once again, there are promises to tool around with the set-up of the REC center and others to make ASG more representative of the student body. Now I’m sure these are important issues that need to be addressed (they seem to come up every year) but what if this year a pair of candidates put those issues aside and stopped making promises? A campaign without promises – it’s a radical idea, but it is exactly what’s needed. So what would this campaign without promises look like? Candidates being honest about the nature of the positions they are seeking First and foremost, the candidates themselves would be honest about the limitations associated with the positions they are seeking. While the titles of president and vice president may carry an aura of importance, within the grand scheme of the university system, there’s less power than suggested. In reality, the jobs are one part executive and two parts advocate. Yes, the president and vice president would be the chief executives of ASG. Still more importantly, they would also sit on a variety of university committees. As members of these committees they could use their role to provide a voice to the issues of importance to the student body. And at a school where big decisions are ultimately made by the board, (which doesn’t allow its student members to vote) sitting on these committees is a start. The long and the short of it is, beyond changing the way parts of ASG are administered, they can serve the important role of acting as advocates for the student body and provide a needed voice for some change on a few important issues. Identifying important issues and providing a voice After setting the record straight about the nature of the position they seek, the second step in this campaign without promises would be to identify a set of issues that the candidates, once elected, could provide a voice to. There is a number of issues they could choose from, and I would encourage them to start with simplifying some of the “additional fees” that are a part of every
Miami student’s tuition. They could start by simplifying the fee that goes towards providing campus-wide wireless internet – the technology fee. The Office of the Bursar lists this fee twice on its website. Once for on-campus students and once more for off-campus students. Why? Because, you guessed it, the fee being charged is differently for each group. For on-campus students the technology fee is listed at $114 per semester, or $54 less than the rate of $168 for off-campus students. But that’s just on face value. The differing fees, an issue the Bursar has dedicated an entire section of FAQs to, is actually the result of a separate “access fee” being charged by Housing and Dinning Services to on-campus students. After this additional access fee, the rate being charged is the same for both on and off-campus students. So why not simplify things? As an advocate for the student body, the candidates could talk about using their elected position to provide a voice to the issue. They could talk about simplifying this and many of the other complex fees that don’t always make sense. Another often overlooked fee that could use some retooling, is the $132 students are charged each semester to fund the Miami Metro. It would be great to see some of the candidates talk about changing the current funding scheme. For students like myself, who prefer walking Miami’s beautiful campus and the City of Oxford to riding the metro, it would be nice to no longer receive a bill each semester for a service we do not use. As for finding an alternative source of revenue to fund the metro system, you could always try charging a small fare each time a student uses the service. I am sure that if we can swipe our campus ID cards at vending machines and in the laundry rooms on-campus, it probably wouldn’t be too tough to also use MUlaa on the metro. So to sum it all up, what this year’s ASG elections need are candidates who are willing to do two things – tell the truth about the nature of the office they are seeking and act as advocates for solutions to the issues that affect everyone. Issues like complicated student fees and charges being billed regardless of whether the services are being used or not. I know it probably isn’t the sexiest message, but I think the student body would understand if the candidates decided to talk about something other than the REC center this election cycle.
GREG DICK
JUNIOR, POLITICAL SCIENCE
DICKGR@MIAMIOH.EDU
8
FYI
News/Editorial 513-529-2257 Advertising 513-529-2210
TUESDAY, APRIL 8, 2014
The Miami Student Oldest university paper in the United States, established in 1826
Katie Taylor
Acting Editor in Chief Sloane Fuller Managing Editor
Ryan McHenry Business Manager
Brett Milam Online Editor
Betsy Zilch Asst. Business Manager
Victoria Slater, Emily Crane Campus Editors
Maggie Milliken National Advertising Director Classified Advertising Director
Chris Curme, Jane Blazer Community Editors
Joe Gioffre Advertising Representative
Billy Rafael Arts & Entertainment Emily Eldridge, Nicole Theodore Editorial Editors Tom Downey Sports Editor
WDJ Inc. - Bill Dedden Distributor
Senior Staff Writers
Staff Writers Megan Thobe Melissa Girgis Jessica Barga
Designers
Jake Brennan Kaliegh Pawar Darby Shanaberger Morgan Murray
Sacha DeVroomen Bellman Adviser Drew Davis Business Advisor
Lauren Olson Photo Editor
Joe Gieringer Emily Glaser Amanda Hancock Libby Mueller
Thomas Gorczynski Advertising Representative
Editorial Writers Olivia Brough Gregory Dick Andrew Geisler Hailey Gilman Anthony Santora Sarah Shew
Sports Columnists Andrew Geisler Joe Gieringer Justin Maskulinski Charlie Clifford Jordan Renard
Photography Staff Phill Arndt Mike Chloran Leno Davis Anne Gardner Kim Parent Ben Taylor Jalen Walker Taylor Wood Blake Wilson Damien Watson Josh Zak
Cartoonists
Patrick Geyser
Website: www.miamistudent.net For advertising information: miamistudent@gmail.com
The Miami Student (Tuesday/Friday) is published during the school year by the students of Miami University, Oxford, Ohio.
The content of The Miami Student is the sole responsibility of The Miami Student staff. Opinions expressed in The Miami Student are not necessarily those of Miami University, its students or staff. CORRECTIONS POLICY The Miami Student is committed to providing the Miami University community with the most accurate information possible. Corrections may be submitted up to seven calendar days after publication.
FOR RENT LARGE 1 BEDROOM APTS. 610 South Main. Water, sewer, trash included. Available May and August 2014. $455.00 per month. Semester leases available (2) required 513-896-7358 COURTYARDS OF MIAMI Too many roommates? The COURTYARDS of MIAMI might be just what you are looking for. Located at the corner of S. Main Street and E. Central Ave, the MU red, green, and blue bus stops right in the front yard. We offer neat, clean, and colorful housing to students only, at affordable prices. A 2 bedroom apartment shared by 2 students is $2500. and includes HEAT, water and trash. A 1 bedroom with a study is $3700. for those wanting to live alone, (just a few of those open) All residents enjoy free off street parking, on site laundry, and yard space with a shelter. Always upgrading, we are just down the street from the REC, and inside one block from Campus. On site office, flexible hours, and excellent upkeep, make the COURTYARDS a place worth looking at. Ask about free summers and the referal plan. Stop by, contact Carolyn at 513-659-5671, or thecourtyardsofmiami@yahoo.com for more info. www.thecourtyardsofmiami.com SCHMATES HOME RENTALS. We are now renting for 2015/16. Secure a home for your group. A Miami Tradition. Visit us today at www.schmatesrentals.com **APARTMENT FOR RENT** UPTOWN APARTMENT FOR RENT
FOR 2014-2015 SCHOOL YEAR, 2 BEDROOM, KITCHEN, 1 BATH, LARGE LIVING AREA, UTILITIES INCLUDED. 22 S. BEECH ST.->CONTACT MIKE MESLER 513-523-3735 COURTYARDS OF MIAMI 1 short block from campus, at the corner of Central and Main St., bus stop, AND off street parking keep our students glad they live here. 2 bedrooms include HEAT, water and trash, open for the 14-15 school year $2500. per seme / person. 1 bedrooms open for the 15-16 school year $3700. Laundry and office is on site. Free summers with 2 semester lease 513-659-5671 thecourtyardsofmiami.com Stop by or contact Carolyn for a tour NICE HOUSE FOR STUDENTS excellent upgrades to keep utilities low, make this house student friendly. 2 living rooms,4 bedroom, 2 1/2 bath, and eat in kit. and dining room. deck, patio, and garage. free summer with 2 semester signing. call 513-659-5671 for a tour of this home
EMPLOYMENT LIFEGUARDS AND CAMP COUNSELORS Camp JB Mac is located north of Cincinnati. Since 1990, Camp JB Mac has been in operation from M-F from June to August. We care for children ages 6-12 years. (Excluding lifeguards) all trainings will be provided by Camp JB Mac. Excellent pay and awesome end of summer bonus! Application available online @ www.campjbmac.com or call Lucy at 513-772-5888. 513-772-5888
COOKIE, FROM PAGE 3
Summer Sessions 2014 Enjoy all that Chicago and Loyola have to offer this summer while taking a class to lighten your load for the fall. Choose from several convenient locations and more than 300 courses. Chicago • Online • Retreat and Ecology Campus (Woodstock, IL) Cuneo Mansion and Gardens (Vernon Hills, IL) • Study Abroad Apply and register today at LUC.edu/summer.
he asks, “Would you like a sneak peak of my best one yet?” He turns on his heal and hurries to the fridge. Spinning back around, he reveals a bowl the color of something the Cookie Monster would enjoy. A rainbow of M&M’s peak out of the deep purple dough, but according to him, the one-of-a-kind flavor is the real surprise. Unable to resist, Marks flips on the oven. Its delightful ding announces the sweet treat that even he will enjoy. As he leans back and nibbles on the cartoon cookie, he reveals one last surprise. “I love doing this…” he begins hesitantly, “But my actual dream job is to write children’s books.” His childhood hobby of creative writing has carried over to his adult life, along with his love for anime and video games. Marks surrounds himself with
DOOR-TO-DOOR, CANVASSING JOB Butler and Preble County Region Job Requirements: * Good communication skills* Experience in door-to-door canvassing or willing to learn* Ability to walk long distances* Valid Driver’s License and access to a vehicle* Willing to travel throughout the Butler and Preble County areas * Familiar with iPad/iPhone devises or willing to learn * Able to work with a team member Training provided Competitive pay References required Minimum 10 hrs/week, Maximum 32 hrs/week Project ends early May Email walkandtalk937@gmail. com or call 513-341-6757 to schedule an interview SUMMER & FULL TIME POSITIONS BEAUTIFUL LAKEFRONT YACHTING CLUB SEEKS OUTGOING, MOTIVATED INDIVIDUALS. WILL TRAIN QUALIFIED CANDIDATES AS: SERVERS BUSSERS HOST/HOSTESS BARTENDERS DOCK ATTENDANTS LIFEGUARDS LINE COOKS/BANQUET PREP SAILCAMP COUNSELORS SNACK BAR ATTENDANTS INCENTIVE PROGRAMS/ FLEXIBLE HRS EXCELLENT PAY CALL TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT WEDNESDAY THRU SUNDAY 200 YACHT CLUB DR. ROCKY RIVER, OH 44116 (440)333-1155 kids every chance he gets, often babysitting for his sister. “If I got my children’s books published I’d probably still work here,” Marks says, recalling the enjoyment he got passing out his creative cookies to kids last Halloween. “Kids are so goofy that they give me my best ideas for my books.” Not only do they provide him with story ideas, Marks says the happy spontaneity of children give him inspiration in all of his pursuits. “They are just so happy and silly and random,” Marks says with a childish chuckle. “I try to take their creativity and use it in my books and cookie recipes.” In doing what he loves, Marks aims to give back by putting meaning into everything he creates, whether it be cookies or literature. “I want kids to take a point away from my stories,” he explains. “If you like something just do it. That’s pretty much the story I like to stick with.”
www.miamistudent.net
TUESDAY APRIL 8, 2014
SOFTBALL,
DAWISHA,
ner in the seventh. BGSU hit two homers in the 10th and Miami’s offense was unable to muster another rally. Logemann had an up-and-down game in her third straight start as she went 3 2-3 innings with three earned runs on four hits and two strikeouts, although she did keep the Falcons scoreless until the fourth. Modic went 3 for 5 with her fourth home run of the season. “We fought hard and did what we could,” Logemann said. “You have to give some props to BG. We need to work harder… I fought hard [Sunday against the Falcons] but there were a few balls that just got away from me.” The RedHawks hit the road this weekend for a doubleheader with Western Michigan University Friday and games against Northern Illinois University Saturday and Sunday.
puts members of this group [Putin’s associates] on a visa ban and asset freeze list, one of the world’s most important and reputable publishers declines to proceed with a book not because of its scholarly quality … but because the subject matter itself is too hot to handle,” Dawisha wrote in an email response to Haslam. Dawisha said CUP cut her book fairly early on in the process, that no publication agreement had been established. Yet, the book had yet to be placed under academic review by various editors and publishers, who she said would be able to determine the validity of her work and tweak it if necessary. Dawisha stands by the credibility of her work, much of which she gathered from Russian journalism during an era of free press that has since ended in the country. The news scribed a formidable tale about
FROM PAGE 10
FROM PAGE 1
Putin’s rise to power, Dawisha said, one that raised red flags about his administration before it even existed. “This is why free journalism is so important,” Dawisha said. “This is why so many Russian journalists died. What is horrible about this whole story is that people are dying to tell this story in Russia, and Cambridge just walked away from it.” While Dawisha sees the evidence for her claims strewn across countless Russian news articles as indisputable, CUP thinks differently. “President Putin has never been convicted for the crimes or activities which are outlined in the book, and we cannot be sure that any of the other named individuals or organisations have either,” Haslam wrote in his March 20 email. “That the allegations may have been published elsewhere is no defence; re-publication of a libellous statement is still libel if it cannot be proven to be true.” Britain’s libel laws differ from those in the United States in that the writer or publisher of the content
themselves must prove the truth of their statements, which, as Haslam contends in his email, would be difficult for Dawisha to accomplish given the amount of claims she makes in her book. “We need also take into account the extremely onerous defamation laws in Russia itself, which criminalise what would ordinarily be a civil matter in England and the U.S. Again, we would feel obliged to take advice about criminal liability under Russian law, which would be very expensive and time-consuming,” Haslam added in the email. Because of this, Haslam notes the United States may provide a better venue for Dawisha’s work. “I will definitely pursue publication in America,” Dawisha said. “But let’s say one copy of my book is sold in a British bookstore. There is a certain bummer-effect about all this on an American publishing company. But I think American publishers have a sort of pride in how it works here compared to Britain.”
For now, Dawisha wishes to shed light on the corruption of British libel laws as she pursues publication elsewhere, but hopes one day her book will have a much more powerful, positive influence on Russian politics. “I want to give people ammunition,” she said. “I fully imagine, and I hope, that at some point in the future, this book will be on shelves. Hopefully it will be translated into Russian. And I hope, at some point, Putin will not be in the position to do these terrible things, just by hiding behind his position. And that book, will be then, available.” And in regards to the Miami community, Dawisha urged students to defend what they believe in. “You have to stand up for yourself,” she said. “There are three other authors I know who’s books British publisher refused to publish for these same reasons. Only one of them really stood up for their books. You need to be aware of these problems and you have to stick to your guns.”
Get To Graduation Faster
Low tuition for summer classes that transfer to Miami University Stark State College online * main campus * satellite centers
Summer Session I (8 weeks) June 2- July 27 Summer Session II (First 5 weeks) June 2 - July 6 Summer Session III (Second 5 weeks) July 7 - August 10 Summer Session IV (10 weeks) June 2 - August 10 Now registering for all summer sessions. Visit www.starkstate.edu/summer
6200 Frank Ave. N.W. • North Canton
330-494-6170 • 1-800-797-STARK (797-8275) www.starkstate.edu 2014
first year 2014–2015
ROOM SELECTION Heritage Commons Residence Halls Lottery April 8 Room Selection April 10
9
Lottery April 14–18 Room Selection April 23
Learn more about room selection and the Second Year Residency Requirement at
MiamiOH.edu/Housing
10
SPORTS
EDITOR TOM DOWNEY
TUESDAY, APRIL 8, 2014
SPORTS@MIAMISTUDENT.NET
BASEBALL
RedHawks take two of three from Zips
BEN TAYLOR THE MIAMI STUDENT
Miami junior infielder Ryan Elble digs in at the plate during Miami’s homestand against Akron. Elble is hitting .320 for the year with two stolen bases, two homers and 11 RBIs in 19 games this year.
BY TOM DOWNEY SPORTS EDITOR
Pitching, pitching, pitching. The three most important words in baseball rang true as the Miami University baseball team took two of three games from the then-Mid-American Conference East leading University of Akron in a weekend series. “That’s the fourth week in a row we’ve had our starters doing a great job on the weekends,” head coach Danny Hayden said. “If we get that out of starters with the way our team is capable of swinging the bat, we’re going to be pretty darn good.” Miami (12-17, 4-5 MAC) fell 7-5 in the opening game Friday against Akron (14-14, 6-3 MAC), despite a strong start from senior Seth Varner (4-1, 3.31 ERA), to extend its losing streak to seven games. However, the RedHawks bounced back Saturday thanks to a gem from junior Nathan Williams (2-4, 5.10 ERA),
who pitched eight shutout innings in Miami’s 6-0 win. The ’Hawks then took the rubber match 5-3 behind a strong outing from junior Ryan Powers (2-3, 4.82). Varner went seven innings in the opening game, allowing eight hits, three earned runs while striking out eight and walking three. Varner received a no-decision for his effort, as the relief combination freshman Jacob Banks (1-0, 7.63 ERA) and sophomore Wynston McMartin (01, 5.52 ERA) combined to allow four earned runs and five walks in just 1 2-3 innings. Williams was dominant in his start, allowing just four hits while striking out seven in eight shutout innings. The bats were strong as well, with senior third baseman Dan Walsh leading the way. Walsh went 4 for 5 with two RBIs. Junior catcher Max Andresen went 2 for 3 with an RBI and sophomore outfielder Chad Sedio went 2 for 4 with two RBIs.
JORDAN RINARD RINARD’S RUNDOWN
NOTABLE MIAMI ALUMNI INCLUDES WRESTLERS
“Max [Andresen] called a great game and my defense was working behind me,” Williams said. “I was just confident in all pitches and letting my defense make plays and letting the catcher call the game. I was just in a groove.” Senior Charles Zubrod finished the game for Williams, as he pitched a perfect inning in a non-save situation. “I was pretty pissed when Coach [Hayden] came out and pulled me,” Williams said. “He told me before the inning that I had to get a 1-2-3 inning or else I was coming out because my pitch count was up there a little bit. But I’m glad we just got the win.” Powers went 7 1-3 innings in the 5-3 RedHawk rubber match victory, allowing three runs (two earned) on six hits and two walks while striking out five. The RedHawks recorded just five hits in the game, but capitalized on their chances,
including a pair of Akron errors in the sixth inning that led the three RedHawk runs. “That’s the first game so far this year we found a way to win without hitting the ball a ton,” Hayden said. “Most of the times when we win it’s because we’ve got 13 or 14 hits. Today we got five, but we were able to get five runs on the board at the same. That was good for us.” Zubrod finished the game for the second straight day, pitching a perfect 1 2-3 innings and picking up the save. The bullpen has struggled for much of the season for the RedHawks, posting an ERA of 6.89. Zubrod has been working as both a mid-week starter and reliever this season for the RedHawks. However, Hayden said other pitchers are going to need to step up. “We’re being competitive in our bullpen right now…” Hayden said. “We don’t have roles for those guys right now because, quite honestly,
no one’s stepped up and taken them. We’re trying figure out what our best options are. We don’t have a closer right now, we don’t have a set-up guy right now. It’s who do we feel best about that day. Hopefully we get some guys that come out of there. We’re going to need to use more guys than Zubrod to win games out of the bullpen. Hopefully when those guys get their opportunities, which are coming, they step up and take control of some roles for us.” The RedHawks host the Joe Nuhxall Classic Tuesday and Wednesday at McKie Field at Hayden Park. Miami faces Xavier University Tuesday. The RedHawks lost to the Musketeers 6-5, as their comeback bid fell just short. The RedHawks face either the University of Cincinnati or Wright State University Wednesday. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. for both games. Fans can listen to both games on redhawkradio.com/sports.
SOFTBALL
MU splits games with BG and Toledo BY JORDAN RINARD SENIOR STAFF WRITER
With the advent of WrestleMania XXX taking place Sunday, I think now is as good a time as any to acknowledge the Miami alumni who have made an impact in the arena of professional wrestling: Brian Pillman and Mike “The Miz” Mizanin. It’s interesting to note the accomplishments of these two men as they are rarely, if ever, discussed in regards to our “notable alumni.” Before his in-ring career, Pillman made a name for himself on the football field for Miami as a defensive tackle, setting tackles for loss records and earning second team All-American status twice. He was also the roommate of thencornerback John Harbaugh, who you probably recognize as the Super Bowl winning head coach of the Baltimore Ravens. After his college career ended, Pillman signed with the Cincinnati Bengals as an undrafted free agent in 1984 and later signed with the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League in 1986. Pillman remained in Canada after his football career ended after the 1986 season and spent three years working in Stampede Wrestling under the tutelage of Stu Hart, whose family is accomplished and revered in the wrestling business. He then bounced around with short stints in World Championship Wrestling (WCW) and Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW), becoming a two-time Light Heavyweight champion and World Tag Team champion with Steve Austin during his first run in WCW. Pillman finally broke into the World Wrestling Federation (WWF/ WWE) in 1996, where he and Austin were a part of the notorious “Pillman’s got a gun” storyline. Sadly, Pillman died of heart disease at the age of 35 in a hotel on
the day of a pay-per-view he was scheduled to compete at. If not for his untimely and tragic death, Pillman might have become the ultimate heel during the Attitude Era for the WWE. Mizanin took a very different path to the squared circle as he dropped out of Miami in 2001, despite being a member of the Theta Chi fraternity and a business major, to appear on MTV’s “The Real World.” He would make appearances on multiple seasons and spin-offs of the show. In 2003, he joined Ultimate Pro Wrestling with the goal of making it to WWE, which he eventually succeeded in doing a year later. After being in the developmental system of the company for three years, Miz went on to hold every major title in the contemporary WWE, becoming a five-time Tag Team champion, a two-time Intercontinental and United States champion and a WWE championship reign in 2011 with a title defense in the main event of WrestleMania XXVII. He is the 25th Triple Crown Champion in WWE history, meaning he held the Tag titles, the Intercontinental or United States championship, and the WWE or World Heavyweight belt in the same year. The Miz also has had success in acting as well. He has 18 different TV show appearances, including a guest appearance on “Psych.” He has also appeared in several movies, “The Campaign,” “The Marine 3: Homefront,” “Christmas Bounty” and an upcoming appearance in “The Marine 4.” Pillman and Mizanin are unique compared to what the typical Miami alumni provide, and they should be discussed more in the general context of Miamians who went on to do bigger and better things.
The Miami University softball team picked up key wins in MidAmerican Conference action as it split with both the University of Toledo and Bowling Green State University. The ’Hawks lost 9-2 and won 11-5 against the Rockets. They also had a 3-1 win and a 9-5 extra innings loss to the Falcons. The RedHawks (16-17, 4-2 MAC) are now in second place in the MAC East Division. “It’s hard to beat conference teams two times in a row,” head coach Clarisa Crowell said. “We’re happy with where we’re at. We saw some great things with [sophomore pitcher Amber] Logemann fighting through back-to-back-to-back starts and our offense doing great things. We continued to fight… we just need to clean some things up and make plays. We’re learning some things. Every little thing matters in these games…” In the opening game against the Rockets (12-21, 4-2 MAC), sophomore first baseman Jenna Modic drew first blood in the opening inning as she knocked a solo home run, but it was all Toledo from that point on as it got two runs in the second, four runs in the fourth and three runs in the seventh. The ’Hawks had some success in the batter’s box in the opener as senior catcher Kayla Ledbetter went 3 for 4, senior second baseman Kristy Arbour went 2 for 4 and Modic was 2 for 3 with a RBI. However, the RedHawks stranded nine runners. Senior pitcher Paige Myers struggled as she allowed three earned runs in three innings of work. The ’Hawks started fast in the second game as they scored all of their runs in the first three innings. The scoring started with Ledbetter picking up a RBI, Arbour stealing home, Modic getting an RBI double and then scoring on a fielding error and junior outfielder Taylor Shuey notching RBI single in the
BEN TAYLOR THE MIAMI STUDENT
Sophomore Amber Logemann winds up during Miami’s weekend homestand. first inning. Ledbetter knocked a solo shot in the second before UT put two runs on the board in the second and three more in the fifth, but was not enough as the ’Hawks scored five more runs in the third. Ledbetter went 2 for 3 with three RBIs while junior left fielder Bree Lipscomb was 2 for 4 with two RBIs. Logemann put together a quality start, allowing two earned runs while striking out 10 in 6 2-3 innings of work. Logemann continued to dominate on the mound in the first game against Bowling Green (12-19, 3-3 MAC) by allowing one earned run on three hits with eight strikeouts in 6 1-3 innings. Miami scored all
of its runs in the third inning as Modic recorded a two-run homer and Shuey knocked in an RBI-single. Modic went 1 for 3 with two RBIs while Shuey was 2 for 3 with her RBI. In the second game against the Falcons, the RedHawks found themselves in a 5-0 hole after the top of the fifth, but chipped away at the lead in the bottom of the inning as Lipscomb hit a two-run home run and Modic hit a dinger in the next at-bat. After a Ledbetter RBI in the sixth, the home team knotted it up as Shuey drove in a run-
SOFTBALL, SEE PAGE 9