April 17, 2012 | The Miami Student by The Miami Student

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

VOLUME 139 NO. 55

TUESDAY, APRIL 17, 2012

MIAMI UNIVERSITY OXFORD, OHIO

TODAY IN MIAMI HISTORY In 1999, The Miami Student reported the city of Oxford would limit uptown parking for the maximum two-hour time limit through strict enforcement

from the Oxford Police Department. Prior to this, The Student reported “meter-feeding” was prevalent, where individuals would deposit additional money to prolong the use of a parking space.

MU implements grade forgiveness By Kaler Hazen Staff Writer

Many students have a class they wish could be wiped from their transcript, an academic stain from their first year they wish would cease to weigh down an otherwise healthy grade point average. A change in university policy makes that wish a possibility, allowing students to retake up to eight credit hours within their first 64 attempted at Miami University. The new policy states for classes in which a student received a grade of C- or lower, the class can be retaken and the new grade will be factored into the grade

point average (GPA), while the old grade is voided from GPA calculation. A student’s official transcript will still show both grades however, so the class will not be entirely cleaned from official record. If students receive an incomplete in a class or withdraw from a class, they cannot retake that class and reattempted classes cannot be taken as credit/no credit. The university’s old retake policy allowed students to retake only one class and the grades from both attempts would be averaged together and then reported on the transcript. Students who have passed the 64 credit hour

GRADES, SEE PAGE 8

LAUREN OLSON THE MIAMI STUDENT

RELAY FOR LIFE

Cancer survivors lead Miami University students in the first lap of Relay for Life Friday evening at Millett Hall. Proceeds from Relay For Life go to the American Cancer Society.

Honors program revamps campus tour for prospective students

CONTRIBUTED BY ANDREW HAYES THE MIAMI STUDENT

The Miami University Honors Program created a self-guided tour using Quick Response Codes. Scan the code above with your smart phone for a surprise.

By Katie M. Taylor For The Miami Student

They can be found on the tables of restaurants across America. Black and white checkered boxes, known as Quick Response Codes, appear on the backs of Heinz Ketchup bottles and in many other locations

across the country — now including the Miami University campus. These often overlooked Quick Response codes, commonly known as QR codes, contain encoded information that can be read by most smart phones. When detected in camera mode, QR codes serve as a link, taking the user of the device to

a webpage. This year David Sheehan, assistant director of the Miami Honors Program, and junior Andrew Hayes, a student recruitment coordinator for the program, worked together to incorporate QR codes into the scavenger hunt put on for perspective students during Honors Overnight events on the first three Sundays of April. According to Sheehan, the scavenger hunt involves a group of prospective honors students solving clues placed around campus to figure out where they must go next. “It’s a slightly different route than what they would do on a campus tour,” Sheehan said. The scavenger hunt aims to help students engage with the campus, Sheehan said. In the past, envelopes containing written clues led students on the scavenger hunt. On occasion, those envelopes would get pulled down or blown away by the wind. According to Sheehan, that was not the only flaw with the old system. “After about the second [location] you go to you realize there’s a group ahead of you going to the exact same place and you don’t have to figure out the clues, you just have to follow them,” Sheehan said.

“So it kind of took out the competition-like ‘Amazing Race’ sort of element.” Sheehan first thought of the idea to replace the envelopes with QR codes so students could access clues using their smart phones, and Hayes put the idea to work creating video, image and text clues and linking them to the codes. A few other changes have been made to enhance the event. For two of the three overnight events, there is only one route for the scavenger hunt, but for the second of the three there are various themed routes — such as sports and scenic — that take students to specific parts of campus. Though this means not every student will see all of campus, an aspect was added to the event to provide a solution, Sheehan said. “We actually asked [students] throughout the event to then take the things that they learned at each location and create a miniature presentation that they gave to their peers later in the evening,” Sheehan said. “So basically, as a whole, their entire group got to bond by discovering kind of the entire campus.” The events double as a research project for Hayes, with the single route scavenger hunt acting as the

control group and the themedroute, along with presentations, the experiment. Emails are sent out to gather feedback from members in each of the groups from the three different event dates. This data is then compared with feedback from past years. According to Hayes, though the data from the third event which took place this past Sunday is not in yet, the results seem to show participants felt creating presentations and themed tours enhanced their experience. Deepika Hebbalalu, prospective honors student, encountered QR codes for the first time when she went on the scavenger hunt. Hebbalalu said the video and image clues made the scavenger hunt stand out. “I don’t even know how [QR codes] work, so it was really cool how you could take a picture of it and it links you to somewhere else,” Hebbalalu said. The week after her visit to Miami she noticed codes being used in a Chicago museum. According to Hebbalalu, their use would be valuable for other purposes.

QR CODES, SEE PAGE 8

Professor, NASA launches plants into space By Allison McGillivray Campus Editor

Not so long ago in a Miami University lab not so far, far away, one botany professor completed research to one day grow plants … in space! John Kiss, professor of botany, will get the chance again to send plants into space for at least three space-flight experiments starting December 2012. According to Kiss, National Aeronautics Space Administration (NASA) supports these experiments. Kiss has completed a total of six space flight experiments with NASA’s support, the first in 1997 and the most recent in 2010. Kiss’ research is on the sensory physiology of plants, specifically, how plants perceive and respond to gravity and light, Kiss said. NASA’s interest in Kiss’ research comes from the long-term desire to develop food and oxygen sources for space travel and colonization of

other planets. “The reason NASA supports my research is they will support basic research with the ultimate goal of application toward plant growth in space,” Kiss said. “If we are going to be going to Mars or creating

It was the best thing I’ve done in college for sure.” MAGGIE BROWN

MIAMI UNIVERSITY SENIOR

colonies on the moon, plants are going to be an important part of that for two reasons, one is for food and the other reason is that plants generate oxygen.” NASA gave Kiss a $449,000 research grant for his most recent experiment, which he uses for travel, equipment, supplies and to support the personnel who work on his

research projects, including students. “One of the things I’ve been really proud of is that students have been involved in all aspects of all of my six space projects,” Kiss said. Students work with Kiss at his Miami lab for pre- and post-flight experiment research and data analysis but also at a lab at Kennedy Space Center and other NASA and European locations to prepare and process samples, according to Kiss. Kiss said he is proud to have worked with 42 undergraduate students on his projects. “For most scientists and most of the people in my department, we really believe in engaging students directly in our research,” Kiss said. “When students come back a lot of times they will say that their most enriching educational experience has been working one-on-one with faculty.” Senior Maggie Brown has assisted Kiss with his research since the fall 2010 semester.

SPAcE PLANTS, SEE PAGE 8

RICHARD MANDIMIKA THE MIAMI STUDENT

GLIDING WITH GRACE

Dancers from Miami University’s Dance Theater annual spring concert perform Saturday evening in Hall Auditorium.

CAMPUS

Editors JENN SMOLA ALLISON MCGILLIVRAY

TUESDAY, APRIL 17, 2012

campus@miamistudent.net

Model Arab League enjoys season of success By Katie Sallach

For the Miami Student

After its success in the Ohio Valley Conference, Miami University’s Model Arab League delegation received an invitation to the national conference, held at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. over the weekend. At the national conference, Miami’s delegation performed very well, with Miami delegates Danny Hawk and Delaney Kelly earning honorable mentions and team member Lindsey Shephard winning an award as well, according to Miami’s Model Arab League president Becky Judeh. Similar to Model United Nations, Model Arab League competitions include schools representing one of the 22 countries from the Arab League. Delegations represent their country to debate against other delegations to find a solution to current issues Arab nations are facing, including politics and environmental problems, according to Judeh. Judeh said Miami’s delegation was started by Saleh Yousef and has been active for over three decades. Competitions involve councils that delegations divide into, such as the Council on Palestinian Affairs and Council of Environmental Affairs Ministers. Each council receives its agenda topic and then drafts a solution for the problem. They then debate their solution against other countries and their solutions. Eventually a vote decides which delegation offered the

best solution, according to senior Michael Dashner. Dashner said some of the topics usually debated are solutions to water scarcity and the ongoing IsraeliPalestine conflict. Before nationals, Dashner said he hoped the national conference would be an opportunity for the team to improve its skills and increase its knowledge. “We’re hoping to increase our understanding of the countries and the problems and improve on our debating skills and our confidence,” Dashner said. “We’re looking forward to taking a more executive role in the competition and hopefully getting an outstanding evaluation.” According to Dashner, Miami represented Algeria to compete against 22 other universities from across the country, including Northwestern University, the University of Pittsburgh, the University of Cincinnati and the United States Military Academy at West Point at the national conference. The students debated topics including endangered species of Arab nations, situations involving the Gaza Strip and developing alternative solutions to bilateral negotiations with Israel, according to Dashner. Miami’s delegation has been very successful this year, starting with their win at the Ohio Valley Conference. In addition to Miami winning the Ohio Valley Conference as a whole, some of Miami’s 12 Model Arab League delegates received outstanding evaluations for representing Algeria at the regional Model

Arab League Ohio Valley Conference Feb. 16-18 at Miami. The Miami delegation debated against nine other universities including the University of Cincinnati, Earlham College and John Carroll University, over solutions to problems the Arab World is facing, according Dashner. In addition to the success of Miami’s delegation this year at the Ohio Valley Conference and at nationals, Judeh will be travelling to Palestine this year as part of the Interfaith Peace Building delegation. According to Judeh, the Interfaith Peace Building delegation is a part of the Model Arab League focusing on the respect of all faiths and supporting equal human rights for everyone, especially in relation to the conflict between Israel and Palestine. “As a part of the Interfaith Peace Building Delegation, I will travel from Israel to Palestine and learn about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict from various perspectives,” Judeh said. “In turn, I want to be able to return to the states and educate individuals on what I learn about. The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is a subject that I am very passionate about, specifically Palestine’s struggle in becoming a state.” First-year Sarah Ross said the recent success of the Miami’s Model Arab League could bring a lot of needed attention to the group. “I had not heard of this association previous to their trip to nationals,” Ross said. “It sounds like a great leadership organization that is on the rise.”

University Senate holds final session By Jenn Smola Camps Editor

In Miami University Senate’s final meeting of the school year, the Senate heard a report from the Fiscal Priorities and Budget Planning Committee, approved several revisions to the Senate bylaws and University Policy and Information Manual and approved a proposed Bachelor of Science degree in criminal justice. In the annual report from the Fiscal Priorities and Budget Planning Committee, Rebecca Luzadis, committee chair, said the university has been successful in some areas but not in others in efforts to control costs. “Until we really get a handle on long-term revenue planning, we are going to have to worry about whether or not our budget can be stable year after year,” Luzadis said. “And that’s no way to run an institution with the long history that we have here.” According to Luzadis, the Healthy Miami program, which helps employees manage their healthcare options, strategic sourcing and energy conservation, have all been areas where Miami has been successful in controlling costs.

On the other hand, Luzadis said academic affairs and IT Services have been problematic in cost control efforts. According to Luzadis, academic divisions are making cuts as usual, not the way the Strategic Priorities Taskforce suggested in 2010. According to Luzadis, this is concerning because it is hard for the committee to control costs if the university continues to fund the same large number of programs. Luzadis said the university’s large contract with consulting group Accenture to reorganize IT Services has not gone completely according to plan. According to Luzadis, one of Accenture’s four major suggested areas of change with IT Services has been met with major resistance, so those changes will no longer be occurring. “In the next fiscal year, those changes were going to amount to almost $3 million in savings, and as of today the best estimate that we can come up with is there will be zero on that line,” Luzadis said. Luzadis said the bottom line is the university has to start making difficult cost decisions.

“We really have to get serious about cost control and making hard choices,” Luzadis said. The Senate also approved proposed changes to its bylaws including minor additions to the University Liberal Education Council’s guidelines as well as the Committee for the Enhancement of Learning, Teaching and University Advancement (CELTUA) guidelines with slight changes. The Senate also approved a revision to the Miami University Policy and Information Manual, eliminating the requirement that an associate professor applying for promotion has to meet for a review with his or her department chair, program director or dean. The Senate also voted to approve a new Bachelor of Science in criminal justice. This degree stems from the associate degree that currently exists at Miami. Philip Russo Jr., professor of political science and director of the Center for Public Management, spoke in favor of the proposal. “I think having a program like this and an opportunity like this in the university is going to be a leverage opportunity,” Russo said.

Senior Class Gift donations increase By Lauren Ceronie and Samantha Callender Editor in Cheif and Staff Writer

As the Class of 2012 prepares for May 5, the day all seniors will become Miami University alumni, students are being encouraged to start giving back to the university through the Senior Class Gift. This year’s seniors have been quite generous to Miami, donating over $16,000 so far, according to Brad Bundy, interim vice president of university advancement. The number of people who have donated to the Senior Class Gift has increased by 31 percent while the amount of money given has increased by 150 percent from this time last year, according to Bundy.

The Senior Class Gift Committee, part of a student-run campaign called the Senior Class Gift, hosts and participates in events across campus to encourage seniors to donate to the Miami community. The 25-person committee is organized into chairs and members that market, program and campaign the initiative that is housed in the Office of Annual Giving. Katie Stango, graduate assistant for student engagement and giving, said the overall goal of the Senior Class Gift is to start cultivating the spirit of alumni donating, starting with seniors. “Seniors are encouraged to donate $20.12 [to commemorate their graduation year] to any designation of their choice,” Stango said. “For the past few years we have primarily fundraised for the Armstrong

Student Center along with the opportunity to donate to a class scholarship to benefit future Miamians.” Members of the Senior Class Gift Committee hope to have every senior make their gift of $20.12 by graduation. The committee used events such as homecoming, men’s basketball games, Charter Day Ball and the Spring Internship and Career Expo (ICE) to target seniors. The committee collected the most donations at this year’s GradFest. “We usually get our highest number of gifts at this event — this year was no exception,” Stango said. The committee has not set an overall goal for fundraising this year, according to Caroline McClellan,

Senior gift, SEE PAGE 11

RICHARD MANDIMIKA THE MIAMI STUDENT

BLADES OF GLORY

Miami University Junior Alex McCarthy performs at the Miami Intercollegiate Skating Club Exhibition Friday afternoon.

Study shows graduates are less racially accepting than first-year students By Libby Mueller Senior Staff Writer

Miami University draws students from all backgrounds, piecing together a culturally colorful student body mosaic, but a new study done by the National Opinion Research Center (NORC) at the University of Chicago may indicate the university environment does not foster as much interracial understanding as previously thought. The study found more students reported the importance of interracial understanding to them personally decreased throughout their first year. The study showed 30.5 percent of college students said promoting interracial understanding was less important, while only 17.3 percent responded it was more important. From the beginning of their first year to their senior year, 33.8 percent of students reported a decrease in their prioritization of racial understanding while only 21.4 percent reported an increase. Jesse Rude is a research analyst at the NORC and one of the principal authors of the study. “A majority of students surveyed did not change their opinion from the first to third time point,” Rude said. “Most people stayed the same. Of the people who did change, there were more who went negative than positive.” Rude said the study looked specifically at 17 colleges and universities across the country that had data on racial attitudes for three points in time: the beginning of first year, the end of first year and the end of senior year. The authors of the study indicated in their paper the results came contrary to the belief universities are liberal environments that encourage openness to diversity. There were various conjectures on the reasons why the study might have challenged this perception of universities, according to Rude. “Maybe students coming into the university have more optimistic,

idealistic opinions and the realities that they experience temper their optimism somehow,” Rude said. “I don’t know if that’s the case though and that’s very hard to examine.” Rude said there are three or four experiences that appear to have an effect on how students report their racial attitudes over time. “For example, the number of courses taken on diversity is highly predictive of a positive increase in how students reported racial attitudes,” Rude said. Yvania Garcia is the assistant coordinator and director of Diverse Student Development at the Office of Diversity Affairs. She said the study had some truth to it. “When students come to college, they’re very passionate about diversity and change,” Garcia said. “Especially for multicultural students, these issues are just a part of their lives. For those students, I can see within their years at college, they either become really passionate or they become a little apathetic toward the whole issue because they want different experiences not just dependent on their [racial identity].” The Office of Diversity Affairs, through diversity programming and the Diversity Affairs Council, hopes to reach out to all students, Garcia said. First-year Ann Ansah, who identifies herself as African, said she thinks Miami has a long way to go in achieving sensitivity to diversity. “There is a big gap between the percentage of Caucasian students at Miami and those of other races or ethnicities,” Ansah said. “That’s what is helping to create racial tension and racial stereotypes.” Ansah said she thinks Miami does a good job of hosting diversity events but she would like to see more of them, especially early in the year, in order to motivate students to learn about people of other cultures. “Students would be more inclined to reach out to students who are from different backgrounds,” Ansah said. “There’s not just one kind of people here.”

CORRECTIONS It is the policy of The Miami Student to publish corrections for factual errors found in the newspaper. In the April 13 issue of The Miami Student, Forest McGuire was said to be elected as president of the executive cabinet. He was actually elected chief of staff. Also in the April 13 issue, it was printed a decision had been made by President David Hodge and Provost Bobby Gempesaw to keep AITS separate from Central IT and Administrative IT. Rather, the decision was to participate in SSIP-IT initiatives was voluntary. In the same article, it was also written that AITS might be negatively affected by the decision to centralize AITS into IT services, but rather, the academic divisions might be negatively affected if AITS is centralized. In the April 13 issue, Fabian Hemmert was incorrectly identified in a picture as Fabian Teeters.

COMMUNITY

Editors CATHERINE UBRY LISA REYMANN

TUESDAY APRIL 17, 2012

COMMUNITY@miamistudent.net

POLICE Mexican grill to open doors soon

BEAT Mysterious thief sneaks into house

Around 2 p.m. Sunday, a victim said when he left his residence he locked his apartment door and when he returned, he found the door closed but unlocked and items were missing from his apartment. It did not appear there was forced entry into the front door. The victim said his second floor balcony sliding door was partially open but when he returned the screen door was still shut and it did not appear the entry was gained through the second floor balcony. A laptop computer was taken from the bedroom and $100 was taken from the desk. Approximately $50 in quarters was taken from the living room table. Another bedroom was locked prior to this incident and was found forced open but nothing was missing from the room. There are no leads at this time.

Girl refuses sobriety test, laughs at officer Around 1:30 a.m. Sunday an Oxford Police Department cruiser was patrolling on North Beech Street when a white Toyota SUV going south on Beech Street came into the cruiser’s lane and almost hit the car. The officer then turned around and stopped the car. He asked the driver for her ID and the female gave the officer her credit card and said she guessed she left her ID at work. The officer noticed a strong odor of alcoholic beverage so he asked how much she drank and she denied ever drinking. She then began laughing at the officer and the things he was saying. The officer asked if she would be willing to perform sobriety tests and she said, “I don’t think so, do you know who my father is? If you arrest me you’re in big trouble.” The female then began laughing again and the officer decided to take her into custody in suspicion of OVI. The female was identified as Miami University junior Sarah Smith. When all the paperwork was done the officers asked her to sign a paper and she refused. The officers then got out new paperwork for Butler County Jail that she said she would sign if she could make a phone call. The officer said no and took the pen from Smith’s hand and then she took her hand away and raised the pen like she was going to stab the officer. Smith was then taken to the ground and charged with OVI and obstructing official business and then was transported to Butler County Jail.

Drunk student steals cat from apartment Around 3 a.m. Saturday a man walked into a random apartment and stole a cat from the residence. When the owner realized the cat was missing, she called the Oxford Police Department and officers located the subject in the parking lot of the apartment complex. The subject told officers he didn’t know where he lived and was highly intoxicated. The victim decided to press charges so the male was taken into the station. The male was identified as Miami University student employee Kyle Birch. Birch was taken into the station where he was cited for disorderly conduct and public intoxication then released. A couple of hours later police were dispatched to another address where Birch was standing on the front porch. Birch told officers he didn’t know who lived there so he was taken back into custody and put in a cell for four hours until he sobered up.

By Michelle Rowley Staff Writer

After six months of planning and renovations, La Piñata Mexican Grill & Bar will be added to the long list of Oxford uptown restaurants. Although there is no set opening date, La Piñata Manager Alfonso Garcia said he would like the restaurant open for graduation and Cinco de Mayo. The location itself is completely renovated and ready for use. The new restaurant is located at 33 E Church St. across the street from the Oxford Presbyterian Church. La Piñata is waiting for a few things such as a restaurant sign before opening, according to Garcia. Even though there are already two other Mexican restaurants in Oxford, Garcia said La Piñata will be its own, unique restaurant. Garcia said its style is less traditional and more of an American take on Hispanic style. This includes traditionally bright hues of yellow and orange and booths depicting bullfights and rain forest landscapes. Garcia said he believes the vibrancy of the décor will match the atmosphere of the restaurant. “We want to know how we are doing: your opinion matters because our customers’ experiences are our biggest concern,” Garcia said. The menu will encompass

everyone’s favorite Mexican dishes such as enchiladas, tamales, taco salad and much more. Garcia said managers, cooks and even customer requests inspire dishes. La Piñata will have daily drink specials too. Alan Kyger, Oxford economic development director, said this new restaurant will give students, residents and visitors more options to choose from uptown. Garcia said he plans to make his restaurant a part of the community, just as other restaurants uptown already have. “My idea is to be a part of the city and the community,” Garcia said. “We are trying to understand the students in Oxford because we want them to be comfortable at our restaurant and have fun too.” Other restaurant locations include Hamilton, Dayton, Centerville and Fort Wright, Ky. “I wish them success,” Kyger said. “We want to see every business in Oxford be successful.” Kyger said he thinks the restaurant will be busy regardless of the fact there are two other Mexican restaurants uptown. Miami University sophomore Maeve Andrews said because of the location, it might be tough to attract as much attention as Fiesta Charra Mexican Restaurant. “They will definitely have to advertise and get their name out there, but if they do, I think they can be just as successful,” Andrews said.

RICHARD MANDIMIKA THE MIAMI STUDENT

Future home of Oxford’s newest Mexican Restuarnt, La Piñata. at 33 E Church Street. The opening date is to be determined.

Citizen on the Street What do you like most about Oxford during the summer? It’s not as busy as it is during the school year and it’s really cool seeing more than just college students walking around. Amanda Schumaker Sophomore

The peace and quiet. Jacob Pierron Sophomore

You can park wherever you want, and you pretty much have a bunch of time to yourself. Phillip Conners

La Bodega Employee

It is a lot of fun because there are small groups of people who stay and you get to know them really well. Abbie Schwab Senior

The library is actually a fun place to hang out, and you know all about places like Hueston Woods, so I love it. If I could, I’d spend every summer here. Mandy Sheaffer

Bagel & Deli Employee

Recycling plant sees large blaze By Kait Espeleta

For The Miami Student

Around 5:30 p.m. April 10, a maintenance employee at Oxford’s Rumpke Recycling Plant noticed an expanding fire where the outside recycling loads are dropped around the plant. “The fire investigators believe it was something that was brought in, in one of the recycling loads,” Molly Yeager, Rumpke corporate communications coordinator said. “They call that a ‘hot load,’ so it is likely that it was something not acceptable in our program.” Yeager said it is assumed the fire started in the tipping floor where the incoming loads of recyclables are dropped off, and the strong winds that night picked up the fire and blew it into the facility. The St. Bernard Police Department responded immediately and at one point, there were over 125 firefighters on site of the massive fire, according to Steven Scherpenberg, St. Bernard Fire Department fire chief. Fire fighters were on the scene for a total of 26 hours. “It’s a deep seeded fire,” Scherpenberg said. “There was some risk of building collapse so we had to bring in extra machinery.” Scherpenberg said two fire fighters sustained injuries—one with a lip laceration and another with a hurt leg— and had to be transported for treatment. They still have not been able to assess the damage and until the fire investigation is over, they will not know how to prevent this sort of incident from reoccurring. No injuries were reported from Rumpke employees, Yeager said. According to Yeager, the effect on Rumpke is very large. The company is now shipping the 10,000 pounds of recyclables they receive each month to other facilities in the region, such as Dayton and Columbus. They are in an almost direct route, stopping at the Colerain landfill, so they can load them onto transfer trailers for shipping. Yeager said the community should, “Continue Recycling and

rumpke, SEE PAGE 5

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Editor BILLY RAFAEL

ARTS@miamistudent.net

TUESDAY, APRIL 17, 2012

Clayton Anderson rocks Oxford again By Claire Krieger Senior Staff Writer

Brick Street Bar and Grill played host to two bar veterans Wednesday night. Rising country star Clayton Anderson and opener Chris Cavanaugh delighted fans with sets full of crowd-favorite original songs and a few surprising covers. Opener Cavanaugh started the evening off with a 30-minute set including songs off of his debut album and current EP requested by fans and some covers, including Steve Miller Band’s The Joker. Cavanaugh played at Brick Street in September when he opened up for Chris Young. “I thought it was a great crowd, definitely amazing,” Cavanaugh said. “The biggest difference between last time and now was that I looked out and saw several people singing my songs. People were coming up to me before the show asking me to play particular songs. I would love to come back.” This was Anderson’s third time playing Brick Street but his first time headlining the show. Earlier in the academic year he opened for Justin Moore and David Nail on separate occasions. This time he played an 18-song set including fan favorites Summer Sun and Shotgun Rider. His 90sthrowback covers were hits as well, performing Tom Petty’s Free Fallin’, Sister Hazel’s All For You and Third Eye Blind’s Semi-Charmed Life.

Anderson said he played songs like these for non-country fans who go to his shows. The bar was full of Miami and Oxford natives. The crowd also featured two special guests: Anderson’s grandparents. During the show, Anderson paid the crowd a few compliments by giving some of his Twitter followers birthday shout-outs, saying Miami has the hottest softball team he has ever seen and choosing to videotape his set at Brick Street to use as a promotional tool when talking to television networks and prospective record labels. Born and raised in the limestone capital of the world, the small town of Bedford, Ind., Anderson grew up listening to John Mellencamp, Elvis Presley, KISS and 90s pop music. He enjoys pop music so much he tried his hand at performing that before he realized that his true calling was country music. Anderson describes his music as mainstream country with a Midwestern twist and said sometimes his fondness for pop music is evident in his songs. In 2008, a couple years out of college, he was about to give up on a career in music when he won a contest to open for Kenny Chesney in Cincinnati. He said after that show he was hooked. His debut record, Torn Jeans and Tailgates, came out in August and reached the top 10 country charts. Anderson began performing for

fun in college at various bars and for some fraternities and sororities at his alma mater, Indiana University. That is where he began his signature of serenading Greek organizations, a practice he still employs today when performing in college towns to draw a crowd. He currently lives in Nashville, Tenn. playing shows mainly in the Midwest but some scattered gigs around the country. He is writing songs for his next album and talking to record labels in Nashville. Anderson said he is thoroughly committed to his fans and has only good things to say about the Oxford community. “If I blow up in another month and I’m on the radio, flying all over the country, I will still care about the people who show up to see me play, and I will still come to the college towns because I feel like it’s where all the fun is,” Anderson said. “There’s nothing like a great college town and this one is one of the top. Oxford and Miami University have made me feel like it’s my home. They’re investing their time in you and you’re trying to give them as much as you can back.” Anderson said he is also very impressed by Brick Street. “The people [at Brick Street] are incredible, absolutely top-notch. They have gone out of their way to help me. The stage is great, the sound is great and the lights are awesome. It’s a professional setup,”

CONTRIBUTED BY KAYLA PICCHI

Clayton Anderson never fails to wow the crowds at Brick Street. Oxford has become one of his favorite venues. Anderson said. Fans at the show Wednesday night were enthusiastic about Anderson and his show was well received. He agreed the concert was a success. “It was way more epic than I thought it was going to be,” Anderson said. “I thought we’d have a good crowd and I thought they would sing along to a couple of my songs, but I had no clue that it was going to be

slam packed. It was a great night.” Anderson said he is eager to return to Oxford, which he described as “a great college town” with “great people and Midwestern charm.” Brick Street is still set to host Yelawolf, Cris Cab and Timeflies before the end of the academic year. Event details and more information on these artists can be found at www.brickstreetbar.com.

Art symposium showcases undergrads Glee Club represents Miami at national seminar By Emily Ketterer For The Miami Student

The Miami University Art Museum will host the first-ever undergraduate symposium in art and architecture history Thursday. The symposium will consist of four 20-minute presentations followed by a question and answer period on exceptional papers written by students. Pepper Stetler, art history assistant professor, organized the symposium with the help of other faculty members to bring attention to the history of art and architecture major. “It’s supposed to be the ‘Year of the Arts’ so I thought it was about time to bring attention to the Art and Architecture History major,” Stetler said. “It’s a chance for us to showcase student’s work.” The four topics addressed by students include mythological dance in the Renaissance, the coalescence of text and image, dresses of the 1890s

and visual evolution in relation to the Bauhaus. The students chosen to present their topics are seniors Alyssa Johansen, Sydney Kreuzmann, Kathleen Harrison and Chloe Hines and junior Thea Peterson. Professors approached students with outstanding papers and asked them if they would like to create a presentation that coincided with the paper for the symposium. Harrison, a studio art major, stated how thrilled she was that she did not have to be an art and architecture history major to present in the symposium. “I am not an art and architecture major, but Professor Butler’s class on dress has been one of my favorite classes I have taken at Miami,” Harrison said. “I was really excited when I was approached with this opportunity.” Partnering with Peterson, the pair worked hard to prepare for their presentation. “I put a lot of hard work into the

REDHAWK RADIO GOES LIVE

project and it will be great to share it with other people,” Harrison said. While the creators of the symposium hope it becomes an annual event, they are still focused on perfecting it. In the future, students may have the opportunity to submit work to become a part of the presentation. Krista Dunkman, junior art and architecture history major, plans on attending the event. “The faculty of my major are really encouraging everyone to go and support our fellow students,” Dunkman said. “I think it’s cool that we finally have a way to show off what we have learned because we have never really had that opportunity before. I hope that we get a good crowd of anyone and everyone; majors, non-majors, professors and locals.” The symposium will take place 6-8 p.m. Thursday in the auditorium of the Miami Art Museum. Admission is free and a reception with food will follow the event.

MICHAEL ZATT THE MIAMI STUDENT

WMSR hosted “School’s Out,” a concert to showcase student bands, at Stadium this past Thursday.

By Lauren Kiggins Staff Writer

The Miami University Men’s Glee Club performed at the National Seminar of Intercollegiate Men’s Choruses (IMC) Thursday in Atlanta at Morehouse College. IMC is a biennial event, founded in 1915, for men’s choruses from across the country to assimilate for the cause of music. “It’s not a competition, but it really is,” Corbin Mathias, Glee Club president said. “There aren’t any official results, but when the best glee clubs around the nation are coming to perform, naturally you are going to compare.” The Glee Club performed a set of six pieces at the seminar, including the premiere of the song, Night, Veiled Night, which was commissioned specifically for Glee Club and is based off a poem by an Indian poet and composer. Pansy Chang, Miami cello professor, made the nine-hour trip to accompany the Glee Club with the premiere. “The repertoire we performed was more difficult than the music we normally do,” Mathias said. “We set out to put on an incredible experience and that’s what we did. I can say that it was one of the most magical performances and concerts that I’ve ever been in.” Participation in IMC requires invitation and Miami stands as the only university to have attended the seminar five consecutive times. “For us, being invited again was really an honor and time for us to show what we can do; it speaks to the lasting quality and

excellence of the Glee Club,” Mathias said. This year’s performance was unique for Miami in that it was the club’s first time at IMC under the direction of Jeremy Jones. “Dr. Jones really pushed us; we wouldn’t have performed the way we did without him,” senior Adam Saxe said. IMC had 14 choruses this year. “One of the things that sets us apart is that the majority of us aren’t music majors, so that adds a different level to our performance. We really want to be there and are really putting our hearts into it,” Mathias said. “The other groups can put on a good show, but I feel that we put on a better performance because of our passion.” Mathias said IMC provided a platform for more than just musical development. “It’s about the friendships that are formed, learning together, working together and seeing things from a different perspective,” Mathias said. “It connects you with the other guys in a way that a fraternity can and also in a way that a fraternity can’t.” The Glee Club will perform the repertoire from IMC this Thursday and Friday at their “Home Concert.” They will also be doing a set dedicated to John “Doc” Wabrick. Doc Wabrick, who passed away in January, was the director of the Glee Club from 1967 to 1988. The “Home Concert” begins 8 p.m. Thursday and Friday in Hall Auditorium. Tickets are $5 for students and $7 for adults, and are available online and at the Shriver Center Box Office.

Dance Theatre company entertains by keeping spring show modern By Julia Trapp

For The Miami Student

The Miami University Dance Theatre held its spring concert in Hall Auditorium over the weekend. The company featured 24 dancers putting on a 10-piece show. “You audition to be a part of the company, and then audition again for each piece,” sophomore Kristen Bell said, publicity chair for Dance Theatre. “The company is made

up of a mix of students, people who work for the university and even alumni.” According to Bell, the repertoire for each concert is decided as a group. Individuals bring their ideas to the group fleshed out enough for everyone to get a feel for what they are thinking. The group then collectively decides what they want to pursue. The 10 pieces performed

represented several different styles of dance. While most pieces were modern, there also was a tap jazz number as well as a ballet number. Keeping a very reflective and serious tone with the modern dances, one rather sentimental piece featured an adult woman dancing with her toddler-aged daughter. Another favorite of the concert was a horror-themed modern dance to In the Hall of the Moun-

tain King, a piece by Edvard Grieg. The dancers were truly effective in making the piece terrifying in its nature. According to Bell, their choreography comes from a variety of sources “We start with student choreographers once ideas have been presented,” Bell said. “Then we fill in the pieces with guest choreographers. Sometimes we have alumni

or professionals from New York, Chicago or California fly in for a long weekend.” Although the Dance Theatre tries to extend their venues, having performed at Valentunes and Diwali in the past, their staple performances are their spring and winter concerts. Individuals interested in auditioning for Dance Theatre can contact Lana Kay Rosenberg at rosenblk@muohio.edu.

COMMUNITY

Editors CATHERINE UBRY LISA REYMANN

TUESDAY APRIL 17, 2012

COMMUNITY@miamistudent.net

POLICE Mexican grill to open doors soon

BEAT

By Michelle Rowley Staff Writer

RICHARD MANDIMIKA THE MIAMI STUDENT

Future home of Oxford’s newest Mexican Restuarnt, La Piñata. at 33 E Church Street. The opening date is to be determined.

The peace and quiet. Jacob Pierron Sophomore

You can park wherever you want, and you pretty much have a bunch of time to yourself. Phillip Conners

La Bodega Employee

It is a lot of fun because there are small groups of people who stay and you get to know them really well. Abbie Schwab Senior

The library is actually a fun place to hang out, and you know all about places like Hueston Woods, so I love it. If I could, I’d spend every summer here. Mandy Sheaffer

Bagel & Deli Employee

Recycling plant sees large blaze By Kait Espeleta

For The Miami Student

rumpke, SEE PAGE 5

OPINION

Editors RACHEL SACKS SARAH SHEW

TUESDAY, APRIL 17, 2012

editorial@miamistudent.net

EDITORIAL

The following piece, written by the editorial editors, reflects the majority opinion of the editorial board.

Honors Program project uses new technology to educate future students about campus

PATRICK GEYSER THE MIAMI STUDENT

EDITORIAL

The following piece, written by the editorial editors, reflects the majority opinion of the editorial board.

Newly implemented grade forgiveness policy benefits students struggling to adjust to college Miami University has implemented a new grade forgiveness policy. The new procedure allows students to retake up to eight of their first 64 credit hours to have their old grade replaced by the new one, differing from the previous policy that allowed students to retake only one class for an average of the two grades. The Miami Student editorial board was rather divided regarding this issue, however after a vote the majority of the board supported the policy. Though some members of the board expressed uneasiness with granting students leniency with a “second chance” program, ultimately the policy is not a “free pass” kind of system. Students who take advantage of grade forgiveness would be students who genuinely care about improving their grades and are willing to dedicate extra time to

relearning material. We agreed this policy may initiate somewhat of a slippery slope if handled or publicized incorrectly. Furthermore, grade forgiveness should not extend beyond these eight hours and should not involve the option of erasing a full semester from a student’s records. The editorial board believes this policy will alleviate some of the academic pressure that comes with the initial transition from high school to college. This form of grade forgiveness also leaves a large amount of the responsibility on the student, as they will be the ones to ultimately decide whether or not to retake a class and fall behind in their academic program. Though we eventually concluded this policy is beneficial, we believe it is reactive, not proactive. Miami administrators should

do a better job to prepare incoming first years for the academic challenges of college. This would prevent the need for such grade forgiveness, while alleviating one of the main concerns of incoming students: choosing the right classes. Some of the issues that contribute to initial poor student performance in collegiate courses could be resolved by better explanation of courses offered at Miami. Furthermore, in depth description at orientation of the registration process and attentive registration assistance for students in their first two semesters would also be more beneficial to students than forgiveness for a few of their first 64 credits. The new grade forgiveness policy begins to combat some of the academic stresses of first year college life, but the board encourages students to use this grade forgiveness wisely.

8,000...

The number of Miami Student readers who will see

YOUR AD HERE! To advertise in The Miami Student , please contact Sean Crowe at crowesp2@muohio.edu.

This semester the University Honors Program’s Assistant Director of Admissions and Alumni Relations David Sheehan and Miami University junior Andrew Hayes implemented a new campus tour and scavenger hunt system for prospective honors students. High school seniors who have been accepted into the honors program at Miami for next fall completed a scavenger hunt that led them around campus. Students used smart phones to scan the Quick Response (QR) codes at various places around campus, which gave them a video clue about where to go next. In past years the scavenger hunt received negative feedback and had not been technology-based, instead using clues placed in envelopes taped around campus. The editorial board of The Miami Student commends the university for trying this new system as a way to show students around campus. Technology is becoming more prevalent than ever, and although not every person has a smart phone, the majority of people are using tools such as QR codes in everyday situations. This initiative was a collaboration between Sheehan and Hayes and acted as Hayes’ final project for the honors program. The editorial board applauds

student involvement in the creation of various projects for prospective students. This project is a good example of the university and students working together. This new, technology based self-guided tour could help future students in their decision to come to Miami by hearing about the school from the perspective of a current student. Although the scavenger hunt is currently only available to future honors students, the university should consider making this a choice for all prospective students, in addition to going on guided tours. Oftentimes a tour can sway a student’s decision to attend a school or not. If students had the choice between the scavenger hunt working with other students or going on a guided tour, this could help them make a better decision about coming to Miami in the fall. Overall, this project is a good bonding experience for future students. It encourages teamwork, responsibility and exploration in finding your own way around your new school. Experiences like these can help prepare students for the experiences they will have in college and will give them a taste of what to expect when they come to Miami.

Rule of Thumb Glee Club nationals performance The choral group performed in Atlanta last weekend.

Women’s Tennis Congratulations on clinching the No. 1 seed in the Mid-American Covnerence Tournament!

Allergy season *Sniffle* *sniffle*

UP Magazine Spring Issue Check out the photos of our Managing Editor, Arianne Krekeler!

18 days left

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

EDITORIAL BOARD lauren ceronie Editor in Chief

catherine ubry COMMUNITY Editor

jm rieger News Editor

Lisa ReymaNn COMMUNITY Editor

sarah shew Editorial Editor

allison mcgillivray Campus Editor

rachel sacks Editorial Editor

Jenn Smola Campus Editor

billy rafael Arts and entertainment

brian gallagher Sports Editor

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

It’s cruch time, but let’s make these last few weeks count!

Students leaving college less racially understanding What happened to equality and what are people learning in college these days?

Model Arab League Congratulations on going to Nationals!

www.miamistudent.net

TUESDAY, APRIL 17, 2012 OP ED

STRATEGICALLY SPEAKING

PERCEIVING REALITY Karli kloss

jessica sink

College cycles and coming full circle: what we think we’ll know we do not really know

A Miami address: Would I hire me?

I once heard someone advise students to think as an employer might, asking the question, “would I hire me?” in order to gauge preparation for the job market. It may sound like a rhetorical question, but it is not that simple. If you were an employer, charged with hiring the best candidate for a job, you would certainly be looking for someone with the right skills, attitude and work ethic to be successful. Introspection is critical to the job search and if you cannot answer, “yes” to whether you would hire yourself, where did you fall short and what can you do to change that answer? Receiving a college degree is a great achievement. Four years of hard work, long hours, group projects, final exams and presentations is certainly a challenge. Yet, earning a degree should be more than just a testament to perseverance. A college education is not just a means to an end; it is a journey of successes and failures, individual growth and learning how to navigate personal relationships. It is a package deal. As education costs continue to rise, many students and families are increasingly reconsidering the value of a college degree. Although college can spur intellectual growth, the debate continues about how much of an impact it really has on shaping individuals for the workplace. According to a June 2011 Pew Study in Time Magazine, only a slim 55 percent of college graduates believe higher education has adequately prepared them for a job. Yet in the same study, 86 percent of the same participants stated college was a good investment for them. Regardless of what the future may hold, college is valuable in helping students try new things, learn about other perspectives, build an identity and grow into confident, capable adults. There are certainly moments in everyone’s life when we question our decisions and wonder whether all the hard work and time we

devote really matters. Pressures and expectations from family and friends can be overwhelming if you do not maintain perspective on what is really important: staying true to yourself. Whether or not you were able to land that dream job after college should not alone brand the experience as a success or failure. We all have unique talents and abilities. Find your niche and never give up on your passions. What you do really does matter and the hard work will pay off in the end, if only to make you a better, stronger person. Look back on your years at Miami as a time of exploration and discovery, forming the person you have become. Take pride in your accomplishments and make sure you can look in the mirror and say, “yes, I would certainly hire me.” This will be my final column for The Miami Student. I am grateful for the support of The Miami Student and its readers, and I encourage all Miami students to write for this great school paper. In addition to my studies in strategic communication, history and marketing, I have enjoyed my work as a writer, then editorial editor and columnist. I hope I was able to bring a new perspective and a strategic angle to many different topics and events. I have tried to be humorous, ironic, sometimes light and sometimes deep. I don’t know if I always hit the mark, but hopefully my writing was thought provoking. You can view my past articles by searching “Jessica Sink” at www.miamistudent.net. I welcome any comments or thoughts. The undergraduate experience really does mean something. I will emerge, like so many others, from Miami University uncertain about what the future may hold, but ready to take on any challenge. So, to answer the question, would I hire me? Yes. But the real question now is: will you?

Life is full of full-circle moments. In college, we have four years to create, shape, destroy and rebuild relationships. A lot of times, the emotions we claim to feel are grandiose, disproportionate and just a shade too dramatic to be entirely true. Swearing off men forever, promising a smack down the next time you see a particular girl uptown — we declare things like this often. There are people and events in our lives that affect us in a variety of ways and we occasionally respond more strongly than a given situation warrants. It’s not to say every emotion we feel is false. It’s that no emotion feels more acute than at the particular moment you first feel it. What we lack a lot of the time is one of my favorite words: perspective. For three years this column has been trying to get students to see and understand there is no single perception of reality. Everything we see and feel and do falls on a spectrum. As per my usual, I’ll now pepper today’s theme with personal stories. The first one involves — and this is no surprise — a guy. This particular guy was in my life for entirely too long, and for all the wrong reasons. We’ll call him Shmryan. The physical and intellectual attraction was not capable of offsetting the emotional and verbal abuse both of us directed at the other. Things got ugly. And being a girl, every one of my friends knew about Shmryan. Uptown, there would be dirty looks exchanged and hisses of expletives sent from my friends in his direction. It was immature, annoying and a large part of the depression

I battled with at the end of my junior year. But eventually I hated myself and the situation enough to block his number and cut him out of my life. Where is Shmryan today, you ask? Sitting on my couch watching an episode of Mad Men. We are no longer seeing each other; instead we’ve reestablished a friendship that should have been in place from the start. Now instead of getting excited and nervous when I see he’s texted me, I’m sometimes annoyed

by which you should go through college: never make or believe in demonstrative statements. The truths we are so certain of can be turned on their heads in a college minute. There are people I knew I would be close with forever, but I don’t have their phone numbers anymore. There were guys I hated so much that I knew I wouldn’t be able to speak to them again, but here they are in my living room. The dynamics between young adults are tumultuous

What we lack a lot of the time is one of my favorite words: perspective. For three years this column has been trying to get students to see and understand there is no single perception of reality. Everything we see and feel and do falls on a spectrum.

he wants to hang out this much. It’s one of the weirdest full-circle moments I’ve ever experienced, but I’m not mad about it. There was a girl I was very close with during my first year, but that friendship fell apart for reasons I still don’t entirely understand. Again, childishness and stubbornness overshadowed the more pressing need for open communication channels and general maturity. It broke my heart I would see her uptown and realize I knew nothing about what was going on in her personal life. But three years later, we are back in each other’s lives and repairing the damage we had done to our friendship so long ago. Something my best friend and I established a long time ago is a simple, but decidedly valid truism

and turbulent. We feel things so passionately at this age, most forms of perspective get swept away in a sea of angst, alcohol and arrogance. None of us are done growing emotionally and psychologically. As I sit here just a handful of weekends from graduation, I feel comfortable in making a few statements about my advice, but I’m open to the idea even these will change. Never believe a situation is entirely resolved unless you truly want it to be. Never think you got the last word in. Always have faith in the idea people come into our lives for good and bad reasons, but every one of them will teach you something about yourself. Sometimes you just have to circle around them a few times before you get it.

ESSAY IAN JOYCE

joyceih@muohio.edu

Death penalty is a temporary solution, God should have the final judgment This semester in my investigative journalism class, we covered the controversial topic of the death penalty. I would like to start a discussion here, because quite frankly I don’t have a solid opinion on it but I am swayed one way a bit more than the other, and the reasons are mixed. I would just like to hear what the student population has to say about it. Right away I want to guard this from being 500 feet above ground level and give two testimonies. Our class has covered all 147 inmates on Ohio’s death row and followed them all closely this semester. We’ve done research on the process of appeals as well as researched their actual cases. One story goes like this: Shawn Hawkins was accused of murdering two men during a drug deal. The main eyewitness who testified against him said in one of the five court hearings in each one telling a different story, “I don’t know

if Shawn was actually at the scene of the crime.” Hawkins’s lawyer, Tony Covatta, said the eyewitness was “totally unreliable.” Regardless, Hawkins was convicted and put on death row under skeptical evidence. The governor of Ohio, after 21 years, half of Hawkins’s life at that point, commuted him on the grounds that the evidence for him even being at the scene of the crime was less than convincing. Commuted essentially means the prisoner goes from being on death row to being sentenced to “life without parole.” Another story was of a man named Matthew Hoffman, who raped a 13-year-old girl, then while she was at home, killed all the members of her family, disembodied them and stuffed them into a tree trunk. It was well known Hoffman was responsible for the acts, and Hoffman was sentenced to life in prison.

The state used the death penalty as a bargaining chip in order to get Hoffman to tell it where the bodies were hidden, and he was sentenced to life in prison. In the one case, someone was almost executed who certainly did not seem to have enough

He wouldn’t be good if He didn’t administer the justice of that evil.

evidence to be convicted for a death sentence. In the latter case, the evidence was profound and the accused even confessed to committing the crime. Yet the death penalty could not be applied to him since they used it as a legal bargaining chip to reveal more of the crime.

Ethically, I battle with this. I can look at Hoffman’s case and say he is not deserving of life, while I can look at Hawkins’ case and say there is not enough information to put him to death. Ultimately, what Hoffman did was evil. If these cases don’t strike that inner bone of “that is wrong” I am not sure what else will. If evil is an act that is the removal of anything which is good and the doing of that which is completely the opposite of good, then do they deserve life? On the same token, is it right to tell people to stop killing by killing them in return? My personal opinion that I open to opposition is heavily influenced by my faith as a Christian. I believe all sin and evil against a holy and good and perfect God that we are responsible for deserves justice. He wouldn’t be good if He didn’t administer the justice of that evil.

On the same token, my faith in Christ gave me a second breath, a second chance, for my own evils and my own sin. Even though the level of that evil and sin was different than the cases above, do I demand justice or do I demand a second chance? I think I stand on the side of a second chance. It would be a contradiction, in my eyes, to argue abortion is a sin because it is murdering sacred life while capital punishment is not a sin because it is administering justice on sacred life. I think I will leave it to God when he says, “It is mine to repay, I will avenge.” I tremble before that verse, and at the thought that God is the judge of all our lives holding us responsible for the evils and sins we have committed, not just against society and others, but also against Him, our Creator. If that is the case, then it is truly amazing the justice I deserve on the cross.

ESSAYISTS The MiamiStudent WANTED. is looking for essayists.

Email editorial@miamistudent.net for more information.

www.miamistudent.net

TUESDAY, APRIL 17, 2012

GRADES, FROM PAGE 1

mark can retake a single class using the old retake policy. According to Nick Miller, secretary to Associated Student Government’s (ASG) executive cabinet and undergraduate member of the Academic Policy Committee, the policy was created by the University’s Retention Steering Committee, which aims to retain more students who otherwise would have transferred schools. The Academic Policy Committee also provided input for the legislation and the measure was ultimately approved in the Miami University Senate. Miller said President David Hodge created the Retention Committee in 2010 after research showed academics play a role in a student’s decision to leave Miami.

“[The proposal] will allow students who are new to the rigor of a college education a period of adjustment,” Miller said. “This policy will serve as a safety net for students to recover from a course that they might not have been prepared for.” University Registrar David Sauter said a new course retake policy has been discussed at Miami for several years. “It’s certainly been on the review for many years,” Sauter said. “It’s nothing new. I think there’s broad support for it.” Sauter also said while there was a previous course retake policy, the new policy is a true replacement since the old grade will not be calculated into a student’s GPA. Sauter said he hoped students would use the policy wisely. “I really hope students pay attention to the language [of

the policy],” Sauter said. Betsy Burch, another ASG senator involved in the formation of the new policy, said the alteration of the rule on course retakes will help publicize options available to students looking to recover from a class but who were previously unaware any options existed for doing so. “It will help everyone in general just by knowing about it,” Burch said. Sophomore Chelsea Vaccariello said the policy would serve as welcome assistance to students who may have made an academic mistake while learning to handle the rigors of college life. “I think this new policy could benefit students because they need time to adjust to what professors expect at the collegiate level,” Vaccariello said. “It gives us the second chance we all hope for.”

SPACE PLANTS,

QR CODES,

“It was the best thing I’ve done in college for sure,” Brown said. Brown said her involvement with Kiss’ research allowed her to view learning in a different way. “I was enriching myself for the benefit of learning instead of just getting the grade,” Brown said. First-year Megan Ruffley began working with Kiss this semester. “He was so helpful,” Ruffley said. “I emailed him the first week of this semester and I said, ‘I don’t really know how to get involved, I’m a freshman.’ He was immediately like, ‘come in at this time on this day’ and I came in and he said, ‘you can start tomorrow in my lab if you want.’” Student involvement is one of the reasons Kiss said he was offered the Benjamin Harrison Medallion, which he will receive at commencement May 5. “I feel really proud to have won it because if you look at the list of winners we have a lot of fine faculty at Miami and I feel really honored to be in that group,” Kiss said. Kiss said he is also proud to have collaborated with international partners during his research.

Hayes said QR codes could be utilized even more at Miami. “Depending on how the data looks for this project, I kind of want to suggest to [the admission board] that they use QR codes for the selfguided campus tours,”Hayes said. Hayes said the videos help prospective students see a different side of the campus than they would with a traditional tour. “It’s one thing to see the Goggin Ice Arena on a tour but it’s completely different to see the game in action,” Hayes said. “One of the clues was a video of Jump Around. That’s completely different from seeing empty seats and clean ice.” Hebbalalu agreed and said in the future she would like to be involved in the scavenger hunts as a guide working with prospective students. According to Hebbalalu, the scavenger hunt had great value. “It was really nice to go see the whole campus because I had never really taken a tour of the whole thing,” Hebbalalu said. “I just thought it was really nice to learn about it from a different student’s perspective … I’m glad I got the opportunity to do it.”

GOLF,

Tomfohrde said. “We didn’t play as fearless as we should have.” When asked about what it means to play fearless, Tomfohrde described it as, “kind of getting out of your own way and letting yourself play.” The junior also looks to regain his composure heading into the upcoming tournament. “I’m going to work on ball striking and getting my confidence back,” Tomfohrde said. “I’m going to work on trusting my own abilities. Mentally I’m just going to have more fun.” Though the Mid-American Conference (MAC) Championships are a little less than three weeks away, Zedrick is making sure his team is focusing on this weekend first. “You’ve got to just take care of what’s in front of you,” Zedrick said. “The MAC is something we’ll talk about, but we’ve got to focus on today first. From there, we’ll focus on playing hard at Purdue [University] and after that we’ll focus on the MAC.” Miami will travel to West Lafayette, Ind. Friday, and are set to play 36 holes Saturday before finishing the Boilermaker Invitational with a closing 18 holes Sunday.

FROM PAGE 1

FROM PAGE 12 the tournament, it’s about more of a fearless attitude. We need to play smart and play to our strengths. It doesn’t mean playing reckless, but we need to pick a shot and fully commit to it; to stay in the moment and be fearless.” Playing a fearless game is already resonating with the team. Peacock and Tomfohrde are refocusing their game and putting in quality work at practice to help put this weekend behind them. “It was obviously a little difficult to not finish the way you hoped for,” Peacock said. “We’ve got to do a better job of being fearless … just trusting our ability and not holding back. You can let some thoughts sneak into your mind about what could go wrong and that’s not the way to play.” Tomfohrde spoke in a similar manner to his teammate and coach, citing cautious play as the biggest downfall to the RedHawks at the Hawkeye Invitational. “The weekend didn’t really go as planned, and I just think we all played a little tentative,”

cooking 101 caribbean cookout Wednesday. April 25 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Demske Culinary Support Center

with Chef John Pierce

Jumbo Prawns

with Mango Chutney Dipping Sauce

Sautéed Tilapia Escabèche Tacos Caribbean Slaw Pudín de Pan Chocolate $25.00 | Call 529 - 3040 to reserve your spot

FROM PAGE 1

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TUESDAY, APRIL 17, 2012

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FYI

TUESDAY, APRIL 17, 2012

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

Lauren Ceronie Editor in Chief JM Rieger News Editor

Sean Crowe Business Manager

Arianne Krekeler Managing Editor

Baylor Myers Asst. Business Manager

Brett Milam Online Editor

Kendall Flynn National Advertising Director Classified Advertising Director

Jenn Smola, Allison McGillivray Campus Editors Catherine Ubry, Lisa Reymann Community Editor Billy Rafael Arts & Entertainment

Danny Nicolopoulos, Joe Gioffre Advertising Representative Kaitlyn Berry Advertising Representative Pat Godfray Advertising Representative

Rachel Sacks, Sarah Shew Editorial Editors

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Brian Gallagher Sports Editor

Sacha DeVroomen Bellman Adviser

Lauren Olson Photo Editor

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Sports Columnists

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The MiamiStudent:There’s an app for that! Well, not yet. But we’d like one! If you’re interested in designing an iPhone app for The Miami Student, please e-mail online@miamistudent.net for more information.

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Apartments Roberts Apartments 2012-2013. Great Location! One and Two Bedroom Apartments. Close to Uptown/ Campus. Well-Maintained/ Energy Efficient. On-site Laundry Facilities. Off-Street Parking. Family Owned and Operated. www.roberts-apts. com 513-839-1426 info@robertsapts.com COURTYARDS OF MIAMI Too many roommates? The Courtyards of Miami might be just what you are looking for. Located on East Central Ave., between Campus Ave. and South Main St., the MU bus stops at our front door. We offer neat, clean, and colorful housing at affordable prices..2 bedroom apartments, shared by just 2 students $2500. per person-includes HEAT and water 1 bedroom + study for 1 person, $3500. All residents enjoy free offstreet 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 the campus. On site office, flexible hours, and excellent upkeep, make the Courtyards a place worth looking at. Stop by, contact Carolyn at 513-659-5671 or www.thecourtyardsofmiami.com for more info Thank You! Large 1 Bedroom Apartment Available in May or August 2012. 435.00 per month or 2,550.00 per semester. 610 South Maintbrandner54@yahoo. com or 513-896-7358 SPACIOUS APARTMENT SUBLET One bedroom apartment at Level 27 available for summer. Washer/Dryer units in apartment with full kitchen and large living space at $450/mo. Complex includes pool, hot tubs, fitness facility and free internet/cable. Call Tom at 419-277-3308 or email devertb@muohio.edu

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TUESDAY, April 17, 2012 CAMPUS

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SENIOR GIFT, FROM PAGE 2

assistant director of annual giving. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t start out with a [monetary] goal,â&#x20AC;? McClellan said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The goal is increasing participation every year.â&#x20AC;? GradFest attracts thousands of seniors becauseÂ they need to purchase caps, gowns and other items to prepare for graduation; many seniors willingly made a contribution to the Senior Class Gift. Senior Robin Beavers said she chose to donate to The Senior Class Gift at GradFest. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I donated to help ensure that the same multifaceted experience I was able to encounter could be continued on a greater scale of betterment in the classes that follow,â&#x20AC;? Beavers said. Seniors have the option of choosing departments or specific ventures their donations fund. Class scholarships and academic departments are a few options seniors can choose from and this year seniors also have the option of securingÂ naming rights in the Armstrong Student Center through a special donation. If seniors donate, their contribution can be made in payments that

can span over four years. â&#x20AC;&#x153;A $200 gift [minimum for naming rights], which amounts to less than $5 a month, is a great opportunity for parents of seniors to give a lasting graduation gift,â&#x20AC;? Stango said. As the year winds down and the opportunity to donate slims, seniors have the opportunity to give online atÂ www.muohio.edu/SeniorClassGift. Miami alumna Lisa Butts said donating through the Senior Class Gift is an excellent way to cultivate alumni donations. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I donatedÂ to my Senior Class Gift and still donate to this day,â&#x20AC;? Butts said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I would encourage any senior to donate, even if it is this one time, just to give a little back to the place thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s gives you so much through four years and beyond.â&#x20AC;? Stango said the Senior Class Gift Committeeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s overall goal is to have all graduating seniors participate in donating at least $20.12 and to continue making contributions as proud alumni. â&#x20AC;&#x153;As soon-to-be alumni, seniors should think about giving back now since Miami has given so much to them over the past four years,â&#x20AC;? Stango said.

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SPORTS

Editor Brian gallaghER

sports@miamistudent.net

TUESDAY, APRIL 17, 2012

NEXT HOME GAME: 6 p.m. wednesday vs. dayton

ROSS SIMON SIMON SAYS

Overtime is the best time in playoffs It’s April, which only means one thing: it’s time for The Masters, for Opening Day of Major League Baseball, for the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs and for simply a lot of important sporting events. While I do not claim to be a hockey guy, as my team, the Florida Panthers, just made the playoffs for the first time in over a decade, I do claim to be is a sports fanatic and there is no better moment in sports than FREE sports. What do I mean by free sports? Anything that occurs beyond the final whistle, of course. Playoffs are a time of jovial excitement, terrifying defeat and the suspense of a tie game going down to final seconds. All of it is simply a gut wrenching 60 or 48 minutes or 9 innings of emotion … and then it can end in a tie. The tie is perhaps the worst or best feeling in all of sport. When things end in a tie you know the momentum of the game is swinging in one side’s favor. If it’s your side nothing is more exciting, but if it’s the other that has the momentum, boy is your face turning green. There is no better example of this than playoff hockey. Take the Miami University hockey team’s recent bout in the NCAA tournament. Down 3-0 at one point, Miami came storming back to tie the game

midway through the third period 3-3. With all of the momentum, Miami then had a five-minute power play. However, its opponent, the University of MassachusettsLowell, killed the penalty and all of a sudden that beautiful momentum started ticking to the other side. As I watched the game on TV my face went through the colors of the rainbow. An excited red to a nervous yellow to a nauseated green back to the orange glow of excitement before finally finishing with dilapidated and sad blue. All of that happened during a fiveminute span … of overtime. Playoff hockey is a prime example of the beauty of overtime. In the Stanley Cup Playoffs it is said that in a single first round (between 16 teams) there will be more overtime games than in over 25 years worth of NFL playoff games. Now I prefer to watch football compared to hockey, but there is nothing better than playoff hockey. Teams are more physical, more willing to take risks to win the game and just simply quicker. Overtime brings out the best in every player on the ice. They dig deep when they’re tired and put everything they have out on the ice. Overtime is by far the most exciting time in any sport. Doesn’t matter because overtime will bring you joy, sorrow and more joy again.

ANDREW BRAY THE MIAMI STUDENT

IT’S A BIRD, IT’S A PLANE...

Senior Brett Wager soars over the water-pit barrier in the 3,000-meter steeplechase Saturday, April 7. Wager ran a personal best 9:21.66.

Miami goes back to basics after Hawkeye Invitational By Joe Gieringer

For The Miami Student

The Miami University golf team shot a final round 10-over par Sunday, finishing 11 overall in the Hawkeye Invitational at 31-over par. The host Iowa University Hawkeyes placed first, finishing 24-under par. Junior Ben Peacock was the highest placing RedHawk, finishing three-over par and tied for 21-place individually. Sophomore Mark MacDonald had the best individual day of any Miami golfer all weekend, shooting a one-under par final round to end the tournament tied for 46 with a 12-over par overall score. Freshman Luke Shaughnessy and Junior Brett Tomfohrde finished tied for 39, each shooting a 10-over par. Freshman Scott Cahill shot a 14-over par to tie for 51-place. Head Coach Zac Zedrick said he was surprised and a little discouraged at the results, especially after the RedHawks finished fourth in last week’s Rutherford tournament.

“It was disappointing to say the least,” Zedrick said. “It was definitely a surprise because we’ve been making progress all spring. The boys are disappointed too.” Though this weekend was not as successful as the team had hoped, Miami’s first-year head coach maintains an upbeat approach as Miami enters the last leg of the season. “It’s a lot of little stuff,” Zedrick said. “We didn’t play as well as we could have for sure. Things will work out. We’ve just got to keep maintaining a positive attitude.” In the face of the upcoming Boilermaker Invitational, Zedrick will stress playing without fear. The short game will be a primary focus in practice again this week, but keeping a healthy mentality and trusting in the team’s strengths is something the RedHawks will really take to heart. “We’re going to … dedicate a little extra time to our short game,” Zedrick said. “Really at

GOLF, SEE PAGE 8

Huskies tag out ’Hawks Northern Illinois sweeps Red and White 3-0

JESSI THORNE THE MIAMI STUDENT

Miami University junior first basemen Kevin Bower places the tag on Xavier University’s Mark Elwell April 9. Bower went 6-14 in the RedHawks’ series with Northern Illinois University but Miami lost each of the three weekend games.

By Tom Downey Staff Writer

Despite being considered the underdog, the Northern Illinois University Huskies (11-24, 5-7 Mid-American Conference (MAC)) came into Oxford and swept the Miami University baseball team (17-19, 4-8 MAC). All three games came down to the final inning, but the Huskies pulled away and won by scores of 8-7, 7-5 and 13-11. “We’re not firing on all cylinders,” Head Coach Dan Simonds said. “The other part is that we have to get that attitude and swagger back we had earlier this year.” The RedHawks top of the order provided a crucial offensive spark throughout the series, but it was not enough. Senior center fielder Ryan Brenner went 8-16 with four runs and three RBIs while batting in the leadoff spot. Freshman Matt Honchel kept his batting average above .400 by going 5-14 with three runs and two RBIs. Senior right fielder Bryce Redeker led the team with six RBIs in the series while going 4-13, and junior first baseman Kevin Bower was 6-14 with two

runs and one RBI. The team as a whole combined to score 23 runs over the course of the series but the Huskies were a step ahead all weekend. “We just couldn’t put it together when we were hitting well,” Bower said. “It just didn’t click all weekend.” While the run production was there, the pitching was lacking for the Red and White. The RedHawks gave up 11 hits in the first game, followed by 15 in the second and 19 in the finale. “We have to work ahead [in the count],” Simonds said. “When you don’t work ahead and fall behind in the count, the result is 19 hits. You can’t have that.” Junior pitcher Brooks Fiala got the start in the first game but lasted only five innings and gave up seven runs, all earned, on 10 hits. He got a no-decision, as freshman pitcher Nathan Williams was tagged with the loss after pitching 1.1 innings and giving up one unearned run on an error by Honchel. Senior pitcher Shawn Marquardt also had a rough day in his start in Sunday’s first game, giving up five earned runs over 4.1 innings on 10 hits.

Junior pitcher Mac Thoreson got the start in the finale but was no better than the other two starters. He went only 3.1 innings, giving up five earned runs on nine hits. Williams got the loss in the finale as well. Senior Matt Rosinski pitched in both doubleheader games. He pitched 3.1 innings and gave up three earned runs on three hits and two walks. “We’re a good baseball team,” Simonds said. “I still believe in these guys 100 percent.” The RedHawks will stay home as they host the University of Dayton Flyers Wednesday. The two teams were scheduled to play Tuesday as well, but that game has been cancelled due to over-scheduling. “We have to come out and play well in the mid-week game,” Bower said. “We need to have a couple of good practices.” The Flyers are 17-20 overall but are 8-4 in Atlantic 10 Conference play. “We bounce back by focusing on the next game,” Simonds said. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. under the lights at McKie Field. Fans can listen to the game on www.redhawkradio.com.

RedHawks backhand Huskies, grab No. 1 seed in MAC Tournament By Jordan Rinard For The Miami Student

In its last home game of the regular season, the Miami University tennis team earned at least a share of its fourth-straight MidAmerican Conference (MAC) title, defeating Northern Illinois University (NIU) (10-9, 1-4 MAC) at the Hepburn Courts 6-1 on senior day. The RedHawks won their 32-straight regular season match in conference play, pushing their record to 12-9 overall, 7-0 in the MAC and maintaining their undefeated home record. Miami also clinched the No. 1 seed in the MAC Tournament Friday due to its tiebreaker advantage over the University of Akron. The team of senior Stephanie Danesis and freshman Christine Guerrazzi won the first four games of the match on its way to an 8-2 victory, giving Danesis her 150 career win in doubles play. “All in all, it was a great way to end the seniors last home match,” Danesis said. “We came out fighting in front of the largest

crowd we have had and clinched at least a shared MAC regular season title.” The pairing of senior Jessica Parr and sophomore Christiana Raymond followed and gave Miami the doubles point with an 8-6 win. Senior Riekie Honiball and sophomore Nimisha Mohan finished off the sweep in an 8-4 decision. Danesis easily dispatched the Huskies’ Sara McLaughlin, 6-1, 6-1 in singles to give the ’Hawks a 2-0 lead. The win was also her seventh consecutive win in singles play, and she will look to continue her hot streak next week. “Going undefeated for singles in MAC play has been a goal of mine every year and I’m hoping to achieve that next Saturday against Ball State,” Danesis said. Freshman Alix Thurman earned a 6-0, 7-5 decision before freshman Ramona Costea clinched the match in a 6-1, 6-3 victory in her first MAC match. The win by Thurman pushed her record to 6-1 in MAC play and 9-1 over the last 10 singles matches. The RedHawks continued to pile it on against NIU as

Mohan posted a 6-4, 6-4 win in her fourth-straight triumph in singles play and Raymond followed up with a 6-4, 6-2 victory. Northern Illinois prevented the shutout with freshman Nelle Youel defeating Honiball 6-3, 6-7 (3-7), 1-0 (10-3). However, the defeat left NIU still searching for its second win in conference play. “It was a special day for the team,” Head Coach Anca Dumitrescu said. “Not only was it the last home match for three amazing seniors but also with this win we clinched a share of the regular season conference title. I want to thank everyone who came and supported the team from administration members to fans and parents.” Miami can win the MAC title next Friday when it wraps up the regular season in Muncie, Ind. against Ball State University. A win against the Cardinals will give the ’Hawks an unblemished MAC record for the second consecutive year. The RedHawks will then compete in the MAC Tournament April 27-29 in DeKalb, Ill.

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