August 23, 2011 | The Miami Student

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

VOLUME 139 NO. 1

TUESDAY, AUGUST 23, 2011

TODAY IN MIAMI HISTORY

MIAMI UNIVERSITY OXFORD, OHIO

In 2002, The Miami Student reported the city of Oxford passed an ordinance making the use of couches on porches a minor misdemeanor. It was also reported that trash on lawns would be cited more frequently. The price of a ticket for civil trash citation was $86.

Miami students intervene as man assaults officer

By Amelia Carpenter Online Staff

Right place. Right time.

Wrongdoing.

That was the recipe for three Miami University students to step in when an officer was being assaulted at midnight Friday.

Sophomores Ryan Hoffner, Tyler Lindroth and Charlie Nuck, all members of Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity, watched an Oxford Police Department (OPD) officer pull his car aside to stop a male carrying an open beer down the sidewalk. The three students saw 18-year-old Jacob D. Griffin try to run away from the officer and then suddenly punch him multiple times in the face. The three bolted across the street to help the officer.

“It was split-second,” Nuck said. “I mean [I thought] obviously he needs help … I just ran

over there.”

Police reports say one of the students yelled while he was running after Griffin, “You don’t do that to a cop!

We’ll get him for you, sir.”

Hoffner tackled an intoxicated, struggling and pantsless Griffin to the ground — Griffin had wiggled out of his shorts during the struggle with the officer. Lindroth and Nuck held Griffin

You don’t do that to a cop. We’ll get him for you, sir.”

MIAMI STUDENT down while officers put him in handcuffs. Hoffner suffered a concussion from the tackle, and the officer had injuries to his head, hands and legs. Griffin refused treatment for injuries on his knees and arms.

The three Miami students

were flooded with media inquiries Monday, and missed some of their first day of classes for interviews with local news outlets. Hoffner, Lindroth and Nuck say they knew helping the officer was the right thing to do. OPD has thanked the three multiple times for their assistance.

“I’m not glad this happened, but hopefully this kid does learn his lesson,” Hoffner said.

Griffin was arrested on charges of assaulting an officer, obstructing official business, resisting arrest, underage drinking and having an open container, police reports said.

OPD Patrol Sergeant Jim Squance said struggles with suspects are not uncommon, but this particular fight went on longer than normal.

“It is unusual for three young men like this to step up and aid our police officer when he really needed the help,” Squance said.

Date set for Armstrong Student Center groundbreaking

JULIA ENGLEBRECHT THE MIAMI STUDENT

Rowan and Gaskill Halls being gutted as construction of the Armstrong Student Center continues. Offices were moved out of the halls last semester.

By Lauren Ceronie

Campus Editor

Years of planning, advocacy and design are taking shape as progress is made on the Armstrong Student Center (ASC).

Progress on the ASC occurred in construction and fundraising, according to Susie Sadler, senior director of development for the ASC. All offices were moved from Rowan Hall and Gaskill Hall and crews began construction on the inside of the buildings.

Donations to the ASC are approximately $4 million shy of the $30 million fundraising goal, according to Sadler. Over 8,000 people have given to the ASC, including a $350,000 donation

by Sue Henry and Carter

Phillips last month and the donations from the 2011 senior class gift.

“We’re really excited at where we are at this point with fundraising and construction,” Sadler said.

The groundbreaking ceremony for the ASC is scheduled for 3 p.m. October 6 at the Hub, according to Sadler.

A public reception will be held after the ceremony in the Shriver Center.

“Students will be the focus of the ceremony,” Sadler said. “We want all student organizations involved and the entire student body present. We’re hoping for a gorgeous day and for everybody to come out.”

Student fees will begin going to the ASC in 2014 when the building is planned to open, according to Sadler.

While students have not been

required to give money to the ASC, over the past three years, students have chosen to make the senior gift a donation to the building.

“Over the last few years, seniors have overwhelmingly wanted to give to ASC,” Sadler said.

A decision has not been made yet if the class of 2012 will also choose to donate to the ASC, according to Andrew Bixel, assistant director of annual giving.

“We are currently forming the committee for the 2012 senior class gift,” Bixel said.

“We leave the gift up to the committee so we have no definitive answer of where the gift will go.”

If seniors are interested in becoming part of the senior class gift committee, they can contact Katie Stango at stangokl@muohio.edu.

JULIA ENGELBRECHT THE MIAMI STUDENT

BOOK BUYING BLITZ

Sophomore Libby Peters buys her books for the semester Monday afternoon.

University weighs shortening semesters, adding January term

By Samantha Callender Staff Writer

Miami University is considering shortening semester lengths and adding a January session. This January session, referred to by many as a “J-Term” or “J-mester,” is thought to have the same advantages for students that summer sessions offer, like taking a short study abroad trip or taking advantage of internship opportunities.

These decisions are optional, not required. Participation in this January semester is optional.

According to Pete Miller, associate vice president for auxiliaries with Housing, Dining, Recreation and Business Services, the changes being considered consist of staying with the semester system but moving spring semester a month later.

“In my role (with Housing & Dining), we are prepared to adjust our schedules and our planning to accommodate and support this change if the university should decide to move in that direction,” Miller said. “Financial aspects, including costs and

financial aid, will need to be worked through.”

The Ad Hoc Calendar subcommittee, a special committee, will be carefully reviewing all aspects of the university calendar rearrangement for the 2012-13 academic year, according to Maria Cronley, professor of Marketing in the Farmer School of Business and member of the subcommittee.

“This committee is a subcommittee of the Academic Policy Committee of the University Senate and is a temporary committee formed by the Executive Committee of University Senate to look at Miami’s academic calendar,” Cronley said.

The calendar change would affect not only the main Oxford campus, but the Hamilton and Middletown regional branches as well. This change would also affect the lengths of the semesters as well as holidays and breaks.

While there is no set plan as to what the calendar changes are, Cronley said it may involve adding a two to four week winter term to the academic calendar, beginning shortly

after the Christmas holiday and ending before the spring semester.

Miami’s semesters are currently 15 weeks. Summer sessions last between 10 and 12 weeks. If Miami opts to makes the proposed calendar changes, the fall semester would begin one week later and be shortened to a 14-week instructional calendar. Housing and dining services wouldn’t need much adjusting if Miami does decide to go forth with these changes, according to Miller.

Sophomore Brooke Widerschien said she would be likely to take advantage of what J-term has to offer. “I kind of like the idea of being able to take advantage of summer opportunities in the middle of the year,” Widerschien said. “Having winter and summer options would allow me to maximize my time being a student here at the university, and wanting to intern/student abroad.”

While Cronley emphasizes that no plans are yet set in stone or finalized, the committee will continue to meet throughout the fall to work on ideas in detail.

TWO MIAMI STUDENTS WHO WILL NOT BE FORGOTTEN The Miami University family lost two of its own this summer.

Gregory Shrader, 20, died May 30 in Toledo, Ohio. Shrader is survived by his brother Jonathan, his parents, Jeff and Elsa and many other family members and friends. Shrader was active in Miami University Student Foundation (MUSF) as well as being active in his church youth group.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Youth for Christ, 10111 West US Route 224, Findlay, Ohio 45840 or FindlayHancock County Community Foundation Swim Scholarship, 101 West Sandusky Street, Suite 207, Findlay, Ohio 45840.

Eric Shick, 22, died August 5 in a motorcycle accident. Shick was a resident of Belle Center, Ohio. He is survived by sister, Amanda, stepbrother, Anthony, stepsister, Tara, and his parents Kim D. Shick and Cynthia and Larry Wright Traficant. Shick played club baseball at Miami and was involved in various intramural sports.

Memorial contributions can be made to the Eric Shick Memorial Scholarship Fund.

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CAMPUS

Editors Lauren Ceronie Jenni Wiener

TUESDAY, AUGUST 23, 2011

campus@miamistudent.net

Editor Amanda Seitz specialreports@miamistudent.net

SPECIAL REPORTS

Students learn to live with HPV

By Amelia Carpenter Senior Staff Writer

Lauren Jones (name changed to protect the source) scheduled her annual gynecology appointment at Miami University Student Health Services (SHS) for April 1, 2010 like she had done the year before when she was a first year.

She was one of the first appointments that day and was called into an office where her blood pressure was taken, general health and medications were entered into the system and then something that had never happened to her before.

“The woman pleaded with me not to have a PAP smear done at my annual appointment,” Jones said. “I felt confused — I started getting PAP smears when I was 16.”

Jones said the woman cited new guidelines from the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) suggesting women have their first cancer screening at 21 and less frequent rescreening than previously recommended as of November 2009.

“She urged me to wait a year until I turned 21,” Jones said.

“I didn’t mean to be the weird patient who actually wanted a PAP smear done, but I insisted.

She complied and sent me to the waiting room.”

The nurse practitioner, Sarah Skolnick, did the PAP smear that day and afterward asked Jones if she had been vaccinated for HPV. “I had all three doses of Gardasil before college from my gynecologist at home,” Jones said. “Then (Skolnick) said she would contact me if the results came back positive for any STDs or anything looked abnormal.”

On April 9, Jones received a voicemail from Skolnick.

“She told me my PAP came back abnormal and that I should come in to review my results and try not to worry. I was sitting in her office at 8:45 a.m. the next day. I was really worried,” Jones said.

Skolnick told Jones she had HPV, a high-risk strain that could potentially lead to cervical cancer.

She told her it was very common and it was likely to resolve itself over time. She recommended Jones have a colposcopy done to examine her cervix for potential pre-cancerous or cancerous cells. A colposcopy is a procedure where a lighted microscope allows gynecologists to examine the vagina and cervix. Jones left Skolnick’s office a year ago almost in tears, terrified of what having high-risk HPV meant for her.

“I was livid at that point. The fact that they tried to make me forego the PAP smear and then it was abnormal?” Jones said. “I immediately called my mom and we were both on the phone with my doctors from home.”

The Unspoken Truth HPV is the most prevalent sexually transmitted disease (STD) in the U.S. among men and women, most commonly know as causing cervical cancer in women.

HPV may cause genital or oral warts, recurrent respiratory papillomatosis, abnormal PAP tests and cervical intraepithelial neoplasia, in addition to cervical cancer.

There are more than 40 types of HPV and each is labeled as lowrisk or high-risk. Low-risk types typically come with genital warts while high-risk types have no symptoms until a PAP test comes back abnormal.

Last year, Skolnick diagnosed 28 female Miami students and four male students with HPV. Since 2001, SHS has seen 268 total cases of HPV, 196 being in women.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 20 million people are currently infected with HPV. Another six million are diagnosed each year and at least 50 percent of sexually active people have HPV in their lifetime. About one in 100 sexually active adults have genital warts at any one time.

A number of risk factors can

cause HPV including early age of sexual initiation, multiple sexual partners, inconsistent condom use and cigarette smoking. Research also suggests oral contraceptive use is a cofactor in adults, but inversely associated with HPV in adolescents.

HPV prevalence is highest during adolescence and young adulthood. In a sample of U.S. women, 20 percent of 14 to 17-year-olds, 38 percent of 18 to 21-year-olds

dysplasia, or low-risk types that typically resolve themselves decided that typing test results would be too costly. Most cases of HPV are resolved by the immune system within 18 months and gynecologists will typically recommend repeat PAP tests every six months after the patient’s first abnormal PAP. If abnormal PAP tests continue for more than 24 months, colposcopy is recommended, according to Kahn’s research.

Fifty percent or greater people walking around probably had HPV at one time or another and they just didn’t know it because it’s virally based.”

SARAH SKOLNICK

NURSE PRACTITIONER

and 42 percent of 22 to 25-yearolds were HPV-positive, according to research by Dr. Jessica Kahn, an HPV expert from Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center.

“We spend more of our time reassuring young women that likely this is something because it’s very transient in the age group, you all have very strong immune systems, it’s virally based and it’ll resolve itself over time,” Skolnick said.

Skolnick said many young women panic when they hear HPV because they don’t understand the disease and she has spoken with students who come to her office crying.

Skolnick told Jones the same thing over a year ago.

“Fifty percent or greater people walking around have probably had HPV at one time or another and they just didn’t know it because it’s virally based,” she said, adding that it’s especially transient in college-aged students mostly due to increased number of partners. “There’s a lot of hype in the college age group because of the misunderstanding of HPV.” She said SHS was seeing so many women with low-grade

Skolnick said she is required to refer patients with high-risk HPV for colposcopy but the push for PAP smear screenings has become less frequent.

“The gynecology world has way backed off of screening because what we were getting back were all these abnormal pap smears that were low grade abnormalities that over time the cells generally resolve back to normal and so that’s why they changed the guidelines to not ‘papping’ young women until they’re 21,” she said.

Dr. Daniel Stein is a gynecologist at the Oxford OB/GYN practice located inside McCulloughHyde Memorial Hospital and has been practicing gynecology for 23 years. Stein has a more conservative take on gynecology and the presence of HPV. “I still go with the old rule (of PAP smears),” Stein said. “I see too much (HPV) over 18 (yearsold) or sexual activity — whichever comes first.”

Stein has never missed an invasive cancer when it turns to something bad in his years of practice.

He performs a colposcopy on any woman with any type of dysplasia, which refers to lowrisk or high-risk HPV detection in

a patient.

The precursor to dysplasia is the atypical results with ASC-US cells, which Stein said requires the patient to have a repeat PAP smear as well. If ASC-US cells return results of high-risk HPV, a colposcopy is done.

“It keeps me out of court because if you miss a diagnosis nowadays … you’ll be more likely to get criticized and potentially sued,” he said.

Some patients consult with their gynecologist and decide to continue with repeat PAPs until they absolutely must do a colposcopy because the procedure causes discomfort, according to Stein.

Vaccination The Gardasil vaccine was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in July 2006 and began being offered to women ages nine to 26. Gardasil protects against four types of HPV. The Gardasil vaccine was approved for males ages nine to 26 in October 2009. Cervarix, a vaccine that protects against two types of HPV, was approved for women ages 10 to 25 by the FDA. Both vaccines are shots given in three doses.

(SHS) carries both Gardasil and Cervarix vaccines, according to Skolnick, and 1,254 females have had HPV vaccines at SHS between 2006 and 2011. No males have been vaccinated at SHS. Like all new vaccines, people speculate about the long-term effects it could have and wait to find out, while others go ahead and get vaccinated.

“My mom recommended that I get it after I saw the commercials on TV,” one junior Miami female said. “It was a good thing to get and I feel better that I had the vaccine and I’m protected in the future.”

A female Miami senior agreed.

“I was told to by my mom it was a good idea,” she said. “My

HPV, SEE PAGE 3

Rankings: At Miami, academics and beer abound

By Lauren Ceronie Campus Editor

Rankings by outside observers may not show exactly what life at Miami University is like, but they do sketch a rough portrait of the university and its students. The rankings, released in August 2011 by Forbes Magazine and Princeton Review, portrayed Miami academically as a prestigious institution but showed that Miami may be less advanced when it comes to socioeconomic and racial diversity.

Forbes Magazine ranked Miami 46th in the nation on its “America’s Top Colleges 2011” list, making Miami the highest ranked public university in Ohio. Miami was also ranked the fifth best public university in Forbes’ “Best of the Midwest” category and 33rd in the “Best Research Universities” category.

The Princeton Review ranked Miami similarly academically. The University was ranked one of the “Best Midwestern Colleges” on the Princeton Review’s “376 Best Colleges” list. It was also ranked 20th in the nation for top

undergraduate entrepreneurial programs in 2010.

However, the Princeton Review also ranked Miami sixth in the category “Little race/ class interaction,” ninth in the category “Financial aid not so great,” and 20th in the category “Lots of beer.”

University Provost Bobby Gempesaw said the academic rankings reaffirm the positive things Miami is doing.

“When parents and students select an institution, they look at how the universities are ranked,” Gempesaw said. “The rankings also show the public what they need to know - the percentage of students graduating, the percentage of students who are successful in applying to graduate schools, the number of students who are studying abroad and applying for internships.”

The faculty and staff at Miami should be given credit for the university’s high academic rankings, according to Gempesaw.

“I continue to be very impressed by the external recognition of Miami University,” Gempesaw said. “This really reflects the hard work and

passion of the faculty and staff.”

Gempesaw did caution against only judging Miami by the rankings, however.

“I don’t think we as a university should look at rankings as the end all of what we want to do,” said Gempesaw. “After all, magazines rank everything from universities to cars.”

Faculty also said Miami’s poor showing in the race/class interactions and drinking categories should not be taken at face value.

Faculty and staff pointed to Miami’s multicultural and diversity programs as an indication that the Princeton Review rankings may not fully portray Miami. Ron Scott, associate vice president of institutional diversity, said he does not see Miami as a university divided along race or class lines.

“We have 80 different diversity groups on campus, if that’s not some kind of interaction I don’t know what is,” Scott said. “I’m not challenging their rankings, but that is a portrait of where we’ve been in the

RANKINGS, SEE PAGE 10

Stoddard gets a facelift

JULIA ENGLEBRECHT THE MIAMI STUDENT

Stoddard Hall was one of the residence halls over the summer.

CAMPUS TUESDAY, August 23, 2011

www.miamistudent.net

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Miami alumna and husband create scholarship

By Ursula Cauffiel Staff Writer

Miami University has students, alumni and staff who live up to the “Love and Honor” that the university is known for. Recently, a former Miami athlete from the class of 1954, Lois Hall Gleason and her husband, Austin Gleason, have donated $250,000 in order to create the Austin and Lois Hall Gleason Women’s Athletic Scholarship.

The money is specifically going to the university’s women’s basketball, volleyball, softball and swim/diving teams. According to Maria Fantanarosa, the women’s head basketball coach, the athletic department will control the output of money for each sport.

“It is a scholarship endowment fund, however it is not a full $250,000 scholarship, it is going to be divided,” Fantanarosa said.

Although this is a significant financial contribution to the university’s women’s athletic program, the support the Gleasons regularly give to all student athletes is just as important to the athletic department, according to the women’s head basketball coach.

“The Gleasons are two of the biggest supporters of women’s basketball,” said Fantarosa.

“This is a very generous financial gift, but they are supportive in every way.”

Head coaches have said that the Gleasons are visible at almost all

HPV,

FROM PAGE 2 family has a history of cancer problems so that was a good option for me.”

Miami junior Rob Burns’ mother is a public health nurse in the STD and Vaccines Clinic in Oakland County, Michigan.

Burns is well versed in sexual education and STD prevention and — per his mother’s orders — has received the Gardasil vaccine, which was approved in 2010 for males.

Burns said his mother is an advocate for all vaccines and he has had so many he can’t remember which was which.

A conversation came up one day amongst Burns and his friends that led to Burns saying he had had the vaccine for HPV. “We were talking about it one day — and it isn’t like we talk about it all the time — but the guys made fun of me (for having the vaccine),” Burns said.

When his mom told him he was getting vaccinated against HPV, he said he was

women’s athletic events and take time to meet the student athletes on a personal level.

The love that the Gleasons have showed for women’s athletics goes beyond financial contributions, because they genuinely care about the players.

“They not only take pride in Miami, but also the development of the student athletes as people, students and players,” Fantanarosa said.

Women’s head volleyball coach, Carolyn Condit said, “It is awesome to see women’s athletics supported in this way, as so many men’s sports have been for years.”

Brooke Katchman, a junior at Miami enjoys following Miami sports.

“I think it is great that Miami alumni give back, and the story of the Gleasons’ gift is an amazing representation of the close bonds that are made here in Oxford,” Katchman said.

She believes that without the athletic program, Miami wouldn’t have as much pride and unity that it does.

Alumni from Miami University have a special bond and support for the university after they graduate. After 57 years, Lois Hall Gleason and her husband still reflect the love and honor that Miami prides itself in through great financial contribution and support.

“We appreciate the Gleasons and are very glad they are part of the Miami family,” Fantanarosa said.

hesitant. ”I was just like, ‘Mom, do you think I’m a promiscuous person?’” Burns said, laughing.

Prevention Aside from vaccination and abstinence, what can be done to prevent the transmission of HPV? Condoms?

“Not a damn thing … not a thing,” Stein said.

Does that mean people with HPV have no choice but a potentially awkward conversation with their sexual partners?

“That’s the golden question. Quite honestly what I tell people — and this is going to sound bad to you — I tell people, ‘You know what, everybody has this anyway,’” he said. “It’s probably your moral obligation to bring it up, but the problem is what transmits it is asymptomatic. That’s how viruses really explore, they get transmitted before they cause disease (and) before they cause symptoms.”

Stein said if Miami students were tested for HPV, almost everyone would have it.

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COMMUNITY

Community Editor

COMMUNITY@miamistudent.net

TUESDAY, AUGUST 23, 2011

POLICE

BEATS Locals arrested for First-year: Only my second beer

Miami University firstyears William Stano and Luke Kohan were charged with underage possession and having open containers around midnight Friday. The two 18-year-olds were walking down Collins Street towards Campus Avenue drinking beers when an Oxford Police Department officer stopped them, police reports said. Stano asked the officer to give him a break because it was his second beer of the night, police reports said.

Speedway clerk helps nab drunk Police arrested 19-yearold Miami University senior Justin Mills for drunk driving Saturday at 1:45 a.m.

A Speedway clerk flagged down the police to tell them, “The guy driving the white car is hammered,” police reports said. Police say Mills pulled into the McDonald’s parking lot where he slurred his words and told police he had, “You know, just a few beers.” Mills’ blood alcohol content was .214, police reports said.

Sophomore flees accident scene Twenty-one-year-old Miami University sophomore Benjamin Cowley received multiple citations at 1:45 a.m. Sunday. Cowley tried to flee the scene of an accident involving two parked cars he hit while driving his 2004 Infinity, police reports said. Officers identified Cowley walking nervously down the sidewalk away from the scene and began asking him questions, police reports said. Cowley smelled like alcohol and his eyes were glassy — he told police he had five shots and a mixed-drink chaser, police reports said. Cowley had a blood alcohol content of .13 and was cited for drunk driving, operating without reasonable control and stopping after an accident on the streets, police reports said.

summer break-ins

By Bethany Bruner News Editor

If it seemed like there were more burglaries than usual this summer, it’s because there were.

Sgt. Jim Squance, public information officer for the Oxford Police Department (OPD) said the department saw a “rash” of burglaries this summer as compared to previous summers.

Squance said the number of burglaries during any given summer varies, but usually there are not many to report.

Between August 9 and August 22, three burglaries were reported related to student rental properties on Withrow and Poplar streets.

Two of the burglaries took place at the same residence.

OPD arrested Adam Morris, 20, and James Byrd, 24, both of Oxford, in relation to the break-ins.

The first burglary was reported as occurring between June 9 and June 14. The resident reported a Wii game system and accessories,

Panasonic TV, blu-ray player and Nintendo 64 gaming system and accessories stolen. The total value of items reported stolen was $1,600.

Two bedroom door frames were reported as damaged and estimates have that at $100.

Officers at the scene were able to obtain a fingerprint from the window. Officers believe the suspects entered through the window and left through the front door.

The second burglary, reported at the same residence, occurred between June 14 and June 22. The resident reported a digital camera, iPod, speakers, bluray player and flat screen TV were missing.

At the scene, officers were able to recover palm prints.

On June 18, members of the Delta Chi Fraternity reported a break-in had occurred. When officers arrived at the scene, the caller refused to let officers enter the residence, but filed a report later.

Reported missing were two laptop computers, an Xbox gaming system, flat

screen TV and two fraternity composites, with a total value of $6,650. A nine-week old American Pit Bull puppy was also reported missing.

The puppy was later found by an officer patrolling on College Corner Pike in the possession of Morris and another male.

An informant of the OPD gave officers information identifying Byrd and Morris as the persons responsible for the burglaries. According to police documents, the informant told police Byrd and Morris would go uptown and then break into homes on their way back to their residences.

On June 22, OPD executed a search warrant on Byrd and Morris’ residences. Morris agreed to talk to officers and admitted his involvement in the burglaries.

Byrd was charged with burglary for one of the break-ins. Morris was also charged with burglary, as well as drug abuse and paraphernalia charges stemming from a glass pipe and small pile of marijuana found in his residence.

Coming to a bar near you: patrons with concealed weapons

By Sam Kay

Editor in Chief

Ohio Gov. John Kasich signed into law June 30 a bill that allows holders of concealed carry permits to bring their guns into bars and other establishments with liquor licenses.

Bars have the option of posting signs to prohibit firearms. The law also stipulates anyone carrying a weapon in a bar cannot consume any alcohol.

Oxford Police Department (OPD) Sgt. Jim Squance said law enforcement groups were opposed

to the law.

“All the law enforcement agencies are just not fans of expanding the law,” Squance said.

Squance said bars can be an especially dangerous place for firearms. “(The danger increases) anytime you get guns in the hands of people, especially people in bars who may have been drinking,” Squance said. “(In bars,) violence escalates quickly, in a crowded bar when you have people intoxicated … there’s just potential for something to go wrong quickly.”

Miami University senior

Corey McDonald said he is concerned about the presence of guns in bars.

“It just seems like a really bad idea for places that sell beverages that inhibit your decision making and logical thought process to allow concealed firearms,” McDonald said.

Several Oxford bar owners declined to comment, but many already post signs prohibiting firearms.

Squance said it is fully up to the bar owners whether or not to prohibit firearms, but said he hopes “they run a safe and enjoyable environment.”

JULIA ENGELBRECHT THE MIAMI STUDENT

The new Dubois Bookstore storefront is just one of many construction projects completed over the summer.

Uptown updates

By Bethany Bruner News Editor

When Miami University students are away, the city of Oxford likes to play.

That is, if play means businesses renovating, moving and improving to better serve the students that occupy a large portion of the city nine months of the year. This summer alone, more than 100 potential rental beds were added to the uptown district.

City of Oxford Economic Development Director Alan Kyger gave The Miami Student a rundown of some of the goings-on through the summer.

—The new Dubois Bookstore completed construction.

The new store, located on High Street, has 5,500 square feet of commercial space on the first floor and apartments for up to 36 residents above.

—The old High Street Grill is now home to Park Place Property Management.

The business moved there recently. The second and third stories of the building have six apartments for up to 24 residents.

—The old Qdoba Mexican Grille and Cold Stone Creamery building has the potential for two to three commercial tenants on the first floor.

Kyger said there are no tenants currently inked, but the city is talking to several potential occupants.

The building also has apartments on the second and third floors for up to 50 individuals.

—TGD (Thanksgiving Day) will call 19 W. High St. home in the near future. The business is owned by Miami alumni and will feature Thanksgiving style food.

Student leaps fence into trouble Eighteen-year-old Miami University sophomore Christopher Farnham was cited for underage drinking outside The Woods Bar around 2 a.m. Friday. An OPD officer saw Farnham drink from a bottle of beer behind the gates of the patio before holding it in his mouth to climb over onto the sidewalk, police reports said. Farnham was talking to himself and rambling about nonsensical things while speaking with the officer, police reports said. Farnham told police he lived in Anderson Hall at first, then said he lived there last year and now lives in Flower Hall, police reports said. He was arrested and cited for having an open container.

The Miami Student is looking for a community editor E-mail Sam Kay at kaysj@muohio.edu

JULIA ENGELBRECHT THE MIAMI STUDENT

TGD, a restaurant specializing in Thanskgiving Day cuisine, will open soon at 19 W. High St.

—Seaview Outfitters opened recently at 22 West Park Place. Dubois Bookstore had occupied the location during their construction. Miami students Jack and Steve Thomas opened the store which features fishing and camping gear, as well as apparel from Patagonia, Vineyard Vines and other retailers.

—Collected Works and The Apple Tree, both located on High Street, have both seen changes in ownership and remodeled interiors.

—3 Trees Irish Pub has renovated to open up into DiPaolo’s Restaurant.

—UDF underwent a complete facelift on the building’s exterior.

—McDonald’s reopened Wednesday. The store closed in May and was completely demolished and rebuilt in 92 days, according to Kyger.

—College Suites, Oxford Commons, University Commons and Candlewood Apartments all have new owners.

—Brickstreet Bar and Grill underwent renovations as well this summer. The kitchen space was reduced to create more floor space. A second bar was also added.

—Arabian Nights closed its doors in June. The restaurant had opened in the spring.

—DP Dough will be occupying the location vacated by Arabian Nights.

—MOON Co-op is working on opening a natural whole foods store near the Kroger location on Locust Street.

—Bill’s Art Store will be reopening soon. Kyger said the store’s reopening has been held up in the estate of former owner Bill Berry who passed away in April.

Kyger also said there are several coming attractions for students to look forward to.

—The liquor permit Balcony used to have has been transferred to 10 West Park Place. A new pub, called O Pub, will be located there.

The pub will be owned by Ted Wood who owns The Woods Food and Spirits and Woody’s One Up Bar. Kyger also said students should keep their ears open for announcements in the future.

“We have several interesting businesses looking at Oxford right now,” he said.

“And these are businesses we don’t already have.”

‘Blizzard bags’ could save Talawanda thousands

By Sam Kay

Editor in Chief

A provision of House Bill 153, the biennial state budget, will enable Ohio school districts to save money by making up three snow days with pre-prepared lessons called “blizzard bags” instead of traditional makeup days, typically scheduled for the end of the year.

Teachers would create lessons at the beginning of the year to be printed out and posted online for students to

work on from home in lieu of a traditional snow day.

The Talawanda School District hopes to submit an application to establish “blizzard bags” for the 2012-13 school year, according to community relations coordinator Holli Morrish. This year will be used for planning.

“By the time we were alerted to the program, our teachers were off contract for the summer,” Morrish said.

“We thing it’s a good idea, we just didn’t have enough

time to implement it.”

Last year, legislators reduced the number of calamity days districts were allowed to use from five to three, but then returned the number to five when school districts complained of the cost of makeup days following an especially harsh winter.

Talawanda is the largest school district in Ohio in terms of area – 144 square miles – which makes it particularly apt to close when weather turns road

conditions sour.

“One of the things the superintendent has to weigh is road conditions because we have a lot of student drivers in the community,” Morrish said. “We don’t want our inexperienced drivers out there learning how to handle this on the worst weather days.”

Last year, Talawanda ended up taking off seven calamity days, meaning it had to make up two days.

According to Talawanda CFO Mike Davis, each

makeup day costs the district an additional $10,000.

With five calamity days and an additional three “blizzard bag” days at its disposal, Talawanda could save tens of thousands of dollars in future years by avoiding traditional makeup days.

In a statement after signing the bill, Ohio Gov. John Kasich said “blizzard bags” would give school districts more scheduling flexibility.

“The great bottom line is more sled riding,” Kasich added.

TUESDAY, August 23, 2011

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Editor MEGAN MCGILL

ARTS@miamistudent.net

TUESDAY, AUGUST 23, 2011

Summer travels enlighten students

By Lorraine Boissoneault

For The Miami Student

“Soon, nostalgia will be another name for Europe.”

– Angela Carter Castles, queens, wars and history. Mention any of these words and your audience is likely to conjure up images of that vast, ancient continent across the pond: Europe.

Despite recent calamitous headlines (riots in London, financial crises in Italy and other countries), Europe retains the reputation of America’s snobbish yet sophisticated cousin. And Miami University students certainly feel the draw of the various European countries. Three such students chose to spend large portions of their summer – and their wallet – on excursions to the ancestral lands.

“I have been wanting to see Ireland since I could say Ireland,” said Aly Rothenbusch, senior Vocal Music Education major. “As soon as I heard that’s where we were going, I said I didn’t care how I had to scrape up the money, it was going to happen. It was the opportunity of a lifetime and I’d never been out of the country before.”

Rothenbusch traveled to Ireland and Scotland with Miami’s Choraliers and Chamber Singers and spent a total of 12 days in the two countries. During that time, Rothenbsuch and other members of the two musical ensembles immersed themselves in Scottish and Irish culture and performed numerous concerts for audiences great and small.

Despite the shared language, Rothenbsuch said of the Scottish brogue, “It was very difficult to get your ear used to that.”

The accents of the courier and bus driver – one from southern Ireland and one from the north – only added to the melodic mélange of dialogues.

“It was a huge culture shock and took about 24 hours to get acclimated,” Rothenbusch said.

Although the initial oddity of the language was difficult, Rothenbusch was surprised to see just how many similarities existed between the two countries and the United States.

“I was expecting to get over there and feel like I was in a whole new world.

And you get over there and it’s like you stepped out of your backdoor and everyone has an accent,” Rothenbusch said.

Because the group was frequently practicing and performing, Rothenbusch and her fellow Miamians had few opportunities to take part in cultural outings to museums or opera halls.

She did, however, appreciate the age of the architecture and the variety of culinary experiments, including haggis: seasoned and simmered sheep’s heart, liver and lung.

For other students abroad, opportunities to see the local culture abounded and novel foods to try were more scarce.

“We ate a lot of planned dinners in the hotels, it was part of the trip’s costs, so a lot of those dinners were kind of Americanized,” said Sarah Kipp, senior Early Childhood Education major. Kipp traveled with a group of students in Luxembourg, Germany, Austria, Switzerlan and France, and explored the education systems of these European countries.

For her cultural enlightenment experience, Kipp said,

Kipp said.

A third Miami student spent her time speaking the local language and dining on wurst and German beers.

Megan Dincher, a junior English Education major, participated in the intensive German summer program and traveled to Heidelberg, Dessau, Jena and Berlin.

“It was really cool when I realized the German word with an idea instead of going to the English word to the idea and then to German,” Dincher said of her language immersion experience. “It was intense, we spoke a lot of German and read a lot of German.”

Dincher also relished her time with the German people by living with host families.

“The people in general were pretty friendly,” she said. “They’re not as smiley as Americans. They just don’t smile at people they don’t know, but once you started talking to them they were very friendly and accommodating.”

Dincher and the nine other Miami students spent time with host families during their program and had ample opportunities to try the local cuisine.

“It was all really good,” Dincher said. “Except when my host family served me

It was a huge culture shock and took about 24 hours to get acclimated.

ALY ROTHENBUSCH “I loved Munich; it was my favorite city. There we did the Hofbrauhaus and got the German beer and we went to Springfest. I feel like I really did experience the culture of Munich.”

Kipp listed Luxembourg and Grindelwald, Switzerland as two more of her favorite places and found the time spent in European schools eye-opening.

“Something I’ve been really concerned about are all the challenges that face teachers today. I wondered, are these issues prevalent in other countries? Why is it always American teachers that are hit? They are prevalent in other countries, they’re just handled differently. I shouldn’t feel responsible for all these problems because they are global,”

chicken heart soup.”

All the same, Dincher was ready for some tacos when she came back to the States.

One of the lessons that Dincher took away from the summer: history continues to haunt us.

“They’re really cautious about patriotism, I never saw flags in Germany except on government buildings. They’re cautious about how they portray themselves to the world and individually, the history is very important to them,” Dincher said.

Whatever the lesson each of these three students took away, each will always have that connection to the land beyond the Atlantic and each dreams of someday returning.

Global Rythms takes on India

CONTRIBUTED BY THE HINDU

Miami students pose for a local Indian newspaper.

By Sean O’Neill

For The Miami Student

Sean O’Neill and 7 other Miami students embarked on a musical trip to the Indian State of Tamil Nadu.

The group spent 3 weeks sharing music and culture with everyone from Indian musical experts to orphaned children. O’Neill shares his experiences here.

Letting loose eight Miami University students in India can be a pretty bold move. All of us were in Chennai, under the supervision and coordination of Srinivas Krishnan, so we were not really “let loose,” but an immediate immersion into the culture would make one think otherwise. While I knew it would be different in many ways, there is actually practically nothing similar between India and the United States. For instance, we were greeted at the Delhi airport by military personnel wielding semi-automatic weapons.

The purpose of our trip was an extension of the highly successful Global Rhythms program, which Krishnan started at Miami, performing first in 1997. The team comprised of students from Collegiate Chorale and the Men’s Glee Club who were music majors and non-majors and were united by the common mission to spread and share music with the city of Chennai and the state of Tamil Nadu.

We gave several concerts around the area, from the India Institute of Management – Bangalore (IIMB), the Kalakshetra Foundation (considered the Julliard of India) and Museum Theatre, all of which received great reviews from the local media. However, the trip was not about just performing, but studying south Indian art forms as well.

Every day started with 8:00 a.m. lessons with local gurus: voice lessons, nadhaswaram, and Indian classical dance. All of our instructors are the most well respected gurus in their respective fields in Chennai and they offered up their time to teach us what they know, which was some of the most valuable time we had. Several of the pieces we learned with them we added into our performances, so as to showcase the education we received.

In an effort to share our own music, we also visited some area schools, including the Avvai Home, an orphanage school for girls ages 6-18 and two Balwadis, Montessori based schools for students ages 4-6. Even in these short visits, a bond through music was formed.

After we shared a piece or two, like Collegiate Chorale’s “Fre O” or Glee Club’s “Johnny Schmoeker,” the students at the Balwadis were eager to share songs that they’ve been learning, in both Tamil and English. These were some of the most beautiful moments

we had together.

One of the most surprising observations we had about Indian culture was the hospitality provided to guests. The a phrase that, when translated states, “A guest (one who comes unannounced) is equal to God.” Thus, the way one treats their guests should be done in the way they treat their God, whoever it may be. We had an appointment with the actor Raja Krishnamurthy and we showed up on time for chai, biscuits and talks on Indian philosophy and culture; a small detail missing is that we were on time, but 24 hours early. Nevertheless, we were graciously accepted into the home.

Late night visits like going to Mrs. Sudha Gupta’s home to view her collection of M.F. Hussain paintings or having an impromptu concert over dinner at the Vishweshwar’s became normal occurrences for us around Chennai.

The people we met, from those mentioned above to the students of KM Music Conservatory (AR Rahman’s school) to Krishnan’s students and family members who showed us around the city, made the entire trip for us. It is safe to say that none of us would have made it by ourselves in Chennai. They were an essential support system

INDIA, SEE PAGE 10

Popular bands seen at Warped Tour 2011 How to get involved in the Arts at Miami

By Catherine Couretas

For The Miami Student

I will be the first to admit that Warped Tour attracts a very, well, unique crowd.

One look, and you might turn around before you even walk in the door. That, however, would be a big mistake.

There For Tomorrow’s vocalist Maika Maile explained it best.

“If they want to wear makeup, let them f*cking wear makeup,” Maile said of bands on the tour. “If they want to go out there and be tatted from head to toe to be as tough as possible, let them do that too. If you want to be a little pop star, do that. Who cares? Everybody’s got their own thing.”

Warped is about fun. Peri-

od. And it just so happens that many of the bands that play on this tour every year have a pretty large fan base. This year, Paramore, Gym Class Heroes and Jack’s Mannequin played select dates.

The Veteran Andrew McMahon is no stranger to Warped Tour.

Having formed Something Corporate in 1998 and then Jack’s Mannequin in 2004, McMahon has been touring for over a decade. Some have taken sides with one band over the other or were thrown off by Something Corporate’s reunion tour last year, but McMahon said Jack’s Mannequin will be his focus from now on.

“We had kind of gotten

to the place where you’re on the road and you start beating each other up and stop getting along, and that didn’t seem like a very healthy environment to create music in,” McMahon said of he and his Something Corporate bandmates. “So, I started making music that became Jack’s Mannequin.”

McMahon was lucky: he already had a solid fan base from Something Corporate.

However, starting up Jack’s Mannequin was still like starting from square one.

“It’s an effort of just trying to grow things every day and reach new people,” McMahon said.

And Jack’s Mannequin is indeed growing. A summer tour with Guster continues into the fall, stopping in Columbus on September 4, and the group will release

its third full-length album this October.

The Guys Next Door Maile’s Twitter bio reads: “It’s like I majored in music with a minor in philosophy without the student loan debts or degree.” Maile has been playing Warped (or at least parts of it each year) since 2005, and has enjoyed the ups and downs that come along with it all.

“We’ve kind of grown up through the scene,” Maile said. “Doing it this year is so much different, even than in, say 2009. We were still so new. Our fan base has grown

WARPED, SEE PAGE 10

Get involved in Miami University Theatre. Find out how at their open house/ cookout 6 p.m. Tuesday, August 23rd.

No experience is necessary to audition for Miami University’s Steel Band. Auditions are at 7 p.m. Wednesday, August 24 in Room 222 of Presser Hall.

Audition for Miami’s Choirs! Sign up in the Shriver Center near the food courts this week between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. on Monday through Friday, and 9 a.m. and noon on Saturday. No prepared solo is required, all majors welcome.

Dancers, graphic designers and musicians alike have been working together for over a year for the Collage

Concert: Dancing through Time and Space happening at 7 p.m. this Saturday the 27th in Gates-Abegglen Theatre in the CPA. Admission is free.

Sign up to work on University Theatre productions at the Tech Theatre Fair from 4:30 to 6 p.m. Wednesday, August 21st in the Studio 88 Theatre in the basement of the CPA. The opening reception for this semester’s exhibit at the Miami University Art Museum, Out of the Shadows: The Rise of Women in Art is Thursday, September 1st.

Entrance is free.

For information on Music Ensemble Auditions go to http://arts.muohio.edu/music/resources

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OPINION

Editors Noëlle Bernard Thomasina Johnson

TUESDAY, AUGUST 23, 2011

editorial@miamistudent.net

LETTERS TO MIAMI

Students must be proud to be a part of Miami’s heritage

By Nick Huber Student body president huberns@muohio.edu

ASHLEY CEROLI THE MIAMI STUDENT

EDITORIAL

‘J-Term’ could benefit students if made affordable, convenient Miami University may shorten semester lengths and add a January session called a J-Term or J-mester.

During this several-week period, students could take a class, study abroad or work at an internship.

The editorial board of The Miami Student encourages the J-Term because students who opt-in to the session could reap similar rewards of a summer session in a different term.

With its success at high schools and universities around the country, the JTerm has many possibilities for students who need credit to graduate on time. Students who may be crunched for time during the year and summer could study abroad

and the stress of finding a summer internship could be lessened with a winter work period. The J-Term may also ease students back into school after a long break.

However, the J-Term must be planned carefully and be tailored to be as beneficial as it can to students.

Class choice and content must be of the same quality as that of the other terms.

A wide variety of course options should be available, from fun exercise courses to courses needed to graduate.

During the regular school year, class times should not be lengthened to the detriment of those not participating in J-Term. Financial aid should cover the

J-Term courses and study abroad options in order for the benefits of this special academic term to be available for as many students as possible. Because of the unique nature of the JTerm timeframe, the Office of Career Services should help students find internship opportunities who will work with students in January.

If J-Term options are clearly communicated, more students will take advantage of them and it will be a success. The J-Term will be a benefit and even fun, but it must be made available and affordable to all students.

It cannot be presented as costly and a waste of time and resources.

Rule of Thumb Qdoba not returning to Oxford soon Your burritos, quesadillas and salsa will be missed.

Improvements in the City of Oxford New and improved establishments have us excited for a great year.

This year represents a very exciting time to be a student at Miami University. During her address at graduation this past spring, Indra Nooyi, CEO of Pepsico, said Miami University “is on the verge of a blossom,” and the opportunities across the horizon for us individually and collectively stand to justify her remarks.

This year marks several special occasions in Miami’s history. 2012 will mark the 40th anniversary of the first connection be-

As you begin your first week of classes, take a look around you and see all of the opportunity that lies ahead. Just as those who came before us had a vision for Miami and pursued it relentlessly, now is our time to honor the past by building our future. tween Miami University and the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma, when Chief Forest Olds visited Oxford for the first time. 2011 will mark the groundbreaking for the Armstrong Student Center, which will be remembered as the beginning of a new era in student engagement. These are two great examples of the continuum of the Miami Experience and the important role that we each play in preserving our past and preparing for the future.

Academically, we are embarking on a period of educational innovation under the leadership of our new Provost, Bobby Gem-

Last year’s construction paid off to a beautiful addition to the campus.

Niihka not being introduced earlier We’re hoping there won’t be any confusion caused by rolling out the new platform on the very first week of classes.

Being back at Miami We’re excited for all the great courses and events that inspired Love and Honor.

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

EDITORIAL BOARD Sam Kay Editor in Chief Bethany Bruner News Editor Colleen Yates Managing Editor Hunter Stenback Online Editor Noëlle Bernard Editorial Editor Thomasina Johnson Editorial Editor

Lauren Ceronie Campus Editor Jenni Wiener Campus Editor Michael Solomon Sports Editor Amanda Seitz Special Reports Editor Julia Engelbrecht Photo 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.

zations portal through the Office of Student Activities and Leadership. The new portal will be designed to reduce the administrative burden on our student organizations so that they can allocate more of their time to creativity and execution of new strategies and initiatives.

This past year, social fraternities and sororities registered more alcohol-free programs through the Cliff Alexander Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life and Leadership than programs where alcohol was allowed to be present, which highlights the refocus on values that the leadership

of the Greek community has pursued. Furthermore, there was a campus-wide decrease in the amount of alcohol-related violations this past school year from the year prior, meaning that fewer students made decisions that put them in academic, legal and social jeopardy.

This coming year, I think it is especially important for Miami students to be more intentional in the pride we develop and display for our institution. We boast athletic programs with a great deal of momentum coming off a fantastic year. We continue to receive national and international accolades, most recently ranking ninth in the country for the return on tuition investment we provide our students per SmartMoney magazine.

We are at a crossroads of our past and our future as one of the most storied institutions in the United States. We have a smart, accomplished and enthusiastic group of first-year students joining our Miami family. These are all things we should take pride in and use as catalysts for continuing to identify ways in which we can make Miami University the best it could possibly be.

As you begin your first week of classes, take a look around you and see all of the opportunity that lies ahead.

Just as those who came before us had a vision for Miami and pursued it thoughtfully, relentlessly and lovingly, now is our time to honor the past by building our future. Welcome back for another unforgettable year at the “most beautiful college there is.”

Arts necessary for an intellectually stimulating campus

By SAM KAY

The return of the sundial

pesaw. Provost Gempesaw has a vision for Miami that would propel us to the forefront of institutions of higher education through the use of new technologies, new models of teaching and new opportunities for students to study internationally. Miami is consistently ranked among the best universities in the United States and the initiatives to be undertaken this year will bolster our reputation as a center of learning and development.

Student organizations will also benefit from new innovation with the launching of the Student Organi-

Editor in chief KAYSJ@MUOHIO.EDU

It is the Year of the Arts at Miami, and it is about time!

Art is more than a pleasant thing to look at or listen to. Art challenges the mind and charms the soul. Art advances science, philosophy, and technology. As a place where knowledge is produced, a university needs a thriving artistic community. Knowledge cannot be moved forward if convention is not challenged and artists are specialists in seeing the world in new and unique ways. Art engenders deep, complex, symbolic thought.

Art is indispensable to science. Kenneth Snelson, a sculptor, used cables and rods under tension to build structures that scientists would later use to better understand the structures of proteins.

Methods for rendering three dimensional objects on two dimensional surfaces developed by renaissance artists later led to scientific understanding of how embryos develop.

Artistic thought is simply not the same as scientific thought and that is a good thing; cross-pollination is vital to the advancement of science. Before something can be discovered, it must be imagined. Much of today’s science would have

seemed so radical mere decades ago that it could have only existed as art. Science would be adrift without a creative spark.

My own life has been thoroughly enriched by the arts. Although I was a terrible piano student as a boy, I came around in high school with involvement in band and theater. At Miami, I have been lucky enough to participate in choirs and bands and even a music fraternity. Each time I find myself totally engrossed in practicing my instrument or listening to a performance, I emerge newly surprised at what art does for me. I have some of my deepest thoughts when thinking is the farthest thing from my mind, when I am instead totally absorbed in art.

To those who would brush off the arts as not serious enough to merit their time (or university funding,) I challenge you to broaden your mind. See the big ideas behind art, not just the entertainment value. Throughout history, art has helped other disciplines push the envelope.

Artists are often the first to take on taboos, allowing scientists to follow suit. The development of the arts and humanity’s body of knowledge follow parallel tracks.

This past summer, I was

part of an interdisciplinary research program at the University of Cincinnati.

I was doing geography research. Other students were doing work in microbiology, chemistry, psychology, engineering, ceramics, and poetry. I was at first skeptical of the latter two. What does ceramics research look like? But as soon as I took the time to get to know the researchers and what they were doing, I was embarrassed at my pre-judgment. I visited the ceramics shop one day for a tour and left both enlightened and moved.

The kneejerk reaction of thinking of the arts as not serious disciplines for college study is just intellectual snobbery.

So take this year and next year, and hopefully the rest of your lives to expose yourself to the arts.

Engage your own creative impulses. Take advantage of the opportunity to think unconventionally. Do your brain plasticity a favor and learn to play an instrument.

Get lost in a book of poetry, a painting or a sculpture garden. If you open your mind to art’s gifts, you will find immense respect for artists and their crafts.

More than that, you will find a deeper part of your soul, that eternal streak of childish imagination too many of us can’t remember as adults.

www.miamistudent.net

TUESDAY, August 23, 2011 OPINION

Liberty And Justice

In lieu of my typical political and current events commentary, I have decided to focus on the incoming first-year class, the class of 2015 . (Does 2015 make any other upperclassmen feel old, or is it just me?) I am by no means an expert, but I’ve lived in a first-year dorm for three years, two years as an RA, and I’ve given my fair share of advice to firstyear students. I will attempt to once again open up my cold, cruel upperclassman heart and provide you with some sagely advice and knowledge on how to succeed during your first year at Miami University.

Now beginning on a somber note, if you are a current freshman, you will be paying around $100,000 if you are in-state, and over $160,000 if you are out-ofstate, for your entire four years of education. If you are coming here just to party, that is one VERY expensive party. You are paying for Miami’s reputation of excellent academics, so make sure to keep your eye on the prize: your degree!

There are a couple major tips I think first-years should consider in regards to academics. Firstly, I can’t stress enough to plan ahead with your class schedule.

Make a theoretical schedule for the next four years and plug in all of the required classes for your Miami Plan, divisional requirements and Major classes and see what your schedule will look like. Don’t front-load your

ORIANA’S OBSERVATION

Ty gilligan

Oriana Pawlyk

One senior’s ‘Sparknotes’ help incoming freshmen

Overcome fear by understanding one another

schedule and take all your hard classes freshman and sophomore years, spread them out and mix in a couple “easier” or elective classes each semester so you don’t lose your mind.

Another recommendation I have is to learn your materials for class the first time so you don’t waste time having to re-learn it later. Teachers have readings and lectures spread out throughout the semester for a reason; they don’t expect you to learn an entire semester of material during finals week. Do the reading, take your notes and learn the material when it is assigned. Then, once finals week comes, you can focus on making flashcards, organizing study groups and reviewing the specific topics you don’t quite understand versus trying to read an entire textbook in three days.

In regards to studying, find a place where YOU can effectively study. This doesn’t always mean the library. I find it funny that so many people flock to King Library on weeknights and then sit on Facebook or Skype.

Being in a library is like a placebo; it makes you feel like you are actually studying, but you still have the responsibility to stay focused. I have always studied in my room (usually in bed while listening to my iPod) because that’s where I’m comfortable and not distracted. If you can study successfully in your room, the laundry room, a dining hall, outside on a bench or while

9

running on a treadmill at the REC, then go for it! Everyone studies differently.

In regards to student life, I have a few recommendations. The biggest thing I can stress is that YOUR RA (Resident Assistant) IS YOUR FRIEND. I know that I’m biased for having worked in Residence Life, but the truth is that RA’s often have a wealth of knowledge and can help you in most circumstances. They are on your side and it would be a shame if you do not utilize them! Roommate conflicts, academic issues, not knowing how to load money on to your MUlaa account, etc, can all be solved by a visit with your RA. Another thing I would recommend is to get a job on campus. It will provide you with additional spending money as well as keep you on a routine schedule. Many people organize their time better when they are busier, so you may as well work and make some money!

Lastly, I would recommend making an effort to walk around campus and meet people that you normally would not have associated with in high school. College is a fresh start so take advantage and branch out! Miami is full of diverse, unique and talented people so don’t stay in your same circle of friends from high school.

Finally, class of 2015, congrats on your admission into Miami University and have an excellent year! Love and Honor!

“Power does not corrupt.

Fear corrupts...perhaps the fear of a loss of power.”

I begin this article with these wise words once written by John Steinbeck, an award-winning American author. The premise of this article surrounds those fascinating, yet perplexing words for a reason: I would like to highlight a message I so fortunately learned this past summer — as an observer, as a student, as a worker — for those of you reading this to maybe see what I see.

Those who paid attention to the news this summer more than likely realized these past three months were not as blissful as your own.

Let’s recap a bit: inconclusive turmoil burdened Libya when rebel armies resisted the Qaddafi government and his loyalists. The shocking verdict behind Casey Anthony’s trial enraged many across the country. For the longest time, the United States Congress could not reach an agreement on a debt-ceiling proposal.

Somalia suffers a nightmare full of famine and drought.

Israeli forces are working to restore a cease-fire agreement with Hamas, yet again.

The stock market is not only reflecting economic fear, but also creating it. Norway suffered a devastating shooting and bombing, killing 76 people. Preparing for the 2012 Presidential Election has had

the U.S. government parties fighting tooth and nail for the silliest of outcomes. London riots spurred panic and desolation. And the list unfortunately goes on and on.

You hear the term, “the world’s gone mad” over and over from those people who read the news, but take no time to actually understand it. It is so easy to put the blame on one side, one party, one person — but people fail to see that there are always two sides to every story, and worse, they don’t even make the effort to rationalize or reason anymore.

People rest on the idea that the world is black and white, when there is a possibility of many shades of gray. If there was only meant to be one answer for every question, then why ask the question to begin with?

What sets humanity apart from the rest of the world is that we were given the wonderful gift of reason. It is true everyone has a different moral compass, but where we stand today doesn’t even reflect that. What we’ve succumbed to is the blame game.

Why? Reflect back to Steinbeck’s quote: “Power does not corrupt. Fear corrupts... perhaps the fear of a loss of power.”

It seems the domino effect of world chaos has come full circle. Those who want power will stop at nothing

to get it. They instill fear into those who are already playing the blame game.

The intelligent are full of doubt, and the foolish are arrogant.

We fear what we do not understand. Problem is, we’ve already stopped understanding what is happening, what course of action should be taken, and even each other. Ignorance only breeds more ignorance, and we’ve taken the easy way out with pointing fingers.

The era of pointing fingers is over. Instead of dwelling on why it all happened and who’s to blame, we should seek righteousness that only comes from moving forward and analyzing where we could go from here in unison. If we contribute nothing, then what do we have left to say for ourselves?

Try to understand one another. The easiest way to cause harm begins with your own fear, prompted by a racial slur, a jab at a religious belief, etc. History doesn’t necessarily repeat itself, but it does echo from time to time — learn from the past and enhance your future. Maybe then the domino effect of positivity and contribution will come full circle.

After all, if Nelson Mandela learned, “The most powerful weapon is not violence but it is talking to people,” why can’t the rest of us?

ESSAY OLIVIA BROUGH broughol@muohio.edu

Strategically speaking Jessica Sink

Education ensures learning for a lifetime “The last day of school is the best day of school…until school starts again in the fall.”

The tune my father sings at the end of the school year and before the start of a new school year still brings a smile to my face. Whether entering kindergarten or a graduate program, there is a certain excitement surrounding the

public schools and most education was done at home.

By the 1800s, American families were moving west and subsequently needed more schools. Education on the frontier revolved around farming and most children could not attend school until at least November when the fall harvest was over. Similar

Even though there may be obstacles and challenges along the way, the journey to get to your dreams begins with a good education. It is up to you to take what you learn in the classroom and apply it to your life. beginning of school. Deciding what to wear on the first day, picking out new school supplies, seeing old friends and making new ones, getting new books and meeting the teacher are all part of the back to school ritual. Although summer was fun, it is now time to bring out the pencils, rulers, notebooks and binders to get back to work.

The importance and significance of the first day of school and education in general is certainly nothing new.

In the roots of American heritage, the first 13 colonies of the New World established their first formal schools in the 1630s. Empty looking classrooms met the students of the time, who wrote with lumps of lead and sat on hard benches. There were few

to earlier years, classrooms were one-room schoolhouses with students of all ages in a single class.

In the early 1900s, public schools began to look more like today’s schools, with distinct grade levels and the beginnings of a standardized curriculum. Yet it was not until the mid-1900s that education was on its way to having a solid foundation. From the 1930s until the present day, the school system progressed rapidly, becoming a cornerstone of American values, with all children receiving the opportunity to attend public school. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, in 2009, there were 49,053,786 students enrolled in public elementary and high schools, many more than the

first American schools in the 1630s.

While the styles of lunchboxes and backpacks have changed over the years and instead of notebooks and binders, many of today’s students carry laptops and iPads to class, the value of an education remains the same.

Schools offer the tools necessary to achieve success and the chance to expand the mind. Learning is for a lifetime and the key to successful futures. Education is a great gift, a privilege that can change lives.

As a new semester begins on the campus of Miami University, each student has the ability to learn new concepts, share ideas and grow as students and people. However, it takes commitment, determination, focus and skill to get the most out of a college career. Even though there may be obstacles and challenges along the way, the journey to get to your dreams begins with a good education. It is up to you to take what you learn in the classroom and apply it to your life.

The last day of school is definitely the best day of school, but the first day of school is a great competitor.

So buy your favorite color of folders, put on a new outfit and go to class with a positive attitude. Take advantage of all Miami University has to offer and you will certainly open doors to a lifetime of opportunity and achievement.

Big Government is the root of London’s riots Over the past few weeks, we’ve heard a lot about the riots in Great Britain, but we grapple with the reason behind them. Mark Duggen’s death by the police was the reason for the Tottenham riot, but now doubts arise over who instigated the shooting. A bullet found in a policeman’s radio and a non-police-issued gun were found on the scene. While the incident is unclear, it is clear that violence escalated from it.

The rioters were not downtrodden masses, breaking into stores looking for food. The riots were not due to injustice, but to greed and selfishness. The rioters weren’t looting grocery stores or bookstores.

They were taking electronics and other non-essentials.

Looting was not just found in stores, but also on the streets. A 20-year-old college student in East London was even beaten for his bicycle. These riots were overwhelmingly criminal.

But the riots aren’t against something specific or to reach a political end, simply an excuse to steal.

My sister just returned from Oxford, England, and from her stories, it seems that the British police had an omniscient presence — such as arriving to a bar brawl before an instigator exits. Cameras were practically everywhere — but that presence wasn’t designed to deter crime or maintain order, only to police everything else.

There was a police presence that’s not meant to stop crime. So why is there

crime? There is crime because the rioters feel entitled to the stuff they steal, and that entitlement-mentality comes from Big Government. In 1942, William Beveridge designed the British welfare system, describing it as an ‘abolition of want.’ He met his goal.

The U.K. has the highest drug abuse, the highest incidence of sexually transmitted disease, the most single mothers and the highest abortion rate in Europe, according to the 2009 U.K. census data. With the regression of the family unit, children ?lose morals and with more dependency on the government, people do not feel gratitude but resentment because they continuously want more.

Intellectuals and politicians tell the people they’re entitled to a high standard of living without any personal efforts to reach it.

In this situation, two main things deeply sadden me. As a history major, I see the tragedy of what happens when citizens feel no allegiance to anything — not to their own integrity and not to their own nation. They know nothing of Britain’s past and do not care for its future. Their grandparents and greatgrandparents fought horrendous wars, and for what, for their country to fall into this state?

Secondly, and most importantly, I find that Big Government/An Entitlement State/A Welfare State takes away the opportunity for a meaningful life, where one is free to pursue one’s

own potential without being policed socially and heavily taxed financially. Working hard for a personal goal — such as starting one’s own business — and being selfreliant is an accomplished feeling. Dependency on government takes away the motive to work and thus the opportunity to feel accomplished. Big Government not only destroys a nation financially (high spending and redistributing wealth until ‘the goose stops laying the golden egg’), but it also destroys human capital and human potential. It’s a system that wastes people.

Without purpose, people become unhappy, angry and sometimes violent.

What is the U.K. to do now? Has it reached a dead end? Can the same thing happen in America? I see no escape from that entitlement culture for the U.K. And I see signs that America’s heading in that deadend direction. Already an entitlement culture is on the rise. Nearly half of Americans do not pay taxes and most receive redistributed money in return. Right now, Philadelphia is under curfew because of ‘flash mobs,’ which are youths that use social media to organize in order to target a store and steal in mass, often beating people on the streets. The only way to prevent a situation such as in the U.K. is to stop going down this path of entitlement. Otherwise, it’ll be too late. The best things in life are so valuable because they can easily be destroyed and can hardly be replaced.

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CAMPUS TUESDAY, August 23, 2011

RANKINGS, FROM PAGE 2

past. The campus I know isn’t that segregated.”

The crowds that show up to multicultural events such as the Dalai Lama’s lecture and annual Diwali celebration show there is some desire by students to interact, according to Scott.

“One of the problems Miami has is we talk about the bad things and we’ve been locked in the perception of the institution from 10 or 15 years ago instead of looking at all the good that has happened,” Scott said. “I don’t think anyone is going to debate we have a long way to go, but we have improved.”

Miami has been working on programs that reach out

to students, particularly first years, and encouraging them to interact, according to Gerald Yearwood, senior administrative director in the office of diversity affairs. Yearwood pointed out the “Made at Miami” program that has been put on for first years for the last several years.

“This program centers around a multicultural presence, we try to get them to integrate and navigate Miami, not just academically but culturally and politically,” Yearwood said.

The way Princeton Review collects its data for the rankings may not be accurate, according to Leslie Haxby McNeill, assistant director in the office of student wellness programs. The Princeton Review surveys students as the basis of its rankings.

“There are some issues around how they get those rankings,” McNeill said. “It’s perception versus fact, the way in which they collect opinions versus data makes it a matter of perspective. To me, it seems like an inaccurate way to measure something.”

Miami does face challenges with drinking, but comparing this with other universities is hard to measure as the rate of drinking fluctuates from year to year with no obvious explanation, McNeill said. However, the rate of binge drinking at Miami has gone down in recent years, according to McNeill.

“We’ve made really good strides, we’ve seen a 3 percent reduction in binge drinking which doesn’t sound like a lot but it has made some inroads,” McNeill said.

McNeill credited programs like AlcoholEdu, which all first years are required to take, Choices, a program put on for the Greek system and the Health Advocates for Wellness Knowledge and Skills (HAWKS) for the decline in binge drinking.

Marie Argo, a junior HAWKS Peer Educator said after doing alcohol awareness presentations and seeing campus life, she does think the Princeton Review ranking could be accurate.

“Walking around campus you see a lot of people drinking and playing beer pong,” Argo said. “Our position as peer educators is not pro alcohol or against it, we just want people to make good decisions.”

Like McNeill, Brent Shock,

director of student financial assistance, said he felt Miami’s ranking as ninth in the nation for “financial aid not so great” was not accurate.

“The rankings were based on students surveyed in 2009 and were based on a single question,” Shock said. “In 2009, the U.S. economy was in a free fall and many people, including many Miami students and their families, were facing uncertain and challenging employment conditions.”

The question asked in the survey was subjective and Miami has actually introduced new scholarship programs since 2009, Shock said. In the 2010-2011 academic year, 76 percent of students received some type of financial aid with the average financial aid package of $11,000 for a student with financial need,

according to Shock. Miami is also working to grow its endowment by $50 million for additional scholarships.

The Princeton Review ranked Miami as 20th in the nation for top undergraduate entrepreneurial programs in 2010. The new ranking for Miami’s entrepreneurial programs will be released in October, according to Brett Smith, director of the Center for Social Entrepreneurship.

INDIA,

FROM PAGE 6 in all of our endeavors, whether debuting a new piece at Museum Theatre or taking a rickshaw from the hotel to the office for our morning lessons.

We dubbed ourselves “Moxie,” named after the soda drink from the early 1900s, which has come to mean “having energy, verve, or being determined.”

Completely immersing ourselves in a foreign culture on the other side of the world – literally – requires an open mind, a willingness to try new things and a lot of energy to get through the long days and to absorb all the information we were there to take in. I am very proud of the Moxie team for all that they did and accomplished in this project.

Some members worked hard leading rehearsals early in the morning and late at night, we ate fantastic fish curry from banana leaves, and the women performed a great bharathnatyam for the first time at Kalakshetra.

Each member discovered a lot about working with a team of their peers and discovered a lot about themselves. We all came back as changed people, though it may take years for us to even notice it. Nonetheless, this has been the cultural exchange of a lifetime and we look forward to sharing our experiences and our newly acquired knowledge with everyone who attends future Global Rhythms events.

WARPED, FROM PAGE 6

strong, and now that we have that on our shoulders, we’re able to make an impact.”

Maile said, though, that he preferred this year’s Warped lineup because of how broad it is.

“Everyone seems to get each other and at least kind of get along,” Maile said.

So, how did Maile escape the heat and the crowds to get some personal time while touring? By taking to a good book. At the Warped stop in Cincinnati, Maile said he had received a book from a fan that he had been reading.

“I’ve been studying Eastern philosophy and looking into the art of Zen,” he explained. “I’m not out here being a Buddhist or anything, but it’s pretty interesting and really out there.”

Even if you are not into Zen, There For Tomorrow might still be for you.

The group’s latest studio album, “The Verge,” hit shelves June 28.

But what was Warped Tour really like this year?

Hotter than usual. Right in the middle of the nonrecord-breaking heat wave (which was a major bummer, by the way), Warped took over Riverbend on August 2 and did not let up.

Anxious fans lingered from the initial line to get into the venue before 10 a.m. through the final sets pushing 9 p.m. Was the long day worth it? I’m sure if you asked anyone there, you would not get anything less than “definitely.”

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Employment Opportunities GREAT PART TIME JOB! Great pay.

Great experience. Walk to work from campus and make a difference every day. The YMCA is looking for special individuals who want to make a difference in the lives of young children as valued members of itís before and after school program staff teams. Work early morning before class or afternoons after class. For more information, contact Teresa Gagnon at tgagnon@gmvymca. org or Kim Phillips at kphillips@ gmvymca.org or call 513-887-0001.

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Red Brick Property Management is now renting for the 2012-2013 school year. For more info. call 524.9340 or visit our website at www.redbrickoxford.com For rent Now renting for the 2012/13 school year. Visit us at www. MUOH. net or www. Schmatesrentals.com The best homes are the first to rent. Please call 513-505-4918 or 847-274-6600

Live Uptown in the Lofts at 1 West High St. Quite simply the most amazing place ever built in Oxford.

For details or to arrange a showing, call 513-524-9340 or visit us at www.redbrickoxford.com Roommate Wanted for next semester! Great uptown apartment located above Wills Pizza. Call 513.227.0416

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SPORTS

Editor Michael Solomon

sports@miamistudent.net

TUESDAY, AUGUST 23, 2011 brian gallagher GALLAGHER’S GOING FOR TWO

EYES OF THE NATION DON’T LAST This past summer, the US Women’s soccer team captured the eyes of the nation during the run to the World Cup title game. For a few weeks, everyone was a soccer fan. LeBron, President Obama, my great-uncle Ned and a whole slew of other notables who otherwise never would have been interested in soccer jumped on the bandwagon. People packed into their local pubs to catch a glimpse of players, who were probably anonymous to them a week earlier. ESPN recorded huge ratings for the games and people were dropping Twitter bombs about their favorite stars.

The American public was on a first-name basis with these women: Hope, Abby, Alex. But only a month later and people have moved on.

This was much more than just 15 minutes of fame for these talented footballers and yet there have been no commercials, no billboards and no talk of major contracts for these women. Are sports fans really that fickle?

The answer, of course, is yes. Soccer (or futbol for you purists) is not America’s game. It will probably never be America’s game. Every professional soccer franchise that has attempted to establish roots in the US has failed or at the very least, struggled.

First, there was the North American Soccer League, which had a good run from 1968 to 1984, but folded even after bringing global stars such as Pele into the league. The Women’s United Soccer Association, formed in the aftermath of the 1999 World Cup and featuring lasting stars Mia Hamm, Julie Foudy and Brandi Chastain only lasted three seasons. All this in a country where over three million kids between the ages of five and 19 play the “beautiful game.”

After filling stadiums and being the center of the sporting world, the current national team players return to a struggling situation in the Women’s Professional Soccer League. After being lauded as heroes, they go back to playing in college stadiums in front of a few thousand fans at best. Keeping the league, which is arguably the best women’s league in the world, running will certainly be a struggle. Like other venues that only catch hold every four years, the hardest part is holding the very short attention span of casual fans. Many Olympic sports, such as swimming, track and field and even ice-skating draw great ratings, but once they’re over, the athletes are forgotten. Michael Phelps won an unprecedented eight gold medals in swimming only four short years ago, but the only time I’ve seen him on television since is when he was hawking Subway sandwiches.

So what’s the point? If people are going to simply forget about them, why even play in the first place? After years of practice, games and travel, they made it to the biggest stage and lost and their accomplishments may be forgotten until the next World Cup rolls around. But even though it seems like they did everything only to pour it down the drain, I bet every player on that team and every other athlete who has made it to the pinnacle of their sport would tell you that it was worth it.

And that’s what draws us in as sports fans, and makes us fickle many times. It’s that we can get caught up in the moment, buy foam fingers and rally monkeys and even after all that, forget about it.

So get caught up in a sports moment this year and enjoy the ride.

’Hawks set to start spiking opponents

By Michael Solomon Sports Editor

The Miami University women’s volleyball team came into practice on the first day, August 8, with new faces, a new attitude and a new spirit. After a 12-21 year in 2010, the Red and White are confident that they can improve, challenge for a Mid-American Conference title and make the NCAA Tournament.

“We always set challenging yet attainable goals as a team,” said junior outside hitter Lisa Treadway. “Our goal is to win the MAC regular season and tournament title. We also expect NCAA Tournament wins.”

Although the team lost Michelle Metzler to graduation last spring and senior outside hitter Colleen Loftus to an injury suffered during training camp, the squad has the talent and depth to improve rapidly from a season ago and achieve the goals they set. Through the first weeks of practice, Head Coach Carolyn Condit already believes there is a difference between this year’s team and last year’s squad.

“I like the energy of the team and the improved attacking of most of our hitters,”

Condit said. “We are a better serving team and our defense is more solid. We are still finding our passing game, but this part of the game takes a little more time. Most importantly, our game intelligence and movement of blockers is highly improved.”

“The competitive environment is strong, yet they are a very close knit team that will always pull for each other.”

CArolyn condit

HEAD COACH

The Red and White lost only two seniors last year, so most of the team is back this season for Coach Condit, including Treadway, senior outside hitter Jenn Caylor, senior middle hitter Cassie Farrell, junior setter Amy Kendall, senior outside hitter Amy Raseman and sophomore Jackie Lang. There are some new faces joining the ’Hawks this season and they figure to play a significant role on the

Treadwell era kicks off

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO THE MIAMI STUDENT

Junior quarterback Zac Dysert scrambles away from the defense during training camp. Dysert and the RedHawks are gearing up for their September 3 opener at Missouri.

By JM Rieger Staff Writer

After becoming the first program in college football history to go from double-digit losses to double-digit wins in consecutive seasons, the Miami University football team is looking to carry last year’s momentum into this season.

Incoming Head Coach and Miami alum Don Treadwell, formerly the Offensive Coordinator at Michigan State University, will face high expectations this season after being selected by the Mid-American Conference (MAC) Football Preseason Poll to win the MAC East Division.

The players have adapted very well to the team’s third coaching change in four years and have bought into Treadwell’s coaching philosophy.

“It’s always hard to have a coaching change,” redshirt senior wide receiver Chris Givens said. “Guys have adapted well and like the philosophy and schemes that [Treadwell] is bringing with him. It is always good to have a Miamian and a former Miami football player because you can relate his stories and experiences with your own.”

The nation’s most improved team will face another tough non-conference schedule this year, with games at University of Missouri and at the University of Minnesota to start the season, as well as a home contest against the Black Knights of Army.

However, the RedHawks’ toughest matchups may come at the end of the year with two games at Temple University and at Ohio University, which may once again determine who takes the MAC East crown and ends up in Detroit in December.

This year also marks the first time since the 2007 season that Miami will not face a Southeastern Conference (SEC) opponent to start the year.

Despite this, the Red and White are

focused on continuing their success from last year, after winning their first Mid-American Conference (MAC) Title since 2003 and reaching their first bowl game since 2004.

“All games [on our schedule] are tough,” Givens said. “We are focusing on taking it one game at a time.”

Givens is one of 17 returning starters for the RedHawks this season and played a big role in developing Miami’s dynamic passing attack that finished 32nd in the nation last year. Redshirt junior quarterback Zac Dysert and redshirt sophomore quarterback Austin Boucher both return as well, in addition to redshirt junior wide receiver Andy Cruse and sophomore wide out Nick Harwell, who was named to the 2011 Biletnikoff Award Watch List, an award given annually to the nation’s best wide receiver.

Harwell emerged as one of the premier wide receivers in the MAC last season, catching 64 passes for 871 yards and six touchdowns, almost all of which came during the final nine games of the 2010 season. Meanwhile, Givens and Cruse combined for 51 receptions and over 700 yards last year.

The RedHawks will rely heavily on their receiving corps in 2011 after their second-leading rusher from a season ago, Tracy Woods, was officially released from the team back in June. Woods was expected to start this season at tailback following the departure of senior running back Thomas Merriweather, but now the Red and White will look to a plethora of players to carry the rock, including redshirt sophomore running back Erik Finklea, who was moved from defense to running back this summer.

In addition, quarterback Zac Dysert was named the starter last week, ending the quarterback controversy that arose after Boucher’s stellar play at the end

of last year when Dysert was knocked out with what turned out to be a season-ending injury.

On the defensive side of the ball, the Red and White will look to solidify its secondary that allowed over 210 yards per game through the air last year. The front seven for the RedHawks will once again be the heart and soul of the defense, led by junior defensive lineman and returning captain Austin Brown, as well as by the team’s two leading tacklers from a year ago, redshirt senior linebacker Jerrell Wedge and junior linebacker Evan Harris.

The nation’s 28th-ranked defense from last season will once again look to use its quick linebackers and defensive linemen to pres-

“Guys have adapted well and like the philosophy and schemes that Treadwell is bringing with him.”

CHRIS GIVENS

SENIOR WIDE RECEIVER

sure the quarterback, a strategy that led to them racking up 35 sacks a season ago.

“We have a solid depth chart and a solid two-deep lineup,” redshirt sophomore defensive lineman Kelvin Jackson said. “We are worried about executing the plays and being sound at our positions.

The veterans have been very good in coaching up the younger guys.

That’s the luxury of having [veteran] starters like that.”

Miami kicks off their season at 12 p.m. Saturday, September 3 at the University of Missouri.

SEASON OPENER: 12 p.m. Saturday SEPT. 3 AT UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI court this year. Some of the rookies include outside hitter Sarah Chaney, Tori Clifford, Jenny Ingle and Meg Riley.

Miami opens the season this weekend at the Quality Inn/ASICS Classic in Terre Haute, Ind., against Coppin State University, Eastern Illinois University, Indiana State University and Chicago

State University.

“Going into this season, I sense many athletes who want to prove themselves and earn a starting role,” said Condit.

“The competitive environment is strong, yet they are a very close knit team that will always pull for each other. I hope this amazing chemistry will help give us confidence

and carry us a long way. Going into this tournament, we want to come home with three or four wins, hopefully four if we serve and pass well. We are capable of this.”

Despite a 5-11 conference record a year ago, the Red and White were picked to finish second in the MAC East Preseason Volleyball Poll.

The ’Hawks were picked behind Ohio University, with the University of Akron close behind Miami in third. Farrell was picked to the All-MAC East Division Preseason Team.

The Red and White tip off their 2011 campaign against Coppin State 9:30 a.m. Friday.