The Miami Student Oldest university newspaper in the United States, established 1826
VOLUME 138 NO. 1
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
MIAMI UNIVERSITY OXFORD, OHIO
In 1976, The Miami Student reported a possible housing crunch was adverted after a number of upperclassmen cancelled their housing plans to move off campus. The overflow problem arose as a result of a national trend of students moving on-campus because of a tough economy.
CAMPUS
MU avoids housing shortage
By Hope Holmberg Campus Editor
Immense improvements were implemented by Miami University over the summer in response to the student overflow that caused problems last year, according to Lucinda Coveney, director of housing contracts and meal plans. The improvements were made in Hepburn, Havighurst and Wilson halls. No barracks style housing exists for anyone this year because the university has done a lot of work in temporary housing spaces, making them both nicer and more comfortable, she said. “We have been working really, really hard to make sure everyone is comfortable,” Coveney said. According to Coveney, all first- and second-year students are assigned to a regular room at this time. For now, there are only five students living in temporary housing, who are transfer students and students who were late to confirm they were living on campus. They are all male students living in Hepburn Hall. “We know that we will have them out within the first week,” Coveney said.
wSee HOUSING, page 3
Greeks receive new rules By Noëlle Bernard and Courtney Day For The Miami Student
The Miami University Greek community gathered in Millett Hall Sunday night to go over changes that will be made in the Greek system as a result of events that made national headlines over the summer. Student conduct violations at the chapters’ spring formals resulted in suspension of two Miami sororities and probation of a third sorority and brought negative attention to the Greek community at Miami. Headlines like “Sorority girls gone wild” (The Washington Times) and “Sorority at Miami University of Ohio accused of drunken debauchery at Underground Railroad museum” (NY Daily News) have left students, alumni and administrators concerned that Miami is at what Miami alumna and university trustee Sharon Mitchell called a crossroads. In response to the crossroads, Miami formed a new task force charged with implementing new and consistent behavioral standards for fraternities and sororities that the administration hopes will curtail future incidents. The group consists of Greek and non-Greek students, faculty, staff, alumni and community members who came together to work toward combating these issues. The task force spent the summer discussing the challenges the community faces and
ERIN KILLINGER The Miami Student
Headlines across the country drew attention to the Miami Greek community and sorority spring formals. creating changes to the existing risk management policy. They based these changes on what is done at other universities as well as on recommendations of students, administrators and alumni. The changes will be implemented as a three-year pilot policy and will be assessed
for effectiveness. One change is a clarification of what is considered a Greek event. According to junior Annie Policastro, a member of Gamma Phi Beta, anything posted on Facebook or sent over a listserv is considered an event and all chapter events
must be registered. As part of the new risk management policy, security will be present at events and both the title and definition of the sober monitor has changed. Sober moni-
wSee GREEK, page 9
CAMPUS
Student employees in dining halls lose meal benefit By Courtney Day and Mary Kate Linehan
with several other changes started by Miami’s Leveraging Efficiencies and Aligning Needs (LEAN) Program. “This is a program that we have been working on for about a year and it’s all about having a lot of meetings and discussions and the Blackboard site for our staff to help us identify ways of reducing cost,” said Pete Miller, associate vice president for auxiliaries for Housing, Dining and Guest Services.
For The Miami Student
For Miami University student employees, there’s no such thing as a free meal anymore. Prior to this semester, student employees received a free meal with each four hour shift at on-campus dining hall jobs. The free meal benefit was cut beginning Aug. 14 in an attempt to reduce the operating cost for food services along
wSee EMPLOYMENT, page 9
Miami first-years hit by car Around 2 p.m. Monday, Miami University first-year Kaila Sowards, 29, was driving westbound on Ohio Route 73 when she struck two first-year male students walking in the crosswalk. Both students were treated and released from McCullough-Hyde Memorial Hospital following the incident. Sowards was charged with failure to yield to pedestrians in the crosswalk.
SAMANTHA LUDINGTON The Miami Student
Junior Holly Farley serves junior Bobby O’Brien Monday afternoon at Bell Tower. Farley is one of many student employees who will no longer receive a free meal when she works in an attempt to cut costs.
THE
INSIDESCOOP KEEP ON TRUCKIN’
Oxford offers opportunities for students to prepare for graduate school.
SEASON FOR GIVING The For Love and Honor campaign receives donations from graduates.
CAMPUS, page 2
HELLO 8 A.M.
Miami follows up on initiatives to curb alcohol consumption.
CAMPUS, page 2
Wed
82 q 61 p
CAMPUS, page 2
MORNING MIMOSAS
Morning Sun Café expands and obtains a liquor license.
COMMUNITY, page 4
WIDENING THE GAP
Disparities in Ohio teacher salaries continue to grow.
COMMUNITY, page 4
Thu
82 q 54 p
WIN A
COUPON good for a
$1 Sandwich from SoHi The Miami Student is co-sponsoring a contest with SoHi Grilled Sandwiches! Over the next five weeks, search throughout The Miami Student for your chance to win a coupon for $1 sandwiches from SoHi.
Fri
75 q 51 p
ONLY
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WWW.MIAMISTUDENT.NET McMILLAN’S MUSING
Miami senior Chris McMillan keeps a blog of his study abroad experience in Geneva, Switzerland.
SPORTS GALORE Check out the sports section online for previews, features and columns on field hockey, volleyball and golf.
LEADERSHAPE VIDEO Before classes began, student leaders headed out on a retreat to build their experiences. Check out photos and video.