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
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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.
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Campus
Tuesday
August 24, 2010
Editors Courtney Day Hope Holmberg Amanda Seitz campus@miamistudent.net
News MU tries to curb alcohol use BRIEFS By Kristen Grace Senior Staff Writer
award Grants support new technology park The Miami Heritage Technology Park (MHTP) has been awarded $3.5 million in funding to enhance development. The MHTP is supported by the Oxford Community Improvement Corporation. Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland said the funding would allow Miami University to research in collaboration with other sustainable businesses. The technology park hopes to attract businesses who will provide internship opportunities for students as well as companies who will boost the Oxford economy. The MHTP project is a part of the Third Frontier Project, which works to increase economic development in Ohio. Since planning for the park started in 2005, it has been awarded $135 million in grants and $198 million in private funding.
events Theatre, music try outs begin for non-majors All Miami University students are welcome to audition for the music ensemble and theatre production, regardless of their major. Students participating in a music ensemble can earn up to two credit hours. Earning a minor in music performance is also a possibility. Students are also encouraged to audition for a theatre production. Auditions for the fall productions of Game On, A Song for Coretta and Art will take place on Wednesday and Thursday, August 25 and 26. Interested students can obtain more information at the open house at 6 p.m. Tuesday in the Gates-Abegglen Theatre/Center for Performing Arts. A cookout will follow the open house on the Maple Street plaza of the Center for Performing Arts. Students who are interested in the technical elements of production can sign up from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Aug. 31 in Studio 88 Theatre.
fyi Poetry group offers prizes for writing contest The Greater Cincinnati Writer’s League (GCWL), a 79-year-old poetry writers group, is sponsoring a poetry contest for area poets. Anyone over 18 years of age can submit up to three poems for the contest. The entry fee is $3 per poem and there is a 50-line limit for each piece. Prizes will be one year free membership to GCWL and $50 for first prize, $25 for second prize and $10 for third prize. Writers should submit two typewritten copies of each poem, one with name and address and one without, to GCWL, c/o 10450 Lochcrest Dr., Cincinnati, Ohio 45231. Poems must be received by Nov. 1. For information, poets may call (513) 321-6789.
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There have been a number of changes on Miami University’s campus in the past few years to prevent students from abusing alcohol. The most notable are the revised class schedules, the new two-year housing requirement and the changes to student code of conduct policies that were instated last year. Some of these changes resulted after a number of suggestions were made by former Miami president James Garland’s alcohol task force that was created over four years ago. After completing a campus-wide survey, suggestions were presented to the university to combat unsafe and illegal drinking habits on canpus and around Miami.
One suggestion made by the task force was the requirement for first- and second-year students to live on campus. Last year was the first year this was a university rule, but Mike O’Neal, director of second year programs, said the task force’s suggestion was not the driving force behind the decision. “The program is not created specifically to solve our alcohol problem on campus,” O’Neal said. He said it is intended to provide further guidance for sophomores because most administrative and academic assistance is aimed solely at first-years. According to Gail Walenga, assistant vice president of Student Affairs, a number of suggestions made by the task force
involved providing further alcohol education to students, faculty and staff. “It would be better if those of us who interact with students were able to identify their risky behavior,” Walenga said. Currently, outside of specific organizations, there is no alcohol education for the general student population beyond the AlcoholEdu program that is required for every freshman student during their first semester, Walenga said. She said the potential for continued education to be offered to second-year students on campus may help to deter students from engaging in high-risk drinking. “I think it’s better to get students to understand that yes, we know you’re going to drink,” Walenga said. “If you’re going
to drink, do it safely.” Another suggestion made by the Garland alcohol task force was intense support for the Armstrong Student Center. “This would give students another focus,” Walenga said. She said the university knows there are students on and off campus who look for non-alcoholic events to participate in and the new student center would allow a “focal point for these kinds of activities.” “The student center would allow for more alternative spaces and more planning of events that are non-alcoholic related,” Walenga said. Class times were also changed in the 2010 spring semester. As suggested by the task force,
wSee Task Force, page 8
Love and Honor campaign donations double in ‘10 By Matt Levy For The Miami Student
Miami University’s For Love and Honor campaign, the $500 million fundraising initiative for the university, is soon set to reach $388 million. The campaign, which started January 2002, has successfully received $387 million in donations. The money is being raised to provide more general support to the university. “I think the campaign will mostly benefit our students, so that could be everything like being able to provide additional scholarship and scholarship support (or) more support for faculty and staff members,” campaign director Brad Bundy said. Bundy said newer projects have benefitted from the campaign. “Private fundraising and the campaign have benefitted facilities like the new student center, Yager stadium, (and the) hockey arena,” Bundy said. The new Armstrong Student Center is slated to receive $50 million from the campaign, while university-wide initiatives, meaning support for scholarships, faculty and facilities, are to receive $222.5 million. Kevin Marks, senior director of development and campaign services, said donations to Miami’s Annual Fund saw a large increase in giving recently. “During the 2010 (fiscal year), Miami secured seven campaign commitments of $1 million or more, totaling $24.3 million,” Marks said. “During the 2009 (fiscal year), there were four commitments of $1 million or more, totaling
$6 million.” Campaign commitments in 2010 have doubled compared to 2009, with $42.5 million committed this fiscal year compared to $21.1 million in the 2009 fiscal year. Marks said alumni are an integral source of donations, donating $255 million of the $387 million raised so far. Marks also said the class of 2009 donated a total of $90,395. According to Bundy, two-thirds of the donations have been given to the university’s endowment, with the remaining one-third classified as expendable gifts. Expendable gifts allow the university to immediately invest some of the money back into itself, sometimes being spent according to the donors’ wishes, but students remain the ultimate
priority recpients of the money. Junior Sam Mack plans to donate to the university after graduation, but wants to make sure he can afford it first. “I wouldn’t donate immediately, but once I find a steady job I’d be more than likely to donate then,” Mack said. Mack said the university’s priorities with the donations should be facilities and universitywide initiatives. “It should be anything that would aid the students, whether it be making more scholarships available, renovating dorms or building new ones or even money being directed toward the new student center,” Mack said. “I feel Miami sometimes puts too much money into aesthetic purposes.”
Graphic courtesy of Kevin Marks and the Office of Development
Miami University Love and Honor Campaign Fundraising from 2006 to 2010
Miami offers grad school exam assistance elsewhere By Hope Holmberg Campus Editor
When it comes to looking at graduate schools, some Miami University students may need some guidance in finding a school that is right for them. They may also want some assistance with studying for the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). Lisa Farthing, assistant director of Career Services and Development Courses, said Career Services has books and materials available in their resource center for students who plan on attending graduate school. “Students can make an appointment, then come in and talk to one of our advisers,” she said. Farthing said every student has different needs and, through discussion, the staff at Career Services can help them identify what kind of graduate program is best for them. She said in a typical meeting, the advisers help students figure out what specific type of graduate program they want to pursue and discuss what type of program fits their geographical preferences. “Part of what we do with students in advising is give them resources and take them through a process of ‘How do you look at this need that you have?’” she said. “Then, they have to go off and do their own research, reflection and soul searching,” At the meeting, advisers may also discuss what work experience or internships the student has and who the student should choose as their references, Farthing said. In terms of preparing for the GRE, Farthing said students can take Kaplan preparatory classes in Oxford or take Princeton Review classes online. According to Kristen Hill, a staff member at Career Connection at Ohio State University (OSU), her office also refers students to both Kaplan and Princeton Review and does not offer classes through OSU. Senior Caitlin Tepe took a Kaplan preparatory class this summer. Tepe said the preparation class helped raise her score and that she would definitely recommend it to anyone taking the GRE. Lee Weiss, director of GRE programs at Kaplan, said the company offers an array of options for students in Oxford who need help preparing for the GRE. Weiss said students can choose which type of class is right for them.
Miami students have the option of taking either a class or one-on-one tutoring at the Kaplan branch in Oxford. Weiss said private tutoring is the most customized experience for students who have specific weaknesses or strengths. However, according to Weiss, Kaplan’s GRE Advantage is the most popular option the company offers. Intended for students who need to prepare for the GRE but have trouble finding time to do so, the class takes place online, allowing students to take it regardless of their location. “Wherever you are, you can have access to our best teachers,” Weiss said. According to Weiss, the GRE is always the first or second most important factor that is considered when a student applies for graduate school. He said two or three months of preparing for the GRE can make a difference in a student’s score, giving them more choices when it comes time to choose a graduate program. Boston College (BC) offers a continuing education program through the nursing school, which offers preparation classes for the GRE, Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) and Law School Admission Test (LSAT), said Derek Cameron, a Career Services staff member at Boston College. Unlike Miami, students have the option of taking classes through the college at BC. Cameron said while some students choose to take preparation courses with programs such as Kaplan, Boston College offers a more favorable price break. “It’s on campus, so students don’t have to go too far to take the course,” he said. Sue Green, a Career Services staff member at Denison University, said both Kaplan and The Princeton Review come to campus to teach LSAT and GRE preparation courses. “All we do is supply them with a room,” she said. According to Weiss, getting into graduate school is very competitive. However, he said one way students can differentiate themselves is through the GRE. Miami students can find preparation options at both http://www. princetonreview.com/ and http://www.kaplan.com/pages/default.aspx.
Campus
THE MIAMI STUDENT
TUESDAY, AUGUST 24, 2010 ♦ 3
Website ranks student organizations, professors as liberal By Natalie McKerjee Senior Staff Writer
A recent survey conducted by CampusReform.org assessed the political climate of Miami University and disclosed insight regarding the university’s tendencies in the realm of political preferences. According to Bryan Bernys, national director of CampusReform.org, a website dedicated to providing resources for conservative activists against leftist bias on college campuses, Miami was chosen to be included in this survey based on its ranking of 78 in the U.S. News and World Report Top 100 Colleges in the Nation. “We considered those rankings as credible and decided to focus on those schools,” Bernys said. “We took the entire list and went through every school.” Bernys said there are assumptions that most colleges are more liberal, and in certain aspects of the political atmosphere Miami proved this theory. “Of all the faculty members who made political donations, 95 percent gave to Democratic candidates and 5 percent donated to Republican candidates,” Bernys said. Miami senior Mandi Martanovic is not surprised by the results of the survey. “Students in our generation are generally stereotyped as liberal as are professors of universities,” Martanovic said. According to Martanovic, while there are assumptions regarding students and faculty associated with universities as primarily liberal, Miami can be easily interpreted as a conservative school. “That surprises me,” junior Alex Josephs said. “I know for the presidential campaign our county went red even with the school, but that still surprises me.” According to Bernys, campaign finance data was collected from The Huffington Post and revealed that out of 70 faculty members who donated to the 2008 presidential candidates, 65 donated to the Democratic candidate and five donated to the
Republican candidate. Another component of Miami’s political climate that was examined for the survey was the amount of student groups who were politically affiliated. “The student groups were considerably more balanced and not as extreme,” Bernys said. “They resembled many of the other schools who were surveyed.” According to Bernys, out of the 16 political student groups at Miami, nine were more liberal leaning. These groups included the Association for Women Students, College
Democrats, Haven: Queer Graduate Alliance, Muslim Students Association, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, National Association of Environmental Professionals, Pro-Choice Miami and Students for Peace and Social Justice. Bernys said seven of the groups were right-leaning. These groups included College Libertarians, College Republicans, Intercollegiate Students Institute of Miami, Pistol/Rifle Teams, Students for Israel Miami, Students for Life MU and Young Americans for Liberty.
Perusing posters
SAMANTHA LUDINGTON | The Miami Student
Students browse posters at the Shriver Center on Monday to decorate their walls.
HOUSING continued from page 1
According to Coveney, more privacy and storage has been provided in temporary spaces, making it a much more comfortable living environment. “It’s a very temporary situation,” said Larry Fink, assistant vice president of housing and auxiliaries. There are currently 357 more students confirmed for on-campus housing than last year at this same time, Coveney said. Although the number of students in housing is about 100 more than had been forecasted, there was time to plan for the increase, she said. According to Fink, planning for the summer improvements began over a year ago because they were aware that the size of the first-year class would increase. “It was careful planning,” Fink said. “It’s all about planning.” Fink said the massive improvements that were made in order to assure all first-years and sophomores had a permanent room required a lot of work.
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“It’s like a giant puzzle,” he said. Coveney said the housing is generally split about 50 percent for first-year students and 50 percent for upperclassmen. There are currently 15 upper-class residence halls, 13 first-year halls and 7 mixed halls, she said. Students also have the option of living in Heritage Commons. Coveney said the university wants to be able to offer third- and fourth-year students the ability to select their rooms early and have some priority. Fink said housing these students requires a formula that is worked through each year, depending on the changing size of the first-year class. According to Tony Conrad, the first-year adviser in Havighurst Hall, ten additional rooms were created in the basement of the hall over the summer by improving space that was not being utilized in the basement. According to Fink, the final cost for the improvements made in Havighurst was $275,000 and improvements in Hepburn totaled less than $12,000. The project at Havighurst was a comprehensive construction project that involved an architect and contractors, Fink said. Consisting of a mix of singles and doubles, the rooms have created an additional permanent corridor. “They are all nice, regular student rooms,”
Coveney said. In case overflow housing becomes a necessity, three additional spacious rooms were improved in the basement of Havighurst as well. A maximum of four students will live in each room, Fink said. The new housing in Havighurst, where there is complete privacy, will be used by women. However, since there is not currently a need for the rooms, these temporary living spaces are not being used, Fink said. Coveney said some rooms that had been used as offices in Wilson Hall were also re-claimed and made into rooms over one summer. According to Fink, improvements to Hepburn reduced the capacity of the temporary space from 34 to 14 beds. Seven “semi-private” rooms in that space were also created through the placement of large pieces of furniture, he said. According to Fink, each space includes a desk, locking storage cabinet, individual closet and dresser. Electrical upgrades enable the lighting in each space to be switched on and off individually. “We’ve really created this very comfortable situation in there,” Fink said. Each living space includes a bunk bed, two desks, a locking file cabinet and individually controlled lighting, Fink said.
According to Fink, on-floor study lounges that were previously student rooms in several residence halls were converted back into student rooms this year. The suite that formerly belonged to Pi Beta Phi in Minnich Hall has also been prepared as a living space. Since it was an open space for this year, the room was furnished in case it needs to be used as backup housing for women, Coveney said. The space can also be used in unexpected situations that may occur or as university break housing for student teachers or international students. In 2006, 200 single dormitory rooms opened up across campus. According to Coveney, the number of singles offered has not changed since then. With first-year students, singles are not highly demanded, which leaves them empty in firstyear halls, she said. Coveney said although those singles are offered to upperclassmen, they do not always want to live in a hall with first-year students. According to Fink, the temporary housing at Hepburn can also be used for special circumstances, such as inclement weather for the staff members who are responsible for things like snow removal.
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Tuesday
August 24, 2010
Community
Editors Stephen Bell Kelsey Bishop community@miamistudent.net
Pay gaps affect Ohio teachers By Stephen Bell Community Editor
Police find male beaten, unconscious At 4 a.m. Saturday, officers found a male lying unconscious on the ground near 123 E. Church St. Members of the life squad reportedly found multiple facial contusions, a deep cut on the left side of his face, lacerations in his mouth and abrasions on his knees and legs allegedly from being dragged across the street. A caller reportedly told police he had heard yelling outside his home and saw several males attacking the unconscious victim before he was knocked out and dragged from near 126 E. Church St. to 123 E. Church St. Officers reportedly found a purse in the yard at 126 E. Church St. and contacted its owner. The female reportedly told police she had been at 126 E. Church St. when the male came to the door looking for a female he believed lived there. When she told him the female he was looking for did not live there, he reportedly shoved her out of the way and struck her in the face. After he struck her, males on the sidewalk near the house reportedly assaulted the male. Police are continuing to investigate the incident.
Student urinates on church At around 1 a.m. Friday, officers on bike patrol reportedly observed a male, later identified as Miami University sophomore Jacob Pleban, staggering in the alley behind Oxford United Methodist Church. According to police reports, the officer followed Pleban, 19, to the corridor leading to the church’s back door where he proceeded to urinate on the building. The officer reportedly identified himself as police and asked if the male knew he was urinating on the Methodist church. According to police reports, it was apparent Pleban did not know what he was doing, but he replied, “I’m Catholic.” Pleban reportedly had the odor of an alcoholic beverage on his breath, wobbled on his feet and slurred his words. Pleban was charged with public urination, disorderly conduct and underage intoxication.
Salaries for Ohio teachers vary greatly across the state, according to a recent list published by Ohio Schools Magazine. While teachers in some regions of Ohio earn upwards of $90,000 per year, others barely top $20,000, figures that could prove alarming given the financial predicament local school districts face. Scott Blake, press secretary for the Ohio Department of Education, acknowledges the pay disparity among teachers in Ohio; however, he said the state plays little role in determining teachers’ salaries. “There is a state law that sets out a minimum salary level,” Blake said. “But (districts) can go above and beyond as they see necessary.” Aside from adhering to a minimum salary level, each district determines its own level of compensation, a common misunderstanding, according to Blake. “The Department of Education has no authority in setting teachers’ salaries in any individual district,” Blake said. “Unions negotiate the salary schedule with their boards…but as the Department of Education, we don’t determine (salary levels).” While districts may determine individual salary levels, other factors influence the pay scale for Ohio’s teachers. Scott Ebright, deputy director of communication services for the Ohio School Boards Association, said while there is a minimum salary of around $22,302, cost of living and other such factors help determine how much educators are paid in a given district. A higher cost of living usually boils down to more tax dollars, giving districts the ability to pay higher salaries. “Each board of education will have a negotiation with the union representing their district to set the salary schedule,” Ebright said. “Those
unions are the Ohio Education Association and the Ohio Federation of Teachers.” Ebright said school districts fall into two categories, urban and high performing suburban districts, whereby external factors influence a community’s ability to pay teachers’ salaries. “In areas of high unemployment, the cost of living is less and there is less tax revenue coming in,” Ebright said. “It all boils down to economics and what the community can afford.” As mass layoffs and budget cuts plague local school districts, education majors at Miami University are cautious about what the future holds for teachers in Ohio. Kaely Phillips, a sophomore majoring in education, is troubled by the large disparity in teachers’ salaries. “It is off-putting to see that some educators make so much while others make next to nothing,” Phillips said. “All educators face similar obstacles and they should be paid accordingly.” However, Ebright said teachers have the ability to move up the pay scale based on a state law mandating 12 steps that increase based on longevity, experience and education. “If you can imagine, across the top of the spreadsheet you have steps,” Ebright said. “The first would be 0, the next a Bachelor’s degree, Master’s degree, et cetera. A brand new teacher starts out at a BA (Bachelor’s) 0, the base salary. As you go each year, you gain a year of experience and a year of salary over the base.” While schools will often pay a teacher to further their education, Ebright said a district’s ability to pay will attract the best and brightest educators, leading some to believe an inequality exists. Ultimately, Ebright said asking why some teachers make more than others is a very simple question with no simple answer. To view contracts of the state or salary schedules, visit http://www.erb.state.oh.us.
Duke Energy attempts to lower tax obligation By Leslie Scott
more than what we owe,” McKinney said. Additionally, Hoffmann said a good way for people to look at the situation is to compare it to Duke Energy tried to receive an appeal on their own personal lives. She said if the value of their public utility property tax this summer. your house has increased, then you would expect If the appeal is approved, to get more money in return. Duke Energy will see a deTypically, people would see crease in their taxes and a “Everyone else is cutting a decrease in the amount of subsequent domino effect on taxes they owe. Duke is tryback because the local entities. ing to do the same thing. economy is in a rough “A public utility property “We are asking the taxatax is a tax on a business’ place, so it makes sense tion board to take another utilities, equipment and ma- thatDukeEnergyisdoing look at our tangible personal chinery,” said Mike McKHoffmann said. the same. We shouldn’t property,” inney, media representative “It is not a tax on our land, for the Ohio Department make them the bad guys but on our equipment such for doing what the rest of as poles, wires and other of Taxation. According to McKinney, the country is doing.” machinery. We believe that it is extremely (over Duke Energy is a taxpayer valued) and are hoping the just like everybody else. ERICA NORMAN taxation board will grant us Pat Hoffmann, commuMIAMI UNIVERSITY JUNIOR this audit.” nications manager for Duke If Duke Energy wins Energy, agreed with McKinney and explained the comthe appeal, school districts pany is more than willing to do its part. stand to be affected. “We are happy to pay our fair share of taxes “Duke pays taxes to the county and then like everyone else, but we don’t want to pay the county distributes that money towards Staff Writer
entities including school districts,” Hoffmann said. “We support schools and volunteer a lot, but we don’t want to pay more than our fair share. The economy is bad for everyone right now.” According to McKinney, it is not the schools that are affected, but the school districts as a whole. Either way, a decrease on Duke’s taxes will trigger a domino effect that would leave less money for surrounding counties. Furthermore, he said if there is a refund from personal tax, that money will be debited from those who received revenue from those services. Ultimately, if Duke were to pay less on their taxes, Butler County would have to allot less money to local entities. Erica Norman, a Miami University junior, said a tough fiscal environment has forced many businesses to make changes in order to stay afloat. “Everyone else is cutting back because the economy is in a rough place, so it makes sense that Duke Energy is doing the same,” Norman said. “We shouldn’t make them the bad guys for doing what the rest of the country is doing.”
Morning Sun Café and Bakery to expand, serve alcohol By Hunter Stenback Senior Staff Writer
In time for the new school year, Morning Sun Café and Bakery has expanded to offer a more complete dining experience for students and residents alike. According to Morning Sun manager Nathan Uhl, the restaurant has nearly doubled in capacity and has added alcohol to the menu after obtaining a liquor license from the city. The restaurant is now serving Bloody Marys and mimosas. Uhl said he expects the addition of a full bar and expanded hours by the beginning of September. “Right now we’re only open 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., but the new liquor license allows us to stay open as late as 2:30 a.m.,” Uhl said. “When we introduce the new hours we will at least be open 7 a.m. to 11:00 p.m., and if people are drinking we are allowed, and will, stay open later.” Uhl said Morning Sun is constantly looking to improve the menu and a new one was recently released. “We change our menus twice a year already, so we just added a fall 2010 menu that started a few weeks ago,” Uhl said. Once the new hours go into effect in September, Uhl said the restaurant plans to offer some food along with the bar service, but will most likely have a smaller menu. “In the evenings we won’t have a full menu,
SAMANTHA LUDINGTON
The Miami Student
Seniors Vince Mancuso and Ben Stockwell and manager Nathan Uhl dine at the expanding restaurant Monday. The patrons call themselves “regulars” of Morning Sun. but we’ll have some of our more popular items available to go with the drinks,” Uhl said. Miami University junior Matt McCandless said because he is not of drinking age, the new bar won’t affect him, but he is interested in trying out the new menu. “Obviously to me the addition of a bar won’t matter for a while, but I’ve enjoyed Morning Sun for breakfast and would be interested to check out their new menu,” he said.
Senior Frank Ebetino is eagerly awaiting Morning Sun as a potential new late night hang out with friends. “Adding another bar uptown that is somewhat off the regular bar path sounds like a great place for a low-key night,” Ebetino said. “Sometimes it’s nice to go out without having to deal with the crowds a lot of the bars in Oxford have.” Uhl said the restaurant is available for rent for private parties.
THE MIAMI STUDENT
TUESDAY, AUGUST 24, 2010 ♦ 5
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6
Features
Tuesday
August 24, 2010
Editor Amelia Carpenter features@miamistudent.net
By Catherine Couretas Editor in Chief
Fewer and fewer people are buying CDs anymore. Whether it’s because they’re illegally downloading songs, paying for them through iTunes or just listening through a free Pandora station, people like to listen to music selectively. They don’t want an artist’s whole CD because they might only like a few of the songs. But how about compilations, when every song is by a different artist? And no, I’m not talking about those “Now” CDs. What are they on, 40 by now? Albums like Rockin’ Romance 2, a follow-up to the original Rockin’ Romance released in 2009, was released June 15, and each featured artist has their own story.
“People compare us a lot to like Third Eye Blind and kind of a late 90s kind of thing.” - Andy Albert Andy Albert, lead vocalist for Holiday Parade, loves the song his band got to cover for the album: “Slide,” by the Goo Goo Dolls. “It’s been one of my favorite songs since like 7th grade,” Albert said. “I always thought this song would be a great fit for our sound and our style and we went with it and it turned out great.” Holiday Parade, like many bands, started in Albert’s college dorm room. “I had been writing songs forever, high school, middle school,” Albert said. “I wrote this collection of songs that I felt really strong about. So I called one of my old friends who had a studio and recorded a 10-song full-length.” After that, Albert said the band posted it on MySpace and gained ground there, specifically through a promotion from Verizon Wireless. Their songs began to play on local radio stations not long after. “One thing led to another and we started playing shows as a band together and kept making records,” Albert said. One of Albert’s most recent memories was the band’s two-week trip to Japan in the spring. “It’s very different,” Albert said. “Their customs and cultures are super different over there. Everyone is incredibly respectful and it’s crazy. It was very eye-opening going over there and seeing how they do shows.” As for what’s next, Albert said new music is in the works. There isn’t a plan for it, but he said recording and touring afterwards, this fall or so, would be ideal.
done. Breathe Electric is the only unsigned band to have played all of the 2010 Vans Warped Tour. “It’s incredible,” Harris said. “We’re so thankful to be given the opportunity to do all of Warped. We played two shows (at Warped) last year and we never dreamed we would have been able to get on the entire tour this summer unsigned.” Breathe Electric’s most recent album, Lovestruck, was also released June 15. Harris said the album was recorded at two different times, half about seven months ago and the other half only a couple of months ago. “On my last album it was kind of I didn’t know which way to go,” Harris said. “Half the songs are real electronic and the other are more organic, full band. For this album, I think I kind of found the middle ground, the real Breathe Electric sound, if you could call it that.” This fall, Breathe Electric will be touring across the country again, hitting the Attic in Dayton with Jonny Craig Sept. 8.
“We realized that we didn’t know anything about band or orchestra instruments whatsoever.” - Rachel Taylor Rachel Taylor didn’t think she’d end up starting a band when she began a job at an instrument rental shop for young kids. Then she met Trevor Kelly, and the two instantly bonded over their taste in music. “We kind of confided in one another and we started talking about music and we both liked really hardcore bands and metal stuff,” Taylor said. “We started talking about that and then we talked about how funny it would be if we started a band, some kind of cool acoustic project or whatever.” Taylor said the two started writing and were shocked at how well their chemistry worked. They began recording and before they knew it, He Is We had become a full touring band. He Is We covered Iyaz’s “Replay,” a song Taylor said the band uses to warm up. She said the band had envisioned a more acoustic song to be featured on Rockin’ Romance, something more like He Is We’s sound, and they were surprised to hear the other tracking added to the album during production. So what are you waiting for? Go listen.
“It’s super corny and super cheesy and not that great, I guess.” - Grant Harris That was Grant Harris’ contribution to the new Rockin’ Romance album. One might call Harris the brains of Breathe Electric, who covered “Never Gonna Give You Up” originally by Rick Astley. “I’ve always kind of weirdly liked that song a lot,” Harris said. “Rockin’ Romance, when they asked me to do a song on it, it kind of gave me that excuse to kind of go all out and have fun with it.” That’s not all he’s
Lead vocalist Grant Harris is a member of Breathe Electric, the only unsigned band to play the entire 2010 Vans Warped Tour.
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO: Catherine Couretas
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THE MIAMI STUDENT
TUESDAY, AUGUST 24, 2010 ♦ 7
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task force
Elephant in the room
continued from page 2
SAMANTHA LUDINGTON
The Miami Student
A first-year student makes herself at home in her new residence hall.
the registrar’s office increased the number of classes that include a Friday component and the number of classes that begin by 9:30 a.m., Walenga said. She said according to a University of Missouri study, students who have Friday classes are discouraged from drinking Thursday and as a result drink less over the course of the entire weekend than they would if they were to begin Thursday night. Miami senior Kelly Webb doesn’t think this particular change will make a difference. “I don’t really think it will deter alcohol abuse,” Webb said. “It will probably just result in more skipped Friday classes.” Other suggested changes that have already been put in place include longer hours at the recreation center, the banning of alcohol delivery on campus that started in July 2006 and the
enhanced monitoring of Heritage Commons. In addition, each year Walenga does an update of the original task force’s suggestions detailing what has been done and what plans are in place for the future. Walenga said some suggestions will never be carried out because they violate students’ rights, such as adding a notation on a student’s transcript for a non-academic violation. Others are just not financially plausible. These suggestions include on-campus alcohol and drug recovery housing and a “drunk tank” for students who are released from the hospital for alcohol-related problems but are not ready to be left unsupervised, Walenga said. Some suggestions, such as further alcohol education programs, have been put on hold until funding is available, Walenga said. Walenga added that the university is focusing on changes that will affect the largest number of students and have the highest possibility of being successful. “We’re trying very hard to do things that have evidence and research to support them,” Walenga said.
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THE MIAMI STUDENT
TUESDAY, AUGUST 24, 2010 ♦ 9
EMPLOYMENT continued from page 1
Miller said the employment situation due to the economy in Ohio is forcing Miami to prepare for more cost difficulties in upcoming years. “(The end of the free meal benefit) is just one thing and it’s going to take many, many, many things to continue to find ways of reducing our costs to deliver what we need to deliver,” Miller said. According to Nancy Heidtman, director of Dining and Culinary Services, dining services is working to maintain as many of the benefits for employees as
possible. Heidtman said dining halls still pay the highest wages on campus for student jobs and still offer a 20 percent bonus for students who do their jobs consistently, remain in good standing and work a minimum number of specific shifts. “It took a very long time to come to this decision,” said Karen Recker, associate director of the Dining and Culinary Support Center. She said the benefit was introduced in the past to attract and retain student employees, but, “It’s not feasible anymore for us to offer that as a benefit.” Recker said student employees are still given a free fountain drink on their breaks, a benefit not offered by other departments.
GREEK
and to take responsibility for the events that have occurred as an opportunity for the community to grow. continued from page 1 “The most important part is that Greek chapters understand tors will now be called “liaisons” that there is a shared responand they are responsible for stay- sibility for the behavior of eving on good terms with owners erybody,” Hodge said. “The of venues, third party vendors fundamental concept of brotherand others. hood and sisterhood is that we Student Body Vice President have a responsibility for each Tim Hogan said socials and non- other to make sure we don’t let alcohol events must be planned things like this happen … I see on a one-to-one ratio. All non- that as an affirmation, an afalcohol events will be on week- firmation of some of the best days and socials will be Thursday Greek ideals.” through Sunday. Barbara Jones, vice president Junior Nick of Student AfHuber, president fairs, said there “These are issues of Chi Psi and reare deeper issues campus-wide and it that need to be cently elected uncan’t be blamed on addressed that dergraduate repcertain sectors.” resentative of the recent Greek Executive Councommunity incil of National cidents may EMILY GEHR MIAMI UNIVERSITY JUNIOR Fraternities, said have provoked. the negative as“I think that pects of the comthere are broadmunity have been a focus. er changes that we need to look “People have always focused at in terms of the campus and on the negative,” Huber said. university culture,” Jones said. “I’m not going to deny that there “We need to make sure we are are negatives, but nobody has re- living up to what we have been ally stood up for us and said we known for in terms of charachad value.” ter and producing graduates Huber said the Greek com- that truly are exceptional and munity offers something successful people.” unique to Miami’s campus as According to junior Emit builds personal relationships ily Gehr, the Greek commuand provides opportunities for nity should not be the only ones individuals in areas of lead- blamed for shameful activities ership, academic excellence associated with Miami. “I feel like if you are Greek or and philanthropy. “A genuine fraternity or so- not, these issues of drinking and rority adds a tremendous amount partying are campus-wide,” Gehr of value to their members’ lives,” said. “I think the Greek commuHuber said. “We want to leave nity is under a microscope and a a positive impact on the lives lot is expected of them as they that are brought into contact … have to be ‘role models’ on cambut we don’t ever get credit for pus. These are issues campuswide and it can’t be blamed on being philanthropic.” According to Chi Psi vice certain sectors.” Some of the changes implepresident senior Tyler Johnson, the Greek system is good for the mented by the task force started before school resumed, while Miami community. “As a whole I think the others are expected to take lonGreek system does more good ger due to reviewing processes that must than harm,” go through Johnson said. “A genuine fraternity or the university. “Many fratersorority adds a tremenPresident nities and sois rorities repre- dous amount of value to Hodge confident in sent Miami in their members’ lives.” Miami’s suca good way by cess in movhelping out the NICK HUBER ing forward in surrounding MIAMI UNIVERSITY JUNIOR the direction community of becoming through phia community lanthropy and that upholds ideals of excellence other community service acts.” According to Miami Presi- and responsibility. “Miami from the very begindent David Hodge, stricter regulations will be implement- ning has emphasized a develed to prevent future incidents opment of character,” Hodge said. “I would like students to from reoccurring. “We are undergoing more re- make sure they understand that finement,” Hodge said. “What having a sense of responsibilwe will expect to see is that ity is not only to yourself and there will be more supervision of your own safety, but also to events so we can eliminate these your friends. Making sure that bad incidents from happening. I you don’t put yourselves into am encouraged because as the situations that can be dangerGreek system makes more modi- ous or disrespectful to others; fications, they will just get better this is a really important theme, respecting others and the and stronger.” Hodge urges the Greek com- community. The more that munity to remember the fun- people do this, the more damentals of the Greek system they will be safe and have a that demand honor and respect great time.”
www.miamistudent.net
10
Tuesday August 24, 2010
Opinion
Editors Thomasina Johnson Jessica Sink editorial@miamistudent.net
➤ EDITORIALS
The following pieces, written by the editorial editors, reflect the majority opinion of the editorial board.
Preparation improves on-campus living H
ousing for Miami University the housing dilemma much more students has recently been a manageable. Certainly housing is great concern. In response to crit- a topic of major contention, but icism over barracks style arrange- the board appreciates the prepaments last year to account for ration of the department and the overflow, Housing, Dining and provisions put in place to deal Guest Services (HDGS) worked with possible room shortages. to prepare for the 3,650 incom- The situation of last year was ing first-years, accommodating dealt with efficiently and everythese students with adequate one has been placed in comfortliving space. able living spaces The changes with their needs implemented insatisfied. SuggesThoughtful clude improvetions and opinments in temions were taken planning and porary housing consideration flexibility has made into spaces to make with an acceptable the housing them both nicer outcome as and more coma result. dilemma much fortable to aid Students’ needs more manageable. were those students considered who are waiting and sufficient acto be placed in a commodations permanent living were made. Howarrangement. In the event that ever, it is still imperative that housing is needed to assist with housing for students remains overflow, additional rooms were a priority. added and restructured in the Student opinions should conbasement of Havighurst Hall with tinue to be respected and the more storage and privacy options board hopes that issues concernprovided in these spaces as well. ing on-campus living will stay at The editorial board of The Mi- the forefront. ami Student commends the housIt is vital that Miami remains ing department on their work to committed to securing appropriensure adequate living arrange- ate living arrangements for those ments for students. Thoughtful students who chose to live on uniplanning and flexibility has made versity grounds.
Dining halls, employees must compromise S
tarting this fall, student em- off-campus students from seeking ployees working four con- jobs at the dining halls. secutive hours at university dinA large quantity of food from ing halls will no longer receive the dining halls is discarded afa free meal. The ter each meal. cut is an attempt Catering to the to reduce the opneeds of dining erating cost for hall employees Meal benefits for dining services. student dining hall could easily lowThe editoer the amount of employees are rial board of The wasted food. Miami Student important incentives Housing, Dinunderstands the ing and Guest for cash-strapped necessity of budServices should students. get cuts, but feels compromise with meal benefits for both the students’ student dining hall needs and the employees are budget cut deimportant incentives for cash- mands by offering a discount to strapped students. student employees who wish to Free meal cuts pose a big in- purchase food on their break. convenience for off-campus Dining halls can successfully student employees who do not follow in the footsteps of many have a meal plan. Encourag- restaurants that offer their employing off-campus students to buy ees food discounts during breaks. a meal plan is not a proactive Student employees are usually choice for students trying to working a job because they need save money. the money, and the board feels it Without the free meal bonus, is especially important that these these student employees will employees keep as much money either have to purchase food at in their pocket as possible afthe dining halls or bring some- ter working a long shift in the thing from home. This may deter dining halls.
The Miami Student Oldest university newspaper in the United States, established 1826
EDITORIAL BOARD Catherine Couretas Editor in Chief Erin Fischesser News Editor Erin Maher Managing Editor Scott Allison Online Editor Thomasina Johnson Editorial Editor Jessica Sink Editorial Editor Courtney Day Campus Editor Hope Holmberg Campus Editor
Amanda Seitz Campus Editor Stephen Bell Community Editor Kelsey Bishop Community Editor Katie Giovinale Sports Editor Amelia Carpenter Features Editor Anna Turner Amusement Editor Samantha Ludington Photo Editor Hannah Miller Art Director
JINGHANG HUANG The Miami Student
➤ LETTER
League celebrates 90 years of voting
Ninety years ago, the League of Women Voters was founded; six months before the ratification of the 19th Amendment, which gave women, finally, on August 26, 1920, the Constitutional right to vote. Today we are a grassroots organization with 850 Leagues throughout all 50 states. The League of Women Voters of Oxford has been an institution in our community for 57 years, working on such issues as voter education, affordable housing, improved health care, environmental protection and legislative redistricting. The League is strictly non-partisan, but we have always been political, advocating to affect change on national and local levels. The League continues to do what it has been trusted to do for more than 90 years: discuss the important issues, ask the difficult questions and demand accountability from government. Our members join the League because they know that whatever happens to our democracy over the next 90 years, it should be up to us, the people. The League of Women Voters is the organization where hands-on work to safeguard democracy leads to civic improvement. This year, the 90th anniversary of both the founding of the League and the ratification of the 19th Amendment, we hope you will join
us in our work. We also invite the community to join our celebration of our history at 5 p.m. August 26 with a reading on the steps of the Municipal Building of the Mayor’s proclamation of Women’s Equality Day in Oxford. More information about the League is on our website, www. oxford.oh.lwvnet.org, as well as our Facebook page.
Toni Saldivar Publicity Director League of Women Voters of Oxford saldivar@msmc.edu
Write TMS Letters must be signed with first and last names to be printed. Please send letters via e-mail to: editorial@miamistudent.net or mail to: 17 MacMillan Hall Oxford, Ohio 45056
➤ GUEST ESSAY
Miami must rise to all challenges Welcome back to Oxford and to a new academic year. The student body has a lot to be proud of as we begin this new year. U.S. News and World Report ranks our university second in the nation for commitment to undergraduate teaching, tied with Princeton and surpassed only by Dartmouth. Miami University alumnus Mike Armstrong donated the lead gift to the student center, making this transformative building a reality. Many recent graduates found jobs or went on to graduate school. We’ve got a new season of football to look forward to, a strong first-year class and another beautiful fall in Oxford. Unfortunately, not all of the recent news has been positive for our university. Miami’s competitors have had a field day with the events that unfolded last spring at the sorority formals. Nearly everyone affiliated with Miami has been shocked by the behavior displayed by students. Alumni are furious, the administration is frustrated, our professors are disappointed and many students are angered. It is clear that the events that took place near the end of last year have left Miami with a black eye. The good news is that as a student body, we have a chance to turn this situation into an opportunity to show the nation that Miami has a high caliber student body that truly is one of the best in the country. Our behavior as students is at the core of this conversation. Communities in and outside of Miami are concerned that we lack a fundamental respect for property, ourselves and the people with whom we interact. Alcohol is often blamed as the impetus for the bad decisions that students make. However, we know
that alcohol is not the sole problem. We must hold each other accountable for our actions. If we can’t help each other, then the administration has no other option but to discipline students who are not first stopped by their peers. It is important to note that these issues are not unique to just the Greek community. Other student organizations have struggled with these very same challenges. As a student body, we must take great care in the way we represent ourselves. Everything that we do reflects upon our university and the value of our degree. Eventually all of us will have to compete in the world beyond Miami. We will be competing for anything from an internship, a spot in medical school or even 30 years from now when we want that next big promotion. Our capacity to compete for these opportunities is intrinsically tied to our educational background, or in other words, the reputation of our university. Students and alumni are the people who will ultimately have the largest impact on Miami’s reputation in the future. It is up to us to continue to build upon Miami’s legacy. Everyone from our new first-year class to our seniors must play a role in that process. Let’s learn from the mistakes made last spring and prove to the nation that Miami is one of the best institutions of higher education in the United States. As Miamians we have a lot to be proud of — now let’s act like it. Love and honor. Heath Ingram STUDENT BODY PRESIDENT INGRAMHR@MUOHIO.EDU
Opinion
THE MIAMI STUDENT
TUESDAY, AUGUST 24, 2010 ♦ 11
➤ PERSPECTIVE
To Build or Not to Build? Mosque has legal right to exist
Ground Zero mosque hurtful, inconsiderate ➤ THE CHRONICALS OF CURIOSITY Chloe Esposito
had no chance of contacting our family members, I was in social studies including my mother, when rumor had it one of who we found later that the eighth graders set off a night abandoned at a train smoke bomb in the cafete- station hoping someone ria. As the whispers circu- would find her. lated and teachers sporadThat night was terically excused themselves rible. I remember going to catch a glimpse of the to the Long Island Sound, nearest TV, it was bla- staring at what used to be tantly obvious something a beautiful portrait of the was wrong. My suspi- New York City skyline: cion heightened when the black figures pressed up principal demanded an against a white sky like immediate meeting in the crooked piano keys as school’s auditorium. I they balanced on the spot thought it was just another of land surrounded by wawarning to not lock stu- ter. It was no longer what dents in their own lockers I remembered, but a poror throw stink bombs at trait consumed by black the hairnetted food staff. ink; black ink that looked However, as I entered as if what was happening the auditorium, voices of could have easily been the disturbed media reporters end of the world. blared from TVs, teachNine years later, I am a ers and secretaries sobbed commuter taking the same in grief as their coworkers train into New York City held them and, worst of that many of the victims all, the confusion was on of Sept. 11 took that ineach person’s face. famous day. I find myself I am from Greenwich, among protestors and acConn., which is about tivists either defending or 30 minutes outside of protesting the highly conNew York City. The city troversial mosque that is is filled with commuters being built only minutes who call “The Big Apple” from Ground Zero. I have their second home, includ- seen far too many deaths ing most of my family and in my community and far friends. On the morning too many who have sufof Sept. 11, 2001, I was fered. It is a complete taken home from school slap to the face to have a only to discover my mosque built two blocks mother was missing one away from where the bigof my best friend’s father, gest act of Islamic terrorwho worked on the 106th ism against the United floor, many floors above States of America took where the first plane hit place. Imagine putting a the North Tower. He told huge statue of Hitler in his family in an e-mail he front of the tragic remains was trapped, suffocated of Auschwitz or a big from smoke and put at American flag where the loss. Since all cell phone atomic bomb was dropped service went down, we in Japan. Some things can
➤ ATLANTIS LIFEGUARD stand politically correct, however, some are substantially inconsiderate to those who have experienced tragic loss Gov. Paterson of New York sounded like he had a plan to relocate the Islamic community center. In an interview with Larry King he said, “It’s my firm belief that if we talk about some way of working this out which would be suitable for both parties…and at the same time recognize the people who have lived in that area, it would be great. The scars of that day have not healed. We owe all of them, more than anything else, our greatest respect and admiration for staying there and trying to rebuild that needed section of lower Manhattan.” It would be easiest to move the Islamic community center to another location considering the vast real estate opportunities on Manhattan. People have the right to practice whatever religion they want whenever they want, however, having a mosque built in the shadows of that mourning area is like ripping open an almost heeled wound. Go to YouTube and look up Sept. 11 footage. As perturbing as it may sound, it may just revive the anger, frustration and comprehension we once had for the uncouth acts of violence committed against our country on what seems to be the forgotten day of Sept. 11. The pride has been sealed over and we have forgotten that inhumane reality.
➤ PERSPECTIVE
To all new Miami freshmen: it’s story time, and it’s not a pleasant one. Once upon a time (well, 1970), in a land where polyester plaid pants and thick mustaches were still cool, 70 passengers and 5 crewmembers were flying in a chartered jet plane over West Virginia. They were the players, coaches and boosters of the Marshall University Thundering Herd football squad, and every single person on board met his tragic death when the plane crashed into the hillside. Yet the following year, a determined young team and new coaching staff emerged, committed to honoring their fallen friends by competing in the 1971 season. Football fans were amazed when, against all odds, the Herd triumphantly won their first home game in an ending better than any Hollywood script. But I warned you that this story would not be a fairy tale: the next week, Marshall played Miami, and the Redskins beat the Herd in a debilitating 66-6 game. The loss stung, and the football community vilified Miami, accusing us of cruelly and needlessly running up the score. Decades later, many Marshall alumni are still bitter. In 2006, Rick Meckstroth, a player on the 1970 and 1971 teams, told USA Today, “[It] was uncalled for. It burns a hole in your heart. To this day, people here still hate Miami with a passion.” The game, and its subsequent controversy, is not a glamorous spot in Miami’s history. Of course, there are no rules in the NCAA handbook against completely dominating another team after their personal tragedy, but it certainly doesn’t make me feel any less embarrassed (or any less uncomfortable when I watch the epilogue of the We Are Marshall movie). Now fast forward to today. We’re currently dealing with a controversy of incredible magnitude: the construction of the Muslim mosque and community center at Ground Zero, the site of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center. The stakes couldn’t be higher. The First Amendment ensures that Muslims not only have the right to practice their religion, but also can build their
houses of worship wherever they choose. However, for many Americans, including the families of some of the victims, the idea is horrific. Is it fair to build a center of faith on the memorial ground where thousands were murdered by extremists of that faith? Legally, the answer is yes. Many proponents of the Muslim center go further, suggesting the building will demonstrate the United States’ tolerance after a decade scarred by ethnic and religious prejudice. It is imperative to remember that Al-Qaeda, a group that uses radical notions of Islam to wage war on the United States and Western society, does not represent all Muslims. Historian William Dalrymple correctly analogizes, “The fact that someone is a Boston Roman Catholic doesn’t mean he’s in league with Irish Republican Army bomb makers, just as not all Orthodox Christians have ties to Serbian war criminals or Southern Baptists to the murderers of abortion doctors.” The people who are constructing the mosque and community center are not the terrorists who attacked our nation, but the emotional and physical wounds that Americans are suffering, nine years later, are still fresh. We never cease to ache for our American teammates — the people trapped in the buildings, the airplane passengers and crews, the police, the firefighters, the thousands who died that day. The Constitution cannot, and should not, legislate compassion. It is the responsibility of human beings to know that stepping down, even in the face of bigoted critics, is sometimes the higher road. I hope the Muslim community, the majority of whom are peaceful and proud Americans like you and me, can empathize with the situation. I hope they have the sensitivity to realize that right now, a political statement for religious acceptance may not be as important as honoring those lost on Sept. 11. I also hope they have the courage to do what Miami should have done 40 years ago; take a knee. Don’t run up the score. It may not be fair, but sometimes a moral victory is just as good as a real one.
➤ ESSAY
Sharing is caring I have to be honest. Like anyone, I applied for a position and thought I knew what I was getting myself into. Of course, it turns out I hadn’t the slightest idea. In January 2010, I began training for editor in chief of The Miami Student. I had plenty of goals in mind, hoping to achieve most of them by the end of my tenure this December. What I didn’t realize was how many challenges I would face, let alone the ability to come up with an entirely new concept to combat them. The one problem I wasn’t expecting to encounter was community involvement. And I’m not talking about finding writers. I’m talking about getting feedback from students, staff faculty and anyone and everyone in the Miami University community. The only two times I have received a generous amount of Letters to the Editor were in response to the “Whore-oscopes” article published in Amusement in February and responses urging voters to choose “Yes” for the public library levy. Though these are both very relevant issues, there are many more things happening in the community students would find affect their everyday lives, such as King Library reducing their hours, uptown vendors closing their doors for a year to construct apartments above their space and, yes, even the changes to be made to Greek life and perhaps all student
Jensen Henry
organizations across the board. You may not see it immediately, but you have an impact. All of those letters about the library levy made a difference, and the letters about the Whore-oscopes helped our office become more educated and involved with different departments at this university. In addition, I can probably count on two hands (and maybe one foot) how many comments we’ve gotten on our new website. People choose not to comment because they have to reveal themselves, and I’ve received e-mails from both students and faculty complaining that the website no longer accepts anonymous comments. This is in the same boat as writing a Letter to the Editor, and I can only hope people want to share their ideas more this year. These are my questions to all of the readers out there: Why not? Why don’t you tell everyone what you think? Use the features that are available and you’ll learn things. You’ll be more involved and be able to share your own knowledge. I encourage each and every one of you to tell us how you feel and share your ideas, as there are many issues that will be presented this semester that can be affected by your feedback. And don’t forget, we can learn from you, too. Couretas is editor in chief for The Miami Student
Don’t stress about stress College: a time to attain (some) valuable knowledge, make friends, and most importantly, find yourself. However, while seeking the benefits of college life, the inevitable burden of stress always manages to sneak upon us. Even as I sit here beginning to write this piece, I’m stressing about what I can say about stress — since when do the little things in life become the monsters that used to haunt us from our closet doors when we were little kids? Well, here’s why. College students may experience stress in many ways: balancing academic competition and their social life, peer pressure, focusing on a future career and even financing their way through school. But in such cases, is it correct to live by the old saying, “As the going gets tough, the tough get going?” A 2008-2009 American Health Association survey showed that 47 percent of college students felt overwhelming anxiety, and 30 percent of students became so depressed they found it difficult to function. Even most college grads can agree that the stresses of college prepare students for the stresses of the “real world.” Unfortunately, no matter what the obstacle of the week is, we can’t all just run off to Bali like Julia Roberts did in “Eat, Pray, Love.” So why do we always manage to find ourselves amidst an agenda-filled whirlwind? Easy — we’re college students all trying to have our version of the perfect lifestyle. In light of a new school year, here are some tips to at least get you through to Christmas break, no matter what college year you find yourself in: Stop stressing about stressing: The first instinct, both physical and psychological, is to freak out about how much you have on your plate. Make a plan to figure everything out, ordering your “To Do” list from most important to least
important. Focusing on a jumble of things will only send you into frenzy of tears … or worse. Eat, but eat well: It’s easy to run to the coffee pot or buy that 5-Hour Energy at UDF, but caffeine actually acts like a set of breaks on how tired you are — it doesn’t actually give you any energy. Eating fruits and vegetables (Vitamin C), fish (which contains choline, a memory booster) and yogurt (extra calcium for nerve impulses) are among a few nutritious things that have been proven to reduce stress. Eat larger meals for breakfast and smaller meals for dinner — your mind needs the most help in the morning. Work out: Even if it’s just a 30-minute walk to relax with your iPod or talk with a friend, loosening up your muscles is always a great idea. Sleep: College schedules are never ideal — running from classes to organization meetings to mandatory events takes all that energy out of you. Getting more sleep can help your mind refocus, recharge and rebalance. Make it a point to take a nap or at least go to bed early sometime during the week to regain the energy you’ve already lost. Get some social time: Going out to eat or seeing a movie might help you take your mind off of your busy schedule. Keeping up with your social life is an important part of your college experience too. These tips may not be the ultimate saving grace, but they can help reverse the mayhem. Needless to say, our lives wouldn’t be as interesting if some sort of drama didn’t accent it. That’s all just part of the college experience, and maybe how we handle that stress shapes us to be who we really are. Oriana Pawlyk
pawlykok@muohio.edu
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THE MIAMI STUDENT
TUESDAY, AUGUST 24, 2010 ♦ 3
14
Sports
Tuesday
August 24, 2010
soccer
Editor Katie Giovinale sports@miamistudent.net
Summer of sports
Kramig kicks off season
By Alex Butler Senior Staff Writer
Since 1983 Coach Bobby Kramig has been synonymous with RedHawk soccer. “His dedication sets the example,” Assistant Coach Nate Lee said. “We talk to the girls about what it means to be an athlete at Miami University and more specifically to be in Miami soccer. I think it carries more weight because Bobby is Miami soccer.” Kramig has ushered in international talent for his soccer pitch and produced wellrounded adults who now call him mentor while blowing the whistle for men’s and women’s soccer squads. His practices are tough and he can be intimidating, but his methods simply produce. Aside from the numerous Mid-American Conference tournament titles, memorable upsets over national soccer powers and fervent fidelity to Liverpool F.C., Kramig is a family man who keeps his job and vuvuzela out of the house. “When I came to Miami I wasn’t really thinking about making a career here,” Kramig said. “I wasn’t thinking about how long I would stay. It was 1983 and we were starting a new men’s team. My wife and I just thought we would get it up and operating and take a look at how things are going and look at our options
from there. As time went on I had a family of my own and settled in and Oxford is just a great place to live. We really like it here and wanted to raise our family here. We decided it couldn’t get any better than this.” After a Title IX ruling eliminated the men’s soccer team, the coach stuck around and the program didn’t skip a beat. “Its not a gender-specific thing,” Kramig said. “The most rewarding part of this job is having the opportunity to work with these kids, get to know these kids and get to see how they develop not only as athletes, but as people.” Kramig pulled double-duty for two years, coaching both men’s and women’s soccer and spent his fall racking up sky miles. “I can remember the men’s team having a tournament in North Carolina Thursday and the women’s team having a game here in Oxford and having to jump on a plane Saturday morning and fly back down Sunday morning to catch the men in the tournament,” Kramig said. “Sometimes this job presents unique challenges but you have to do your best to rise up to the challenge.” After the final season of the men’s team, Kramig and his staff made sure to lend a hand to the men that suited up that year by helping them
Adam Hainsfurther
Hainsfurther’s Holler
F
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
Soccer Head Coach Bobby Kramig advises junior Haley Clark during a game last season v. Western Michigan University. transfer or graduate while keeping the game in their lives. The captain of his final men’s team in 1998 is now the assistant coach. Lee now gets to see another side of his former coach. “Back then I was intimidated by Coach Kramig and I always just wanted to please him and he definitely made me nervous my freshman and sophomore years,” Lee said. “Now I see certainly a different side of him. It’s definitely different on the other side of things, more of a professional relationship/friendship. One thing that the girls find funny is that I still call him coach after all of these years.” Lee said the coach goes out of his way to help out his former players and family still today. “When the season ended he took most of the seniors, anyone who really wanted to, to a national coaches convention,” Lee said. “Across all careers he is able to put people in touch.
Quarterback Zac Dysert rockets a pass during practice on August 18.
He takes care of his family and extended family above and beyond the call of duty. His daughter goes to school in Cincinnati, so everyday he has to drive her to school at 5 a.m. and he always beats us in the office. He’s already been awake for three hours.” Since 1997, Kramig’s women’s teams have gone 132-109-18. He also started a youth soccer program in the Oxford area known as the “M” League in which his student athletes act as coaches. Today more than a dozen former RedHawks are coaching after getting their start in the “M” League. “I think he is a living legend,” Lee said. “He’s approaching his 30th year here and has been the only coach of the women’s soccer team. He has created a vast alumni network. I think his legacy will stand the test of time here.” Kramig and his wife Karen have been married for 26 years and reside in Oxford.
MICHAEL GRIGGS The Miami Student
football
Dysert determined to lead team
By JM Rieger Staff Writer
After a breakout season last year, redshirt sophomore quarterback Zac Dysert is looking to lead the Miami University football team to their first winning record since 2005. He and the offense will need to put up big numbers once again this year if the Red and White expects to overcome one of the toughest schedules in college football that includes games at Florida, Central Michigan, Missouri and Cincinnati. Dysert has stepped up as one of the leaders for the RedHawks and has continued to develop during the offseason. “The preparation begins in the offseason and we prepare for one game at a time, which becomes more specific when we face certain opponents,” offensive coordinator Morris Watts said. “Ultimately when it comes down to it though, we need to do things on offense that can beat the defense and that means we cannot become a one-dimensional football team. We need to be able to run the football.” That is something the Red and White struggled with last season and is something that must improve if Miami expects to compete for the Mid-American Conference title.
“We have to run the football,” Dysert said. “Guys are getting tough and they are improving each day in practice.” In addition to the running game, Miami will also be counting on a much stronger offensive line with players like redshirt junior Brandon Brooks and redshirt senior Bob Gulley coming off of injuries last season. The ’Hawks will look to move away from the pass-heavy offense of last season and move toward a more balanced offensive attack this season. Meanwhile, there are many skills Dysert brings to Miami’s offense that should be a major advantage this season. “Zac is a very level-headed young man and is not the kind of person that will let things influence him,” Watts said. “His number one goal is to win football games and he is a very tough football player.” On the other hand, one thing Dysert will need to overcome this season will be avoiding turnovers as well as reading the various routes better. Last season he threw for 2,611 yards for 12 touchdowns and 16 interceptions. “I need to make better decisions with the football this season,” Dysert said. “Taking care of the football and avoiding turnovers are two big focuses for me this season. We just need to take everything one week and one game at a time in order
to keep our focus.” However, Dysert’s competitive spirit will be a huge advantage for the Red and White when they start the season. “He is very competitive and his passing skills are one of his biggest strengths,” Watts said. “A lot of the players respect him because he is such a level-headed player and he doesn’t let anything get to him, which makes him a great leader on this team.” Dysert and the RedHawks take the field for their first game Sept. 4 at Florida, which will be broadcast on ESPN at noon Eastern Time. In addition, Miami University male student-athletes who have aspirations of playing football for Coach Michael Haywood’s 2010 RedHawks will have their chance to display their athletic talent at Yager Stadium Sept. 1. All individuals who are planning to try out should report to the Miami Football Office at Yager to fill out some paperwork and a medical waiver prior to 4:30 p.m. that day. The tryouts begin at 5 p.m. and will consist of four stations and approximately 20 to 30 minutes of position-specific work. Players should bring their own football cleats. For more information about the football tryouts, call (513) 529-3319.
irst off, welcome back to Oxford. It was a heck of a summer in the sports world, and while that’s the subject of this edition of Hainsfurther’s Holler, I wanted to take this time to acknowledge that while being back in Oxford does mean classes are back in session, it also means that we lose track of everything and the year flies right by us. So before we head down to Skip’s or Stein’s for that first round of the school year, let’s take a moment to remember the summer of 2010 and the things that made it the “Summer of Sports.” MAY: Super Saver won the 136th running of the Kentucky Derby in the sloppiest of conditions giving jockey Calvin Borel his third Derby win in four years, a first for the sport. Sadly, Super Saver would not win the Preakness Stakes, and thus horse racing fell back into obscurity as hopes for a Triple Crown were shattered. Dallas Braden of the Oakland Athletics threw Major League Baseball’s (MLB) 19th perfect game on Mother’s Day against the New York Yankees, dedicating the phenomenal feat to his deceased mother and his grandmother who raised him after her passing. Roy Halladay, not to be outdone by the young gun Braden, threw MLB’s 20th perfect game just 20 days later against the Florida Marlins, marking the first time in baseball’s modern era that two perfect games were thrown in the same season. JUNE: The month kicked the heat index up a notch and there was one news story more important than all others. The Chicago Blackhawks won the Stanley Cup. Yes folks, my hometown ’Hawks were returned to glory after a Stanley Cup absence of more than 40 years. The MLB came one out away from an absurd third perfect game in one season as Armando Galaraga mowed down 26 straight batters before first base umpire Jim Joyce blew it up, calling batter 27 safe at first even though anybody with eyes could see that Galaraga had clearly gotten the out. Galaraga played it cool, though, and collected his 28th straight out of the game the next batter. Joyce apologized later, and the two made up as any baseball player and umpire do. Galarga handed Joyce the next day’s lineup card. Graeme McDowell won the U.S. Open, becoming the first Irishman to win the event, and the first European to do so since 1970. Kobe Bryant and the Lakers took home an NBA title for the second year in a row, knocking off the Celtics in what will forever be known as “Lakers-Celtics Two: Kobe’s Revenge.” Oh, and the World Vuvuzela Championships kicked off in South Africa. JULY: The NBA’s Eastern Conference totally changed its power structure as the Chicago Bulls brought in Carlos Boozer, Amare Stoudemire became Jewish and joined the New York Knicks (not joking about that first part) and the Heat resigned Dwayne Wade and added Chris Bosh and some other guy to form the “Miami Thrice.” Matt Garza threw the fifth no-hit game in the 2010 MLB season as well as the first no-hitter in Tampa Bay Rays’ franchise history. Previously two no-hitters were thrown against the Rays this season alone. Oh, and Spain won the World Cup, but no one in America cared because we’re America and we have real football. The MLB All-Star Game was huge … if you’re a fan of the National League (NL). The NL took home its first All-Star win in 16 years. AUGUST: The 1992 U.S. Olympic Team was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame and just about every member of the “Dream Team” took the opportunity to call out LeBron James for his free-agency antics. NFL training camps opened, officially starting football season, and Jerry Rice made absolutely no sense as he compared his career to a guy jumping out of a building during his NFL Hall of Fame induction speech. Did you get all that? Good.