The Miami Student Oldest university newspaper in the United States, established 1826
VOLUME 140 NO. 04
FRIday, AUGUST 31, 2012
MIAMI UNIVERSITY OXFORD, OHIO
TODAY IN MIAMI HISTORY In 1960, The Miami Student reported that then-president John D. Millett told the Miami University Senate that Miami had reached a new peak in enroll-
ment. He cautioned that the more than 7,000 students that had been enrolled that year was “merely another step in a climb to near 10,000 which Miami must achieve by 1970.”
Farmer School Dean to retire
‘Hawks to challenge Buckeyes in opener
Will leave at end of semester By Jenn Smola Campus Editor
After ten years serving as the Dean of Miami University’s Farmer School of Business (FSB), Roger Jenkins announced Wednesday he will retire at the end of the semester. In an email sent to FSB faculty and staff as well as to the University Board of Trustees, Jenkins, 67, thanked his colleagues for their partnership, collegiality and friendship. According to Claire Wagner, associate director of university communications, Jenkins chose to retire after meeting with President David Hodge regarding Jenkins’ recent voluntary return of $1.25 million in independent consulting fees from Minn. businessman Thomas Petters. Petters is serving a 50-year prison sentence for fraud. Jenkins was given several options from the university for how to move forward after he returned the money, out of which he chose retirement, according to Wagner. “Concerns grew about Dean Jenkins’ ability to provide effective leadership to the Farmer School of Business,” Wagner said. “Under these circumstances, we began to look for the best solution for transition. The retiring at the end of the semester provides that solution.” Jenkins wrote in his letter to faculty that part of his decision to leave was because of an unfortunate situation: “As with any deeply personal relationship and within every family, there are complex nuances that, if and when brought to light, due to surface appearance and the absence of context, are exceptionally difficult for others to understand. And ironically, the reality is that perceptions matter. I have therefore concluded that my work here at the Farmer School will come to a close at the end of the semester, in no small part because this
will complete a most unfortunate chapter in Miami’s history that has simply gone on too long.” Jenkins provided independent consulting services for Petters from 2005 to 2008. According to Wagner, the university had record of Jenkins’ involvement with Petters between 2005 and 2006, but not of the subsequent two years Jenkins provided Petters with consulting services. Wagner said performing outside work is not uncommon for Miami faculty. “It’s within Miami University policy that faculty and staff may, and in fact, are encouraged to be on boards and act as advisors or consultants in their profession,” Wagner said. However, Wagner said Jenkins’ business relationship with Petters was one that typically would have to be approved by the university, and it appears there was no approval for Jenkins’ consulting work following 2006. Hodge said he did not have anything to add to his comments that were laid out in Miami’s ereport Thursday morning regarding Jenkins’ retirement. “We admire and respect Dean Jenkins’ decision,” Hodge said in his statement. “He has worked tirelessly…greatly enhancing the quality and the reputation of both the Farmer School and the University. We are deeply grateful for his dedicated service and in particular the tremendously profound impact he has had on students.” Marc Rubin, chair of the accountancy department in FSB, said despite Jenkin’s retirement, FSB will not change dramatically. “Right now we have a lot of things to take care of on a departmental level and we’ll keep doing
JENKINS, SEE PAGE 9
MIAMI ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS
Head football coach Don Treadwell addresses the Red and White on the field.The RedHawks will face Ohio State University in their first game of the year Saturday.
By Tom Downey Senior Staff Writer
For the first time since 2005, the Miami University football team will take on the No. 18 Ohio State University (OSU) Buckeyes in the first game of the Urban Meyer Era. The RedHawks will attempt to become the first Ohio team to defeat the Buckeyes in any game since 1921. “It’s a cool thing [to play in the Horseshoe] and a cool opportunity and experience,” senior wide receiver and co-captain Andy Cruse said. “We’re all looking forward to it.” The offense will rely on the combination of redshirt senior quarterback and co-captain Zac Dysert and junior wide receiver Nick Harwell, given the undetermined state of the running game and due to the strength of Ohio State’s defensive line. “They have everything you want: size up front, speed at the linebacker [position], coverage guys at the corners and safeties that come up and hit,” Head Coach Don Treadwell said. Miami will likely go with a running back by-committee approach
this year, with senior halfback Justin Semmes the likely starter against OSU. Semmes had the team’s only 100-yard game last year. Redshirt sophomore running back Robert Williams III and freshman running back Jamire Westbrook are all but assured to see some time and as many as three other tailbacks could see playing time as well. “Their team, including their defense, is very talented.” Cruse said. “A couple guys stand out, but they are all talented and we’re just going into the game with game plan and are going to try to execute it.” As with most Ohio State teams, this year’s squad is very talented and will be a challenge. “The easy way to break OSU down is that there is no weakness,” Treadwell said. “They have the ability to be in the top 10 every year. As you look at them, they’re going to be big up front. They’re strong and they are so athletic.” Dual-threat sophomore quarterback Braxton Miller, a perfect fit for Meyer’s spread offense, leads Ohio State. “They have a tremendous quarterback who is just truly gifted in Miller,” Treadwell said. “He is just so dynamic, in my opinion it
doesn’t matter what they ask him to do. He is just so talented he can create on offense, if they ask him to throw the ball; it doesn’t have to be wide open because he is a weapon in himself. He certainly knows how to run the football. He is as good, if not better, than a lot of tailbacks that many teams have.” Redshirt senior linebacker and co-captain Jaytee Swanson said the team has a plan to stop Miller and the Buckeyes. “We’re just going do our job,” Swanson said. “That’s defense. The way they attack is to get oneon-one. Wait for someone not to do their job. And that’s what we’ve been perfecting this week. Every man is going to do their job, have their gap [and] do their responsibility. If that works out, you can’t beat us.” The last time the Red and White faced the Scarlet and Grey in 2005, then-No. 6 OSU defeated the RedHawks 34-14. The ’Hawks have never beaten the Buckeyes in five matchups. Kickoff is set for noon in Columbus, Ohio. The game will be shown on the Big Ten Network and fans can listen to the game on WMSR at www.redhawkradio.com.
Fraternity files $10M lawsuit against university By Lauren Ceronie Editor in chief
ANNE GARDNER THE MIAMI STUDENT
UPTOWN HAPPENINGS Miami students and Oxford residents enjoy pleasant summer weather and live music by local musicians at the annual Oxford Police Department pig roast in the Martin Luther King Jr. Park.
The Alpha Chapter of Phi Kappa Tau has filed a lawsuit against Miami University for $10 million in damages. The lawsuit claims the university violated fraternity members’ constitutional rights, as well as breach of contract. The fraternity filed the lawsuit Wednesday in the United States District court in Cincinnati, Ohio. It also filed for a temporary restraining order that would have allowed members to move back into the fraternity house, but was denied Thursday by Chief Judge Susan Dlott. This lawsuit comes as the result of the fraternity’s temporary suspension after Aug. 19 when members of Phi Kappa Tau, along with members of the fraternity Sigma Alpha Epsilon, were caught igniting fireworks inside the fraternity houses and in possession of illegal drugs. Police reports at the time said members of the fraternities were uncooperative with both police and fire officers. Steve Hartman, chief executive officer of the Phi Kappa Tau fraternity and foundation, said the fraternity decided to file a lawsuit after it held its own investigation, conducted by alumni officers and national fraternity officers. “When you look at what we found,
it seems clear to us that this whole thing involved a couple of people which would mean the other men who lived there weren’t involved,” Hartman said. “Our concern was that there is a belief that they were all guilty and had to be uprooted.” Hartman said the fraternity talked with university officials and asked officials to reevaluate the summary suspension, which required all members of the fraternity living in the fraternity house to vacate the residence. Had the restraining order passed, it would have allowed sophomore members of the fraternity who were required by the university to live on campus to return to the fraternity house. “We didn’t have many options,” Hartman said, in reference to the lawsuit. “When it came to the last day and the school was forcing everyone out, we felt the school had kind of rushed into the decision.” Claire Wagner, associate director of university communications, said she could not comment directly on the case, but did say Miami had acted by the rules of the Student Code of Conduct. “The university acted out of concern for safety,” Wagner said. The Student Code of Conduct
FRATERNITY, SEE PAGE 9