The Miami Student Oldest university newspaper in the United States, established 1826
VOLUME 138 NO. 9
MIAMI UNIVERSITY OXFORD, OHIO
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
In 1976, The Miami Student reported the owner of Mike’s Deli, now Johnny’s Deli, was considering going to court to fight for his right to sell bottled wine and 6 percent liquor to be placed on the ballot. The owner circulated a petition that was rejected by the Butler County Board of Elections because it did not meet proper requirements.
MU prepares for student center fee By Noëlle Bernard Senior Staff Writer
www.muohio.edu/asc
The Armstrong Student Center will be completed in two phases with student fees implemented after each is completed. The fees were approved by ASG in the 2009-2010 school year.
CAMPUS
Miami’s green rating drops By Amber Staines For The Miami Student
According to the Sierra Club’s fourth annual Coolest Schools ranking, Miami University is falling behind in it’s cool factor. This year, Miami dropped 40 spots on the Sierra Club’s list of America’s greenest campuses, falling from 87 to 127. Universities from all over the country are asked to fill out surveys and are then rated from one to 10 in the areas of academics, administration, efficiency, energy, food, purchasing, transportation, waste management, financial investments and other initiatives. Last year Miami received a 42 out of 100, with a one out of 10 in the energy category. While Miami received a 50.2 out of 100 this year, the university’s overall ranking went down. One reason for the lower score could be the fact that 162 schools responded to the survey in 2010, while only 135 schools responded in 2009. However, more importantly, the lower ranking indicates other colleges and universities are raising the bar when it comes to environmental sustainability. David Prytherch, Miami’s sustainability coordinator, has worked with the university since 2009. He attributed Miami’s low environmental rating
After two construction phases, the transformation of the Armstrong Student Center (ASC) will be complete and open for students in the next few years. The first phase of the project is predicted to be finished in early 2014, allowing students partial access to the ASC. When that phase is complete, each student’s bursar account will be charged a facilities fee. The Associated Student Government (ASG) adopted this resolution with the intention that the fees would cover about half of the cost of construction of the student center. According to Carson Cowles, president of Student Senate, the student fees are necessary because of the strict timeline of completion and for the assurance of enough money raised. “There has been a call for a new student center for over 10 years,” Cowles said. “We can’t raise the money in time for the whole building to be completely donated.” According to David Creamer, vice
Four Loko sales increase among college students
By Rachel Petri
“The alcohol would have a depressant effect and the caffeine would have a stimulant effect,” Tupper said. Despite such warnings, Four Loko has become increasingly popular with many college students. Miami University junior Ben Buettner said there are many reasons for this increase in consumption. “It is because it is cheap, has a lot of alcohol and drinking it has become a popular thing to do,” Buettner said. According to its website, the Chicago-based alcoholic beverage company Phusion Projects, LLC produces Four Loko. Phusion Projects is the brainchild of three Ohio State University students who decided to start a company. Phusion Projects was among the almost 30 manufacturers of caffeinated alcoholic beverages who received letters from the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in November 2009 telling the companies they would be looking into the safety of their products. The FDA has not approved the use of caffeine in alcoholic beverages. Phusion Projects stresses the importance of “responsible drinking” and encourages those who carry their products to market and sell only to those individuals of the legal drinking age. This effort includes labeling Four Loko cans “We ID,” distributing materials to retailers encouraging them to ID and ensuring the placement of their products with alcohol and not with other energy drinks.
For The Miami Student
An increasing number of Miami University students are purchasing Four Loko, an alcoholic energy drink, according to Oxford Spirits Manager Gary Hetzel. Hetzel said he has seen an increase in sales of Four Loko since spring break 2010. “I assume there were promotions because I was not selling much of it at all until the college students came back from spring break,” Hetzel said. Four Loko is a caffeinated alcoholic beverage, 12 percent by volume, containing taurine and guarana. The drink comes in seven different flavors and is sold in 23.5-ounce cans. According to Sgt. Jim Squance of the Oxford Police Department, there has been an increase on Four Loko cans in the department property room where they collect evidence from underage drinkers or open container violators. “I was looking in our property room and noticed we had quite a few cans of that stuff,” Squance said. While it is clear Four Loko has gained considerable popularity among college students, Squance said it has yet to overthrow a college beverage staple. “Natty Light still takes the prize,” Squance said. The caffeine-alcohol combination of Four Loko is one Chuck Tupper, a CVS Pharmacy technician, does not recommend.
wSee RATING, page 3
SAMANTHA LUDINGTON The Miami Student
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WHAT’S IN A NAME?
A Miami University alumnus is creating a book of Miami’s off-campus houses.
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PACK YOUR PICNIC BASKET
The Three Valley Conservation Trust plans to celebrate its anniversary.
COMMUNITY, page 4
GOING GLOBAL
Miami University students are working to reach beyond the USA.
FEATURE, page 8
HEADED CAREER FAIR?
TO THE
Members of the Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity are participating in a Freedom Walk.
Check out our annual Career Fair Guide inside on page 6!
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WWW.MIAMISTUDENT.NET TECH TIP: WANT $200? Find out how you can win a gift certificate to the bookstore.
POLL: FOUR LOKO What’s your favorite Four Loko flavor?
SPORTS: HEISMAN WATCH
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wSee ASC, page 3
COMMUNITY
to the university’s dependence on coal. According to Prytherch, Miami is working to improve its environmental standing. “The university is developing long-term strategies for shifting away from coal toward alternative energy such as renewables or natural gas, which release fewer pollutants like carbon dioxide,” he said. Additionally, Miami created the Environmental Sustainability Committee and the Presidential Task Force in 2008. The committee’s self-proclaimed mission statement is “promoting environmentally and economically sustainable practices at Miami University through collaboration between students, faculty, staff and the wider community.” Students have also been taking steps to improve environmental sustainability on campus. Green Oxford is the largest student-led sustainability effort at Miami. Senior Ben Stockwell, vice president of information for Green Oxford, said little things can make a big difference. “Simple actions have a large price for our community,” he said. From turning off lights to unplugging appliances, students can make little changes that save energy and resources.
MAKING STRIDES FOR EQUALITY
president for finance and business services, the facility fees will not be a burden to students. “The cap is at $125 a semester, that’s the maximum after both phases of the project would be completed,” Creamer said. “The maximum amount for the first phase is $110 a semester. That will not be in effect until the building opens (after the first phase). That’s consistent with the resolution ASG passed last year.” The facility fees will be combined between the two phases and the amount may become lower than the $125 a semester if the ASC receives more donations than expected. “The way the resolution is written that half the project of the first phase is being funded through gifts the other half is being funded by the student fee,” Creamer said. “If the gifts are larger than expected, then the fees will be reduced and we will probably have a sense of the total gifts for the project by the end of the (school) year.” Junior Ryan Boyer thinks the fees
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Is University of Michigan quarterback Denard Robinson the real deal?
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September 21, 2010
Editors Stephen Bell Courtney Day Amanda Seitz campus@miamistudent.net
NEWS Company posts free books BRIEFS Inna Burroughs
For The Miami Student
EVENTS Task force to hold open forum for students The Strategic Priorities Task Force will hold a special forum for Miami University-Oxford students at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 22 in Hall Auditorium. Members of the Strategic Priorities Task Force will present their recommendations to cut more than $40 million dollars from the Miami University budget over the next five years. Recommendations include ways to generate revenue and save money for the university. The task force will make a final report on Oct. 1 to be presented to President David Hodge and the board of trustees. Students will be able to ask questions or make suggestions about the recommendations during the forum. For more information about the task force recommendations, visit www.miami.muohio.edu/spc/.
Festival to celebrate diverse cultures Miami University’s annual UniDiversity festival will be held 5:30 to 10 p.m. Friday, Sept. 24 at Uptown Park. The festival celebrates Latin American and Caribbean cultures with music, dance, food, arts and crafts and information booths. The booths feature the various cultures that make up the largest minority group in the United States. The event will include a petting zoo and feature a dance troupe, a salsa band and a Latin band. The UniDiversity festival is part of a series of Miami events that highlight National Hispanic Heritage Month, which occurs from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15. The UniDiversity Festival is co-sponsored by Miami’s Center for American and World Cultures and the Office of Diversity Affairs with support from other campus organizations, the Oxford Visitors and Convention Bureau and the Talawanda School District.
Safety Day promotes campus awareness Miami University Police Department will sponsor its third Safety Day Thursday, Sept. 23. The event will take place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Cullen Drive, across from the Shriver Center. The Miami Metro, Nighttime Door-to-Door services, HAWKS Peer Health Educators, IT Services and Miami’s sexual assault prevention coordinator will all attend the event, representing their respective organizations. Police will lecture on good safety practices and encourage student and employees to sign up for Miami’s emergency text messaging system. The event is part of the National Campus Safety Awareness Month, in which colleges and universities across the country inform students about good safety practices.
College costs such as tuition, living expenses and books have made going away to school a stretch for some students. But one company is attempting to eliminate one of these costs — college textbooks. In 2007, founders Eric Frank and Jeff Shelstad created Flatworld Knowledge. Flatworld Knowledge allows students and professors to acquire high quality, new textbooks online and for free, also known as open source books. Carole Walters, director of communications, described this process as flipping the textbook model on its head. “Instead of licensing the book with a copyright, which is all rights reserved, we publish under the open Created Commerce
license, which allows us to offer books as a Web-hosted book online for free for students and professors,” Walters said. Miami University finance professor Saul Adelman uses Flatworld’s open source books in his classroom. Adelman heard about open source books when he was trying to purchase the textbook Risk Management for Enterprises and Individuals for one of his classes. Adelman found the textbook at Flatworld Knowledge. “The quality of the textbook is my primary focus, which Flatworld provides,” Adelman said. “But the cost of the textbooks is very attractive.” The best part of open source books is the flexibility that it gives professors in their teaching styles, according to Frank. “There have been classes where students buy a textbook
and the professor only uses a few chapters out of the whole book and yet it cost $150,” Frank said. “Flatworld gives professors the ability to edit and modify the book into the format they would like to teach it, making it their own.” For students who prefer to read straight from a book, Flatworld has a few alternatives. Flatworld is a commercial company, which generates its revenue in low cost formats, such as having the ability to purchase the book in black and white for $29.99, a print it yourself capability for $24.99 or the option of printing by the chapter for $1.99. Flatworld also offers the option of downloading onto an iPad, Kindle or eReader and even downloading an audio book (entire book or by chapter), Walter said. These options open several doors for students and
professors at a much lower cost. “It’s exciting, innovative and an open source textbook movement,” Walters said. President and co-founder of Flatworld Knowledge Eric Frank used to work for Pearson Textbook Publishing. He said new editions of textbooks were coming out too fast, putting authors at a disadvantage and unable to meet the needs of professors and students. “Flatworld Knowledge gives control back to the customer,” Frank said. However, Frank said he has qualified professionals working on his textbooks. The first 25 books Flatworld Knowledge came out with only dealt with business and economics. Now, Flatworld has 150 new books dealing with
wSee BOOKS, page 3
Fraternity participates in Freedom Walk By Shelby Klamert For The Miami Student
On Friday, Oct. 15, eight members of the Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity will embark on a two-day, 40-mile trek known as the Freedom Walk. The walk is designed to raise money for the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center in Cincinnati, Ohio, which has a selfproclaimed mission to “reveal stories about freedom’s heroes from the era of the Underground Railroad to contemporary times, challenging and inspiring everyone to take courageous steps for freedom today.” Friday marks the first time the Freedom Walk has taken place at Miami University, but Alex Tyree, president of Kappa Alpha Psi, hopes the walk will become an annual event. “I think it’s a good idea as far as making people aware of the Freedom Center,” Tyree said. Beginning in Northern Kentucky, participants will travel 10 miles and cross the Ohio River on the Roebling Suspension Bridge to visit the Freedom Center. Finally, fraternity members and alumni will travel the remaining 30 miles on the second day, visiting many historical safe houses along the way. Because the journey is split over two days, participants will stay overnight in Six Acres, a bed and breakfast in Cincinnati that operates
out of an old safe house. Miami first-year Tangelica Glover is excited to see students take an interest in the past. “It’s not often you see young people embrace the past and make people aware of history,” Glover said. “I think it’s a good approach because it is very unconventional — it makes it more interesting to follow.” According to Tyree, the goal of the Freedom Walk is simple — to raise awareness. “The goal in creating the Freedom Walk was to educate the public on the heroes of the past while brining recognition to the Freedom Center,” Tyree said. While participation in the walk is limited to Kappa Alpha Psi members, the group is asking the general public to participate by donating $1 per mile they walk. “I think it’s a very good thing,” first-year Kayla Easterling said. “People don’t really do anything physical to show their support anymore. I’m very impressed with all of their efforts and determination.” Tyree said while only eight of his brothers are partaking in the walk, he is confident their small group can make a big impact. “We want to educate the community on the struggles of the Underground Railroad and bring positive light to the Freedom Center,” Tyree said. “We are participating because we understand that there is a continuing struggle for freedom.” Additionally, he said the walk aims to
Book highlights Oxford homes By Hope Holmberg For The Miami Student
The fact that the majority of off-campus houses at Miami University are recognized by a witty name rather than an address is a distinctive Miami tradition. Karl Gustafson, a 2002 Miami graduate, has decided to take that tradition and capture it the form of a coffee table book. When Karl came up with the idea to create his coffee table book, The Houses of Miami University, the support from his wife and friends motivated him to begin the project. In August 2009, Karl traveled to Oxford for a day from
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
MIami alumnus Karl Gustafson’s coffee table book cover is a collection of off-campus house signs.
his home in Detroit, Mich. in order to make his plans a reality. Two weeks before classes began, Karl spent four to six hours taking photographs of as many off-campus houses as he could. “I am really pleased with the way the pictures turned out,” Karl said. Karl said each page of the book includes a large picture of a house with the house’s sign on the corner of the page. The front of the book is collaged with house signs. “It was really neat to see some of the new houses,” Karl said. “It was definitely a fun project.” Aside from a couple of paragraphs at the beginning of the book where Karl talks about the book and reflects on his time at Miami, the book includes no writing. It is a picture book that organizes 120 houses by street. “I think Karl’s book is awesome,” Karl’s wife Jessica Gustafson said. “It (the house names) is such a cool thing that everyone from Miami remembers and appreciates.” Karl said that he found the house names at Miami to be a unique tradition ever since the first time he walked around off campus when he was a first-year in 1998. “I thought it was something that was really unique to Miami and I don’t think a lot of people outside our Miami circle understand it or get it,” Gustafson said. “I wanted to create something that would be my contribution to the history and tradition at Miami.” When Karl was at Miami, he lived in a house called Tombstone. “Some of the ones (houses) that don’t exist anymore were my favorite,” Karl said of the off-campus houses.
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promote ideals of equality on which the Freedom Center is based. “We want to educate and help the world to fight genocide, hunger, slavery, illiteracy, tyranny and racism, the principles that the Freedom Center aims to fight,” Tyree said. “Not only in America, but also across the world.” The Freedom Walk will take place from Friday, Oct. 15 to Saturday, Oct. 16. Donations can be made online at www.freedomcenter.org/freedomwalk.
Former CEO of Pfizer Inc. to speak By Jessica Sink Editorial Editor
Robert Essner, a Miami University alumnus and former CEO of what is now Pfizer Inc. Pharmaceuticals, will be giving a guest lecture Sept. 23 in the Psychology Building. The lecture, sponsored by the College of Arts and Science, is entitled What I Didn’t Expect: From History Major to CEO and will focus on Essner’s experiences and his path Essner to success in the business world upon earning a liberal arts education. Essner, a graduate of Miami with a degree in history, received a master’s degree from the University of Chicago before pursuing a career in business, specifically the pharmaceutical industry. He has extensive experience in both prescription and over-the counter interactions. Essner is currently an adjunct professor at Columbia Business School. He also serves on the board of directors of Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company and advises many other investment organizations. According to Karen Schilling, dean of the College of Arts and Science, the event was organized by reaching out to Essner, who was more than willing to come and offer his career reflections. “A lot of Miami alums are eager to share their experiences with students, and Mr. Essner’s background has been very important in shaping his life,” Schilling said. “He will offer some great insight to students trying to imagine what their own career path will be like after graduation.” Schilling anticipates students will gain insight on the opportunities provided by earning a degree in liberal arts by attending Essner’s discussion. Senior Zoe Hesp helped to spread the word and promote Essner’s visit. Hesp is excited about the lecture. “I think students will really benefit from his talk,” Hesp said. “Hopefully he will give a perspective on professionalism and what employers really expect from students.” The lecture will last from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 23 in room 25 of the Psychology Building. The event is free and open to the public.
THE MIAMI STUDENT
BOOKS
continued from page 2 different topics. Courses include psychology, chemistry and algebra. Being able to acquire more books will allow the open source books to move into more fields of study, according to Frank. “As a zoology major I have to buy a lot of books and all of them at least cost $200,” Miami junior Raquel Reese said. “It would be really convenient and remarkable
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2010 ♦ 3 if more professors used Flatworld.” Junior Ally Brock said she would like the ability to use these books in her classroom as well. “Flatworld sounds like a great company, I wish that my professors would look into this practical option,” Brock said. Frank said professors who hear about Flatworld Knowledge take note of this company and realize this is a viable alternative to textbooks. “Professors now have more control than they’ve ever had before,” Frank said.
HOUSES
continued from page 2 Some of those houses included names such as Gutterball, which was a reference from the movie The Big Labowski, and The Dresde, a reference from the movie Swingers. Karl said the “quintessential” ones that he feels will always be around include Slow Idaho, Ivy League and Home Plate. “My favorite house is South of the Border,” he said. “That’s where I met my wife.” Karl is a Miami merger. His wife, who lived in South of the Border, also graduated in 2002. “I don’t know how popular it (the
ASC
(Culler, Gaskill, and Rowan halls) will be connected into one big building,” Cowles said. “Everything is on schedule right now, but we’re still trying to get more donations.” continued from page 1 The second phase is projected to begin in December 2013 and students would have an are understandable. operating fee added to the facility fee that ad“I think implementing fees is necessary heres to the resolution of not exceeding $125, and it won’t seem like that much when added Creamer said. to the other fees that we are already paying,” According to Creamer, the project is exBoyer said. pected to cost about According to Creamer, $50 million and so far “Everything is on the duration of the fees is roughly $24 million have schedule right now, but been raised. still unknown but it is estimated to last the life of the “The student fee will we’re still trying to get predicted debt of the ASC, cover the $25 million of more donations.” which is 30 years. that plus the financing The construction of the cost,” Creamer said. “We CARSON COWLES ASC will be completed expect $25 million in PRESIDENT in two phases. The first funds toward the project STUDENT SENATE phase is predicted to be that need to occur from complete in early 2014, gifts, and it will take about with the “renovations of Gaskill and Rowan $30 million in gifts because there will be Hall and the construction of the new central some financing costs and all those gifts wont structure.” The second phase will consist of be received at the outset of the project.” the moving of Miami’s physics department The current schedule of completion is to the renovated Kreger Hall and the reno- 2015, but Creamer said he is confident that vation of Culler Hall, according to the ASC timeline will change. He said the project is project overview. expected to break ground early next spring, “The three buildings across from Shriver but a definite date has not been set.
www.miamistudent.net
book) will get,” Karl said. He has, however, received positive feedback from friends and other Miami alumni about the idea. “Of course I would consider buying the book,” senior Melissa Gaier said. “The houses are a big part of Miami.” The book, which Karl published himself and produced through an independent publisher in Detroit, will be available before the holidays, he said. The book can currently be pre-ordered at www.miamihousebook.com. So far, Karl has done most of his advertising on Facebook.com and about 50 pre-orders have been placed. Karl also plans on coming to Oxford to sell them during graduation weekend in May. The website also entails an interactive element. “I am (on the website) welcoming
RATING
continued from page 1 First-year Alison Heimert said she tries to make a habit of conserving energy whenever possible. “I try to always turn off the lights when I leave the room and to take shorter showers,” Heimert said. Stockwell said Green Oxford continues to inform students about coal by organizing events to raise awareness. Last year, Green Oxford hosted Coal Week, which aimed to inform students about the negative impacts of having a coal plant on Miami’s campus. According to a study done by Anthony Ferraro with the Institute of Environmental Sciences at Miami University, the vast majority of Miami’s carbon footprint comes from coal-derived electricity, whether produced on campus or purchased from
current students and former students to send me their Miami memories from each house,” he said. Karl said the house names at Miami are symbolic of the quick-witted students that attend the school. “I think it’s so unique,” Karl said. “I don’t think there is any other school in the country that does this.” He also said referring to the houses with names is more practical than an address for students. Karl hopes Miami graduates, current Miami students and even people who did not attend Miami can enjoy his coffee table book. “It’s a good conversation starter,” he said. “You’re going to have your college friends over, your new friends over and they are going to flip through it and start asking you questions and it will bring back memories.” Duke Energy. Green Oxford is planning to host the event again in the fall along with a speaking series on coal throughout the year. According to Prytherch, people need to work together to bring about environmental change. “Over the past few years Miami has made an increasing focus toward environmental sustainability,” Prytherch said. He said the Farmer School of Business is the first building on campus to be LEED silver certified. In order for a building receive a LEED certification, there must be extensive recycling and efficiency with respect to heating, cooling and lighting systems, Prytherch said. Builders must also reuse deconstruction and construction materials while preserving mature trees and green space during construction. He said the university hopes to get more LEED certified buildings in the future.
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Tuesday
September 21, 2010
Community
Editor Kelsey Bishop community@miamistudent.net
Half-dressed female runs into tree At around 2:45 a.m. Sunday, officers responded to a call about an intoxicated female on the ground who was unable to get up in the woods at the end of South Poplar Street. When police arrived, the caller reportedly led them to the place the female was lying, but she was not there. The officer reportedly scanned the nearby field with a flashlight and observed a half-dressed female running 50 yards away in the field. The officer reportedly identified himself and told the female to stop, but she continued to run away. The officer then began to chase her until she reportedly ran into a tree at full speed on the other end of the field and fell to the ground in the brush. She was reportedly disheveled, confused and missing her shirt. Her head was also reportedly cut from the tree. She was identified as Miami University junior Hanna Scinto, 19. Scinto reportedly told the officer she ran because she didn’t want to get in trouble. She reportedly admitted to drinking beer at a party earlier in the night and had the odor of an alcoholic beverage on her breath. Scinto was taken to McCulloughHyde Memorial Hospital where she remained after she was cited for underage intoxication.
Sophomore gives officer unknown substance At around midnight Saturday, officers observed a male riding a skateboard in the roadway on Tallawanda Street weaving from side to side. He was identified as Miami University sophomore Patrick Daly, 19. Daly reportedly had a wet red stain on the front of his shirt and shorts, which he said was from a drink that was spilled on him at a party. Daly reportedly admitted he had been drinking and had slurred speech, bloodshot eyes and was unsteady on his feet. When the officer asked Daly to empty his pockets, he reportedly gave him a metal container filled with what he said was dip. When the officer asked what dip was, Daly reportedly said he didn’t know but a male named Ed had given it to him and told him to “have a good time with it.” The container reportedly held an unknown substance wrapped in aluminum foil and was sent to a lab for analysis because it could not be easily identified. Daly was cited for underage intoxication and skateboarding on the roadway.
OPD finds junior lying on floor at Jimmy John’s At around midnight Friday, officer observed a female lying on the floor of Jimmy John’s as another female attempted to help her up. The officers reportedly asked the female if she was OK and then tried to help her up. She was reportedly unable to get up and had watery eyes, slurred speech and the odor of an alcoholic beverage about her. The officers placed her in a booth and asked for her ID. The female reportedly gave them a Miami University business card, tried to stand and then said she couldn’t find her student ID or her driver’s license. She eventually found both forms of ID and was identified as Miami junior Alyssa Johansen, 20. Johansen was reportedly taken to Oxford Police Department where she was uncooperative and argumentative. According to police reports, she refused to provide any information. Johansen was cited for underage intoxication.
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
Four members of Bone Thugs N Harmony are scheduled to perform Oct.8 at Brick Street Bar. The band plans to perform some hits from their 1995 album, E. 1999 Eternal.
Bone Thugs N Harmony returns to Brick Street Bar By Anna Turner Amusement Editor
Hip-hop legends Bone Thugs N Harmony will take Brick Street Bar’s stage once again as part of their E. 1999 Eternal tour Oct. 8. Four of the five original members, Krayzie Bone, Layzie Bone, Wish Bone and Flesh-n-Bone will be entertaining their Oxford audience with a greatest hits show, featuring all the old favorites with a heavy emphasis on their 1995 album, E. 1999 Eternal. This is the second part of their tour, following up a 36-date run that ended in June. The Grammy Awardwinning group has included a return show to Oxford in their current
tour schedule. Brick Street owner Will Weisman said it was the students’ enthusiasm for the past two Bone Thugs N Harmony performances at Brick Street that brought them back. “The Bone Thugs told me they were blown away by the Miami fans at the last show,” Weisman said. “These are legitimate fans, not just students going to a show because their friends are going. They know all the songs and play a big part creating great energy.” Students from Northwest Ohio are fond of Bone Thugs as the group is native to the Glenville area of Cleveland. According to Weisman, Cleveland students grew up listening to Bone Thugs and it is
the band’s Ohio roots that make a classic show appealing. “I think that they know their audience wants to hear the classics,” Weisman said. “These are the songs that made them legends and the songs that students relate to.” Songs like “Tha Crossroads” and “1st of Tha Month” will be featured in the show, but the performance is not limited to those two tracks. Weisman said Bone Thugs’ show is not just about hearing the classic songs — it is about witnessing hip-hop history come to life. “Whether you are a hip-hop fan or not, it’s a chance to see true legends who transcend hip-hop genre,” Weisman said. “They play at a whole other level, and you might never get
a chance to see such a talented act in such an intimate setting.” Miami University junior Chelsea Skalski has been listening to Bone Thugs for years, but this will be her first opportunity to see them live. “I’m really psyched to see them here at Brick Street as opposed to a bigger venue,” Skalski said. “I don’t think Brick Street will see many shows quite as amazing.” While Brick Street boasts several hip-hop acts from Wiz Khalifa to Project Pat to Wale to Chiddy Bang, Bone Thugs N Harmony stands above the rest. “Bone Thugs are flat out legends,” Weisman said. “They paved the way for all of the new acts today and are true trailblazers in the genre.”
OxAct to celebrate 30th anniversary in style By Chris Burnett
after school arts programs, Make a Difference Day and Community Spring Cleaning. The center also has openings for student interns for students majoring in communications and arts management. OxAct, Oxford’s community theatre group, will celStudents have also been involved in the community ebrate its 30th anniversary Saturday, Oct. 9. theatre group since its beginning. OxAct has been a staple in the Oxford com“OxAct was instrumental in establishing Stage munity since the opening of its first show, Left (Miami’s non-theater major student acting Mouse Trap, in 1980, according to OxAct group),” Howard said. board member Becky Howard. According Miami University senior Billy Stonecipher to the group’s website, OxAct started as a thinks programs provided by the OCAC like collaboration between local businesses and OxAct are important. individuals to create a theatre company in Oxford. “I feel that the arts are vital to any comThe group is funded through ticket munity,” Stonecipher said. “It not only gives sales and private donations and will be people a chance to express their creativity, but performing Doubt later this year. helps to bring people together and enrich the The Oxford Community Arts Center cultural fabric of the community as a whole.” (OCAC) has supported OxAct through the The show will feature multiple vignettes years by offering a venue for the group’s from past performers, historical memorabilia performances, according to Caroline The 1983-4 cast for Working (above) performed one of the displays and light refreshments. The OCAC many shows that OxAct has put on since it opened in 1980. will provide a short teaser Friday, Oct. 8. Croswell, OCAC director. The Art Shop Co-op will be selling raffle She said Miami University students are tickets in conjunction with the event. Tickets are $10 each and can an especially vital part of this community resource. be purchased by calling the OxAct box office at (513) 523-6558 or “We rely very heavily on students,” Croswell said. in person at the OCAC. The doors open at 7:30 p.m., with the show Croswell said the center thrives on service hours provided by student starting at 8 p.m. organizations for support and for community outreach events such as For The Miami Student
Conservation group to celebrate farmland preservation By Rachael Willis For The Miami Student
The Three Valley Conservation Trust will hold a picnic to celebrate 16 years of stream conservation and farmland preservation service in southwestern Ohio and southeastern Indiana. This year’s celebration will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 10 on Beck Farm at 5920 Morning Sun Road. The Three Valley Conservation Trust threw a similar party last year for their celebration of 15 years and are repeating this in hopes of making this an annual activity. Miami University senior and intern for the Three Valley Conservation Trust Kate Ceronie said the picnic will be a fun event for the community. “It will be fun and a good opportunity for valley members to interact with the community, farmers and students from Oxford,” Ceronie said. The event is free and open to the public, but
donations will be accepted. According to Ceronie, the committee will be providing free food and drinks, such as hamburgers, hotdogs and other picnic foods, as well as a few of the favorite dishes of the board members. There will be guided tours through the natural forest’s surrounding area and live blues and contemporary music by musicians John Kogge and Dave Nolim, according to Ceronie. “I’m really happy something like this is going on,” first-year Elizabeth Baran said. “It’s a terrific way to get everyone involved in the organization.” Larry Frimerman, executive director for the Three Valley Conservation Trust, shared Baran’s excitement. “We’re very pleased and excited to offer this opportunity to the southwest community,” he said. “It’s a nice way of giving back to the community that helps support us.”
Drug take-back day to be held in Uptown Park The Oxford Police Department (OPD) will host a prescription drug take-back day in conjunction with the Drug Enforcement Administration and police departments across the country from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 25. The free event will be held in Uptown Park and will feature a drive-through drop off point. Participants are not required to provide any information about themselves or the substance they bring, but only prescription medication will be accepted. Last year, OPD partnered with Kroger to host a similar event in the store’s parking lot. According to OPD Sgt. Jim Squance, the effort led to a collection of 112 pounds of prescription medication.
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6
The Miami Student CAREER GUIDE 2010
Miami University Career Fair 2010 2 to 6 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 22 Millett Hall ♦ Open to all majors ♦ Over 180 employers ♦ Career advice ♦ Career options http://www.muohio.edu/careers
Few local businesses to come to Career Fair By Bethany Bruner Senior Staff Writer
Miami University’s career fair may look on the outside like it’s just for the huge companies, but don’t judge this book by its cover. Associate Director of Career Services Bill Froude said over 2,000 employers are invited to the 2010 Career Fair Wednesday, Sept. 22 at Millett Hall. While most of the businesses that end up participating in the fair are larger companies, Froude said local businesses are more than welcome to participate as well, but most choose not to. “Most of the local businesses don’t need to come so close because they’re local,” Froude said. One local business is participating in career fair 2010, according to the career fair website. Transitional Living, Inc. is a health care company based in Hamilton and is listed as a participant in the career fair. They could not be reached for comment. Miami senior Dustin Amrine said he is not surprised local businesses don’t participate as heavily in career fair as more national companies. “Miami students dream big,” he said. “There’s really no urge to stay in Butler County.” Amrine will be graduating in May and found a job in Cincinnati through an internship he got at career fair last year. He said he was looking for something near Cincinnati for right after school and the career fair offered him a lot of options. “I think a lot of Cincinnati
companies come to Miami because it’s easy to recruit here,” he said. “Plus, a lot of people are looking for the Big Four, so it’s just kind of convenient.” Froude said local businesses are invited to career fair, but besides being local there are other factors to keep them away. “Coming to career fair means taking a day off of work,” Froude said. “The companies that tend to come are the ones who are on the bigger side.” Amrine said he does not think Career Services should be faulted for having a lack of Butler County businesses participating in the fair. “Local businesses wouldn’t be big enough to afford to recruit usually,” he said. “They also would not have enough pull at a university like Miami where the best businesses in the country come to recruit.” Froude agrees with this, but said other campuses have tried to make events more local. According to Froude, Miami Hamilton campus employee Shelby Cassidy put together a Butler County career fair on that campus, but due to the economy the event was cancelled last year. Even if students are looking for a more local business for job placement after graduation, Froude said they should still come to the career fair. “We have a lot of great businesses here to recruit,” he said. “It’s a great opportunity.” For a full listing of businesses participating in the 2010 career fair, visit www.muohio. edu/careers and click the career fair link.
Career center offers mock interviewing By Amanda Seitz
interviewing,” Kaback said. “I think anyone who is searching for a job should do it at least once, you never realize how unprepared you are for an interview until you sit Nervous for the interviewing process this upcoming through your first one.” career fair? Senior Vincent Mancuso said he was nervous for the The career center offers mock interviews allowing stu- upcoming career fair, but his nerves were calmed after undents and an interviewer to critique your interviewing dergoing a mock interview at the career center. Mancuso skills during an hour-long session. said the career center gave him Mock interviewer Brittany Kaspecific methods to utilize during back said the session is beneficial an interview. Yo u n e v e r r e a l i z e h o w for students who may be headHe said he felt unprepared going ing to career fair or just lookinto last year’s career fair without ing to improve their skills for practicing beforehand. you are potential employers. “I followed by the book last year, Kaback said the session provides for an but that didn’t work out,” Mancuso a real life simulation as students until you sit through your first one. said. “I’ve never been to an actual are expected to come in interview job interview, (it’s good) just to attire. The interview is also taped know what to expect.” — BRITTANY KABACK, MOCK INTERVIEWER to provide feedback. Mancuso, an electrical engineerThe interview lasts approxiing major, hopes to meet with three mately 15 to 20 minutes. to four potential employers on his visit to the career fair, “Then, we spend the rest of the session in playback, cri- but he said the process can be very intimidating for uptiquing opportunities for improvement,” Kaback said. coming college graduates. Mock interviews are also fit to the interviewer’s major and “They’re just sitting there judging you and no one likes interested employers. to get judged,” Mancuso said. “We try to cater the questions toward your major or inKaback offered some basic tips for those who dustry,” Kaback said. “It’s good to come in with a com- are worried about the impression they leave on pany in mind or a job position.” potential employers. The career center also has packets available for specific “You definitely want to watch using ‘umm’ when you are speaking formally,” Kaback said. “Also, it’s good to majors or career opportunities. Kaback said students should take advantage of the mock be prepared with stories, situations and experiences. The interviews more than once. interviewer can tell when you’re thinking them up as you “I don’t think you can ever do enough practice for say them.” Campus Editor
unprepared
interview
Non-business students should attend career fair By Courtney Day Campus Editor
Some students outside the Farmer School of Business may feel that career fair is not for them. “I think they misunderstand that it is open to all majors and that all kinds of employers are going to be there,” Jennifer McLaughlin, assistant director of career services, said. Miami University’s Career Services held an information session Sept. 16 to help students in the College of Arts and Science prepare for career fair. Students from each of the university’s schools attended the session. “We try to emphasize certain parts of the orientation that arts and science majors may not know,” McLaughlin said. She said in the past some arts and science majors would approach an employer at career fair, introduce themselves, state their major and then wait for the employer to tell them what jobs
might be available for them. McLaughlin said a better approach for arts and science students to take is to know what positions are available and tell the employer what they can offer their company or organization and how their skills relate to the company’s needs. “Some recruiters are going to be extremely friendly,” McLaughlin said. “Others will stare at you and expect you to talk for a few minutes and convince them.” McLaughlin said going into career fair, “arts and science majors often don’t feel as confident as business majors.” Rocco Manzo, a Markley executive visiting professor in the management department said all majors could convince a recruiter to give them a chance. “If I saw the right candidate with the right skills and background, I would be interested in a variety of majors,” Manzo said.
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CAREER FAIR CHECKLIST Know what positions are available Know what I can offer the company Dress conservatively and formally Bring several resume copies, a notepad and pen Ask for a business card Write a thank you note to follow up
COLLEEN YATES The Miami Student
Just because a company lists specific majors they are looking for does not mean they would not consider other majors, Manzo said. “There are a lot of companies (at career fair) that will fit arts and science majors,” he said. McLaughlin said students should keep checking the Career Services website to see which employers are coming as companies continue to sign up right up to the day of the event. Manzo said he urges students not to take career service at Miami for granted. “Use their website,” he said. “Use their resources.” McLaughlin said arts and science students can have success at career fair if they come prepared. This includes researching the companies ahead of time, picking four
to five top choice companies as well as some back-ups and knowing their own personal career goals and skills. The best time to come to avoid the crowd is the first hour and the last hour of the fair, McLaughlin said. Career fair will likely be most crowded between 3 and 5 p.m. She said students should dress conservatively and formally, not business casual. McLaughlin said khaki pants are not professional enough and men should wear suits and ties. McLaughlin said students should bring several copies of their resume as well as a notepad and pen to make notes about good conversations they may have. Students should also ask for a business card and write a thank you note to follow
up, including an additional copy of the student’s resume. “I think the biggest thing to get across is you need to differentiate yourself,” Manzo said. He said when he looks for job candidates at these types of events, he uses a code to mark the resumes of candidates who make the best impressions. “Getting that first connection is important,” he said. Senior diplomacy and foreign affairs major Elizabeth Bersin attended the information session. She found it helpful to know she could look up employers and positions ahead of time to see what she is qualified for. “Now I know government and nonprofits are going to be there and that’s really what I’m looking for,” Bersin said.
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wishes you good luck at Career Fair 2010!
The Miami Student CAREER GUIDE 2010
7
Networking sites add more bounce to resume’s ounce By Thomasina Johnson Editorial Editor
Do you feel overwhelmed and sometimes hopeless when it comes to searching for a job in today’s rotten economy? Take a deep breath and relax because thanks to groundbreaking networking websites, your resume can work harder, get your name out better, get you a job faster and keep your running in the job market going stronger. According to a Mashable Business article, there are many new job search and networking sites that deserve attention. The most successful and powerful is LinkedIn, with over 35 million users, according to the article. Because LinkedIn has so many users and recruiters, this may be the best choice for an online networking newbie. When using LinkedIn, an important thing to remember is to optimize your profile and become active in the LinkedIn community. The more job-applicable information put on your profile, the more groups you participate in and the more often you search the site, the more chances you
have of becoming “linked” to a prospective employer. To make your name stand out and to be more easily reachable, use a URL that includes your full name, the article suggested. Another handy networking site is Plaxo. Plaxo’s strength lies in its ability to use a variety of media in its job searching. According to its website, Plaxo works with Twitter, Facebook and many other social networking sites to create a customized, interactive address book to track your contact information. According to the website, Plaxo recently became a subsidiary of Comcast Interactive Media and has big plans to integrate a “unified social media experience across the Web and TV.” On one hand, Plaxo may seem a bit stalker-ish and full of gadgets, but on the other hand, when prospective contacts build up, what better place to store them than in a safe, convenient location? Twitter and Facebook are also handy networking options because both communities are so large. However, there are risks to using both sites for job searching. Because Twitter and Facebook are often
intimately intertwined with the user’s personal life, prospective employers can easily obtain information about them that may not work in their favor to get the job. Paranoia can set in when users realize those pictures of the parties or the posts may or may not be used against them. Having a professional-looking profile or Twitter account is important, but why must it be so painful? Unless you’re willing to edit your profile tweets, I recommend using one or more of the many other networking options available. Like any job interview or fair, careernetworking websites may help users find a great job or may leave them feeling like there’s nothing out there for them. Although many of these sites use advanced technology to link users with prospective employers, the most important job-finding tip is also the most basic: a well-written, competitive resume. With a great resume in hand, networking sites and career fairs will be a piece of cake. When faced with the tough job economy, new grads must use these new networking tools not give up the search.
Attitude is everything By Jessica Sink Editorial Editor
The current state of the job market can make any student nervous about career prospects after college. The days are gone when employers could hire applicants based only on the criteria that they have a pulse and can pass a drug test. Employers are looking to maximize their investments by only hiring the best, and therefore, the process has become much more selective and competitive. All of the sudden, four job openings have 400 applicants and merely presenting a college degree is not enough. So what are companies really looking for? A recent survey by the Society of Human
Resource Managers asked 286 randomly selected managers to rate the influence of various attributes considered when hiring. The results concluded that 90 percent rated relevant work experience at the top, followed by the ability to fit with the company culture (89 percent) and being able to pass background checks (79 percent). So while you must first be able to demonstrate that you have the skills necessary to perform the job, ultimately employers are looking for people who can simply get along with others and be able to pass a background check (a convicted felon on the run would not be very attractive to employers). Unless you have a rare desired skill, are a genius nuclear physicist, Dr. House from the television show House or have the
ability to turn straw into gold, you must be able to cooperate with others and have a positive attitude in order to get any job. No one can control the state of the economy or job market. The financial situation of the country has led to many qualified people losing their jobs merely because of company downsizing. However, it is imperative to have a positive outlook both when looking for a job and attempting to keep one. An article published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics found the top reasons employers stated for firing someone was either because the company was downsizing or the employee was being dishonest, not performing to standards or being disrespectful, difficult and dramatic. Basically, personnel directors don’t want to hire or keep people who cause problems. It’s true that in tough economic times it is not always easy to remain positive. When searching for a job, be prepared to be
knocked down, stepped on and rejected. However, you can’t give up. Be persistent and always put your best foot forward. The adage “It’s not what you know, it’s who you know,” certainly has credence. Networking and making good impressions can open doors and provide unique opportunities. By always remaining professional, seeking out possible job prospects and working to become more knowledgeable, you will have the best possible chance of success. In the end, being able to present an employer with a degree from Miami University will set the stage, but beyond that it is the applicant’s responsibility to perform. Having the skills to carry out a job is required, but having a good attitude and personality will set you apart. The hiring process is certainly selective, but as long as employers can invest in attitude as well as skill, the chances of getting that dream job are more probable.
8
Tuesday
September 21, 2010
Features
Editor Amelia Carpenter features@miamistudent.net
By Alaine Perconti For The Miami Student
“If you give a man a fish, he’ll eat for a day. If you teach him how to fish, he’ll eat for a lifetime.” This is the mantra of junior Molly Babbington as she prepares to lead a group of students to Panama to make a difference in communities through a new student group at Miami University called Global Business Brigades (GBB).
dedicated students. Following recruitment, fundraising and connecting with faculty and students before embarking on the trip is essential to success. Babbington is currently in the recruitment part of the process trying to generate interest around campus and get the word out about the new GBB.
GBB is a branch of Global Brigades, a national volunteer organization dedicated to aiding developing countries in a variety of disciplines. The first Global Brigades was a medical brigade that originated at Marquette University in 2003, according to Global Brigades’ website. Students developed their own Global Medical Brigade after working closely with the Sociedad Amigos de los Niños (SAN). SAN is a well-respected, reputable charity in Honduras and has been improving the lives of Honduran children for over 40 years, according to honduranchildren.com, the charity’s website. In 2007, the medical brigades became independent from SAN. That spring, the first business brigade was piloted. Although the business brigades are relatively new, they are already making a significant impact in Panama and Honduras, where they provide consulting and investment services to help implement sustainable development projects, according to Global Brigades’ Director of Student Affairs Michelle Menclewicz. Like the first pioneering students at Marquette University, Babbington, is taking the first step toward establishing a business brigade on Miami’s campus. Miami’s brigade of 15 to 20 students chosen during the application process will travel to Panama during spring break. There, the brigade will work within communities to provide consulting and investment guidance toward sustainable solutions. The brigade will focus on local development and hold financial workshops for farmers and citizens, according to Babbington. Babbington said she is marketing GBB on campus to students and preparing for the trip in March. Miami students have noticed and responded to her efforts. “(GBB) got my attention because I think it’s unique and clever,” sophomore Brianne Davidson said. “(It’s) like business meets service on a bigger scale.” Many saw GBB as an opportunity to supplement their learning experience in the classroom. “I feel that this organization will help me make the connections I need to that the business school will not,” sophomore Briggs Cocke said. “The organization fills a void left open by the business school.”
Babbington hasn’t been working alone all this time, however. Senior Tim Kittrick showed interest and applied early in July 2010. His enthusiasm was something Babbington couldn’t pass up, so she enlisted his help right away. Kittrick has been assisting with recruiting and administrative tasks, but will take on an executive role once the first members are accepted, according to Babbington. GBB had everything he was looking for: leadership opportunities, travel and a relevant tie to business. “I wish we could go on the trip right now,” Kittrick said. “This is going to be a life-changing experience.”
The spread of brigades throughout the United States and on campus has been largely a grassroots effort. Menclewicz, became involved after her first brigade trip in August 2007. She is now a part of establishing new brigades and helping them prepare for trips. Menclewicz receives three to five e-mails per day regarding new brigades. Babbington had contacted Menclewicz in summer 2010. “I knew from the first e-mail that Molly was a great candidate to lead a brigade,” Menclewicz said. “I could tell she was a strong leader.” Menclewicz said Babbington is one of the most memorable leaders she has worked with so far because of her incredible passion, organization and outgoing personality. Babbington heard about GBB from a close friend who shared her brigade experience at University of California San Diego. The combination of travel and service sparked interest immediately. GBB seemed like the perfect opportunity to develop her business skills and pursue her passion for philanthropy. Consequently, Babbington made that first contact and began the process. “I was on the website and saw the opportunity to start your own brigade,” Babbington said. “It was that simple.” According to Menclewicz, it takes about five to six months to prepare for a brigade. The process involves rigorous recruitment of passionate,
Although Babbington was an ideal candidate for beginning a new brigade, the whole process has not been smooth sailing. Already an active, involved student on campus, Babbington knew she would have to make some sacrifices for GBB. She decided to drop her commitments to club soccer and her sorority in order to make time for GBB. “I knew everyone would think I was crazy,” Babbington said. She pushed forward anyway, e-mailing and contacting as many students as possible in July 2010. She used Facebook and listservs to try to get the word out before the 2010 school year began. Her recruiting efforts warranted 65 initial responses, and student interest continues to increase on campus as she and Kittrick speak to different organizations. They want to have a lot of applicants in order to be able to choose from the best possible pool of students. Avoiding the proverbial “resume builders” and personally connecting with students is the aim of the GBB campaign. “We want people to really see what GBB is and understand the goal,” Babbington said. With the exception of a small start-up packet with flyers and posters, how GBB is marketed to Miami’s students is completely in the hands of its student founder. Babbington and Kittrick are working hard to market GBB to students and attract those who share their passion for service learning. “This organization is deeper than just the name,” Kittrick said. “People just aren’t really sure what Global Business Brigades means.” GBB is open to all students who want to make a difference and are passionate about the cause. Babbington is personally invested in the mission of GBB and maintains a passion for service learning. “The ‘business’ name might throw people off, but to me it is more about the cultural experience,” Babbington said. She hopes to expand GBB throughout her remaining years at Miami to multiple brigades that travel at different times during the year. Most importantly, GBB is striving to make an impact in the lives of others. “We’re taking baby steps,” Babbington said. “I want to be able to expand GBB eventually, but we don’t want to spread ourselves too thin yet. It’s important to focus for more of an impact with the first brigade.” There were 38 applicants by the Sept. 10 deadline. Including Babbington and Kittrick, there are 18 new members. Contact Molly Babbington at mugbbrigades@gmail.com for more information.
HANNAH MILLER The Miami Student
THE MIAMI STUDENT
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2010 ♦ 9
SUDOKU, page 5.
10
Opinion
Tuesday September 21 , 2010
Editors Thomasina Johnson Jessica Sink editorial@miamistudent.net
➤ EDITORIAL
The following piece, written by the editorial editors, reflect the majority opinion of the editorial board.
Employment rumors must be quelled T
he university environment has been full of rumors and suspicious charges made concerning Housing, Dining and Guest Services. The claims that food service and the Miami University Bookstore will possibly be outsourced to other companies have created a culture of fear among employees, making them worry about the future of their jobs. The editorial board of The Miami Student is disappointed in the lack of information being presented. Neither the university administration nor HDGS is being open about possible changes. With all of the conflicting reports the only clear answer is that honesty is being avoided in this situation. Whether the rumors are true or not, both the administration and HDGS need to address the concerns and faculty and staff should not be afraid to ask questions for fear of losing their positions. If a big change is coming for food service employees or for any service on campus, it should not the responsibility of The Miami Student alone to report it. The administration and HDGS must be transparent and respect students, faculty and staff by providing information
that could potentially impact them. The fact the only information available are suspicions and claims shows a disconnect and lack of adequate communication between one or more branches of Miami services. This culture of fear, derived from an unknown source, is instilling an unhealthy work atmosphere that impacts everyone on campus. The board is believes everyone affected needs to receive the same story from a reliable source. The administration and faculty and staff need to be honest with each other. Employees have been making claims they’ve had meeting with supervisors telling them their jobs are on the line, but at the same time, Dr. Creamer contradicts this worry. Employees must feel safe asking questions that will produce solid and clear answers. Timely, truthful responses to employment rumors will help quell the rapidly-spreading fear over job security and the future of Miami services. From student workers to lifelong employees, everyone who uses Miami’s services is affected by the confusion and angst surrounding future employment at Miami.
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 Stephen Bell Campus Editor Courtney Day Campus Editor
Amanda Seitz Campus 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
➤ LETTERS
WRITE US!
All letters must be signed in order to be printed. Please send letters via e-mail to: editorial@miamistudent.net We reserve the right to edit for length, content and clarity.
Potential bookstore privatization is harmful The Miami University community needs to be alerted to a possible big change for the Oxford, Hamilton and Middletown campuses — a change that is shortsighted and disadvantageous to Miami’s students, faculty and staff. There are plans underway to “privatize” our campus bookstores and thus start the outsourcing of Miami jobs and the depersonalization of Miami’s culture. Someone wants to turn over our campus bookstore to big business, and with that start Miami on a one-way slide to mediocrity. If this effort is successful, we will have a corporaterun bookstore with the impersonal service and (at best) average performance that these companies are designed to provide. Every decision in these corporate stores is intended to maximize profits that will go out of town to corporate headquarters or to private owners and shareholders. The number one goal of these businesses is to take as much money as possible from our students and faculty in order to fill the pockets of wealthy owners and executives — all this at the expense of competitive prices and the caring, personalized service of long-time, loyal employees. History shows that current Miami employees will either lose their jobs immediately or be squeezed out over time. These companies make their profits by hiring people on a part-time basis, or pay them a minimum wage without providing decent benefits such as good health insurance and retirement plans. They are like Wal-Mart but with high prices! Poorly run bookstores do exist, but that is not the situation here at Miami. Our store is evaluated by thousands of student survey
JINGHANG HUANG The Miami Student
Dr. Creamer not telling the whole truth I am an employee of Miami University’s Housing, Dining and Guest Services (HDGS). I have been with the department over eight years now. Dr. Creamer flat out lied to the reporter in your article “HDGS avoids cuts.” When Dr. Creamer claims that, “No one has done anything because if we had it would be very visible,” he is lying. In fact, ARAMARK is indeed coming to this campus to do an “evaluation” of the food service operations. This is not a rumor, but fact. Ask any general manger at a dining location and they can tell you. They were all told this over three weeks ago in a weekly meeting. The managers were then told to tell all of their employees what was going on. Does Dr. Creamer think that we are all fools? This is not misinformation as Dr. Creamer claims. This information comes from the top people at HDGS. Miami is indeed looking at the possibility of outsourcing their food service operations. To me this is a very sad statement of what the priorities are at Miami. It is only about Miami making money. We at HDGS do everything we can to not only make a wonderful dining experience for our students, but we also clean dorms, academic buildings, run the Miami Inn and many other little things you may not notice that make this campus so wonderful. The employees have taken on many hardships in the last few years to help save the jobs we love. We have not had a raise in three years now, we will not get one until June 2012 (which by the way is only a straight $0.30 raise), our insurance premiums are going from 6 to 20 percent by January 2013 and we have suffered layoffs that have left us short-handed in every dining hall. This is the way Miami is planning to pay back our loyalty and dedication to the university. Outsourcing our jobs out to the highest bidder who
responses each year. The results are always very high, with ratings of 90 to 95 percent satisfaction for customer service, product availability and responsiveness. Yes, we are as concerned as everyone else is about the high cost of textbooks, but many Miami students appreciate our efforts to hold down prices by providing options such as used books, text rentals and e-books. Our mandate to keep costs as low as possible helps to provide a downward pressure on book prices for all of the stores serving this campus. This competitive advantage for our customers will be totally lost if, for instance, one of the two for-profit bookstores in Oxford were to be chosen to operate the Miami University Bookstore. Both are likely to be among the bidders for the contract. Ironically, this seeming shift in Miami’s mission is coming right at the time when our store is undergoing a renovation that has been badly needed for years and is being funded by dollars set aside from years of effective operation by Miami employees. Our store performs among the top 5 to 10 percent of college stores nationwide in controlling costs and returning funds to our university. After all of our expenses are covered, we provide about $1.5 million each year to the Shriver Center budget. We meet the goals set by the administration year after year and hold down the student fees needed to operate the center by some $250 per student. The administration presumably will require the corporate chain store to provide the same money for the university, but in order to do this and produce their necessary 10 to 12 percent profit to send out of town they will raise prices, as will the other two stores in Oxford. Having no ties other than financial to the university, they will think nothing of under-ordering books, increasing mark-ups and failing to
would more likely cut any benefits we now have, force us to work for minimum wage and see the quality of the dining locations erode. For those who think HDGS is losing Miami money, think again. HDGS is its own separate entity from the university. In fact, HDGS has run a profit every year from the time I have started working here. Jason Bach
Buildings and Grounds Assistant bachrj@muohio.edu
Message of hate must be ignored This week, evangelical preacher Brother Jed will return to Miami to spread his bigoted message that condemns gays and lesbians and just about anybody Jed considers destined for hellfire. The gospel of Jed is his own brand of Christianity, but the man’s ferocious fervor is nothing new. Recently the national spotlight was on Florida, where Pastor Jones was planning to burn Qur’ans and who held the belief that “Islam is of the Devil.” The difference today is that we can control the spotlight that Jed will get. I would like to request that everyone embrace his or her ability to ignore. People like Jed and Jones have a right to speak, but they do not have a right to be listened to. If you see Jed this week, don’t hang around, don’t engage him, just walk by and let his hateful message fall on deaf ears.
communicate with faculty. Their decisions will be made based on what is going on in all of their stores rather than this particular store. We will become just another link in a big chain. That personal touch for which the bookstore, indeed all of Miami, is known will be lost forever. You might not know all of us — the people who work in your campus store. No one here is getting rich from our wages, but we are doing our best to make a living for our families and us while at the same time contributing to the local economy. With a corporate store, low-paid sales clerks will eventually replace us and our jobs will be gone for good. If you live in Oxford or one of the surrounding communities, be prepared for more good Miami jobs to be lost to big, impersonal corporate entities. Once the Miami community accepts the privatization of their university bookstore, it will soon spread to other areas. Our Miami heritage and traditions will have been traded for cookie-cutter operations that will be totally different from the Miami experience that we have provided and that you have come to expect. Do not believe the excuse that all of this is to reduce costs to students. In reality, outsourcing the Miami bookstore will raise costs to students while at the same time causing the university to lose money. What logical sense does it make to even consider this? We hope the board of trustees and the highest-level decision makers really know our university and appreciate the people who work hard to set it apart from lesser schools. Hopefully they know this better than they know the corporate executives eager to gain access to Miami students’ money. The chain stores’ primary goal of making big profits will come at the expense of our campus culture, our
Ben Stockwell
President, Secular Students of Miami stockwbm@muohio.edu
long-term competitiveness with other high quality schools and, ultimately the community where we all live and raise our families. In the past, President Hodge has shown his concern for us and a genuine appreciation for the quality of our work and the personal touches that we provide for our students and their parents. In these difficult times, please encourage him to keep Miami staff in Miami jobs. We can get through this without sacrificing our principles and without corporate middlemen latching on to what they see only as a “golden goose.” Once outsourced, it is almost impossible to reverse things and return to a self-operated bookstore. The talent and the know-how are gone. Schools that have made the shortsighted decision to hand over their bookstore to a big chain often find themselves battling to enforce a contract and get service quality up to an acceptable level. Why is it a battle? Because a public, not-for-profit university and a for-profit corporation have conflicting goals and always will. These contracts then shift between one chain operation and another over the years, rarely showing any improvement in the relationship or the performance. For Miami to make this mistake would be a prime example of trying to fix something that simply isn’t broken. Let’s help President Hodge “Make Miami More Miami,” not LESS Miami! Let’s keep our store managed and operated by our own great people. Thank you for caring about Miami and the people who make it work. Frank Koontz
Former Director, Miami University Bookstore koontzfr@muohio.edu
Opinion
THE MIAMI STUDENT
➤ PERSPECTIVE
TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 21, 2010 ♦ 11
Sidewalk etiquette 101 ANNA TURNER
By the time most students reach college, they know how to operate a vehicle. As such, they are familiar with the rules of the road — for the most part. There are some exceptions. I firmly feel that if a person can successfully navigate a street, they should be able to navigate a sidewalk. However, the Miami community proves that this feeling is asking far too much. Sidewalk etiquette is something overlooked on this campus, if only because most pedestrians don’t know it exists. Let me clarify something: Sidewalk etiquette is a real thing, and it is a law that the people should embrace. Let’s start with the basics: Walk on the right side of the sidewalk. It’s just like driving. And I’m sure you smarta**es are thinking, “But what if I’m in Europe?” Well, jerk-off, I am speaking strictly about our Oxford campus in AMERICA, so that means you follow AMERICAN SIDEWALK ETIQUETTE. If everyone walks on the right side, you avoid the who-isgoing-to-switch-sides face-off encountered whenever two subjects walking toward each other are on the same side of the sidewalk. Moving on … bicycles. I realize it’s difficult for bicyclists because they aren’t wanted on the street and they definitely aren’t wanted on the sidewalk, so where do those two-wheeled outcasts go? Easy: ride on the grass. Your bikes can handle a little wear and tear, and what better way to promote bike helmet safety? I’ve always dreamed of living in a world where bike helmets can be semi-attractive, so here’s a chance for you bikers to change the world. Start sexifying those helmets and stop clogging up sidewalks. Another sidewalk no-no is the hold-up. It’s called a sideWALK, not a side STOP-AND-TALK-TO-FRIENDS-YOU-DON’TLIKE-ENOUGH-TO-ACTUALLY-MAKE-PLANS-WITHBUT-YOU-WOULD-FEEL-GUILTY-IF-YOU-DIDN’TSTOP-AND-TALK-TO-THEM. This congests our walkways. If you must cause a hold-up, step off to the side and talk about your old roommate’s newest boyfriend there. This is especially true if more than two subjects are involved in the hold-up, spanning across the entire sidewalk and forming a dam. Everyone else in the world has somewhere to be, SO GET OUT OF OUR WAY.
Now, this next rule seems harsh, but before you attack me for being tyrannical, think it over. Pregnant women should arrive on the sidewalks earlier than others so as to avoid traffic congestion. We know you wake up early anyway because of morning sickness and weird-as-flock cravings, so hurry up and use the sidewalks before the non-nauseous, non-pickle milkshake slurping walkers begin their commute. This early arrival of the pregos will help sidewalk flow tremendously. The pregers walk too slow, take up too much space and their waddling form is downright disgusting. You could be the cutest woman alive, but if that belly holds a fetus, you are instantly an uggo. I don’t want to see that when I’m on my way to class — I’m already pissed off that I have to sit through a geology lab, I don’t need the fresh image of a bloated sex maniac on my mind. And while I’m on my way to that geology lab, it would be much appreciated if clumps of people would walk in CLUMPS, not LINES. We aren’t playing red rover here, you don’t have to span the entire sidewalk, removing any hope for those looking to pass you and your slow pace. The only thing worse than a line taking up the
sidewalk is a single person taking up the sidewalk, positioning themselves as inconveniently as possible, zig-zagging back and forth like a drunken antelope. And if that person is pregnant … non-denominational (or possibly non-existent), god save us all. Unfortunately my perspective is limited to a certain word count, so I cannot fully cover all of sidewalk etiquette. Let me leave you with a brief list of things not to do while walking on a sidewalk: text, use the speakerphone feature on your cell, sing out loud, move at a painfully slow pace, stop to remove rocks or other items from your shoe, read, skip (especially if you’re brachallenged) and, most importantly, never EVER under ANY CIRCUMSTANCE run with a backpack. I will hunt you down and punch you.
ERIN KILLINGER The Miami Student
TURNER is amusement editor for The Miami Student
Rule of thumb To Miami football victory against CSU!
To open source books
To conflicting SPT forum an career fair
To Miami’s falling environmental rankings
To Maurice’s charity dog fashion show
To Halloween City store opening!
To King Library’s inconvenient hours
To group projects
Breaking the three-year winning streak record has us pumped for more.
Both are important for students to attend, and both are at the same time?
Giving the word “fierce” a new meaning
Opening every Sunday at 11 a.m. is too late.
Making books easier to publish and access
The big green Santa is giving us coal for Christmas this year.
Get your spook on with our favorite candy-coated holiday.
Overated.
Student on the street: What advice do you have for interviewing successfully for an internship or job? “Ask professors for advice, they have a lot of information. They always want to help you.” -Jessica St-Pierre
“Dress nicely. You gotta look fantastic!” -Michael Houser
“Be yourself, be honest. Don’t try to fit a mold. They’ll tell you if you are right for them.” -Andrew Gantt
“Relax, be cool and just do what you’re there to do.” -Tyler Coveney
“Dress nicely. You also need to know what you are interviewing for.” -Molly Templeman
“Check out companies’ information. Do your research ahead of time. This shows you have an interest in the company.” -Vivi Chen
“Go to Career Services, they have a lot to offer.” -Rachel Smith
“Eye contact is very important. It shows that you are interested and paying attention.” -Chelsea Jones
12
Tuesday September 21, 2010
MU football must remain Division I
FOOTBALL
Sports
Editor Katie Giovinale sports@miamistudent.net
NEXT GAME: 2 p.m. Saturday at Missouri
Adam Hainsfurther
Hainsfurther’s Holler
T
hey say you learn something new every day. The other day, I learned something that I had suspected but didn’t actually think could be true. I was sitting in one of my classes when the professor told the class that members of the faculty wanted to see Miami University drop its football program all the way from Division I to Division III in an effort to cut the fat from Miami’s massive budget. This is something that just can’t happen. Yes, I understand the team doesn’t draw large crowds on a regular basis. I realize that recruiting against big name programs like Ohio State, Notre Dame, Michigan and Cincinnati doesn’t do us any favors. I’m also well aware that in the last two seasons we’ve won a total of three games. However, I also realize all the good that a Division I program brings,whether they win or not. What the faculty wants is of no concern to our school’s various athletic boosters. In the past, boosters have threatened to withdraw their gifts over the color of proposed jerseys. Imagine what would happen if we pulled the football program from Division I. No high level football in the Cradle of Coaches? They’d lose it. Additionally, on Sept. 16, Tammy Walker, wife of late Miami coach and fullback Randy Walker, created the Randy and Tammy Walker Endowed Football Scholarship, which will provide annual assistance to one or more Miami football players. Alumni dollars aren’t the only thing that would keep any push to drop down divisions in football from making any headway, though. Believe it or not, having a losing team in a Division I football bowl subdivision is better than having a team at any of the lower levels. According to a report published Aug. 10 on NCAA.org, only 2 percent of football programs in the Division I football championship subdivision (FCS) reported making money in 2009. Additionally, not only did no FCS athletics program report gains in 2009, but the net losses for FCS schools have increased steadily over six years. In other words, no top level football means less money for a school that already is trying to find new ways to make money. Along with losing money on the program, the university would be naïve to believe having a top level football program doesn’t affect our enrollment. The number of guys who would leave a school just over the level of its football program is surprising. I know one of the reasons I came to Miami is because of its Division I athletics, and that included football. I know I’m not the only person who thinks that way. I can’t be. However, besides all of those reasons, there is one reason that stands above all others as to why we can’t drop the football team. It sends a bad message. If we’re so willing to dump a team that not 10 years ago had a one loss season and a first round draft pick under center, then who’s to say that if hockey, god forbid, has a tough run of things for the next few seasons the school would drop them altogether? What about basketball or baseball? If we drop football, a sport that our school’s legacy is rooted in, where do we draw the line? Miami shouldn’t drop athletics as a way to cut the budget. That shouldn’t even be an option. Many schools use their athletics as a way to generate money. If Miami’s faculty wants to see the university spend less on sports, the answer isn’t cutting their funding, it’s finding an alternative means of getting that funding. We have the budget’s golden goose in front of us — we’re just waiting for it to lay that first egg.
Freshman running back Tracy Woods rushes past a Colorado State defender Sept. 18.
MICHAEL GRIGGS The Miami Student
’Hawks soar past Rams By JM Rieger Staff Writer
The Miami University football team brought their “A game” Sept. 18, routing Colorado State University (CSU) 31-10 and improving their record to 2-1 for the season. It is the first time Miami has won two straight games since 2007, and is something Head Coach Michael Haywood is very pleased about. “We are getting better each and every week,” Haywood said. “We put a sign up on every player’s locker this week that said, ‘Bring your A-game.’” Miami did that and more, especially on defense where they held CSU to one total rushing yard the entire game. Junior linebacker Ryan Kennedy led the team in tackles for the second straight week, racking up eight total tackles that included five for a loss. Kennedy and sophomore linebacker Evan Harris also changed the momentum of the game midway through the second quarter when Kennedy hit CSU freshman quarterback Pete Thomas while he was throwing, allowing Harris to pick off the underthrown ball and return it 56 yards for the score.
SOCCER
Miami also forced four turnovers on defense and forced Thomas to throw two interceptions. “We had good schemes to stop the run,” Kennedy said. “We tried to fly to the ball (because we know) if everyone flies around and hustles, it doesn’t matter who you have in there (on defense).” However, the Red and White did give up 305 passing yards to the Rams and allowed CSU to convert seven of 14 third downs, which is the second straight week they have allowed their opponent to convert 50 percent of their third down attempts. Meanwhile, the offense once again used a balanced attack to expose a CSU team that entered the game ranked 109 in the nation in total defense. Redshirt sophomore quarterback Zac Dysert was 18-22 and threw for 231 yards to go with three touchdowns and no interceptions. Freshman running back Tracy Woods led the team in rushing, carrying the ball 19 times for 85 yards, while redshirt sophomore Danny Green ran hard as well, racking up 26 yards on six carries. Both running backs ran physically and complimented the offense very well with the absence of senior running back Thomas Merriweather, who left the game after one carry after claiming that he could no longer see.
Later in the game, Merriweather regained his vision, but team doctors told Haywood to not play Merriweather to protect him for the rest of the season. One of the bright spots offensively came with less than eight minutes left in the third quarter when Dysert hit junior tight end Kendrick Bruton for his first career touchdown. It was the first time Bruton had been in the endzone in a game since his senior year in high school, and the score gave the RedHawks a 24-3 lead halfway through the third quarter. Senior wide receiver Armand Robinson had another good game, but only had one reception for one yard at the half. Miami sealed up the victory when Dysert hit Robinson on a go route late in the fourth quarter, giving Robinson his second touchdown on the season. After striking first with a field goal in the first quarter, CSU did not score again until late in the fourth quarter after Miami had racked up 31 unanswered points. The Rams scored a touchdown with 1:14 left in the game against Miami’s second team defense. The score marked the first touchdown of the season for CSU, but it was too little too late as the RedHawks had all but wrapped up the game by the start of the fourth quarter.
NEXT HOME GAME: 4 p.m. Friday vs. Kent State
Scorching soccer team sends Evansville Purple Aces packing By Alex Butler Senior Staff Writer
The Evansville Purple Ace defense looked like they were chasing a gazelle around the soccer pitch in Oxford Sept. 19. Giselle Mangal was not a gazelle, despite her lean stature, but she did blaze by defenders and score two goals, including the game winner for a Miami University soccer team (7-2) that is winning with simplicity in September. “She transferred in and what we are asking her to do is a lot different than what she was doing at Louisville,” Head Coach Bobby Kramig said. “It’s going to take some time for her to get comfortable and get some confidence with what our system is and what we are trying to do. We talked to her at halftime a little bit to say, ‘Just go after it and run at them and be yourself.’ As the game went on, she grew in confidence and it was a timely goal at the end. I’m very proud of her.” Kramig’s team is off to its best start since 2002 as they wrap up the non-conference schedule. They also defeated Eastern Illinois University 2-0 Sept. 17 with goals from freshmen Sam Whitmore and Kayla Zakrzewski. The Purple Aces (2-6-1) were perplexed in the 81st minute when they allowed a trough ball feed from sophomore Jess Kodiak to find the foot of a galloping Mangal to give the Red and White the 3-2 victory, their fourth in a row. Kramig closed his eyes after the first score when they sent a shot over keeper Rachelle Boff’s head. “Soccer is like that sometimes,” Kramig said. “We outshot them 29-7. They just made it an adventure. I don’t think that they played badly. They made some mistakes. To give up two goals over the top like that, what are you going
MICHAEL GRIGGS The Miami Student
Junior Sarah Dessfelt keeps her balance in Miami’s game against Eastern Illinois Sept. 17.
to do? It was a little bit flukey. The thing that I really liked about this game is that it was a good character test.” Just four minutes later, junior Courtney Clarke jumped up in traffic and made good on a header from Sarah Dessfelt to tie the score at 1-1. Three minutes later, Mangal whipped her leg back and snapped a shot off of a defender and into the net to give the RedHawks the lead. “I started off a little bit slow in the first half, but I started to pick it up,” Mangal said. “It was pretty nerve-wracking until I cut across the keeper. It felt good, but I knew we couldn’t let up. We did really well finding the trough balls.” The Purple Aces tied it up again when a 30-yard laser beat Boff again at the 73-minute mark setting up Mangal’s march to the mesh. Mangal, who now has two scores at Miami University after transferring from the University of Louisville, was just part of the story as the team also recognized its seniors for senior day. Boff, Jessica and Rachel Byron, Brooke Livingston, Sara Lund and Julie Thompson are playing their last seasons for Kramig. “They are like my family and it’s really neat for me to come out and win on senior day,” Livingston said. The six seniors are 29-29-4 in their RedHawk careers, not including postseason play, and will be at home again for Friday and Sunday MidAmerican Conference matches against Kent State and Buffalo. “When we talk about this being a character win, this is where the character comes from in that senior class,” Kramig said. “They’ve been absolutely great from the time that they’ve been here. To be honest, I would expect nothing less from them.”