September 23, 2011 | The Miami Student

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

VOLUME 139 NO. 10

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2011

TODAY IN MIAMI HISTORY

MIAMI UNIVERSITY OXFORD, OHIO

In 1973, The Miami Student reported that the Oxford City Council had rejected for the second time a resolution to decriminalize small amounts of marijuana. The initiative petition called for a $5 fine for “casual possession marijuana in quantities of four ounces or less.”

AR Rahman surprises Oxford

Religion department drops WBC proposal

By Sam Kay and Amanda Seitz

For The Miami Student

ANDREW BRAY THE MIAMI STUDENT

AR Rahman signs Miami University junior Charlie Poe’s music score at a recital held for Rahman Thursday in Hall Auditorium.

By Dan Hamlin

For The Miami Student

AR Rahman might not be as well known in the United States as other musical geniuses such as John Williams, Howard Shore or Hans Zimmer, but worldwide, he is in a class of his own. Rahman made a surprise visit to the campus of Miami University Thursday to take some time to listen to performances by the Symphony Orchestra, Jazz Ensemble, Choarliers and Collegiate Chorale in preparation for this weekend’s Global Rhythms performances.

Word spread around quickly throughout the music department and campus that Rahman would be visiting for a brief amount of time.

His visit only lasted around

five hours, but included multiple performances and many pictures.

How significant is his appearance at Miami? Charlie Poe, the Miami University Symphony Orchestra president put it simply.

“It’s huge,” Poe said.

“Somebody that is recognized around the world to come visit Oxford is amazing.”

Junior Andrew Moore, a music performance minor, agreed with Poe. “I’m really excited,” Moore said. “I don’t think we have ever had a world renowned composer come to Oxford to listen to his own music.”

This is not Rahman’s first visit to Oxford. His ties to Miami are deep, stemming from his friendship

with alumnus and Global Rhythms director Srinivas Krishnan. Former Collegiate Chorale and Men’s Glee Club director Ethan Sperry arranged numerous selections by Rahman for the choral world. Pieces such as “Zikr,” “Jai-Ho” and “Wedding Qawwali” have all been sung at concerts at Miami and elsewhere. This past summer, Miami students had the opportunity to visit and perform in Chennai at Rahman’s KM Conservatory.

Senior Sean O’Neill was one of the students who was able to perform at the conservatory. “[Rahman] has a really crazy schedule,” O’Neill said. “Trying to meet with

RAHMAN, SEE PAGE 9

The department of comparative religion has decided to pull plans to invite a member of the Westboro Baptist Church (WBC) to Miami University’s campus. The department was in the planning stages of bringing WBC member Shirley Phelps-Roper to professor Hillel Gray’s 100-level class on religious extremism, according to Stephen Nimis, comparative religion department chair.

The department will instead invite Gray to lecture on his previous WBC research. The department considered having Gray interview Phelps-Roper off-campus for subsequent viewing by his class, but decided against this option.

Confusion surrounding the WBC visit swept the Miami community when an article in the Sept. 20 issue of The Miami Student said College of Arts and Science Dean Phyllis Callahan had approved the speaker. Miami officials denied Callahan had approved the department’s proposal to bring WBC to campus.

Comparative religion professor Liz Wilson declined to comment on why she told The Miami Student Sept.

19 that the proposal had Callahan’s approval.

“They had a proposal, they left with notes and questions,” Callahan said. “The proposal was not accepted.”

It is unlikely a stamp of approval from the administration was necessary to bring a WBC member to campus for a classroom visit and public playback of an interview.

Faculty members have the right to bring nearly any guest speaker to class under the principles of academic freedom.

The proposal from the comparative religion department was not to seek approval, but to give notice and invite input concerning the plans.

“We knew the visit would be controversial and therefore were giving a heads up to the college leadership,” Nimis said via email.

The university would only intervene under extreme circumstances, such as a threat to campus security, according to Miami President David Hodge.

“We have limited authority to step in and tell someone they can’t do something unless we fear for the safety of others,” Hodge said.

Callahan said academic freedom is “at the heart” of a university campus.

“We do not restrict faculty members’ ability to invite a guest speaker to their class,” Callahan said.

The dean questioned the risk associated with bringing a known hate group to campus.

“Because you can do something, should you do it?”

Callahan said. “If I have an approval voice, I will not approve it.”

The WBC expressed dismay at the comparative religion department’s decision to pull its tentative offer.

“It’s just a sad state of affairs, especially in the university forum, for people to be so scared about what the Bible really says that they would pull an offer,” WBC member Steve Drain said. “That’s not an open exchange of ideas at that university.”

Before the invitation was pulled, The Miami Student asked Phelps-Roper whether the group would stage a Miami picket if uninvited.

“We’re not going to make a special trip there,” PhelpsRoper said. “We’ll be there if this is what [God] is to have us do.”

Hodge said the visit could have provided an interesting learning experience for the Miami community had the proposal moved forward.

Because you can do something, should you do it?”

PHYLLIS CALLAHAN

DEAN OF THE COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCE

“It [would have been] a chance for our students to see these people, to put them under the lens of academic inquiry, by no means giving them a venue to stand up and spew their hatred,” Hodge said.

Gray’s lecture on his WBC research is tentatively scheduled for Oct. 25.

Before the proposal was abandoned, the Comparative Religion Student Association planned to request Associated Student Government (ASG) funding for the WBC visit. At a funding hearing Thursday evening, it instead requested the funds for Gray’s lecture.

ASG has given initial approval to the request.

See clarification of Sept. 20 article on page 9.

COM 135 exemplifies debate over definition of a humanities course

By Ellie Gonso

For The Miami Student

Any excitement incoming students have at freshmen orientation comes to a screeching halt the minute their counselor hands them a single white sheet of paper.

Graduation requirements: a daunting, undecipherable, jumbled mess of letters and numbers.

Although the Miami University College of Arts and Science degree requirements may appear to be written by a rocket scientist, there may be a disconnect between university division requirements and the Miami Plan.

Although the purpose of the Miami Plan is to enhance students’ overall liberal education, there is a question of whether it needs to be reevaluated holistically. The discrepancy is illustrated by one of the most popular courses

on campus, Communications (COM) 135.

On Sept. 10, Richard Campbell, director of the journalism department and interim chair of the communications department, submitted a petition to the Office of Liberal Education requesting to delist COM 135, a public speaking course, as a humanities credit under the Miami Plan.

Currently, COM 135 is required by 31 different majors to graduate, many outside of the College of Arts and Science. According to Campbell, the course now fills nearly 26 sections a semester and the course is led by mostly visiting faculty members.

However, Campbell feels the discrepancy lies in the fact that students outside of the College of Arts and Science can fulfill their one Miami Plan humanities requirement with COM 135.

Campbell’s issue with COM 135 is that, while it is an important course, it does not embody the core elements of a typical humanities class, such as history, literature or religion. However, he views the COM 135 quandary as a small symptom of a much larger problem.

“I don’t think it’s right that business and engineering students can fulfill their one humanities requirement with COM 135,” Campbell said.

“This is an illustration of what I think is a larger problem in terms of rethinking the entire curriculum.”

When the new Global Miami Plan went into effect in the fall of 2010, three credits were extracted from the second foundation, decreasing student’s overall exposure to the humanities. According to John Tassoni, Director of Liberal Education, the Liberal Education Council

(LEC) sent a survey, asking the humanities departments to audit their classes to ensure they still contained core humanities elements.

gives as much exposure to the humanities as possible. COM 135 may be one example of a course that does not embody classic humanities elements.

I don’t think it’s right that business and engineering students can fulfill their one humanities requirement with COM 135.”

RICHARD CAMPBELL

DIRECTOR OF JOURNALISM DEPARTMENT

Tassoni said the findings of the survey raised some interesting questions about how courses are categorized.

“Because of the tightening of the credits, we wanted to look and see that students are getting the most out of the humanities courses as they can,” he said.

Tassoni said it is important to the LEC that every course

Alternatively, students in the College of Arts and Science are required to take nine hours of humanities, a foreign language and potential additions of quantitative literacy and writing requirements.

While some may gawk at the additional requirements, Campbell sees them as benefits to students’ overall liberal education.

“What we’re doing in the college is making requirements that we want students to know when they leave here. I want our students to be good writers and have an understanding of quantitative literacy,” Campbell said.

But as the College of Arts and Science continues to make changes, some question whether the Miami Plan is at odds with the division’s goals. According to Campbell, some students in the College of Arts and Science graduate well above 128 hours due to the requirements of both the college and the Miami Plan.

Junior Brooke Sheehan said she has been swamped with the amount of hours she has to take.

“Since I was undecided freshman year, I’ve had to

MIAMI PLAN, SEE PAGE 9

2

CAMPUS

Editors Lauren Ceronie Jenni Wiener

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2011

campus@miamistudent.net

‘Forgotten president’ leaves mixed legacy

By Lauren Ceronie Campus Editor

This article is part of a series The Miami Student is running about the University Archives.

All information in the following article was obtained from the University Archives with the help of University Archivist Bob Schmidt.

The names of former Miami University presidents are familiar to students — Robert Bishop, Orange Nash Stoddard, David Tappan, William Anderson, Phillip Shriver, the list goes on and is featured on quite a few buildings on campus. However, there are a few university presidents whose names never made it onto academic buildings, residence halls or stadiums. One such former president is George Junkin (1841-1844).

Junkin’s tenure as the second president of Miami lasted

only a few years, but in that time he managed to stir up quite a bit of controversy.

“He’s one of our forgotten presidents but he’s also one of the most colorful presidents we’ve had,” said Bob Schmidt, university archivist.

“He’s my favorite part of the archives because he’s quite an interesting character and there’s a bit more to him than meets the eye.”

Junkin was indeed colorful.

He went as far as to compare himself to a monarch in his inauguration speech at the university and stressed discipline over learning.

“It matters little what be the methods of teaching and what the branches taught, if there is not government, nothing can be done efficiently,” Junkin said in his inaugural address.

Miami students living on campus today bemoan the sometimes strict rules of the

residence halls and wish for greater privacy while at college. However, they can be grateful the strict disciplinary measures of the Junkin administration are long gone.

While Junkin was president, he would have the faculty conduct daily searches of the student’s rooms. In his mind, the biggest problem facing Miami was the sex he tried to prevent students from having.

In one of his university reports Junkin said, “the sexual vice is not exterpated [sic] but there has been no gross outbreak.”

Junkin’s university reports often contained only information about disciplinary action taken on campus with no mention of students’ academic progress.

He was not known to have a warm or fuzzy side while at Miami. Junkin once told a group of students when their

friend died, “your comrade is in hell and you will be there soon unless you change your course.”

Needless to say, Junkin was not popular with many of the students.

“There’s a lot of stuff he did you look at today and go ‘ugh,’ but he did do some good things,” Schmidt said.

The problem with Junkin is he was so combative it’s hard to pigeonhole him into anything.”

Bob schmidt

UNIVERSITY ARCHIVIST

“As far as the crackdown on disciplinary problems, he was the first to suggest they ban guns and firearms on campus.

In that sense, you have to give him some credit.”

Enterprise University debate continues

By Adam Giffi

Senior Staff Writer

Concerns about the uncertainties surrounding Ohio’s Enterprise University proposal were raised Monday in a roundtable discussion with Miami University President David Hodge. The plan will partially privatize public universities in Ohio.

The talk lasted roughly one hour and was held in Roudebush Hall. The meeting was organized by Miami’s chapter of the Defend Ohio campaign. Hodge described the meeting as professional and useful.

“I thought it was a very constructive conversation.

We got to discuss a lot of things that ranged a wide variety of issues,” Hodge said. “The thing that we all agreed on is that there is a large amount of uncertainty about actually what the plan will look like when it gets introduced to legislature.”

It is this ambiguity that Rachel Radina, president of the chapter and a graduate student in educational leadership, said prompted a desire to discuss a wide variety of concerns about the plan. Of these, Radina explained that fears about increased enrollment rates were something that was addressed for a variety of reasons.

“One is because a couple of years ago, Miami came up with a shortage in student housing because there were more students than Miami had room for,” Radina said.

“The president doesn’t think that enrollments would dramatically increase even if the enrollment cap was removed because we are not currently near the

beyond those in attendance of Monday’s meeting. Sophomore Adrian Christ worries that, if the proposal passes, it could change the entire makeup of the university.

“I feel like losing the ‘public’ label could create an entirely elitist culture here,” Christ said. “More people are able to and interested in coming to a ‘public’ university than a ‘private’ one.”

Hodge said Miami will continue to have discussions with the Inter-University Council, Board of Regents Chancellor Jim Petro and other officials about ways for state universities to gain benefits without losing funding.

We are not sitting here waiting for an The Defend Ohio campaign chapter will be puropportunity that allows us to radically suing their opposition to raise tuition.” the plan.

“Our next step is to talk David HODGE MIAMI UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT to legislators and bring our concerns as well as universities’ concerns to the table in did, market forces are at vide the Miami community regards to this plan,” Radina work and it simply wouldn’t with opportunities to dis- said. “We’re hopeful that we can create a strong stube feasible to raise tuition cuss the proposal.

In the meantime, Hodge dent and worker movement very much.”

Hodge said that for the does not suggest that Miami across the state of Ohio so that we can keep our public foreseeable future, the tu- dwell heavily on the issue.

“There is no reason at this universities public.” ition increase plan will repoint for Miami students to Despite his own worries, main the same.

“In Miami’s long range be overly concerned about Hodge hopes budget cuts five-year plan, we’re esti- the impact of the ‘Enterprise are not in the future and mating a 3.25 percent in- University’ system. The big- stressed a commitment to crease per year,” Hodge gest impact would be if they what he believes is the unisaid. “We are not sitting cut our budget, and they can versity’s bottom line.

“We’re already very here waiting for an oppor- cut our budget whether there tunity that allows us to radi- are ‘Enterprise Universi- poorly supported by the ties’ or not,” Hodge said. “I state financially, relative cally raise tuition.”

Additionally, Radina said think it’s good to keep track to the national landscape,” concerns were presented of the conversation, and as Hodge said. “We’re going that the plan would result in a campus, we will get back to continue to fight to keep departmental cuts. Accord- into it in January or Febru- as much of state funding as ing to Hodge, any of the ary as we understand what possible so that we can keep likely departmental cuts that exactly is going to be put on the cost of going to Miami as low as possible and yet occur in the future will be the table.”

Nevertheless, student achieve the high outcome unrelated to the initiative.

Meanwhile, Hodge fears do currently exist measures that we work on.” enrollment cap anyway.”

Radina said another major question raised was the concern about the potential for the university to gain power to substantially increase tuition. According to Radina, Hodge assured in the discussion that this is not something that students should be concerned about. Hodge reiterated this statement.

“The plan doesn’t have anything in it about giving us the authority to raise tuition. It is probably unlikely that the legislature will ever give up that authority,” Hodge said. “Even if they

He was also strict in the academic realm, and went so far as to ban students from holding meetings unless they were given permission by the university and to prohibit students and faculty from discussing controversial subjects such as slavery and religion.

The subject of slavery was one Junkin seemed to struggle

presented the universities’ concerns about the plan.

“I think most of the universities, if not all of them, would say that it’s not at all clear that we’re willing to give up our state resources to gain the proposed advantages,” Hodge said. “We’re still arguing that most of these straightforward advantages are ones that are pretty logical and we shouldn’t have to give up money in order to get these logical changes.”

Hodge said the final plan will be revealed and taken before the state legislature in January. When this happens, Hodge plans to pro-

with throughout his life. He didn’t support slavery, but he was against abolitionism as well as secession.

“The problem with Junkin is he was so combative it’s

hard to pigeonhole him into anything,” Schmidt said.

Junkin’s mixed feelings about slavery were not helped when one of his daughters married the famous Confederate general Stonewall Jackson.

Although Junkin is mostly remembered for his intense discipline and opposition to students’ academic freedom, he did have some good qualities. He was good with money and managed to keep the university out of debt, even though the number of students attending the university declined under him. Junkin even made personal sacrifices to keep the university from going into debt, such as getting rid of the university groundskeeper and taking over the position himself.

Junkin left Miami in 1844 to become president of Lafayette College in Easton, Penn.

ASG holds elections for three positions

By Matt Levy

Senior Staff Writer

Miami University’s Associated Student Government (ASG) plunged into its second meeting of the year with a lengthy agenda and a truncated meeting time.

Laws 100, ASG’s meeting space, was reserved for a class exam at 8 p.m., forcing ASG to hasten its meeting. According to Student Senate President Tom Kirkham, this was an event that would only happen one other time.

The meeting began with a funding request from Miami’s club sports, bringing attention to the fiscal numbers involved in club sports activities. Student Body Vice President Matt Frazier questioned the large numbers requested

by Miami’s equestrian team ($80,717.20), and was told the team has considerably larger expenses than most other club sports teams and they often have to pay out of pocket for many expenses.

The meeting continued with the elections of three positions; the President ProTempore, the Parliamentarian and the representative to University Senate.

Senator Brandon Patterson won the President ProTempore position, beating out opponents Tom Hohman and Mike Merrill.

The President Pro-Tem-

pore is one of the highest leadership positions within ASG. Patterson, a Student Orientation Undergraduate Leader (SOUL), a member of ASG’s funding committee, scholar leader and mock trial member, detailed how his experiences in ASG and as a SOUL qualified him for the position.

He promised to bring in “great speakers” to come to ASG’s weekly meetings.

Conor Nelson, a senator for Heritage Commons and formerly for Peabody Hall, won the position of ASG Parliamentarian. Nelson faced questioning by other members of ASG to see if he was the right candidate for the job and fielded questions regarding the exact nature of his duties.

“Parliamentarian is actually a simple job,” Nelson said. “You are the head of an administrative committee that looks at the bills we pass and makes sure they hold against the constitution of ASG.” Peter Dougherty, subbing for an absent senator, grilled Nelson about his exact knowledge of ASG’s bylaws by asking him to state where in the organization’s informational binder the role of Parliamentarian is defined. Nelson immediately responded with the

ASG, SEE PAGE 8

Ohio Governor appoints two alumni to Miami’s Board of Trustees

By Ursula Cauffiel Staff Writer

The Miami University Board of Trustees – composed of nine voting members, three national trustees and two non-voting students – presented its two newest members: David Budig and Mark Ridenour Sept. 13.

Both men are Miami University alumni and are happy to come back and make a difference for the school. They were appointed by Ohio Governor John Kasich for the voluntary position and are excited about being on the board.

Budig is currently the

Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer for Budco Group. The Budco group is a large, private equipment rental and leasing company out of Cincinnati.

Budig has two sons at Miami right now: Max, a junior and Quinn, a first-year.

Over the years, Budig has kept his ties close with Miami and that is one of the reasons he was chosen for the position.

Budig, a 1984 graduate said, “I was chosen for the Board because of my involvement with Miami University over the years and my commitment to keeping Miami one of the premier

universities in the country.”

According to Budig, he is filling the position of Kay Geiger, who left the board a week before he was appointed.

“Each Board member’s term is staggered which means there could be a new Board member appointed each year,” Budig said. “This year, Mark Ridenour was selected by the Governor for a full term and I was appointed to fulfill the term vacated by Kay Geiger.”

His term is ending in 2013, but the Governor can renew it upon appointment. His main duties will be working with the other board

members on critical issues that arise to keep Miami headed in a positive direction.

The other new board member, Mark E. Ridenour, is also a Miami alumnus.

Ridenour is the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for Heidtman Steel Products, Inc. in Toledo, Ohio. Heidtman Steel Products sells steel processing equipment and machines that make necessary items.

“Typically, members are appointed due to special skills or relationships with Miami that would in turn enhance the board and Miami as well as exhibit a willingness to serve the

institution,” Ridenour said. “I also have a strong background in public service serving other institutions on boards and committees.”

Being a Miami alumnus and having so much experience, it is easy to see why Ridenour was appointed.

Ridenour’s position on the Board of Trustees will involve similar duties to Budig’s position, but also has some specifications that he knows of. According to Ridenour, he will be involved in overseeing all financial, accounting, IT, legal, credit and HR functions of the board.

Miami junior Ali Seyfrath was impressed with

the qualifications of the new trustees.

“I think that they both sound very intelligent and have been successful in their current careers,” Seyfarth said. “That shows that they are going to be very involved on the board.

I also think it’s great that they are Miami alumni. It makes me feel that I can trust them to do what is best for the students, and university as a whole.”

Ridenour is pleased to be returning to mother Miami. “(I’m) glad to be back to help advance Miami in the future and make it an even better institution of higher learning than it is today,” Ridenour said.

www.miamistudent.net

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2011

LISA GEHRING THE MIAMI STUDENT

ANDREW BRAY THE MIAMI STUDENT

GETTING THEIR GREEK ON

Above, Greek Week softball with Jordan Lafferty of Chi Psi. Top right, members of Chi Omega participating in the obstacle course. Bottom right, Greek Week basketball.

ALLISON BACKOVSKI THE MIAMI STUDENT

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The number of Miami Student readers who will see

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COMMUNITY

JUSTIN REASH SARAH SIDLOW

COMMUNITY@miamistudent.net

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2011

POLICE

BEAT Local bar feels love from celebrities Male reports iPod golf clubs stolen from car At around 4 p.m. Monday, a Miami University senior reported multiple items missing from his vehicle that was parked next to his house sometime overnight. The student found two of his golf clubs missing in the trunk and his iPod missing from the front console, police reports said. The glove compartment was also opened.

No damage was found to his vehicle, police reports said.

Female finds drunken man standing in shower A Miami student reported an intoxicated male standing in her shower stall 2 a.m Sunday on Sycamore Street. When she went into the shower, she saw the male standing fully clothed with vomit on his shirt, police reports said. When she asked what he was doing, he said he lived there. She told him he had the wrong house and then he walked out the front door. The incident was documented but the student did not want to file a report.

Suspect throws rock through home window At 2:15 a.m. Wednesday, a rock was thrown through the north patio door of a home located on Bishop Avenue. The subsequent damage was a broken glass door. The victim said they did not see anyone and did not call the police at the time of the incident.

Boy receives citation for not going to school Around 7:15 a.m Tuesday, a mother called police regarding her 15-year-old son who refused to go to school.

Police arrived and the 15 year-old, who has a history of attendance issues, was on the couch. The juvenile was cited for unruly behavior.

Professional athletes routinely visit Brick Street Bar and Grill

By Justin Reash Community Editor

Over the years, Brick Street Bar and Grill has become a beloved entertainment venue. From live concerts to themed nights, Brick Street provides the type of entertainment college students crave. Owned

by Mark and Will Weisman, who also own 45 East Bar and Grill and Will’s Pizza, Brick Street’s popularity reaches much further than Oxford.

Throughout the past two decades, and with the help of social media, Brick Street has gained a faithful following of professional athletes who, whether in Oxford for the night or a weekend, always seem to end up at the bar they all love.

This high-profile group of followers has only served to further enhance Brick Street’s reputation in the Midwest.

“It’s good publicity when professional athletes or other celebrities choose to come in your establishments,” Will Weisman said.

“With Twitter and texting,

word gets out pretty quick and students get a kick out of taking pictures and getting a chance to meet these guys. Fortunately, the Miami [University] students are respectful and the athletes enjoy the interaction.”

A member of almost every major professional league in the United States has stopped by Brick Street at one time or another.

However, it is former Miami student-athletes that return the most to their old bar.

Athletes like Ron Harper, Wally Szczerbiak and Jake Bell have all returned more than once to Brick Street (and each have a signed jersey on the wall of the bar). The most famous professional athlete to come out of Miami, Ben Roethlisberger, has visited the bar many times and has remained good friends with the Weismans since his time as a student.

“Of course, there are many former Miami hockey players who are now in the NHL that come back and visit us on an annual basis,” Weisman said.

Non-alumni professional

athletes have been to Brick Street as well. Former Ohio State University athletes Anthony Gonzalez and Ted Nugent (both currently in the NFL) have stopped in according to Weisman, along with Rob Gronkowski of the New England Patriots and UFC champion Rich Franklin.

Brandon Phillips of the Cincinnati Reds has been to Brick Street twice, with his last appearance happening Sept. 16.

“It was really neat when he tweeted to his 150,000 followers that he was heading to Brick Street for the night,” Weisman said of Phillips’ appearance.

Asked if Brick Street has ever paid a player to come, Weisman said, “We have never paid a professional athlete as it cheapens the impact. We are proud that [when] these folks choose to come to Brick Street they know they will be treated in a first class way.”

Weisman said his favorite memory with a professional athlete over the years involved Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.

JULIA ENGELBRECHT THE MIAMI STUDENT

The jerseys of former Miami athletes Ben Roethlisberger and Wally Szczerbiak hang on the wall of Brick Street “One night me and Ben were intentionally getting rough with each other because Ben said to me the ‘I want to get officially thrown out by Will Weisman.’ We were both laughing about it but it was dark and

employees and customers could not see that we were joking and thought that a fight was brewing,” Weisman said. “Once they saw

BRICK, SEE PAGE 13

Uptown unrest highlights police staffing concerns

By Shannon Pesek Senior Staff Writer

After the unrest that occurred uptown during the early morning hours of Sept. 11, the recent decrease in officers at the Oxford Police Department (OPD) is a concern among students.

Interim Police Chief Bob Holzworth, who recently replaced Stephan Schwein, said the disturbance uptown was not a riot, instead referring to what occurred as “not unusual.”

“What occurred was not a riot, it was just a couple of groups from outside of the city and it was blown

up into a confrontation,” Holzworth said.

Holzworth has been with OPD for 38 years and regarded the only unusual part of the uprising as the sudden “pulsing” into the street.

Holzworth was not uptown when this event occurred.

Zoey Hesp, a senior at Miami University, was uptown when the unrest took place and characterized it as more of a “mob” than a riot.

“I would not even call what occurred a riot, it was more of a mob. And, the police response was instantaneous,” Hesp said.

Sgt. John Varley attributed the unrest to the need for OPD to hire replacement officers for those that have retired.

“Shifts are light due to man power, if more officers had been on duty they could have seen it, maybe.

But, it happened so fast that it may not have made a difference,” Varley said.

Nevertheless, Varley believes that it would have been better to have more officers available to respond to the unrest.

Varley confirmed there were three arrests and three citations for disorderly conduct issued after the confrontation was controlled.

The decrease in officers at OPD is due to the recent retirement of five officers, whose positions have not yet been filled, Holzworth said.

“We’re working diligently to fill the positions, but we are just a little understaffed. There are only a few positions that we have been unable to fill, but we have the authorization to do so,” Holzworth said.

Holzworth said that within the next few months, the department should be fully staffed.

However, despite the decreased number of officers, Holzworth believes Oxford is still as safe as ever.

“We still have multiple units that are 24 hour units, there are just less right now.

We can still adequately protect the public, but it will be safer when we fill these positions,” Holzworth said.

Varley said the most important way for students and residents to feel safer is to prevent events such as the unrest on Sept. 11.

“People need to be responsible because bad things can happen and people can get hurt,” Varley said.

Hesp, upon hearing that

RIOT, SEE PAGE 13

Uptown district sees increase Hamilton debuts paving in beds, but not parking spaces experiment to save money

By Lisa Reymann

For The Miami Student

The numbers of uptown student apartments have steadily been increasing in the past four years. Since 2007, 327 new beds have

been added to the structural layout of the buildings on and just off High Street, according to Alan Kyger, Oxford economic development director. Although increased housing options and new locations sound ideal

ANDREW BRAY THE MIAMI STUDENT

Packed parking lots are a common sight uptown

to most upperclassmen, the detail of parking has yet to be fully addressed.

The issue was discussed in August at an uptown landlords, property owners and property managers meeting between the Chamber of Commerce, Oxford Police Department and various business owners.

“This summer, the City Council voted to make all of the Uptown District ‘No Overnight Parking,’” Kyger said. “This was done for two reasons: one, to allow street cleaning and maintenance, and two, to encourage uptown residents to store their cars in long term parking lots.”

Park Place Real Estate houses approximately 100 students uptown and this school year the company opened up additional apartments. Luke Williams, a senior living in one of the complexes, was fortunate enough to find a solution of what he could do with his vehicle.

“Park Place provides two parking spots per four-person

PARKING, SEE PAGE 13

By Sarah Sidlow Community Editor

Drivers travelling on Eaton Road in Hamilton will be, perhaps unknowingly, participating in a rather unusual experiment conducted by the Butler County Engineer’s Office (BCEO). The BCEO has begun laying down six different paving solutions on approximately one half-mile stretch of road, including blacktop and chip seal sections.

The effort is in order to indentify the most cost-effective solution for paving roads in Butler County.

“We’re trying to determine which surface treatment gives us the most bang for our buck,” Chris Petrocy, spokesperson for BCEO, said. “In this economy, governments are just like public businesses.

We’re doing everything we can to cut expenses and save tax dollars.”

Much of the fiscal pressure comes from increases in fuel and resurfacing costs.

Choosing the chip seal solution over blacktop, for example, saves

about $100,000 per mile.

“The task now is to figure out what roads are appropriate to do the more inexpensive treatments,” Petrocy said. “Heavily travelled areas, particularly in West Chester, Liberty Township and Oxford will get more blacktop. Granted [chip seal] is not quite as nice, but as the traffic presses the gravel into the tar, it’s really not a bad treatment at all.”

BCEO plans to finish laying the pavement by the end of September, though the recent rain has proven problematic, Petrocy said. The testing process will cost $27,000.

Drivers shouldn’t notice any difference in drivability on Eaton Road, Petrocy said.

While some sections may be smoother than others initially, once the roads are driven on, everything will smooth out.

BCEO will evaluate the road over the course of the next five years and will examine the paving solutions quarterly, after each season.

The BCEO is particularly interested in how each solution will stand up to road salt and snow plows, as well as the relative safety of each

surface, Petrocy said.

Butler County Engineer Greg Wilkens commented on the unusual nature of the project.

We’re trying to determine which surface treatment gives us the most bang for our buck.”

Chris petrocy

BCEO spokesperson

“[The project] came about because there are so many new products on the market now,” he said.

Wilkens said traffic has been and will continue to be maintained as the paving products are laid out.

Miami junior Evan Burch thinks this experimental procedure is an innovative solution.

“I know back home, when the roads get worn down, they pour new blacktop no matter what. I think if they took the time to investigate other solutions they could end up saving a lot of money,” Burch said.

www.miamistudent.net

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2011

Summer 2012 Multi-Site Business in Europe Program

Offered by Professors Tom Porcano and Wayne Staton

Experience Western Europe!

London

Barcelona

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Munich

Lauterbrunnen

Open to All Majors Attend Our Family Weekend Presentation Saturday, September 24, 9:00-10:00 a.m. at the Sigma Nu house (300 N. Tallawanda) Contact: porcantm@muohio.edu or statonw@muohio.edu

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OPINION

Editors Noëlle Bernard Thomasina Johnson

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2011

editorial@miamistudent.net

EDITORIAL The following piece, written by the editorial editors, reflects the majority opinion of the editorial board.

Academic freedom is a vital right, but comes with responsibilities The proposal by the department of comparative religion to bring a member of the Westboro Baptist Church (WBC) to campus has caused an uproar in the Miami community. Shirley Phelps-Roper was to visit professor Hillel Gray’s 100-level class on religious extremism. The department has since dropped these plans. In response to this situation, the editorial board of The Miami Student considered two questions: whether Gray should be able to bring Phelps-Roper to campus, and whether Gray and the department would be right to follow through with the plan.

We came to an immediate and clear consensus that Gray and any other professor is within his or her rights to invite whoever they want to their classes unless there is a threat to safety, especially if the event in

question is optional for students. Academic freedom is the bedrock of intellectual inquiry. It is what enables free thought and scholarly pursuits to take place on this campus. However, academic freedom comes with responsibilities in addition to rights.

This board was nearly evenly split on the question of whether going ahead with the visit would have been a good idea.

In the end, we decided the potential harm from the visit outweighed the educational benefits.

A WBC visit would have offered students, faculty and the community exposure to a group of people who view their cause as rational. This would have been a rare opportunity for the students in the religious extremism class to interact with someone whose views are almost universally

rejected by society.

But the problem with a WBC visit goes beyond arguments of First Amendment rights. The WBC is known for their overt hate-speech. The group targets large fractions of the American public as a ploy to garner media attention and further its cause.

Generally, this board understands the societal value of minority viewpoints.

But some viewpoints are so heinous and potentially harmful they do not deserve an equal seat at the table. While the group has the constitutional right to speak, why go out of our way to listen? Why give them the satisfaction of knowing they are being heard? WBC should be left to shout their hate into a vacuum, perhaps observed to the extent that we can understand and avoid their twisted views.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR A message from the Department of Comparative Religion A story broke in The Miami Student on Monday, Sept. 19, that had some unfortunate inaccuracies and produced unnecessary anxiety. The Department of Comparative Religion had been discussing the possibility of holding an event in conjunction with a class on religious extremism that was using the Westboro Baptist Church as one of its case studies. We were exploring the idea of the instructor of the class holding an interview with a member of this group using research methods that we believe are vitally important for understanding the human dimension of religious extremism.

It is unfortunate that while we were still in the planning stage, someone leaked a memorandum about the proposed event to The Miami Student. The memo that we put together to seek guidance from various stakeholders on campus was clear on this point: we were in no way considering inviting the Westboro Baptist Church to come and evangelize.

In light of the many concerns that have been expressed, we have decided not to proceed with plans regarding the Westboro Baptist Church. Although studying religious activists, religious extremists and religious militants is vitally important, we see the complexities that arise when this sort of research is done under the auspices of Miami University and we appreciate the poten-

tial negative impact on the Miami community.

Our department’s interest in the Westboro Baptist Church arose in the context of a class on religious activists and extremists taught by a member of our department who has done interviews with members of that group. We have invited him to make a public presentation on his research, tentatively scheduled for Oct. 25, and we hope that many of you who have expressed concerns will attend. In this way, we wish to inaugurate discussion of the difficult question of studying the offensive, hated, or dangerous.

Something that may be good about the public outcry — despite the disinformation and sensationalizing that have occurred — is the opportunity to have conversations about how to study the incendiary language of activist and extremist religious groups without giving added power to such groups.

That is obviously a question on which people will have diverse perspectives.

Some scholars working in the field of comparative religion have chosen to study the hated haters, the most inflammatory of religious activists, to try to understand the formation and development of such groups. The need is clearly important. But how is this to be done? What methodological protocols should be followed?

How might this be translated into pedagogical strategies for the classroom? These

are questions that frame the current controversy over the proposed interview with representatives of the Westboro Baptist Church.

The importance of scholarship on religious extremists and religious militants has been acknowledged by government agencies in recent years. After the tragic events at Waco, for example, the FBI began consultations with the American Academy of Religion, the professional association for scholars in comparative religion. It was clear that scholars could provide useful frameworks for understanding the Branch Davidians in Waco, Texas.

Unlike the Branch Davidians, the Westboro Baptist Church is not a physically violent group. As horrifying as their rhetoric is, what violence has occurred at Westboro Baptist Church picketing events has typically been directed at them. Such violent responses to this group can have the effect of confirming their own confrontational world view.

We thank all of those who have shared their thoughts and opinions with us. We believe this kind of conversation is vitally important and hope that you will join us in the conversations that we plan to have this year.

Stephen A. Nimis

Professor of Classics, Interim Chair of Comparative Religion nimissa@muohio.edu

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

EDITORIAL BOARD Sam Kay Editor in Chief

Lauren Ceronie Campus Editor

Bethany Bruner News Editor

Jenni Wiener Campus Editor

Noëlle Bernard Editorial Editor

Michael Solomon Sports Editor

Thomasina Johnson Editorial Editor

Amanda Seitz Special Reports Editor

JUSTIN REASH COMMUNITY Editor

All letters must be signed in order to be printed. Please send letters via e-mail to: editorial@miamistudent.net We reserve the right to edit for length, content and clarity.

The following letters were submitted before the Department of Comparative Religion announced its decision to withdraw its plans for a WBC visit.

Westboro Baptist Church abuses their right to speak The freedom of speech is something that I feel we all have access too and should not be hindered in using in any way. In regards to the Westboro Baptist Church (WBC), they have the right to protest in the ways they do and they take full advantage of this right. However, it seems that their use of this right verges on the edge of abuse at times. Protesting a nine-year-old shooting victim’s funeral and saying that this is “God’s

punishment for America’s lack of morals” seems to be more of a tactic in hateful torment than expressing legitimate concerns. The radical views and actions by WBC against homosexuals, various political groups and almost every religious sect have even the KKK calling them a group of “hate mongers.” I found it interesting that a Miami University professor would invite such a group to speak in their publicly funded classroom.

If the WBC is invited to speak, then why not invite another group with similar caustic tones, perhaps the neo-Nazis? Calling attention to a group such as this does nothing but provide fuel to their fire and furthers the hateful messages they wish to spread. Messages that do not seem to fall in line with Miami’s call for “love and honor.”

Stephen Hendrickson hendrisj@muohio.edu

Scripture, used by WBC to espouse hate, holds keys to combat hate Like many in the Miami University community, (I am the parent of a current student), I initially reacted with dismay to the news that Professor Hillel Gray had invited a representative of the Westboro Baptist Church (WBC) to participate in his Comparative Religion class. My reaction was based on equal measures of horror at WBC’s hateful practices and a belief that the First Amendment in no way requires either Miami or Professor Gray to provide WBC with a platform.

After reflection, I have come to believe that Professor Gray’s invitation is exactly the action that one would hope for from a professor of Comparative Religion and from a leading institution of higher education. Having

WBC participate in his class will give the Miami community the opportunity to go beyond a mere visceral reaction to WBC, and to instead to have them “explain” the scriptures that they use to justify their hateful behavior; and to then be able to critically examine WBC’s scriptural interpretation within a religious framework.

I suspect that WBC mistakenly bases its picketing of soldiers’ funerals on the “curses,” particularly the curse of military defeat that Moses uses to exhort his people in his final address contained in the book of Deuteronomy. If so, WBC ignores Moses’ message that blessings flow from societal justice; including commandments to contribute to the

widow, the orphan and the immigrant and that curses are the result of an unjust and divisive society. WBC also ignores the fundamental lesson, also contained in Moses’ final speech, that each of us is created in God’s image.

When WBC blasphemes the funeral of one of our soldiers, their actions are a direct reproach to God, our Creator.

I don’t know what Professor Gray’s lesson plan will be. But how else can Miami’s students gain a better understanding of how scripture can be misused to create hate and how that same scripture can be better used to combat hate?

Abraham Kay

afk55ps@aol.com

Consider what if would look like if WBC appeared on campus There is a lot of murmuring going on in the student body of Miami University about the possibility of any Westboro Baptist Church (WBC) members coming to one of our campuses. None of it is particularly positive, even from a guy like me who cannot resist playing devil’s advocate to really terrible ideas to try and understand the “why” of it all. The invitation has not yet been approved, so let’s not get ahead of ourselves here, but for the sake of argument, let’s look at it as though someone had the idea of inviting them to our school in the first place, which is actually completely true.

I understand that it is not as many might think it is; it is not a rally, it is merely a small classroom interview.

I also do not believe that the idea behind this invitation has anything to do with supporting the Westboro Baptist Church and I recognize that the school does not condone their message, as per President Hodge’s very clear statement on the matter. So let’s not look at this as condoning the opinions or actions of the Westboro Baptist Church.

But, how can we not look at it like that? Even if the school itself is not inviting the entire compound to come and rally on our streets, what guarantee do we have that such a situation will not occur? How can we know that the group will not want to gather around one of our surrounding cities or towns and set up a demonstration?

Wouldn’t we be at least partially to blame for that?

The idea of having someone that wants to incite hatred towards a specific group of people as our guest seems in poor taste. There’s really no way around that. It simply is not a good idea. What would make it a good idea?

I have my sincerest doubts that any good open dialogue will be had with a representative of the Westboro Baptist Church, as you cannot speak reasonably with the unreasonable. We know their answers to all of the questions. Anyone who has seen as much WBC coverage as I have can tell you that all of the answers are, well, it’s because they think God hates the entire world for allowing homosexuals to exist and that is why all bad things happen. Except maybe God

doesn’t hate the members of their church. But everyone else is doomed to hell.

There you go, not only did I just save some departmental money on flying someone out here, we also dodged that crazy tension bullet that would result from inviting a hate group to our school after there have recently been gay-related hate crimes committed on our own campuses.

If you want to educate a class on the hatred of the Westboro Baptist Church, check out YouTube. It’s easy to find some good examples. Louis Theroux had a wonderful documentary in 2007 called The Most Hated Family in America and even followed up on it with America’s Most Hated Family in Crisis in 2011.

Plenty of information can be had there.

The invite, as I understand it, is still pending approval.

More people need to speak out about how they feel concerning this issue. Who knows, maybe someone will listen.

Joseph Ray

rayjp@muohio.edu

Westboro visit must encourage peaceful, respectful exchange of ideas The open exchange of information and ideas is paramount to the development and dissemination of knowledge and ideas. With that in mind, I would like to posit that the Westboro Baptist Church’s visit to Miami University should be cautiously embraced for what it is — an invitation by a professor of Religious Extremism to Shirley Phelps-Roper to be the subject of an interview for hate groups. This group’s beliefs are rooted in an extremely fundamentalist and literal construction and interpretation of Christianity. It’s hard to separate their religious beliefs from bigoted hatred with slogans such as “Thank God for 9-11,” “Priests Rape

Boys” and “Thank God for Dead Soldiers.”

With the general consensus (even in the Supreme Court) that Westboro’s speech is harmful, even hateful, it is appropriate that a Westboro spokeswoman is being invited to a class entitled “Religious Extremism.” Even more apropos, this spokeswoman is being invited as a member of a hate group. In light of these circumstances, Shirley Phelps-Roper’s visit is quite suitable — I struggle to think of a more hateful group.

In contrast to Westboro’s antagonistic approach of spreading their judgmental version of religion, Spectrum and many other student organizations

offer peaceful, respectful dialogue between opposing views. In Spectrum, every meeting begins with a Respect Agreement, a general code of mutual respect established for all people. It’s how we run our meetings and it’s how we grow. All people are included in our discussion, and anyone who desires to speak has a chance to have his or her voice heard. Peaceful, respectful exchange of information builds knowledge and enhances education.

Visit http://spectrummiami. wordpress.com for more information about Spectrum.

Billy Price

Co-President, Spectrum pricewc@muohio.edu

www.miamistudent.net

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2011 OPINION

ESSAY

LIBERTY AND JUSTICE TY GILLIGAN

J. DANIEL WATKINS

Hate group visit must not be allowed in classroom forum

Where’s the open exchange when refusing unpopular visitors?

It was announced in Monday’s edition of The Miami Student that a request from the Department of Comparative Religion to allow Shirley Phelps-Roper, a member of the Westboro Baptist Church, (WBC) to speak at Miami University, is currently under consideration by Miami’s administration. I feel that a majority of the Oxford community, as well as myself, are confused and disgusted by the mere suggestion of the WBC coming anywhere near Oxford’s campus. Allowing Ms. Phelps to speak at Miami would be horribly disrespectful and a slap-inthe-face to the majority of Miami’s students.

I understand the argument that all sides of an issue must be explored in order for individuals to come to a conclusion about a topic. This is why universities often sponsor controversial politicians or celebrities to speak. However, it is foolish to believe that something about Christianity and religion can be learned from the WBC. The WBC does not engage in productive, open dialogue; they engage in name-calling and personal attacks, tactics more suitable for a kindergarten playground than an academic setting. To think that Ms. Phelps can impart some sort of “knowledge” or “wisdom” on Miami students is a complete joke. Frankly, if the department of comparative religion or individual professors supporting the visit feel Ms. Phelps would be a good speaker, why not invite the Grand Wizard of the Ku Klux Klan? Or perhaps the leader of the Aryan Nation? Apparently, any ideology is worth

ESSAY ANDREW BOWMAN BOWMANAJ@muohio.edu

“All Miami University Campuses are designated Smoke-Free Environments,” says the Miami University Student Handbook 2011-2012 edition. Didn’t get a chance to read the handbook? The hundreds of signs and postings on all of the buildings should be plenty obvious then, since it is state law that they are printed in color.

Yet, every time I walk on campus, I see multiple people smoking. Students are the main offenders, but employees smoke on campus too, though out of view from their bosses.

The usual smoking hangouts are outside the libraries and in front of the residence halls. Don’t be confused though, it happens through-

ESSAY SARAH TITLE TITLESE@muohio.edu

On an average day, we interact with many different “groups” of people. You may have a group you study with on Tuesday nights, you may have a group you watch Jersey Shore with every Thursday or you may have a group that you go out with every weekend. Whatever the goal, most of us have groups of people who help us along in day-to-day life.

Most of us would like to admit that we are independent and self-sufficient. We’re out of our nests and we’re ready

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WATKINJD@muohio.edu

sharing with students here at Miami. That was sarcasm, in case it wasn’t clear.

The WBC may be one of the most hated groups of people in America; I have yet to meet a single individual who remotely agrees with anything the WBC preaches. The “church” targets gays and lesbians, African-Americans, Jews, Roman Catholics, most mainline Protestant churches (Lutheran, Methodist, Presbyterian, Anglican, Baptists), Muslims, Hindus and military service members. It’s a lengthy list and it would appear that everyone except WBC members are “going to hell.” It’s worthwhile to note that The Anti-Defamation League and the Southern Poverty Law Center monitor the WBC as a hate group. No wonder.

The Westboro Baptist Church thrives on media attention it gets for its childish displays. Miami would only appease them by giving them a public forum. Compensation is irrelevant. If the WBC does actually come to campus, students will be in an uproar and might protest Phelps appearance, and Miami would be in the national spotlight as the center of a controversy. This is exactly what the Westboro Baptist Church counts on; getting a large enough negative reaction that the media is brought in to report on the controversy, thus giving them a platform to spread their hate and “ideology.” I refuse to let Miami provide that forum for them.

I am very confused as to why the comparative religion department thinks a conversation with the WBC would be informative or prudent. A BBC report in 2007 indicated

that the church only had 71 members and almost all of them are extended relatives of one another. According to several religious associations, the WBC is not affiliated with any Baptist convention or association. It’s essentially one family living in a compound in Kansas. The WBC doesn’t represent a theological branch of Christianity or even a set of common beliefs within Christianity. Even extreme fundamentalist groups within Christianity are offended by the WBC. They are extremists pure and simple.

The president of the Comparative Religion Student Association said that allowing the WBC to speak is like allowing the Dalai Lama to speak.

I find this statement frighteningly misinformed. Equating Buddhism to the WBC is like equating al-Qaeda to Catholicism; you can’t equate a small extremist group to a worldwide, mainstream religion with millions of followers and a solidified ideology. The Dalai Lama represents hundreds of millions of Buddhists worldwide. Shirley PhelpsRoper represents 71 members of her church in Topeka; they are fundamentally different organizations and should not be lumped together.

I hope the College of Arts and Sciences and the administration will carefully review and scrutinize this proposal and recognize the negative impact it will have on the university population. The university should not be sacrificing a comfortable atmosphere for the majority of its students, simply for the (unlikely) potential benefits for a few REL 102 classes. It is not justifiable.

With the recent announcement of only the potential visit from a spokesperson of the Westboro Baptist Church (WBC), I read, as the comments on the article did nothing to refute the existence of “Godwin’s Law.” This states that the longer an online discussion goes on the probability that it will include references to or mentions of Hitler reaches 1. Rest assured, the comment section of The Miami Student did not disappoint. It happened. Seeing as this group, the WBC, has made a name for itself on the easily categorized actions of religious craze/hate, one cannot help but wonder what an actual interview with someone like Shirley Phelps-Roper would be like.

And if you don’t wonder, I hope that college didn’t rid you all of your academic curiosity. In particular, one of these comments mentioned reviving Hitler to give him an interview as an equal option.

One even said it would be better to invite “Neo-Nazis” to campus!

Besides all the obvious differences, like genocide, I think there is a point to be made here. Better for it though, are the tapings of Eichmann’s trial in Jerusalem. Take this in combination with the Hannah Arendt book Eichmann in Jerusalem: the Banality of Evil and there exists reasonable grounds for such an interview. When people discussed the atrocities that took place, they were able to refer directly to what the mastermind explained. Instead of making assumptions about what he might have thought was right or wrong in his actions, people were able to examine first hand. This is a

real opportunity to shed light on existing moral reasoning.

Here we can provide this opportunity for Shirley Phelps-Roper. As an attorney, she argued before the Supreme Court and got an 8-1 decision in favor of protecting her group’s actions.

There must exist, in some form, intelligence worth exploring here.

If one is to believe the comments left on the article, then I must admit, there is no hope for understanding on either side. But consider this, every person drawing comparisons and separations from WBC seems to miss the entire point. The members of the WBC are exercising constitutionally protected rights, and of course, this doesn’t make such opinions correct. It doesn’t mean they need to do it, but I can count on no hands the number of times I’ve seen this particular woman give an interview with the sole intention being to provide, for academic purposes, more insight in their motivations. If you respond, “there are no reasons, they’re just crazy,” yet immediately draw a line between their brand of religion and your own, then you should probably reconsider the premise, because that’s an intensely arbitrary distinction.

Another complaint is the subject of financing. It will cost the university precisely $0.00. If the university provides no compensation to Phelps-Roper but the ability to voice WBC’s position, how does one arrive at the opinion it is disgraceful for her to come anyway? To the credit of an academic institution, where people should never fear expressing an

opinion, it follows logically in no way that such a person should be denied the opportunity to speak. People don’t want her, or members of her group here, because they find it offensive. An entirely emotional response, alluding to shame and anger (seriously read those comments on the article), again fails a litmus test that provides censorship as a legitimate course of action.

Furthermore, the presence will be so minimal, that there’s not even a ticketed event for students to come and hear her. Controversial figures such as Karl Rove and Christopher Hitchens were at least afforded this.

In the end, it would be much easier to address the scenario in this light. Taken from On Liberty, the work of John Stuart Mill, we can address the importance of being able to share opinions.

“If all mankind minus one were of one opinion, and only one person were of the contrary opinion, mankind would be no more justified in silencing that one person, than he, if he had the power, would be justified in silencing mankind.”

A final criticism amounts to “I don’t want to prevent their opinions from being shared, I only want them not to be shared or defended in relation to my interests or place.” They can say whatever/wherever they want, as long as it doesn’t affect or isn’t near me. If your position is not to support the free exchange of ideas, no matter how unpopular, then don’t be surprised when I advocate for you not to appear or speak on campus, because it’s doubtful you’ll agree.

Miami’s smoking ban will continue to be full of hot air unless enforced

JULIA ENGELBRECHT THE MIAMI STUDENT

out the campus despite the university’s hard stance against tobacco.

There are, of course, with any laws, exceptions and loopholes. The exact rule is no smoking on university property. For instance, Miami does not own the west side of Campus Avenue. Also,

anyone in his or her own personal vehicle can light one up. Both of these defeat the purpose of the ban. The wind can blow smoke from across the street, and if all the windows down in the car then it is completely pointless to have the ban.

In addition, the president

can grant zones for overnight guests of the university staying at any hotel or lodging type facilities on campus, such as the Marcum Conference Center.

The arguments in favor of smoking stand on shaky ground. It lowers stress levels. Others argue that it is their constitutional right to slowly kill themselves.

Smoking is addictive.

Smoking causes cancer. Second hand smoke causes cancer and when smoke blows into other people’s vicinity, it stops being one person’s constitutional right and becomes the public’s problem. So on and so forth with the hundreds of arguments against it. The argument isn’t whether smoking is good or bad, even though experts, scientists and people

with common sense know it is a waste of time, money and good health.

The problem is why it isn’t being enforced. Miami enforces parking laws to the letter, laws that do not hurt anyone.

Yet, it won’t enforce a rule that protects its inhabitants from disease.

Granted, it is not entirely up to the role of formal officials on campus. Fellow students need to each other accountable. It is easy.

“Would you please not smoke here? Thank you.”

Polite. Direct. Quick. Still, a few oppose the rule and condemn you for asking by giving the bird (middle finger) or screaming at you.

For those people resistant to common decency, the

university should be stepping in and enforcing their own law. The Miami University Police Department (MUPD) has more important things to do, so it falls on other leadership positions on campus.

Around the residence halls, resident assistants (RAs) and the advisers should be enforcing the roles. It is disgusting to have someone else’s smoke blow into your room. Of course, some of the RAs and advisers will need to follow the rule first themselves, even if it means Susan Vaughn and the rest of the Office of Ethics and Student Conflict Resolution are working 12-hour shifts. To not enforce the ban is not only hypocritical but also makes the university appear weak.

Group interaction can help us stay happier, healthier, fulfilled to fly on our own. Help is not for us and we’ve got it all under control. Or so we’d like to believe. However, I believe that groups are a necessity, a part of life we cannot live without. So much so, that we do not even realize the importance of having a group until we don’t have one anymore. These aren’t just friend groups I’m talking about, study groups, lunch groups, clubs and teams. A group is anything that has a goal that cannot be accomplished by just one person.

Groups are beneficial to us in numbers of ways. According to scientificamerican. com, being a part of social networks enhances our resilience and helps us cope later on in life with serious trauma or death. If you think about this in terms of your own life, you can see the truth to these findings. If your test went poorly, you have a group of classmates you can complain to and try to make sense of what didn’t make sense to you. Then you can come home to your roommate or

house mate and complain to them. While they may not be able to give you any insight into what you did wrong, they can console you and make you feel better. Those are two different groups right there helping you overcome sorrow in one short day.

But putting complaints aside, groups are also very helpful resources. We can exchange information with one another about where to eat, where to get our hair done or the best place to go on the weekends. They can

help us adjust to a new environment or give us advice on how to survive a certain class. Groups can also help enhance our academic knowledge. Study groups and project groups can help our knowledge base grow as we try to keep up with the smartest kid in the group.

They may introduce us to new research methods or quick tips on how to sidestep a long night of studying.

Groups can help us better ourselves in every sense.

Ultimately, groups are

fundamental parts of life. Everyone needs a group in order to survive. We have core groups in our lives, there are groups to monitor and help the education system, the judicial system and even the president. As people, we need each other to bounce exchanges and receive information. It’s hard to admit at times, especially when we think so highly of our abilities to manage our own lives independently, but there will be times when we just need a little help from our friends.

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www.miamistudent.net

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2011

Howe Writing Center helps garner national recognition

New social media platform to replace Miami’s most visited website

By Emily Balch

By Abby Russ

For The Miami Student

US News and World Report recognized Miami University along with 23 other universities for making writing a priority. Writing is essential and stressed for any major at Miami.

All students have the option to visit Howe Writing Center for Excellence that plays a huge role in Miami’s recognition.

The Howe Writing Center is located in King Library and a smaller center in Peabody Hall. Since its establishment, students of all majors have taken advantage of this resource.

In order to use this center, appointments are needed in advance and can be scheduled online. If both of these locations are full, students can be put on waitlists in case someone cancels their appointment since there are only 222 consultations per week, according to Maurica Allen, administrative assistant of Howe.

“Comparing the first four weeks of this school year to last year, we have performed 18 percent more consultations,” Allen said.

Siobhan Watson, a second year graduate student and graduate assistant at the center, had more enthusiastic remarks about this report and Howe. She was thrilled with the report

and thought all the work Miami is putting into writing and the curriculum is paying off.

“We have been completely booked for a couple weeks even with a ton of staff,” Watson said.

Howe is usually more popular around midterms and later into the semester, according to Watson.

Howe director, Paul Anderson, is elated to be recognized.

“We are turning students down, the demand is greater than the capacity,” Anderson said. “Consultants are really good and students are hearing from one another the value of coming here.”

The center has been busy due to the fact that professors and the university are putting such an emphasis on writing, which goes along with the honor, according to Anderson.

Josh Kiger, a fifth year creative writing and history major and student manager of the center was very happy with the report and said the honor is deserved.

“When you work for a writing center like we do, you feel unappreciated until we are recognized,” Kiger said.

He said he believes there are many reasons why Howe has been recognized.

Miami has put a lot of effort

into their writing program and realizes how important it is, according to Kiger.

To improve the quality of the center this year, Howe has added more graduate consultants and personal consultants to work with international students.

“With a writing curriculum being so progressive, we had to up our staff a lot,” Kiger said.

Along with adding more staff, the center also has added a program called “quick questions” that allows students to come in without an appointment just to ask questions on assignments or projects.

Kiger said writing and the Howe Writing center are very beneficial to students. “Writing goes across all subjects,” Kiger said.

“Writing and good communication skills are what you need to be successful later in life.”

First year Abbey Kunce said Howe has helped her so far and she was not surprised by the report. She has gone twice so far this year and has two more appointments this week.

“They really help explain what is wrong with my paper and they give me the right strategies to fix it,” Kunce said. “I don’t think I would able to get through my first semester without it.”

For The Miami Student

Miami University students are no strangers to the ongoing changes online. With the axe of Blackboard, Miami will welcome CampusEAI at the end of first semester.

CampusEAI, “EAI” standing for Enterprise Application Integration, is a web platform where students can receive more organized information.

“You will be able to get all of the information in one place so you won’t have to memorize passwords for different features,” said Corey Close, marketing and communications coordinator of CampusEAI. MyMiami will have a new look designed by University Communications using the new Miami branding. It will feature a single sign that will provide access to Niihka, BannerWeb, Gmail, Exchange and some social networking sites like Facebook, Cathy McVey, senior director of Strategic Communications and Planning said.

“The whole idea of the portal is to provide a one stop place where you can get lots of services, so students can see the dining hall menus, check their bursar bill, see their courses etc.,” McVey said.

CampusEAI will integrate these applications across the whole university hopefully after the initial launch of the new platform.

Students are familiar with the changes regarding Niihka and McVey is confident that the transition from Blackboard to CampusEAI will be seamless in December.

“We didn’t get a lot of support from Blackboard and the faculty was

Blackboard does not offer as many features such as the Smartphone app and the ability to instant message other students.

Miami has been talking with CampusEAI since the spring in preparation to launch at the end of December when the contract with Blackboard is over.

McVey, Close and Mullapudy all said there will be no problem with the transition to CampusEAI and that

I think the new platform is a step in the right direction.”

Meghan Wadsworth

VICE PRESIDENT OF STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS

unhappy,” McVey said.

Miami won a grant to help pay for CampusEAI and the cost has gone down significantly. The university paid $300,000 a year for Blackboard’s services and with the five-year grant, Miami will only be paying $75,000 per year for CampusEAI. “There are a lot of benefits to the grant, including opportunities to collaborate with other schools,” said Jonathan Mullapudy, director of relationship management at CampusEAI. He went on to say the

the new platform will be easier for students to navigate than Blackboard.

“These changes are not drastic enough to confuse students,” Vice President of Student Organizations Meghan Wadsworth said.

CampusEAI’s platform will allow Miami to expand its technology base bringing social media and mainstream technology to students.

“I think the new platform is a step in the right direction as we move to update Miami’s most visited webpage,” Wadsworth said.

University tests institutional effectiveness in pioneer accreditation process

By Jessica Barga

For the Miami Student

Miami University will soon be taking part in a new accreditation process called Open Pathways, administered by the Higher Learning Commission, that will test the university’s effectiveness as an institution of higher learning. “[The] university has been chosen to pioneer a new process for affirming our accreditation,” said Cecilia Shore, executive

vice president for Academic Affairs. According to Shore, the new process will involve two separate parts that will test the quality of Miami’s programs and provide assurance for re-accreditation. “[This] demonstrates to our accreditors we are a functional and effective organization for supporting student learning on … different criteria levels,” Shore said. “[It] demonstrates our effectiveness as an institution.”

These criteria include having a clear mission, having integrity in dealings, being honest about information like the financial aid process and understanding effectiveness in supporting teaching, learning and scholarship, according to Shore. “[It’s an] effort to define for the public what a college means … our project is to find out what Miami University believes what a degree qualifications profile means,” Shore said. “The

quality assurance process is already being implemented in that we are collecting data about our institution.”

Jennifer Blue, executive vice president for Academic Affairs said, “We always do two things … one is the assurance part, where we make sure we’re doing what we’re supposed to be doing and the second part is improvement.”

The difference between the new system and the old one, she said, is the splitting of the assurance program

into two separate parts.

“The improvement part is a degree qualifications profile … and the Higher Learning profile basically asked us to test a tool for them – and that is a degree qualifications profile. We’re supposed to see if that resonates with us,” Blue said.

Shore said that Miami is one of a group of 20 colleges, community colleges and universities nationwide that is using the new system of accreditation this year, with different schools being

selected each year.

Miami first-year Anna Tyrlik said she thinks the university is taking a positive step by participating in the new accreditation system and improving itself for the students.

“It’s important for the university to not make students a number [by] teaching someone to learn not just a set of courses … so students [can] learn what they need to learn so they can be the best they can be,” Tyrlik said.

ASG

FROM PAGE 2 correct page and paragraph.

Senator Tom Hohman ran as a candidate for both the President Pro-Tempore position and for the representative to University Senate position. When questioned about his knowledge of University Senate, Hohman faltered.

“I would think they do something similar to (ASG), only with more power,” Hohman said.

Student body president Nick Huber asked Hohman if he has class during the regularly scheduled University Senate meeting time, to which Hohman responded “yes,” and that he would not be available. His competitor, firstyear senator Cole Tyman, won the position.

The meeting closed with the introduction and passage of a resolution to pledge continued support of the forthcoming Armstrong Student Center. The bill, co-authored by 11 senators and sponsored by ASG’s executive cabinet, promises to support the university in its ambition to construct the Armstrong Student Center, which has had attention called to it recently for going over its budget drafts.

“I think it’s important we vote on this today to show the administration they still have our support,” Frazier said.

Dougherty agreed and encouraged senators to not only pass the resolution because they think it is right, but to also not forget their constituents and encourage their support too.

JEFFREY SOLOMON THE MIAMI STUDENT

JAI HO! The Miami Univesity Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Ricardo Averbach, performs for Indian composer AR Rahman Thursday.

www.miamistudent.net

RAHMAN, FROM PAGE 1

him is really difficult. His visit here is something special.”

Rahman is perhaps best known in the US for his Academy Award winning soundtrack for the widely popular film Slumdog Millionaire. While his name may have gained significant popularity for

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2011 composing songs such as “Jai Ho” and “O… Saya,” he continues to fascinate audiences worldwide.

TIME Magazine has listed Rahman as one of the world’s most influential people and described him as the “Mozart of Madras.” He is only 45 years old and has produced over 100 film scores, 200 commercials in India and two big production musicals. The popular Broadway

musical Bombay Dreams features original music by Rahman.

How can one man produce this much music?

When asked, Rahman said his music evolves primarily from emotion.

“I write it and then listen to it a few days later,” he said. “If I think it is good, I share it with others.”

Rahman said his biggest musical

influences include John Williams, Queen and Bach. What does this composer listen to in his free time?

“Classical music,” he said “Not Lady Gaga.”

In addition to his music, Rahman is a true humanitarian. He is associated with the “Save the Children” charity in India and operates the KM Music Conservatory in Chennai, bringing music to many who

9

otherwise might not ever have the chance to embrace it.

Rahman has one message that he lives by and would like to share with everyone: “Be open, understand different things and embrace them.”

To embrace some of Rahman’s music, this weekend’s Global Rhythms concerts in Hall Auditorium feature multiple pieces of his and a wide variety of global music.

MIAMI PLAN, FROM PAGE 1

play catch up ever since. I feel like I’m overwhelmed with the amount of hours I have to take every semester to graduate,” Sheehan said.

One of Campbell’s primary concerns is that if the college adds course requirements, something should be taken away so that students are not overburdened with hours. To accommodate the Global Miami plan, it was a humanities course that had to be sacrificed during this round.

Since the Miami Plan is now over 20 years old, both Campbell and Tassoni think it may be time to look to the Miami Plan to coincide with the necessary changes students need.

“We want to see the Miami Plan change to reflect some of the changes in the college. We should try to redesign the Miami Plan and get total graduation requirements down to 120 hours,” Campbell said.

Senior Laura Swan is majoring in marketing, which falls within the Farmer School of Business. She thinks the requirements between the different divisions and the Miami Plan make it very complicated for students to have flexibility with their majors.

“Originally, I thought about double majoring in marketing and English,” Swan said. “But with all of the classes I needed to take for the business school, the College of Arts and Science and the Miami Plan, it was just way too complicated.”

Tassoni said he agrees the Miami Plan may need some restructuring.

“I would like to a have a university wide discussion about what we value and our principles and reevaluate from there,” Tassoni said.

CLARIFICATION The Miami Student reported Sept. 20 that College of Arts and Science Dean Phyllis Callahan approved a proposal from the department of comparative religion to bring the Westboro Baptist Church to campus.

Comparative Religion Professor Liz Wilson told The Miami Student’s reporter the dean approved the proposal the morning of Monday, Sept. 19. The Comparative Religion Student Association also confirmed that WBC would come to Miami Oct. 25.

The reporter sent an email Monday evening to Callahan including a statement about her alleged approval of the event and stating the article would run the next day.

Callahan’s response email gave no clear indication that she had not approved the event.

for sing a e L Now 2-2013 201

Miami University Communications Director Claire Wagner contacted The Miami Student Tuesday afternoon and said the event did not have the dean’s approval. The Miami Student’s website was updated Tuesday afternoon to reflect this.

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Kendall Flynn National Advertising Director Classified Advertising Director

Lauren Ceronie, Jenni Wiener Campus Editors

Red Brick Property Management is now renting for the 2012-2013 school year. For more info. call 524.9340 or visit our website at www.redbrickoxford.com

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The content of The Miami Student is the sole responsibility of The Miami Student staff. Opinions expressed in The Miami Student are not necessarily those of Miami University, its students or staff.

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13

Oxford first in county recycling percentages

By Catherine Ubry For The Miami Student

International Opportunities

Since 2008, the City of Oxford has been ranked No. 1 in Butler County when it comes to curbside recycling throughout the community. Not only has it held this position for the last three years, but it is also projected to rank in the top position yet again in 2011 at the end of the quarter.

Curbside recycling throughout the community entails the total number of curbside recycling efforts taken on by community homeowners and residents, including Miami University students living off campus as well.

Anne Fiehrer Flaig, the Solid Waste District Coordinator for the Butler County Recycling and Solid Waste District said Oxford is a very well developed community with environmentally conscious citizens who are well aware of how to best improve the environment.

“Recycling is something that is very actionable and something that everyone can do,” Flaig said. “Every individual can make a difference by recycling.”

And Miami itself serves as a very positive reflection of recycling efforts throughout Oxford.

“Miami processes its own recyclable materials,” Flaig said. “Residential recycling is managed by Rumpke, but any campus activity is managed

OFFERINGS FOR MAJORS AND NON-MAJORS

Summer Workshops, 2012-13 UAA Cologne Design at the Ungers, 2012 Cologne, Germany May 12 – June 15 6 credits Contact: Gerardo Brown-Manrique 529-7222, brownmg@muohio.edu

Türkiye Workshop, 2012 Turkey July 15 – August 16 6 credits Contact: Gulen Cevik 529-7272 , cevikg@muohio.edu

Experiencing Arts & Culture: Paris, 2012 Paris, France May 14 – June 14 9 credits; fulfills a thematic sequence Contact: Peg Faimon 529-1407, peg.faimon@muohio.edu

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London Theatre, 2012 London, England May 14 – June 22 6 credits

BRICK,

FROM PAGE 4

Contact: Lewis Magruder 529-1288, magrudwl@muohio.edu

us laughing, they knew that it was a joke but for a short period they had no idea what to do.”

Even with all of these high-profile athletes in such an intimate place, Weisman said there have never been any security issues due to students being respectful and mindful of the presence of these celebrities.

One of those celebrities visited Brick Street again a few weeks ago. Gordon Hayward of the NBA’s Utah Jazz came to Miami to visit his good friend and high school teammate Julian Mavunga of the RedHawks basketball team.

They both attended Brownsburg High School in Brownsburg, Ind. This was not his first time in Oxford, as he visited earlier in 2011.

“During the summer, we work out together a lot, sometimes five days a week,” Mavunga said.

During this trip, Hayward played pick-up basketball at the Student Recreational Center and eventually made his second trip to Brick Street.

“It was fun, a real good time and they were all friendly and took care of me well,” Hayward said.

Design/Build Ghana, 2012 Ghana, West Africa May 11 or 12 – June 24 6 credits Contact: J Elliott 529-2484, elliotje@muohio.edu

London, 2013 May – June 2013 6 credits Contact: J Elliott 529-2484, elliotje@muohio.edu

Passive House: Malta, 2013 Germany & Malta May – June 2013 6 credits Contact: Mary Rogero 529-7271, rogeromr@muohio.edu

Spring Break, 2012-13 Details for Architecture and Interior Design, 2012 Basel, Switzerland, Austria, Germany, France March 2 –11, 2012 (Spring Break) Contact: Ben Jacks 529-4916, jacksbm@muohio.edu

NOTE: information meeting on Wed, Sept. 28, 4:00 pm, Alumni Hall, Room 1

RIOT,

FROM PAGE 4

Details for Architecture and Interior Design, 2013 Amsterdam, Utrecht, Rotterdam, the Netherlands March 8 –17, 2013 (Spring Break)

OPD is understaffed at the moment, admits to feeling “trepidation,” but said she would have never known that they were understaffed by the events that occurred Sept. 11.

“The police went directly to the offenders and got the

Contact: Ben Jacks 529-4916, jacksbm@muohio.edu

Semester Abroad

PARKING,

University of Applied Sciences, 2012 Rosenheim, Germany February 15 – July 20 (approximate dates)

FROM PAGE 4

Contact: Diane Fellows 529-6447, fellowd@muohio.edu

Korean National University of Arts, 2012 Seoul, South Korea March 1 – June 15 Contact: Howard Blanning 529-1270, blanniha@muohio.edu

SACI (Studio Art Centers International, Florence Italy)

Information Q & A Wednesday, September 28, 9:00 – 10:00 am, 109 CPA

arts.muohio.edu/school-fine-arts/students/international-programs

apartment in a lot about two blocks from my apartment,” Williams said.

“It’s not ideal, but it’s still great to have.”

The other two flatmates would have to find other means of parking.

Park Place representative Tom Girardot said, “Everyone else wanting to keep a car at school must park on the streets or be lucky enough to obtain a permit for the city lot.”

Girardot said Park Place would not consider adding additional parking spaces for lessors.

Since the uptown area is shared by both residents and business owners, plans to increase parking opportunities in the central area were

by Miami University’s Material Recovery Facility (MRF), which is like its own recycling plant.”

Sophomore Alexa Livadas agrees that Miami students contribute positively to the area’s recycling.

“With Miami making up most of Oxford’s population during the school year, I think it’s easy to see how Miami students’ efforts reflect and contribute to Oxford’s high ranking. I always see recycling bins on the curbs off campus and around uptown,” Livadas said.

Efforts throughout Butler County remain strong and surrounding areas such as Fairfield are all highly ranked when it comes to curbside recycling.

For local residents and students who would like to know how to increase their efforts and ensure that Oxford stays ranked at the top, the city has introduced larger recycling bins that will contain even more material than the previous standard-sized bins.

By making these larger bins available to residents, households throughout Oxford will be able to recycle even more materials than before.

By keeping up and promoting these curbside recycling efforts, the residents of Oxford will be able to ensure that they stay ranked at the top and keep the community environmentally friendly.

“For the most part, I felt comfortable. I would be a senior in college this year had I not left for the NBA, and being at Brick Street felt like I was kicking it right back in school,” Hayward said. “I would definitely go back (to Brick Street) after the fun times I’ve had.”

Hayward’s visit is only one of the many made by athletes in the past two decades.

Furthermore, Brick Street’s popularity amongst these athletes adds a unique dimension to the social fabric of Oxford.

“It’s great that athletes come to Brick Street to have a good time, and not for just some publicity stunt,” senior Andy Solada said.

“It’s definitely unique to hear that professional athletes have had the same experiences at Brick Street that I’ve had as a student.”

Brick Street attracts some of the most famous athletes and musicians to our “small town” community.

“Professional athletes certainly increase exposure and bring more credibility to Brick Street,” Weisman said. “Students enjoy looking at the signed jerseys and posters with comments about the ‘great time at Brick Street.’ However, ultimately it is about offering a great experience to customers that builds success.” situation under control. More police force may have made them back off faster, but the response was immediate,” Hesp said.

Holzworth strongly believes there is no serious public safety problem in Oxford, but warns students to simply be cautious and aware.

“I still feel very safe on campus, especially compared to other universities,” Hesp said. rejected. There are 703 metered parking spaces available uptown, not including the additional 61 reserved in the parking garage or the Holiday Inn according to Oxford Parking System statistics.

However, students may be more inclined to purchase permits to store cars in reserved areas like in the Millett Hall lot or in one of Miami University’s parking garages. Kyger said most class locations are not much of a walking distance from uptown and the Miami Metro system is networked to be easily utilized for off campus living.

“If Oxford provided parking for every car uptown, we’d have acres and acres of lots,” Kyger said. “Plus from the perspective of property value, land is much more valuable as a site for residency than parking.”

14

SPORTS

Editor Michael Solomon

sports@miamistudent.net

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2011

NEXT HOME GAME: 1 p.m. Saturday, vs. Bowling green

ross simon SIMON SAYS

’Hawks seek win at home

By JM Rieger Staff Writer

Looking to notch their first win under Head Coach Don Treadwell, the Miami University football team (0-2) will host Bowling Green State University (2-1) this Saturday at Yager Stadium.

Following two close losses to the University of Minnesota and to the University of Missouri where the RedHawks failed to capitalize on various scoring opportunities and turned the ball over at key moments in the game, the Red and White will try to put together a balanced, disciplined game this week.

“I think we’re moving forward with positive strides,” Treadwell said. “I think if we can continue, which we will do, to clean up those things that put you in a negative situation, which we always know are turnovers, we can continue to improve in those areas.”

One of the keys this week on the offensive side of the ball for Miami will be establishing the running game.

Redshirt sophomore running back Erik Finklea has performed well thus far, but the running game may prove to be an important factor this week against a Bowling Green team that has allowed over 110 yards per game on the ground, while

holding teams to under 200 yards passing through three games.

“It is really important that we protect the football [this week],” Running Backs Coach Mark Spencer said.

“We need to establish the run early. It matters what happens between the lines and at the end of the day, we are focused on the game and on executing each play.”

However, look for the RedHawks to utilize their dynamic passing attack early and often. Sophomore wide out Nick Harwell will look to build on a 162 yard, 12 catch performance last week while redshirt senior wide receiver Chris Givens will likely be a big target for Miami, especially in the red zone.

“Big plays on offense are huge,” Treadwell said. “I think Nick came back in and added a little bit of juice to the offense. But it also, when you have more than one receiver, makes the passing game in general better, and I think that’s what he did was just provide us more opportunities for more people to demonstrate their ability.”

Defensively, the Red and White will look to shut down one of the top passing offenses in the country.

Bowling Green’s redshirt sophomore quarterback Matt

Schilz is first among all MidAmerican Conference quarterbacks in passing yards, while senior wide receiver Eugene Cooper leads a veteran receiving corps that has caught 11 touchdown passes already this year. Shutting down these weapons will be one of the keys this week for the RedHawks defense.

“We need to play hard and play physical all day for all four quarters,” sophomore cornerback Dayonne Nunley said. “[Bowling Green] has a great offense and we need to come out ready to go [on Saturday].”

Miami has struggled against the run this season, partially due to the two du-

progresses to help shut down opponent’s ground attacks.

The Red and White have also struggled on special teams this year, but most of the mistakes are correctable and the team is not concerned, according to Treadwell.

In addition, Miami is very close to selling out Yager Stadium for the first time in eight years. Saturday not only marks the home opener for the RedHawks, but it is also Family Weekend.

Campus Activities Council, Red Alert and the Miami Athletic Department will cosponsor Tailgate Town Saturday starting at 10 a.m. in the Millett Hall parking lot.

We need to play hard and physical all day for four quarters. Bowling Green has a great offense and we need to come out ready to go.”

Dayonne nunley

SOPHOMORE DEFENSIVE BACK

al-threat quarterbacks they have faced, but has shut down opponent’s passing attacks. The RedHawks have allowed just over 150 yards per game through the air this year, and a veteran front seven will likely come together as a unit as the season

Fans should wear white and arrive early.

If you cannot make it to the game tomorrow, you can listen to the game on Miami’s IMG Sports Network or on WMSR at www.redhawkradio.com. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. ET.

BLAKE WILSON THE MIAMI STUDENT

THREE IN A ROW AND COUNTING

Freshman Emily Hyde watches her shot fly towards goal as the Indiana State University goalkeeper makes a diving attempt. The RedHawks beat the Sycamores in overtime 2-1 on Sunday to increase their win-streak to three.

The end of college football as we know it A few weeks ago in the “the Good, the Bad and the Ugly,” Michael Solomon wrote that ‘the ugly’ was the formation of the new Super Conferences and how we’re closer to the “Pac-28” then the “Pac-10.”

The same rings true today.

Only three weeks later, the Big 12 and Big East have both started crumbling into ashes of what their former conferences were. Syracuse University and the University of Pittsburgh have left the Big East to join the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), while the University of Texas, Oklahoma University, Oklahoma State University and Texas Tech are all having closed door meetings to decide the future fate of their respective memberships in the Big 12.

The potential destruction of the traditions and history surrounding many of these conferences is about to go straight out the window.

The Big 12 is about to become a mid-major conference. According to Andy Katz of ESPN, the Big 12 is soon to be the Big 2 with only Missouri and Kansas not currently looking at other options. The Big East, once the premier college basketball conference with 11 of its 16 members making the NCAA Tournament just last year, is now the “Not so Big and Not so East” with Texas Christian University (TCU) having joined last year, which is located in Fort Worth, Texas.

What we continually forget about these conference remodeling is not the fact that in the very near future we’re going to end up with two conferences which will just be called the “Big Pac West” and the “Big Atlantic EC” but why these Univer-

sities are making these major realignment switches.

Every team needs to have the ability to change conferences, can you imagine if Tulane University still played in the SEC like they used to? But the fact is these universities are not making the switch for better and fairer competition or better academics, but rather for lots and lots and lots and lots of money.

With the creation of the individual conference networks, money became a major tenet of the future of college sports. It started with a commercially viable Big Ten Network and has ended with the $330 million Longhorn Network. This is the penultimate problem with major college sports.

What is the essential purpose of college sports? It is to provide students the opportunity to compete at a high level event for fun and glory. Today, college sports have turned into the “you’re here to play and win first, school second” rather then “you’re here to learn first and if you win, that’s great too.” Universities are losing touch with the essence of amateur athletics and have become obsessed with the bottom line. How many times have players been paid under the table all across the country while coaches, athletic directors, professors and even presidents and deans look the other way?

These conference realignments are by far and large the most hypocritical event in American sporting history. Major colleges and universities can no longer say they are in athletics “for the student,” when they so blatantly are not. The student athlete is no more, might as well just call them “the money machine.”

Miami looks to start MAC schedule on a high note

By Tom Downey

For The Miami Student

The Miami University women’s volleyball team enters Mid-American Conference (MAC) play after three tough losses against St. Louis University, the University of North Carolina and the University of Tulsa in the Tar Heel Classic. Their current record stands at 9-5, good for second in the MAC East right

the University of Delaware. Kent State typically has a very good serving team, with one or two goto players. However, Kent lost several seniors so their team is still a work in progress and it’s not quite clear who those go-to players are quite yet.

Senior Amy Raseman said that Kent State is “very scrappy” and the team has to “never give up and play better defense” in order to beat

“Ohio typically has a strong team and we expect them to be strong as usual.

In order to beat Ohio, we need to have a strong offense.”

AMY RASEMAN

SENIOR OUTSIDE HITTER

now. The Red and White road record stands at 2-2 as they prepare for the Kent State University Golden Flashes and the Ohio University Bobcats.

The ’Hawks travel to Kent State to open MAC play 7 p.m. Friday. The Golden Flashes record currently stands at 7-8, with two straight losses against Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne and

them. Coach Carolyn Condit echoed similar thoughts.

“Our team defense has to prove itself against both Ohio and Kent,” she said.

In order for the team to win, they’ll need sophomore defensive specialist Madison Hardy to continue to play like she did in the Tar Heel Classic, where she averaged just over 19 digs per game.

Following their match

against Kent, the Red and White then travel to Athens, Ohio for a match against the Ohio Bobcats at 7 p.m. Saturday. The Bobcats’ current record stands 8-6, with wins over the University of Maryland, Villanova University, Virginia Tech and the University of Pittsburgh. Much like Kent, Ohio lost several key seniors, but Raseman says the Bobcats will be a tough team.

“Ohio typically has a strong team and we expect them to be strong as usual,” Raseman said. “In order to beat Ohio, we need to have a strong offense.”

The Bobcats have been one of the better MAC teams over the recent years, demonstrated by the fact they are celebrating their “decade of dominance” this year. In order to win, the RedHawks will need to be on their best game offensively and need Raseman to continue her strong play, as she has averaged just over two kills per set this year.

After two road games, the Red and White will return for their MAC home opening weekend. On Sept.

30 the ’Hawks welcome the University at Buffalo and then on Oct. 1 they will host the University of Akron.

JESSI THORNE THE MIAMI STUDENT

Senior Amy Raseman follows through on a swing on Sept -. 9 against Florida Gulf Coast University. Raseman and the RedHawks start their MAC schedule on the road this weekend.