November 8, 2011 | The Miami Student

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

VOLUME 139 NO. 22

TUESDAY, November 8, 2011

TODAY IN MIAMI HISTORY

MIAMI UNIVERSITY OXFORD, OHIO

In 1975, The Miami Student reported that the city of Oxford became the first town in Ohio to legalize casual possession of marijuana. The issue obligated City Council to pass an ordinance making possession of four ounces or less of marijuana similar to a parking violation. The issue passed with 62 percent of the vote.

Miami may be ‘occupied’

Report: 89 percent of MU athletes graduate

By Samantha Callender Staff Writer

JENNIFER SMOLA THE MIAMI STUDENT

Miami University students and faculty, along with local Oxford residents, gather Sunday afternoon in Uptown Park for an Occupy gathering. The Occupy movement has spread from Wall Street across the country, including college campuses.

By Jenn Smola

Senior Staff Writer

You’ve seen it on the news in cities across the nation, but the Occupy Wall Street movement is beginning to hit closer to home.

Miami University students, faculty and local community members came together at Uptown Park for a general assembly Sunday.

A group of about 40 discussed the rules and modes of communication the group would use, as well as visions and goals the group shared. The attendees took turns sharing their views, and expressed agreement or disagreement using hand signals, much like other “Occupy” groups.

Though most in attendance had varying reasons for attending the general assembly, many expressed dissatisfaction with American politics and the current state of American democracy.

“I feel personally like my views have been marginalized,” first-year Brian Sopher said, referring to both

national and local concerns.

“I felt this was a good way to express where I’m coming from in a very open and democratic way.”

Miami first-year Marjorie Schinner was also in attendance at the general assembly.

“I’m trying to sort of

the Occupy Colleges Facebook group, is “a forum for College Students to organize in solidarity with Occupy Wall Street and the 99 percent.”

The teach-in last week was a preliminary gathering to gauge interest and discuss goals, said Jenna Saponaro,

I feel personally like my views have been marginalized. I felt this was a good way to express where I’m coming from in a very open and democratic way.”

BRIAN SOPHER

MIAMI UNIVERSITY FIRST-YEAR

throw my weight behind getting change done, and I feel like I can’t do that through general voting and petitioning,” Schinner said.

The decision for the meeting developed Wednesday at an Occupy Colleges solidarity teach-in at Pearson Hall. The Occupy Colleges movement has developed in lieu of the recent Occupy Wall Street Movement nationwide, and according to

a senior who attended the teach-in. She said the event, organized by both faculty and students, was very informal, involved collaborative discussion and that like the other “Occupy” movements, there isn’t one set leader.

The purpose of the teach-ins was to generate open discussions with faculty and students, with no specific ending time as to

give anyone who wants to speak a chance to do so, according OccupyColleges. org. The teach-in at Miami was one of many Occupy Colleges teach-ins taking place on campuses across the country on Wednesday and Thursday.

“I think that there are issues going on that are bigger than us and bigger than this campus,” Saponaro said.

Junior Michael Woeste doesn’t back the national Occupy Wall Street movement.

“When they occupy for weeks on end, there’s no discussion,” Woeste said.

“They’re just protesting for the sake of protesting.”

Those involved with the developing movement at Miami, however, seem to be going about the process in a productive and effective way, according to Woeste.

“The Miami movement is doing it the right way,” Woeste said. “I’m all for open discourse on what needs to be changed in our government.”

Senior faces sexual battery charge, jail time

By Bethany Bruner News Editor

A Miami University senior is facing a sexual battery charge after allegations that he assaulted a woman he knew Oct. 29.

Antonio Charles, 21, was arrested Thursday night on one charge of sexual battery, a third degree felony.

The Oxford Police Department (OPD) reported that a 19-year-old Miami University student had reported a sexual assault that occurred Oct. 29 in Charles’ residence on Elm Street. The victim named Charles as her assailant.

After an investigation by

the OPD’s Criminal Investigation Unit, Charles was arrested and taken to the Butler County Jail.

Charles was released Friday after posting $100,000 bond.

Charles is scheduled to have a preliminary hearing in Area I Court Thursday afternoon to determine if the case will be heard by a grand jury.

Butler County Assistant Prosecutor responsible for Area I Court Jessica Rodkey said the office would not comment on the case at this time out of respect for the victim’s privacy.

Under Ohio law, Charles was charged with sexual battery according to section

2907.03A2 of the Ohio RevisedCode.Thisstatesthat“the offender knows that the other person’s ability to appraise the nature of or control the other person’s own conduct is substantially impaired.”

Oxford Police Chief Robert Holzworth said the case is still under investigation and allegations against Charles from other women are “definitely a possibility.”

If convicted, Charles faces up to one to five years in prison.

Associate Director of University Communications Claire Wagner said Charles could face repercussions from the university as well if convicted.

“In general, if a student violated a law or the student code of conduct, which includes violating the law, they go through a judicial process on campus as well,” Wagner said. “For serious crimes, being suspended is often involved.”

The Miami University Code of Conduct says students arrested for a 1219 offense, which includes sexual battery, “are subject to immediate suspension from the university” following a hearing held no more than five days after the arrest. The code also says that any student convicted of a 1219 offense is subject to dismissal from the university.

Not only are Miami University athletes achieving victories on the field, but they’re achieving great success in the classroom as well. The National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) recently released the Graduation Success Rate (GSR) report. This report revealed that nearly 90 percent of student athletes at Miami University reach graduation.

GSR statistics help to assess the academic success of collegiate level student-athletes, and, according to the GSR calculation, Miami’s student-athletes’ overall GSR is 89 percent, 9 percent higher than the national rate. Female student athletes obtained a GSR of 97 percent, compared to their male counterparts GSR of 83 percent.

According to data from Miami’s athletic office, from 2004 to 2009, the graduation rates of athletes increased from 65 percent to 82 percent.

The GSR of seven various Miami athletic teams showed impressive graduation percentages of individual teams: women’s swimming, women’s basketball, soccer, softball and volleyball had 100 percent graduation. The men’s swimming and diving team had 96 percent and football 86 percent. The rankings place Miami among the top for best graduate rates among Mid-American Conference institutions, according to the NCAA website.

Other graduation rates achieved by Miami were field hockey at 94 percent, women’s cross country and track and field at 92 percent, men’s golf at 89 percent, women’s tennis at 88 percent, men’s cross country and track and field at 84 percent and men’s basketball at 82 percent.

For teams that scored slightly below the 100 percent, Brad Bates, director of athletics, said there may be several factors at play.

“There isn’t one thing in particular to blame for those sports that may have had a low GSR,” Bates said.

“Transfers, individual issues and many other things could be the reason.”

According to the GSR report (available for public viewing online), Miami University, on average, has GSR percentages that are well above the national average.

Bates said the high rankings are pay-offs for everyone involved.

“These rankings are rewarding in regards to, publicity, intellectual development and the degrees [students ultimately receive],” Bates said. “Incentives for coaches are being put into place as well. In the end, it’s a winwin for everyone.”

He also accredited athlete’s scholastic success to those who not only coached them on the fields and in the arenas, but in the classrooms as well.

“This national data

continues to verify the high level of intellectual engagement by our student-athletes as their scholarly performance is once again among the very best public universities in the nation,” Bates said. “The high achievements of our students are not only a reflection of their scholarship, but of the high quality coaches who recruit them, the faculty who educate them, our staff that supports them, and the prestigious and pragmatic value of a Miami education.”

Miami’s elite football team came through with a GSR that was 19 percent higher than the sport’s national average of 67 percent.

Miami University’s graduate success rate shows that over a six year period (from 2004 to 2011) the general student body has steadily remained around 91 percent for that period; just two percentage points higher than Miami’s student athletes.

Miami’s student body as a whole ranks among the best of the nation’s public institutions of higher learning, according to data on the NCAA website.

“I feel like a big part of it (high ratings) is the emphasis Miami puts on education, even for student athletes,” said sophomore club football player Archer Hill. “I feel like athletes who come here know that they aren’t just coming to play sports, but also to get a good education, and so they focus on it more than other athletes may at other schools.”

Hill said Miami sets high academic standards for athletes.

“Miami does a good job at facilitating the pursuit of athletics along with the pursuit of a good education through things like grade and course requirements for varsity athletes, study tables and emphasizing to athletes before they come here that school is important too,” Hill said.

Bates also attributes Miami’s high GSR to the dedication and value of a Miami education.

“Miami’s prestigious reputation and esteemed degree is something that I feel draws students athletes who care just as much about their excellence in the classroom as they do about their excellence on the field,” Bates said.

Bates said he believes that Miami sees athletics and education as a holistic collegiate experience. He attributes a combination of coaches, faculty and student interest in education and sports as something that fosters academic excellence.

The opportunity for taking summer classes, study abroad and study sessions are things Bates said he feels allow for the further success of not only athletes, but students in general.

“Coaches invest time not only in the student as an athlete, but as a scholar as well,” Bates said. “Faculty and coaches make themselves easily available and accessible to students. They hold a genuine interest in intellectual development.”

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CAMPUS

Editors Lauren Ceronie Jenni Wiener

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2011

NEWS BRIEFS Position opens for student Board of Trustees member Next semester, a position will open for a student member on the Miami University Board of Trustees.

The Board of Trustees is the highest governing body at Miami. The student members serve two-year terms and are expected to work closely with the student body president and other students concerning issues affecting Miami. The current student trustees are Matt Shroder and Lot Kwarteng. Students who want to apply must be 18 years old, in good academic standing and a permanent Ohio resident.

Applications for the position can be found on the Associated Student Government website (www.muasg. com). Applications and resumes must be returned to the ASG office, located on the third floor of the Shriver Center, by Nov. 18.

campus@miamistudent.net

Frisbee team makes ‘ultimate’ video

By Sylvie Turner

For The Miami Student

Most people don’t expect to actually get their “15 minutes of fame,” but for some members of Miami University’s ultimate Frisbee team, that dream came true thanks to a little place called YouTube.

The team — inspired by other viral videos — put together a “trick shot reel” in order to promote Ultimate Frisbee around campus. The nearly three minute video features about 10 members of the Ultimate team showing off their skills. Each trick ends with a Frisbee landing in a trash can after it has been launched, ricocheted and even rolled off various buildings and landmarks around campus.

“These guys are impressive; I didn’t think you

could do that much with a Frisbee,” junior Kathryn Baklay said.

According to team member Robert Johnson, the video took a little over a month to film.

“We rented a video camera from [King] library for two or three hours at a time,” Johnson said. “Our intention was to make as many shots as we could.”

As for the actual tricks performed in the video, none of them have names.

“The current video was not our original,” Johnson said. “Kevin McGowan [another member of the team] sent it into Brodie Smith who edited and redubbed the sounds and released it on his YouTube page. The original video

FRISBEE,

MARK ETHERINGTON THE MIAMI STUDENT

SEE PAGE 5 Miami senior Jesse Hawkins throws a pass upfield at Itchfest 2010.

University holds open sessions for CAS dean candidates

By Jessica Tedrick For The Miami Student

Three finalists have been named in the search for a new dean of the College of Arts and Science (CAS).

The finalists are holding open forums in order for the students and faculty of Miami University to get to know them better before making a final decision.

The finalists, Steven Howe from the University of Cincinnati, Robyn Hannigan from the University of Massachusetts and Miami’s own Interim CAS dean, Phyllis Callahan, told The Miami Student why they would be the best choice.

Students will have until Nov. 17 to help in the decision making process.

Go to http://www.miami. muohio.edu/academics/ provost/admin-search.html to let the university know

what you think.

Phyllis Callahan Callahan, current interim dean of the College of Arts and Science, said she believes it is her experience with Miami that makes her the best choice for dean.

“I’ve been here for 24 years, I know the institution very well,” Callahan said.

“I believe firmly in our core values and have worked hard to promote those. I would be honored to be a part of helping us grow.”

As far as the changes that Callahan would make, she replied that Miami is already undergoing changes that they are working on “making the Miami plan more aligned with learning outcomes.”

Ultimately, she does not believe change is solely up to the dean.

“You have to have faculty,” she said. “A dean just helps facilitate the process [of change].”

Callahan said she believes listening to students is something that Miami already has a handle on. She lists the number of student organizations, the importance of our student government and even the fact that there is a place for students to give input of who should be the new CAS dean.

Callahan will be available for questions 4-5 p.m. Thurs., Nov. 10 in 1 Upham Hall.

Robyn Hannigan Hannigan, department chair of environmental, Earth and ocean sciences at the University of Massachusetts at Boston, said it is her “global perspective” that makes her “an

awesome [choice].” She added that she is an enthusiastic and engaging person who has unique ideas to bring to Miami.

Hannigan said she would like to be the CAS Dean because she would have the “opportunity to facilitate others success,” something that she said she loves to do. She added that “it’s hard to decide what to be” saying that she always wanted to become a teacher but that becoming Dean would give her a chance to work with students and faculty to help better all parties.

One of Hannigan’s top goals would be to get people talking about “what is the value of a liberal arts education?” She said people often speak about the more vague values that come along with the discipline, when really things are much more fundamental.

Hannigan has a simple approach to making sure student voices are heard.

“I would listen to you,” she said. “I love listening and talking to students.”

Hannigan will be available for questions 4-5 p.m. Wed., Nov. 16 in 2 Upham Hall.

Steven Howe When asked why he would be the best choice, Howe, the head of the University of Cincinnati’s psychology department, said his leadership positions at UC, including heading the psychology department and increasing the size of the department’s faculty as well as doubling funding, gave him the experience needed.

Howe said he would like to be the CAS dean because of his passion for helping make sure

students are successful.

“What I get excited about is being able to design systems that create pathways for people to be successful,” Howe said.

These “pathways” would be to encourage and aid students in doing their best as well as helping recent graduates.

“I really am attracted to the idea of coming into a system that does so much right and taking it to another level and being able to create pathways,” Howe said.

Howe said he plans to find out how to make the experience better for the students. He said he plans to make sure that students’ voices are heard by focusing on and strengthening student organizations.

Howe spoke in the Bystrom room of the Shriver Center Monday.

Equestrian team wishes for indoor arena, seeks funds for project

By Winston Reid

For The Miami Student

Despite being ranked No. 1 in the region, the Miami University Equestrian Team does not have an indoor arena.

The team is comprised of roughly 100 people, including coaches and riders, as well as 250 university students who take kinesiology classes at the facility and 30 community members who ride, according to Director of riding Lori Cramer.

This is not to say that the school has cast a blind eye to the woes of the current equestrian center. In the past seven years, the university has given the center significant improvements such as blankets for the horses, bathroom facilities, improvements to the stables, as well as other small upgrades to allow the program to continue, according to Cramer.

But there have always been discussions of the prospect of being under a roof, Cramer said.

The team currently trains outside at the John Brown Stables, down the hill on State Route 73, from September, when the season starts, and ending in April.

According to Cramer, they finished eighth at nationals last year and have taken home the No. 1 spot from both competitions

LAUREN OLSON THE MIAMI STUDENT

The John Brown Stables are located on State Route 73.They house Miami’s horses.The equestrian team practices here in rain or shine they have been in so far this year. Ohio State University, Otterbein University and Ohio University are among the schools that the team competes against.

“We always have had a competitive team, but have had constraints with being outside,” Cramer said.

The sport is comprised of events. These events include western, hunt seat and dressage, Cramer said. Riders ‘show’ in tournaments across the state, as well as

ultimately having the chance to compete in different parts of the country in more competitive stages, according to Cramer.

Cramer said the indoor roof would address three main issues. The first is that the current facilities often flood because the stables are in a valley. This water problem makes the event of reining – a more fast-paced event where the horses sometimes slide – impossible because of the concern

for the horses’ tendons when they stride. Secondly, due to the climate here in Oxford, training in the wintertime can be dangerous due to the ice that accumulates on the facility grounds. Lastly, programs offered by the Kinesiology Department as well as the club itself and its programs for the non-student body Oxford community could be more consistent, Cramer said.

Head Coach of the team Heather Pinnick said a new

facility would help with these problems.

“To have locker rooms, classrooms, longer riding hours, increased average and indoor places for the animals; and we would also be able to be more consistent in our services,” Pinnick said.

Cramer refers to the student riders as the “die-hards” and said they, too believe strongly in the need for an indoor facility.

“Our team is worth it,” Miami junior and

team member Kelsey Klienert said.

In addition, Cramer said a new facility would provide for a very welcoming attraction as one of the first things visitors would see coming into the campus.

To pay for these improvements, a serious fundraising effort would take place, Cramer said.

With a new facility, the program would get more attention from recruited high school students, to interested students, “to even departments such as the business school, that may wish to start joint programs,” sophomore rider Lauren Lockhart said.

This attention would have a probable outcome of growth in the program.

“Horses, individuals, as well as whole teams have the opportunity to be recognized at the national level, and Miami could get a lot of good attention when that happens,” Herdman said.

Cramer said she is proud of how far the team has come.

“The team is blessed with great horses, great riders and great people, and on the worst days, those people make it the best place to work,” Cramer said. “I’ve been places that have the best amenities, but at the end of the day, they don’t have the same dedication from the players, coaches, etc.

www.miamistudent.net

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2011

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JUSTIN REASH SARAH SIDLOW

COMMUNITY

COMMUNITY@miamistudent.net

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2011

POLICE

BEAT Cancer tops heart disease as killer Officers respond to male in parking lot Around 2 a.m. Sunday, Oxford Police Department officers responded to 17 W. Church St. concerning a nonresponsive male subject lying in the middle of the parking lot. The officer tried waking the male up because the officer heard him breathing. The officer detected a smell of alcohol on the male’s breath.

When the male finally woke up, he soon passed out again.

This happened twice more and he couldn’t answer any questions or take care of himself, according to police.

The Oxford Life Squad responded and was able to wake the subject up completely and then transported the male to McCullough Hyde Memorial Hospital.

The male was identified as Miami University first-year Chancellor Verstraete. Verstraete was cited with underage drinking and DCPI risk of harm then released.

By Amanda Vankoski

For The Miami Student

Cancer is the leading cause of death in Butler County, as more people are dying from cancer than heart disease. According to Robert Indian, the chief of the comprehensive cancer control program of the Ohio Health Department, cancer kills 656 people in Butler County on average annually, and heart disease causes the deaths of 622, according to the Ohio Department of Health.

This is contrary to the national trend, as more people die from heart disease than cancer in the United States.

In fact, heart disease kills 616,067 people each year, followed by cancer, which kills 571,950 annually. Cancer and heart disease are the two leading causes of mortality for Americans each year, compared to stroke, which is responsible for 135,952 deaths annually, according to a study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control

and Prevention.

“Heart disease and cancer are the two leading killers in the country,” Tessie Pollock, public information officer for the Ohio Health Department, said. “Because life expectancy has increased so much, people are not dying from natural causes as opposed to cancer or heart ailments. The reason [for Butler County’s contrasting trend] may not be that cancer rates are higher as opposed to heart disease rates are lower.”

According to the American Cancer Society, the risk of developing cancer dramatically increases with age. From birth to the age of 39, every one in 69 males and one in 47 females will develop cancer. When a person reaches the age of 70 and above, that statistic becomes one in three and one in four, respectively.

The most common types of cancer are lung, breast for women, colo-recto, and prostate cancers, according to Indian.

“There are many

lifestyle factors that can lead to cancer,” Pollock said. “The number one is smoking. Not smoking significantly increases the healthy lifestyle factor.

Diet and exercise are also very important. You hear it all the time. But, it is really important to make sure your body is getting good exercise and nutrition to live a healthy and longer life.”

One possibility for cancer being the number one killer in Butler County as

the 19.3 percent of the country that smokes, according to the CDC. “Cigarette smoking causes one third of all cancers,” Indian said.

This was not a shock to Miami University firstyear Natalie Kinsey due to firsthand experience.

“Although Miami University is a smoke-free campus, there are still people who violate that rule; so, people are still smoking and put

Because life expectancy has increased so much, people are not dying from natural causes as opposed to cancer or heart ailments.”

Tessie pollock

PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER OHIO HEALTH DEPARTMENT

opposed to heart disease could be that the percentage of people who smoke is higher than the national average. In fact, 24.8 percent of Butler County reports to smoking, which is much higher than

themselves at a higher risk to develop cancer,” she said.

While cancer can be caused by factors like genetics and the environment, many cases of cancer result from human actions.

“There are ways to reduce your risk of cancer, and yet, people carry on. For example, smoking, tanning beds - these are activities people know can cause cancer. They are actively giving themselves a higher risk of cancer,” said Amy Seagraves, junior chair member for Miami University’s Colleges against Cancer.

Because so many people are battling this disease, there are many organizations to aid survivors and fund research to find a cure. Miami’s Colleges against Cancer is one such group.

“Colleges against Cancer works very closely with the survivors, caregivers, and people battling cancer in our community. We write letters, visit Hope Lodge, and honor them at our Relay event in April. It’s a great way to really bring the community together with one goal - to fight cancer,” Seagraves said.

“Everyone seems to know someone or know of someone who has been touched by cancer.”

Local brewery ferments originality, creativity Calculation changes

By Justin Reash Community Editor

There is an obvious truth within America’s college population: students love beer. Whether it is consuming numerous Natural Lights, or enjoying a limited micro-brew, beer is a staple within the culture of college.

This beer-happy campus has been formally introduced to a new, local brewery this past year. The Rivertown Brewing Company has emerged from a two-man venture into a locally defining business that provides unique microbrews to Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky.

Located in Lockland, Ohio, Rivertown was formed

by Jason Roeper and Randy Schiltz in 2009 after they met while looking to open a joint-venture business.

They leased unit No. 6 at 607 Shepherd Dr., and commenced their dream in the two-garage industrial park.

“While applying for a loan to open a restaurant, my bank suggested I open a brewery instead,” Roeper said. “I hooked up with Randy and ended up starting the company right away.”

In 2010, they produced around 1,500 barrels of beer.

So far in 2011, however, they have produced 3,000.

As their production doubled,

they hired seven more, fulltime employees. Rivertown uses all-natural ingredients and are also adamant about using fossil-free components. They are distributed all over Ohio and into northern Kentucky and Indiana from 12 different wholesalers. They produce more than 12 craft-brewed beers including seasonal brews. Currently, Rivertown produces around 90-100 kegs and 900 cases of beer per week.

Their flagship beer, and best selling, is their Hop Bomber pale ale. Named after the famous B-24 “Liberator” Bomber, its ingredients include rye, American hops and English crystal malt. The Hop Bomber represents the uniqueness of the company, according to Roeper.

“It shows how unique our process is and how we strive to provide a good-tasting, full bodied beer,” Roeper said.

They also produce an American Hefeweizen and double Indian Pale Ale regularly throughout the year amongst others. Rivertown also provides a number of seasonal beers that are produced for limited periods.

These beers include pumpkin and winter ales. The pumpkin ale was barrelaged, compared to regular

INGER ERIN KILL

fermentation techniques to add richer flavor.

Schiltz said the identity of the company, with its microbrewery character and its attention-to-detail attitude, is reflected in their product.

“We strive to keep the ingredients in each of our beer in balance,” Schiltz said. “When we started in 2009, both Jason and I desired to make beer in a traditional sense.”

This traditional attitude allows for the brewery to create beers that will be enjoying to consume and unique in their character, according

to Schiltz.

Though it is distributed in Butler County stores, including the local Oxford Kroger, Rivertown has yet to be popularly recognized within Miami University’s community. The company admits that it does not particularly aim towards college students, though not for obvious reasons.

“It is hard to target college students as a microbrewery for numerous reasons,” Roeper said. “When beer companies target universities, they generally experience pressure from Mothers Against Drunk Driving since not all students are of legal age to drink.”

Also, the production of microbrews requires higher consumer costs. According to Roeper, the average Rivertown six-pack is $8.99.

This may be off-putting to some college students. Thus, Rivertown’s main audience is older and more knowledgeable of microbrews.

“If you are a college student and know about us, then you are probably a beer geek,” Roeper said.

Roeper believes Rivertown will continue to expand and gain market share.

“Even though it is a fulltime job, we are very excited about the company’s future,” Roeper said.

TV program highlights Oxford attractions

By Sarah Sidlow

Asst. Community Editor

Time Warner Cable has launched a new program for day-trippers, travelers, and lovers of Ohio.

The show, “Touring Ohio,” features 10-to-12-minute mini-episodes; each one exploring a unique place and its community.

“We have a strong commitment to local programming,” said Mike Pedelty, vice president of communications for Time Warner Cable. “We want to create compelling local programming which is entertaining to our customers bust also showcases our community.”

The show will feature cities like Montgomery, Yellow Springs, Lebanon, Miamisburg, Dayton, Cincinnati and

Oxford. The show will air throughout Ohio, as producers hope to introduce people to new places, and encourage people to learn more about the communities around them.

The host of the show, Steven Samuels, is an urban planner by nature.

“We chose [Samuels] because he has a very unique way of telling stories. He loves people, which is what you look for in a host. He goes out there and engages people, both on camera and in person,” Pedelty said.

Samuels was born and raised in Columbus and now lives in Cincinnati, but this is not his first foray into television. He was an actor in Los Angeles, and guest-starred in shows like Friends, Married with Children and Saved by the Bell. He even briefly had

his own series on NBC called Someone Like Me. He likes to ask the same question of each of his finds: how is this a part of the community?

“I’ll go to a museum or a restaurant or meet the mayor or a developer or small-business owner and every time I would ask that question: how is this a part or your community? How does this help identify this particular place?

I am really interested in the idea of place-making, the public space and the uses of the buildings,” Samuels said.

And he did just that when he came to film in Oxford.

“I love that bagel shop up at your school,” Samuels said.

Samuels spoke with the owner of Bagel & Deli, sampled the food and watched

how it was made. Though the crew was not able to experience the fray of the bagel shop on a weekend, they understood that the place was a part of the community and that people use it as a community meeting space.

Samuels also spoke with the president of the downtown business association about the new building across from the Uptown Park.

“He’s an amazing guy,” said Samuels. “He went to Miami, left and came back.

Now he’s this incredible contributor to your architecture and business district.”

Wildberry is also on the docket for the Oxford edition of “Touring Ohio.”

Samuels was astounded to

ATTRACTIONS, SEE PAGE 6

graduation rates

By Catherine Ubry

For The Miami Student

By the end of the year, Butler County and many school districts around the state will see a drop in graduation rate percentages due to a new calculation method being implemented.

The new calculation method is a result of a change from the federal government, according to Director of Curriculum at Talawanda High School Joan Stidham.

“All of the states were calculating graduation rates differently,” Stidham said. “The federal government will require all states to use this new method.”

According to Stidham, the old graduation calculation method for Ohio based the number off of only students graduating in the 12th grade; the new method will now be based on students entering ninth grade and graduating within four years.

But Stidham also points out that Butler County will not really have less students graduating, the new calculation method simply makes the rates look lower than before.

“The rates will only look different because the rules of how they are calculated will change,” Stidham said. “So since we’re calculating the graduation rate differently now the rates will look lower for everyone … the public needs to understand that the graduation rate has not really lowered, just the way we calculate the rate has changed.

So we can’t really compare this year’s numbers with last year’s.”

Talawanda High School officials could not provide graduation rates from last year, but did state that 95% of students graduated in 2009-2010.

Also, the school has approximately 250 students in the senior class this year Tim Carr, Hamilton Local School’s director of student services, said the

rate will measure what the state refers to as, “on-time graduates” and will certainly affect local schools in Butler County and will especially impact students in special education.

“Hamilton runs an alternative program for high school,” Carr said.

“It is designed as an alternative for students who are unable to cope with ‘regular’ school and often take more than four years to graduate. Each of those students will now count against the district.”

He also said Hamilton has seen a significant improvement in its graduation rate over the last several years.

“This past school year, the graduation rate was about 92 percent which was up from 77 percent just a few years ago,” Carr said.

When the new graduation calculation method takes effect on the 2011-2012 district report card, the longitudinal rate will drop Hamilton about 10.5 percentage points, according to Carr.

Miami University sophomore Drew McCormick said he thinks the new method is a positive.

“I think the new way of calculating the graduation rate is a more reliable statistic,” he said.

“All schools will have the same formula so I think the numbers will be more useful in comparison to other schools in Ohio.”

Although the rates may appear lower than normal, Stidham said it will affect everyone and should not cause concern for only citizens in Butler County.

“This will happen across the country, because all of the states will be changing to come into compliance with the federal government,” Stidham said.

“We just need to do a good job in educating Ohioans that we did not have a bad year, we are just changing how we configure things.”

www.miamistudent.net

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2011

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FRISBEE, FROM PAGE 2

was just over five minutes and included a great deal more of scenery and shots.”

McGowan said Smith took out a lot of the easier shots in order to set their video apart from the others he posts on his YouTube channel.

Brodie Smith is a two-time national ultimate Frisbee championship holder with the University of Florida and a leader in the Ultimate world who helps promote the sport by producing and starring in trick shot videos.

Aside from getting the attention of a leader in the Ultimate world, the team grabbed the attention from a leader in Miami’s world;

5

according to Johnson, both Miami President David Hodge and Miami University re-tweeted the original video.

The new clip received 2,000 hits within the first hour of being on Smith’s YouTube page.

After 72 hours, it had received over 110,000 views. Adding to their fame, it was the No. 2 rated sports video on YouTube the day it was released. According to the YouTube page itself, the video has nearly 600 comments all interested in the wow-factor the tricks produce.

“I follow President Hodge on Twitter, so I was able to see the original video when he re-tweeted it,” junior Kate McGivney said. “I’ll definitely watch the new one.”

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6

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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2011

ATTRACTIONS FROM PAGE 4

learn that the small shop in uptown Oxford was also a company that sells incense internationally.

Miami University junior Katie Graham is not yet convinced of the show’s success.

“I think it’s a neat thing.

But I probably wouldn’t watch it unless it was about

a place I already knew something about, or a place where my friends live like Cleveland or Akron, maybe,” she said.

“Touring Ohio” will have 12 episodes

this season.

The first episode, which highlights Cincinnati, is already available on On Demand, channel 411.

The Oxford episode will be available on Nov. 30.

LIZ HAERING THE MIAMI STUDENT

ANNE GARDNER THE MIAMI STUDENT

DISHING UP FOR A GOOD CAUSE

Students and residents dined together at the Oxford Empty Bowls charity on Saturday at United Methodist Church.

Editor MEGAN MCGILL

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

ARTS@miamistudent.net

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2011

7

Singing pirates to invade Hall Auditorium

By Lisa Reymann

For The Miami Student

This weekend, Hall Auditorium is scheduled to be taken over by pirates. But don’t be fooled: this isn’t the average pillage and plundering lot; Miami University has its own unique caliber of pirates that sing, dance and act.

Miami Opera is proud to present Gilbert and Sullivan’s classic: The Pirates of Penzance.

The operetta is about Frederic, a young pirate apprentice faced with the struggle of choosing between his sense of duty and the love of his life.

His plight is complicated by a cast of colorful characters and absurd circumstances.

“The show is so entertaining!

It’s full of singing, comedy and dancing and really is a

fantastic show for those who have never seen an opera or musical,” senior Lynsey Pereira said.

According to Nicholas Wuehrmann, guest director of the production, an operetta is a light opera and a precursor to musical theatre consisting of comedic dialogue and great music. Essentially a bridge between modern musicals and operas, operettas have all the elements of a standard Broadway musical and a killer score for vocalists.

For students who are less familiar with the happenings of the Department of Music, here’s a little known fact: Miami Opera is a pretty big deal in its own right. According to Opera Producer Mari Opatz-Muni, Miami Opera’s 2008 production of Benjamin Britten’s Paul Bunyan won

second place against topnotch music schools across the country in the National Opera Association’s opera production competition.

develop a strong recognition of our parts,” first-year Max Jansen said. “We spent a lot of time becoming familiar with the often absurd text of the show

The show is highly entertaining ...

One might not get the opportunity to see a production of this quality right here in Oxford very often.”

NICHOLAS WUEHRMANN GUEST DIRECTOR

Cast members began rehearsals for this season’s production during a weeklong intensive dubbed as ‘Opera Camp’ before the fall semester even started.

“The principles worked with conductor Ricardo Averbach during Opera Camp to

and bringing the score to life.”

Since then, students have been rehearsing on a nearly daily basis. The show is double-cast, meaningtwogroupsofstudents will alternate performances.

“The bulk of our rehearsals took place in a classroom in Presser [Hall], but we

recently moved into Hall Auditorium where the production will take place. It was very exciting to have our first rehearsal there; it really felt professional,” sophomore TJ Ganser said. “The sound really rings when the whole chorus and orchestra perform together.

It’s an exhilarating sound.”

Wuehrmann is a professional singer and director out of New York City. A veteran to the show, he has been involved with nine separate productions of Pirates. Wuehrmann has played various roles in the show and has served as director.

“The show is highly entertaining, and students will want to see the wonderful performances by their peers.

Some are going to have nice careers, so it’s a chance to see them early on,” Wueh-

rmann said. “The set is going to be very fun to see, there are colorful costumes, and a full orchestra. One might not get the opportunity to see a production of this quality right here in Oxford very often.”

“It’s such a fun evening in the theatre. Audience members are going to leave the show smiling and humming the tunes,” Opatz-Muni said.

“Opera doesn’t have to be for old, rich people,” Jansen said. “It’s great for all audiences, and Pirates proves how embraceable opera really is.”

There are group rates available and it’s much cheaper to buy tickets in advance at the Shriver Box Office. The show will be running at 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday in Hall Auditorium.

Area school levies on ballot put art programs at risk of funding cuts

By Emily Ketterer For The Miami Student

Last Tuesday on Fox’s award winning television show Glee, the fictional glee club from Lima, Ohio continued its struggle with limited school funding imposed by archenemy Sue Sylvester, who plans to eradicate all art programs in the school.

Glee’s plot is an exaggeration of real-life situations.

The battle to save the arts in schools isn’t just on the small screen, but in local Cincinnati school districts. Today, many local schools are fighting for funding with a levy for pass or renewal on the ballot.

According to Lakota West’s choral director Anthony Nims, last year’s failed levy forced the school’s choral program to pay for busing,

contest fees, piano tuning, uniforms, music and concert supplemental contracts all through fundraising. Teachers have had to teach extra periods under a three-year pay freeze.

According to Nims, music and art programs are essential to the holistic education of a student.

“It has been said, ‘Of what value is it to earn a living if one doesn’t know how to truly live? The arts teach discipline, self-expression and foster multi-dimensional thinking. They encourage creativity and problem solving, attention to intricate detail and profound awareness of self and others,” Nims said. “The arts educate the soul and help us deal with inner and outer turmoil in our lives. These are all tools that no student should

go without.”

According to Fairfield Senior High School art teacher Collen Lardes, failure of the district’s levy on the Tuesday ballot would eliminate

of purpose in the school day of many students.

“For some at-risk students, art is the only reason they came to school,” Lardes said.

The arts educate the soul and help us deal with inner and outer turmoil in our lives. these are all tools that no student should go without.”

ANTHONY NIMS

LAKOTA WEST CHORAL DIRECTOR

art classes in kindergarten through eighth grade. Elective courses at the high school level would also be cut, and a strong art program with strong teachers could be lost.

According to Lardes, the fine arts provide a source

Diane Plunkett, a mother of two children enrolled in Fairfield schools and one recent graduate, is concerned about the state of the school district.

“I do believe that Fairfield schools will continue

to suffer if the levy does not pass. How much can you cut from a budget before there are significant repercussions?” Plunkett said. “At a time like this, it is ever so important to invest in our future generations.”

Three Rivers school district’s levy is up for renewal on Tuesday’s ballot.

According to Bret Albright, choral and drama director at both Taylor High School and Taylor Middle School, a lot is at stake with this renewal.

According to Taylor, repercussions of a failed levy will target the fine arts and will result in program cuts and teacher layoffs.

Ultimately, the music program will be in jeopardy of being cut at every grade level.

“It is our responsibility to

support the education of our society. Having strong and well-funded public schools creates a more safe, cohesive and desirable community for people to live in,” Taylor said. “A failing and under-funded school has a very negative impact on the entire community, whether you have children in the school or not. Property values plummet, poverty increases and the crime rate will also increase.”

Lakota, Fairfield and Three Rivers are not the only school districts to suffer. Little Miami schools have suffered the most, having already cut art, music, physical education, school plays and the school paper.

Further levy failures will undoubtedly hurt area arts programs.

Organization turned sprint course uses theater for social change

By Christina Casano

For The Miami Student

With the recent visit of the Westboro Baptist Church to Miami University’s campus and the Occupy movements across the nation, students have become more aware of activism and social change.

The Walking Theater Project (WTP), based in the Theater Department, is a student organization currently undergoing changes to adopt a more prominent voice.

The organization has taken the form of a sprint course in which students are learning how to effectively use Theater as a means for social change.

“We’re involved in performance, not activism, but it’s how we can use our voice.” Ann Elizabeth Armstrong, teacher of the sprint course, said. According to Armstrong, WTP was founded in 2005 when Ohio passed a ban on gay marriage.

“Many students were upset about the lack of awareness on campus for issues about their peers,” Armstrong said.

Past works by WTP include A More Perfect Union, a piece about gay marriage, and pieces on sexual assault.

“We always start with Miami students. In the past, it’s gone up to national and global issues because that’s

what people are passionate about. [This year] we talked about branching out into the community,” Collin Campana, president of the WTP, said.

The Walking Theater Project is undergoing many changes this semester as the course begins to restructure the group.

“Originally the group was a lot bigger. They held workshops and training,” Campana said.

We’re involved in performance, not activism, but it’s how we can use our voice.”

Ann Armstrong

ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF THEATER

The course focuses on training students to effectively produce Theater for social change.

As a part of the class students were asked to research current issues that they found important.

According to Armstrong, topics that students showed interest in were body image, social connections, self-esteem, and disabilities.

Students also did research on Theater for social change groups, some of which they invited to visit campus.

One such group is Looking for Lilith, a women’s group based in Louisville, Ky. The group’s visit Friday included a 30-minute performance and a workshop.

The performance was based on the 1911 Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire, which led to changes in the labor movement.

“It’s interesting to look back for relevance in history and then see how the issues are relevant today,” Armstrong said.

As to the future of the Walking Theater Project, both Armstrong and Campana have great hope.

Armstrong said, “We want to be spontaneous, speak to the moment, collaborate and get out on campus where it can make a difference.”

According to Campana, WTP would like to start work on a new full-length piece.

An important thing for the student body to know is that the Walking Theater Project is not just for Theater students.

“78Yes, it’s about Theater, but it’s about people. We’re a voice for the people that feel like they can’t speak out,” Campana said.

With conclusion of this semester’s sprint course, Walking Theater Project will return full force in the spring as a student organization and welcomes all those interested to become involved.

PANIC IN THE QUEEN CITY

CONTRIBUTED BY CATHERINE COURETAS

(Above) Patrick Stump, a former member of the band Fall Out Boy, performs Sunday night at Bogart’s in Cincinnati. (Below) Brendon Urie of Panic! at the Disco.

8

OPINION

Editors Noëlle Bernard ORIANA PAWLYK

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2011

editorial@miamistudent.net

PATRICK GEYSER THE MIAMI STUDENT

NOAH CARL THE MIAMI STUDENT

GUEST ESSAY

Rethink transportation for a greener and healthier campus

ASHLEY CEROLI THE MIAMI STUDENT

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

Miami’s high athletic graduation rates show academic focus Miami University student athletes prove that academic success pays off. The National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) Graduation Success Rate (GSR) shows that nearly 90 percent of Miami student athletes graduate with a degree, nine percent higher than the national rate.

The data from the athletic office also reveals the graduation rates of athletes increased from 65 percent to 82 percent from 2004 to 2009.

The editorial board of The Miami Student commends these statistics as well as the scholastic success of these students who not only work hard out in the field arenas, but also in the classroom.

It’s refreshing to know that these athletes value what it really means to be ahead of the pack — the goal for all students should always be

to graduate.

Amidst years of college team scandals, Miami has managed to progress in a different direction, combining athletic success with academic success. Even by looking

is on account of the cooperation between the coaches, faculty, staff and students that we remain connected to our university’s hopeful academic and athletic future. Our sports teams now

It’s refreshing to know that these athletes value what it really means to be ahead of the pack — the goal for all students should always be to graduate. at the breakdown of different sports teams, the university’s female student-athletes earned a nearly perfect GSR of 97 percent, and the male student-athletes with a GSR of 83 percent.

Miami athletes have set an example in comparison to students who only go to college for a professional future with a major sports team. It

bring a new commitment to “Love and Honor” with this achievement, ranking Miami as a highly regarded public institution in more ways than one.

The board suggests to students that regardless of campus organizations, athletics involvement and other activities, academics should never fall short.

The Miami Student

How did you get to and around campus today? On foot, bike, the Miami Metro or by car? We make these everyday decisions as individuals, but they add up.

College campuses may be quaint, but they confront real transportation and parking issues. Students, employees and visitors need convenient access to campus.

But don’t we also want our quads green and not in asphalt parking lots, our streets enjoyable spaces and not congested thoroughfares?

Planning a convenient, healthy and sustainable transportation system is not easy. But Miami University is taking on that challenge, and it needs your help.

Now is a great time for a fresh look at how we get to and around campus. A recent Campus Transportation Study and Miami Metro survey highlighted the need for more options. Tight budgets mean Miami’s transportation services must be more efficient in serving our changing campus. But more and more of us are driving, even for short trips. The result is traffic and diminished safety

and quality of life. Expanding roadways and parking are not good, or even affordable, solutions.

Luckily, our traditional campus offers a model for rethinking these challenges.

Walking, biking and transit have long been central to campus transportation. And we increasingly recognize their importance for sustainability and even our own health and well-being. But they are also great solutions to traffic and parking problems. The more people use alternative transportation, the more our streets and parking are free when we really need them. And who wouldn’t want a quieter, safer and cleaner campus?

Making campus transportation greener and healthier requires changing our campus and our habits. It means creating incentives for doing the right thing, providing convenient alternatives and developing smarter pricing signals. This must be a community effort.

How can you get involved?

You can start by visiting “Miami on the Move” day on Tuesday, November 15

from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Shriver multi-purpose room where you can learn more about the issues, benefits of active and public transport and experience a range of transportation alternatives.

You can view and comment on Miami’s first-ever Campus Circulation Master Plan: a vision for expanding pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure, improving Miami Metro and promoting smarter parking policies.

And, most importantly, you can help brainstorm innovative ways to improve campus transportation. How would you change Miami to make walking, biking, riding the Metro or carpooling easier?

Getting to this 21st century vision won’t be simple. But getting started now, we might just arrive at a campus that is not only more accessible, but also greener, healthier, safer and flat out nicer. Help us get there.

David L. Prytherch

Associate Professor of Geography, Sustainability Coordinator prythedl@muohio.edu

Rule of Thumb The Ultimate Frisbee team Congratulations on getting tons of hits on your trick-shot video!

Being dark so early Even though we got the extra hour of sleep, the sun won’t shine as long during the day.

A winning weekend for Miami Hockey swept a series and football won on national television!

Oldest university newspaper in the United States, established 1826

EDITORIAL BOARD Sam Kay Editor in Chief

JUSTIN REASH COMMUNITY Editor

Bethany Bruner News Editor

Lauren Ceronie Campus Editor

Noëlle Bernard Editorial Editor

Jenni Wiener Campus Editor

ORIANA PAWLYK Editorial Editor

Michael Solomon Sports 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.

This crazy weather From 70 degrees to 30, who knows what else could be in store.

Diwali double performance Diwali gives students a chance for cultural immersion next weekend.

www.miamistudent.net

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2011 OP-ED

PERCEIVING REALITY

9

ESSAY

KARLI KLOSS

BRAD KENT KENTDB@muohio.edu

Rite of passage: 21 pros and cons of Education on ‘R-word’ reaching the magical age in Oxford key to respecting others remembering you are legally allowed to be there.

21. Now you have adopted a zero-tolerance indulgence for anyone under 21.

Not turning 21 until November of your senior year of college is the most annoying social limitation that comes from being a lifelong power-nerd. I could take my spot today to comment on the increased number of arrests for underage drinking this semester or maybe make a few points for the futile debate over lowering the drinking age. Nothing along these lines sounds particularly appealing as I lay in bed with the blinds drawn and my laptop backlight on its dimmest setting. No grand statements or sweeping commentaries — I just want to talk about the realities, from my perspective, of college drinking.

Professionally, I would have to be an idiot to publically advocate underage drinking. Realistically, I’m rolling my eyes. College and alcohol, for better or worse, have an intractably symbiotic relationship. Sure, there are people who lead completely sober lives — and more power to them and the future state

of their livers. For the rest of us, that first beer is not happening once the clock strikes midnight on our 21st birthday. This does not make us bad people, nor does it make us criminals — though there are many who have spent some time dealing with our legal system in relation to this topic.

Do people do stupid stuff when they drink? Yep. Venturing into the wilds of a Friday night uptown stone sober, one might think they had stumbled upon an orgy of sin and depravity right out of the book of Revelation. But here’s my thing: if you can handle yourself, if you can make sure you aren’t endangering yourself and others, go enjoy yourself as often as possible.

The real world of 60-hour work weeks, bills and obligations is going to suck once we get there. So have fun. Say yes to a Tuesday night at Skipper’s Pub. Take advantage of all the entertainment Oxford possibly has to offer, no matter what age you are. We only get four years to indulge ourselves to this degree, and I think there’s nothing wrong with doing so.

1. This is the only time you receive free shots from strangers without needing to remove articles of clothing.

2. It is the last birthday when people will decorate for you without headstones and over-the-hill metaphors.

3. The only time you can go to bars wearing a crown and sash until your bachelorette party or recently divorced party.

4. You will never again need to cozy up to creepy upperclassmen for a round of dollar drafts.

5. It is the only time your hangover is allowed to last a week.

6. You will never again need to pretend you’re from Pennsylvania, you have black hair and you are 26 years old.

7. It’s the only time your parents will be okay providing alcohol money.

8. It’s the only time when walking home in bare feet with Jimmy John’s as your escort is an acceptable finish to the evening.

9. It’s the last time your girlfriends won’t mind holding your hair back.

10. It’s the last time you’ll ever be excited to walk into the Bureau of

Motor Vehicles.

11. It’s the only time when friends will acquiesce to your demand that they drive 250 miles to come and party with you.

12. It’s probably the only time you’ll get to hear ‘happy birthday’ from the staff at the emergency room.

13. You can remember that guy? That happened.

14. One of the only nights in college when the world revolves around you — literally as well as figuratively.

15. Even though you can now legally drink, the last thing you want to do is touch alcohol after your big night.

16. Never having to wash another giant black X off your hands. Either at home or in a bathroom at the bars.

17. You can finally look a bouncer confidently in the face as he checks your ID. 18. It’s the time when taking three liquid cocaine shots back to back sounds like a good idea.

19. It’s your party and you can cry if you want to — especially if you trip down a flight of stairs.

20. You will spend the next year with fleeting moments of panic at bars, before

ESSAY GERLACRB@muohio.edu

Film’s portrayal of veganism neglects major limitation for college diet

I found out this week that I am easily persuaded. Here’s why: my roommates and I were bored one night and we decided to watch the movie, Forks Over Knives. The movie explains how a plant-based diet of unprocessed foods has the potential to reverse many serious diseases and lead to a better overall life. One shocking part of the video talks about how cow milk is intended for growing calves and provides human adults with way too much fat and protein.

Milk, amongst other animal and processed food products, is causing high levels of heart disease, diabetes and obesity in America. Because the documentary was so convincing, my roommates and I decided that we would eat a full vegan diet until Thanksgiving break, just in time to celebrate our achievement with a huge,

artery clogging plate of turkey and gravy.

This meant we couldn’t eat anything from an animal or anything that has been processed, which includes products containing refined sugar. Many devout vegans even refuse to wear silk or leather but we decided not to take it that seriously. My roommates and I were interested in eating a healthier diet, not so much the protection of animal rights. The following day, my roommates and I impulsively went vegan grocery shopping. I bought more than $100 worth of fruits and vegetables ranging from carrot juice to almond milk to organic white mushrooms.

After the first day, I didn’t think that being a vegan was too difficult and figured I would be able to make it the

ROBERT GERLACH

ESSAY CAROLYN SNIVELY snivelcl@muohio.edu

It’s unfair that we can spend all day Saturday paying for Friday night. Many college students have tried a multitude of failed home remedies and folk cures, but science and nutrition confirm the essential remedies for quickly curing terrible hangovers.

An alcohol hangover, occurring after heavy drinking, is characterized by symptoms such as headache, fatigue, nausea, thirst, muscle aches, irritability and an overall feeling of illness. Symptoms vary from person to person and depend on the type and amount of alcohol consumed. A hangover begins within a few hours after one stops drinking when the blood alcohol concentration (BAC) level is falling. Hangover symptoms usually appear when one’s BAC reaches zero. According to Dr. Jeffrey G. Wiese in the Annals of Internal Medicine, symptoms of a hangover are caused mostly by

entire three weeks on a purely plant based diet. However, the diet soon became very frustrating and at about 30 hours in, I found myself craving a cold glass of milk and a Big Mac. I felt as if I was going cold turkey on a heavy addiction and as I stared at a Steinkeller’s dinner menuThursday night, the bratwursts seemed overwhelmingly tempting.

My promise to go vegan immediately collapsed.

Going from my original diet to become a full vegan was unrealistic. Looking back, I should have eased my way into the lifestyle. I learned that in this society, it is very time consuming and expensive to eat an all-natural plant based diet. Almost every meal we eat is based around meat, especially at college.

The dining halls at Miami University have few options

for vegetarians and even fewer for vegans. Vegetarians cannot eat salads every meal.

They need actual meals that provide vitamins, proteins and other nutrients found in meat and dairy products.

I don’t blame Miami since only a fraction of students have vegetarian diets but in the future, I would like to see more vegetarian options in the dining hall lunch lines. I figure that after college, going vegan will be more realistic because I will hopefully have more money, time and a clean kitchen to cook in. Until then, I’m going to try to eat healthier and avoid large amounts of meat and dairy products.

I would recommend that everyone take the time to watch Forks Over Knives and attempt to follow a plant based diet, even if it only lasts for 30 hours.

More than 228,067 people and counting. This is not the number of people who expressed approval or disapproval over my last article in the Student. No, 228,067 people (at time of press) have pledged to support a campaign to change the way people speak. Across the country and around the world, people are coming together in support of the eradication of a word. “The End the R-word” campaign is a quickly growing organization that strives to promote better understanding and compassion for people with disabilities, and they are not alone.

Words are powerful, and

Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities, in the United States alone, 6.5 million people suffer from diseases that cause an intellectual disability. Of that 6.5 million, more than 545,000 are children.

Those who are interested should take a look at this website. Of all the words society throws around today, and those who have read messages posted to The Miami Student’s website from my last article have seen plenty of them, the R-word is the most offensive, and the easiest to fix.

What it will take is a society that is dedicated to not

Just as people are being educated on the harmful uses of the word “gay,” the R-word should similarily be removed from the slang we use today. while great speeches can move mountains, words can also be used to subjugate a people and tear them down.

After a string of anti-gay rants by NBA players, the league decided to take an active role in moving for the correct usage of the term “gay.” During the playoffs, the NBA ran commercials featuring prominent basketball stars such as Steve Nash and Grant Hill to educate the public as to the damage done by these words. The same thing is being attempted with the R-word.

Why is this significant?

The group’s website, www.rword.org goes into great detail explaining and educating the public about how the improper use of the R-word can have negative effects on people who suffer from an intellectual disability. By using the R-word to insult people as “stupid” or “dumb” degrades those who suffer from disabilities and makes them feel like lesser members of society.

No matter where one comes from, it should be the role of society to not make them feel less of themselves based on a disease or condition they have no control over. Their entire family unit feels the sting when these words are thrown around so lightly and used incorrectly.

According to the National

look down on those with intellectual disabilities. To do this, people must think before they speak; think of the families of those with these disabilities and the struggles they go through on a daily basis. Think of the children and adults that live with these disabilities every day and attempt each and every day to a lead life of fulfillment to the best of their abilities. Most importantly though, it will take a society that will make others aware that the R-word is no longer acceptable for use, and explain to them WHY it should no longer be used.

The R-word website has several great videos from conferences and conversations with activists who explain successful ways to go about educating others.

We can no longer be enablers of this kind of talk.

I more than ever know the power that words can have.

It will take a combined effort to eliminate the R-word from common use, yet it is a worthwhile task. Just as people are being educated on the harmful uses of the word “gay,” the R-word should similarly be removed from the slang we use today. There are more effective words out there, ones that do not belittle an entire class of people who suffer from a disability. We owe it to them to try to better our society.

Helpful remedies to get you through the weekend hangover dehydration and the toxic effects of alcohol.

There are several direct bodily effects of alcohol consumption. Dehydration and an electrolyte imbalance occur because alcohol is a diuretic, which increases urine output.

Low blood sugar (alcoholinduced hypoglycemia) is more of an occurrence during binge drinking and causes fatigue and irritability because glucose is a primary energy source for the brain. Gastrointestinal disturbances including irritation of the stomach lining and increased production of gastric acid can result in stomach pain, nausea, and vomiting. According to Dr. Robert Swift, associate professor in Brown University’s Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, sleep disturbances occur as a result of hangover fatigue. Although alcohol helps us fall into light sleep, it disrupts REM sleep, or the “dream state,” the more

restorative sleep stage. Also, the most common problem among the college-aged pop-

to alleviate these effects?

Out of all the myths behind hangover “cures,” these are

ERIN KILLINGER THE MIAMI STUDENT

ulation is being out later than normal when drinking which decreases the total amount of time slept.

So what are the best ways

a few scientifically-proven remedies according to Lacy Perry at Discovery Communications’s subsidiary, HowStuffWorks™:

Eggs: Not only a source of energy, but they contain cysteine, which breaks down acetaldehyde, a toxin in the liver.

Bananas, kiwi and sports drinks: These potassium-rich foods replenish electrolytes and potassium lost after alcohol’s diuretic characteristic has had an effect on the body.

Fruit juice: It increases the rate of detoxification and restores vitamins that were lost, again, due to alcohol’s diuretic effect. Also, the fructose, or natural fruit sugar, provides energy.

Painkillers: They are helpful for reducing inflammation and aches, but only if they are caffeineand acetaminophen-free.

Water: It doesn’t only combat dehydration, but it dilutes leftover byproducts in the stomach. Drinking water is especially effective if it’s done before going to sleep because it will fight

dehydration after the body’s complete breakdown of alcohol.

So why aren’t some of the most common “remedies” encouraged? According to Perry, coffee, for instance, acts like a “band-aid” rather than a remedy. The caffeine does fight fatigue and alleviate headaches, but the diuretic properties are more significant. Ultimately, the caffeine in coffee will only dehydrate you further, prolonging one’s attempted recovery. Additionally, carbohydrates like those found in burnt toast are found to alleviate nausea and low blood sugar. However, although carbon acts as a filter in the body, the carbon on burnt toast is not the same type of carbon that treats poisonings.

Hangover symptoms will normally decline over eight to 24 hours. Waiting it out is unpleasant, but trying these remedies may quicken the recovery.

10

FYI

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2011

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

Sam Kay

Editor in Chief Joe Gioffre Business Manager

Bethany Bruner News Editor

Baylor Myers Asst. Business Manager

Colleen Yates Managing Editor

Carly Huang Finance Director

Hunter Stenback Online Editor Lauren Ceronie, Jenni Wiener Campus Editors Taylor Dolven Asst. Campus Editor

Kendall Flynn National Advertising Director Classified Advertising Director Danny Nicolopoulos Advertising Representative Nick Strzelecki Advertising Representative

Justin Reash Community Editor

Pat Godfray Advertising Representative

Sarah Sidlow Asst. Community Editor

Steve Zins Advertising Representative

Megan McGill Arts & Entertainment Noëlle Bernard, Oriana Pawlyk Editorial Editors Michael Solomon Sports Editor

Sacha DeVroomen Bellman Adviser WDJ Inc. - Bill Dedden Distributor

Julia Engelbrecht Photo Editor Senior Staff Writers

Staff Writers

Editorial Columnists

Sports Staff Writers

Adam Giffi Matt Levy Shannon Pesek Hannah Stein

Samantha Callender Shayn Corcoran Dan Hamlin Allison McGillivray

Ty Gilligan Karli Kloss Jessica Sink

JM Reiger

Haley Biel Nicole Crandall Erin Killinger Michelle Ludwin Abigail Offenbaker Raleigh Robertson

Photography Staff

Bloggers

Scott Allison Allison Backovski Andrew Bray Thomas Caldwell Lisa Gehring Elizabeth Haenng

Brittany Dove McKenzie Graham Hannah Poturalski Emily Sheriff David Small Garrett Smith

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The Miami Student (Tuesday/Friday) is published during the school year by the students of Miami University, Oxford, Ohio.

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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CORRECTIONS POLICY The Miami Student is committed to providing the Miami University community with the most accurate information possible. Corrections may be submitted up to seven calendar days after publication.

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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2011

Student veterans to hold ceremony Thursday

By Sam Kay

Editor in Chief

Do you know a veteran?

About 200 students on Miami University’s Oxford campus have served in the military, according to Brendan Gillespie, president of Miami’s Student Veteran Association (SVA) and student-veteran peer adviser.

Thursday afternoon in the Sesquicentennial Chapel, SVA will be holding a ceremony to honor those who have served in the armed forces, as well as those currently serving.

The event will begin at 4:30 p.m. with The Cheezies singing the National Anthem. A slideshow of contributed pictures will be playing as people file in. Miami President David

Hodge, Oxford Mayor Richard Keebler and Iraq war veteran Casey James will speak at the ceremony. The Misfitz will sing “America, the Beautiful” and those in attendance

or the advising services available to them in the Campus Avenue Building, according to Gillespie.

“One of the main goals of the ceremony is to reach out

One of the main goals of the ceremony is to reach out to student veterans.”

Brendan Gillespie

STUDENT VETERAN ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT

will be invited to stand and recognize veterans in their lives, according to Gillespie.

The ceremony will be followed by a reception.

SVA is only about two years old at Miami. Many veterans don’t know about SVA

to student veterans,” Gillespie said. “Not enough students know about SVA or even the veterans services offices we have in the CAB (Campus Avenue Building). The student veteran is typically slightly older [than the general

student population], and typically a commuter student.”

While some student veterans are using the GI bill to attend Miami, others are not. This makes identifying veterans difficult, according to Gillespie.

While SVA currently functions as pathway to resources, Gillespie hopes to get more veterans involved and increase the social aspects of the group. Gillespie also hopes more veterans take advantage of advising opportunities. “[I can help them with] anything from transitioning from military to civilian life to using the GI bill to accessing other VA benefits, anything veteran related,” Gillespie said.

11

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12

SPORTS

Editor Michael Solomon

sports@miamistudent.net

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2011 ROSS SIMON

NEXT GAME: 8 p.m. WEDNESDAY AT Temple UNIVERSITY

My STEPs to becoming legitimate

Semmes carries MU to win

SIMON SAYS

By JM Rieger Staff Writer

Over the past few months, within this column, I have argued on behalf of Miami University remaining a Division I school, a boost in listenership for WMSR and that in the grand scheme, sports doesn’t matter amongst other things. Having said that, I am disappointed, but more appropriately perplexed, at how Miami students have a quasi warped view of the way that a Division I school supports their team. I have compiled a list of steps that any D-I school must take in order to be considered a “legitimate” program.

a “second class” conference.

Athletic facilities.

Miami’s grade: B Miami is one of few schools to have dedicated facilities to ALL sports, even minor sports such as hockey.

Having said that, Millett Hall is quickly falling out of date as an inept facility to play basketball and volleyball in.

I hope to see Miami embark on a rebuild of Millett similar to the rebuild of the Goggin Ice Center.

Sporting traditions and culture.

Commitment to athletics. Miami’s grade: CMiami’s grade: A Miami currently has one of, if not the, best athletic director in the business. Brad Bates has led this school through thick and thin, and has been recognized nationally by being elected President of the Division I Athletic Directors Association. I give my greatest of congratulations to Bates and the entire athletic staff at Miami. I also commend the fact that rather then try and raise endowment funds using athletics as the kick-start, University President David Hodge and the administrative staff have rather used stellar academics.

Fan support.

Miami’s grade: DMiami fans are quite simply, pathetic. The only reason this grade is not an ‘F’ is because of our stellar alumni base. Does it not bother Miami students that at many athletic events, alumni outnumber students in what seems like a 10-1 ratio?

I am sick and tired of people using the “we’re in the MAC, nobody goes to any MAC team games.” I point to Ohio University and the University of Toledo. Both teams were featured on ESPN at times this season and both teams had showings that made them look like they could soon be invited to a larger conference. Their fans are committed to sports in a way that you would see similarly at an Ohio State University or a University of South Carolina.

Unlike the way Miami students would portray things, the MAC is not a “garbage” or

Miami has a deep tradition in football, baseball and basketball, with all three programs being over 100 years old. Yet, if you ask any average student at the school we’re a “hockey school.” Miami needs to be able to show its traditions more proudly.

Perhaps mentioning the fact that Miami is 25th overall ALL TIME in overall wins in college football?

Intangibles.

Miami’s grade: BMiami seems to do a great job of staying out of trouble, but there is an air of secrecy about the athletics department. Sometimes when a player is not injured, but also doesn’t play, a very ambiguous statement is given. I respect a coach’s right to keep some things under wrap, specifically if a player is suspended for violating school policy, but there is something going on and the public deserves to know.

Overall, Miami is a great school for academics, research and a vast other number of subjects that would take me 5,000 words to describe and give the credit where credit is due, but Miami simply does not measure up in athletics, and that is due to the fan base. Ultimately, Miami will NEVER be taken seriously unless fans are standing out in the pouring rain for a football game, or if the students blow the roof off of Millett Hall for cheering so loudly. If Miami wants to be viewed as a “real” sports school, with a “real” sporting culture, it needs to start with us, the fans.

After starting the season 0-4, the Miami University football team is now tied for first place in the Mid-American Conference (MAC) East Division following a 35-3 victory over the University of Akron Thursday night.

Miami has now won four of their last five games and has improved their record to 4-5 (3-2 MAC) on the season, while Akron fell to 1-8 (0-5 MAC).

The RedHawks overcame the elements to hold Akron to 201 yards of total offense, the fewest yards they have given up all season.

“We keep focusing on the fundamentals and on playing disciplined football,” Defensive Line Coach Nick Siatras said. “There really isn’t anything scientific [to our success]. We have a good amount of depth [on defense] and we stress focus each week because you never know when you are going to get your name called [into the game].”

Meanwhile, the Red and White scored 28 firsthalf points, fueled by two touchdown passes from redshirt junior quarterback Zac Dysert.

Redshirt sophomore tailback Justin Semmes had 100 yards rushing to go with two touchdowns, while sophomore wide out Nick Harwell had his sixth 100-yard receiving game of the season, racking up 117 yards on four receptions to go with one touchdown.

Semmes became the first Miami player to rush for 100 yards this season, despite only having four career rushing yards entering Thursday’s matchup.

Miami’s offense has played extremely well in their last two contests due to the great play of Dysert and the emergence of a running game that has been missing throughout most of

JESSI THORNE THE MIAMI STUDENT

Redshirt sophomore fullback Justin Semmes rumbles through the University of Akron defense Thursday night. Semmes rushed for over 100 yards in Miami’s 35-3 romp over the Zips. the season. “[Up to this point in the season] we haven’t been able to run the ball consistently,” Quarterbacks and Wide Receivers Coach Charlie Fisher said. “Dysert is playing well and has been particularly hot lately. He is a veteran quarterback who reads what he’s got based on the coverage … [but Harwell] is one of the best receivers in the country. [Harwell] has played really well and has really had to step up, especially since many teams are starting to double-team him.”

With Thursday night’s performance, Harwell became only the second wide receiver in program history to post at least six 100-yard receiving games in one season.

Defensively, redshirt seniors Anthony Kokal and Jerrell Wedge led the ’Hawks with eight and nine tackles, respectively. Wedge has played extremely well since

returning to the team as a full time starter four weeks ago.

Now Miami turns their focus to their matchup with Temple University Wednesday night. Temple (5-4, 3-3 MAC) enters Wednesday’s game having lost two straight, including a tough 35-31 loss last week against the Ohio University Bobcats.

With three games remaining on the schedule, only half a game separates these three schools, the same three teams who were in the race for the MAC East last season.

Temple has one of the top defenses in the nation. They are 10th in total defense, allowing fewer than 300 yards per contest. They also have the country’s fourth-best scoring defense. “[Temple] likes to blitz and that is a big key that we are emphasizing,” Fisher said. “We need to pick up their pressure and take advantage of the man

coverage down the field.

Temple has arguably one of the best defenses in the country.”

Offensively, the Owls rely heavily on their rushing attack, which is led by junior running back Bernard Pierce.

Pierce is averaging 115 yards per game and has already racked up 19 rushing touchdowns this season to lead the MAC’s best rushing offense and the eighth ranked ground attack nationally.

Look for Miami to load the box on defense and to utilize their quick linebackers to shut down Temple’s rushing attack. Offensively, the ’Hawks will likely cycle a variety of running backs while still relying heavily on the play of Dysert and Miami’s young receiving corps.

Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia. Fans can listen to the game on Miami’s IMG Sports Network or watch on ESPN.

Men’s basketball aims to take MAC title

By Josh North

For The Miami Student

The Miami University men’s basketball team will begin the 2011-12 season

Nov. 15 at home against the University of Dayton. Coming off an 11-5 season in Mid-American Conference (MAC) play, Head Coach Charlie Coles is optimistic

despite some heavy losses in the offseason.

“I feel good about our team this season,” Coles said. “We’ve had a lot more great practices this year and our effort is very high.”

Miami knew before the season started that they would be without forwards Nick Winbush and Antonio Ballard, who graduated last season.

But injuries and other issues have further depleted the team.

Junior guards Orlando Williams and Allen Roberts, who are Miami’s second and third returning scorers respectively, will not be with the team at the start of the season.

According to Coles, it is unlikely that Williams will be available at all this season for undisclosed reasons.

Coles said he believes Roberts will be able to return from a nagging knee injury before the season is over.

The RedHawks will still be led by senior forward Julian Mavunga, who lead the team in points, rebounds and assists last season and was selected to the AllMAC first team.

“When he’s playing right, he’s one of the best players around,” Coles said.

Mavunga will be counted

on heavily to lead the team this season.

Coles is also expecting sophomore guard Quinten Rollins, who Coles believes is the team’s best defender, to take on more of a leadership role this season. Rollins is another returning starter and he led the team in steals last season.

“I am expecting more from myself,” Rollins said.

“I have to be more vocal this year and for years to come.”

Coles is planning on starting sophomores Jon Harris and Josh Sewell and junior Vince Legarza along with Mavunga and Rollins. Legarza is going to be counted on to step up in the frontcourt and Coles thinks Harris can have a “breakout year” this season.

“What’s unique is that there are a lot of guys who are establishing their roles,” Assistant Coach Jason Grunkemeyer said. “It’s going to be exciting to see how it turns out.”

Miami’s key home games this season include Belmont University Dec. 17 and defending MAC champion University of Akron Jan. 7.

The last time Miami played Akron, in the MAC tournament the RedHawks lost in a double-overtime thriller.