The Miami Student Oldest university newspaper in the United States, established 1826
VOLUME 138 NO. 25
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
MIAMI UNIVERSITY OXFORD, OHIO
In 1990, The Miami Student reported the Miami Plan added the three-credit world cultures graduation requirement. A new technology requirement was also proposed to reinforce the importance of integrating technology into liberal education.
Miami clinches berth in MAC title game By JM Rieger
WANT TO GO TO THE GAME?
Staff Writer
Miami University is going to the Mid-American Conference (MAC) championship game for the first time since 2007. The Red and White finished the season with an 8-4 record, including a 7-1 mark in conference play, making them the most improved team in college football. After shutting down Temple University in the final game of the season Nov. 23, the RedHawks got some help from Kent State University Nov. 26 when it held Ohio University to just six points, dropping Ohio to 8-4 overall and 6-2 in the MAC. Ohio’s loss allowed Miami to gain sole possession of first place in the MAC East Division, while Ohio and Temple finished second and third respectively. “It means a lot to us,” senior running back Thomas Merriweather said. “It gives us more confidence to go out and play every week. We need to keep working hard and come out focused and ready to play.” Merriweather has rushed for 323 yards in his last two games, including a career high 182 against Temple, a team that had been giving up just 129 yards per game on the ground. Miami’s ground attack has been key for the ’Hawks, who have now won four straight games to close out the season, including their final two games without their starting quarterback, redshirt sophomore Zac Dysert. Redshirt freshman Austin Boucher has stepped in nicely for the injured Dysert, and he will get the start again
MICHAEL GRIGGS The Miami Student
Miami football players signal they recovered a fumble Nov. 23 against Temple University. against the Huskies. Northern Illinois University (NIU) comes into the MAC championship game ranked 23 in the Coaches Poll and 24 in the Associated Press Poll. NIU is 10-2 for the year, including an undefeated 8-0 record in the MAC,
and the team also boasts one of the best defenses in the nation. The team is ranked 18 in total defense and 10 in scoring defense. Meanwhile, NIU has the best scoring offense in the MAC, averaging just more than 39 points per game to
CAMPUS
Senior Staff Writer
The results are in on the Strategic Priorities Task Force (SPT). The university senate met Nov. 22 to hear President David Hodge’s final word on the report. The original report included a total of 35 recommendations designed with the goal of placing Miami University in an increasingly competitive position in the future. According to Hodge, all of these recommendations have been accepted. Some tweaking has been done on the report, however. Four of the existing recommendations have been adjusted and one new recommendation has been added. “The first is that the scholarship recommendation called for $40 million over the next five years of new scholarship money,” Hodge said. “That is being increased to $50 million.” Hodge said scholarships need to be a priority for the university. He said a major campaign for raising money for these scholarships is being prepared and will be launched later this academic school year. Hodge said athletic scholarships are not included in the recommendation. Another adjustment being made is to the recommendation on the faculty retire/rehire policy. This recommendation has been ad-
wSee SPT, page 9
THE
TOP 25 CHANGES CAMPUS 50 YEARS AGO Engaged learning in Miami’s most popular classes can been seen all over campus.
Experience a blast to the past with the newest installment in our historical series.
A DATE WITH THE CAVS
BALLIN’
CAMPUS, page 2
Coach Michael Haywood surprises the football and cheerleading teams with a trip to see the Cavs play.
CAMPUS, page 3
FOUR LOKO NO-NO
The caffeinated energy drink disappears from Oxford store shelves.
COMMUNITY, page 4
COMMUNITY, page 4
Julian Mavunga shares his story of life at Miami, on and off the court.
FEATURES, page 5
SKATING TO THE TOP RedHawk hockey moves up in the rankings.
SPORTS, page 10
wSee FOOTBALL, page 9
Hate crime brings racial tension to light
justed to find a way to reduce costs while still leaving some retirement incentives. The third adjustment was made to the budget reduction recommendation proposed for Intercollegiate Athletics (ICA). “The task force report called for a 3 percent per year reduction in total budget, which was considerably larger than any other reduction,” Hodge said. “I will be recommending that 2 percent per year reduction on the university subsidy for this activity.” Hodge said this means the university support of ICA will still be decreasing but it will be declining at a rate that matches other decreases recommended in the report. SPT also suggested a study group to look at the divisional structure of the university. “I don’t really think we are going to do anything major about restructuring the divisions,” Hodge said. “On the other hand, what we really must do a better job of is to foster more interdisciplinary teaching and research throughout the university.” The new addition to the recommendations is designed to stimulate a focus on the retention and graduation of students. Hodge said increasing these rates will generate more revenue for the university, further build a nationwide reputation of academic success and create a better environment for all
INSIDESCOOP
seven in the game against Temple. Miami will get some added help when freshman defensive lineman Mwanza Wamulumba returns to the lineup after being injured the past
CAMPUS
Senate reviews SPT report
By Adam Giffi
go with 452 yards of total offense per game. One of the keys to Miami’s last four victories has been getting pressure on the quarterback, which the team will need to do again Friday. The RedHawks have 18 sacks in their past four games, including
Miami has also announced a travel package for students. For $25, students receive a ticket to the game as well as a ride to and from Detroit. Buses depart at noon Friday and return immediately following the game. In addition, the first 30 students to pay for the trip will be able to participate in the pre-game ceremonies at Ford Field. Students must reserve their spots with the Athletic Ticket Office by noon Thursday. Details for the trip can be found on www.muredhawks.com. Fans can listen to the Marathon MAC Championship Game on Miami’s ISP Sports Network or watch the game on ESPN2. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. at Ford Field in Detroit, Mich.
By Erin Fischesser
will surface,” Squance said. “If we get any other information, we will pursue it.” As many students were preparing to Until then, Squance said there is no leave Oxford for Thanksgiving break, further investigation into the incident. one Miami University junior faced atOxford City Manager Doug Elliott also tackers who approached him with harsh serves as the director of the Community words and racial slurs. Relations Commission According to police (CRC), which is look“We’re going to talk ing into recent hate reports, between 3:50 and 4:15 a.m. Nov. 20, a about ways we can crimes. black Miami sophomore “We’re charged with bring this type of walking back to Hawks looking into discrimiincident to the public nation in employment, Landing was met by two and think of ways white males at the corhousing and public ner of Sycamore Street we can prevent this accommodations, but and Brown Road. The we also take a look at from happening.” two men reportedly apother incidents,” Elproached the student, usliott said of the organiDOUG ELLIOTT ing expletives and racial zation. DIRECTOR slurs before tackling him COMMUNITY RELATIONS COMMISSION According to Elto the ground. liott, the CRC will The student reportedly meet with the Student fought back, and believes he struck one Community Relations Council, which of his attackers in the face before the two includes a broader group of students and fled on foot. community members, Dec. 3 to discuss According to police, the two men were hate bias in the city. described only as white males between 5 “(We’re going) to talk about ways we feet 9 inches and 6 feet tall. can bring this type of incident to the pubThe incident is the third hate crime in lic and think of ways we can prevent this Oxford in 2010, according to Oxford Po- from happening,” Elliott said. lice Department Sgt. Jim Squance. “We’re hoping some other information See CRIME, page 9 Editor in Chief
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WWW.MIAMISTUDENT.NET SPORTS: FOOTBALL VIDEO Watch Coach Haywood’s speech after the Temple University victory.
CAMPUS: MENTAL HEALTH Discover resources for students struggling with thoughts of suicide.
ENTERTAINMENT: STUDENT RAPPER Get the scoop on “Oxford Girls” by first-year Ryan Wheeler.