Dec 10, 2010 | The Miami Student

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

VOLUME 138 NO. 28

Friday, December 10, 2010

MIAMI UNIVERSITY OXFORD, OHIO

In 1965, The Miami Student reported students could spend break winter break registering voters in the South and working for civil rights groups.

MU plans to phase out Redskin logo ‘It’s time to move on.’

By Adam Giffi

Senior Staff Writer

Miami University started a process that will likely lead to the complete removal of any remnants of the old Redskin name, beginning with the ending the “Scalp Song.”

The decision has officially been made to end the playing of this instrumentation when an opposing team member goes to the penalty box in an effort to further distance the university from the Redskin name of old

and embrace the RedHawk moniker, Miami President David Hodge said.

“It’s time to move on,” Hodge said. “The song was created when we had a different mascot. It made sense with the other mascot, it doesn’t make sense with the current mascot, and we’re trying to create new RedHawk traditions.”

Hodge said the song also goes against the image the university seeks to project.

“It clearly is not as respectful as we think we should be at this institution,”

he said. “It goes against our values.

It’s not that people mean it to be disrespectful, and I stress that point, but it is.”

According to Hodge, Miami will likely see future changes as they relate to embracing the RedHawk identity. One of these could eventually include the removal of the former Redskin logo from all facilities and paraphernalia.

“I think sooner or later that all has to change,” Hodge said. “This is not meaning to disrespect all of the alums and previous people in the institution from different times. The logo we had served a purpose, and that purpose is

now gone. Now it’s a distraction and it doesn’t in any way signify what our relationship is with the Miami Indian Tribe.”

Hodge said the process of addressing the removal of these leftovers is being examined thoroughly before a final verdict is made. Dionn Tron, associate vice president of communication, confirmed that the Redskin logo’s role in today’s Miami University is being reviewed.

“That’s being discussed right now, and no decisions have been made,” Tron said. “It’s really a carry-over from our old mascot and we haven’t been the Redskins for

13 years.”

In terms of the “Scalp Song,” Tron said the Miami Tribe was not the original source of contention.

“The tribe didn’t complain,” Tron said. “I think it started as we began looking to see how we could really build traditions for the RedHawks name and gain a lot of student support for our athletic events.”

Band Director Stephen Lytle said during the first few hockey games of the spring 2011 semester, the band will play several different alternatives and give students a way to participate

wSee REDSKIN, page 5

CAMPUS

ASG considers funding changes

By Matt Levy

Staff Writer

Miami University’s student government is considering re-evaluating its funding process for student organizations.

Associated Student Government (ASG) wants to make the way it distributes funding to student organizations as efficient and equal as possible, according to Tom Foster, vice president of student organizations.

“ASG is evaluating the current process to make sure our dollars serve as many students as possible,” Foster said. “We are looking at what students they serve, how they serve and if they serve as many students as possible.”

According to Foster, this is not a response to particular problems but an attempt to ensure the system is working efficiently.

BY THE NUMBERS Current amount of funding distributed among general student organizations

$490,414 “Our current system works very well,” Foster said. “We’re just trying to make it stronger and show that ASG is fiscally responsible and taking Miami’s budget issue very seriously.”

According to documents on the ASG website, the current amount of funding distributed among general (non-Greek) student organizations

wSee ASG, page 5

The Miami University app includes nine “mini-apps” that allow users to stay up to date on campus information.

CAMPUS

Miami launches interactive iPhone application

By Thomasina Johnson

News Editor

Thanks to a new free iPhone application, Miami University can now be accessed from anywhere in the world.

Miami University, the app, launched Dec. 1 and has nine “mini-apps,” including a campus and visitor parking map, library information, dining hall menus, RedHawk sports news, campus events, a directory, news and campus information. The app can be downloaded at the iTunes store for iPads and iPod Touches in addition to iPhones.

The iPhone app was created to heighten awareness of Miami through technology, according to Jerry Gannod,

director of Miami’s mobile learning center and an associate professor of computer science and software engineering.

“The idea was to promote the idea of mobile learning and provide students with experiences,” Gannod said.

The app was created under the direction of Gannod and three Miami seniors: Emily Wait, David Alson and Thomas Campbell.

Funding was received through the student technology fee and university communications, Gannod said.

Gannod said the fact that the students were involved made the project a valuable learning experience.

“We could’ve gone outside,

THE

INSIDESCOOP

THE LEGACY LIVES ON A new Brendan Burke memorial internship helps hockey players pay for college.

CAMPUS, page 2

HOT AND FRESH

Oxford food delivery questions and answers are served with a smile.

COMMUNITY, page 4

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A REDHAWK ATHELETE

Players discuss the challenges and rewards of being a student and teammate

FEATURES, page 6

BOWL BOUND

RedHawk football gears up for the GoDaddy.com Bowl Jan. 6.

SPORTS, page 12

HAPPY HOLIDAYS! The Miami Student will not print an edition until Jan. 11.

Check our website for updates during break.

but this provides students to create something that’s high enough quality to be usable,” he said.

“One of Miami’s goals is experience, and this is an extension of that idea.”

According to Gannod, he and the students started working on the app in May and had it mostly completed by fall. The app went through testing and approval by Apple, Inc. “It’s a relatively short time of delivery, and we’re pretty happy with it,” Gannod said. “There’s no reason to rush it and it’s good experience.”

Sophomore Michael Seifert said he likes the Miami iPhone app, especially the events mini-app.

“You can see all campus

You could

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events for Oxford, Hamilton and Middletown,” Seifert said. “It really keeps you up to date.”

Seifert said he is a sports fan and would like to see an addition to the sports news mini-app.

“I would also really like to see a sports schedule,” he said.

Wait said the most difficult part of her job as a graphics designer was diving into a new technological territory for Miami.

“It was challenging to get a comprehensive look and feel,” she said. “There isn’t a standard for Miami mobile technology, so I had a lot of freedom.”

Wait said she looked at existing apps from other schools to get a feel for what they wanted.

wSee APPLICATION, page 5

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Campus

Friday

December 10, 2010

Editors Stephen Bell Amelia Carpenter Amanda Seitz campus@miamistudent.net

NEWS Team gears up for bowl game BRIEFS

By Shannon Pesek For the Miami Student

FYI Miami offers athletic ticket special Miami University will offer a special package for the first men’s and women’s basketball home doubleheader of the season Dec. 11.

The women’s team will compete against California State University Bakersfield at 2 p.m. and the men will play against Troy University at 4:30 p.m.

Tickets must be purchased the day before the game and the special package must be purchased a day in advance. For $29.95, fans can purchase four tickets to both games, four McDonald’s extra value meals and four Miami baseball hats.

To purchase a package, visit the Miami athletic ticket office or call (513) 529-4295.

Writing center to use Facebook, Twitter Miami University junior Sarah Schultz works as a welcome desk staff person at the Howe Writing Center. She wanted to provide the center with social media outlets to create awareness and access the students more easily.

Schultz met with her bosses Dec. 6 to propose the idea of creating Facebook and Twitter accounts, which were approved to start in January 2011.

Schultz said the pages will announce consulting cancellations, appointment availability, happenings at the Howe Writing Center, announcements on campus, writing style references, quick tips, hours, feedback and more.

Schultz believes the writing center’s presence on the websites will give students an easy way to gain information without leaving their favorite sites.

National festival recognizes MU production The Department of Theatre at Miami University was selected to perform its production of “Art” in the regional round of the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival Jan. 7, 2011 in the Fairchild Theatre at Michigan State University.

The production was one of four productions chosen from across the country to be presented at the Kennedy Center in April.

“Art” is a comedy by Yasmina Reza that tells the story of three men whose friendship is tested when one of them buys an expensive piece of art.

The production is directed by Lewis Magruder, an assistant professor of theater at Miami.

Cheers of celebration — along with Tweets and Facebook statuses — followed the win Dec. 3 as the Miami University football team clenched the Mid-American Conference (MAC) championship title in Detroit, Mich.

The win secured the team a spot in the GoDaddy.com Bowl against Middle Tennessee University Jan. 6 in Mobile, Ala. The GoDaddy.com Bowl will be held at the Ladd-Pebbles Stadium, and the team will prepare for the showdown over winter break.

“The team will begin practice again on Dec. 14, and we will have 15 total practices before the game,” said Mike Pearson, assistant director of communications and technology for athletics.

Senior tight end Jordan Stevens said these 15 practices will put the team at an advantage when Jan. 6 arrives.

“We will be very well prepared for this game, so I believe we have

a great chance of winning,” he said.

“The football team has not been to a bowl game in seven years, so we are all preparing well and are very excited.”

Sophomore defensive lineman Austin Brown said the team is feeling good about the upcoming game.

“We have a lot of momentum coming into the game,” Brown said.

“We have four weeks to prepare, not just one, so we are feeling stronger and more confident.”

Stevens said the team will not be arriving in Mobile until Jan. 2, leaving a lot of time during winter break for them to prepare. There is obviously time factored in for the Christmas holiday, during which the players will be allowed to go home and spend time with their families before returning to Oxford to resume practice.

“This whole thing is really new to us,” Pearson said, acknowledging the team, coaches and staff do not fully know what to expect when they arrive.

Once in Mobile, the team has a

MICHAEL GRIGGS The Miami Student

Senior wide receiver Armand Robinson carries the ball at the Dec. 3 game in Detroit, Mich. busy schedule due to mandatory bowl events as well as practicing and free time for the players.

The GoDaddy.com Bowl has scheduled several mandatory events for the coaches and players,

including a luncheon aboard the U.S.S. Alabama, a Mardi Grasthemed parade and celebration, a visit to a children’s hospital, a bowling challenge and a luncheon with the mayor.

Pearson said all of these events lead up to game day.

“The boys deserve the fun and the free time that will be associated with this trip,” Pearson said. “Even though this is a game, it’s also a reward for a job well done.”

Factoring in plane tickets, bus rides and hotel fare, not a penny of the cost comes from the individual players, according to Pearson.

“The bowl covers the majority of the costs associated with the game and events leading up to the game,” Pearson said. “Whatever is not covered by them, the Athletic Department will pick up.”

The team will be returning to Oxford Jan. 7 for a break before training begins in February and spring practices start up in March.

“After the game, the boys get to go back to being students again,” Pearson said.

Internship honors Brendan Burke Williams Hall upgrades lock system

By Andie Mahalich For The Miami Student

USA Hockey announced its annual 12-month internship will be established in memory of the late Miami University student and former Men’s Varsity Hockey Operations Assistant Brendan Burke.

Burke died unexpectedly in February 2010 at the age of 21. He served as the Miami hockey team’s hockey operations assistant and was part of the hockey family at Miami.

“Brendan meant as much as any player, coach or trainer to this team,” senior forward Justin Vaive said. “In the end, his impact was large before the accident, but now that he has passed, his impact and influence on this program is at a level where it cannot be described by words, only actions.”

The internship was established for a college graduate interested in the hockey field.

“The Brendan Burke Internship is a fitting tribute to a young man who cared so much about hockey and got so much joy from his involvement with the sport,” Dave Ogrean, executive director of USA Hockey, said via e-mail. “His father, Brian Burke, has been a vital member of the USA Hockey family for many years, and we’re extremely pleased to honor the memory of his son through the establishment of this internship.”

To help fund the Brendan Burke Internship, Laura Wilson, the daughter of Ron Wilson, coach of NHL’s Toronto Maple Leafs,

By Colin Casey For The Miami Student

SAMANTHA LUDIINGTON The Miami Student

A USA Hockey internship remembers former men’s varsity hockey operations assistant, Brendan Burke, pictured above. competed in a 70.3-mile triathlon that took place Nov. 13. Wilson raised $7,060 for Brendan’s internship.

In late August, USA Hockey announced Cole Burkhalter would be the first to receive the Brendan Burke Internship.

Burkhalter said he started playing hockey when he was only four or five.

“I was a southern boy playing a northerner’s game,” Burkhalter said.

At 17, his career on the ice was cut short when he was diagnosed with bone cancer.

Burkhalter pursued a business degree from the University of Tennessee and continued to stay active in the hockey world. Burkhalter worked for the Ice Bears until 2009, when he moved to Buffalo, N.Y. to pursue his master’s degree in sports administration at

Canisius College. Upon graduating, Burkhalter happened to stumble upon the USA Hockey website and the Brendan Burke Internship.

Although demanding, Burkhalter said his internship is filled with memory and honor.

“I come to the office everyday grateful for what I have been given,” Burkhalter said.

“I know the Burke family has been through a lot and I hope that through this internship they can find some sort of happiness and peace. It is a source of motivation knowing what they (the Burke family) have been through to not take anything for granted and to come to work everyday and work hard to honor Brendan and his family.”

To donate to the Brendan Burke Internship, visit www.703brendanburke.com.

Psychology department to open resource center

By Noëlle Bernard

Senior Staff Writer

Miami University’s Department of Psychology will soon offer more resources to students interested in the field.

The department will launch The Center for Psychological Inquiry in the spring semester to show students what psychology does, Center Director Amanda Diekman said.

She said the intention of the center is to provide a place that supports faculty and graduate interactions with undergraduate students.

“The center is for the department as a whole,” Diekman said. “It will support faculty and their efficiency to engage students.

We want to foster relations between graduates and undergraduates to help them learn

about graduate school and their studies.”

Senior Jessica Reigrut is excited about the new center and its intent to utilize the strengths of graduate students.

“As a psychology major myself, I know that it’s difficult to pinpoint which career path is the best to follow,” Reigrut said.

“One of the best things they can do is ask for advice from graduate students. They would be a very valuable resource in helping students plan their futures, especially when it comes to life after Miami.”

Diekman said the center will link classroom psychology curriculum and provide a place for students to do research, receive tutoring and engage with faculty in the department.

“We want to help be an avenue for undergraduates to make connections across courses,” Diekman said. “Ideally we will have a

space where people can come in for drop-in advising, tutoring and workshops.”

According to senior Matt Penta, the center could be beneficial for psychology students who need a place to communicate and learn from professionals in the field.

“We have some people like Evan Bristow, my Psychology 294 teacher, who’s a graduate student and he told us what it’s really like as a psychology major and what you need to prepare for,” Penta said. “I don’t necessarily think that every single student gets that kind of advice from their teachers.”

The center is still in the preliminary stages of development, according to Diekman. She said the department is still looking for a suitable space on the first floor of the Psychology Building.

The Center for Psychological Inquiry is set to open early in the spring semester.

Williams Hall building manager Steve Beitzel was surprised when he came to work last spring. He learned that many of the classrooms and student labs in Williams Hall had doors that could be locked from both outside and the inside the room.

This type of lock is sometimes referred to as a “Columbine lock” because of the safety they offer from a threat on school property.

According to Beitzel, the new locks differ from traditional locks because an occupant inside the room does not have to open the door and go into the hallway to lock the room.

“I think doors that are able to be locked from the inside are a really good idea, especially after what has happened in places like Virginia Tech.”

BRIAN MCGOWAN FIRST-YEAR

He said the idea behind them is that a professor or student can hit the deadbolt from inside the classroom, securing themselves inside, without having to venture into the corridor and risking calling attention to themselves.

Miami first-year Brian McGowan said the locks are a good safety measure.

“I think doors that are able to be locked from the inside are a really good idea, especially after what has happened in places like Virginia Tech,” he said.

Larry Head, university locksmith and assistant manager of the trades shop, said this is just one building that underwent changes to this type of lock. Head said he received a list of registrar-controlled classrooms that needed to be fitted for the new locks.

After the changes were made to the several hundred rooms on the list, locksmiths later revisited buildings so that smaller meeting rooms, which were not included on the original list, could be changed.

“We tried to change all the state buildings,” Head said.

State buildings include all university buildings except residence halls and dining halls. Head said he is doubtful the locks will be installed in the residence halls.

“We are getting ready for the residence halls to undergo a rather large project that will change all the rooms to have

wSee LOCKS, page 7

THE MIAMI STUDENT

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4

Community

Friday

December 10, 2010

Editor Bethany Bruner community@miamistudent.net

City discusses annexing land

Addition of Miami University property could generate tax income At around 2 p.m. Nov. 30, Oxford Police Department (OPD) officers met with management from Papa John’s Pizza and Uptown Bucks in reference to some suspicious charges.

According to police reports, Papa John’s employees noticed deliveries to multiple addresses in a mobile home park charged to the same Uptown Bucks account number.

The employees reportedly told their manager about the suspicious transactions, and Uptown Bucks was contacted about the account.

After reviewing the account information, Uptown Bucks reportedly confirmed the activity appeared to be suspicious.

According to police reports, Papa John’s notified OPD when the flagged account placed another order.

Officers reportedly accompanied the Papa John’s delivery driver to 5201 College Corner Pike apartment 226, where Jana Munden, 40, answered the door.

Officers reportedly determined the Uptown Bucks account used to place the pizza order did not belong to Munden and she was placed under arrest.

According to reports, further investigation also led to the arrest of Jason Saylor, 35, and Allison Walter, 27.

According to police reports, the three made unauthorized charges dating back to July, totaling in excess of $1,000.

Charges were reportedly made at Papa John’s, Buffalo Wild Wings, SDS Pizza, Pizza Hut and Domino’s Pizza.

Munden was cited for theft, Walter was cited for four counts of misuse of a credit card and Saylor was cited for seven counts of misuse of a credit card.

Uptown Bucks account holders who notice questionable charges are encouraged to contact OPD at (513) 524-5240.

By Lauren Ceronie Staff Writer

Oxford City Council is in the process of annexing 47 acres of land surrounding Yager Stadium into the City of Oxford for income tax reasons.

This land includes Yager Stadium, Ryder Track, the field hockey fields, the soccer field and the softball field.

City Council discussed the process of annexing the land at its meeting Dec.7.

The land is currently part of Oxford Township, according to City Manager Doug Elliott.

If the 47.069 acres are annexed, the city will be able to collect additional income tax, Elliott said.

The tax will not bring in additional revenue on the current land parcel, but will affect future

construction on the property, he said. If the land belongs to the city, contractors will be liable to pay a tax of 2 percent of their wages to the city, Elliott said.

The council must submit a petition to the Butler County Commissioners, who will review the petition and make a decision on the annexation, Elliott said.

Council was in favor of annexing the land because the City of Oxford provides utilities.

“We want to annex this area since we already provide water and sewage service for the area,” Elliott said.

“It will also enable the university to get lower water and sewage rates.”

City Councilmember Greig Rutherford was also in favor of the annexation.

“All Miami University property contiguous to city property should be annexed since we provide

public services to those properties,” Rutherford said.

The city is looking to annex multiple parcels of land on and around Miami’s campus.

“We say that Oxford is the home of Miami University and we would like to make that completely true,” Elliott said.

The city is also looking into annexing the land surrounding University Park Boulevard and U.S. 27 South, the location of the new Talawanda High School, Elliott said. This would enable the city to include improvements to the intersection in the U.S. 27 South connector project. The city would like to install a new traffic signal in the intersection, according to Elliott.

The council also discussed revising city policy on the activation of tornado sirens. Currently, individual communities are responsible for

activating the sirens, all under different policies. Director of the Butler County Emergency Management Agency Jeff Galloway presented a countywide plan for activation of tornado and weather warning sirens to the council. Galloway’s plan recommended alerting the entire county if there is a tornado warning issued by the National Weather Service.

“It comes down to our responsibility to warn the public,” Galloway said. “I would rather warn the people and have nothing happen than not warn them at all.”

Council expressed concern that the sirens would not be set off until severe weather had passed through the western parts of the county.

City of Oxford staff will review Galloway’s proposal and make a recommendation to council at the next meeting.

Restaurants explain delivery decisions

By Leslie Scott Senior Staff Writer

Among the myriad of restaurants in Oxford, not all offer the option of delivery.

According to Matt Todd, Buffalo Wild Wings general manager, the restaurant doesn’t offer delivery because it takes on a lot of business as it is.

“About one-third of our sales come from carryout,” Todd said. “The kitchen is not built to take on much more business than we already do. We don’t want to bite off more than we can chew.”

If delivery was added as an option, it would increase sales, but it might have a negative backlash, Todd said. It would add one more profit center, but something would have to give, such as people waiting longer for their food, which might ultimately decrease sales.

Todd said there is more to delivery than just hiring a driver. Restaurants need to take into consideration the need to include delivery drivers in their insurance policies, which is an additional cost.

Alan Kyger, Oxford economic development director, said many restaurants choose delivery because of the marketplace of the town.

“Delivery in a small, high-populated area makes perfect sense,” Kyger said. “There is definitely a high demand for delivery in Oxford. I don’t know why everybody doesn’t do it.”

SAMANTHA LUDDINGTON The Miami Student

OPD makes arrests in Uptown Bucks scam

According to Kyger, the delivery rate has been pretty steady in Oxford over the years. The biggest change he has seen is fewer people are cooking their own traditional meals.

Miami University used to be a no-car campus, which made delivery much harder. However, since that policy has been revoked, delivery has definitely increased, Kyger said.

Seer Chen, general manager of Wild Bistro, said the restaurant delivers all over town, including on campus.

“Many students don’t have cars and don’t want to make the trip out,” Chen said. “Especially in winter, we are happy to provide this door-to-door service.”

According to Bridget Maney, Chipotle kitchen manager, Chipotle hasn’t instated a delivery policy because it can’t insure the quality of the food when it travels.

“Our main message is that we sell food with integrity,” Maney said. “With this in mind, we want to make sure we are producing good quality food and that customers are getting the most for their money.”

Non-delivery hasn’t really affected the store’s sales because Chipotle offers other options, such as ordering online and carryout, Maney said.

Miami junior Glen Selby said the option of delivery doesn’t alter his choice of where to eat.

“If I want something, I won’t choose someplace else because they deliver,” Selby said. “Sometimes it is almost easier to eat in or order ahead to pick it up.”

City enforces snow route parking As winter approaches, here are some reminders about snow routes in Oxford.

• No cars can be parked on snow routes during any level snow emergency.

• No cars can be parked on snow routes if there are more than three inches of snow.

• Once roads have been cleared and a snow emergency lifted, cars can be parked on the streets again.

• Student cars that are displaced can be parked in the Millett Hall parking lot.

These are the designated snow routes as listed by the Oxford Police Department: • Chestnut Street (SR 732 to SR 27) • Fairfield Road/Spring Street • Patterson Avenue (SR 27 to High Street) • High Street (to Panda Lane) • Lynn Street • Locust Street (Chestnut Street to Sycamore Street) • Main Street (Chestnut Street to Sycamore Street) • Campus Avenue (Chestnut Street to High Street) • Tallawanda Road • Sycamore Street • Church Street (Locust Street to Poplar Street) • Poplar Street (Church Street to Walnut Street) • College Avenue (Chestnut Street to Church Street)

A look back in time PHOTO COURTESY OF LAUREN KARCH

The front of this uptown building was redone in 2005. The restoration attempted to return the building to its original appearance.

Uptown Oxford B.C.: Before Chipotle

By Lauren Karch

beer towers and independent boutiques, I am also surprised to find that many successful vendors In 2005, the Oxford Wal-Mart closed up shop so quickly.” made the transition from, well, a Chan said it surprises him regular Wal-Mart to a Wal-Mart to see formerly booming Supercenter. The supersizing businesses replaced. seemed to stay out of the uptown “For a greater part of a decade, area, however. the Alexander House was a go-to Five years ago, uptown Ox- place for parent’s weekends and ford looked much like the quaint must-impress dates, but was sold setup of today. Welcome to while I was still working there the Oxford B.C. Before Chipotle. summer after my senior year,” “One of my first memories of he said.

Miami University was of uptown In the mid-2000s, the Balcony Oxford during my college visit in Bar, now the construction site of the spring of 2005,” 2009 Miami the new DuBois Book Store, was graduate Tristan Chan said. “While the home of uptown’s most popular much of it remains the same, speck- 80s nights, live concerts and Specled with red bricks, bagel shops, trum’s drag shows. Below it, the For The Miami Student

High Street Grill served its famous steamed mussels. Hole in the Wall Bar, now Uptown Underground, reopened after a seven-year hiatus.

A major change to the appearance of High Street occurred when the façade of the craft store that became Bill’s Art Store was restored in the mid-2000s, according to Valerie Elliott, director of the Smith Library of Regional History.

“Sigma Chi owns that whole building, and they removed the stucco that had covered it in the 90s,” Elliott said. “They really tried to restore it to its original appearance, even matching the new windows to the ones on the original building from the early 1900s. It really changed the look

of the area.”

Oxford also ended a year-long experiment of requiring uptown meters to be paid until 8 p.m.

Now, meter checks are stopped after 6 p.m.

Unfortunately for students seeking a late night dollar menu, 2005 was the year the uptown Wendy’s burned down. The damaged building sat unused for years, an eyesore next to the prosperous Qdoba of the mid-2000s.

“One constant during my four years at Miami that I am glad to see gone was the infamous blue tarp hastily strewn over a charred Wendy’s corpse,” Chan said.

“The site is now survived by a freshly-erected Chipotle.”

THE MIAMI STUDENT

ASG

continued from page 1 is $490,414.

Foster stressed the equality of how ASG funds get distributed among student organizations.

“Every student organization has value on campus, whether it has 10 or 100 members,” Foster said. “We fund all groups in an equal manner.

If we fund a speaker for the College Republicans, we fund a speaker for College Democrats, too.”

Mat Hall, president of Spectrum, Miami’s alliance of GLBTQ (gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered and queer) students, said he feels satisfied with the current level of funding the group receives from ASG. “We requested money for guest speakers, and we received a fairly significant portion of what we asked

REDSKIN continued from page 1

in selecting their favorite.

“There’s a couple different things we are looking at, maybe something to embrace the RedHawk identity, maybe something that better suits the mood of why we celebrate a penalty, like along the lines of, say, ‘Dirty Deeds’ by ACDC,” Lytle said. “It will be music that allows people to participate in clapping and cheering.”

Lytle said on some levels the band will miss the “Scalp Song.”

“To a certain degree, the band was attached to the song,” Lytle said. “But, at the same time,

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2010 ♦ 5 for,” Hall said. “Cuts are to be exAccording to Foster, potential pected during a university budget changes will not take place until fall crisis. To me, it’s all a matter of give semester 2011. and take.”

Foster said there have not been Miami Junior Kimberly Schmitt, any discussions within the ASG a member of the Funding CommitMiami Student tee about how the Education Asso- “If changes need to process is going to be made we want change, or if it is ciation (MSEA), said she also felt to make sure we do going to change. satisfied with the “While the curit in a way that’s level of funding rent system works fair to everyone.” well, we need to her group receives from ASG. evaluate what we TOM FOSTER “I think we got currently have beVICE PRESIDENT everything we cause there’s alSTUDENT ORGANIZATIONS asked for, but I ways some stuff know our budthat can be made get is pretty small to begin with,” better, and that’s what we’re doing,” Schmitt said. he said. “We’re evaluating it very According to Schmitt, the money closely, and if changes need to be MSEA receives is enough for them made we want to make sure we do it to accomplish their goals. in a way that’s fair to everyone.”

“The funding is sufficient and According to Foster, potential adequate for us to conduct our busi- changes would not take place until ness,” Schmitt said. fall semester 2011. understanding that times have changed and certainly the things that were seen as problematic in the song were things that were hard to overcome.”

First-year Andrew Whitson disagrees with the decision.

“From what I’ve heard, the tribe didn’t necessarily even want us to get rid of the Redskin name,” Whitson said. “Both my mom and my dad’s side have Native American blood, and I don’t find the song offensive at all.”

Junior Alyssa Reisner, however, agrees with the decision.

“I think that it is a good idea to remove the song,” Resiner said. “If they were to keep playing it, that would be going against our relationship with the Miami Tribe.”

Hodge said he expects limited re-

APPLICATION continued from page 1

“I also looked at the library’s site, but we also tried to go in our own direction,” she said.

The team plans to keep updating the app, with a new edition coming out soon, Gannod said.

Long-term additions to the app include a bus route schedule and Niikah access. Niikah will replace Blackboard in fall 2011, according to Miami’s Information Technology (IT) website.

“It would’ve been a waste of time to add Blackboard because they’re very restricting

and it’s going to be gone soon,” Alson said.

Alson said he worked mostly on the app technology because he has experience developing apps. Part of his job is creating new mini-apps, which fits nicely with his senior project. This includes creating the GPS bus tracking system.

“We put GPS transmitters on the bus and we’ll get locations on a live map,” he said.

A student with a background in statistics will help determine the estimated time arrival of the buses at each location, Alson said.

“We’re still in testing,” he said.

“We hope to have transmitters up and running on a few buses next semester.”

www.miamistudent.net

sistance and backlash from students in relation to the end of the “Scalp Song” and any future changes. He said select students will likely protest the decision.

“Of course, you know, whenever you make a change like this there will be a period of time where people are going to show their opposition to it,” Hodge said. “That’s fine.

It happens. It seems kind of silly to me, but it will pass.”

Hodge said this is the appropriate decision for Miami and hopes the university can move forward as a whole.

“We have some fantastic teams right now,” Hodge said. “They are RedHawks, so the thing to focus on is making sure that we build school spirit around who we are not who we were.”

    

    

                  

6

Friday

December 10, 2010

Features

Editor Hunter Stenback features@miamistudent.net

The transition from high school to collegiate athletics

By Katie Giovinale For The Miami Student

Going away to college can be an exciting yet difficult transition for newly graduated high school students. New undergraduates are faced with laundry, time management and frequent exams all without help from a parent living under the same roof. Add a varsity sport to the mix, and it can be a disaster.

First-year collegiate athletes have to join a brand new team, work with a new coach and adjust to a higher and more demanding level of play. It can be a challenge for these athletes to juggle their responsibilities on the field with calculus homework and making friends.

“Some people can’t take the pressure, which I can honestly understand,” Miami University senior field hockey player Kate Snyder said. “It’s difficult to figure out who you are, what you want to be, play well, get your school work done, make new friends, keep your team and coach happy and stay connected with people from home.”

Coming to Miami to play softball was a huge reality check for Marion, Ark. native Jordan McElroy. McElroy’s mother Vicki drove her to school each day in high school and picked her up from softball practice. When she got to Miami, she was excited about the freedom college offered, but soon realized that she needed to be responsible.

“I suddenly didn’t have someone reminding me to do my homework or being a backup wake up call,” said McElroy, who is now a junior. “Luckily, my roommate plays softball too, or there would have been several times where I would have slept through practice in the mornings.”

For Snyder, high school was a slightly different experience. Her mother worked in the admissions office at her high school, Wyoming Seminary in Kingston, Penn., and her father occasionally taught summer school programs there.

As much as her parents attempted to give her space, her teachers had direct contact with them and they constantly knew when her homework was due and what her practice schedule was like.

“Being on my own originally was a bit overwhelming,” Snyder said. “I thought I had things under control, but it was extremely easy to get caught up in going out and partying rather than getting my work done and focusing on field hockey.

There was no one there sitting me down and telling me to do my work.”

New school, new team Many high school athletes are fortunate to have the help of their parents to keep them on task.

First-year soccer player Sam Whitmore had to learn to deal with figuring out her schedule without the aid of her parents once she got to Miami. In high school, everything was laid out for her, but now at Miami she has gaps in her day that she is quickly learning are good times to get homework done.

“It’s a lot less structured, so you have to be good with time management,” Whitmore said.

In addition to new classes and a new school, the girls had new teammates to bond with. Luckily for Snyder and Whitmore, their sports’ fall seasons allowed them to meet their teammates before classes at Miami even started.

Snyder said it was hard to go from being the oldest person at her high school to carrying laundry for her older teammates and getting little playing time as a first-year student at Miami.

The girls’ busy schedules don’t leave much time for relaxing. After practice all morning starting at 7 a.m., they are in class until the evening. Once their classes let out, they head to study tables to get their homework done. When study tables are over at 9 p.m., it’s time to head to bed and start the cycle all over again.

“It seemed like everything was happening so fast, and as a freshman you want to impress your coaches and new teammates, so you felt like you had to try even harder to make a good impression,” McElroy said.

First-year basketball player Josh Sewell said the easiest way to learn is the hard way.

“You’ll learn you should have studied more or you should have practiced more,” Sewell said. “You’re away from home and it’s in your hands.”

Missing your number one fans Snyder and McElroy also had to get used to their parents’ faces missing from the stands at their games. Snyder’s parents are faced with a 10-hour drive or twohour flight, and with flights being so expensive it’s difficult for them to come out that often. Arkansas isn’t exactly close to Ohio either. McElroy’s parents try to make it to Miami for her softball games two weekends each season.

Even for Whitmore and Sewell’s parents, who are from Cincinnati and Louisville, Ky. respectively, getting up to Miami isn’t easy. Sewell’s mom has a busy work schedule, and Whitmore has two younger siblings her parents have to care for.

Coaches are sometimes faced with filling the role of guardian in the lives of their student-athletes. Men’s basketball Head Coach Charlie Coles recognizes Oxford becomes his players’ home away from home. However, the player-coach balance is not an easy one.

“There are so many contradictions in the relationship,” Coles said. “You have to get on them when they’re wrong and tell them when they’re right and pray for them.”

Usually Coles has one player per year that gets homesick. After he saw Sewell struggling with the transition, they talked about what they could both do to help him improve. Coles said for some players it’s more of an adjustment than for others. He’s noticed that players who come from families that are not very well off and have a lot of kids tend to make good adjustments, while those who have been constantly given what they want tend to struggle.

Snyder credits her coaches and the administration with constantly keeping her on task.

“Everyone is dedicated to making sure we stay on task and get our work done,” Snyder said. “Miami isn’t the type of school to just let you slide by with mediocre grades because you play a sport. They expect just as much from us as every other student.”

Joining the Miami family The coaching staffs for the various teams at Miami do everything they can to make new players and their families feel welcome.

McElroy’s coaches had a meet and greet the first weekend she came to Miami her freshman year. This made her parents feel comfortable knowing she would be in good hands and at least knew someone on campus after leaving home for the first time. The team also had a buddy system where a first-year and a returning player did a walk through of where their classes would be before the first day of class.

The athletes have weekly check-up meetings with their coaches and their athletic academic adviser to make sure everything is going well and they are able to manage not only school, but their sport as well. McElroy also talks to her parents every day to give them updates on her life.

“I think that it’s huge to have someone asking how school is going and showing that they care,” McElroy said. “That has made an impact on me.”

Snyder and McElroy have noticed the school makes an effort to keep their families involved, from information sent in the mail to keep parents updated about current Miami events to family weekend.

“I think when it comes down to it, it’s the little things that make our parents feel included,” Snyder said. “On my 21st birthday, my mom got an e-mail from Miami telling her to remind me not to take 21 shots. To me that is ridiculous, but to her it meant the world. Parents just want to be shown that they’re included.”

Sewell is starting to embrace his new independence.

“At the end of the day you’re on your own,” Sewell said.

HANNAH MILLER The Miami Student

THE MIAMI STUDENT

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2010 ♦ 7

Students work to develop sponsorships for Haitian children

By Natalie McKerjee Senior Staff Writer

While most Miami University students return home for the holiday break excited for guilt-free laziness, junior Krista Mollette will be spending her vacation living in a tent in Haiti.

Krista, who leaves for Haiti Sunday, has been doing volunteering work in Haiti since December 2008.

“I was home for Christmas break and was looking for something to do and a way to give back,” Krista said. “It was after Hurricane Ike and so I wanted to help out in Haiti.”

She said she takes three trips to Haiti a year, which require anywhere from $1,000 to $2,500 of fundraising per trip, depending on the length of the visit.

Any other funds that are received are given as donations.

“We fundraise with garage sales

and get donations from friends and families and from student organizations and churches,” she said.

While in Haiti, Krista works with the Haitian Mission Par La Foi, where one of her duties is to assist in medical basics like training and taking vitals.

Miami graduate Kyle Bateman, Oxford resident Andrew Lynn and Miami senior Jonathon Lawson are also involved with the Haiti restoration effort, according to Krista.

Lawson first visited Haiti with his dad during his junior year of high school. He said he believes although many people living in the United States regard Haitian citizens as extremely unfortunate, they sometimes embrace their lifestyle.

“The people of Haiti have eternal optimism and really enjoy life where they are,” Lawson said.

Krista also founded the student organization Lespwa4Haiti

(lespwa translates to “hope”) at profiles for them, which will later Miami in October 2010. be used for child sponsorships.

First-year Richard Mollette, who “Anyone will be able to be a is also the organization’s vice pres- sponsor,” Krista said. “We also ident (and Krista’s brother), said sell T-shirts to raise funds and he became interested in the effort recently had a concert at Kofeto restore Haiti after hearing of the nya that raised $300, all of which living conditions will be donated,” citizens endure on a she said.

“It is not enough daily basis.

Lespwa4Haiti “I joined Lespto just think about currently has 13 wa because I had poverty in abstract. members and was heard from word to raise We must be able created of mouth how support and awareand willing to harsh living conness for the people ditions are over in of Haiti. give back.”

Haiti, and I knew The organizathat they despertion recently coSHERILL SELLERS ately needed help,” ordinated a ChristASSOCIATE PROFESSOR Richard said. “I did FAMILY STUDIES AND SOCIAL WORK mas barrel drive so in hopes that and will host an all I could provide day, campus-wide some sort of relief and a feeling of event in January in remembrance hope for the people.” of the earthquake that occurred According to Krista, when she Jan. 12. returns to Haiti she will photoSherill Sellers, associate prograph local children and create fessor of family studies and

Miami pairs with hospital to create educational facility

Talk it out

By Erin Kenney

“The school’s main goal is to provide a seamless pathway for students to achieve high education in the Miami University is a primary part- health field,” said Catherine Bishopner in a $7.4 million project for the Clark, associate dean and professor at new Greentree Health Science Acad- Miami University Middletown. “The emy building in Middletown. academy will be in high demand beAfter two years of development, cause there will be increased demand the plans to build the Greentree Health for healthcare workers.”

Science Academy were finalized Bishop-Clark said the search for Nov. 23, with the building to be built new employees has begun. near Atrium Medical Center, accord“As of now, the employment proing to Mike Robinette, economic cess is just getting started, so there development director for the City are not many faculty members of of Middletown.

Greentree Health Science Academy,” Robinette said money came from Bishop-Clark said. state and federal funding, so the city Bishop-Clark said Miami faculty will ultimately own the building. Oth- members are excited to start the proer partners include Cincinnati State cess and hopefully see some of its stuTechnical Community College and dents take full advantage of what the Warren County Career Center. facility will have to offer. She hopes to One of the main purposes for Miami see 300 to 400 students enrolled when to be a partner in this project is to sub- the academy opens. lease space to other higher education It is unknown how many Miami institutions, such as Cincinnati State students will actually register because Technical and Community College, there is not yet a start date set in stone, Robinette said.

Bishop-Clark said.

“By sharing A representhe physical space tative from “The school’s main and materials inthe Office of stead of all buying Admission at goal is to provide a their own would seamless pathway for Miami Univerbe dramatically Middletown students to acheive high sity less expensive,” who asked not to education in the Robinette said. be identified said Nov. 22, the there are some health field.”

Ohio Controlling students enrolled Board declared in the academy, CATHERINE BISHOP-CLARK Miami University but the numbers ASSOCIATE DEAN MIAMI UNIVERSITY MIDDLETOWN are small. They Oxford would expect a larger be allocated $1 number once the million from the state for Greentree. Middletown academy is more publicized.

Robinette said based on the need, will also be issued $5.2 million in bonds to fund the construction pro- the building could be renovated in cess. Approximately $500,000 was the future.

“Greentree has the convenience provided by a federal grant. The land was also donated by the the city and of everything placed in one buildthe hospital, a donation estimated ing,” Robinette said. “It was planned to be worth $900,000, according so that if there is a greater demand for the academy, there is room for to Robinette.

When the idea for this project was an expansion.”

According to the Greentree Health first initiated about five years ago, the goal of it was to provide people Science Academy website, the school with schooling in which they could will offer a bachelor’s of science in reach up to a master’s level educa- nursing and a nursing program for stution, Robinette said. He said students dents with associate degrees. Greenas young as juniors in high school will tree hopes to offer bachelor’s degrees be allowed to enroll in classes at the in health information technology and academy to get a jumpstart on their integrated studies for those with assocareers. The academy will also at- ciate degrees within Greentree Health tract college students to middle-aged Sciences in the future.

According to Robinette, The Quanadults looking to further or change their career in the medical field, del Group Inc., a construction services provider, has agreed to take on the Robinette said.

Greentree Health Science Acad- project and will start construction in emy will contain classrooms and December. Construction is expected laboratories where students will to be finished in July 2011.

The group is already on the site learn the fundamentals of the health and the execution contract was science world.

“The purpose of the academy to completed Dec. 8.

“I think the Greentree program will be located on the Atrium Medical Center Hospital grounds was essen- be a great experience to get outside the tially to allow for students to be sub- traditional classroom setting in which merged in the actual medical settings nursing majors will be having handsthrough working at the hospital when on experience instead of listening to the students plan to do their clinical,” lectures or reading from a textbook,” said sophomore Megan Brophy, who Robinette said.

The partnership will provide a is pursuing her bachelor’s degree in unique opportunity for students. nursing at Miami.

For The Miami Student

THOMAS CALDWELL The Miami Student

Lars Gilard gives a small speech to class before showing a video about TOMS Shoes Tuesday.

Bill allows ASG president to make executive cabinet appointments

By Kristen Grace

Senior Staff Writer

An unusual circumstance in summer 2010 caused Miami University Associated Student Government (ASG) to allow the student body president an extension of power.

A bill allowing the student body president power to make a recess appointment if an executive cabinet member is unable to perform their duties was approved Dec. 7 as a reult.

The bill was presented after the elected secretary of academic affairs, Tyler Sinclair, was diagnosed with leukemia.

Sinclair, who was elected after his first year at Miami, was unable to fulfill his duties, according to Student Body President Heath Ingram.

Student senate voted unanimously to amend the bylaws to allow the student body president the power to make a recess appointment if an executive cabinet member is unable to perform his or her duties, according to the approved bill.

social work and faculty adviser for Lespwa4Haiti, said Krista approached her while taking one of her courses.

“I was contacted through Krista’s initiative,” Sellers said. “My research was based in Ghana, but I have become increasingly interested in Haiti.”

According to Sellers, Lespwa4Haiti hopes to work with other student groups at Miami and with surrounding schools like Xavier University.

“We will want to pull the talent of these students together,” she said.

While Sellers hopes to one day travel to Haiti, she believes encouraging students to take action in serving others is crucial at a university as fortunate as Miami.

“It is not enough to just think about poverty in abstract,” Sellers said. “We must be able and willing to give back.”

It was the first time a situation like this has occurred.

“There was no provision in the bylaws for how to handle a vacancy in cabinet over the summer,” Ingram said.

Ingram said he was forced to pass an executive order granting him the duties and responsibilities of the secretary of academic affairs, which left him doing the work for two full-time jobs.

The new bill grants future presidents the ability to appoint someone to the vacant position for the duration of the senate recess.

According to the bill, “the recess appointee will hold the seat until senate reconvenes and is able to confirm or deny the recess appointment.”

Ingram said he wanted to appoint the current secretary of academic affairs, junior Narmar Doyle, during the summer but was unable to do so until the student senate returned to approve the change.

Questions were raised when the bill was first introduced to the senate about the student body president making this decision on

TMS

www.miamistudent.net

ONLINE

his own. According to Ingram, the proposed bill was amended to stipulate the president must consult with the executive cabinet before making his appointment.

“I think Heath has answered every question to make it so that there is no way to make it go wrong,” Senator Hannah Phillips said.

Senators believed the revised bill and granted power to the student body president is appropriate.

“We should have faith in the student body,” Phillips said. “They are always going to elect someone that is going to do a good job.”

According to Student Body Vice President Tim Hogan, this is not an unusual addition to a governing body’s bylaws.

“These provisions are in most forms of government,” Hogan said.

locks

continued from page 2 electronic locks,” he said.

According to Head, unlike older buildings that are being revisited to install the locks, new buildings will include double bolt locks in construction specifications.

The Farmer School of Business (FSB) was the first building to be built with the double-bolt locks, according

ONLINE: Read the feature on Tyler Sinclair at miamistudent.net www.miamistudent.net/ features/an-unexpected-journey-1.1726619

to Head.

The locks in Williams Hall were last changed before spring 1988.

Economics Professor William Hart is unaware of a policy at FSB to change the locks in the building every time a professor leaves the university, but graduate students recently posed a different issue.

“There was some discussion about changing the locks after some graduate students left without turning in their keys,” Hart said.

8

Friday December 10, 2010

Opinion

Editor Jessica Sink editorial@miamistudent.net

➤ EDITORIAL

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

Alright, sir, now if you can just cough for me.

Handling of mascot debate unfortunate R

emoval of the debated “Scalp Song” will officially occur due to a decision made by members of the university administration.

According to Miami University President David Hodge, the move was meant to further distance the university from the Redskin name and mascot and embrace the RedHawk mascot fully. The complete removal of all Redskin material from all facilities is being examined as well.

The editorial board of The Miami Student is disappointed in the seeming absence of adequate communication between all of those affected by this change.

Although members of athletics, Red Alert and Associated Student Government were apparently consulted, the board wonders whether members of the student body, faculty, alumni and ultimately the Miami Tribe were included in the discussions.

With a delicate and sensitive issue that encompasses many differing views, it is important to consider all opinions and encourage

open dialogue before making any major decisions.

Regardless of whether the Redskin logo should be removed or not, the handling of the situation by the university has been unfortunate.

Students, faculty, alumni and the administration were all unnecessarily pitted against one another because of this issue.

Pointing fingers and exaggerating events only serves to increase tension and discourage students and faculty alike on matters of respect.

Whatever the final outcome, the board hopes the administration will listen to all input in the future.

As stated in the Nov. 19 editorial concerning the Redskin controversy, open dialogue should be central because discussion and the sharing of ideas and opinions are necessary to progress.

Ultimately, this is a university that should be focused on providing a good education to students, honoring alumni and embracing new traditions as well as remembering old ones.

Rule of thumb Clean slate for spring semester

CHAD STEBBINS The Miami Student

➤ LETTER

Miami should defend Wikileaks I believe that Miami University should support the idea behind Wikileaks, or at the very least oppose the way our government has reacted to it. I feel that we have a right to know certain things that our government does, and a lot of these certain things are now being withheld by the federal government in the name of national security. I am requesting that Miami host a mirror site for Wikileaks on our servers and make a public announcement asking other schools and organizations to do the same. It is not right how our government is trampling on the First Amendment, and it is our turn to defend our rights.

It is time for us to stand up for our rights, and I feel with the history Miami has with civil rights, we can be a powerful force to point the nation in a better direction for our future. The torch of the fight for our rights and liberties is being passed down, and it is up to us to grab it and hold on for all we’re worth.

Ryan Cook

cookrw@muohio.edu

Classes are over and the next semester will offer a chance for redemption.

No one submitting thumbs online

➤ WRITE US

All letters must be signed in order to be printed.

Please send letters via e-mail to:

The student body is the thumbest of all! Submit your thumbs at www.miamistudent.net.

editorial@miamistudent.net

Holiday music

We reserve the right to edit for length, content and clarity.

Playing the classics and some new favorites brings the season to life.

Lack of parking uptown Driving round and round in circles looking for an open spot is not fun.

Miami iPhone app Now students can access Miami information in the palm of their hand.

Potential snow finals weekend Although staying in to study is what most will be doing, walking to an exam in the snow is no fun!

Brendan Burke Internship USA Hockey is honoring his memory by generously helping others.

Ignoring quiet study areas Please be considerate of others and keep the noise to a minimum.

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

EDITORIAL BOARD Erin Fischesser Editor in Chief Thomasina Johnson News Editor Erin Maher Managing Editor Scott Allison Online Editor Jessica Sink Editorial Editor Stephen Bell Campus Editor

Amelia Carpenter Campus Editor Amanda Seitz Campus Editor Bethany Bruner Community Editor Michael Solomon Sports Editor Hunter Stenback Features Editor Samantha Ludington Photo Editor Hannah Miller Art Director

➤ ESSAY

Can you handle the pressure?

Can you see the light at the end of the tunnel? You’re almost there, the semester is almost over.

We’re in one of the most stressful times of the semester, the end of the last week of classes and finals week is quickly approaching.

Many students start to realize how much time they don’t have left, which leads to all kinds of problems and stressors.

Being a college student isn’t easy, but it definitely prepares us in many ways to be able to handle the hectic and nonstop atmosphere of the “real world.”

Stress is always surrounding us, but it’s how you handle it that can really make or break you.

It’s hard enough to have up to five final exams in five days, but when your last two weeks of classes are filled with final projects and papers in the same classes, your mind can’t even begin to worry about exam week.

There just isn’t enough time in the day. It’s a feeling I always have. By the time I’m out of classes, I’ve already spent all day doing work and I can’t stop there. These last few weeks you go from group meeting to group meeting and then the library or home to begin reviewing for those dreaded finals.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has proposed some ways to cope and

deal with stress. The CDC said stress can be beneficial because it can help develop the skills needed to cope with and adapt to situations in our lives, but at this time of the year many of us are probably feeling like these beneficial aspects of stress do not outweigh the costs.

Everyone’s mind and body need a break.

If you go virtually non-stop for 48 hours or more studying, at some point your mind will stop retaining information.

The beneficial aspects can diminish when it’s severe enough to overwhelm a person’s ability to cope in a healthy way, according to the CDC. Exercise is one of the best ways to cope and deal with stress, but lately I’ve noticed the gym isn’t as crowded as normal.

Many students let themselves get so overwhelmed that their normal weekly routine gets pushed aside so they can cram and pull all-nighters until they go home for winter break.

The CDC recommends staying active and taking a time out.

Everyone’s mind and body

need a break. If you virtually go non-stop for 48 hours or more studying, at some point your mind will stop retaining information. The CDC says even if it’s only for 30 seconds, allowing yourself some down time is healthy and necessary.

Exercising is one great way to unwind and take a break. Exercise has also been thought to stimulate memory, so it can actually help you retain information.

An article written on WebMD.com said exercise might boost memory through brain blood flow and new brain cells.

If you really can’t handle a complete break, take your notes and study while on the bike or elliptical trainer, but it’s OK to take a complete mental break as well.

Many students have the most work of their entire semester in the last three weeks, and then it’s completely over. It’s a nice reward at the end of it all.

You just have to be able to see that light at the end of the tunnel and get yourself through the last few weeks without getting sleep deprived and over caffeinated.

A little sleep, exercise and a few breaks won’t kill you, it just might actually help you out.

Samantha Friedman

friedms3@muohio.edu

THE MIAMI STUDENT

➤ PERCEIVING REALITY

White blood cells: the final countdown At this point in my Miami University career, I have developed quite the routine for finals week.

Step One: get sick. This has ranged from bronchitis to simple colds to a rare and highly improbable second case of mono (that’s right kids, you can get Karli it twice).

Kloss Step Two: plan ahead. This involves writing all needed study guides and a schedule for said studying.

Step Three: ignore step two. Invariably this rubric gets compressed from its original 10-day calendar to a four-to-five day cram fest.

Step Four: get invariably sicker.

This is especially true for first semester finals when Ohio remembers it is Ohio and starts kicking up wind/ rain/snow/sleet/death storms. As much as I like to think I’m an original person, the cacophony of sniffles, sneezes and hacking coughs echoing through King Library this late on a night before finals week tells me I’m hardly alone in this routine.

We are college students. By the very definition of this status, we do not take care of our bodies. Earlier in the semester another opinion writer, Samantha Friedman, addressed the issue of weight gain in college up through senior year. While those figures were as frightening as mine is right now, they are not what is most concerning at a time like finals week.

Obviously good nutrition is absolutely important, but the entire spectrum of health habits takes a beating in the days leading up to finals and during the horrific week itself.

The first victim is sleep. A person our age needs eight and a half to nine hours of sleep per night. The average college student gets somewhere closer to six hours of sleep per night.

The days we should reserve for catching up on sleep are weekends. However, alcohol-induced or addled sleep is far less restful than normal sleep because the alcohol prevents your body from entering REM sleep.

Between staying up late on weeknights and not getting the proper sleep on weekends (Not to generalize, but seriously, how many college students have weekends completely free of alcohol consumption?) we’re looking at racking up a major deficit in the sleep department.

The next victim is nutrition.

I won’t elaborate further than Friedman did, but needless to say, we eat terribly. Coffee, energy drinks, beer, fast food, foods made entirely out of preservatives … the list goes on. Without proper nutrition, our bodies are not able to keep up with the demands we make of them.

Going hand in hand with nutrition, the third victim is exercise. When finals week rolls around, I barely have time for sleep. What are the odds I’ll make it to the gym?

The fourth victim to finals week is general emotional health. The stress that finals and all that work brings is unparalleled at first. As the years go on, you learn to adapt, but that doesn’t mean you aren’t feeling stretched to the limit. You become snappier with your friends and family. You have no patience for others. You are 30 times more likely to walk up to a first-year student in the library and choke him with his own tongue for talking on his phone in a quiet study area.

I know it’s nearly impossible to curb these self-abusive tendencies during the worst week and a half of the semester, but do yourself a favor and at least think about some of the choices you make during finals.

Grab a bowl of fruit and a power nap. Walk to the library for some exercise and fresh air. Don’t kill that group of seniors who have no work to do so they’re hammered at 5 p.m.

Monday night.

Your rate of success during exam week is sure to improve if you take a little bit of time and effort and think of your health because no one does good on exams when they’re caffeinated and crazed and haven’t slept in days.

Opinion

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2010 ♦ 9

➤ PERSPECTIVE

‘I did it my way’ CATHERINE COURETAS

In May, I was going over my courses for this first time you’re on your own and you have semester. After a few glances over everything, I to adjust. It’s when you turn 21 and meet the realized I only needed one more class to gradu- friends you’ll have for the rest of your life. ate. I was trying to reason staying a student durI absolutely adore Oxford, and when I tell ing the spring 2011 semester, but just couldn’t people I’m done in three and a half years, they come up with anything good. think I’m crazy.

Why would I stay for just one class and be Truth be told, though, I’m ready for the real spending all of that out-of-state tuition money world. I want a nine to five job where I don’t when I really don’t have to? have to worry about anything when I get home After talking with my advisers over the sum- from work. I don’t want these final papers mer and during this semester, I worked out some looming like dementors, seriously sucking the independent study opportunities to complete soul out of my senior year. I know I probably the necessary 128 credit hours and then applied won’t realize what I’m missing until I’m actufor graduation. ally gone, but I can’t wait to Graduating early wasn’t get out there and find out. something that had really ever If you have the opportunity I absolutely adore crossed my mind. Most of my to graduate early, do it. That Oxford, and when I doesn’t necessarily mean leavsemesters consisted of 12 or 13 credit hours because I wanted tell people I’m done in ing Oxford or your friends. to take my time and make sure three and a half years, There is work in CincinI was doing well in all of my nati, Dayton and other citthey think I’m crazy. ies in Southwest Ohio. Don’t classes. I came to school with a few hours from advanced Truth be told, though, cut those out of your searchplacement classes and did es completely, especially if I’m ready for the the community college thing you’re graduating early and real world. for a couple of summers, and aren’t ready to cut the cord. If I guess I never realized how you are, though, props to you. much it would add up.

Obviously, college is typiAs of this writing, I have no idea what I’ll be cally a four-year stint, but that doesn’t mean doing during the spring semester. I’ve still got you have to extend it four years. Realizing how the lease on my house (and my housemates do much tuition money you could save, especialnot approve of the idea of me not living there, ly if you’re an out-of-state student, might be let me tell you), haven’t had the chance to com- enough convincing. plete the 14-Day Club (my 21st was in SeptemWhatever your choice may be, don’t let ber, and yes, that wait was terrible) and I’m not your peers be the ones to coax you into staying 100 percent sure where I want to be. just because they can’t handle not having you Had I started planning, say, during my soph- around for one semester. omore year for early graduation, I probably This is the time you get to be selfish. It would wouldn’t have needed to enroll this semester. be great to stay and great to leave, all depending No, I wouldn’t have been editor in chief of The on what you want to do.

Miami Student, nor would I have come across It’s been a great ride, Oxford, but I’m ready all of the opportunities that came along with to say goodbye. Maybe I’ll be back in January. that, but would I have graduated a year early? Maybe I won’t see you until Homecoming next In a heartbeat. Hear me out.

I can see why people say college is the best four (or five or six) years of your life. It’s the COURETAS is editor in chief emeritus for The Miami Student

➤ ORIANA’S OBSERVATION

Remember others this season There are a quite a few indications that the holiday season is at our doorstep.

For one, the movie Elf has been playing as the feature movie on some television channels for the last three weeks.

ABC Family’s 25 Oriana Days of ChristPawlyk mas is a programmed clock for you to be counting down until the week your family and friends come home. The Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show is the talk of the town (sorry boys, it’s already over). All of your friends who celebrate Hanukkah talk to you about how they’re preparing for a full eight days. Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas is You” plays over and over while you’re at an ugly Christmas sweater party. We’ve all made some sort of (hopefully less expensive) plans for New Year’s Eve. The biggest sign that the holidays have arrived, at least for students, is that our brains have shut down, exhausted by all of the semester’s hard work.

The holidays mean visitors and presents and meaningful rituals.

They mean time to be spent together, sharing stories, experiences and each other.

➤ GUEST ESSAY

Muslim and Arab misconceptions

What country has the largest population of Muslims?

Out of the 155 students surveyed on Miami University’s campus, there were a select few that replied with “Islam” and “Africa.”

Those being the lesser intelligent answers, 19 percent of students responded with Saudi Arabia, while another 19 percent answered India. The actual answer? Indonesia.

While this answer may come as a surprise to many people, 10 percent of students responded to this question correctly.

The final project for my educational leadership 334 class requires us to do a public engagement project that challenges a norm of society.

I chose to challenge Miami students’ perceptions of Arabs and Arab-Americans by handing out questionnaires at Bell Tower. Nov. 19, I was posted up at a table from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. attempting to get any student I could to fill out a survey.

While some students walked away from me pretending not to hear a word I was saying as I asked them to fill one out, other students were excited and curious at what this survey had in store for them.

There were two different surveys that consisted of questions such as “There is a much stronger need to understand and learn about Islam and Muslims because they have played a much larger role in U.S. society after 9/11.

Agree/Disagree.”

Another was “True or False: Arab and Middle Eastern are synonymous in meaning.” And also: “Circle the people you think are Arab-Americans: Doug Flutie, Salma Hayek, Vince Vaughn, Steve Jobs and Mostafa El-Sayed.”

The point of this project was to tap into the perceptions and misperceptions that people have of Arabs. With the two surveys combined, there were 299 respondents, so not only did I receive a variety of responses, but I received a great deal of comments and feedback

A majority of Americans are stuck in a bubble where everything they think they know about Arabs and Muslims comes from the media, which is not always the most reliable source.

A common misperception about Arab-Americans is that a majority, or all of them, are Muslims, hence the reason why 74 percent of students answered 0 to 50 percent when asked the percentage of Christian Arab-Americans, with 40 percent of the answers being between 10 and 30 percent. The actual answer is 63 percent.

The reason this percentage may seem high is because many people make the mistake of assuming that since someone is Arab or Arab-American they are Muslim, when in actuality this is false.

It may be easy to assume all Arabs are Muslims considering that 90 percent of Arabs are Muslims, but when looking beyond the Middle East and North Africa, only 12 percent of Muslims all over the world are Arab.

A majority of Americans are stuck in a bubble where everything they think they

know about Arabs and Muslims comes from the media, which is not always the most reliable source.

It is not fair that some Americans have this misconstrued view of an entire group of people halfway across the world because of the actions of 20 men who happened to be Muslim on 9/11.

Muslims and Arabs are extremely misunderstood and are thought to be extremists in every sense of the word, but every religion and group of people have extremists, so why are Muslims and Arabs criticized for it the most?

This may be considered pessimistic, but going into this project I did not expect students to answer most of the questions correctly because there are a great deal of misperceptions about that region of the world and those groups of people.

I am sad to say a majority of students proved me right with some of their responses and comments.

On a happier note, I was pleasantly surprised when some students answered correctly or became interested in the topic and why I was doing the project.

With all of the time the media and news spend talking about Muslims and Arab people still have these misperceptions, I wonder what kind of misperceptions Americans have of different ethnic, religious and cultural groups that do not get as much media time.

All it takes is a little interest, effort and desire to learn about Muslims and Arabs to get rid of all of the misperceptions Americans have developed since 9/11.

Nicole Mitchell

mitchen3@muohio.edu

When you have endless conversations about the holidays, one main topic discussed is what you want, specifically presents, preparing for New Years, et cetera. “Oh, I’m asking for a new Kate Spade bag and maybe an iPad…” The list somehow becomes more hyped up annually. It’s that anticipation to focus on yourself, that the holidays are all about what I would like, whom I want to hang out with over break, why I deserve this break, et cetera.

True, we can now be more at ease that the semester is coming to a close, but let’s not forget about the values our parents, mentors and friends have taught us.

The holidays mean visitors and presents and meaningful rituals. They mean time to be spent together, sharing stories, experiences and each other.

We spend a lot of the season thinking about ourselves, and we forget what it’s really about, sometimes by default and other times because we have put our own priorities at number one.

It is the season of giving, so let’s give all we can.

Let’s not forget to be thankful for those who cannot come home for their holiday rituals, troops stationed overseas who sacrifice their lives and give their time when they can easily be at home with their loved ones.

Let’s not forget to give donations or pray for those less fortunate in these economic times.

Let’s not forget to be compassionate and empathetic to those who celebrate differently than you do, these are just subtle differences in our culture, but ultimately we all strive to make the holidays meaningful to us.

Let’s make a point to make it about the gift of giving, forgiveness, hope and joy this season.

Even a yellow tights-wearing Will Ferrell said, “The best way to spread (holiday) cheer is singing loud for all to hear.”

I interpret this to be a metaphor for the importance of coming together, to bring happiness and good fortune to all, but especially to those who really need it.

FYI Page

Friday

10

December 10, 2010

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

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Apartments

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SOUTH CAMPUS QUARTER OPENED August 2010 Modern Living ~ Contemporary Design -Located across from the REC Center. For more information call (513) 523-1647 or visit southcampusquarter.com Roberts Apartments2011/12. Great Location! Close to Campus. 2 Blocks from Uptown. Laundry Facilities.

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Houses

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Housemate Needed Winter 2011(Next Semseter) Housing available for 2 males. 4 bedroom, 1 bath, Washer&Dryer. $2100/semester.

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THE MIAMI STUDENT

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2010 ♦ 11

12

Sports

Friday December 10, 2010

Hillis trade a steal for Browns

Editor Michael Solomon sports@miamistudent.net

Sam Hitchcock

That’s Debatable

T

he trade may never reach the levels of ridicule with which football fans view the Atlanta Falcons trading Brett Favre to the Green Bay Packers, the Indianapolis Colts trading John Elway to the Broncos or the Oakland Raiders letting Randy Moss go for a fourth round pick to the New England Patriots, but the Denver Broncos trading running back Peyton Hillis to the Cleveland Browns for Brady Quinn is one of the worst trades in recent memory.

How good has Hillis been? Aside from being tied for second in touchdowns scored among running backs, he has been Cleveland’s first, second and third offensive option since establishing his penchant for bowling over cornerbacks.

The Browns only have a few complementary offensive weapons, receiver Mohamed Massaquoi, who if one is being generous can be viewed as an NFL number two receiver at best, and a playmaker in receiver and kick returner Josh Cribbs. Sadly for these players, the Browns’ quarterback situation has been more pathetic than Wade Phillips’ tenure in Dallas.

The glimmer of hope that can be found behind center is rookie Colt McCoy. McCoy showed flashes of brilliance before getting injured, but for the majority of the season, Cleveland has been subjected to the gruesome twosome of Jake Delhomme and Seneca Wallace. Since neither Delhomme nor Wallace can throw an accurate pass, Hillis has been the most targeted receiver through short yardage dumpoffs. Putting this all into perspective, Hillis accounts for 37 percent of the Browns’ total yardage.

So, how does Hillis compare in his debut season with Cleveland to Brett Favre’s debut when he was traded to Green Bay and started 15 games for the Packers? Favre recorded 18 touchdowns and 13 interceptions and passed for 3,227 yards. Certainly a respectable season, but Hillis has made a more immediate impact.

John Elway was traded as a rookie and experienced tremendous growing pains his first year, throwing for seven touchdowns and 14 interceptions with 1,663 passing yards in 11 games.

While Elway would go on to become a two-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback, it is hard to fault the Colts for trading Elway when he refused to join the organization.

The standard for terrible trades has to be set by Randy Moss, who in 2007 debuted with the Patriots and recorded one of the greatest seasons for any NFL player. With 98 catches, 1,493 yards and 23 touchdowns, he helped Tom Brady and Bill Belichick reach immortality as the Patriots went 18-0 before losing to the Giants in the Super Bowl.

Moss and Brady broke the touchdown records for their respective positions, all at the expense of a fourth round pick.

Notwithstanding Moss’s recordbreaking year, he only accounted for 31 percent of the Patriots’ total yardage. Hillis has accounted for 13 of the Browns’ 22 touchdowns this year, meaning he scored 59 percent of their points. Moss scored 23 of the Patriots’ 67 touchdowns in 2007, which comes out to only 34 percent of their points.

At 24, Hillis is older than both Brett Favre (22) and Elway (23) in their debuts, but much younger than Moss (30). Tom Brady and Michael Vick are considered the two frontrunners for MVP, but Hillis certainly deserves mention.

His team may not be playoff bound, but Cleveland has found its running back of the future and workhorse for the next couple of years. Hillis and Cleveland fans can only hope he can propel them to the same level of success that Elway, Favre and Moss were able to achieve with their new teams.

MICHAEL GRIGGS The Miami Student

The RedHawks take the field Dec. 3 in the MAC championship game at Ford Field. Up next for the Red and White is Middle Tennessee State University.

FOOTBALL

NEXT GAME: 8 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 6 in Mobile, Ala.

RedHawks prepare for bowl

By JM Rieger Staff Writer

Coming off of its first conference championship since the 2003 season, Miami University will now make its first bowl appearance since 2004.

The RedHawks (9-4, 7-1 MAC) will face off against the Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) Blue Raiders (6-6, 5-3 Sun Belt) of the Sun Belt Conference in the GoDaddy.com Bowl (formerly the GMAC Bowl) Jan. 6.

The nation’s most improved team will look to notch its sixth straight win of the season, which would tie June Jones’ 1999 Hawaii record for the best single season turnaround in NCAA history.

Mid-American Conference (MAC) Coach of the Year Michael Haywood will look to prepare his team once again for what will likely be another tight matchup. The Red and White are 7-0 in games decided by seven points or fewer this season and have won the time of possession battle in all but one game this year.

“Coach (Haywood) has had us running and lifting this week,” senior cornerback Brandon Stephens said. “The coaches will have us prepared regardless, but we obviously do not want to end the season with a loss.”

BASKETBALL

Another strong defensive performance from the RedHawks will be one of the keys against the Blue Raiders. MTSU has won three straight games and is led by redshirt senior running back Phillip Tanner, who is averaging more than 70 yards rushing per game and leads the 34th best rushing attack in college football.

Miami is ranked 27th in stopping the run and will likely try to shut down the Blue Raiders’ ground attack, forcing senior quarterback Dwight Dasher to throw the ball.

Dasher has six touchdowns to go with 14 interceptions, and pressure up front by redshirt sophomore defensive lineman Jason Semmes, who leads the team in sacks, along with sophomore defensive lineman Austin Brown will be crucial.

Meanwhile, the ’Hawks’ two leading tacklers, redshirt junior linebacker Jerrell Wedge and sophomore linebacker Evan Harris, must have big games in order to make the Blue Raiders onedimensional offensively.

On the offensive end, Miami has been led all season by the passing attack, which is 24th in the nation, and especially by the stellar play of redshirt freshman quarterback Austin Boucher.

Redshirt sophomore quarterback Zac Dysert was expected to miss four to six weeks after suffering a lacerated spleen Nov. 10 at Bowling

Green State University, and could get the start if he is healthy.

Otherwise, expect Boucher to make his fourth career start for the RedHawks.

However, it is the running game and the play of a healthy offensive line that has led the way the past four games for the Red and White. Senior running back Thomas Merriweather has 408 yards in his last three games, and has scored at least one rushing touchdown in each of his last five games.

One factor of Merriweather’s success has been the outstanding coaching job done by offensive line coach Bill Mottola. He has had to use five different lineups this season due to injuries, and his ability to maintain unity among the front five has been a key for the RedHawks. This focus and determination will be very important for Miami as the team faces a month-long break before the next gridiron matchup.

“It is going to be a short December break for us,” redshirt freshman offensive lineman Josh Harvey said. “We need to stay focused and stay in shape (during the break).”

Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. Jan. 6 at Ladd-Peebles Stadium in Mobile, Ala. Fans can watch the game on ESPN or visit www.muredhawks. com for travel packages.

NEXT HOME GAME: 4:30 p.m. Saturday, vs. Troy University

Red bird battle goes to hot shooting ’Hawks

By Alex Butler Staff Writer

The 1,500 frigid faithful who braved the December air were treated to sweltering hot shooting Tuesday night at Millett Hall.

The Miami University RedHawks played the Saginaw Valley State University Cardinals close before pulling away in the second half by shooting 62.5 percent and eventually ousting the Cardinals 76-57.

“One goal of mine was for everyone who played tonight was to play well because that is what we needed,” Head Coach Charlie Coles said. “More than anything I want for our guys to get back to doing good because that’s what they need right now. We need consistency and we have that right now.”

Forward Julian Mavunga led the RedHawks in scoring for the fourth time this year with 17 points. Senior Nick Winbush filled the stat sheet with a 14-point, 10-board double-double, his first this season.

In the first half the Cardinals shattered Coles’ vaunted ball screen defense and hit stride for a 9-2 run in the opening ticks, but the nets started smoking and the ’Hawks hit heat often. After a 9-0 run to answer the Cardinal charge, Winbush hit from downtown to cap a 12-4 run. “(Nick) Winbush, (Antonio) Ballard and (Julian) Mavunga showed us leadership tonight, and that is what we really need on this team,” Coles said. “I thought Winbush and Mavunga in particular really dominated on the inside. They blocked shots, and I was very happy with that. I feel good about the

game overall.”

No sooner had the Millett Hall staff restocked the batteries in the smoke detectors than the Red and White had them beeping again.

Charlie’s Army (4-5) clipped the 3-3 Cardinals out of the second gate with a 29-11 run and using the excellent vision of sophomore Orlando Williams, who had a careerhigh four assists, finish off the teams largest win of the season with 43 second half points.

“It gives us a chance to focus on us as a team, it gave us an opportunity to work on things that we needed to work on and at the same time get a win at home,” Winbush said.

“With our schedule, every win is big for us. This game was definitely an important game from us, just in a different way.”

Coles’ bench resembled a rush hour freeway in the final stanza as he used all 13 players on the roster for the second time this season.

“One thing that the coaches told us was that Saginaw Valley State was going to keep working hard,” Mavunga said. “Just when you thought they were going to go away, they would be right back. We had to just keep fighting. Even when the subs came in during the second half, coach told them the same thing … that it was a great opportunity for them to work hard. It feels really good to get a ‘W.’” The RedHawks had 52 percent of their points scored in the paint. That stat could prove volatile in the transition into Mid-American Conference (MAC) play and making the team portable.

“I definitely think we have an

advantage when it comes to playing in the paint,” Winbush said.

“We have Julian Mavunga, Antonio Ballard and me who can all get buckets inside and have good height and that will be a definite advantage going into the MAC season. I think we tried to utilize that tonight and got a lot of points inside. I think this (non-conference season) has given us a good opportunity to play a lot

of good, ranked teams, and in the end it makes us better and prepares us more.”

The Red and White have a tough five-game stretch coming up, capped off with a visit to No. 4 University of Kansas in Lawrence, Kan. After the non-conference slate ends, the ’Hawks face rival Ohio University Jan. 9 in Athens to open MAC play.

MICHAEL GRIGGS The Miami Student

Sophomore guard Orlando Williams stretches for two points Dec. 1 against Xavier University.