April 30, 2013 | The Miami Student

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

TUESDAY, APRIL 30, 2013

VOLUME 140 NO. 56

MIAMI UNIVERSITY OXFORD, OHIO

TODAY IN MIAMI HISTORY In 1930, The Miami Student announced the rapid approach of the 91st annual commencement. Previewing what would be a tearful, nostalgic yet glorious

day, the article read, “Great stuff -- this college business, and we admit that it is with a sigh that we look back upon the good times we have had and the endless scrapes we have so cleverly turned to our advantage.”

BEN TAYLOR THE MIAMI STUDENT

Men’s Glee Club gives it up for one last performance this year Saturday, April 27. For graduating seniors, the performance was the finale of their Miami University Glee Cub careers.

MUPD arrests sophomore after fire scare

BY LIBBY MUELLER SENIOR STAFF WRITER

Miami University Police Department (MUPD) has arrested and charged sophomore Volodymyr Kovalenko with making false alarms, criminal damaging and endangering following the series of strange events that occurred at Havighurst Hall last Tuesday night into Wednesday morning, according to Detective Jim Bechtolt.

According to Lieutenant Ben Spilman of MUPD, there were two fire alarms pulled Tuesday night.

“There were two fire alarms that were reported in the building,” Spilman said. “Officers responded.

They determined that there was no fire; [there was] no threat.”

The fire alarms sounded at 10:25 p.m. and 10:48 p.m., respectively, and were determined to be false, according to the MUPD police reports.

MUPD Chief John McCandless said a third fire alarm was activated by a resident assistant (RA) who saw a burning bush outside the building.

This alarm went off at 12:37 a.m.

Wednesday, and was determined to be criminal mischief, according to the MUPD police report.

Upon the arrival of MUPD officers, the fire had been extinguished by a resident of Havighurst, according to the police report.

A fourth fire alarm was triggered at 2:43 a.m. Wednesday. The sprinkler system on the second floor was activated, causing water damage in nine dorm rooms on the second floor and one on the first floor, according to the police report.

“When our officers responded, they found that a trashcan was on fire on the second floor,” Spilman said.

The police report determined the cause of the fire to be arson and reported that students living in the damaged rooms were taken to safe rooms for the remainder of the night. The Office of Residence Life has placed them in temporary housing.

According to Bechtolt, Kovalenko was arrested Friday.

“There was an arrest in specifically report number 539 [the first pulled fire alarm]…and 541, which

was the burning bush,” Bechtolt said. “In connection with report number 539, he was charged with making false alarms and in connection with report number 541, he was charged with criminal damaging or endangering.”

According to the police report, during a police interview Wednesday, April 24, Kovalenko initially denied any connection to the fire alarms, but then admitted to pulling the first alarm because he thought he smelled something in the hallway.

He did not tell anyone he pulled the alarm or why during the night of the incidents.

Kovalenko also admitted that he smoked outside later in the night and threw his cigarette into the weeds outside Havighurst. He said he saw a small fire start, panicked and fled into the building, according to the police report. He turned himself in Friday.

Bechtolt said the other two incidents, the second pulled alarm and the burning trashcan, are still under investigation.

First-year Havighurst resident Warren Barker said after the second

fire alarm, the residence hall staff talked with students about the consequences of falsely pulling a fire alarm. Barker said students were irritated by the alarms.

“No one was happy or applauding the person who was doing this,” Barker said.

He also said he was trying to go to bed when the third alarm sounded.

“I don’t know how long I had been asleep, but the alarm went off again and I had to wake my roommate up and get him out of there,” Barker said. “Everyone went outside, tired and angry this time. We smelled smoke, or at least I did.

[They] found out a bush had been on fire…it turned out someone had maliciously set it on fire and that took a while to take care of.”

Barker said he was only able to get about another half hour of sleep before the fourth alarm went off in response to someone setting a second floor trashcan on fire.

“We couldn’t believe it that time, four times in a row,” Barker said.

“Everyone was really mad this time.

People were trying to sleep on the ground…This time we found out

someone had set a trashcan on fire and set off the sprinklers and [the residence hall staff] tried to keep us out there until someone confessed.

We went back inside about 4:30 in the morning. I took a half hour nap and went to PT [physical training for ROTC] at 5:00 [a.m.]. In a way it was almost, I don’t want to say humorous, but I was just kind of incredulous.”

Barker said rumors had circulated among students about who might have been the culprit in one or all of the incidents.

First-year Havighurst resident Chris Vanderhorst said the residence hall staff responded to the last two fire alarm activations by warning the students about arson and speaking with them about the ethics of safety. He said they tried to convince anyone who had any information to come forward and share, but no information was recorded that night.

“I know that for me and a lot of my friends in the dorm, we were really upset that we had someone in the dorm who was willing to put lives in danger,” Vanderhorst said.

Tennis captures MAC title, receives NCAA bid

BY JORDAN RINARD STAFF WRITER

The Miami University women’s tennis team rectified a 4-3 loss earlier in the season at Ball State University on its way to earning the 2013 Mid-American Conference (MAC) Tournament title in Muncie, Ind. It is the RedHawks’ first since 2010 and the first Tournament title under Head Coach Anca Dumitrescu.

The championship is the eighth acquired by Miami teams this year, a record for the school. The RedHawks (13-12) swept the fourth-seeded Cardinals 4-0 Saturday in the semifinals and won in a thrilling fashion in a 4-3 victory against No. 2 seed Bowling Green State University to win the Tournament and clinch a berth in the NCAA Tournament. They will learn who their opponent will be on the NCAA Selection Show Tuesday night. The first round of the 2013 NCAA Tournament will take place May 9-11.

“This weekend was incredible,” junior Christiana Raymond said. “What’s even more incredible is how much our team improved this year, down 4-12 in matches and coming back to have a winning season. Our team is now closer than ever and I truly believe that our amazing team

chemistry is what helped us stick together to win the championship. I am proud of everyone on the team and we are going to keep working hard to do well in the NCAA Tournament.”

Miami kicked off the MAC semifinals by sweeping Ball State (15-11) in doubles play. Junior Nimisha Mohan and sophomore Alix Thurman, who were named to the All-MAC first-team and second-team last week, downed junior Kristel Sanders and freshman Bethany Moore 8-3 to win their eighth straight doubles match. Raymond and fellow junior Ramona Costea got an 8-2 win over seniors Paola Rodriguez and Lauren Pickrel to take the doubles point for the ’Hawks. When play was stopped, sophomore Christine Guerrazzi and freshman Ana Rajkovic held a 6-4 lead over sophomore Courtney Wild and freshman Courtney Earnest.

The RedHawks continued to roll in singles action against the Cardinals as Raymond defeated Rodriguez 6-0, 6-3 for her ninth consecutive singles win and Guerrazzi won a 6-0, 6-2 decision over Sanders to put the Red and White up 3-0. Rajkovic clinched the match by earning her sixth straight singles win in a 6-3, 6-3 victory against Moore.

MIKE CHIORAN THE MIAMI STUDENT

‘N SYNC The Miami University Synchronized Skating team performed its Miami University Ice Show Friday, April 26 in Goggin Ice Center.

When the match was clinched, Mohan, Costea and Thurman all had leads in the second set after winning the first.

In the finals against Bowling Green (17-5), the Falcons drew first blood in doubles as seniors Katie Grubb and Maddy Eccleston defeated Mohan and Thurman 8-3. Miami would answer back with an 8-1 win by Guerrazzi and Rajkovic over juniors Emily Reuland and Nikki Chiricosta, snapping their six-match skid in doubles play. BGSU would take the doubles point as seniors Mary

Hill and Jade Johnson earned an 8-4 victory over Raymond and Costea.

The RedHawks would draw even in singles as Thurman downed Reuland 6-2, 6-0, but the Falcons rebounded to take a 2-1 lead after Hill defeated Costea 6-3, 6-0. Rajkovic knotted things up for the ’Hawks with her seventh straight win in singles play in a 6-3, 6-3 victory against Grubb.

Raymond would give them their first lead of the match with a 6-0, 6-3 win over Eccleston, her tenth consecutive victory in singles

action. Bowling Green would tie the match again after freshman Katie Brozovich earned a 6-4, 6-4 win over Guerrazzi. However, Mohan would deliver the match to the Red and White in her 7-4, 6-0 triumph over Chiricosta and would earn Tournament MVP honors.

“It was a great weekend for us,” Dumitrescu said. “I am very proud of us and it was good to see our hard work pay off. We competed very well and fought for every point. It was a well-deserved win.”

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CAMPUS

EDITORS VICTORIA SLATER CATHERINE MONCEAUX

TUESDAY, APRIL 30, 2013

CAMPUS@MIAMISTUDENT.NET

MU continues effort to eliminate sexual assault

BY AMANDA HARR STAFF WRITER

According to the Miami University campus crime alert database, there have been three reports of sexual assault on campus since August, including the one students were alerted about April 20.

However, according to Melissa Auringer, coordinator of women’s services and student counseling services, sexual assault is significantly underreported on college campuses.

“Three assaults would be a gross underestimate,” Auringer said. “I don’t think it’s any less common now than it has been.

It’s a pretty prevalent issue…it’s underreported everywhere.”

President Barack Obama recently instated April as National Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month, per the United States Department of Justice.

The recent campus crime alert involved the victim knowing their attacker. According to junior Kate Van Fossen, vice president of Women Against Violence and Sexual Assault (WAVES), the alerts have always been sent when the attacker was a stranger, or an unknown person.

“Statistically, we know that rapes are most common with someone you know,” Van Fossen said. “If we are only getting emails about the rapes that are the most uncommon, then I don’t think the university is getting a good perspective at all about how big of an issue this is.”

Miami University Police Department (MUPD) Lt. Ben Spilman said the criteria are not across the board for all campus crime alerts, but students are usually notified when the suspect is not known.

“Typically, if we have a known

suspect that means we can get in contact with that individual and see if that is still a threat to the campus community,” Spilman said.

According to the MUPD website, campus crime alerts are sent to give students, faculty and staff timely notifications about certain crimes in and around the community that may present a threat to the campus community and to heighten safety awareness.

“In a nutshell, there’s got to be a continuing threat to the community—typically crimes of violence are things that will trigger a campus crime alert,” Spilman said.

The problem with sending out crime alerts with each report of sexual assault is that people get desensitized to crime, according to Spilman.

“The more you send out, the more people ignore them,” Spilman said.

“The difficulty is that if we sent out one for every unlocked door, people would really ignore them and not take those steps to take appropriate action to be safe.”

Van Fossen said WAVES uses the statistic that one out of every four women on a college campus will experience some kind of sexual assault by the time they graduate.

“When you break that down, that’s seven to eight cases of sexual assault per week,” Van Fossen said.

According to the 2000 Department of Justice Statistics Report “The Sexual Victimization of Women,” there are 35.3 incidents of sexual assault per 1,000 female students over a 6.91 month-long period, which is similar to an academic year.

Using theoretical statistics, if Miami has 7,849 females, that would be 277.1 cases of sexual assault occurring on Miami’s campus per academic year, by the Department of

Justice’s standards.

According to the 2011 Annual Security and Fire Safety Report, under the forcible sex offenses category, Miami had 10 total for the year.

Spilman said 95 percent of sexual assault cases are underreported.

“Which I think is equally scary,” Spilman said.

Students decide not to report sexual assault for several reasons.

According to Auringer and Spilman, factors include added attention, shame, guilt or not knowing the extent of the law.

“It’s phenomenally hard to get a good concept of how many sexual assaults occur,” Spilman said.

He said the best way to see what is actually reported unofficially to the police department is to look at the daily logs, which show 60 days of reports at a time.

According to the current rolling MUPD crime and fire log from Feb. 23 to April 23, there were two reports of sexual assault, not including the April 20 campus crime alert.

The cases of sexual assault that occur most often on Miami’s campus are not with strangers, but usually two people who know each other, according to Spilman.

“Typically, what happens on our campus is that there’s two people that know each other, there’s alcohol involved and a lack of consent,” Spilman said. “Those situations are tougher for a police department to prevent.”

He also said it comes down to education, taking responsibility for themselves and going to the police department when there is a problem.

“We want to have an open

ASSAULT, SEE PAGE 8

Two fraternities give new, creative fundraiser a ‘tri’

BY AMANDA HANCOCK SENIOR STAFF WRITER

For two Miami University Greek organizations, the race was on to host an original philanthropy event— complete with training wheels.

Members of Delta Kappa Epsilon and Delta Sigma Phi teamed up to put on their first annual Tricycle Grand Prix last Friday, April 26, an event in which teams of four competed in a tricycle race in the parking lot behind the psychology building. Six teams of four students participated, according to senior Connor Billing, Delta Sigma Phi’s philanthropy chair. Each team paid $20 to compete.

There was also free Chipotle food, a booth set up for Southern Tide apparel and one for Country Club Prep apparel that offered free merchandise. All proceeds went to the fraternities’ national philanthropies, the Special Olympics and The American Red Cross, according to Billing.

Sophomore Andrew Young, a member of Delta Sigma Phi, helped with the event’s preparations, which began in January. He said there was a decent turnout of about 75 people, although most students who participated were Greek-affiliated.

“I want to try and expand to the entire community of Miami rather than just the Greek life,” he said.

For the fraternities, the goal was to go outside the standard fundraising box and they came up with a tricycle race.

“Instead of a traditional idea, we wanted something that had not been done before,” Young said. “We looked at a list of all of the philanthropic events, a trike race was not among them.”

Junior Kaler Hazen, Delta Kappa Epsilon’s philanthropy chair, said the event planning process went smoothly.

“This was our first time hosting a joint philanthropy event like this, and we didn’t have any significant hang-ups,” he said.

Billing said he also took part in organizing the Tricycle Grand Prix.

“The process to plan an event like this involves a lot of collaborating with the other organizations as well as the Miami Police Department (MUPD) and Student Activities,” Billing said.

He said reserving the parking lot and getting insurance for the event were a few items at the top of his to-do list.

There were a few downsides of trying a new concept though. The event did not garner as much money as they had hoped, according to Young and Billing, and they were hoping for more students to attend.

“We did not expect to be a really popular event this year, but we will build on it for next year with what we learned,” Billing said.

All in all, the students said they considered it to be a quality trial run.

“This year wasn’t about getting numbers or money, but figuring out what we can do with the event in the future,” Billing said.

The students hope to expand from this first go-around and make the event annual at Miami.

“It’s obviously unique and hopefully in the future the idea will start to market itself,” Hazen said. “The hardest part is getting the word out.”

Young said it is difficult to compare this event to established philanthropy events such as Puddle Pull or Bump It Thump It that have success rates.

But the two said they are happy they broke out of the philanthropic comfort zone.

“We are hoping to make a good foundation for this event and possibly keep it going for years to come,” Young said.

Request for Macklemore concert not thrifty enough

BY KENDALL HUTCHISON

FOR THE MIAMI STUDENT

For years, the campus activities council (CAC) has put on a variety of entertainment productions for the Miami University community. However, this year the longawaited spring concert featuring Macklemore will not be held due to contract issues and conflicts with scheduling.

Junior Phil Steiner, co-chair of the concert board, is in charge of arranging entertainment options.

He said CAC worked to book artists Macklemore and Wiz Khalifa, but due to contract complications, they were unable to successfully schedule either artist.

The annual spring concert is usually held after the conclusion of Springfest, a week of activities including free ice cream, dance lessons and a carnival.

According to Steiner, in the past, CAC has brought in musical acts such as The Fray, Kid Cudi and Lupe Fiasco.

CAC first approached Macklemore’s manager in December, but problems with tour dates, pricing and location prevented the acceptance of a contract, according to Steiner.

“The last two spring concerts lost money and we didn’t want to push the envelope, since it wasn’t the right fit,” Steiner said.

While CAC has not encountered problems scheduling entertainment in the past, this year’s difficulties are due to issues with logistics, meaning the prospect of a show starring Macklemore was not feasible, according to Steiner.

“We operate within CAC, and the concert board specifically, with a zero dollar budget because it is our job to book entertainment that brings in money to pay for the overall expenses,” Steiner said.

Macklemore became popular earlier this year after the release of his debut album “The Heist,” in October.

CAC was then quick to jump at the possibility of getting him as a performer, according to Steiner.

Sophomore Jake Eilks, a member of the concert board, said after the original plans for the show fell through, it was too late for CAC to schedule other performers.

“I felt it would be better to wait until next year to put together a show, so that it wasn’t rushed,” Eilks said.

Brainstorming for next year’s entertainment has already begun, as CAC plans to put on a variety of shows, including a fall concert where they are once again looking into booking Macklemore, a comedian for family weekend and a spring concert, according to Eilks.

Sophomore Abby Osika said she had been looking forward to the spring concert as entertainment prior to the start of finals.

“I am glad they are compensating for the lack of a concert this semester by moving it to next year, but I am disappointed that the concert has been canceled,” Osika said.

CAC is the programming subset of Associated Student Government (ASG), and is made up of individual boards that program many of the largest events on campus, according to Steiner.

“We have brought some big performers to campus in the past and I don’t think it was too ambitious to look into Macklemore,” Steiner said.

He also said he hopes to pursue similar large-scale acts for next year.

With multiple entertainment options being discussed for the 2013-2014 school year, the Miami student body can look forward to future announcements concerning new performances.

KIM PARENT THE MIAMI STUDENT

SAY CHEESE!

Members of the Scholar Leader community spread cheer during MU Smiles Day, which included access to therapy puppies and free give-aways ranging from cookies to t-shirts.

Miami exposes its history through classes

BY CONNOR MORIARTY FOR THE MIAMI STUDENT

Miami University’s Myaamia Center is making efforts to increase awareness of the Miami Tribe through a new course next fall, Interdisciplinary Studies (IDS) 259, according to assistant director and program director of the Education and Outreach Office for the Myaamia Center, George Ironstrack.

The Miami Tribe of Oklahoma gave Miami its former mascot name, The Miami Redskins, according to Coordinator of Relations/ Activities with the Miami Tribe, Bobbe Burke.

She said since the first connection with the Miami Tribe in 1972, Miami’s intent has been to maintain the forever-growing relationship, and that this partnering of an American university and an American Indian tribe is very unique and often serves as a model for others to follow.

Today, the Myaamia Center strives to deliver educational support about the Miami Tribe to the indigenous knowledge of the general community, according to Ironstrack.

The Myaamia Center also works

to develop educational models and materials that address the language, cultural and educational needs of the Miami Tribe community.

“My role in the Center is to develop curricula and provide instruction for tribal education initiatives of the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma, and to share what we learn in our work with undergraduate classes here at Miami University,” Ironstrack said.

Myaamia affiliate Alysia Fischer is involved in research related to identified tribal interests, along with teaching IDS 159, a course addressing strength through cultural diversity.

Currently the Myaamia staff, especially Burke and Ironstrack, have presented the relationship between the Miami Tribe and Miami University in Fischer’s IDS 159. Presenting as guests in her class has been the only way to teach about the Miami Tribe thus far.

However, now Fischer said she is also credited for developing the new course IDS 259, Introduction to the Myaamiaki, Myaamiaki translating to “The Miami People.” This course will focus entirely on the history and culture of the Miami Tribe and will be offered next fall.

“My students [of IDS 159] repeatedly asked how they could learn more about the Miami Tribe, which made the need for an introductory course clear,” she said. “This course is the first of its kind.”

According to Fischer, the course will offer an interdisciplinary examination of the Myaamia as a living people, within a living culture.

“Only a handful of students are aware of why we are named Miami University and of our ongoing relationship with the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma,” Fischer said. “There is need, demand and interest in a course that not only exposes students to this rich relationship, but also educates them more fully about the past, present and future experiences of the Myaamia.”

She said she believes this is a very unique opportunity to broaden the educational experience of the students.

This new class will be a three credit hour interdisciplinary studies course as a part of the Center for American and World Cultures, according to Fischer. It is open to all students who take one of the pre-requisite courses found in the Miami Bulletin.

EDITORS JANE BLAZER CHRIS CURME

COMMUNITY

TUESDAY, APRIL 30, 2013

COMMUNITY@MIAMISTUDENT.NET

3

POLICE Student-run 5k aids Sandy Hook

BEAT

Man stumbles up Sycamore, peers in windows

Around 2:37 a.m. Friday, OPD was dispatched to 117 E. Sycamore St. in reference to a male attempting to gain entry to a female’s residence. The caller emphasized that she did not know the male, according to OPD. Upon officers’ arrival, the complainant’s porch was vacant. However, the officer soon identified a man matching the female’s description on a neighboring property, 105 E. Sycamore St. There, first-year Paul Battaglia Jr. was found, peering into windows, OPD said.

When asked if he lived there, Battaglia said nothing. He then stated he was 28, according to OPD. After confirming the subject’s name and age, 19, with his driver’s license, the officer noticed Battaglia’s visible and pungent drunkenness, according to OPD. As he mumbled incoherently, Battaglia was charged with alcohol offenses regarding underage persons, OPD said. He was escorted to his dorm.

Showering interloper startles sleeping student Around 10:27 a.m. Saturday, officers were dispatched to 529 S. Poplar St. after a female student awoke to a male’s voice in her downstairs bathroom, according to OPD. The victim, who had been alone for the weekend, left her apartment unlocked the previous night in anticipation of company. Presumably, guests never arrived and the female fell asleep without locking her door, according to OPD. Having woken to the sound of a man’s voice and her running shower—previously certain she was alone—the victim called OPD and remained in her upstairs bedroom, on the line, until officers entered her residence through the unlocked door, according to OPD. When asked what he was doing in a stranger’s shower, Miami University student Matthew Oldach stated he knew the residents, according to OPD. When prompted further, Oldach could not name any of the residents he knew. He then claimed he knew people across the hall and gave a name, which was proven phony by the tenant, still in her upstairs bedroom.

While being taken to the cruiser, Oldach made statements that officers found concerning. Officers feared for Oldach’s own safety, according to OPD. His family arrived on scene and cared for Oldach, who has been working through personal issues of late, according to OPD. He was charged with criminal trespassing and was released to his family, according to OPD.

Woman wakes up, finds her car stolen, wrecked Around 8:15 a.m. Sunday, OPD officers were dispatched to 3770 Southpointe Pkwy., Level 27, regarding a stolen car, OPD said.

Saturday night, a female had been Uptown with a friend before both returned to Level 27, where a mutual friend was hosting a party in his apartment. The two women stayed the night in the unit. The victim awoke early the next day to a call from the Butler County Sheriff’s Office, informing her that her vehicle had been involved in a crash, according to OPD. Between 3:00 and 5:50 a.m., after the male tenant had escorted guests out, settled those who were permitted to stay and prepared to turn in, an acquaintance regained entry after having been escorted out, according to OPD. While everyone slept, the subject rifled through the victims purse, leaving the contents strewn across the floor, and taking an iPhone 5, prescription medicine, cash, her car keys and car.

The investigation is continuing, according to OPD.

BY VICTORIA POSMANTUR

THE MIAMI STUDENT

In the wake of the tragic shootings at Connecticut’s Sandy Hook Elementary school in early December 2012, Miami University students came together this past Sunday to run the Run Newtown 5K in Oxford’s Community Park to raise funds for student programming in Newtown School District.

Miami senior Samantha Kent, a graduate of Newtown High School, has always played an active role in her community. By imagining and organizing Run Newtown, Kent said she hopes to provide learning opportunities for the local elementary school children by donating the raised funds to the Newtown International Center for Education (N.I.C.E), a program designed to provide students with educational opportunities.

“The funds will specifically go to the Sandy Hook Initiative, a chapter of the N.I.C.E.,” Kent said. “I’d like

to see the elementary school bring in performers and give them something to grow towards, like exchange programs in middle or high school.

The whole idea is to give these kids a legacy to grow up with and a goal to reach, rather than focusing on the tragedy.”

Executing this fundraiser as a 5K holds special meaning to Kent and her family.

“When I was abroad, I came home for Thanksgiving and surprised my family,” Kent said. “The Turkey Trot was the last memory of my town before everything happened.

Even though a 5K is low cost, it was also a way for me to reconnect with that experience.”

The Miami community reached out to Kent and her family after the shooting and were key participants in this event.

“The majority of the participants were Miami students and faculty,” Kent said. “My parents flew in town, sorority sisters came and we received donations from people local and

out-of-state.”

Kent also reached out to junior Kevin Carroll, president of business fraternity Alpha Kappa Phi, for further support in planning the 5K. Carroll said he was excited to be a part of an event that would help support the Newtown community.

“I’m really thankful that Samantha presented us with this opportunity,” Carroll said. “It’s always good to support a cause like Newtown and the N.I.C.E. program. It was a good way for the pledge class to get professional experience and bond with each other.”

First-year member of Alpha Kappa Phi, Max Snyder, described his experience as fundraising chair.

“Our brothers were assigned [Run Newtown] as our pledge project a little over a month and a half ago and began preparing right away,” Snyder said. “Before the 5K, we planned other fundraising events and tried to gain sponsorship. This included, FIFA tournaments, bake sales, grilled cheese sales at the

Phi Delt gates and a couple of restaurant takeovers at Skippers, La Piñata and Fiesta Charra. It was nice to see the community come together in such a short time span, to put on a great event.”

Carroll said the 5k was a success.

“We had a good turn out and the weather was nice,” Carroll said.

“We’re waiting to see how our final donations roll in, but we’ve raised an estimated $5,000.”

Kent expressed her appreciation for the support she has received from the Miami Community.

“I can only express gratitude for the support I see,” Kent said. “In the panhellenic community, entire chapters have sent teddy bears and lollypops. I appreciate the faculty telling me I’ve done a good job. I couldn’t have done this without them and the connections they’ve provided me.

All the help I have received from this community has helped prove my point, that Miami is a beautiful community, just like Newtown, in all the right ways.”

Undercover officer busts student drug trafficking

BY JENNA PILIPOVICH STAFF WRTIER

Three Miami University students have been arrested in Oxford on counts of drug trafficking, among other charges. Evan Gregory, John Lincoln, and Kwasi Yeboah were three of the five men arrested April 17 at the culmination of a severalmonth-long investigation undertaken by the Butler Undercover Regional Narcotics (BURN) taskforce through the Butler County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO). The three sophomore business students have all posted bail, according to BSCO. Gregory and Lincoln were charged with one count trafficking each. Yeboah was charged with two counts trafficking and one count possession, according to Sergeant Hackney of the BURN task-force.

The BURN task-force bases their investigations off of their own proactive surveillance or any problem brought to their attention, Hackney said. He declined to comment on whether a tip led to this particular investigation.

Hackney said the uniqueness of this situation lies in an officer’s presence at the time and place drugs were purchased. Drug trafficking cases rarely go to trial because an officer rarely witnesses the actual act of purchase, according to Hackney.

“Not every day an officer is present during the committing of felonies,” Hackney said.

Drugs were trafficked and subsequently seized from two Oxford residences: 100 W. Sycamore St. and 521 Lincoln St. Gregory and Lincoln lived at the former address, Yeboah at the latter.

Yeboah and two other male subjects were arrested at the Lincoln St. address, according to Hackney.

Gregory and Lincoln were arrested at the Sycamore St. residence.

According to Hackney, an undercover BURN officer’s involvement in a drug deal led to the search warrants of the two properties and eventually the arrests.

After executing the warrants and searching the two properties, the BURN task-force found five pounds of marijuana along with substantial quantities of molly, hash butter, THC suckers, mushrooms, and $10,000 in cash, according to Hackney.

“You know when you go into a house and find $10,000 in cash, that’s not typical,” Hackney said.

The investigation and arrests were carried out by the BCSO, with local support from the Oxford Police Department (OPD).

“The City of Oxford played a supporting role for the Butler County Sheriff’s Office,” OPD Sergeant Gregory Moore said. “We were there for man power because the more you have, the less likely there will be complications. We were there to watch their backs and help with the issue.”

According to Susan Vaughn,

director of the office of ethics and student conflict resolution, Miami is in charge of its students actions even if they are off-campus. “[Miami’s] jurisdiction [of its pupils] is on and off-campus, so anything can be reported to the university,” Vaughn said.

Under Miami’s Student Code of Conduct, any usage of alcohol or illegal substances constitutes a code violation. Section 2.1F reads, “The use, offer for sale, sale, distribution, possession, or manufacture of any controlled substance or drug except as expressly permitted by law is prohibited.”

Consequences of violations vary on a case by case basis, according to Vaughn. Due to Student Affairs’ confidentiality policy and the sensitive nature of the ongoing investigation, no case-specific comment has been released. Vaughn said she recommends reading the Code of Conduct.

Miami’s next steps are outlined in the Code of Conduct, section 2.1J, “The University will review any conduct reported by members of the University community, law enforcement personnel, or citizens as being in violation of the law. If in review the University determines, in its sole judgment, that the alleged conduct interferes with the University’s exercise of its mission, processes, or functions, appropriate disciplinary action will be taken.”

Sophomore Lindsey Sukeena said she is glad action was taken in this situation.

“The fact that they found that amount in one house is alarming,” Sukeena said. “I’m glad they arrested those who were involved and I think it’s important that they keep tracking down drug usage so that it doesn’t cause any more problems at Miami.”

Junior Drew Doggett expressed his disbelief.

“It’s amazing the lengths people will go in order to make money,” Doggett said.

Molly and marijuana are two drugs that are possibly at their peaks, according to Hackney. He said drug issues have been an ongoing problem and one cannot expect a society free of such issues.

“One of the big misconceptions is that [drug traffickers] are basically not viewed by some as criminals,” Hackney said. “A lot of crimes committed are drug induced and based on when you are involved in drugs you’re involved in money, greed, and other issues that go with it.”

Moore added that drug culture comes into play in every community. He said drugs lead to other crimes, like assault, theft and others. Drugs have no peak season, and throughout the year drug crimes are common, according to Hackney.

“We’re not going to change things overnight, but what we’ve got in place is making a stance,” Hackney said.

TYLER GRAVES THE MIAMI STUDENT

5K RAISES $5K

Sunday, Miami students and Oxford community members alike ran through Oxford Community Park, participating in the Run Newtown 5k.

Talawanda prom is to be held on Miami’s campus

BY LINDSAY CRIST

FOR THE MIAMI STUDENT

Miami University students may be seeing Talawanda High School (THS) prom-goers on campus Saturday, May 4.

The Shriver Center’s multipurpose room will house Talawanda’s prom 8:30 p.m. that evening, with after-prom taking place at the Recreational Sports Center (REC) beginning at midnight, according to Danielle Mann, head of the THS prom committee.

This will be the first year Talawanda’s after-prom will take place on Miami’s campus, according to Carolyn DeWitt, a member of the THS after-prom committee.

“We have always talked about doing it at the Rec Center, but it was a never a possibility,” DeWitt said.

“This year, we moved the prom up a couple of weeks [and were able] to have after-prom at the REC.” Talawanda has rented out the entire REC, except for the fitness center, according to Jim Wachenheim, director of special events at the REC. However, this will not prohibit Miami students from having access to the facilities, Wachenheim said.

“We will maintain normal hours and close at 11 p.m.,” Wachenheim said. “It will be an exclusive rental during our closed hours.”

The REC offers the after-prom committee a great variety of activities to students attending after-prom, according to DeWitt. These include many of the features normally brought out on the REC’s “Family

CORRECTIONS

Fun Days:” a logroll water game, kayaking, swimming in the leisure pool, use of the climbing wall and water basketball. The committee also plans to host “You’re Fired” pottery painting, nail artists, basketball, volleyball and soccer in the gymnasium, a caricature artist, a photo booth and more, Dewitt said.

“We chose the REC Center for our after-prom because it sounds like so much more fun than anything we have done in the recent past,” Dewitt said.

Talawanda is not the only high school to have selected Miami’s campus for prom or after-prom activities, according to Wachenheim.

“We are also having Union County for after-prom the weekend of April 26,” Wachenheim said.

Sophomore Lynsey Kovach said having a high school prom on a college campus sounds like a good way to bring the two communities together, and said she does not think Miami students would mind having the students on campus.

“It could help high school kids to see a future here at Miami,” Kovach said. “I didn’t have an after-prom at my school but if I had the chance to, I would definitely be into it. And what’s not to love about the Miami REC Center?”

Talawanda’s prom theme this year is “Suit and Tie” and the after-prom’s theme is “Night at the REC,” according to Mann and Dewitt.

“We are not putting an emphasis on decorating this year because we think the REC Center has enough of a wow-factor,” Dewitt said.

In the March 23 issue, in an article titled “Middletown man to run against Boehner in 2014,” The Miami Student reported that Hounshell was a Political Action Committee member for the Local Masonic Lodge, however, he was a member for the union’s local lodge.

4

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

EDITOR BILLY RAFAEL

ARTS@MIAMISTUDENT.NET

TUESDAY, APRIL 30, 2013

FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: MIKE CHIORAN, BEN TAYLOR THE MIAMI STUDENT

A SEMESTER’S WORTH OF HARD WORK

Clockwise from left: Miami Fashion Club presents their work April 27 at Millett.; the cast of Into The Woods wraps up their two-week run April 28 in the Gates-Abegglan Theater; the Men’s Glee Club welcomes alumni on stage for their traditional set at the Home Concert April 27 in Hall Auditorium; graduate voice student Kristen Whalen sings with the Symphony Orchestra at their final concert of the year April 24 in Hall Auditorium.

Festival provides future filmmakers venue

BY JOE GIERINGER SENIOR STAFF WRITER

Film festivals have become a breeding ground for innovative ideas and a starting point for many bright careers. Sundance, Cannes, Toronto and many more are now established stops on the film circuit, where amateur and professional filmmakers alike scout for companies to distribute their films. And now, at least for a year, Miami University can also boast a festival celebrating silver screen productions.

A few months ago, The Miami Student Film Festival was nothing more than an idea in the head of junior Leah Coleman. After getting in touch with organizations such as the Miami Association of Filmmakers and Independent Artists (M.A.F.I.A.), she laid the groundwork for what would be Miami’s first student film festival, which took place Saturday.

“It started out as a follow-up project for a scholarship I received,” Coleman said. “I was required to make a project once I received the scholarship – something that would somehow benefit the community. So I decided to do a festival.”

With not much time to spread the word, Coleman worked with classmate senior Zamyr Rivera, the treasurer of M.A.F.I.A., on getting the word out and acquiring submissions from student filmmakers. The theme of the festival was “Art and Empathy,” and despite limited campuswide visibility, 11 submissions were received.

“I got all the information from her, and then I basically just sent it out on Facebook and went around to a bunch of film classes,” Rivera said of his part in getting the word out about the festival. “It was just a way to get students to have their film seen by

other people who wouldn’t have a chance otherwise.”

Rivera and Coleman submitted one entry each, both of which

deals with a Miami student breaking from her usual routine, with surprising results.

“It was an animation, and was

I got all the information from [Coleman], and then I basically just sent it out on Facebook and went around to a bunch of film classes. It was just a way to get students to have their film seen by other people who wouldn’t have a chance otherwise.”

ZAMYR RIVERA

MIAMI UNIVERSITY SENIOR

were shown Saturday. Rivera’s film was titled Running and was directed by the Oxford native himself in a neo-noir type fashion. Coleman’s submission also played this past weekend, and

basically about a girl who does the same things each and every day,” Coleman said. “She gets tired of living this life and wants to get out of the cycle. It’s black and white, but coming near the

end, color starts to come in as … she starts a new life.”

With a turnout of close to 20 attendees, the Miami Student Film Festival provided a venue for student filmmakers to have their productions screened in front of a live audience. Due to time constraints, Coleman is unsure if it’s something she would want to do again next year, though she is open to the idea.

“Maybe, if I have time,” Coleman said. “I’m starting track back up next year [for Miami]. If I had time from class and track, I’d definitely look into doing it again.”

Though the future is uncertain, the Miami Student Film Festival gave 11 different groups of students a place to share and bring their artistic visions to life. With proper planning and contributions, a yearly festival could become a reality for aspiring actors, directors and cinematographers on Miami’s campus.

Upcoming theater season Playlists send students to school’s end rocks the stage with Rent

BY CLAIRE KRIEGER SENIOR STAFF WRITER

BY CHRISTINA CASANO

SENIOR STAFF WRITER

As the Miami University theater department strikes its last show of the 2012-2013 season, it looks ahead to the next five shows to comprise next year’s season.

Opening the season will be the popular rock musical Rent, directed by Sue Ann Pollock, an equity stage manager and the general manager at the Cincinnati Playhouse.

Stephen Lytle, conductor of the Miami Marching Band, will serve as the music director of Rent.

Following the lives of eight people living and working in New York City, each of whom are affected by HIV/AIDS, an “unplugged” version of the show will be presented on the second stage in Studio 88 Oct. 3-7.

Around the Halloween season the department will present one of Shakespeare’s most famous tragedies, Macbeth. Macbeth tells the story of the titular character, a Scottish lord who is willing to commit a number of crimes in his quest for power, urged on by his manipulative wife.

Directed by Lewis Magruder, assistant professor in the theater department, Macbeth will run Oct. 24-28 on the main stage, the GatesAbegglan Theater.

November will bring the first

student-directed show of the season, Gruesome Playground Injuries, directed by theater major Robert Stimmel, a rising senior.

Gruesome Playground Injuries is composed of a number of vignettes covering 30 years in the lives of Doug and Kayleen as they grow both physically and emotionally.

Presented in Studio 88, it will run Nov. 14-18.

Students will be looking forward to a residency of the playwright of Gruesome Playground Injuries, Rajiv Joseph, a Miami alum. His other plays include Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo, All This Intimacy and Animals Out of Paper.

Auditions for the fall semester shows will take place Aug. 27-29.

The three have a wide variety of needs in terms of auditions. For those interested, information about auditions will be posted on the theater department’s website as they get closer.

The main stage show for the spring semester will be Crumbs From the Table of Joy, directed

by Paul K. Bryant-Jackson, running Feb. 27 through March 3.

The Second Stage show will be an adaptation of Peter Pan, directed by graduate student Laura Feldmeyer. It will run April 18-20 and 25-28 in Studio 88. Information on auditions for the spring shows will be posted towards the end of the fall semester.

Summer is only two weeks away for Miami University students. This means that along with the usual end-of-semester jitters many Miami students are also suffering from summer fever.

This feeling comes from the hope and excitement that only summer can provide. Warm weather, no homework and endless possibilities are just a few reasons summer seems so promising and inviting.

The perfect soundtrack for summer is key to prepare for those glorious few months and to make them even more enjoyable.

The first and most obvious choice for a summer playlist consists of songs that are so obviously about summer that they have the word somewhere in their titles. Some of these are familiar favorites and others may be less well-known. However, putting these on your summer playlist is guaranteed to give you a fantastic summer feeling.

The Boys of Summer ­— The Ataris Jenny and the Summer Day — The Avett Brothers Summer Mood ­— Best Coast Summer of ‘69 — Bryan Adams Summer Day — Coconut Records Summertime — DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince

Summer Love — Justin Timberlake All Summer Long — Kid Rock Long Hot Summer — Keith Urban ­­­ Kenny Chesney Summertime — All Summer ­— KiD CuDi Ft. Best Coast & Rostam Batmanglij Summer Girls — LFO Summer Nights — Olivia Newton-John & John Travolta Summer’s Life — The Shaky Hands

The next option for your summer playlist is old favorites.

These songs span from the 60s to the 80s and will all provide you with great summer vibes. Some of these are less explicitly about summer but they will still perfectly complement a summer evening drive or an outing to the beach.

School’s Out — Alice Cooper Don’t Worry Baby ­­— The Beach Boys Good Times Roll ­­— The Cars Saturday In the Park ­— Chicago Just Like Heaven — The Cure Under The Boardwalk — The Drifters Take Me Home Tonight — Eddie Money Ooh La La — Faces Dancing in the Moonlight — King Harvest Do You Believe in Magic — The Lovin’ Spoonful

(Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay — Otis Redding You Can Call Me Al — Paul Simon My Girl — The Temptations Wild Night — Van Morrison The final option for your summer playlist is current songs that exude summer, even if they don’t specifically say the word.

This playlist covers a huge range of genres and the release dates of these songs span quite a few years. However, they will fit together cohesively to accompany the summer activity of your choice.

Put Your Records On ­— Corinne Bailey Rae Soak Up the Sun — Cheryl Crow Crooked Teeth — Death Cab For Cutie Barefoot Blue Jean Night — Jake Owen California Gurls — Katie Perry When You Were Young — The Killers Back Down South — Kings of Leon Time To Pretend — MGMT Say Hey (I Love You) — Michael Franti & Spearhead Good Life — One Republic Dani California — Red Hot Chili Peppers Pon De Replay — Rihanna Hips Don’t Lie — Shakira Chicken Fried — Zac Brown Band

www.miamistudent.net

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6

OPINION

EDITORS EMILY ELDRIDGE NICOLE THEODORE

TUESDAY, APRIL 30, 2013

EDITORIAL@MIAMISTUDENT.NET

EDITORIAL

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

A behind the scenes look of what it takes to produce TMS Student publications are numerous at Miami University, as they are at most colleges across the United States. Working at them allows students of all majors to test their skills, creativity and leadership outside of the classroom. A writer getting their first chance to have something published, or a first time editor managing six or seven writers, is an invaluable experience that cannot be replaced.

Student publications breed writers, editors, designers and managers who understand what it will take to survive in media outside their school.

At The Miami Student (TMS), we hold these same experiences close to our hearts, and also try to function as any other newspaper in the United States. TMS truly believes in providing factual, unbiased and interesting news to the Miami community. As students running the paper, we understand our main audience and are proud to represent Miami students through our story telling.

The editorial board would like to invite readers to step in our shoes and learn about exactly what TMS does behind the scenes.

TMS has a distinct process with each and every story published in the paper. The process begins with budgeting, or selecting, stories as a group to go in the next issue. All of the editors discuss the stories together and decide what stories will go in. Following budget, section editors assign stories to their writers.

As editors, they use their judgment to match the difficulty of the story to the expertise of the writer. It is then up to the writer to conduct research and interviews for the assignment.

Once a story is received and factchecked by the section editor, it goes through eight rounds of edits before it is sent off to the printer.

Those eight rounds of edits include Section Editors, News Editor and the Editor in Chief fact checking names, positions and quotes to the best of their ability. AP style, grammar and punctuation are also finetuned. Despite the hours put into each story, perfection is not always attainable, and mistakes sometimes slip by in the editing process.

At TMS, mistakes are considered unacceptable, but they are a part of life and certainly will always be a part of journalism. Mistakes are never intentional, and there is a strict correction policy at TMS. Editors hold themselves accountable for every story they put their stamp of approval on, and if anything is incorrect, the paper publishes a correction box on that section’s page in the following issue. Being critical of our own work is something TMS embraces.

TMS encourages the Miami community to send letters to the editor about their views on stories and about mistakes they may have found. TMS also encourages the community to contact editors. On

every section, the editors’ names and section email is listed. TMS has an open-door policy, as every journalism outlet should.

However, simply not liking or agreeing with a story the paper publishes is not a reason for a correction.

Journalism by nature is a watchdog for institutions. TMS is not a public relations firm, and our editors and writers do not necessarily write about topics that will necessarily make people mad or happy. They simply cover topics that they believe are important to the Miami community. TMS does not have to post positive things or negative things. We try our best to post news from all angles, and have no affiliation to any other organization or person.

When it comes to handling writers who work for TMS, editors can only do so much within our deadlines when it comes to sources and fact checking. All editors encourage their writers to record their interviews. If something seems incorrect within a writer’s story, the editors bring it up and double-check the information, but when it comes to direct quotes, editors are not present during the interview. Editors always tell the writers to double-check their notes and to record their interviews, but there is only so much editors can do.

However, there has to be a certain level of trust in this job. If editors did not trust their writers, nothing would get accomplished.

Most of those who write for TMS are journalism and English students.

Sometimes they are beginner writers with just a year of writing under their belt. Because of this, TMS reserves the right to hold or not publish an article if the editors believe that it is not factual or needs more work.

TMS does not have to publish anything from anyone, because the paper engages in journalism and not public relations.

TMS also does not engage in email interviews. Editors stress this because there are many unethical circumstances that can arise by practicing in this type of interviewing.

Almost all professional newspapers uphold this standard as well to ensure that journalism is being carried out the correct way.

Essentially, TMS is Miami’s lens, and our team of editors and writers has every intention of providing a fair and unbiased outlook for the community. As students working at this publication, all of us have a sense of pride for our work that is produced here, and strive to serve journalism in a democracy. Again, the board encourages the Miami community at all times to send in story suggestions, write letters to the editor and contact editors because that is what journalism is essentially about. TMS will remain a student publication for years to come, and it will always be filled with students eager to serve journalism, the right way.

Rule of Thumb

PATRICK GEYSER THE MIAMI STUDENT

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Friday work-day: Is this a student and teacher inconvenience or is it beneficial for scheduling?

After reading both “Administration attempts to curb student drinking” and “Tweaks in next semester course offerings won’t stop the party” last week, it struck me that there are two main problems with the criticism against the administration’s initiative to create a more homogenous class schedule to avoid three-day weekends and a perceived campus-wide drinking problem.

First, I think there’s a slight misperception around the infringement on research and academic freedom, as I believe chris cheek voiced his criticism of this initiative.

Second, there also seems to be a misperception about what rights the university has to constrain students’ abilities to choose which classes to enroll in, based on their expectations of what they are actually doing here at the university, getting a degree vs. having the “college experience.”

I am a graduating senior, who this semester benefitted heavily from a three-day workweek to complete my research for a Departmental Honors Thesis in Philosophy, attend a conference, as well as keep up with a part-time job. I do not advocate a complete avoiding of three-day weekends, as there are some definite purposes to having fewer classes in order to pursue other kinds of scholarly or extra-curricular activities. I am a living example of this.

However, I do want to point out that there is some definite legitimacy to wanting to have a more homogenous workweek, of which curbing alcohol abuse is really only an accidental feature. I would stress that this kind of restructuring could help form a better student-teacher, as well as student-student, community in centering regular activities around curricular aspects rather than extra-curricular frivolity, or solitary academic pursuits, which only affect a narrow portion of the overall

community here. Academic research is important, and there is no point in denying this. I will be going to graduate school for philosophy, and I can hardly think of any field that has to justify its commitments to research vis-à-vis its teaching commitments to the broader scholarly community more than philosophy, at least in its more technical varieties. Nor will I deny that students should have some freedom in choosing what classes they should have the liberty to choose, as this is part of any development towards achieving autonomy in one’s relations to the community that one is a part of.

The main problem with the critiques is that they ignore a fundamental aspect of what this university is supposed to be: an undergraduate teaching institution. Whatever this means, the baseline goal and criterion should probably be the focus on undergraduate teaching, in the sense that it is neither teachers’ research interests, nor individual’s interests, that should dictate how liberal the scheduling procedures should be as a whole. As an institution, the university has an interest in at least setting the ideal for what the studentteacher community should be, as well as implementing some of the policies that would direct activity in this general direction. Of course this means that there will be some outliers who will choose to pursue other avenues of gratification on days other than the weekends. The point, however, is that the university is not a place where teachers get the opportunity to pursue whatever research interests may animate them, nor a place where undergraduates get to pursue whatever “college experience” is supposed to be in the right of passage to becoming an adult, sadly, college at this point is little more than the function of acquiring

a piece of paper that specifies some academic qualification. Most of the examples cited in the rebuttals to the effectiveness of scheduling an actual five-day workweek reference demands and needs of relatively select portions of the entire student body, I cannot speak of the teachers here. But one cannot expect to legislate over a student body of roughly 15,000 and expect every special minority to be adequately treated with their special requirements. This does not mean that these portions of the student-body will be forced to conform to a certain standard, just as much as little as instituting five-day weekdays will stop alcohol-consumption on Thursdays.

Also, if the university is going to deal with broader problems, such as drug abuse and rape, it may be helpful to acknowledge that this is not just a collection of problems, but a cluster that amounts to a bigger problem. Now what the bigger problem is may be hard to pin down, but it certainly has something to do with a lack of expected direction the students are supposed to focus their energies. If changing scheduling means that we can signal to students that we actually expect them to be students, and not just adolescent migrants on their way to becoming adults, virtually by accident, then there we have an institutional justification for changing scheduling policies. That the university has a right to do this is evident, and, if my analysis of why the university should be doing this is right, it should do this as well. That some of the specifications of how this is to be done needs to be taken into consideration so as not to harm the interests of the more specialized communities is also evident.

SEBASTIAN ORLANDER ORLANDSO@MIAMIOH.EDU

Newtown 5k Samantha Kent raised around $5,000 for her home town with a race last Sunday. p. 3

Last week of classes We are excited for summer but not for the amount of work that is upon us for finals week.

Grand Prix Tricycle Race We liked this creative effort that raised money for the American Red Cross and Special Olympics. p. 2

HANNAH STEIN EDITOR IN CHIEF KATIE TAYLOR NEWS EDITOR EMILY ELDRIDGE EDITORIAL EDITOR NICOLE THEODORE EDITORIAL EDITOR BILLY RAFAEL ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

CHRIS CURME COMMUNITY EDITOR JANE BLAZER COMMUNITY EDITOR VICTORIA SLATER CAMPUS EDITOR CATHERINE MONCEAUX CAMPUS EDITOR TOM DOWNEY SPORTS EDITOR

www.miamistudent.net

TUESDAY, APRIL 30, 2013 OP ED

7

RACHEL’S REFLECTIONS

Former Editorial Editor reflects on her four years at Miami; it’s just the beginning With only two more weeks between me and the end of the semester, not only do I find myself with immense amounts of studying and writing to do, but with mixed emotions as well.

As the final days of my underRACHEL graduate caSACKS reer come to a close, I am bombarded with information about senior recognition events, graduation ceremonies, banquets, end of the year events and the realization that so many things will be my last as a college student. The realization has hit that I’m nearing the end of a significant chapter.

A few weeks ago, I competed at the National Championships with the Miami University Intercollegiate Skating Club Team. I have been skating since I was three years old, but

didn’t see it as an active part of my future. So, this competition would be my last major skating event ever.

Any time I begin to think about how that would be one of the last times I step foot on the ice and how long my skating “life” has been, it’s difficult to think about not practically living in ice rinks or waking up at 4 a.m. to get to practice anymore.

But for the sadness that comes with ending a huge part of my life that, literally, defined me for the longest time, I remember all the good things that came out of my experiences.

The good things such as the cliché sports metaphors for life that actually do apply, friendships and being part of a sport that is truly unique.

While I may not have seen skating as an active part of my future, that doesn’t mean it hasn’t been an integral part of my life thus far. Much like college and my time at Miami.

Lately I have been so focused on getting through the present and worrying about the future that while I have realized the past four years flew by, I haven’t taken the time to really

come to terms with what they meant.

I’ve been fortunate enough, first of all, to even go to college. I’ve also been fortunate enough to experience all the opportunities I’ve come across—from participating as a student athlete to writing and becoming an editor for the school newspaper to studying abroad twice.

my mind about what I wanted to do after college. I declared a double major in journalism and art history with the hopes of working for a fashion magazine or brand after graduation.

But that changed when I realized the fashion industry does not, yet, stand for the same standards and values on women and beauty that I have

What I think is most important though is how Miami helped me become the person I am today with the ideals and values I hold today, and how I see the world.

But while these are all great things that shaped me as an individual and helped me become who I am today, there were other moments that did that as well. Moments such as when I seriously considered transferring, and when I realized I didn’t want to.

Or when I completely changed about

developed. I still want writing to be a part of my future in some capacity and art history is an interest of mine, but it seems unlikely that I will immerse myself in a career that somehow combines the two. It’s just not for me.

What I think is most important

though is how Miami helped me become the person I am today with the ideals and values I hold today, and how I see the world. In actuality it was both because of the Miami stereotype and when I went outside the ‘Miami bubble’ that somehow shaped my views. Because I saw firsthand how detrimental stereotypes can be and how they are perpetuated and upheld, I came to realize not everything is how it seems at first glance and that oftentimes a person’s character is determined more by their actions than their words.

While one chapter of my life may be ending in a short couple of weeks, it is merely the signifier of more chapters to come. Chapters that I am sure will be filled with just as many life lessons, experiences and memories.

I’ve often heard that college is the best four years of one’s life. I really hope this is not true though; I would just like the past four years to be a significant and memorable part of my life because the best is yet to come.

NICOLE’S TWO CENTS

How lazy consumption of media is drastically changing journalism in a democracy With this being my last column for the year as one of the Editorial Editors for the opinion section of The Miami Student (TMS), I can honestly say I have learned a great deal about not only the Miami University commuNICOLE nity this year, THEODORE but about journalism as a whole.

Being an editor for a student publication is an eye-opening experience and has ultimately showed me what is starting to happen to most of our society when it comes to journalism in a democracy. Within this year I have encountered some angry emails and pushy agendas. All of which I understand will always come with the job as being an editor at a newspaper. However, being behind the scenes of TMS has alerted me to some startling characteristics of the American people today.

As media consumers we have become lazy and downright whiney,

it sounds rather blunt but I can’t describe it any other way. When I state we, I mean almost everyone that reads and watches news daily. Everyone is able to feed their own bias by only watching news networks and reading websites devoted to exactly what they believe in. Everyday, most people read their favorite newspaper, watch their beloved news channel and read the same blogs. How is that challenging preconceived views though? The answer is, it isn’t. With a sufficient amount of choice comes sacrifice, and in this case, the sacrifices are well-rounded media consumers.

What a newspaper, a network news station and other forms of journalism are supposed to do ethically is provide a range of views and topics on subject matter, that will provide them with what they need to make informed decisions in a democracy, not what they want to know. That right there is the problem. Everyone wants something now. And when they don’t get it from the media, they complain. They complain or switch news networks, start reading a different paper and they make a choice. This is a vicious cycle, which has forced newsrooms and

papers to jump on the entertainment bandwagon to keep ratings and circulation high. Journalism seems to be slowly dying, and it is a scary thought.

What I love about being an editor for the editorial section is that I am able to try and combat this rather contagious problem in the media. Nothing excites me more than when we get letters to the editor about the same issue but they both argue different points. I publish both because there are multiple angles to any story. By playing into only one, readers and consumers are ultimately harmed.

However, newspapers are not public relations. I have taken public relations at Miami, and though journalism and PR mix quite well together, they are not the same animal. As an editor, getting a press release sent to me six times in a row is not going to make me publish it.

The problem is people feel entitled to their ideas and also feel that a newspaper absolutely has to publish something. That is extremely wrong, and I cannot stress that enough. We publish stories, letters and essays if they meet our expectations journalistically and provide the community

ESSAY

There is an inevitable adaptation to homosexuality by our religious and political world for the future Homosexuality and same-sex marriage have been perpetual features on the global political forefront for a long time. A number of countries have legalized same-sex marriage and nine states in the United States have already done so.

President Barack Obama has even shown public support for same-sex marriage. In terms of employment, discrimination based on sexuality is only prohibited on the state level in less than half of the states around the country. Although some local city laws mandate such prohibition of discrimination, there is still a definite lack of legislation prohibiting it across the country.

Recently, a high school physical education teacher, Ms. Carla Hale, was fired from her job at a local Catholic high school in Columbus, Ohio after being identified as being involved in a homosexual partnership. The discovery was made from her mother’s recent obituary, in which the name of Hale’s female partner was disclosed. The teacher, after working at the high school for 19 years, was deeply distraught after losing her job. There has been heavy protest regarding Hale’s dismissal, and an online petition pushing for the reinstatement of Hale now has around 65,000 signatures, hosted by change.org. With the support of many students, parents and others, many of whom identify as Catholics themselves, it seems that the degree to which many Catholics agree with

the Church’s stance on homosexuality is called into question. Are some who identify with the Catholic faith beginning to disregard the Church’s position on homosexuality? Hale stated in a recent interview with NBC Nightly News, “In today’s times, there are very few individuals living the Old Catholic doctrine.”

If you have ever watched the TV series “The West Wing,” you may remember a scene in which President Bartlet is addressing a radio talk show host who believes “homosexuality is an abomination,” as written in Leviticus 18:22 (season two, episode three). She claims that she does not personally say it is an abomination, but the Bible does. The fictional president responds with a series of questions pertaining to the validity of seemingly absurd, although legitimate scripture verses regarding the endorsement of slavery (Exodus 21:7), death due to working on the Sabbath (Exodus 35:2) and other acts either condoned or forbidden as transcribed in the books of Exodus and Leviticus in the Bible. The juxtaposition of these Bible verses with those denouncing homosexuality makes the point that there is an element of context and adaptation that must be associated with the interpretation of the Bible itself.

Although there are multiple references made in the Bible that can be interpreted as denouncing homosexuality, it is arguably hard to embrace these assertions due to the genetic

associations with homosexuality discussed in scientific literature. Due to the recently described epigenetic relationships involved with the development of homosexuality (Rice et al., 2012), it seems that a certain level of discourse, particularly involving those who identify with various religious or political groups, has been latently developing for quite some time. Now, as we begin to face challenging issues such as discrimination due to sexuality in private sector jobs, as in the case of Catholic high school teacher Carla Hale, people are starting to face important decisions regarding their beliefs.

It seems that the context of understanding in today’s society is the most important factor at play in this conversation. As evidenced from the aforementioned scene from “The West Wing,” there has been a certain level of adaptation that religious institutions have had to undergo throughout their existence. So, is there now an indication that such adaptations in regards to homosexuality may take place in the near future?

We have certainly begun to see them politically across the world, and they are ever-present on a personal level across society today. It seems quite feasible, if not inevitable, that debates regarding such adaptations will become more and more prominent in the near future.

BENJAMIN MEACHAM

MEACHABP@MIAMIOH.EDU

with something they should know.

And just because TMS is a student run newspaper, this facet of journalism has not changed. The New York Times does not run their sections this way, and neither does TMS. What I have noticed is when a media consumer does not get their way it is astonishing. There is a difference between fighting for what you believe in and feeling as if the media owes you a favor.

Journalism is intended to show people what they need, even when they don’t want the information and even when they don’t know they need it yet. That is what a good publication and news outlet does.

The media is not supposed to be over-run by its consumers, because then we no longer have journalism in a democracy.

However, there is a balance. Consumers and readers should be able to voice their opinions, give story suggestions and participate in the media.

That is part of the definition of a democracy. But trying to force publications to publish an agenda, switching news networks because something was reported that you didn’t agree with, that is ultimately hurting what is left of journalism. My worry is that

it is too late to save our news from, ultimately, ourselves.

I love opinions, open-ended discussions and looking at life from all perspectives. That is why I chose to become an Editorial Editor for TMS. I thought to my self, if I could affect journalism in some way, even small, I would want to provide all of the angles of our life here at Miami and in the United States in one single section, or attempt to. I had a talented and intelligent group of essayists and columnists work for TMS this year, and I also had amazing feedback from the Miami community about what this section could work on.

What I hope for next year and for every year is that when it comes to journalism, the American people start thinking more along the lines of, “how can I be the most well rounded media consumer?” instead of “I am not getting my way so how can I bully them into giving me what I want?” I hope more of those who read the opinion section send more letters to the editor, submit essays and take the time to read every piece even if you don’t agree with it. Participating in journalism is the first step, reinforcing every angle of a story is the second.

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relationship with the campus community so we can refer people to the right resources so we don’t feel like we’re pushing people to do something that they don’t want to do,” Spilman said.

According to Auringer, preventative measures are helpful, but the university is beginning to focus on bystander intervention.

“It is important that everyone acts in ways that makes others feel safe,” Auringer said. “Generally, prevention shouldn’t only be geared towards those who may be victimized, but the education should go towards the entire community.”

Van Fossen said she thinks with the help of the males on this campus, the emphasis can be focused less on prevention and more on behalf of the potential victim.

“I definitely think we need stronger male voices on this campus around raising awareness and preventing sexual assault,” Van Fossen said.

“Because we always talk about in WAVES meetings that we shouldn’t have to worry about walking to places in the dark.”

Spilman said he believes education is a big component in reducing sexual assault in the community.

“Victim education has always been important to the criminal justice community because people who have been a victim tend to be victimized repeatedly,” Spilman said.

One way to break that cycle, according to Spilman, is to teach people the steps on how to not become a victim.

He added, for those who are not victims, people need to be aware of

what is criminal behavior.

“There needs to be education for the other half too,” Spilman said.

“I think that’s equally important, to get the message out there— consent is necessary in cases of sexual activity.”

Auringer emphasized that Miami’s student counseling service is a confidential resource for those who are struggling with the effects of sexual assault.

“If a student is unsure about what to do about it, or how to handle it, we really are a good place to start and all that they need to do is give us a call or walk in and talk to us,” Auringer said.

According to Auringer, another resource for victims is the Women Helping Women Butler County Services, which has a 24-hour hotline, 1-877-889-5610, or they can call the local number, 513-381-5610.

Spilman said he encourages victims to report offenses so the police department can warn the community if there is a continuing threat.

“But we understand there are other pathways to ensure that there is some sort of accountability for wrongdoing,” Spilman said. “Going to the dean of students is one of those pathways.”

Spilman said victims of sex crimes need support and the police department will never make a victim do something that they do not want to, such as taking action.

“If someone comes to the police, we can’t compel them to go to court and relive that,” Spilman said.

“If that makes the decision easier about how to proceed on reporting an offense, then I hope that’s what they will do.”

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SPORTS

EDITOR TOM DOWNEY

TUESDAY, APRIL 30, 2013 JOE GIERINGER NOT YOUR AVERAGE JOE

JASON COLLINS: IF YOU CAN PLAY,YOU CAN PLAY

SPORTS@MIAMISTUDENT.NET

BASEBALL

Miami drops two to NIU

BY JOE GIERINGER SENIOR STAFF WRITER

“I’m a 34-year-old NBA center.

I’m black. And I’m gay.” This is how veteran Jason Collins came out to the public as the first active, male, gay player on a major American sports team yesterday morning in a Sports Illustrated article.

When you think about it, it’s kind of surprising that this hasn’t already happened. We’ve made a lot of progress as a society in the way of tolerance, and it’s like the sports world has been collectively holding its breath for what seems like forever.

Waiting for someone brave enough to break this barrier. In a matter of minutes, Jason Collins shattered it.

What now?

Well for one, he just became the hottest topic in sports. At the time of my writing this article, he’s still the leading trending topic on Twitter, and I’m sure there will be more than a few companies vying for his endorsement of a plethora of products. He might find a team willing to sign him next year for his recent act of bravery, he’s a free agent as of right now. More than likely, he’ll be signed for his tenacity and physical brand of play – Collins averaged 3.14 personal fouls a game in his first six seasons with the New Jersey Nets. He’s known for his shutdown defense and his ability to lay the hurt on superstar opponents. But generally, he’s recognized around the league for his professionalism and dedication to the sport he loves. He’s definitely not someone that you would assume is gay, and a 7’0”, 255-pound frame just adds to the surprise.

There will be a darker side to his coming out too. Collins will be subject to some of the worst heckling a modern-era athlete will ever endure. I don’t like to invite the Jackie Robinson comparison, but fear of homosexuality in sports is the closest social sports issue we’ve seen to the racial tension of the 1940s and 50s. Collins will undoubtedly find mixed responses in the locker room of whatever organization he

ends up with next. Some of his new teammates will be vocal supporters.

Some may choose to remain silent on the subject. Still, others will harbor disdain, be it explicit or not, for their new center and the lifestyle he has now made public.

I’d like to think that, in some small way, Collins knew about Brendan Burke’s story. Brendan was the son of former Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Brian Burke and was killed in an automobile accident in February of 2010, just months after he came out to the Miami University hockey team, an organization he served as a manager on.

After his death, his older brother Patrick started the You Can Play project, a social activism campaign dedicated to ending homophobia in sports. Officially partnering with the NHL, You Can Play has been adopted and supported by many professional players from a number of sports, as well as college athletic programs such as Miami’s. Brendan Burke received hundreds of messages from individuals he had helped in life and thousands of supporters in death. Regardless of whether Collins has ever heard that name, his legacy has had an impact on the basketball player. Through the work of You Can Play and similar organizations, an environment has been fostered in which Collins felt safe enough to speak freely about his sexual orientation, and I’m sure Brendan would be proud of that.

I have no idea what the future will hold for Jason Collins. We know he’s a 34-year-old athlete. We know he’s a fierce competitor. And now, we know he is gay. Though his career might very well be defined by his sexuality, I’m sure that isn’t what he set out intending to do. Collins wants to be remembered for the same thing every athlete wishes to be remembered for: their play. I think we’ll come to realize, as other professional athletes begin to come out, that Jason Collins took a significant step toward achieving that vision.

DENVER DRAFTS DYSERT The Denver Broncos drafted quarterback Zac Dysert with the 234th overall pick in the seventh round of the 2012 NFL Draft Saturday. Dysert will be the third quarterback on the roster behind future hall of famer Peyton Manning and last year’s second round pick Brock Osweiler. Dysert said he looks forward to the chance of learning under one of the league’s all-time greats.

The Houston Texans also added a Miami player, as it signed undrafted free agent wide receiver Andy Cruse.

Cruse will face an uphill battle to make the Texans regular season roster.

The Miami University baseball team took to the field three separate times against the Huskies of Northern Illinois University this weekend, losing twice in close games before taking the series finale.

After the drive up to DeKalb, Ill., Miami opened play Friday afternoon in what would turn out to be a pitching duel between RedHawk senior Brooks Fiala and Huskie freshman Jordan Ruckman. Only six batters for the Red and White got on base in the contest, and only two of those were by way of a hit. Northern Illinois was held mostly in check, minus the three-run second inning. Fiala (55) allowed seven hits with just two earned runs in seven frames pitched, but the Miami offense was nowhere to be found in the 3-1 loss.

Saturday’s low-scoring game played out similarly, with the exception of sophomore catcher Max Andreson’s two-out, two-run double in

the top of the ninth that put Miami up 3-2. The RedHawk defense couldn’t hold on though, as a couple of quick hits scored two for the Huskies in the bottom of the ninth as they completed the rally over the RedHawks, 4-3. Senior ace Mac Thoreson held the mound for eight innings, allowing just two runs (one earned) on six hits. Just two RedHawks struck out while Miami actually out played the Huskies on offense, but well-timed batting and great defense kept the RedHawks from pulling it out.

“It was a good baseball weekend in the sense that all three were quality games,” Miami Head Coach Dan Simonds said. “All three games could have gone either way, and [the games] were well-pitched all weekend. All three starters did a good job throwing strikes and keeping us in the game.”

Junior pitcher Seth Varner took the mound Sunday, making just his second start of the season, struck out five batters in six innings in the winning effort. Despite garnering nine

hits in the contest, Miami made them count, scoring one run in six separate innings in the 6-4 victory.

“They had guys that knew how to pitch and hit their spots,” Andreson, who hit a solo-shot in the top of the ninth, said. “I’ve just been working with coach in batting practice on trying to drive the ball up the middle and staying back. Today they were throwing a lot of off-speed [pitches], so it was helpful trying to stay back and see them.”

The win puts the RedHawks at 2022 overall, and 10-8 in Mid-American Conference play. With the weekend now over, Simonds said he has his team focusing on the future – and the first order of business is getting back to .500. Miami has a chance to do just that as the team turns its attention to the final non-conference series against the University of Cincinnati this week. Tuesday’s game will be played 6:30 p.m. in Marge Schott Stadium, before the teams come to Oxford to battle it out 6. p.m. the following evening.

TRACK & FIELD

’Hawks gear up for MAC championship

RYAN HOLTZ THE MIAMI STUDENT

Senior John Cantwell competes in the triple jump. Cantwell won both the triple jump and the long jump in the RedHawk Invitational.

BY JUSTIN MASKULINSKI STAFF WRITER

The Miami University women’s track and field team sent athletes to Des Moines, Iowa to compete in the Drake Relays and saw success in the first event as sophomore Anna Lamb broke the school record for the 10,000 meter run with a time of 34:35.

“It was only my second time running the race,” Lamb said. “Last week during after my race I realized that I was capable of breaking the school record. Every time I run [the 10,000 meter race] I get more comfortable and cut down on my time.”

Head Coach Kelly Phillips said she thinks Lamb can perform even better in the 10,000 meter race. “[Lamb] ran phenomenal,” Phillips said. “I don’t think she even knows how good she can be.”

Senior Layne Baggett won her heat of the 100 meter hurdles and finished second in the final with a time of 13.47. Junior Tori Paterra placed fourth in the javelin throw amongst numerous throwers from the Big Ten Conference.

The remaining competitors for the RedHawks stayed in Oxford as Miami hosted the RedHawk Invitational. The RedHawk Invitational was not scored.

The ’Hawks posted numerous first place finishes in the meet. Redshirt junior Ashley Zaper jumped 5.77 meters to finish first in the event. Freshman Laura Bess won the 1,500 meter run with a time of 4:32.69. Sophomore Charlotte Myers and redshirt senior Katie Scannell finished first and second in the 400 meter run.

Phillips said the RedHawks do not need to make any changes as they move forward.

“We just need to keep doing what we’re doing and stay healthy for the Mid-American Conference Championships,” Phillips said.

The men’s track and field team kept all of its athletes in Oxford to compete in the RedHawk Invitational.

“It was a nice meet,” Head Coach Warren Mandrell said. “It’s always a little bit low key, but we had some solid performances.”

Junior Rob Stein won all three of his throwing events Saturday. Stein finished first in the shot put, hammer throw and discus.

Also winning in field action was senior John Cantwell who placed first in the long jump with a 7.11 meter jump.

Redshirt senior Steve Kiplagat won the 1,500 meter run with a time of 3:55.30. Kiplagat has been battling injuries all year.

Mandrell said he was pleasantly surprised to see Kiplagat, a top performer in cross-country, succeed in a shorter distance race. “[Kiplagat’s race] was really nice,” Mandrell said. “He did really well in cross country and he had enough speed for the 1,500 meter race. He’s got a really nice range, I’m happy for Steve.”

Freshman Peter Stefanski won yet another high jump event Saturday as he jumped 2.10 meters. He has only lost once this year.

“Stefanski went 6’10”3/4 for the third time this year,” Mandrell.

“He has been very consistent at the high bars.”

The Mid-American Conference Outdoor Championships will be held May 9-11 in Akron.

FOOTBALL

RedHawks wrap up spring practice, look to move on without Dysert

BY TOM DOWNEY SPORTS EDITOR

Coming off a second straight 4-8 season under Head Coach Don Treadwell, the Miami University football team has finished spring practice as it adjusts to life without quarterback Zac Dysert.

“We aren’t going to be able to rely on a Zac Dysert arm,” Offensive coordinator John Klacik said.

“Every guy is going to have to be ready to step up.”

Three quarterbacks; rising redshirt senior Austin Boucher, rising junior Drew Kummer and rising sophomore Austin Gearing are all competing to be the next RedHawk quarterback. Boucher is expected to be the starter.

“Just by the nature of the fact, by years spent, Boucher would be the guy,” Treadwell said. “But the beauty of spring football, all those younger guys got a lot of good reps. We feel good about that and we feel good about the depth of the position.”

Boucher has never lost as a game he has started as a RedHawk. He went 4-0, winning a Mid-American Conference (MAC) title game and a bowl game when he filled in for an injured Dysert in the 2010-2011 season.

“I’ve been in big games, I’ve had my chance to play,” Boucher said.

“Obviously, for a couple of years things didn’t go my way, but it is nice to be back in the driver’s seat, nice to help lead this team. But absolutely it is my job to lose.”

The RedHawks will also adjust to life without wide receiver Andy Cruse and possibly rising senior Nick Harwell, who is indefinitely suspended as a result of an arrest during spring practice.

Much of the onus will fall on rising junior wide receiver Dawan Scott.

Scott caught 57 balls last season, for 851 yards and seven scores. He also led the team in kick return yards.

“I’m prepared, and I still got a lot of work to do,” Scott said. “I’m not at my top peak. But by the time the

season comes, I’ll be ready to carry the load and carry this team.”

Boucher, Scott, Treadwell and offensive coordinator John Klacik all mentioned two rising redshirt sophomore wide receivers in Rokeem Williams and Fred McRae as players to watch. The two are very different, as Williams is a 6-1, 189-pound wide out, while McRae is 5-9, 156 pounds.

Williams is also the nephew of former New England Patriot wide receiver Troy Brown.

With the loss of Dysert, Treadwell said the team will focus more on the run, but declined to say how they would do that.

The RedHawks will continue to rely on a running back-by-committee approach. It didn’t work well last year, as they finished 118th out of 120 teams in the NCAA in rushing offense. The tandem of rising sophomore Jamire Westbrook and rising junior Spencer Treadwell will be counted on to increase their production from the 595 yards and three rushing touchdowns they

combined for last year.

The defense will look to improve upon its 104th total defense ranking.

“We have improved,” defensive coordinator Jay Peterson said. “We have improved. The chemistry, the team chemistry, the chemistry of the coaching staff, we have improved in every way.”

Senior defensive tackle Austin Brown will be returning to the team after receiving a medical redshirt after missing most of last season with a back injury.

Rising senior linebacker Chris Wade returns following his breakout season in which he led the team with 128 tackles.

Rising senior cornerback Dayonne Nunley also returns, after beginning named first team All-MAC. Nunley has been out most of spring practice because of knee sur gery, but he will back well before the start of the season.

Rising junior Brison Burris will return as a mainstay at safety. He was second on the team in tackles with

81 and was tied for first with three interceptions. Joining him could be rising sophomore Jay Mastin, who received praise from coaches and players alike.

“I feel Jay Mastin is really clicking,” Nunley said. “I like him back there a lot. I think he can do some good things for us.”

Peterson said he was very pleased with the spring practices from his defense squad.

“All of them showed great improvement,” Peterson said.

“Very pleased with the d-line to a man. The linebackers, those young guys are coming on. Chris Wade has not stepped back, he stepped forward. The secondary, Brison Burris is getting older, becoming a veteran football player, becoming a leader.

Jay Mastin, he’s really coming on, got better each practice. Shoot, I couldn’t be more pleased at this point.”

The RedHawks will return to the gridiron August 31, when they travel to face Marshall University.