The Miami Student | October 27th, 2020

ESTABLISHED 1826 — OLDEST COLLEGE NEWSPAPER WEST OF THE ALLEGHENIES

Volume 149 No. 6

Miami university — Oxford, Ohio

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2020

VOTE! “A Message to the Miami Community”:

How Miami University talks to students about COVID-19 SEAN SCOTT

THE MIAMI STUDENT

Veteran and

SOMNIA KEESEY THE MIAMI STUDENT With Election Day quickly apvoters alike are acknowledging that ent than its predecessors.

COVID-19 has shifted how the presidential election and the voting process is conducted. And now, in an age where our country’s politics and media are more interconnected than ever before, there are many ing and plenty of new obstacles for a CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

When Miami University President Greg Crawford announced the return of residential students and face-to-face classes in a Sept. 9 ing messages about the state of the COVID-19 pandemic on Miami’s Oxford campus.

“This decision … is an expression nity,” Crawford wrote. point more than 1,000 students had already tested positive for COVID-19. “[The university’s testing policy,]” Crawford wrote, “gives us the ability to quickly quarantine and isolate those who tested positive or those in close contact with individuals who tested positive.”

Now, it can sometimes take up to dents after testing positive.

University administrators from President Crawford to theCrisis Management Team (CMT), which is without clear leadership, seemingly follow two general rules when updating students about COVID-19 at Miami: First, they avoid providing students with numbers or data through email. Instead, they direct readers to

a hard-to-navigate dashboard that omits information more than two weeks old.

Second, they don’t contextualize the pandemic in terms of the Mi-

communications leadership heading into the pandemic.

“We’ve been trying to navigate this entire catastrophe without [a chief marketing and communications

they opt for phrases like “The number of COVID-19 cases across our nation continues to rise,” as used in an Oct. 9 CMT email, or “Here in Butler County, the rate of positive cases continues to increase,” as Crawford wrote on Oct. 20.

Since the start of October, the CMT has sent four university-wide emails to students. While this group may feel anonymous to students —

had one person waking up every day thinking about, ‘How do we strategiThe university announced in July located from North Carolina in late August, and though she now works remote.

names for its members — Provost Jason Osborne explained that this

versity communications rarely come from a single administrator.

“Communications about COVID-19 … are developed in a collaborative process to ensure we have information and insights from multiple perspectives,” Hunt wrote in an email to The Miami Student.

Hunt also wrote that the decision to exclude numbers from emails regarding COVID-19 is intentional. Instead, the university relies on multiple streams to share information with students, including the COVID-19 dashboard, university social media accounts and signs across campus.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

COVID-19. “[The CMT] is a lot of the university leadership,” Osborne said. “But then, it’s also everyone we need to pull in as well … It’s kind of one of these entities where everyone has representation and we can be experts depending on what the crisis is.”

Last February, Michelle Gaither Sparks, Miami’s chief marketing and

"We've been trying to navigate this entire catastrophe without [a chief marketing and - Jason Osborne

leaving the university without clear

From masquerades to parades:

The history of Halloween in Oxford

WHILE THE WAY OXFORD CELEBRATES HALLOWEEN HAS EVOLVED OVER TIME, THE SPOOKY SPIRIT HAS ENDURED. ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR MADELINE PHABY

MADELINE PHABY ASST. NEWS EDITOR This year, due to COVID-19, Oxford residents will be forced to forego some of their Halloween traditions.

These traditions mainly include costume parties for adults and trick-ortreating for kids — which will still happen, just in a socially-distanced fashion.

But Oxford has celebrated Halloween years — some spookier than others.

In the early 1900s, most Halloween celebrations were sponsored by Miami or individual organizations on campus.

The November 1902 issue of The Miami Student tells the tale of a “Hallo’een Masquerade” hosted by a group of female students. At this masquerade, students wore masks to conceal their identities for most of the night, then eventually unmasked to reveal themselves to their peers.

“On the eve of the 31st of October witches and wizards of all shapes, sizes and forms silently rode their broom-

the article in The Student reads, “and enjoyed a splendid evening of dancing with good music till the wee hours of the still night.”

As one might imagine, popular costumes during this era looked very different from the ones you might see at today’s parties. An image in the Oct. 25, 1918 issue of the Oxford Herald shows a young woman sporting a “fashionable” jack-o-lantern hat made of crepe paper, with a fan to match.

These large, public celebrations continued into the 1920s and 1930s.

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High School in Oxford held both a Halloween party and a dance for students.

Students attended the party in costumes “ranging in type from the beautiful to the ridiculous,” danced to organ music and played games. The dance featured a fortune teller, and the high school gym was decorated with “Hallowe’en colors, pumpkins and fodder,” according to a 1932 feature in The Oxford Press.

People also started buying their costumes rather than making them in the 1930s, as evidenced by an advertisement for Snyder’s Art and Gift Shop in another 1932 Oxford Press issue. According to the ad, the shop sold “Halloween costumes, faces, party decorations, tallies, place cards, favors and novelties.”

Beginning in the 1940s, private house parties replaced public gatherings as the most common form of Halloween celebration. The Press regularly published notices about upcoming parties, as well as listing who attended past ones.

As the years progressed, these parties became increasingly popular among younger people, and by the 1950s, costume parties dominated the Halloween scene for college students.

Unlike today’s college parties, though, these were chaperoned by the hosts’ parents.

Another longstanding tradition that began in the late 1940s was the annual Halloween parade, which continues today. The parade was the Oxford Lions foundation in 1947.

These parades have always featured costume contests, though the categories have varied over the years. In the

1951 parade, cash prizes were awarded to the best cowboy, best “Indian,” most unusual costume, best comic strip character costume, best farm costume, best animal character and best dressed participant. Nowadays, prizes are simply given to the best costumes in each age group.

The parade remained the predominant Halloween tradition in Oxford until the late 1970s and early 1980s, when the city began introducing a wider variety of activities like haunted houses and festivals.

A 1980 advertisement in the Press invites residents to tour the “inhabitants” of a haunted house at the TRI Community Center, sponsored by the Oxford Recreation Department (ORD).

The ORD also held a “happy house” for younger children, featuring a carnival and pumpkin painting contest rather than the usual frights of a haunted house.

Mac’s, a former drive-in restaurant in Oxford, also hosted an annual fall festival in the 1970s. This “festival” was essentially a small market for popular fall treats, such as pumpkins, caramel apples and cider. loween tradition that gained popularity in the 1970s and 80s was trick-ortreating. It became the predominant Halloween activity for kids in Oxford during the latter half of the 20th century, and it remains so today.

Halloween festivities have evolved quite a bit over the past hundred-plus years, but one thing has remained constant: Oxford loves to celebrate this spooktacular holiday. phabymr@miamioh.edu

OPINION

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This Week

2 FYI

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2020

Named the Best College Newspaper (Non-daily) in Ohio by the Society of Professional Journalists.

Things to do

CHRIS VINEL EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Julia Arwine Emily Dattilo Managing Editors

Sarah Grace Hays Maggie Peña Multimedia Editors

Owen Berg Design Editor

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Tim Carlin Briah Lumpkins News Editors

Dan Wozniak Business Manager

Lukas Nelson Sports Editor Duard Headley David Kwiatkowski Culture Editors

Opinion Editor Bo Brueck Photo Editor

Alessandra Manukian Sadie Van Wie Designers

James Tobin Faculty Adviser

Weds 10/28

National Parks Talks Series: Big Bend

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Join Tammie Gerkle to talk about the wonders of Big Bend National Park!

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Janus Forum: Election Analysis 2020

7:30 p.m. 8:30 p.m.

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Join Donna Braizile and Joseph Grogan for a webinar analyzing the election as it draws nearer.

Varno Harris II Social Media Editor

Jessica Robinson Humor Editor Jenna Calderón

Sydney Hill Brianna Porter Copy Editors

Asst. Culture Editor David Kwiatkowski Entertainment Editor

Madeline Phaby Abby Bammerlin Asst. News Editors

Advertising information: miamistudent.net/advertise Send us a letter? eic@miamistudent.net The Miami Student is published on Tuesdays during the school year by the students of Miami University, Oxford, Ohio.

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CORRECTIONS POLICY

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

“A Message to the Miami Community”: How Miami University talks to students about COVID-19 CONTINUED FROM FRONT “Emails are just one way we share information about COVID-19 with the campus,” Hunt wrote. “The emails we send are not intended to duplicate the dashboard.”

This rule was followed without exception until Oct. 22, when the CMT included COVID-19 data in an email to students for the first time this semester.

“We are pleased to share that the seven-day average for positive COVID-19 cases on campus has dropped to 14.3 compared to 35.7 last week,” the CMT wrote.

To understand why data was included, it helps to look at another trend in university communications.

Regardless of the sender, emails regarding COVID-19 often include lines like “Thank you for all you are doing to slow the spread of

COVID-19 in the residential community,” as written in an Office of Residence Life email on Oct. 8. “[W]hile not all students are following the guidelines, a great number are,” Hunt wrote.

“Those who are following them deserve to be recognized for doing their part to slow the spread of the virus.”

For Osborne, it’s important to recognize positive trends in spite of the more than 2,000 student cases of COVID-19 this semester.

“We can’t just keep beating up everybody when I think the majority of folks are doing the right thing, or trying to,” Osborne said. “If you just get mired in all the negativity, you can lose sight of all the great things that are happening.” scottsr2@miamioh.edu

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share concerns about election CONTINUED FROM FRONT Taylor Beasley, a Miami sophomore who will be voting in her first presidential election this year, expressed her thoughts on casting her ballot this November.

“Honestly, I have never felt so empowered yet helpless by my ability to vote in the 2020 election,” Beasely said. “With the way our 2016 election went, I have lost faith in a fair and honest election more and more every day since. I can only hope that my voice is truly heard this time around.”

Beasley says she mainly gets her information about the election and the overall political climate from sources like CNN. She feels as though she is receiving the most accurate and updated information from there but also acknowledges that, no matter which political party, people should be watching multiple news sources to make their perspective as well-rounded as possible.

Beasley also said she has

watched the presidential debates, although it was difficult at times.

“I have watched [the presidential and vice presidential debates] in full, but it was definitely hard to get through, more so for the presidential one,” she said.

The feeling of discomfort regarding the first presidential debate was experienced across all generations of the Miami community.

Miami alumna Julie Klink, who has voted in six presidential elections, says she started watching the debate with her family and felt compelled to turn it off halfway through.

“That [first presidential debate] was not what I wanted my kids to see as their first experience with politics,” Klink said.

Klink said she can understand how young voters can feel overwhelmed and confused with the overload of information that now consumes the political environment and how it seemed so much simpler when she began voting.

“All the information that you would ever receive about the candidates was always just on their policies, mostly, and you would read a side by side in the newspaper about each one and make your decision based on that,” she said.

“But now, each day, there is so much about each candidate, and half the time, it’s not even about their political stances.”

Kink says she mainly gets her information from NPR and other mostly-neutral media sources.

She says she actively avoids receiving her political news from social media and urges all firsttime voters to do the same.

“One of the most important things that first-time voters can do, and where their power is held, is with solid, unbiased information,” she said. “To be informed as much as you possibly can so you are able to go and vote and vote confidently for the right and important reasons.” @SomKeesey keeseysa@miamioh.edu

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LUMPKIBM@MIAMIOH.EDU

NEWS 3

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2020

Oxford gets connected: ceived. However, the city will stop selling more gift cards to the public and destroy the remaining cards in order to help stimulate local businesses around Oxford.

The money will go back into the city’s general fund to be spent on other projects.

During public comments, Shana Rosenberg, a Black Lives Matter (BLM) Oxford member, addressed council about some of the misconceptions about the group’s third proposal – the creation of a task force. She said the task force would be made up of volunteers and would cost the city minimal funding. Rosenberg also said BLM Oxford is not anti-police.

“We think that our third proposal would un-

DESIGN EDITOR OWEN BERG

ABBY BAMMERLIN ASST. NEWS EDITOR Oxford City Council passed a resolution to spend about $327,000 on free public Wi-Fi for at least four of Oxford’s parks and two mobile home communities during its Oct. 20 meeting.

The parks included in the resolution are Uptown Park, Oxford Community Park, Merry Day Park, TRI Community Center and/or Leonard Howell Park. The neighborhoods approved by council are Parkview Arms and the Miami Mobile Home Community.

The funds come from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act. “This is one of our most needed utilities that we aren’t already providing,” Councilor Chantel Raghu said. “We really need to address this.”

The Wi-Fi in the parks will be broadcast, while the Wi-Fi in the neighborhoods will be hardwired into homes.

Jessica Greene, assistant city manager, did most of the research on the project. She said she wasn’t able to do a needs-based assessment on Park View Arms or the Miami Mobile Home Community.

“I think there are people outside of those two

neighborhoods who are just as much in need,” Vice Mayor Bill Snavely said. “They need to have the ability to at least apply for it or ask for it.”

Councilor Jason Bracken said he’d support expanding the project to more community members if needed.

“I am all for that,” Bracken said, “but I absolutely do not want to lose these two communities because I know they need it. And even though some of them may have internet, subsidizing a basic utility for families in need is just as important to me.” more research into providing more Wi-Fi coverage for those that need it, as well as how much city-wide coverage would cost.

Council also passed resolutions spending $53,000 on a new refrigerated truck as well as $195,000 to the Chamber of Commerce to create a grant program for Oxford businesses. Both resolutions are paid for by the CARES funds.

Council voted to pass an emergency ordinance changing the gift card stimulus program for Oxford businesses from a loan to a grant.

The gift cards that had previously been sold will be honored at Oxford businesses, and those businesses will keep the funds they’ve already re-

berg said. “The issue at hand is about appropriate response for crises that help our diverse citizenry feel safe.”

Rosenberg went on to say Oxford could be a model for other cities in response to BLM’s proposals.

Debbie Anderson, an Oxford resident, said she spoke in support of the Oxford Police Department (OPD).

“We all love Oxford,” Anderson said. “We all love the people of Oxford, including all ethnicities and all nationalities. But my concern is for the treatment of the Oxford Police Department.”

Anderson proposed BLM Oxford fund its own task force independent of city funding. She then council.

Council also recognized and congratulated Miami University’s Safe Return to Campus Committee as well as Miami’s President’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Task Force.

Doug Elliott, city manager, reported 162 cases of coronavirus in Oxford’s zip code, making up 2% of cases in Butler County without Miami’s cases.

Miami has reported 2,363 cases as of Oct. 19, making up about 28% of Butler County’s total of 8,573 cases reported on Oct. 23.

The next council meeting will be streamed on YouTube at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 3. @abby_bammerlin bammeraj@miamioh.edu

Remembering former Miami vice president Richard Nault HANNAH HORSINGTON STAFF WRITER Richard Nault, former honors program direcWednesday, Oct. 21.

Nault, who arrived at Miami in 1983, started out as the associate director of the honors program and went on to be appointed director. He later served as the dean of students and ended his career at Miami as the vice president for student Nault was described as being completely student-centered, dedicating his more than 25 years ami — and in life.

“That was his life … to improve the future lives of every student that he touched by what he taught them,” said Mike Curme, associate professor of economics and former dean of students.

Any time he was invited to a student’s wedding, Nault gave the same gift. To him, nothing represented home and a family more than Thanksgiving, so he always gave the couple what he thought was a perfect expression of this sentiment — a turkey platter.

“He exhibited a phenomenal breadth of love,” said Charles Moul, associate professor of economics, “and I think what made it incredible was that every student I’ve spoken to … felt not just the breadth but also the depth of Dick’s connection to them.”

met Nault, who was the director of the honors program at the time. When Moul needed to take summer courses in order to pursue his Ph.D, he casually mentioned to Nault that he wasn’t sure where he would live.

Nault replied, “Well, you’ll live with me.” And so Moul did for the next two summers, along with a few other students. he could to help a student. A tragedy, the death of a loved one, a heartbreak – Moul said Nault was there for it all.

“Dick would help the student through it, put the whole thing in context, and then he’d bring them back, and, unbeknownst to the student, the Moul said.

After his death, Nault’s Facebook page was dents, all sharing stories of their experiences with Nault and expressing how extraordinary he was.

“He was a very, very special person,” said Kip Alishio, former director of student counseling services. “One of those very rare people you meet in your life, and you realize he really is special.”

Nault didn’t think he was anything special – but that the world was. Moul said he and his friends often referred to Nault as “Captain Superlative.” To Nault, everyone he met was the “most” – “the most wonderful,” “the most amazing,” “a unique gift.”

“To him, everybody was special,” Alishio said.

“He approached every relationship that he had,

ASG passes resolution requiring more orgs to complete DEI training MADELINE PHABY ASST. NEWS EDITOR Miami University’s Associated Student Government (ASG) passed a resolution to require more student organizations to complete inclusive leadership training in order to receive funding at its Oct. 20 meeting.

ASG uses a four-tier system called Red Brick Rewards that determines how much funding organizations can request, with tier one being able to request the least funding and tier four being able to request the most. To move up a tier, organizations must complete certain requirements.

Currently, only tier three and four organizations are required to complete inclusive leadership training annually. The resolution, authored by on-campus senator Evan Gates, proposed moving the requirement down to include tier two organizations as well.

According to the resolution, only 46% of organizations are considered tier three or four this semester and are therefore required to complete the training. If the requirement was moved down to tier two, 80% of organizations would have to complete it this academic year.

Brandon Small, ASG’s secretary for diver-

sity and inclusion, sponsored the resolution.

He said they decided to move the requirement down to tier two rather than tier one because most tier one organizations are very small and often don’t request any funding.

“Tier one is the bare minimum for an organization to exist on campus,” Small said. “We felt it would be more equitable to reserve this [training] for tier two because that’s where we start getting into organizations that have the manpower to attend them, and the vast majority of organizations will still be receiving the training.”

Ian Chenkus, a senator who has served as the treasurer of multiple organizations, said he supported the resolution because the current to meet, so many organizations don’t bother to move past tier two.

“Tier two doesn’t have a lot [of requirements] that you have to do, and then tier three was more of a hurdle,” Chenkus said, “so I think moving [the training] down to tier two would be a lot smarter and would break up the requirements a bit.”

ASG passed the resolution unanimously. phabymr@miamioh.edu

FORMER STUDENTS AND COLLEAGUES REMEMBER RICHARD NAULT COURTESY OF MIAMI UNIVERSITY

whether working relationship, friendship … from a basis of love, and that came through. People felt it.”

Moul was able to sum up Nault’s impact on the Miami community as the perfect representation of what has become a staple saying.

“Nobody knows what love and honor means, but everyone knows that Dick Nault was what people wanted it to mean.” @hannahorsington horsinhp@miamioh.edu

ABBY BAMMERLIN ASST. NEWS EDITOR Bell Tower Commons is closed for at least the rest of the fall semester, barring a new spike in remain-inroom students (RIR). According to an email sent to the employees that work at Bell, due to the decrease in Level 4 dorm floors, the dining hall was no longer drawing enough students to remain open.

Western Dining Commons will also be closed on weekends until further notice.

Both dining halls were designated for (RIR) students.

Geno Svec, executive director for campus services, wrote in an email to TMS the closure was “operationally necessary.”

“Bell Tower and Western Dining Commons (closed on weekends) are set and ready for any return to high RIR purple,” Svec wrote.

Junior Hannah Prentiss, an employee at Bell, said she and the rest of the staff were notified of Bell’s closure through a Canvas announcement Friday, Oct. 23.

The announcement written by Chris Pioske, Bell’s general manager, told employees due to the decrease in RIR students, Bell wouldn’t be able to stay open.

“We have reached a point where we are serving so few students that we will have to close,” Pioske wrote.

“All remaining RIR students will be served by catering moving forward.”

Prentiss said she noticed the lack of students as well.

“There weren’t a lot of students coming in,” Prentiss said. “The only people we were serving were remain-in-room students.”

On Saturday Oct. 24, the Office of Residence Life (ORL) sent an email to on-campus students that contradicted the email to employees like Prentiss.

“We’re writing with an update about dining hall access for Bell Tower Commons and Western Dining Commons,” ORL wrote. “Because the number of students under an RIR plan is so low, Bell Tower and Western Dining Commons will return to normal operations beginning Monday, October 26.”

Prentiss said she didn’t receive any communication about the change.

“I never heard that we were allowed to serve everybody again,” Prentiss said.

Svec said the Oct. 24 email was sent in error and that Bell and Western had been planned to be reserved for RIR students.

In his email, Pioske offered to help employees transfer to different dining halls. However, with only four weeks left in the semester, Prentiss said she probably won’t take Pioske up on his offer.

“I thought about getting reassigned,” Prentiss said. “But I think this is a sign to take a break from work and focus on studying for my exams.” bammeraj@miamioh.edu @abby_bammerlin

4 NEWS

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2020

CARLINTM@MIAMIOH.EDU

A royal duo 50 years in the making HANNAH HORSINGTON STAFF WRITER Seniors Keresa Murray and Tre King were elected this year’s Love and Honor Cup winners, Black duo to win the award — exactly 50 years crowned.

2017, takes the place of a traditional homecomdents on Homecoming Court who receive the most votes after being nominated by faculty or other students. This year, all 16 nominated students were passed through the selection process and eligible to win.

Keresa Murray Murray, an education studies major with even nominated for Homecoming Court. She is currently working as a third-year Resident Assistant (RA) in Presidents Hall and later learned that a fellow RA had nominated her.

“I had no expectation or anything that I would actually win,” Murray said. “I was very, very surprised and shocked.”

Murray said her win is made even more exciting by the fact that she and King are making history together.

“I think it’s a lot more outside of me than it is for everyone else,” Murray said. “Like, having that representation means a lot … Even 50 years have that 50 years later — I just think … that representation is very important, and I’m really glad to be a part of it.”

In fact, Murray was at work on Saturday, Oct. 21, when the university’s Instagram livestream to announce the winners started, so she had to join late. She didn’t even realize she had missed the announcement until she was asked to join as a winner.

In addition to being an RA, Murray is also the president of the hammocking club and the public relations co-chair for the female empowerment

group Love You Like A Sister (LYLAS).

She’s played trumpet in the marching and pep bands and worked as a Student Orientation Undergraduate Leader (SOUL) in the summer of 2019.

After graduating next spring, Murray hopes to attend graduate school for program. Her involvement at Miami in residence life, SOULs, Made@Miami and other programs has inspired her to pursue a career working for a university in the future.

She wants to continue working with students and helping them adjust to college life, possibly in a department such as advising or admissions, although she’s not sure yet.

“That’s something that has become my passion,” Murray said. “And I felt so strongly [when working] with them … it made me feel something really great.”

Tre King King, a media and culture major with a co-major in arts management, came into his senior year with two major goals, one being to make it onto Homecoming Court. He was surprised — and extremely grateful — to hear his name announced as one of the Love & Honor Cup winners.

TRE KING AND KERESA MURRAY ARE THE FIRST BLACK DUO TO WIN HOMECOMING KING AND QUEEN, EXACTLY 50 YEARS AFTER THE UNIVERSITY CROWNED ITS FIRST BLACK HOMECOMING QUEEN. COURTESY OF TRE KING & KERESA MURRAY

just anxious leading up to it, because I was like, ‘This is everything I’ve been manifesting, praying for, hoping to achieve in my senior year here at Miami,’” he said.

Like Murray, King is also a third-year RA, working in Hawks Landing. He is involved in Miami Activities and Programming (MAP) as a general member and is the marketing director for Miami Television News. In the past, he was an undergraduate assistant for MAC 143 and involved in the Black Student Action Association and Miami Gospel Singers. Like Murray, King worked as a SOUL in the summer of 2019.

After learning he and Murray were making

Dining halls face employee shortages

King realized this achievement had become even bigger than himself.

“It was amazing knowing that Keresa and I — as well as the people that voted for us — set this precedent, because it’s not just about us, it’s about the minorities here at Miami [and] the students in general as a whole,” King said. “Knowing that, especially with the Black Lives Matter movement [and] how important that has been … that our names will forever be attached to this phenomenon and this precedent … I think that is something I will always carry with me.”

In the future, King wants to go into the me-

to graduate school — the other major goal on his list.

He remains proud that he and Murray were tinue to lead Miami toward more diversity and inclusion, just as Debora Jackson did 50 years “I knew that that aligned together,” he said. “I was like, ‘This is all just coming [together] making.’” @hannahorsington horsinhp@miamioh.edu

Group work during a pandemic comes with some good, some bad

DESIGN EDITOR OWEN BERG

SKYLER PERRY STAFF WRITER

DINING HALLS ACROSS CAMPUS ARE EXPERIENCING A SHORTAGE OF STUDENT WORKERS AS LESS STUDENTS ARE ON CAMPUS THIS SEMESTER DUE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC. THE MIAMI STUDENT JAKE RUFFER

LAURA GIAQUINTO THE MIAMI STUDENT Miami University students are constantly rushing between classes, clubs, jobs, social events, sleeping and eating. Lunch or dinner for students often means sprinting to their meal between Zoom calls.

While balancing their busy schedules with brisk trips to the dining halls, many students halls are this year.

With a 40% reduction in the number of students on campus, COVID-19 has deterred the return of many student employees.

Hannah Prentiss, a junior political science major, has been working at Bell Tower Commons since October of her freshman year. She said dining halls struggled to cover shifts at the beginning of the semester due to the lack of students on campus.

“We were facing a shortage because we had literally eight students,” Prentiss said.

Abigail Pease, a sophomore computer science and Spanish major, has worked in Scoreboard (attached to Martin Dining Hall) since her freshman year. She also said she has felt age. “[The kitchen] always asks to borrow people, but sometimes there’s only one of us there,” Pease said.

Kasey McDaniel, a sophomore Spanish major who has worked at Maplestreet Commons since September of her freshman year, experiences stresses similar to Pease.

“We have a small handful of student workers, and that’s it,” McDaniel said. “All around, it’s kind of a mess.”

With less students being on campus to use the dining halls, lines are shorter, but stu-

bites. Also, employees are placed under more pressure, having to do more than their typical fair share.

Pease also noticed issues with Scoreboard’s scheduling, where employees pick the “We do have gaps in the schedule where the manager has to come and cover because nobody’s there,” Pease said.

However, at Bell Tower, one of the dining halls recently used for the remain-in-room experience.

[Administration] shortened the length of time [dining halls are open], now we clean a lot more than usual,” Prentiss said.

Geno Svec, executive director of campus services, wrote in an email to The Miami Student that “we have seen a decrease in students applying for jobs but taking into consideration that campus has less students, we expected that.” ployees.

Maple has dealt with the shortage by closing some stations. McDaniel said stir fry, which used to be her favorite station to work, Svec remains optimistic about the future for Miami’s dining halls.

“We will continue to recruit in local publications, online, radio, virtual job fairs, OhioMeansJobs, Facebook and on campus advertising,” Svec said.

Prentiss, Pease and McDaniel all intend to continue working in the dining halls and markets in the coming semesters.

Students interested in applying to work in the dining halls or markets can apply through Miami’s website. @LauraG290 giaquiln@miamioh.edu

Despite the many changes Miami University students and professors have made inside the classroom because of COVID-19, group work has remained. Both students and faculty have faced hurdles when it comes to working collaboSophomore Megan Rastrelli is an adolescence and young adulthood math major with a minor in management. Rastrelli said that although she has been able to complete some of her group work in person, she has also utilized advantages.

“It’s easier to be organized and be looking at the same as working on the project in person,” Rastrelli said. “I think there are some types of just natural chemistry when you’re working with other so much easier.”

Despite the pros and cons of completing group work virtually, Rastrelli said she particularly enjoys completing it during the pandemic because it gives her a chance to form relationships with her classmates. friends,” Rastrelli said. “If I didn’t have group work, that wouldn’t be the case.”

Political science professor Monica Schneider has assigned group work in multiple classes this semester. Schneider said some of her students had expressed that they wanted to interact with other people, which encouraged her to assign group work.

“I wanted to set it up so that students could be working in smaller teams and to feel part of a group, which I think everybody’s really craving right now,” Schneider said.

Schneider said the biggest complaint she has received from students concerning group work has to do with their dependence on team members and what time they normally complete assignments.

“Particular group members will be frustrated because they might be want[ing] to do the assignment early, but not everyone has posted, so they can’t respond until other people post,” Schneider said.

Shae Mooney, a sophomore speech pathology major, said that, although she appreciates cer-

tain elements of virtual group work, she believes it could be overwhelming to some students.

“I just feel like it’s added stress and added anxiety that you don’t need especially because we really can’t meet,” Mooney said. “It’s not like we can even talk about [our project] after class, Even with the challenges of group work, Mooney said she thinks it should still be as“It’s a good skill to have, to be able to work with people that aren’t in the same place as you, especially for jobs like collaborating with people,” Mooney said. “But like when it’s a couple of group projects a week, it could be a lot, like it can get tiring,” Skip Benamati is a professor and chair in the information systems and analytics department at Miami. Benamati said learning to collaborate groups of students.

“In their future careers, business students are going to do a lot of work virtually. So they’re getting experience doing that,” Benamati said. “I think that’s going to help them a lot when they get out into the real world when they graduate and start their careers.”

When it comes to completing group work in person, Benamati said he has experienced difaround tables to collaborate, so he tried to put students in virtual meeting groups in person, but microphone feedback became an issue. how to do that well.”

Schneider said the department of teacher education has been a good resource for her this semester, as it has conducted seminars that taught professors how to do group work online. ects and the kinds of things that I did in order to facilitate team comradery,” Schneider said.

Even with the challenges of this semester, has been excellent and that she has been impressed with how Miami students have handled themselves.

“I have seen a lot of participation and a lot of really excellent work,” Schneider said, “and I’m really very proud of my students.” @skylerlperry perrysl2@miamoh.edu

NEWS 5

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2020

LUMPKIBM@MIAMIOH.EDU

Letting the mask of responsibility slip

Miami prepares for spring scheduling amidst pandemic SEAN SCOTT THE MIAMI STUDENT On Wednesday, Oct. 21, Sophia Blatnik and other sophomore architecture majors met virtually with Gretchen Radler, the assistant dean and divisional advisor of the College of Creative Arts, to discuss scheduling for the spring semester.

At the time, Radler explained that the course list was going to be released at 5 p.m. the next day.

The next morning, Blatnik received an email. The course list would not be released until Monday, Oct. 26, three days before she was set to schedule.

Amidst a global pandemic, it goes without saying that schedul-

ESSENTIAL WORKERS ARE NOTICING A LAPSE IN MASK-WEARING BY PATRONS OF THEIR STORES. THE MIAMI STUDENT ZACH REICHMAN

ALEX COX STAFF WRITER Despite City Council’s face covering ordinance and Miami University President Greg Crawford’s presidential request, Oxford businesses are still reporting problems with customers not covering their faces indoors.

Darian Bertrand, a front-end cashier at Walmart, said fewer and fewer people are wearing face coverings in the store. He estimated that roughly 25% of customers are refusing to cover their mouth and nose and that the percentage has been increasing.

“I feel like people are just getting tired and don’t want to follow the rules,” Bertrand said. “The majority who were wearing masks are seeing the few who don’t wear masks and think it’s OK.” Bertrand cited the confusing company policy on face coverings as being part of the problem. Posted signage says masks are required, and greeters offer masks to any patron not already wearing one. However, customers are not ejected or reprimanded for not wearing a mask.

After seeing videos of altercations as a result of workers asking customers to put on a mask, Bertrand said he was uncomfortable telling customers to cover their mouth and nose.

“It’s like they don’t care about how we — about how anyone around them — feels,” Bertrand said. “I’ve seen people online just beat the shit out of people for asking them to wear a mask. It’s ridiculous. I’m paid $11 an hour not to get harassed and assaulted in Walmart.”

Caitlyn Smith, a sales associate at CVS, also said she felt uncomfortable telling customers to put on a mask. Although she reported only 10% of customers (roughly one an hour) not wearing masks, she still said she considered it to be an issue.

“I personally don’t say anything because it’s confrontational,” Smith said.

“I don’t want to get yelled at. I have been yelled at before when I tried.”

Both Smith and Kaitlyn Welch, a cashier at ACE Hardware, said the people not wearing masks tend to be older.

“Usually they’re older, because then they say that they have a health condition, which you can’t really argue with them about,” Welch said.

However, not all retail establishments are finding customers to be noncompliant.

Madison Wilson, who works at MacCracken Market and King Cafe on Miami’s campus, said almost every customer is wearing a face covering.

“As of recently, I haven’t really encountered anyone who wasn’t wearing a mask when I was checking them out or getting their food ready,” Wilson said.

Wilson explained that the university’s policies are very clear.

“We are told that, if someone does come up to the register without a mask, we are allowed to turn them away,” Wilson said.

If a student wasn’t wearing a mask, Wilson said she would feel comfortable turning them away from the register.

“I feel like the students here are very understanding,” Wilson said. “For the most part, people are pretty compliant.”

Despite the easy enforcement on campus, the problem proliferates in the rest of Oxford.

As fewer people comply with the mask covering ordinance in retail establishments, workers continue to feel mistreated. Without increased enforcement, Bertrand doesn’t see a resolution to the problem.

“I feel powerless,” Bertand said. “It’s like they don’t care.”

ment for advising. You know, we can still talk about the types of requirements that need to be met and how to search for courses and whatnot. Students can begin building their plans even before When students registered for this semester, there was no guarantee that it would be safe to return to campus by August. Once bring students back in September, professors were given the freedom to decide which mode of delivery best suited their safety and instructional needs.

This time around, students delivery type to better suit their preferred learning environment.

Options include face-to-face, online synchronous or asynchronous and hybrid synchronous or asynchronous.

Blatnik said she would prefer face-to-face instruction but doesn’t feel she has much control even with the new

“We can still provide, and I think we do provide, quality advising even without the course list.”

- Christa Branson

year. With the course list schedule released Oct. 26 and early priority registration set to begin Oct. 28, though, students now have even less time to plan their spring semesters.

For students like Blatnik, there won’t be much time to look over what courses they’re interested in before meeting with their advisors.

“Last fall, we were given the course list … at least a week before if not two weeks before scheduling,” Blatnik said. “So we were able to look through the courses and then schedule an appointment with the advisor. Since I’m in honors, I scheduled [in] one of a good [week] to meet with my advisor before scheduling.”

Despite this, Christa Branson, a senior academic advisor in the College of Arts and Science, said her department has been busy meeting with students even with“We can still provide, and I think we do provide, quality advising even without the course list,” Branson said. “The course list is not necessarily a require-

“I think [the delivery mode] is a good thing to look at, but ultimately, I don’t feel like it’s my decision,” Blatnik said. “If I want to take the class, I’ll take the class. Obviously I’m hoping the more in-person the better, but that’s not really something that I can control.”

It’s unclear whether more professors will be comfortable teaching in-person next semester or if they will have the option to change the mode of delivery even leased. For the time being, Branstudents to take into account their preferences when scheduling.

“The feedback has been mixed,” Branson said. “Some students love the online format, some students hate the online format. So, you know, I think it just very much depends on the students and what their learning preferences are.”

Early priority registration begins Oct. 28, with regular priority beginning the next day. Seniors are currently scheduled to register Nov. 3-4, juniors Nov. 5-6, sophomores Nov. 10-11 and freshmen Nov. 12-13. scottsr2@miamioh.edu

coxaj4@miamioh.edu

plasma drive LAURA GIAQUINTO THE MIAMI STUDENT In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, Miami University has teamed up with Hoxblood plasma drive at an Ohio university, according to Alecia Lipton, Hoxworth’s director of public relations. at a university, so we are thrilled to do that at Miami,” Lipton said.

On Wednesday, Oct. 28, Miami students who have recovered from COVID-19 have an opportunity to help save the lives of those in the virus.

Kimberly Vance, director of student activiand sorority life, said the idea for the Hoxworth convalescent plasma drive was brought to Miami’s attention by a student from the business community.

“We had a meeting with student leaders and asked if this was something people would be interested in, and they said yes,” Vance said.

Blood plasma from those who have already recovered from COVID-19 contains antibodies that protect against the disease. Once donated, the antibodies within the plasma will Lipton encourages people who are able to donate to do so because it is a positive way to give back to your community. All of the plasma donated will save lives within the tri-state area.

Lipton said Hoxworth is grateful for the 62 already signed up and hopes that more plan to donate. The need for the plasma has greatly increased, she said, so donating plasma now is more important than ever.

“We have seen [our demand of] seven units a day jump to 30 a day,” Lipton said.

Many may worry how safe donating plasma during COVID-19 will be, but Hoxworth and Miami have worked to plan a drive with safety precautions in mind. Hoxworth employees will be armed with masks, gloves and wipes, and will require social distancing.

“Hoxworth did a really good job giving us frequently answered questions,” Vance said.

Beforehand, potential donors are vetted by a medical team to ensure they are eligible.

Then, plasma donors can donate multiple times per month depending on the amount of antibodies their plasma contains. Donors are encouraged to donate as much as possible in order to save as many lives as possible.

Vance attributes the plasma drive’s popularity to people wanting to help, especially in their own communities. “[During COVID-19], it’s hard to know what to do; the only thing we know is to social distance and wear masks,” Vance said.

“Someone could donate every week for four weeks if they have enough antibodies, then we give you a 28-day break and try again,” Lipton said.

The Armstrong Student Center provides a large space to hold the drive, and Lipton appreciates that it is more convenient for Miami students and faculty to donate right on campus. The alternative would be a 40-minute

COURTESY OF HOXWORTH BLOOD CENTER

drive, an issue for students without transportation.

Hoxworth plans to continue its teamwork with Miami. Vance said they have already scheduled a second opportunity to donate blood plasma on Nov. 9 for those who can’t

attend this Wednesday.

Students can sign up to donate blood plasma online, or call 514-451-0910. @LauraG290 giaquiln@miamioh.edu

6 CULTURE

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2020

HEADLEDD@MIAMIOH.EDU

Hidden gems of Oxford:

The Asia Market

SHR-HUA MOORE THE MIAMI STUDENT Kroger is widely regarded as the go-to store in Oxford for broke and hungry college students. Its abundance of cheap ingredients and quality foods encourage individuals to shop at buying snacks that are cheaper than their vending machine counterparts groceries for the week.

However, there is a business across nity to cook with ingredients and foods that would not be found in any Kroger.

Occupying what was formerly a Family Video, the Asia Market presents a bold and comforting facade to passersby with a large, crimson sign showcasing its English name on one side and its Chinese name on the other. The front of the store is almost completely composed of glass paneling, giving casual observers a glimpse into a world unique to various cultures in Asia.

Joey Yang is the owner of the Asia Market, as well as the Happy Kitchen and Asian Cuisine restaurants uptown.

He described his rationale for establishing the Asia Market, an endeavor he undertook in 2014.

“There’s a need for (foreign) stuYang said. “Because of this, I saw an Because rural Southwest Ohio is not the ideal source of ingredients and snacks from Asia, the Asia Market has to get its products from elsewhere.

“We get our supplies from places like Chicago, New York and Cincin-

While it may seem like the Asia Market would struggle when competing with larger companies like Kroger, its unique products set it apart from the traditional supermarket giant and give it a homey appeal to both international students and students that want to experience authentic products from countries like China or Korea.

“Places like Kroger don’t carry a lot he said. “They might have some, but The question remains: What exactly sets it apart from Kroger or Wal-mart? aries of the university’s campus and took a look around the market. about the Asia Market was the friendly the day that I explored the store, but he was personable and described why he likes his job so much.

“I can eat everything — it’s my After a short tour, I was left to wander the shop alone. I found a plethora of interesting snacks, such as potato chips

squid or corn soup and White Rabbit Creamy Candy, a popular treat originating in China.

Amidst the sound of soft hip-hop music playing in the background, I disent varieties of ramen noodles, a staple for college students. It also had more uncommon foods, including Qianjiang lic chestnuts.

The drinks in the store did not disappoint either. The left side of the store was reserved for treats like colorful carthat turned out to be instant tea containers and vintage soda bottles with While the Asia Market has many peculiar foods to choose from, it has had to deal with a problem that has plagued many small businesses since the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic: Due to a reduction of international students living on campus this fall, the store has had a loss in revenue.

“People don’t want to go out shopDespite these setbacks, the Asia Market continues to operate in Oxford, selling its wares to anyone who wants to gain or regain a taste of Asian culture.

Whether you’re an international student with a desire to get a taste of home, an individual with fond childhood memories of picking up candy and snacks at a local Chinese grocery store or someone who wants to authenculture, the Asia Market has something for everyone.

As for what to get, I would recommend trying as many things as possible — I have yet to be disappointed by anything sold in the store. Yang recommends the dumplings. @hua_shr moorese6@miamioh.edu

STUDENTS LOOKING FOR AN UNORTHODOX SNACK NEED LOOK NO FURTHER THAN THE PACKED SHELVES OF THE ASIA MARKET. THE MIAMI STUDENT SHR-HUA MOORE

Swiping right during COVID-19 that social isolation has contributed to an uptick in technological dependency in order to stay connected with family, friends, coworkers and partners.

“As human beings, I would argue that we all crave social connectedness and togetherness, so turning to these during these times, especially when said.

However, as the pandemic continues to persist, some are wondering whether it’s safe to meet in person.

After several weeks of talking over the phone, Rennie met with her current girlfriend in person. The two made the decision to meet after getting out two wore masks and avoided public places, but after a while, it became a “Knowing that I had it, she had it [and that] both of our isolations were Rennie said.

Although Day himself has never met anyone in person, several of his friends have gone on dates.

“My friends who do meet up with

AFTER SEVEN MONTHS OF QUARANTINE, COLLEGE STUDENTS ARE GETTING BACK IN THE DATING GAME USING APPS LIKE TINDER. DESIGN EDITOR OWEN BERG

MEGAN MCCONNELL THE MIAMI STUDENT During the COVID-19 pandemic, online dating sites such as Tinder and Bumble have surged in popularity.

According to The Observer, days after the initial stay-at-home orders were implemented in the United States, Tinder had its highest day of activity with more than three billion swipes on March 29.

After half a year in a global pandemic, dating and social connection have changed rapidly. Many are turn-

ing to online platforms as a way to connect with others. Gen Z-ers and millennials on the app have gotten creative and gone on dates via Animal Miami University junior Maddie year in college. Today, Rennie uses Tinder to stay connected and meet new people amidst the pandemic.

“It was really nice talking to people that I hadn’t met before because getting to know someone from the -

Like Rennie, junior Emerson Day uses Tinder to converse with others Recently, Day redownloaded the app after the end of a long-term relationship and years of not using it. would [look at] it when I was back in Dr. Kendall Leser, director of Miami’s public health program, believes

go to watch a movie somewhere. They go to get food. It sounds like dates like that work out and most of the time, I hear that they’re seeing that person Rennie, Day and Leser all believe that communication is critical before meeting up in person. Leser recommends having a conversation about wearing masks, social distancing and comfort level in outdoor versus indoor environments.

“Make sure that you have a conversation with them about where they’ve been, if they’ve been going to the bars [and] if they’ve been going

like that you should talk about beand respect each other’s distance at able point with each other and [have] If living with roommates and a close circle of friends, it’s recommended to include them in these conversations.

“We want to plan for the peorecommend thinking about others because that’s what … preventing COVID is all about: not getting it yourself because you don’t want to get sick, but also not spreading it to other people who are more vulnerable than For those wanting to be intimate during the pandemic, Leser emphasizes the use of all safe sex practices. While it’s important to be aware of COVID-19 risks, they should not overshadow protection from STIs, STDs and unwanted pregnancies.

“I want to emphasize being smart and practicing safe sex and understanding that you are at risk for contracting COVID through not just kissing but the mere presence of being around people if you are not socially distanced, masked and washing your Any relationship requires communication, comfort, trust and honesty. When deciding whether or not to meet in person, Leser and Rennie urge people to take these qualities into consideration. Although a virtual world can substitute for some interaction, human beings are social creatures.

“People aren’t going to stop livLeser said. “We have to adapt and try to practice the healthiest behaviors mcconnmn@miamioh.edu @meggy_nicole

CULTURE 7

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2020

KWIATKDM@MIAMIOH.EDU

A comprehensive guide to a COVID-safe Halloween LEXI WHITEHEAD STAFF WRITER In previous years, Miami students have paraded the streets of uptown in their costumes on Halloween weekend. This year, with gatherings limited to less than 10 people and the bars not packed to the brim, it may seem like Halloween is canceled.

But it’s not! There are lots of ways to celebrate Halloween while following health and safety regulations. Here’s how: 1. Dress up!

Dressing up is undoubtedly the most quintessential part of Halloween.

For sophomore math and statistics major Chris Guptil, it’s one of the most fun parts.

“I am pretty into making dope costumes,” he said. “I think me and my girlfriend are kind of doing a meme and she’s gonna go as a frat bro and I’m going as a [sorority] girl.”

If you need to wear a mask, embrace it! Treat it as another accessory and match it to the color scheme or patterns in your costume. A friend of mine is going as an angel/cow hybrid (“Holy cow”), so she’s DIY-ing a cow print mask.

Even though you can’t go to parties, Take fun pictures to post on social media. Miami Activities and Programming (MAP) is even having a costume contest on its Instagram.

You can even get a few of your friends together, dress up and go out to eat while following health guidelines.

tumes while staying safe and also supporting a local business.

2. Watch a Halloween movie.

Watching a spooky movie is a perfect way to get into the Halloween spirit and celebrate. Personally, I’ve been making my way through my Halloween movie watchlist since the end of August.

One thing that’s great about Halloween movies is there are so many options. Looking for something scary? “Paranormal Activity.” Classic? “Beetlejuice.” Family-friendly?

“The Nightmare Before Christmas.”

Sophomore speech pathology major Cait LaGuardia’s favorite Halloween movie is “Halloweentown.” She loves watching Halloween movies because they make her nostalgic for past Halloweens when she was a kid.

“I grew up watching those [types] of movies with my family,” she said.

“When I was little, I always thought they were so scary and fun to watch.”

3. Listen to a spooky playlist.

Another way to get into the spooky Halloween mood is with a playlist specially made for the occasion. You can Spotify.

Essentials include “Calling All The Monsters” by China Anne McClain, the “Spooky Scary Skeletons” remix and The Rocky Horror Picture Show soundtrack.

4. Pass out candy If you want to avoid large parties and also return to the childhood magic

MAKE YOUR HALLOWEEN MORE TREAT THAN TRICK WITH THE QUICK TIPS IN THIS STORY. (THIS PICTURE WAS TAKEN IN A PREVIOUS YEAR.) THE MIAMI STUDENT OLIVIA HENNESSY

of Halloween, hand out candy to trickor-treaters like junior biochemistry major Cole Yurkiewicz and his roommates plan on doing.

While dressing up as High School Musical characters (Yurkiewicz as Sharpay), they want to make sure they stay safe by wearing masks and keeping a distance from the trick-or-treating families.

Handing out candy is also a way for Miami students to connect with the Oxford community. somewhere to pass out candy is because I know a lot of people that live and have families around here have recently been feeling very negatively

about Miami students … and I don’t want to be a part of that,” Yurkiewicz said.

5. Have a small gathering.

Just because you can’t go out to parties this year doesn’t mean you can’t get together with your roommates or friends to celebrate. Have a small “party” with less than 10 people. Do some of the other things on this list. Make the best of the holiday with the people you’re closest to.

Guptil will be attending a get-together with a few of his friends. They plan on dressing up but staying in and watching movies in order to stay safe.

“Even though [Miami] might be

doing a little bit better number-wise, there’s a really good chance for that to change pretty quickly Halloween weekend,” he said. “We’re just playing it safe.

I know we would probably like to go out … but it’s not realistic, and it’s not the best idea right now.”

Miami’s COVID-19 cases have been decreasing, and most dorms are at a Level 1 as of Oct. 24. For the downward trend to continue, it’s necessary to keep following guidelines.

“Nobody’s saying that we can’t have fun,” Yurkiewicz said. “We just have to be smart.” @nwlexi whitehan@miamioh.edu

Carving out a slice of normalcy DUARD HEADLEY CULTURE EDITOR Although the air has turned crisp and the leaves are dyed orange and red, there’s something missing from this year’s fall atmosphere. Despite the fact that Oxford’s Wal-Mart has plenty of costumes for sale and Kroger is hawking mountains of spooky-themed candy, COVID-19 and the restrictions it brings means that Halloween 2020 Large parties, groups of students wandering the streets in costumes and droves of children roaming the roads trick-or-treating have been diminished if not eliminated entirely by the necessity of maintaining safety and sanitation during this pandemic.

But one Halloween tradition stands strong in the face of the coronavirus. One activity can be safely and enjoyably undertaken, no matter the conditions of the outside world: pumpkin carving.

Throughout the streets of Oxford, pumpkins still adorn the porches of house after house, just like they have every year in October. From intricately-carved masterpieces to the tried-and-true Jack-o’-lantern face, their designs evoke a feeling of fall festivity and spooky splendor.

For some aspiring carvers, making pieces of pumpkin art is a welcome spot of normalcy in an otherwise unusual year. Julia Spencer, a junior political science major, said she and her housemates were more than ready to undertake pumpkin carving once the spooky season rolled around.

“It was so much fun,” Spencer said. “We got special kits from Wal-Mart, put on spooky music, lit candles, watched scary movies and just made a whole night of it.”

she’d been feeling in terms of Halloween this year.

“My friends and I won’t be able to go to any parties, obviously, so [carving pumpkins] was a way to still get some of that Halloween fun even when everything else is so weird,” she said.

For others, just seeing pumpkins perched on people’s porches was enough to stir feelings of Halloween festivity. Susie Bernhardt, an Oxford resident, said she loves seeing spooky decorations every year and was concerned that this year, with all its pandemic-fuelled weirdness, might have “It might seem like a little thing, but taking walks around my neighborhood and looking at decorations was always something I loved to do,” Bernhardt said. “I know that I was feeling less festive this year, though, so I was worried others would be, too.’ But there are plenty of decorations and plenty of pumpkins and it warms my heart to see them.”

Bernhardt said that while she rarely participates in the carving herself, she and her husband like to take walks through Oxford’s streets and rate the pumpkins they see.

“Some, you know, aren’t the best, but others are really very impressive,” she said. “We saw one the other day that was a cat on a hill, but the craftsmanship was so good it looked like it belonged in a competition.” out of 10.

So while the streets of Oxford might be more devoid of ghouls and ghosts than they normally of Jack-o’-lanterns are still here as bright spots amidst the dark of the spooky season. headledd@miamioh.edu

DESPITE THE PANDEMIC, OXFORD’S STREETS ARE FILLED WITH CARVED PUMPKINS -- THE GOURD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY. CULTURE EDITOR DUARD HEADLEY

8

VINELCA@MIAMIOH.EDU

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2020

Joe Biden

Donald Trump

Kamala Harris — VP nominee

COVID-19

Mike Pence — Incumbent VP

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This information was gathered from the candidates’ campaign websites, Politico, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times and other reputable sources.

Sports

NELSO156@MIAMIOH.EDU

9

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2020

Miami has the talent and experience for another trip to Detroit

FC Cincinnati and another season of ups and downs – mainly downs MICHAEL VESTEY THE MIAMI STUDENT

MIAMI KICKS OFF ITS 2020 SEASON AGAINST BALL STATE ON WEDNESDAY, NOV. 4. THE MIAMI STUDENT ZACH REICHMAN

LUKAS NELSON SPORTS EDITOR Every season, the Miami RedHawks have one objective.

“Win every MAC game,” head coach Chuck Martin said. “Like, that’s the goal.”

It may be a lofty feat, but it’s not out of reach for Martin’s squad. The team has dominated the conference lately, with a 6-2 conference record in three of the last four seasons.

That includes last year, when the RedHawks turned a 2-4 start into an championship since 2010.

Miami is returning a lot of key players from last year’s team, including its sophomore quarterback, Brett Gabbert, and most of its skill positions players. The team will also bring most of its defensive starters, including defensive backs Mike Brown and Sterling Weatherford.

Like every team, the RedHawks had practice getting cut short, as well as limited activity in the summer and early fall, it’s been hard for them to develop their normal rhythm.

Martin hopes the team’s continuity and experience will help get them going early in the season. year to have a lot of experience coming back, but in a year where you didn’t have as much of a chance to develop plus,” Martin said.

Gabbert, who won MAC Freshman of the Year in 2019, will have a lot of good options in his receiving corps.

The team returns its top three receivers from last season, including redshirt senior Jack Sorenson. Sorenson led the team in receptions (44), as well as receiving yards and receiving touchdowns. His biggest moment of the season came in the MAC Championship game, catching eight passes for 123 yards and a touchdown en route to While Sorenson missed a few games with an injury last season, Gabbert developed his connections with his young receivers, including redshirt junior Jalen Walker and sophomore James Burns (formerly James Maye).

After Gabbert’s promising freshto be his time to improve his chemistry with the younger receivers. However, to be, development-wise.

Despite this, Martin isn’t too focused on the negatives.

“Their chemistry has been good in camp, and it’s growing every day,” he said. “Obviously, we’re behind, just like every other team, where you’d like to be

declared for the draft before returning to play for the RedHawks.

Although Miami has a ton of experience, special teams is where things get dicey. The team has to replace kicker Sam Sloman, who was drafted by the Los Angeles Rams in this year’s NFL draft, as well as punter Kyle Kramer.

Last season, the RedHawks relied heavily on Sloman and Kramer to help win games, and the duo delivered. Sloman made key kicks all year, including secure the win against Ohio. Kramer

got to plug ahead and get better day by day.”

Although Gabbert played well last is still its run game. Miami returns its top running back, senior Jaylon Bester, who rushed for 800 yards and 14 touchdowns last season, as well as redshirt sophomore Tyre Shelton.

The RedHawks will also return four including seniors Danny Godlevske and Tommy Doyle. Originally, the pair decided to declare for the 2021 NFL Draft when it looked like the season would be pushed to the spring. After the MAC decided to return this fall, the son in red and white.

“It’s just huge (to have them back), ’cause obviously, they’re great players, but also great leaders, great competiways,” Martin said.

On defense, the team loses a few key starters, including defensive end Doug Costin, linebacker Myles Reid and defensive back Bart Baratti.

Despite this, the team is still loaded on the defensive side of the ball. The RedHawks return their top pass rushers, including junior defensive lineman Kameron Butler, sophomore defensive lineman Lonnie Phelps and sophomore linebacker Ivan Pace Jr. Redshirt senior Ryan McWood, the team’s leading tackler from last year, will also return to Miami’s secondary, one of the team’s strengths from last year, is also returning most of its key players, including Weatherford, a redshirt junior, and Brown, a senior. The team will also return redshirt senior cornerback Emmanuel Rugamba, who originally

‘Hawks Talk

sitions.

With both Sloman and Kramer gone, the competition to replace them is wide open. No matter who takes over the kicking and punting duties, though, Martin knows his team must be consistent in all three phases of the game.

“We’re gonna have to be better on O and D to make up for the losses of Sloman and Kramer … We don’t know who’s gonna replace them yet, but we know there’s gonna be a loss there that we’re gonna have to make up for in other places on the team,” he said.

The MAC will play a shortened, sixponent, the Ball State Cardinals, is the only team on the RedHawks’ schedule this year who defeated them in 2019.

The team will end the season with the Bowling Green Falcons, who the RedHawks beat 44-3 last year.

Still, Martin knows nothing is guaranteed in this conference.

“Anybody who follows the MAC knows there’s not a lot of blowouts, you were 5-1 against these teams, but four of so you know the games can go either way. You gotta have a tough-minded highs and lows…having that mindset and continuing that mindset last year that we found ways to win games. At home, on the road, high scoring, low scoring, doesn’t matter. That’s just kinda MAC football.”

Yes, it is. And we’re glad it’s back. @LukasTheDream nelso156@miamioh.edu

In August of 2019, Kings Island announced its new roller coaster, Orion, a $30 million giga coaster with a 300-foot drop and more than a mile of track. I was initially interested in this news, as someone who hates roller coasters and takes great pleasure in avoiding them.

However, I hadn’t yet realized that I was already on a rollercoaster – one with a $150 million franchise fee and soon to complete a $250 million stadium. I am, of course, talking about FC Cincinnati (FCC).

FCC began life in Major League Soccer (MLS) with a bang.

Leonardo Bertone hit a thumping volley 13 minutes into the season away in Seattle, and life looked good. A draw at the reigning champions in Atlanta and a win over Portland in the home opener made life look even better.

But after another win in the cold of New England in March, and one of the best starts by an expansion franchise in history, FC Cincinnati won one game in their next 14. After back-to-back wins in the heat of mid-July, it won one game in the 14 afterward. In the penultimate week of the season, in the dying seconds of a 1-1 draw with Orlando, the club conceded its 75th goal, setting the record for the worst defense in the 24-year history of MLS. tallies were counted, the club also set another dubious record – having conceded 44 more goals than it scored, the club boasted the history.

While painful, this is necessary knowledge for framing the 2020 season.

It hadn’t even begun before cracks started to appear.

Ron Jans, the designated heir game, after a controversy which I happened to write about earlier this year.

Two games were played, and two games were lost, although some promising attacking play against the two best teams in the Eastern Conference the year prior (Atlanta and the New York Red Bulls) gave a little spark of hope to fans of the Orange and Blue.

Four months later, after lockdown had ended and in seclusion at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, the season began again with an old-fashioned demolition job.

Four goals, three in the space of 20 minutes, scored by the eternal enemy Columbus — and the players just looked lost.

New head coach Jaap Stam made a fateful decision: The club

history of MLS. One club holding the all-time worst defense, and the worst goal not setting all three together in the same season, is unprecedented in top-division soccer. I looked through every top-division league able data for – and, barring six goals scored in the remaining three games, FC Cincinnati would achieve this feat. ing from this city, one where the sporting tradition is one of pain And I cannot wait for next season. @VesteyTMS vesteymj@miamioh.edu

Miami cross country is back in business

“Hopefully, they learned a little from me, but I think I learned a lot from our kids and their unique experiences in life.”

- Chuck Martin on talking to his team about social justice issues

would sit back and defend, taking only infrequent attempts at the primary objective of soccer – scoring goals.

This has made a lot of people very angry and has been widely regarded as a bad move.

After two wins over a now-terrible Atlanta and the New York Red Bulls, FC Cincinnati settled into a now familiar pattern – in the 15 games since, as of the time of writing, the club has won two of them.

When the revised MLS schedule was released, with clubs playing home games in empty stadiums, the Orange and Blue went to Nippert Stadium in Cincinnati and played four straight games, six hours of soccer, where zero goals were scored by either team.

I watched all four games live, in their entirety, and believe me when I say that I have never been more bored (and I watch a lot of soccer).

Statistically, there are improvements from 2019. Points per game is up – 0.8, up from 0.71 (although both are only worth enough for dead last in the league.) The defense has tightened up, boasting a better record at the back than eight other MLS clubs.

The multi-million-dollar star striker up front has improved as well, with Jurgen Locadia’s two goals an improvement on Fanendo Adi’s one, I guess. That’s … where the positives end, however, and there is one more rather horrifying stat that has come out of this season.

As of this moment, FC Cincinnati was granted the treasure of eight games at home, and in those games, proceeded to score a total of three goals. Barring a dramatic turnaround, the club is certainly headed for another dubious record – having scored only 11 goals this season, it is on track to have

THE REDHAWKS ARE SET TO RUN AGAIN ON NOV. 21.THE MIAMI STUDENT FILE PHOTO

LILY FREIBERG THE MIAMI STUDENT After a minor setback, the RedHawks are ready to make a major

comeback as Miami fall sports are trickling back.

The Mid-American Conference (MAC) men’s and women’s Cross Country Championships will be held on Saturday, Nov. 21. The host is to be determined.

MAC Athletic Directors approved an operational plan that was announced Monday. The plan includes guidelines and recommendations for how to go about this fall’s season amidst COVID-19.

The recommendations are subject to change due to the pandemic and the state and local health guidelines.

In the 2019 season, Miami’s cross country team received 12thplace finishes for both the men and women’s teams.

Last year, Miami’s cross country and track and field head coach Tom Chorny agreed to a threeyear extension to his contract.

At the end of last season’s meet, Chorny said the cross country team had a lot of potential to show but didn’t get the results it hoped for.

He also mentioned there were some great moments during practice, but the team struggled to show those highlights in competition.

“We got very fit by the end of the year, and each athlete proved that they are stronger and better than they were before,” Chorny said. “We just need to figure out how to show up and compete on race day.”

Despite the postponement of fall sports, Chorny and the RedHawks are hoping to give it their all and show everyone the talent they have this season. @lilyfreiberg freibell@miamioh.edu

Opinion

10

WOLFFRG@MIAMIOH.EDU

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2020

STAFF EDITORIAL

Cut to the chase with COVID communication The university’s approach to COVID-19 communication feels disconnected, and it shows.

The disconnect seems to begin with the university’s Crisis Management Team (CMT), which was mentioned in Miami University President Greg Crawford’s reached a state of emergency.

Since then, we’ve all received email “updates” from the CMT, with no real clue who they are or what the purpose of their emails is.

Here’s what we do know about them: They enjoy sugar-coating things, they don’t like to give us bad news and they’re not connoisseurs of context or clarity.

We understand that information on the pandemic is hard to follow and can be uncertain, but we want more emphasis on the hard facts and numbers that are actually known.

The university has been intentionally not including data in their emails, has messed up the dates on the COVID-19 dashboard and has indicated it has a tighter grip of control on COVID-19 than it actually seems to.

Adding to the confusion, emails aren’t even the only stream of communication being used — the university has been using its social media outlets to relay information about the spread of the virus within our community.

new tweet from their school every day.

This mix of platforms is ironically consistent with the administration’s lack of consistency. One day, we get an email that we’re doing well. The next, the email is reminding us with alarming urgency once again to wear masks, wash our hands and socially distance, leaving us wondering if things are worse than they seem, especially without an explanation of data.

Miami cases make up around 30% of positives in Butler County. Why is the severity of the impact coming straight from our school not being communicated directly to us?

Sure, they don’t want to be all negative all the time.

But, how are all good things and rainbows any better?

Halloween is coming up, and we know that if people go out and contract the virus over the weekend, the incubation period will line up perfectly enough for people to get it just in time for Thanksgiving. This means you will either have to stay here and isolate, go home and unknowingly pass it onto family members or be one of the lucky ones who avoids it all together.

Knowledge is power. But have we received an email telling us any of this? No — no, we haven’t, yet.

Yes, in the past, we have pushed the school for more frequent communication on COVID-19. But now it’s time for the next step. Quantity means nothing without quality, especially in a pandemic.

The CMT needs to start working smarter, not harder.

Look, one of the reasons we opened back up in the

following Ohio State’s lead in doing so. If the administration wants to prove Miami is on par with them, then our stream of information should be as well. access to understandable information and timely updates. Why not make the COVID dashboard graph interactive and provide data from more than two weeks ago? We at The Student have to do math every week to our readers — the average dashboard visitor likely isn’t taking the time to do so, leaving them with little useful information.

There’s no excuse to not be on top of it. This is not a budget issue — it’s just a matter of allocating time and tively.

We don’t need updates from Twitter; the emails will tualized and, most importantly, correct.

Basically, give it to us straight.

If it’s bad, let us know — we’re adults, we can handle it. If we’re doing better, then that’s great, but don’t bury the old numbers in the dashboard.

Since the pandemic began in March, there’ve been plenty of situations that have elicited feelings of uncertainty and confusion.

Reading a university communication email doesn’t need to be one of them.

students aren’t exactly refreshing Twitter in hopes of a

Now is the best time to get a job — and here’s why KENDALL VOLPE THE MIAMI STUDENT Balancing work and school as a college student is something that takes intentional the best at it.

It’s a skill to be able to schedule accordingly, be on top of assignments and be cautious not to overwork yourself. On top of that, balancing being a student, employee, daughter and so much more….well that takes With that being said, virtual school presents students with more time than usual to life. It is the perfect time to get a job — and here’s why.

For all Miami University students, this summer was full of surprises. For most, it was a time of uncertainty: Will we be back on campus? Moving into dorms? Online classes? Getting to Oxford and then being sent home? Among all students who were asking these questions, there were also students wide shutdown.

As a student who has to pay for a good amount of school myself, graduate school included, I rely on the summer months to make most of my money so I can work less during the school year and focus on my studies. Alas, because of coronavirus, a lot of the normal part-time jobs that myself and other college students would normally pursue were either postponed or eliminated completely — which meant that maybe we weren’t able to make the money we were expecting to.

For someone who likes things to be very organized and “according to plan,” the unpredictability did not contribute positively to my summer.

There I was, summer 2020, locked in my house, no job and fully knowing I would have to work more in the fall, again, all while in the middle of transferring schools. So, on top of a million questions and all the uncertainty, I was especially nervous because I knew my school schedule was challenging and that I had to be working more than the previous semester to make up for the summer.

But, as they say, everything happens for a reason.

When the emails came out that we would be back on campus starting fully virtual and moving into dorms late in September, I jumped on the opportunity to get out of apartment with some friends I met while vis-

iting last year. Two of my classes were scheduled to be on campus once Sept. 21 came around, and I knew my work schedule had to be based on the potential of those classes being in-person.

After getting to Oxford, I gave myself the school and work on following a set schedule.

Now more than ever, it was important for me to get into healthy school habits — that way, work, friends and family.

Once I felt comfortably adjusted, I started applying for jobs. The great thing about Oxford is that business owners and managers recognize that the majority of their employees and customers are college students, and I and really tried to cater to my needs, instead of making demands for themselves.

I was so nervous to work again because, last semester, I was beyond overwhelmed with work and school and realized that I was not giving myself enough time to be with friends, family or even just alone. ent, and online school presented me with a chance to work at that. After applying to multiple places and weighing my options, I took a job at Skipper’s and am so happy I did.

I have found that because all of my classes are online for the semester, I have much of my life because I am not actively walking to and attending in-person classes. Not only that, but I am working more than I did last semester and am not feeling pressed for time or like I am falling behind in school.

I am encouraging anyone who is considering getting a job to do it! Fill out that application, take the position and be intentional about making time for all of the things you want in your life. As I said, because I have not always been the best at time management, this virtual break is helping me prepare for the future when we go back to in-person classes and I will have to balance more.

Yes, coronavirus has come with plenty of setbacks, but this time has given me the opportunity to re-train myself in the way of proper time management and healthy scheduling habits.

To me, there is no better time to be a student and an employee simultaneously. I strongly believe that you all should consider the same.

Yes, I’m a formerlyNo, my professors didn’t brainwash me.

MADELINE PHABY ASST. NEWS EDITOR I still remember the incident that sparked my interest in politics.

I was eight years old and in third grade.

The 2008 presidential election was on the horizon, and my elementary school decided to hold a mock election of its own. I’m not sure how they expected third, fourth and edge to choose a candidate, but it happened nonetheless.

The day before the election, I asked my mom who I should vote for. She said I should vote for whoever I wanted. I then asked who she was voting for.

“John McCain,” she replied. “We’re Republicans.”

From that moment on, I was a Republican. Never one to disobey my parents, I took their political beliefs and internalized them as my own.

McCain won the election at my school, but Obama won the presidency. I was dejected. I sulked around at school the next day, telling everyone what a shame it was that McCain had been defeated.

I, of course, had no idea what either party stood for when I was eight. But as I grew older and continued to embrace my identity as a Republican, I started to pick things up.

Many Google searches of “what do Republicans believe?” informed my political stances as a young teenager. being conservative was essentially my entire identity. This was partially because of my intense interest in politics and partially because I was really loud and obnoxious about my beliefs.

In 2016, I supported Trump (typing that sentence caused me physical pain, but it’s the truth.) I often say the day he won the election was the peak of my conservatism.

It all went downhill after that.

As I got ~older and wiser~, I started to question whether I actually believed many of the things I said I believed. Like I said, many of my political views at the time were gleaned from Google searches and my parents rather than actual introspection.

During my senior year, I underwent a pretty dramatic transformation from a staunch conservative to a moderate Democrat, and I’ve been shifting leftward ever since.

Currently, as a junior in college, I strug-

gle to put an exact label on my political identity, but I usually just tell people I’m a communist (partly for the shock value and partly because it’s close to the truth).

Many members of my extended family have no idea I’ve changed in this way, and my own parents aren’t aware of the extent of my transformation (but I suppose they will be after reading this —hi, Mom and Dad!).

Why, though? Why is it so scary to speak my truth and tell my loved ones that I think capitalism is immoral and that I’ve literally never believed in God despite being a conThe answer is simple: It’s because society has created a strange stigma around changing your beliefs.

I’ve talked to others who have undergone transformations similar to mine, and they all express the same sentiment. When they reveal that they’ve become more liberal over time, people automatically assume they were brainwashed by their Marxist professors or they’re jumping on some sort of bandwagon.

While that may be the case for a minorimost part, that’s bullshit.

If anything, my conservatism was caused have never pressured me to believe the same things they do, the sole reason I decided I was conservative at a young age was because they were.

This year especially, we need to normalize changing our minds.

I know people who voted for Trump in 2016 who wholeheartedly regret it and are voting for Biden this year. Others have voted for Republicans their entire life but are voting for Biden this year because they can’t stomach voting for Trump again. Still others typically don’t vote at all but are voting for Biden this year because they think Trump has mishandled the pandemic.

These, along with a million other mind-changing scenarios, are signs of the essential for preserving our democracy. We need to stop frowning upon things like this and, instead, encourage them.

After all, 12 years after crying over Obama becoming president, I’m staring at And frankly, I’ve never been happier.