The Miami Student | December 5, 2017 by The Miami Student

ESTABLISHED 1826 — OLDEST COLLEGE NEWSPAPER WEST OF THE ALLEGHENIES

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2017

Volume 146 No. 14

Miami University — Oxford, Ohio

HAMILTON STUDENTS FOR LIFE FILE FREE SPEECH SUIT AGAINST MIAMI LAWSUIT

JAKE GOLD

ASST. NEWS EDITOR

SANTA CLAUS GREETS CHILDREN ON HIGH STREET AT THE ANNUAL HOLIDAY FESTIVAL. SABIK AKAND THE MIAMI STUDENT

At Holiday Festival, Santa Claus came to town EVENT

MAYA FENTER

THE MIAMI STUDENT

“We’re doing that.” Shelby Frye, Malena McClory, Sarah Siegel and Isabella Bocija watched as two black horses passed by pulling a carriage embellished with evergreen branches, Christmas lights and red bows. “Where do we get in line?” They consult a nearby sign post that looks

as if it’s straight out of a cartoon Christmas special, complete with multicolored arrows listing different activities in bubble letters. Before getting in line, they grab a cup of free hot chocolate before it would inevitably run out. It was only 50 degrees — warm for Ohio in December — but who could refuse free hot chocolate? Well, Shelby could. Her dislike of chocolate is well-known and frequently questioned among her friends. They stand in line for the carriage ride with

Miami Student joins ‘Your Voice Ohio’ reporting initiative

a mix of other college students and families with children. A mother and father stand in front of them with their two children: a little girl dressed in all purple with a pink hat and a little boy in jeans and a Bengals jacket. They watched the little girl as she grabbed onto the rope marking the line of people eagerly waiting for the horses to return. They marveled at how cute she is. It isn’t every day that college students get to see people younger than 18.

Students for Life at Miami University’s Hamilton campus, along with the religious legal advocacy organization Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), are suing the school over alleged discrimination and infringement of First Amendment rights. Students for Life, whose national website declares their mission as “abolish[ing] abortion in our lifetime,” was organizing its fourth annual “Cemetery of the Innocents” demonstration when the university’s Director of Student Activities and Orientation, Caitlin Borges, informed the group that they must put up informational signs across campus to notify community members of the display, according to the lawsuit filed Wednesday. Borges suggested the signs say something like, “The Students for Life are displaying their annual Cross Display from October 29th–November 5th. Please contact Ellie Wittman with questions,” according to the lawsuit. The Cemetery of the Innocents display places crosses on the university’s Central Quad to “represent the lives lost to abortion,” the lawsuit states. Borges feared that the display could cause “emotional trauma” for those not expecting the exhibit, while Wittman, CONTINUED ON PAGE 10

CONTINUED ON PAGE 5

Miami primatologist earns national distinction RESEARCH

JULIA ARWINE

THE MIAMI STUDENT

JAKE GOLD CÉILÍ DOYLE

ASST. NEWS EDITORS

The Miami Student, along with several other publications in the Miami Valley, is joining forces with local news organizations to better cover community issues and increase local trust in the media through an initiative titled “Your Voice Ohio.” The Jefferson Center, a nonpartisan civic engagement organization, is coordinating the initiative through the Ohio Media Project (OMP). OMP is made up of several media Ohio outlets, including The Columbus Dispatch, The Cincinnati Enquirer, Dayton Daily News, The Cleveland Plain Dealer, Hamilton-Journal News and others. Throughout the next two and a half months, The Student will be working in collaboration with these outlets to specifically address the opioid epidemic in southwestern Ohio. In January, OMP media outlets will produce stories centered around solutions to the opioid crisis. The leaders of this initiative — Andrew Rockway, program director of the Jefferson Center, and Your Voice Ohio, editor and coordinator Doug Oplinger — hope to garner interest for community meetings. that will be hosted by the Jefferson Center throughout February. These meetings will take place in Cincinnati, Dayton, Middletown and rural communities in Clinton County and WilmingCONTINUED ON PAGE 11

Linda Marchant’s office is located near the back of a small warren of rooms in a corner of Upham Hall. A meme is taped to the primatologist and professor of anthropology’s door, expressing frustration with people who call apes “monkeys.” Inside, books and papers fill the shelves along one wall and cover most flat surfaces, reflecting the knowledge and curiosity of the woman who sits in the middle of it all. Marchant, a lifelong lover of science, animals and museums, recently received the award for Outstanding Research into Human Origins from the Center for Research into the Anthropological Foundations of Technology (CRAFT) and the Stone Age Institute (SAI). This prestigious award, once given to famed primatologist Jane Goodall, recognizes Marchant’s research on chimpanzees. “Chimpanzees in their own right are extraordinary animals,” Marchant said. “They are also our closest genetic relative.” Marchant has studied these primates in various sites throughout Africa and in captivity to gain insight into their behavior and how it might reflect human origins. One major aspect of her research is handedness. An overwhelming percentage of humans are right-handed in every activity, from writing to throwing to picking up items. Through extensive observation, Dr. Marchant has noticed that this imbalance in everyday activities does not exist in chimpanzees. The only activities in which they show

NEWS P.3

Semester in Photos page 6

MUPD SERGEANT GRADUATING Sgt. Michelle Hercules has sacrificed a lot of sleep this semester.

LINDA MARCHANT WITH HER AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING RESEARCH INTO HUMAN ORIGINS. SEBASTIAN NEUFUSS THE MIAMI STUDENT

strong hand preference are those relating to tools, such as making or using a tool. Even then, there is an even split between left and right-handedness. “When they use tools, it’s a departure from ‘it doesn’t matter,” Marchant said. “So I think there’s something about the motor demands and complexity of tool use that starts manifesting some kind of hand preference.” Another prominent feature of Marchant’s research is the documentation of variations in culture patterns. In studying chimpanzees from west to east Africa, she has found that cultural traditions vary by

population. “From an anthropological point of view you’re very interested in how patterns emerge, how are they propagated, how do they persist and in what context are they displayed,” said Marchant. In particular, Marchant has observed the methods with which chimpanzees gather food. Some populations go “termite-fishing” in termite mounds, while others are unaware that those termites are worth eating and do not bother with them. Some crack open oil palm nuts with stones, while others CONTINUED ON PAGE 11

CULTURE P.4

EDITORIAL P. 12

MUSINGS ON NETFLIX’S CARREY DOC

TMS TO HOST PUBLIC SAFETY FORUM

Learning to live with your inner worst critic.

What can Oxford and Miami do to make our community safer?

SPORTS P.14

MIAMI SPLITS SERIES WITH CORNELL The ’Hawks were shut out by No. 5 Cornell 4-0 on Saturday.

FSB POP-UP SHOP TRUNK SHOW

POPULAR FSB BRANDED PRODUCTS

DECEMBER 7 FARMER COMMONS 10% OF PROCEEDS WILL GO TO BSAC

BELL TOWER DECEMBER 6 11:00AM–3:00PM

2 NEWS

NEWS@MIAMISTUDENT.NET

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2017

IT Services call center outsourced to D.C. educational technology corporation IT SERVICES

JAKE GOLD

ASST. NEWS EDITOR

In order to cut costs and increase utility, Miami IT Services began subcontracting its help desk earlier this year. The new system, managed by Blackboard — an educational technology company based in Washington — is operated out of Somerset, KY, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. In the switch, fourteen Miami employees were terminated: four

full-time staff members, three contract employees, six student employees and the Assistant Vice President for End User Services, McVey says. The university made the change as recommended by a 2015 report by the Ohio Task Force on Affordability and Efficiency in Higher Education. The report suggested that “each institution must conduct an assessment of non-academic operations that might run more efficiently by a regional cooperative, private operator or other entity.” For Miami, it’s worked. Since

outsourcing the support desk operations to Blackboard on Oct. 17, the university has seen a 43 percent decrease in costs associated with support, according to Cathy McVey, the senior director for IT communications and customer advocacy. Two employees have joined in the transition. One Blackboard staff member is located in Oxford for the first year of the agreement and one permanent, full-time position was filled to manage the Miami-Blackboard relationship. “The reality of the university budget — not only Miami, but

New market to offer convenience to students off campus UPTOWN

CAROLINE CREEK

THE MIAMI STUDENT

Fridge and Pantry, a new Uptown market, will open its doors in January. Both a deli and a grocery, the new business also boasts additional amenities including a smoothie and growler bar. Co-founder Cody Costanzo, a Miami alumnus, wanted to offer students a unique and convenient option for groceries and casual dining in Oxford. “The whole concept came from convenience,” said Costanzo. This convenience extends beyond its location on Church Street — the spot that formerly housed Mexican restaurant La Piñata. Fridge and Pantry will also offer a same-day delivery service for students living on and off campus. Students will have the ability to order any item from the grocery for delivery via the Fridge and Pantry app. While delivery will be a large part of Fridge and Pantry’s business, the storefront itself provides an upscale grocery and dining experience. The wood detailing throughout the store originated from a barn built in Kirksville, Ind. Costanzo said the barn was standing for more than 100 years, and now he hopes it will represent a strong foundation for his new business.

BEA NEWBERRY

THE MIAMI STUDENT

The annual Oxford Holiday Business Walk took place with a new addition this past weekend, a “’Twas The Night Before” lineup of events. There were just shy of 30 participating businesses, all under the organization of the Chamber of Commerce, coming together to bring community members out to shop and socialize. The decision to restructure the festivities into a two-day affair was new this year, said Chamber President, Kelli Riggs. The purpose was to bring more attention to local businesses on Friday and have more family-friendly entertainment on Saturday at the Business Walk and Festival. The night-of, Uptown businesses kept their doors open late and offered discounts to encourage patrons to stop in among the outdoor action. “Every one that I’ve reached out to while starting to plan this has just been on-board and very giving and ready to see what we can do to make the night bigger and better,” Riggs said. In her eyes, the event built a stronger relationship between the community and the businesses, providing an opportunity to give back. Many of the participating businesses are Chamber members with owners that have been a part of the Holiday Walk weekend for as long as they can remember. Lisa Leishman, who has

across the state — is we’re having to tighten down budgets and really watch where we’re spending money,” said McVey, making a theatrical strangling gesture. “And how we’re doing that as efficiently as we can.”

ANDREW TILBE

THE MIAMI STUDENT

FRIDGE AND PANTRY OPENS UP JAN. 2. JUGAL JAIN PHOTO EDITOR

The market held an open house last Thursday, which Constanzo said was very successful. The bread received the most compliments, he said, and a total of 350 smoothie cups were given to visitors. The store’s bread will be delivered daily from 16 Bricks Artisan Bakehouse in Cincinnati. Fridge and Pantry will also be hiring students to work at the store. Currently, 32 students have already received training from Boar’s Head, the company that will provide meat and cheese for the deli. During the training, the employees learned how to prop-

erly use the meat slicer and had the opportunity to try samples of sandwiches. Sophomore Alexa Baldari has already received employment from the market and enjoyed the samples she received at training. “The food was really good. It will definitely be successful,” Baldari said of the new shop. Fridge and Pantry will hold a soft opening on Jan. 2, when the majority of students will not be on campus. The date of the store’s official opening has not yet been set. creekce@miamioh.edu

owned You’re Fired for almost 10 years, was a “godsend” for promoting the Holiday Walk, according to Riggs. Using Facebook, Leishman organized four weeks of giveaways from local businesses. The grand giveaway of $1000 was awarded mid-Friday night to Sue Mavis, who had entered her name in a participating business’s entry box, which 18 Oxford businesses housed in their stores. Leishman was proud to get students and community members to turn out. She understands that shopping locally is popular and was open until midnight with halfprice studio fees for the Holiday Walk night. You’re Fired donates often to university events. “When the community supports us, we want to support it, too,” Leishman said. ’Twas The Night Before was anything but short on treats. It featured storefront wine tasting at Hush and Follet’s, Scotty’s Brewhouse food tasting at The Apple Tree, hot chocolate at Tim Hortons’ on-site food truck, and Butler Tech and Talawanda student Emma Glazier’s kettle korn donations. Other attractions included Talawanda High School chorale performances, the aforementioned Grand Prize announcement and the Christmas Tree Decorating Contest. Five trees were donated by Oxford’s Lion’s Club, the entity that sells them in Uptown Memorial Park. The decorating teams were Mccullough-Hyde/ TriHealth, Kiwanis Club of Oxford, Oxford Masonic Lodge, Phi

Mu Sorority and the Rotary Club of Oxford. “I just think it’s awesome that these organizations are willing to come forward, with the Lion’s Club donating the trees and the five other organizations buying the decorations and the lights to help support our community,” Riggs said. The Rotary Club, a first-timer to the Holiday Walk, is no stranger to community service, most notably with its scholarship fund for Talawanda High School students, according to President Pat Sidley. Riggs shared that the contest was a favorite of many, including herself, because of the charitable outcome. All five trees will be donated to local families through the Family Resource Center. “For us, it’s just fun to get out and do something,” Sidley said. “It’s something we can all get behind. Most importantly, five trees are going to end up in five homes that wouldn’t otherwise have trees.” Aside from this long-time tradition, the Chamber of Commerce hosts the Wine Festival, Dog Days and “Red Bricks to Progress,” where the Business of the Year is announced, each year. Community representatives, like the ones at the Chamber and the Visitor’s Bureau, are working to do more with university students, through efforts such as Town and Gown, a summertime event where both Miami students and community members are invited to participate, and their collaborations with MAP, Miami Activities and Programming. newberbm@miamioh.edu

Though the people answering the phone are different, the support desk can be reached in the same ways it was before: over the phone, over email or through live chat. goldjb@miamioh.edu

College political leaders discuss local, national issues POLITICS

Holiday Walk brings students and community members together EVENT

ILLUSTRATION: CONNOR WELLS

Dozens of Miami University’s most zealous political activists filed into the auditorium. The air was filled with an unmistakable tension. A student wearing a “Make America Great Again” hat walked past one wearing a “Make America Gay Again” hat, matched with a pair of rainbow socks. On Thursday, Nov. 19, the Miami University College Democrats and College Republicans faced off in a debate in Shideler Hall from 8:15 to 9:30 pm. The debate was sponsored by the Janus Forum and moderated by Madeleine Zick, the president of the Janus Forum. The College Republicans were represented by graduate student Caleb Stidham and firstyear Samantha Moore. Representing the College Democrats were sophomore Jake Porcarelli, sophomore Adrian Radilla and junior Bobby Adler. The debate was separated into multiple segments based on current political issues. Questions were prepared beforehand, and audience members could send in additional questions via an online form. The first topic of the night was focused on current issues at Miami. Among the local issues discussed were student protests and recent cases of vandalism on campus. “We were particularly disappointed to hear about the prolife display that was vandalized in Central Quad about a month ago,” Stidham said. “I think the protests you’ve seen on campus have regarded hate speech, like where people argue for eugenics and blatant racism. Those are not protected under free speech,” Radilla said. Next, the two groups discussed state politics in Ohio, specifically the upcoming election for Ohio’s governor. “I believe that all but one of our major candidates are incredibly qualified,” Adler said. “Justice Bill O’Neill obviously had some incredibly insensitive and unqualifying remarks on his Facebook page that we completely reject. But every other candidate in our field, I believe, has great merit to them.” Adler was referring to an Oct. 17 Facebook post in which Ohio Supreme Court Justice Bill O’Neill boasted about his sexual history, writing that he “was sexually intimate with approximately 50 very attractive females” over the last 50 years. The Republicans responded by voicing their support for candidate Mike DeWine. DeWine is Ohio’s current Attorney General and is running as a Republican in the race for governor. “We honestly think that DeWine is a very good candidate. I worked on his campaign, and he is a very very qualified person,” Moore said. “He has so many qualifications, he’s done so much, and he has such a great plan to help us.”

The two sides then shifted to national issues, most prominently the proposed tax reform bill, which was passed by the Senate early Saturday morning. The Democratic representatives were critical of the bill. “The bill itself, the House bill that has passed, is just a complication of different things that will harm the middle class extensively,” Porcarelli said. The Republicans, on the other hand, offered their support for the bill, particularly the repeal of the Affordable Care Act’s individual mandate. The next portion of the debate remained centered on around national issues, this time focusing on questions about foreign policy and military spending. “I personally think that on the issues of military defense, we need to act as part of a multilateral coalition and always just try to consult our allies,” Adler said. “We cannot be acting unilaterally.” “[We support] a strong, traditionally conservative foreign policy, based on peace through strength and not intervening in every situation, but intervening when our interests are at stake,” said Stidham. During the final section of the debate, the debating representatives took questions from the audience. This segment of the evening dealt most prominently with cases of sexual harassment and assault involving multiple politicians from both parties that have recently come to light. “I applaud all of the people for coming forward and telling, and just making it more well known,” Moore said. “Now people can try to have this discussion actually, and maybe try to go in the right steps to stop it.” “There is absolutely no justification for any of that, and anyone who does it should be punished 100 percent,” Adler said. “I think that Al Franken should resign. I think that Roy Moore should step out of the race. I think there should be absolutely no tolerance in our society for this behavior.” During their concluding remarks, a representative from each side of the political aisle gave a final pitch. “I think that we’re a traditionally conservative party, based in free markets, limited government, socially conservatism and a strong national defense,” Stidham said. “I think that the president also holds many of those values and beliefs.” “We’re really trying to make an economy that works for everybody as well as promoting social mobility for the people on the bottom,” Porcarelli said. “I see a big future as we come together more and agree on more socially progressive issues and economically progressive issues.” Thursday’s debate was the third held by the two groups this year. There will be additional debates between the groups next semester, as well as other events such as charity dodgeball games. tilbear@miamioh.edu

NEWS@MIAMISTUDENT.NET

3 NEWS

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2017

Rousmaniere, Dana elected to mayor, vice mayor OXFORD

JAKE GOLD

ASST. NEWS EDITOR

After an hour-long discussion on appointments — done in private executive session — City Council re-elected incumbent Kate Rousmaniere as mayor and elected council member Steve Dana as vice mayor. Council also chose several appointments to various boards and commissions across Oxford in executive session. The full list of appointments can be found at miamistudent.net/mayor-vice-mayor-elected. In closing remarks to Council, Rousmaniere enumerated four key goals for her upcoming two-year term: realigning the city government with the Comprehensive Plan to develop a vision for future city growth, building informal organizational infrastructure, building a public presence for council plus improving its communications and addressing the city’s financial challenges. “There’s going to be a lot happening,” Rousmaniere said, glancing at the other city councilors. “Get ready.”

ASG votes on ‘fiscally responsible’ budget for student orgs ASG

JACK EVANS

MANAGING EDITOR

The Associated Student Government (ASG) senate passed new legislation Tuesday, Nov. 28 overhauling the way ASG funds student organizations. The biggest changes involve a four-tiered “reward” system that will tie the amount of money student orgs are able to request to their level of compliance with new ASG funding requirements. These new rules will mean more complexity for some student orgs, but also improve a slew of issues with the current funding system, hopes Caroline Weimer, ASG secretary of finance. “It’s a means to budget properly for funds, because when you’re giving everyone a $10,000 cap for the entire semester, it’s very difficult to anticipate how much is going to be spent and where that’s going to go,” said Weimer. Reducing the number of student orgs in debt and increasing the overall fiscal responsibility of student organizations are two more major reasons for the change, said Caroline Weimer, ASG secretary of finance. “We experience a lot of debt where people come in and say ‘Well, it’s not mine, we didn’t do it,’” said Weimer. “And we don’t want to penalize current officers and treasurers who have [to deal with] the effects of their past leadership.” Spring 2018 will serve as a transition period between the current $10,000 per semester funding cap for all student orgs and the new tiered system, said Weimer. The $10,000 cap will remain in the spring semester, and each student org will begin the process of fulfilling requirements to be placed into one of the four tiers. The bill, numbered SB 021609, gives ASG the power to change the requirements and rewards of the tiers at the beginning of each semester. While the rules for the coming semester are not yet finalized, Weimer proposed a potential framework to ASG Senate on Nov. 28. CONTINUED ON PAGE 10

SOON-TO-BE GRADUATE SGT. MICHELLE HERCULES STANDS IN FRONT OF THE PULLEY BELL TOWER. CONTRIBUTED BY SGT. SCOTT SMITH

Sgt. Michelle Hercules: Strength and beauty PROFILE

BONNIE MEIBERS NEWS EDITOR

She doesn’t look nearly as tired as she must be. Sergeant Michelle Hercules works the night shift for the Miami University Police Department so she can finish her master’s degree in political science during the day. The Hamilton native’s days start at 9:30 p.m. when she gets to work. On Mondays and Wednesdays, when she gets off at 7:30 a.m., she has time for a nap before coming back to campus and going to her 1:15 class. But, on Tuesdays and Thursdays when she gets off at 7:30 a.m., she has only about an hour to grab a cup of coffee before her 8:30. “I’ve sacrificed a lot of sleep this semester,” she said, chuckling. On top of all that, until three weeks ago, Hercules worked one or two night shifts a week at a Butler County jail. And she is always trying to do overtime

Armstrong Pavilion C Tuesday, 6 - 7:30 p.m. Come celebrate Chanukah with Hillel: Association of Jewish Students this Tuesday evening. Students can decorate Chanukah sweatshirts, eat latkes, ice donuts and play dreidel. As the event’s name suggests, there will be plenty of chocolate coins, or gelt, to enjoy!

“All I do is motivate her,” Smith said. Smith said he is an “amateur photographer,” and he gifted Hercules two photographs that he took that reminded him of her. He titled them “Strength” and “Beauty.” They now hang in their shared office. “Strength” is a close-up of a pillar at the Formal Gardens. The large stones are in focus and the soft green and daylight behind them are fuzzy. “Beauty” is the front lawn of Lewis Place. Pink flowers at the base of a gnarled tree are in full bloom. “She is a remarkable lady,” Smith said. “Even to her fellow law enforcement, she is very impressive.” Hercules cites time management and determination as the keys to her success this past year and a half, working full time and going to school full time. Hercules said that her favorite professor is her public budgeting professor, professor Anna Erwin. “I’m really interested to see what her next step will be. She could be a great leader and a changemaker,” Erwin said of

Hercules. “She has the capacity to grow leaps and bounds and make more of a positive impact on her community.” And Hercules isn’t planning on leaving Oxford anytime soon. “For now, I’m going to stay here,” she said. “But first I’m going to rest.” Hercules has a cyst on her pancreas that she is getting removed after graduation. After the surgery, she’ll have three months off, during which she plans to rest and build a playroom for her two grandchildren, Mila and Chance. “I’m looking forward to being ‘Meme’ full time,” she said. “Family is very important to me.” Hercules said her quickly approaching graduation doesn’t seem real. She can’t believe that she really did it. “It’s been an emotional, physical and mental roller coaster ride,” Hercules said. “But it’s now coming to a halt. In two weeks I’ll be a graduate.” meiberbr@miamioh.edu @bmeibers

Celebrating Hanukkah during finals week HOLIDAYS

MADDIE TOOLE

THE MIAMI STUDENT

Finals week means two different things: the end of the semester is near, and the holidays are approaching. The first of these major holidays is Hanukkah, or Chanukah, which begins on Tuesday, Dec. 12. For Jewish students like freshman Maddie Dohl, this means being away from home and studying for much of the first four days of the eight-day holiday. Hanukkah follows the Hebrew calendar, so it falls on different days each year. Last year, Hanukkah began after students were home for winter break, but this year it begins on the second day of finals week. “I usually go to my cousin’s house, and they have a big hanukkiah, or menorah, outside their house. So we stand outside their house and light it,” Dohl said. “We usually stay out really late, but this year I will have to be in early because I have to get up at 8 for a final in the morning.” For students wishing to celebrate Hanukkah in Oxford, there

E V E N T S Gelty Pleasure

because she is, after all, paying for school. Hercules also singlehandedly teaches the self-defense courses for MUPD. She hopes to write a book on self-defense some day, a topic she is very passionate about. “I don’t think anybody should feel like they can’t defend themselves just because someone may be bigger than them,” Hercules said. Shortly before starting her master’s program, Hercules was promoted to detective. She has been promoted to sergeant in the past year. “There’s been times that I feel like I can’t, I’m just so tired, but then someone says, ‘Yes you can.’” Hercules said that her officemate, Sergeant Scott Smith, is often that person. “He’s always there to help me out. He’s been a great support,” Hercules said. “But so has my captain, my chief. I can’t think of anyone who hasn’t been supportive.” Smith said Hercules gives him more credit than he deserves.

ILLUSTRATION: CONNOR WELLS

are a few events planned. On Tuesday, Dec. 5, Hillel is hosting a pre-Hanukkah celebration. They will be providing food, information about the holiday and activities such as ugly sweater decorating and candle-making. “Both Jewish and non-Jewish students are invited to participate,” said executive director of Hillel, Mary Miller. “We are having a special activity this year with candle-making to talk about light and how it is experienced in various religions.”

T H I S

Dear World Armstrong Shade Stage Thursday, 11:15 a.m. - 2 p.m. This event allows students, staff and faculty to connect through powerful portraits. Reflect on what you want the world to know about you, then write a message that symbolizes your story for your portrait. Portraits will be revealed in a special reception at 7:30 in the Fritz Pavilion.

Chabad’s celebration is Tuesday, Dec. 12, the first day of Hanukkah, from 7:30 to 8 at the Seal. For the first time in Oxford, they will be lighting a giant menorah made from carved ice. President Crawford will be speaking at the event, and traditional Hanukkah foods, such as donuts and latkes, will be served. “We have menorah lightings in front of the White House, we have menorah lightings on Fifth Avenue, in front of the Kremlin, we have one at the Eiffel Tow-

er,” Rabbi Yossi Greenberg said. “We are sort of the Oxford link to this great, great holiday. Another challenge facing students who wish to celebrate Hanukkah on campus is the inability to light candles in dorms. It is university policy that students living in residence halls are not allowed to be in possession of candles or to have open flames anywhere in the dorms. “We know that it is a problem to light menorahs in the dorms. We understand it is for safety purposes, but students always have a problem,” Greenberg said. “They should contact their RAs and RDs and a lot of dorms will make a specific area that they can watch over for a certain amount of time where students can come and light their menorahs.” In addition, some students will be using electronic menorahs during the holiday. “My roommate and I actually ordered an electronic one on Amazon for our room, so that’s very exciting,” said Dohl. “And I will be home for the end of [Hanukkah], so I still get to do it with my family.” toolemb@miamioh.edu

W E E K

Very Merry Mix & Mingle

Sketched Out!

Oxford Community Arts Center Friday, 6 - 7 p.m.

Pearson Hall 128 Friday & Saturday, 7:30 p.m.

Stroll through open studios or browse the Art Shop for gifts made by local artisans at the center’s monthly Second Friday open house. The event will be followed by the first of two Songs of the Season holiday concerts, featuring local musicians and classic carols.

Laugh away your pre-exam stress with the comedy troupe’s show, “Twas the Night Before Finals.” The group advertises itself as a “phenomenal” study break, and their skits, games and gaffs are sure to make you forget about finals — at least for a bit.

4 CULTURE

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2017

‘JIM AND ANDY’ AND LEARNING TO LIVE WITH YOUR WORST INNER CRITIC

PERELMAK@MIAMIOH.EDU

FRIDAY NIGHT ESPORTS

MEMBERS OF MIAMI VARSITY ESPORTS TEAM PRACTICE IN LOUNGE JUGAL JAIN PHOTO EDITOR

STUDENT LIFE

ANNA MINTON

THE MIAMI STUDENT

WIKIMEDIA COMMONS/ARTHUR NEWBERRY DESIGN EDITOR

COLUMN

DEVON SHUMAN MANAGING EDITOR

I’ve always struggled to articulate my feelings about Jim Carrey. While I’ve enjoyed most of his movies — “Dumb and Dumber,” “The Truman Show,” “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind,” etc. — something about him, as an actor, has always rubbed me the wrong way. The zany, over-the-top antics, the obnoxious lilt in his voice as he bellows yet another “Alllrighty then,” his borderline insufferable disregard for human decency or restraint — call me cynical, but it all seems a bit much. At the same time, however, I’ve never been able to comfortably conclude that I dislike Carrey. Believe me, I have no issue hating certain actors (wipe that smug smirk off your stupid face, Miles Teller), but for some reason, Carrey’s never made the cut. It could just be that the films that surround him are good enough to earn him some contact credit, but it feels deeper than that. On some level, I think I have a sort of profound, artistic respect for him. His comedy might not be my cup of tea, but in Carrey I see someone who has successfully tuned out the noise, who has managed to distance himself from worry and cultivate a wholly personal, unfiltered creative persona. As a fellow creative, I can’t help but respect that. I also can’t help but be terrified by it — his is a level of expression I worry I’ll never reach. In Netflix’s new documentary, “Jim and Andy: The Great Beyond,” we’re awarded a glimpse into the genesis of Carrey’s unrestrained abilities. Using previously unreleased footage from the set of 1999’s “Man on the Moon,” the film documents Carrey’s experience method acting (put simply, never leaving character) as the late performance artist Andy Kaufman. As Kaufman, Carrey amazed and often terrified his colleagues on set, as they began to wonder if the famous comedian had actually come down and planted himself within Carrey’s body. It’s fun and surreal, but at times it’s uncomfortable. His peculiar, erratic behavior often threatens the efficiency of the production and the safety of those on set. Watching the trailer, one question plagued me: Is this a genius, a master

of his craft, or is it simply another Hollywood egomaniac who’s just a bit too into himself? Within the first few minutes of the film, I began to worry it was the latter. A modern-day Carrey, with his face covered in a hairy behemoth of a lumberjack beard, stares unsettling into the camera, uttering nauseatingly philosophical musings regarding what happened back in 1999. He recalls one moment, shortly after getting cast, when he looked out over the ocean and saw 30 dolphins among the waves. “That’s the moment that Andy Kaufman showed up, tapped me on the shoulder, and said, ‘Sit down. I’ll be doing my movie.’” It was a new level of cringe-inducing pretentiousness. I think I audibly responded, “Fuck you.” But as the film progressed, I started to recognize something deeper at play. Carrey idolized Kaufman. As a comedian, Kaufman crafted a style that had never been seen before. He was unflinchingly committed to his character, able to strip himself down to a pure Id and do whatever was required in order to entertain his audience. In order to embody him, and in order to reach that height within his own performance, Carrey had to similarly erase all worry about what others thought of him and, most importantly, what he thought about himself. “Where did this character come from?” he asks. “What is the dirt that the pearl is built around? And the pearl is the personality that you build around yourself as a protection against that thought: ‘If they ever find out that I’m worthless, if they ever find out that I’m not enough, I’ll be destroyed.’” It would have been easy to be turned away by his indulgent metaphors and whimsical voice, but persisting through all that, I recognized my own greatest fear. As someone with anxiety and depression, managing and fending off toxic thoughts comprises an agonizing portion of my day. Even on good days, I’m frequently having to remind myself that I have worth, that I’m talented and loved, and that I’m going to be okay. On bad days, it often requires all of my own energy just to stay afloat. And even then, sometimes I fail. But more specifically, as a writer, filling a blank page can often become an exercise in self-beratement. A common aphorism, that I think many writ-

ers would agree with, explains, “I hate writing. I love having written.” Good writers understand that there is an infinite amount of ways to relay their message to their audience, so they’re constantly terrorized by the thought that they’re not quite getting it, that someone is going to dislike their style and criticize their ability, that by the time they’re printing out what they’ve spent all this time on, they’re going to be ashamed by what they wrote. The key, I’ve found, is not silencing those thoughts. They’re going to come — that’s just part of the gig. No, the key is recognizing that you are not your thoughts. That voice telling you that this is garbage, that there are endless ways you could be better communicating this, that nobody likes you or your work — that’s not you. You are deeper. You are the pure, beautiful pearl those thoughts are trying to restrain. You have something to say. Even as I’m writing this, I have an inner antagonist telling me to just throw in the towel, insisting that I’ve already strayed too far off course with this column and nobody is going to know what I’m talking about. If I recognize the thought and allow it to pass, then I can finish writing. If I let it consume me, this will never be published (P.S. If you hate this column, I’ll be happy to pass the message on to my inner critic; she’ll be happy to know she was right. P.P.S. I don’t know why my inner critic is a woman… I probably need to talk to my therapist about that). We’re approaching that dreaded week when the hell of cumulative exams and 10-page papers loom menacingly and force us to stay up into the late hours studying or typing. Unless you’ve somehow already reached the sort of artistic nirvana achieved by the likes of Carrey and Kaufman, chances are you’re going to have plenty of your own inner critics to deal with. So when those thoughts start to creep in, when they start to tell you that you’re dumb or worthless, that you’re bound to fail that exam and flunk out of school, just pause. Close your eyes. Take a deep breath. Exhale. And remember that everything is going to be okay. Good luck on finals, and have a happy holiday!

Sitting outside of Miami University’s King Library after dark on a Friday night, one can see all types of people headed Uptown for the night. However, amid the sea of people making the trek up slant walk, another group emerges. Instead of heading toward Uptown, this group makes a beeline for the library, straight to the back. The Esports lounge is located on the first floor of the library and can be seen from afar by the bright red wall surrounding it. Inside, the room is dark, mainly lit by the screens lining the perimeter of the room. State-of-the-art monitors display different games, and the only noise comes from the click of keyboards and the occasional cry of victory. “We have three teams that are all under the varsity banner,” said junior and Hearthstone team member Bradley Frysinger. “One team plays ‘Overwatch,’ another team plays ‘League of Legends’ and I am on the ‘Hearthstone’ team, which is a card game.” The program has been in existence for just two years and began with tryouts for a varsity team. Hearthstone team analyst and graduate student Mitch Mazzei and his friend decided to try out and were some of the original members of the first Hearthstone team. “It was a huge part of the libraries,” Mazzei said. “IT services at Miami put in a lot of work and a lot of money to help get us started.” Each team has about six members, and there are even more alternate team players. The lounge is one of the busiest rooms in the library, but only when the rest of the building is asleep. The teams practice three days a week, never starting before 8 p.m., and matches start even later — the leagues the teams play in are based in California, so they have to coordinate with their time zone. “When we schedule our practices, we try to keep them at a good time for everyone,” Frysinger said. “Normally our practices are later, but we moved them up a bit on Friday nights, so people can go home on the weekends.” None of the team seems to mind the late practice hours. “It’s a varsity sport, and that’s the way that we treat it,” said Mazzei. “That’s sort of the level or rigor that we are trying to bring to it. We are in here practicing as much as we can, in addition to our scheduled practice times, because we want to be the best at what we do.” Most team members have been playing these games for the majority of their lives. “Most players are veteran players who have been playing for years with the exception of ‘Overwatch,’ which is a relatively new game,” said Frysinger, who has been playing “Hearthstone” since his freshman year. “The guys who have been playing ‘League’ have been playing for years and years.” The veteran players have been working hard to find a place of their own, to be able to work on their game with the respect that they deserve. “That is sort of one of the big points that we want to make is that we are serious,” said Mazzei. “On campus, we are getting results and putting work in, and we want to be visual. We are in the library with some awesome set-ups, and we are just doing our thing.”

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Mac Bites vs. Mac Bites: This town is big enough for the both of them FOOD

BEN DEETER

THE MIAMI STUDENT

High Street in Uptown Oxford houses a wide variety of eating establishments. Chain restaurants like Skyline Chili and Subway share the same bit of road as the local businesses and holes-in-the-wall like Steinkeller and Bruno’s Pizza. Two of these eateries, Skipper’s Pub and Mac and Joe’s, exist at opposite ends of one of the mildest debates to grace the brick street. The question is: Who serves the better mac and cheese bites? The thing is, they’re the same. Both get their mac and cheese bites from Fred’s for Starters, a food service that offers several frozen appetizers to its partnered businesses. Fred’s provides a plethora of starters including fried pickles, mozzarella sticks, onion rings and, of course, mac and cheese bites. The differences that do exist are sub-

tle. Skipper’s fries its bites in 350-degree vegetable oil and serves them with chipotle ranch for dipping, while Mac and Joe’s uses soybean oil at 350 degrees and a side of aioli, essentially a spicy mayonnaise. Mac and Joe’s has a long history as an Oxford eatery. John McFall and Joe Beinford, two Oxford natives, opened their doors in 1946, becoming one of the first bars in Oxford post-Prohibition. Seventy-one years later, it hasn’t strayed from its classic layout. Dark wooden booths line the upstairs and downstairs walls, enclosing additional tables in the center. The bars in either space stand out, with each taking up nearly the entire length of a wall. John Hollenbaugh, the owner of Essenza Corp, which oversees Mac and Joe’s, has strived to preserve the environment in his 25 years of ownership. “I wanted to keep the same layout for alumni,” Hollenbaugh said in an interCONTINUED ON PAGE 9

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CULTURE 5

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2017

Oxford welcomes the holiday season

FAMILIES GET TOGETHER TO SKATE AT OXFORD HOLIDAY FESTIVAL IN UPTOWN ON DEC. 2 SABIK AKAND THE MIAMI STUDENT

STUDENTS HOP INTO THE PHOTO BUS SABIK AKAND THE MIAMI STUDENT

“All of the trees lining the streets of Uptown Oxford were illuminated. Dozens of little white bulbs brought life to the bare branches.”

FROM FRONT PAGE

She caught their gazes and ran to bury her face in her mother’s legs, and then reached her arms up asking her mom to pick her up. “Are you being bashful?” the mom asked her daughter. The little girl lifted her face tentatively from her mom’s shoulder, and then quickly turned away when she saw the group still staring. After a few more rounds of rides, it was their turn. The groups toward the front of the line piled into the carriage. Malena was the last of the friend group to get on, and there was just enough room for her on the bench if they squished, but instead, the woman in charge of

the ride standing at the back of the carriage let her sit in front next to the driver. As the carriage rounded the corner onto the backroad leading to High Street, the woman pulled two mini teddy bears from her coat pocket and gave them to the little boy and girl. “Thank you!” they both chirped, hugging the bears to their chest. Naturally, this prompted more “awws,” but the children were too invested in their new gifts to worry about the older kids watching them now. In true holiday spirit, everyone was excited to see the gift of giving. Their next stop was to see the reindeer. Parents crouched down next to their children outside of the red met-

al enclosure asking whether they thought the two reindeer were Dasher and Dancer or Donner and Blitzen. The girls all reached down to pet their slightly dirty white coat. Shelby thought they were cute, even though they smelled bad. At 6:30, sirens barrelled toward Uptown park. Wandering college students turned their heads toward the noise, figuring that this was just a response to the typical weekend activities. But the children knew that the sirens meant something different. An Oxford Fire Department firetruck pulled over on High Street, and children ran up to greet the one and only Santa Claus. Santa walked up onto the stage in front of the park and waved to the

kids eager to be in his presence. He was there to do a task that only Santa could do. He ceremoniously flipped the large switch on the stage and all of the trees lining the streets of Uptown Oxford were illuminated. Dozens of little white bulbs brought life to the bare branches. The Uptown strip, already bright with street signs and passing headlights, became even brighter. It’s a simple thing, but it’s enough for Oxford residents young and old, old and new, to turn their heads up and smile for the start of the holiday season. fentermc@miamioh.edu

DANCE THEATRE SHOWCASES STUDENTS’ STRUGGLES THEATRE

EMILY DATTILO

THE MIAMI STUDENT

The stage in Wilks Theater stood empty aside from soft purple and blue lights. A moment later it was bursting with artistic movements, monochromatic costumes and climbing piano music. Miami University Dance Theatre hosted its annual winter concert on December 2-3. The show included eight dances and a finale, choreographed by students, guest choreographers and directors. Each dance was distinctly different, though each artistically articulated some form of a journey. The pieces choreographed by students felt especially personal. The first piece, titled “Through it All,” which was choreographed by sophomore Sally Micsko, began with dim lights and graceful movements. One dancer had individual choreography contrasting the simultaneous motions of the group surrounding her. “This dance was about forgiveness and I wanted to portray that there can be beauty in forgiveness,” Micsko said. “So many times family member and friend relationships end because of an inability to forgive, but I wanted to portray that forgiveness is an act of love.” The second dance “Dysphoria,” choreographed by junior Olivia Bethel, involved

two main dancers, one of whom lay on the ground and reached for help, while the other dancer acted as the antagonist, haunting the girl and refusing to leave. This emotional piece exemplified a personal experience of abuse and healing. “When I was younger, my biological mother was abusive,” Bethel said. “Later we discovered she suffered from multiple personality disorder and that was really hard to process as a young child. The rest of the piece was attributed to the rest of the people in my life who have built me up and helped me be who I am.” Another dance, titled “Ressucitera” and choreographed by junior Annika Dodrill, was a raw, personal, two-part journey. “[The dance] was specifically about my experience with depression,” Dodrill said. “There are dancers who represent this depression, and one person who is being attacked by these depression figures.” The stage lights fell very dark; the audience could only just make out the movements. The dance began with dancers dressed in black for the first part. One slid to the floor and lay on the ground while another rose above her. At one point two dancers covered their mouths to symbolize the stigma surrounding mental health issues. The second part included dancers in nude-colored dresses, meant to represent people. The girl was confused by their movements, but soon she joined them and they lifted her back up again and again

MEMBERS OF MIAMI’S DANCE THEATRE PERFORM AT DECEMER 3 CONCERT JUGAL JAIN PHOTO EDITOR

when she fell. “I wanted to make sure people know that you can rise again,” Dodrill said. The final dance, “Resting Cure,” choreographed by senior Ellison Luthy, depicted the short story “The Yellow Wallpaper,” which focuses on a woman’s struggle with mental illness that eventually leads to psychosis. The dance began with a single dancer surrounded by a semicircle of girls dressed in black. At one point, the dancers in black dresses formed a chain, holding onto the girl in yellow and refusing to let go. She stood up, covered her eyes, jumped and fell. “I wanted the one dancer to stand out,”

Luthy said. “She’s in an elaborate yellow dress. The surrounding dancers represented the wall and were dressed more simply in black.” The show ended with a finale, bringing to a close an afternoon of artistic expression and emotional stories told through movement. “It was cool to explore something different with different mediums, dancing with and without music,” said senior president Emily Micsko. “It was an awesome mix of dances and it was a great opportunity to be able to express myself in different ways.” dattilec@miamioh.edu

Semester in Photos TUESDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2017

(FAR LEFT) Crawford gives his annual address in Wilks Theater. RYAN TERHUNE for The Miami Student (LEFT) This election season, questions were raised about campaign ‘blocs’ and campaign contributions in the Oxford City Council race. RYAN TERHUNE for The Miami Student (RIGHT) Oxford’s Fire Department has been strained as the number of alcohol-related EMS calls continues to increase. BO BRUECK Asst. Photo Editor (FAR RIGHT) Students discussed racial issues at Miami at the Black State of the Union forum. JUGAL JAIN Photo Editor

The first week of the semester, about 300 students, faculty and community members gathered at the Sundial for a rally against white supremacy. JUGAL JAIN Photo Editor

For the first time in over a century, the RedHawks faced the Fighting Irish. They lost 52-17. ANGELO GELFUSO The Miami Student

Students rallied against sexual assault Oct. 25. After marching down Slant Walk, students shared their own experiences. BO BRUECK Asst. Photo Editor

The Miami Student produced its first print issue of The Miami Student Magazine. This photo was featured in the cover story, ‘Clean.’ HEATHER McCOWAN Magazine Photo Editor

Dave Dabney, rapper for student band The Wrong Crowd, performs in Oxford. BO BRUECK Asst. Photo Editor

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(ABOVE) Eight city council candidates joined The Miami Student for a debate. JUGAL JAIN Photo Editor

(RIGHT) This fall, Greg and Renate Crawford welcomed a new dog, Ivy, to Lewis Place. HEATHER McCOWAN The Miami Student. (FAR RIGHT) This season, Miami volleyball coach Carolyn Condit earned her 700th career win. JUGAL JAIN Photo Editor

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2017

PHOTOS 7

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2017

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TUESDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2017

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

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Mac Bites vs. Mac Bites: This town is big enough for the both of them FROM PAGE 4

view with Project Oxford in the mid-2000s. “When they come back to visit, this touchstone from their past is still the same.” Hollenbaugh’s journey to ownership started in 1972, when he became a bartender at Mac and Joe’s. He eventually moved up to manager and stayed to run the restaurant after he graduated from Miami. Mac and Joe’s fired him in 1975, which led him to work with the then-illegitimate business known as SDS, for Student Delivery Service. Forty-two years later, Hollenbaugh’s company owns SDS Pizza, Steinkeller and Circle Bar, in addition to Mac and Joe’s. For $7.99, patrons can get an order of 16 golden-brown Mac and Joe Bites. “I’ve actually talked about this with people before,” said Emma Scheidt, a server at Mac and Joe’s. “I like ours better. I feel like they’re crispier on the outside, and I feel like the sauce is better here too.” Skipper’s, while lacking the tenure of Mac and Joe’s, has its own history. Terry and Andrew Amarantos, hailing from Chicago, opened Skipper’s Pub in 1984 for Miami’s Little Sibs Weekend (now Family Weekend). They named the restaurant after their father’s hot dog stand back home, Skipper’s Red Hots. Originally the site of a textbook

HOCKEY LOSES 4-0 ON SATURDAY

Ali Hackman Asst. Business Manager

Megan Zahneis Special Projects Editor

Cartoonist A.J. Newberry

SOPHOMORE FORWARD WILLIE KNIERIM (92) FIGHTS CORNELL FRESHMAN FORWARD MORGAN BARRON ON FRIDAY NIGHT AT THE STEVE ‘COACH’ CADY ARENA. ANGELO GELFUSO THE MIAMI STUDENT

store and a Dairy Queen, Skipper’s started in the downstairs pub space, eventually growing and adding the bar, Top Deck, to the upstairs space. “We brought Chicago with us with things like our Italian sausage, beef, giardiniera peppers and the gyros,” Andrew said. “We’re very hands-on guys, big believers in staff. Our staff is the cream of the crop. Without a good staff, you’ve got nothing.” Customers at Skipper’s get an order of eight mac and cheese bites for $4.69. “I think it has to do with the oil we fry them in,” said Courtney Kasper, a Skipper’s employee loyal to her establishment’s bites. “Ours are also cheaper than Mac and Joe’s.” Despite their bites being cut from the same cloth, Mac and Joe’s and Skipper’s mac bites will likely endure many more years of debate, with the soybean and vegetable oils creating enough of a difference to fuel the fire. Andrew Amarantos believes that both establishments will continue to find success in the face of the burning question. “They’re just so different,” Andrew said. “Nobody’s coming in here for a sit-down kind of meal, just like nobody’s going over to Mac’s at 2 a.m. The two are just fundamentally different.”

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 14

tled for a penalty and the Big Red went on the man-advantage 8:40 into the period. The RedHawks’ 4-for-4 penalty kill unit from Friday night looked effective early, as sophomore goaltender Ryan Larkin smothered necessary pucks and the ’Hawks kept Cornell to the outside of the offensive zone. Before Miami could return their penalized skater to the ice, junior forward Anthony Angello came up with the puck on the right side of the crease, skated around the net and took a shot from the left side that snuck past Larkin to beat him five-hole. The goal put Cornell up 1-0 at the 9:24 mark of the period. Several shifts later, the ’Hawks were whistled for too many men on the ice and went back on the man-disadvantage. Senior defenseman Louie Belpedio and freshman forward Ben Lown cleared the puck early and Larkin shut down a blue line breakaway to weather most of the Big Red’s power play. However, senior forward Trevor Yates struck from the blue line with 17 seconds left on his team’s man-advantage. Larkin was screened and couldn’t make the save, as Cornell went up 2-0 with just under eight minutes left in the period. Thirty seconds later, freshman forward Kyle Betts scored from the slot and put Miami down 3-0 at 7:24. The rest of the period dragged on for the RedHawks and their fans -- Steve ‘Coach’ Cady arena was uncharacteristically quiet. The ’Hawks became more puck focused and couldn’t get out of their zone, but matched the Big Red’s physicality. The RedHawks’ best chance of the period came when junior forward Kiefer Sherwood won a faceoff to put the puck on freshman defenseman Alec Mahalak’s stick. Mahalak fed sophomore defenseman Grant Frederic right-to-left and Frederic ripped a shot at Cornell’s goaltender, senior Hayden Stewart. The period drew to a close with Miami outshot 10-8 and down 3-0 where it counted. “I actually thought in the second period, there was a stretch where we were kind of coming on a little bit,” Blasi said. “Then, we take a few more undisciplined penalties and kill the momentum.” The opening minutes of the second was mostly a battle for puck possession, as both teams tied each other up along the boards and Miami fought harder with fresh legs. The RedHawks set up a cycle in Cornell’s end for a minute stretch and the ’Hawks looked to capitalize on one of Stewart’s rebounds. The Lown, sophomore Gordie Green and junior Josh Melnick forward line worked for good looks and set up junior defenseman Grant Hutton at the blue line for a shot through traffic. Halfway through the period, Miami was outshooting Cornell 4-2 to bring the shot count to 12-12. Minutes later, both teams were whistled for penalties and 4-on-4 play ensued for twenty seconds before freshman forward Casey Gilling was given hooking and a 10-minute misconduct penalties. The 4-on-3 advantage went to Cornell and stifled any momentum Miami had generated. The ’Hawks killed off the penalties with good sticks and a couple of faceoff wins before starting offen-

sive play. Trying to break Stewart’s wall, the RedHawks got hot again as the period wore on. In an offensive rush, Mahalak fed sophomore forward Carson Meyer from the right side. Meyer was open, all alone in the middle, but his shot went wide. With four minutes left, Sherwood and Hutton then battled to hold the zone, but were crammed into the boards -- unable to set up a cycle. Sophomore forward Karch Bachman shot from his backhand and the rebound danced along the crease behind Stewart. Cornell escaped trouble and batted away the loose puck to keep its 3-0 lead. A power play with 1:36 left in the period attempted to jump start the RedHawks, but the Big Red again tied up the ’Hawks along the boards. A shot from Lown marked the end of the period, and Miami went back to its locker room down 3-0, though outshooting Cornell 10-7. “[Undisciplined penalties] was the trend the rest of the night,” Blasi said. “Just not disciplined enough, not working hard enough, not executing enough.” Cornell opened the third period by killing the 24 remaining seconds of Miami’s power play by blocking shots. At the other end, Miami’s defense was tested early, as Larkin made a huge stop and two Miami defensemen crashed the net to knock the loose puck out of the crease. Melnick and Green were sprung on a 2-on-1 rush and took one pass too many so that Green couldn’t control the puck for a shot. After another save by Larkin, Green set up Bachman for a one-timer that Stewart smothered in the third period goaltending battle. The teams traded power plays, though neither capitalized and the period marched past the 10-minute mark. Miami was able to put more shots on net, but was unable to get sticks on Stewart’s rebounds. A 4-on-4 with 5:24 left forced Blasi to pull Larkin to gain the man-advantage and put his team in a position to even the score. The RedHawks held the zone and repeatedly took shots from the point, looking for a deflection or a tip from the guys in front of Stewart. After the mutual penalties expired, Miami had three minutes to tie it up. The task proved too daunting for the Red and White -- the Big Red would end the game with a shutout and an empty net goal from senior forward Alex Rauter to win 4-0. “We took a lot of foolish penalties tonight — undisciplined penalties — and when you do that, it’s not a formula for good results,” Blasi said. Miami ultimately outshot Cornell 26-23. After Miami had a perfect Friday night on the power play and penalty kill, Cornell had a perfect Saturday night on the kill and a respectable night on the power play. The Big Red were 2-for-4 on the power play and 3-for-3 on the kill. Three of Cornell’s players recorded multipoint nights -- Rauter, Angello and Yates each notched a goal and an assist. The Big Red’s defense blocked 19 shots to inhibit Miami’s offense. The RedHawks look to bounce back on the road against Western Michigan University this weekend. The Mid-American Conference matchup will be broadcast on NCHC.TV. Puck drop is 7:05 p.m. on both Friday and Saturday night.

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deeterbj@miamioh.edu

Dear Professor Tobin,

Thank you for a great semester. Please, relax and enjoy the break. You deserve it. Love, The Miami Student Staff

P.S. Please come to our Christmas party.

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2017

NEWS@MIAMISTUDENT.NET

ASG votes on ‘fiscally responsible’ budget for student orgs tions will be able to request a maximum of $3,000 a semester and they can apply for late night funding. In addition to Tier 1 requirements, they will be required to attend an annual meeting with a SEAL ambassador, send one representative to a SEAL workshop. They will be allowed to attend Fall Mega Fair. Tier 3 student organizations will be able to request a maximum of $6,000 a semester.

FROM PAGE 3

Tier 1 student organizations will be able to request a maximum of $1,500 a semester. They will be required to register their organization annually, attend president and treasurer training and keep an updated constitution on the hub. They will be allowed to attend the currently-unplanned “Mini-Mega Fair.” Tier 2 student organiza-

They must fulfill most previous requirements, attend three SEAL workshops a semester, engage further with the community and attend an inclusivity workshop. They will be able to attend Winter Mega Fair. Tier 4 student organizations will be able to request up to $10,000 a semester. They must fulfill most previous requirements, as well as attend leadership training and create transition binders for their or-

ganizations. The new system was developed alongside student activities and is modelled after funding schemes in place at Temple University and University of New Hampshire. While Weimer acknowledges the system could be restrictive for some organizations, she said the tiers were structured in a way to allow as many orgs as possible to climb as high as possible.

“I think there is a fear that we are trying to keep people down and in lower tiers or things like that, but really our goal is for everyone to not only reach as high a tier as they desire, but to make the system work for them,” said Weimer. “It’s very flexible, there are quantitative measures, but there is still a lot of flexibility within that.” evansjm4@miamioh.edu

Crossword by: Emily Williams

ACROSS:

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_________ Ornaments shop for over 64 years. 13. ’Tis the _______ 14. Pepper or spear 15. People on the “Nice List” get these. 17. “______ on Earth, goodwill toward men.” 18. Cranberry _____ 22. A star-shaped spice 23. ______ St. Nick

24. This wintry character likes warm hugs. 25. At Oxford’s annual Holiday Festival, Santa Claus arrives on this DOWN: 1. Frozen rain 2. Good tidings are brought to them. 4. German for “Christmas tree” 6. In this country, giving books as Christmas gifts is so popular it has its own name, the “Christmas Book Flood.” 7. RedHawks hockey public announcer Scott ____ is also an official member of the Brotherhood of Real Beard Santas. 8. In the 1969 cartoon “The Legend of Frosty the Snowman,” the title character is trapped in a greenhouse full of these. 10. Every year, Miami’s Choraliers performs Benjamin ______ “A Ceremony of Carols.” 11. This fills a boat. 12. The Oxford chapter of the _______ Club hosts a holiday food drive every year. 16. Cross-country or downhill. 17. Finding this in your Christmas tree means either a reward or good fortune for the coming year. 19. Don’t run this. 20. People on the “naughty” list get this. 21. Diminutive helper answers online at miamistudent.net/dec-crossword

Students for Life file free speech suit against Miami FROM PAGE 1

the president of the Hamilton campus’ Students for Life chapter, feared that the signs would lessen the exhibit’s impact. Wittman rejected the proposal from Borges, saying it would “interfere with the purpose of the Cemetery of the Innocents display,” the lawsuit says. She recalls that in November 2016, when Miami University Hamilton Pride — a selfdescribed “LGBTQIA+ and ALLY organization for promoting social justice and equality for everyone along the gender and sexuality spectrum” — showed a similar display for the Transgender

Day of Remembrance, it was not required to place any signs identifying MUH Pride as the sponsoring organization or providing contact information. “This display could have caused some individuals to experience ‘emotional trauma’ upon seeing it, just as Defendant Borges and Haverkos feared would happen with the Cemetery of the Innocents display,” the lawsuit says. “No university official has the authority to censor student speech simply because of how someone might respond to it,” wrote ADF Legal Counsel Travis Barham in a press release. “Like all government officials, public university administrators have an obligation to respect students’ free speech rights. The First

Amendment secures the freedom of all students to participate in the marketplace of ideas, and it prohibits university officials from imposing trigger warnings that restrict what some students can say to spare the feelings of others.” Claire Wagner, spokeswoman for Miami, said that the university respects its students’ right to free speech. “This lawsuit appears to be the result of an unfortunate misunderstanding at Miami University’s Hamilton campus,” Wagner said in an email. “The University does not approve or disapprove of any student organization’s display based on content or subject matter. Miami University does not require trigger warnings.

“Our values dictate that we protect the rights of our students and student organizations to hold and express disparate beliefs and we encourage the discussion and learning that comes from sharing our differences,” Wagner added. “If mistakes were made, they will be addressed.” ADF, a Scottsdale, Ariz.-based group founded in 2014, aims to “defend religious freedom before it [is] too late,” according to its website. The Christian legal advocacy and training group also lists “sanctity of life” and “marriage and family” as core issues. It is currently representing Colorado cake artist Jack Phillips in a U.S. Supreme Court case. In 2012, Phillips declined to design a wedding cake for a same-sex

couple. ADF is also listed by the Southern Press Law Center as a hate group, and according to the SPLC website “has supported the recriminalization of homosexuality in the U.S. and criminalization abroad; has defended state-sanctioned sterilization of trans people abroad; has linked homosexuality to pedophilia and claims that a ‘homosexual agenda’ will destroy Christianity and society.” Borges declined to comment on the lawsuit. Additional reporting by Kirby Davis and Megan Zahneis. goldjb@miamioh.edu @goldjb

Have a favorite holiday song? Send your suggestions to evansjm4@miamioh.edu and we ’ll publish them on a ‘Student’ playlist. Even if we hate them.

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2017

NEWS@MIAMISTUDENT.NET

Charter Day Ball welcomes all members of community THEATRE

MAIA ANDERSON

THE MIAMI STUDENT

This February, Miami University will host the Charter Day Ball, an event that brings the community together every three years to celebrate Miami University’s birthday. Miami University was chartered in February of 1809, and the Charter Day Ball has been held every three years since 1976 to celebrate the anniversary. The Ball is the largest student-run event Miami hosts. This year a team of roughly 60 students is involved in the planning. The team of student planners is broken up into specific committees, such as the Marketing Committee and the Logistics Committee, but they all work closely together. “As the marketing co-chair, I can’t do anything without interacting with at least one of the other committees,” said Emily McAlister. “We run everything by the other committees and work with each other on a lot of things.” This year the teams of students who are planning the Ball involves an Inclusion Committee designed to make sure every person in the Miami community feels welcome at the event. This year is the first that the

team will have the inclusion committee, a team of seven students from all different backgrounds who are devoted to making sure every person in the Miami community feels they are wanted and welcome at the Charter Day Ball. “A lot of times people might not feel included at Miami, which is a shame because I love this place so much,” said Elizabeth Kilbride, cochair of the inclusion committee. “Inclusion is making sure that everyone feels welcome.” The idea for an Inclusion Committee came from the current advisor, Lisa Combs, a graduate student at Miami. After looking through past photos of previous Balls, Combs and other members of the planning committees noticed that the people overwhelmingly represented only white and upper class students. “I don’t know what it’s like to see an ad and not see myself in it because as a white, heterosexual female, it doesn’t really happen to me,” said McAlister. “Inclusion wants to make sure no one ever feels that way.” The co-chair of the Inclusion committee, Darsh Parthasarathy, decided to become involved in the committee because she is an international student who wasn’t familiar with the idea of a prom-like event.

“I’m an international student so when I first heard about the ball I was confused because I didn’t have prom,” said Parthasarathy. “I thought it was cool because I had only seen prom on television.” According to Parthasarathy, she was encouraged not only to attend the ball but to apply for the executive committee by J.S. Bragg, the Assistant Director of Student Affairs. “I felt very included when I first became involved with the planning of the ball, and I want to make sure everyone else feels that way too,” said Parthasarathy. The Inclusion Committee will host a formal-wear drive on February 5-6 in the Armstrong Pavilion and will have dresses and suits available for low prices. In this way, the group hopes students who are less financially well off feel able to attend the event. More information on the formal-wear drive will be available closer to the date of the Charter Day Ball. The group has also worked closely with the Marketing Committee in order to ensure that the flyers and advertisements promoting the Charter Day Ball represent a diverse array of groups. There are several different advertisements on display currently, some depicting heterosexual couples dancing, while others feature homosexual

couples. “We work with the marketing committee to ensure the advertisements work,” said Kilbride. “We don’t want to shove it in everyone’s face, but we want to ensure that everyone feels welcome and that they are representative of a lot of different people.” The Inclusion Committee has also worked with diversity groups such as Spectrum and the Office of Diversity Affairs in order to make effective and inclusive advertisements. They have partnered with the “It’s On Us” campaign so people know that it will be a safe environment to socialize with people. “We don’t want people to think it’s like a bar kind of scene,” said Kilbride. “We want people to know that our values align with the ‘It’s On Us’ campaign and there will be security to ensure everyone’s safety at the event.” Inclusion has ensured that diverse styles of clothing are featured in their promotional videos, as well as translating flyers into Mandarin — the second most common language spoken on Miami’s campus. The venue will be accessible for people in wheelchairs, and will have a sensory room with less lights and sound for people who may have sensory issues. Additionally, the online LookBook they produced made sure not

to say “Ladies and Gents” as labels for their clothing, but rather “Suits and Dresses,” so if a female wants to wear a suit or a male wants to wear a dress, they feel comfortable with that choice. The LookBook can be found through the Charter Day Ball Twitter account, @CharterDay_Ball. The group has also reached out to Miami’s branch campuses in Middletown and Hamilton to let the students there know they are welcome to the event. Inclusion, as well as the other committees planning the event, wants everyone to know that the Miami community doesn’t just include students and teachers, but the Oxford community as well. “Miami wouldn’t be what it is without the people of Oxford,” said McAlister. “We want them to know that they are also welcome to attend the event.” The upcoming Charter Day Ball will be held in Millett Hall on February 17, 2018. Tickets cost $40 for students and $50 for members of the community, faculty and staff. Tickets can be purchased at the box office located in the Campus Avenue building, as well as the online box office. ander198@miamioh.edu

The Miami Student hosted a launch party for its first print issue of The Miami Student Magazine at Kofenya Coffee on Wednesday, Nov. 29. Local student band The Wrong Crowd performed an hourlong set for the crowd that packed the High Street cofeehouse. Copies of the magazine are available in buildings around campus. JUGAL JAIN PHOTO EDITOR

Miami Student joins ‘Your Voice Ohio’ reporting initiative FROM PAGE 1

ton. During these times residents, will have the opportunity to meet with journalists one-on-one and gain a better understanding of how journalism works and how reporters can provide the public with more relevant information about rehabilitation centers, opioid addiction hotlines, etc. Updates and stories regarding the Your Voice Ohio initiative from The Student, in cooperation with fellow members of the OMP, will be available at miamistudent.net throughout winter break and J-term. goldjb@miamioh.edu doyleca3@miamioh.edu

Miami primatologist earns national distinction walk right past the palms, unaware there is food inside the nuts. Grooming is also a context in which culture can be found. Marchant has observed populations in which chimpanzees clasped hands above their heads while they groomed one another. “We are heavily embedded in culture as Homo sapiens,” Marchant said, “And there are a number of other species that are argued to have culture patterns, so why not look for models in other taxa?” While Marchant has been formally recognized for her research, her colleagues and students also laud her for her passion and mentorship. Julienne Rutherford, a professor at the University of Illinois-Chicago and one of Marchant’s former students, described her as a “funny, spritely, fierce, brilliant woman.” Rutherford knew Marchant was different from the beginning of her first class. “I have always been in love with school,” said Rutherford, who graduated from Miami in 1996. “But something new happens to your heart when your professor climbs up on top of

the desk to pant hoot while knuckle-walking.” Jill Pruetz, professor of anthropology at Texas State University, recalled her first trip to Senegal with Marchant. “Among all the valuable lessons I learned from [Linda] as a primatologist, I also genuinely enjoyed sharing that often tough field experience with her,” Pruetz said.“She has a lovely singing voice and excellent French accent, but she also does an amazing frog imitation, and I literally saw her run faster than I thought humanly possible.” Marchant laughed at the memory, admitting that she was probably running from African bees. “Trust me, in the field you wind up running a lot,” she said. In Africa, a land of bees, snakes, leopards, hyena, buffalo, hippos and beyond, Marchant has proven herself to be far from timid. “You can be subject to the vagaries of accidents and emergencies everywhere,” Marchant said. “And what do I do, stay home and hide under my bed?” It’s in the field where Marchant sees her colleagues and students discover their inner

resources and find out what they’re capable of. She helps them through it, and, back in the classroom, she does the same. “I think I’m a talent spotter,” Marchant said. “I’m creating opportunities, and then they embrace it and they just run with it… If they’ve got the ability, they just have to get the opportunity and the support.” Marchant is active with her students, even those with majors outside her department.; if she can excite, appall or otherwise emotionally engage them, she considers that a success. Her students have become able to be researchers, published authors and presenters at conferences even at the undergraduate level. “Linda taught me, as she has countless students and colleagues, that serious science can also be full of joy and laughter,” Rutherford said. “[She taught me] that you don’t have to sell your soul to become a great scholar, that you introduce your students to your colleagues and that no matter what, never ever let the bastards get you down.” arwinejk@miamioh.edu

I prefer trees that aren’t plugged in

12 OPINION

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2017

HARTJT@MIAMIOH.EDU

Emergency services forum: Keeping Oxford, Miami safe The following reflects the majority opinion of the editorial board. Next semester, The Miami Student will host a forum dedicated to bringing together the community and discussing how our town allocates its emergency resources. It will feature officials from the Oxford Fire Department, Oxford Police Department, Miami University Police Department and McCullough-Hyde Memorial Hospital, as well as city and university representatives. The date is set for the evening of Wednesday, Feb. 7 in Wilks Theater. In recent weeks, it has been the OFD at the forefront at the conversation, as reported in Assistant News Editor Céilí Doyle’s Oct. 24 article titled “Burnt out: OFD staff stretched thin.” Just this past weekend, the OFD answered 45 EMS calls, 21 of which were alcohol-related and 24 fire-related. However, now that the general issue of strained emergency resources has emerged, it is time to expand the conversation to all relevant parties. This forum will be a step toward that goal. While this event may not be a blockbuster production

with a celebrity host, its weight cannot be overstressed to the Miami and Oxford community. Oxford’s town-gown relationship is oftentimes a mutually beneficial one, but, in recent years, the strain that Miami students have been putting on the city and its departments has intensified. The issues are complex, including how hospital, police and fire staff have to deal with grossly drunk students, and how the city can finance emergency services and other departments like parks and roads while simultaneously maintaining student and resident safety throughout the town. Student drinking is inextricably linked to all of these issues and must be addressed as well, though it will not be the sole focus of the conversation. Students must understand that whenever they go to the hospital or are picked up by police, that puts an impactful, collective strain on the resources of all of these departments. Hospital and fire staff are nearing their capacity to serve both school and city without burning out. This meeting is a way of getting everyone together to reconcile this problem. With such a large ratio of students to permanent residents in Oxford, it is imperative that students from all

Campus should treat rape seriously TERESA ANIEV

THE MIAMI STUDENT

A lot of things stand out about Miami University: its educational status, which is among some of the most prestigious schools in the nation, and its famous aesthetic are just a few. Other aspects of Miami include its wide variety of majors and minors to choose from, its thorough list of required courses and the fact that, for each month of this semester, a girl has reported being sexually assaulted on campus. At the root of the problems that sexual assault and rape pose is rape culture, a popular phrase nowadays. It is used to describe an environment where society normalizes rape based on attitudes about gender and sexuality. It includes thing such as victim-blaming, slut-shaming and trivializing sexual assault (by, for instance, making a rape joke). Some say that the term “rape culture” is overused; more specifically, Wendy McElroy, author of “Rape Culture Hysteria: Fixing the Damage Done to Men and Women” writes that “social justice warriors are creating hysteria about a non-existent rape culture in order to impose a specific ideology.” This might apply if we were only evaluating the United States. But if we expand our line of vision to the rest of the world, we can begin to understand why our population needs to be educated on rape culture and what our reality would be like if it wasn’t a well-known term across our country. An example is Azerbaijan: the birthplace of my parents and grandparents before them, it was something of a tropical paradise. Baku, the city that they lived in, contained everything a person desired, from swaying palms to bustling market squares where locals haggled over prices. But it was also seriously deregulated, which created the perfect climate for rape culture to fester and grow. In a time where there was still shame in being Armenian (see: the Armenian Genocide), danger thrived everywhere, especially for young Christian Armenians. The percentage of young girls and women that were molested and raped daily was likely much higher than that in the U.S. The contrast, I’m sure, is largely

due to the amount of attention the term “rape culture” is getting here versus in other countries. Grateful as I am to live in a place where most people draw attention to these issues and decrease the risk of rape for me, I am far from brushing off rape as less of a problem simply because it is less prominent in the U.S. Take this quote from an anonymous Pakistani woman: “You know how firstworld feminists are told that they don’t need feminism? They’re told that they should be glad they’re not ‘really oppressed’ like the women in third-world countries. That things could always be worse. “You know what my mother tells me? She says I don’t need feminism because I should be glad I’m born in an urban city… at least I wasn’t born in a rural area where girls are married off to men twice their age. That things could always be worse. And our house maid, Shabana, who was married to her uncle at 15 and, at 18, has two children, doesn’t even know what feminism is. She was told by her father that she should be glad her husband doesn’t beat her and hasn’t thrown acid at her. That things could always be worse. Am I the only one seeing a very disturbing pattern here?” In fact, it is a disturbing pattern: teaching young people that their issues don’t matter, especially when their bodies are involved, is detrimental to their emotional and mental health. That statement can also apply to all cases where sexual assault has been treated as a cultural norm or “not that big of a deal.” Rape is not trivial. We as a student body need to start treating rape and sexual assault as serious offenses and eradicate sexual assault in our surrounding environment; our college campus is a good place to start, mainly because of the limited mileage we have to cover. Our first initiative should begin with something small, like halting the rape jokes. Still, it seems like a Herculean task. But collectively, we can work towards a solution to take back our campus and feel safe in our surroundings again. anievtm@miamioh.edu

aspects of Miami life attend to contribute to this discussion. If only those most concerned go, the critical mass of students that use these resources will not be able to see their true impact on the town and give their input on the situation. IFC, Panhellenic, ASG and other major organizations should make an effort to get students in seats, not only for the sake of this initial conversation, but to improve town-gown relations moving forward. We encourage all Miami students and members of the Oxford community to submit questions and topics of inquiry relevant to this discussion. This forum will be open to all, and as all students rely on the security of knowing emergency services are available to them, all students should have a vested interest in attending and following the conversation. It may be more than a month away, but given the importance of this topic, please consider giving some of your thoughts over break to enriching this talk. We are a part of this community as long as we live and study here, and when events such as these roll around, we must act like it. Email eic@miamistudent with any questions or comments leading up to the event.

Keeping the holiday spirit up during exam week MICHAEL STEMMLER THE MIAMI STUDENT

It’s officially the holiday season. With the constant bombardment of themed commercials, the annual return of Michael Bublé and the beginning of the countdown until the end of the semester, we like to think we are in the most wonderful time of the year. However, for Miami and its students, is that statement really true? Finals week quickly coming down our chimney can be the Grinch that steals students’ happiness. It is the make or break period – the crunch time – and no one is trying to end up on the naughty list. While most of us are stressing out or just accepting the coal, this season goes against every bad aspect of the end of the semester, and if we keep this in mind we won’t be melting away before break. While a few holiday songs are somber and sad – “Christmas Shoes,” I’m talking to you – this is supposed to be the merry time of upbeat positivity. One of the most important parts is when we surround ourselves with our closest friends and family and be happy. So, how bright are you? Sadly, Miami does not partake, but the lights Uptown tend to literally and figuratively brighten up the night. If we sulk around and say, “bah humbug” to every group project, paper, and exam over the next three weeks, our lives will be as dimly lit as campus. Now, being a bright light of positivity is not always the best, for no one can spend lots of time looking at the obnoxious rapidly blinking

ARTHUR NEWBERRY DESIGN EDITOR

LEDs. But, during the dark times the end of the semester can bring, if we can stay bright and positive, the working season can stay just as merry as the holidays. Whenever we surround ourselves with those we care about, another major aspect of the season is gift giving. Although many professors will be handing out grade we definitely didn’t ask for, there is also a tremendous amount of gift giving we don’t think about. Every interaction with another person is a gift, and it’s up to us to determine if it is a positive or negative one. For most of us, we put exactly what we want on a list, and others choose what they want to get from that specific set. That is when gift giving is easy. However, no one is the same, and more times than not we don’t know what people want or how they will receive whatever we choose to give them. Are we giving others respect, empathy and kindness or are we giving whatever we feel like and not taking into

consideration the feelings of others? In the coldest time of the year, we need to keep our hearts and actions warm. We are constantly giving and receiving, and whether they are grand gestures or on a minuscule scale, whatever is received can influence what they will give to the next person encountered. Just like the golden rule, give what is good, and give the gifts you want to receive. During this holiday season, are we Grinches and Scrooges, or are we Santas? While it may seem like our few weeks left are blue, we must keep the true holiday season alive in our thoughts and actions. As lights start to go up, ugly sweaters are put on and our workload increases, this sometimes-icy time is when we need to stay warm. By staying jolly and giving meaningful gifts, our short time here will be nothing less than merry and bright. stemmlmf@miamioh.edu

Heroin production: The hidden side of the War on Terror MAXWELL MATSON COLUMNIST

Where it all starts: Afghanistan, 1978. The U.S. was 30 years deep into the Cold War, and after a brief cooling period, diplomatic relations had once again deteriorated. Still reeling from a crushing defeat in Vietnam only three years prior, the citizens of the United States were conflict weary. President Jimmy Carter, with his back against the wall after Iran and Nicaragua saw their pro-U.S. governments toppled in bloody civil wars, was forced to make a decision. Meanwhile in Afghanistan, the situation was just as grim. Prime Minister Mohammad Daoud, along with every single one of his family members was murdered brutally in a violent coup. A group of Marxists quickly assumed power, implementing their own form of Leninist-Marxism government defined by the expulsion of Islamic law and customs. The PDPA rushed to align themselves with the Soviet Union, a move which pushed President Jimmy Carter over the edge. You see, Jimmy Carter only had one goal: stopping the Soviets. His friends on the other hand (the list of which includes: Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Britain, Egypt, France, China, the UAE and Israel) had other motivations. In the case of the UAE, Egypt and Saudi Ara-

bia, the fate of Afghanistan and neighboring Iran were of key religious importance, and it is this ideological split that doomed the endeavor from the beginning. Jimmy Carter lured the Soviets into Afghanistan in December of 1979 with the intent of giving them their own Vietnam. But just like in Vietnam, when you fight a proxy war in a third-world country, the results can be complicated. When Ronald Reagan assumed the presidency in 1980, he stoked the flames of the war in Afghanistan, providing the rebel Mujahideen with arms and cash. What began as an internal struggle for political dominance was quickly molded into a religious war by the United States and their allies. Where the Carter administration was ethnocentric in their assumption that the people of Afghanistan were suitable fodder for a proxy war with the Russians, the Reagan administration was fanatically corrupt in their exploitation of the Afghan population. The intentional radicalization of Islamic militants created a fighting force which answered only to God. A force which proved effective at killing Soviets in the short term, and equally problematic in the long term. Following the Soviet invasion, the Afghan government struggled to hold on to vast swaths of territory that had formerly served as agricultural lands, the consequenc-

es of which were twofold. The Mujahideen, armed by the American government, utilized a similar precursory strategy to that of the oil-field claiming of ISIS today. By strategically capturing fertile agricultural lands in the south, the Mujahideen further financed their ever-growing armory by planting opium poppies in the place of wheat and other food crops, their food needs met by aid from their friends in foreign governments. This widespread conversion of agricultural lands quickly led to a food shortage among the rural non-combatants who occupied the region since before the war, the effect of which only exacerbated the plight of the already failing government. From the south opium cultivation spread east, all the way up to the Pakistani border. The government of Pakistan, open supporters of the radical extremist Mujahideen, had recently declared their own war on drugs. Looking to remedy their own domestic woes while simultaneously aiding their comrades in arms, the Pakistani government condemned the thriving opium producers in their northwestern provinces publicly, while secretly merging their own drug lords and product with those of the Mujahideen in Afghanistan. Rather than eliminate the opium industry, the Pakistanis simply relocated it. Thus, the largest established illicit opium

network in the world was merged with that of the upstart Mujahideen, the result of which was opium production on a scale never seen in the region before, the size of their production bested only by the massive quantities trafficked two centuries before by the British East India Company. Reagan’s support for the “freedom fighters” of Afghanistan was well known, as was his administration’s hardline anti-drug policies. It would have been almost diabolically hypocritical for the U.S. government to continue their support of the opium-pushing Mujahideen while simultaneously locking-up record numbers of drug offenders back home. But what is there to do when your proxy war has so decimated a country that the only reliable economic institution left within its borders is exactly that which you have been “fighting” domestically for the past decade? The answer is complex, but the intuition is simple. The greed machine had to be fed. With its bullets, its cash and its rhetoric, the United States government believed that they had bought the right to break their own rules, and the suits and ties in Washington would accept nothing less than a full return on investment. Today, 90 percent of the world’s heroin is produced from Afghan poppies. matsonrm@miamioh.edu

OPINION 13

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2017

HATCHEAM@MIAMIOH.EDU

A.J. NEWBERRY NEWBERAJ@MIAMIOH.EDU @AJNWBRRY

DEMOCRATS SHOULD WANT TRUMP TO STAY IF THEY WANT GOP EFFORTS TO FAIL

Trump presidency a boon for economy LUKE SCHROEDER

VARUN RAGHURAM

COLUMNIST

THE MIAMI STUDENT

There is a shallow excitement among liberals who believe that Robert Mueller’s investigation into President Donald Trump will lead to his eventual impeachment. But why do liberals even want Trump to be impeached? During the first year of the Trump administration, it takes a finely-tuned magnifying glass to find any major accomplishments. The pro-Trump talking points have centered on the nomination and confirmation of Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court, the rollback of many regulations, and the unhealthy pace the Senate has kept in confirming federally appointed jurists. But Trump has not scored any major feat that should alarm Democrats. The Supreme Court is important, but the position is apolitical. In a majority of cases, the decision is unanimous. Only 20 percent of cases are decided narrowly. There are “liberal” and “conservative” justices that concur or dissent with those of the other ideology. Only a small percentage of cases are decided along ideological lines. With this known, under what circumstances can Neil Gorsuch being confirmed to the Supreme Court be considered a major victory? With regard to regulations, most that have been overturned by the Trump administration can be reinstated by a Democratic administration. Further, a large amount of the regulations that have been repealed are simply giving choice to the states. This in itself is not a threat. Although many environmental restrictions have been lifted, overall, the situation for Democrats under a Republican administration could be much worse. With a scant record and seemingly incessant dysfunction, shouldn’t this administration be the bestcase scenario for Democrats? Trump failed in his attempt to replace the Affordable Care Act. It is inconceivable to believe that a replacement will be implemented before the midterm elections which will likely go strongly blue. With regard to the Mexican border wall, although the president is in the process of picking his desired design, it is hard to believe that a wall will be built. With all the incompetence, in truth, the Democrats should be the ones tired of all the winning they have experienced. Hypothetically, if Trump were to be impeached, the next in line would be current Vice President Mike Pence. Pence is not a novice. He understands the process of crafting and passing legislation. Further, he is predictable and stable. For all the consternation of Trump by fellow Republicans, none of that sentiment follows to Pence. He would be a far greater threat to Democratic party values than Trump. Pence has espoused many views throughout his professional career which should alarm Democrats far more than Trump’s Twitter account. He believed that smoking does not kill people, homosexuals should be subject to shock-therapy and that businesses should be allowed to discriminate against custom-

KAT HOLLERAN THE MIAMI STUDENT

ers based on religious objections. If Pence had been elected president in place of Trump, it is conceivable to believe that he would have accomplished all that the current pesident has and more. His agenda would also be far more conservative than that of Trump. Under what logic would Democrats replace a president who has not achieved much with a figure who is an ardent social conservative and most likely will be a more effective legislator than the current president? Democrats have prided themselves on inclusion and acceptance. Besides the temporary travel ban, Trump has not implemented any meaningful legislation to affect multicultural groups. Sure, he has publicly offended them, but compared to concrete legislation, does it really matter? I am not a Democrat, and I agree with much of the limited agenda the president has initiated to this point, but he has been wholly incompetent in his role. While that may be a disappointment to those who voted for the president, it is a gift to the Democratic Party. They lost an election to a man who does not know what he is doing. As long as national security is maintained, liberals should be proud of the president’s lack of accomplishments If Democrats are to proceed in their pursuit to impeach the President, they are only hurting themselves. They must look to his ineffectiveness as president and weigh their opportunity for an election victory in 2020. In all likelihood, if Trump is removed, there is a greater opportunity for conservatives to implement much of their agenda than with Trump in office. If liberals truly want to prevent what they believe is a dangerous conservative agenda, it would be in their best interest to leave the current president in place. raghurv@miamioh.edu

Following Donald Trump’s election to the presidency, economist and New York Times columnist Paul Krugman issued a dire warning to the nation. In his eyes, the election of Donald Trump would spell global economic disaster. In a Times column, Krugman wrote: “If the question is when markets will recover [from the effects of Trump’s victory], a firstpass answer is never...We are very probably looking at a global recession, with no end in sight. I suppose we could get lucky somehow. But on economics, as on everything else, a terrible thing has just happened.” Krugman’s words of doom and gloom were alarming for a large number of people. Trump is, undeniably, a destabilizing figure, so for many it made sense that he would destabilize the global economy if elected to the presidency. Luckily, Krugman was completely wrong in his predictions. In fact, the opposite of Krugman’s predictions has become reality; under Trump, the economy is booming. Trump’s presidency has been a blessing for the stock market, which has long been cited as an indicator of economic health. Since election day, the S&P 500 has swelled almost 25 percent. Comparably, the Dow Jones Industrial Average has skyrocketed to near 25,000 points, a near 35 percent increase since election day . Both indexes have repeatedly reached all-time highs under Trump’s young presidency. Trump has promised to deliver at least 3 percent GDP growth. Economists scoffed at this promise, claiming that it couldn’t be done. What has happened the past two quarters under President Trump? You guessed it, GDP growth over 3 percent. This trend shows no signs of slowing. This is a welcome change from the anemic GDP growth of the Obama administration – Obama was the first president since the Great Depression not to achieve

H A P P Y B I R T H DAY K I R B S T O M P

a year of at least 3 percent GDP growth. The unemployment rate has also continued to plunge, and now sits at 4.1 percent, the lowest in 17 years. According to projections from Goldman Sachs economists, that rate will drop even lower by 2019, to just 3.5 percent. Consumer confidence is soaring, and has risen to levels not seen in the U.S. since November 2000. Manufacturing confidence is also growing; according to the National Association of Manufacturers, more than 93 percent of manufacturers feel positive about their economic outlook – the highest in the survey’s 20-year history. By nearly every measure, the American economy is thriving. Oddly enough, this has all occurred without any significant legislative accomplishments. The tenants of Trump’s legislative agenda, an Obamacare repeal, tax reform and an infrastructure package, are all still held up in Congress. So, what is driving this historic economic growth? Trump is repealing burdensome regulations, and is bringing back a pro-business, pro-growth attitude to the White House. This all translates to a much healthier American business environment, an environment that greatly benefits American workers. With the passage of a final tax reform package before New Year’s seemingly imminent, the economy is only poised to grow at even more impressive rates. Lowering taxes for everyone, individuals and business alike, will spur even more domestic business investment and consumer spending. While Trump’s Twitter antics and persistent disputes with the media may steal the oxygen of nearly every news cycle, those components of his presidency aren’t that important in the long run. To an independent swing state voter, shouting matches on Fox and CNN don’t mean much, but a growing economy, lower taxes and a vibrant job market do. schroelm@miamioh.edu

Sports

SIMANSEC@MIAMIOH.EDU

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2017

MIAMI HOCKEY SHUT OUT 4-0 SATURDAY, SPLITS SERIES WITH NO. 5 CORNELL HOCKEY

EMILY SIMANSKIS SPORTS EDITOR

Miami hockey was shut out 4-0 against No. 5 ranked Cornell on Saturday night, falling prey to undisciplined penalties and Cornell’s ability to take away time and space. “Obviously, [Friday] night we got the win, but tonight they played us the moment the puck dropped,” head coach Enrico Blasi said in the postgame press conference. “They were quicker on pucks. They executed their power play.” The RedHawks (7-7-2) skated to a 2-1 win on Friday night, handing the Big Red (10-2) their second loss. Night two of the two-game series was less of Friday’s passing and effective positioning, and more of board battles and blocked shots. Cornell scored three first period goals and then squandered Miami’s chance for a comeback in the following periods. “They’re a big strong team and they were playing hard tonight,” Blasi said. “They were skating harder, they were quicker to pucks. We weren’t quick to pucks. We weren’t

SOPHOMORE DEFENSEMAN GRANT FREDERIC (7) BREAKS PAST A CORNELL DEFENSEMAN ON SATURDAY NIGHT AT THE STEVE ‘COACH’ CADY ARENA. ANGELO GELFUSO THE MIAMI STUDENT

making plays. We weren’t adjusting to their pressure. We weren’t communicating well.” The first period started unevent-

fully, and four minutes ticked by before Miami was awarded a power play. The special teams unit rolled four forwards but proved less suc-

Men’s basketball beats Western Illinois in double overtime

FRESHMAN GUARD NIKE SIBANDE (1) HAD 16 POINTS AGAINT WESTERN ILLINOIS ON SATURDAY. PICTURED ABOVE AGAINST MIDWAY UNIVERSITY. MATT HECKERT THE MIAMI STUDENT

MEN’S BASKETBALL

CARTAN SUMNER

THE MIAMI STUDENT

Miami men’s basketball defeated the Western Illinois Leathernecks in a double-overtime thriller by the score of 76-73 on Saturday night. The RedHawk offense was led by senior forward Logan McLane who tallied 17 points with nine rebounds and freshman Nike Sibande who added 16 points with five rebounds. This victory pushed the ’Hawks’ record to 5-3 and dropped WIU to 5-2. The ’Hawks opened the contest shooting 51.7 percent from the field. An emphatic dunk from Sibande with 4:43 left in the first half extended the Hawks’ lead to seven at 30-23. However, the RedHawks’ shooting would go cold for the remainder of the period, before McLane sank a midrange jumper which led to a 35-31 point lead heading into the locker room. In the second half, both teams struggled to gain their offensive footing. The ’Hawks gradually increased their lead to 10 at 51-41 at the 10:01 mark. WIU then went on a 13-2 run that gave them its first lead since 6:19 of the first half. With 56 seconds left in the game, sharpshooter, junior guard Jake Wright sank a

free throw to tie the score at 54-54. True to the back-and-forth nature of the game, Western Illinois’ freshman guard Kobe Webster sank a three with 29 seconds left to give the Leathernecks a 57-54 lead. The ’Hawks showed their resiliency and Sibande hit a critical three to tie the score at 57 -- good to send the game to overtime. The extra frame brought a resurgence in the RedHawks’ offense led by senior forward Rod Mills Jr. Mills hit a jumper with 2:29 left to square the game at 63. WIU took a lead in the final minutes, but freshman guard Jalen Adaway was able to sink two free throws to send the nail-bitter to a second overtime. In double-overtime, both teams kept pace with each other until 1:20 left when a Darrian Ringo made a layup. The junior guard put the ’Hawks ahead by three. Up 73-70 in the final moments of the contest, WIU senior guard Dalan Ancrum hit a deep three to tie, eliciting roars from the home crowd. Undeterred and with six seconds left, freshman forward Dalonte Brown inbounded to Ringo who marched down the court and drained a three to cement a ’Hawks victory. Miami next takes on Mizzou on Tuesday at 9 p.m. in the final game of the RedHawks’ road trip. The game will air on the SEC Network.

cessful than the 2-for-2 man-advantage from Friday night. Cornell cleared pucks and forechecked to tie up Miami in its own zone.

After a couple minutes of chippy play, the Red and White were whisCONTINUED ON PAGE 9

Women’s basketball breezes past Canisius College

SOPHOMORE GUARD LAUREN DICKERSON BEATS A CANISIUS FORWARD ON SUNDAY AFTERNOON AT MILLETT HALL. MACY WHITAKER THE MIAMI STUDENT

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

BEN PANZECA STAFF WRITER

Miami convincingly defeated Canisius College 72-47 on Sunday afternoon and remained undefeated at home this season. The RedHawks started slow against the visiting Golden Griffins, but settled in under the leadership of sophomore guard Lauren Dickerson. Dickerson scored 10 of the ’Hawks’ 16 first quarter points — the rest coming from Redshirt senior Megan Galloway. Dickerson got even hotter in the second quarter, going 4-for-5 from the field. She finished the half with 18 points, three rebounds and three assists. Miami’s defense also stepped up after the first quarter, holding Canisius to only seven points in the second. The visitors shot 32 percent in the half to the ’Hawks’ 52 percent, and Miami carried a 36-20 lead going into the half. “I think once we started getting stops, we got the confidence to, kind of, get out in transition and push tempo a little bit more and get settled in,” head coach Megan Duffy said. Miami came out strong in the second half and poured it on, nailing a perfect 4-for-4 shots from beyond the arc in the third quarter. The RedHawks remained on

top, heading into the final quarter with a 5531 lead. The Red and White cruised to victory in the final quarter, while getting some of their less experienced players valuable game time. The game ended 72-47 in favor of the RedHawks. The only real highlights from the Golden Griffins came from their duo of Icelandic players, senior guard Margret Halfdanardottir and junior forward Sara Hinriksdottir. They combined for 21 points in the game. ’Hawks junior forward Kendall McCoy came up big on both sides of the floor, finishing with 16 points and nine rebounds off the bench. “It’s great that you have options,” Duffy said. “If somebody’s not playing well or a little bit off, you have more people ready to come in and contribute, and I think the depth of our team is going to be important down the road.” The RedHawks move to 4-3 on the season, while Canisius dropped to 2-5 and were handed their fourth straight loss. Next on the schedule for Miami is a trip to Indianapolis to face the IUPUI Jaguars on Wednesday, with a 7 p.m. tip-off. They return home on Saturday to take on Jacksonville State. Warm-ups will begin at the conclusion of Miami’s men’s basketball game, which tips-off at 1 p.m.

Volleyball topped by Baylor, ousted from NCAA Tournament VOLLEYBALL

CHRIS VINEL STAFF WRITER

Miami volleyball’s tenth-ever appearance in the NCAA tournament ended before it really got started. The Mid-American Conference champion ‘Hawks (23-9,13-3) were defeated by twelfth-seeded Baylor (24-6,13-3) in three sets Friday on the Bears’ home court. “We just competed against a really fine team tonight,” Miami head coach Carolyn Condit said. “It was a great experience for us and we need to see that type of play more often to play at the level

that we know we can play at if we did. Overall, it was a great match and a great learning experience for us and I liked how we kept digging in and kept going after them.” In the first set, Baylor jumped out to a quick 8-3 lead. After the two teams traded the next several points, the Bears went on a 4-0 run to take a commanding 15-6 lead. Baylor extended its lead to 2313, but Miami attempted a comeback. The RedHawks went on a 5-0 run to cut the Bears’ lead to 23-18. However, Baylor finished the set strong, winning 25-19. Miami took a 4-3 lead -- its first lead of the contest -- on a service ace by freshman setter Morgan Seaman to start the second set.

Baylor then recaptured the lead and went on a 12-5 run to make the score 15-9. A kill by Redshirt junior setter Mackenzie Zielinski resulted in Miami scoring four of the next five to make it 16-13, but Baylor would pull away and win the set 25-16. Undeterred, MU began the third set with a 3-0 run. Baylor responded with a point, but kills by senior outside hitter Olivia Rusek and senior middle hitter Meredith Stutz gave the RedHawks a 5-1 lead. Coming out of a timeout, BU scored four in a row to knot the set at five apiece. Baylor took a 8-6 lead, before two Rusek kills and a block put Miami on top

again 9-8. Spurred by a 10-3 run, the Bears took a 18-12 lead. Miami eventually pulled within two at 22-20, but it wasn’t enough as Baylor went on to take the set 2521 and the match 3-0. Baylor freshman outside hitter Yossiana Pressley -- Big 12 conference Freshman of the Year -- dominated the ‘Hawks and finished with 17 kills, nine digs and one block. “She’s pretty powerful,” Stutz said about Pressley. “All you can do is put up a strong block, tighten your core and hope you stop a couple.” Sophomore outside hitter Taylor Daignault led Miami with six kills, while senior libero Maeve

McDonald had a team-high 16 digs. Seaman added 12 assists and Stutz finished with three blocks. The game brought the RedHawks’ season to a close and served as the final collegiate game for Rusek, Stutz, McDonald, Zielinski, Katie Tomasic, Courtney Bemis and Katie Coverdale. “It very much is a gratifying season,” Condit said. “We’ve had a lot of adversity that most don’t even know about -- with broken fingers, and concussions and kids out for a certain amount of time that are usually in the starting lineup -- we were still able to pull it off. I’m very pleased with what we did this year. There’s a lot to be proud of.”