The Miami Student | October 29, 2019

ESTABLISHED 1826 — OLDEST COLLEGE NEWSPAPER WEST OF THE ALLEGHENIES

VOLUME 148 No. 9

MIAMI UNIVERSITY — OXFORD, OHIO

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2019

AFFIRMATIVE ACTION: MIAMI’S ‘HOLISTIC APPROACH’ TO ADMISSIONS

The thrills of local politics

City Council candidates to debate on Oct. 30 TIM CARLIN

ASST. NEWS EDITOR The Miami Student will host its second City Council candidate debate in recent history on Wednesday, Oct. 30, in the Shriver Center’s John Dolibois Room.

Jason Bracken, Glenn Ellerbe, Hueston Kyger, Chris Skoglind and Bill Snavely will take the stage in an effort to win over voters before the Nov. 5 general election.

The debate will feature moderator-prompted questions covering towngown relations, economic and residential development and sustainability.

Jason Bracken, a doctoral candidate at Miami University, is running for his first term on Council. He is a self-described progressive who wants to work with city staff on developing meaningful policy.

Glenn Ellerbe, currently serving his first term on Council, is running for reelection. Two of his pillars are land-use equity and the further development of multimodal transportation in Oxford.

Hueston Kyger, a life-long Oxford resident, said he doesn’t have any campaign platforms, only the desire to keep moving Oxford forward.

Chris Skoglind, currently serving on the Historic and Architectural Preservation Commission, said he wants to improve town-gown relations and the mass CONTINUED ON PAGE 3

DESIGN EDITOR CONNOR WELLS

JUSTEEN JACKSON

THE MIAMI STUDENT A recent federal district court upheld affirmative action — a decision that is being appealed — which could affect Miami Universi-

ty’s admission’s policies.

This month, a federal district court ruled in favor of Harvard University’s race-conscious admissions process. Some Asian students felt that Harvard’s admissions process was discriminatory toward them and argued that race

should not be a factor in admissions. If this case goes to the Supreme Court, there is a chance that affirmative action could be overturned.

Affirmative action is a set of laws, policies and guidelines which focus on access to education and employment, giving special considerations to groups that have historically been discriminated against and excluded, according to CNN. Traditionally, affirmative action focuses on granting opportunities to women and racial minorities.

But on Miami’s application, race and ethnicity isn’t a required field.

Miami’s admissions office claims to take a more holistic approach.

Brent Shock, associate vice president of student enrollment services, says that in contrast to having a minimum GPA or standardized test scores to be considered for admission, Miami looks at all aspects of the application: essay section, test scores, GPA and diversity, as indicated by various aspects of the application.

In 2018 on Miami’s Oxford campus, about 71 percent of undergraduate students were white/unknown, 5 percent were Hispanic/ Latinx, 3.5 percent were multi-racial, 3 percent were black/African American, 2 percent were Asian and less than 1 percent were other racial minorities.

Shock said diversity, broadly defined, means taking into account anything related to geographic location, ethnicity, socio-economic background and religion. This also includes attributes such as first-generation status and students who have a proven history with being interested in diversity. Students can show interest in diversity by joining organizations that promote or focus on diversity.

Miami still uses race in admissions decisions, but it is considered alongside other factors.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 3

#ShowUpForShabbat memorializes one-year anniversary of Tree of Life Synagogue shooting SKYLER PERRY

THE MIAMI STUDENT Upon approaching the microphone, Jonathan Maxwell asked everyone to look around the room. “I’ve never seen something like this happen at Miami,” the senior and president of Hillel said in reference to Oct. 25 #ShowUpForShabbat memorial and dinner.

This Shabbat was the largest ever held at the university.

Although Shabbat meals regularly occur at the end of each week in Judaism, this particular Shabbat falls almost exactly on the one year anniversary of the Tree of Life Synagogue mass shooting in Pittsburgh, PA, where 11 people lost their lives during prayer.

After the shooting last year, #ShowUpForShabbat became a worldwide initiative to show support for the grieving Jewish community. People of all ages, religions and backgrounds expressed their sympathy and stood by the community in unity.

This year, Hillel and Chabad wanted to keep this initiative alive along with the memories of those who lost their lives. Both organizations opened their arms, inviting the Miami University community to participate in a special Shabbat service and memorialize alongside them.

The event drew in a diverse group of people about 15o strong. Although many attendees were Jewish, an equal part were professors, students and families who just wanted to show support.

This Issue

STUDENTS LIT 11 CANDLES FOR THE VICTIMS OF THE TREE OF LIFE SYNAGOGUE SHOOTING. THE MIAMI STUDENT ZACH REICHMAN

NEWS

CULTURE

Out-of-pocket costs burden CCA students

A doggone spooky time Uptown

page 4

page 6

CONTINUED ON PAGE 3

SPORTS

OPINION

Football’s no. 13 Jack

Feeling lonely?

Sorenson does about 13 different things page 10

You’re not alone, we promise. page 12

This Week

2 FYI

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2019 Named the Best College Newspaper (Non-daily) in Ohio by the Society of Professional Journalists.

Things to do

SAMANTHA BRUNN EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Ceili Doyle Managing Editor

Ben Deeter Multimedia Editor

Connor Wells Design Editor

Maya Fenter Magazine Editor

Julia Arwine Rachel Berry Erin Glynn News Editors

Alyssa Melendez Web Designer

Chris Vinel Sports Editor Emily Dattilo Duard Headley Culture Editors Kate Rigazio Opinion Editor Jugal Jain Photo Editor

Owen Berg Asst. Design Editor Skyler Black Ophelia Rosales Klaire Vandegrift Designers

Bea Newberry Business Manager

James Tobin Faculty Adviser Fred Reeder Business Adviser

Aim Media Midwest Printer

Nina Franco Social Media Director Style Editor Bo Brueck Asst. Photo Editor Sydney Hill Brianna Porter Copy Editors

Noah Bertrand Humor Editor

Briah Lumpkins Tim Carlin

Advertising information: Send us a letter?

Asst. News Editors

Weds 10/30

Weds 10/30

Faber Scholar Lecture Armstrong Fritz Pavilion

4:30 pm

Attend a lecture from anthropologist and filmmaker, Dr. Robert Lemelson.

DAC Masquerade Mixer Armstrong Pavilion A/B

Come connect with students, faculty and staff members of diverse backgrounds who are passionate about creating an inclusive community at Miami!

6:00 pm 7:30 pm

City Council Debate Shriver Dolibois Room B/C

Come learn more about the candidates runnning for City Council before this November’s election.

7:30 pm 9:00 pm

miamistudent.net/advertise eic@miamistudent.net

The Miami Student is published on Tuesdays during the school year by the students of Miami University, Oxford, Ohio.

The content of The Miami Student is the sole responsibility of The Miami Student staff. Opinions expressed in The Miami Student are not necessarily those of Miami University, its students or staff.

CORRECTIONS POLICY

10/29

WDJ Inc. - Bill Dedden Distributor

Derek Stamberger Video Producer

Will Gorman Asst. Culture Editor Entertainment Editor

Tues

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

Movie Series: Us Thurs MAP Hall Auditorium 10/31

Watch a special Halloween showing of Jordan Peele’s, “Us.” Costumes are encouraged!

9:00 pm 11:00 pm

BERRYRD@MIAMIOH.EDU

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Let student comedy groups shine!

I am a parent of two Miami University graduates and one current student. It is always fun to attend events in Oxford and see the talent of the students during parent’s weekend.

This year was no different. However, I was a bit dismayed when, at the John Mulaney show, he announced that when asked, the university indicated there were no student comedians to open his show.

“So, I asked if there were any comedians in Oxford and apparently there aren’t,” Mulaney said.

What was the barrier to supporting Miami’s own Sketched-Out Improv troupe?

I have nothing against the acapella singers that were brought in. They did a lovely job … but the soulful songs, although well presented, didn’t exactly energize the room.

Over the years, I have had the pleasure

NEWS 3

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2019

of attending a few of Miami’s Sketched-Out shows and, frankly, they are both talented and funny. They would have warmed up the audience for an entire night of laughter and it would have made much more sense. It was disappointing that the university did not support the Sketched-Out group in this instance.

You missed out on a talented and entertaining group of young comedians that are your own. Be proud of them and I hope next time you will highlight them and support the fact that indeed, Miami does have comedy … and it’s really good!

Thank you. ingrid@coloradonursingcenter.org Ingrid Johnson is the parent of two Miami graduates and a current student. She lives in Denver, Colorado.

A STICKY SITUATION Car vandalized with chocolate syrup RACHEL BERRY NEWS EDITOR

A key component in chocolate milk, a delicious addition to ice cream, an ingredient in a multitude of desserts — there are many, many uses for chocolate syrup.

But a topping for an automobile? That’s a new one.

A man walked outside to go to work on Sunday, Oct. 20, to find his car covered in chocolate syrup, with pizza boxes thrown inside, according to a police report.

His girlfriend had recently refused to hold another man’s hand at a haunted house, saying it made her uncomfortable.

The woman thinks it was that man who vandalized the car. She said she saw him

Affirmative action: Miami’s ‘holistic approach’ to admissions FROM FRONT

“There’s not one thing that is not more important than the other … It’s not just race; it’s not just one thing,” Shock said.

“It’s a very comprehensive review of the entire application.”

A common argument for affirmative action is that it’s necessary for racial and gender diversity in education and employment.

On the other hand, critics say it’s unfair toward people who are not considered minorities and “encourages” reverse discrimination.

Sophomore psychology major Jaslyn Davis-Johnson thinks it’s important to include race in admissions decisions.

“What I’m bringing to your campus includes my race,” Davis-Johnson said. “If you

“What I’m bringing to your campus includes my race. If you don’t look at that, you’re not looking at all of me.”

- Jaslyn Davis-Johnson

speeding past her house and yelling.

Later, her boyfriend came out to find chocolate syrup poured over the outside and inside of his truck. There were also Little Caesar’s pizza boxes flipped over in the cab of the truck, with cheese sauce on the door.

“I would see why someone would be carrying pizza home, but I don’t understand why anybody would have chocolate syrup handy, which is also what makes it in some ways seem personal,” said Oxford Police Lieutenant Lara Fening.

The man and his girlfriend both think they know who committed the crime, but they won’t be pursuing charges. @racheldberry berryrd@miamioh.edu

The thrills of local politics

City Council candidates to debate on Oct. 30

don’t look at that, you’re not looking at all of me.”

There is also a concern that affirmative action simply adds a quota for minority students without working toward true inclusivity.

“I see more efforts toward inclusion than diversity at Miami,” senior political science major Christyna Thompson said.

Thompson said affirmative action may lead to an increase in diversity, but that a numbers-based approach is not good enough. She said that the university has to develop a more creative approach to attain diversity as well as inclusion.

“I think that we’re on the right track, and the intention is there,” Thompson said.

“We’re being inclusive, but where’s the diversity?”

transit system.

Bill Snavely, currently the chair of the Planning Commission, is running for Council with a focus on environmental preservation and affordable housing.

The five men are running for three open council seats.

The candidate debate will be livestreamed on Facebook for those who are unable to attend in person.

See The Student’s Facebook event for more information.

@heyitsjusteen jacks250@miamioh.edu

@timcarlin_ carlintm@miamioh.edu

FROM FRONT

#ShowUpForShabbat memorializes one-year anniversary of Tree of Life Synagogue shooting FROM FRONT

Also in attendance were university President Greg Crawford and Renate Crawford, who have attended Shabbat dinners and other events hosted by Hillel and Chabad before.

“It was great to see the whole community

PHOTOGRAPHER ZACH REICHMAN

really come together,” Renate Crawford said.

Shabbat observance began with a few words from the director of Hillel, Marcy Miller, and from both organizations’ presidents — Stephanie Birnbaum representing Chabad and Maxwell for Hillel. Rabbi and Director of Chabad Yossi Greenberg also spoke to the room, telling the story of how the tragedy left many people with questions, but no answers.

“We stand here tonight to honor victims, but to also stand as a community celebrating Judaism proudly,” Greenberg said.

Immediately following their words, students and members of the Jewish community read poetry and prayers in Hebrew and English. Throughout the readings and prayers, various community members lit one candle for every victim from the Tree of Life Synagogue.

Junior Ethan Farber also spoke at the podium. Farber is a member of the Sinai Scholars Society, which is an organization that fosters conversation about Judaism on college campuses. Faber is also a Pittsburgh native who frequently attended the Tree of Life Synagogue before the shooting.

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“The place that I thought was safe is gone forever,” Faber said. “We never expected for this to happen, but I am glad to be a part of the movement.”

Once the memorial came to a close and people began to say their goodbyes after dinner, Miller said the event was “truly remarkable.” Miller has worked at Miami for nine years and credits the Jewish community and its allies to the campus’ “open, warm, and friendly environment.”

For Miller, this #ShowUpForShabbat was a step in the right direction for the Jewish community and everyone surrounding it.

“If you never take the first step, you get nowhere,” Miller said. “We can’t just sit back and let the days go by. [Nobody] wants to live in fear, and [nobody] should live in fear. We need to [work toward] understanding each other and continue fostering conversation.” perrysl2@miamioh.edu

“We can’t just sit back and let the days go by.

[Nobody] wants to live in fear, and [nobody] should live in fear. We need to [work toward] understanding each other and continue fostering conversation.”

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4 NEWS OPD raises money for those battling breast cancer

BERRYRD@MIAMIOH.EDU

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2019

CCA students struggle with material costs “There is little mention of buying materials to the incoming first years, but as soon as projects hit, you soon realize that your bank account is going to take a hit,”

OPD HELD ITS SECOND ANNUAL PINK BADGE FUNDRAISER. CONTRIBUTED BY OPD

- Chris Magno

MATTHEW RUBENSTEIN THE MIAMI STUDENT

Dealing with the effects of cancer is a personal issue for Oxford Police Department (OPD) Lieutenant Lara Fening. When she was a year old, her mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. Growing up, she saw the effects of a mastectomy and worried about the cancer returning.

Fening’s mom was on her mind when she decided to wear a pink badge for the entire month of October. Fening wanted to honor her mother’s battle while raising awareness and money for breast cancer charities.

This October, OPD is raising money for Luna Cares, a foundation supporting women in the Oxford area with breast cancer. The money helps pay for their medical expenses, provides wellness baskets and offers coupons for a variety of wig styles.

Throughout the month, OPD officers can purchase pink badges for $20, which they wear instead of their standard badge.

The fundraiser began last year when OPD adopted the idea after hearing about other agencies who donned the pink badges.

Any officer who bought a pink badge for last year’s charity needed to make a $20 donation to Luna Cares for permission to wear it again.

“The pink badge just raises that [breast cancer] awareness,” Police Chief John Jones said. “It humanizes the badge, so to speak. Talking to other officers here who’ve had family members touched by this, it’s something that means a lot to them.”

The scope of the issue played another factor in OPD’s support.

“I think almost everyone has been affected by [cancer] somehow,” Fening said.

Fening said some officers bought additional badges to honor family members who are currently engaging in the cancer battle and loved ones who have lost the fight.

The final fundraising total won’t be calculated until the end of the month, but OPD has raised $440 so far. Jones expects the final amount to be slightly higher than last year’s total of $600. rubensms@miamioh.edu

FIRST-YEAR CLAIRE BATESON WORKS ON HER ARCHITECTURE HOMEWORK IN THE STUDIO. ARCHITECTURE STUDENTS FACE OVER A THOUSAND DOLLARS OF FEES FOR SUPPLIES. ASST. NEWS EDITOR BRIAH LUMPKINS

ALEX COX

THE MIAMI STUDENT For many students within Miami University’s Architecture and Interior Design (ARC+ID) Department, simply getting the materials to complete projects can result in thousands of dollars of out-of-pocket expenses.

The original architecture toolkit (which includes art supplies, drafting materials and model-making adhesives) is required for every ARC+ID student and costs $525 at the campus bookstore. Throughout the year, students are expected to maintain these supplies and replace them as needed.

Additionally, students are required to provide a file cabinet (costing around $50), a desk lamp ($39) and materials for a drawing board ($191). ARC+ID students must also buy the wood and cardboard necessary to make the models for their assignments.

“I, to some extent, was [prepared for the cost] because my older brother, who is four years my senior, went to school here for the same thing,”

said senior Molly Burns. “So, I kind of had a heads-up that that would happen. But did I realize I would be in the woodshop all the time? Fifty cents here, a dollar here — not necessarily. I didn’t realize the frequency of it.”

Those 25 cent charges add up.

Before long, ARC+ID students have spent hundreds of dollars to complete their projects.

“From what students have reported to me at the end of the first year, I get anywhere from $500 to $1000 in additional supplies above and beyond their original toolkit,” said Christie Lear, Miami’s first-year advisor in the ARC+ID program.

Although Lear said the department tries to be transparent about the additional cost, which can range from $1305 to over $1800, most students don’t find out about them until summer orientation. Because most of the materials are paid for outof-pocket, many scholarships and financial aid won’t cover the added expense.

“The high material costs are unbelievable coming into architecture,” said first year Chris Magno. “There is little mention of buying materials to

the incoming first years, but as soon as projects hit, you soon realize that your bank account is going to take a hit.”

“I’ve had to have my parents add money to my MUlaa account multiple times only to pay for some wood that, as soon as the model is built, will be thrown into the recycling bin,” he added.

Lear said she has had students run out of money for supplies to complete projects. Although she has a stockpile of materials that she will give to students who are in need, it can be difficult for her to identify these students without them first approaching her.

Associate Dean of the College of Creative Arts (CCA) John Weigand said that making ARC+ID students pay for materials is not unique to Miami.

“Art supply affordability has been a long-standing challenge in schools of Architecture, Art and Design, where lots of supplies are needed in a studio environment. This is inherent to these disciplines across the country, rather than anything specific to Miami,” Weigand said.

However, Lear said the universi-

ty could do more to make students aware of the program’s added cost.

“I think we could make an effort to try to communicate [the high costs of materials]. I’m not sure what we are doing right now, but I suppose we could have a sort of estimated cost breakdown on the website,” Lear said.

Sophomore architecture major Grace Stiles said she thinks more could be done to increase student awareness of the cost.

“I do remember when they told us it was going to be $1,00o or more extra after buying the supplies, so I had that number in my head. But maybe a way of budgeting … not telling us exactly what to spend, but giving us an idea [of the cost] before heading into a project [could be helpful],” Stiles said.

Although many ARC+ID students are surprised by the additional cost presented by their major, they also see a positive side.

“It is a little stressful when it comes to projects because you want to save money but also do well on your projects,” Stiles said. “But [having to buy your own materials] helps you actually figure out what you need and plan it out so you’re not overspending on every project.”

But the cost is still much higher than most students would like to spend.

“A scholarship would be nice,” Stiles added when asked about the high cost of materials.

A scholarship does exist to help students struggling with this cost (the Miami Family Fund). But neither Lear, Stiles, Weigand, Burns, nor Assistant Dean of CCA Gretchen Radler, knew about the fund’s existence.

Weigand, Lear and Radler all expressed interest in lowering the financial barrier in these programs.

“If the department is not being upfront, I do not think it’s intentional,” Burns said. “It just so happens that it’s not the forefront of their minds.” coxaj4@miamioh.edu

MIAMI STUDENT FACES ANIMAL ABUSE CHARGES RACHEL BERRY NEWS EDITOR

A Miami University student is facing animal cruelty charges after an Oxford Police Department (OPD) officer said she found the student’s dog starving and sitting in his own urine.

Sophomore Zichang Li is being charged with cruelty to animals, which is a second degree misdemeanor. If convicted, she faces 90 days in jail and a $750 fine.

Property management at Oxford Commons, where Li resides, called OPD on Sept. 13 for an animal welfare check, expressing concerns about Li’s dog, Dollar. OPD Officer Angela Schatzle went to the apartment and saw a medium-to-large rottweiler that looked like it had been left in a black wire cage for a long time.

“I could see ribs, hip bones and spine protruding from the fur,” Schatzle said during Li’s court hearing on Oct. 24.

Li said she left Dollar with a friend when she went home over summer break, and the dog had been healthy when she left.

Li said she hadn’t taken the dog to a veterinarian since returning to Oxford this fall. When Schatzle made the welfare check in September, she gave Li the names and addresses of two vets in Oxford and told her to make an appointment.

On Sept. 14, Li took Dollar to the Animal Care Clinic. The vet gave Li appropriate dog food and told her to check back in a month. At that time, Dollar weighed 55.2 pounds.

Schatzle said she checked in with Li multiple times over the next month. At one point, Li told her she wasn’t the right person to care for Dollar because she was too busy.

On Oct. 17, Schatzle went to Li’s apartment. Li wasn’t home, but a man answered the door. Schatzle could see the Dollar’s crate through the door and asked the man to give the dog food and water. He complied, and Schatzle said the dog drank about 40 ounces of water.

She returned the next morning to find the dog in the same crate with no food or water. In the crate was a moist pile of feces, six to eight inches in diameter, Schatzle said.

She added that there was a film of wet urine on the floor under the crate, and she could see the dog’s ribs.

Schatzle said Dollar wouldn’t have been able to lie down without touching the excrement and that Li didn’t seem concerned about removing the dog or cleaning the cage.

Li said she hadn’t taken the dog to the check-in that the vet required, and Schatzle was concerned Dollar was sick. She would have expected it to gain weight if Li had adhered to the feeding regiment the vet gave her.

OPD removed Dollar and took him to the vet on Oct. 18. At that time, the dog weighed 45.2 pounds, 10 less than at the original appointment. Schatzle said the vet gives dogs a body condition score from one to five, with one being extreme-

LI FACES 90 DAYS IN JAIL AND A $750 FINE FOR ABUSING DOLLAR. CONTRIBUTED BY OPD

ly thin and five being obese. At the initial visit, the vet gave Dollar a rating of two, while at the second check in, Dollar was down to a one.

The vet conducted tests and ruled out any medical conditions.

Dollar remained in the vet’s custody until the court hearing.

Judge Jeffrey Bowling ruled there was probable cause to remove Dollar from Li’s custody. Li agreed

to give up custody, and Dollar was taken to the Animal Friends Humane Society. He was later adopted and renamed Rocky, according to the Humane Society’s Facebook.

Li’s next hearing is scheduled for 10 a.m. on Oct. 31 at the Oxford Courthouse. @racheldberry berryrd@miamioh.edu

GLYNNEE@MIAMIOH.EDU

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TUESDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2019

Early graduation trend impacts Miami financially SKYLER BLACK

THE MIAMI STUDENT Miami University has seen a gradual increase in students graduating earlier than the expected four years, which has impacted the university’s financial revenue.

David Creamer, Miami’s vice president for finance and business services and treasurer, said the financial loss from the higher amount of early graduates this year totals at least $1.3 million.

From the most recent data available, the class of 2015 had 314 students graduate in three and a half years or less — eight percent of all students.

According to the financial department’s calculations, 38 more students are set to graduate in three years this year, whereas 35 more students are enrolling in a fifth year.

This means the loss of revenue from early graduates will not be made up by fifth year enrollment.

The Finance and Business Services have predicted this trend based on their annual spring survey, which gathers more precise data about the number of graduation applications.

“We will probably deepen that analysis this coming year,” Creamer

said. “Just to make sure we are understanding some of the trends and are not too quick to just assume that the patterns will look like they have in prior years. That will help us to project things out better and be better able to respond to whatever the trend is.”

Creamer said increasing enrollment into the university is the main option to make up for the financial loss of early graduates.

While there have always been early graduates at Miami, Creamer said the increasing trend has been slow and gradual.

“I think the trend [in early graduates] is something that has gradually occurred,” Creamer said. “We just hadn’t paid as much attention to it until this year, but I think it’s probably been gradually increasing for a variety of reasons. Affordability, sometimes wanting to get on with a career or to enter a professional or graduate program, so I’m sure we are going to continue to see this trend.”

Many students graduate early if they come in with eligible Advanced Placement (AP) scores or college credit from a dual enrollment program. Due to Ohio’s AP policy, a score of three or higher on any AP test guarantees college credit for any public Ohio university. This

ELANA DUFFY ENTERED MIAMI WITH A LARGE NUMBER OF CREDITS AND WILL BE GRADUATING A YEAR EARLY. THE MIAMI STUDENT COLLEEN GRIMM

increases the chances for incoming first years to come in with college credit already under their belt.

Laura Dudones, an English literature and creative writing double major, who entered Miami with the class of 2021, will be graduating in May, one year ahead of her class.

‘A give and take version of education’

Western Program allows students to create their own major

STUDENTS IN THE WESTERN PROGRAM HAVE CREATED MAJORS LIKE SPACE LAW, GREEN BUSINESS AND CYBERSECURITY AND TERRORISM. THE MIAMI STUDENT ABBY BAMMERLIN

COSETTE GUNTER

THE MIAMI STUDENT In the back corner of Western Campus stands Peabody Hall, a building that does far more than just house residents. Students like Jannie Kamara, a junior individualized studies major, enter Peabody to pursue an entirely unique course of study — one of their own making.

“I didn’t know what to do with my major, so I made my own and combined the things I love: diversity and leadership,” Kamara said. Her current focus of study combines black studies and leadership studies, a combination, she said, that helps her branch out of her comfort zone and explore new things.

Naiyi Jiang, a sophomore individualized studies major, has big plans for her career. Her focus includes social justice and environmental studies, but she said her plan changes as her interests do. Jiang is from China and wishes to go back to educate people about waste production to improve environmental problems.

Individualized studies, also known as the Western Program, is an interdisciplinary study program that allows students to pursue diverse career fields and degrees, specializing in a student’s own integrated study of choice.

Before it was Miami’s Western Program, Peabody was home to The Western College, founded over 150 years ago in 1853, and known as The Western: A College and Seminary for Women. The women’s college focused on a liberal arts education, social justice, diversity and intercultural studies. In 1974, the college merged with Miami and became the center of interdisciplinary

studies, offering a major similar to the focus of the women’s college to Miami students.

Today, Miami’s Western Program currently supports 65-75 majors and is continuing to grow. Jacqueline Daugherty, acting director and assistant teaching professor of the Western Program, said there are usually two kinds of students who enter.

The first is any student that doesn’t feel like they fit into one major, has diverse interests and thrives under a supportive teaching style rather than a directional one. The second type is commonly sophomores looking for an individualized co-major.

The Western Program offers both a major and a minor for all students.

There are no specific requirements to become involved with the program.

Students just reach out to one of the faculty members, set up a time to talk about their ideas and then declare a Western major or minor.

Daugherty said when it comes to creating a major, students simply “make it up.”

“Well, it’s not that flippant,” she added.

After deciding on a direction for the major, students take a one-credit-hour class (Western 251) to create what is called an I Plan. The I Plan is a map of courses that the student will take from various departments within Miami that constitute a specific choice of study. The class also requires students to provide rationale for the plan and the chosen courses to explain how it all fits together.

Some current majors include: Space Law, Cybersecurity and Terrorism, Green Business, and Immigration Rights and Models. The Western Program partners with other departments,

like Sustainability and Social Justice Studies, to achieve the integration it’s known for, but has its own approach to the classroom as well.

“I’ve never used a textbook in class,” Daugherty said. “This is a give and take version of education … Classes are built around each individual, using experiential learning and project-based learning.”

The Western Program supports six diverse, full-time faculty members, including a climatologist, sustainability expert, sociologist and film writer.

“The professors are all open-minded and creative people, and they recommended courses for my interests,” Jaing said.

After talking about her own experience within the program, Kamara said, “I wish [the Western Program] was more known for students to explore their interests. You can choose your own path.”

This year, Peabody has added a Western Center. The goal of the center is to take the work of the individualized studies majors and make it widely available to the rest of campus. Student and faculty engagement is the core of the center, encouraging engagement at the intersection of western majors.

“We’re trying to grow the center and reach out to Western and non-Western students alike,” Daughtery said. “We’re working on breaking down the silos between majors.”

The Western Program’s Western Center is open from 9 a.m. - 9 p.m.

Monday-Thursday and 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. on Fridays in room 22 in Peabody Hall to any student interested in learning more about individualized studies. @cosettegunter guntercr@miamioh.edu

Dudones entered Miami with over 50 credit hours from dual enrollment courses in high school, fulfilling most of the Miami Plan before ever stepping onto campus.

Elana Duffy, a zoology and premedical studies major, will also be graduating after only three years,

having entered Miami with about 40 AP credits from her last two years of high school.

Both Duffy and Dudones mentioned the financial relief of saving one year’s worth of tuition. In Duffy’s case, the extra money will contribute to her future endeavors in graduate school.

While there are financial benefits to early graduation, both early graduates said they will miss their friends next year.

“I have a few friends who are also graduating early, but some other friends I won’t get to graduate with, which is strange after going through so much with them,” Dudones said.

Despite the financial drawbacks Miami is facing with the increasing trend of early graduates, Creamer said the Miami faculty and staff prioritize a student’s individual needs over anything else.

“Our goal is to always try to meet the objectives the student has; then we deal with the fiscal consequences of that in other ways,” Creamer said. “Our main purpose is to determine what the student’s objectives are. Let’s accomplish those, and then we will work out the financial aspects of that as we need to.” blackse2@miamioh.edu

FIRST YEAR FACES CHARGES FOR SEXUALLY ASSAULTING A MINOR MAGGIE ANGEVINE STAFF WRITER

Devon Marion, a first-year at Miami University has been charged with three counts of creating or distributing child pornography and four counts of unlawful sexual contact with a minor under the Butler County Circuit Courts.

A charge for creation or distribution of child pornography is classified as a second degree felony. In Ohio, this charge is punishable by a maximum of eight years in prison, a maximum fine of $15,000 and registration as a Tier II sex offender, which requires registering as a sex offender twice a year for 25 years.

Under Ohio law, the charge of unlawful sexual contact with a minor is described as “a person who is 18 or older who knowingly or

recklessly engaged in sexual contact with another person who is at least 13 years old but less than 16 years old.”

This is classified as a fourth degree felony, which is punishable by six to 18 months in prison and a maximum fine of $5,000.

Marion was also charged with failure to comply with a police officer, a third degree felony, and obstruction of justice, a fifth degree felony.

The charges were presented last Wednesday, Oct. 23, and an initial court hearing has been set for this Thursday, Oct. 31. Marion was released on a $25,000 bond.

Marion could not be reached for comment.

County prosecutors declined to comment on the case. @NewellMaggie angevims@miamioh.edu

New Gate Arena brings fun back to gaming BO BRUECK

ASST. PHOTO EDITOR The hum of computers fills the room. Sharp clicks and clacks of keyboards accent the constantly-droning fans and CPUs. Light seeps in through the tinted windows, but each player’s face is lit only by a monitor.

A great battle is taking place on those screens. It’s a battle for U.S. national security (in the game) and a battle for bragging rights IRL (in real life).

Junior Isaiah Konn is peering around a corner with his gun up, looking for any indication of the enemy’s position. His eyes dart to the screen and notice the faint red dot of an enemy at nine o’clock, two rooms over, headed south. He spins his character around with a flick of his mouse and creeps toward the doorway he suspects the enemy to breach.

For a moment, there’s nothing.

With a flash and a crash, an enemy bursts through the door and right into Konn’s sight picture. A millisecond on his left mouse button, and it’s over. The enemy is dead, and Konn is leaning back in his chair as the blue victory logo spreads across the screen.

“It’s Rainbow Six Siege,” Konn said. “It’s a first-person-shooter that focuses heavily on strategy and team play. Like you just saw, I knew where he was because my teammate spotted him for me.”

Rainbow Six Siege is just one of the many games New Gate Arena offers its players. Founded in Oxford in the summer of 2019, New Gate provides world-class gaming equipment for Miami University students looking to play casually or compete in e-sports.

For $5 an hour, players can use state-of-the-art equipment and a fast internet connection to hone their skills or play with friends.

“I love this place, man,” Konn said. “It’s not really that expensive if you think about it, either. A new computer would have cost me like $2,000, but here I can use a similar build to the one I would have built for like 15 bucks.”

Players flock to the e-sports center on West High Street because the online experience is just that much better, Konn said.

New Gate’s internet speed and computers, along with the camaraderie of playing alongside fellow gamers, makes gaming fun again, Danny Zhang said, a student who uses the gaming center.

“In my dorm, the Wi-Fi is not so good, but here it’s fast, and I can compete with my friends back home,” Zhang said. “Before I started playing here, I would get so mad at my computer.”

A lag spike or an overclocked computer crashing can lead to keyboard-crushing rage for many gamers. But for those who value the community of gaming over their online success, New Gate provides that, too.

Talawanda High School senior Shr-Hua Moore brought his friends to New Gate before their homecoming dance.

“We’re all into video games, so it just sounded way more fun than going to some expensive restaurant,” Moore said. “We played Smash and some CSGO before it was time for the dance, it was fun.” brueckro@miamioh.edu

6 CULTURE

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2019

HEADLEDD@MIAMIOH.EDU

Pumpkins and pooches: Uptown Halloween

HANNAH HORSINGTON THE MIAMI STUDENT

The festivities began in Uptown Park, where local business owners stood outside their shops handing out candy and greeting kids and parents while tables, games and live children’s music were set up as a mini trick or treat session before the parade.

On Thursday, Oct. 24, the Oxford Parks and Rec Department held its annual Uptown Trick or Treat event and Halloween parade, providing a festive and safe space for children and the community to come together.

“We try to always make everything we do kind of big and something to draw attention and bring people in,” said Ryan Himes, who works as part of Oxford Parks and Rec. First-years Elizabeth Webber and Julia Hermes ran games, gave out candy to kids and complimented their costumes. All of the stations were run by students involved in the Project Kids Network organization on campus.

Oxford resident Christine Abrahms attends the event every year with her children.

“It’s perfect,” Abrahms said. “It’s perfectly safe for the kids and they enjoy it and get too much candy.”

Costumes included everything from Snow White and the Magic Mirror to the entire cast of the children’s show Paw Patrol.

Olivia Cook, 10, who attended the

event with her father, Wes, had one of the most elaborate costumes, featuring felt feathers, bright colors and a huge hat. She dressed as Zazu from The Lion King because she’d recently had that role in a play and already had the costume.

At 6:30 p.m., the pet costume contest was held on the Uptown Park stage. Ten dogs entered the competition, dressed in costumes ranging from a cow to a mermaid to a dragon.

The dogs were led across the stage by their owners, some of whom also participated by dressing up in coordinating outfits. The four categories included Cutest, Scariest, Most Original and Judges’ Choice.

Oxford resident Stephanie Sirois dressed up her dog, Chloe, as a cow.

Chloe’s costume and decorated wagon was not only creative, but it brought attention to a local social issue.

“We live on a cow farm and so we wanted to bring awareness to supporting farmers,” Sirios said.

Sophomore Kiernan Meakin brought her dog, Kiki, who was dressed as a mop, while she dressed as a waitress. The costume was completed with a mop bucket for Kiki to ride around in, and it turned out to be the biggest hit among the audience.

“That mop was hysterical,” Oxford resident Kelsey Hunsche said.

She couldn’t contain her laughter as Kiki was rolled across the stage in her bucket.

In the end, Kiki was awarded Most

Original Costume. Chloe, dressed as a cow, won Cutest Costume, while Katie the pug was awarded Judge’s Choice for her mermaid costume and “under the sea” decorated wagon. In a surprising turn of events, Gunner, dressed as Dory from Finding Nemo, won Scariest Costume.

Gunner was accompanied by his owner Chris Mueller, whose wife and daughter dressed as Darla and Nemo, respectively.

“Darla was pretty scary in the movie,” the Parks and Rec contest host said, explaining the decision. After winning, Gunner excitedly ran up to his family as they celebrated and gave him belly rubs.

Prizes for the contest were donated by local businesses and included three gift baskets and a painting of a dog dressed as Elvis. Prizes were donated by Learning Blocks Preschool, Oxford Kennel and Oxford Veterinary Hospital and Animal Care Clinic.

After the pet costume contest was over, parents and kids had a few moments to get ready and grab something to eat before the Halloween parade at 7 p.m.

The night ended as the Halloween parade, sponsored by the Oxford Lions Club, traveled down High Street.

Even Oxford mayor Kate Rousmaniere got in on the fun, riding in the parade in a light-up car and wearing a sash saying “Halloween Queen.” horsinhp@miamioh.edu

COSTUMES AT THE PARADE WEREN’T JUST FOR HUMANS. DOGS GOT IN ON THE ACTION TOO! THE MIAMI STUDENT OLIVIA HENNESSEY.

Spooky spectacle: the actor behind the mask Some stories delve deeply into the lives of their subjects. Others seek to capture the human condition in just a few words. Modeled after journalist Brady Dennis’ 300 word stories that explore the unfiltered intimacy of the everyday, these pieces, written by first-year students, offer a glimpse into the untold experiences of college life.

What does it mean to be a Miamian?

MAGGIE PENA

THE MIAMI STUDENT

AUDIENCE MEMBERS REACT IN A VARIETY OF WAYS TO THE SPOOKY PERFORMANCE. CONTRIBUTED BY HOLLY WEST

KELLY MCKEWIN STAFF WRITER

After graduating from Miami University in May, Holly West wasn’t sure what kind of job she’d get. She certainly wasn’t expecting it to be spooky.

West, a theatre and media and culture major while at Miami, has been working as an actress in a Halloween show at Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio since September. In the show, called “Midnight Syndicate: Creatures of Darkness,” West plays a mannequin that comes to life.

Despite her background in theatre, West says acting in a Halloween show is much different than any other production she’s been in. Though it’s not quite a haunted house, the show is still interactive and intended to scare the audience.

“It’s a lot different. When you’re in a theater performing on a stage, you’re kind of separated from the audience,” West said. “You stay in character because there’s a barrier. In a non-traditional context like this, you’re more connected to [the audience]. You’re right next to one another so, when they react, you’re right there. You’re breaking the

fourth wall.”

West says she’s occasionally broken character by laughing at the reactions of her audience. In the show, she makes her entrance by switching places with a fake mannequin during a blackout and then goes out into the audience to try to scare them. This generates a variety of reactions from the crowd — some people run to the other end of their aisle, some scream, some shout out random questions, from asking whether she’s real to how she did her hair.

This interactive element is what really makes the show fun for West.

“I really like hearing people talk in the audience,” West said. “People say the weirdest things.”

West says she’s not actually that into scary movies or haunted houses, but she’s enjoyed being one of the people doing the scaring.

“I am not a fan of really scary things, so it’s really ironic that I’m in this show,” West said. “There’s jump scares and stuff in the show I’d normally run away from. But being on the opposite end and doing the scaring is really cool.” mckewikm@miamioh.edu

She wears off-brand converse submerged in a sea of Gucci and Versace.

She buys a dress at Goodwill out of habit, not because she wants a retro vibe.

She smiles and tries, in vain, to fit in with the privileged kids with whom she’s surrounded.

The luxury of being a “daddy’s girl” comes only after her transition from poverty to stability.

Luxury for her only means an intense identity crisis.

She celebrated her 17th birthday by

SKYLER BLACK

THE MIAMI STUDENT There are three crosses hanging on her side of the dorm room — one illustrated in a framed picture, one propped up against the lamp on her desk and one above her bed.

His eyes always watched her.

Sarah thought about them as she walked back Friday night. She wondered what He would think.

She also wondered what her boyfriend, Jacob would think. He went to a Christian college in the middle of the Bible belt. They met at a church sermon when they were 13. He had strict Catholic parents who already thought Sarah was too untraditional.

Jacob wouldn’t recognize her.

She wondered what her youth

planning a funeral for her mother; the mother who, though she didn’t have much, always gave everything to her daughter.

She spent the beginning of her last year as a child choosing floral arrangements and a casket.

She moved in with her grandparents to finish out her last year of high school, moving fiscally from $12,000 to a hefty pension.

She regressed back into her frequent panic attacks, sometimes four to five times per week.

She watched her divorced father cry over his high school sweetheart.

She listened to her grandparents call her “Mandy” by accident. Her

name is Alexis.

She constantly reminded herself that she wasn’t “a useless charity case,” as many of her former friends seemed to think.

She tried, and failed, to embrace her new identity in an expensive home.

She couldn’t bring herself to “ask for the better things,” instead settling for what she was used to.

Her mother died over a year ago.

She sits in her room at Miami, excited to start her new life, but not knowing what persona she will take on.

Whatever life she chooses to live, whether grateful for the little she has, or encouraging her posh taste, she will continue to fight the imposter syndrome that takes over her thoughts. penaml@miamioh.edu

Searching for the promised land group would say. They would probably not understand, ask her if their Monday night discussions meant anything at all.

Silently judge her whenever she texted in their group chat.

She would have to take off the friendship bracelet they made her when she got back to her dorm.

She wondered how her brother would react. College was easy for him.

He knew the local churches around town; his college wasn’t nearly as tempting as hers. He would be disappointed in her.

She wondered what her small town in the suburbs of Chicago would think.

‘How could she betray our values like that? She grew up knowing right from

wrong. She should know better.’ She wouldn’t be asked to babysit her neighbors when she returned for Thanksgiving.

She wondered how she could stay a devout Christian in a place as rowdy as Miami.

Sometimes Sarah imagines what her life would be like without her faith.

Maybe she wouldn’t feel so guilty.

In the dark, amidst the muggy air and boisterous echoes of the frat party, Sarah walked home with her beerdrenched shoes in tow, alone.

She could feel His eyes looking down on her. blackse2@miamioh.edu

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2019

DATTILEC@MIAMIOH.EDU

CULTURE 7

Taking spooky crafts to the next dimension LEXI WHITEHEAD

THE MIAMI STUDENT The Makerspace, located on the third floor of King Library, was decked out for Halloween. Paper bats and garlands hung from the ceiling and fake spiders were strewn about. Candy buckets adorned most of the tables. Some of the staff also embraced the Halloween spirit with t-shirts showcasing a skeleton or black cat.

On Friday, Oct. 25, King’s Makerspace hosted a Halloween-themed event for students to make “creepy crawly crafts.” The Makerspace offers students an area to use the numerous available machines and be creative.

The machines, including 3D printers, sewing machines and electronic cutting machines helped students make stickers and heat transfer vinyls. They could design book covers and bind the books themselves, personalize tote bags or clothes with the heat press and make a sewing circuit.

Anna Hernandez, a sophomore, saw a poster for the event and decided to come after a long, hard week of classes. She used black duct tape covered with green skulls to decorate a book cover and then put yellow caution tape over the top. Later, she experimented with the vinyl heat press.

“I think more kids like doing crafts than they like to admit,” Hernandez said.

The space is important to her because it is a place to de-stress while creating something, and it offers an alternative to going Uptown on the weekend.

ALTHOUGH THE EVENT WAS HALLOWEEN THEMED, THE MAKERSPACE IS OPEN FOR ARTISTS YEAR-ROUND. THE MIAMI STUDENT OLIVIA HENNESSEY

The event ran from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., and there were always multiple students in the space working on various projects. It seemed like the creepy craft fair had something for everyone to enjoy.

The Makerspace holds a few

“I think more kids like doing crafts than they like to admit,”

- Anna Hernandez

CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF A STARBUCKS KIND CHLOE MURDOCK

ASST. MAGAZINE EDITOR In the spirit of the daily understaffed chaos witnessed in the campus Starbucks’ this year, here’s a look back at the former Starbucks attached to Maple Dining Hall. Maybe we’re nostalgic, but fall 2017 felt like a simpler time. *** “Josey!”

A barista clunks another hot drink on the counter. His borrowed name tag reads a cursive “Jenny,” surrounded by handdrawn pumpkins.

“Sarah!”

A line of people pile up in an “L” shape, starting at the register and ending at an empty leather armchair. The chair is meant to appear old and lived-in but hosts a cohesive aesthetic your living room back home lacks. From the view of this chair, the line trickles into a corral of people in various waiting positions: perched on a low railing sidled up against a shelf of pumpkin spice K-cups, claiming a coveted seat or collecting around the spot where “Jenny” or one of his coworkers delivers five-to-six dollars worth of coffee at a time.

“Jacob!”— grabs a nondescript steaming cup and leaves.

“Sydney!”— Her halo braid is flawlessly Instagram ready. She waits patiently for a cold brew with extra ice that takes longer than expected, then clicks away in her heeled suede boots.

“Spencer!”— His flannel Miami shirt billows when he walks.

He opts for a tall black coffee but waits with his friends for their more complicated orders.

“What’d you get? The pumpkin chai?” Landon says to Ashley, gesturing to the chalk sign: Fall Back in Love with PSL — OR Try Our Pumpkin Chai. She laughs, nods.

It is over 75 degrees outside, but the American obsession with fall never sheds its flannel. It’s a rite of passage to get the pumpkin spice latte or some other form of liquid pumpkin to ring in autumn.

“Ashley!”— Miami University Vineyard Vines shirt, converse, grande iced pumpkin chai.

“Katie!”— Miami hockey jersey, shorts, birkenstocks and an iced pumpkin chai.

“Katie!”— pumpkin spice chai.

“Emily!”— pumpkin scone.

“Kaylee, you’re in the way!” a worker says. In the middle of a rush of orders, she reaches for a lower cabinet to restock while another barista pumps syrup into a drink.

“I’m able to get a free drink next time!” Dede exclaims, staring at the rewards app on her phone. She and her daughter are stopping for caffeine before they head home for fall break. Their platinum blonde heads huddle over Dede’s phone, as if to shield it from everyone else who will have to shell out another five dollars for their fix of fall.

The crowd disperses. For now.

It’s a 15-20 minute break for “Jenny” and the rest of the staff, manned by a manager with a short blonde ponytail and the nametag “Mommy Spice.”

Many of their stories start with “One time, there was this frappuccino I made ...” and ends with something like “... halfway through the iced coffee, I realized it was not almond milk.”

Small mistakes like this can deconstruct the entire flow of a rush.

A few minutes later, work picks back up again.

“Uh, this isn’t what I ordered.

You forgot the coconut milk.” Scarlett, with her flannel and booties combo, ordered a grande strawberry acai refresher with coconut milk. The drink is heavily hyped up on social media as a “secret menu” item, a Starbucks hack, a trendy shot for the ‘gram.

Three workers exchange a look and remake the drink. Even with fall approaching, Instagrammable summer drinks like the milky refresher are still in season.

Another sign reads More to Love — Maple Pecan. Just in case you’re tired of pumpkin or salted caramel, you can try this new autumn drink (hot, iced or in frappuccino form!) to convince your tastebuds the fall season is nigh.

Cassidy goes for the syrupy plunge. Grande, iced. She takes her straw, swirls the decorative bits at the top and sips. She frowns, swirls it again. Sips. It’s too sweet for her liking, but she leaves with the cup in hand.

It’s fall, after all.

events each semester in order to encourage students to come in and take advantage of the space. All of the machines are free to use for the school year, and the staff is currently trying to get a grant to keep it free for next year.

Senior Elliot Boyle loves being crafty and trying new things, so when they heard about this event from their best friend and housemate, they decided that they had to come. Before trying to make a new button for their backpack, Boyle sat and watched what others were making to get inspired.

“I want more time in the day so I can be here more often,” Boyle said.

They echoed Hernandez’s sentiment that doing crafts is a great form of self care.

The Makerspace does not require any experience to use their machines because there is always a staff member available to help. At the event on Friday, multiple staff members helped students bind books, choose designs to cut out of vinyl and showed them how to use the machines.

One student even had help making her Halloween costume. She is going as Lavagirl, and a staff member helped her cut out flames from vinyl and use the heat press to put them on her jeans.

Sarah Nagle, the Creation and In-

novation services librarian, runs the Makerspace.

“I think a lot of students really like doing these things at home or at their high school, so it’s a space for them to do it,” Nagle said.

Unfortunately, the Makerspace is not open 24 hours like King Library, but when it is, students can visit and use any of the machines. It is open Mondays 9 a.m.-1 p.m., Tuesdays 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Wednesdays and Thursdays 1 p.m.-5 p.m., and Fridays 9 a.m.-5 p.m. for those looking to get crafty. whitehan@miamioh.edu

Diwali: Far from home POOJA RAMCHANDANI JUGAL JAIN THE MIAMI STUDENT

Diwali marks the commencement of the Hindu New Year, a day to be grateful and celebrate with close family and friends. A day to start afresh, with traditions encouraging indulgence in a selection of delectable platters and gifts and the offering of prayers to Lakshmi Maa — the goddess of wealth and prosperity.

It had been three years since the Indian students in the class of 2020 last celebrated Diwali. We decided that it was time to amend that.

With one week of careful planning, we celebrated Diwali with a guest list of 20 people. The preparations commenced in the morning with multiple grocery trips to Walmart and Kroger, buying ingredients for a three-course meal.

For appetizers, we decided to make an Indo-Chinese dish called vegetable noodle Potli made by frying dough with a mix of vegetables, spaghetti noodles and various spices served with Sichuan sauce.

For the main course, we made pav bhaaji, mashed vegetables with a tomato and potato base and chole chawal, chickpeas in a tomato, onion and garlic base with cumin and other herbs.

Finally, for dessert, we settled on gajar ka halwa, a pudding made with carrots, clarified butter, sugar and dry fruits.

This whole process took up most of our day. But all of this would not have been possible without help from our friends who volunteered in cleaning and decorating the house and preparing the food.

We stationed idols of Hindu gods in a small shrine and decorated

the make-shift temple with flowers, candles and incense sticks. Following that, everyone dressed up in traditional Indian attire to join the evening celebration.

To start the evening, we lit all the candles around the house and offered the first portion of the food to the gods.

Next, we started the Diwali Aarti playlist on Spotify and joined in to pray together. We lit the Diya, an oil lamp and did the Aarti, a Hindu ritual of worship, which was followed by a lot of dancing on some Bollywood beats and finally, the food.

The highlight of the event was that everyone came together to prepare the food. This kind of camaraderie made us realize that, apart from all the things that made Diwali worth celebrating, like dancing and

dressing up, are not just frivolities.

It’s all about everyone coming together and helping each other, about sharing the joys of having each other and being thankful for having people you can now call your family.

It was Diwali, the festival of lights — the joyous music of laughter cascading through the candle-lit staircase around the house, the aroma of freshly ground spices and guests jamming to Bollywood classics, the feeling of belonging to a home away from home.

To the nights that turned into mornings and to friends that turned into family.

Happy Diwali! ramchapa@miamioh.edu jainjj@miamioh.edu

@chloeannmurdock murdocc3@miamioh.edu DIWALI IS A FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS, ONE THAT INVOLVES A WIDE VARIETY OF FESTIVE DECORATIONS AND ADORNMENTS. PHOTO EDITOR JUGAL JAIN

Humor

8

BERTRANT@MIAMIOH.EDU

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2019

Uncovering Oxford’s ‘hook up conversation pieces’ KATE RIGAZIO

OPINION EDITOR College-aged males across the country are buying into a new decorating phenomenon ripped right from the pages of Pottery Barn’s “Perpetually-Single Fun Uncle” line.

The trend, known as “hookup conversation pieces,” is a unique statement piece that an individual can use to show a potential hookup his personality, passion or how he is overall “not like other guys.” It can also be used to fill any pre-smash awkward silences.

Our staff was curious to see if the men of Oxford were a part of this trend.

S o ,

over the last month, reporter Molly Surette has recorded the hook up conversation pieces of Oxford, as well as the highlights of the conversations that came with them.

Here are some of her most special finds: An Anderson Cooper bobblehead: “Every morning I ask him if I’m gonna have a good day, and he nods his head yes. It’s just like having one of the most trusted voices in America tell me I’m good.”

An authentic Samurai sword: “I won this in a bet. I don’t actually know how to use it.”

A copy of Twenty One Pilots’ album “Blurryface” on vinyl: “I know it sounds so pretentious, but the sound quality is seriously so much better on vinyl. I refuse to listen to this album any other way.”

A wall mount of a jackalope head: “I didn’t know they weren’t real until after I bought this.”

A personalized Harry Potter wand: “Pottermore said my Hogwarts house is Hufflepuff, which means I’m particularly good at finding things,” the individual said before winking at Surette.

A poster advertising Bumble: “Bumble actually mailed this to me personally. I was a brand ambassador for them for a couple years.

Don’t worry, I don’t use it that much anymore.”

A piece of the Berlin wall: “History is, like, my jam.”

An ant farm: “Sometimes, at night, I swear I can hear them digging in there.”

A framed photo of Quentin Tarantino (unsigned): “I always found Pulp Fiction posters to be very basic. They’re a shallow representation of a genius. But Tarantino is one of my heroes so I felt I still had to pay homage to him somehow.”

A framed photo of Quentin Tarantino (signed): “Have you seen Pulp Fiction? It’s really good.”

A replica of “Washington Crossing the Delaware”: “For me, this represents perseverance. It reminds me to keep pursuing my dreams, to not be afraid of forging my own path and to trust my instinct. And I normally think art is boring, so that makes this all the more important to me.”

A jar of baby teeth: “Sorry, those are my grandbig’s. It’s a fraternity passdown thing.”

A copy of the Mueller report: “I used all my MuLaa on this, and the librarians at King had to refill the printer, like, seven times. I figured it was a small price to pay for such an important his-

torical moment, you know?”

A tattoo gun: “I keep meaning to learn how to use this but never find the time.”

A perfect replica of the Crystal Skull from “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull”: “I know it’s controversial, but I honestly thought the movie was pretty good.”

rigazikm@ miamioh.edu

DESIGN EDITOR CONNOR WELLS

PERSONAL ADS

Couples costume edition NOAH BETRAND HUMOR EDITOR

MALE, 20: Hello, and good day. I am seeking a compatriot with which to attend a rendevouz. I have already completed and broken-in my William Randolph Hearst costume and will be happy to help you construct yours. I am envisioning that you go as the ghost of an elderly woman that had been killed by Hearst years earlier in a tragic hit and run. It offers a hint of humor with a lining of historically-accurate-yet-spooky — a perfect combo. Write me a letter if interested and leave it on my doorstep. You will have to find me.

MALE, 50: Hello — I am willing to offer my services to any college-aged individual that needs an older man to complete their couples costume. I can play between 30-65 years old and have a background in theatre from Julliard. In the past, I have gone as Younger Benjamin Button, Gandalf (The White and The Grey), The Ghost of Christmas Past and Yoda. I don’t charge as long as you don’t make fun of me, at which point I have a penalty system for around $20 an insult, depending on the severity of said insult.

FEMALE, 12: Listen, I know how many of you are going to buy a Sully onesie from Monsters Inc. with the hopes of finding a Boo to match. I also know how many of you struck out and now are going to look like a sad, teal and purple-spotted mess on Halloween. I will come dressed as Boo to one (1) Halloween party for cash. I charge $100 per hour and bring my own security. I also have a concealed carry license, which I am legally required to tell you.

FEMALE, 21: Hi! — I have a dream, a dream about the perfect two-person Halloween costume. You can help make that dream come true. I want to go to my friend’s Halloween party dressed as a slightly more psychotic version of myself (messier hair, lesions, etc.) and I want you to come as the key piece of evidence that gets me convicted for a series of murders back in 2008. If I recall correctly, the only things that could be are a boot print in the mud or a tube of lipstick I left on the north side of Wilmot mountain — we’ll go with the lipstick. I already have a massive ziplock evidence bag, so all I would need from you is to construct a large cylinder and wear it in the bag as I drag you around telling my sordid tale.

MALE, 15: I need someone to carry out a hit on Harriet Lowell. She has gone too far — the buck stops here. I may have only been four years old when it all happened, but I remember the impact well enough.

Her taunting will be her demise. Meet me on the north side of Wilmot mountain on Halloween at midnight if you’re up for the task.

bertrant@miamioh.edu

STOLEN FRAT SHIRT ONLY PERK FROM HALLOWEEKEND HOOKUP CÉILÍ DOYLE

MANAGING EDITOR TASTEFUL SIDE BOOB, Theta Mu Sigma Annex — Second year Joan McCormick did not know what she was getting herself into when she agreed to tag along to the premier Halloweekend party at Theta Mu Sigma (Theta Mu) last Thursday.

McCormick’s friend Maureen Knightly, a senior, is dating one of the Theta Mu brothers, Josh Reid, and convinced McCormick to “come thru” the party to start the Halloween season off right.

After she arrived, Knightly introduced McCormick to a friend, junior Thad Harmon.

The pair hit it off and headed back to one of the frat’s annex houses, Tasteful Side Boob, with Knightly and Reid. McCormick watched Harmon play Fortnite for an hour and a half, before he turned on “Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby” using his father’s Netflix account.

McCormick and Harmon finished hooking

up before the movie ended, and McCormick got ready to leave after deciding she had no desire to see the end of the film.

McCormick debated whether or not to alert Knightly — a self-proclaimed “theta mu frat rat” — about her impending departure, but decided to just shoot Knightly a text after hearing a loud cackle come from Reid’s room.

Careful not to wake the house dog, Molly, McCormick picked up a shirt off of Harmon’s floor to provide an added layer as she made her trek back to campus.

The next morning, McCormick stood in Knightly’s kitchen comparing their evenings.

“Even the Hot-Pocket he made me was cold,” McCormick recounted to Knightly.

Knightly shuddered.

The two then spent a few hours stalking the Theta Mu’s on social media before coming across an Instagram post depicting Harmon flexing shirtless, sporting a pair of Hawaiin swim trunks in front of a palm tree chalkboard that read “Thad Gets Mad Dick,” with the caption “it’s 2018 bro! #loveislove” from the @

COLUMNIST

Last Thursday, junior Chad Bergman, 21, received a medal from the Miami chapter of the On-Campus League for Building Better Boyfriends for doing the bare minimum in his new relationship with Savannah Stein, also 21.

The student organization holds the competition every year, for which Miami students

@cadoyle_18 doyleca3@miamioh.edu

The changing of the majors A ‘beautiful natural phenomenon.’

NOAH BERTRAND HUMOR EDITOR

As the summer leaves start to turn their hue to an earthly orange and brown, so too do the annual breed of underclassmen turn toward their advisors’ offices. The first few exams have been taken, the grades are out and the students are restless to move. The beautiful natural phenomenon that we are about to witness is the yearly changing of the majors.

Who doesn’t love the spirit of change in the air? Who doesn’t enjoy an atmosphere of new opportunity? The College of Arts and Sciences emerges from its summer-long hibernation to welcome its late arrivals: The wonderful, innocent engineers making their flight towards the humanities after shit got real, with their fluttering eyes and renewed hatred for thought and correct answers.

The free spirited and inspiring new crop

of philosophy majors — free from the shackles of journalism or something else more useful — are ready to bloom into discussion-based classes.

The elegant undecideds, a common but beautiful creature. The mystery of their existence and the variety of transformations make this a group to watch: We sit in awe as they slide into history classes because they liked it in high school, and it should totally carry over.

We gawk at the art majors who finally admitted to themselves that money isn’t everything.

We sit in awe as a flurry of strategic communication majors float and drift over from the Farmer School of Business, confident that the wind will take them there next year.

Or maybe the year after that.

Hundreds of other students are affected by these changes as each herd of bright-eyed new majors brings with them a bundle of issues.

In an attempt to assimilate, they will re-

Young man receives medal for doing bare minimum in new relationship KIRBY DAVIS

mubeachboys Instagram account.

“Good God,” McCormick said out loud.

While she found his social media nauseating, she justified that it was okay because Thad is hot.

McCormick then started laughing after looking down at her stomach and realizing that she was sporting the burnt orange, shortsleeved College Comforts tee emblazoned with the Theta Mu Greek letters and a colorful illustration of the Roman Colosseum with the insignia “Not All Men.” “Thad won’t miss that,” Knightly said. “Last semester, I took a rugby shirt, a hoodie and a really nice pair of Josh’s Nike sweats, and he hasn’t said a thing.”

At press time, McCormick and Knightly were debating which weekend in November they should debut their matching stolen t-shirts at The Brick Street Bar & Grill’s™ Beat the Clock.

can submit their boyfriends’ names and short essays about why they deserve the coveted Bare Minimum medal.

“I’m truly honored,” Bergman said at the award ceremony on Thursday, Oct. 24. “I didn’t expect this at all.”

Continuing his acceptance speech, Bergman said he wished to thank his dad, uncle Bob, uncle Peter, and his brothers (biological and fraternity) for their support. He wanted

to thank senior Morris Douglas, 22, in particular, because he pointed Stein out to Bergman at Brick Street Bar and Grill one month prior.

“She was dancing with a bunch of her friends,” Bergman said. “Most of them were hotter. But Morris was like, ‘Hey, that one has a Cubs shirt on.’ And I f****** love the Cubs.”

In her essay, Stein wrote about the “gentlemanly” way Bergman has treated her since they started exclusively dating two weeks ago.

peatedly verbalize their new major, so that other beings are forced to acknowledge it.

Acquiring a new major may embolden some young, naive students to pretend to have more intelligence than they do, either in an attempt to impress a mate or their own ego.

It is a true treat to witness this transformation each year, as the winds of the future carry these underclassmen into their later years. The ephemeral nature of the world is most visible as a lesson to be learned here, as we all know that many of these majors will not survive the winter. A violent sixweek shedding period awaits them in a few months — but they don’t know that yet.

And so we celebrate the changing of the seasons alongside our fellow new majors, mutually hoping that we’re making the right decisions with no clue whether or not that is actually the case.

bertrant@miamioh.edu

She said he seems to understand the word “no,” has only canceled on her twice to smoke with his friends instead and has even shared his mac bites from Skipper’s Pub with her once.

“He used all the sauce, but he let me have a couple,” Stein said. “He’s a dream.”

Bergman said that while receiving the award has been “cool,” it’s put pressure on him to live up to “impossible” standards set

by Stein.

When Bergman reached out to last year’s winner, Chad Griffin, for advice, Griffin told him to “never follow his instincts.”

“Just always assume you could be doing more than what you are currently doing,” Griffin said.

@kirbdavis daviskn3@miamioh.edu

BERTRANT@MIAMIOH.EDU

HUMOR 9

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2019

6 Halloween twists to separate your Jim Halpert costume from the rest

ASST. DESIGN EDITOR OWEN BERG

SEAN MULLEE

THE MIAMI STUDENT We’ve all been there. You got invited to a Halloween costume party, but you’re a white man with little to no creativity and and an extremely limited knowledge of pop culture.

In a flash of genius, you grab your white

dress shirt and head to the party as the everyman from the funniest piece of media you can fathom – “The Office” – only to realize there are at least six other Jim Halperts at the same party.

Luckily for you, I have compiled a list of original Halloween twists that you can use to take your Jim costume to the next level!

Machina Jim: This Jim is from a future where Jim’s conscious has been cybernetically implanted into an android body. Though the manufacturers gave him artificial skin to make him more humanoid, it is clear he is not fully a man anymore, and he struggles with his identity. Also, he has a missile launcher in his arm.

Kidney Stone Jim: Just like many men, Jim’s kidneys betray him and crystallize his urine, developing a painful stone he must pass during the course of your Halloween party.

Periodically throughout the night, fall on the floor writhing in pain and calling for an ambulance.

Jim On Ice™: After Disney ultimately absorbs NBC into its ever-looming media conglomerate, they will no doubt exploit the popularity of “The Office” by converting it into an On Ice production. What better way to show off the day-to-day life of white collar Americans than through a dazzling multimedia performance full of high class figure-skating and wonder? Just strap on those ice skates, get yourself a flesh-colored boy band mic and hit the town!

Jim after Pam and the children die in a horrific house fire he could have prevented and now he’s turned to the bottle: After the series finale of “The Office,” Jim and Pam continue to live their happily ever after raising their beautiful children.

That is, until one fateful summer night when Jim, after cooking a pot of stovetop popcorn, forgets to turn off the gas on their burner oven before beginning one of his classic indoor firework extravaganzas. The Roman candles immediately set the room ablaze, and the fire department could not arrive in time. Tortured by guilt, Jim begins to drown his sorrows in alcohol and develops a crippling dependency.

Jim after Pam and the children die in a horrific house fire he could have prevented and now he’s turned to balloon animals: This is essentially the same as #4, but instead of coping with a substance abuse problem, Jim starts taking balloon animal classes at the local community college.

The balloons can also be switched out for any traditional clown behavior, such as driving around in a tiny car or pulling a comically long handkerchief out of your mouth as long as it’s sufficiently depressing.

Testicular Cancer Jim: Just regular Jim but he’s wearing a Livestrong bracelet.

mulleesp@miamioh.edu

Sports

10

VINELCA@MIAMIOH.EDU

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2019

Nike Sibande is using NBA feedback to fuel best season yet

CHRIS VINEL

SPORTS EDITOR Nike Sibande didn’t go home to Indianapolis this summer. Instead, he flew to Boston and Oklahoma City.

Sibande declared for the NBA Draft in early April and spent much of the next two months exploring his professional options. He worked out for the Boston Celtics and Oklahoma City Thunder before choosing to return to Miami for his junior season in late May. After that, he just got to work.

“From the moment we got that week break after our season ended, that’s when it all started,” the 6-foot-4 guard said. “It’s like, ‘Come on. Let’s go. Let’s push.’”

Last season, Sibande averaged 16.1 points per game and shot 39 per-

cent from the field. He became the first sophomore in Miami history to reach 1,000 career points.

But, with bigger dreams than Oxford, Ohio, Sibande spent the summer using the feedback the NBA teams gave him to take his game to the next level. Sibande said he had never experienced anything like walking into those NBA facilities and meeting the coaches.

“It was just amazing, man. Felt surreal,” Sibande said. “It made me eager to learn more. It made me more hungry and switched my mindset.”

The assessments he received were positive. The teams loved his athleticism and his shot. The Celtics’ Brad Stevens, a coach world-renowned for his outstanding defenses, told Sibande he admired the RedHawk’s talent on that side of the court.

Miami goes on the road to claim first series win MIKE GUISTOLISE STAFF WRITER

Fortune smiles in the form of just one game below .500 for Miami University hockey.

After an overtime tie on Friday, the RedHawks (2-3-2) shutout Colgate (14-2) on Saturday night, earning their first series win in the young season.

Coach Chris Bergeron’s boys outscored the Raiders, 5-3, over the weekend, while senior goaltender Ryan Larkin stopped 29 shots en route to his sixth career shutout and first of the season.

With the team still in the process of feeling out their new coach, fans should be on the lookout for what is new: Power play and penalty kill Through the first couple games, the penalty kill was the Achilles heel for the ’Hawks.

Even after cleaning up some mistakes, a power-play goal ultimately put the nail in the coffin during the second game against Ferris State back on Oct. 19.

However, there is hope. Miami kept Colgate from taking advantage of its power play over the weekend, with the Raiders going a combined 0-for-7.

The flip side of that coin is Miami hasn’t scored a goal when it has a man advantage since the first game in the Ferris State series and have converted only three of their 27 chances all year (11 percent). This also included the RedHawks’ own 0-for-7 stint on the power play.

It has started to come down to priorities of what the team want to see fixed first: scoring on the power play or killing off the penalty?

“That’s what I want to hang my hat on,” Sibande said.

They also provided Sibande with some aspects of his skillset to enhance. The coaches want Sibande to better utilize his superb athleticism — he has a 48.5-inch running vertical leap — on both sides of the court while also becoming a more vocal leader.

He said, in the past, he was often just playing basketball without thinking of being a talkative teammate.

Sibande said he wants to be better at helping his team through adversity, calming his teammates when they hit rough patches. He wants to get out of his own mind and concentrate on helping others perform at their highest levels, too.

After returning to Oxford, Sibande teamed up with assistant coach Kenneth Lowe, a former Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year at Purdue, to

NIKE SIBANDE SCANS THE MILLETT HALL COURT IN A 66-63 LOSS TO TOLEDO ON JAN. 29 (LEFT). SIBANDE DECLARED FOR THE NBA DRAFT IN APRIL (RIGHT).

THE MIAMI STUDENT ZACH REICHMAN (L), BO BRUECK (R)

improve. He was often in the gym multiple times a day.

“We would just do a lot of one-onone stuff,” Sibande said. “A lot of offense, putting up shots, defense, contested finishing, next-level stuff. Stuff that I needed to work on.”

Off the practice court, Sibande wanted to up his basketball IQ. He watched film of players like Donovan Mitchell, CJ McCollum, Bradley Beal and himself.

“I can see it,” Sibande said. “I re-

With everyone back, the RedHawks have gone on a six-match win streak, with three of those being sweeps.

The question now: Who is going to put the team on their shoulders and snatch the Mid-American Conference away from all challengers?

Bergeron’s words summarize the key idea of how this team could be successful going forward.

The tie on Friday left a bit to be desired, with almost twice as many players posting a negative plus/minus than a positive.

Saturday fixed past sins and had no one in the negative. The only downside from Saturday was a 20-27 deficit in the faceoff circle; a little price to pay when Larkin was as sharp in net as he was.

More positives came as every one of the Miami goals throughout the weekend had at least one person assisting. Senior wing Gordie Green and junior forward Casey Gilling posted multiple assists on Friday.

Sophomore forward Monte Graham also contributed his first goal of the season toward the win on Saturday.

Early season record = late season issues?

Now, this could just be an overblown observation, but there is nothing mind-blowing about the RedHawks’ record.

Non-conference play is a different animal, for sure, but the mediocre start to the season has only recently been shrugged off.

Miami went 5-6 before entering MAC play. Injuries surely did not help but, perhaps, this bumpy start could have shown others how to beat this team.

To be fair, the ’Hawks have a history of going on a ridiculously long winning streak when entering conference play, which explains why they have been among the favorites to win the conference every year in recent memory.

However, if the blueprint is there for other teams to follow to beat Miami, it will be interesting to see which fine tunings Condit makes before season’s end.

Starting in net …

guistom@miamioh.edu

Gimme the hot sauce

SOPHOMORE SETTER LOUIS COMERFORD SERVES AT MILLETT HALL, WHERE THE REDHAWKS ARE 6-3 THIS SEASON. THE MIAMI STUDENT ZACH REICHMAN

Volleyball sweeps both weekend matches MIKE GUISTOLISE STAFF WRITER

JUNIOR FORWARD CASEY GILLING SHOOTS AGAINST FERRIS STATE ON OCT. 19 AT THE GOGGIN ICE CENTER. MIAMI LOST THE GAME, 3-1. THE MIAMI STUDENT ZACH REICHMAN

@ChrisAVinel vinelca@miamioh.edu

BREAK OUT THE BROOMS

‘We need most everybody contributing’

Larkin definitely earned himself some bonus points with Bergeron after Saturday’s performance in goal.

The senior goaltender hailing from Clarkston, Michigan, got off to a less-than-reputable start to the season, but has made a valiant effort to turn the ship around in his last three starts.

Over that stretch, Larkin has allowed only six goals while stopping 82 of 88 shots faced and earning his first shutout of the season.

Larkin has trimmed down his goals against average while elevating his save percentage back up to 89 percent.

Miami hockey hits the ice again at the Goggin Ice Center on Friday, Nov. 1 to face the United States Developmental Team. Puck drops at 7:05 p.m.

ally watched their games, and then, when I go out there, I’ve watched it so much, now, I feel like I can do the same exact stuff that they’re doing. I feel like I take pieces from different players’ games and just try to make it my own.”

After all his work, Sibande made a promise for this season.

“It’s going to be a good one.”

Miami University volleyball is back in full swing after a less-thanstellar start to the year.

Without a doubt, all focus is on finishing strong and grinding toward the postseason. After a weekend where the RedHawks (138, 8-2) swept both Ball State (1110, 5-4) and Toledo (7-15, 0-10), they also gained first place in the Mid-American Conference’s East Division and are currently tied with Central Michigan in overall MAC play.

The weekend leaders included senior middle Margaret Payne with 23 kills over the two matches, junior setter Morgan Seaman with 41 assists and senior defensive specialist Taylor Daignault with 30 total digs.

A refreshed look This is the healthiest Carolyn Condit’s team has been since the start of the season.

The list of players who have missed some time due to injuries this season are Daignault, Haley Stewart, Gaby Harper and Sophie Reimersma.

Don’t look now, but that front line of Miami is still hot.

Of course, Payne always seems to be in the right position at all times. Her team-leading 198 kills doesn’t do her presence on the court its full justice.

Harper is chugging right along, showing that her freshman year was no fluke. Although injuries have kept her sidelined on occasion, Harper’s sophomore slump is nowhere to be seen.

Junior middle Avarie Powell and junior outside hitter Sarah Wojick haven’t let up their primetime play since gaining elevated playing time due to injury. The duo scored in a multitude of ways and combined for 46.5 total points (more than a third of the team’s 123) over the two matches this past weekend.

The RedHawks and their powerful frontline will face dreaded rival Ohio at 7 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 1 in Millett Hall. They hope to avenge an early season loss to the Bobcats. guistom@miamioh.edu

VINELCA@MIAMIOH.EDU

SPORTS 11

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2019

FOOTBALL ON SATURDAY, CHURCH ON SUNDAY

SCOREBOARD THURSDAY

SOCCER Ohio ............................... 5 Miami ............................2

FRIDAY

FIELD HOCKEY Miami ............................2 Ohio ............................... 1

HOCKEY Miami ............................ 3 Colgate .......................... 3

VOLLEYBALL Miami ............................ 3 Ball State .......................0

SATURDAY

FOOTBALL Miami .......................... 23 REDSHIRT JUNIOR WIDE RECEIVER JACK SORENSON WATCHES A RUN PLAY AGAINST THE OHIO STATE BUCKEYES ON SEPT. 21 AT OHIO STADIUM. SORENSON TOTALED FOUR CATCHES FOR 42 YARDS IN THE 76-5 LOSS. PHOTO EDITOR JUGAL JAIN

BRADY PFISTER STAFF WRITER

Miami University prides itself on a liberal arts education, pushing students to grow their minds in multiple academic fields while developing skills and experiences in and outside of the classroom.

Miami redshirt junior wide receiver Jack Sorenson is the poster child of this mission.

Not only does Sorenson excel on the field, but he also has created a well-rounded college experience in Oxford by being a part of a business fraternity and Christian community.

For the Chicago native, this mindset of being more than a football player has been deeply ingrained in him for as long as he can remember.

“My dad always harped it into me: football ends,” Sorenson said.

“Whether you make it to the Hall of Fame or not, football ends.”

That, of course, is not to say Sorenson does not eat, sleep and breathe football. He does, and has since his childhood visits to Lambeau Field to cheer on his favorite team, the Green Bay Packers.

Small in stature at just 6’0’’ and 192 lbs., the shifty fourth-year receiver is the first Miami player to arrive at the football facility and the

last one to leave, said his position coach, Israel Woolfork.

“The one thing about Jack that makes him great is he’s a competitor,” Woolfork said. “Any ball thrown in his area, he thinks he should catch it.”

Even when he’s confined to the sideline due to injury, Sorenson still devours whatever dosage of football he can get his hands on. Woolfork said that, for the two-game stretch Sorenson has missed this season due to leg injuries, he was “the best leader we have on the sidelines.”

“He’s been more engaged than any other person, even though he’s not playing,” Woolfork said.

After leading Adlai Stevenson High School to a state championship, Sorenson had options to play football for numerous teams across the country, but chose Miami due to the program’s commitment to help players “be the best well-rounded man you could be.”

He has taken full advantage of this commitment by joining the business fraternity Alpha Kappa Psi. Not only does the organization provide Sorenson with fruitful connections for career aspirations down the road, but also feeds his hunger to compete both on and off the field.

“I get really restless easy, so if football were to end, I wouldn’t be

able to just sit on my butt and travel,” Sorenson said. “I think ‘AKPsi’ provides that opportunity to do something that is competitive, such as sales or marketing or consulting.”

Balancing his fraternity commitments while also attending practices, lifting weights and watching film is a task that has taken time for Sorenson to master. He does not, however, view these involvements as opponents, but rather experiences he can use in all aspects of life.

“They’ve provided me tools to apply not only in business, but to life and to football,” Sorenson said.

While networking with other driven students is worthwhile, Sorenson’s bearded face lights up the most talking about his Christian faith and the deeply-rooted friendships that it has brought him.

Sorenson’s friendship with redshirt sophomore quarterback Jackson Williamson has blossomed after digging deeper into how to follow Jesus as a college student and Division I football player.

“We’re the No. 1 guys that we go to,” Williamson said. “We’ve been guys that we can both rely on and lean on if we’re struggling with anything.”

These types of friendships are common in Sorenson’s life through connections to Cobblestone Com-

’Hawks Talk “You don’t think my 17th long snapper knows this is a big game? It’s a big game. It should determine the fate of the MAC East.” ⁃ Chuck Martin on his football team’s game against Ohio next week

Check out The Miami Student’s new sports podcast, Press Box Thoughts. Each week, Patrick Geshan and Josiah Collins will review the week in Miami sports and talk to a RedHawk player or coach or TMS sports writer.

munity Church and Cru, an on-campus Christian organization. The ability to go beneath the surface with others has been a pivotal part of his growth throughout college.

“They don’t care if I dropped a ball or caught a ball,” Sorenson said.

“It’s way bigger than that.”

Sorenson views his Christian community as an outlet that helps him as a football player. Following Jesus gives football meaning to Sorenson.

“It’s a platform to spread what Jesus has given you,” Sorenson said.

“These gifts are given to me for a purpose.”

The pressure to perform as a student at Miami is intense, especially for a student like Sorenson who is asked to come through in multiple circles of people across different types of organizations.

However, Sorenson has found an anchor to hold him steady when injuries hit, a job falls through or a class gets difficult. He can remain confident when he fails because he knows, one way or another, God will “be there for me.”

After all, football ends. And when that day comes, Sorenson will be just fine. @brady_pfister pfistejb@miamioh.edu

Kent State .................... 16

HOCKEY Miami ............................2 Colgate ..........................0 WOMEN’S SWIMMING AND DIVING Miami ........................ 148 Eastern Michigan ......152

VOLLEYBALL Miami ............................ 3 Toledo ............................0

SUNDAY

FIELD HOCKEY UC Davis ........................ 1 Miami ............................2

SOCCER Kent State ......................0 Miami ............................2

FOOTBALL NOTEBOOK

Miami, tied for division lead, reaches quasi-bye CHRIS VINEL

SPORTS EDITOR Well, the stage is set.

Miami just has to wait a few days than normal before battling the Ohio Bobcats for sole first place in the Mid-American Conference’s East Division.

With the impending arrival of their midweek schedule, the RedHawks receive what essentially amounts to a shorter bye week. They won’t play this Saturday. They and the Bobcats will wait until their Wednesday, Nov. 6 matchup to take the field again.

In their last regular-season Saturday game of the year, the RedHawks finished strong. Miami squeezed out a 23-16 road victory in the pouring rain and made head coach Chuck Martin proud.

“As proud a group as I’ve been around, probably, in my whole coaching career,” Martin said, “with just how they are, and how tough they are, and how much they prepare, and how much they care about each other and how they play through everything. Grinding out a close, tough victory was awesome.”

Miami has had to grind through a lot this season.

The RedHawks fought through a 1-3 non-conference schedule, which CBS Sports ranked as the second-hardest slate in the country. Out of the four teams they played, three of them are ranked in the top 20 in this week’s Associated Press polls.

They’ve battled injuries all season and continued to do so last Saturday. Martin relied on true freshmen Brett Gabbert, Lonnie Phelps, Ivan Pace Jr., Caleb Shaffer, Rusty Feth and Austin Ertl to make plays against the Golden Flashes.

Miami was also missing freshman wide receiver James Maye, its big-play threat for the past month, and redshirt junior offensive lineman Danny Godlevske, a multi-year starting lineman and a player Martin has put in the conversation for being the team’s best.

Redshirt junior wideout Jack Sorenson returned to the lineup after a two-game absence,

but he wasn’t all the way back to true form. He caught two balls for 26 yards.

“He was ready to play,” Martin said. “But his legs, he looks like he hasn’t run in two months, which he hasn’t run in two months. He was a poor man’s version of Jack Sorenson. He’ll keep getting his legs better and get back.”

With an extra few days to recover, Martin is hoping his team is healthier when it plays the Bobcats.

“Obviously, the 10 days gives you an opportunity,” Martin said. “We don’t know with Danny [Godlevske], we don’t know with [redshirt junior tight end Andrew] Homer yet. I think Jack [Sorenson]’s going to be running a lot better 10 days from now … I think James [Maye] should be fine in 10 days. I hope so. I hope they’re all back.”

And when the RedHawks take the field at Ohio, they be playing their sixth road game of their nine total games this season.

Adversity, to say the least.

Martin said his team will get some time off this week.

Deservedly so. @ChrisAVinel vinelca@miamioh.edu

MIAMI FRESHMAN QUARTERBACK BRETT GABBERT STIFF-ARMS A DEFENDER AT YAGER STADIUM ON NOV. 19. THE MIAMI STUDENT ZACH REICHMAN

Opinion

12

RIGAZIKM@MIAMIOH.EDU

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2019

STAFF EDITORIAL

We’re straight up not having a good time right now.

The following reflects the majority opinion of the editorial board.

It’s Miami University’s midterm month, a tradition that should be listed alongside kissing under Upham Arch and failing an exam after stepping on the seal. Ask any student at Miami how they’re doing right now, and they’ll give you the same answer: stressed out of their freaking minds.

Currently, there is no standardization between departments or colleges on how midterms are administered. The only requirement from the university is that professors submit their midterm class grades by Oct. 18th. But the inconsistency of midterms often means these grades often don’t accurately reflect how a student is actually doing in the class.

The lack of parameters means Miami’s midterm season tends to last the entire month of October, with students facing an overwhelming amount of assignments and — in some cases — multiple midterms for one class.

We believe Miami should have a set midterms week, structured similarly to how the university administers finals. A more structured process would provide consistency for students and professors while also allowing students to better manage their time and stress levels.

Miami’s finals are administered over the course of one week. Students are only expected to attend set exam times, which we know about months in advance, and we

don’t have the added pressures of extracurriculars during that time period. Plus, we have the promise of winter or summer break to pull us through the end.

In effect, our finals schedule is structured to have built-in support for students during a stressful time.

We don’t get that for midterms.

On our staff alone, there are students

“There is a pressure to refrain from taking time for a break or self care out of fear your grades may suffer”

that have multiple midterm exams in October or early November, along with papers and projects. One student has two seperate midterm projects due for the same class on the same day.

Due to how inconsistent and staggered midterms are, students are constantly going.

There is a pressure to refrain from taking time for a break or self care out of fear your grades may suffer.

The weight of our society’s words

KATE STUMPH COLUMNIST

As far back as I can remember, I’ve struggled to accept my body.

I remember being no older than 11 and begging my mom not to make me go into the Macy’s dressing room. I hated playing with Barbies. I envied the girls who could fit into Abercrombie and Fitch and Lululemon.

I went to an affluent private school in a conservative area, one that emphasized perfection in all aspects, including personal appearance.

As an overweight theatre kid, I felt I didn’t make the cut.

As I grew older, my peers made sure to point out our physical differences in the locker room and during gym class. My friends would say, “You’d be so pretty if you were thinner,” or suggest I opt for a salad for a meal.

And, even though I’m no longer that kid, their comments still resonate with me and within the bounds of modern culture.

The phrase “body positivity” has grown into a massive movement throughout the last ten years.

Celebrities like Beyoncé and Zendaya have launched size-inclusive clothing lines that give plus-size women fashionable clothing options.

In 2019, Victoria’s Secret hired a size 14 model after years of public criticism.

But even now, on the heels of “hot girl summer,” we still have work to do.

This June, plus-size model Ashley Graham posted a summery swimsuit picture on her official Instagram, and the comments section went wild.

Besides the usual slew of naysayers, many of her 9.2 million followers sounded off in the comments section, calling her things like “brave” and “courageous” for showing off her curvy figure.

Graham responded to this with another post picturing her sarcastically flipping her hair, captioned, “When they call you ‘brave,’” showing she was clearly over everyone’s socalled “compliments.”

Fans were confused, to say the least. Many of them had meant brave and courageous as a

The Miami academic calendar isn’t concerned with ensuring students get a break.

Sure, fall break is advertised as a reprieve from the stress of classes, but it’s only a three-day weekend, and professors still have assessments due during that period.

Family weekend was scheduled in the middle of the midterms craze, resulting in multiple members of our staff telling their

compliment, so why was she angry?

Their word choice is indicative of a much deeper societal issue, one that both demeans women for being self-confident and criticizes plus-sized women.

Having a curvy figure isn’t anything to be ashamed of, and the word brave implies that plus-sized women should be embarrassed of their physique otherwise.

That’s the opposite of what the body positivity movement is all about.

Graham isn’t the only one. “Truth Hurts” singer, Lizzo, had a perfect response when she faced comments similar to Graham’s following her performance at the 2019 VMA’s. “If you saw Anne Hathaway in a bikini on a billboard, you wouldn’t call her brave. I just think there’s a double standard when it comes to women.”

She’s right. No one would call Gigi Hadid or Kendall Jenner brave if they posted a scantily clad photo, so why are we saying it to Graham and Lizzo and other plus-sized women?

As a society, we focus heavily on racial, gender and sexual equality. While all of those are incredibily important, we’re still not talking about weight discrimination.

In fact, while discrimination based on race, age, gender, religion, sexual orientation or natural origin is illegal on the federal level, weight discrimination is still legal in 49 states.

A 2008 study that sampled both overweight and healthy-weighted American individuals found that approximately ten percent of women and five percent of men felt that they had been rejected by an employer or had received poor treatment due to their weight.

In 2014, the Journal of Applied Psychology found that “very heavy” women (those with a BMI above 30) earned almost $19,000 less than their average-weight counterparts.

The body positivity movement has made huge strides to educate people regarding what really constitutes physical and mental wellness, but there is still a long way to go in creating a society free from weight discrimination and body-shaming.

Societal stigma regarding weight and beauty is hard to notice and even harder to stop, but it begins with the way we view plussized women. They should be considered brave or inspirational not because of how they look, but because they are powerhouses in their respective fields.

As for me, I wish I could say that I wasn’t occasionally bothered by my weight or how I look. I still hate dressing rooms and I think Barbies will always freak me out. But, what I can say is I’m proud to exist in a day and age where acceptance is an achievable goal, and I thank those around me for supporting me in my journey to accepting myself. stumphkg@miamioh.edu

parents not to visit because they were too busy to devote a weekend toward anything other than work.

It’s easy to feel like there’s no real institutional support when this time of year gets overwhelming. This is a busy time of year for Student Counseling Services, but they’re often flippant to the serious toll that academic stress can have on students, saying that of course they’re busy this time of year

— students can’t handle their workloads.

This passes the understaffed gripe off to the students who have the audacity to look for support from their university in any method available to them.

This setup perpetuates the culture of cramming. We’re constantly jumping from one thing to the next: working, studying, applying for internships, planning the future and struggling to prioritize. We’re so focused on labor and career development and how it will all impact our lives at Miami and postgrad that nothing else seems to matter.

A set midterms week would ensure that students would be able to better balance the pressures of classes, take time to alleviate their stress and be more focused in the moment.

It would also give professors flexibility in how they weigh assignments around the midterm, and wouldn’t require them to make a new assignment just to try and meet a midterm deadline. It might also mean that midterm grades are a more accurate reflection of how students are doing in their classes.

Additionally, the week could lead into fall break, so that one day off might actually hold some value to students.

Breaks are important, as are students’ health, family and social lives. By not creating an environment where students are able to prioritize all of those things, the administration is doing a disservice to its students, and we all deserve better.

Hang in there, everybody

SAMANTHA BRUNN EDITOR IN CHIEF

I distinctly remember the first Saturday night of my sophomore year. I was laying on the floor of my dorm room as the noise from raucous groups of kids walking Uptown toward whatever the night held seeped in through the open windows.

I called my dad, tears rolling down my face.

“This is going to be the same as last year,” I rushed to say as soon as he picked up. “I’m miserable.”

After a first year filled with solo Netflix nights and enough studying to carry me through the rest of undergrad, I was terrified that the fact I didn’t have plans or friends to hang out with the first weekend back meant I was in for another lonely year.

“It’ll get better soon, bud,” my dad said gently.

The memory of that night came back to me as I was walking through the grocery store last week with my housemate as she read a text message from a friend of hers.

“On a scale of 1 - homesick, how homesick would you estimate you were during your... IDK, like first semester of college?” the message read.

Some of my best friends that I would go on to make sophomore year later confessed that the only reason they were still at Miami was due to the friendship they all found in one another.

Had it not been for that, they’d have scattered to Michigan, OSU and Cincinnati, all in search of the feeling we’d later find every night spent in our favorite booth in O Pub, or in a little shack of a house on Central Avenue.

I had wanted to transfer, too. But, my dad was right — things did soon get better.

I eventually found my home.

It’s easy to forget that we’ve all been in the exact same boat. If you weren’t miserable at some point freshman year, you’re most certainly in the minority.

But this is also to say that it really and truly does get better.

I’m a nurturer. I default to caring for people, whether it’s making tea for my housemates who seem to be perennially coming down with a cold, or I bring home houseplants and fresh bread from the farmer’s market.

When I became editor, I wanted to wrap the whole staff in a protective embrace, so no one would feel as alone as I did before they became my home at Miami.

Now, when I look around the living room of our little house on Church Street filled with the friends we’ve assembled through a mishmash of experiences, I’m filled with gratitude that I stuck it out all those times I hated being here three years ago.

I’ve been on a kick in the last month or so of trying to experience all of the things I missed out on freshman year. I was so busy being anxious back then that I neglected to partake in all the markers of college life.

With each new experience, I think to myself, “Who would have thought I’d be here now?”

One of my best friends, Kate, and I joke that it’s amazing we lived in the same dorm freshman year and quite literally never ran into one another. We recently realized we had a class together that year, too, and never once interacted with one another, both too socially anxious to do much of anything other than survive MAC 143.

Now, we spend our evenings Facetiming Kate’s mom for relationship advice and our weekends are spent hosting our friends and mothering our staff. We carry on the O Pub tradition of our best friends that graduated before us, and we occasionally lay on the floor when things get tough.

I know the person I was three years ago would hardly recognize the person I am now. A lot has changed, and I’ve had enough autumns in Oxford washed in layers of memories from the last few years to write innumerable columns.

On a scale from 1 to homesick, I was homesick beyond belief all of my first semester here. And my second semester, too. So if you’re laying on the floor of your dorm room feeling like I did, we’ve always got a space for you on staff.

And I promise things will always get better, too. @samantha_brunn brunnsj@miamioh.edu

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