February 3, 2015 | The Miami Student

The Miami Student Established 1826

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2015

VOLUME 142 NO. 31

MIAMI UNIVERSITY OXFORD, OHIO

WWW.MIAMISTUDENT.NET

Murder-suicide stuns community Miami junior Rebecca Eldemire shot and killed by ex-boyfriend in Level 27 apartment

REIS THEBAULT VICTORIA SLATER MANAGING EDITORS

Miami University is reeling today as students, faculty and the community try to digest the news of junior Rebecca Eldemire’s murder.

On Sunday morning, Larry E. Tipton II reportedly shot and killed Eldemire, then took his own life. Tipton, a 27-year-old resident of Blacklick, Ohio near Columbus, was Eldemire’s ex-boyfriend.

Oxford Police Department officers responded to a call from Eldemire’s roommates at 8:45 a.m.

Feb. 1. The roommates reported loud bangs and an activated fire alarm in Eldemire’s room. Her door was locked.

When OPD officers entered the room, they found Tipton and Eldemire dead from apparent gunshot wounds. The officers also found a handgun near the bodies.

The department is investigating the case as a murder-suicide.

The Sunday morning call was not the first OPD received from Eldemire’s Level 27 apartment.

At 9:56 the night before, Jan. 31, Eldemire called OPD to make a “public assist” request. When officers arrived, Eldemire told them her ex-boyfriend was coming to see her. The officers waited for Tipton in the parking lot.

When he arrived, Eldemire reportedly asked the officers to

PHOTO CONTRIBUTED BY JACQUELINE MORGAN

escort her and Tipton to her apartment. Once in the apartment, Eldemire, Tipton and the officers had a “brief conversation,” according to an OPD press release. Eldemire then reportedly told the officers they were no longer needed and they could leave.

OPD Public Information Officer Sergeant Jon Varley said he could not elaborate on the Jan. 31 call

PHOTO CONTRIBUTED BY JACQUELINE MORGAN

TODAY IN MIAMI HISTORY UNIVERSITY

GOING GREEN IN SPRING »PAGE 2

that came just 11 hours before Eldemire’s death. Varley said he had planned to tell reporters more, but the City of Oxford’s law director Stephen McHugh instructed him against it. McHugh was not available for comment.

To the police, Eldemire referred to Tipton as her “ex-boyfriend.”

But Tipton’s Facebook lists him and Eldemire as “In a relationship since June 5, 2012.” He was not a Miami student.

Jacqueline Morgan, junior and close friend of Eldemire’s, declined to comment on Eldemire’s relationship with Tipton. Morgan did, however, talk of Eldemire’s love for people and the environment.

“She wanted to make the world a better place, on campus and off.”

Morgan and Eldemire met the first day of their first year at Miami. They lived across from each other in Peabody Hall.

“She was the most genuine person I’ve ever met,” Morgan said.

“She was the best person in the world. I was so blessed to be her best friend.”

Junior and fellow member of Phi Sigma Pi honor fraternity Matt Serio said Eldemire was never without a smile.

“She was one of the most fun people to be around,” he said.

“She was such a great person, and was a really wonderful addition to this school. She will be deeply missed.”

Serio said he is still in shock.

“I never imagined something like this happening to someone I know,” he said.

He is not alone. Students across campus, whether they knew Eldemire or not, are still trying to come to terms with the news.

Sophomore and Level 27 resident Austin Rutledge said he never would have expected this to happen in Oxford.

“I was in complete shock,” he said. “When I come home to Oxford from Hamilton, I feel like I’m coming home to a safe place.

It was an eye-opening experience realizing that no matter how nice of a community you live in, there are always going to be a select few people that make it unsafe for the people residing in the area.”

And, the community should be surprised. This kind of crime does not often happen here. Eldemire’s, is the first murder in Oxford in over 30 years, Varley said.

Junior Abby Morris echoed the campus-wide disbelief.

lieve,” she said.

Wagner also discussed Eldemire as a student and active participant in university organizations.

“She was a strong student, on the dean’s list and active in many organizations,” Wagner said. “By all accounts, Rebecca was a student leader. It’s not just students and friends who miss her, but faculty and staff.”

Eldemire, 21, was a geography and Geographic Information Systems double major. She was involved in several on-campus clubs, including 4 Paws for Ability Miami and Phi Sigma Pi honor fraternity. She worked at BEST Library and had just been promoted. One of her supervisors lauded her attitude and work ethic. “[She was a] fantastic worker,” the supervisor said. “Her smile and her laughter will be deeply missed at the libraries.”

President David Hodge also reached out, via Twitter.

“Our hearts go out to family, friends of Rebecca Eldemire following her tragic death,” he said.

“She will be greatly missed. Sad and painful time for us.”

Eldemire’s life and death have affected everyone in the community: friends, classmates and, simply, fellow Miami students.

“I have never met another person who was so happy to be alive,” Morgan said. “I’m so glad she got to live as much as she could.”

“She wanted to make the world a better place, on campus and off.”

JACQUELINE MORGAN JUNIOR, CLOSE FRIEND

“I was in complete shock. When I come home to Oxford ... I feel like I’m coming home to a safe place. It was an eye-opening experience.”

AUSTIN RUTLEDGE

SOPHOMORE, LEVEL 27 RESIDENT

“She was one of the most fun people to be around.

She always had a smile on her face.”

MATT SERIO

JUNIOR, FELLOW PHI SIGMA PI MEMBER

“It’s so scary how people our age and on our campus may have a gun. You never really know what’s really going on around you.”

ABBY MORRIS JUNIOR

“Shock. Sadness. It’s hard to believe.”

CLAIRE WAGNER

DIRECTOR OF NEWS AND COMMUNICATIONS

“People are freaking out,” she said. “It’s so scary how people our age and on our campus may have a gun. You never know what’s really going on around you.”

Claire Wagner, director of university news and communication, described the campus atmosphere in the wake of Eldemire’s death.

“Shock. Sadness. It’s hard to be-

Funeral services will be tomorrow at Weil Funeral Home on 8350 Cornell Rd. in Cincinnati. The visitation will be at 10 a.m. and the funeral at 11 a.m.

Her family set up the Rebecca C. Eldemire Betterment for Environmental and Earth Protection Foundation. Donations can be made to the foundation at Chase Bank.

In 1979, The Miami Student reported the university sees 5-10 cases of forged diplomas each year. According to Assistant Registrar Gene Schuster, the most unusual case involved a phone call from a large corporation who planned to promote a man to vice president. The man claimed to have graduated from Miami 15 years prior, but in fact had never been a student.

COMMUNITY

BUTLER COUNTY FIGHTS LEGALIZATION »PAGE 3

CULTURE

OPINION

SPORTS

‘GYRO CONCEPT’ NOT COMING SOON

TAKE TIME TO RECOGNIZE TRAGEDY

MEN’S BASKETBALL

»PAGE 4

»PAGE 6

»PAGE 10

2 UNIVERSITY

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2015

CAMPUS@MIAMISTUDENT.NET

Sustainable strategies for spring semester ENVIRONMENT JAMES STEINBAUER UNIVERSITY EDITOR

“Climate change is real! While we’re all obsessed with deflategate, lets keep in mind that there’s something about which you should give a f**k,” scientist Bill Nye said in a video published on the website Funny or Die last Monday, Jan. 26.

It turns out that college students do.

According to a recent survey

by The Princeton Review, 69 percent of college students want their universities to try and prevent further climate change.

Calculated by students in the Institute for the Environment and Sustainability, Miami University’s carbon footprint is about 137 thousand metric tons of CO2 equivalent per year — enough carbon dioxide to fill Miami’s picturesque Tri-Delt sundial five times a day per person.

“This doesn’t just go away,” Miami Director of Sustainability and Energy Conservation Yvette Kline said. “Its impacts are going to be felt worldwide.”

Confronted with a reading list larger than most of bank accounts, MU students may feel like their sustainable-living selections are restricted, but there are a plethora of ways they can slash waste and live greener lifestyles.

One of the simplest and most abundant ways students can do this is by recycling.

According to the Department of Sustainability and Energy Conservation, every person on Miami’s campus is going to be responsible for about 380 pounds of solid waste a year. Students have to decide whether they should be recycling that waste or putting it in the trash.

“We have a system in place with our blue recycling bins,” Kline said.

“There are a wonderful assortment of items that can all go in together to make it as easy as possible.”

Four times a year, Miami checks its trash diversion rate — the amount trash recycled divided by the total amount of trash. Currently, Miami is at a 25 percent rate of recycling.

Miami established a new generation of environmental sustainability last semester with the three new residence halls on Western Campus that run on solely geothermal energy. Geothermal heating and cooling systems are 400 percent more efficient than electric-powered cooling and heating by natural gas.

According to Kline, the rest of the campus would benefit from thinking about how they are using fuel.

“A simple thing like dressing for indoor environments that support energy conservation is a step that students can take,” Kline said.

“Maybe you could be comfortable in a room that’s 68 degrees if you have a sweater on.”

During the warmer month’s, one of the best ways that students can

KIM PARENT THE MIAMI STUDENT

“Another thing that students don’t think about is the energy in water,” Kline said. “There’s a big energy component, especially in hot water, and that means burning fossil fuels and a greater carbon footprint.”

Maybe you could be It requires a tremendous amount comfortable in a room of energy to pump water from its that’s 68 degrees if source to Miami’s more than one you have a sweater.” hundred academic, residential, administrative and athletic buildings YVETTE KLINE and something as small as taking a minute or two off a daily shower can help. Nevertheless, for those who want to do more, a group of help reduce their carbon footprint students at the University of East is walking or riding a bike to class.

Anglia, UK have the answer — pee “Pay attention to the pathways in the shower. that have been set up for both pe The Go With The Flow camdestrians and cyclists,” Kline said. paign encourages people to use Last spring Miami installed new their morning shower to save 12 cycling lanes running north and liters of fresh water from flushing south on Patterson Avenue and the toilet and has even been praised east to west on Spring Street in or- by the Today show; however, turnder to make riding a bike around ing off the tap while brushing your campus easier for both cyclists teeth or creating an efficient laundry and pedestrians. schedule works just fine.

COMING SOON

Find the Faces of Oxford on Instagram

Miami Student writer Erin McGovern to recreates ‘Humans of New York’ blog in Oxford. See yourself online and in The Miami Student.

EMILY SABANEGH THE MIAMI STUDENT

Sophomore Sarah Geiger warms up for her practice with the Red Dragons martial arts club on Satruday in Withrow Court.

LIKE TO WRITE?

Write for us.

The Miami Student University Section is looking for reporters Emily Tate (tateec@miamioh.edu) James Steinbauer (steinbjt@miamioh.edu)

goingGREEN

Quick facts about Miami’s carbon footprint and energy usage: carbon footprint is equal to 137 thousand 1. Miami’s metric tons of CO2 equivalent each year.

breaks down to each person at 2. That Miami being responible for 380 pounds of solid waste.

3.

Even with the number of emissions that the campus has, Miami’s recycling rate is at 25 percent.

Numbers dip for formal recruitment GREEK LAUREN OLIVER

FOR THE MIAMI STUDENT

The number of Miami females registered for the 2015 Panhellenic Recruitment, which began Friday night, is down by more than 200 girls from last year, members of the Panhellenic Association executive board said.

Last year’s recruitment saw record-high numbers, with more than 1,400 participants.

Although that may sound problematic for pledge class quotas and anticipated sorority dues, Panhellenic President Caitlin Duckworth said last year’s registration was the outlier, not this year’s. She also said that while registration numbers are important, retention is their main focus throughout the formal recruitment process.

“We’re hoping that although our numbers are down, we can make it up in retention rates this year,” Duckworth said.

The Greek community has been growing on Miami’s campus for years, which ultimately has a profound effect on the housing situation.

Traditionally, Greek women live on Central Quad — also referred to as “Sorority Quad” — during sophomore year, as that is where their suites are located. However, space is limited and, as numbers grow, many girls have had to live elsewhere on campus.

This year, certain chapters were placed on North Campus in Hahne Hall, which is inconveniently located from their sorority suites.

To help alleviate the issue, Panhellenic worked in congruence with several residence life organizations at Miami.

“Together, we decided that

we’re going to do split corridors with a few chapters,” Duckworth said. “Some of them are going to be in Etheridge … and some of them will be in Central Quad, and that’s to help keep everyone together.”

Along with changes in housing, there will be improvements in the organization of recruitment and branding of Panhellenic, with the new slogan of “Great Women Go Greek,” as championed on this year’s recruitment T-shirts.

Furthermore, Panhellenic voted to completely restructure formal recruitment. Philanthropy Round will be second, and Sisterhood Round will be third — swapped from the order of previous years.

tions so that the purpose of recruitment is to get to know the women, and really choose an organization based on the women, and their values, and where you really fit in,” Duckworth said.

Not only were the skits straying from the main point of promoting values, but they were not a good mechanism for teaching women about the core of each chapter. Instead, it felt scripted.

Duckworth said rather than having artificial conversations through a skit, they wanted to use that time to focus on organic conversations with active members. National Panhellenic supported this decision.

“The fact that Miami can do that and we have such a strong Panhellenic system here is really

We’re hoping that although our numbers are down, we can make it up in retention rates this year.”

CAITLIN DUCKWORTH

PANHELLENIC PRESIDENT

“We felt this change was necessary because Sisterhood is the core of all sororities and the bond between the women in each sorority can be the deciding factor for many women participating in recruitment,” Bianca Misti, vice president of Recruitment, said, referring to the Sisterhood Round’s new timing to Preference Round, when women make their final decisions.

Additionally, they will no longer include the traditional skit performances. Duckworth said National Panhellenic unanimously agreed that a “valuesbased” and “no-frills” recruitment was in the best interest of the sisterhood.

“We wanted to eliminate any flashy entertainment or decora-

a good representation and a good model for other Panhellenics across the country,” she said.

Although there is new structuring, members of Panhellenic said they are looking forward to the new changes and encourage women to come into the process with an open mind. Not only is joining a sorority an opportunity for lasting friendships, Misti said, but it can also open the door for professional growth.

“I have been able to meet women in my chapter from all over the country and in turn have expanded my professional network,” Misti said. “Even further … being a member of my chapter has made me the woman I am today and for that I will be forever grateful.”

COMMUNITY@MIAMISTUDENT.NET

Butler County contests marijuana legalization FOR THE MIAMI STUDENT

CREATIVE COMMONS

among a few individuals or a few companies who will be able to make all the money from the sale of marijuana.”

Hamilton’s senior planner John Creech also said the idea of marijuana legalization is not good for Ohio.

“There were a whole bunch of things that folks didn’t want to see in neighborhood business districts,” Creech said. “My guess is that they thought [the sale of marijuana] would have a detrimental effect on the neighborhood.”

After the City Planning Commission held a public hearing to review the proposal changes regarding the legalization of marijuana, it was decided to ban any sale of the drug. Those who violate this decision could be fined anywhere between $250 to $500.

This ban was enacted as a preventative measure so that there is no chance of legalization for the area in November.

Although the law forbids the sale of marijuana for both daily and medical use, three pending ballot issues concerning marijuana legalization for medical purposes currently exist. The Ohio Right Group organization is collecting signatures of Ohio residents that support the use of medical marijuana. However, the organization has only collected about 150,000 signatures, and must collect 305,591 signatures in at least 44 of Ohio’s 88 counties in order for the proposal to be considered in the next election.

“I think the legalization of marijuana [for recreational use] in Ohio would have a negative impact on daily life,” junior Grace Clements said. “The legalization of marijuana for medical use is a different story. There is enough scientific research supporting its use in conjunction with chemotherapy and eating disorders for me to justify its usage in a medical setting.”

End of recession benefits local business KRISTA SAVAGE

FOR THE MIAMI STUDENT

During President Barack Obama’s State of the Union address Jan. 20, he promised the end of the recession and the continuation of a fast-growing economy.

“At this moment, with the growing economy, shrinking deficits, bustling industry and booming energy production, we have risen from recession, freer to write our own future than any other nation on earth,” Obama said.

Statistics show American businesses have added 11.2 million private-sector jobs in the past 58 months, making it the longest streak on record. Our unemployment rate beat the forecasts and fell faster than in any year since 1984.

“The shadow of crisis has passed, and the state of the union is strong,” Obama said.

The rise in economic growth impacted Oxford, as well. Local businesses are looking forward to what this year will bring.

Mona Kirby, co-owner and stylist of Attitudes Uptown Salon, feels her business has experienced the impact of the growing

CRIME COMMUNITY EDITOR

NADYA KORYTNIKOVA

ECONOMY

Two arrests made in relation to area break-ins SAMMIE MILLER

LEGISLATION

While a small portion of the state has attempted to pull together in support of the legalization of marijuana for daily and medical use, Hamilton city officials are doing all they can to ban the sale of marijuana in the city.

A political action committee called Responsible Ohio proposed a plan for the legalization of marijuana. The plan would amend the Ohio Constitution by making marijuana legal for both medical and personal use for people over 21 years old with no criminal background.

According to the committee’s plan, the farms where marijuana would grow would be located at least 1,000 feet away from all schools, libraries and other public places. The committee is also planning to create an Ohio Marijuana Control Commission in order to provide regular control and oversight of the marijuana industry in Ohio.

However, despite Responsible Ohio’s attempts, Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine said in a public statement the committee’s proposal to legalize the drug is “a stupid idea.”

“The proposal that I saw is just a ludicrous proposal,” DeWine said. “It’s basically legalizing a monopoly in the state of Ohio

COMMUNITY 3

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2015

economy for the past few years.

“Over the last five years, it would seem like things have really picked up for us,” Kirby said.

“We would really like to see our business remain constant this year. It is very steady right now.”

Kirby said she feels there is a bright future ahead for the United States economic growth.

I wouldn’t say that the recession, overall, is over yet, but our economy is definitely moving in the right direction.”

MONICA KIRBY

ATTITUDES UPTOWN SALON CO-OWNER

“I wouldn’t say that the recession, overall, is over yet, but our economy is definitely moving in the right direction.” Kirby said.

Other businesses expressed the same satisfaction with the current state of the economy.

Peter and Tamar Lask, owners of Juniper clothing store, feel Oxford hasn’t suffered from the recession the way other locations may have experienced it.

“I would say that we were affected differently, being in the fashion business,” Peter Lask said. “In Oxford, the money in students’ pockets hasn’t ever seemed to be an issue. They’ve continued to shop, throughout the recession.”

Even though businesses in Oxford may have escaped the grasp of the recession, Peter Lask expressed his concern for other outside factors that would damage business at Juniper, including the time of year and how busy a student’s schedule might be at a given time.

“Since our business is in fashion, and our customers are mainly Miami students, money in their pockets isn’t an issue,” he said.

Students also have opinions about the recent claims President Obama made in the State of the Union Address.

“I agree wholeheartedly with the claims made,” first-year and College Democrats member Alissa Johnson said. “I definitely think businesses in Oxford will be experiencing a rise in business, if not already.”

President Obama also spoke of the rise of employment in relation to the economy boom.

“Our economy is growing and

The Oxford Police Department (OPD) is one step closer to solving the break-in problem many students fell victim to in the fall and winter months.

After a high number of burglary and attempted burglary reports — an estimated $30,000 of student property was stolen in the fall — Oxford Police Department (OPD) said they started a concentrated investigation.

Last week, two people were arrested for a string of burglaries, mostly centered on Miami student residences since early December.

The investigation is ongoing and we do expect more charges.”

JON VARLEY OPD SARGEANT

According to OPD, Sierra Briscoe, 19, of Hamilton, and Forrest J. Hagedorn, 22, of Verona, Ky., are being held in Butler County Jail on burglary charges. They are not affiliated with Miami University.

“Detectives identified two suspects and questioning led to information that they were responsible for numerous burglaries in the OPD Sgt. Jon Varley said.

Both were charged with one count as of Monday, but more

charges may be added as more victims identify their property.

“The investigation is ongoing and we do expect more charges,” he said.

According to Associated Student Government (ASG) Secretary for off-campus affairs, Kevin Krumpak, police are currently calling students to retrieve their items.

Students are encouraged to stop in Uptown at the station about anything missing.

As long as the student is able to identify the item and prove he or she is the rightful owner, OPD will be happy to get the belongings back to the owner.

Property recovered in the investigation was found as a result of search warrants, and many of the items were also recovered at pawn shops, which was expected by the detectives covering the case.

“We typically contact pawn shops in the surrounding areas,” Varley said.

“If any missing personal items turn up we can usually track that person down through security footage.”

For now, students can rest easy knowing police have taken action.

“I am relieved to hear that something has been done,” senior Cassie Priebe said. “One of my close friend’s home was broken into in the fall and it’s only right that the people responsible are punished.”

Varley still urges all students living off-campus to keep their doors and windows locked, as he suspects there are additional people who could be responsible for the area break-ins.

CONNOR MORIARTY THE MIAMI STUDENT

BALL OUT On Saturday afternoon, all Oxford Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD) players received free admission to the Miami University basketball games as a part of the annual KidFEST. Some of the participants performed on unicycles between the basketball double header.

RECESSION »PAGE 5

IN THE NEWS OXFORD

CINCINNATI

NATIONAL

INTERNATIONAL

Carlisle schools gives $10,000 settlement to bullied student

Memorial Hall asks taxpayers for $1.5 million

Manhunt under way for suspect in five Georgia deaths

ISIS beheads Japanese journalist

The former student sued the school district for not doing more to stop bullying.

–Journal-News

Supporters of the OTR site are asking taxpayers to help finance its renovation.

–The Enquirer

The bodies of five people, including two teenagers, were found scattered near a Georgia home. –CNN

Kenji Goto went to Syria to report on lives affected by war. His death was videotaped and distributed.

–CNN

TMS ONLINE MIAMISTUDENT.NET

4 CULTURE

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2015

KIGGINLA@MIAMIOH.EDU

LAUREN KIGGINS CULTURE EDITOR

GOING, GOING, GONE The Gyro Concept no longer boasts an “Opening Soon” sign, ending its occupancy Uptown. The restaurant announced via Facebook a December 2013 opening in November of that year, after filling the vacancy of previous tenant BTO Yogurt. On Jan. 22, 2014, The Gyro Concept posted that it was waiting on a permit from the City of Oxford and was hoping to open within the next 10 days. Ten months later, in December 2014, the doors of the restaurant remained closed.“The rumor [of staying closed] is not true. We do not have a scheduled date for opening yet,” The Gyro Concept said in a December 2014 interview with The Miami Student. “Unfortunately, we have had many issues arise at that location and most were out of our control.” Despite this recent statement, The Gyro Concept will not be opening. The space is available for rent through Park Place Real Estate.

‘Birdman’ balances satire, spectacle ‘Game of Thrones’ effectively FILM JACK RYAN

FOR THE MIAMI STUDENT

There is a fight taking place in Riggan Thompson. An all-out, no-mercy dogfight between revenue and self-respect, between popularity and prestige, between his former character Birdman and the real man Riggan Thompson.

You can see it in his desperate eyes, feel it in the film’s rapid score, and sometimes, you can even hear the deep, raspy voice of the opposition overtaking Riggan. “Birdman” or (“The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance”), the latest from visionary director Alejandro González Iñárritu, explores these concurrent conflicts with such control and grace that you will be on the edge of your seat, mouth agape, from it’s opening cymbal crash through to the credits.

Michael Keaton stars in a Best Actor-worthy performance as Riggan Thompson, a former blockbuster superhero star who has faded from stardom as the years have passed. Riggan is now trying his hand at the stage, by directing and starring in his own adaptation of Raymond Carver’s “What We Talk About When We Talk About Love,” but he is struggling.

He is struggling with his family. His recovering addict daughter Sam (Emma Stone) seems to despise him, he has already been divorced from his first wife Sylvia (Amy Ryan) and he is in a complicated relationship with his costar Laura (Andrea Riseborough).

He is struggling on the stage, as his new actor, extreme methodist Mike Shiner (Edward Norton), is a double-edged sword. Shiner attracts revenue and reviews, but his techniques and rocky relation-

ship with first-time Broadway actress Lesley (Naomi Watts) result in various conflicts on and off stage. The only thing that seems to be keeping this play afloat is Riggan’s good friend and lawyer Jake (Zach Galifianakis, in a dramatic turn).

“Birdman” uses Riggan’s overwhelming struggle with his identity to ask its biggest question: Is it better to sell out and be remembered or to respect yourself and be forgotten? Social media screams the former, but Riggan seems to wish for the latter. As he battles over the decision between true existence, or shallow immortality, his worlds begin to collapse and reality around him seems to warp.

‘Birdman’s’ biggest success lies not in the performances of its actors but in its cinematography.”

He can move things without touching them, he gets put into ridiculously improbable situations, and late in the film, he even takes flight. Michael Keaton’s performance is so controlled in this film that watching his collapse is fun. Not once does he feel overbearing with emotion or lethargy. After all, the drum in his head is always beating, all the way through “Birdman’s” insane third act.

However, “Birdman’s” biggest success lies not in the performances of its actors, but its cinematography. The camera floats through the St. James Theater and parts of New York, lingering with characters for long periods

of time and bouncing between them without noticeable cuts, giving the film the illusion of being shot in one long, impossible take. This method creates tension, as one small error could waste minutes of good work, and this high-strung energy resonates in the performances.

All of this awe-inspiring work is only possible through “Birdman’s” powerful script, a beautiful combination of intersexuality, satire and emotion. Many of these characters take after their actors’ pasts, making much of the humor feel like a clever inside joke between you and the movie.

Iñárritu doesn’t just mock his actor’s reputations; he mocks the audience’s as well. After locking himself out midway through his show, Riggan is forced to walk through Times Square in nothing but his tighty-whiteys so he can make it back for the finale. As he moves his way through the street, crowds of people surround him, hurling insults and praise, taking hundreds of pictures. They seem just as hungry for recognition as Riggan does, creating an interesting parallel between our pained protagonist and ourselves.

Before filming began for “Birdman,” Iñárritu sent his cast and crew a picture of Philippe Petit on his famous tightrope walk between the Twin Towers, telling them, “Guys, this is the movie we are doing. If we fall, we fail.”

“Birdman” has this same level of ‘trip-and-it’s-over’ ambition in all aspects of its being, and thanks to Iñárritu’s focused direction, powerful performances from a wide cast and an extremely dedicated crew, the film not only walks the line, it dances across.

WHEN YOU’RE FINISHED READING

The MiamiStudent PLEASE RECYCLE

translates to big screen TELEVISION

DEVON SHUMAN

FOR THE MIAMI STUDENT

If one thing is for sure after watching the “Game of Thrones: The IMAX Experience,” it’s that the popular HBO series is meant to be watched on the big screen.

This week, in an effort to promote the debut of “Game of Thrones’” fifth season, HBO is giving its fans the opportunity to watch the popular fantasy television series in select IMAX theaters. “Game of Thrones: The IMAX Experience” includes the last two episodes of the fourth season, “Watchers on the Wall” and “The Children,” as well as a never-before-seen trailer for season five which will premiere April 12.

Ever since its first episode, “Game of Thrones” has had all the makings of a cinematic experience: sprawling landscapes, massive battle scenes, an exhilarating score.

If anything, it is surprising that HBO has not screened its episodes in theaters before.

The result is a completely immersive experience. This isn’t some gimmicky 3-D show where the audience feels like the objects on the screen are popping out at them.

The “Game of Thrones: The IMAX Experience” utilizes the IMAX technology to truly enhance the way the viewers experience the show. The scenery is more breathtaking; the battle scenes and the dragons are more vicious; the deaths, of which there are many in this series, are more moving and emotional.

Will most viewers already know what is going to happen in these two episodes? Of course.

The point of this release is not to show new material, but to allow long time fans to experience one of their favorite shows in a new and enhanced way. For years, “Game of Thrones” fans have longed to escape to the lands of Winterfell and King’s Landing, and the IMAX technology allows them to do just that.

If anything, with all the detail that the expansive IMAX theater provides, fans will wonder how much they have missed out

on watching the show on their measly television screens all these years.

Perhaps the aspect of the show that is most enhanced by the translation onto the IMAX screen is the music. For the past four seasons, part of what has made “Game of Thrones” such a successful series is its wonderful score, composed by Ramin Djawadi, who has also worked on the music in “Iron Man.” It is not solely the recognizable opening title song; Djawadi’s numerous themes that play throughout each episode are what make the show as exciting and emotional as it is.

In the IMAX theater, however, the effect of these pieces is felt to an even greater extent. In the same way that the IMAX screen seems to surround the viewer’s field of vision, the theater’s sound system immerses the audience in the show. Being both booming and precise, the IMAX speakers allow the viewers to truly appreciate what the music adds to the show.

The “Game of Thrones” IMAX Experience marks the first time that a major television series has been shown on an IMAX screen. Despite the success of translating a couple episodes on to the big screen, it is made clear that this story is adapted best as a television series and not a movie as was originally intended before HBO picked it up as a series. With all of its complex storylines and characters, “Game of Thrones” needs ten hours a season, and maybe even more than that, to tell its story.

However, with the success of this foray into the world of IMAX, one could wonder if we are ushering in a new era of television. With a plethora of intriguing shows and the advent of original programming from online streaming services, the world of television is growing faster than ever before.

Could screening episodes on the big screen be the next big thing in television? Only time will tell. For now, all that we can be sure of is that “Winter is Coming.”

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creating jobs at the fastest pace since 1999,” Obama said.

“Our unemployment rate is now lower than it was before the financial crisis.”

Johnson predicts this rise in

5

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2015 employment will affect Oxford as well by opening up more job opportunities.

“I feel that the local businesses will have a greater opportunity to offer more jobs to hardworking students now, if business increases,” Johnson said.

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6 OPINION

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2015

EDITORIAL@MIAMISTUDENT.NET

When tragedy strikes, we may never have answers, but we have each other EDITORIAL

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

When the Miami community heard the news on Sunday morning, something shifted. Gunshot wounds. Two dead. One Miami student. Female.

As we poured coffee, checked our phones and started our homework, the tragic words found a way to us in one way or another.

The words stopped us, they shook us.

From first-year dorms to Uptown apartments, the spaces around us grew a little dimmer, a little quieter. From study rooms to breakfast tables, there were moments of pause and statements of shock. Our kneejerk reaction to what happend at Level 27 this weekend might be to ask questions and keep refreshing pages for more information. But this isn’t a time to pass judgment or get caught up in the whys and hows.

As much as we want answers, as much as we crave details and pieces of closure, we need to look beyond that.

No matter the differences that usually shape our friend groups and divide us, we need to come together on this.”

THE MIAMI STUDENT THE EDITORIAL BOARD

Instead, we need to tap into another set of instincts, the instinct to be human, to be sad, to be moved by a tragic event that happened in our own community.

As students, we need to be prepared to not have an answer and we need to do little things to take this tragedy in. Nothing like

this has happened since we’ve been here and it’s okay to be jolted by that. No matter the differences that usually shape our friend groups and divide us, we need to come together on this.

We’re all feeling the heaviness of this, of loss, of unknowns. We all feel it.

Something we can do is realize the impact this has on all of us. Sometimes all you can do is cling to the tie we all share, which is being a part of Miami.

President David Hodge responded this weekend, saying just about the only words that are approprate for this event.

“This is a terrible tragedy,” he said. “Our hearts go out to the families and friends. It is an incredibly painful and sad time for Miami.”

The feeling reminds us that we all go to the same place, we all

Are you a feminist? Please read definition EQUALITY

This fear is not an acceptable reason to abandon the feminist moveI find it unsettling that some ment and its aim of achieving juswomen are still refusing to iden- tice for women. tify as feminists, citing instances of Another common misconception “extremism” as reasons to deny the about feminism is that it is made up validity of the feminist movement. of a group of overly emotional, exThese women are either severely aggerating women activists. misinformed or are deliberately First of all, women should be anchoosing to ignore the most ba- gry about the several disadvantages sic definition of feminism. It’s not they face every day on the basis of about the misconceptions that often being of the female sex. surround it.

The fact that women are paid Feminism is simply the effort about only 77 cents for every toward achieving social, economic dollar that men make should and political equality between men raise concern. and women.

The fact that about one in every The feminist movement does not five women will be sexually ascondone disrespect toward men. saulted in their lifetime should also Just because some women, and cer- raise concern, especially for womtainly even some self-proclaimed en, as it is happening to them. feminists, are disrespectful (just as Although emotion can potensome men are disrespectful), it does tially cloud the communication of not mean that it is an aspect of the these kind of facts and statistics, it actual meaning of being a feminist. should not diminish feminist aims Stating that new-wave femi- to close the wage gap and reduce nism is encouraging women to sexual assault. display disrespect toward men is a Other women have attained a ludicrous generalization. distaste for the feminist movement It’s unfortunate that women are because they simply do not see anystraying away from the notion of thing wrong with the established calling themselves feminists be- gender roles; that is, men being cause they’re afraid of being asso- “manly” and women being “ladyciated with a man-hating group of like” to put it into broad terms. individuals who go to outrageous I, along with most femiextremes to manifest their beliefs in nists, would like to suggest their actions. that, everything is wrong with

these gender roles.

The social differentiation and categorization of males and females is the cause of inequality, which permeates all aspects of life.

Eventually, these seemingly harmless, yet destructive perceptions of women become actual barriers that prevent women from achieving goals that an otherwise equal male counterpart is able to achieve without having to face any such barriers.

Although there are certainly some women who are more successful than most men, those women had to overcome several disadvantages solely on the basis of being women.

It’s unfortunate that ignorance about the ongoing feminist movement still exists.

It can be incredibly disheartening when the term “feminist” is accompanied by a negative stigma based on actions that don’t exemplify feminist views.

Taking into account that feminism is essentially the striving toward fairness for women, which I should hope is common knowledge by now, it is incomprehensible that some women are still not choosing to be on their own side.

EMILY WESTERFIELD

WESTEREC@MIAMIOH.EDU

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Chivalry in the winter weather: A thank you note This is from the little old lady from Oxford in appreciation of Alex, a Miami student in the Business School who lent me his arm this icy January morning to make it safely from the Rec Center to my car. This morning the parking lot and sidewalks

were unexpectedly slippery and all the while was swimming, I wondered whether I’d make it back to the car without breaking something. The staff didn’t seem to know whether the walk had been salted, so I asked the young man who had just arrived

if he’d come from the parking lot and whether it was still dangerous. Without hesitating a second, he asked whether I’d like him to walk me to the car.

JULIA WARD

WARDJ@MIAMIOH.EDU

call each other classmates, peers, friends, roommates, housemates, sisters, brothers, teammates.

It reminds us to speak a little sweeter, hold tight to those around us, send out prayers, be kinder and more gentle to people who cross our path.

We need to mourn for the families who lost a daughter and a son. We also need to accept that there isn’t much else we can do.

As the Oxford Police Department continues to investigate, The Miami Student will seek more information. We will keep you updated as we know more.

Of course, we will move on from those shifting, shocking, sad moments. We will go to class, make jokes and talk about Super Bowl commercials.

We will keep walking Uptown, searching for last-minute parking spots and chanting at hockey

games. And after awhile, it will seem like nothing has changed.

It won’t be forgotten, but the initial shock will fade, in waves.

Before that happens, take moments, here and there, to feel the shift and the shock, and come together with others around you and in the Miami community.

Know that when something like this happens, there are resources. There’s the student counseling center and support from Miami as listed below, but there is also the tangible resource of the person next to you.

Let’s not overlook that. We can’t overlook that.

Student Counseling Services (513) 529-4634

Use ‘like a girl’ as a reason, not an excuse EQUALITY AMANDA’S APPROACH It’s 9:23 a.m. and my father tells me my structured leggings (they have a zipper!) are not appropriate for church, which incidentally starts in seven minutes. I wish I could say I didn’t roll my eyes, but I was in my childhood home for winter break and some sort of teenage code took over my motor skills.

I was a little mad. I huffed and puffed as I trudged back up the steps and I thought about all the clever, snarky one-liners I could spout at my dad. And as I searched through my suitcase for a suitable pair of jeans, I thought how this would totally not have been a problem if I was a boy. I vowed to tell my brother this when I saw him for brunch later that day. Did dad ever make you change? Huh? Here’s the thing. I knew the leggings were a bad idea. My butt was pretty visible and there was a small rip in my thigh from a laundry mishap. Not my Sunday best.

But I didn’t want to admit that.

I was dressing like a girl was supposed to dress, I thought. Plenty of other girls wear leggings without anyone calling them out.

What could be wrong with that?

I wanted to pout and I wanted everyone to know the injustice I suffered because of my womanly clothing choices.

I didn’t realize it until midway through the Super Bowl, but I was doing an injustice. In this small, silly moment, I used the “like a girl” excuse without even think-

ing about it. Maybe I should’ve put more effort into my appearance. Maybe I shouldn’t have let other girls set the bar for me. But I definitely shouldn’t have defamed the strong, beautiful, wholly wonderful name of being a girl, even in a wardrobe crisis.

As a twenty-two-year-old, I’ve spent a long time being told to act in a certain way. I’ve been conditioned to want to look like an opposite version of myself.

I’ve been sold products wrapped in pink bows and subconsciously been nudged in slightly different directions than my male counterparts. I’ve been softened. I’ve been commercialized. At least, there’s been a part of me that has been told to act on a basic “what being a girl is supposed to mean,” level.

For as long as I can remember, since the first time my dad ever suggested that I change for church, I’ve been learning and defining and labeling what a girl does, looks like and strives for.

The #LikeAGirl ad stirred something in me, as it did for many other women, young and old. It reminds me there is power in acting like a girl, throwing like a girl, walking like a girl, running, eating, dressing, etc.

There is responsibility, in an eerie Spiderman kind of way. We can’t let stereotypes or old-school idealizations of womanhood hold the power.

I don’t want to adhere to a lower standard, in anything I do, and use my gender as an excuse. I want to look my best, run my best, get the best grades, and do it all because I’m a girl and because that is a beautiful thing.

AMANDA HANCOCK

HANCOCAE@MIAMIOH.EDU

Before you oppose hookup culture, think about how you view human sexuality LIFE In the least cliché and selfdeprecating way this can possibly sound, I have always felt like the “odd one out” in my group of friends when it comes to a few consistent subjects. Such things include whether double-dipping is an acceptable activity or not, how many times a week (read: month) the garbage actually has to be taken out, whether high heels should be an Uptown staple, and many other issues ranking near the Israeli-Palestinian crisis in degree of importance.

One issue where I’ve seen the greatest divide, mostly among our generation, as well as those older and younger than us, is the phenomenon known as “hookup culture.”

In its most basic, Wikipediadefined form, hookup culture is the acceptance or encouragement

of casual sexual activity. In terms of my understanding, it’s whenever I go home to visit family and my mother’s friends ask her if I’m “interested in men” because I still don’t have a boyfriend.

Much like double-dipping, I have found this hookup culture “epidemic” to be an issue that is split 50/50; people are either completely in support, or entirely outraged. An avid double-dipper, I fall under the former category.

A large part of my support of hookup culture stems from my semester long stint in Intro to Women’s and Gender Studies.

Among the many topics we covered, we discussed different types of feminism. In our conversations, I found an academic basis for those who are either in support or in opposition of hookup culture.

The branch of feminism, which falls under “in support of”

category, is labeled as “Sex-Positive Feminism.” At its core, this is in support of a woman’s right to do what she wants with her body within the lines of consent.

Covered under this widely accepting umbrella is the support and encouragement of sexual relationships outside of committed partnerships, like your traditional “boyfriend/girlfriend” setup.

“Radical Feminism” is the branch of feminism that discourages and opposes hookup culture.

The thought is that causal sexual relationships help to uphold patriarchy and the current “gender binary,” which is essentially a collective term for all the stereotypes that restrict men and women.

My biggest issue with the viewpoint of radical feminists in regards to hookup culture behavior is that it tells women what they should or should not to with their bodies.

Any restriction of this sort is a method of oppression.

This puts all the responsibility and blame on women, and in a sense, leaves men off the hook.

Most people I know who discourage hookup culture are people who confuse supporting the choice to have casual sex with being opposed to a committed relationship.

It’s similar to the bad reputation traditional feminism gets with “man-hating.” The point of accepting hookup culture is no different than the point of accepting gender, race, sexual orientation or any other personal choice.

These personal choices are not made to intentionally harm a person or group of people.

The term “hookup culture” has a generally negative connotation tied to it, often conjuring the “anti-relationship” sentiments.

This is not actually the drive

behind the acceptance of the movement. Again, similarly to the negative connotation that can be tied to feminism with the association of “man-bashing,” the founding of beliefs and opinions based off the meaning tied to labels leads to potentially oppressive misconceptions.

The decision to pursue casual hookups is not better or worse than choosing to be in a committed sexual or nonsexual relationship.

Human sexuality is a biological given. The only thing that arises when it is oppressed, opposed or forced into change is wildly negative misconceptions and prejudices formed towards people, much like those that exist among those of different sex and race.

CARLY BERNDT

BERNDTCN@MIAMIOH.EDU

EDITORIAL@MIAMISTUDENT.NET

OPINION 7

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2015

Don’t call on me: First week of class is nerve-wrecking MILAM’S MUSINGS LIFE There’s no surer way to create loneliness than the internalized mantra, “They just won’t get it.”

The “they” is everyone else.

The “it” is the struggles within all of us. But as David Foster Wallace says, “Everybody is identical in their secret unspoken belief that way deep down they are different from everyone else.”

Sure, everyone struggles, but they don’t struggle like me in this particular way. Thus, “they just won’t get it,” then becomes the uncrossable bridge constructed between yourself and other humans.

Communication to me is like diving into a ball pit trying to find the penny at the bottom. It’s hard, it’s suffocating and I’m not good at it. I’ve never been good at it.

My family knows this all too well, although fittingly, it’s an unspoken knowing. Some select friends are able to engineer the bridge to make that connection.

Otherwise, I wallow in my Wallaceesque belief that my pain is unique, despite knowing to the contrary it most certainly is not.

Silent sufferers abound.

Indeed, this trap I fall into is no more relevant or heightened than in the first week of class. And the second, third, fourth; you get the point, but let’s focus on the first.

As it happens, the loneliest I ever feel is when I’m around a lot of people. Like in a classroom in Oxford.

The classroom is that ball pit manifest, except the balls are hissing snakes. New people, new faces, new connections run into old fears, old doubts and old anxiety.

I just want to relax. I want to allow my mind the cushiony belief that it’s safe — that it’s free to learn, that it’s okay.

Instead, my mind is rampant with the endless thoughts of social survival; put your hands there, eyes that way, don’t breathe too loud, don’t sit over there, dear god I hope he doesn’t call on me, don’t call on me, don’t call on me.

He called on me. Now my brain is in overdrive sending a flood of worrying lurches to my stomach, overwhelming my sweat glands and doing funky business with my vocal chords.

Worst of all, my face reveals all of this with an unmistakable, hot burgundy, announcing, “Ha, this loser’s scared at something so benign!”

Learning, something I find innately good and thirst for, exists under this pall of anxiety. I can never give myself over fully to it, no matter how desperately I yearn to do so.

I marvel at people in my classes that speak with such confidence and in a way, such nonchalance.

As in, doing so is no brave or courageous act for them. Whereas no matter what, speaking in public, even merely to say, “Hi, I’m Brett,” requires summoning the embers of courage smoldering somewhere within me.

To those uninitiated to this social existence, such descriptions and sentences not only seem dramatic, but altogether foreign. See, it’s already creeping up. Lurking behind my attempt to explain it is a defeatism. The temptation to go, “You just don’t understand.”

Allow me, then, to be even more concrete with some casual parlance: You people scare the crap out of me. All the time. Without even meaning to of course.

I’m not good at communicating just how hard it is for me to appear normal in social settings. My best friend — the pen — helps get toward the truth of the matter.

Laying down ink, as it were, is like lighting candles in the deepest parts of our minds for others to see. In a previous column, I did this, lending my ink largely to the issue of public speaking. Whelp, that column is still relevant.

This semester, I have a course that I must take as a requirement of my major in philosophy.

While listening to Portishead (an English band that’s been around forever, which I’ve only now just discovered; try out “Roads,” “Glory Box” and “Humming”), I got a notification of an email from the instructor on my phone.

Something something blah blah presentation blah blah something something. My brain honed in on presentation, sent the usual fear to my stomach and then the action plan: I’ll drop the class. A familiar action plan that’s been put into place more times than I care to count in my college career.

Then the familiar self-loathing that accompanies this cowardice came in suffocating waves. The self-pity was strong and stayed with me for a few days. I was frustrated and quite frankly, exhausted at this recurring battle with social anxiety.

School had and has taken on the characterization of this battle and therefore, it has a negative connotation. School is not something to be excited about, but rather to dread.

But, I haven’t canceled and I won’t. Even as I write this, my stomach rolls with nerves.

I will take the class and do the presentations.

Maybe I’ll survive contrary to my brain’s insistence that I’ve signed my death warrant.

There was no epiphany. I didn’t find courage through a Portishead lyric or anything. Life is never so clean; it doesn’t gift wrap the path one ought to take for you. You just “do” and hope for the best.

And, I guess, I’m just tired of being a victim to myself.

BRETT MILAM

PATRICK GEYSER THE MIAMI STUDENT

Favorite Super Bowl Tweets

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Add Teach for America to your post-college plans When I think about my time at Miami, I have nothing but fun and rewarding memories and experiences to share. My time here has allowed me to flourish, explore and discover my interests, my passions and myself. Now that my senior year has rolled around, it’s hard to imagine what comes next.

6 percent will graduate from college by the time they’re 25.

With all this in mind, I began my search for organizations committed to promoting economic mobility.

That’s when I stumbled across Teach For America — a program centered on a belief that equality in education is the key to creat-

We do it all, we keep going, we don’t wash our hair or eat proper meals because we were told to finish our readings and turn in our homework and respond to our emails. This, we were told, is the path to adulthood.”

Like a lot of college grads, I could answer this in a lot of different ways. I thought about graduate school, the Peace Corps, or working with a nonprofit organization.

But as I thought about each of my options, nothing stood out.

The only thing I knew for sure was that I wanted to help people and have a positive impact on communities full of promise.

As a double major in Health Promotion and American Studies, I’ve learned that rising out of poverty is more challenging than ever before. Today, for students growing up in our lowest-income communities, just

ing opportunity for low-income kids. I had found the movement I was looking for.

Whenever I tell someone that I am joining Teach For America many respond with, “Wow, that’s going to be hard work, are you sure you want to do that?” My answer is always, “Yes, I do.”

I know it‘s not going to be easy, but it is too important to shy away from.

I know I will need to work harder than I ever have before, in close partnership with the communities, teachers and families who have been doing this since long before I arrived. It will be

not be easy to move the needle for my kids.

But I am ready for the challenge, because I know this is what it takes to create a more equal educational system.

When I become a Teach For America corps member, I’ll be joining tens of thousands of people relentlessly striving to make access to opportunity equitable. It’s a network of leaders vastly diverse in background and experience and they work across a variety of sectors to create change.

But we are all united around the fundamental belief: a quality education is not a privilege — it’s a right. We can fight to ensure all students are able to enjoy that right.

So, as you think about what in the world you’re going to do after you leave Miami, think about stepping outside of your comfort zone.

Think and all the opportunities that you can help make available to so many kids. I hope you’ll join me in being a part of a movement to create equal opportunities for all.

CARLY KIMIECIK

SENIOR, HEALTH PROMOTION AND AMERICAN STUDIES

MILAMBC@MIAMIOH.EDU

RULE OF THUMB

FOUNDERS DAY Monday marked founder’s day and we’re really glad Miami is a thing. But, um, we’re sorry for the belated birthday shout out.

CELEB WAFFLE HOUSE DATE Kim K. and Kanye joined couple John Legend and Chrissy Teigen for a double date this weekend at Waffle House. It’s cool and all, but why is this newsworthy?

NO SNOW YET Where is our winter wonderland? If it’s going to be 20 degrees outside, we would like something pretty to look at out of our windows.

SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE APP SNL is almost 40 years old and it’s celebrating with a new app. You can soon see the show’s top clips and use creative new emojis — yes, this includes a conehead.

SUPERBOWL LEFTOVERS We enjoyed our football feast so much that we would like to keep eating like middle school boys for awhile. Bring on the wings, please.

8 FYI

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2015

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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2015

FROM COLUMN »PAGE 10

He’s 22-9 in playoff games and is now tied for the most Super Bowl wins of all-time. This is sustained excellence in era where the rules are designed to eliminate sustained success.

Other all-time great are coaches like Vince Lombardi, who won five championships (both Super Bowl and pre-Super Bowl) in nine seasons at the helm in Green Bay in the 1960s, or Bill Walsh, who won three Super Bowls in 10 years in the 1980s as the head coach for the 49ers, pale in comparison when you consider longevity. Both physically and emotionally pushed themselves to the point that they could no longer coach. Belichick has been FROM WOMEN’S BBALL »PAGE 10

She was kept out of sorts by the double team coverage she received in the paint.

“We did a good job taking her out of her game,” Wright said.

Woods came out in the second half and was able to add nine

FROM SOFTBALL »PAGE 10

and taking leadership roles.

Our team chemistry is important, and we’ve been doing a good job of working together and believing in each other.”

However, the ’Hawks are a team with a plethora of experience, as they have six seniors and four juniors on the roster. That includes Shuey, who had team-highs with a .323 batting average and a .394 on-base percentage last season.

Also returning is senior outfielder Bree Lipscomb, who tied for first in the MAC with 19 doubles, and ninth with 38 RBIs and a .581 slugging percentage.

“We’ve been working a lot on our execution,” Lipscomb said. “We’ve been working on things like bunting, our execution defensively and all of the little things that we need to do.

We’re expecting a really good season because we have great team chemistry and we’re able to play for each other.”

A tandem of seniors in the infield also had considerable production last season as infielder/ pitcher Remy Edwards had a .242 hitting percentage, while shortstop Kylie McChesney

relatively unflappable in his 15 years in New England (where he’s really figured it out after some early career missteps in Cleveland, where the management situation was untenable).

People want to, can and will focus on Belichick’s greatness as a schemer, but his greatness is in tinkering with simplistic concepts everyone in football knows just enough to make them complex. He’s made his bones as defensive mastermind, but one who relies heavily on one of the more basic coverage concepts in the game whenever his personnel allows it. The Pats played some version man coverage somewhere between 80 and 85 percent of the passing plays they faced this season.

What does this mean about the coaching philosophy? It means, unlike some who seek to simply be a genius on the chalkboard, Belichick is not obsessed with being an innovator, although, he often ends up being one. Instead, he’s an encyclopedia of current best practices and the history of the game.

Everyone has heard the famous, “Belichick makes his opponent play left-handed in big games” story line. This has generally happened on defense, most famously when as defensive coordinator of the Giants for Super Bowl XXV, he told his defense they would allow Thurman Thomas to rush for 100 yards in the Super Bowl to keep Jim Kelly from throwing it all day in order to handle the pro-

lific K-Gun offense of the Bills.

It worked: the Giants won 20-19 and Thomas rushed for 135 yards.

In Super Bowl XLIX this happened on offense. To keep it in layman’s terms, the Patriots used their formations on offense to put the Seahawks in man coverage as much as possible (they prefer to play a Cover 3 zone). And whether they came in hoping to play more man coverage than normal or not, they clearly played lefthanded on defense.

But scheming and genius personnel decisions can only be part of the greatness of the greatest coach. The most important thing in coaching is the relationships and the ability to motivate. Under Belichick, the dictum is simple; players must do their job, and on

the motivational front, it is constantly them against the world.

Further players with troubled backgrounds like Randy Moss go to New England and come out changed men who love Bill Belichick.

Belichick is the strategist and innovator that Walsh was, the motivator Noll was and the pure winner that Lombardi was. And though he doesn’t always put on the best public face — this certainly hurts his chances of getting his due from most — don’t let the media filter fool you, Bill Belichick is the greatest coach the NFL has ever seen.

points. She finished with 17 points.

For Miami, this game may have been a glimpse of how good it really can be. Wright said that if a few bounces went their way, the ’Hawks might have been able to win it.

“Our team is playing hard, they’re staying positive,” Wright

said. “That’s fun to coach.”

Miami was in the game until the very end, and for some of the younger players, it is a good introduction to competitive MAC games.

“This game just builds confidence,” Larson said.

Up next for Miami is Northern

Illinois University, as the RedHawks are back on the road after a short two-game home stand.

Northern Illinois (8-10, 4-4 MAC) is riding a two-game winning streak after defeating Ball State University Saturday, 65-62.

NIU is just above the basement in the West division and this will

be the only meeting of the ’Hawks and Huskies this season.

Last year NIU downed the RedHawks 69-66 in Oxford.

Amanda Corral is the senior leader for NIU, leading the way with 16 points per game.

She contributed 26 in the win over Ball State.

batted .228 with 12 RBIs. Pitching appears to be a mixed bag for the Red and White, as there are only three returning pitchers on the roster. Junior Amber Logemann had a strong 2014 season posting a 3.30 ERA and four complete games. She was eighth in the conference with 126 strikeouts. Senior Megan Mattera saw action in 19 games as a reliever, but never started.

Sophomore Kelsey Fredericks saw her only action in two starts early in 2014.

A new addition to the staff this year is Edwards, who previously pitched in high school.

“We’re expecting good things from our pitching staff,” Crowell said. “Remy hasn’t pitched in four years, but she’s been great for us. She brings a lot of energy and is just a fiesty kid. Amber’s going to pitch a lot of innings, but she’s coming back from mono over winter break. She’s been a hard worker and is natural fit, so we’re not worried. Then we have Kelsey and Megan, who probably has the toughest job of coming in and being the closer.”

The team was in the middle of the pack in the MAC statistically,

as it was fifth in both batting and fielding with a .273 batting average and a .961 fielding percentage. The ’Hawks finished seventh in pitching with a 3.35 ERA. In 2014, Miami created 131 runs while its opponents created 137 runs (created runs: (hits+walks) (total bases)/at bats+walks). The ’Hawks also had an OPS (onbase percentage plus slugging percentage) of .704 while opponents had .729, both of which are considered below average for the statistic.

“It’s a long season,” Crowell said. “We have to focus on winning the daily challenge and focusing on the process. We’re focusing on next weekend in Chicago, where we’ll play some good teams. We have to work on winning those games and winning the games we’re supposed to win, as well as take care of what we need to take care of.”

The RedHawks open their season in Rosemont, Illinios for the Total Control Sports Invitational. Miami takes on Samford University and Syracuse University Feb. 6, North Dakota University and the University of Illinois at Chicago Feb. 7 and conclude with Loyola University Feb. 8.

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10 SPORTS

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2015

RedHawks rally past BSU

SPORTS@MIAMISTUDENT.NET

STAT OF THE DAY

18

The number of free throws the Miami men’s basketball team made in the second half of its 79-73 win over Ball State Saturday. The RedHawks shot 85.7 percent from the charity stripe in the second half, after 3 of 5 in the first. Miami made more free throws in the second half than Ball State attempted in the whole game.

Super bowl seals it: Belichick the all-time greatest NFL coach LAUREN OLSON PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR

Junior guard Eric Washington looks to feed a pass down low to freshman foward Logan McLane during Miami’s 79-73 win over Ball State. Washington had 15 points and McLane had 11 in the win.

MEN’S BASKETBALL JACK BREWER

FOR THE MIAMI STUDENT

The Miami University men’s basketball team overcame a 13-point second half deficit to capture its third win in MidAmerican Conference play. The RedHawks knocked off Ball State University 79-73.

The RedHawks (8-13, 3-5 MAC) were led offensively by junior guard Eric Washington, who scored 15 points. Senior guard Will Sullivan and freshman forward Logan McLane contributed 13 and 11 points, respectively, as the other RedHawks to score double figures.

Ball State (7-12, 2-6 MAC) led by eight points at halftime, and scored the first five points of the half to jump out to a 43-30 lead. Sophomore forward Franko House and freshman forward Sean Sellers, who both tallied 15 points,

led the Cardinals offensively. Despite shooting 58 percent from the field, the Cardinals were plagued by turnovers. Miami head coach John Cooper’s defense was outstanding, forcing 17 Ball State turnovers, while the RedHawks coughed it up only eight times.

“I thought we had a number of guys that stepped up big,” Cooper said. “Sully hit a big shot, Zach McCormick had a big five point stretch there, a big three. Eric made terrific plays, you know, I could go on and on. I thought Willie played well, and Chris Bryant played well and brought his energy.”

Sullivan scored all of his 13 points in the last nine minutes of the game to spark a run for the RedHawks.

“It comes down to just being patient,” Sullivan said. “Coach Cooper always talks to me about, you know, there’s going to come a time where I might have a run of shots or a run of offense,

and just kind of wait for that time to come.”

This game marked the second victory in three games for the RedHawks, something the players believe could be a momentum boost for the team.

“You want to be able to say that you’re clicking late, and I think that we’re starting to get near turning the corner,” Sullivan said. “We’re not there yet, but we’re starting to get near turning the corner. For a lot of young guys that come from the junior college level, to pull out a game like this where it’s close late and get a win, it’s huge for confidence. Hopefully we can let this snowball into Wednesday.”

The RedHawks are back in Millett Hall Feb. 4 against Northern Illinois University, with tip off set for 7 p.m. This marks the second meeting between the two teams, with the RedHawks claiming a 60-55 victory in the first meeting Jan. 24.

Miami falls short against Broncos WOMEN’S BBALL DANIEL TAYLOR

FOR THE MIAMI STUDENT

The Miami University women’s basketball team lost its ninth consecutive game Saturday.

Western Michigan University was able to hold onto a tightly contested matchup, winning 61-53.

Miami (3-17, 0-9 Mid-American Conference) head coach Cleve Wright has talked about consistency all season. He finally got some from his squad Saturday. The team was able to score 26 first half points and followed it up with a 27-point half in the second.

“Very pleased with my team’s effort,” Wright said. “They really played hard the whole time.”

The game featured seven ties and 13 lead changes.

However, the effort was not enough to knock of the MAC-West leading Broncos (14-6, 7-2 MAC).

The RedHawks have had a recent spell of bad first halves, digging themselves a deep whole that they cannot climb out of.

That was not the case Saturday, as the ’Hawks went into half down by only two, 28-26.

Western Michigan senior A.J. Johnson led the way for the Broncos going 4-4 from beyond the arc in the first. She finished 6 of 11 from the field and 5 of 8

from deep. She tallied 19 points for Western.

The Red and White needed an answer for the shots from Johnson. It came in the form of senior guard Courtney Larson. She went 3 for 3 from deep and 6 for 9 overall. Larson led the team with 16 points.

“I’m just really appreciative of my teammates finding me at the right times,” Larson said. “I just feel like I had confidence in myself.”

The player to watch coming in was Miracle Woods. The junior was the leading scorer for Western, averaging 14.1 points per game.

WOMEN’S BBALL »PAGE 9

’Hawks hope to take off in 2015 SOFTBALL JORDAN RINARD

SENIOR STAFF WRITER

After being knocked out of the Mid-American Conference Tournament following a 22-28 (9-11 MAC) 2014 campaign, the Miami University softball team

looks to take the next step as a program in 2015. The RedHawks return five starters, including an All-MAC Second-Team honoree in junior outfielder Taylor Shuey.

Miami has several holes to fill following the departures of catcher Kayla Ledbetter, first baseman Allie Larrabee, second baseman and First Team All-MAC Kristy

Arbour, as well as pitchers Paige Myers and Second Team AllMAC member Jenna Modic.

“We lost a big class that had big contributions, but we’re not going to skip a beat,” head coach Clarisa Crowell said. “I’m proud of our upperclassmen stepping up SOFTBALL »PAGE 9

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COLUMN

GOING LONG WITH GEISLER This Super Bowl was an alltime great game. Despite the sports media’s deep desire to get back at a coach who is utterly dismissive of them for their inanity and lack of actual knowledge about the game, by playing up an entirely small time “scandal,” which may turn out to be one big nothing-burger, please don’t let them make you remember this year’s Super Bowl for anything other than what it really was: an historically great matchup between even teams — one where the beauty of professional football, mainly that schemes, while important, are clearly subordinate to individual match-ups, was on full display.

The game was a joy to watch, and has the added benefit of being of serious historical significance. This was the fourth Super Bowl championship of the Brady-Belichick era in New England, and the first in 10 years.

It is safe to say, if you care about the longevity of excellence, that Bill Belichick is the greatest head coach in the history of the NFL. This is a controversial statement, especially given the controversy surrounding the coach, and it’s easy to say in the wake of a dramatic and impressive win, but reality bears it out.

People tend to hate what is excellent and unabashedly aware

of it. This is not a reference to the conceit of someone who is merely really good at what they do. This is the self-awareness of excellence. It is often off-putting unless you have it, but we should recognize it more often and respect it. That’s the story of Belichick, who is simply better at coaching and making personnel decisions than anyone else ever has been.

In the salary cap era, the league intentionally makes sustained success and continuity near impossible. The only man who has cracked this code, while both running the team and being in charge of personnel, is Belichick.

The element of the cap means he’s done the impossible with rationed resources, though with one undoubtedly first rate piece in Tom Brady (probably tied with Joe Montana as the greatest quarterback of all time).

The only other coach in the history of the league with as many Super Bowl wins as Belichick is Steelers legend Chuck Noll.

Noll led the team for 23 years, but all of his titles came between 1974 and 1979. For the last 12 years of his regime, their winning percentage was around .500 and he won two playoff games. Noll’s overall winning percentage was .566.

Compare Belichick’s stat-line to Noll’s. In his New England years, his winning percentage is .729. He’s missed the playoffs twice, won his division all but twice, and had a losing record only in his first year on the job.

COLUMN »PAGE 9

SCOREBOARD

WOMEN’S SWIM MEN’S SWIM Miami................

197 FIELD HOCKEY Toledo..................103

MEN’S BALL

EMU............. 181 Miami.............180

WOMEN’S BBALL

Miami.................. 79 WMU................... 61 Ball State................73 Miami.....................53

TENNIS Boston................... 5 Dartmouth..............7 Miami.......................2 Miami.......................0

SYNCHRO

MEN’S HOCKEY

Miami...... 1/8 teams Miami............. 2(SO) Midwestern Champs WMU........................1