ESTABLISHED 1826 — OLDEST COLLEGE NEWSPAPER WEST OF THE ALLEGHENIES
TUESDAY, MARCH 14, 2017
Volume 145 №33
Miami University — Oxford, Ohio
Prospective students question drinking at MU Miami’s Office of Admissions fields concerns from parents, students ALCOHOL
BONNIE MEIBERS
SENIOR STAFF WRITER
ANGELO GELFUSO THE MIAMI STUDENT
OPD Lt. Lara Fening (left) and MUPD Sgt. Susan Tobergte (right) speak to a packed Wilks Theater about safety on Green Beer Day.
Sounds dangerous: Can Uptown bars In face of cause hearing damage? threats, a call for pride ployees experience sound Sound levels at bars HEALTH
KIRBY DAVIS
MU rabbi responds to anti-Semitism RELIGION
EMILY WILLIAMS
MANAGING EDITOR
Since the beginning of the year, 161 bomb threats have targeted Jewish institutions across the country, according to the Anti-Defamation League. Most recently, at least five institutions reported threats on Sunday, March 13, as the Jewish community observed the religious holiday of Purim. This follows vandalism of Jewish cemeteries last month, including the toppling of over 75 headstones at the Mount Carmel Cemetery in Northeast Philadelphia and the damaging of about 100 headstones at the Chesed Shel Emeth Society cemetery outside St. Louis. Rabbi Yossi Greenberg of the Chabad Jewish Student Center at Miami discussed the recent uptick in anti-Semitic threats in a live Facebook video on March 2. “Do we have the right to be upset? Absolutely,” Greenberg said in the video. He went on to explain that, in a conversation with students about recent threats, they had asked themselves: What is does it take to make a bomb threat? “All it takes is a phone and a phone call,” Greenberg said. “And we realized that we can do a positive
ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR
College students’ memories might not be the only thing they’re losing during nights out. When someone stumbles out of one of Oxford’s bars unable to hear the people around them, their ears ringing, they’re experiencing genuine hearing loss. It’s only temporary, but long-term exposure
levels exceeding 85 decibels
could mean hearing for long periods of time is reloss for Miamians quired to offer them hearing to club music (which can hover around 100 decibels, as opposed to a normal conversation’s 60), can set them up for permanent hearing problems in the future. Speech pathology and audiology professor Chip Hahn explained that in America, any workplace in which em-
protection. This rule does not extend to bars. “So, students and others that are out having a good time don’t necessarily think about the fact that, ‘Oh, this music is so loud I can see the windows vibrating,’” said Hahn. HEARING » PAGE 3
This semester, Miami’s Office of Admissions has seen an increase in the number of students and parents concerned with student drinking at Miami University. “We certainly have seen an increase in questions about alcohol on campus and questions about how the university responds to a situation like that, given the press,” said Susan Schaurer, director of the Office of Admissions, in reference to recent news coverage about high-risk alcohol consumption at Miami. While the Office of Admissions has always received questions regarding alcohol, the number of questions has increased, and the types of questions have changed. Before this semester, admissions staff mostly fielded questions about alternative activities to alcohol that the university provides. Now they field questions about what the university is doing to ensure that its students are safe if they are drinking. Andrew Boehm, associate director of campus visits and events, says that he thinks everyone should be talking
about the issue. “When you have the death of a student, you need to fix it so it never happens again,” Boehm said. “You have to bring it out into the open to get it solved.” Since the Office of Admissions is in the process of transitioning admitted students to committed students, they have not been able to tell if the negative publicity has had an affect on the number of applicants who commit to Miami, said Schaurer. “I think these are valid questions to be asked,” Boehm said. “Parents and kids deserve answers.” Despite the increase in questions about alcohol to admissions staff, student tour guides have seen little to no increase in questions about the topic. “I think parents don’t want to make it more difficult for the student [tour guide],” Boehm said. Sophomore tour guide, Gabe Debiasi, said he rarely gets questions about alcohol from parents and students on tours. “No more than usual,” he said. However, he said that he has tried to talk more about alternative programming ADMISSIONS » PAGE 3
ASG, RHA host GBD forum
Candidates violate ASG election rules
GREEN BEER DAY
ASG
JAKE GOLD
SAMANTHA BRUNN
SENIOR STAFF WRITER
SENIOR STAFF WRITER
Due to a number of high-profile incidents involving high-risk alcohol consumption here at Miami, University leadership is breaking from tradition this year when it comes to Green Beer Day. While students plan to celebrate on Thursday, March 15, Miami administration, faculty, staff and student organizations are taking an increased number of preventative steps to avoid the pitfalls that can befall students on such an alcohol-fueled day. Students were handed green koozies and phone cases with the message, “Life is Priceless, You
The Worrell-Olvera and McCarthy-Creber ASG presidential and vice presidential campaigns have each received a violation from ASG’s election committee. The violations are classified as “level one,” resulting in a 24-hour ban on campaigning and a $50 budget reduction. The Worrell-Olvera
RYAN TERHUNE PHOTO EDITOR
MU Junior Ryan Competti, one of two managers of MU Shirt Bros, shows off his designs.
Competition rises in GBD apparel sales GREEN BEER DAY
cated student. MU College Democrats decided to craft their own GBD shirt this year to raise awareness about the policy. As communications chair Nick Froehlich explained, they hope that the prospect of legal or economic troubles won’t prevent students from
FORUM » PAGE 5
Perhaps the only thing more ubiquitous on Green Beer Day than dyed alcohol and glittery shamrock facial tattoos is Green Beer Day apparel — shirts, hats and other items melding topical
memes with the beloved Miami holiday. After a recent spike in alcohol violations, some are also using the holiday to spread a message: the importance of the Good Samaritan policy, which exempts students from disciplinary legal action if they seek emergency medical assistance for themselves or another severely intoxi-
NEWS p. 3
CULTURE p. 4
FOOD p. 6
EDITORIAL p. 10
OP-ED p. 11
SPORTS p. 12
ASG PRESIDENTIAL SPENDING TO DATE
POP CULTURE PICKS: PODCAST EDITION
AN ODE TO THE DINNER PARTY
ASG PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION 2017
CORPORATIONS PLAY GOD WITH GENE EDITING
MU BASKETBALL COACHES WILL NOT RETURN
The Worrell-Olvera ticket spent the most this week at $429.67.
Our editors recommend podcasts to listen to over spring break.
Every week, Miami Student staffers take joy in home-cooked food.
After meeting with this year’s candidates, we analyzed their platforms.
“If food is a cultural product, then it could not be a scientific enterprise.”
Miami will not be renewing head basketball coaches’ contracts for next season.
PRIDE » PAGE 8
KIRBY DAVIS
ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR
CHOOSING YOUR NEXT ASG STUDENT BODY PRESIDENT Vote today on the Hub at https://muhub.collegiatelink.net/
VIOLATIONS » PAGE 9
EDITORIAL p. 10 ASG STONEWALLS THE STUDENT ASG’s constitution does not insulate it from Ohio law.
SHIRTS » PAGE 8
Maggie Callaghan and Luke Elfreich Nick Froehlich and Bradley Davis Ryaan Ibtisam and Paul McCreary Hannah McCarthy and Thatcher Creber Austin Worrell and Haley Olvera