The Miami Student | October 15, 2019 by The Miami Student

ESTABLISHED 1826 — OLDEST COLLEGE NEWSPAPER WEST OF THE ALLEGHENIES

VOLUME 148 No. 7

MIAMI UNIVERSITY — OXFORD, OHIO

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2019

DELTS MAKE HISTORY

Will new law allow NCAA Football video game to return?

Hazing allegations result in only 6th instance of criminal charges in Ohio BRIAH LUMPKINS

ASST. NEWS EDITOR Being criminally charged for hazing on a college campus is incredibly rare. Since Ohio legislators enacted a 1983 law denoting hazing as a fourth degree misdemeanor, there have only been six instances in which members of a fraternity were charged with hazing their fellow brothers and/or new members in the law’s 36-year-existence. Those ﬁrst ﬁve instances include two cases in Bowling Green (one in 1988 and 2008), another in Cleveland in 2006, a 2009 charge in Athens and a 2014 incident in Akron, all extensively documented by The Columbus Dispatch last May. The sixth case hasn’t made it to court yet. When a Butler County grand jury handed down 68 counts of hazing and assault against 18 former brothers from Miami University’s Delta Tau Delta (Delts) fraternity on Oct. 3 — for repeatedly assaulting a new member last spring — it marked only the sixth time hazing has resulted in criminal charges in the state of Ohio. Hank Nuwer, a journalism professor at Franklin College in Franklin, Indiana, has a particular interest in hazing. He keeps a database on all hazing deaths that have taken place at universities across the country from 1838 to present. Nuwer said he doesn’t think Ohio’s hazing charges are strict enough and hopes to see a change in the near future. “I expect that, in time, Ohio will get a little bit tougher [with hazing laws],” Nuwer said. “These are still very serious charges, and people’s lives are at stake.” Miami’s recent history of hazing issues have been on Nuwer’s radar for more than a decade. In 1990, when writing his book “Broken Pledges,” he spent two to three weeks in Oxford

CONTINUED ON PAGE 3

NCAA VIDEO GAMES ARE GONE FROM THE MARKET, BUT STILL RESONATE IN THE HEARTS AND MINDS OF REDHAWK FOOTBALL PLAYERS. DESIGN EDITOR CONNOR WELLS

If it does, Miami football players’ dreams will come true MICHAEL VESTEY

THE MIAMI STUDENT Dominique Robinson liked playing as Oregon and Boise State, but Kentucky was his top choice. Even a decade later, he still fondly remembers trampling opponents with Reggie Bush in the old NCAA Football video games. “The guy was Reggie Bush, on the few [games] that he was on, unstoppable,” Robinson, the Miami University wide receiver, said. “He was probably the best guy.” The NCAA Football series is beloved to

college football fans nationwide. Featuring all FBS teams in college football during the period they were made and including details such as accurate stadiums and player faces, the games were played both by casual players and diehard college football fans alike. However, it was the faces of the players that eventually got the series into trouble. As graphical quality improved, it became increasingly clear that, for example, Miami’s “QB #7” was Ben Roethlisberger, and the NCAA got involved. Former student-athletes sued Electronic Arts, the series’ publisher, for

the use of their image without their consent. Schools and conferences withdrew their support from the series. The series and some players’ dreams of appearing in it were canceled after NCAA Football 14. For now, the NCAA video games are still gone from the market but not from the hearts of the kids who played them. “[When they stopped making them] I was hurt, I was upset,” Miami defensive lineman Doug Costin said. “My big thing was that I CONTINUED ON PAGE 3

Momma T’s Tacos and Things

A small food truck with a lot to give MAYA FENTER

MAGAZINE EDITOR

MAMA T GREW UP POOR AND HER PHILOSOPHY IS THAT IF YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO GIVE, YOU GIVE IT. THE MIAMI STUDENT SAKSHAM SHRESTHA

I’ll admit that even after years of experience in journalism, I’m still not quite sure how to handle asking someone questions while they’re working or seem busy. A small crowd had gathered at the edge of the TJMaxx parking lot, the designated spot for Momma T’s Tacos and Things food truck, so after I ordered and got my own food, I sat on a parking bumper a few feet away to let Momma T ﬁnish making all of the orders while I ate mine. Theresa Martinez, “Momma T,” has been serving Mexican street food in Oxford every Friday and Saturday from noon to 7 p.m. since July, but on the day I visited, she was there for the Tuesday evening farmers market. Theresa drives to Oxford from her home, someplace between Middletown and Monroe, Ohio (but if you ask, she’ll say she lives in Monroe since she doesn’t like Middletown all that much). Her red pickup truck pulls a small, bright blue trailer with a sign that says “Momma T’s Tacos and Things.” When customers walk up to the trailer parked in the lot, a whiteboard leans against the side with menu items and their prices written in black dry erase marker. Theresa’s eldest daughter — one of her 10 kids — stands inside taking orders, but Theresa stands outside behind a grill under a tent next to the trailer. She likes being face-to-face with her customers. She likes talking to people and giving people someone to talk to. I ordered two tacos, one chicken and one steak. Both had meat and cheese piled on two layers of corn tortillas which were grilled until slightly crispy. I had to eat some of the ﬁlling with a spoon before I could even fold the CONTINUED ON PAGE 3

This Issue NEWS

CULTURE

SPORTS

OPINION

Researchers expedite possible treatment for depression

He’ll sing you a song;

REDHawks? Not so fast.

If not now, then when?

page 4

he’s the guitar man. page 6

Miami football to wear cancer-awareness helmets for second year.

page 11

We want to tell the full story. We want to talk to you.

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NEWS 3

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2019

The woman behind Central Asia’s ‘island of democracy’

DELTS MAKE HISTORY

Former Kyrgyzstan president talks history, growth and empowerment

Hazing allegations result in only 6th instance of criminal charges in Ohio FROM FRONT

GABBI BRIGHT

THE MIAMI STUDENT As President Roza Otunbayeva took her seat on stage, a hush fell over the audience in Wilks Theater. The former president of Kyrgyzstan, the first and, so far, only female head of state in Central Asia, sat across from Miami University associate political science professor, Hannah Chapman. Their discussion about Krgyzstan’s history, democratization and the future was a part of the Havighurst Center for Russian and Post-Soviet Studies’ annual lecture series. “[Kyrgyzstan] is an island of democracy in Central Asia,” Chapman said, providing the audience with context before beginning the conversation last Wednesday, Oct. 9. Otunbayeva nodded. “Democracy is a very hard lesson to learn in 28 years,” Otunbayeva explained. She played a major role in Kyrgyzstan’s 2005 Tulip Revolution, forcing the resignation of former president Askar Akayev, who was ousted after accusations of election fraud and corruption surfaced. Otunbayeva was later elected president after a stint as the Leader of the People’s Front opposition party during a second revolution in 2010. Kyrgyzstan was a Soviet state until 1991, when the country declared its independence and established a mixed presidential system with a unicameral parliament. After a series of corrupt presidencies, ethnic conflicts and revolutions, Kyrgyzstan has struggled to maintain its republican structure. But Otunbayeva is satisfied by her country’s progress on becoming more democratic. “We’ve built a strong civil society, which I admire very much. There are those whose hands reach the most remote parts of the country,” she

KYRGYZSTAN “IS AN ISLAND OF DEMOCRACY IN CENTRAL ASIA.” MANAGING EDITOR CEILI DOYLE

said. “Civil society, most of [these political organizations] headed by women, these are the most vocal, vibrant, strong part of our society.” During her tenure as president, Otunbayeva oversaw the establishment of a new constitution and reﬁned parliamentary system. But this system has continued to be a source of political conﬂict within Kyrgyzstan, she said. “It was not an easy choice. Today we have a lot of ups and downs. We have people who insist we go back to a presidential power,” Otunbayeva said, shaking her head. “I believe [a parliamentary system] provides us transparency, openness — it provides soundness.” Otunbayeva’s presidential term ended in 2011 and did not run in the subsequent elections. She retired soon after. “[I am] very, very eager to learn about the world,” Otunbayeva said. “I learned a lot from [American] President [Jimmy] Carter, and I do believe it’s not necessarily [the case that] you have to keep your chair to make good for your country. It might be a more valuable time for the nation [for me to] do my work as founder of my foundation.” Post-presidency, she founded the Roza Otunbayeva Initiative, a foundation dedicated to the advancement of education for Kyrgiz women and children, and the Investigative Journalism Foundation.

Will new law allow NCAA Football video game to return? If it does, Miami football players’ dreams will come true FROM FRONT

wanted to play as myself when I got to college. After they shut down, I was like, ‘Damn, that sucks. I won’t be able to do that anymore.’” But, with an ever-changing football landscape, the series’ revival may not be far away. On Sept. 27, California Governor Gavin Newsom, with LeBron James at his side, authorized CA Senate Bill 206. The bill will allow college athletes to profit off of their name, image and likeness in California, starting January 1, 2023. It would allow them to appear in video games like the one Robinson so fondly remembers. College athletics has always been under the idea of “amateurism” — student athletes cannot receive any kind of compensation for their play or image rights apart from scholarships under NCAA rules. “I think it will expand [college athletics],” Robinson said. “You’ll get people wearing different stuff, endorsing things. I think it’ll help a lot.” The bill, passed in California with similarly proposed legislation in numerous other states and the U.S. House of Representatives, goes directly in the face of the NCAA’s regulations. Northeast Ohio’s Republican U.S. Rep. Anthony Gonzalez (OH-16), is planning to propose a similar bill. Gonzalez, a former Ohio State and NFL player, didn’t respond to The Student’s request for comment. This law could give players additional money-making opportunities, like merchandising and endorsements. College

athletes would be free to express their opinions the same as any other college student, without fear of NCAA punishment. “I can’t tweet, ‘You gotta go get [a brand], it’s the best thing out there,’ so it’s going to change how people act, and I think it’d be a good idea,” Costin said. Student athletes may be able to pick up sponsorships from local companies as well. “It gives them some recognition as you’re wearing their stuff, you’re promoting it, and also you never know if it will land you a job at the end of it,” Costin said. “After football, maybe they offer you a job or something like that.” Under current NCAA regulations, schools can’t sell jerseys or other merchandise featuring current players. Under new regulations, that restriction might be loosened. Can Miami’s own players imagine seeing their name on someone else’s back? “It’d be a humbling experience,” Costin said. “It’d be nice to see that, show that people care, show that I’m doing something right for the team and the community, really.” And if the video games were to return with Costin, Robinson and Co. on them? “I’d play with the RedHawks right off the bat. Gotta see my rating.” Robinson said. “I would go buy it as quick as I could, definitely. I don’t care how much it would be, I’d definitely play and then keep it, so I could show my kids that I was on this,” Costin said.

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“You’re the busiest retired person I’ve ever met,” Chapman quipped as the audience laughed. Otunbayeva maintained a straight face. “I do believe that investigative journalism is the sharpest and the most efficient weapon against corruption,” she said. “Corruption is a global infection.” The Foundation for Investigative Journalism was created in the memory of Ulanbek Egizbayev, a Kyrgyz reporter of civil corruption. The foundation presents an annual award to Kyrgyz investigative journalists in Egizbayev’s name. “Investigative journalism is a new plant on our soil, and it’s very difficult to look after our exotic plant,” Otunbayeva said. As far as Kyrgyzstan’s future is concerned, Otunbayeva remains optimistic. She was pleased to discover the university’s Havighurst Center and said she believed it was a reflection of Asia’s increasing global influence. “Our relations with the United States are solid, good relations,” Otunbayeva said. “We might make it much better. I was so happy [to see] so many people studying the Russian language [at the Havighurst Center] … I see the connection, everywhere, internationally.” @gabbiabri brightga@miamioh.edu

researching Miami’s fraternities. He believes Miami has a culture of hazing and isn’t surprised about the recent incidents. “It’s difficult to get hazing to stop when there is such a culture,” Nuwer said. “It’s this standard of masculinity. Kind of a misplaced one. There is this idea of a need for a right of passage, dependence on other members in the group and the effect of leaders on the weaker followers. All these seem to be present here with this Delta Tau Delta incident.” In order to change this culture, Newer said it must start with the students. He also believes that universities can send a powerful message by removing fraternities after they are found guilty of hazing. “There has to be a movement at the student level to have the cultural shift,” Nuwer said. “To say that hazing is simply not worth it [and see] there are other ways to bond … I don’t think Delta Tau Delta should come back … I think it needs to be removed for a substantial amount of time … It sends a really big message to individual chapters.” In August, Miami suspended Delts for 15 years, but after 10 years, in March 2029, the fraternity will have the chance to petition the university to come back to campus earlier. All 18 former Delts members will have their first appearance in court at 9 a.m. on Nov. 15 at the Oxford Courthouse. @briah_lumpkins lumpkibm@miamioh.edu

Momma T’s Tacos and Things A small food truck with a lot to give FROM FRONT

tortillas in half, and even then, I had meat spilling out the sides when I tried to pick them up. I ate both without putting them down, completely satisfied. “Oh there she is!” I hear someone call out. It’s Theresa, waving from behind her grill under the tent. Her daughter must have pointed me out as the girl who wanted to interview “Momma T.” “I thought I’d wait for you to finish your orders first,” I say as an explanation for my awkward perch in the corner of the parking lot. “Talk to me all you want,” she said, motioning for me to come over. “I can multitask!” Theresa invites me to stand next to her behind the grill as she finishes cooking the rest of her orders. As the customers wait for their food, she offers samples of a new menu item: frijoles charros soup, a rich soup with beans and grilled hot dogs. She scoops generous spoonfuls into little styrofoam cups for people to try. She mainly serves tacos and quesadillas, but she wants to add some soups for the upcoming fall and winter seasons. Her samples get rave reviews from everyone who tries them. Several people didn’t even grab spoons and just drank it straight from the cup. “Don’t you just want to curl up with a bowl of this on the couch and watch your favorite show?” Theresa asked. “You bet that’s what I’ll be doing later tonight!” A few people pay for larger portions, but she’s not too worried about making money on the soup today. She’s confident in her food. “I just want people to enjoy what they’re eating,” she said. “Then they’ll come back for more.” And so far, they have. Theresa would park Uptown where there’s more foot traffic, but she says the City of Oxford hasn’t welcomed food trucks because they hurt small businesses. “But I’m a small business too, and if I can’t be here, that hurts me,” Theresa said. “The city doesn’t want a food truck here, but the people want a food truck here.” Before opening Momma T’s, Theresa owned a construction company and made a six-figure salary. In 2011, she left the company after 15 years because she decided that there was more to life than money. Today she receives disability benefits, which helps pay her bills, but she’s always been a worker — just sitting at home wouldn’t be enough for her. She couldn’t ignore her passion for cooking, either. “My therapist will tell you my love of food

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comes from never wanting to see anyone go hungry,” she said. Earlier that day, she saw two younger boys walking around, and by the way they were dressed, she could tell they were probably from one of the trailer parks. After hearing them say that the food smelled good, she invited them over and made a taco for each of them. She knows two $4 tacos won’t set her back too badly, and her philosophy is if you have something to give, you give it. She’s sympathetic because she’s been there herself. Theresa grew up poor. Her mom was an alcoholic and never gave her the love that she deserved. She died in January from lung cancer that Theresa didn’t even know she had. But she loved her dad and would cook for both of her parents when her mother neglected to do so. Her father died in April 2018. “I wish he could see all this,” she said. In her short time in business, she’s made a name for herself. She posts on her Facebook page regularly, and just about every post has a comment of someone asking when she’ll be back, where they can find her or how much they enjoyed her food. She’s tried out various spots in the area, some in Hamilton, some closer to her home, but she’s found the most success in Oxford. The people here, specifically the local resident population, have received her very well, and Theresa says she’s never met a nicer group of people. It makes her job worthwhile. “It takes everything I have to be here,” she said. She motions down at her ankles, swollen from arthritis and the hours she has spent on her feet. She also has a bad back from falling off horses as a kid and from being pushed down the stairs by an abusive ex-husband. After a few bad relationships, she was married to a man from Mexico for 30 years. Four years ago, he was deported, and it’ll be at least six more before he has a chance to come back to the United States. The two still talk every day. As she’s telling me her story, she tugs her shirt collar up to dab some tears off her face. But she puts on a brave face and greets every customer with a smile. “Are these for the kids?” Theresa asks a man and woman as she’s waiting for the cheese to melt on some quesadillas. They both nod. “Can they go in the same box?” Theresa asks. “I know how kids can get when their food is touching their brother or sister’s.” They all share a laugh and she scoops both quesadillas into the same container as per the parents’ permission. fentermc@miamioh.edu

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4 NEWS SUSPECT IN OXFORD MINOR SHOOTING IDENTIFIED

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TUESDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2019

Miami research team produces chemical that could treat depression

CAROLINE HAUBENSTRICKER STAFF WRITER

The Oxford Police Department (OPD) has identified the man who shot a 17-year-old on Sunday, Oct. 6. OPD Chief John Jones named 18-year-old Benjamin T. Hizer as the shooter. Hizer is a resident of Oxford but is not a student at Miami University. “We determined it was him through extensive interviews and search warrants,” Jones said. According to a press release, Hizer and the 17-year-old had arranged to meet a third male, whose name OPD has not released. The release said they met at Oxford Wash, located at College Corner Pike, to illegally exchange drugs. During an attempt to rob the third male, Hizer fired a shot from a “small caliber handgun,” which hit the 17-year-old. The third male fled the scene. Jones said OPD is attempting to determine if the 17-year-old who was shot was involved with the robbery of the third male. “If he was involved, then he would be charged with attempted armed robbery,” Jones said. Hizer is being held in the Butler County Jail on charges of aggravated robbery. Jones said he could face additional charges. @haubenstrickerc haubence@miamioh.edu

MIAMI RESEARCHERS HAVE FOUND A WAY TO SYTHETICALY PRODUCE PSILOCYBIN, A CHEMICAL THAT COULD BE USED TO TREAT MENTAL ILLNESS. PHOTO EDITOR JUGAL JAIN

ALEX COX

THE MIAMI STUDENT A recent breakthrough in a Miami University undergraduate research lab could lead to cheaper production costs of medications that could be used to treat depression and other mental health issues. The team of researchers working with biomedical engineering professor Andrew Jones successfully engineered the bacteria E. coli to produce a hallucinogenic compound, psilocybin, that could help treat depression, addiction and other mental illnesses. Psilocybin, according to the DEA’s website, is a compound produced by some varieties of mushrooms and is known to cause hallucinations and an altered sense of reality in people who take it. Even though it’s listed as a Schedule I Substance under the Controlled Substances Act, researchers outside

the university are in phase three clinical trials of administering the chemical under supervision to help treat various mental illnesses. Although pharmaceutical companies are testing psilocybin for commercial use to treat mental illness, the Miami research team is not a part of those clinical trials. The university’s research is focused on creating synthetic psilocybin, instead of the time-consuming and costly process of extracting it from mushrooms. Jones worked with his team to create a strain of E. coli that will produce the compound more eﬃciently. Despite psilocybin’s potential pharmaceutical properties, the DEA required that Jones and his students follow strict regulations in their research with the controlled substance. Before research even began, the lab had to apply for a permit that would allow them to produce and

store psilocybin. Samples can’t leave the lab, and the researchers cannot purify or concentrate the hallucinogen. This past summer, professors on the Miami Hamilton campus were suspended for growing an iboga tree, which contains the Schedule I Substance, ibogaine. But Claire Wagner, director of university news and communication, said the research team’s use of psilocybin was diﬀerent from what happened over the summer because the Hamilton professors didn’t obtain a permit for the iboga tree. Despite the medical possibilities, Jones and his team have had to ﬁght the preconception that psilocybin is merely a hallucinogenic drug. “[Psilocybin] is a really bio-active compound, and if we could harness that, it could be a really powerful thing,” Jones said. “So, Jones Lab is making cool pharmaceuticals, not party drugs.”

Currently, psilocybin can either be extracted from mushrooms or created chemically. In either production method, the process is time-consuming and costly. Jones worked with his team to create a strain of E. coli that will produce the compound more eﬃciently. The researchers were able to create psilocybin at a faster and cheaper rate than extracting it from mushrooms naturally. Although the research team hopes to increase its output, the increase in production speed was impressive enough to attract several chemical production companies, Jones said. Research is more than just an opportunity to change the face of chemical production, he explained. Research is an essential part of the undergraduate classroom experience. “That’s why I’m at Miami,” Jones said. “I can do research anywhere, but I speciﬁcally like working with undergraduate students and developing a kind of passion and skill in them for research. So, I try to work one-on-one with students.” First-year chemical engineering major Lexie Adams, one of the lead researchers for the psilocybin project, said she appreciates Jones’s commitment to his students. “I didn’t know if I would like working in a lab, didn’t know what I wanted to do after school,” Adams said. “And now that I have worked in this lab on this project, I know one hundred percent that I want to go to grad school. I want to work on a research team.” Junior chemical engineering major Nick Kaplan has been working with Jones since the beginning of the project. “I feel he has really developed me into more of a research scientist rather than just a lab technician,” he said. Kaplan, along with Adams and the rest of the student researchers, is very excited about the work that has been done. But, the research is not over yet. Kaplan said he looks forward to the opportunity to help lead the next steps of the project: introducing the genetic sequence into the E. coli genome permanently and increase output in reference to glucose input. coxaj4@miamioh.edu

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NEWS 5

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2019

Politicians will debate Trump’s presidency at the Janus forum

MAGGIE ANGEVINE STAFF WRITER

The fall 2019 Janus forum will feature a debate between former Republican Governor Scott Walker from Wisconsin and former California Democratic Sen. Barbara Boxer on the successes and failures of the Trump presidency. Boxer served in the United States Senate for 24 years representing California. She recently retired to focus on her voting-awareness Political Action Committee, PAC for a Change. During her time in the Senate, Boxer was known for her environmental advocacy and climate change activism. Walker, a hardline conservative, ham and cheese sandwich lover and Wisconsin’s governor from 2011-

2019 was praised by constituents for eliminating the state’s budget deficit without raising taxes. He was also the first governor in U.S. history to survive a recall election, which is a vote by the people on whether or not to remove a politician from office. The recall election was prompted by protests surrounding a highly controversial bill Walker had passed on collective bargaining that limited the ability of workers in unions to negotiate for things like pay raises, insurance and retirement funds, all in order to close the budget deficit. Patrick Haney, a political science professor and the associate dean of the college of arts and science, said he’s excited for this year’s debate and thinks that it could not come at a better time. “At this time when so many Americans are divided by party

and ideology, I hope students, faculty, staff and the community will turn out and come together to discuss the Trump presidency, to talk about the things that divide you and to truly listen to views we may not agree with as well,” Haney said. The forum is sponsored by The Thomas W. Smith Project on Liberty, Democracy and Citizenship, the Miami University Department of Political Science and the Center for Student Diversity and Inclusion. Senior Nikki Gundimeda, a political science major and fouryear-member of the Janus steering committee, will moderate the discussion between Boxer and Walker. Audience members can submit questions to Gundimeda through Twitter using the hashtag #janusmiamioh, and all attendees are encouraged to engage with the discussion in diverse ways, sharing their own opinions, ideas and ex-

“At this time when so many Americans are divided by party and ideology, I hope students, faculty, staff and the community will turn out and come together to discuss the Trump presidency, to talk about the things that divide you, and to truly listen to views we may not agree with as well.” -Patrick Haney

periences as well as addressing any questions that they might have. The event will start at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 16 in the Armstrong Student Center’s Wilks Theater. The forum is ticketed, but anyone interested in attending can get a ticket at the box office for no charge. @NewellMaggie angevims@miamioh.edu

SCOTT WALKER AND BARBERA BOXER WILL DEBATE AT THE JANUS FORUM. CONTRIBUTED BY MIAMI UNIVERSITY

Petitioners supporting nuclear bailout target Miami students RYAN JONES

THE MIAMI STUDENT If you are asked to sign a petition on campus this week, keep two things in mind: a signature could mean Ohioans will pay 85 cents more a month for energy, and you are stepping into the middle of a complicated dispute involving a new Ohio law aimed at bailing out two failing nuclear plants near Akron. Last week, petitioners approached Miami University students around campus, asking them to sign their names in opposition of the referendum on House Bill 6 (HB6). Between class times, petitioners were set up on the sidewalks to draw students into giving their signature. The petitioners were independent contractors sent out by Ohioans for Energy Security, a company that formed in support of HB6. HB6 is a bill passed in Ohio that, according to the Dayton Daily News, will bailout two financially struggling nuclear power plants. It will do this by raising the ener-

CAROLINE HAUBENSTRICKER STAFF WRITER

Every Saturday, 68-year-old Evie Semertzides stands behind her table anxiously waiting to sell her homegrown olive oil and balsamic vinaigrette at the Oxford Farmers Market. The warm smell of pressed olives wafts throughout the aisle of her booth. She greets customers with a slight smile on her face and asks about their day. She eagerly waits for new customers to taste her olive oil on neatly cut focaccia bread that she has brought from home. Semertzides was born and raised in Crete, Greece, where her family owns a home and a variety of olive trees in an orchard. She started her business, called Kofinas, eight years ago to maintain her strong Cretan culture and share her olive oil with others. Semertzides met her husband, John, at college in Thessaloniki, Greece, where she was studying physics and he was studying medicine. After graduation, they came to the United States, where John did his medical training in Cincinnati and was later hired. “[Our business] is called Kofinas because it is the name of the mountain that is close to where we grow our olive trees,” Semertzides said. When traveling from Crete to Cincinnati, Semertzides would carry large tins of olive oil through customs to enjoy her family’s delicacy. Through the years, Semertzides’ friends in Cincinnati would ask her to bring them bottles of her olive oil. It was then that Semertzides decided to import her olive oil in larger quantities and begin her business. “We’re retired, [so this is a] second business to do,” she said. “We had our own olive oil. We have excellent quality trees.” The olive trees that she grows are located in Crete along with the staff that produces the actual olive oil. The oil is then shipped to Cincinnati for Semertzides to sell. Kofinas employs only eight people that are not a part

gy bills of consumers by 85 cents. The company that relies most on HB6 is FirstEnergy Solutions, the company that owns the two failing nuclear power plants that would be bailed out. Two groups, Ohioans for Energy Security and Ohioans Against Corporate Bailouts, became the key support and key opposition, respectively. Ohioans Against Corporate Bailouts sent petitioners around Ohio to gain support for a referendum after the bill was passed. The referendum would bring the bill back up on the ballot. The group needs to get 265,000 signatures by October 21. Ohioans for Energy Security began a counter-campaign against Ohioans Against Corporate Bailouts. According to the Energy and Policy Institute, it started with a $1 million ad that warned voters against signing the referendum, arguing that by signing the referendum Ohioans would “give your information to the Chinese government.” Soon after, Ohioans for Energy Security hired independent con-

tractors to circulate its own petition in the form of a plebiscite. These contractors encouraged students to use their campus address if they were from out-of-state because plebiscites don’t require signatures from registered voters. One independent contractor, David Riveros, said they were paid by the signature but would not say how much. He also said they were given a cap of 175 signatures per day and that people are allowed to sign the same plebiscite up to three times. The plebiscite is meant to gauge public awareness about HB6 and will be used to block the referendum, Riveros said. Sophomore Casey Jackowski said she’s encountered the group four times over the last week. “I was able to avoid them twice, while the two other times I’ve been called out,” Jackowski said. Many students stopped to ask what the petition was for and several felt they were met with vague answers. “They told me it was about saving Ohio’s jobs, and when you asked more, they would just defer

and not give details,” said first-year Amitoj Kaur. When asked, the independent contractors only seemed to know the basics of the campaign. Riveros said they were trying to raise awareness in the Ohio community to prevent foreign ownership of the energy grid. Ohioans for Energy Security created this narrative through a series of ads about Ohio’s failing energy plants being sold to Chinese companies if HB6 fails after the referendum, according to Energy News. Ohioans for Energy Security isn’t breaking any laws by having their contractors petition, as they are staying on the city-owned sidewalks. But some students are still concerned. “I’m annoyed by them,” said Jackowski. “I don’t have time to listen to whatever they want me to sign for, so when I see them, I’m worried about what I need to say so I can keep walking.” joneske6@miamioh.edu

A little dribble of Crete, Greece at the Oxford Farmers Market

EVIE SEMERTZIDES WAS BORN IN GREECE, WHERE HER FAMILY OWNS AN ORCHARD OF OLIVE TREES. STAFF WRITER CAROLINE HAUBENSTRICKER

“Being a part of the local enviroment really is key because vendors and custoers can then build connections and celebrate the efforts that go into carefully cultivated products that are good for the community.” - Sophie Thompson of the Sermerzides family to aid in the process of making the oil. Through Kofinas, Semertzides is able to go home to Crete once a year in the winter for a few months to spend time with her mom and press the olive oil. Semertzides spends those few months in Crete making olive oil with her family to then come back to Cincinnati to sell it. Selmertzides began selling in Oxford because she was told by a friend that the Oxford Farmers Market has a lot of foot traffic. Junior Sophie Thompson visits

the Oxford Farmers Market frequently and believes that the market is about high quality products grown or made by the local community. “Evie Semertzides really embodies what the market stands for because she creates something unique for the people of Oxford to enjoy,” Thompson said. “Being a part of the local environment really is key because vendors and customers can then build connections and celebrate the efforts that go into carefully cultivated products that are good for the community.” Semertzides also sells Kofinas at

Findlay Market in downtown Cincinnati. Kofinas offers infused olive oils, balsamic vinegars, Cretan mountain thyme honey, artisanal sea salts and spice mixes. Semertzides’ favorite olive oil is her chipotle infused flavor. You can find all Semertzides’ product on Kofinas’ website. To stay environmentally sustainable, Kofinas gives credit to customers for bringing empty bottles. Customers receive $1 off their next purchase if they bring back an empty bottle. “I [sell my olive oil at the Oxford Farmers Market] because I love olive oil,” Semertzides said about her business. “It’s an excellent product that everybody likes.” @haubenstrickerc haubence@miamioh.edu

Deans of FSB and CEC stepping down ABBY BAMMERLIN

THE MIAMI STUDENT At the end of the school year, Dean of the College of Engineering and Computing (CEC), Marek Dollar, and Dean of the Farmer School of Business (FSB), Marc Rubin, will be stepping down from their positions. Dollar will remain in a teaching role, but Rubin will retire from Miami University. Dollar has been dean of the CEC for 20 years. Before his time at Miami, he served as chair of the Department of Mechanical, Materials and Aerospace Engineering at the Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago. “I am already among the longest-serving deans in the history of Miami University,” Dollar wrote in an email to The Miami Student. “And, after a careful analysis, I came to the conclusion that the time has come for me to change the trajectory of my career by moving back to where I came from, meaning refocusing on teaching and research.” The search committee for a new CEC dean, headed by Dean of Miami Regionals Catherine Bishop-Clark, just began looking for candidates. Bishop-Clark said the committee hopes to pick prospects by December to interview in mid-January. Three to four of those candidates will then be brought to campus in late January or early February for more interviews. “It’s going to be a difficult search because the current dean has been in the position for 20 years,” Bishop-Clark said. “He’s done a very excellent job, and he’s very well respected at the university and inside the college.” Meanwhile, Rubin, a Miami alumni, has been a part of the faculty since 1990 when he worked as an assistant professor of accounting. He was promoted to professor in 1997. In 2017, Rubin, then the chair of the accounting department, was asked to take over as interim dean. In January 2018, he was appointed as dean. “I said, ‘I’m not a candidate for the permanency job,’” Rubin explained. “[The search committee] did search for a permanent dean, but they didn’t find a match that they liked.” When Matthew Myers, Rubin’s predecessor, stepped down, dean of the College of Arts and Science Christopher Makaroff was made head of the search committee to find a replacement. “When all was said and done, none of the candidates was determined to be acceptable,” Markaoff wrote in an email to The Student. “In consultation with the president, the Provost closed the search.” Rubin was asked to stay with Miami in the role of dean. He agreed, but he would only stay on until his retirement in 2020. Rubin said that being dean was never something he planned. But, he said the experience has been “terrific.” “It’s been a real honor and privilege for me to serve back to my alma mater,” Rubin said. “It’s been honestly a real privilege to do this.” While Rubin said he has no definite plans for his retirement, he has been approached about teaching and consulting jobs. For at least the first year of retirement, though, Rubin said he’d like to spend more time with his family. “I wanted to be closer to family,” Rubin said. “I have my daughter and her family up in Chicago, and my son and his wife are in Washington, DC, and I don’t get to see enough of them.” Dollar and Rubin both said they hope their respective successors are strategic planners. “In my mind, Miami should attract a new dean who would lead, rather than manage our college,” Dollar wrote. “I would see in this role an individual who would be trusted and respected both within the college and at the university.” bammeraj@miamioh.edu

“In my mind, Miami should attract a new dean who would lead, rather than manage our college.” - Marek Dollar

6 CULTURE

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2019

ENCOUNTERS

HEADLEDD@MIAMIOH.EDU

HUMANS OF OXFORD

Small town blues

Oxford man performs on the street to survive BO BRUECK

DUARD HEADLEY CULTURE EDITOR

ASST. PHOTO EDITOR

Climbing out of his mother’s car, Matt felt like he was stepping onto hallowed ground. The grass of the quad stretched out before him, and he could almost imagine the person who would someday become his father walking hand-in-hand through the space with the girl who would become his mother. Across campus, he could see the buildings and grounds his grandfather had talked so lovingly about. Starting his first year at Miami, Matt was stepping into tradition. A third-generation Miamian, he felt he was entering the annals of his family history. His father loved this place. His mother did, too. His grandfather couldn’t stop talking about it. Matt hated Miami. He couldn’t stand the small-town feel of Oxford and the cornfields that surround the town for miles on all sides. His classes felt small and stifling. The wide-open fields and uniform brick buildings seemed like they were “copied and pasted” side-by-side. Matt would give anything to escape back to the city — back to Cleveland, where he grew up. “I miss feeling like I was in the middle of something alive,” Matt said. “Cleveland felt alive.” In contrast, Oxford feels cold and stale. Standing alone on Cook Field one night, Matt found himself staring up at the expansive sky. He found himself at an impasse. He wanted out. He wanted to leave Oxford, to surround himself with tall buildings and the sounds of a bustling city and forget this isolated place had ever existed. But it isn’t that easy. “I don’t want to disappoint my family,” Matt said. “They all love this place so much. But I can’t help it. I really don’t like it here.” So for now, Matt will make do. He’ll surround himself with friends, pretend the redbrick buildings are skyscrapers, that the broad roads are narrow city streets and get through it. “It’s only four years,” Matt said. “In four years, Cleveland will still be there. I can make it until then.”

Plop. Ching. Coins tumble into John Flinders’ open guitar case. Two quarters this time — not bad. Flinders is in his late 40s and has been playing his guitar on High Street for four years. His guitar is battered and his clothes are torn and grey. A too-small zip-up hoodie stretches around his broad shoulders. The shredded tassels of his too-long jeans dangle around his old work boots. His face is tanned and weathered like that of a sailor, with sparse grey stubble poking out of his chin and cheeks. His deep-set eyes are difficult to find, yet welcoming and warm. He sits on High Street, Oxford’s busiest pedestrian area, and strums for the Miami students walking by. He’ll play the hits like “Take Me Home, Country Roads” that he hears echoing out of bars, but he writes his own songs too. The latest Flinders record reminisces about a woman he saw strolling past last week. She dropped him a dollar and flashed him a smile, and he was in love. (At least for the sake of the song, anyway). He writes songs like this all the time: recounting the random interactions he sees Uptown or things he sees on the drive home. Songwriting helps take his mind off the harsh reality that he’s not driving back to a home, but to a parking spot in front of a motel with a crushed beer can in the middle of it. Flinders lives in his car. “I wasn’t always homeless, obviously,” he says, looking down at his sparsely filled guitar case. “I actually had a pretty

headledd@miamioh.edu

decent place before I lost my job.” Flinders used to be a carpenter. “Still can be,” he’ll tell you. “Just lost the title, not the skill,” he laughs. “Yeah, I was a little drunk one day and cut my finger pretty bad. Boss didn’t like that much.” He flips his hands over in front of him to check which one again. Old cuts and nicks are a testament to his working days. They match his newer guitar string calluses well. He traces the thin white line wrapping nearly all the way around the middle of his left index finger. “That’s the one,” he says. “Not too pretty.” The Butler County native has been homeless for seven years now. In the beginning, he packed as many belongings into his car as he could. He stuffed the backseat with clothes and bedding and photos and keepsakes and food, only to realize he had nowhere to sleep. “I always told myself I’d need it, you know, in case of this or that, or for when I find a new place,” he said. “But it’s pretty tough to pay rent without a job.” Those were bad nights. Constantly shifting in the seat and not getting any sleep. Light from passing cars shining

into his eyes. Waking up too fast and whacking his head on the door. Eventually, he donated his things to Salvation Army and moved into the back seat. “That Salvation Army is actually where I got this,” he says, patting his beat-up acoustic guitar. He started performing on High Street not too long after, thinking he could earn some money for food and laundry that way. “I don’t make much, but it keeps me fed for the most part,” he said. Tonight, he’s playing an original song in front of the U-Shop, a liquor store. Students stream steadily by on their way to bars and restaurants; a few glance his way. It’s been a slow night for tips. He plays on, tapping his scuffed-up steel-toe on the concrete. An older man comes out of the liquor store and fumbles with his wallet. He drops a dollar into the guitar case and tells Flinders to have a good night. A smile creases Flinders’ tired face. It is a good night. brueckro@miamioh.edu

“Songwriting helps take his mind off the harsh reality that he’s not driving back to a home, but to a parking spot in front of a motel.”

Three dimensions, six sides, SAM CIOFFI

THE MIAMI STUDENT If it wasn’t for junior Oliver Miller, MU Cubed wouldn’t exist. Not only is Miller the president and founder of the organization, he’s also the president of the university’s League of Geeks. Miami University’s Cubing Association provides an outlet for any student with a love for solving Rubik’s cubes, or anyone wanting to learn without having to peel the stickers off. Miller started the organization two years ago when he was a first-year. Arriving on campus, he noticed there wasn’t a club that catered to people interested in solving Rubik’s cubes and similar types of puzzles. After going through the process of finding an advisor and drafting a constitution, MU Cubed came to life. Today, a consistent group of about 10 to 15 people attend the weekly Thursday meetings. Most of the attending students are either completely new to “cubing,” or mostly new to the hobby and looking to become more experienced. Miller welcomes the new members with open arms. “We’re more about teaching than coming in and trying to race somebody and show that you’re better than them,” Miller said. A typical meeting usually lasts two hours. MU Cubed provides members with all of the puzzles it has in their collection, which ranges from 125 to 150 puzzles. These include intricate versions of Rubik’s cubes, such as puzzles called “kilominx” and “pyraminx.” Similar to Rubik’s cubes, the goal of the puzzles is to get the object back to its original shape. The majority of the meeting time is spent trying to solve various puzzles, with certain members teaching techniques and tricks to successfully solve them. Some participate in races with one another to see who can solve a certain puzzle the fastest.

Occasionally, members spend time peeling the stickers off the cubes. In a process called “sticker modification,” new stickers are placed on a certain cube in order to change the overall makeup of the puzzle. In an effort to devote more time to the creative process behind solving cubes, the organization purchased a 3D printer to produce unique puzzles. While these aren’t made at the meetings, members are given the opportunity to try their hand at solving them. Juniors Corey Eisenberger and Katie Lueckel come to every weekly meeting to try their hand at mastering the cubes. Both members have been a part of the organization since their first year and hold officer positions within MU Cubed. Eisenberger serves as the treasurer and Lueckel as secretary. Miller recruited them to join their first year and even taught Eisenberger how to solve a Rubik’s cube. “I didn’t know if [the organization] was gonna work at first, honestly,” Eisenberger said, “To start out, it was just our friend group.” However, once the club became official and began to receive funding, momentum picked up. At this year’s SEAL Awards, the organization won “Outstanding New Student Organization.” Although the majority of the original members still remain on the executive board today, MU Cubed is branching out, even selecting a first-year as their new vice president. The executive board will most likely hold their positions through the end of the year, but they’re currently trying to find other members to take their place. Eisenberger and Lueckel say they’ll continue to come to the meetings until they graduate. “I couldn’t imagine not going to cubing club,” Lueckel said. cioffism@miamioh.edu

infinite possibilities

MU CUBED OFFERS HUNDREDS OF PUZZLES FOR STUDENTS TO SOLVE, WITH MORE CREATED EVERY DAY. CONTRIBUTED BY MU CUBED.

CULTURE 7

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2019

DATTILEC@MIAMIOH.EDU

The Italian and film studies departments make you an offer you can’t refuse

LEANNE STAHULAK THE MIAMI STUDENT

Whispered conversations peter out as the lights dim. Fifty students shift around in their seats, getting comfortable as the screen at the front of Irvin 040 displays an allblack image. Silence descends as a single voice rings out from the room’s hidden speakers. “You don’t make up for these sins in the church. You do it in the streets. You do it at home. The rest is bullshit, and you know it.” Director Martin Scorsese’s voice opens his 1973 film “Mean Streets.” This American crime thriller is only one of the 11 Mafia-related films that students will watch over the course of the semester in FST/ITL 350: Mafia and Cinema. “YOU DON’T MAKE UP FOR THESE SINS IN THE CHURCH. YOU DO IT IN THE STREETS. “ THE MIAMI STUDENT LEANNE STAHULAK.

A combination of Italian history and film analysis, the course traces the origins of the Mafia from its southern Italian roots to its eventual arrival in the U.S. The beginning of the semester provides historical context for the organization before diving into Hollywood’s glorified portrayal of the Mafia’s activities. The Italian and Film Studies departments have offered this class for more than three years, since associate professor and coordinator of the Italian department Andrea Righi started at Miami in 2015. The course counts toward both Italian and Film Studies major requirements, but Righi emphasized that it could also work as a Humanities course for the Miami Plan or as a part of a Thematic Sequence. “It’s really open to students from all backgrounds,” Righi said. “That’s why we do, at the beginning, a little bit of study of film analysis terminology. They want to learn how to inspect a film, which is usually something we just get absorbed into.” Several students came into the course having already seen one of the most famous Mafia movies of all time: “The Godfather.” But when they watched it for the class, many students, like senior Italian and psychology double major Julia Battocletti, noticed more cinematic elements to the film and appreciated it through a new perspective. “I want to be able to look at films and think, ‘Well, maybe that’s not exactly the message they’re trying to give.’ So, looking at films more openly than I used to,” Battocletti said. “With ‘The Godfather,’ [I liked] just rewatching it for, like, the seventeenth time but still loving every moment of it and looking at it through a different film lens.” To help students reevaluate these films, Righi splits the class into groups of four or five, and each group will make a PowerPoint presentation with questions and observations about their assigned film. A different group will present each class period and initiate discussion about the historical and visual com-

ponents of various scenes. “In order to produce a judgement, you need to consider it as a work of art,” Righi said. “And a work of art wants you to slow down the pace, pay attention to the details and then be creative with it, because a lot more interpretation, more meaning comes out of this slowing down of the pace.” Already, students are starting to pick up on some of the major themes that categorize Mafia films. Sophomore psychology major and Italian minor Elizabeth Short recognizes that some of the “greatest” Mafia movies don’t always spread the best messages. “The films really romanticize the crime,” Short said. “It’s like, the hero we’re supposed to be rooting for isn’t really a good guy, but we still root for him anyway for some reason?” In senior finance major Jonathan Tetrick’s mind, the themes from most Mafia movies build off previous films. “[It’s interesting] seeing how Mafia movies have impacted one another, and how they’ve learned from one another,” Tetrick said. “So, seeing how something from as early as ‘The Leopard,’ which was made a long time ago, and then seeing how that impacted ‘The Godfather,’ and then seeing how that’s impacted movies that are coming out nowadays.” Students will have to analyze all of these major themes in a videographic essay at the end of the semester. Righi hopes they take away several tricks and tips for studying films by the end of the course, but he also hopes that they appreciate the impact of the Mafia on Italian and American culture. Especially through pop culture, he points out, the Mafia continues to influence us today. “I asked them, ‘Why are you so interested in the Mafia?’ And one girl had an interesting answer: ‘Because it’s about family,’” Righi said. “It’s about families in the film, but it’s also about family in the way they watch it. These are films that families watch together. So for them, it’s like going back to their families.” stahullc@miamioh.edu

OUT OF THE CLOSET ON MIAMI’S CAMPUS RACHEL BERRY NEWS EDITOR

Senior Viengsamai Fetters was walking home one night last year when someone shouted a homophobic slur at them from a car window. Fetters had just left a pride panel, where members of Spectrum, a LGBT-centric student organization, visit classrooms to answer questions about what it’s like being queer at Miami University. The students seemed engaged in the discussion, and Fetters felt good about how it had gone. As they were walking home, though, someone leaned out the window of a truck and shouted “f*****” at Fetters. Experiences like this are all too common on Miami’s campus. Grad student Darryn Edwards said he has homophobic slurs shouted at him at least once a month. People have thrown drinks on his boyfriend in bars. Fetters can’t use the bathroom, men’s or women’s, without people saying something. Senior Lauren Miles has been sexually harassed for being queer. She’s afraid to walk through the Farmer School of Business because she stands out as different. For many LGBT students, sideways glances are all-too-common. Students mentioned a disparity between humanities courses and the rest of the university. Miles is a creative writing and literature major with a theatre minor and always feels accepted within those spaces. It’s when she ventures into other parts of campus or has courses outside her major that she feels alienated. “I think part of the problem is Miami’s culture as a student body, which is something that is really difficult to change,” Fetters said. As the president of Spectrum, Fetters is among those involved in activism and trying to make the campus more accepting. “Most of the work that is done to combat transphobia and homophobia is done by student organizations,” Edwards said. “It doesn’t really feel like the university has our back.” Despite the flaws, though, Miami has come a long way. In 2018, Affordable College Online ranked the university 47th most accepting of LGBT students. The survey talked to 10,000 students from universities across the country

AS A STEP TOWARD LGBT ACCEPTANCE, MIAMI AND SPECTRUM WORK TO CELEBRATE OUT WEEK ON CAMPUS. ASST. PHOTO EDITOR BO BRUECK

and ranked 69 schools. The rankings were based on the unviersity’s LGBT services, scholarships for queer students, safezone training and gender inclusive housing, according to an article by Miami’s Office of News and Communications. Miami also recently instituted a diversity training module, which all first-year students are required to take. Hannah Thompson, associate director of LGBTQ+ services, works

although she said other staff members in the office collaborate on projects. She coordinates policy changes and is currently trying to make gender-inclusive housing more widespread to give students more options. Currently, the university has an LGBT-focused LLC — love, honor, pride — and students outside the LLC can work with the Office of Residence Life to arrange housing within their gender identity.

“I think part of the problem is Miami’s culture as a student body, which is something that is really difficult to change.”

-Viengsamai Fetters

with programming, activities, support and advocacy for queer students. She is the only one in the office focused on LGBT initiatives,

Thompson said another issue particularly facing transgender students is the preferred name policy. While Miami will work with stu-

dents to make sure they show up in the system with their preferred name, the systems aren’t connected, and sometimes the name isn’t changed across the board. She said the acceptance of and resources for LGBT students has changed dramatically in recent years. “We still have a long way to go, but in terms of progress, especially on this campus, I think we’ve made large strides,” Thompson said. The university is integrating queer identities into areas of programming outside of just the Center for Student Diversity and Inclusion (CSDI) by bringing people like Laverne Cox and Nina West to campus. Thompson’s goal is for students to see people like them and to have a place, like the CSDI, where they feel like they belong. The process of finding that place looks different for different people. Junior Priyana Kalita is an international student from India. She identifies as pansexual but spent most of high school hiding her identity because of the culture in her home country. “Miami is kind of known for be-

ing unsafe for LGBTQ+ students, but when I came here it was a very safe place for me,” she said. Kalita said while Miami isn’t perfect, as she has had people make fun of her for her sexuality, she generally feels accepted here. “My friends and people I hang around with, most of them are fine with me,” she said. “I just hang out with people that actually listen to me.” Many students like Kalita have found a community — whether that be through Spectrum, their major or the CSDI. They surround themselves with others like them and those who accept them for who they are. “I’ve found a family here,” Miles said. “It still has been a home, and things certainly need to be reevaluated, but I’m not sure that’s a journey I’ll get to see.” Spectrum is currently celebrating Out Week and has activities Monday through Friday. Follow their social media for more information. @racheldberry berryrd@miamioh.edu

8 DATA

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2019

FORTUNP2@MIAMIOH.EDU

MIAMI METRICS

Visualizing the Class of 2023

DATA DESIGNER CHI NGUYEN

Five counties make up large portion of first-year class MAGGIE ANGEVINE STAFF WRITER

Over a fourth of Miami University’s most diverse class yet comes from the same five Midwestern counties. Cuyahoga County sent Miami 322 freshmen this year, followed by 287 from Hamilton, 262 from Franklin, 234 from Butler and 170 from Cook County in Illinois, as of the 15th day of the fall semester. Not one of those counties is farther than five hours away from the heart of Miami’s Oxford campus. Each of these counties is primarily white with an average yearly income that puts them securely in the middle class, ac-

cording to the United States Census. Director of Admissions Bethany Perkins said the concentration of students from these counties is not intentional but simply a byproduct of the high populations in those areas. The represented counties include large cities like Cleveland, Cincinnati, Columbus and Chicago. There are 88 counties total in the state of Ohio. Miami will attempt to reach each of these counties with the introduction of the Ohio Governor’s Scholarship, an award that will provide a full scholarship to one student from each county in Ohio with the goal of geographic diversification.

PETER FORTUNATO DATA EDITOR

Reporting numbers does not tell the full story. Yes, Miami University’s Class of 2023 set the record for being the largest first-year class in the university’s history. Nearly 4,300 students arrived on campus in August, coming from 43 states and 28 countries, 59 percent of which are Ohio residents. But, these figures are only one part of the larger puzzle in understanding the geographic diversity that describes the first-year class. There are many ways to break down the students who come from these 43 states and 28 countries, but choosing the best visualization for these data is critical for most effectively communicating the story. The above map of the United States, known as a choropleth, succinctly displays data about

In addition to the governor’s scholarship, Miami also has a program called the Miami Access Initiative which provides scholarships based on annual family income. Through this program, 29 percent of students who are Ohio natives will pay less than $5,000 a year in tuition, with 15 percent of those students paying no tuition at all. “We are committed to affordability and diversification,” said Perkins. “We want to send the message that all of Ohio will be included.” @NewellMaggie angevims@miamioh.edu

where domestic first-years are coming from by breaking down data to the county level. The map proportionally measures where each Miami first-year student is coming from using a graduated color scale. An important thing to keep in mind is that visualizing data requires working within various limitations. Miami’s Office of Institutional Research reports counties and countries with fewer than 10 students enrolled as “<10.” This means that a significant amount of data is unable to be presented. While this wasn’t an issue for the county-level data, since there were many counties with more than 10 students, the international student data is a different story. Of the 27 countries from which international first-year students originate, only China, Vietnam, and India have sent 10 or more of their high school graduates to Miami.

International Students by Country of Origin

= 79

= 55

= 13

DISTRIBUTION BY DIVISION Besides choosing the appropriate visual to communicate data, it is also important to design data visuals that relate to the information that is being presented. Mona Chalabi, data editor for the Guardian US, promotes the idea of mar-

500

1000

< 10*

per country

(*) Per the OIR policy, if there are fewer than ten students coming from a particular geographical unit, it shall be reported as such.

rying the subject matter to its data visualization. A scroll through her Instagram feed offers an unique approach to designing data and communicating its message. The Distribution by Division graphic employs this idea. Each bar

1500

is composed of an image that represents a core component of each division. It’s supposed to capture the viewer’s attention more so than a conventional and stale bar graph. The Class of 2023 is Miami’s largest ever, but seeing the underlying data portrays a more interesting story than just knowing a couple of numbers attempting to describe it all.

DATA DESIGNER CHI NGUYEN2000

Travel

DOYLECA3@MIAMIOH.EDU

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2019

BEANS, BEARS, BEWILDERING IMPROV Sketched Out takes Chicago DUARD HEADLEY CULTURE EDITOR

This fall break I got to live out everyone’s wildest dream: I piled into a large, white van with nine other college comedians and drove through some of America’s flattest, most corn-infested farmlands. That’s right, Sketched Out Improv was headed to Chicago. Every year, my improv team takes a trip to the Midwest’s largest city to take in the sights, see some professional ‘prov and get to know each other a little better. This was my first time making the journey with the team, and I was looking forward to goofing off in the big city with my friends. After gliding through the great state of Indiana in the late hours of the night, we pulled into Deerfield, Illinois, the Chicago suburb we’d be staying in and using as our base of operations before launching into the city. We collapsed gratefully onto our respective beds and couches before rising the next morning ready to face the day. On Friday we made our first venture into the city. Despite the fact that the cold Chicago rain pelted us from the minute we stepped out the door, we felt it was a good idea to visit the Lincoln Park Zoo. While the soggy weather may have driven some of the animals indoors, it didn’t stop Sketched Out.

Our overcast adventure rewarded us with glimpses of a pair of zebras, a damp polar bear and a gaggle of enthusiastic macaques, among others. Leaving Lincoln Park in our wake, we delved deeper into the city. Next on the agenda was an improv workshop aimed at bolstering our team’s knowledge of the craft. Although the class was located in what appeared to be an abandoned storefront, complete with rusty chairs and a thick layer of dust, we had a blast. Suffice it to say we’ve got a few new tricks up our sleeves for our next show. Rounding out our Friday experience was dinner at Giordano’s pizza — a Chicago staple, complete with a deep dish crust and copious layers of cheese — and an improv show at The Annoyance theater. Chicago is considered by many to be the Mecca for improv. Theaters like Second City and iO offer some of the highest caliber improvised comedy the world has to offer. While the show at The Annoyance was good, it was nothing compared to the performance we were treated to the following night. After a busy Saturday filled with thrift shopping and photos at Chicago’s famous Cloud Gate sculpture, also known as The Bean, we found ourselves at iO. Over the years, the theater has played host to a comprehensive cast of now-famous names. Tina Fey, Amy Pohler, Stephen Colbert and Mike

DESPITE BEING SURROUNDED BY WORLD-CLASS IMPROV, SKETCHED OUT WAS AS GOOFY AS EVER. HUMOR EDITOR-AT LARGE MICHAEL SERIO

Meyers all number the theater’s wellknown alumni. Passion and talent seep from every pore of iO’s foundation, and it makes for some amazing performances. We were there to see two shows: the Deltones — a group that specializes in musical improv — and Improvised Shakespeare — an improv performance presented almost entirely in the structure and language of William Shakespeare. The Deltones were truly impressive. The fact that they could come up with scenes and dialogue set to music

Outside Oxford

ERIN GLYNN

Eat your heart out, Eden Park. Sawyer Point is indubitably the most beautiful place to connect with nature while in Cincinnati. Just an hour out from Oxford, the park is the perfect place for a weekend day-trip. It was created in 1988 to celebrate the city’s bicentennial and conserve the riverfront. Since then, it’s been the site for the traveling Tall Stacks steamboat celebration, the Labor Day ﬁreworks show and the Bunbury music festival. You can take your time walking the trail right along the Ohio River, and watch riverboats pass under the Daniel Carter Beard bridge. You can glance at the geologic time markers below your feet, where each block encompasses one million years. Or check out the art — like most Cin-

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because I could have watched it for hours more. Bewildered and exhausted after the show ended, we collapsed onto the subway and made our way back to our accommodations. After another night on the couch, I rose, bid Chicago and its improv goodbye, and settled in for what would be another ﬁve-hour van ride across Indiana and back to Oxford. Next year’s trip has some big shoes to ﬁll. headledd@miamioh.edu

A trip to the woods

Riverwatching at Sawyer Point

NEWS EDITOR

they’d never heard before amazed me. But the performers of Improvised Shakespeare blew me away. Over the course of an hour or so, they built an entire comedic play from the ground up. They received a single suggestion — “why do I smell?” — and created a six scene narrative featuring a pair of star-crossed lovers, an ambitious Venetian duke, ﬁve separate ghosts and 37 squirrels. Not a single plot line was dropped, and every scene ﬂowed seamlessly into the next. I found myself pleasantly surprised when the show ended,

JUGAL JAIN

PHOTO EDITOR

cinnati landmarks, Sawyer Point is home to a few flying pig statues. Unlike the rest of the city, it also boasts a giant bronze statue of Cincinnatus. If you geek out over Ohio history, you can admire the National Steamboat Monument, a replica of the giant paddlewheel from the famous riverboat American Queen. Recordings of old music and voices describing the river in another time play as you walk around it. The best part of the park, however, is the Serpentine Wall, a curvy flood wall meant to temporarily restrain the river should it overflow its banks. When the river isn’t flooded, it’s the perfect place to sit and admire the view of Northern Kentucky and enjoy escaping Oxford for the afternoon. @ee_glynn glynnee@miamioh.edu

Staycation

Traveling down memory lane SAMANTHA BRUNN EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

I dropped my backpack and sank into the couch on Thursday afternoon, home from class with the entirety of my fall break stretched before me. “You look like you’ve become one with the couch,” my housemate, Ceili, said. “I’ve only been here for like ﬁve minutes, max,” I said. “Let me enjoy this.” And thus, our weekend of submitting applications and getting our lives together began. But, it was more than just a chance to catch up on each of our never-ending mountains of obligations. It was also an opportune time to travel down memory lane. I spent Friday morning cleaning the house as Ceili slept, and I thought back to sophomore year in Stoddard Hall. So many mornings I spent quietly tidying the room we shared before going oﬀ to classes. She’d tease me about how nice my bed always

looked — neatly made each morning, pillows in all the right places. Somewhere along the way, I lost my knack for keeping things perfectly straightened. Nowadays, you’re more likely to ﬁnd my room in disarray, clothing and belongings dropped in a trail as I run from one obligation to the next. “It sounds like you’ve been running for a long time,” my therapist said later that day. “What does it feel like to sit still with your thoughts?” I had to think on that for a moment. Then, I said, “For a while, it felt like the walls were closing in on me, but I think the path is slowly widening again.” Afterward, I drove to the Kenwood Mall to return purchases I’d had in the trunk of my car for months in an “I’ll get to it eventually” pile. I remembered all of the times I’d do the same thing freshman year, when I had all the time in the world to make the nearly two hour round-trip excursion. Back before this newspaper became a full-time job, before the 15 law school applications sat waiting to be

filled out. I decided to take my time, leisurely walking through the thickets of families with little kids toddling around, a group of middle-school aged girls gushing about some drama that shone brightly on a phone screen passed around the circle. I bought an olive-green sweater. My mom always said I looked best in blues and greens. I thought of her as I pulled it over my head in the dressing room, and proceeded to wear it for the rest of the weekend after I shook it from it’s tissue paper wrapping and washed it in the Gain detergent scent she picked for me three years ago when I moved into my freshman dorm. I wore it to the Oxford Farmer’s Market on Saturday morning, where I ordered my requisite cinnamon roll and loaded havarti and egg sandwich. I sat at a picnic table in Uptown park and remembered the weekend I spent with my parents sophomore year, where we ate the same meal and they made sure I got a flu shot at the wellness tent at the market. I mentally made a note to get a flu shot this weekend as I watched a little boy in a stocking hat run between the animal

statues in the park, stopping to jump on each one. I sat in the kitchen Saturday night, an intermission between Beat and the rest of the evening, as Ceili made us a frozen pizza and moscow mules. “Remember when this was the only drink I’d ever order?” I asked. Ceili laughed. She remembers most things about the last few years better than I do. “You need, like, a GoPro attached to your head, so I don’t have to remember shit for you,” she joked as I wrote this piece. After my mom died my sophomore year, my memory got hazy, like what once was a crystal clear magnifying glass was inverted and fogged. My therapist said that’s what happens when you grieve. But, slowly, the memories come back. I ran my ﬁngers up and down the copper mug Ceili handed me and hoped that every weekend spent in Oxford will help bring it all back, just like this one. @samantha_brunn brunnsj@miamioh.edu

Sports

VINELCA@MIAMIOH.EDU

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2019

PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT FOR THE SPECIAL TEAMERS

SENIOR KICKER SAM SLOMAN KICKS A FIELD GOAL AGAINST THE CINCINNATI BEARCATS ON SEPT. 14 (LEFT). REDSHIRT SENIOR KYLE KRAMER BARELY GETS OFF A PUNT AGAINST OHIO STATE ON SEPT. 21 (RIGHT). THE MIAMI STUDENT ZACH REICHMAN, JUGAL JAIN

ZACH GOETSCH

THE MIAMI STUDENT Lining up for a 53-yard field goal, Sam Sloman didn’t have much confidence that the ball would soar between the uprights against the University at Buffalo on Saturday, Sept. 28. The ball, however, did go through the posts, and the senior kicker etched his name into Miami University’s record books for the third-longest made field goal in the school’s football history. “It felt really cool,” Sloman said. “To be honest, I didn’t think it was a very good kick, and I thought it was going to miss, but then it went

through, and I turned to Kyle [Kramer] and gave him a high-five.” At first glance, it’s easy to assume Sloman and the special teams unit doesn’t work as much as everyone else on the RedHawks football team. At the start of practice, they warm up with the entire team but soon split into their own group, where they stand cracking jokes and waiting for their next drill. Redshirt senior Kyle Kramer and the rest of the punters then take some reps before the entire special teams unit goes indoors to practice more kicking. “We are different [than many other positions] but not as much as you’d think,” Kramer said. “We have specific jobs, but we aren’t just doing

Andy Greene:

‘Not much has changed here.’ PATRICK GESHAN

THE MIAMI STUDENT When he got the call saying he was an inductee into the Miami Athletics Hall of Fame, current New Jersey Devils captain Andy Greene felt an instant sense of gratification. “When you’re playing, it’s not something you’re thinking of as a goal,” he said. But fans of Miami University’s program knew Greene was destined for greatness during his time here. Ending his collegiate career in Oxford with two straight 30-point seasons, Greene was just the fourth defenseman in program history to eclipse the 100-point mark. In his senior season, Greene was a national finalist for the Hobey Baker Award, given to college hockey’s best player. The defenseman, who signed with the New Jersey Devils as an undrafted free agent just after graduating in 2006, said not much has changed at Miami since he left. But that’s a good thing, he said. “The last time I was here was during last summer, and before that, probably three years ago,” he said. “This place looks exactly the same. Obviously, there’s a new ice arena now and Armstrong and all that. But when you look at the uniqueness of this place, that will never change.” Although campus might look different now than it did in 2006, Greene admits the integrity of the campus has stayed the same, which he attributes to the people who attended Miami, on and off the ice, before and after him. “It’s a unique bubble,” he said. “The history of the university and how they do things here is what keeps it the same. I made lifelong friends on the hockey team here. I met my wife here. When I come back, I still make friends here.” For Greene on Hall of Fame weekend, it was about enjoying a place that has such a special place in his heart. “I’m so honored,” he said. “To be part of a special class of people in a place with such a rich history of athletics, it means a lot.” @real_PattyG geshanp@miamioh.edu

nothing. Coach keeps us in action, and we only wait for around 20 minutes.” Sloman agreed and added that, as special teams, they have their own unique position. Their job is a lot different than any other. “We are responsible for that job, and we are vital to the success of the team,” Sloman said. Both Sloman and Kramer started their kicking careers in completely different positions. Sloman transitioned his strong leg from kicking soccer balls to footballs. Kramer switched from quarterback to punter as a way to see the field after his playing time diminished in his latter high school years. Both carry their

enthusiasm for games to the practice field. “I like to stick to an almost perfect routine before games,” Kramer said. “I always punt at least one ball before I go onto the field for some confidence and keep good contact with the ball. I’ll talk to my long snapper to help get into it, too.” Sloman echoed the importance of staying focused in both practice and games. “I like to keep the same procedure as practice,” Sloman said. “I’ll kick a couple balls into the net for motivation.” The seriousness and focus that these two bring into practices and games often pays off.

With the team clinging to its 34-20 lead over Buffalo late into the fourth quarter, Kramer came onto the field for a punt from inside Miami territory. He needed a good kick to prevent Buffalo from having prime real estate to begin its drive, threatening a one-score game. But Kramer’s practice paid off. He booted a high drive that landed within the 20-yard line and died inside the Bulls’ 8. Kramer turned to his excited teammates along the Miami sideline, meeting tem as he celebrated off the field. @zach_goetsch goetscza@miamioh.edu

HOCKEY YOUNGSTERS OWN SATURDAY BUT CAN’T CLAIM DUB CHRIS VINEL

SPORTS EDITOR Youth is both a blessing and a curse, and Miami hockey is finding that out early this season. The RedHawks gave heavy minutes to their six freshmen in Saturday’s 4-4 tie against New Hampshire. After blowing many chances in its offensive zone, Miami fell behind 3-0 before firing off four straight goals to take the lead. The Wildcats knotted the score late in the third period, and neither team broke through in the remainder of regulation or overtime. Ben Kraws started in the net and watched his fellow first-years score or assist on all four of Miami’s goals. Forward John Sladic starred in the second and third periods, scoring both the equalizer and the go-ahead goal within 91 seconds of game time. The two scores were the first of his career. Forward Chase Pletzke also notched his first career goal, putting Miami on the board for the first time Saturday. Bergeron credited Pletzke’s shot as the moment that spurred Miami’s 4-0 run. Aside from those two, defenseman Jack Clement tallied two assists, while defenseman Alec Capstick added another. The only freshman besides the goaltender Kraws not to score a point was forward Ryan Savage, who’s the highly-touted son of a former National Hockey League player. “I thought they did really well,” head coach Chris Bergeron said. “We’re not here to excuse those six guys in terms of responsibility and what they have and what they bring every day. It was nice to see them contribute, because we can’t

rely on Gordie Green or Karch [Bachman] or [Casey] Gilling every night.” At the postgame press conference, Sladic allowed a brief smile to creep across his face, but it quickly disappeared when talking about the night’s problem. His team didn’t win and hasn’t yet this season. “That felt good,” Sladic said about the goals, “but we didn’t get the result we wanted. Obviously, scoring my first couple goals is good, but we still didn’t get the win.” Kraws replaced senior goaltender Ryan Larkin in the third period on Friday night and surrendered one goal. He allowed four on Saturday but made 21 saves. “A little shaky at times,” Bergeron said about Kraws performance. “Now, it’s behind him. You only get your first career start once, and now it’s behind him. Hopefully, he can learn from it and move on.” Bergeron knows the program’s rebuild is a process. He’s been saying as much since his introductory press conference in April. He’s playing his freshman, which leads to flashes of brilliance like Sladic’s goals and stretches of shakiness like Kraws’ first start. It doesn’t often lead to victories, but it does create a new energy around the team. “Tonight, to me, felt totally different,” Bergeron said. “Unfortunately, the scoreboard [deficit] was something we’re not going to get used to, but that we’ve faced already in this early season. But I thought our guys were playing exactly the way we wanted to play.” @ChrisAVinel vinelca@miamioh.edu

“Tonight, to me, felt totally different.” -Chris Bergeron FRESHMAN GOALTENDER BEN KRAWS MAKES A SAVE IN HIS FIRST CAREER START AGAINST NEW HAMPSHIRE SATURDAY (TOP). SOPHOMORE FORWARD SCOTT CORBETT LOOKS TO ATTACK THE NET (BOTTOM). THE MIAMI STUDENT MACY WHITAKER

VINELCA@MIAMIOH.EDU

CHRIS VINEL

SPORTS EDITOR The Miami RedHawks won’t all be wearing red on their heads against Northern Illinois this Saturday. For the second straight season, Miami had special colored-ribboned helmets made for its annual cancer-awareness game. Each player’s headgear will feature the team’s traditional “M” logo on the sides, but it will be placed over a ribbon decal of the player’s choice. There are nine different color options that represent different cancers. “It’s a cool idea that the kids get to pick what color they wear based on their own life experiences, based on how cancer’s affected them, and their family, and their friends and their life,” head coach Chuck Martin said. Brett Gabbert will don white, and Bart Baratti will sport purple. Zedrick Raymond will dress in black, and Dominique Robinson will use blue. The most popular colors were pink for breast cancer (43 players) and blue for colon and esophageal cancers (19 players). “There is significance to our kids,” Martin said. “Again, we try to teach them a lot about football. We try to teach them a lot about life. A lot of times, the biggest thing is we try to teach them about is appreciation — appreciation for what you have and appreciation for your opportunities.” Last year, the RedHawks wore similar helmets in a 31-6 win on Oct. 13. They were featured on ESPN’s weekly “Geared Up” segment, showcasing some of the best uniforms from around the nation for that week. Miami will be talked about again this Saturday between 9-11 a.m. “We got some really good exposure for the university, a year ago, with our helmets, because they are a little unique and different,” Martin said. “Not just having the ribbons on the helmets but having the multi-colored ribbons for all the different types of cancer.” Last Thursday, the RedHawks spent the evening in Cincinnati for the Light the Night event, showing support for those with cancer. “It’s a pretty cool deal with what we’re doing with our helmets,” Martin said. “It’s a pretty cool

SPORTS 11

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2019

Football Notebook

SCOREBOARD THURSDAY

SOCCER

Miami ...................................... 0 Akron .......................................2

VOLLEYBALL

Cancer-awareness helmets return for second year REDSHIRT SENIOR WIDE RECEIVER LUKE MAYOCK DONNED A BLUE RIBBON LAST SEASON. THIS YEAR’S VERSION OF THE HELMETS FEATURE THE MIAMI “M” INSTEAD OF THE SCHOOL NAME. ASST. PHOTO EDITOR BO BRUECK

deal the whole league is doing diﬀerent things. We kind of do it year-round here at Miami football, and it’s a pretty awesome deal.” Who is Northern Illinois? The Huskies pulled oﬀ a close upset of the Mid-American-Conference favorite Ohio Bobcats, 39-36, and tied Miami’s 1-1 league record last Saturday. Their 39 points were, by far, the most they’ve scored this season. Redshirt junior running back Tre Harbison has enjoyed back-to-back career weeks, dominating both Ball State and Ohio. He ran for a career-high 146 yards against the Cardinals two weeks ago before rumbling for three touchdowns to replace his previous best last Saturday. He went for more than 100 yards on 16 carries against Miami last season. A newcomer to NIU, senior quarterback Ross

’Hawks Talk “I will play in the NFL one day mark my words!!!” - freshman defensive back Trevon Booker on Twitter

Bowers also posted a season-high against Ohio, throwing for 338 yards. He previously served parts of two seasons as the starting quarterback at Cal. “He’s got a crazy strong arm and a crazy quick release,” Martin said. Defensively, Northern Illinois has allowed 29.3 points per game, but that figure is skewed by two out-of-conference teams, Utah and Nebraska, dropping 35 and 44 on the Huskies in consecutive weeks. Redshirt senior linebacker Antonio Jones-Davis has collected 51 total tackles and two sacks to lead the unit in both categories. “They’re known for defense,” Martin said. “They’ve always had a top, if not the top defense in the league.” Saturday’s kickoff is scheduled for 2:30 p.m., and the game will air on ESPN+. Injury update Unlike most teams at the halfway point of the season, the RedHawks are getting healthier, not more banged-up. Freshman quarterback Brett Gabbert suffered their only notable injury against Western Michigan, and he returned on the RedHawks’ next drive. Barring an unforeseen setback, he’ll play against the Huskies. “Hopefully, it’s the time of year that, even though we’re playing really good opponents, they have a little less size and physicality than some of those guys we played in the non-league schedule,” Martin said. “Even though [last Saturday against Western Michigan] was a really physical game, and it was a knock-down, drag-out for four quarters, we came out of it pretty good. Hopefully, we’ll continue to get healthier and healthier as we move down the stretch.” @ChrisAVinel vinelca@miamioh.edu

Barbara Boxer

Bowling Green........................ 0 Miami .......................................3

FRIDAY

FIELD HOCKEY

Miami .......................................2 Kent State .................................3

HOCKEY

New Hampshire ......................6 Miami .......................................2

VOLLEYBALL

Miami .......................................3 Northern Illinois .....................2

SATURDAY

FOOTBALL

Miami ..................................... 16 Western Michigan.................38

HOCKEY

New Hampshire ..................... 4 Miami ...................................... 4

SUNDAY

FIELD HOCKEY

Virginia ................................... 0 Miami ....................................... 1

SOCCER

North Illinois ........................... 1 Miami ....................................... 1

Scott Walker

The Trump Presidency: Successes and Failures October 16, 2019 6:30 PM

Wilks Theater Armstrong Student Center Reception follows in the Pavilion No Admission Charge — Ticket Required Open to the Public — Limited Seating

MiamiOH.edu/janus #JANUSMiamiOH

Opinion

RIGAZIKM@MIAMIOH.EDU

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2019

STAFF EDITORIAL

If this isn’t the full story, then what is? The following reflects the majority opinion of the editorial board. Earlier this month, 18 former members of Miami University’s Delta Tau Delta (Delts) fraternity were charged on hazing and assault charges. The charges came after an anonymous first-year new member was bludgeoned on his buttocks with a spiked paddle, forced to drink alcohol, smoke weed and subjected to additional physical abuse during a Big/Little Reveal event last spring. After the men were charged, reporters from The Miami Student reached out to members of Miami’s administration, leaders of Miami Greek Life, representatives from Delta Tau Delta’s national headquarters and the 18 individuals who were charged asking them all to comment and share their side of the story. A few individuals gave vague and brief responses, some said they could not comment on the matter, but most did not respond to our reporters at all. At The Student, we believe the Delts hazing incident, the fraternity’s suspension and subsequent criminal charges should be sparking a meaningful conversation about our campus culture. It’s the only way to ensure this does not happen again. In 2017, four pledges at different American universities died in connection to fraternity parties or hazing rituals. That same year, Miami temporarily suspended it’s Interfraternity Council (IFC) chapters to investigate hazing allegations.

The Delts incident is only the sixth time in the state of Ohio’s history that individuals have faced charges for hazing in a court of law. The Delts’ charges were announced the same day that Ohio University announced it was suspending all 15 of its fraternities. Hazing within Greek organizations is a national problem, and current and former members of the Miami community are fac-

“We want to talk to you. We want to hear your story.” ing legal repercussions for it. But our campus community leaders remain largely silent. Our staff understands that individuals may be hesitant to talk with our reporters. For the last several years, we’ve had to fight an anti-Greek reputation because of the actions of editors who have long since graduated. Many people on campus feel like our staff is out to get Greek life at Miami. But that’s not the case, and it’s something we continue to work to prove wrong. Throughout our reporting — from the initial hazing allegations to the criminal

THE COLLEGE COMMANDMENTS

Stained Glass Windows

REBECCA WOLFF

THE MIAMI STUDENT Light shines through the stained glass windows and kisses the walls of the St.Vincent de Paul Church in Petaluma, California. Like luminous lip gloss, it sticks and glistens in adoration. I sat among the molasses brown pews last weekend for the first time since my high school days, when mandatory mass sometimes started the day. Being a non-Catholic in a Catholic high school was an experience that taught me how to skillfully avoid things that made me uncomfortable. Walking through the halls on the first day of freshman year feels awkward enough, but having to walk down the red-carpeted aisle of the church with my arms crossed over my chest to be given a blessing rather than communion in a room full of religious peers — yikes. Since that first day, I held resentment for the church. I’ve recently realized that my resistance to everything to do with this institution was rooted within my own bias and insecurity in my lack of spirituality. While I’m not planning on converting to anything anytime soon, I feel comfortable enough in my own personal spiritual connections to start exploring the concepts. Father William Donahue, who became our school pastor during my senior year of high school, stepped up to the pulpit last Saturday and began to relay the Gospel. After explaining this week’s homily, Luke 18:1-8, Donahue said the real meaning of these words was the power of graciousness. He told the congregation that unforgiveness, self-pity, selfishness, laziness and stinginess all play a role in ingratitude. I sat there between the beautiful marble pillars that held the golden sand walls up,

charges — we have been told there is far more to the story than we have reported. But how can we tell a story no one has told us? Court documents and hearsay are not the full story. We want to give everyone the full picture. We can’t do that without including the voices of all who are involved. This happened to an 18-year-old during

realizing how, in high school, I had let all of those things give me an excuse to hate and mock something that could have been an opportunity to grow and understand. I had become so lost in everything I thought was wrong with the church that I put on blinders that blocked out the light shining through the stained glass windows. The time I spent judging the Catholic church and its system was wasted. On days I failed to come up with an excuse to get out of it, I filled hours of mass and religion class with eye rolls and zoning out, when I could have been challenging myself by looking at what was in front of me and zoning in. It’s frustrating when you realize you’re the one who has been holding yourself back, but I felt grateful that going forward I can be more aware. That I can let go of my frustration with something I never gave myself a chance to understand. “If hope enlarges our future, the past enlarges our past into our present,” Donahue said. This was my first time attending five o’clock Saturday mass, and the congregation was 85 percent made up of senior citizens. I wondered if all of them had been going to church since they were kids and were raised within its boundaries. I wondered how many of them wandered through the doors one day and decided to come back. As the service unfolded, I realized how much this question didn’t matter. It’s never too late to decide to be grateful. It’s never too late to realize you were wrong. It’s never too late to decide you want something. So yes, I spent high school being dramatic, a little ignorant and deciding to decide nothing at all. But one of the best parts of being in college is that you no longer have to be in the same state of mind. You’re allowed to question yourself and the reasons you are the way you are. With Thanksgiving around the corner, we start to consider what our answer will be when family and friends ask us what we’re thankful for. I’m just going to say how grateful I am for every time I’ve realized I’ve been wrong, because when it happens, I get to add another colorful and jagged little piece to my stained glass window. wolffrg@miamioh.edu

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his second semester of college. His Miami experience will always be marred by assault. Remaining silent suggests that a fraternity’s reputation holds more value than the trauma this individual experienced at the hands of its members. Preventing conversation about what happened to this student is not only an injustice to the individual this happened to, but a disservice to our community. The administration can say they are going to implement preventive regulations in as many PR releases as they want. This is not enough to change our campus culture. It’s easy to forget when you’re deep in the

culture, but we are constantly lowering the bar for behavior that passes as acceptable. The Miami community cannot let this incident pass us by without a cultural change. We need to ask more of each other and of our leaders. Are we going to wait until a student dies to speak candidly about the hazing problems that exist on our campus? If not now, when? Miami is on the cusp of an “a-ha” moment. This type of hazing is systemic, and we can shift the narrative of our campus culture, but only once people start talking about what *actually* needs to change. Our staﬀ wants to see restorative justice that improves and builds a community where this type of behavior and abuse is not tolerated. We want to help foster a transparent conversation with administration, members of the Greek community, student leaders and anyone else who has something to say on the matter. We owe that to our peers, to our brothers and sisters and to the Miami community. We owe it to each other. We want to talk to you. We want to hear your story. If you or someone you know wants to share an experience with hazing at Miami or Miami’s Delts chapter — whether it’s related to the hazing incident, suspension and charges, or not — you can submit tips to our website or contact us via email at eic@miamistudent.net.

Good Morning Miami

Let’s not wait until it’s time for goodbyes

EMILY DATTILO

CULTURE EDITOR I’m a pretty sentimental person, and behind that sentimentality resides an appreciation for tradition and a dislike for goodbyes. My traditional nature reveals itself in my predictable restaurant orders, my go-to Starbucks drink and my annual Christmas playlist. Some might call it boring, but I find comfort in familiarity and don’t apologize for refusing to stray from my usual. My dislike for goodbyes affects me most, as you might guess, at the end of things. The end of a summer job, the end of the school year and the end of a holiday season all carry a mix of sadness and anxiety. Sadness and anxiety, because the next step gleams on the horizon and it’s time to move forward. In the interim, it’s easy to forget endings and get lost somewhere in the middle. In college, we all complain our way through midterms and grimace through papers and projects. But we also forget to realize how fast these four years are going to fly by (if you haven’t figured this out yourself, I’m sure a relative will remind you at Thanksgiving). I didn’t give this passage of time too much thought during my freshman and sophomore years, but I began my junior year with surprise and a tinge of uncertainty. Now, my friends and I are the presidents and executive members of student organizations. We are the ones giving rides to the first-years, and the ones younger kids are approaching with questions and requests for advice. It sounds ridiculous and terribly cliché, but it hit me that my friends and I had grown up. It was after this seemingly obvious realization that I decided I didn’t want to wait until the end to reminisce on my time here. I didn’t want to wait until May of senior year when red gowns are being distributed and the seal glitters with confetti and

spilled champagne to laugh over the stupid things my friends and I did freshman year. At first, I thought this column ought to be stashed away until my senior year. All of this Auld Lang Syne certainly rings in tune with graduation, but I’ve decided I was wrong. I don’t want to be handing out advice I haven’t taken, so instead I’m forming advice while I attempt to live it. Reminiscing feels like it should accompany the end of something, but it doesn’t have to. It’s these miniature waves of nostalgia that allow a shift of perspective. Ferris Bueller sums it up best when he says, “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.” Every day, we have that chance to look around and reminisce, and I’ve finally started taking those chances. When I walk past Bishop Hall, I think about helping my friend move suitcases to her car the night before she transferred schools. When I walk past Emerson Hall, I remember speeding to statistics with one friend, and getting yelled at by another for leaving the water running while brushing my teeth. When I walk past Shideler Hall, I remember an insufferable geology class, and a hilarious outdoor field trip. Since I’ve started doing this, I’ve felt a hint of sadness because those days are over, but that sadness is far outweighed by a sense of appreciation that my time in college isn’t over yet. Whether you’re a freshman or a senior, there’s still plenty of late weekend nights left, waiting to be filled with cheap beer and Bagel & Deli. Plenty of mornings to be filled with good conversation and overpriced coffee. And as I tend to think in terms of music and movies, I recalled a scene in “High School Musical 3” where Gabriella and Troy stand in a tree-house, gazing at a night sky gleaming with stars, discussing their futures. Gabriella says wistfully, “I wish it would all just stop. Or at least just slow down.” It’s not going to slow down. It never does. So let’s not wait until it’s time for goodbyes to relive old times; let’s do it now. dattilec@miamioh.edu

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