The Miami Student | February 18, 2020

ESTABLISHED 1826 — OLDEST COLLEGE NEWSPAPER WEST OF THE ALLEGHENIES

Volume 148 No. 15

Miami University — Oxford, Ohio

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2020

Happy birthday, Miami!

The history of Miami University in 1000 words

TANG DYNASTY FAILS

MADELINE PHABY STAFF WRITER

Miami University celebrated its 211th “birthday” on Monday, February 17. Today, it’s best known for its picturesque campus, strong undergraduate teaching and party scene.

But, Miami also has a long, fascinating history that spans three centuries and includes more than 200,000 alumni.

Old Miami

mething

The state of Ohio chartered Miami on Feb. 17, 1809, making it the second-oldest university in Ohio and the tenth-oldest public university in the United States.

Miami was located in a then-unincorporated section of southwestern Ohio that became the Village of Oxford in 1830. Contrary to popular belief, Miami did not draw its name from the Myaamia Tribe (now known as the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma) — the tribe didn’t reside on the site of the university at the time of its founding, but they lived near this and other areas of the Great Lakes region prior to their removal in 1846.

Though Miami was chartered in 1809, classes weren’t held until construction of the first academic building — Franklin Hall — was completed in 1824. Miami’s first students paid $93 in tuition and fees for the entire academic year, which is equivalent to $1428.87 in 2019.

In 1826, the Literary Focus, the first student-produced periodical at Miami, was established. An early predecessor to The Miami Student, the Focus staff aimed to “produce a magazine of education value for themselves and the community,” wrote former Miami professor Walter Havighurst.

Alpha Delta Phi, the first fraternity founded at Miami, was established in 1833.

Five other Greek organizations — Beta Theta Pi, Phi Delta Theta, Sigma Chi, Delta Zeta and Phi Kappa Tau were subsequently CONTINUED ON PAGE 3

TO PAY EMPLOYEES

PHOTO EDITOR JUGAL JAIN

RACHEL BERRY NEWS EDITOR

Tang Dynasty, a restaurant located on West High Street in Oxford and partially managed by a Miami University sophomore, neglected to pay its employees, according to court documents and the account of a former cook.

Weiping Peng began working as a cook at the restaurant on Sept. 1, 2019. He was promised $6,000 a month, to be paid at the end of each month. Peng worked a minimum of 60 hours a week, according to court documents.

Peng was given his September wages in multiple installments. He was paid in cash and through transfers of renminbi, Chinese currency, over the Chinese social media platform WeChat. He said in China it’s normal to be paid through the app.

It’s unclear when Peng received the last of these installments. He said it was on Nov. 4, but his employer, Miami sophomore Zhenyu Tang, said it was in October. As he was paid in cash, neither has a record of the transac-

tion, although the Ohio Revised Code 4111.08 specifies that employers must keep records of employee names, pay and hours worked.

Peng continually asked his employers — Tang, Zefreng Bing, Jingwei Wu and Ben Mou — when he would be paid for October and November’s wages.

Tang and the other owners told Peng business had been slow recently, so they didn’t have the money to pay him. Tang said Peng agreed to be paid late because he understood the restaurant wasn’t doing well financially.

But, when Peng was hired, he said none of the owners mentioned anything about slow business or a lack of money.

On Oct. 22, Peng sent a WeChat message to Tang. Tang told him “We won’t get money until tomorrow. Tomorrow I will pay you.”

On Nov. 1, Peng pleaded, “Tang, you need to come at 3 p.m. to pay the September payment. I really need the money.” (These messages were originally in Chinese but have been translated to English).

Their conversation went on like this for weeks, according to messages obtained by The

Miami Student. Peng continually asked Tang for payment, and Tang promised the money.

“According to the law, I know this problem is wrong,” Tang told The Student. “That’s why I talk[ed] with him personally.” “‘I’ll give you the money later [after] a week, two weeks,’” Tang told Peng. “‘Please trust me. I will pay you.’”

According to WeChat messages between Peng and Tang, at least one of the restaurant’s other employees was also paid late.

Li Ci, the other cook at the restaurant, said through a translator that he has always been paid on time.

In mid-November, some of the employees went on strike. It’s unclear exactly which employees went on strike — Tang said it was all the employees, whereas Peng said it was the two cooks.

The restaurant was forced to close and hasn’t been able to reopen since. Peng no longer works for Tang Dynasty, and Tang said he isn’t sure if CONTINUED ON PAGE 3

Miami Cheerleading is more than a team — it’s a family

MIAMI CHEERLEADING IS "A GAME OF CONSTANT CONCENTRATION" WITH "ONE WRONG MOVE" ANYONE CAN COME CRASHING DOWN. THE MIAMI STUDENT ZACH REICHMAN

TIM CARLIN

Normally, the team practices on the main floor of Millett, but because the space was transformed for career fair, the cheerleaders moved underground.

Aside from the lack of windows, the practice space, known as the sub-gym, lacks any subterranean feeling. It looks exactly like a typical gymnasium: a full-size basketball court, white walls with hanging memorabilia and padding along the perimeter.

Rap beats pump out of the sub-gym’s speakers as the team practices. At the center of the

room, boys stand red-faced. Repeatedly throwing smiling girls into the air, their faces tense and relax at a rhythmic pace.

It’s a game of constant concentration. One wrong move and the girl comes crashing down.

This is Miami cheerleading.

In the team’s second UCA National Championship run in the last 20 years, Miami took twelfth place out of the 22 schools in the division.

“It takes a ton of work, and it takes a ton of sacrifice,” said Jerel Stewart, Miami’s head

NEWS

CULTURE

SPORTS

I can hear the bells

From eye contact to iContact

Zambonis and fixing toilets.

ASST. NEWS EDITOR Hours after the career fair, underneath Millett Hall, down a winding staircase and behind a passcode-locked door, Miami University’s cheerleading team begins its two-hour practice.

It’s the first practice after the team’s trip to the Universal Cheerleaders Association (UCA) National Championship competition during J-term.

cheerleading coach. “Once you go out there, we have one chance to compete for two minutes and 30 seconds, and it’s just nuts … No matter how you place, you know you gave it your all.”

Stewart has been a coach for his entire post-collegiate life, but he has been a part of the cheerleading world for much longer.

“I was a gymnast first,” Stewart said. “And then when I got into college, I went to a small university first, Otterbein University … and then the cheer coach actually saw me just do a flip, and then of course she was like, ‘We’ll give you some money if you join our team.’ So it was a little friendly bribe there.”

“Once you’re in cheerleading,” Stewart added, “you’re pretty much hooked for life.”

Stewart recruited nine of his male friends to join Otterbein’s all-female cheer team with him, so he knows firsthand about the stigma surrounding boys in cheerleading. But he explained cheerleading requires just as much athletic ability as other male-dominated sports.

“You get a lot of ex-athletes, who may not be getting a football scholarship, who may not be playing scholarship sports here at Miami, but definitely still want that athletic feel,” Stewart said.

“Once they do come in and try it and figure it out and I tell them what cheerleading actually is, they’re like, ‘I had no idea! This is a whole different world,’ And then they kind of get hooked.”

Dane Doebereiner, a sophomore marketing and interactive media studies double major, began cheerleading in college. He was a self-described theater kid until college cheerleading.

“I basically just walked on with no prior experience, with no prior knowledge of what the cheer world was,” Doeberiner said. “Now, it’s CONTINUED ON PAGE 10

This Issue

The story of Pulley Tower. page 5

How the gay dating scene has changed. page 6

OPINION

"I'm nervous ..."

The do-it-all men of Goggin.

- our Opinion Editor

page 10

page 12

This Week

2 FYI

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Happy birthday, Miami!

The history of Miami University in 1000 words

FROM FRONT

founded between 1839 and 1906. Besides Phi Kappa Tau, all of these organizations still have active chapters at Miami.

Following the Civil War, Miami suffered serious financial issues, mainly due to low enrollment.

In 1873, with enrollment dropping to 87 students, the Board of Trustees elected to temporarily close the university.

Twelve years later, Miami opened its campus once again — this time, for good.

New Miami Like most other American universities in the 19th century, Miami’s early student body was composed of only white men.

In 1887, shortly after Miami reopened, the first five female students were admitted. These women, who were designated as “special students” by the Trustees, were joined by 17 more in 1891.

Though female enrollment gradually climbed, Miami remained predominantly male. However, Western College for Women — established in 1853 as the Western Female Seminary — stood directly next to Miami on what is now Western Campus.

Enrollment of students of color was also low, but not nonexistent. Earl Kelley, the first black student at Miami, enrolled in 1902 and graduated in 1910. The first female black student was Nellie Craig, who enrolled in 1903 and graduated in

NEWS 3

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2020

1905.

Despite Miami’s reputation for being predominantly white (which remains true today), the university did play a minor role in the Civil Rights Movement.

In June 1964, Western College held training sessions for Freedom Summer participants. Freedom Summer was an initiative in which young people traveled to Mississippi and attempted to register people of color to vote.

In the training sessions, participants learned a variety of skills — from actually registering people to defending themselves against angry mobs.

Though this training technically occurred at Western College, Miami now claims it as its own history since it merged with Western in 1974. neepwaantiinki For decades, Miami’s athletic teams didn’t have an official name — instead, they used casual nicknames like the “Miami Boys.” By the early 1930s, however, a lasting nickname was established — the Redskins.

This nickname stood relatively unchallenged for decades, largely because Miami hardly had any relationship with the Miami Tribe.

However, this changed in 1972, when thenchief Forest Olds visited Miami for the first time.

This visit sparked a connection between the tribe and the university that gradually evolved over the

following decades.

Following Olds’ visit, the university asked the Miami Tribe for its support in using the Redskins as its athletic mascot, and the tribe accepted.

But, in 1996, the tribe rescinded its support for the mascot, and Miami elected to change its athletic nickname to the RedHawks.

This change was a symbol of the relationship between the tribe and the university — the “RedHawks” mascot was inspired by the red-tailed hawk, which is indigenous to both Ohio and Oklahoma, where the Miami Tribe is currently headquartered.

The enrollment of the first three Myaamia students in 1991 strengthened this relationship.

Today, around 30 tribe members enroll at Miami each year. These students take several special classes on Myaamia language and culture and receive a tuition waiver through the Myaamia Heritage Award Program.

In 2001, the Myaamia Project, which aims to revitalize Myaamia language and culture through research, was founded. The project evolved into the Myaamia Center, which is located in Bonham House on Miami’s campus and staffed by over a dozen people, including members of the tribe.

In 2017, the Myaamia Heritage Logo, which symbolizes the continued collaboration between the Miami Tribe and Miami University, was unveiled. The logo consists of traditional Myaamia colors and motifs and is printed on many pieces of Heritage Collection apparel, which celebrates the relationship between the university and the tribe.

The rapidly-evolving relationship between Miami University and the Miami Tribe is characterized by both entities with the Myaamia word neepwaantiinki — learning from each other.

Miami today Today, Miami boasts nearly 20,000 students

— the 87 total students enrolled in 1873 could easily fit in a single lecture hall on today’s campus.

Nearly a quarter of Miami students are affiliated with one of the 50-plus Greek organizations on campus. Though some organizations have been the subject of recent controversy, the Greek community raised a total of $87,263.14 in philanthropy money during the 2018-2019 academic year.

Miami is still predominantly white, but from its relationship with the Miami Tribe to its efforts to commemorate its activist history, the university has made an effort to recognize the diversity that has made its rich history possible. phabymr@miamioh.edu

IN 1873, MIAMI UNIVERSITY CLOSED TEMPORARILY FOR 12 YEARS. PHOTO EDITOR JUGAL JAIN

TANG DYNASTY FAILS TO PAY EMPLOYEES FROM FRONT

he will reopen the restaurant or sell the business.

Peng still hasn’t been fully paid for his work, a violation of the Ohio Revised Code 4113.15.

Peng said he is owed a month and a half’s wages. Tang said he doesn’t know how much he owes Peng but that he was planning to pay him.

Peng filed a claim in Butler County Area 1 Court against Tang Dynasty LLC, and his case was heard on Jan. 29.

According to court documents, none of the owners came to the hearing. Tang said he was unable to attend because he was in class and that the other owners transferred to different

universities and no longer live in Oxford.

The court found that Peng presented sufficient evidence to substantiate his story, so he was awarded $6,000 plus interest to be paid by the restaurant.

But Peng still hasn’t received that money.

The court told him it isn’t involved with ensuring he gets paid and advised that he hire a lawyer.

“They can’t do this,” Peng told The Student through a translator. “They can’t not pay employees what they were promised.”

Additional reporting by news editor Erin Glynn. @racheldberry berryrd@miamioh.edu

Former first year who threatened to kill police has case dismissed RACHEL BERRY NEWS EDITOR

The Butler County Court of Common Pleas decided not to prosecute former Miami University first-year Mark Moraski, who was accused of threatening to kill police.

According to court records, Moraski was taken to McCullough-Hyde hospital on Nov. 17 after a resident assistant reported him for being “on something.”

After arriving at the hospital, Moraski began shouting obscenities. Officers handcuffed Moraski, but he resisted arrest. He grabbed officer Robert Gleason and attempted to kick his legs and groin.

Moraski threatened the officers, saying he would kill them, rape their

daughters and mothers, and skin their families alive, according to court records.

At his initial court hearing on Nov. 21, the Butler County Area I Municipal Court sent his case to a grand jury, a group of citizens who decide if criminal charges should be brought against a defendant.

On Jan. 29, the grand jury decided not to indict Moraski on the charges of retaliation, assault, underaged possession, disorderly conduct and two counts of aggravated menacing.

Moraski has not been enrolled at Miami since Nov. 16, 2019, said Claire Wagner, director of university news and communications. @racheldberry berryrd@miamioh.edu

SUSPECT IN OXFORD SHOOTING PLEADS GUILTY RACHEL BERRY NEWS EDITOR

Benjamin Hizer, an 18-year-old Oxford resident accused of shooting a minor during a drug deal, pled guilty to felonious assault in relation to the incident.

According to a press release, Hizer and the 17-year-old he shot were meeting a third male at Oxford Wash to exchange drugs on Oct. 6.

While trying to rob the third male, Hizer shot the 17-year-old — whose name hasn’t been released — in the abdomen.

Hizer was originally charged with aggravated robbery, a first degree felony, and felonious assault, a second degree and lesser felony.

Hizer pled guilty to felonious assault, and the other charge was dropped. The minimum sentence the judge can give Hizer is two years, and the maximum is eight years. However, due to new indefinite sentencing guidelines, Hizer could

SPECIAL THANKS TO FRED REEDER FOR DRIVING OUR RAG-TAG TEAM AROUND TO DELIVER THE PAPERS LAST WEEK. WE’RE FOREVER GRATEFUL.

serve up to 12 years in prison, said prosecutor Dan Phillips.

This is because the prison can give Hizer time and a half. So, if he is sentenced to two years, the prison can give him one year, totaling three. If Hizer is sentenced to eight years, the prison can give him an additional four years, which would be twelve total years.

Hizer also faces a $15,000 fine. As part of his plea deal, a gun specification was dropped, which means he will not serve more time for committing a crime involving a gun.

“We acknowledge that he accidentally shot his friend, but it was by accident,” said David Washington Jr., Hizer’s attorney. “He never intended to harm his friend.”

Hizer’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for 9 a.m. on March 12 at the Butler County Commons Pleas Court in Hamilton. @racheldberry berryrd@miamioh.edu

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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2020

Bachelor gets lit[erature] SKYLER PERRY

MIAMI STUDENT ADVOCATES AGAINST DISTRACTED DRIVING RACHEL BERRY NEWS EDITOR

STAFF WRITER

If you have a bunch of old books sitting around in your room, International English Honor Society Sigma Tau Delta has a solution.

Located on the third floor of Bachelor Hall, the “Lit Little Library” is a book exchange station where students are encouraged to leave their unwanted reads and pick up any book that catches their eye in return.

Despite its recent establishment, Sigma Tau Delta’s Marketing Officer Alayna Cowden said the free library has been a success.

“When I set [the library] up, it literally had like four books in it, and then the next day I came back, and it was overflowing … I was a little bit scared that people were just going to take books and not leave any,” Cowden said.

Students are encouraged to leave a variety of books at the library including used textbooks, novels, poetry books, young adult and children’s literature. “[Sigma Tau Delta] is getting in contact with Oxford’s public library and seeing if we can donate any young adult novels or children’s books we get. I’ve heard that they are always happy to accept donations,” said Sigma Tau Delta’s President, Henry Roach.

Because the library is less than a week old, Cowden said Sigma Tau Delta doesn’t currently have any future plans relating to book exchanges but would like to see the concept continue to grow.

“If we could set something up in Armstrong for the weekend or organize a bigger version of a book swap, that would be really cool,” Cowden said.

“We haven’t even had the chance to get together as an executive team to talk about ‘Oh my gosh, this is going really well should we do anything else.’”

For now, the “Lit Little Library” will remain in Bachelor Hall with the goal of providing passerbyers with quick, easy and free access to books. “[The library] kind of speaks to the core values of Sigma Tau Delta,” Roach said. “We just want to encourage people to engage with literature.” @skylerlperry perrysl2@miamioh.edu

Sarah Strack lost her uncle to distracted driving when she was 16 years old.

On Jan. 29, 2015, her uncle, Mark Sevilla, was driving south on I-71 in northern Kentucky to pick up his boat before visiting his sisters for the weekend.

A semi-truck driver going the other direction was looking down at a text message when he hit a broken-down car on the side of the road. The truck shot across the median and slammed head-on into Sevilla’s car, killing him instantly.

Another woman was also hit, but she survived the accident.

The family was close, with just Sarah, her parents, two siblings and her mom’s brother and sister. They were all devastated after Sevilla’s death.

“He was like that uncle everybody dreams of having — the fun uncle,” said Sarah’s mom, Kathy.

Sarah had just turned 16 on Jan. 10 and had only had her driver’s license for a couple weeks before the accident.

“Being in that demographic where all my friends had their license or were getting their license was insanely scary,” Sarah said.

“Driving was still very new, and then to have to go and drive after that happened was insane.”

After the accident, Sarah and Kathy also became more aware and constantly noticed people on their phones while driving. They would notice people checking messages at a stoplight and continuing to look down once the light turned green, and Sarah would receive Snapchats from her friends while they were driving.

Sarah got annoyed when friends would say, “It’s not a big deal.”

“You can do it a million times, and on that millionth and one time, something’s gonna happen,” she said.

Sevilla’s death hit the family hard, and Sarah and her mom wanted to do something more to try to prevent this from happening to other families.

“I felt like God was calling me to do something higher and be an advocate,” said Sarah, who had grown up Catholic but found resolve in her faith after the accident.

A year after the accident, Sarah and her mom started a non-profit called 2Eyes.JustDrive to advocate against distracted driving.

Through the organization, they tell their story and use social media campaigns to try to emphasize the impact of distracted driving.

“I think it’s very noble how she has turned it around and is trying to help others to never have to face that kind of situation,” said Shannah Lunar, a friend of Sarah’s.

Her senior year of high school,

STRACK MET WITH GOVERNOR DEWINE TO ADVOCATE FOR ANTI-DISTRACTED DRIVING LEGISLATION. CONTRIBUTED BY SARAH STRACK

Sarah planned a week called Hawks Drive to Stay Alive at her school, Lakota East High School in West Chester, Ohio.

At an assembly in front of the junior and senior classes, Sarah and Kathy both told their stories. They had a banner for people to sign as a pledge, and the Ohio Department of Transportation provided a simulator where students would pretend to text while driving and see the consequences.

In addition to creating awareness around distracted driving, Sarah and Kathy also advocate for legislation to prosecute it. In the wake of the accident, they reached out to a number of legislators in both Kentucky and Ohio. Then-Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine was the only one who responded and offered to meet with them. This is an issue that’s meaningful to him because he lost his daughter in a car accident, Kathy said.

Last Thursday, Sarah and Kathy again met with DeWine, this time with a number of other family members of those who have been killed in distracted driving accidents. DeW-

ine announced a bill that would ban the use of cell phones and other hand-held devices while driving. “[It] was awesome just to have that community because, to my knowledge, we’re really the only people that I personally know ... that have lost someone to distracted driving,” Sarah said about meeting with the other family members. “I was in this room of strangers, but we were all connected in the same way.”

Sarah and Kathy said their ulti-

mate goal is for no one else to die from distracted driving. Kathy compared it to drunk driving, which she said was socially acceptable when she was younger, but is now generally disapproved of.

“You just have to create the mindset that it’s not worth it,” Kathy said. “Pull over. There’s not a text, a snap, a tweet, a post [or] anything that is worth somebody’s life.” @racheldberry berryrd@miamioh.edu

“Pull over. There’s not a text, a snap, a tweet, a post [or] anything that is worth somebody’s life.”

- Kathy Strack

BACHELOR HALL’S LENDING LIBRARY OFFERS STUDENTS THE CHANCE TO TAKE AND LEAVE BOOKS WHENVER THEY PLEASE. ASST. PHOTO EDITOR BO BRUECK

Chief marketing and communications officer resigns BRIAH LUMPKINS

ASST. NEWS EDITOR Michele Gaither Sparks, vice president and chief marketing and communications officer, is leaving Miami after almost two years with the university.

Sparks will become the senior director of communications and talent acquisition for Valvoline, the automotive service and lubricant company, whose headquarters are located in Lexington, Kentucky. In this role, she will oversee corporate communications, talent acquisitions, diversity and inclusion, community engagement and sustainability initiatives.

The announcement comes after the elimination of five positions within the department Sparks has headed — University Communications and Marketing (UCM). Sparks said her resignation is in no way related to the layoffs. The new position will bring her close to her

family and home state of Kentucky.

“The timing is completely unfortunate, for sure,” Sparks said. “I had never planned on leaving, but giving me an opportunity with a job that is going to give me ... considerably more than what I’m making here, and [the opportunity] to be back with my family. I can’t pass that by.”

With the recent layoffs, Sparks said she has no control over how her leaving Miami will be perceived.

“I can’t speak for how other people would react,” Sparks said. “I have to do what’s right for me, what’s right for my family, what’s right for my career.”

Her replacement will be chosen by University President Greg Crawford in the next few months, but an interim officer will be put in her place and named in the next few days.

“She has always encouraged the UCM staff to come talk with her if they have questions or concerns,” said Claire

“I can’t speak for how other people would react. I have to do what’s right for me, what’s right for my family, what’s right for my career.”

- Michele Gaither Sparks

Wagner, director of university news and communications.

“Michele makes a point of recognizing extra efforts by individuals during staff meetings and personally telling us that she appreciates our work,” Wagner added. “Though I will miss her, the many pieces she has put in place will help us continue on a positive path in supporting Miami via communications and marketing.”

During her time at Miami, Sparks is proud of the impact she’s made in organizing the UCM department and the restructuring of Miami’s website that will be revealed later this year.

In addition to these projects, Sparks has also led the charge in creating the “From Now On” commercial campaign, which involved rebranding Miami for prospective students and alumni.

Josh Cheney, senior director of marketing and communications, also spoke about Spark’s impact during her time at Miami.

“Michele has been a tremendous champion of the Miami brand and a wonderful mentor and encourager,” Cheney said. “The impact of her energy, creativity and vision at Miami will be felt for many years to come.” @briah_lumpkins lumpkibm@miamioh.edu

SPARKS IS MOVING BACK TO KENTUCKY, HER HOME STATE. CONTRIBUTED BY UCM

GLYNNEE@MIAMIOH.EDU

NEWS 5

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2020

Miami considers tearing down Williams Hall

RACHEL BERRY MATTHEW RUBENSTEIN

The history of Pulley Tower

THE MIAMI STUDENT

Miami University is considering tearing down Williams Hall in a plan to rearrange the campus by major.

The idea, presented at the Feb. 12 faculty assembly, involves separating the campus into “corridors,” which would place similar disciplines together. The new clinical health sciences building will include health-related majors like nursing and speech pathology and audiology. The university is also planning a digital innovation building to house data analytics, math and related programs.

“I believe creating new colleges doesn’t really change anything, but putting people physically together in proximity to each other who are likely to work together, that’s more impactful,” said Jason Osborne, provost and executive vice president for academic affairs.

Bachelor Hall — which currently holds English, math and speech pathology and audiology — would become a “transdisciplinary humanities hub,” Osborne said. With Williams Hall’s destruction, the Department of Media, Journalism and Film (MJF) would move to Bachelor. Osborne said Bachelor might also house the honors program, the Western Program, philosophy and languages.

Osborne pointed out that there hasn’t been any collaboration between the majors currently housed in Bachelor, but departments such as English and MJF might be able to work together in the future.

It would be too expensive to renovate Williams, Osborne said, estimating it to cost around $40-50 million. The whole Bachelor construction project will cost around the same amount, said Robert Bell, interim director of planning, architecture and engineering.

Williams was constructed primarily to hold the former radio station, WMUB. The building only has a few classrooms, and many faculty offices are located in old recording rooms.

“The structure of the building and the original construction quality of the building does not lend

The man behind the music: SKYLER PERRY STAFF WRITER

PROVOST OSBORNE HOPES TO ENCOURAGE INTERDEPARTMENT MINGLING BY CREATING “CAMPUS CORRIDORS.” ASST. PHOTO EDITOR BO BRUECK

itself to an efficient and economical renovation,” Bell wrote in an email to The Miami Student. “As we evaluate all of our buildings and resources, Williams Hall would likely cost more to renovate and result in a completed project that was less satisfying and not up to the standard of other buildings across campus.”

But to some who spend a lot of their time in Williams, the idea of losing the building is disheartening.

“That’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard,” said senior journalism and creative writing major Peyton Gigante in response to the news that Williams might be torn down. “There are very hardworking students that appreciate this building for the small tight-knit community that it allows, and I think to deprive the MJF students of that would be doing a real disservice to the program.”

Bruce Drushel, chair of MJF, said he was not consulted in the decision to move the department,

as it was part of the larger restructuring plan.

“Most of us here have a sentimental attachment to Williams Hall,” Drushel said. “I think it’s incumbent upon me and incumbent upon the other faculty and the other stakeholders in our program to keep an open mind … I think we need to look for whatever advantages there might be in the new space.”

The project isn’t finalized yet, and it’s unclear when or if Williams will be demolished, as the university is first focusing on the two new buildings before the Bachelor renovations.

These changes were based on recommendations in the strategic plan. A leadership team made up of University President Greg Crawford’s executive cabinet came up with the idea of arranging the campus by major. With each new building, a program planning group is created, composed of department chairs of the programs included in that building. Associate Provost Jeffrey Wanko said students will eventually be involved in the decision-making process as well.

Juan Carlos Albarran, a senior lecturer for global and intercultural studies, expressed concerns about the plan to arrange campus by discipline, as some majors don’t fit within just one category.

“What do you do with a department that works in more than one area, where some programs are in the humanities and some are in social sciences?” he asked. “I, personally, would like a little more mingling between disciplines.”

The plan requires approval by the Board of Trustees (BoT). At its Feb. 20 and 21 meetings, the BoT will vote whether to authorize construction on the clinical health sciences building. The goal is to finish the clinical health sciences building, digital innovation building and Bachelor Hall renovations by 2025.

THE “CAMPUS CORRIDORS” ARE TENTATIVELY SET TO PHASE IN BY 2025. CONTRIBUTED BY JASON OSBORNE

@racheldberry berryrd@miamioh.edu rubensms@miamioh.edu

Miami appoints first female economics chair COSETTE GUNTER

THE MIAMI STUDENT When Melissa Thomasson first entered the field of economics, it never occurred to her that this was a path other women might not pursue. Now, years down the line, she’s come to know a thing or two about the male-dominated field.

“It’s sad that it’s such a long time coming,” she said about becoming the first female chair of the Miami University Economics Department.

“She is a highly regarded scholar in the field, an excellent instructor and mentor and a strong chair,” said Mike Curme, associate professor of economics.

Curme said it’s unfortunate that Thomasson’s administrative work takes up time she used to spend in the classroom, but said the time is “offset by the positive impact of her work for the department and the university.”

Before making history here, Thomasson began her career at a small liberal arts college in Tacoma, Washington, called the University of Puget Sound. There, she remembers being one of two women in classes of only seven students.

“Everyone talked about that picture of Nancy Pelosi in the cabinet where she’s the only woman, and I think I know what that feels like,” Thomasson said.

“I’ve gotten used to it,” she added.

Four years in rainy Washington and a strong economic history program then took Thomasson to the University of Arizona in Tucson, where she completed both a masters degree and a doctorate in economics.

In 1998, Thomasson found her way to Miami, becoming an assistant professor until 2015, when she became a

full-time professor and graduate director. When Thomasson first arrived at Miami, she was only one of two female faculty in the Economics Department, along with Barnali Gupta.

As the first full-time female professor in the department of economics, Gupta said she is excited to have Thomasson in the chair position.

“Having role models is important,” Gupta added, “as we graduate leaders from FSB.”

tation was also shown in a paper she worked on with two colleagues about medical education reform in the early 20th century and how that adversely impacted the number of female physicians.

“What I love about this job is the ability to not only have my research make an impact but also influence my students,” she said.

In 2015, Thomasson, Gupta and Deborah Fletcher launched Women in Economics, a club run by female economics students. Since the creation of the organization, female enrollment in the economics major has increased to 49 percent. In 2015, the economics department at Miami only had a 16 percent female enrollment status, and the national average today sits around 30 percent.

Today, six of the economics department’s 28 faculty members are female, and 30 percent of Miami’s economics doctorates are awarded to women. “[The appointment] is very exciting to me,” said Erica Edwards, a THOMASSON IS EXCITED TO LEAD NEW INITIATIVES. teaching assistant for an economics CONTRIBUTED BY ECONOMICS DEPT capstone class. “It’s a sign Miami is taking steps to be diverse and enThomasson now teaches Introduc- courage female economics students to tion to Economics, Health Economics go out into what is still a predominantand Economic History. ly male field.”

Thomasson’s research outside of Thomasson found out last spring the classroom focuses on health care, about her promotion and began her studying why we have the system we new position this academic year. She is have and how it develops over time. In looking forward to new initiatives for September 2017, Thomasson testified the department. to the U.S. Senate about the current “We’re looking at expanding exand historical reality of health care. periential learning opportunities and Thomasson also has a book under getting partnerships with firms for incontract with the Chicago Press about class opportunities,” Thomasson said. the economic development of the “We’re starting to unbury ourselves American health care system, which is through these initiatives.” set to be published next spring in various economics journals. guntercr@miamioh.edu Her advocacy for female represen-

“Bad Romance” by Lady Gaga, “A Spoonful of Sugar” from Mary Poppins and “Here Comes the Sun” by The Beatles.: these are the kinds of tunes Miami University students listen to as they travel around campus.

But rather than emanating from earbuds, these songs ring throughout campus for all to hear several times a day, courtesy of The Verlin L. Pulley Carillon and Clock Tower.

The university icon, referred to as “Pulley Tower,” is designed for more than just telling the time.

Since its construction in 2001, walking past and listening to the tower’s tunes has become an everyday experience for students, professors and staff alike. Yet the tower’s history and how songs are selected to be played remain a mystery to many.

The location of the tower was chosen in part by its donor, William W. Pulley, who is now in his 90s.

“The idea is that people coming in … would see the tower as sort of a welcoming way to let people know that they are on the Miami campus,” Pulley said.

The dedication of a musical bell tower was inspired by William Pulley’s time as an undergraduate at Dartmouth College, where he fondly remembers walking around campus listening to Baker Bell Tower playing music between classes. He thought a musical bell tower would be the perfect addition to Miami’s campus.

When Pulley donated the 95-foot tower to Miami’s campus, he dedicated it to his father, a 1925 Miami graduate by the name of Verlin L. Pulley.

In addition to his accomplishments as founder of Capitol Varsity Company, one of the most successful dry cleaning companies in the country, Verlin Pulley was also a prominent member of the Oxford community. He was mayor of Oxford in the late 1930s and was named “Oxford Citizen of the Year” in 1955.

“I remember my father,” Pulley said. “My father was very involved with Miami. [He was a] Trustee. [He] graduated from Miami, as did my mother. That was the purpose [of the tower], to honor my father.”

Once all of the details for the tower were finalized, 12,000 pounds of bronze were cast into 50 bells in the Netherlands before being shipped to Oxford for installation.

Inside the tower, gracing the mahogany colored walls, is a small golden coat hanger, which serves as a marker of the building’s erection, a photograph of William Pulley and a bust of Verlin L. Pulley.

However, the most important item in the room sits in the dead center: a 61-note keyboard with a Dell computer attached to its side.

Although the keyboard is fully functional, and the tower could be played manually, almost all of the songs played on campus are performed by the preprogrammed computer system.

“There are probably around 200 songs programmed into the computer,” said Director of Building Maintenance Daniel Olthaus.

Prior to 2013, when the new computer system hadn’t yet been added, many people used to come to Pulley Tower on Saturdays to enjoy hour long “concerts” played by retired French professor and Pulley Tower’s former carillonneur, Randy Runyon.

To play his songs, Runyon used to have to transcribe notes from a CD or YouTube. Sadly, as a result of the installation of the current computer system, Runyon’s song files were deleted.

Runyon said that songs that can be easily sung are best suited to the bells, which explains the lack of rap stars, like Eminem, echoing across campus.

“Songs that have to go fast with a strong rhythm would probably not work because bells keep sounding after they are struck, and so the notes would blend together when played at a fast tempo, and it would sound like a mess,” Runyon said.

Pulley Tower is programmed to play for 10 minutes every hour, with some exceptions.

“It doesn’t play at nighttime,” Olthaus said. “It stops around 9 or 10 at night so that it doesn’t play in the middle of the night. Then it resets and starts again at 7 a.m.”

The reset that Olthaus is referring to is the process of random song selection that the computer goes through every night as to avoid playing the same songs every day.

Luckily, there are a wide variety of playlists that the computer can select songs from. These playlists include classic 1970s music, Disney tunes and classical arrangements.

When Pulley donated the funds to build the tower, he also made a list of songs to be played. Some of these songs include the Miami Alma Mater, the Miami fight song and traditional fraternity songs like “The Sweetheart of Sigma Chi.” Olthaus said in the past, William Pulley had often been seen at the tower enjoying its music, but that it had been quite a while since that had happened.

“At one time, I did check [on my father’s tower] ... but I haven’t for many years,” Pulley said.

Although people may not know its history or why Pulley Tower plays the songs it plays, its significance to students, residents, professors and visitors resonates much longer than 10 minutes each hour. @skylerlperry perrysl2@miamioh.edu

6 CULTURE

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2020

HEADLEDD@MIAMIOH.EDU

Cruising through the evolution of Miami’s LGBTQ dating scene

OVER THE PAST 30 YEARS, ZEISLER HAS WATCHED THE GAY DATING EXPERIENCE CHANGE FROM PHYSICAL TO DIGITAL. ILLUSTRATION BY ANNA SKALICKI

TIM CARLIN WILL GORMAN DAVID KWIATKOWSKI THE MIAMI STUDENT

On the third floor of Miami University’s Shriver Center, tucked into a corner office, is the Miller Center for Student Disability Services (SDS). The space is decorated with art from local disabled artists and soft, flowing music fills the room.

“Who are you here to see?” asked the woman sitting at the reception desk.

The three of us looked at each other.

“We have a meeting with Andy Zeisler,” Tim replied.

“Oh, Andy?” she said with widening eyes. “He’s a legend.”

J. Andrew Zeisler has been a part of

the Miami community since 1984, first as an undergraduate student, then as the Director of Miami’s SDS. Throughout his entire journey at the university, Zeisler has been an openly gay man. During his early years at Miami, he had to navigate the world of LGBTQ dating at a time when the university was far more conservative, and the AIDS epidemic was sweeping the nation.

“At the time, there wasn’t a lot of visible gay community at Miami,” Zeisler said. “It was kind of who you knew, really.”

Zeisler said in the 1980s, Miami’s LGBTQ community interacted differently than today.

“You know, when I was coming out, you didn’t have the apps, you didn’t

Miami Opera Theatre stages new production of ‘The Marriage of Figaro’ ERIN GLYNN

NEWS EDITOR No need to go Uptown this weekend if you’re in the mood for a night of cross-dressing and infidelity; instead, catch a performance of “The Marriage of Figaro” from the Miami University Opera Theatre.

Composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart with a libretto by Lorenzo da Ponte, the show is one of the most well-known operas of all time. According to Operabase, an online database that compiles statistics on opera performances and companies, “The Marriage of Figaro” was the tenth most popular opera during the 20182019 season with 424 performances.

The show takes place over the course of one day and centers on Figaro and Susanna, his bride-to-be. Figaro serves as valet to Count Almaviva, who hopes to seduce Susanna before her wedding night. Hijinks ensue as Figaro, Susanna, the Count’s wife and a teenage page named Cherubino team up to teach the Count a lesson in marital faithfulness.

The opera garnered some controversy after its premiere in 1786 because of its political undertones that pit commoners against the nobility.

The production was a hit among early

audiences, however, and one contemporary journalist described the show as containing “so many beauties and such a richness of thought as can proceed only from the born genius.”

Michaela Woodbrey, a graduate assistant in Miami’s opera class this semester, said the show can be good for those unfamiliar with opera as a medium, “because it’s serious in its music but it’s still a comedy.”

With four acts to be performed in two-and-a-half hours, the show requires a tremendous amount of stamina from its cast.

“We have to act as though all of these reveals are completely new to us every night,” Woodbrey said, referring to the many moments during the show in which characters’ schemes are foiled.

Woodbrey, who also plays the Countess, said she is looking forward to opening night.

“The whole cast has brought so much energy to the show,” Woodbrey said. “The set is beautiful and we have an award-winning lighting director so I’m excited to see it all come together.”

The show will be performed at 7:30 p.m. on Feb. 20, 21 and 22 in the Gates-Abegglen Theatre. glynnee@miamioh.edu

have technology, you didn’t have cell phones,” Zeisler said. “The way you kind of met people was through eye contact, you know?”

“There was, if you had an earring, if you did things that were a little counter to culture … and there was always that eye contact thing,” he added. “So if you’re walking down the street, and you see somebody, and then you kind of look back at them, and they look back at you, it’s like, ‘Okay.’”

Zeisler got his ears pierced during his sophomore year of college. He was a Resident Assistant on Western campus, which Zeisler considered to be Miami’s countercultural hub. He met his first boyfriend, Thomas, through a mutual friend.

Zeisler said one of the biggest

changes he’s noticed in the LGBTQ dating experience is not the romantic interactions, but rather how the sexual culture has changed.

“The big change is technology,” Zeisler said. “There’s all kinds of other ways to meet folks.”

In the 1980s, cruising, or the act of seeking out sexual partners in public places, was common in the gay community, Zeisler said. Now, that experience is completely different.

“You’re doing the same things with apps now,” Zeisler said, “so [cruising] is a culture that no longer exists. The internet has changed everything.”

Junior psychology and international studies double major Cody Vandergrift has previously used the gay dating app Grindr.

“The people on [Grindr] are very, like, demeaning and not respectful,” Vandergrift said. “They’re just there for a hook-up … it’s usually a one-time thing. Then, it’s done.”

“I feel like Grindr has sexualized the whole dating experience for gay people,” Vandergrift added. “With Grindr, you have sex, you get to know the person, and then maybe a relationship forms or you become friends. But usually, you don’t know the person.”

Although Vandergrift has used Grindr, he met his current boyfriend at Bar 1868’s Drag Night. First, the boys shared prolonged eye contact during the performance. Then, the two exchanged winks from across the bar.

Cody’s boyfriend introduced himself after that, and the rest is history.

Tinder is another popular dating app, but it doesn’t share Grindr’s reputation for being reserved exclusively for anonymous hook-ups.

@timcarlin_ carlintm@miamioh.edu @wllgrmn gormanwm@miamioh.edu @daygave__ kwiatkdm@miamioh.edu

When we all fall asleep, where does the ranch dressing go?

EMILY DATTILO

CULTURE EDITOR In front of the cash register at Café Lux rests a plastic tray whose compartments house packages of different salad dressings. The small white packages glint with different colors — red, yellow, dark and light purple — distinguishing the different flavors from each other.

The display case offers a wide array of options: French, Italian, Caesar, balsamic and even raspberry vinaigrette. There is one particular dressing, however, that appears to be missing.

At first glance, it feels like a mistake. Perhaps you simply glanced too quickly.

Perhaps it’s stuck behind the raspberry vinaigrette packets. But no, as sad as it is to accept, the ranch packets seem to have disappeared from Lux — and this is where our Midwestern mystery begins.

Junior accounting major Julianna DiMarco remembered exactly where she was when she made this unfortunate discovery. She had ordered the spicy sriracha chicken flatbread from Lux and was looking for ranch dressing to dip it in.

“I did not find it,” she said. “It wasn’t readily available at Café Lux anywhere, and I figured that they would not have that behind the counter.”

She looked in the refrigerated areas near the check-out areas. It was nowhere to be found and, needless to say, this was an unwelcome surprise.

“Being born and raised in the Midwest and relocating to another Midwestern area, I was a little bit shocked and a little bit disappointed as well,” DiMarco, a Cleveland resident, said.

Landon Lambert, the executive dining manager for Armstrong, shed some light on this puzzling series of events. It turns out that the culinary team at Armstrong now makes

Sophomore biology major Maddie Rennie has a good friend who met her current girlfriend of four months on Tinder, but Rennie thinks success stories like her friend’s are few and far between.

“At first, I thought it was cool and I liked to swipe because it was entertaining,” Rennie said. “But now, I just think it is so unrealistic to find anything real on there. I’ve tried so many times and it just does not end up working out.”

Although Rennie is frequently disappointed with certain aspects of the digital dating scene, Zeisler doesn’t think it’s all bad.

From backward glances and contemplating the meaning of a pierced ear, to gay dating in the digital age, Zeisler’s 30-year watch over Miami’s red bricks has allowed him to bear witness to one constant: improvement.

“This campus is so much more inclusive and accessible [than it used to be],” Zeisler said. “Do we have work to do? Yeah, we always have work to do, but it’s nowhere near where it was.”

Zeisler acknowledges that while the Miami LGBTQ community has strengthened, it can always grow stronger.

“It’s the same for the gay community,” Zeisler added. “We’ve seen so much progress that’s happened over the years. That will continue to happen.”

INSTEAD OF FOLLOWING THE PAPER TRAIL, ONE NEED ONLY FOLLOW THE PACKET TRAIL. DESIGN EDITOR CONNOR WELLS.

ranch dressing and blue cheese from scratch, served in small plastic cups.

These two particular dressings were selected to be house-made because they’re two of the more popular choices.

“We prefer to use the housemade ranch versus the packet product as it is a more flavorful product with a fresh taste that our guests enjoy,” Lambert said.

DiMarco hadn’t seen the housemade ranch cups before.

“There is such an abundance of restaurants and places to eat at Armstrong that you’d figure you’d know about something like this,” she said.

DiMarco hopes that the dining services will make the house-made ranch dressing more well-known so that students across campus will be able to enjoy the popular Midwestern favorite as much as she and her friends do.

A few of DiMarco’s sorority friends even carry a bottle of

ranch to events, just in case pizza is being served. When she lived in the dorms, DiMarco and her roommates made sure to keep a bottle of ranch in the fridge. Now, in her apartment, they keep a gallon-sized bottle.

“I just really want to emphasize how important ranch is, above all the other condiments,” she said, “because you can put it on literally everything, like not just salad. It’s no ordinary dressing.”

For anyone harboring concerns over the disappearance of this beloved dressing, your worries are over. House-made ranch cups can be found at Sundial and Pulley, among other locations in Armstrong. Lambert also mentioned that if the desire for other house-made dressings increases, the culinary team might explore making other options available as well.

Case closed. dattilec@miamioh.edu

Firing up a new pledge class in Kappa Delta ZOEY BECKER

THE MIAMI STUDENT

THE MIAMI OPERA THEATRE BRINGS A CLASSIC SHOW TO A CONTEMPORARY SETTING. THE MIAMI STUDENT OLIVIA HENNESSEY

After two straight weekends of waking up at 6 a.m. to get ready for a day filled with small talk, Haley Faber couldn’t have been more excited to celebrate the end of recruitment with her sorority’s new pledge class.

Faber joined the Kappa Delta sorority last year as a sophomore.

“I was mostly excited, but a little nervous for bid day,” Faber said. “I’ve never experienced bid day from the other side and didn’t really know what to expect.”

After testing out many different

ways to tie a black bandana around her head and deciding on the right shoes to wear with leather pants, her sorority sisters picked her up to go to Millet.

The Kappa Delta section was a sea of black t-shirts and red bandanas.

Their theme was fire, or “hot new recruits.” Many girls wore red jackets and some wore firefighter hats or red wigs.

“I was wearing leather pants and heeled booties, and right next to me was my friend, Olivia, wearing a dalmation onesie,” Faber said. “She was our mascot for the day.”

Faber was excited to see her friends from other chapters at Millet.

“Being with all of the other chapters at Millet was so much fun because

everyone was so excited for their new members and for each other,” Faber said.

When it came time for the active members to welcome home the new pledge class, Faber was ecstatic to pick up one of her favorite girls that she had talked to.

In keeping with the fiery theme, she was thrilled to see recruitment light a fire under the new members.

“It was kind of surreal, seeing all of the girls that we recruited run home to us,” Faber said. “Because that was me just last year.” beckerzf@miamioh.edu

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2020

DATTILEC@MIAMIOH.EDU

CULTURE 7

PETS OF OXFORD

From New York to Miami University

One Rabbit’s Journey

IZZY OWEN

THE MIAMI STUDENT What’s black and white and bears a small resemblance to a cow? Moo, the aptly-named bunny. Although she has slightly-longer ears and a more impressive vertical leap than her bovine counterparts, the color similarities are striking.

Moo, named for that fur pattern similarity, hopped around the kitchen space in her new home as her owner, junior marketing major Maddy Perna, watched. Moo hasn’t been in Oxford long, but Perna says she’s fitting right in.

Moo arrived in Oxford after spending her entire life in New York, which is where Perna and her family are from. Moo enjoyed spending time in Rochester outside in Perna’s yard. Hopping happily through the blades of grass, she indulged her drive for animal adventure.

Moo has yet to be outside in Oxford, though, due to the heavy traffic outside of her house. Perna also doesn’t want Moo to run off. After her first check up, the vet recommended waiting a month to reduce this risk, but Perna can’t wait to get Moo outside again.

While Moo is Perna’s first pet — her mom is allergic to both cats and dogs — Perna is Moo’s fourth owner.

Despite being only six months old, Moo had three previous owners before Perna, including two sports teams. Moo’s journey began at The State University of New York College (SUNY) at Geneseo where she lived in a dorm with two girls.

“They couldn’t take care of her, obviously,” Perna said.

Dorm living is not ideal for a bunny, so the girls then gave Moo to the school’s lacrosse team, who then passed Moo to the hockey team. Perna’s

“She has become a lot more comfortable around me now.

I can pick her up without her freaking out.”

- Maddy Perna

MOO DIDN’T COME OUT OF A MAGICIAN’S HAT. INSTEAD, SHE JOURNEYED TO OXFORD FROM NEW YORK. CONTRIBUTED BY MADDY PERNA

brother, Chris, who is on the hockey team, took care of Moo at his house before bringing her home for winter break. That’s when Perna met Moo. “I just really liked her,” Perna said, referring to the first time she saw her. “She’s really cute.”

Perna and her parents spent J-term taking care of Moo, who was shy at first.

“She has become a lot more comfortable around me now,” Perna said. “I can pick her up

and hold her without her freaking out.”

Perna said her brother didn’t want to take Moo back to school with him, so she offered to take Moo to Miami. And that’s how Moo traveled from Rochester to Oxford, adjusting to a new school, home and three new roommates.

At first, one of Perna’s roommates, Grace, was apprehensive to Moo moving into their home.

“Once they saw her and saw she was really low

maintenance, they were all fine with it,” Perna said.

Moo is not only a sweet face, but also helps after long days at school. When Perna comes home after a stressful day, she lets Moo out to play.

Sometimes she will lay Moo on her chest and the two will watch TV to relax.

Together they watch The Office, Moo and Perna’s favorite show. owenip@miamioh.edu

From New York to Paris, Students make their Lexi Scherzinger makes her personalities stick mark on the fashion world

Behind the screens:

LEXI WHITEHEAD

THE MIAMI STUDENT Everywhere on campus, you can find students on their laptops. More often than not, those laptops are adorned with various stickers. These stickers can serve as a show of interest, a sign of support or a representation of identity.

Here are the stories behind three of those decked-out laptops on campus: Heather Yenchesky: First-year Heather Yenchesky is an out-of-state student from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, which is an important aspect of her identity portrayed by her laptop stickers.

“I really love where I’m from, so whenever I get to talk about it it makes me really happy,” she said. “So I wanna be able to represent that.”

Some stickers that show her Wisconsin pride include some from WASC Leadership Camp, where she was a camper and a counselor. A local coffee shop sticker in the shape of a bright blue bus with red flames is also featured. She has another sticker that says “It’s a bubbler” that her mom made for her.

In Southeastern Wisconsin, a water fountain is called a bubbler.

Yenchesky’s other passions are shown on her laptop as well. Her mom also made her a sticker of their yellow lab named Willow. A Department of Psychology sticker speaks to her major. She also has stickers from Whitefish, Montana, where she visits her grandparents and goes skiing.

“I love talking about my stickers,” she said. “They’re pretty colorful and happy, which I’d use to describe myself.”

Yenchesky’s stickers span across the back of her laptop. No one sticker touches another. She said she doesn’t want them to overlap because she loves all of them equally.

Henry Roach: The array of stickers on junior Henry Roach’s laptop serve as a recollection of his various experiences. Each of the stickers has some type of memory and importance attached to it, rather than being a random collection.

LAPTOP STICKERS TRANSFORM BLANK LAPTOP BACKS INTO ARTFUL CANVASES. THE MIAMI STUDENT LEXI WHITEHEAD

Some of his stickers include those of organizations he is a part of, like Sigma Tau Delta, College Democrats and Happy Captive Magazine. Also showcased is a sticker from the Humanities Center, where he does research. He also a sticker from the Governor’s Ball Music Festival, which is shaped like a cassette tape, and one from the New York public library and Abbey Road.

Roach’s favorite sticker is a unique one.

It is a golden seal from the U.S. House of Representatives that is used on proclamations. He got it when he worked at a representative’s office. It’s special to him because it’s one that most people don’t have and can’t get.

“It’s like having a rare Pokémon card,” he said.

In addition to showing off his experiences, Roach’s laptop stickers convey some of his interests. They represent his love for reading, his research and his political views.

He decorates his laptop with stickers because it’s important to him to have something that is 100 percent his own.

“Part of it is differentiating my Mac from other people, but part of it, also, I think, it’s fun for me to look at,” he said.

Madison Gibson: First-year Madison Gibson doesn’t care about the status quo.

There is hardly any empty space on her lap-

top, which is covered chaotically in various stickers, large and small. The stickers overlap and face every direction, even upside down.

“I didn’t know that there was, like, a rulebook for this, but everyone’s been coming at me with ‘stickers are supposed to face the other people if you open your laptop,’” Gibson said. “But I was like, ‘I’m the one that’s putting them on there.’ It’s my stickers, my laptop, so I wanna be looking at them facing me.”

Her disdain for the rules is further reflected in some of her sticker choices. In the top left corner is a sticker with six lightsabers, lined up on top of each other, each a color of the rainbow. Underneath lies a black and white Lego Indiana Jones from the video game.

“When I was a kid, I felt like I wasn’t allowed to like that kind of stuff, ‘cause it’s for boys or whatever, but I loved it,” she said.

“I grew up watching Star Wars and Indiana Jones ... and then I kinda overcorrected into being obsessed with them.”

Much like the display, Gibson’s collection of stickers is random. Some stickers she purchased, some were gifted to her, some came from a stolen water bottle and some came from a roll of stickers from the ‘90s.

Her laptop stickers show what she does and does not care about: she cares about her interests and being true to herself, but she doesn’t care about what other people think of her “chaotic energy.” whitehan@miamioh.edu

SCHERZINGER HAS BEEN ALL AROUND THE WORLD, BUT SHE DOESN’T PLAN TO STOP EXPLORING ANY TIME SOON. CONTRIBUTED BY LEXI SCHERZINGER

HANNAH HORSINGTON THE MIAMI STUDENT

Senior Lexi Scherzinger’s interest in fashion has literally taken her around the world.

In the summer of 2018, she lived in New York City and interned for world-renowned fashion designer Christian Siriano.

“It was exactly like ‘The Devil Wears Prada,’” she said, referencing the competitive and sometimes hostile work environment.

Lexi delivered papers to Siriano’s house all the time throughout the summer, and though there were only three interns, he never learned her name.

Even though she didn’t like the environment, Lexi still views the summer as a great learning experience.

Working directly with Siriano and other major players in his company, she was able to gain invaluable experience about technical design.

She then studied in Paris during the fall of 2018, right after she decided to switch majors.

Originally a strategic communication major, she decided to change to journalism. She’s known that she wanted to study fashion since her second semester freshman year.

Lexi is double majoring in fashion design and journalism with a minor in French. The French minor came in handy in Paris, where most shopkeepers couldn’t even tell that she was American.

During Lexi’s time in France, her professor took her class on a trip to the Champagne region of France to do a champagne tasting.

He joked that it was a requirement to get drunk or he wouldn’t let them on the bus back home.

The professor, a 5-foot-2-inch British man in his 70s who still dresses like it’s the 1980s, taught a class about luxury brand management. The class was Lexi’s favorite of the whole trip, and she added it to her fashion resume.

Through her various internship and travel experiences, Lexi learned that she values a good work environment, which she found during a summer 2019 media relations internship at the Chicago Museum of Contemporary Art. Just a mile and a half from her family home in Chicago, she was able to combine her jour-

nalism and fashion skills into an art-based public relations job.

Lexi worked closely with the exhibit featuring the work of Virgil Abloh, who is currently the men’s artistic director for Louis Vuitton and the former creative director for Kanye West.

“I absolutely loved it,” Lexi said. “That was the most friendly, welcoming, supportive work environment. I learned so much.”

She isn’t sure what she wants to do after graduation, but Lexi would consider returning to the museum. She’s also considering pursuing another route that would focus more on her journalism skills.

While attending the NYC Media trip this past J-term, she fell in love with The Marshall Project. Run by a former New York Times reporter, the project focuses on long form investigative reports on the criminal justice system.

“There is this investigation of individual people’s lives who have been touched by the criminal justice system,” she said. “That sounds like an absolute dream for me.”

Back in Oxford, working as the design co-director for Miami University Fashion & Design (MUF&D), Lexi is preparing to present her final collection during the organization’s annual fashion show, held this year on April 25 in Millett Hall.

Lexi has shown a collection annually since her freshman year, where she showed five pieces (which she says was too many, but she finished it anyway). This year, she plans to show six pieces, five of which were created during her senior studio, and the last of which was created on the side during her spare time.

She spends about 2o hours a week “breaking [her] neck in front of the sewing machine,” but she loves it all the same.

Lexi is the only senior designer who has shown a collection all four years.

“It’ll be super, super fun to finish off exactly where I started,” she said.

And though Lexi doesn’t know where she’ll be living and working a year from now, she knows that one day, she’ll return to the city that she fell in love with during a college studyabroad experience: Paris. @h_horsington12 horsinhp@miamioh.edu

8

FRANCONC@MIAMIOH.EDU TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2020

Yeezy seasons change

Streetwear prepares to leave Kanye behind

OWEN BERG,

ASST. DESIGN EDITOR At last week’s Vanity Fair Oscars after-party, Kim Kardashian-West arrived in a breathtaking dress, designed by the late Lee Alexander McQueen for his spring/summer 2003 collection.

The dress, made from cascading layers of gauzy, tattered silk, clung to her body perfectly, despite having debuted on a runway over 17 years ago. It is one of two ever produced. The other one resides in the private collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute.

Behind Kim stood her date, Kanye West, in a black leather suit and tan boots.

For some reason, Kanye fans rejoiced. The subdued (translation: boring) ensemble was a rare glimpse of the elusive “old Kanye,” a creature his most stubborn devotees will insist is totally superior to the current model.

On this particular evening, he took us back to a Kanye who was more slim, suave and stable, last seen around 2014. This was the same Ye who inspired so many men to pick up their first pair of ripped skinny jeans from Zara or faux-suede chelsea boots from ASOS. Kanye enthusiasts applauded this return to form. As one member of Miami University’s SneakGeekz sneaker club proclaimed at their meeting last Tuesday: “Kanye is back!”

His fellow Geekz nodded in agreement.

The SneakGeekz are a small, closeknit community of Miami’s most-intense sneaker and streetwear obsessives. They know their shoes inside and out. And, coincidentally, they know the universe of Kanye West to the same degree.

Junior biology major Tyler Chinsky is the president of SneakGeekz.

His mind jumps straight to Ye when he recalls his beginnings as a sneakerhead.

“Honestly, it was just Kanye,” he said. “The shoes that really got me into it were the Black [Yeezy Boost] 750s, in I think winter 2015.”

After he saw the rare kicks on Kanye, he was hooked.

“From then I just, like, wanted to get more.”

For many young men like Chinsky, the frenzy around Yeezy sneakers served as the gateway down the streetwear rabbit hole. Kanye’s personal style also played a huge role, documented through thousands of paparazzi snapshots. For at least a decade, men’s fashion magazines, Instagram pages and blogs have obsessed over Kanye’s wardrobe, documenting every little change.

This coincided with the rise of his Yeezy clothing brand, which sells

comfy athleisure staples alongside sneakers for less-than-comfy prices.

This all created a halo of hype around Kanye, cementing his place as a god of 2010s street fashion (as he proclaims in his 2013 song “I Am A God.”)

JEANS: The comeback kings, even though they never left

At the SneakGeekz meeting, Mr. West comes up about once every five minutes, but not always to such fanfare. The Oscars fit was merely a wrinkle in time – a fleeting ghost of Kanye past. The new Ye is definitely still behind the wheel, and when it comes to the product currently coming from the Yeezy brand, the Geekz aren’t so impressed.

At one point during their meeting last week, Chinsky displayed an article on the projector screen, reporting on the release date of three new earth-toned colorways of the Yeezy Boost 350 sneaker. They let out a groan, muttering sarcastically to each other.

“Kanye doing earth tones again? Who could have predicted?”

This jaded Yeezy cynicism plagues sneakerheads worldwide. While Kanye introduced many of them into the sneaker game, they’re sick of seeing the same old thing from Kanye.

The

numbers show this as well. The resale prices on some Yeezy shoes now dip below their $220 retail value when they used to reach well over $1500.

The hype is clearly simmering down.

Much of this could be due to the global rise in the menswear market.

Young, style-savvy men like Chinsky aren’t solely focused on what they put on their feet anymore. To him, fashion has become a meaningful form of self-expression.

Although he started out looking up to Kanye as a style icon, it’s clear he’s now focused on developing a personal style unique to him.

For people who are new to men’s fashion, Chinsky urges them to find something “that actually fits your style, not just the image that you’re going for.”

Mr. West may never be the streetwear deity he was throughout the last decade. As we trudge on into the 2020s, streetwear-heads around the world will continue to grow weary of Kanye’s vision, as they find themselves attracted to newer, rarer drops.

But every once in awhile, it’ll happen like it did at the Oscars. The smoke will clear for a moment, the sneaky face of old Kanye will shine through, and they’ll remember why they fell in love with the game in the first place. bergoe@miamioh.edu

“For many young men like Chinsky, the frenzy around Yeezy sneakers served as the gateway down the streetwear rabbit hole.”

ILLUSTRATION BY MIN KIM

Timothée Chalamet isn’t afraid to play with femininity.

Neither should you.

ABIGAIL PADGETT

ami in 2016, said that during her time in college, everyone wore skinny jeans.

“Only skinny,” she added. “High rise didn’t reJeans: The layman’s pants. Daisy dukes. Bell ally become a huge thing until probably my junior bottoms. The Canadian tuxedo. High rise. Acid or senior year.”

Looking around, it does feel like there has wash. Boot cut. Ripped. Frayed. Mom. Skinny. Denim. It’s a fabric that’s as versatile as it is been a subtle sort of renaissance in denim, a new constant. You can practically see denim’s de- acceptance for the kooky shapes and designs that cades-long, Rocky-style montage charting its ev- weren’t in vogue five years ago. Embroidery had (is maybe still having?) a moment. The ‘90s-iner-shifting success.

Every couple of years or so, jeans undergo spired mom jean said, “hey, honey” from the back some new transformation, making the old seem of the closet. Even a rediscovered love for the dinew, the out feel in. Denim is a relatively demo- sheveled, loose fit boy jean has suddenly stolen cratic staple in anyone’s wardrobe, but there is the spotlight.

Caniglia, who first came to Miami in 2012, a malleability to the fabric that keeps it fresh, no said when she stepped on campus, there was matter the time of year or flaky trend.

In terms of “wearability,” jeans have histori- still more of a balanced ratio to what people were cally been considered casual, low-key, not-to-be- wearing on campus, especially girls. “[I’d say] worn-to-dinner50:50 Lululemon or-grandma’s, to jeans ratio for but, slowly, the class,” she said. tides are turning “I would say it in denim’s favor. depended on the “I definitely girl.” think the style Compare that has become more with today, eight elevated. I mean, years later, where you can walk into virtually every gal any regular store and guy sports a and there are so pair of black legmany different gings and trendy styles of jeans,” sneakers.

Plus, said senior Kate the high-rise Melia, a student black skinny jean who has watched (there’s a mouthMiami’s denim ful), which hit trend change over its peak around her four years on2015-2017, has aland-off-campus. ready had its moAs of late, both ment, all in under in Oxford and five years. beyond, denim “When we is becoming — if first got here, I possible — even feel like everyone more multifacetthought they had ed, both in looks to wear a skirt or a and in purpose.

EVERY COUPLE OF YEARS, JEANS UNDERGO A TRANSFORMATION. dress,” The fabric can ASST. PHOTO EDITOR BO BRUECK Melia humornow be worn to many corporate nine-to-fives, as well as expand- ously reminisced of her first week in Oxford. ing in terms of style. There really seems to be no “Oh, I literally wore a velvet black dress and some heels. What was I doing?” she laughed. end to what denim can do.

It’s simpler now.

At Miami specifically, students reserve jeans “I love loose fit jeans,” she said. “And now, for social outings, opting to save the trendy threads for the weekend or evenings out. Where people wear cute jeans and a nicer top rather athleisure dominates campus and class five days than wearing a skirt and a sweater or a skirt and of the week, Thursday and Friday nights, as well booties.”

“You can make jeans look cute,” Melia added. as Saturdays, feel solely reserved for denim.

“I feel like when I was a freshman here, ev- The “no matter what” feels attached. It really is eryone just wore basic skinny jeans,” Melia said. a fabric that does it all, that manages to remain “Plain or ripped, but that’s all anyone wore every classic in spite of all of its multiplicity.

So, take that, country clubs of America, corpotime we’d go out. But now, people are wearing cuter jeans: embroidered, mom jeans, looser rate dictators and Thanksgiving dinners hosted jeans. There’s a lot of different fits now, whereas by Boomers. Jeans are back, and better than ever.

Oh wait, they never really left. freshman year it was all skinny.”

Catherine Caniglia, who graduated from Mipadgetac@miamioh.edu THE MIAMI STUDENT

NINA FRANCO STYLE EDITOR

I discovered the greatness that is Timothée Chalamet when he graced the screen of the AMC in Georgetown, as Elio in the Oscar-winning, “Call Me By Your Name.” Sure, he is a phenomenal actor, but the way he rocked 80s fashion trends in that film – printed shortshorts, white leather converse and RayBan wayfarer sunglasses – made him the trendiest prepster I had seen since Andrew McCarthy in John Hughes’ “Pretty in Pink.”

Then came the edgy, rich hipster with the tousled hair, Kyle in “Ladybird,” the beaten-down, flannel-wearing drug-addict in “Beautiful Boy” and, more recently, well-mannered and irresistable Laurie in Civil War garb filming Greta Gerwig’s “Little Women.” One honorable mention from Chalamet’s film pedigree would be the teal rugby shirt and white backwards hat worn in “Hot Summer Nights.”

But, the moral of the story is Timothée Chalamet could wear a trashbag and I would still bow down to him, begging Anna Wintour to let him grace the cover of Vogue.

So, naturally, when it came time to review the fashion scene at this year’s Academy Awards, I forgot every other A-list star was there because I was so captivated by Chalamet’s Prada tracksuit.

The moment he stepped on the carpet, it felt like a resurgence of Old Hollywood glamour came to dazzle the flashing cameras.

His tousled, fun hair was groomed back into the iconic James Dean hairstyle, and the strict symmetry of his face and soft-smile somehow made the 24-year-old carry the maturity of someone twice his age.

The nylon suit ranges in price from $3,000 to $5,000 on Prada’s website and is nowhere near close being a practical outfit for a workout at the gym.

Other style critics were quick to point out that Chalamet’s Oscar look replicated Frank Ocean and Kanye West’s 2019 Met-Gala outfits. However, even though Chalamet’s nylon suit bore a striking resemblance to Ocean and West’s looks, the latter stars’ style seemed to express a lost era of American masculinity.

Chalamet was different.

The young actor successfully experimented balancing the aesthetic of a

manly 50s greaser in combination with playful femininity, often exemplified by Harry Styles.

The addition of the vintage 1955 Cartier brooch, complete with Burmese rubies, elevated the otherwise simple white button-down with the zip-up.

The priceless Heritage Collection piece served as a reminder that men too can allow great pieces of jewelry to accentuate their outfits. In recent years, men on the red carpet have exchanged classic Rolex watches and chains for ear cuffs, stacked sterling rings and eclectic necklaces.

This hasn’t been Chalamet’s first A+ red-carpet look, and it certainly won’t be his last. His style has come a long-way since his 2018 Oscar’s appearance in an all-white Berluti suit. Just look at pic-

CHALAMET DAZZLED IN HIS OSCARS FIT. CONTRIBUTED BY @GQ TWITTER

tures from his 2019 Little Women press tour where he sported a “Gorillaz” cartoon band graphic-tee.

Chalamet’s style proves that 2020 is an exciting time for the fashion world, in which more men continue to sport traditionally feminine looks in popular culture.

So, be a man and wear jewelry.

If Timothée Chalamet is doing it, there is no reason your average-joe cannot. franconc@miamioh.edu

FRANCONC@MIAMIOH.EDU

9

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2020

A seventh-grader’s guide to TikTok

OUR MANAGING EDITOR RECEIVED A MUCH-NEEDED LESSON IN THE TIKTOK TREND FROM HER YOUNGER BROTHER (RIGHT). CONTRIBUTED BY LIAM DOYLE

CÉILÍ DOYLE

MANAGING EDITOR I sat at my kitchen table over J-term watching, with increasing bemusement, as my younger brother and sister perfected their version of the “Say So” Doja Cat dance at the opposite end of the kitchen.

They were making a TikTok, that much I knew, but I wasn’t sure what for or why any of it mattered.

“What are you guys doing?” I called after, laughing as they continuously re-recorded themselves until they were in perfect sync.

“You just wouldn’t understand, Ceili,” my brother Liam said. “It’s TikTok.” So, I became determined to understand.

Liam and I are nine and half years apart. He’s the youngest of our family, and I’m the oldest.

We’re separated by two sisters and a generation’s worth of pop culture references and memes.

Depending on who you ask, I am either a very young Millennial or a very old member of Gen Z (I was born in November 1997). Liam, who was born in May 2007, is decidedly a member of Gen Z, or the iGen. And I wanted to know why he — and most kids his age — are so obsessed with TikTok and how it’s changed social media for an average seventh grade kid. ***

Before TikTok there was Musical.ly, a lip-synching app based in Shanghai that became incredibly popular among American kids.

“It was a huge app when I was in third grade,” Liam explained to me on a phone call last week.

In August 2018, ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company that specializes in artificial intelligence — also based in China, bought Musical.ly and merged the app with TikTok. “You remember that app, Dubsmash?” Liam asked me.

“Vaguely,” I said.

Dubsmash, as Liam tells it, was a lot like TikTok, just “cringier.” The difference in TikTok is its versatility, he said.

“TikTok is just like YouTube,” Liam said. “There’s so many things you can do.”

But it all starts with the ‘For You’ page, an exploratory section of the app where you can discover hundreds of thousands of videos, and where Liam said people go to “look for a sound.”

The biggest sound out there right now, Charli D’Amelio (who has 25.9 million followers and 1.4 billion likes) who lip syncs over dances “as far as the eye can scroll,” my brother explained. Aspiring TikTokers, and a lot of girls in Liam’s grade will copy D’Amelio’s sound and use that in their own TikTok videos while performing their own versions of the dance.

“They all become so big, you think maybe you’ll strike the luck and become viral, too,” he said.

I asked Liam, who downloaded the app last fall, if he has any serious aspirations to go viral.

“There was always, when I started making my videos just for jokes, the hope and dream of going viral, but no one can,” he said with a laugh.

For Liam, TikTok is all about the laughs.

Sure, he likes scrolling through the dances here and there, but the real entertainment lies in the funny videos and memes.

There’s a guy who will recap a weekend in the NFL by role playing the various teams in short 10-second segments. Or, over winter break, when tensions rose between the U.S. and Iran after President Trump ordered the military to kill Iran’s top general, videos started

cropping up of kids preparing to be drafted for WWIII. “Pretty much anything big that happens [in the world] is on TikTok,” Liam said.

Does the app give younger kids a way to cope with hard news, I wondered?

“Yeah, maybe,” my brother said.

“Everyone feels, like, the need to be so politically correct, but on [TikTok] everyone’s just so chill so no one needs to be calling people out.”

It’s a bit of an escape, then.

“It’s just all about humor,” Liam said. “It’s a lighthearted app, and it’s not meant to offend anyone. It’s almost like an invisible contract you sign when you download the app and anything possible can happen on TikTok.” He added that, when people become extremely racist or homophobic on the app, they are shut down.

But the space exists to entertain.

“There’s something for everyone on TikTok,” he insisted.

Feeling slightly more knowledgeable toward the end of our conversation, I was curious what Liam’s prediction would be on TikTok’s shelf-life.

“How long do you think TikTok’s gonna last?” I asked.

“I think it’ll be like YouTube,” Liam said. “YouTube was nothing really at first — and so was TikTok — and then, all of the sudden, in the early 2000s it blew up, and then it died down again and then since 2015 the Jake and Logan Paul’s took over, and then it transitioned into Fortnite and gaming and now there’s not really a trend going on, but something’s going to happen soon.”

Until then, seventh grade will continue to be dominated by talk of TikTok. Nearly all of Liam’s friends have downloaded the app. Conversation about and constant scrolling through popular videos and dances reverberate through the hallways of his middle school, on the bus ride home and in carpools before basketball practice.

It’s addicting.

“A lot of people have problems with TikTok because it’s a never-ending scroll, some people at night, they’re just scrolling for hours on end,” Liam said. “I’m able to stop myself at a certain point because it kind of gets boring.”

My brother started setting screen limits for himself at the beginning of the school year because he felt like he spent too much time on his phone.

“You can ignore them,” he said, “and I do sometimes, but when I see them it reminds me to put my phone down and go outside to play basketball or run with Ollie [our dog].” @cadoyle_18 doyleca3@miamioh.edu

“There’s something for everyone on TikTok...”

ABBY JEFFREY

THE MIAMI STUDENT It isn’t necessarily news that white sneakers are on trend – they have been for years, as far back as 2018, which, in fashion terms, is a long time.

Between my first pair of Adidas original

ILLUSTRATION BY CONNOR WELLS

“But something I’ve quietly wondered is why we buy white shoes and wear them when we go out, knowing full well that they’ll be trashed by the end of the night.”

Stan Smiths and my next pair of white Nike Air Force Ones, it’s also a trend I have completely embraced. Lately, I have even become interested in purchasing the chunky Filas that seem to garner a lot of negative attention.

But something I’ve quietly wondered is why we buy white shoes and wear them when we go out, knowing full well that they’ll be trashed by the end of the night?

Miami University junior and strategic communication, journalism and political science triple major Katherine Bukowski understands this confusion well.

“I actually had someone come up to me at Brick and ask why I wore white sneakers out because they’ll just get dirty,” Bukowski said. “They told me they’ll only wear black.”

Her rationale is something I’m familiar with.

“I have a white pair for going out and ones that I keep clean to wear with cute and casual outfits,” Bukowski said.

“After a certain point, white shoes will get worn, and you just have to get a new pair or wash them.”

I used to have one pair for going out and one pair kept nice, but eventually my nice shoes became my going out shoes over time as I accidentally wore my shoes out one too many times on a Saturday and one too many times in the rain.

Gia Tummillo, another junior and the founder and creator of MUse Management, said that getting her white shoes dirty isn’t even a concern.

“I love white sneakers,” Tumillo said. “One: they’re really easy; two: they’re comfortable and three: just easily thrown in the wash. They go in the wash with detergent and cold water and bleach laces.”

She also loves to wear them out as a substitution for other going-out-footwear.

“I also buy platform white sneakers because I think they’re a great alternative to the platform bootie and booties/ heels in general,” Tumillo said. “They’re so much more comfortable than heels and are the one shoe that really does fit all. No one ever dreads wearing them out.”

The shoes are not only comfortable, but versatile.

“The best part about white shoes is you can dress them up or dress them down, like I’m wearing them with joggers now, but I would wear them with a dress,” Tummillo said.

But there’s an expensive and quite boujee shoe brand on the market now, too, along with some others, that come pre-scuffed and ready to wear: Golden Goose. The brand’s shoes, a literal golden goose, run easily between $400$600 and can be found online and in stores like Nordstrom and Bloomingdales.

While some don’t understand why anyone would buy a shoe that already looks dirty, others love the look.

Seniors Ali Royals, a creative writing major, and Sofia Vlahakos, a psychology and religion double major, each own a pair of the pre-scuffed shoes.

“We also like the way they already look broken in because we don’t like the look of pristine sneakers,” Royals said.

“I don’t have to worry about wearing them out, and they get dirty or messy since they already come looking that way.”

And the price? Well, they say the price is worth it because the shoes are so original.

“They are expensive, but each sneaker is so unique that we feel it’s worth it, especially since we wear them all the time so we get our money’s worth,” Royals said.

Others think that those who do end up purchasing the shoes, do so for the “brand clout.”

“I think a lot of people at Miami wear certain brands for recognition, even if the rest of the outfit doesn’t look great,” Bukowski said.

A lot of people, not just college students at Miami, buy and wear brands for association and recognition. This is due, in large part, to the rise of influencer culture that lives on in all forms of social media, encouraging us to “stunt” on each other through materiality.

Golden Goose is the perfect example of a brand that appeals to influencer culture. It is unique in its relative unknownness — it’s not Gucci or a pair of Louboutins — and reflects the way fashion has wholeheartedly embraced street style and culture through a dirty, scuffed up shoe.

Regardless of the price or color that our favorite pair of shoes are now, in the future those shoes will still be decided by the trends we follow on social media.

But as senior Rachel Lowrie said, “At the end of day, we’ll all be wearing them out on Saturdays, so really, what’s the difference?” jeffrea2@miamioh.edu

Sports

10 Miami Cheerleading is more than a team

— it’s a family

VINELCA@MIAMIOH.EDU

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2020

Smoothing over problems:

The men behind the maintenance at Goggin

CONTINUED ON PAGE 10

my second year here and just knowing how deep and how far the cheer world goes in without actually knowing that it’s even there when you don’t get introduced to it is crazy.”

Doebereiner said Miami cheerleading is more than just a team. Kassandra Strahler, a sophomore early childhood education major, said the same.

“For those two minutes and 30 seconds, your mind is completely blank,” Strahler said.

“You’re not thinking about yourself, you’re doing it for everyone else. It’s that mindset that’s so rare to have. You have to be able to put your team before yourself.”

The team’s family dynamic is apparent, even when new members are added to the mix.

At it’s first practice after the UCA National Championship, the cheerleading team welcomed new members. Veterans taught their potential new teammates how to properly complete lifts. After each attempt, both failed and successful, words of encouragement echoed through the gym.

“You will never succeed in this sport if you don’t learn how to take correction, because it’s somebody’s life you’re holding,” Strahler said.

“If you don’t have complete trust in the person that’s holding you, you will never succeed as a team.”

Forty-five minutes into practice, Doebereiner and Strahler practiced lifting together.

Strahler flew into the air, being held up by only Doebereiner’s grip on her two feet. After balancing herself, Strahler lifted one foot into the air, holding it in her hand.

Doebereiner inhaled deeply, his face reddening with each passing moment. He pushed Strahler upward and removed one of his hands from her foot.

Strahler now balanced on one foot, standing on only one of Doebereiner’s hands. A smile spread across her face.

The rest of the team took notice and began to cheer on the duo. With one final upward push, Strahler flew up and back down, assisted in her landing by Doebereiner and two other cheerleaders.

Doebereiner and Strahler congratulated each other with a high-five and an embrace after completing the lift, but the pair weren’t the only ones feeling the joy. Other cheerleaders congratulated them and encouraged each other to keep working hard.

“You gotta have a team who is confident in each other to throw the same stunt and hit it the same way,” Doebreiner said.

Strahler interjected.

“It’s all or nothing.” @timcarlin_ carlintm@miamioh.edu

BRANDON HALL (RIGHT) DRIVES A ZAMBONI AROUND THE STEVE ‘COACH’ CADY ARENA ICE DURING A HOCKEY GAME BETWEEN MIAMI AND THE WESTERN MICHIGAN BRONCOS ON FEB. 14. THE MIAMI STUDENT MACY WHITAKER

DAVID KWIATKOWSKI ASST. CULTURE EDITOR

Being an outsider to sports, I always latch onto the smallest details that manage to grab my interest and obsess over them.

In hockey, it’s the Zamboni.

It never fails to bring me joy anytime I oddly find myself in a rink. I was curious as to what a person has to learn in order to use an ice resurfacer — yes, that is the technical name.

Zamboni is just the most popular brand — and what type of person takes on that kind of occupation. I found out everything and more when I sat down with two of the three full-time ice technicians at Goggin Ice Center.

Brandon Hall, 43, and Daryl Hildebrand, 60, are two of the certified ice technicians behind the Zamboni wheel, and neither of them had any experience with managing an ice rink before coming to Miami University.

“Until my son started playing hockey seven years ago,” Hall said, “I had never been in an ice rink.”

Hildebrand had a similar experience.

“I had never even heard of a Zamboni,” he said. “[My native Indiana is] mostly football and basketball.”

However, they both had extensive maintenance experience.

Hildebrand hails from Tarnsville, Indiana, and worked maintenance for 36 years at the Indiana Department of Natural Resources.

Hall, a Cincinnati native, has done mechanical work since he graduated high school.

After they both were interviewed three times for the job, they were hired and sent to the North American Rink Conference and Expo to take classes like Basic Arena Refrigeration and Ice Painting and Making to gain their ice technician certificates. They have to renew their certifications every five years.

Even then, they both still felt like the only real way to learn arena management was by actually doing it.

“You do anything like we do over and over again,” Hildebrand said. “And you just start getting good at it.”

Hall said he had an interesting experience training to use the Zamboni. His trainer was a man who had been driving for over 15 years.

“I rode with him for the first day,” Hall said, “because I had never driven one before.

The next day, he let me drive around a little bit on the ice. The third day, he called in sick. My boss walked me through the steps again, and before I could wrap my brain around it, he told me I was good to go.”

Hall is now a trainer for anyone new who steps up to drive the Zamboni.

“Driving it is easy,” Hall said. “But as soon as something goes wrong, people panic and everyone’s an expert Zamboni driver.”

The actual logistics of how exactly a Zamboni works are more complex than they seem.

Hall compares the mechanism to that of a razor blade.

The underside of the ice resurfacer shaves a microscopic layer of ice off. Then, the wash water that comes out acts like the gel strip of a razor, helping to fill in the gouges made by the ice skates.

Hall does most of the maintenance on Miami’s Zambonis himself, including the required daily and monthly checks.

“We do a lot,” Hall said. “I have to change the blades every 120 cuts. If the cuts [on the ice] are harder, we change every 80 cuts.”

Whether it be changing the coolant or greasing the Zambonis, Hall ensures it is done.

He said there has been a learning curve though, as there are no ice resurfacer service centers nearby.

“Yeah, the closest one is in Michigan.” Hall said. “I’ll call up there for help when I need it.”

He and a man named Jeff have become quite good friends over the phone.

However, Hall and Hildebrand’s shifts at Goggin are not just made up of driving in circles on the ice.

“We sharpen customer skates,” Hall said, “and the synchronized skating team’s skates, whatever comes up. Sometimes I’ll be doing something, and in the middle of it, I’ll be called to cut and edge the ice.”

Their daily duties even extend past dealing with ice and skates.

“We do a lot of the building maintenance around here,” Hildebrand said. “We change lightbulbs, outlet switches, we deal with the toilets when they malfunction.”

Hall took me back to their massive workshop. There are so many machines to which you could potentially lose a finger. The ice plant, comprised of several large white tubes that act as a refrigeration system for the rinks, makes sounds similar to 100 jackhammers going at once. Hall and Hildebrand are unfazed, though.

On varsity game nights, it is common for them to be hard at work until 2 a.m. They prep the arena for the game and then have to shut everything down.

“If anyone could see how much work we do besides driving the Zamboni,” Hildebrand said. “No one would be jealous of our jobs.” kwiatkdm@miamioh.edu

HOCKEY NOTEBOOK

Miami will focus on the process and carry fewer passengers CHRIS VINEL

SPORTS EDITOR “Pick a side of the line.

“If you’re not with us, you’re against us, and we’ve got no time for you.”

Chris Bergeron gave that message to his RedHawks during his first meeting as Miami’s head hockey coach.

He demanded buy-in, effort and attention to detail. The program he inherited from Enrico Blasi needed a rebuild, a process Bergeron recognized as possibly long and involving every person around the team.

Saturday, after his team fell to Western Michigan, 4-1, he talked about effort and punctiliousness again.

“Pretty ugly game,” Bergeron said at the postgame press conference. “Pretty disappointed in our effort — the third period. The first two periods, I’m disappointed in our thought process. There wasn’t a lot of smart hockey being played on our side, but again, I think we were trying.

“But the self-inflicted things we do, that give other teams opportunities or goals, I’m not sure I’ve seen it to the level of this before. It cost us the game. And in the third, I felt like the players quit, and that’s something I’m going to address.”

Bergeron, a very task-oriented coach, has one week to prepare the RedHawks for No. 7 Denver, whom Miami plays away games against on Friday and Saturday at 9:07 p.m.

EST. The Pioneers (17-8-5) hit a rough patch in the last two weeks of their otherwise stellar season. They have

lost only eight contests this year, but they’ve dropped four straight. Their last win: Jan. 25 against the RedHawks in Oxford.

Dating back even two weeks be-

back to simply executing their routine this week.

“We’ll focus on our process,” Bergeron said. “Our process Friday (in a 2-2 tie) was much, much bet-

Offensive woes During their winless streak, the RedHawks have scored four or more goals in a game just once. In that span, they’ve surrendered four

SENIOR GOALTENDER RYAN LARKIN HURRIES TO BLOCK A SHOT IN A 2-2 TIE AGAINST WESTERN MICHIGAN ON FEB. 14 AT THE GOGGIN ICE CENTER. LARKIN STOPPED 26 SHOTS. THE MIAMI STUDENT MACY WHITAKER

fore then, Miami (6-17-5) has struggled. It picked up its last victory on Jan. 10 and currently holds a ninegame winless streak.

After the RedHawks took Monday off, Bergeron said they will go

ter than our process on Saturday, so we’ll go back and drill down and try to prepare and take care of making it right or focus on how we can make it better, in terms of our game. We’ll go back to the process discussion.”

or more goals six times.

“I think it’s just not enough guys contributing,” Bergeron said. “I think, when we go back and look at a Colorado College game, a Bowling Green game, a second-half-of-the-

year game, even the first half when it was just a little bit of success, those games were a collective effort, in particular five-on-five ... The fiveon-five scoring, if we’re doing it by committee and we have other people involved, we’re a different team.

It just hasn’t been there.”

Defensive woes Bergeron emphasized the play of his goaltenders was not the issue, but he said his team needs to play better defense.

“We’ve really, really been struggling defensively,” Bergeron said.

“We’re giving up way too many chances, which lead to way too many goals. That isn’t a shot at the goaltender. That is a defending issue, and in a lot of cases, it’s a defensemen issue. That’s a fact.”

Senior Ryan Larkin and freshman Ben Kraws have been rotating in the net.

Big picture “But I do think throwing your hands up in the air and saying I’m doing everything I can do and we’re still losing, that’s not what’s happening,” Bergeron said. “That is not what’s happening.

“What’s happening is, we’re not being the best version of ourselves, and then the results are showing.

So if we can be the best versions of ourselves and focus on the process, which is all the little pieces of our game, I think that’s the collective. If we can focus on the individual being the best version of himself, it gives us the chance to take care of the process, which hopefully gives us a chance to take care of some results.” @ChrisAVinel vinelca@miamioh.edu

VINELCA@MIAMIOH.EDU

SPORTS 11

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2020

SENIOR SPOTLIGHT:

SAVANNAH KLUESNER: STAR PLAYER, FUTURE COACH? LUKAS NELSON

THE MIAMI STUDENT When asked about her plans after graduation, Savannah Kluesner said she was still weighing a few options.

Coach DeUnna Hendrix, however, knows exactly which path the senior forward should take.

“She doesn’t know she’s gonna coach yet,” Hendrix said.

The traits that would make Kluesner a natural fit in the coaching ranks are the same qualities the 6-foot-2 forward uses to star on the court. Her basketball IQ and versatility allow her to take on different roles in the RedHawks’ offense.

“I could put her just about anywhere on the floor,” Hendrix said.

“We have offenses where she’s at the elbow, where’s she at the short corner, where’s she on the block, where’s she’s on the trail, so a little bit of everything.”

“A little bit of everything” is a good way to describe Kluesner’s game. Her 15.5 points per game is second on the team, and she gets her points in a variety of ways, scoring from the post, in the pick and roll, and on mid-range jumpers. Because of her scoring abilities, Kluesner often draws double teams, which allows her to pass the ball out to open teammates.

She is an inside presence on both ends, leading the team in both rebounding and blocks for the second consecutive year. Her long arms wreak havoc on defense, allowing her to get into passing lanes for deflections and make the other team think twice about driving into the lane.

Since the start of her career at Miami, Kluesner has gone from a quiet freshman to being more vocal on and off the court. Some of Kluesner’s fondest memories at Miami are hanging out with her teammates, and their camaraderie on the floor makes their

bond away from basketball that much stronger.

“We’re pretty goofy off the court,” Kluesner said. “... Going through the grind every day together just makes us that much closer.”

One teammate Kluesner has grown particularly close with is senior guard Lauren Dickerson, Miami’s leading scorer. Dickerson and Kluesner are the team’s only two seniors who have played at Miami all four years. Although the pair was shy as freshmen, they both grew a lot and became closer to each other.

“Me and Lauren are pretty close,” Kluesner said. “We’ve been through a lot, just having three different (coaching) staffs and having to go through all that change, so having each other has been huge for both of us.”

The most recent change happened last spring, as Hendrix was hired to replace Megan Duffy, who left Miami to become the head coach at Marquette. This season, Hendrix’s first at Miami, Kluesner has helped her coach by being a quick learner and an example for her teammates to follow.

“Her ability to translate from a coaching perspective to a player perspective helps on and off the floor,” Hendrix said. “But at the end of the day, she’s able to apply it, as well. So just being as talented as she is, people see her do it, so it’s an easier message for them, I guess.”

With a new system under Hendrix, Kluesner has thrived. After a breakout junior season in which she was named second-team All-MAC, Kluesner has somehow stepped up her play, increasing her scoring average by more than two points per game.

She’s also blocked 44 shots this year, almost twice as many as last year. Kluesner has a real shot at becoming the single-season Miami leader in blocked shots and dou-

ble-doubles by the end of the season, needing just 12 blocks and three double-doubles to accomplish both feats.

The senior forward is second in the Mid-American Conference in blocks per game and third in rebounds per game. She is also fifth in total points and sixth in field goal percentage.

Simply put, Kluesner is not only one of the best players on her team, but in the MAC as well.

The senior has also improved her leadership ability, tapping into her coaching potential and becoming more of a vocal leader after Miami lost three starters from last year’s team.

“I think I’ve really developed, especially in the past year, just, like, being more of a leader on the floor and off the floor, too,” Kluesner said.

By the time Kluesner’s career in Oxford comes to a close, her name will be all over Miami’s record books.

She’s currently fourth in career blocked shots and double-doubles, as well as seventh in career rebounds.

With five games left in the regular season, as well as the MAC tournament, Kluesner has plenty of time to move up in the rankings.

Since taking over as Miami’s head coach, Hendrix has learned a lot about her players. When asked what she’s learned about Kluesner during the season, Hendrix had high praise.

“At the end of the day, she is the ultimate competitor,” Hendrix said.

“She wants to win anything and everything.”

Competitiveness, IQ, leadership: these are the traits that make Kluesner a great player.

They’re also the traits that could make her a great coach. @LukasTheDream nelso156@miamioh.edu

SAVANNAH KLUESNER ATTEMPTS A LAYUP DURING MIAMI’S 75-62 VICTORY OVER THE BOWLING GREEN FALCONS FEB. 23, 2019, AT MILLETT HALL. KLUESNER POSTED AN 11-POINT, 14-REBOUND DOUBLE-DOUBLE. THE MIAMI STUDENT ZACH REICHMAN

Miami baseball starts slower than anticipated LILY FREIBERG

THE MIAMI STUDENT Miami baseball didn’t exactly bring the heat last weekend, even though it was much warmer in College Station, Texas, than it was in Oxford.

In their season-opening series against No. 21 Texas A&M, the RedHawks lost all three games.

Their first game of the season, on Friday, was a 17-1 loss.

On Saturday, the RedHawks lost, 9-2, and they lost again, 6-2, on Sunday.

Friday’s third inning was wild for Miami’s defense JACK CORBELL DELIVERS A PITCH DURING HIS SENIOR SEASON IN 2019. HE GRADUATED LAST MAY, LEAVING A HOLE IN THE STARTING ROTATION THE REDHAWKS ARE TRYING TO FILL. THE MIAMI STUDENT ZACH REICHMAN

Miami was already down, 4-0, to start the third inning on the first day of the season.

SCOREBOARD TUESDAY

MEN’S BASKETBALL Miami.............................................57 Toledo.............................................65

WEDNESDAY

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL Miami............................................ 84 Northern Illinois.......................... 86

FRIDAY

BASEBALL

SATURDAY

BASEBALL Miami.............................................. 2 Texas A&M...................................... 9

Miami............................................... 1

MEN’S BASKETBALL Northern Illinois.......................... 60

The RedHawks play long ball In Saturday’s game, senior infielder

Redshirt freshman infielder Stephen Krause drove in Miami’s two runs in Sunday’s series closer.

In the fourth inning, Krause grounded out to the pitcher on a sacrifice bunt as Vogelgesang scored.

In the seventh inning, Krause hit a double. Freshman infielder Brian Zapp advanced to third after redshirt senior outfielder Kyle Winkler grounded out.

Wardwell brought Zapp home with a sacrificial fly to center field.

The RedHawks, projected to be among the top teams in the Mid-American Conference this season, are hoping to reverse their losing streak next weekend. They have the home-field advantage in their next series against Purdue Fort Wayne, starting at 5 p.m. Friday. @lilyfreiberg freibell@miamioh.edu

’Hawks Talk

Miami.............................................65

TENNIS Miami.............................................. 6 Dayton.............................................. 1

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

Texas A&M..................................... 17

Miami............................................ 70

Miami.............................................. 2

In Friday’s season opener, the RedHawks scored only one run.

Cristian Tejada drove in a RedHawk runner on a groundout to the pitcher in the fifth inning.

The junior outfielder led the team in batting average and hits last season.

His average was .339, and he had 62 hits, although he went hitless throughout 2020’s season-opening series.

Redshirt freshman proves his worth

Western Michigan.......................... 4

Ohio............................................... 84

Western Michigan.......................... 2

Cristian Tejada prevents the RedHawks from a shutout

Will Vogelgesang hit a one-run home run in the second inning, and senior infielder Landon Stephens crushed a solo bomb in the fourth.

Vogelgesang is off to a great start this season. He hit only one homer last season, so he got an early start this season.

Stephens made quite the impression last weekend, despite his team’s losing streak. He leads the team in batting averages at .364, with four hits in 11 at-bats over the three-game series.

HOCKEY

Miami............................................... 1

HOCKEY

With a frame full of walks, hits and home runs, Texas A&M scored nine runs against sophomore pitcher Sam Bachman and freshman pitcher Lawson Blackmore.

After a Texas A&M player scored on an error from Miami’s junior shortstop, Tyler Wardwell, a couple RBI singles and a grand slam, Bachman exited the mound after allowing seven runs.

Blackmore, who replaced Bachman, gave up two more runs. During his very first collegiate outing, Blackmore walked an Aggie before surrendering an RBI double. Afterward, he threw a wild pitch and gave up an RBI single.

Blackmore completed the inning with a strikeout, but Texas A&M extended its lead, making the score 13-0 at the end of the third.

SUNDAY

BASEBALL Miami.............................................. 2 Texas A&M...................................... 6

⁃⁃“We want to finish on a high note ...

We like our chances.” ⁃⁃ Miami men’s basketball coach Jack Owens on the final stretch of the regular season

Opinion

12

RIGAZIKM@MIAMIOH.EDU

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2020

STAFF EDITORIAL

This is a commitment, not an appeasement.

KATE RIGAZIO

OPINION EDITOR

On a Wednesday late last semester, I turned 22. I was standing on the dance floor of the Brick Street Bar and Grill, clutching an amaretto sour in one hand and a vodka-cran in the other while my friends cheered for the stroke of midnight that ushered in my 22nd year.

I, on the other hand, was overwhelmed by a reflective one-two punch of “look how far I’ve come,” followed by a “look how far I’ve got to go.” I made a silent promise that 22 would be the year I stopped compromising myself.

As cliché as it may have been, that promise was long overdue.

I spent the spring semester of my junior year living a life I had only ever dreamed of in a new city that always promised adventure alongside new friends that I adored. I had overcome homesickness, built a new life for myself and even felt comfortable navigating international airports!

The personal growth that came with those achievements allowed me to con-

“The personal growth that came with those achievements allowed me to convince myself I was at my personal best, ignoring the many ways that I was actually at my worst.”

KIRBY DAVIS COLUMNIST

This weekend, I opened Netflix so my boyfriend and I could browse their new titles.

He fake-scoffed when “To All the Boys: P.S. I Still Love You” popped up as a recommendation.

“I bet you’ve already seen it,” he said.

Yes, I said. Twice. He fake-scoffed again.

He was teasing, but most people who make fun of women for liking things like rom-coms or Young Adult (YA) novels (upon which the “To All the Boys” movies are based) aren’t.

I can’t count the amount of times I’ve felt compelled to apologize for my Taylor Swiftheavy Spotify library when driving with friends, or I’ve been embarrassed to admit my favorite shows are “Gilmore Girls” or HBO’s “Girls,” worried that might make me sound too basic to be taken seriously.

As a young woman, it feels as though you have to walk the fine line between being “basic,” or “hipster.” Both sides are heavily criticized — “basic” girls for being too mainstream and like everyone else, and “hipster” girls for being too weird or different. You really can’t win.

And it’s not just what we wear that places us into these awful societal categories, it’s also the entertainment we consume. If you take in too many rom-coms or “Sex and the City” reruns, you’re too basic, but if all you watch are French new wave films or “Twin Peaks” episodes, you’re way too hipster.

It’s exhausting trying to regulate what you

feel you can and can’t enjoy. I can only speak for the experiences of young women, but I’m sure non-females can feel similarly. Gender aside, we should just enjoy what we want to and not feel guilty about it (unless you enjoy, like, Nazi propaganda videos. Then you should definitely feel guilty).

And, much like it should be perfectly okay to enjoy things, it should be perfectly okay to not enjoy things that society has generally deemed “good.”

Pauline Kael, my personal favorite film critic, who wrote for The New Yorker for 20 years, has attracted heat for her open dislike of otherwise-celebrated directors and films.

She once called “2001: A Space Odyssey,” widely regarded as a classic and number 15 on the American Film Institute’s (AFI) famed Top 100 list, “Trash masquerading as art.”

Kael also hated “Blade Runner” and “The Sound of Music,” also on the AFI Top 100.

Reading Kael’s first collection of reviews, 1968’s “Kiss Kiss Bang Bang,” introduced me to the idea that it was okay not to enjoy something I felt like I was supposed to.

I’d hated watching “2001” in a film class years earlier, but I’d been too nervous to say anything about it because 1.) All the film bros in my class loved it and 2.) I didn’t have a broad, intellectual reason why — I just thought it was boring and didn’t enjoy it.

I don’t like Marvel movies.

I’ve seen 13 of them, each time hoping that maybe that one would change my mind.

Since 2012, I’ve been watching them even though I’ve hated every single one because I wanted to like them like my sister and boyfriend and everyone else does. And I do literally mean everyone. Or, at least, it feels like everyone when “Avengers: Infinity War” raked in over $2 billion dollars worldwide.

But I’m done watching Marvel movies, which I feel are all too long, too confusing and not nearly as funny as they think they are. I’m done justifying my love for Taylor Swift music and YA novel-based rom-coms.

I’m no longer going to feel guilty for what entertainment I do and don’t enjoy.

Except TLC programming. I’m still going to feel bad about that. daviskn3@miamioh.edu @kirbdavis

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E

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rigazikm@miamioh.edu

It’s okay to like things, or not like things. Do whatever you want.

E • F

vince myself I was at my personal best, ignoring the many ways that I was actually at my worst.

I’d lie awake overanalyzing a text I had sent or an outfit I had worn or something I had said or plans that I did or did not go through with. I would berate myself for the simplest things and it would

leave me feeling insecure and a little nauseous. Every little thing I did, in some way, wronged the people close to me, or at least that’s how I viewed it.

I was not a person I liked. I was a person I had to put up with.

As a result, my standards for how I expected others to treat me were remarkably low. Receiving the bare minimum from someone I was in a relationship with was fine, because any boy giving me the time of day was far more than I thought deserved. I entered all relationships with little regard for my own needs, and accepted the first excuse for why I wasn’t being treated well.

The negative cycle fed my nerves until I couldn’t think straight. It wasn’t fun, and it wasn’t sustainable.

A few weeks into my senior year, I could hardly sleep. I lost feeling in my hands when meeting new people. I spent an hour and a half trying to pick an outfit because I hated how I looked in everything. My friends said my self-deprecating sense of humor sometimes seemed *too* pointed.

So, per a friend’s suggestion, I went to see someone at Miami’s Student Counseling Services. Over the course of last semester, my counselor helped identify my self-proclaimed “nervous tendencies” for what they actually were: anxiety. And my negative self talk was, in part, a product of that.

He also pointed out that I wouldn’t let any of my friends treat themselves the way I was treating myself. It made me sad to think the support and care I so readily offer others was something I had been withholding from myself for so long.

Self love was never something that came naturally to me. In the past, I’ve heavily edited my personality to fit what I thought those around me wanted. I would clamp down on my eccentricities so I didn’t scare away new people I met, fearing they wouldn’t like me for who I was.

The result was that some of my best friends in college recalled they had no opinions of me when we first met, because I gave them nothing to have an opinion about.

And, while I’ve become more honest about who I am, I have still failed to realize that being yourself and actually liking yourself are two totally different beasts.

Slowly but surely, I’m working on that second part. I’m changing my default settings.

I’m no longer compromising myself.

I’m making room for my needs in relationships, acknowledging what they are and reminding myself they deserve to be recognized. I coach myself through moments of anxiety the same way I would talk to a friend and I remind myself that my mistakes are not detrimental.

Some days go better than others and, like I said, I’ve got a long way to go. The anxiety doesn’t go away, but I’m getting better about not letting it dictate how I value myself.

ment ensures all of that work is not only expanded upon, but that it sets goals that truly aim to make a dent in our emissions, rather than taking baby steps.

Climate change is not a one subject issue. A carbon neutral campus is a great first step, but to really ensure our world stands a chance against climate change we have to educate our students to be environmentally conscious, and encourage them to improve sustainability efforts beyond our campus and into the corporate, nonprofit and professional worlds, generally.

In the last year, we’ve seen climate strikes and the creation of the Student Sustainability Council, a group of students representatives from all of the student sustainability groups on campus. Miami students are serious about sustainability because we’re the ones who are going to be dealing with the consequences.

Crawford needs to think critically about which PCLC commitment provides the best plan for Miami students, not just the one that is easiest for the university to fulfill.

This is his chance to show us that he’s just as invested in our futures as we are.

We hope he’ll make the right choice on April 22nd.

N

Learning to Shawshank my mind prison

The climate commitment is an integrated plan that pulls from both commitments. Signing this would mean Miami is committing to achieving carbon neutrality on campus while increasing sustainability education and research efforts.

The choice to sign the climate commitment over the other two seems simple but, then again, so did the decision to sign the PCLC in the first place, and look how long it took us to get there.

The carbon commitment wouldn’t ensure the improvement of sustainability literacy, and the resilience commitment wouldn’t address the university’s ethical and moral duty to achieve carbon neutrality.

The climate commitment would encompass all of the groundwork Miami has done toward improving campus sustainability, and would show our university administration takes seriously the fact that today’s students will live to see the catastrophic effects of climate change if nothing is done to stop it.

Miami loves to talk about how it has reached and surpassed many of its sustainability goals, like increasing sustainability literacy on campus and reducing carbon emissions. But the PCLC’s climate commit-

RA

improving lives everyday

IO

Miami University President Greg Crawford recently announced that he will sign the Presidents’ Climate Leadership Commitment (PCLC) on April 22, 2020.

Our editor in chief almost fell out of her chair when she heard the news.

The Miami Student has asked Crawford to sign the PCLC before, stressing the importance of seriously committing to improving sustainability on campus and fostering a community focused on combating climate change.

But there’s a catch – Crawford still has to decide which parts of the PCLC he is going to sign.

Our staff wants Crawford to sign the PCLC’s Climate Commitment. Of the three commitments the PCLC offers, we believe the climate commitment would provide a plan that builds off of the efforts Miami has already made to ensure a long-term, holistic overhaul of sustainability on Miami’s campus.

The PCLC, which has already been signed by hundreds of university presidents across the United States, will commit Miami to following a “climate action plan”

that is based on campus assessments and monitored by the third party organization Second Nature.

Miami’s Sustainability Committee, the group that Crawford charged with comparing the benefits of achieving carbon neutrality through the PCLC versus an internally designed path back in January 2019, recommended that the university design a climate action plan through the PCLC. Crawford now has to choose between the three different commitments the PCLC offers; the climate commitment, the carbon commitment and the resilience commitment. Each plan would require the university to perform a campus assessment, create a sustainability task force, submit regular reports on deliverable progress and create a timeline for when they will complete target milestones.

The three options differ in the area of sustainability they focus on.

The carbon commitment focuses on reducing a university’s greenhouse gas emissions so that it can eventually achieve carbon neutrality. The resilience commitment doesn’t require any hard deliverables on changing campus sustainability, but focuses on producing more environmentally-conscious students.

M I AM I U A ND C O M N

The following reflects the majority opinion of the Editorial Board.

U L C REDIT

N

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