ESTABLISHED 1826 — OLDEST COLLEGE NEWSPAPER WEST OF THE ALLEGHENIES
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2016
Volume 145 №23
Miami University — Oxford, Ohio
Alt-right fliers hit MU’s campus
11 INJURED AT OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY
Blog posts podcasts, articles
ATTACKER SHOT, KILLED BY OSU POLICE OFFICER
HATE
CRIME
white supremacist
RYAN TERHUNE PHOTO EDITOR
Redhaws defeat Ball State University by a razor thin margin of 21-20, making Saturday’s game their sixth consecutive win.
Miami defies odds, achieves bowl eligibility FOOTBALL
COBURN GILLIES ASSN. SPORTS EDITOR
Miami University football silenced the doubters and was victorious for the sixth consecutive contest, this time in its regular season finale over Ball State University by a razor thin margin of 21-20. Gus Ragland put together a career performance, completing 26 of 35 passes for 380 yards and three touchdowns to help secure Miami a spot in a bowl game for the first time since 2010. Ragland completed his perfect regular season starting record of 6-0. In the pro-
Redhawks defeat Ball State by razor thin margin cess, the Cincinnati native threw 15 touchdowns and zero interceptions for 1274 yards. Redshirt senior and standout wide receiver Rokeem Williams emphasized the impact Ragland has made on the team since coming back from injury. “Gus is a great leader. I think that’s a real, big part of what he’s done. If you’re a leader, it’s pretty easy for guys to follow you, and it trickles down through everybody else.”
After starting the season 0-6, the program seemed destined for another losing season. However, out of nowhere, the RedHawks rattled off six wins in succession and, in the process, became the first team in NCAA history to finish a season 6-6 after losing its first six ballgames. The final hurdle standing in their way on the path toward the improbable invitation to go bowling was the Cardinals. Head coach Chuck Martin was satisfied but confused
by how the campaign played out. “Heck of a team win, heck of a season. Don’t really know — can’t really fathom, I know everybody’s been talking about it, I’ve just been trying not to think about it because I don’t really know how we’re here.” Everything was going according to plan as the defense stopped BSU on its opening drive and responded with a 36-yard touchdown connection from Ragland to Williams. Defensively, Miami was anchored by redshirt junior Heath Harding. The cornerFOOTBALL »PAGE 8
Vegans struggle to find
College Democrats, GOP
dining options at Miami
to square off in debate
DINING
ALYSSA MELENDEZ THE MIAMI STUDENT
Being vegan on Miami University’s campus is much more difficult than one would expect. So why would someone do it? Gretchen Matuszak, the director of Miami’s Didactic Program in Dietetics, said some people adopt vegan diets for religious or ethical reasons, while others feel veganism is a healthier alternative to animal-based diets. Veganism is a step farther than vegetarianism. It’s when a person abstains from eating not only meat, but every type of food that comes from an animal, such as dairy, eggs and honey.
Aimee Liston, a firstyear on campus, decided to try being vegan about one month into the semester for ethical reasons. “[Being vegan] is another way to cut down on carbon emissions,” Liston said. “I don’t have a problem with eating dairy as a concept. What I do have a problem with is how animals, such as calves, are treated.” Jenna Ramsey, a junior living off campus, was vegan for her freshman and sophomore years on campus. Unlike Liston, her vegan journey was prompted more by the health benefits of veganism than by its overall environmental impact. Senior Natalie Wink beVEGAN »PAGE 2
POLITICS
JAKE GOLD
SENIOR STAFF WRITER
At times, the 2016 presidential election was not about the policies or issues; rather, it was about flashy scandals and party politics. But Miami’s JANUS Forum, along with the College Democrats and College Republicans, wants to prove that it doesn’t have to be that way. On November 30, the JANUS Forum is hosting a debate between the College Democrats and College Republicans. Instead of talking about the highly-controversial presidential election earlier this month, the debaters will be discussing the real changes that politicians
must make to improve America. These debaters (Caleb Stidham and Imani Fields from the College Republicans, Nick Froehlich and Sarah Seigel from the College Democrats) don’t know the exact questions that will be asked, but they know the topics. The debate will focus on foreign policy, healthcare and education. Due to the issue-centric nature of the JANUS Forum’s dialogue, it will differ from most electoral debates. It will contrast especially with the presidential debates this past year. While the prime-time televised events were littered with insults and political doublespeak, DEBATE »PAGE 2
CULTURE p. 3
EDITORIAL p. 6
OP-ED p. 7
SPORTS p. 8
MODERN REQUIEMS FROM BOWIE, COHEN
WATCHLIST A THREAT TO FREE SPEECH
COLLEGE DEMS ENDORSE ELLISON FOR DNC CHAIR
VOLLEYBALL HEADS TO NCAA TOURNAMENT
The pioneers in their music genres turned death into a finale.
With this election, the Oxford bubble has officially popped.
“Ohioans are ... looking for a movement that will heed their concerns...”
The Redhawks play No. 19 University of Oregon in first match.
JAMES STEINBAUER
EMILY WILLIAMS
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
MANAGING EDITOR
Dozens of fliers promoting a pro-white, alt-right blog were pegged to bulletin boards in academic buildings and posted around Miami University’s campus last week. The fliers read: “Not seeing the America you want? Start changing it TODAY!” and “Tired of anti-white propaganda in college? You are not alone.” In one of the fliers, black hands labeled “BLM,” “feminism,” “LGBT” and “globalism” reach menacingly for a white man and woman, each holding a young child. The fliers include the web address for The Right Stuff, a self-described “political and cultural blog” that is home to “the edgiest podcast of the current year.” The podcast, titled “The Daily Shoah,” was banned from SoundCloud in November 2015 after the online audio platform claimed it violated the website’s Community Guidelines. Shoah is the Hebrew word for the Holocaust. Many of the podcasts on the website, which are recorded by two anonymous figures named Seventh Son
Eleven people were injured Monday morning at Ohio State University after a student ran into pedestrians with his vehicle before exiting the car and cutting victims with a butcher knife. The attacker, 18-year-old Abdul Razak Ali Artan, was shot and killed by police at the scene. According to a statement from the Ohio State University Police and local law enforcement, the injuries sustained by the victims include stab wounds and injuries from impact with the vehicle. Although a shelter-in-place notification on campus was lifted by 11 a.m., classes were canceled for the rest of the day, said Ohio State Director of Public Safety Monica Mull in a press conference. At around 9:55 a.m., said Mull, the university issued an alert that an active shooter was near Watts Hall. Although the initial alert referred to the attacker as a shooter, that information was false. Law enforcement concluded that there was no other threat of violence at the crime scene or elsewhere on campus after
ALT RIGHT »PAGE 2
OHIO STATE »PAGE 2
After Trump election, a father-daughter schism ELECTION
CÉILÍ DOYLE
SENIOR STAFF WRITER
First-year Rachel Zurilla’s phone began to buzz. She glanced down at the caller ID: Dad. She sighed softly and slowly reached to pick up the phone. It had been three days since Donald Trump had been elected president and three days since she had last spoken to her father. At first their conversation began with light pleasantries: “How was your day? How did the stats test go?” However, the conversation took a turn for the worse at the mention of the results of the 2016 presidential election. “Honestly I really don’t even want to talk about it,” Rachel, a Clinton supporter and feminist, said to her father, Jeff Zurilla, over the phone on the Friday afternoon following the election. While Jeffrey did not find it as difficult to talk to Rachel
after the election, they both agreed that it would be better if they didn’t discuss it. “He’s still my dad, and he’s still one of the best people I know, but it’s hard to rationalize,” Rachel said. “He always raised me to think for myself, but we haven’t talked about it.” The father and daughter duo have always been close while Rachel was growing up in Painesville, Ohio. Lately, their dynamic during this election cycle has been fractured by their sharply contrasting picks for president. “In regards to Rachel’s concerns, I understand the controversial nature of some of his political ideologies,” Jeff said. “But [I] feel the country needs a change in leadership and one that does not have previous political ties to Washington.” As the future of American government for the next four years remains to be determined, this transition period will prove to be chalFAMILY »PAGE 2
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and Halberstram, promote white-supremacist, racist, sexist, xenophobic and anti-Semitic dialogue. Student-run political organizations on Miami’s campus were quick to condemn the alt-right group’s message. “Pointing out facts about how minorities are treated in a systematically abusive manner — be it the gender/racial pay gap, police violence, mass incarceration, or any number of institutional injustices — is not ‘anti-white propaganda,’” Miami University’s College Democrats wrote in a statement to The Miami Student last Monday. “It is the truth.” Alexander Carey, chair of Miami’s College Republicans, said the fliers represent only an isolated group of individuals attempting to divide the country. “The alt-right literature … is inappropriate and runs counter to the values that we as College Republicans and as Miami students hold dear,” Cary wrote to The Student. “It divides students, encourages close-mindedness and exacerbates divisions on campus.” The hard-to-define alt-right went relatively unnoticed until the 2016 presidential election. But since Donald Trump won the presidency, its members have become emboldened and more vocal. At an alt-right conference on Monday just blocks away from the White House in Washington D.C., audience members stretched out their arms in a Nazi salute. John Digiacobbe, a member of Turning Point USA, a conservative political organization on Miami’s campus, said one tactic of the altright is to be purposefully antagonistic and provocative. “I think in some regards, there are merits to their frustration. These are things that need to be talked about,” Digiacobbe said. “But, using alienating messages, being rude to other groups of people just for the sake of being rude and discussing anti-Semitism should not be welcome on this campus.”
lenging for the Zurilla’s. While Rachel recognizes that her father’s differing of opinion happens to align with over 61.9 million Americans who voted for Trump, she still has trouble coming to terms with the fact that her father put aside Trump’s sexist comments and sexual assault related allegations in favor of his political policies. On the opposite end of the spectrum, Jeff understands the need to show respect not only towards his daughter but also to the millions and millions of Americans who voted for Hillary Clinton. “[Trump] is upholding the constitution and what it stands for,” Jeff said. “That being said my political views in comparison to respect for Rachel’s beliefs has never changed. I have political views from all political viewpoints and completely respect not only Rachel’s beliefs but all voters’ beliefs.” Rachel is most concerned with how a Trump presidency will continue to impact her relationship with her father and how they will interact with each other going forward if Trump carries out even some of his campaign promises. “I’m sure in time the awkwardness and weirdness will go away,” Rachel said. “It’s not like he’s just a friend. He’s my dad. I guess it depends what happens the next four years. I almost have this anger inside of me towards him that I don’t want to outwardly express because I don’t want to be that person that doesn’t respect people for having differing opinions.”
Artan was killed, said Mull. Victims were taken to the Ohio State Wexner Medical Center, Grant Medical Center and Riverside Methodist Hospital. None of the victims’ injuries were life-threatening said Andrew Thomas, chief medical officer, in a press conference. “I want to give our thoughts and prayers and hopes and wishes for a speedy recovery for all those who were injured,” said OSU president Michael Drake in a press conference Monday afternoon. “We prepare for situations like this, but always hope never to have one.” Drake commended the university’s police for their quick response. Artan was shot by Ohio State police officer Alan Horujko within a minute of when the attack began. Artan, who university officials say was a permanent United States resident from Somalia, graduated from Columbus State Community College in May before attending Ohio State this semester for logistics management. In an August issue of The Lantern, Ohio State’s student newspaper, Artan was interviewed for “Humans of Ohio State,” a feature in the paper’s Arts & Life section. In the article, Artan shared his concerns about praying Muslim prayers in public. At Columbus State Community College, he said, there were prayer rooms which he could use throughout the day, but at Ohio State he wasn’t sure where to pray. “I wanted to pray in the open, but I was scared with everything going on in the media. I’m a Muslim, it’s not what the media portrays me to be,” Artan told The Lantern. “If people look at me, a Muslim praying, I don’t know what they’re going to think, what’s going to happen.”
lieves animals are abused to produce food in America. But she didn’t adopt a vegan diet until she moved off campus, due to a lack of vegan options at oncampus dining locations. Matuszak said that the dining staff tries to have at least two vegan entrees per meal, but it can be hard. “It’s definitely something we can always work on,” she says. During her two years eating in the dining halls, Ramsey says she ate French fries. Lots of French fries. She comments, “My biggest struggle was the lack of variety. Sophomore year, the options got more limited, and it just makes it harder to do long term.” Liston only made it only two weeks into her vegan diet before her mom voiced her concern for her daughter. “I felt bad and shaky. I was sick of plates of French fries,” Liston said. “It disappoints me because I’m a person who really wants to live out my convictions and I feel like my being vegan was something I could do for the world, but I had to stop being vegan for my health.” Another struggle of vegans on campus is the difficulty and time one has to dedicate to maintaining that lifestyle. For instance, vegan nuggets or vegan burgers have to be specially requested at most dining halls. Ramsey says that oftentimes, she would call the dining halls beforehand so that her food would be ready when she got there. Miami also has a website where students can view food options available at the dining halls as well as nutrition information. In addition, a vegan group on campus called M.U.V.E. (Miami University Vegan Eaters) meets every week and cooks vegan recipes together. But Ramsey and other vegans would prize a greater knowledge of veganism among Miami’s dining staff above having more vegan food options. “I would say that my biggest suggestion for improvement isn’t necessarily adding more vegan options, but making staff more knowledgeable about current food and what is vegan and what’s not,” Ramsey said.”
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this one will focus on policy. For many, this will be a less interesting part of politics. But for those passionate about government and their country, it’s just as interesting. And important. “It’s important that we debate policy,” Seigel said. “It is necessary so people understand where the parties stand and so that people are aware of differing policy ideas because everyone is impacted by policy. The debate represents this and it demonstrates how dialogue should occur between political parties—a type of dialogue that has been lacking this election cycle.” This debate is also important for helping students determine their stances on the issues. “[It] will give everyone involved insight into what each side truly believes,” Fields said. “There are basic principles which both groups will stick to, but it needs to be known that the opinion of one, or the opinion of few, may not be the opinion of all individuals.” The JANUS Forum student debate will be held on November 30 at 8 p.m. in Pearson 128. Interested students may attend, free of charge. There will also be time for audience-posed questions.
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FROM BEASTS »PAGE 3
But unrest in the government complicates their journey. There are disputes among the wizarding community about magical exposure to the “No-Majs” (America’s equivalent of “muggles”). And Graves (Colin Farrell), a top auror (a member of an elite unit of highly-trained specialist officers), works secretly with local fosterchild Credence (Ezra Miller) to find a potentially dangerous force of energy. We are introduced to the intricate workings of the wizarding world in America during the 1920s and drawn in by never-before-read, and therefore unpredictable, material. All the while, the sweeping cinematography and special effects leave us in wonderment of the new spells and creatures. The action-filled, spell-packed sequences move the film along, as darker undertones — such as the dark wizard Grindelwald’s takeover — hold promise for storylines to come. There’s a satisfying hint of longing and romance between Queenie and Kowalski, and eventually Tina and Newt, but not too much to distract from the real issues. Per usual for J.K. Rowling, the conflicts in the story mirror reallife issues in politics and society with fears of the “other” and the unknown. But besides the familiar format and references to make any fan smile, “Fantastic Beasts” is able to separate itself from the original series. Much like Baz Luhrmann’s “The Great Gatsby,” the score takes 20s-style jazz to fit the time period and mixes it with something we can recognize — melodies from the “Harry Potter” film scores, most notably the theme. The costuming also does a great job of depicting 20s-style hair, hats, dresses and suits with the touch of unique wizard flare. Adding to his versatile career of beloved roles, Redmayne is perfect in his portrayal of Newt. He has brave curiosity and endless knowledge but emits an adorable shyness with the duck of his head and one-sided smirk. Redmayne’s acting abilities aren’t the only ones to note. Farrell and Miller produce mystery and skepticism until the very end. Waterston is easy to both hate and love as a Hermione Grangerlike, rule-abiding, bossy know-itall. Sudol is witty and delightfully charming. And Fogler wonder-
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The Miami Student’s Alyssa Melendez ate a vegan diet for several days as part of her reporting for this story. Meal #1 (Western Dining Commons) — Thursday lunch, 11 a.m.: My very first vegan meal consisted of a plate of quinoa covered in sauce, spaghetti squash, a few small potatoes and half a grapefruit. At the end, the cold spaghetti squash remained. Snack #1 (Pulley Diner) — Thursday, 4:15 p.m.: I enjoyed a plate of French fries in between lunch and dinner. Meal #2 (Bell Tower Place) — Thursday dinner, 6 p.m.: Dinner at Bell Tower was a bit more difficult than eating lunch at Western had been. Ordering vegan nuggets took a solid fifteen minutes and the salad and carrot cake that accompanied it weren’t all that satisfying. Those vegan nuggets marked my first time eating tofu. Snack #2 (Miami Ice) — Thursday, 8:30 p.m.: For an evening snack, I settled on a strawberry banana smoothie with a strawberry — not yogurt — base. Meal #3 (Physics Class) — Friday breakfast, 8 a.m.: The next morning, I woke up hungry. With no time to stop for food, I brought a container of cashews to my 8 a.m. class. That held me over until I finished the exam in my second class of the day at 11:39 a.m. Meal #4 (Western Dining Commons) — Friday lunch, 12 p.m.: For lunch, I repeated my first vegan meal from Western: quinoa in sauce, small potatoes, but substituting asparagus for squash and raspberries and blueberries for grapefruit. Meal #5 (Pacific Rim) — Friday dinner, 6 p.m.: Dinner at Pacific Rim offered the biggest disappointment of my two-day experiment. After waiting in line for stir-fry for over 10 minutes, I was handed a plate of some vegetables, brown rice, and uncooked tofu. I labeled the tofu as a disgrace to humanity. It was a good thing I had carrot cake and cantaloupe to hold me over. Meal #6 (Harris Dining Hall) — Saturday breakfast, 10 a.m.: The next day was a weekend, so I actually had time to go to a dining hall for breakfast. The options were limited, however, and I ended up eating a few measly pieces of fruit and lots of potatoes. My vegan journey ended there.
to merge our dimension with a dark one. What makes “Doctor Strange” so exquisite is its visually mind-bending special effects. The film opens with a kung-fu fight that takes place on the side of a building, breaking almost every law of physics as gravity is shifted 90 degrees, and a London building starts shapeshifting until it closes in on itself. Almost immediately, the audience realizes this is not a typical superhero movie. What is even more impressive is the film continues to top these eyeopening scenes one after another. From Doctor Strange transporting through illusionary New York City to a battle that happens as its crumbling Hong Kong surroundings are moving in reverse time, Derrickson continues to bring more mystifying ideas onto the screen.. The film is truly a visual spectacle. “Doctor Strange” is more thematic than most superhero movies. The film ponders the consequences of immortality, asking, if humanity had the chance to live forever, should we take it? The film answers this question with a staunch “no,” the ultimate reasoning being that
death gives life meaning. But it goes further, saying to achieve meaning we all need to realize that “it’s not about you.” These ideas, of course, ultimately push the plot, but they also transcend the screen and enter into the mind of the viewer. Doctor Strange does accept his responsibility as a superhero and walks away from his old life, but the film forces you to start questioning the implications of immortality as well. This is an interesting stance to take in a comic book film since superheroes never really die in comic books. Although these themes may be conveyed too obviously via direct dialogue, most superhero films do not ask moral questions, let alone answer them. Although it is definitely unique, “Doctor Strange” does follow Marvel film customs. There are plenty of laughs throughout the entire movie, but the humor is different. It has a cynical nature to every joke, following Strange’s personality, and since the film has such an outlandish premise, it can make one laugh from just being odd. It also has traditional Marvel supporting characters, such as a colleague loveinterest (Rachel McAdams) and a humble side-kick, Doctor Strange’s cape.
There is one glaring flaw in “Doctor Strange”: It is very similar to the original “Iron Man,” the film that started the Marvel takeover. Both films introduce arrogant geniuses that suffer from crises that change their lives, both protagonists discover an opportunity to become a superhero through these crises and both characters use their expertise to master their powers. Tony Stark uses his technical genius to build the Iron Man suit, and Stephen Strange uses his dedication to “study and practice” as a surgeon to master the art of magic. This is of course more of a complaint of the source material, the comics. However, if I were to choose which presented the better origin story of essentially the same character, I would choose Iron Man. “Doctor Strange,” in its 115-minute running time, rushes the introduction of Stephen Strange and his training as a sorcerer. The film is trying to do too much in its time frame, and the film would have been more enjoyable if it would have taken a little extra time to set the stage for the rest of the film and the franchise. Besides this flaw, this is among the best Marvel movies with good performances from both Cumberbatch and Swinton.
fully discovers the magical world along with the audience. “Fantastic Beasts” does fail slightly in character development. We come to know and understand Kowalski but only gets glimpses of
the other three main characters. At least there will be four more films to, hopefully, fill in the gaps. The film leaves a few questions to be answered and storylines to be illuminated, and I can’t wait to
see how they play out. But for now, I’m content — sitting in the still-dark theater, watching the credits scroll with a slight smile on my face as I think to myself, the magic is back.
FROM MARVEL »PAGE 3
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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2016
Modern requiems: The final albums of David Bowie and Leonard Cohen
A.J. NEWBERRY THE MIAMI STUDENT
MUSIC
SAM KEELING
THE MIAMI STUDENT
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in The Miami Student Magazine. For more magazine content, visit www.themiamistudentmagazine.com. David Bowie released his 25th studio album, “Blackstar,” on January 8 — his 69th birthday. Two days later, he passed away after an 18-month battle with cancer that had, up until that point, been very effectively hidden from the public.
On October 21, singer-songwriter Leonard Cohen released his 14th album, “You Want It Darker,” at age 82. Following months of rumored poor health and some strange public statements, such as his declaration that he was ready to die in a New Yorker profile, he passed away in his sleep on November 7. Both Bowie and Cohen were trailblazers in their respective genres — Bowie as an experimental rock star that created multiple personas to shroud his real self in mystery; Cohen as a blues- and gospel-infused folk singer-songwriter with a unique voice and revealing, powerful lyrics.
While their careers were very different, both of their final albums are similar by turning impending death into fantastic and haunting works of art. Bowie’s “Blackstar” is a staggering, challenging work that defies genre: its guitars scream rock and roll, the saxophone croons jazz and the relentless drumming pays homage to one of Bowie’s inspirations for the album, hip-hop artist Kendrick Lamar. It’s also a testament to his immense talent and vision that, after 25 albums, he could still take expectations and completely obliter-
ate them. Of course, Bowie had his fair share of flops over his decadeslong career, but “Blackstar” is not one of them. Beyond the musicality, what makes “Blackstar” a true work of art is its not-so-subtle references to Bowie’s receding health. “Lazarus,” a churning, otherworldly standout, begins with the line “Look up here, I’m in heaven / I’ve got scars that can’t be seen,” which seems ambiguous but takes a devastating new meaning considering the cancer present during the recording of this album. The video for the song emphasizes this theme, as a blinded
Bowie writhes in agony on a hospital bed before receding into an open wardrobe. As the song reaches its tumultuous climax, he screeches “Oh, I’ll be free,” and the doors close like the lid to his coffin. The album’s final number, “I Can’t Give Everything Away,” finds Bowie repeating this line, sounding desperate and full of despair. It paints a picture of an artist who must come to terms with the fact that he won’t be able to make music forever. Leave it to Bowie to turn his death into a finale. ALBUMS »PAGE 4
“Fantastic Beasts” brings back the magic FILM
ALISON PERELMAN
ASSISTANT CULTURE EDITOR
After 13 years filled with books and movies, our Harry Potter generation was forced to go five more before the thrill of new material. Of course, I was overjoyed — I may have cried seeing the trailer. But I was also worried about returning to the wizarding world. Would it (could it) ever be the same? But the wait was worth it, and I wasn’t disappointed. After four successful Harry Potter films, director David Yates has conjured up magic once again with “Fantastic Beasts RYAN TERHUNE PHOTO EDITOR
On Friday, Nov. 18., RedHawk Radio hosted Cold Snap, a show featuring five bands, at Kofenya Coffee House.
Slice of Life: Pancake pandemonium STUDENT LIFE
ELIZABETH HANSEN
ASSISTANT CULTURE EDITOR
The aroma of fresh pancakes and hash browns swirls in the family room of the Armstrong Student Center. But it is not just the scent of potatoes and batter — it’s the scent of free food. Students line up for pancakes, grumbling that the strawberries are gone but still excited about the chocolate chips. High school seniors participating in the Miami Bridges Program
whisper to each other, wondering if free college food is just a legend, or if they are actually witnessing the phenomenon. They decide it must be true as they scurry up, grab a plate of pancakes and then sneak into an alcove to blend in with the rest of the college students. Two students stand at a table next to the food. “Can I have just one of your hash browns?” a girl asks her friend. “Dude, there’s a whole tray over there. Get your own!” She sighs and walks over, filling up her plate with the tasty fried
potatoes. The two friends chat with another friend. It appears they have not seen her in awhile. Their laughter echoes off the walls of the family room while other students quietly study. “Oooh pancakes!” says another student as she walks up to the food. The chatty friends pack up their books and begin to leave Armstrong. The hash brown girl looks to her friend: “I ate way too many potatoes, and now my stomach hurts.”
and Where to Find Them.” Based on the “textbook” by J.K. Rowling, the film follows writer and magizoologist Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne) as he arrives in New York with a suitcase full of magical creatures. His good intentions go awry when a run-in with Jacob Kowalski (Dan Fogler), a non-wizard, accidentally sets the creatures loose in the city. Tina (Katherine Waterston) and her sister, Queenie (Alison Sudol) — employees for the Magical Congress of the United States of America — help Newt collect the creatures. BEASTS »PAGE 2
‘Doctor Strange’ continues Marvel’s success FILM
JOEY MCCLURE
THE MIAMI STUDENT
Racking up billions in box office revenue, Marvel films have completely toppled Hollywood and the superhero genre. One could argue whether this is a good or bad thing for the film industry, but there is no doubt that these massive films are moving comic book movies in the right direction. “Doctor Strange,” directed by Scott Derrickson, is another fantastic entry in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The film depicts Dr. Stephen Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch), an arrogant neurosurgery
prodigy who loses his unbeatable steady hands after a horrific car crash. Strange exhausts his wealth with increasingly irrational surgeries on his hands, becoming more and more desperate to fix his trembling disability. Given a tip from a healed paraplegic, Strange goes to Nepal to find the Ancient One (Tilda Swinton), a sorcerer with the power to change reality and transport to other dimensions. After training with the Ancient One for months, Doctor Strange must put his ego aside to defend the world from a rogue sorcerer (Mads Mikkelsen) who plans MARVEL »PAGE 2
Editors’ pop culture picks for this week The things we watched, read, listened to and streamed over Thanksgiving break
VINYL »PAGE 5
“THE GIRLS,” BY EMMA CLINE
The best part of Cline’s novel isn’t the plot. The story is narrated by a middle-aged woman, Evie, who is reflecting on her days spent in a Mansonesque cult as a 14-year-old during a hazy California summer in 1969. Although the details of life on the “ranch” and the build-up to the bloody climax will keep readers rapt and turning pages, its Cline’s insight that shows her true potential as a novelist, particularly the peephole she creates into the innerworkings of the adolescent female mind. On nearly every page, Cline has buried a treat: an unexpected adjective, a bold adverb, a carefully assembled image. She describes like a synesthete, tossing around metaphors that at once seem unexpected and incredibly familiar. It’s writing that’s easy to devour, but even better to savor. (Emily Williams, Managing Editor)
“GILMORE GIRLS: A YEAR IN THE LIFE”
Well, the much-anticipated revamp of America’s favorite mother-daughter duo has finally come, available on Netflix in a four-part series. In an effort to keep this review spoiler free, I won’t discuss the ending. But you should know: creator, writer and director Amy Sherman-Palladino has been planning the last four words of this series for a while, and they will haunt you forever. While the Winter, Spring and Summer episodes feel a bit like shameless indulgence in the fast-
paced rhetoric that made the show so famous, the final episode, Fall, is where the good stuff happens. In the meantime, we get to see all of Rory’s old beaus, Stars Hollow in all of its smartphoned, 2016 glory and a really beautiful tribute to Edward Herrmann (a.k.a. Richard Gilmore) who has since passed. But if there’s one thing that’s still true about Gilmore Girls, its that where they lead, you will follow. (Maddie LaPlante-Dube, Opinion Editor)
“THE COLLAPSE OF WESTERN SOCIETY: A VIEW FROM THE FUTURE” BY NAOMI ORESKES and ERIC M. CONWAY
This book is a work of climate change science fiction. The authors take historic events (climate science findings, current cultural trends) and constructs a future — rather, tries to project a future which is an extension of the current logic and arrangement of affairs. It is a haunting, terse and stark work reflecting on the harsh reality going largely ignored today. A historian writing from the “Second People’s Republic of China,” in the year 2393, 300 years after the “Great Collapse” of Western civilization which coincided with the dissolution of the Antarctic Ice Sheet in 2093 in a course of runaway global warming — tells how the course of events leading up to the Great Collapse were entirely predictable in hindsight. “The children of the Enlightenment failed to act on robust information … Our historian concludes that a second Dark Age had fallen on Western civilization, in which denial and self-deception rooted in an ideological fixation on ‘free’ markets disabled the world’s nations in the face of tragedy.” (Kyle Hayden, Design Editor)
4 FYI
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Leonard Cohen accomplishes something just as moving and difficult with “You Want It Darker.” While “Blackstar” was lavish and challenging, Cohen’s final effort is minimalistic. The titular track features a quiet bass line and drums, with Cohen’s baritone vocals supplemented by a haunting church choir. Cohen’s music has always been religiously charged (Exhibit A: his 1984 opus, “Hallelujah,” which has become one of the most covered and instantly recognizable songs of the past few decades), and that tradition doesn’t end here: “If you are the healer, it means I’m broken and lame.” The song, along with the rest of the album, plays out like a man confronting his religion in the face of death. The chorus is a simple couplet: the first line, “Hineni, hineni,” translates from Hebrew to “Here I am, here I am.” Then Cohen growls, “I’m ready, my Lord.” The meaning is unquestionable: he is preparing for the end, embracing the inevitable. If the lyrics introduce an ominous sadness to “You Want It Darker,” Cohen’s voice infinitely expands upon it. He almost talks more than he sings, and while he never reaches the vocal strength of “Hallelujah” on his final album, it works to his benefit. Rather than a grand and epic final statement like Bowie’s “Blackstar,” Cohen’s final effort is all about peaceful acceptance and gentle submission. However, it’s no less of a powerful work of art. Bowie’s and Cohen’s final albums ensure their legacies will carry on long after their deaths.
terback for nearly his whole life, faced a crossroads in his football career when he suffered a wrist injury his junior year. “It kept me out that entire season,” Gearing said. “I ended up coming back from it, but my hand never felt right, the nerves really weren’t the same, so I couldn’t really play with the ball like I used to.” The switch from offense to defense was made easier for the former signal-caller once he realized that he did not need to be a quarterback to be happy; he just wanted to play football. “I’ve always thought of myself as being a football player. Even in high school, I just — I would love to the run the ball, even though I was a quarterback,” Gearing said. “I just enjoy playing football, no matter what position it is.” While the love of the game helps make the switch more bearable, it does not make the inevitable hurdles that come with making a position change as drastic as going from avoiding being sacked to doing the sacking any less difficult. Head coach Chuck Martin played a vital role in the decision for the former quarterback to transition to the other side of the ball. “When he’s coming back off that injury, we just felt like he’s built to be a D-end or tight end. I think he could have done either, to be honest. I really think we just kind of looked at the depth chart and we didn’t have, really, a whole lot of Dend’s, so we said, ‘let’s try D-end.’” Gearing’s size and the fact that he already had the mental buildup of a defensive lineman gave him an edge. “We knew he had the mental mind work, because even when he played quarterback he tried to run over everybody. I mean, that’s what he did,” Martin said. “I just wish we had more time.” The transition has not been easy for the strategic communication major, as he faced many hurdles along the way. “I experienced a lot of those bumps last season. You know, coming in. Obviously it was my very first season at the position. But, just kind of during the games I experienced how different it is in the physical aspect,” Gearing said. “I got to really understand the entire defense.”
Martin shared similar sentiments. “For him, he went from a skill guy playing out in space to now, he’s lined up on a guy and there’s contact as soon as the ball snaps. So that was the biggest thing for him. We knew physically, he could do it. But just mentally — just, I’m now attacking tight ends and offensive tackles with my hands,” Martin said. Luckily for the ‘Hawks defense and Gearing, it’s clear that progress has been made from his first game at defensive end to what could be his last contest playing his new position. “For just playing defense and Dend for two years, he’s really done a remarkable job, really,” Martin said. Gearing used his knowledge of how quarterbacks act and used it in his defensive efforts. “I kind of understand where the quarterback’s trying to go in the pocket and understand that every quarterback has a progression and read when they’re dropping back,” Gearing said. Sophomore defensive tackle Nate Trawick has played on the line with Austin for two seasons and can attest to Gearing’s transformation as a defensive player. “Just, the overall growth. Especially from seeing him grow last year, and just come in to. The difference between last year and this year is he’s way more confident in his talent,” Trawick said. “He’s picked up a lot over the last year, just with technique and, just really, he’s a workhorse.” After his Miami days are over, since this is Gearing’s last season donning the Red and White, it’s time for him to look toward the future. As it stands, the defensive end has recently accepted a management position at Cintas, but that hasn’t stopped him from exploring the possibility of the NFL. “After this season, and hearing hopeful comments from a bunch of people, I’m really planning to pursue the NFL,” Gearing said. “I’m just going to try and reach my goal that I’ve had since I was a little kid.” His coach also echoed his faith in Gearing’s potential as a football player. “I think he’s got a chance to play on Sunday’s. I think he’d be a great special team’s player,” Martin said.
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5
6 OPINION
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2016
EDITORIAL@MIAMISTUDENT.NET
Watchlist challenges free speech, definition of ‘radical’ The following piece, written by the editorial editors, reflects the majority opinion of the editorial board.
L
ast Monday, Nov. 21, Turning Point USA [TPUSA], a self-proclaimed “student movement for free markets and limited governments,” published a website: professorwatchlist.org The site, the aim of which is to target college professors who “advance a radical agenda in lecture halls,” was published in the wake of the election and a rapidly changing political climate. Its “About Us” page consists of four sentences: “The Professor Watchlist is a project of Turning Point USA. The mission of Professor Watchlist is to expose and document college professors who discriminate against conservative students and advance leftist propaganda in the classroom. Help us identify, and expose more professors who have demonstrated liberal bias in the classroom. Donate today!” No Miami professor is on the list, which so far has collected 200 faces. And to be fair to Turning Point USA, professors at Miami and at many other schools are required by policy to not disclose their political leanings and affiliations in the classroom.
But if anything, the basic idea here is that professors aren’t the bad guys.
In many ways, this list and the efforts of the list are valid. There are a handful of professors that belong on it. Sharon Sweet, for example, “required students to sign a pledge in favor of Barack Obama” in 2012 according to TPUSA’s much-referenced The Blaze, which is entirely inappropriate. But other professors on the list aren’t actually liberal at all. James Tracy, for example, denies the legitimacy of the Sandy Hook shootings, saying that it is possible they didn’t happen. Melissa Click forcibly removed a student journalist from a campus protest site. Keith Kostecka commented on a picture of Paul Ryan and his family, saying, “Ryan go kill yourself!” Arthur Butz is an actual Holocaust denier. These are the types of professors that should be checked. But as TPUSA themselves put it,
“TPUSA will continue to fight for free speech and the right forprofessors to say whatever they wish.” The reality is that majority of the “radical” speech in this list is coming from professors of color or of creeds other than Christianity. Most of the comments made by these professors highlight concepts surrounding white privilege, concepts which come from both professors of color and white professors. Some professors confirmed that climate change is real and were put on the list for voicing that opinion (which is a widely confirmed fact). Others were blacklisted for being harsh on Christianity and Catholicism, challenging the actions of American police and being feminist. One professor, Peter Dreier, teaches a class called “Movements in Social Justice” and was blacklisted
University response to election is a rhetorical balancing act
because he requires his students to read “A People’s History of the United States” by Howard Zinn, a Marxist. But if you took the class hoping to examine different movements in social justice, why would you complain about having to read one perspective in a movement? In a college environment, students need to be forced to think and rethink about how they fit into society. That’s what higher education does — it encourages critical thinking. Good higher education should ask its students to challenge their opinions and to feel uncomfortable in the norms that they’ve accepted to be true. But if anything, the basic idea here is that professors aren’t the bad guys. According to The New York Times, “Julio C. Pino, an associate professor of history at Kent State
Teachers need to be curious to encourage curiosity EDUCATION
POLITICS
TO THE EDITOR: To my colleagues, students, and friends at Miami University: I have been spending the last several days trying to pick myself up off the proverbial — and literal — floor after Donald J. Trump was declared our President-elect. As a Black woman, I have been deeply affected by the racist, misogynistic and xenophobic nature of the Trump campaign’s rhetoric. President Crawford swiftly addressed the university with a postelection email. In it, he promoted a discussion called Continuing to Pursue Change, moderated by Student Counseling Services and the Office of Community Engagement and Service. I went and found it to be a positive experience. Miami’s librarians showed up in full force to underscore their commitment to freedom of information and the education of an informed populace. I know of some students who did not attend because they felt the post-election email was “too neutral” and did not fully address their pain. I had a conversation with a colleague in which we expressed a similar sentiment. The letter did not go far enough in acknowledging the deep pain our President-elect’s rhetoric inflicted on many within our community. Out of curiosity, I asked friends from different universities to send me their administrations’ postelection emails. I wanted to know if and how other institutions addressed the pain felt by many in the wake of a Trump presidency. Some presidents sent no post-election message at all. So, even though President Crawford’s letter left me wanting more, I would like to acknowledge the time and effort he took to respond and thank him for doing so. I received two messages from public institutions: James Madison University in Harrisonburg Virginia and The University of Washington in Seattle. Harrisonburg is a relatively conservative part of Virginia and Seattle — well, it’s Seattle. When I compared their postelection messages to ours, I found some striking similarities. First, all three letters used language that was fairly neutral. When describing the emotional tenor of the campaign season, they used terms like difficult, contentious, intense and fervent. When addressing the reaction to Trump’s victory, the terms disappointed, division and discord were used. Second, all the public institutions made a quick appeal for unity. Here
they used words and phrases such as move forward, reach out, come together and heal. Finally, the letters from the public universities upheld the stated values of their institutions, values such as excellence, equity, diversity and public service. The most pointed language came from the president of The University of Washington, Ana Mari Cauce, who talked about the aftermath of the election, appealed to her identity as “an immigrant Latina lesbian” and said she could understand why some people felt marginalized, threatened and afraid. Four letters came from private institutions (in democratic states): The University of Rochester, Boston University, Emerson College and Wesleyan University in Connecticut. Like the messages from
The letter did not go far enough in acknowledging the deep pain our Presidentelect’s rhetoric inflicted on many within our community. the public institutions, these letters made appeals for unity and reaffirmed their institutional values. However, the letters from these private institutions included more pointed language acknowledging the pain felt by those most deeply affected by Trump’s rhetoric Robert Brown, President of Boston University, used words like corrosive and disrespectful while acknowledging that such statements specifically targeted women and various ethnic, religious and national identities. M. Lee Pelton, the African American President of Emerson College, mentioned the deep historical divisions within our nation, stating that we were “a nation at war with itself” and that these divisions are “as old as the nation itself.” The letter from Rochester University used language such as intense pain and confusion to describe the emotions of many and acknowledged that, for some, the world feels like “a sadder and more lonely place.” Wesleyan University used terms like alienation, vulnerability, pain and targeted groups, and acknowledged that the pain was real. In his appeal for unity, Wesleyan president Michael Roth labeled white supremacy, bigotry and fear as the enemies of unity. Meanwhile, students, faculty and workers from
Yale University (a true ivy) have appealed to their president and provost to investigate whether their campus can “serve as a sanctuary for students, staff and their family members who face imminent deportation.” As a Black woman, I will also need sanctuary in Trump’s America. Not from deportation, but from the unfettered rise of racism and misogyny in the wake of Trump’s campaign rhetoric. I do not make these comparisons to suggest that President Crawford is unsympathetic to the pain experienced by so many here at Miami. I have met President Crawford. From what I have seen so far, I like him. I know that he is working to improve inclusion and diversity at Miami. I believe he is sincere in his efforts. I have seen him at events such as the “Every 28 Hours” play and the “Unity in the Community” effort, organized by Dr. Rodney Coates. Yet, it is evident that President Crawford is walking a fine line as the leader of a public university, in the swing state of Ohio. In his role, he likely feels he has to be all things to all people. That can’t be easy. That tight-rope walk was clear in the delicate wording of his letter and his avoidance of stronger language, like that used in the letters from private institutions. This delicate balance betrays the fact that Miami is much more public than it is “ivy.” It is easy to rise up strongly against white supremacy, bigotry, misogyny, homophobia, etc. when such views are espoused by rag-tag trouble makers from the outside, or by a handful of drunk (or sober) students on the inside. It is much costlier to the university to explicitly identify and denounce these malignancies when they are espoused by the leader of a political party that has strong regional support. Can we be honest about that and stop dancing around it? Yet, in the end, not denouncing these malignancies will cost each and every one of us. Here lies the real dilemma facing this institution in its quest to be more diverse and inclusive. How does Miami truly respond to my and others’ fear, anxiety, dejection and dehumanization as a direct result of Donald Trump’s campaign rhetoric, without offending the sensibilities of many conservative donors, alumni and Greek organizations that supported his campaign, and that also provide financial support to the university? In the words attributed to the Apostle Paul, “You cannot serve two masters …” There is a real ten-
University in Ohio who is among those named on the site, said in an interview, ‘What we are seeing with this site is a kind of normalizing of prosecuting professors, shaming professors, defaming professors.’” Professors offer knowledge. They only suggest ways of thinking. They present their students with schools of thought. And while students should be encouraged to think about their professors’ perspectives (because that’s what critical thinkers do), they should also understand that concepts like “white privilege” and “climate change” and “feminism” aren’t radical. They’re social realities. Just as TPUSA says, everyone has the right to free speech. This fear of free and “radical” speech touted by the Professor Watchlist sort of sounds like an anti-Communist agenda from the Cold War years. It’s antiquated. The reality is that introducing “new” concepts to students doesn’t even fall under free speech. It falls under teaching. Students come to college to learn. There is no point in being here if you’re not willing to open your mind.
HANNAH MEIBERS GUEST COLUMNIST
I am an education major, working toward a future of empowering, influencing and impacting all the students I come into contact with. I’ve spent most of my first semester as a freshman strenuously reading what seem to be the same articles on urban education. However, after sitting through various seminars, specifically Dean Dantley’s, I was moved beyond words. I’ve learned to ask myself questions such as: “Why are African American high school students not graduating in the same numbers as their white and Asian classmates?”; “What role do race, gender, class, ability and sexual orientation play in the classroom?”; “How do we face the fact that students who are facing expulsion are men of color?”; and “What strategic steps can be taken to lessen the existence of these concerns?” Waiting until I’m a teacher is not the right time to ask these questions. I have every right and ability to question educational injustices now. We read of statistics and reports, that tell of just another class of minorities that didn’t graduate. Why has no one found a solution? The blame lies not within the student’s skin color or class position. The solution is not within the students, but within the teachers. The importance
of knowing your students stems from this problem. What’s happening in your students’ homes? Why don’t their parents come to conferences? Their lives are important. There are realities that aren’t in the curriculum. Why should that stop us? You see, all these questions are meant to provoke your thoughts. Education is more than just sitting in a desk and more than regurgitating information. We have to ask questions: why did a student come to a conclusion, how can a student expand on their answer, etc. Education requires questioning the status quo and inspiring transformations — societally, intellectually and emotionally. Without critical thinking, we cannot think creatively and vice versa. Beyond passing or failing, education is an experience. Curiosity and depth should blossom within a classroom, not be restricted. Education is a chameleon. Each lesson should be constructed to fit any student, but constructed to change at the drop of a hat. Language should not be a barrier, but an advantage. Minorities are becoming more active and involved in the classroom, creating more diversity. There is never a dull moment as a teacher. Passion and determination overpower the fear of low income. Why would anyone want to be a teacher? Well, I don’t know. MEIBERHL@MIAMIOH.EDU
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sion there, a tension many members of Miami’s community see right through. I believe this tension has limited — and will continue to limit — our full potential in creating a more diverse and inclusive climate. Perhaps I am wrong. Unfortunately, President-elect Trump’s proposed policies, if enacted, will provide many opportunities for
Miami to prove me wrong over the next four years, if not longer.
AMBER DESIREE FRANKLIN FRANKLAD@MIAMIOH.EDU ASST. PROFESSOR, DEPT. OF SPEECH PATHOLOGY AND AUDIOLOGY
EDITORIAL@MIAMISTUDENT.NET
White power posters on campus reflect post-election climate POLITICS
TO THE EDITOR: In the wake of the Presidential election, many Miami University faculty, staff, students and Oxford community members are uncertain about the direction our nation may take with regard to its historically marginalized and immigrant populations. As a Miami/Oxford family, we take pride in being part of a campus and community that values ‘Love and Honor,’ a motto we desperately need to reaffirm. Hate crimes targeting people of color, women and minorities have proliferated in the days after the election according to the Southern Poverty Law Center. These acts are not confined to large cities, nor are they “just stories” being propagated by news media. Hateful acts are occurring right here in our local community as demonstrated by the recent posting of Nazi-reminiscent White Power posters on campus. As a result of both local and national reports of these kinds, many of us are deeply concerned about the safety and mental health of fac-
ulty, staff and students from a wide array of backgrounds. We stand for free speech and free expression, but we also recognize that students cannot learn optimally in an environment of fear and our faculty and staff can neither work nor educate optimally when they feel that they or their students are unsafe. As a coalition which represents historically marginalized groups, we urge the administration and city to take meaningful and clear action to prevent any instances of intolerance or harassment based on race, religion, immigration status, national origin, gender, LGBTQI+ status or disability on our campus and in our community. We urge you to be proactive in this regard. We cannot miss this opportunity to unite together to positively affirm the value of inclusion, which is supposed to lie at the heart of the American — and certainly the Miami — experience. To make this unity more visible, we urge the campus administration and city of Oxford to collaborate in the installation of international flags along High St. in Oxford (temporar-
ily replacing light pole banners) to represent the many countries from which Oxford residents and Miami students and faculty originate (in Fall 2016 admitted students came from 53 foreign countries); the rainbow flag; along with American, Miami and Ohio flags. Large vinyl banners might also be hung above High Street and the Shriver Center with a statement affirming our values. We know Miami University stands for inclusion as well as excellence in higher education, and we look forward to learning more about how the university intends to demonstrate its commitment to both before the semester is over. We welcome all thoughts and suggestions and hope the university shares our commitment to a bold statement in a time that requires thoughtful and timely action.
TANI SEBRO SEBROTH@MIAMIOH.EDU ASIAN/ASIAN-AMERICAN FACULTY AND STAFF ASSOCIATION (AAA-FSA)
Phrase ‘love it or hate it’ not accurate in common usage LANGUAGE
JOEY HART
ASST. EDITORIAL EDITOR
“You either love it or you hate it.” It’s a phrase that often appears in conversation. It’s usually used by the speaker to describe something he/she has tried or experienced and that the listener has not. It could be about a movie, it could be about food, it could even be applied to people given the necessary pronoun changes. Despite its common prevalence, this phrase is almost never accurate as used. Is there really anything that exists that could only either be loved or hated by the person experiencing it? Certainly not. One can like, dislike or even be indifferent to something in almost every case that this phrase is used. It is true that we have many phrases in the English language that thrive on hyperbolic effect. The phrases “I wanted to kill him,” “We’ve gone over this a thousand times” and “That bag weighed a ton” are such examples, and in each case the meaning is clearly intended. The difference with “love it or hate it” though is that even with the hyperbole accounted for, the saying
OPINION 7
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2016
still does not hold water. What the term “love it or hate it” means in common conversation is that one will either have a strong opinion in favor of something or a strong opinion against something. Having a strong opinion is not the same as absolute, literal love or hate. Thus the hyperbolic nature of the phrase is shown. Even when we use this new definition, though, the phrase is rarely accurate. Did people only have a strong opinion in favor of or against the latest Star Wars film installment? No, many thought it was just alright. Can one only have a strong opinion in favor of or against the taste of sauerkraut? Not at all, tastes range across a large spectrum. Of course, there are countless other cases where the phrase is used, but it is hard to imagine any case where the spectrum of opinions is so black and white as to only be relegated to love or hate. So, why has this phrase invaded the modern day lexicon? That is a hard question to answer. In the 1990s, the phrase gained notoriety when the salty food spread Marmite was marketed in the UK with the slogan “Love it
or hate it.” The idea was the same as the saying’s colloquial use: the spread allegedly produces only polarizing opinions, creating consumer interest. This instance of use is so well known that the website TV Tropes, a wiki that publishes descriptions and definitions of cultural and artistic phenomena, lists “Marmite Effect” as an alternative name for the phrase. However, according to Google’s Ngram Viewer, a tool that keeps track of the rate of use of given words or phrases in books over time, the use of the phrase “love it or hate it” has been rising since the mid-1960s. This would indicate that the saying has been part of the Western zeitgeist for a longer period of time. In any case, in a world with gray area, it is difficult to understand any situation where people’s opinions only devolve into one of two extremes. The use of this term by Marmite brand owners as a marketing strategy is understandable. The use of it as a lazy replacement for detailed commentary is less so.
HARTJT@MIAMIOH.EDU
MIAMISTUDENT.NET
VOTE ELLISON FOR DNC POLITICS
TO THE EDITOR: The Miami University College Democrats, along with Senators Klobuchar, Sanders, Schumer, Reid and Warren, would like to urge you to cast your vote for Keith Ellison in the upcoming election for Chair of the DNC. Here at Miami University, College Democrats and other leftleaning organizations registered 3,013 students to vote, activated an unprecedented amount of volunteers for campaign activities and engaged in constant dialogue with those who might not see eye-to-eye with us on every issue. Because of these efforts, we made the most conservative public university in the state go 60 percent for Hillary Clinton. We understand that grassroots activism is the most effective way to be successful in an election, and would like to see this model implemented in national strategy. Reflecting on the results of the 2016 election, it is clear to us that we need new leadership that will do a better job communicating the simple fact that, issue by issue, the solutions our party proposes are vastly more beneficial for the working class. Our party should be less concerned with raising large amounts of money from the billionaire class and more concerned with local, grassroots organizing in all 50 states. Rep. Ellison’s judgment and foresight could not have been clearer than when he warned that Donald Trump could be elected president in July 2015 — to the laughter of NBC’s anchors. Keith Ellison’s vision for the Democratic Party — to be the one constantly standing up for all marginalized and disenfranchised people — is the only way for our party to move forward. Under his guidance, the Democratic Party will be able to return its focus to core beliefs. We will be able to support grassroots candidates up and down the ballot who champion the issues that a vast majority of Ohioans and
Americans demand: a fair economic system that promotes upward mobility through a living minimum wage; affordable college; access to healthcare as a human right; and concrete action to reverse the disastrous effects of climate change. These are issues that Ellison has a long track record of fighting for as the co-chair of the House Progressive Caucus. Ohioans are tired of establishment economics, media and politics, and are looking for a movement that will heed their concerns and offer hopeful and unifying solutions, not scapegoats and resentment. It is urgent that we work to become this movement, and electing a progressive whose concern for working people is obvious would be a major step in reclaim-
Ohioans are tired of establisment economics, media and politics, and are looking for a movement that will heed their concerns...
ing our base. Senator Sherrod Brown echoed this sentiment in his recent editorial piece in The New York Times, stating that Ohioans and Americans believe that “you build a society and an economy from the middle class out.” Ohioans know that Trickle-Down economics does not work. It can only benefit the wealthiest and not the majority who only seek good, livable wages to support their families and their children’s future. Keith Ellison abides by this rationale and it is the only path forward for the Democratic Party. As representatives of the future of this party, we would like you to remember this sentiment when casting your vote.
RULE OF THUMB STUDENT STOMACHS STILL DIGESTING THANKSGIVING HAUL Undergraduates at Miami gained a collective 49,000 pounds over the Thanksgiving break. Also, this statistic may or may not have been made up by us.
WHITE NATIONALIST FLIERS SPOTTED ON CAMPUS Anti-semetic and white nationalist fliers were present on Miami’s campus this past week, as reported by the Columbus Dispatch.
REDHAWKS BOWL ELIGIBLE After an abysmal 0-6 start to what seemed like yet another losing season, the Miami football team ran the table, becoming the first NCAA team to win its last six games after a winless start.
CHRISTMAS MUSIC Finally, we can all listen to holiday music without anyone complaining that it’s too early.
A.J. NEWBERRY NEWBERAJ@MIAMIOH.EDU
MIAMI UNIVERSITY COLLEGE DEMOCRATS
8 SPORTS
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2016
SPORTS@MIAMISTUDENT.NET
Volleyball takes on No. 19 Oregon in NCAA tourney VOLLEYBALL
KYLE STEINER
THE MIAMI STUDENT
The Miami University volleyball team is headed to the NCAA Tournament after securing an at-large bid into the field of 64. This will be the program’s first appearance since the 2008 season. “It’s a dream come true,” senior outside hitter Maris Below said. “We’ve been wanting this for the last four years. The fact that it’s actually happening is just amazing.” The RedHawks (24-6 overall, 15-1 Mid-American Conference) were unable to clinch an automatic berth after falling 3-0 to archrival Northern Illinois University in the MAC title game. However, the squad’s 20-game winning streak and regular season MAC championship impressed the committee enough to earn the ‘Hawks a spot in the tournament. Miami will square off against the University of Oregon in the first round 5:30 p.m. Thursday at the Crisler Center in Ann Arbor, Michigan. “We are extremely excited to be in the NCAA tournament with the chance to play a great team like Oregon,” sophomore outside hitter Stela Kukoc said. Five MU players will get the chance to play their first NCAA tournament game in their home state of Michigan. The Ducks (20-9 overall, 13-7
conference) finished the season fourth in the Pacific-12 conference, arguably the nation’s top league. The conference boasts six teams in the latest edition of the AVCA Coaches’ Poll, with Oregon currently ranked 19th in the country. The U of O attack is led by sophomore outside hitter Lindsey Vander Weide. The 6-foot-3-inch standout leads the team with 353 kills on the season, averaging 3.24 per set. The Ducks finished the year with a 3-3 record in their final six games. MU enters the matchup with a renewed sense of life given that its tournament status was up in the air heading into Sunday night’s selection show. Having won 23 of their last 25 matches, the RedHawks are confident they have the ability to compete against and take down topnotch competition. “Our team has demonstrated so many times that they can grind and outwork opponents,” head coach Carolyn Condit said. Miami will look to its diverse set of attackers to wear down the Oregon defense. Five different players recorded over 200 kills on the season for the ‘Hawks. The winner of the first round matchup will square off against either the University of Michigan or American University at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday night.
From the sacked to the sacker: Austin Gearing FOOTBALL
COBURN GILLIES
ASST. SPORTS EDITOR
An overcast haze shrouds the Ypsilanti air as the sun begins to peek out of the Michigan clouds, the weather wavering between dry and rainy. On the field, the conditions reflect the season for MU up to this point: indecisive. In the midst of a surprise two-game win streak — which the ‘Hawks would parlay into six consecutive victories — the RedHawks find themselves up 14-3 on the road against EMU to start off the third quarter. Eastern Michigan receives the second half kickoff of this week nine matchup, resulting in a touchback. Redshirt junior quarterback Brogan Roback leads the Eagles out of the huddle to get the second half underway. First-and-10 from Eastern Michigan’s 25-yard line, Roback barks out his pre-snap commands to the offense. Across the line of scrimmage, defense end Austin Gearing waits patiently on the edge for the snap of the ball. The fifth-year senior reacts to Roback’s call for hike, uses his speed to get around the outside of the Eagles offensive line and brings the EMU quarterback down to the gray turf.
For Gearing, this was sack number four on the campaign. Reigning terror amongst quarterbacks in the Mid-American Conference is a must for the MAC-best defense’s leader, as this was just another day on the job for the Bishop Fenwick alum. Standing at a daunting 6-foot5, 257-pounds, Gearing has all the physical gifts to be a successful defensive lineman. From his size to his speed that was once clocked in at 4.81 for a 40-yard dash, everything checks out until one looks at his jersey and sees number 11, a number typically reserved for a quarterback. Believe it or not, the player who is second — one spot behind fellow fifth-year senior defensive end J.T Jones — on the team in sacks (4.0) and ninth in tackles (31) used to ply his trade dropping back and playing quarterback for the Red and White. As a member of MU’s 2012 recruiting class, the Franklin, Ohio native was the only quarterback that signed to play for the ‘Hawks. During the recruitment process, the former two-star prospect received offers from Toledo, Kent State and Cincinnati before ultimately signing with the RedHawks. Gearing, who had played quar-
ANGELO GELFUSO THE MIAMI STUDENT
Redshirt sophomore running back Alonzo Smith speeds past multiple Ball State defenders. Smith led all MU players with 11 rushes for 85 yards, including a critical 50-yard scamper late in the fourth quarter. FROM FOOTBALL »PAGE 1
possible. “If we continue playing our game, doing what we do well on defense, which is every guy being one with the defense, buying in and just doing your part, we will have success like we have shown,” Harding said. Along with the exploits of Ragland, Williams impacted the outcome of the game on the offensive end. In his best performance of the campaign, Williams caught six passes, totaling 145 yards and two touchdowns. Playing in his final game at Yager Stadium, Williams described the moment once the clock hit zero. “It’s surreal, for real. The 0-12 season, the rough start to this year. I mean, there have been plenty of times when it’s been rough and, you know, you want to throw in the towel and give up and get discouraged, you know, lose faith.” “It’s really emotional, just coming from the 0-12 season to, you know, starting off 0-6 and not many people believed in us but we believed in ourselves, still. And just to turn it all around and be bowl eligible is surreal and an exciting time,” Harding added. Ball State would not quit, despite the early setback. The Cardinals came back with 17 unanswered points to end the first half. Redshirt senior wide out KeVonn Mabon got the offensive assault started by catching a 25-yard touchdown pass from Riley Neal. The sophomore quarterback gave BSU the lead with a three-yard scamper to find the end zone, putting Ball State up 14-7. Sophomore kicker Morgan Hagee ex-
BRIANNA NIXON THE MIAMI STUDENT
Redshirt senior wide receiver Rokeem Williams celebrates one of his two touchdowns against BSU.Williams caught six passes for 145 yards on top of his two scores. tended the lead to 17-7 with a 31-yard field goal to end the first half. Hagee would score the Cards’ final three points giving them 20 for the fixture. Mabon shouldered the load offensively for the Cards. The program’s newly-crowned all-time receptions leader finished the day with 11 receptions totaling 122 yards and a touchdown. “I think they knew [KeVonn] Mabon and [James] Gilbert were good. I don’t think they realized how we were telling them all week that their skill guys are good players. And they moved the ball on everybody in this league,” Martin said. Senior linebackers Sean Wiggins and Corey Hall led BSU head coach Mike Neu’s squad on the defensive side of the ball. The two combined for
14 tackles, nine solo, five assisted and one tackle-for-loss. Williams started off the second half with a bang, catching a 74-yard bomb from Ragland on the first play from scrimmage to make the score 17-14, advantage Cardinals. Following a field goal from BSU to make the score 20-14, Ragland had one more trick up his sleeve. He found Sam Shisso with 5:44 left to play in regulation for a 27-yard touchdown to give the ‘Hawks a lead they would not relinquish. Once considered an afterthought, Miami football, with the leadership of Coach Martin, has reached a high that has not been seen in six seasons. Announcement of the bowl, location and time will be made on Sunday, Dec. 4.
GEARING »PAGE 4
Headlines beyond Oxford: Jack Roslovic, who left Miami University’s hockey team for the professional ranks after only one college season last year, scored the game-winning goal and added an assist for the Manitoba Moose of the AHL last night against the Chicago Wolves. Roslovic, part of the Winnipeg Jets organization, leads all Moose skaters with 13 points this season. After the center’s sixth multipoint game of the season, many expect the first-round pick to be called up to the Jets shortly.
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BRIANNA NIXON THE MIAMI STUDENT
Freshman guard Michael Weathers takes the ball to the basket against Western Illinois. Weathers led the ‘Hawks to an 81-72 win with a team-high19 points while also contributing six rebounds, four assists and three steals.
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