The Miami Student | March 12, 2019

ESTABLISHED 1826 — OLDEST COLLEGE NEWSPAPER WEST OF THE ALLEGHENIES

Volume 147 No. 20

Miami University — Oxford, Ohio

TUESDAY, MARCH 12, 2019

FORMER STUDENT ARRESTED ON CHILD PORNOGRAPHY CHARGES

Rainn-ing down knowledge

CÉILÍ DOYLE

NEWS EDITOR Former Miami University first-year Adam Blatt was arrested by the Miami University Police Department (MUPD) Feb. 12 at the Maplestreet Station dining hall for operating a Dropbox account containing 17 videos of child pornography.

MUPD investigated Blatt’s Dropbox account with the help of Southwest Ohio Crimes Against Children Task Force after receiving a tip Feb. 7, according to the incident report.

Blatt was charged with 17 counts of pandering sexually oriented matter involving a minor, a fourth-degree felony.

Blatt’s Dropbox account had “178 movies of questionable content,” MUPD Detective Walter Schneider wrote in the incident report. The report noted 17 of the movies “contained footage of obvious prepubescent females engaging in sexual acts.”

After being taken into questioning, Blatt told MUPD the email associated with the Dropbox account in question was his, but that he had not shared access to the account with anyone else.

Blatt’s case was moved to the jurisdiction of the Butler County Court of Common Pleas.

Judge Keith Spaeth gave the prosecuting attorney, Michael Gmoser, 60 days to present additional evidence ADAM BLATT to a grand jury, CONTRIBUTED BY MUPD which was filed by the clerk of courts on Wednesday, March 6.

Blatt posted a $17,000 bond and subsequent fees the day after his arrest and is currently out of jail on bail, according to an entry in the court docket.

As of last week, Blatt is no longer enrolled at Miami, university spokesperson Claire Wagner said.

A hearing will be scheduled after Gmoser finishes presenting evidence to the grand jury

by June 12. doyleca3@miamioh.edu

“THE OFFICE” STAR RAINN WILSON SPOKE TO A FULL HOUSE AT HALL AUDITORIUM. THE MIAMI STUDENT SARAH BROSSART

ANNA MINTON

world a better place and decided to do it through digital media content,” said Wilson.

“I really had a calling to make a change in the world, and we want to instill joy in people.”

Wilson came up with the company when discussing with colleagues how to change the world for the better; the name came from GoDaddy.com.

“We were all in Andy Grammer’s apartment, thinking of existential terms and then random food,” said Wilson. “And we checked on GoDaddy, and Spirit Taco was taken, so we went with SoulPancake.”

SoulPancake works to promote positive and thought-provoking content. Wilson and co-founders Joshua Homnick and Devon

STYLE EDITOR

Bears. Beets. Battlestar Galactica. And now? Big Questions.

On Monday, Rainn Wilson came to speak at Hall Auditorium about “life’s big questions.” Tickets to the event sold out within a couple of hours.

While Wilson is mainly known for his work as Dwight Schrute in the popular television show “The Office” (U.S.), he spent the lecture discussing his work as a founder of the popular media and entertainment company SoulPancake.

“Essentially, we just wanted to make the

Gundry started the platform in 2008, and it has already gathered over 10 million loyal followers across various platforms. SoulPancake was recently bought by the Oscar-winning entertainment and media company Participant Media.

The company aims to “target the optimistic millennial,” according to its website, by creating content that addresses questions like what it means to be human. Some of SoulPancake’s most popular content includes Kid President, Kitten Therapy and a series of videos for the Super Soul Sunday Program for the OWN network.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 3

ARENA

Senate probes Chinese-funded Confucius Institutes SAMANTHA BRUNN NEWS EDITOR

SEN. ROB PORTMAN LED THE NATION-WIDE INVESTIGATION OF THE CONFUCIUS INSTITUTE. ILLUSTRATION BY: CONNOR WELLS

A United States Senate investigation into the Confucius Institute found no wrongdoing by the Chinese government-funded language and culture program, which operates centers at universities across the country — including Miami.

The investigation, led by Ohio Republican Sen. Rob Portman and Delaware Democrat Sen. Tom Carper, called for increased transparency in the funding mechanisms from Hanban — a semi-governmental agency affiliated with the Chinese Ministry of Education that funds the Confucius Institute.

The results of the investigation, which lasted for eight months, were revealed in a Feb. 28 hearing in the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs’ Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations.

“This bipartisan report documents the stunning lack of transparency and reciprocity from China in how Confucius Institutes operate inside the United States,” Portman said in his opening statement at the hearing. “As China has expanded Confucius Institutes here in the U.S., it has systematically shut down key U.S. State Department public diplomacy efforts on Chinese college campuses.”

Though the investigation originally aimed to determine whether the Chinese government has attempted to spread propaganda through Confucius Institutes, Portman and

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Miami students reach new heights

Midnight shifts with Melissa

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She keeps Oxford fueled with late night snacks and smiles.

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Culture » page 8

Carper ultimately claimed the Chinese government was curtailing “academic freedom” by funding these departments throughout the United States.

“That level of access can stifle academic freedom and provide students and others exposed to Confucius Institute programming with an incomplete picture of Chinese government actions and policies that run counter to U.S. interests at home and abroad,” Portman said in a separate statement after the investigation concluded.

Miami’s Assistant Provost of Global Initiatives, Cheryl Young, said she was surprised by the senators’ allegations.

“Our experience with the Confucius Institute, at least over the last 12 years, is not what these negative things being reported in the Senate are,” Young told The Miami Student.

Young said the Miami University Confucius Institute (MUCI) is a valuable resource for students interested in engaging in Chinese culture and for helping bridge cultural gaps.

MUCI proposes its events to Hanban, whose officials then determine which will receive funding.

Universities receiving more than $250,000 from Hanban are legally required to document the contributions as foreign gifts. Young said that while Miami hasn’t reached the legal threshold since 2009, the department still voluntarily reports its receipts.

In 2018, MUCI received $30,000, which is much lower than in previous years. In 2017, CONTINUED ON PAGE 3

RedHawks’ season over?

Hot take: Dogs in vests

Men’s basketball loses by 29 points in Akron to end MAC Tournament run.

Our columnist condemns fake service animals and phony vests.

Sports » page 11

Opinion » page 12

This Week

2 FYI

TUESDAY, MARCH 12, 2019 Named the Best College Newspaper (Non-daily) in Ohio by the Society of Professional Journalists.

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Tues 3/12

“Not Very Funny”

Bar 1868 (Cellar) Head Uptown and underground to see members of the student standup group, Not Very Funny, perform their own “tight tens.”

9:30 p.m.

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NEWS@MIAMISTUDENT.NET

NEWS 3

TUESDAY, MARCH 12, 2019

Rainn-ing down knowledge

The big questions, broken down

WILSON SAID HE AIMS TO EMBRACE LIFE POST-DWIGHT (HIS CHARCTER ON THE POPULAR SHOW, THE OFFICE) PHOTOGRAPHER SARAH BROSSART

FROM PAGE 1

Wilson has written two books. The latest, titled “The Bassoon King,” details how he came to be the person he is today, while his first book, “Chewing on Life’s Big Questions,” was published in 2010 and addresses much of the same content as Monday’s lecture.

“We’re going to go a little bit deeper into life’s big questions than you thought,” said Wilson. “Also, that’s what she said.”

Wilson addressed plenty of life-altering “conversation killers,” as he called them — questions such as: What happens when we die? How do we truly become happy? What separates us as human beings from other mammals? Is God real?

“I mean, if I’m just a monkey with a big brain and a Tesla, then what does this all mean?” said Wilson. “Also, I have a Tesla, in case you didn’t catch that.”

Many of Wilson’s answers have come through his Bahá’í faith, first introduced to him by his parents. Founded in 1863, Bahá’í sees all religions as connected under one entity, and focuses on discussing the questions of the universe, rather than seeking the answers.

“What I have found is that as I have lived my life for the questions, the answers have slowly become more clear,” Wilson said. “I have also seen SoulPancake become more a part of the answers, and more a part of myself as well.”

It was through discussing these “ques-

tions” that Wilson made it through some of the difficult parts of his life, especially in regards to his relationship with his own spirituality.

“I had a beautiful girlfriend, a career as a working actor and a kickass van, and I was still unsatisfied,” Wilson said. “So, I decided to go on a spiritual quest.”

Wilson began studying the religions of the world and reading as much as he could find.

It was through this, he claims, that he was able to regain his own spiritual happiness and learn more about the science of what exactly causes joy.

“Joy itself is a rebellion,” said Wilson. “It is so easy in today’s world to be cynical, but it is an open act of revolution to be open about

your own inner joy.”

Today, SoulPancake strives to allow people a platform to both share and experience their own joy, with over one billion views for their video content alone. And as the company grows, Wilson has a clear vision for where he wants it to go.

“We have moved, not just through the internet, but as a species as a whole, towards self-actualization,” said Wilson. “And I hope, with this, that SoulPancake can be used as a tool for good.” mintona2@miamioh.edu

Portman probes government-funded Confucius Institutes FROM PAGE 1

for example, the institute received $155,242 from Hanban.

Young said Hanban has never denied funding to any event that Miami has proposed.

“They don’t tell us how to host anything, or where,” Young said. “We work with the [Chinese] partner university, but it isn’t a one-way relationship. They don’t tell us what to do.”

Young noted that there are many diversity-related events on campus affiliated with MUCI that are not funded or approved by Hanban in any way.

Chen Zhao, the director of MUCI, said in an interview that the institute serves many functions within the Miami community and helps create a well-rounded student experience.

“We offer courses for non-credit in conversational Chinese, and our workshops are becoming more popular with students – both domestic and international students,” Zhao said.

Because MUCI is integrated closely with Global Initiatives, Zhao said, its operations serve the university’s priorities before its obligations to Hanban.

The Senate hearing concluded with a call to establish similar American cultural institutes in China and to increase transparency in the funding reporting process.

“I appreciate the commitments that have been made by the Department of Education today and the Department of State to step up what is the first step in this, which is to provide that transparency and information that is required by law,” Portman said. brunnsj@miamioh.edu

DATA PROVIDED BY MIAMI UNIVERSITY, VISUALIZATION BY CONNOR WELLS

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4 NEWS

NEWS@MIAMISTUDENT.NET

TUESDAY, MARCH 12, 2019

Former MJF chair wins high honor Campbell recognized for service, devotion to students ALISON PERELMAN

TIM CARLIN

MANAGING EDITOR

Richard Campbell, former chair of the Department of Media, Journalism and Film (MJF), will be honored with the Benjamin Harrison Medallion next Tuesday, March 19.

The Benjamin Harrison Medallion — named for Miami alum and former U.S. President Benjamin Harrison — is an honor awarded to a Miami faculty member for their contributions to teaching, research and service.

More than fifteen colleagues, friends and former students sent in support for Campbell’s nomination.

“I think everybody who contributed to that letter wanted to make sure that he was properly recognized for everything that he’s done, and that’s a broad range of things — for the department, for students, for the university’s sort of standing as a whole, and then for all of the students he’s impacted through the publication of his textbook,” said James Tobin, fellow professor and longtime friend of Campbell.

Campbell earned a bachelor’s degree in English at Marquette University. He taught high school English and journalism in Milwaukee for five years before attending the University of Wisconsin for a master’s in mass communication. He then went on to earn his Ph.D. in radio, television and film from Northwestern University.

Campbell taught at the University of Michigan and Middle Tennessee State University. He authored “Media and Culture: An Introduction to Mass Communication,” which is currently in its 12th edition and remains a leading textbook for media studies.

He was asked to join Miami’s faculty in 2004 with the intention of restructuring the communications department. Since then, Campbell has helped build it from a single office in Bachelor Hall to the MJF department in its own building, Williams Hall.

He launched the Inside Hollywood program, which subsequently led to other, similar study away programs. These programs give students the opportunity to make connections and experience media industries first-hand. In recent years, Campbell has been invested in Report for Ohio, an initiative to put young journalists in underreported areas.

“It’s a big career, it really is, and he is such an unassuming guy that we tend to overlook what a big imprint he has made,” Tobin said. “[The award] seemed like the fitting conclusion to his career.”

MU hosts lecture on hate, hate speech

STAFF WRITER

journalist in a way is a teacher, but he certainly found his natural calling when he set out to be a scholar, therefore both a teacher and a writer,” Tobin said.

Campbell’s family, including his son Chris, who lives in Michigan, plans to attend the awards reception.

“I’m just so thrilled for him because he’s not a person who ever asks for recognition,” Chris Campbell said. “I’m just so excited for this time in his life where ­— I think the idea of not asking for recognition and then getting it, that’s one of the most satisfying things I can imagine.”

Oxford City Council discussed its environmental sustainability efforts at its meeting last Tuesday. A group of graduate students from Miami University’s Institute for the Environment & Sustainability (IES) gave a presentation on two greenhouse gas studies conducted in the past year, and Council discussed penning an open letter to the university about mutual sustainability efforts.

The IES presentation summarized the results of a year-long study into the feasibility of Oxford signing on to the Global Covenant of Mayors (GCM) and a current study of greenhouse gasses in Oxford. The GCM consists of over 9,000 cities that have all committed to lowering greenhouse gas emissions to slow the effects of climate change and prevent irreversible environmental damage.

In order to sign onto the GCM, Council would need a majority vote to agree to conduct a city-wide greenhouse gas inventory, set target reductions for greenhouse gas emissions and enact legislation to push the city toward its reduction targets.

The IES study, which was completed in May 2018, recommended the city wait to sign onto the GCM and conduct its own greenhouse gas emissions inventory.

Another study, currently being conducted by IES, is taking a greenhouse gas inventory of all city emissions, and the results will be available on Friday, May 17.

At the end of the meeting, council discussed publishing an open letter addressed to Miami asking for open dialogue about sustainability going forward.

Council member David Prytherch, who drafted the letter, is also a professor of geography at Miami. He noted that Miami and Oxford have historically kept their sustainability efforts separate.

Council plans to revise the letter and send it to University President Gregory Crawford sometime this spring.

“More important than the letter itself is the commitment for the university and city groups to meet on probably a quarterly basis to keep each other informed,” said Mayor Kate Rousmaniere.

Council meets next at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 19 at the Oxford Courthouse.

perelmak@miamioh.edu

carlintm@miamioh.edu

RICHARD CAMPBELL WAS HONORED FOR HIS CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE UNIVERSITY. ASST. PHOTO EDITOR BO BRUECK

Campbell stepped down as MJF chair at the end of last school year and plans to retire this coming June.

Britton Perelman ‘16 one of Campbell’s former students, said it’s not a surprise that Campbell received this award.

“Dr. Campbell is the most kind-hearted, generous and thoughtful professor at Miami,” she said. “He immediately took me under his wing and helped me grow into the person I am today.

Without him, I don’t know where I would be.”

Many echoed this sentiment in a compilation video screened at a celebration held when Campbell stepped down as chair, as well as in written contributions to his nomination.

“He could’ve been a terrific journalist, and a

Three Miamians build CBD company Two stores open with more on the way

MAGGIE ANGEVINE THE MIAMI STUDENT

Miami University will host a lecture on “Hate and Hate Speech on Campus” at 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, March 13 at 152 Shideler Hall. The lecture is part of a multi-day series that includes workshops and activities centered around inclusivity and civil dialogue on college campuses.

Abby Ferber, a professor of sociology and women’s and ethnic studies at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs, will present the lecture as a part of the Sherry Corbett Memorial Lecture Series. It will be open to the public.

Fauzia Ahmed, associate professor in the Department of Sociology and Gerontology, was one of the main driving forces behind organizing and fundraising for the event series.

Ahmed is also a member of the University President’s Strategic Planning Diversity and Inclusion subcommittee at Miami.

In an interview, Ahmed said she is impressed with University President Gregory Crawford because of his efforts to elevate the issue of diversity and inclusion at Miami.

“We need an umbrella over all the people who believe in peace and justice and love across difference,” Ahmed said. “I also felt that this event would bring people together in a journey of hope.”

Ahmed said that she was overwhelmed by the community’s enthusiasm for the event.

Twenty-five different groups, ranging from student organizations to the Office of the President, have contributed to it. She added that now is the perfect time to educate students on the issues of racism and discrimination that many Americans face today.

“Hope and courage … are tangible assets, and they need to be shared, so this two-day event is really about sharing hope and sharing courage,” Ahmed said.

Ahmed said she has has long seen a need for an event like this on Miami’s campus, pointing to a culture of “you don’t belong here” towards minority groups at Miami. She hopes this lecture will help educate students on building a non-discriminatory climate on campus.

“Things are said and done here that, had the campus been more diverse, people would have thought twice about that [hateful speech],” Ahmed said. “Our purpose should be to create an environment where everyone has the possibility of being happy. Otherwise, what’s the point? It really isn’t very difficult to do if you really think about it and if you really really want to do it.” angevims@miamioh.edu

Sustainability begins to take shape in Oxford

THE FOUNDERS OF HEMPXCLUSIVE PLAN TO EXPAND THEIR STORE WITH NEW LOCATIONS. CONTRIBUTED BY MICHAEL TAYLOR

MAGGIE ANGEVINE THE MIAMI STUDENT

It’s passion that keeps Michael Taylor ‘13 going, but it was his professors who helped the 28-year-old start his own hemp and CBD oil store in Dayton, OH. “I would not be where I am today without the help and passion of Miami professors,” Taylor said.

Taylor and two other Miamians founded the hemp and cannabidiol (CBD) brand HempXclusive, which opened its first store in a Dayton, Ohio, mall in November 2018 and a second store in Fairfield, Ohio, on Friday, March 8.

The startup also recently signed a national deal which will allow them to open three to four new locations every four to six weeks until they have a presence in over 90 North American retail centers and malls.

CBD is a non-psychoactive compound derived from cannabis that many users and some experts say can reduce anxiety and inflammation, among other medicinal benefits. Plants in the cannabis family (hemp and marijuana are the two most well-known) contain varying levels of both CBD and THC, the compound that produces the plant’s signature high. The plants can be selectively bred into strains that have higher or lower concentrations of either CBD or THC. Taylor, the company’s founder, CEO and technical officer, majored in commerce with a minor in biology and is well-versed in homeopathic medicine. Josh Fishman, a sophomore at Miami, is the company’s chief marketing officer, and Joe McKinney, also a sophomore, is HempXclusive’s chief operations officer.

The three met through Miami and, with the coaching and encouragement of various

Miami professors, took the plunge into the world of entrepreneurship with the launch of their own CBD and hemp brand.

Taylor described himself and his partners as “not businessmen, but healers,” and said that, though business is an important part of their success, what truly drives them is the faith they have in CBD oil as an alternative or supplemental treatment for many ailments.

As the popularity of holistic and organic healthcare rises, Taylor said he believes CBD oil is the answer to many common problems.

The products his company sells include pure CBD suspended in coconut oil, salve sticks (a lip balm-style cream to be put on various parts of the body) for aches and pains, capsule vitamins to aid with sleep and increase energy, energy drinks, gummies, vape juice and various creams along with products for pets.

Taylor said their products have been extensively researched, and the men advertise their products as treatments or aids for conditions such as chronic pain, anxiety and depression, innsomnia, ADHD, epilepsy and high blood pressure.

The store contracts out to a private lab to test their products, Taylor added.

They face the daily challenge of defying cultural stereotypes of “ineffectiveness” surrounding CBD and holistic health, though they say that each of their products is researched and tested extensively.

“We just press on, try to stay true to the passion,” Taylor said.

The CBD industry is booming. Leading industry experts at the Brightfield Group predict the market will be worth an estimated $22 billion by 2022. Its success is largely due to its perceived effectiveness and a recent increase in science-based evidentiary support.

The HempXclusive brand uses CBD isolate instead of “full spectrum” oil, which contains trace amounts of THC. The process used to create the isolate is more expensive and time-consuming, Taylor said, but it is worth the time and money and ensures the end product contains no THC. “Ours is a better product, cleaner, safer, of superior quality,” Taylor said. “We have the best intentions at heart and want the best for our customers.”

Taylor attributed his and his partners’ success to Miami, and especially to Miami’s regional campuses.

“I had amazing mentors there, and the regional campuses allowed the convenience I needed to get my brand off the ground,” Taylor said. “It comes down to the professors. If you have the passion and the work ethic, they will respond in the same way.” angevims@miamioh.edu

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ASG supports Uptown Wi-Fi and inclusive pronouns

NEWS 5

TUESDAY, MARCH 12, 2019

Film festival defies disability stereotypes

ERIN GLYNN STAFF WRITER

Senators in Associated Student Government (ASG) approved a resolution to support free wireless access Uptown and a bill to encourage the use of preferred pronouns in official senate communications during their meeting on March 5. Senate also approved the final funding allocations for the semester.

Charles Kennick has been discussing the possibility of free Wi-Fi Uptown with City Council for two years as chair of the Student/Community Relations Commission (SCRC), an advisory body for the Oxford City Council, and as ASG Secretary for Off-Campus Affairs.

City Councilor Glenn Ellerbe — who sits on SCRC — advised the commission that a demonstration of ASG support for the idea would encourage City Council to approve the idea.

The project proposes centering the Wi-Fi signal in Oxford Memorial Park and Martin Luther King Jr. Park. The city’s tourism bureau would pay for the service, possibly with advertising revenue from local businesses that appear on the network login page.

ASG unanimously approved the resolution. Kennick then left the meeting to bring the proposal to City Council.

Senators Brandon Small and Demetre Carnot introduced a bill to charge ASG’s Secretary of Communications and Media Relations to include senators’ preferred pronouns on communications such as their placards and ASG’s website. This inclusion would be an opt-in-only practice, so as to not place pressure on senators who wish not to share pronouns. ASG unanimously approved the bill, which is its second action for more inclusive pronouns this year.

Senate also voted unanimously to approve the funding allocations for student organizations left out of the first round of funding hearings because they could not prove their Red Brick Rewards tier placement.

Parliamentarian Max Mellott questioned why some of the student organizations are still not placed in any of the Red Brick Rewards tiers.

The funding committee blamed a “lack of effort” on the part of the organizations.

“I’m glad to see that number is lower, but it really should be zero,” Mellott said. glynnee@miamioh.edu

THE FILMS SHOWN AT SUPERFEST ALL FEATURED CHARACTERS WITH DISABILITIES. THE MIAMI STUDENT ZACH REICHMAN

STELLA BEERMAN THE MIAMI STUDENT

Superfest Disability Film Festival held a showcase last Tuesday in Kreger Hall as a part of Miami University’s Diversity Week. The event featured six short films intended to dismantle viewers’ preconceptions about living with disabilities.

“The goal of Superfest is to start a positive dialogue surrounding disability,” said Dan Darkow, an

accommodations coordinator at Miami’s Miller Center for Student Disability Services. The Miller Center and the Students with Disabilities Advisory Council (SDAC) served as event c0-sponsors.

The focus of most of the films was not about disability, but rather the stories of the main characters who just happened to have disabilities.

Superfest is about depicting disabled people in everyday life not as

FSB springs a leak

a separate entity, but just as a community of people who contribute to the diversity in the world.

Superfest Disability Film Festival is the longest-running film festival of its kind. The festival is produced by the Paul K. Longmore Institute and LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired in San Francisco, California. The two-day festival began in 1970 in San Francisco and has expanded every year since.

RACHEL BERRY

SYDNI MOORE

THE MIAMI STUDENT

The ceiling is leaking on the second floor of the Farmer School of Business (FSB), and two recycling bins have been placed under it, blocking half of the hallway. The leak has been dripping for a few weeks already, and it’s starting to bother the business students.

“It’s an issue to students and professors alike,” said Emily Rose, a first-year finance major. “Overall, for students, it can be an eyesore.”

The location of the bins and the leak has also brought about safety and damage concerns within the building, said Steve Feck, senior training manager for Miami University Physical Facilities.

“I would assume, knowing Miami and how much effort that they put into the aesthetic of their buildings, that they would deal with the situation promptly,” Rose said.

Feck and the physical facilities department say the leak can’t be

fixed until things dry up later in the spring.

Though business students may be concerned about the leak, students outside FSB are less miffed.

“Personally, I think Farmer is a palace, and it has one small leak in it that’s not affecting anything,” said first-year architecture major Natalie Hopkins. “It’s being caught in a trashcan, so it’s kind of fine.”

Hopkins has first-hand experience with many leaks in Alumni Hall, where she spends much of her time in classes or studying.

“Alumni has a lot of leaks, and it’s an actual issue to our learning because it leaks right onto our desks where people have their projects,” Hopkins said.

Sometimes, the water will drop onto more dangerous territory than architecture-class masterpieces.

“There was a leak in the [architecture] library leaking right next to a power strip the other day,” Hopkins said. “So I put a jar un-

derneath it.”

Feck said they are working to manage the situation in FSB. “We do our best to maintain a comfortable space that is conducive to the learning environment,” Feck said. “Farmer generally would be treated with a high priority.”

Feck said that the current bin set-up in Farmer is following normal “first-response protocol” for this type of leak, with the immediate priority of preventing further damage.

The leak was caused by an excessive amount of snow and ice this season, and Feck said it will require a more extensive repair.

This will prolong the time required to fix the issue. Miami’s maintenance and trade shops are currently working out solutions with contractors, but they cannot fix the leak until it dries out in the spring. moorese4@miamioh.edu

beermaej@miamioh.edu

Enrollment down at regional campuses ASST. NEWS EDITOR

THE LEAK IN THE FARMER SCHOOL OF BUSINESS WILL REQUIRE EXTENSIVE ROOF REPAIRS. PHOTO EDITOR JUGAL JAIN

“The mini-showcases are fairly new – popping up on college campuses around the country – and have been a booming success so far,” said Cathy Kudlick, director of the Paul K. Longmore Institute.

According to the Superfest site, disabled filmmakers from all around the world submit hundreds of films every year that are then selected by a jury of filmmakers, disability rights activists, scholars, community organizers and award-winning creatives. The jury then selects films that are edgy, unexpected and avoid disability cliches.

“Everyone always thinks, ‘Oh no, don’t laugh at the disabled people.’ – It’s funny, you can laugh,” Kudlick said, referring to the films, before Tuesday’s event.

During the first film, Maureen Beck, a one-handed rock climber, looks straight into the camera and says “Suck my stump,” to able-bodied people who feel the need to call her “inspiring” for missing a hand.

The second film, “Awake,” featured a blind Jehovah’s Witness and a blind woman with multiple sclerosis who bond over smoking marijuana and baking cakes.

Later, during the film “Voodoo Doll,” a Type-1 diabetes patient explains the pain of dealing with the American healthcare system.

Another filmmaker utilized home videos and interviews with his own parents to show how having Obsessive Compulsive Disorder has worked in his favor, helping him concentrate on long term projects.

Each film used open audio description — an ongoing narrative playing throughout the film to explain what is happening on the screen for those who are visually impaired in the audience.

In “Voodoo Doll,” open audio description described the main character being stabbed over and over again by needles as it happened on the screen. In “Stumped,” it was used to describe the intense movements of the main character as she struggled to climb higher than she ever had before.

During an intermission, an audience member described open audio description as hard to adjust to at first, but helpful in noticing some of the easily-overlooked details of the movies.

“My hope is that this [event] will be a creative force and really get people excited,” Kudlick said.

Miami University’s Hamilton and Middletown campuses have seen an overall decrease in enrollment numbers over the past five years.

Since 2014, enrollment has dipped by about 22 percent on the Hamilton campus and 11 percent on the Middletown campus, according to data collected each October. The decreases represent almost a thousand fewer students enrolled at the regional campuses.

“We are concerned about this decline and are taking aggressive steps to change that pattern,” said Cathy Bishop-Clark, associate provost and dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Applied Science.

Kristen Taylor, Miami’s senior regional director of enrollment management, attributed the overall decline to economic growth and staff turnover in the admissions office.

When the economy improves, Taylor said, schools with open admission — universities like Miami’s regional campuses, where almost every applicant is accepted — see decreased enrollment as more high school graduates go straight into the workforce and fewer older adults return to school.

Other regional campuses in Ohio have seen smaller declines over the same period. The University of Cincinnati’s regional campuses have declined by approximately 3 percent for UC Blue Ash and 7 percent for UC Clermont over the last five years.

Enrollment at The Ohio State University’s Mansfield campus has declined by approximately 7 percent over five years, with the Lima campus going down 4 percent and Wooster by 2 percent.

Each of Miami’s regional campuses has only two admissions counselors who are responsible for recruiting students. Counselors often only stay for a single year, Taylor said, which hurts recruitment efforts when the positions are vacant. For

instance, three of the four counselor positions were vacant last summer.

“Those are entry-level positions, so we tend to have staff … resign for other opportunities or personal choices,” Taylor said.

Taylor said the office of admissions is working to decrease staff turnover and improve recruitment by increasing the number of admissions counselor positions and raising salaries to improve staff retention.

For the 2017-2018 school year, the average salary for an admissions counselor at the regional campuses was just under $33,000 a year, according to university data.

Another factor that has contributed to the overall decline in enrollment numbers is the decrease in students taking the regional campuses’ College Credit Plus program, which Taylor attributes to high schools offering a larger number of courses through local community colleges.

Although numbers have been declining in recent years, Taylor said she is working to address this issue.

“Right now we are cautiously optimistic that we will be increasing year-over-year our incoming students,” she said.

Applications are not closed for the incoming class, but the regional campuses have received 13 percent more applications this year than they had at the same time last year. There have been increases in application numbers in the past few years which did not result in an increase in enrolled students, but Taylor said the increases have never been this large.

Additionally, Miami established a new Transfer Pathways and Partnerships Office last fall, which aims to help recruit transfer students.

Taylor hopes this will increase the number of transfer students in the coming years, which could augment cohorts where enrollment targets were missed. berryrd@miamioh.edu

CONGRATS TO OURSELVES For the awards we won at the Regional 4 SPJ Mark of Excellence Awards last weekend.

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TUESDAY, MARCH 12, 2019

MITCHE49@MIAMIOH.EDU

Humans of Oxford : Ivy Richter LIFE AS A FORMER EXPAT

MEGAN BURTIS

THE MIAMI STUDENT

When Ivy Richter started college last fall, she had more adjusting to do than most first-time college students.

“Everything was new, I was acclimating back into the United States,” Ivy said.

Before coming to Miami, Ivy had been living in Hong Kong for the past 10 years with her family since they moved there from Massachusetts in 2008 for her father’s job.

“The typical expat stint is about two to three years, but when our time came up we decided to stay,” Ivy said.

An expat, short for expatriate, is someone who spends time living outside of their home country.

Ivy attended Hong Kong International School where she met a diverse group of people and became involved in different organizations.

“I loved every aspect of it. It was a really cool experience and I definitely felt at home there,” Ivy said.

It was after the move to Hong Kong that Ivy stumbled upon a new passion: swimming.

“I definitely didn’t want to swim, but my sister wanted to and I was like, ‘Why not?’ And then I’ve stuck with it ever since,” Ivy said.

Ivy did more than just stick with the sport. She earned numerous accolades during her high school career. She set the record in the 100-meter backstroke in the Asia Pacific Athletic Conference (APAC) and China Cup Division three years in a row and won the APAC and China Cup all four years.

She had known for years that she wanted to swim in college and decided that Miami was the best place for her to do that.

“I had a dream that I could go somewhere with swimming and I realized that in seventh grade,” Ivy said. “Miami really excited me and I felt it was the best place for me to develop in and out of the pool.”

Swimming may have been a major part of Ivy’s choice to come to Mi-

IVY RICHTER BRINGS SWIMMING SKILLS SHE LEARNED IN HONG KONG TO MIAMI. THE MIAMI STUDENT SEBASTIAN NEUFUSS

ami, but it wasn’t her only interest.

Ivy also has a passion for the fashion industry, which developed in part from growing up in a global fashion destination like Hong Kong and also from her family.

“My dad is actually really interested in fashion, and when I started developing an interest in it, he egged that on and we formed a bond and relationship around it,” Ivy said.

When Ivy came to the United States for college, her family came

with her. They now live in Rhode Island where they used to spend every summer, but Ivy says the transition has still been difficult.

“In Hong Kong they see me as a foreigner and part of the international community, but in the States I’m not seen as being a full American because of little things like not going to homecoming or not understanding football,” Ivy said.

Ivy says one of the hardest parts of life at Miami is answering a simple

question: Where are you from?

“Personally, I wanted to say Hong Kong because that’s what felt right, but socially I felt I had to say the U.S. Then I didn’t know where in the U.S. — Rhode Island or Massachusetts?” Ivy said.

The transition has gotten easier for Ivy, thanks to the new friends she’s made both on and off the swim team, and she says she feels more comfortable with the United States as her home now. However,

she says Hong Kong will always be important to her.

“I’ll go back to Hong Kong this summer and feel at home, but since my family doesn’t live there anymore it won’t be the same as before,” Ivy said. “I’d love to go back at a later stage in life, but I also want to explore other parts of the world. I want to keep my international experience alive.” burtismg@miamioh.edu

WE ARE THE ONES WE HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR

IN LIGHT OF WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH AND BLACK HISTORY MONTH, THE WOMEN’S CENTER STRIVES TO CELEBRATE DIVERSITY EVERY MONTH OF THE YEAR. THE MIAMI STUDENT COLLEEN GRIMM

MILO LAM

THE MIAMI STUDENT

On Wednesday, March 6, the Women’s Center hosted Celebrating Global Sisterhood, an event to acknowledge the achievements and cultural diversity of all women at Miami and everywhere around the world.

The event, held in the Shriver Heritage Room, embraced the empowering theme of “Collective Healing for Liberation: We Are The Ones We Have Been Waiting For,” with a talk by keynote speaker Darsheel Kaur.

Jane Goettsch, director of the Women’s Center, along with many colleagues and the Office of Diversity Affairs, worked to produce a fresh touch yearly to the series and hopes to increase awareness for the cause.

Last year, they were able to include multiple cultural performances including a dance from the African Students’ Union.

As organizers, they hoped to bring a new perspective, yet remain in touch with the origins of the series

every year.

“I would like to think that it has always been an important event and it continues to be because we continue to value diversity, idea, equity and inclusion,” Goettsch said. “Those things are as equally important today as they ever have been. We know that while progress has been made, a lot of work needs to be done, not only in this country but globally.”

The date of the event was timed with the conclusion of Black History Month in February and the beginning of Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day. Izzy Owen, a first-year English education major and enthusiastic advocate for feminism, attended the event. Owen learned about the event through an interview with Goettsch for a journalism class.

“An event like this is really important because you get to hear other’s stories and sort of intertwine them with your own,” Owen said.

Although only required to stay for part of the event, she decided to stay

out of personal interest and passion for the cause.

The event began with an opening statement from Patricia Ellis, winner of the Jennie Elder Suel Distinguished Women of Color Award in 2017. In her speech, Ellis touched on how we often seek satisfaction from superficial things, and said that she believed that it was necessary for people to find a more meaningful goal in life. Instead of focusing on what society tells us is important, Ellis believes that people need to determine what is important to them as individuals.

“What I see is a room full of beautiful women and men. What I see is love floating around the room. What I see is hope,” Ellis said.

The event also featured three student narratives from seniors Sara Al-Zubi, Aleah Holley and Azieb Zeray.

“I am who I am, and I am okay,” was a message from Azieb that received an ‘Amen’ and nods of pride from some people in the audience.

When it came to the keynote

speech, Darsheel invited the whole room to close their eyes and immerse themselves in a performance of cheerful melodies and poetic rhymes that drew from the experiences and struggles of those she looks up to.

“We carry the legacies of struggle and resistance that pass through the seas. We carry pains from our ancestry, these conflicts are a part of

our history. They flow through me, got us burning down trees. I feel like I’m stuck, but I’m wanting to flee,” Darsheel said in her performance.

“To get unstuck, I can always create. I inherited trauma, but it isn’t my faith. A different future, you can watch me make.”

She finished her speech on an optimistic note.

“It is time to speak your truth.

Create your community. Be good to each other and do not look outside of yourself for a leader. We are the ones we have been waiting for,” she ended.

The event concluded with the awarding of the 2019 Jennie Elder Suel Distinguished Woman of Color Award, which went to Gwendolyn Etter-Lewis, a professor of English and global and intercultural studies, as well as the founder and director of Dream Keepers. Her involvement with Dream Keepers, which promotes college readiness in underserved areas, has paved the way for local high schoolers to build meaningful relationships with Miami students and help prepare the former for higher academic success.

Charlie Powers is a senior political science major and was one of the few males present at the event.

“For me as a white male, hearing stories like that just open up your eyes and your mind. I thought it was all very uplifting,” Powers said.

Although the event had particular significance at this time of year, the Women’s Center encourages all Miami students to call attention to social issues and celebrate achievements in diversity year-round. lamvg@miamioh.edu

MITCHE49@MIAMIOH.EDU

She’s Lovin’ It! BRIAH LUMPKINS STAFF WRITER

Melissa Crank began working at McDonald’s nearly a decade ago, and to this day continues to greet late-night customers with a joy that keeps them coming back.

Melissa wasn’t always so joyful.

Before moving to Oxford, she was unsatisfied with her living situation in Hamilton — there she worked mostly hard labor jobs in factories.

The pay was enough to support herself and her children, but after suffering a minor heart attack from the

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TUESDAY, MARCH 12, 2019

physically taxing work, she knew she needed a change.

She applied to RDIConnect Oxford, a telemarketing company, and was hired. Two weeks later, Melissa was let go. Though she didn’t like the job to begin with, the layoff left her scrambling to find a way to support her family.

“I had no job. No money to take care of my kids,” Melissa said. “I was down on my luck.”

On a whim, she applied to McDonald’s, where she was granted an interview and was quickly hired.

“They saved me. They saved my

STUDENTS ENJOY SEEING MELISSA ALMOST AS MUCH AS SHE ENJOYS SERVING THE COMMUNITY. THE MIAMI STUDENT SABIK AKAND

kids, they saved me,” said Melissa.

“That’s why whenever I come to work, I put in everything I have.”

Melissa is known throughout Oxford for her positive attitude, a seeming rarity in the fast-food industry. Her shift begins at 9 p.m. and extends well into the early hours of the morning. Yet, no matter what time customers arrive to her drive-thru, she greets them with a joyful “Hi, this is Melissa!”

Stephanie Burnside, an administrative assistant in Miami’s Campus Services department, wrote about the positive experiences she has had with Melissa on Facebook in the Oxford Talk Facebook group.

She recalls going to McDonald’s on many occasions, hoping she’d run into Melissa.

“She’s just so engaging,” said

Dirty dishes and date nights Reconciling a relationship between roommates MAYA FENTER

MAGAZINE EDITOR

Taylor McSwain and Andre Karsten have known each other since elementary school.

“So we met in fifth grade and Andre was in love with me,” Taylor said.

“That’s not 100 percent true,” Andre said. “I did have a crush on her, this is true, but I was very cool about it and she had no idea.”

During their freshman year of high school, Andre would casually flirt with Taylor in the science class they had together, though she had a boyfriend at the time and Andre began dating someone else that year, too.

Sometimes they would go months without really talking to each other, but every time, they picked up right where they left off.

By their senior year of high school, they were both single after leaving long-term relationships.

“My friends very much caught on to the fact that I liked him long before I caught on to the fact that I liked him,” Taylor said.

A mutual friend set Taylor and Andre up as homecoming dates that year. They kissed for the first time at that dance. Shortly after, they went on a few dates and officially started dating that March.

Three years later, Taylor and Andre are still together as juniors in college.

She’s majoring in studio art and he’s majoring in international studies, Latin American studies and Spanish.

more wary.

“I just grew up always hearing, ‘go through high school, go to college, get a job and then focus on [romantic relationships],’” Andre said. “It was hard for me to get over that mindset.”

Andre grew up in a household with Mexican cultural influences where it is common for children to commute to college and live at home until they’re married.

“I feel like he more saw it in the beginning as like, ‘Oh, if we’re living together, then that’s on the line of proposals and babies,’ and I was more, ‘I just want to live with you because I like spending time with you,’” Taylor said.

They also acknowledged the possibility of breaking up while still being bound by the lease.

“There was the whole possibility of breaking up, but that eventually turned into thinking, ‘Well, we’ve known each other for so long, that it’d be really rough and it would suck,’ but we were both pretty sure we could handle that,” Andre said.

Before this year, Andre was considered the unofficial fourth roommate on Taylor’s floor of a duplex that she shared with three other roommates, one of whom was rarely around. Andre spent most of his nights there instead of his dorm room in Hillcrest Hall.

They went back and forth for a few days before deciding that moving in together was a step that they both wanted to take in their relationship.

What’s it like being in a relationship with your roommate?

At the beginning of this school year, the couple moved into an apartment with two other roommates, though living together wasn’t always the plan.

One of Andre’s friends had originally planned to live in the apartment, but changed his mind last minute.

At the time Taylor still didn’t have a place to live, so when Andre told her that the lease opened up, she thought signing was the logical thing to do.

Andre, on the other hand, was a bit

“You have to think about what you want and where you’re going,” Andre said. “My thought process that I had was that I had to grow up a little bit and decide that this is actually going somewhere and it’s going in this direction. Do you want it to keep going? Because it really is a line of, I wouldn’t say no return, but it’s commitment.”

Andre keeps some of his stuff in his own room, but mostly the two share Taylor’s room.

In living together, Andre has learned a few things about Taylor: that she has a lot of stuff, and that he has to get out of bed immediately after getting up, or she’ll try to convince him to stay. He was also reminded of how long Taylor takes to get ready.

They don’t argue much beyond bickering about what to buy for dinner, though Taylor admits that she feels like a mother sometimes.

“Andre leaves shit everywhere,” Taylor said. “I’ll say, ‘OK Andre, put your shoes in the closet and hang up the coat,’ and he’ll make direct eye contact with me and say, ‘Yeah, I got it,’ and then he’ll take off his coat and throw it on the bed.”

Taylor doesn’t mind doing laundry, but hates doing the dishes, so Andre usually takes care of those.

They both love staying in and watching movies. They like to dance, whether at Brick or in their kitchen.

But after spending days just at home, the two will get antsy.

Sometimes they won’t go too far — Uptown for food or the rec center for rock climbing. Other times, they venture out of Oxford. A few weeks ago, they flew to New York for the weekend.

Date nights, extravagant or simple, have a newfound importance since the couple moved in together.

“When you live together, you’re around each other all the time, so you don’t think about the fact that you should still go on dates,” Taylor said.

“You just get stuck in the routine a little too hard sometimes.”

They often see each other in pajama pants and sweatshirts with messy hair and no makeup. Though they like having this level of comfort with one another, they’ve found that it can blur the line between being roommates and being a couple.

“That’s where things like makeup and doing your hair and dressing up become important because it helps differentiate what you’re doing,” Andre said.

Andre is planning to study abroad next semester, but after that, he’ll move in with Taylor and their two friends.

Until then, they’re taking the days one dirty dish and date at a time. fentermc@miamioh.edu

Stephanie. “She always seems super genuine. You hope you get her when you’re there.”

With McDonald’s being so close to Miami, many students visit frequently. Melissa recognizes many of them immediately, even years after they’ve graduated.

“I have kids from Miami from four to five years ago who come back to visit,” she said. “It’s that kind of interaction that keeps me here.”

Austin Lamewona, a junior marketing and arts management major, has made several late-night runs to the McDonald’s drive-thru and says he’s been greeted by Melissa every time.

“She’s always such a bright light in my oftentimes not-bright night,” said Austin. “It’s very comforting to have someone there who is always

going above and beyond.”

Melissa says she has made a point to try and change the perception of fast-food customer service as brusque and impersonal.

“I wanna make sure when a customer comes through my drive through, they want to come back,” said Melissa. “I want people to want to come [to McDonald’s].”

Through everything Melissa has endured, she knows she is in the right place.

“Once I put that headset on, and I was in the drive-thru. I knew this is where I was supposed to be,” said Melissa. “I love my job, and I don’t plan on going anywhere any time soon.” lumpkibm@miamioh.edu

Students compete to perform at convocation KELLY MCKEWIN

THE MIAMI STUDENT

The music department held its annual Geoffrey Hall Undergraduate Artist Competition (UAC) on Tuesday, March 5, during which 12 music students performed a series of prepared pieces for a panel of judges. Entry in the competition is selective, as students must apply and have a professor’s recommendation to be accepted.

Jaime Morales-Matos, an associate professor of music, has been organizing the competition every year for over a decade. He says the competition began after an endowment from Hall was

the opportunity UAC gave him to compete with different kinds of musicians.

“It wasn’t just a voice competition, it was all the instruments, and I think [the UAC] was a great way to diversify the talents we have here at Miami and just present them in a way where the students who have worked really hard and prepared this music are able to enter into this experience,” Mac Manus said.

Mac Manus took third place in the competition this year, which means he will perform at convocation alongside Emily Prochaska, a senior bassoon player, and Nathan Rayens, a senior pianist, who took second and first place,

“It’s a way for them to compete and excel and prepare for the real world.” granted to the music department in order to promote excellence in music.

“It’s supposed to recognize undergraduates who succeed artistically and musically,” Morales-Matos said. “It’s a way for them to compete and excel and prepare for the real world, because in the real world, there’s auditions for everything.”

Each year, the top three students in the competition win a cash prize as well as the opportunity to perform at the music department’s convocation later in the spring. Three finalists are also selected to win smaller cash prizes.

The winners are chosen by a panel of judges comprised of music professors from other universities. Morales-Matos says he tries to invite a diverse group of judges with different musical backgrounds each year in order to get a more well-rounded take on each performance.

Junior Matthew Mac Manus is a vocal music performance major who decided to compete in the UAC this year after spending time preparing a series of songs for his junior recital. Mac Manus usually only competes against or performs with other voice performers, so he enjoyed

respectively.

Morales-Matos believes that performing at convocation is a big honor for the winners, as there are very few opportunities for a student to perform in front of the entire department.

“It’s a great way to get exposed.

Every professor and student from the music department is there so there’s some prestige.

Winning the money is good too, but I think it’s even more for the recognition,” Morales-Matos said.

Despite the fact that entry in the UAC is selective, Prochaska says it is a very supportive environment, one that is helpful for students who get nervous about auditioning.

“It’s a great chance to give students an opportunity to get that competitive aspect of performance in a supportive environment,” Prochaska said. “I heard so many people saying good job and good luck to their competitors as they went in to play.”

The convocation performance that the UAC winners will perform at will be held on Tuesday, April 2 at 11:40 a.m in Souers Recital Hall. mckewikm@miamioh.edu

Sports

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SIMANSEC@MIAMIOH.EDU

TUESDAY, MARCH 12, 2019

Men’s swimming and diving wins first MAC Championship since 2006

THE MEN’S SWIMMING AND DIVING TEAM HOISTS THE MID-AMERICAN CONFERENCE TROPHY LAST THURSDAY. STORY TO COME SOON. COURTESY OF MIAMI ATHLETICS.

Baseball brings out the brooms for second consecutive weekend BENNETT WISE

THE MIAMI STUDENT

Wendy’s wasn’t the only place serving up 4-for-4’s as the Miami RedHawks (11-3) swept the Youngstown State University Penguins (0-13) in a four-game set.

The two teams were supposed to play the opener on Friday, a doubleheader Saturday and the finale on Sunday, but weather forced a suspension of Saturday’s second game to Sunday morning, with a doubleheader following the consummation.

Miami took Game One 6-3 on the back of freshman starter Sam Bachman, who improved to 3-0 on the season. Saturday’s game went to the bottom of the eighth before thunderstorms forced the final inning to be played before a doubleheader on Sunday.

The final inning took 11 minutes and concluded with a 5-2 RedHawk victory. The offensive firepower came out the next two games as Miami handled YSU 9-1 and 11-1.

The offense is clicking The RedHawks have scored five or more runs in each of the last 11 games.

Senior outfielder Mackay Williams finished the weekend with a .538 batting average (7-for-13) a home run, two triples and five RBIs. This bolsters his average to .342 on the season, trailing only sophomore utility Christian Tejada (.368) and freshman catcher Cole Andrews (.390).

Junior third baseman Landon Stephens also contributed to the barrage of the Penguins, going 6-for-16 (.375).

His inconsistent start to the season was proven a fluke, as expected. He reached the bases on balls three times, scoring four times throughout the weekend.

Junior shortstop Will Vogelgesang added four hits (.400), four walks and four steals, scoring seven of the 10 times he reached base.

“Offensively, it was pretty consistent this weekend, and I’d say that’s the first time we’ve done that in a four game stretch, where we’ve been that

LANDON STEPHENS TAKES A HACK. MACY WHITAKER THE MIAMI STUDENT.

The RedHawks finished 58.5 points above second-place Missouri State to clinch their first Mid-American Conference Championship in 13 years. Junior swimmer Iago Moussalem was named most outstading swimmer, senior diver Harrison Moncino was named most outstanding diver, diving coach KR Li was named diving coach of the year, and coach Hollie Bonewit-Cron was named swimming coach of the year.

good offensively,” Hayden said. “If you do that over the course of four games, you’re going to win a ton of baseball games.”

The bullpen can deal While the starters have been superb — with all sitting above at least two games above .500 — the relievers have been incredible.

“The competition in our pitching staff right now is very high, and those guys are all eager to get out and show us they should keep getting the ball,” Hayden said. “They did an awesome job of it this weekend, every guy came in, throwing strikes, getting outs, made big pitches and that’s really good to see from those guys.”

Freshman Tyler Bosma threw three perfect innings to round out the victory on Friday, striking out four Penguins. On the season, Bosma holds a 3.00 ERA in four appearances, with three saves. He leads the team with 21 strikeouts and has surrendered only four runs.

Senior Shane Smith went three nohit innings with five strikeouts and two walks before the weather suspension.

A pair of left-handed pitchers Jon Meyerring and Nick Urbantke each put in two innings of hitless baseball on Sunday. Both struck out two batters. Meyerring has yet to give up a hit, while Urbantke has held his opponents to a .095 batting average. Neither has given up an earned run.

New additions contributing early Junior transfer first baseman Charlie Harrigan, freshman catcher Nate Stolze and Andrews have been key factors in the offensive success.

Harrigan, coming from Heartland Community College, leads the team in RBIs (15) and extra-base hits (8). He added five hits and reached the bases on balls three times for a .400 on base percentage for the weekend.

Andrews batted .300 on the weekend, but still leads the team with a .390 batting average in his 12 games this season. He’s primarily been holding down the designated hitter position, and rightly so, with his team leading two home runs. He also ranks second on the roster with a .561 slugging percentage.

The RedHawks return to the diamond Wednesday at Northern Kentucky before coming home to McKie Field on Friday for a three-game set versus the Bonnies of St. Bonaventure.

The first pitch is scheduled for 5 p.m.

“I think we can win a lot of baseball games this year, but that doesn’t mean we are a really good team yet,” Hayden said. “As good as our focus and consistency was, I think there are some gaps were it can get better and that’s controllable for us and we’ll keep working on it.” @bennettmwise wisebm@miamioh.edu

REDSHIRT SENIOR GUARD BALEIGH REID SHOOTS JUMPER ON SENIOR NIGHT. REID FINISHED WITH EIGHT POINTS. GUEST PHOTOGRAPHER SHELBY FRIESZELL.

Women’s basketball poised to make run in MAC Tournament EMILY SIMANSKIS SPORTS EDITOR

It’s tournament time, win-or-gohome season and midweek MACtion all in one.

Eight teams have already played the first round of the Mid-American Conference Tournament, and Miami women’s basketball will take on the Toledo Rockets in the quarterfinals on Wednesday in Cleveland.

After back-to-back losses two weeks ago, the RedHawks (22-7, 13-5 MAC) secured a spot in the top four of the MAC and a bye through the first round of the tournament. They promptly lost their next game, for three losses in a row and their longest losing streak this season, but rebounded on Saturday against the Akron Zips.

“Loved the overall effort and enthusiasm today,” head coach Megan Duffy said on Saturday.

Miami faced an 18-16 deficit after the first quarter, but held the Zips to seven in the second quarter to lead 3223 at half. The ’Hawks rolled through the third and fourth to win 66-49.

Junior guard Lauren Dickerson finished with 19 points and six as-

sists, while junior forward Savannah Kluesner had 14 points. As the sixth woman, senior forward Kristen Levering scored eight points and pulled down 10 rebounds for a near double-double.

“We went back a little bit to the staples that have been proven for our success this season and that’s rebounding the basketball,” Duffy said.

“I think our versatility is something we’ve always talked about, and we got away from that a little bit in the last few games.”

The RedHawks’ postseason success will depend on whether they replicate their play from their 11-game winning streak or their three-game losing streak.

During the win streak, the program’s longest since the 2010-11 season, Miami averaged 70.8 points per game, while its defense held opponents to an average of 60.6 points. During its losing streak, albeit eight games shorter, the ’Hawks averaged 61.6 points and allowed an average of 74.3 points.

Against the Zips, the RedHawks rebounded by scoring 66 points, coupled with a strong defensive effort to only allow 49 points and 30.2 percent

shooting from the field.

“One thing [Duffy] gets on us a lot about is [that] it’s not necessarily how our offense is going, but how our defense is going,” Levering said.

The ’Hawks finished second in the MAC for fewest points allowed and first in 3-point defense after the regular season.

The staunch defensive effort defining Miami’s success began when Duffy and her staff took over before last season. Duffy led the RedHawks to a 21-11 record and an impressive run in the MAC Tournament last year – it was the first time the ’Hawks had travelled to the Quicken Loans Arena since 2012-13.

The ’Hawks lost 61-58 in the semifinals to the eventual tournament champions, Central Michigan.

This year, as the No. 3 seed in the tournament, Miami will play No. 6 Toledo.

The Rockets defeated the No. 11 Ball State Cardinals 67-63 at home last night, though a strong second half from the Cardinals gave Toledo trouble.

Miami swept the Rockets this season, with a 65-64 win at Millett Hall and a 65-56 win in Toledo.

On Jan. 9, senior center Kaayla McIntyre led the Rockets with 23 points and nine rebounds. The RedHawks had four players in double figures – senior forward Kendall McCoy (17), senior guard Leah Purvis (12) and Dickerson (11), with Kluesner finishing with 16 points and 13 rebounds for a double-double.

A month and a half later, similar heroes produced a similar result.

McIntyre finished with 24 points and nine rebounds, while Dickerson had 28 points and McCoy finished with 13 points and 10 rebounds for a double-double.

Despite the double-digit performances, defense will likely decide the outcome of the quarterfinal matchup.

Toledo squeaks ahead of Miami for the No. 1-ranked defense in the MAC, allowing 60.2 points per game.

“This MAC Tournament is going to be awesome,” Duffy said. “I can’t wait to get to Cleveland […] This is the madness we’ve been preaching to our team about — what it looks like in March Madness and the thrill that anyone can beat you. The fact that we have the opportunity to play in March is tremendous and right where we want our program to be.”

The defensive efforts will match up on Wednesday. Game time is to be announced and dependent on when the other quarterfinal games finish. “[Fans are] going to see a lot of tough plays, they’re going to see a lot of grit, a lot of determination, a noquit attitude, diving on the floor, lots of charges being taken,” Levering said.

“They’re going to see a lot of fun basketball.” simansec@miamioh.edu @emilysimanskis

SIMANSEC@MIAMIOH.EDU

SPORTS 11

TUESDAY, MARCH 12, 2019

MEN’S BASKETBALL BULLIED BY AKRON

Kicked from MAC Tourney CHRIS VINEL

ASST. SPORTS EDITOR

Barring a postseason tournament invitation, the Miami RedHawks’ season is over.

The RedHawks went down by double-digits to Akron early in the first half on Monday night and never recovered. The Zips won 80-51 at the James A. Rhodes Arena, knocking Miami out of the Mid-American Conference Tournament.

The RedHawks hit just 25 percent of their field goal attempts but allowed Akron to make 53 percent on the same looks.

Even though he’s the team’s leading scorer, sophomore guard Nike Sibande had to shoulder much more than his normal share of the offensive load. He dropped 25 of Miami’s 51 points.

Only five other RedHawks scored, with freshman forward Eli McNamara finishing second with eight points. As Miami’s top two scorers on Monday, Sibande and McNamara shot a combined 8-for-28 (28.6 percent) from the field.

Despite winning the tipoff, the RedHawks never held a lead. Akron scored the first bucket of the game on a 3-pointer by junior center Deng Riak.

Miami got on the scoreboard with a layup from sophomore forward Dalonte Brown, but it couldn’t silence the Zips’ offensive groove. Akron went on a 22-8 run to go ahead 25-10 halfway through the first.

The RedHawks collected just 24 points before halftime. They trailed 39-24 at intermission.

Things stayed ugly for the ’Hawks in the second.

After shooting 25 percent in the first, they converted at a slightly higher 27-percent clip in the second period. But Akron’s percentages rose, too, going from 50 to 56 percent in the second.

Miami didn’t record its first assist of the contest until more than eight minutes into the second, when Sibande found senior guard Darrian Ringo for a 3-pointer. Sibande

would dish out one more, bringing his team’s game total to two.

The Zips pushed their advantage to a game-high 29 points at the 1:36 mark, and they kept it there to polish off an 80-51 victory.

They advance to face the top-seeded Buffalo Bulls in the MAC quarterfinals on Thursday.

Sibande grabbed 10 rebounds to complete a double-double. He was the only RedHawk to corral more than five boards, but Miami won the rebounding battle 39-34 anyway.

While they attempted 31 free throws, the RedHawks made just 18 of them (58 percent). Akron converted on nine of their 12 shots (75 percent) from the charity stripe.

Miami turned the ball over 16 times and forced 14 Zip turnovers.

Two Zips finished with at least 20

points. Redshirt sophomore guard Loren Cristian Jackson had 25 points, while junior forward Daniel Utomi tallied 20.

Sophomore guard Jalen Adaway, a mainstay in MU head coach Jack Owens’ rotation, missed Monday’s contest with an injury. His minutes were picked up by Sibande (a gamehigh 37 minutes), McNamara (27) and redshirt sophomore guard Milos Jovic (27).

Jovic had three points on one shot from the field. He turned the ball over five times.

The RedHawks finish with a 15-17 record — two games under .500 for the second consecutive season. Last year, Miami went 16-18 and ended with a loss to Campbell in the College Basketball Invitational. vinelca@miamioh.edu @ChrisAVinel

MIAMI’S JUNIOR FORWARD KARCH BACHMAN BATTLES A WMU DEFENSEMAN FOR THE PUCK (LEFT). SENIORS SALUTE THE STEVE “COACH” CADY ARENA ON SATURDAY BEFORE THE LAST HOME GAME ON SATURDAY. THE MIAMI STUDENT MATT HECKERT.

HOCKEY’S REGULAR SEASON ENDS WITH 5-1, 6-1 LOSSES EMILY SIMANSKIS SPORTS EDITOR

As the final minute ticked away on the scoreboard at the Steve “Coach” Cady Arena on Saturday night, a “thank you seniors” cheer rang out from the sparse student crowd that remained.

Eight-and-a-half by 11 inches headshots of the seniors were taped to wooden sticks, and students weakly waved the photos as the final horn sounded.

Grant Hutton, Josh Melnick, Ryan Siroky, Zach LaValle, Jordan Uhelski and River Rymsha had skated a victory lap of sorts before puck drop.

LaValle had moon-walked through half of his and Hutton and Melnick, the RedHawk co-captains, hugged in the tunnel before taking to the ice to salute the crowd.

But as the seniors and the rest of the RedHawks gathered at center ice to thank their fans for the last time this season, they raised their sticks after a 6-1 loss to No. 12 Western Michigan (20-13-1, 13-10-1 National Collegiate Hockey Conference).

“We just need to get better,” Melnick said on Saturday. “This wasn’t our weekend at all, but I think we know — I’ve mentioned it several times throughout the year — when we play the right way, we’re a good team, and we didn’t do that this weekend.”

The pitiful 6-1 showing on Senior Night followed a 5-1 loss to the Broncos on Friday. The losses secured the last seed in the NCHC standings, slating the RedHawks (11-21-4, 5-172 NCHC) to play the No. 1 St. Cloud State Huskies in the first round of the upcoming conference tournament.

“We’re not going to make any excuses since we didn’t play well,” Melnick said. “You know, we just didn’t

have our jam. I don’t know, honestly, it just wasn’t our weekend.”

Though the weekend started with back-and-forth play, Miami surrendered a goal halfway through the first period on Friday night to give Western Michigan a 1-0 advantage.

Competitive play followed during the second period, but WMU scored on the power play 3:41 into the period to extend its lead. Sophomore forward Phil Knies got the RedHawks on the board with four minutes left to play, and the teams retreated to their locker rooms, as the Broncos led 2-1.

The third period proved deadly for the ’Hawks as WMU scored two goals in the opening three minutes. Head coach Enrico Blasi pulled junior goaltender Ryan Larkin early and Western Michigan added an empty-net goal at 12:31 to secure the 5-1 victory.

“I thought we played well in the first two periods,” Blasi said. “Third period — they wanted it more than us.”

On Friday, the second half decided the game while, on Saturday, the game was decided through the first two periods.

WMU scored only 57 seconds into the first period and ended the first 20 minutes with a 2-0 lead.

The Broncos’ defense was stifling in the second, and the RedHawks only managed three shots on net while Western Michigan scored three goals – two of which were on the power play.

Opening the third period down 5-0 on Senior Night, sophomore forward Ben Lown attempted to start a comeback with his goal 3:13 into the final 20 minutes. WMU’s junior forward Wade Allison scored under a minute later, completing a hat trick after scoring in the first and second periods, and halted the comeback hopes.

Many had trickled out of the

“Coach” Cady Arena after the second period and left after Allison’s third-period goal, but the remaining crowd applauded Miami’s team for the final time this season.

“We didn’t start the game off exactly the way we wanted,” Blasi said.

“Anytime you give up a goal in the first minute, it puts you on your heels. We weren’t even close to playing 60 minutes. I don’t think our team gave up or anything like that, but we were just a little bit behind all night.”

The RedHawks didn’t lead for the entirety of the weekend and are now 1-19-4 when not scoring the game’s first goal.

Western Michigan scored four of its 11 goals on the power play, as Miami’s penalty kill went 6-for-10.

Playing on the man-advantage wasn’t as fortuitous for the RedHawks, as they had nine power play chances but didn’t score during any of them.

Larkin stopped 19 of the 24 shots he saw on Friday and 20 of the 25 he saw on Saturday. Blasi put senior Uhelski in net for the third period on Saturday, and Uhelski stopped six of the seven shots he saw.

“We’ve got to play 60 minutes,” Blasi said on Friday. “Obviously, if you want to move on in the playoffs, you’ve got to play 60 minutes. Forty’s not good enough, 35’s not good enough, 25’s not good enough — you’ve got to play 60 minutes.”

Miami hockey travels to play St. Cloud State for the first round of the NCHC Tournament this weekend.

The RedHawks take on the Huskies in a best-of-three series starting at 8:07 p.m. on Friday and 7:07 p.m. on Saturday. If needed, Game Three will take place at 7:07 p.m. on Sunday. simansec@miamioh.edu @emilysimanskis

’Hawks Talk “I have a couple different [hats]. I have a grey one, a black one, some beanies – it depends how I’m playing.

If I’m playing good, I’ll stick with the same one but, if not, then we’re going to switch it up,”

⁃⁃ senior defenseman Grant Hutton on his hat choice.

“As you can see, it’s seen better days,” ⁃⁃ head hockey coach Enrico Blasi on wearing the same hat for years.

TUESDAY

MEN’S BASKETBALL Kent State ��������������������������������������������������������75 Miami ������������������������������������������������������������� 66

WEDNESDAY

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL Ohio ���������������������������������������������������������������� 70 Miami ������������������������������������������������������������� 66

FRIDAY

MEN’S BASKETBALL Miami ��������������������������������������������������������������57 Ohio ���������������������������������������������������������������� 66

TENNIS Miami ��������������������������������������������������������������� 0 UCF ������������������������������������������������������������������� 7

SOFTBALL Miami ��������������������������������������������������������������� 7 Southern Illinois ��������������������������������������������� 5

SATURDAY

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL Miami ������������������������������������������������������������� 66 Buffalo ������������������������������������������������������������ 49

TENNIS Miami ��������������������������������������������������������������� 2 Penn Orlando �������������������������������������������������� 5

SUNDAY

SOFTBALL Game One

Miami ��������������������������������������������������������������� 6 Green Bay ����������������������������������������������������������1

Game Two

Miami ����������������������������������������������������������������1 Iowa ������������������������������������������������������������������ 2

Opinion

12

BURNSKL2@MIAMIOH.EDU

TUESDAY, MARCH 12, 2019 STAFF EDITORIAL

Misguided Confucius Institute investigation fosters fear The following reflects the majority opinion of the editorial board.

In an era marked by rising nationalism and crumbling foreign relationships, elected officials are leaning into xenophobia for political rewards — and Ohio’s Republican senator is no exception.

The United States Senate just wrapped up an eight month investigation of the Confucius Institute, a program partially funded by the Chinese government that promotes the study of Chinese language and culture in the United States through satellite centers at universities.

Miami is one of over 100 universities in the U.S. with one of these institutes, and all receive similar contributions.

For a deeper dive into the history of the Institute and details on the investigation, flip over the paper and read our news story on the front page.

But the gist is this: The Senate investigation, led by Ohio Republican Sen. Rob Portman, found no wrongdoing — espionage, financial tomfoolery, or otherwise — on the part of the Institute. The nonpartisan Government Accountability Office (GAO) ran a concurrent investigation that came to the same conclusion.

At most, the resulting reports recommended that universities more transparently disclose the funding their attached Institutes receive from Hanban — a semi-governmental agency affiliated with the Chinese Ministry of Education.

The U.S. Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee’s Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations devoted eight months of resources to auditing an educational organization which largely conducts cul-

tural events involving music and dancing, and teaches classes on kung fu and tai chi.

Portman cited the need for more oversight into these institutes as the reason for the probe. There were also allegations that these institutes threatened “academic freedom” by teaching a one-sided view of China and that they are being used by China for espionage.

These are serious allegations and their timing raises questions of motivation, considering the institutes have been in the U.S. for over a decade. It also seems excessive to launch both a Senate investigation and an investigation by the GAO, especially considering that the Federal Bureau of Investigation already keeps tabs on the Confucius Institute, according to testimony from FBI Director Christopher Wray.

This was a politically-motivated probe and it continues to perpetuate a narrative of “us vs. them” instead of one about bridging cultural divides. Confucius Institutes are necessary on college campuses in order to support international students, and teach American students about cultures outside the United States and Europe.

Revelations of Russian meddling in the 2016 election and an increase in high-profile corporate espionage cases perpetrated by the Chinese government have aggravated tensions with our old Cold War foes, but to target educational institutes designed to teach about culture and language is a blatant “Red Scare” tactic.

While the institutes are funded by Hanban, there is no evidence that Confucius Institutes have been involved in spreading propaganda or participating in espionage.

Much of the teachings and events run by these institutes are controlled by the individual universities, and Hanban only provides funding for those programs.

Kylie Jenner owes her fortune to her family — especially Kim

KIRBY DAVIS

MANAGING EDITOR-AT-LARGE

The Kardashian-Jenner clan has been slapping their names on products and pumping them out since 2009.

They’ve released perfumes, socks, makeup, apps, clothes and one unfortunate pop single. They’ve aligned themselves with brands from Carl’s Jr. to Calvin Klein. Kylie Jenner, the youngest of her KarJenner generation, makes $1 million per Instagram post.

Despite being the youngest, Kylie is also the first in the family to amass $1 billion.

The next wealthiest sister, Kim, reportedly has around one-third of that (not taking into account her husband Kanye West’s fortune. But, even if you did, it would be significantly less than Kylie’s).

On March 5, Forbes magazine deemed Kylie “the youngest self-made billionaire ever.” But if anyone in the family is “selfmade,” it’s Kim Kardashian. Not Kylie Jenner.

“Keeping Up With the Kardashians,” premiered on E! in 2007. Kim was quickly established as the famous one, Kourtney as the low-key oldest sibling, Khloe as the funny, likable one and Kylie and Kendall as the interchangeable, precocious kids. Rob was in business school and irrelevant until he started dating one of the Cheetah Girls.

Kylie was nine or 10 years old when E! cameras first entered her Calabasas home.

Whether you feel sorry for her being thrust into the reality TV spotlight so young or don’t have sympathy for the classic poorlittle-rich-girl narrative, she didn’t have a choice in filming the show. Even if she’d been camera-shy (which she definitely wasn’t, as evidenced by her bartending and pole-dancing in episode one), Kylie still would have been famous by association.

In “Keeping Up With the Kardashians” season four, Kendall announced she wanted to model. Kris immediately whisked her off to a meeting with Wilhelmina, one of the world’s top agencies, and the 13-yearold scored a contract.

In later seasons Kendall, eventually a high-fashion model, expressed resentment toward her family’s notoriety. There was a brief attempt in 2014 to distance herself

from the show, when she declared she’d be calling herself simply “Kendall” from then on. It didn’t stick.

All the KarJenner sisters (and Rob) have been negatively affected by their reality show at some point. Young Kylie struggled to keep up in school and attend Hollywood events at the same time, Kim was accused of faking a marriage for a viewership boost and Khloé was endlessly criticized for the seasons-long dissolution of her relationship with Lamar Odom. But business-wise, they’ve benefited enormously from the show, which gave them millions of viewers and, consequently, hundreds of millions of social media followers.

Kylie Jenner was born into a wealthy family, and grew up in a staggeringly famous one. This wasn’t her fault, but it also wasn’t her doing, and while she deserves some creativity points for Kylie Cosmetics, the company would not exist without her family’s influence.

The only truly “self-made” KarJenner is Kim. As Scott Disick once astutely observed when Khloé thanked Kim for organizing a family vacation, the rest of the family wouldn’t have the reality show and, consequently, their careers, without her.

Dictionary.com felt compelled to tweet the definition of “self-made” at Forbes last summer and on March 5, when the magazine used the term to refer to Kylie Jenner: “Having succeeded in life unaided.” I’m with them; Forbes is wrong.

The Kardashian-Jenner family was not struggling pre-reality show. Robert Kardashian, Kris’ late first husband, was a prominent Los Angeles lawyer who defended O.J. Simpson in 1995. Her second spouse, Caitlyn Jenner, medaled gold at the 1976 Olympics and made millions from endorsements, then worked as a public speaker afterward, sometimes charging tens of thousands of dollars for events.

One could argue, then, that none of Kris’ children with Kardashian or Jenner are “self-made,” because of their wealthy predispositions. But Kim, Khloé, Kourtney and Rob all worked prior to starring on E!; the sisters owned Calabasas clothing boutique DASH, and Rob graduated from the University of Southern California. While their careers were all boosted by the show and Kim’s personal fame, they all had to work for themselves at some point. Also, Forbes never called any of them “selfmade.”

Kylie owes most, if not all, of her fame and fortune to her family — specifically her second-oldest sister. It’s possible that, without Kim Kardashian West and her enterprising momager, Kylie Jenner would be a makeup mogul worth $1 billion, but it is unlikely. Again, I’m with Dictionary. com; Kylie Jenner is not a “self-made” billionaire. daviskn3@miamioh.edu

The Senate and the GAO could have better spent their time on more pressing issues to national security.

Thankfully, there is some value to be found in the results of the investigations — there were some important discoveries and recommendations. It wasn’t a total eightmonth wash.

For example, they exposed the need for more oversight into the operations of Confucius Institutes by the State Department and Department of Education. Universities are required by the Department of Education to report their earnings from Hanban as foreign gifts if they exceed over $250,000.

They also found the State Department was not placing enough effort on ensuring that universities were meeting the proper visa requirements for Chinese directors or teachers coming to work at the institutes.

But these are the mundane potholes of foreign funding and a mammoth immigration bureaucracy — not indicators of a large-scale espionage operation. While we certainly shouldn’t ignore the very real existence of Chinese (or Russian, or any other foreign power’s) spying, we must be thoughtful about who we place under the considerable public scrutiny of a process like a Senate investigation, and for what reasons we are doing so.

Interfering with an educational effort like the Confucius Institute under the guise of protecting “academic freedom” speaks volumes more about our own value of the marketplace of ideas than it does of China’s.

However closed and regulated China’s public forum may be on its own turf, getting caught in a tit-for-tat game of cultural gatekeeping risks us slipping back into Cold War insularity and forgoing the possibility of a truly open China.

Fake service dogs have real life consequences

KELLY BURNS

OPINION EDITOR

Dogs are cute, I get it. Everyone loves their pet and wishes they could be with their little ball of fluff 24 hours a day. For some, this desire has mutated into paying $30 online, slapping a knock-off red vest on their pet and calling it a service animal.

Let me be blunt: Do not do that.

Registering pseudo-service animals is nothing short of a new plague in the U.S. There is almost no available data to show the rise, though, because owners are not required to register their emotional support animal with any official agency. All you need is a note from your doctor saying you need a support animal and BAM! You’re in.

But you don’t need statistical data to see the rise. Everyone knows someone who has, or at least has tried, to register their dog so they could keep it in their apartment that doesn’t otherwise allow pets, take it to class or bring it on a plane.

Don’t misunderstand me; emotional support animals are very real and very legitimate. Emotional support dogs fall under the umbrella of “service animals,” though it is the tier that requires the least amount of professional training.

Under that umbrella, there are three distinct types of service dog: There is the iconic service dog, trained to be attuned to one person and to ignore environmental stimuli. They are trained for specific purposes like detecting diabetic emergencies, acting as a guide dog and helping with conditions like autism. Therapy dogs, the second type, are the dogs who come to college campuses to relieve stress during finals.

Then, there are emotional support animals. They do not have the same public access as service dogs because they are not trained to behave in those settings. The Fair Housing Act of 1988 states that emotional support animals are “limited to residential dwellings as defined by FHA rules.” Basically, they’re allowed in apartments and houses, but not in public spaces.

Legitimate service dogs, whatever tier they fall into, are essential. Irreplaceable. A recent Purdue study has shown that veterans with PTSD have far better mental health af-

ter receiving the support of a service dog.

But, most people can’t tell the difference between these tiers. It is incredibly difficult to distinguish between a real service dog and a fake one.

A North Carolina State study found that 40 percent of people thought it was illegal to ask someone with a service animal if it is required for their disability. It’s not illegal to ask.

The same study also reported that 65 percent of people didn’t know that they could ask what a dog was trained to do.

So, when people register their new puppy as an emotional support dog, no one is typically going to question it –at least not out loud.

Actual service dogs represent less than one percent of the canine population in the U.S. Most people don’t come across them often, and most people don’t have enough experience to be able to tell the difference.

So, when you bring your poorly trained dog – yes, your dog is poorly trained when compared to the rigorous work a certified service dog goes through – into a restaurant or onto an airplane, and it barks and misbehaves and is a pain in the ass to everyone but you, the blame doesn’t land on you. It gets spread out to every service dog who did pass the training, who cost somewhere in the neighborhood of $40,000 to train and cost their person thousands to obtain (a 4 Paws for Ability dog costs around $17,000 to buy).

Fake service dogs lead not only to a diminished reputation for real service dogs, but to businesses like Delta Airlines cracking down on allowing service animals on their flights. Extensive paperwork is required to prove the legitimacy of real service animals.

Many times, the policies of these businesses switch quickly and without notice, leading to people not being able to fly because they can’t bring their dog. This epidemic has gotten to the point that 21 states have instituted laws against fake service animals.

Twenty-one states have made laws that explicitly say what we should already know.

Stop pretending your Yorkie is a certified service dog because you’re too wrapped up in how cute her ears are to leave her at home for the day.

And you may be sitting there thinking you’re the exception. Your dog looks too good in his little red vest with a fraudulent label on the side. Your dog won’t bite anyone or misbehave in public.

But why risk it? Why jeopardize the needs of people with PTSD, with autism — with actual disabilities — who need these animals?

Don’t answer, because whatever justification you have is wrong. There is no reason, good or otherwise, to pretend that animal is trained to potentially save a life.

Especially when your selfishness only negatively affects people around you.

MAPLESTREET MARCH 20 11:00AM–3:00PM COMMONS

burnskl2@miamioh.edu