ESTABLISHED 1826 — OLDEST COLLEGE NEWSPAPER WEST OF THE ALLEGHENIES
Volume 147 No. 17
Miami University — Oxford, Ohio
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2019
ASG BLOCKS RED BRICK REWARDS REQUIREMENTS RACHEL BERRY ASST. NEWS EDITOR
NIKKI MCGLOSSEN DEFYING GRAVITY. PHOTO CONTRIBUTED BY: NIKKI MCGLOSSEN INSTAGRAM
Full-time student, part-time aerialist ERIN GLYNN THE MIAMI STUDENT Miami senior Nikki McGlosson seems to be at ease anywhere: from the printmaking studio in Hiestand Hall where she spends most of her time, to dozens of feet in the air on a ribbon attached to the ceiling. McGlosson is a hired performer with the Cincinnati Circus Company, a commission circus that performs mainly at private par-
ties, county fairs and charity fundraising events. For McGlosson, it’s much like any other part-time job. She trains with the other performers on Tuesday evenings, teaches an aerial class on Wednesdays and spends her free weekends traveling with the circus for gigs, typically in Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana. She had a fascination with the circus from a young age, joking, as many kids do, about running away to join it. Unlike most
kids, though, she carried that dream into adulthood. “I just decided, you know what? Why not? And I got online and looked for classes in my area and found the circus company,” McGlossen said. At first, she just wanted a taste of the high life. But, she became enthralled by it. “I fell in love immediately,” McGlosson said.
For the first time ever, Miami University’s Associated Student Government (ASG) voted not to approve the tier requirements of the Red Brick Rewards system, though student organization funding for the semester will not be affected. Red Brick Rewards — the system ASG uses to allot student organizations money by placing them in tiers — was implemented last year under the stipulation that senate would have to vote to re-approve it each semester. At its meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 12, ASG declined to approve the tier requirements, with 16 senators for approving the requirements, 24 against and four abstentions. Senators have until the end of the semester to approve the requirements, which means Red Brick Rewards is still in effect even though ASG did not approve the tiers. Many senators said they voted against the tiers because the Diversity and Lanigan Funds — money available for programs that focus on promoting diversity of race, sexuality, ethnicity and thought — were only available to organizations in tier 3, the second-highest tier, meaning it was more difficult for organizations to apply for this funding. The only change to the tier requirements in the proposal last Tuesday was an amendment to move diversity funding from tier 3 to tier 1, which would make it more accessible to student organizations. At its meeting tonight, ASG will vote again on Red Brick Rewards. The only difference between this week’s proposal and the one denied last week is that diversity funding would be removed entirely from the tier system. This proposal was reviewed last week, and representatives from Student Activities were consulted, said Cole Hankins, speaker of senate. Senate will also vote on whether to amend its standing rules so that any changes to the Red Brick Rewards system wouldn’t take effect until the following semester. If that proposal passes, all student organizations who have funding hearings this spring would be eligible for diversity funding. berryrd@miamioh.edu
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ARENA
Parkland survivors tackle activism, guns, politics DUARD HEADLEY ASST. CULTURE EDITOR Hundreds of people filed through a pair of metal detectors into Hall Auditorium last night, entering a venue peppered with about a dozen armed officers, in what University Lecture Series organizers described as one of the most secure events Hall has ever hosted. The audience came to hear two prominent individuals talk about an incredibly divisive topic. David Hogg and Alex Wind, two 18-year-old survivors of the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida last February, came to talk about gun violence and activism. In calling the audience to action, the speakers also attempted to cover a wide array of issues in their two-hour talk. Because they touched on so many different topics — toxic masculinity, gun violence, political activism and more — the event was cluttered with several highly controversial issues and emotional and tense at times. The night began with Eric Buller, director of the Wilks Leadership Institute, coming on stage to moderate the event. When he introduced the two student activists, the crowd erupted in applause and cheers. Buller was quick to ensure the audience he planned to keep the talk from getting mired in political arguments, a point echoed by JS Bragg, assistant director of student activities for Miami Activities and Programming and
member of the University Lecture Series committee. “We aren’t here to discuss the politics of these young men,” Buller said. “And we aren’t here to debate yours.” Bragg said the Lecture Series, rather than hold a public debate, intended to highlight the importance of activism, particularly for the younger generation. “We chose to bring these speakers here because they are examples of students who are really making an impact,” Bragg said. “We believe that people should be out there as an activist for whatever their values are and whatever their beliefs are.” Hogg addressed the audience directly, assuring them he welcomed disagreement. “If you’re here and you disagree with our views, thank you,” Hogg said. Instead of having audience members ask questions to Hogg and Wind directly, the organizers of the event created a Google form through which audience members could submit questions. Despite assurances from the moderator that the talk would veer away from heavily political issues, the discussion was split between two overarching topics: the problems that gun violence creates in our country, and how young people need to be the ones making substantial changes in America and the world. The first topic was undoubtedly the most controversial. The speakers, Hogg in particular, found it hard to contain their emotions as
PARKLAND SURVIVORS DAVID HOGG (LEFT) AND ALEX WIND (RIGHT) MADE MIAMI THEIR MOST RECENT STOP ON A NATIONAL SPEAKING TOUR. THE MIAMI STUDENT ZAIM HAQ
they voiced their opinions on a range of volatile issues. Hogg was quick to bring up the National Rifle Association (NRA) and their ties to the gun manufacturing industry. He was adamant in his insistence that the NRA didn’t truly care about gun owners, saying they were interested only in gun sales. He went on to say that many lawmakers don’t have an interest in changing gun laws,
and also discussed how the media under-reports on shootings in areas populated primarily by people of color. He said these things needed to change. “A congressman that represents the people in this room is not going to change anything unless the people in this room get very pissed off about something,” Hogg said. He went on to say that Republican lawCONTINUED ON PAGE 3
This Issue
Make ‘em laugh humor on page 8&9
Fewer applicants for Class of 2023
Freezing at the farmers market
The number of Chinese students applying to Miami is down by 37 percent.
Local farmers move plants indoors to avoid harsh winter weather.
News » page 5
The intangibles
Culture » page 6
Sometimes, silence is golden
Purple nail polish, sticks in trashcans and everything that helped Miami hockey snap its streak.
Our columnist shares his experience getting comfortable with being quiet
Sports » page 11
Opinion » page 12