The Miami Student | November 6, 2018

ESTABLISHED 1826 — OLDEST COLLEGE NEWSPAPER WEST OF THE ALLEGHENIES

Volume 147 No. 10

Miami University — Oxford, Ohio

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2018

CHAMPIONS: FIELD HOCKEY WINS SECOND STRAIGHT MAC TITLE JJ HARTWELL THE MIAMI STUDENT Miami University field hockey won its second straight Mid-American Conference Tournament Championship Saturday when it beat Kent State 5-3. The RedHawks completed their perfect 8-0 season against MAC opponents.

Miami played its way to the NCAA tournament in front of its biggest crowd of the year.

“Before the game, [coach] Iñako [Puzo] came into the locker room and told us we need to play like champions and have the grit of a champion today,” senior back/midfielder Avery Sturm said.

The ‘Hawks played with that grit, scoring the first two goals of the game against the Golden Flashes (8-12, 5-1 MAC) and responding to Kent State’s late pushback.

Senior midfielder/forward Paula Portugal scored first in the 13th minute off a deflection from the goalkeeper. The second goal came in the 20th minute when junior forward Kenzie Peterson scored off a rebound.

Kent State responded two minutes before halftime to make it 2-1 through 35 minutes of play. Miami outshot the Golden Flashes 12-2 and dominated possession and led 2-1 where it counted.

Kent State picked up the pace after the break, but the RedHawks responded. The teams combined to score three goals in the opening eight minutes of the second half.

Only four minutes in, sophomore midfielder Leonor Berlie gave the ’Hawks breathing room with a rocket of a shot into the top left corner of the net.

The Golden Flashes quickly fired back, scoring two minutes later and keeping the game within one at 3-2.

Junior midfielder Lexi Silver was able to give Miami a two-goal lead in the 43rd minute on a rebound shot to the upper right corner. For the rest of the game, the RedHawks didn’t allow the Golden Flashes any closer on the scoreboard.

With 20 minutes left to play, sophomore midfielder/forward Noor Breedijk put the game out of reach off an unassisted goal, making it 5-2 — though, with three minutes remaining in the game, Kent State snuck in one more goal to make the final score 5-3.

Miami’s Avery Sturm, senior back Kendall Hunker, senior midfielder Estel Roig and Breedijk were named to the MAC All-Tournament team.

Sturm was then named MAC Tournament MVP. “It was a great final, but mentally it was very tough for us to play with the pressure of winning the tournament,” Miami field hockey coach Iñako Puzo said.

Judging by the post-game celebrations laced with cheers, smiles and photos with the MAC Tournament trophy, Puzo and his team are happy with their second straight MAC championship.

But the RedHawks are already looking forward to the NCAA tournament. Miami outplayed Kent State, but only winning by two goals has Puzo concerned about his team playing on the big stage.

“The team has great momentum, and we have to keep building that momentum,” Puzo said.

Miami looks to continue building against No. 24 Boston University in the first round of the NCAA playoffs. Miami played the Terriers earlier this season and lost 2-1. In a win-or-go-home scenario, the RedHawks look for revenge tomorrow in Boston at noon. hartwejm@miamioh.edu

SCAN TO WATCH MIAMI WIN THE CHAMPIONSHIP

This Issue

Sports pages 8 & 9

MARIA RICADIO HAS FOUND HEALING IN FUNDING FREE SELF-DEFENSE CLASSES THROUGH HER COMPANY. CONTRIBUTED BY KICKBACK BATH CO.

Kick back, fight back CÉILÍ DOYLE

NEWS EDITOR While sitting in the AMC Dine-In movie theater in the Anderson neighborhood of Cincinnati early last December, Maria Ricadio struggled to put aside the thoughts eating inside her brain.

Two months earlier, Ricadio was raped by a former Miami University student, who has since been imprisoned.

She had gone to the movies to take her mind off the stress of school, whether or not she would take a medical leave of absence and if the recurring panic attacks (recently confirmed by her PTSD diagnosis) would ever subside.

“I was really struggling with my PTSD and having panic attacks a lot, just generally not feeling safe, feeling like everyone was trying to hurt me,” Ricadio said. “I was talking to my therapist about this, and she suggested that I try taking a self-defense class or some sort of martial arts in order to feel a little bit more em-

Former Miami student finds healing in helping others powered.”

This was on Ricadio’s mind as she sat in the theater and started to watch “The Greatest Showman.”

“This sounds so cheesy but...the movie’s about how he has this dream about starting a circus and he follows that. And I was like, ‘Wow, that’s really cool. I wonder if I should be doing something that I’m really passionate about.’”

It was during that moment in the movie theater that the idea for her company was born.

Ricadio thought back to her therapist’s suggestion to seek out self-defense classes in order to feel more secure. “Wouldn’t it be cool if I could raise money to fund free self-defense

classes for women?” she thought.

“I came up with the idea for bath products [which] would be perfect, because then I could call it Kickback, because it’s like, ‘kick back and relax,’ but also ‘fight back, stand up for yourself,’” she said.

While Ricadio ended up taking a leave of absence from Miami, she was committed to following through with the Kick Back Bath Company.

After securing a loan from her parents to jumpstart the company, Ricadio spent the rest CONTINUED ON PAGE 3

CULTURE

Words Matter:

The Reality of Muslim-Americans MADDIE MITCHELL MAIA ANDERSON THE MIAMI STUDENT

Roula Allouch sat behind a glass wall watching a focus group discuss their feelings on Muslim-Americans. She remembers the vicious words and proclamations of hate toward people of her faith. But when the group was made to watch a video on a Muslim speaker condemning violent actions often associated with Islam in the media, their words changed.

“Well, if I saw things like that, I’d think differently,” Allouch remembers hearing one of the participants say.

Allouch is the chair of the national board of directors for the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR). CAIR is a civil rights

and advocacy group that focuses on the ways the Muslim community is portrayed in American media.

Allouch came to Miami on Monday, Nov. 22 to talk to two classes, Journalism 318 and Sociology 303, about her work with CAIR and the issues Muslim-Americans currently face.

Allouch said that anti-Muslim hate has increased in the last decade, and millions of Muslims living in America are afraid to express their faith for fear of falling victim to a hate crime.

“I know people who won’t go to the mosque anymore because they feel unsafe, or don’t cover their hair anymore because they don’t want to be ‘outwardly Muslim,’” said Allouch.

These assimilation techniques can be seen right here at Miami. Zafer Ozdemir, profes-

sor of information systems and analytics and faculty advisor for Miami’s Muslim Student Association, said that one of his female students covered her hair when she first got to Miami, but now he notices that she no longer practices that tradition.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 6

ALLOUCH SPOKE OF HOW MUSLIMS FEAR TO PRACTICE THEIR FAITH DUE TO A RISE OF ANTI-MUSLIM HATE. CONTRIBUTED BY MARK CURMUTTE

Miami Tribe receives natl. honor

Counting my pennies

Stage Left bares its talent

Harvard bestowed the Honoring Nations Award for language revitalization.

Our culture editor reflects on the intersection of humor and identity.

Stage Left prepares for its upcoming show, “Bare: A Pop Opera.”

News» page 4

Opinion » page 5

Culture » page 6

This Week

2 FYI

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2018 Named the Best College Newspaper (Non-daily) in Ohio by the Society of Professional Journalists.

Things to do

JACK EVANS

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Audrey Davis Kirby Davis Alison Perelman Managing Editors Samantha Brunn Ceili Doyle News Editors

Kelly Burns Opinion Editor Ben Finfrock Asst. Opinion Editor

Ben Smith Design Editor

Alyssa Melendez Web Designer

Jugal Jain Photo Editor

Lindsay Cerio Business Manager

Emily Simanskis Sports Editor Madeline Mitchell Kate Rigazio Culture Editors Caroline Creek Asst. News Editor Emily Brustoski Video Editor

Designers Arthur Newberry Connor Wells Opinion Columnists Michael Stemmler Paolo Federico­O’Murchu Senior Staff Writers Julia Arwine Asst. Photo Editor Bo Brueck Photography Staff Erik Craigo G M Akand Sabik Heather McCowan

Advertising information: Send us a letter?

Tuesday

Wednesday

Party at the Polls, Shriver Center, Tuesday, 8 a.m - 7:30 p.m.

Stop by the Shriver Center for FREE mac bites, pizza, sandwiches, hot chocolate & more! Plus, enter the Office of Community Engagement & Service’s raffle to win Amazon gift cards and pick up more free stuff. But most importantly, come to VOTE!

Student Leadership Recruitment Fair, Fritz Pavilion in Armstrong, Wednesday, 6-8 p.m.

Wanting to gain more leadership experience on campus? Head to Armstrong for the Student Leadership Recruitment Fair to learn more about RAs, scholar leaders, SOULs, RISE Alternative Breaks, SEAL Ambassadors and second year communities.

Friday

Saturday

THINKFAST!, John Dolibois Room in Shriver, Friday, 9:30 p.m.

Join MAP and Orientation & Transitions Programs for THINKFAST — a night of competitive game shows and trivia with cash prizes!

Taste of Africa, McGuffey 322, Saturday, 6 p.m.

Miami’s African Students Union (ASU) presents their annual Taste of Africa event.

This year’s theme is “Being Thankful for the Journey.” Come to celebrate Thanksgiving through African food, music, songs, dance and an overall celebration of African cultures.

Megan Zahneis Chief Copy Editor

James Tobin Faculty Adviser Fred Reeder Business Adviser WDJ Inc. - Bill Dedden Distributor

Justin Maschmeyer Kat Holleran Macy Whitaker Colleen Grimm Danielle Nehring Matthew Heckert Ruisi Luo Genevieve Dietz Zach Reichman Zaim Haq Tyler Galyon Videography Staff Rick Das

miamistudent.net/advertise eic@miamistudent.net

The Miami Student is published on Tuesdays during the school year by the students of Miami University, Oxford, Ohio.

The content of The Miami Student is the sole responsibility of The Miami Student staff. Opinions expressed in The Miami Student are not necessarily those of Miami University, its students or staff.

CORRECTIONS POLICY

The Miami Student is committed to providing the Miami University community with the most accurate information possible.

Corrections may be submitted up to seven calendar days after publication.

Too many roommates?

The Courtyards of Miami might be just what you are looking for. Located on East Central Ave., between Campus and South Main St., very close to the REC.We offer neat and clean housing at affordable prices.... 2 bedroom shared by just 2 students $2700. (person) per semester. (includes Heat and water). 1 bedroom apartment with a study for 1 person $3900. All residents enjoy free off street parking, on-site laundry, and yard space. On-site office, flexible hours, and excellent upkeep, make the Courtyards a place worth looking at.

Stop by, contact Carolyn at 513-659-5671 or Home - The Courtyards of Miami for more info. http://www.thecourtyardsofmiami.com

Miami University and Community Federal Credit Union Proudly Serving Miami University and the Oxford Community Since 1969

Annual Holiday Loan Special (1)

• Borrow up to $3,000 • 8.99% Interest Rate (1) • Defer Payments for 90 Days (optional) • Maximum Term 12 Months • Apply Today!

Apply Online at www.muccu.org or Call (513) 523 - 8888 5120 College Corner Pike • 420 Wells Mill Dr. (513)523-8888 • (513)529-2739 • www.muccu.org

N

D

E

RA

IO

E • F

M I AM I U A ND C O M N

S ITY ER I V UN I T Y M

U L C REDIT

N

improving lives everyday

(1) Unsecured loan, Rates, annual percentage rate (APR), terms conditions and product components are subject to daily change without notice. Certain credit restrictions are applicable. MUCFCU is not a legal entity of the University.

Miami University and Community Federal Credit Union

You’re Invited to a Presentation on

Social Security - Options to Help Maximize your Benefits Thursday November 8, 2018 6-7:30pm at the Miami Marcum Center

Guest Speaker: Andrew Van Erp

a financial advisor with Preferred Planning Associates RSVP by calling (513) 529-6094 or email avanerp@ppaohio.com

SECURE YOUR HOME FOR JR/SR YEAR

Our homes are renting now for 2020-21, and there are still a few homes left for 2019-20! All homes are next to campus and uptown. Gather your group today and go to www.schmatesrentals.com. Don’t be stuck in an apt. JR/SR year.

improving lives everyday

Non-deposit Investment Products: are not NCUA or FDIC insured, are not obligations of or guaranteed by the credit union, involve investment risk and may lose value. Securities offered through Registered Representatives of Cambridge Investment Research, Inc., a broker-dealer, member FINRA/SIPC. Advisory Services offered through Cambridge Investment Research Advisors, Inc., a Registered Investment Advisor. Miami University Community Federal Credit Union and Preferred Planning Associates and Cambridge are not affiliated companies. MUCFCU is not a legal entity of the university.

Call or text 847-274-6600 or 513-505-4918 Email: info@schmatesrentals.com

NEWS@MIAMISTUDENT.NET

‘Kick back,’ ‘fight back’ FROM FRONT

of December into January 2018 finding a third-party supplier for the bath products, getting a friend in graphic design to build a website and hiring a corporate lawyer for two hours to walk her through the financial essentials. The company officially launched in late January.

While the Kick Back Bath Co., a non-profit corporation, is not registered as a 501(c)(3) (the portion of the US Internal Revenue Code allowing federal tax exemptions for nonprofit organizations, 100 percent of the company’s earnings go toward funding free self-defense classes for women.

Ricadio has spent the last 10 months selling bath bombs, shower steamers and soap by tabling in her hometown of Madeira, Ohio, in Miami’s Armstrong Student Center and after giving talks at local high schools. So far, the proceeds havefunded four self-defense classes for over 100 women.

Kick Back Bath Co. partners with Tier-Two Defense, a company based out of West Chester, Ohio that employs Marines to help teach self-defense courses.

“It’s been extremely therapeutic to be able to feel like I’m doing something positive. I’ve always kind of had that mentality,” Ricadio said. “I’ve always struggled with mental health.”

In high school, Ricadio was diagnosed with several mental health disorders.

“At first I was like, ‘Well, why me?

Why is this happening to me?’ And then, I was like, ‘No, there has to be some reason behind it. God has some purpose in everything,” she said. “I needed to figure out something to do with this experience that happened to me.”

So she decided to major in psychology.

She took the same approach after being raped and decided to try to understand the meaning behind her experience.

In addition to the physical training, one aspect of the self-defense classes that Ricadiofinds most beneficial is

when the Marines play a slideshow demonstrating some of the mental defense tactics women can employ to stay safe.

“In my case, I was drugged at a bar and then he took me home and raped me. In that case, self-defense wouldn’t have been applicable, but those mental defense tactics — just being more aware of my surroundings,” Ricadio said. “Not to victim blame, but the unfortunate reality is there’s bad people out there, but there are things you can be doing to protect yourself.”

Ricadio will finish her undergraduate degree at the University of Cincinnati next semester. She works as a research coordinator on the psychiatric ward at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center and hopes to get her PhD in forensic psychology in the next five years.

Ricadio has reclaimed her experience in the best way she knows how: by helping others.

“It’s really healing for me...it really takes me from victim to survivor,” she said. “For a while I let him dictate my life and let that experience impact my life so much in a negative way. And being able to [say], ‘No, I’m not going to let that happen. I’m not going to let him take any more away from me.’”

“I definitely feel more in control of my life now,” she added.

During the sentencing hearing last February, Judge Michael Oster took the time to address Ricadio directly.

“The judge had some really nice things to say to me,” Ricadio said. “[He said], ‘Never, never let anyone take the power of your life and who you are away from you. If you refuse to concede that, you are in control, no matter what.’”

It was those words from Oster that have propelled Ricadio forward.

“That’s really kind of the mentality I tried to take,” she said. “[The judge’s] words really impacted me and I’ve taken that to heart — in trying to stay in control of my life and not let him take that power away from me, and that control.” doyleca3@miamioh.edu @cadoyle_18

Miami partners with Butler County to research opioid crisis BEN DEETER

STAFF WRITER

Miami University is partnering with the Butler County Mental Health and Addiction Recovery Services Board (BCMHARS) to research the opioid crisis in southwest Ohio.

Butler County, along with Hamilton and Warren counties, has been named a recipient of grant money from the Comprehensive Addiction & Recovery Act (CARA). The legislation was signed into law in 2016, and the U.S. Department of Justice awarded the three southwest Ohio counties a collective $2.1 million in October.

Miami’s research partnership with BCMHARS will focus on developing training for first responders, victim service providers and child protective service providers. The training will focus on meeting the needs of children found at the scenes of drug overdoses and those who have been impacted by drug abuse in their homes.

“One of the things about this particular project is that it’s not just funding for opioid misuse,” said Dawna “Cricket” Meehan, the director of the center for school-based mental health programs and an assistant professor in Miami’s psychology department.

“We know that a lot of these kids are negatively affected, and we need strategies to get them the help they need.”

One of those strategies is creating a better communication infrastructure in the immediate aftermath of a drug overdose.

“Oftentimes, a child won’t tell anyone if they’ve been put into child protective services after [a parent has] an overdose,” Meehan said. “This funding will help bring better communication across the board so that, instead of them entering school the next day completely alone, they have people who know their situation and can provide them with support long term.”

In the October funding, Butler County received $797,749 which, in addition to helping children surrounded by drug abuse, will go toward expanding overdose diversion and outreach efforts by municipal courts. Hamilton County received $500,000, and Warren was awarded

NEWS 3

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2018

$800,000.

From 2012 to 2017, Butler County had the third-highest rate among Ohio counties of drug overdose deaths per 100,000 people according to the Ohio Department of Health.

Senator Rob Portman (R-Cincinnati) introduced the CARA legislation in 2016 and lobbied the Justice Department on behalf of the three counties.

“I’m pleased that my CARA legislation is making a difference,” Portman said in a press release on Oct. 18. “We need more partnerships between the federal government, state and local health officials, prevention experts, treatment providers, and law enforcement to work together to address this epidemic.”

In September, the Senate passed comprehensive opioid legislation that included Portman’s STOP Act (Synthetics Trafficking & Overdose Prevention), the CRIB (Caring Recovery for Infants & Babies) Act that was co-sponsored by Portman and Senator Sherrod Brown (D-Cleveland) and the CARA 2.0 Act. This legislative package addresses issues including the shipment of opioids like fentanyl into the United States, treatment for babies and infants in drug withdrawal and additional funding for initiatives in the 2016 CARA legislation.

“There isn’t a community in Ohio that hasn’t been touched by the addiction crisis,” Brown said in a press release on Sept. 18. “We are doing all we can to fight it, but we have to make it just as easy for Ohioans to seek treatment as it is to get opioids.”

The partnership between the federal government and southwest Ohio provides a foundation in combating the epidemic, Meehan said, but there’s still more awareness to be spread.

“The stereotype of what an addict is is being broken down by the opioid crisis because of how big it is and how many people it’s affecting,” Meehan said. “We need to understand the breadth of the epidemic in terms of what addiction is, who it affects including family members and friends, and then come together in a comprehensive way to combat the crisis.” deeterbj@miamioh.edu

Seeking acceptance through humor

SHEA FOREIT CREATED PWRMV AND ITS APPAREL TO TAKE BACK STEREOTYPES AND BOOST SELF-CONFIDENCE THE MIAMI STUDENT SEBASTIAN NEUFUSS

Former Miami student boosts self-confidence through provocative apparel BRIAH LUMPKINS

THE MIAMI STUDENT

Shea Foreit, former Miami University student and founder of PWRMV (shorthand for the words “power move”), knows his generation is dominated by hashtags and filters and that being authentic is often lost in a haze of stereotyping and conformity in society.

Foreit attended Miami but dropped out his senior year. He wanted something to shake up his schedule-oriented life. He wanted adventure — but more than that, he wanted an escape from a life he felt he was forced to lead.

On a whim, Foreit booked a room at a bed and breakfast, filled out a couple job applications and left Oxford, Ohio for sunny San Diego, California. He spent a year in San Diego before realizing it was time to make the 32-hour drive back to his old college town.

“I hated it,” Foreit said. “I didn’t like the culture. The people there are very superficial — very skin-deep.”

Disappointed that his grand adventure didn’t turn out the way he expected, Foreit began trying different ways to regain his self-confidence.

He went out to the bars wearing shirts he designed with eye-catching slogans to show the the world he didn’t care what people said about him.

One sweatshirt in particular would eventually be the stepping stone for his new company. It bore the words “I eat ass” across the chest.

“I never had more fun in my entire life,” Foreit said. “It showed that I’m not here to measure anyone up — I’m just here to have a good time.”

After receiving a wave of positive reactions, Foreit realized there was a market for similar apparel. People respected him for going out in a sweatshirt he created and not caring what anyone thought, and he wanted to spread that same confidence to others.

That night, the idea for PWRMV was born.

The company strives to create radical self-acceptance through self-deprecating humor, Foreit said.

PWRMV creates shirts with multiple self deprecating slogans printed across the chest. Some of the shirts include the phrases “Insecure,” “Scrawny,” “Dadbod,” “Flat AF,” and the one that started it all, “I eat ass.”

Foreit has struggled with depres-

sion for the last seven years, which he says stems from the pressure of trying to live up to societal standards.

Since the birth of his company in June 2018, he began to recognize those standards, set and strengthened by social media that only showed his friends’ “highlights.”

Foreit hopes his apparel will allow consumers to feel empowered and feel inspired to live their lives authentically.

“I’m trying to let people show that they can slap their biggest insecurity on their chest and wear it out proudly and know no one else’s opinion of them matters at all,” Foreit said. “You don’t need anyone else’s judgements to tell yourself that you’re valued, or a good person. You just are completely on your own for just being you.”

On October 20th, PWRMV hosted a fundraiser for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention at The Woods Uptown.

The fundraiser raised $150 for the charity, and while Foreit was disappointed it didn’t make more money, he was happy to support the cause.

“Through all the absurdity and all the brassiness that we have, that is our main goal, helping with self-acceptance. If we can support people from not ever killing themselves, that’s one thing we’d want to do over anything else.” lumpkibm@miamioh.edu

Professors’ study reveals students in Greek life graduate with lower GPAs

FROM “GREEK LIFE, ACADEMICS, AND GRADES” STUDY

HANNAH ANDERSEN THE MIAMI STUDENT

A new study by two Miami University economics professors, William E. Even and Austin C. Smith, found that participating in Greek life might not be as much of help to students’ academic performance as the Cliff Alexander Office of Sorority and Fraternity says it is.

The study, “Greek Life, Academics and Grades,” conducted by Even and Smith, was released on Sept. 28, 2018.

Both Even and Smith didn’t respond to comment.

“Greek Life, Academics, and Grades” found that, in general, students in Greek life graduated with an overall lower GPA than the GPA they earned during the fall semester of their first year.

This negative correlation between Greek affiliation and resulting GPA was especially prominent in students who barely reached the minimum 2.5 GPA required for recruitment eligibility.

Smith and Even wrote that, “Pledging a sorority leads to decrease in academic performance” by .13 grade points below their starting GPA, while,“pledging a fraternity reduces performance” by .20 grade points below their starting GPA Their findings contradict the 20172018 Cliff Alexander Office factbook, which originally cited average GPA for

Miami students in sororities and fraternities was 3.25.

The average cited in the factbook is .1 to .2 points higher than the average GPA for non-Greek student, according

by The Atlantic.

Even and Smith used data from Miami spanning from 2007 to 2017, and including statistics from nearly 34,000 students.

Miami, which requires that students not go through the Greek recruitment process until the second semester of their first year, gave the professors the chance to compare students’ first-semester academic performance to their GPA in every subsequent semester’s GPA. Smith and Even write that the decline in GPA is due to the time commitment students make during the recruitment process, new member education period and the active member phase.

Sophomore Sam Novak, who went through fraternity recruitment last spring, believes that while the commitment to recruitment took away some time for homework, it didn’t affect his overall academic performance.

“The time commitment during recruitment wasn’t too bad,” Novak said.

“After we were initiated, the events became more optional.”

Recruitment for Greek organizations is also associated with excessive drinking and sometimes hazing, which

contributes to a lower academic performance, according to the study. During the hazing period, Even and Smith write, “pledges of both genders are more likely to withdraw from courses” that are too challenging or have a heavy workload.

The study found that the negative “effect of being an active member is substantially smaller” than the effects experienced by potential new Greek members during the pledging process.

Both women and men experience a reduction of .8 or .9 grade points from their first-year fall GPA after completing recruitment and being initiated into their sorority or fraternity.

Alyssa Kuelthau, junior and academic chairwoman for Gamma Phi Beta Sorority, said that while each sorority has their own threshold, the bar for academic excellence in potential members is high.

Gamma Phi Beta Sorority requires a minimum 2.7 GPA, as opposed to the university’s minimum of 2.5. The women in Kuelthau’s sorority are encouraged to better their GPAs from the previous semester, she said.

Even and Smith also studied Greek alumni’s starting salary.

“Greek Life, Academics, and Earnings” reports that Greek students tend to have higher-earning, better-educated parents.

In interview with Teen Vogue, Smith said Greek students “are probably more likely to have a higher salary early in their careers than those with lower socioeconomic status.”

But while Greek affiliation can be correlated to higher earnings later in life, Even and Smith note in their study that “this is not a causal effect” — one does not inherently cause the other.

In “Greek Life, Academics, and Earnings,” Even and Smith write that Greek alumni salaries are “roughly 15 percent higher” than non-Greeks, but this increase can be attributed to “having a family background that enhances earnings potential.”

No evidence to Greek affiliation directly affecting its alumni’s starting salaries was shown. andersh3@miamioh.edu

4 NEWS

NEWS@MIAMISTUDENT.NET

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2018

Harvard honors Miami Tribe for revitalization efforts AUDREY DAVIS

MANAGING EDITOR

The Miami Tribe of Oklahoma was honored by The Harvard Project on American Indian Economic Development at the 75th Annual National Congress for American Indians Convention on Thursday, Oct. 25 in Denver, Colorado.

The Harvard Project presented the Miami Tribe with an Honoring Nations Award with the distinction of honors for its Myaamiaki Eemamwiciki Program (the Miami Awakening).

After losing its last fluent speaker in the 1960s, tribal leadership in the ‘90s decided action had to be taken to revive the Myaamia culture and language. In 1997, the Myaamiaki Eemamwiciki Program officially began.

The program aims to incorporate Myaamia culture and language into the community through programs such as cultural gatherings, workshops and youth summer camps.

“I am so honored to serve the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma as chief at this time in our history and to witness and support the great awakening we are experiencing with the return of our language and culture,” Chief Douglas Lankford said at the Honoring Nations Awards and Presentations. “Our relationship with Miami University, their commitment to our Myaamia Center and the incredible work accomplished there are key components to our success in community revitalization.”

The Myaamia Center, located in the Bonham House on Miami’s campus, has served as the tribe’s research arm since 2001.

Bobbe Burke, coordinator of Miami Tribe Relations, has worked with the Miami Tribe since the early ‘90s.

“At that point, I was really the only person here who was focused on trying to do more coordination with the Miami Tribe,” Burke said.

“Over the years, as the number of students here have increased, we’ve spent a lot more time on providing resources, being a good guide to them and trying to help them solve whatever problems they’re having at the time.”

There are several different offices in the center that work on differ-

ent research aspects for the tribe, from language to education.

“We have a very wide audience,” Kara Strass, Miami Tribe Relations assistant and member of the tribe, said. “We have the students while they’re here in college, but we also have summer camps for younger kids and community programing.”

Additionally, the center has an IT office which works with Miami students, usually in the computer science department, to find new ways to incorporate technology into the center’s research.

“Some of the work that’s being done here is really right at the edge of technology,” Burke said. “It’s going to spread to other tribal communities who are going to use these technological things that’s created here, so that’s very exciting.”

This year, the Miami Tribe was one of six finalists for the Honoring Nations award, selected from a pool of over 70 applicants from 50 tribal nations. It’s a huge honor for the tribal nations who receive it, but it’s also a way to share the work that’s happening in Indian country to a larger population, Strass said.

“From the tribal perspective, it was kind of this recognition that we’re at a place where we can really see the outcome of all of the labor that has gone in the past 25 years of this language and cultural revitalization,” Strass added. “I think it’s now at the point where you’re able to look back and really see the fruits of your labor.”

Strass is excited that people are acknowledging the revitalization efforts as important work.

“We work with our tribe students all the time to come to an understanding of who they are as Myaamia people, and language and culture play a big role in that,” she said. “It’s important to individuals because now we can say, ‘This is what it means to me to be a Myaamia person and these are the parts of my culture or language that I’m deciding to practice as an individual.’ It’s had a huge impact on the community and how we relate to each other, how we come together as a group.”

To learn more about the additional Honoring Nations award winners, head to the Harvard Project’s website at https://hpaied.org.

ABBY JEFFREY

THE MIAMI STUDENT

CONTRIBUTED BY HARVARD PROJECT ON AMERICAN INDIAN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, HONORING NATIONS

Chief Doug Langford accepts the Honoring Nation award on behalf of the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma

davisa10@miamioh.edu

ASG talks elections, alcohol and sexual assault policies RACHEL BERRY STAFF WRITER

During last week’s Associated Student Government (ASG) meeting, Miami University’s Director of Community Standards Ann James introduced her thoughts on new potential policies regarding sexual assault while ASG president Meghan Murtagh introduced a new Miami Initiative Team (MIT) to de-stigmatize binge drinking.

Additionally, ASG passed a bill extending the term for a senator-at-large.

James said that while there are mandated policies regarding alcohol and dishonestly violations — which state that students are suspended after two infractions —there is no such rule for sexual assault. James is new to the university, but she wants to work to change this.

Murtagh’s MIT will focus on denormalizing binge drinking by reshaping the culture at the grass-roots level through a partnership with Talawanda Middle School.

After discussing these potential changes, senators discussed changing the term limit of a senator-at-large.

A senator-at-large is a position in ASG held by a student who does not represent a specific district or academic division.

Senators are elected this way when no one runs for a particular seat.

The bylaws originally stated that a senator-at-large would serve until the end of the semester in which they were elected. The authors of the proposed bill argued that with only a few weeks left in the semester, it doesn’t make sense to end their term right after they are elected, so they decided to extend the term to the end of the academic year.

ASG eventually passed a piece of legislation called the Senator at Large Tenure Act (SALT), which lengthened the terms limits for a senator-at-large.

Since the 6th district seat — representing East Quad, including Collins, Dennison, Dorsey, McBride and, Symmes halls and Miami Inn — was not filled in ASG’s recent special election, an election will occur next Tuesday, Nov. 13 to fill the empty seat. berryrd@miamioh.edu

Coursicle means easier scheduling, course registration

Miami students registering for spring semester classes this fall have a new resource to use—Coursicle, a course registration and planning app.

Coursicle allows students to easily browse classes through filtered searches and plan their schedule online on its website or through a mobile app.

The idea for the app came when Coursicle co-founder Joe Puccio, then a student at UNC-Chapel Hill, was registering for classes and got into only one of the five he needed to take.

“That night, I started working on a program that would text me when a class I wanted next had an available seat,” Puccio said.

A friend of Puccio’s suggested he open up the system to other students. The system proved to be so popular that by the end of UNC’s registration period, 900 people registered using the app. The following semester, the number doubled. The increased demand for the text service led to the creation of the iOS and Android application that would send push notifications instead of texts.

Puccio says the main goal of Coursicle was to make planning a schedule more time-efficient, as well as to keep students from having to refresh a webpage to see if classes have become available. The app sends push notifications when seats in desired classes become available and helps students avoid double-booking classes.

Coursicle also allows students to compare the price of textbooks at their college bookstore with prices on Amazon, Chegg and Abebooks, and compare schedules with friends on Facebook.

Puccio says that last week, Coursicle added a new feature that allows students access to free premium services if they get three friends to download and register on Coursicle. The next major update to the app will most likely include more course information, such as names of the professors and dates and times of classes.

Anneli Dillon, a junior at Miami, has recently tried using the app.

“I wanted to use it for winter term classes, but I realized it only works for spring and fall semesters,” Dillon said. “I definitely like the idea of the app and plan on using it again next time I register.”

Puccio said around 140 Miami students have registered for classes through Coursicle, and 300 have used the course planning calendar. jeffrea2@miamioh.edu

The Annex, local shelter struggle with students’ pets DAN WOZNIAK

THE MIAMI STUDENT

Every May, thousands of Miami University seniors graduate and move on from college. But as students leave Oxford to start new lives in different places, some leave behind more than classes, friends and houses — some leave behind pets as well.

In the Butler County area, animal shelters and student rental companies have voiced their concerns about college students’ inability to be responsible pet owners.

The Annex is a living community made up of cottages and townhomes designed for Miami students. This year, the company has made several announcements regarding pets and pet ownership to its residents.

Annex’s staff notified residents on Sept. 15 and again on Oct. 18 about loose dogs that were run-

ning around in the area.

On Oct. 9, Ashley Alexander, one of Annex’s resident services manager, emailed residents to address the amount of animal waste found on the property.

Annex provides student pet owners with designated waste containers, but many students ignore them.

In her email, Alexander said, “We have learned that there are individuals that have left their animal in the apartment for extended periods of time, without proper supervision and without providing it with food or water.”

This is not the only instance of Miami students neglecting animals that has been reported in Oxford.

“We do receive a higher number of calls right after MU students finish the school year, typically in the middle of May,” said Eric Johnson, the animal care director at the Animal Care Foundation (ACF) in Hamilton in an email

The Miami Student. “We also receive calls from students themselves leading up to the end of the school year saying that they have to give up their pet because they have nowhere to take it.”

Johnson also said he had spoken with a Miami student who is graduating in December and has to give up their cat at the end of the semester.

The ACF is a private, nonprofit no-kill animal shelter and receives about 30 calls a day from people who want to surrender animals.

Most of the stray animals come from the Hamilton or Oxford area.

While the Annex housing staff and Johnson deal with the negative consequences of students who neglect their pets, some Miami students are frustrated by the stereotype that college students are irresponsible pet owners.

“I wanted a friend to have around and keep me company

when I don’t feel like being with other people,” said junior Shane Patino, a Miami dog owner. “I live in a house with six other guys so when I am not home they are almost always available to keep her company and let her out to the bathroom. I think it will be difficult occasionally but I am not one to shy away from challenges.”

Johnson is not a proponent of Miami students adopting pets because he feels class schedules, roommates, rental situations, parents and post-college plans could potentially influence someone to abandoned their animal.

“Personally and professionally, I would rather college students wait until after graduation to adopt a pet,” said Johnson. “Before that, there are so many variables that could cause the student to have to give up the pet.” wozniad2@miamioh.edu

New license plate technology in effect RACHEL BERRY STAFF WRITER

Drivers should take extra care to pay their parking tickets on time — armed with a new plate-scanning technology, Oxford Police Department is on the prowl for unpaid citations.

The department installed new license plate readers (LPRs) on the front of their police cars in August. As the police drive through Oxford, the reader scans the plates of parked cars and notifies the officer if the parked car’s owner has a citation that has gone unpaid for at least a month. At that point, the officer will boot the car.

“It hopefully will be a deterrent for people that are chronical-

ly not paying their citations, and it will encourage them to pay the citations and therefore encourage them not to receive the tickets in the first place,” OPD Lt. Lara Fening said.

The boot will be removed when the original citation is paid.

In addition to the cost of the ticket, removing the boot costs an extra $100 for the first 24 hours after it’s placed. Every additional day the boot stays on, a $12 fee is added. If the fees are not paid within the first 24 hours, OPD can also impound the vehicle, which costs an additional $100.

These prices apply to the first time a boot is placed on a person’s car. The second occurence will cost $200 for the first 24 hours, and any further instances will be

$300.

The plate-reading technology is also able to detect if a car has been parked somewhere over the time limit. For instance, the parking meters Uptown have a twohour limit, and people are not supposed to feed the meter and add more time.

The LPR helps to make the police officers’ jobs easier, making them able to identify parking violators, which before was only possible if they recognized the car.

“I think it provides a more efficient work process for us at the police department and in our parking unit,” Fening said.

Miami fifth-year Joey Graham, who said he has had eight to ten parking citations in the past two years, is especially worried

about the LPR. “As someone who has two jobs, if I were parked in front of Skippers delivering and had an outstanding parking ticket, which does tend to happen, and they booted my car, that would absolutely ruin my day because I wouldn’t be able to work,” Graham said.

According to Fening, this technology is used at many police stations across the country, including the Cincinnati Police Department.

OPD’s scanner will only be used off-campus, where the department has jurisdiction. berryrd@miamioh.edu

Opinion

5

BURNSKL2@MIAMIOH.EDU

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2018 STAFF EDITORIAL

Miamians are using painful experiences, creativity to power change Two companies, two messages, all positivity The following reflects the majority opinion of the editorial board.

For weeks now, our editorial board has stressed the importance of students being involved members of the Oxford Community. Whether it’s through voting in Oxford elections or standing up against the community’s sexual assault problem, we believe students should use their skills to challenge the issues in our community.

This week, The Miami Student highlighted two companies in Oxford that were founded by former Miami students. Theses two students experienced different traumas and difficulties during their time here, but have since used those experiences to create something positive.

One of these companies is Kick Back Bath Co., which was founded by Maria Ricardio. Ricardio started the company in order to fund self-defense classes for women. As a rape survivor herself, Ricardio found empowerment through self-defense training and encourages women to do the same.

The company’s products include bath bombs, scrub soap and a moonstone necklace. The goal is to encour-

age women to kick back and relax, but also be able to kick back against assault.

The other company is PWRMV, which was founded by Shea Foreit. PWRMV sells clothes printed with negative stereotypes and self-deprecating insults. The idea for the company came from Foreit’s own struggles with depression and trying to cram himself into social norms.

PWRMV’s branding is provocative, bordering on crude — some shirts bear phrases such as “I EAT ASS” and “Beat my Clock.” Others are more tame: One of their clothing lines is dedicated to body diversity and uses phrases such as “Dad bod” and “Scrawny.” Foreit says his overarching

Ask me “Are you sure?” again. I dare you.

CHLOE MURDOCK

THE MIAMI STUDENT

It’s hard to forget that taekwondo wasn’t created with women in mind.

Even 100 years after the creation of taekwondo, there is still evidence of this sexism.

The uniforms are unisex, but there is always space for a man’s junk in the front of the pants.

Most taekwondo moves rely on a person’s strength rather than using your opponent’s strength or weight against them. This is typically not helpful to people (such as women) who are smaller than their opponent, unless you become a blackbelt and learn hapkido movements, which deals with joint locks to redirect your opponent.

I was a yellow belt in taekwondo at a tournament last spring semester, and there were no other 18-years-or-older females in my belt range. I looked around me, in this corral where the tournament volunteers herded us into lines based on belt rank and gender to determine who sparred who.

I had beat the same four guys in my line in the “forms” event, which is a choreographed fight against invisible opponents.

Miami’s martial arts club teaches a traditional taekwondo style, meaning we focus less on sparring and more on forms and other aspects of taekwondo.

I am an objectively bad sparrer, so I am used to getting my ass kicked by males, females and nonbinary people.

I was expecting to lose this tournament and I hoped to learn from fighting a martial artist who I wouldn’t get to fight otherwise. But I didn’t expect what happened.

A volunteer counted us up then pointed her pen at me.

“Are you sure you wanna spar boys?” she asked. “Because I don’t want you or your coach to come crying to me afterward.” “... Yes,” I said. “Who else am I going to spar?”

She shook her head and scribbled on her clipboard. The volunteer led us to where we would compete, and handed us to a referee, an older man.

He didn’t notice me at first. I blended in with the three other guys, strapped into the same protective gear that makes everyone look like red and blue turtles

rather than people.

Then he read my name on the clipboard and asked me again if I wanted to go ahead.

“Yes,” I said, nearly spitting at him.

The referee shook his head and questioned the volunteer about why she let me compete. He asked for our ages: my opponent was 36 years old. I am 19 years old.

“No headshots. I will end the fight if she needs to stop,” he said.

I am decent at headshots, so limiting our fight actually disadvantaged me. The fight started, and my opponent pummelled me. He was shorter, so he could easily get under my arms blocking my chest and stomach to hit me and score points. I was in pain.

In the middle of the fight, I nailed a spinning-wheel kick to his chest. My opponent had to stop, his hands on his knees.

The referee stopped the fight. “Are you hurt? What happened?”

He just needed to catch his breath after my kick.

The fight continued and he won.

The sobs started, and I couldn’t figure out why I couldn’t stop. I couldn’t stop thinking about the volunteer’s words, and the referee’s. It got to me.

I searched for my teammates, but I couldn’t find them through my squinting. I returned to our pile of bags to tear off my protective gear and slumped against the wall, head in my hands.

Over the intercom, I heard: “If anyone would like to spar an adult female black belt, come to registration.”

I watched the recording of my fight over and over. I was convinced that he had slowed down to let me hit him. Eventually I realized that, yes, I did make the shot. But, I shouldn’t have to question myself or have others constantly question me like this because of my gender.

And that female black belt who didn’t have anyone to spar with shouldn’t be alone.

More women need to be in male-dominated spaces. Women need to be sparring in taekwondo, running business meetings and leading in STEM fields.

No woman can single-handedly subvert stereotypes — unless you’re Simone Biles. However, the more women there are in a field, the more likely there will be qualified women who can succeed and become leaders in that field.

I wish I could challenge the status quo more. A small part of me wished I could have proved the volunteer and referee wrong by winning the fight. At the same time, I’m happy my opponent didn’t go easy on me, because otherwise my hard work — despite my loss — is a moot point.

All I can do is work harder, speak up when I can and exist in other places where I can break the stereotype of what a woman is expected to be. murdocc3@miamioh.edu

goal is to encourage consumers to embrace the odd and messed-up aspects of social life in college. We don’t love every bit of apparel on PWRMV’s site, but we think Foreit and his products are in honest pursuit of that goal.

These are two different companies with different target audiences and messages, but their paths track along similar lines. Both founders refashioned negative personal experiences into positive public messages.

Ricardio found power in helping women learn self-defense and advocating for other survivors.

Foreit was able to destigmatize his depression by calling others to embrace the imperfect aspects of their lives, instead of encouraging them to live up to societal standards.

Both companies are working to fight social problems in our community. Students taking control of issues they see on and off campus is a message we have stressed over and over again. Seeing members of our community stepping up like this is — more than a step — a leap in the right direction.

That is something we can all admire.

Sometimes, to get a message across, you need to get creative, and maybe a little provocative.

Oxford and Miami are packed with people who have the potential to make a difference. We each have a unique voice, a unique talent, which we can use to advocate for the causes we are passionate about.

Ricardio and Foreit are at least two Miamians engaging with their community in this way. It’s up to the rest of us to follow their examples, and to stand up for the changes we want to see.

Counting my Pennies

KATE RIGAZIO

CULTURE EDITOR

“My question is, and you might not even know the answer to this, why do you feel like you always have to be funny?”

Surprisingly, this question was posed to me during a conversation with a professor, and not a paid session with a therapist.

It’s a question I dread. A question that keeps me up at night, and makes my stomach hurt when walking home from parties. And yet, I couldn’t help but laugh, as this was the first time someone

“Being funny became my $100 bill” other than me was asking it. And I knew the answer.

I am the least confident person I know.

Or at least I felt that way for most of my life. My personality is an acquired taste.

I didn’t like how I looked, I hated that I wasn’t athletic or naturally smart and social interactions gave me a sick feeling.

Looking back on it now, it could have been much worse. My lack of confidence always remained a benign voice in the back of my head. My problems were not external. I had friends who accepted my eccentricities, and parents that exceeded what it meant to support and encourage a child.

But none of that could get past that internal voice saying, “You’re not good enough.”

In middle school and high school, my way of coping was self-deprecating humor. I would lean into my oddities and turn to my friends to say, “How weird was that?” It allowed me to feel like I was fully a part of my group, and helped me to deal with the parts of myself I didn’t like.

Then, in 2014, Amy Poehler published “Yes Please.” She devoted a whole chapter to talking about how she dealt with her own lack of confidence. Her advice was, “Decide what your currency is early.

Let go of what you will never have. People who do this are happier and sexier.”

It didn’t matter I wasn’t cute or smart or athletic, because as long as I had

something I was set. Can you imagine hearing this as a weird, teenage theatre dork in Massachusetts from a former weird, teenage theatre dork raised in Massachusetts? I ate that shit up!

So, I picked being funny. Being funny was the one thing I knew I could be. Making other people laugh, whether it be at my own expense or not, gave me more joy than anything else in my life.

Being funny became my $100 bill. I cashed it in during every uncomfortable situation, rejection and moment of self doubt. I drowned out that voice in the back of my head with the sound of laughter.

Amy Poehler’s three-sentence anecdote helped me discover a part of myself that I not only liked, but valued. It made me feel like I had something to bring to the table.

It also is what led me to feel like I always had to be funny.

I believed the only way I could be of value to a group of people was by being funny. It became less for fun and more for survival. I’d find myself in a room full of people spitting out any joke I could think of and hoping one would stick, all the while watching the energy drain from the faces around me. My currency was inflated, and the value was going down.

I realize now, as a junior in college, my spaz brain failed to interpret what Amy Poehler really meant.

One trait can’t possibly be the extent of a person’s currency. One trait means a one dimensional character, and if I know anything, I know I’m not that. Not to mention it’s exhausting. My other traits are a part of the totality of my person, and I need to acknowledge them. I owe it to myself.

It’s been four years since I first read Amy Poehler’s advice, and I’m approaching it with a new perspective. I’m trying to determine the full extent of my currency. I’m reinvesting in myself by taking another look at who I am and what I have to offer.

There are still moments where I still feel like an uncomfortable teenager who wants to shrink back inside of herself, and I don’t think that will ever go away.

When that feeling comes, I try to remind myself that I am not an uncomfortable teenager, just a nervous adult having an off day.

I’m taking small steps toward feeling like a balanced, well rounded person.

And it’s kind of fun! There’s an excitement to discovering value where I did not see it originally, and a power in realizing the pennies, nickels and dimes are just as important as the $100 bills. rigazikm@miamioh.edu

6 CULTURE

CONTINUED FROM FRONT

“I didn’t ask, and she didn’t say,” said Ozdemir. “But perhaps it was because of some kind of response from her environment.”

A lawyer from Kentucky raised by Syrian immigrants, Allouch said she isn’t as phased by name-calling hate speech anymore. But there are certain phrases used in both the media and on the street, that make her upset. Specifically, when people tell her to ‘go back to her country,’ which, in actuality, is the United States.

“Words are still powerful, and it still hurts,” said Allouch.

Allouch said media outlets historically use words that paint the Muslim community in a negative light and portray them as hateful, violent terrorists. She believes the words reporters use when covering the community are a key factor in how these misconceptions are spread.

The word “Allah,” which means God in Arabic, is a particularly poignant example, according to Allouch.

She said reporters use the word Allah more than they use the word God when covering the Muslim community, which creates a disconnect between the majority of Americans and the Muslim-American community.

“I’m a Muslim and I use the word ‘God’ more than I do ‘Allah,’” said Allouch.

“Jihadist” is another word Allouch pointed out as othering the Muslim community. “Jihad” is an Arabic word that signifies the struggles a Muslim person goes through in order to live their faith.

“When it’s hot but I have to wear my Hijab, or when people are rude to me but I am nice because my faith tells me to treat others nicely, that is Jihad,” said Allouch.

“Jihadist,” on the other hand, is not an Arabic word, but one created by Americans. Google Dictionary defines “Jihadist” as “a Jihadi.” It defines the word “Jihadi” as “a person involved in a jihad; an Islamic militant.” The connotations of the made-up word “Jihadist” involve military action, violence and crime, things that have nothing to do with the actual Arabic meaning of the word “Jihad.”

Continuous misuse of these words are not the only plights for Muslim-Americans as they look to the media; there is also the offense of mispronunciation.

Allouch referred to the word “Muslim” as one of the most mispronounced words she notices in the news media, especially following the 9/11 attacks.

“Mispronunciation of the name itself was annoying

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2018

RIGAZIKM@MIAMIOH.EDU

Finding your voice:

“Bare: A Pop Opera” takes center stage

THE CAST AND CREW OF “BARE: A POP OPERA” HOPE THE SHOW’S MESSAGE OF ACCEPTANCE RESONATE WITH THE AUDIENCE. GENEVIEVE DIETZ THE MIAMI STUDENT

DUARD HEADLEY

ASST. CULTURE EDITOR

“It’s basically like ‘Romeo and Juliet’ if ‘Romeo and Juliet’ was between two boys, and there was music. Oh, and if ‘Romeo and Juliet’ took place in the 90s.”

According to Assistant Director Emily Olson, “Bare: A Pop Opera,” the upcoming production put on by Stage Left, will be a sight to behold.

Written by Jon Hartmere and Damon Intrabartolo, “Bare” is a musical filled with elaborate, emotional musical numbers. Far from light, poppy productions like “Grease” or “Hairspray,” “Bare” uses music as a lens for confronting difficult and meaningful subject matter.

The show focuses on two high school boys, Peter and Jason. Although they’ve been dating for a while and care deeply for each other, neither can fully commit to the relationship because of the pressures they feel from their community. They’re students at a Catholic school, and are afraid their families and friends won’t accept them for who they are.

Al Oliver, the show’s director, says this play has special meaning to him.

“I relate very closely to a lot of the events and characters in this show,” Oliver said.

“When I discovered this show in my sophomore year of college, it was just after I’d come

out to my family and had very similar experiences of trying to rationalize my religious upbringing with my homosexuality. It just really stuck with me, and I knew right away that I wanted to do it.”

Oliver hopes audiences will connect with the show too.

“Watching people connect with this show like I did has been incredibly rewarding, and I think that it will make the show that much more powerful,” said Oliver. “Each [audience member] can grab onto what is important to them in this show and bring it into their reality.”

For the cast and crew, “Bare” carries a lot of meaning, whether it’s because members of the show relate to the events portrayed or because they realize the weight of the message.

Will Ellis, who plays Peter, says acting in this show has really affected him.

“I relate a lot to Peter in just his struggle for acceptance,” Ellis said. “Because I relate so much to this story, it’s been such a great experience to be able to tell it and to be able to share that with people.”

With such intense subject matter and so many emotions swirling around, the show came with a fair share of difficulties.

“Initially, we were a little worried,” said Olson. “The show is massive, and it’s nearly all music, so we had to find a cast of very talented people who could rise to that challenge.”

Aside from the technical difficulty of the music and scenery, the intensity of the subject at hand occasionally made rehearsing a struggle. The play delves into issues of homophobic prejudice and bullying, as well as internal struggles.

“There has to be a break between rehearsing all of this upsetting and sad material and going back to your everyday life,” Oliver said.

“There’s a lot of emotional weight that comes with directing a piece like this and performing a piece like this. I tried to cultivate a space in rehearsal where we could work on this story, but afterwards we tried to leave all the dark feelings behind us.”

In the case of “Bare,” with great difficulties come great rewards. The cast and crew alike spoke to the power and resonance of the show. After pouring time and effort into this show, they hope anyone who sees it will be able to take something away with them at the end of the night.

“I think it’s so important to have stories like this and to keep telling them,” Ellis said.

“That way, people who are struggling or dealing with things like this don’t feel so alone.”

Stage Left will put on “Bare: A Pop Opera” at 8 p.m. on Nov. 8-10 at Wilks Theater. Admission is free. headledd@miamioh.edu

ALLOUCH DISCUSSED HER HOPES FOR POSITIVE CHANGE IN HOW MUSLIM-AMERICANS ARE REPRESENTED IN MEDIA. CONTRIBUTED BY MARK CURNUTTE

as hell,” said Allouch. “Just call us what we are.”

But Allouch also said that, more often than not, these words are used intentionally. Ozdemir agreed.

“News media is always after sensational news,” Ozdemir said. “I think people should be more careful about news outlets.”

Ozdemir talked about the institutional agendas of news outlets. Allouch touched on this as well, warning young writers and consumers of the media about the importance of making sure that those speaking in public on behalf of minority communities are actually of that community.

“I very intentionally wanted to be a part of the movement that centered our own voices,” Allouch said.

Here at Miami, the community of Muslim voices is very small. Ozdemir estimates there are roughly 50 practicing Muslims on campus.

“There are many more second generation Muslims and immigrants in the student population, but they don’t practice or don’t want to be identified as Muslim,” said Ozdemir.

There are around 25-30 students that come to Friday prayers during the school year, said Ozdemir. But the Muslim Students Association only draws four to five people to their meetings. Their prayer room is small and the club especially struggles to attract female participation.

“If it were a lot more of a diverse student population, like the east or west coast, maybe they would feel more comfortable,” said Ozdemir. “We can’t blame the Miami student population for anything that’s going on.”

Besides the Miami population, Ozdemir challenged the media to take ownership for some of the problems related to the Muslim community.

“One has to be also aware that as a reporter you’re always interpreting from your worldview,” said Ozdemir. “As a journalist, you should open yourselves to other ways that things are going on.”

Ozdemir believes part of being a good reporter has to do with being impartial, and really putting yourself in the shoes of another person. He said that this attitude could help make Muslims feel safer, not just at Miami, but in America in general.

Allouch brings this idea of empathy into her everyday work as an advocate for not just her community, but for other oppressed people outside of the Muslim community. However, the timeliness of Islamic issues keeps her focused on CAIR for now.

“Islam is the community of the moment, and words are a big part of it,” she said.

Stereotypes and misinformation about the Muslim community are not only hurtful emotionally, but can be deadly. Allouch, along with CAIR, aims to change the way the Muslim community and the Middle East as a whole are portrayed in America.

“I just love to see the kids in our community feeling comfortable to be Muslim,” said Allouch. “My faith leads me to be somebody that fights for justice.” ander198@miamioh.edu mitche49@miamioh.edu

FROM HERITAGE TO HOGWARTS: THE YULE BALL COMES TO MIAMI

THE DEPARTMENT OF MAGIC APPRECIATION BRINGS HOGWARTS TO MIAMI WITH THEIR ANNUAL YULE BALL. ZACH REICHMAN THE MIAMI STUDENT

MADDIE TOOLE STAFF WRITER

In “Harry Potter & the Goblet of Fire,” Hogwarts plays host to the Yule Ball, a Christmas-themed formal dance, to celebrate the Triwizard tournament. Harry and Ron struggle to find dates, learn how to dance and feel completely ridiculous in their dress robes, encapsulating all of the typical emotions of normal (Muggle, perhaps) 14-year-olds at a high school dance.

The Yule Ball is probably the most relatable event in all of the series, because, as Professor McGonagall once said, it is a chance to “let our hair down.”

So, it seemed most fitting that the Department of Magical Appreciation hosted their very own Yule Ball on Friday night in the Heritage room of Shriver. As an enormous fan of the series, I indulged in the night of Harry Potter fellowship with pure delight.

The Department of Magical Appreciation is a club that celebrates all things Harry Potter.

They work hard to promote the appreciation

of the Harry Potter series, because it was a childhood passion they believe deserves to continue into adulthood.

As we walked in the door, we were instructed to choose our house by selecting a bracelet from a basket. I like to think I am a Gryffindor at heart because they are so brave and adventurous, but the Sorting Hat would probably laugh in my face at this request (I can be a big chicken, on occasion). In the absence of the real Sorting Hat, however, my dreams of being a fierce Gryffindor came true at Miami’s Yule Ball.

I sat down at a table with two Slytherins, two Ravenclaws, a Hufflepuff and two fellow Gryffindors. The Heritage room’s dark glow and romantic chandeliers were the perfect aesthetic for the evening’s wizarding festivities.

We feasted on salad, pasta and breadsticks while chatting about each of our Harry Potter obsessions — mine is Ginny Weasley’s immense personality and lack of acknowledgment in the movies (she is so cool, why was there not more screen time?). We joked about

how one of my friends has an enormous crush on Tom Felton, and she credits her obsession with Slytherin to that crush.

At the table next to us, two Hufflepuffs were discussing Nagini’s role in the films and the impact of various dark wizards. They were so deeply engaged in conversation it almost seemed as if they were discussing real people in a real world. In their defense, I would argue that to many of the franchise’s fans, the world of Harry Potter is real.

Book releases and movie premieres peppered our childhoods; I was three when the first movie premiered, and 13 when the final installment made its debut. J.K. Rowling cultivated my entertainment taste — I constantly compared everything I read or watched to Harry Potter.

I know very few people who have never read a Harry Potter book or seen one of the movies.

Despite this, I sometimes struggle to find other people who are as invested in the lives of the characters as I am. So, as our groups sat and debated whether or not Ron and Hermione should have ended up together, I was reveling in the fun that comes with totally geeking.

At one point, a girl in a green ball gown with a full skirt walked in and took off her coat. She was completely in character, and her dress was so Potter-esque that the girl next to me dropped her jaw and said, “Slytherin is slaying my life.” The dedication to this event was impressive.

Once the music began, so did the dancing.

No one was afraid to look goofy or uncool, adding to the energetic atmosphere. It was like a junior high dance — awkward, a little embarrassing but lots of fun.

Sidney Edwards, vice president of the Department of Magical Appreciation, says this is the biggest event the club hosts, and that this year’s was their most successful ball yet.

“The ball is a big event in the books and we thought it represented both our club and the spirit of Harry Potter,” Edwards said. “Why not have a ball?”

The Department of Magical Appreciation meets at 8 p.m. every other Thursday and is always welcoming to new witches and wizards. toolemb@miamioh.edu

MITCHE49@MIAMIOH.EDU

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2018

CULTURE 7

MUFD COMBINES STYLE AND SUSTAINABILITY CHLOE MURDOCK HANNAH STRAUB

THE MIAMI STUDENT

Miami University Fashion and Design (MUFD) hosted their first clothing swap for non-members on Monday, Oct. 29. Attendees brought clothes they felt didn’t suit them anymore in exchange for another attendee’s, to refresh their wardrobe with equivalent pieces. Each attendee was granted a certain amount of tickets depending on how many items they brought in. Small items such as jewelry earned a participant one ticket, and larger clothing items traded for two or three tickets.

MUFD had previously done a smaller clothing swap for members only. The larger event last week was part of MUFD’s sustainability initiative to encourage reducing the campus carbon footprint in fashion.

It was held from 6-9 p.m. in Armstrong Pavilion C where the room was transformed into its own boutique, complete with racks of clothes and three curtained-off dressing rooms. The ambiance consisted of soft pop music; very characteristic of a modern American Eagle or Abercrombie and Fitch store. Industrial chandeliers hung overhead, contributing to the sustainability theme.

Between 70 and 80 people donated clothes, totaling over 600 donated items.

One aspect of the swap that seemed to be lacking was the men’s clothing options, as well as male student participation. There was a rack and a table of men’s apparel, consisting of about 10 items to complete an outfit.

“We expected it because, in general, more females would get excited about the concept than males, but we were prepared for them,” said Sarah. “Most men aren’t as inclined to come.”

For the next clothing swap, plans are being laid out to represent men and women in the photo shoots and advertisements as well as a push to communicate it to MUFD’s male members.

Despite the lack of male participation at the swap, more men are present in the club than ever before, as well as more male models. This will be the first year an all-male clothing collection will be presented at the fashion show in the spring.

Sarah Craig, MUFD vice president, is the voice behind the new sustainability initiative, which focuses on reducing the campus’ carbon footprint and encouraging less waste in the process of buying and selling clothing. Over this past summer, Sarah, along with the executive board, compiled the idea for a clothing swap to support this principle.

“When I was applying for event planning director my sophomore year, we were required to pitch an idea for an event,” said Sarah. “I pitched a clothing swap and figured out little details for it and how we would run it. When we decided we wanted to implement our sustainability initiative, it seemed like the right time to bring that idea to light.

THIS WAS MUFD’S FIRST CLOTHING SWAP OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. JUGAL JAIN PHOTO EDITOR

It was something that was in all of our brains at the time, and that is what brought it to fruition.”

For the first event of this magnitude, more students attended than the creators expected.

“Usually when you first put on a new event, not a lot of people show up, especially for an event that’s kind of wacky, but we had such a good turnout,” said Rachael Steed, President of MUFD. The first hour seemed to be the peak time for the event, which started with upwards of 30 people at the doors.

“I have so many clothes that I don’t wear anymore,” said junior Nan Kanjanakullawat, an attendee of the event. “I usually go to Goodwill, but this is better.”

As an international student from Thailand, Nan had to get rid of clothes because she doesn’t live here full time and can’t fit everything in her suitcase when she returns home.

Nan said many international students donate multitudes of clothing at the end of the year as well.

Nan herself saw this as an opportunity to put her clothes toward a good cause. While she hoped to clean out 50 tickets worth of clothes, she ended up “purchasing” 38 tickets worth of sweaters, a pair of thigh-high socks and other items.

ABBY BRINDZA AND RACHAEL STEED HELPED COORDINATE THE 600 CONTRIBUTIONS MADE BY STUDENTS. JUGAL JAIN PHOTO EDITOR

“In conclusion, I didn’t really get rid of any clothes,” said Nan. The estimated 50-60 pieces left over from the event will be sustained and used for several MUFD events, such as a secret event that will be announced at their general body meeting tonight, as well as other donations in the future.

“For the rest, we will either be donating to a philanthropy, such as

Dress for Success, or even to some of the fashion classes in need of items,” Rachael said.

When attendees and other interested students asked if MUFD will hold another clothing swap in the spring, both Rachael and Sarah seemed hopeful.

“We received a lot of positive feedback and would love to host another event, but still have to work it in

with the spring fashion show planning as well,” Rachael said.

Sarah agreed and said that, at the very least, the clothing swap will become an annual event. murdocc3@miamioh.edu straubhk@miamioh.edu

Sports

8

SIMANSEC@MIAMIOH.EDU

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2018

No. 19 Miami hockey refocuses after split with Omaha After opening NCHC play with a split, the Brotherhood uses 15-minute rule EMILY SIMANSKIS SPORTS EDITOR

Miami hockey opened National Collegiate Hockey Conference play this weekend against the University of Omaha-Nebraska with a decisive 4-1 victory on Friday and a frustrating 6-3 loss on Saturday.

But the RedHawks’ energy is still high and they’re already focused on the rest of conference play.

“At this point, we have a 15-minute rule,” senior defenseman and co-captain Grant Hutton said. “You reflect on it for 15 minutes and then you let it go and let the emotions go. You have to focus on getting better and getting back to the things that we do best.”

The RedHawks’ (7-3-0, 1-1 NCHC) Friday-night victory extended their win streak before the Mavericks (1-6-1, 1-1 NCHC) snapped the streak at four games, good for UNO’s first win of the season.

Still, the ’Hawks splitting their first NCHC series kept them in the USCHO.com’s top-20 poll and moved them up a spot to 19th. This is the first time since the 2015-16 season Miami’s been in the USCHO.com’s poll back-toback weeks.

This is the highest the RedHawks have been ranked since they were 17th in 2015 prior to facing North Dakota – the ’Hawks’ opponent this weekend.

“As we know in our conference, when you’re not detailed and process-oriented and executing at a high level, teams are going to make you pay for it,” head coach Enrico Blasi said. “Omaha certainly did. My credit goes to them [...] but we’ve got to turn the page and get ready for a very good North Dakota team.”

Miami’s weekend was defined by its power play and penalty kill, as just over 40 percent of the weekend wasn’t played at even-strength.

Friday’s game saw both teams score their first goals on the power play. The Mavericks and RedHawks went 1-for-5 on the man-advantage during Game One. The difference maker was Miami being able to find the back of the net during 5-on-5 play to eventually win 4-1.

On Saturday, the script flipped, and it was Omaha that took advantage on the man-advantage. Though Miami opened with two power play goals and led 2-1 at the end of the first, the Mavericks stormed back in the second and scored three power-play goals in three-and-a-half minutes.

The RedHawks pulled within one at 4-3 early in the third period, but a desperate Omaha team sealed the deal with two goals less than a minute apart later in the third to win 6-3.

“We weren’t disciplined, we weren’t focused on what we needed to do,” Blasi said.

“We let our emotions get the best of us at times. I thought we took some careless pen-

Junior Ryan Larkin watches the puck (top) Freshman forward Monte Graham fights off an Omaha player as senior defenseman Grant Hutton (55) and freshman defenseman Derek Daschke (13) look on (below). University of Nebraska Omaha Athletics Mark Kuhlmann

alties, penalties because we were playing out of position and not playing the way we needed to play.”

In other areas, Friday and Saturday were almost exact opposites. The RedHawks outshot the Mavericks 31-20 on Friday, but then UNO put 37 shots on net compared to MU’s 23 on Saturday.

And, it was four RedHawks who had multipoint games on Friday led by junior forward Gordie Green (2g), freshman defenseman Derek Daschke (2a), senior forward Josh Melnick (2a) and freshman forward Jonathan Gruden (1g, 1a). Then, it was the Mavericks

who had six players with multi-point games on Saturday.

“To be honest, Omaha took it to us,” Hutton said. “I don’t think we came out with the intensity and the battle level and the focus that we needed to at a high level.”

Despite the high-scoring Saturday game and lack of discipline, Miami ranks sixth nationally in goals against average with 1.7. And the brush with adversity against an NCHC opponent is an opportunity for the RedHawks to prove their resilience this weekend.

“I think on Saturday night, the game plan would have worked if we had executed,” Hut-

ton said. “Ultimately, it’s on the players, it’s on the captains, it’s on everyone in the room to be ready to play.”

And, the team is still as energized and emotionally invested in the game. The players still linger on the ice after practice as they did at the beginning of the season, shooting for fun and practicing their goal-scoring celebrations.

“Our guys want it,” Blasi said. “They’re a very close team. They take challenges really well. They push each other. Sometimes the emotions of the game and the investment needs to be under control, and sometimes they get out of whack.”

The RedHawks look to get back in control against the No. 11 North Dakota Fighting Hawks on Friday at 7:35 p.m. and Saturday at 7:05 p.m. simansec@miamioh.edu @emilysimanskis

RedHawks battle for bowl contention during Battle of the Bricks

GUS RAGLAND CALLS FOR THE BALL. THE REDHAWKS ARE CALLING FOR A BOUNCE-BACK AGAINST OU TOMORROW. DANNY WILD ARMY WEST POINT ATHLETICS

BRADY PFISTER STAFF WRITER

Simply put, the success of the 2018 Miami football season hinges on the result of tomorrow night’s 94th meeting between the RedHawks and the 6-3 Ohio Bobcats.

As is always the case in the “Bat-

tle of the Bricks,” tensions will be high between bitter in-state rivals.

But there are more than bragging rights on the line Wednesday at 7 p.m. With a Miami win, the RedHawks would hang on to a sliver of hope to win the MAC East and remain in the hunt for bowl eligibility.

A loss would keep the RedHawks

out of the post-season conversation altogether.

If you add in the fact that fifthyear head coach Chuck Martin has still yet to defeat either Cincinnati or Ohio, then this game all of a sudden has major implications for 2018 and the overall trajectory of the RedHawk football program.

“This is our season right here,” Redshirt sophomore receiver Jack Sorenson said. “We have to beat Ohio to stay relevant.”

Unfortunately for Martin, his team is trending in the wrong direction following consecutive road losses to Army and Buffalo. The Bobcats head to Yager Stadium riding a three-game winning streak during which they have outscored opponents by an average of 53-14.

The Bobcat offense leads the MAC in yardage, averaging 463 yards per game while scoring 40.6 points per game behind Junior quarterback Nathan Rourke who leads the team in both rushing and passing.

This is bad news for a RedHawk defense with injuries to key starters including Nate Trawick, Junior McMullen and DeAndre Montgomery.

“Obviously, we’re depleted on defense,” Martin said. “There’s really no one coming back.”

Last week at Buffalo, the RedHawk were torched for 505 total yards by the MAC East-leading Bulls with 358 of those yards coming through the air in a 51-42 defeat.

This week, Rourke and co. present a similar challenge to the struggling RedHawk defense.

Despite the bad showing at Buffalo, the Miami defense still ranks fourth in the MAC in total defense

and third in total defense, surrendering just over 150 yards a game on the ground.

Wednesday, the strength of the RedHawk front seven will be tested by a Bobcat rushing attack that has run for 2,124 yards in 2018.

In the midst of defensive struggles, the RedHawks have still struggled to close out tight football games down the stretch. Miami has yet to win a game decided by one score since 2016, leaving many in the locker room upset.

“I think our kids are frustrated,” Martin said. “We haven’t been able to finish out close games.”

The RedHawks have played 22 football games since their last one possession victory. Five football seasons have passed since Miami’s last victory over the Bobcats. Chuck Martin is still looking for that elusive victory over an in-state rival.

The team is banged up and coming off an embarrassing loss on the road.

To save the season, the RedHawks will need to put all of that aside tomorrow night. The RedHawks can make right Wednesday night with a victory, kickoff is 7 p.m. and the game will be broadcast on ESPN2. pfistejb@miamioh.edu @brady_pfister

SIMANSEC@MIAMIOH.EDU

SPORTS 9

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2018

RedHawks aim for growth during Owens’ second year CHRIS VINEL

ASST. SPORTS EDITOR

FRESHMAN FORWARD ELIJAH MCNAMARA DRIVES THE NET DURING MIAMI’S EXHIBITION ON MONDAY NIGHT. MACY WHITAKER THE MIAMI STUDENT

After posting a 16-18 record in Jack Owens’ first year as head coach, the Miami RedHawks are focused on one word as they ready for the upcoming season: growth.

“I feel like our chemistry and growth are key,” sophomore guard Nike Sibande said. “We were young last year, everyone coming together in our first year playing together. This year, everyone felt each other out some more and knows each other, picked each other’s brains. Everyone knows what everybody can do more.”

Sibande, the 2018 Mid-American Conference Freshman of the Year, returns along with the rest of last season’s starting five.

Overall, eight players come back from Owens’ first season, and that doesn’t include senior guard Abdoulaye Harouna or sophomore guard Milos Jovic, who both redshirted last year.

All 10 of those players, excluding junior forward Bam Bowman and sophomore guard Isaiah Coleman-Lands, remained healthy throughout fall camp, allowing them to build upon their chemistry and performance from last season.

Owens already sees growth in the returnees.

“There’s not just one guy I can single out,” Owens said. “I can talk about each and every guy. Those guys are definitely bringing it each and every day, and we’re excited about their progress.”

The team also includes five newcomers: Freshman guard Mekhi Lairy Freshman guard Myja White Freshman forward Eli McNamara Redshirt senior forward Alex Abrams (graduate transfer from Cal Poly)

Sophomore guard Benjamin Litteken (walk-on) The returning key contributors and talented additions have generated a buzz that hasn’t been seen since the program’s last winning season in 20102011. Preseason polls predicted Miami to finish second in the MAC East.

But for senior guard Darrian Ringo, it’s not about focusing on the RedHawks’ possible postseason placement. It’s about focusing on constant improvement, which he called “very important.”

“My expectations for the team are just to come here every day and compete,” Ringo said, “try to get better every day and just take it one day at a time. I feel like if we win the day and just focus on that one day, then we’ll be good.”

They got off to a good start with a 8453 exhibition victory over Taylor University at Millett Hall last night.

Their offensive energy and defensive effort stood out, as the offense put up 25 fast-break points (compared to three for Taylor), while the defense caused 25

turnovers.

Jovic paced the team in points with 13, while Ringo tallied team-highs in assists (4) and steals (5). McNamara corralled a game-high 10 rebounds.

Sibande missed the game for undisclosed, non-injury reasons. Bowman and Coleman-Lands both missed with right foot injuries and are expected to be out for the first week of the season.

Owens declined to comment after the game.

Unfortunately for the RedHawks, the win over Taylor — a Division II team — doesn’t count towards the regular season.

Miami’s first chance to showcase its growth comes on Saturday, when the RedHawks travel to Indianapolis to take on Butler. The game is scheduled for 7 p.m. and will be broadcast on Fox Sports Network. *The Miami Student was denied media access to all freshmen before their first official game, per Owens’ policy. vinelca@miamioh.edu @ChrisAVinel

REDSHIRT SENIOR GUARD ABDOULAYE HAROUNA DRIVES THROUGH A SCREEN ON MONDAY NIGHT. MACY WHITAKER THE MIAMI STUDENT

Expectations high for 2018-19 RedHawks

SENIOR GUARD LEAH PURVIS GOES TO SET UP A PLAY AGAINST TIFFIN ON SUNDAY AFTERNOON. JUGAL JAIN THE MIAMI STUDENT

BEN PANZECA

THE MIAMI STUDENT

Last season couldn’t have gone much better for Megan Duffy in her debut year as head coach of Miami’s women’s basketball squad. She led the ’Hawks to the biggest turnaround in the nation as a first-year coach with a 21-11 record.

“It’s fun when you taste a few more victories than in the past,” Duffy said. “The expectations have risen. But it’s nothing we don’t talk about every day in practice.”

In the Mid-American Conference Tournament semifinals, the RedHawks came up just short, losing 61-58 to Central Michigan, the tournament champion and eventual NCAA Sweet 16 qualifier.

Now, the pressure is on Miami to prove last

year wasn’t a fluke. The consensus, and most importantly its competitors in the MAC, understand Duffy’s team isn’t to be taken lightly. MU was picked to finish second in the MAC East Division in the coaches’ conference preseason poll. Buffalo earned 62 points in the poll, but the ’Hawks were right behind with 61 points.

“I’ve always been somebody that, with my background, doesn’t worry too much about expectations or pressure because there’s so much to get done on the court,” Duffy said in the pre-season press conference.

The RedHawks will be led by junior guard Lauren Dickerson and senior forward Kendall McCoy — both were picked for the Preseason All-MAC East Division Team. McCoy averaged 12.8 points and six rebounds per game last season while Dick-

erson put up a team-high 19.6 points and 5.3 assists per contest.

Other standout veterans and likely starters are senior guard Leah Purvis, junior forward Savannah Kluesner and redshirt senior guard Baleigh Reid.

Junior forward Abbey Hoff will be a welcome addition to the frontcourt after missing the entirety of last season with an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury.

The RedHawks will play a faster, more athletic style this season if all goes according to plan.

“Defensively, we were pretty simple last year,” Duffy said. “Hopefully, we’ll be able to get up and down the court and have bodies that can cover a little more space than we did last year.”

To balance her veteran roster and play that different defensive game, Duffy could turn to her five freshmen, especially guards Kennedy Taylor and Nia Clark. Each standing at 5-foot-9, the first-year duo will add some needed length to the backcourt and will have an opportunity to prove whether they have what it takes to handle the grueling collegiate season.

Freshman forward Tihanna Fulton was expected to be a part of the rotation as well, but suffered a foot injury that will set her back “for a few months,” according to Duffy.

“I’ll tell you what, never at any point in my career have I ever heard a freshman go, ‘Hey, coach, this is easier than I thought it was going to be,’” Duffy said. “I think the big word for them is just finding some consistency.”

The RedHawks handily defeated Tiffin University 93-59 in an exhibition game on Sunday afternoon in Millett Hall. The team looked energetic and excited to return to their home court in front of Miami fans. Kluesner led the team with 24 points.

Duffy declined to comment after the game.

A standard of success has been set by Duffy and her basketball program. Maintaining that success will be even more difficult this season with the element of surprise gone and targets on their backs.

The ’Hawks open their season at Canisius College Friday night. Tip-off is at 7 p.m. panzacbj@miamioh.edu @BenPanzeca

SCOREBOARD THURSDAY

Volleyball Bowling Green Miami

3 0

SATURDAY

Swimming and Diving Miami (women) Cleveland State

243 31

Swimming and Diving Miami (men) Cleveland State

208 92

Volleyball Miami Western Michigan

’Hawks Talk Sophomore guard Nike Sibande when asked if he’s going to rock the short-shorts this year:

“Yeah, definitely. I just roll them up over my compression shorts, man. Little more comfortable that way.”

2 3

e r o m e r a s m r e t d i M ? s w n o o i n t k c e u l e l a i t Did yo n e d i s e r P n a h t t n a t r o p m i

E T O V

6 R E B M E V O N , Y A D S TUE Problems voting? Call the Election Protection Hotline at (866) OUR-VOTE • (866) 687-8683

VOTE.ORG

S P A C E AVA I L A B L E miamistudent.net/joinus

Give Thanks & Enjoy Great Food at Western Dining Commons November 15th from 5–8PM