The Miami Student Established 1826
WELCOME BACK TUESDAY, AUGUST 26, 2014
VOLUME 142 NO. 01
MIAMI UNIVERSITY OXFORD, OHIO
WWW.MIAMISTUDENT.NET
New Miami website kicks up controversy Lack of GLBTQ web content has students questioning Miami’s priorities
UNIVERSITY BY KATIE TAYLOR EDITOR IN CHIEF
Controversy over a portion of Miami University’s new website has students pointing fingers at the administration. During the transition to the new domain, the portion of Miami’s website with resources for the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender and Questioning (GLBTQ) community was cut from 26 pages of links, photos and contact information, to a twoparagraph blurb. Director of University News and Communications Claire Wagner said the lack of content is not permanent, and is a result of the complex nature of the digital project, which is ongoing. Matt Metzler, 14’ Miami alumnus and former co-president of Spectrum — Miami’s Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender and Questioning (GLBTQ) student organization — expressed his disappointment. “I would like to think that it was not an intentional slight against the GLBTQ community here or against anyone in the Office of Diversity Affairs,” Metzler said. “But I do think even if it is unintentional, it still communicates that the GLBTQ com-
CONTRIBUTED BY MATT METZLER
munity and other diverse minority communities on campus aren’t necessarily Miami’s biggest priority.” In response, Metzler dragged the issue into the social media spotlight with a story published in Brickwork magazine, a progressive Oxford publication unaffiliated with the university. As one of the magazine’s co-editors, he was involved in the launching of the hashtag circulating Twitter, #ErasedAtMU. “We wanted to make a big splash on social media and hopefully extend that to, not only the GLBTQ community, but any other minority community at Miami who feel they might not be represented very
well on Miami’s website right now,” he said. The new Assistant Director of Diversity Affairs, Shevonne Nelson, took on her role as the coordinator of GLBTQ Services in July. Prior to her hiring, the position remained empty for a year. Though she felt Metzler’s article headline and the hashtag were too strong, she recognized the issue at hand and acknowledged the need for a solution. “Our website is lacking; I’m going to be honest,” Nelson said. “But the services and the support we provide students was not and is not erased, even if our website is not fully functional.”
New alcohol taskforce seeks to solve recurring substance abuse problem BY ELLEN HANCOCK FOR THE MIAMI STUDENT
A Miami University taskforce designed to evaluate the state of high risk alcohol and drug use is seeking to empower students to make safe choices in order to improve the academic and civic lives of the university and surrounding Oxford community. Headed by co-chairs Associate Professor of Kinesiology and Health Susan Lipnickey and Director of Student Wellness Rebecca Baudry, this taskforce plans to evaluate both the problems and resources on campus in order to implement newer, more effective resources for students. Lipnickey said in order to analyze where Miami students’ high risk drug and alcohol use stands in relation to other schools, a pair of fresh eyes will be brought to Miami’s campus. “We are bringing in a consultant from outside that is going to be doing something called an environmental scan,” Lipnickey said. “It will just get an idea of all the things that are currently in place, what we have, what’s working and also maybe what’s not.” Already, Miami offers a multitude of alcohol prevention and
TODAY IN MIAMI HISTORY
awareness programs. Last fall the Office of Student Wellness launched the Just Call campaign in order to educate students about signs of alcohol and drug abuse and encourage them to call for emergency assistance if they see those signs in a fellow student. Miami also requires all incoming freshmen students to complete an online class called AlcoholEdu, which seeks to educate students about alcohol use, abuse and prevention methods. Miami also offers a similar program called CHOICES for certain student groups and organizations with tendencies for binge drinking, such as Greek organizations and athletic teams. In addition to preventative measures, Miami requires students with alcohol violations, such as underage drinking or the use of false identification, to take one of several alcohol education programs. Although Miami is not lacking in alcohol and drug prevention education programs, the use of high risk alcohol and drug abuse continues to run rampant and some students see the taskforce to be a lost cause. “Students will always find a way around any prevention measures,” sophomore Alex Grieselding said. “Apart from lowering
the drinking age, I don’t think you can prevent college students from underage drinking.” According to Lipnickey, Miami is not alone when it comes to highrisk alcohol and substance abuse. Universities throughout the country face similar issues with underage and excessive drinking. “I think that if you read the literature and what’s happening around the country we are not unique … we are all facing the same issues,” Lipnickey said. While substance-related accidents reached an all time high last year with five student deaths, Lipnickey said there is no relation between that and the taskforce creation. “Actually, this is not the first attempt at the formation of this kind of group. Before, there was another attempt under Dr. Garland, the president prior to President Hodge. There was a group that was brought together to look at highrisk drinking and there were a series of recommendations made back then but I think this group that we have formed will hopefully give a broader view.” According to a 2006 Miami news article, the alcohol taskforce proALCOHOL »PAGE 10
Metzler’s biggest concern is for incoming students who are unable to find the resources they need. Until yesterday, after attention was brought to the issue, the contact information of the new GLBTQ Services Coordinator was not listed on the website. In the midst of the conflict, confusion over who is responsible for the GLBTQ Services page surfaced. According to Director of Student Affairs Budget and Technology Tim Kresse, website creation was delegated to various offices within Student Affairs. GLBTQ Services falls under the Office of Diversity Affairs.
...the services and the support we provide students was not and is not erased, even if our website is not fully functional.” SHEVONNE NELSON GLBTQ COORDINATOR
Diversity Affairs Director, Gerald Yearwood, declined to comment on the website overhaul. Nelson said a meeting has been scheduled this week to make headway on the project and provide GLBTQ students with the resources they need. She is dedicated to mak-
ing students feel comfortable, safe and welcome, and has made herself available since taking the position a month ago. Assistant Director of the Armstrong Student Center (ASC) Adam Leftin, responsible for creating the ASC portion of the university website, said the focus should be turned to the work Diversity Affairs and GLBTQ Services has accomplished through the transition. “It took so many different people at the university really stepping up to try and make sure that the students last year (during the move into the ASC and website change) received the services and events that type of student-population really needs, to feel that support; no one should feel erased.” Metzler acknowledged the past success of GLBTQ Services on Miami’s campus, but encouraged the administration to resolve the issue as soon as possible. “I would just like to communicate to [incoming students]… that there is a very strong and supportive GLBTQ community on this campus,” Metzler said. “We’re still really active and there are a lot of things going on this year that they’ll be able to get involved in even if they can’t necessarily find that information online right now.”
Miami Makeover
CONNOR MORIARTY THE MIAMI STUDENT
While Miami students were taking a three-month hiatus from schoolwork and exams, the university underwent quite the makeover. From construction and renovations, to bike lanes and red chairs, Miami was far from idle this summer. As students settle back into life in Oxford, many will notice significant changes and improvements to campus. »» Red chairs in Millett »» Goggin renovations completed »» Renovations to Lewis Place »» Miami coffee sold Uptown »» Western renovations completed »» Mcfarland and Anderson Hall renovations completed »» Bike lane added to Spring Street »» On-campus parking hours changed to allow parking an hour earlier (6 p.m.) »» BCRTA bus system hours adjusted »» East Quad residence halls
fenced off to begin renovations of Collins, Dennison, Symmes, Dorsey and McBride »» New dining hall being built while Erickson is renovated to become additional living space »» New traffic signal at intersection of Patterson and Route 73 (Oxford Trenton Road) »» Kreger Hall reopens »» Culler Hall is now temporary home of geography and geology departments while Shideler is renovated
In 2005 Miami President James Garland announced his retirement after four decades in academia. “I’ve decided to retire for the same reason that anyone decides to retire,” he said. “I’ve decided that it is time to move on and do something new.”
UNIVERSITY
COMMUNITY
CULTURE
OPINION
SPORTS
FORMER MU PRESIDENT DIES
EVENTS
FASHION DIVAS
ISIS CRISIS
SUMMER SPORTS UPDATE
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