ESTABLISHED 1826 – OLDEST COLLEGE NEWSPAPER WEST OF THE ALLEGHENIES
The Miami Student TUESDAY, JANUARY 26, 2016 Volume 144 №27
Miami University — Oxford, Ohio
MIAMISTUDENT.NET
University reveals list of presidential hopefuls PRESIDENT
EMILY TATE
MANAGING EDITOR
REIS THEBAULT EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
At least 23 applicants are vying for the position of Miami University’s next president, a Miami Student records request shows, though sources suspect these are
not the only applicants being considered by the Board of Trustees, the Presidential Search Committee and the executive search firm Isaacson, Miller. The Student’s records request — which revealed the names, resumes and curricula vitae of each applicant — comes several months into Miami’s presidential search.
In September, the Board of Trustees announced the search would be closed, conducted away from the public eye. The search began in the fall, and the board expects to announce the sole finalist in the spring. The Search Committee and Isaacson, Miller seek to find a replacement for David Hodge, the current
Machu Pichu, Peru
university president, who will retire in June after serving at Miami for a decade. The presidential applications include a range of professions, levels of experience, races and nationalities. Most applicants are in academia and hold administrative positions at their current universities, but several are chief executive officers
(CEOs), attorneys or entrepreneurs. Of the 23 applicants, 22 are male and one is female. Each of the 22 males holds a doctorate degree, 20 of which are Ph.D.s or Ph.D. equivalents and two of which are J.D.s. The female applicant holds a Bachelor of Arts degree. Twenty candidates have experience in higher educa-
CONSTRUCTION
ABBEY GINGRAS NEWS EDITOR
The sidewalk between the Armstrong Student Center and Culler Hall closed Monday, Jan. 18 to make way for construction on the new east wing of the student center. The walkway and the east entrance to Armstrong, which faces Culler, are closed permanently, pending the completion of the
IAN MARKER THE MIAMI STUDENT
Miami students pose for a group photo overlooking Machu Picchu while in Peru with KNH 402.
Nizwa, Oman
Students in REL 399 used a trip to Nizwa, Oman, to compare economies and cultures in the Middle East.
BETH PFOHL THE MIAMI STUDENT
Sophomore Laura Schorsch explores the Boboli Gardens in Florence, Italy, during a free-travel weekend.
Students span the globe during break ALISON PERELMAN THE MIAMI STUDENT
Many Miami University students spent winter term catching up on sleep, watching countless episodes on Netflix and eating too much comfort food. Others took the opportunity to spend time in completely different countries — climbing mountains, volunteering with locals, touring historical sites and experiencing unfamiliar cultures. Hiking in Peru Senior Adrienne Moncrief traveled to Peru with
the KNH 402 Health and Culture program. The group started in the capital, Cuzco, with visits to archeological sites in the mountains before heading on a six-mile hike up the last leg of the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. “[The hike] was very physically challenging, but so rewarding and so empowering, too,” said Moncrief. “It just made me feel so much stronger, physically and mentally.” Moncrief decided to go on the trip because she had always wanted to see Machu Picchu, but the experience turned out to be more than
she could have dreamed. “I remember learning about [Machu Picchu] in school, seeing it in textbooks or on Google images, and it’s just not the same,” said Moncrief. “It’s so much more beautiful and impressive than you could ever imagine.” The group headed back to Cuzco for a night, then took a bus to Puno, where they went on a boat tour of Lake Titicaca — visiting three of the islands and staying overnight with a host family. Adrienne’s host family didn’t speak English, and she was the only student there who spoke any Spanish. But
she wasn’t worried at all. It was simply another challenge, another mountain to conquer. “We all got a really good idea of what the culture is like in Peru,” Moncrief said. “I think we were all pushed out of our comfort zones.” The group ended the trip in Lima, where they explored markets, tried new foods and interacted with locals. “As I see more and more of the world, I’m just so fascinated by its diversity and how each place you go, there’s a different culture, a TRAVEL »PAGE 4
Former student to be arraigned today CRIME
ANGELA HATCHER SENIOR STAFF WRITER
Jordan Benge, a 20-yearold former Miami University student and MiTech employee, is facing criminal charges for theft, voyeurism and drug trafficking. The thefts occurred between April 15 and July 23, 2015, after the MiTech department noticed missing computers. Benge was arrested on Oct. 22. He is scheduled to be arraigned in court today.
Claire Wagner, director of university news and communications, said that although this was a major crime, it did not pose a safety risk to students and therefore was not reported on information bulletins. The computer theft complaint was filed with the Miami University Police Department (MUPD) on July 27, 2015. Detective Michelle Merz and Detective Walt Schneider, lead detectives on the case, began several weeks of investigation over the sum-
mer. They executed a search warrant for Benge’s offcampus residence on Sept. 4, 2015. The search warrant for Benge’s residence included the ability to search and seize mobile devices. “This is a commonplace practice in police investigations nowadays,” said Detective Lieutenant Jim Bechtolt of the MUPD. “So much can be stored on a mobile device.” During the search, Detective Schneider discovered text messages on Benge’s
NEWS p. 2
NEWS p. 3
MIAMI MOURNS THREE PROFESSOR DEATHS
ROOMMATE DRAMA MANIFESTED IN DENNISON HALL
Accomplished professors are remembered by those they influenced.
A senior remembers unfortunate circumstances from her first year.
personal phone indicating Benge was selling drugs. They also discovered marijuana in his residence, as well as scales and over 100 green plastic bags. The police seized multiple computers, including Benge’s personal one. In his residence, there were seven stolen computers total: two were still in his possession, two others were sold, and three were given away. The value of the computers is estimated to be $9172. BENGE »PAGE 2
CULTURE p. 4
east wing of the student center. The university plans to open a temporary walkway between Culler and Shideler Hall early in the spring semester to reroute foot traffic in the area. Students can also go around Armstrong on the west side, between the student center and Kreger Hall. Director of university communications Claire ASC »PAGE 2
New rec center satellite to open FITNESS
JUSTIN MASKULINSKI STUDY ABROAD
PRESIDENT »PAGE 8
Construction begins on ASC east wing
Florence, Italy
IAN MARKER THE MIAMI STUDENT
tion. Sixteen of those candidates have held or currently hold administrative positions, including positions of dean, provost and university president. Several candidates have spent years in the business sector and two are currently CEOs. Fourteen of the 23 candi-
ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR
Treadmills and weight machines are not for everyone when it comes to exercise. Miami University Recreation Center employees had this in mind when the university purchased the old Talawanda High School at 131 W. Chestnut St. in 2013. Chestnut Field House will open its doors Jan. 31, from 2 to 6 p.m., for an open house. The new rec center location is a renovated field house at the old Talawanda High School. “Throughout the community, there was a great deal of discussion of what that might be used for,” Senior Director of Rec Center Programs and Academic Partnerships Mike Arnos said. “I think the university did a really nice job.” While the flyers for the open house advertise a crossfit-style gym, Arnos says that is more of a marketing strategy. “Crossfit is a buzz term,” he said. “Functional fitness or functional movement is really what we’re talking about here. But if we go out and say, ‘This is a functional movement gym,’ people are going to think that’s really boring.” The field house will feature two rooms: the first room contains dumbbell
racks, bumper plates, kettle bells, jump ropes and plyometric boxes. The secondary room is an open space designed for creativity and also has punching bags. Arnos says some people are turned off by the lack of cardio machines at the new building, but those who are trying to branch out to something more than a fitness club may find a new home for health on Chestnut Street. “It’s perfect for athletes,” Arnos said. “It’s hard to find things in [the rec] where you get explosive movements.” Seth Cropenbaker, the rec center’s fitness director, says a crossfit-style workout is for the those who are very healthy and well-conditioned and he said he hopes the new facility will create that sort of culture. “Hopefully what we can create over there is a mentality of community where we’re generating excitement rather than intimidation,” he said. “Hopefully we can create an environment where people feel like they’re in it together, as cooperative rather than competitive.” Cropenbaker and student trainers will lead the workouts. One of the student personal trainers at the rec center is the Weightlifting Club President Jake Cottingim, a senior kinesiology major CHESTNUT »PAGE 3
OPINION p. 6
SPORTS p. 10
WRITER REVIEWS NEW FILM, ‘THE BIG SHORT’
WRITERS INDICT CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM
HOCKEY MAKES A SECOND-HALF SURGE
Director Adam McKay, of ‘Step Brothers’ and ‘Anchorman,’ shines.
Columnist, Design Editor express frustration with U.S. social injustices.
The Brotherhood recently swept No. 7 Nebraska-Omaha on the road.