November 11, 2016 | The Miami Student

ESTABLISHED 1826 — OLDEST COLLEGE NEWSPAPER WEST OF THE ALLEGHENIES

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 2016

Volume 145 №20

Miami University — Oxford, Ohio

DONALD TRUMP TAKES MU STUDENTS ON LEFT AND RIGHT BY SURPRISE

Smierciak suspended after assault CRIME

ELECTION

BEN BLANCHARD COBURN GILLIES and EMILY WILLIAMS

CÉILÍ DOYLE JAKE GOLD

THE MIAMI STUDENT

THE MIAMI STUDENT

Miami University football player Zach Smierciak has been suspended from the team following his arrest last weekend for felonious assault. The victim, Robert Null, sustained serious injuries and was discharged from the University of Cincinnati hospital earlier this week.

Smierciak’s initial hearing was held at 10 a.m.

Thursday. His lawyer was granted a continuance until next Thursday. Smierciak, who is pleading not guilty, did not appear in court.

According to the incident report from the Oxford Police Department, at approximately 1:30 a.m. on Nov. 6, the 6’2’’ and 262 pound starting defensive end was being removed from Brick Street bar when he deliberately shoved a ladder, knocking off Null, a Brick Street employee, who fell headfirst onto the pavement.

Null, a senior at Miami, had been standing on the top step of the 10-foot Aframe ladder, according to the report.

Null, who was unresponsive with a cracked skull, was taken to McCullough Hyde Hospital and flown to the UC hospital in the early hours of Sunday, Nov. 6 due to the severity of his injuries.

Smierciak, 22, ran from the scene and headed north down Poplar Street. According to the incident report, Brick Street employees chased Smierciak and were able to stop him in front of The Woods bar where OPD officer Mark Ledermeier detained him and took him to the Oxford Police Station for processing. Smierciak was then transported to the Butler County Jail.

Paul VandeBussche Jr., a ‘16 Miami graduate, was outside of The Woods bar when the arrest occurred.

“We saw a guard from inside The Woods book it out of the door, so we followed to see the rush,” said VandeBussche. “As soon as we get to the patio, there is a big guy who was just tackled by at least two Brick [Street] guards and even Will [Weisman, owner of Brick Street bar] was there yelling at the guy and a cop was beginning to put handcuffs on him.”

According to a statement from Ledermeier included in the report, Smierciak smelled of alcohol, slurred his speech and had poor balance.

Miami head football coach Chuck Martin did not mention Smierciak’s ar-

8:00 p.m.

The air whipped around outside the Hillary Clinton campaign headquarters on High Street. Dozens of students walked past 45 East, where the Republican viewing party was being held, to enter the Clinton office with a dream of watching history be made.

Little did they know history would be made Nov. 8, 2016, but not in the way the Miami University College Democrats and Clinton sup-

RYAN TERHUNE PHOTO EDITOR

Miami University College Democrats and allies watch the election unfold Tuesday night at the Clinton headquarters Uptown. As her chance at the presidency diminished, so too did their spirits.

porters had expected.

“I think a lot of things change for America tomorrow either way,” sophomore Madison Cook said. “I think the struggle is that both sides are pretty polarizing. Either way, we already have a rift in our society. I think it’s incredibly privileged for people to vote for Gary Johnson, but I hope Hillary pulls through with the win.”

Oxford’s mayor, Kate Rousmaniere, briefly visited the Clinton office, wearing an “I’m with her” campaign button.

“I’m really glad that students get involved in poliELECTION »PAGE 2

College Democrats face harsh reality of Clinton’s crushing political defeat ELECTION

CÉILÍ DOYLE

SENIOR STAFF WRITER

RENEE FARRELL THE MIAMI STUDENT

At Decibel bar Uptown, an air of resignation among College Republicans and Trump supporters began to turn as more states on the electoral map turned red.

The evening started off cautiously optimistic as Miami University College Democrats and Hillary Clinton campaign supporters and staffers gathered in the Clinton headquarters on High Street.

Many students who crowded around the two flat screens sported their College Democrat shirts adorned with the quote, “We don’t fear the future, we shape it,” from President Barack Obama’s 2016 DNC speech.

Handwritten post-it notes formed in the shape of the

Clinton logo occupied a large space of the wall. Written on the individual post-its are all reasons why supporters are “with her,” from “30 years of public service,” to, “So strong. So intelligent. So compassionate, and so unbelievably qualified!!!!!” to, “She has validated me as a survivor of sexual violence.”

In between 8 and 9 p.m. the tide began to shift in the cramped office space. Clamorous shouts of frustration and anger rifled the air as Clinton lost the swing state of Ohio to Donald Trump.

“I could actually hear the sentence, ‘Obama you’re fired’ in January,” one stuDEMOCRATS »PAGE 2

Coping with President Trump Sexual assault educator joins Miami University At Crawford’s request, SCS holds post-election event ELECTION

SUSPENSION »PAGE 2

Miami University Student Counseling Services (SCS) and the Office of Community Engagement and Service (OCES) held a postelection counseling event in Armstrong’s Community Lounge early Thursday evening.

Almost 50 students, staff and faculty filled the room to discuss their feelings about Donald Trump’s presidential victory as well as coping and organizing strategies for the next four years.

This event mirrored a national trend of educational institutions offering counseling support to students across the country, from high schools in Boston to the University of Michigan and Iowa State University, reported The Washington Post and The College Fix. While SCS and OCES

hosted the event, the event was coordinated on Wednesday morning by the request of President Crawford, said Ritch Hall, a postdoctoral fellow in psychology at SCS. Hall, who emceed the event, spoke about the process of mourning and the ways students and staff can comfort themselves. He recommended spending time with your dog, if you have one.

“You can feel like the world is falling apart,” said Hall. “But hey, Jojo still likes you.”

He also emphasized that the fear and emotion you experience after a traumatic disappointment can be put to good use.

“Sometimes the status quo is bad for us. We don’t take action that we might need to take,” said Hall.

“It’s fear that puts you in that place where you have to take action. You can’t just sit

CULTURE p. 3

EDITORIAL p. 6

OP-ED p. 6

SPORTS p. 8

YOU LOOK LIKE YOU NEED A HUG

WHAT TRUMP MEANS FOR JOURNALISM

THE BRO PRESIDENT

HOCKEY TRIES TO BREAK 3-GAME LOSS STREAK

Members of Stage Left gave free hugs near Shriver Wednesday.

Based on the presidentelect’s behavior during election, nothing good.

Their decision, and the outcome of this election, was fueled by privilege.

The ‘Hawks play University of NebraskaOmaha at home.

JACK EVANS

NEWS EDITOR

there and ignore,” he added.

Christie Zwahlen, Miami’s newly-appointed director of the office of Community Engagement and Service encouraged organization and action after the period of sadness is over.

“Only when you are organized can you ask the question ‘What can we do?’” said Zwahlen.

The overarching message of the event was one of support and comfort, but also a call for students to get back on their feet.

“Today is still the aftermath of a thing we didn’t expect. It’s the fallout of what I will hyperbolically call a nuclear explosion,” said Hall.

“The thing about a fallout is that you don’t clean up right after a fallout. You wait a little bit until the oceans subside until you say, ‘I’ve given enough time and I can marshal enough energy that now I can do something meaningful.’”

HEALTH

GRACE SCARBERRY THE MIAMI STUDENT

Miami University is taking the next step to prevent and raise awareness of sexual and interpersonal violence.

Kathie Wollney, Miami’s first sexual and interpersonal violence education and outreach (SIVEO) coordinator, started work last week.

Wollney is a recent Miami graduate with experience in strategic planning and health program development. During her time at Miami, she created the “I am Miami, I Step Up” campaign. She also promoted the national “It’s On Us” campaign. Both organizations raise awareness of sexual assault and encourage bystander intervention.

With her new position, she is responsible for assisting with education and prevention programming regarding sexual and interpersonal violence on all Miami cam-

puses.

“We want to work towards a community where we are free of sexual assault. That is the goal we work for,” she said.

Wollney added that sexual assault is a large and complex issue that won’t go away overnight. The key is to take small steps and make sure students are aware and educated on the issue.

“We really want to streamline our education and outreach,” she said. “It’s about streamlining everything we have and making it available to students.”

She is currently in the process of adjusting to her new position. This includes meeting many new people and adjusting to her new work environment.

“Right now it’s about figuring out what we have and what areas need improvement,” she said.

ASSAULT »PAGE 2

visit us online miamistudent.net

2 NEWS

NEWS@MIAMISTUDENT.NET

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 2016

from democrats »PAGE 1

dent said aghast as he downed the rest of his Guinness bottle.

Empty pizza boxes, crushed beer cans and a semi-full bottle of Jack Daniels littered the tables and floor of the office as tensions continued to rise throughout the night.

One organizing fellow with the Clinton campaign was hunched over his laptop, refreshing the results of the New York Times election predictor while tears rolled down his cheeks.

“If he wins can we just break out into ‘Hey Jude’?” one girl asked her friends, half jokingly and half seriously.

R.E.M.’s “It’s the End of the World” played in the background, softly tuning out the various political pundits who attempted to predict which of the remainder of the swing states would go to Trump or Clinton.

“Gary Johnson is from everywhere and nowhere. He is a figment of our imaginations,” one supporter said. His smile drained from his face as he realized that Clinton was down by 130,000 votes in Florida and Johnson had 170,000 votes in that contentious state.

The #OHHillYes sign and earlier camaraderie seemed to lose its luster as anxious supporters and Democrats began to whisper murmurs of Brexit 2.0 and how much a Trump presidency could affect the global markets.

“Steve, let’s talk about how the Dow’s gonna drop by 20 percent tomorrow.”

Ashen faces were mirrored across the room as another girl asked out loud, “Can you even imagine what his State of the Union would be?”

Little by little people began to leave the office. A boy walked past the t.v. and questioned if Lester Holt was crying on MSNBC. “What could I have done better? Why does our country value themselves more than the general population?”

The office emptied around quarter to 2 a.m. Only a few forgotten phone chargers and jackets remained. Bottles were strewn haphazardly across the room and for all intents and purposes the office of the Oxford Hillary Clinton campaign headquarters had deflated.

from election »PAGE 1

tics, and I’m sorry it’s so hateful,” Rousmaniere said. “I’m shocked at some of the modeling of behavior that’s come from the top candidate.”

As of 8:30 p.m., the blog FiveThirtyEight forecasted a 78 percent chance of a win for Clinton.

9:00 p.m.

At Decibel, the College Republicans’ election watch party had started to fill. It began quietly — the general consensus was that the Republicans had a decent chance in Congress, but not the White House. But as the map turned red, the uneasy silence was replaced by more casual conversation.

Their primary focus was on two key Senate elections: Rob Portman (R-OH) and Marco Rubio (R-Fla.).

Portman beat former Ohio governor Ted Strickland. Rubio beat the Florida senate democratic nominee, Patrick Murphy. As they focused on the Republican success on Capitol Hill, Trump began to quietly rack up electoral votes.

Even as Trump gained momentum, FiveThirtyEight still gave Clinton a 73 percent chance of victory.

10:00 p.m.

Inside the Clinton campaign of-

from suspension »PAGE 1

day’s practice, Martin acknowledged the incident and Smierciak’s current suspension.

“We’re still gathering information and will wait for the judicial and school process to take hold and be respectful to those processes,” Martin said.

“Until we get more clarification, Zach is suspended from the team.”

The events of the incident were confirmed by an interview, 10 written statements and a security video from the bar, according to Butler

RYAN TERHUNE PHOTO EDITOR

Senior Kirby Chandler, the campus organizer with Hillary for America and Ohio Together, braces herself for Clinton’s defeat.

RYAN TERHUNE PHOTO EDITOR

“At eight o’clock I was ready to pop champagne, and now I’m ready to dig my own grave,” said Secretary of the College Democrats Charles Kennick as it became clear that Clinton was going to lose to Trump. fice, tensions began to rise amid the crowd of students huddled around two flat screens and several laptops broadcasting election coverage as counties were beginning to be called for various swing states.

Junior Paul McCreary shared his anxiety over Trump gaining ground in Michigan, while ironically sporting a “Make America Great Again” cap decorated with Clinton buttons.

“I’m getting a little nervous just because of how Michigan’s going,” McCreary said. “Whoever gets Michigan will win, because Trump can win Ohio and Florida, and he’ll still lose, but if he takes Pennsylvania or Michigan then he could win pretty easily.”

By 10:44 p.m., FiveThirtyEight had Clinton projected to win at 50 percent, a 13 percent drop from an hour earlier.

11:00 PM Decibel was packed. Swarms of new visitors, excited by Trump’s new odds, joined the party as the GOP candidate’s electoral college lead continued to grow. And as Florida and Ohio votes came in, Trump’s odds were looking better still. At one table, freshmen Lukas Schroeder and Cory Ross watched FiveThirtyEight’s live map and

County Area Court records.

Felonious assault is a second degree felony under Ohio law and carries a penalty of two to eight years in prison, according to Ohio Revised Code sections 2903.11 and 2929.14.

Smierciak, a redshirt junior, was charged for disorderly conduct in Oxford in June 2014. He plead guilty to the charges and paid a $150 fine.

Following the continuance, Smierciak’s hearing will be held at the Butler County Area Court in Oxford at 1 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 17.

called out results, county-by-county.

“Cuyahoga County is at 92 percent reporting,” Ross said. “I think we have it.”

“This is our Super Bowl,” he said, beaming.

When Ohio was called for Trump, the energy level in the bar grew.

When Florida was called for Trump, that level spiked. Students screamed, hugged and high-fived. For a group that had little trust in their candidate just three hours before, their lack of faith was rewarded. Another huge slew of states went to Trump. Barring a huge turnaround in the electoral college, Trump was going to be America’s next president.

As of 11:54 p.m., FiveThirtyEight put Clinton at a 16 percent chance of victory, dropping another 34 percent in just an hour.

12:00 a.m.

The cautious enthusiasm displayed by Clinton’s supporters only four hours before had completely deflated in the face of losing yet another swing state.

The strain of Wolf Blizter bitterly arguing with various pundits on CNN echoed across the stunned faces of the students assembled in the office.

“Let’s not say it’s over,” Blitzer said.

The students sat cross-legged on the floor. Others clutched their drinks, a few more openly cried as a wave of emotion washed over them.

“What could I have done more?” sophomore and member of the College Democrats Julia Koenig said.

“This means that America is more racist than we thought. This means that America is more bigoted than we ever thought. This means that our country values themselves more than the general population … which is so disheartening and narcissistic.”

Secretary of the College Democrats, sophomore Charles Kennick, continually ran his hands through his hair and sighed deeply.

“We’re so fucked,” Kennick said.

“This is way closer than obviously I thought it was going to be. I’m really concerned at this point of it being 269-269 or Trump winning by a couple votes.

“It’s 12:13 a.m. and at eight o’clock I was ready to pop champagne, and now I’m ready to dig my own grave.”

1:00 a.m.

As a Trump presidency became more likely, there was a mass exodus from Decibel toward Brick Street Bar. As they left, the College Republicans filled the streets with an echoing

chant.

“Trump! Trump! Trump!”

Through the excitement, many Trump supporters were left wondering: What happens next? Few, if any, members of the College Republicans believed that Trump could win.

“Even as a Republican, I am completely shocked that Donald Trump will be our next president,” Schroeder said. “I pray he can put this divisive campaign behind us and unify our country to make life better for every American.”

As of 1:39 a.m., the Associated Press called Pennsylvania for Trump and essentially called the whole election.

2:00 a.m.

The democratic stronghold for the Oxford Clinton campaign office was deserted shortly before 2:00 a.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 9. While presidentelect Donald Trump had yet to give his acceptance speech, the message was loud and clear: Hillary Clinton had lost the 2016 presidential election in a stunning defeat.

The lights in the office had dimmed, leaving only a poorly lit, fluorescent glow on the abandoned “Stronger Together” posters throughout the empty space.

from assault »PAGE 1

rate.

“Statistically speaking, there are people in my own residence hall who have gone through something like this. When looking at it from this perspective, it seems so much more personal,” he said. “It’s scary to think that a small close-knit community like Oxford sees such large numbers.”

There are several campus organizations working to raise the kind of awareness and prevention Wollney hopes to see more of in the future. Men Against Rape and Sexual Assault (MARS) organizes and structures events to raise awareness and prevention.

“A big part of it is engaging male

Miami students and getting them to have conversations about sexual assault,” Gabriel Hansen said.

Hansen is the president of MARS and has been part of the organization for almost two years.

“Coming to Miami, I was unaware of the issue, but I met some friends who had experience with sexual assault,” Hansen said.

When he found MARS during his first year, he developed his knowledge and gained more awareness of the issue.

Wollney said that raising awareness and prevention is part of the “I Am Miami” concept.

“Everyone is responsible,” she said.

ment,” she said.

Wollney said that one in four college women experience sexual assault. Last April, Miami administered its second annual sexual assault climate survey. Out of 1,393 students of all gender identities, 43.4 percent of them reported facing sexual assault. Such staggering statistics motivate her to keep fighting against this issue and continue to increase awareness and prevention.

First-year Joe Karle said he is not surprised by these numbers, but finds it alarming that sexual assault instances occur at such an alarming If you can read this — enjoy your weekend!

NEWS@MIAMISTUDENT.NET

NEWS 3

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 2016

Survey says faculty and staff believe they can change Miami’s drinking culture NEWS EDITOR

Most Miami University faculty and staff believe that they can change Miami’s student drinking culture, according to a recent survey published by the Alcohol Coordinating Committee.

The survey, which was conducted last spring, shows that 67 percent of the 1,121 employee respondents believe that “faculty and/or staff can impact the alcohol culture on campus,” and 60 percent “are comfortable talking with students about high-risk alcohol or drug use.”

These results are sparking increased exploration into facultyand-staff-led “evidence-based solutions” to high-use student drinking issues on campus, says Aaron Luebbe, an associate professor of psychology.

“I think we need to think about new and novel ways to educate and train faculty and staff,” said Luebbe. “This is not part of the typical training that our faculty and staff get.”

A start to these solutions might be aimed at encouraging communication about alcohol use between students and Miami employees.

“We don’t know exactly what that answer is because this area of faculty and staff involvement is relatively new from an evidencedbased perspective in terms of the

research,” said Luebbe. “But I think part of it is thinking about what role faculty and staff can play in their day-to-day conversations with students. Being a resource for students, making sure we are actually talking about these issues in our classes.”

Last year, the Alcohol Coordinating Committee began this strategy by sending slides to professors before Green Beer Day, giving them tips on how discuss high-risk drinking with students.

Some Miami students, like sophomore Matt Gordon, disagree with the notion that faculty-led conversations are the way to change the school’s drinking culture.

“You can’t just say ‘come to my class on green beer day and I’ll give you extra credit.’ That won’t change the culture,” said Gordon.

“They should make classes more engaging. They should make classes take more time and be more interesting so students actually want to go,” he added.

The survey returned results confirming that Miami faculty and staff do believe that the level of student drinking is a problem.

The adage that “students work hard so they should be able to play hard” was not endorsed by the majority of faculty or staff, and both groups responded that student alcohol consumption is not harmless.

Miami employees also agreed that on the whole, they are role

models to students regarding alcohol use. Luebbe was encouraged by this finding.

“We saw [61 percent] of faculty and staff saying that, ‘Hey, I’m a role model when it comes to alcohol use,’ and that faculty and staff want support around this issue because they do view it as impacting their jobs,” said Luebbe. “They certainly want the university to put more resources to helping students make safe and healthy choices.”

Gordon says that feeling might not be mutual with students.

“No, I mean why should they serve as role models? I don’t see them not drinking and think that I should go not drink too,” said Gordon.

Luebbe helped to conduct the survey alongside Rose Marie Ward, professor of kinesiology and health who has spearheaded previous research into student drinking at Miami.

Though Miami has conducted student-focused drinking research before, this is the first time the focus has been placed on faculty.

“We wanted to survey the entire environment that might be at play in either promoting healthy decision making or maybe even hindering healthy decision making,” said Luebbe. “As a part of that, faculty and staff seem to be major players that seem to be often overlooked in this problem.”

Average student debt for borrowers higher at MU than national average FINANCE

LAURA FITZGERALD THE MIAMI STUDENT

Miami University’s average debt for graduates is higher than the state average for public universities, leaving some Miami students worried about debt after graduation.

The average debt for Miami borrowers was $30,015, according to the same study. Diane Cheng, associate research director of the Institute for College Access and Success, said this is significantly higher than the state average for public institutions, at $29,436.

Miami’s average debt for borrowers is higher than that of other similar Ohio institutions because Miami’s cost of tuition is higher.

Tuition and fees for in-state tuition for the 2014-15 school year was $14,287, while the national average is $8,794, Cheng said.

According to a study conducted by the Institute for College Access and Success, 53 percent of Miami graduates had incurred student debt in 2015, compared to the state average of 66 percent.

This reflects the growing national trend of rising student loan debt. The national average debt for those who borrowed went up four percent from 2014 to 2015.

Cheng said student loan debt is rising because more students are relying on borrowing to defray the costs of an education. In addition, family income is not keeping pace with the rising cost of college, and states are investing less money in higher education.

“State funding for colleges is much lower now than before the recession,” Cheng said.

The amount that a graduate owes isn’t always an indicator of how well they will be able to pay their loans, Cheng said. Borrowers may be able to reduce their loan payments with federal loans if their income suddenly drops.

That might not always be the case

for private loans. Federal loans are generally safer than private loans because federal loans are held to a stricter standard.

“If you fall on hard times, it’s really on the mercy of your lender,” Cheng said of private loans.

Brent Shock, assistant vice president for enrollment management and director of student financial services at Miami, said student loan debt can be a manageable investment, as long as the student doesn’t borrow more than they need.

“Student loan debt is an important investment in a person’s future, provided it’s done smartly,” Shock said.

At Miami, the office of financial aid is educating students on how to manage their debt.

The office of financial aid started mailing information to students with high loan debt last semester, Shock said. This semester, the office is reaching out to those students and setting up one-on-one counseling.

Miami increased its need and merit-based scholarship offerings by $20 million over the past three years, Shock said. Need-based scholarships increased by about $1.5 million this year.

Shock said student loan debt can be manageable as long as students do not borrow more than they need and they pick a career that will allow them to pay off their debt.

Senior Carlo Costanzo said he will graduate with less than $8,000 in debt. He said that while he did not specifically plan out how to pay for college, he has done so with a job and two merit and need-based scholarships.

“It’s a combination of saving and not splurging and working a ton,” Costanzo said of his financial strategy.

Costanzo works about 20 hours a week during the year at the equestrian center and full-time on breaks.

“I think having less debt when

I graduate is a better pay-off than being a little extra stressed now,” Costanzo said.

Junior Morgan Mittler said she will have about $40,000 to $60,000 of debt when she graduates.

She did not receive any needor merit-based aid, and when her parents called the office of financial aid, they didn’t offer her any help. She didn’t receive any student loan debt counseling either.

Mittler is worried about getting a job right after she graduates and says she’ll probably be paying off her student loans for a long time.

“I feel so much pressure to get a job right after school,” Mittler said. “I won’t be one of those kids that goes home and sits around for a couple months because I don’t have that option.”

Mittler said her financial situation impacted her decision to major in marketing, which she picked in part so she would be able to get a stable job after graduation. If she did not have to worry about paying for school, she might have picked a major like writing or Spanish.

“I wasn’t exactly sure of the path I wanted to take [when I entered college], but I knew that I had to get a degree in something that would pay well because I was gonna have to pay for school,” Mittler said.

She has a job at the equestrian center to help pay off one of her loans and will pay off her second loan after graduation. While she said she would still have a job if she didn’t have to pay off her loans, her job does impact her ability to see her family.

Despite this, Mittler was surprised by the average amount of debt Miamians carry.

“I just feel that there’s a mentality that the students who come to this school have enough money already,” Mittler said. “So I don’t think that [keeping student loan debt down] is something they put effort into.”

WE ARE LOOKING FOR WRITERS AND PHOTOGRAPHERS!

JACK EVANS

PLEASE GET IN TOUCH AT ANY EMAIL ON ANY OF THE PAGES IN THIS NEWSPAPER, OR EIC@MIAMISTUDENT.NET

ALCOHOL

recycle this newspaper please!

Visit us online at miamistudent.net

4 CULTURE

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 2016

SHUMANDB@MIAMIOH.EDU

Free hugs: Spreading a message of love and hope STUDENT LIFE

ALISON PERELMAN

ASSISTANT CULTURE EDITOR

Wind blew, making the air chilly, the sky was already beginning to fade and not many students were still walking the sidewalks. But despite all of this, Emma Shibley stood where she had been all day, on the corner of Maple and Spring Street with a smile on her face.

She stood next to a sign that read “FREE HUGS” in blue and red dryerase markers and offered one to anyone passing by.

Around 11:15, as she was leaving her 10 a.m. class, she had decided that if no one was at the corner, she would go there. So she grabbed two bright blue chairs and the whiteboard from her room, skipped class and set up camp.

“I felt like it was the wrong use of my time to be in class today,” Emma said. “I need a hug. I figured a lot of the people here need a hug.”

Emma had woken up that morn-

ing feeling sick and wanting to cry but decided to do something more than just hide anxiously in her room.

“I wish I had done it this morning ’cause I feel like the morning was even harder than the afternoon,” Emma said. “Like, the sun came out and our lives continued, so hopefully the afternoon was a lot less scary for people. But I think this morning there was just so much weight on people’s shoulders.”

Kevin Vestal joined her, along with other friends throughout the day. Hanna Hall brought her a cup of tea to keep warm. Ten minutes after saying ‘maybe’ to a hug, a girl even came back to apologize and bring Austin Lamewona a cookie.

“I was having such a bad day before this, and giving somebody a hug, something as simple as that, made me feel a lot better,” Austin said.

“And I’ll be damned if I wouldn’t do that for other people too.”

Most people were weary at first, but then admitted they could use a hug and accepted the embrace. Two

CONTRIBUTED BY LANDON DRUMM

Sophomore Emma Shibley (third from left) stood on the corner of Maple and Spring Street Wednesday morning, offering a free hug to anyone that wanted one. Sophomore Kevin Vestal joined her all day, and others stopped by throughout. people stepped off their bikes, and Kevin reached out for one going by.

One man walked a few steps before changing his mind. Emma even had two people start to cry on her shoulder.

“It’s felt really good to be, like, I am, number one, giving people a chance to feel their feelings, and it also has given me a lot of hope,” Emma said. “We just thought that

we needed something. In five years, it won’t matter if I skipped two classes. I’ll be able to be like, ‘I helped people who just needed a moment of humanity.’”

They got some laughs and a few weird looks, and many asked what it was for.

Kevin: “We just say, a lot of people seem gloomy today…”

Emma: “Like they need a hug

today. We want to put love into the world, put smiles in the world. Austin was like, ‘Hope is so important.’”

Kevin: “Just ’cause.”

Emma: “We just want to spread some smiles today.”

Austin: “And ’cause I need a hug.”

Emma was always excited when someone agreed to a hug, and no matter if they did or not, she would call cheerily, “Have a good day!”

Humans oƒ Oxford Lauren Miles: Painting the stars

Julia Koenig: A believer in people

RYAN TERHUNE PHOTO EDITOR

PEOPLE

EMILY SIMANSKIS THE MIAMI STUDENT

Drive about 45 minutes down Ohio Route 73, leaving Shideler Hall in the rearview window, and eventually the road will lead to Julia Koenig’s neighborhood in Springboro and the house she’s lived in since fifth grade.

Her mom will likely be home. She’s the person who has instilled in Julia a love for all four seasons, Ohio’s cornfields and, especially, a passion for involvement and helping other people.

“I really like people,” she says between stopping to talk with various students in Armstrong. “I’m fascinated by the amount of energy other people can give me. I am so extroverted in a way that I want to absorb everything.”

Julia’s currently undeclared and looking into social work, but she’s far from unoccupied.

“I really like being busy,” she says.

“And having discussions. And trying to

do things.”

She’s the co-president of Feminists Working on Real Democracy, the EcoRep chair for Minnich Hall and a member of College Democrats, Chi Omega and RedHawks for Hillary.

Julia used to think that “trying to do things” meant involvement in law and politics — the big picture stuff. But now she sees it more as affecting people’s lives on an individual basis, whether that’s registering just one more person to vote or encouraging one more woman to vote.

Julia made sure to express that her passion isn’t necessarily politics; it’s people’s ability to participate in politics.

It was only fitting to ask her thoughts on the election results and Julia’s answer spoke to her faith in humanity.

“Other than being really frustrated and disheartened with people, I still love people and I’m still out here volunteering currently and going to meetings,” Julia says, softer now. “I still believe in people and I don’t think that’s changed.”

RYAN TERHUNE PHOTO EDITOR

PEOPLE

HANNAH PRIEBE

THE MIAMI STUDENT

Lauren Miles likes to spend her spare time with her art supplies spread out, her music playing and her head in the stars.

Lauren enjoys making what she calls “galaxy paintings,” where she paints nebulas, planets and stars. Sometimes, she also includes a small form of text in the painting.

Her method of creating art involves experimenting with techniques such as using her fingers to paint the nebulas and planets, and even using a toothbrush to flick paint to create stars.

“The hands-on aspect is really freeing,” Lauren said. “I can paint what I want how I want it and allow myself to get messy.”

She keeps some of her paintings for herself, but most are given away as gifts.

For the people she cares the most about, she likens giving them one of her creations to giving them a piece of herself.

Before leaving for college, Lauren gave

Just a friend: Checking back in on Caroline and Jack from calculus STUDENT LIFE

MACKENZIE ROSSERO THE MIAMI STUDENT

This is a follow-up to “Caroline and Jack from calc,” which ran in the Oct. 18 edition of The Miami Student.

Jack was sitting on Caroline’s bed, chatting with Caroline and her old roommate, Madison. Having just returned from Uptown, they were all exhausted — Jack especially.

Somehow, in the midst of Caroline and Madison’s gossip, Jack fell asleep. And when Caroline slid into bed next to him, Madison quickly excused herself.

Nothing happened. There was no sex, no socks on the door. Caroline and Jack spent those following hours talking, cuddling and sneaking in a kiss every now and then.

They were encased in the innocent bliss of this new relationship — comfortable with each other, but

not totally familiar.

“How do you feel about me?”

It had taken her awhile, but eventually, Caroline had gathered up the courage to ask. After the long, confusing struggle that had ensued during her visit to Notre Dame a few weeks ago, Jack knew how she felt about him. But what did he think of her?

Jack looked at Caroline, offering her a small, mischievous smile before saying matter-of-factly, “I like you.”

A massive smile lit Caroline’s face and she unsuccessfully tried to hide it by closing her lips. Instead, she cocooned herself in blankets and burrowed into his side.

They fell asleep like this.

Jack left the next day, with the all-too-familiar promise of “I’ll text you later.”

Caroline did not hear from him later. Instead, she saw him from across the ice at a hockey game with Robin — his “best friend” that he had casually hooked up with last

semester.

But from their touchy, handholding, arm-over-shoulder body language, Caroline was suddenly suspicious that there was more to their relationship than Jack was admitting to.

Caroline didn’t like assumptions and didn’t like rash conclusions.

She knew Jack. She owed him the opportunity to explain things to her.

So, Caroline went about her Friday night the same way she went about every Friday night: she went to Brick Street.

Standing near the bar, a Trashcan in hand, she texted Jack: Hey, I’m at Brick. Are you out?

I’m at New, he responded.

Text me when you get to Brick, she told him, familiar with his habits.

An hour or so later, Caroline felt a tap on her back. Spinning around, she realized that it was Jack.

RELATIONSHIP »PAGE 5

her best friend, April, a galaxy painting.

“A Piece of Sky for Me and You” is written on it, symbolizing the way the sky would keep them connected.

Out of all her creations, though, her favorite is a series of three paintings that she made after the Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando earlier this year.

As a member of the LGBTQ+ community herself, the shooting devastated her, and she felt a deep need to do something to help, even if only on a small scale. As a result, she created three paintings to share a message of hope with others.

When the three paintings are combined, they form a nebula rainbow with the words “Love is Love.”

Upon seeing her paintings, others are often awestruck by the detail and artistic ability they showcase.

Lauren wants to continue with art as a hobby throughout her life because she believes in the power it possesses.

“Painting is really important, and it can tell a lot about who I am,” she said.

‘Inferno’ doesn’t work on the big screen MOVIES

KIRBY DAVIS

THE MIAMI STUDENT

If you’ve seen its predecessors, ‘The Da Vinci Code” and “Angels & Demons,” you’ve essentially seen “Inferno.”

The latest installment in the saga following ancient mystery-solving professor Robert Langdon (based on Dan Brown’s bestselling novels) is set in Florence, Italy. Its mystery, naturally, revolves around one of the city’s most storied inhabitants, Dante, and his poem about the nine circles of hell, “Inferno.”

Tom Hanks returns as Langdon for the third time, and his standard pretty, foreign, brunette sidekick is played by Felicity Jones.

After a brief opening in which a mysterious man evades his pursuers by flinging himself off a tower, we see Langdon waking up in a Florence hospital, bloody and crippled with amnesia. A woman promptly breaks into his room and attempts to kill him and his doctor, Sienna (Jones).

The two gradually piece together

clues left behind by the man who committed suicide in the opening scene, realizing that he intends to make Dante’s “Inferno” into a “Percy Jackson”-style mythological prophecy. This elusive figure, Zobrist (Ben Foster), has engineered a virus meant to wipe out half the Earth’s population, as he feels it’s inevitable anyway with our rate of population growth and climate change.

Thus begins a breakneck quest on Langdon and Sienna’s part to locate this virus before it can be released and infect the public while being hunted down by multiple organizations on Zobrist’s side.

These Robert Langdon films don’t work because so much of their storylines take place inside the mind of the brilliant Harvard symbologist or those of his child prodigy cohorts. Watching them, and “Inferno” in particular, requires an extraordinary amount of effort just to play catch-up with the main characters’ racing minds.

It takes any fun out of what could INFERNO »PAGE 5

WWW.MIAMISTUDENT.NET

FROM INFERNO »PAGE 4

have been a dark, sensibly twisted thriller.

The novel upon which “Inferno” is based is also a little muddled and far-fetched, blurring the lines between real-world problems and ancient, mythological ones but never quite connecting them. Still, the book had me gripped until its conclusion while the film pretty much lost me after its opening scene — from there, it’s mostly a downhill spiral of unsettling visions suffered

by Langdon, betrayals and confusing chase sequences.

“The Da Vinci Code,” an enthralling, masterfully plotted novel and a prequel to “Inferno,” also tanked as a film. Again, their stories are too internalized and reliant on the main characters’ thought processes to translate visually onto the big screen.

“Inferno” is remarkably convoluted. It’s hard enough trying to keep up with the treasure-hunting goose chase Langdon and Sienna embark on following their return from the hospital. But it’s nearly impossible to make sense of who the good and bad guys are, who is trying to kill our protagonists at any given moment and, at times, who

5

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 11 , 2016 the protagonists themselves are.

The grating electronic soundtrack doesn’t help, and neither does the fact that “Inferno” is yet another forgettable, unnecessary sequel that no one seemed to want or ask for.

This film isn’t lacking in talented actors. Hanks and Jones, who’s been quietly dazzling audiences since 2011’s “Like Crazy,” are better than this, and so is villain Irrfan Khan. But the novel upon which it’s based simply doesn’t translate well to film. It’s a watchable, but unenjoyable mess of disjointed flashbacks, confusing betrayals and ancient Italian relics.

It takes two compelling, albeit conventional, tropes of overpopulation and threats of a worldwide pandemic and makes them boring.

“Terra Nova,” Fox’s 2011 one-season, dinosaur time-traveling show managed to pull it off with solid characters and a plot loosely based in real science, but this film fails completely.

“Inferno” is a flagrant waste of Hanks’ and Jones’ talents. It’s worse than just bad — it’s painfully average.

FROM RELATIONSHIP »PAGE 4

“Hi,” she said, surprised.

“When’d you get here?”

“Just now,” he explained, despite the nearly empty beer in his hand.

They stood there briefly, not speaking, not making eye-contact.

Jack had to have been at Brick long enough to get his beer and drink it … why had he waited to find her?

Despite this, Caroline let Jack follow her to dance floor. They didn’t dance but began to make small talk.

It was only for a few minutes, but it felt as though that brief conversation had lasted an hour. The pauses

between their words seemed to grow, and Caroline realized that Jack was studying an area just over her right shoulder, not looking at her at all.

The Chainsmokers’ “Closer” blasted loudly from the speakers, but Jack still stood out of reach — she would’t have been able to reach out and touch him without taking a step forward. Caroline’s hand began to fidget, adjust her shirt, pat her hair.

“Where are your friends?” she finally asked, suggesting he go get them.

Jack left, but he didn’t come

back.

Soon, Caroline made her way back to the bar, intent on another drink to make it through the night.

After ordering, she noticed some of Jack’s friends lingering nearby. She approached them.

“Where did Jack go?” she asked.

“I thought he was looking for you.”

“Oh,” one began slowly, “he left with Robin.”

For a moment, Caroline was quiet. Then, without waiting for the bartender to finish making her drink, she walked off, passing through the patio gate and bracing the cold night.

YOUR AD COULD BE HERE! Contact miamistudent@gmail.com

please recycle when finished!

to design and schedule an ad!

PRESENTS

NOVEMBER 14, 2016

$50 BOOKSTORE GIFT CARD

with ANY Apple Laptop Purchase AND

GET $25 OFF

when you purchase an Apple iPad Pro, Air 2 or Apple iPad Mini 4

One day only. Must have valid Miami ID. Oxford location only.

No other discounts or coupons apply. No rainchecks.

6 OPINION

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 2016

EDITORIAL@MIAMISTUDENT.NET

Trump’s victory marks important shift for journalism The following pieces were written by members of the editorial board.

I

t is hard to recognize a historical shift when you’re in the middle of one. But we’ll give you a hint: we’re in the middle of one.

Donald Trump’s unprecedented win (unexpected even by his own party) is now forcing those outside of the primarily white working class men and women that heeded his call to reexamine what their America actually looks like. If anything, this election calls on America and its institutions to look at how they failed to understand the undercurrents of his campaign.

And, perhaps, the institution that needs to reexamine America — and itself — the most is the media.

But the media is also in a strange and disturbing position. So we ask the question: what does it mean for journalists that Donald Trump will be president after a campaign so heavily based on hatred and distrust of the media?

Through the duration of his race to the White House, Trump blacklisted multiple media outlets from covering his rallies and speeches. Buzzfeed News, Univision, Politico, The Daily Beast, The Huffington Post, The Des Moines Register and, most significantly, The Washington Post, were all stopped at the door throughout his campaign. His rhetoric surrounding journalists included making fun of one for his disabilities, saying that the media was rigging the election and calling it “disgusting and corrupt” on his Twitter account (an account that was taken from him three days before the election by his own campaign managers).

The reality of the situation is that America’s trust in the media has slowly gone down since the 1974 coverage of the Vietnam War and the Post’s groundbreaking investigative journalism in the Watergate scandal.

Back then, about 72 percent of Americans trusted news outlets. But by the time the 21st century rolled in, that trust was down to around 54 percent.

Now, after Trump’s campaign, America’s trust in media is at just 33 percent. Even more jarring, while Democratic trust in the media is up at 51 percent and Independent trust in media sits at 30 percent, Republican trust in media is down to 14 percent.

That’s it.

While we can partially blame Trump for this severe drop, it is clear that this election was simply the breaking point for many Americans.

“What we are seeing is in part a revolt of the country that people had written off as the country of the past,” says Nicholas Confessore of The New York Times, “against the country that most people thought they were living in: a country of the future, of a multicultural future, of a globalized world.

This was a revolt of people who did not feel vested in that future America.”

Media outlets were confronted with a confusing and scary reality — that they had a presidential candidate that was being racist, sexist, was proven to be involved in the sexual assault of at least a few women and who had no political experience who was going up against a woman who had been in

Washington D.C. for decades. And they were forced to answer the question: how can we remain neutral when we can directly quote a presidential candidate who said “grab them by the pussy,” or who perpetuated the proven lie over and over and over again that Obama wasn’t born in the United States?

How can you report on that without bias?

The answer for most media outlets was that you couldn’t. The reality is that the media had entered into a new era of post-truth politics. This election was their first run at trying to report on two parties who were such radical failures to the people in their opposite parties.

But under a Trump presidency, many media outlets are worried that his administration will have a negative impact on journalism. It is likely that it will. But journalists around the country have already made it clear that we’re simply going to have to buckle down and keep going. It’s going to have to be a faster, more brutal job and the truth — the real truth, not the “truth” that we got from polls — is going to have to be pursued with real conviction. That means leaving the city, where most highly-regarded papers are and travelling the nation to find out what is actually going on.

Just as Dean Baquet, the executive editor of The New York Times says in Thursday’s issue of the newspaper, “New York is not the real world.”

Down-ballot races show progress for women of color ELECTION

EMILY WILLIAMS

MANAGING EDITOR

On Tuesday, Hillary Clinton’s supporters gathered at the Javits Center in Manhattan. The crowd convened under the building’s glass ceiling in the hopes that the setting would be a symbolic backdrop for the first female president of the United States to give her acceptance speech. But that didn’t happen.

Instead, after hours of waiting, watching Trump’s electoral vote count climb dangerously closer to 270, campaign chairman John Podesta told them to go home.

I understand why many Americans have identified with the #NotMyPresident hashtag (which, as I’m writing right now is the top trending hashtag on Twitter), but the reality is that Donald Trump is our president-elect. And it’s not just our job as participating members of our democracy to accept the vote and move on with our lives. There’s more to being a

participating citizen than that.

If we truly feel this strongly, if we really fear for the rights of minorities and immigrants, if we truly feel that Trump’s election to the presidency is a step backward in race relations and gender equality, we need to figure out how we will advance those causes over the next four years despite our dissatisfaction with the country’s selection for Commander-in-Chief.

Part of that effort can start with recognizing the real progress that we saw in this election, particularly for minority women in downballot races.

Until election day, Mazie Horono of Hawaii was the only woman of color in the Senate. Now, that number has quadrupled as she will be joined by Tammy Duckworth of Illinois, Kamala Harris of California who is both black and Indian American and Catherine Cortez Masto from Nevada.

Duckworth is her state’s first Thai American senator and the first female senator to have served in an Army combat role. Masto is

America’s first ever Latina senator and the daughter of a Mexican immigrant.

Ilhan Omar also made history Tuesday when she won a seat in Minnesota’s House of Represen-

Part of that effort can start with recognizing the real progress that we saw this election, particularly for minority women in down-ballot races.

tatives, making her our country’s first Somali-American legislator.

Omar, 34, escaped the Somali civil war when she was just eight years old. After living in a Kenyan refugee camp for four years, she and her family immigrated to the United States. Now Omar, who is the director of policy for the Women Organizing Women Net-

work, will lead a rapidly growing population of Minnesota progressives amid a divided House in St. Paul.

Pramila Jayapal, an active proponent of women’s and minority rights, secured 57 percent of the vote to become the first Indian American woman to hold a seat in the House of Representatives.

Jayapal has been endorsed by 20 members of Congress, including Sen. Bernie Sanders who praised her for fighting for paid sick leave and a $15 minimum wage in Seattle.

In Oregon, Kate Brown became the first openly LGBTQ individual to be elected governor. Brown was the incumbent in the race, but Tuesday was her first time running for election. In 2012, she stepped in for former Gov. John Kitzhaber who resigned after an influence-peddling scandal. During a graduation speech at Willamette University this year, Brown opened up about how, for years, she had worried about losing her job if her sexual orientation was

made public.

In her concession speech, Hillary Clinton articulately and gracefully reminded her supporters, especially young women, to stay optimistic.

“I want you to know that nothing has made me prouder than to be your champion,” Clinton said.

“And to all the little girls who are watching this, never doubt that you are valuable and powerful and deserving of every chance and opportunity in the world to pursue and achieve your own dreams.”

Although many Americans, at least the 60 million who cast ballots for Clinton — over 300,000 more than for Trump in the popular vote — were fearful and heartsick at their candidate’s loss, let’s use these successes as proof that, regardless of who will be sitting in the Oval Office come January, our country is full of motivated, accepting and ambitious people who want to push us forward, not back.

WILLI501@MIAMIOH.EDU

The bro president: Privilege was the real winner of this election ELECTION

JAMES STEINBAUER EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

It was one of the most oft-repeated statistics of the 2016 election: college-educated voters, overwhelmingly, were throwing their support behind Hillary Clinton. But at Miami, nearly a third of the students who responded to a Miami Student poll said they would cast their ballots for Donald J. Trump.

It’s true that many of Trump’s backers live in the poor, rural parts of the United States that haven’t experienced the benefits of a stabilizing economy — the gaping swaths of red on the electoral map that the media, Democrats and many of the college-educated wrote off as insignificant.

But according to exit poll data, 49 percent of white college grad-

uates voted for him, too. On Miami’s campus, those supporters manifested themselves as affluent and, for the most part, male.

They aren’t struggling to put food on the table. Their support was built on a cultural identity of sexism, racism and thoughtless patriotic zeal.

Their decision, and the outcome of this election — Clinton’s devastating political demise — was fueled by privilege.

On Monday, Oct. 24, Donald Trump Jr. spoke to a Brick Street bar brimming with this bro-electorate while protesters convened along High Street outside.

“I was sexually assaulted in this bar,” one protester’s sign read. “It is NOT just ‘locker room talk,’” alluding to the presidentelect’s lewd comments to Billy Bush in 2005, when he bragged about kissing, groping and trying

to have sex with women without consent.

Miami Student reporters waiting in line overheard a Trump supporter’s reaction to the protester:

“Trump that bitch!” in front of children, mothers, grandmothers and girlfriends with little regard for the implications of using that word. You didn’t think about what you were saying.

And in all your fan fervor, you didn’t think about what this choice meant...

“They should have picked a more attractive girl to hold that sign,” he said. He didn’t think about what he was saying, he would say — it was just a joke told to his friends.

But we heard him. And we heard the rest of you, too — the whole crowd inside Brick Street that day.

We listened while you cheered

You cheered like all of this was a game. Instead of focusing on the candidates’ policies, the average voter treats party politics like a sports rivalry, according to a study from the University of Kansas. It’s not hard to find the parallels here at Miami.

On Tuesday night, some of you were back at Brick Street. It was like you were watching any

visit us online! miamistudent.net

old football game — the Super Bowl-like finale to a six-monthlong tailgate. You just exchanged your dingy jerseys for bright red “Make America Great Again” hats.

And in all your fan fervor, you didn’t think about what this choice meant for the environment, the economy, the right to choose, women, immigrants, the LGBTQ+ community, the black community, Mexicans, Muslims, the disabled, the sick and the poor — including many who live in rural America.

You thought only of yourselves. And now we all have to live with the consequences.

STEINBJT@MIAMIOH.EDU

EDITORIAL@MIAMISTUDENT.NET

OPINION 7

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 2016

Lifetime witnessing prejudice makes it clear why Trump won ELECTION

GRETCHEN SHELBY GUEST COLUMNIST

For those of you who do not understand why many non-white, nonChristian, non-wealthy people are afraid: I grew up in a rural southern Illinois town. The majority of my classmates were white, Christian and middle-class.

When I was in 1st grade, I made the mistake of identifying as non-Christian to my classmates. I had outed myself as different, and throughout my time in that school district I was bullied because of it. It did not take long for me to discover that I could avoid mistreatment by hiding and lying about my beliefs. As long as my classmates were not reminded that I was different, I could blend in when I wanted to because on the surface I looked just like them. To this day I choose not to label my beliefs or wear religious symbols because I know that I will be discriminated against or thought of as less because of it. Very few of my Muslim friends can blend in like this to avoid mistreatment.

Starting in 2nd grade, the students divided themselves among socioeconomic lines. House kids did not play with townhome kids, and townhome kids didn’t play with the trailer park kids. The teachers were always a lot nicer to the house kids; maybe it’s because they behaved better, maybe they just came from better families.

Whatever the reason was, those children who had issues at home were often overlooked. When our teachers or fellow classmates noticed red flags, few people acted on them, those students were labeled “trouble makers.”

That title has followed the majority of them into adulthood and you can imagine the result.

In 7th grade, my best friend was Mexican. She and her family were so kind to me, and I have so many amazing memories of the get-togethers, trips and meals we shared. It was around this age that I first remember

hearing adults, and sometimes other kids, talk about Mexicans and other minority groups as being different, lesser. I was too young at the time to understand why they were saying these things.

That same year in middle school, someone had been vandalizing the girl’s bathrooms. In an effort to stop it, the dean decided that every woman’s bathroom in the school would be closed. At an age where most of us were too embarrassed to explain to the teacher why we HAD to go to the bathroom right then at that moment (for feminine reasons, obviously), each of us was forced to debate with the teacher to get permission to walk

When I moved back to this area for my second year of high school, many things had changed. More housing meant more students were moving into the district, and the facilities available to students were no longer sufficient. Other students and their families that I had known since first grade blamed the black and Mexican students who had come down from Chicago. They made horrible jokes and comments about minorities and “section 8 housing,” things that they’d heard from their parents but had no understanding of. I recall one boy telling me that the year before, in freshman year, I had “missed out” on a “race war.” I did not understand

“Other students and their families that I had known since first grade blamed the black and Mexican students who had come down from Chicago.”

across the school to use the onlyavailable bathroom in the nurse’s office. If, perhaps, you had wanted to go during a passing period to avoid conflict with your teachers, you’d almost always find that the line was too long. I was too young to understand what an unreasonable response that was, and I don’t think I ever told my parents.

That same year in middle school, the male gym teacher who was teaching the sex ed course fall semester supposedly asked a 13-year-old girl if she owned a sex toy. That male teacher wasn’t fired, but we were not given the opportunity to take sex education later that year. Because I moved around over the next few years, the only sex ed course I took was in 8th grade at a school in the northern suburbs. I’m not sure about my classmates at the rural school though.

what that meant then, and even now I still do not; however, I can assume that some sort of violence was involved.

At the end of sophomore year, I tried to help start an LGBTQ club on campus because many of the LGBTQ friends were bullied on a regular basis. As we tried to organize, the school gave us various reasons as to why we were not allowed to meet on campus.

Instead, we would meet at the ice cream shop across the street. When we hosted our Day of Silence event, the few students who participated were shoved into lockers, had their books knocked out of their hands, and were made fun of by other students. When the administration was asked to do something about it, they said that we brought it upon ourselves.

Junior year, someone I know was

assaulted at a house party they had held while their parents were away.

My friend never reported the incident because it would have caused more harm than good, but they told me and some other friends what had happened. As a I am also a survivor of sexual violence, I became very angry. Whenever I saw the attacker I would call them a rapist. No, it was not a nice thing for me to do, and I absolutely should have handled it in a more mature way, I know that now.

One day, just after arriving in the cafeteria for lunch, I was asked to go with a security guard. She led me to a room where the school’s social worker and 10 other students were waiting to interrogate me as to why I was calling this other person names.

I told them what had happened, leaving out my friend’s name because I didn’t want to cause them trouble. I was told that my friend was probably lying. If they were not lying, then why didn’t they report it to the police? I broke down in tears as I struggled to deal with the same frustration that I had been faced with years before. I told them that this person was dangerous and they ignored me. Two weeks later, that same person committed battery against a young teenage girl.

That same year, me and many of my classmates began driving. Whenever the police would see my trailer park friends driving, they would be stopped and searched. Twice I was in the car when this happened.

The first time, my friend made an unprotected left turn in front of an undercover police cruiser. It was our high school’s police officer driving.

We were all nervous because we had too many people in the car, with one of our friends in the back of the SUV’s storage area. Because the driver would get a ticket, the boy in the back hid during the stop. When the police officer heard something coming from the backend she pulled out her gun, screaming for whoever was back there to get out. She told us that she

had almost shot him because he had scared her. Afterwards, she searched the car.

The second time, I was in a car past curfew. My friends and I were dropping another friend off at their house, which was on the same street as a house party that was being busted.

The police stopped us, and pulled each of us out, making us sit on the curb as they searched the vehicle.

That night I was picked up from the station by my mom and given a ticket for being out past curfew. When I paid the fine, I dropped an envelope into the proper receptacle, giving the department the last bit of money I had in my bank account. One week later I received a phone call saying that I had only paid part of the fine, and that if I did not pay the rest of it a warrant would be put out for my arrest. I cried because I had paid the fine, and I had no more money to give them.

Now, I try my best to avoid driving in that area, especially if it is past 10 p.m., because it makes my anxiety act up. I can only imagine what someone with easily identifiable differences or assumed differences feels like when they drive through the area or have to interact with the police there.

Senior year of high school, I had bigger culture shock moving from southern Illinois to the western suburbs of Chicago than I did moving from the U.S. to China. People still do not believe me when I tell them these stories, but I have plenty of classmates who can verify these accounts.

It doesn’t surprise me that Trump has won. His statements have already inspired hate and violence towards minorities. Now that he is president many of the people who hold this hate in their heart will see it as acceptance of their behavior.

It makes me fear for those nonmajority and underprivileged kids who are still in areas like the one I grew up in.

SHELBYGE@MIAMIOH.EDU

Left’s alienation of common people paved way for Trump ELECTION

DANIEL MOLLOY

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

The stories and posts filling my newsfeed accusing those who voted for Donald Trump or third party candidates of being racist, sexist, homophobic bigots who care nothing for LGBT folks, or Muslims, or other minorities, reminds me of how we got to this place. I’m going to try and lay out my understanding of why normal people without great hate in their hearts voted for Mr. Trump.

The reason regular, hardworking, non-racist, non-bigoted Americans voted for Donald Trump was because of several factors. Included among those must be the fact that the political left laughed in the face of their problems and disenfranchisement.

They looked at blue collar workers that have still not recovered from the Great Recession, who haven’t found good work or have seen their healthcare expenses balloon or have legitimate concerns about global trade deals and foreign policy, and they brushed them under the rug, assuming the traditional Democratic voters would simply grin, bear it, and check the box for Secretary Clinton.

No matter how wrong Mr. Trump was on any number of issues, he was the only candidate that took pains to at least appear to pay attention to the problems and the undercurrent of anxiety these people faced, and they responded by voting for him instead.

Other people, also not white supremacist homophobes, simply voted against Clinton (whether by voting for Trump, Johnson, or Stein) because they looked at the bevy of very real issues with her and came to the conclusion that they could not, in good conscience, support her. I am one such voter. The left miscalculated in assuming that Secretary Clinton deserved our votes, and attempted to browbeat us into submission. This had the opposite effect they intended and reduced the likelihood of any of us voting for her.

In both of these cases, the people that did not vote for Hillary Clinton did not do so because they hate women, LGBT people, or ethnic minorities. However, this did not stop prominent figures in the political left and in the media from making sweeping generalizations about the opposition that Secretary Clinton faced, painting us all as rabid, foaming-at-the-mouth bigots.

Being consistently denigrated and vilified by the left did not make us reevaluate ourselves or make grand changes to become good, kowtowing progressives. It made us angry, defensive, and drove us right into the arms of Trump and alternative third party candidates. The constant trope of straight white males being the enemy of progress and the root of society’s ills by virtue of being raised in some nebulous “patriarchy” caused these people to become fed up and lash out. We lashed out against the political and media establishment that left us in the cold yet expected us to vote in their favor come Election Day. Further, the intolerance of intellectual diversity among the left continues even after they have lost. I have counted far too many posts saying, “If you voted for Donald Trump or voted third party, I hate you and we cannot be friends.” This kind of rhetoric accomplishes nothing. It serves only to insulate those who use it from any competing ideas or opinions. It creates echo chambers, groupthink, and false consensuses that lead to either ideological stagnation or increased Balkanization amongst differing political groups.

For if you have no contact with those that disagree with you or hold opposing viewpoints, how can you convince them that your side is better or, at the very least, has a valuable perspective to add to the discussion?

You cannot. And while it certainly is easier to let ourselves slip into this kind of in-group/out-group dynamic with finger pointing and vilifying of the other as something inferior, it

A.J. NEWBERRY NEWBERAJ@MIAMIOH.EDU

causes the kind of political polarization and gridlock that we witness every day in our government.

Now, don’t get me wrong, the political right is often just as guilty of this kind of intellectual isolationism, and it must be combated wherever we find it regardless of who perpetuates it. But this election has shown it in stark detail in the allegedly more tolerant and open-minded left. If there is a lesson that can be taken from this election from hell, it is this: if we allow

ourselves to be divided into our neat little ideological niches and surround ourselves only with those that agree with us, then we deserve the gridlock and the partisanship and the Donald Trumps and Hillary Clintons that inevitably result. It is only by actively engaging those that disagree with us in honest, good faith intellectual debate that we can expand our own horizons, find the common ground that unites us as American citizens, and develop real solutions to the problems

that America faces. And there are many problems on the road ahead.

As Abraham Lincoln once said, a house divided cannot stand. We must come together and restore the proper working order of our representative democracy. Our future depends on it.

The question is, will we?

MOLLOYDT@MIAMIOH.EDU

8 FYI

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 2016

FOR RENT Named the Best College Newspaper (Non-daily) in Ohio by the Society of Professional Journalists.

James Steinbauer Editor-in-Chief

Emily Williams Managing Editor

Carleigh Turner Web Designer

Kyle Hayden Design Editor

Abbey Gingras Social media coordinator

Audrey Davis, Jack Evans, Megan Zahneis News Editors Devon Shuman Culture Editor

Natalie Utt Business Manager

Elizabeth Hansen, Alison Perelman Assistant Culture Editors

Ali Hackman Assisstant Business Manager

Maddie LaPlante-Dube, Graham von Carlowitz Opinion Editors Joey Hart Assistant Opinion Editor Ben Blanchard Sports Editor

Charles Cucco, Mike Coutre Advertising Representatives

Drew Davis Business Adviser

Cartoonist

Senior Staff Writers

Photography Staff

A.J. Newberry

Maggie Callaghan Laura Fitzgerald Hailey Mallendick Bonnie Meibers Morgan Nguyen Mary Schrott Tess Sohngen

Angelo Gelfuso Beth Pfohl Brianna Nixon Daniela Munoz Perales Darshini Parthasarathy Jalen Walker Ryan Terhune Scott O’Malley Tyler Pistor Whitney Reddan

Designers Will Fagan Katie Hinh

Opinion Columnists Madeleine LaPlante-Dube Graham von Carlowitz Kyle Hayden

Sports Columnists Jack Reyering Ryan McSheffery

Website: For advertising information: Send us a letter?

GREAT LOCATION University and Withrow, ’17-’18 school year, permit for 4, 3 bedrooms, 1 bath, living room, kitchen, washer/ dryer in basement, central air, garage. $3800/person/semester 812-350-4357

James Tobin Adviser

WDJ Inc. - Bill Dedden Distributor

Ryan Terhune Photo Editor

STUDIOS AVAILABLE 2ND SEMESTER Affordable fully furnished studios. Amenities include: ALL utilities including wireless internet & cable, parking, & on-site laundry. $2,600.00.

Call 524-9340 for a tour. www.plumtreemiami.com

18 WOODRUFF IN MILE SQUARE. 4BED/1BATH. 3 blocks from High St. Washer/ dryer. Driveway/Garage. $2750/ PP per semester ’17-’18. 440867-8317

WWW.MIAMISTUDENT.NET

FROM HOCKEY »PAGE 10

time series lead to 20-12-5. In those games, Sherwood picked up two goals and two assists, while senior forward Anthony Louis had three goals and two assists.

Through eight games, Sherwood leads all RedHawk skaters with 12 points (4g, 8a), with Louis right behind with 11 (7g, 4a).

Freshman goaltender Ryan Larkin has started every game for the Red and White, and will look to improve upon his .907 save percentage and 2.73 goals against average this weekend. Before Larkin gave up 11 goals in last weekend’s sweep, he was 15th in the nation with a .927 save percentage.

The last time the two teams played, Miami won 7-3, as nowjunior forward Conor Lemirande contributed a hat trick, his only three goals of the season.

Returning to home ice bodes well for the ‘Hawks, as they are 2-12 at home and 1-3 on the road.

“Playing at home is definitely an edge for us,” Louis said. “We always love playing at home, but especially when we’ve been on the road.”

Puck drop in Steve ‘Coach’ Cady Arena is 7:35 p.m. Friday and 7:05 p.m. Saturday.

APARTMENTS ROBERTS APARTMENTS Great Location! 200 Block of North Main and Beech Streets.

1 and 2 Bedroom Apartments available for 2017-2018. Website: www.roberts-apts.com Email: info@roberts-apts.com 513-4611165 and 513-839-1426

www.miamistudent.net miamistudent@gmail.com eic@miamistudent.net

visit us online miami student .net

FROM RUNNING »PAGE 10

freshman Carly Davis said.

Expect an intriguing race between Notre Dame’s front runner Anna Rohrer and Michigan’ Erin Finn, as both are coming off conference wins. Rohrer won the ACC title in a new PR of 19 minutes and 26 seconds in the 6K while Finn took home her ninth overall Big Ten championship.

The 2016 Division I Great Lakes Regional will take place at the Thomas Zimmer Championship Course. The women’s 6k begins at noon with the men’s 10k following at 1 p.m.

FROM VOLLEYBALL »PAGE10

The ’Hawks enter the weekend with junior libero Maeve McDonald, the reigning MAC East Defensive Player of the Week, on their side. She recorded 59 digs (7.38 per set) over the weekend, including a career-high 36 against Kent State University.

Saturday night, seniors Krista Brakauskas (setter), Maris Below (outside hitter) and Paige Hill (middle hitter) will all suit up in MU uniforms at home for the final time.

The three standouts will be honored for their outstanding careers prior to the match.

“They are such a great group of athletes and competitors,” Condit said. “It has been a pleasure coaching these three young women.”

Miami has remained the conference’s consensus top team since the preseason coaches’ poll. The RedHawks have held to that expectation all season long, dropping only one conference game and setting a new school win streak record. The Red and White now look to put the final touches on its successful season this weekend.

The Miami Student (Tuesday/Friday) is published 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.

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

Offering Best Value First Mortgage Program

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

recycle when fininshed!

5120 College Corner Pike • 420 Wells Mill Dr. (513)523-8888 • (513)529-2739 • www.muccu.org MUCFCU is not a legal entity of the University

WE ARE LOOKING FOR WRITERS AND PHOTOGRAPHERS! PLEASE GET IN TOUCH AT ANY EMAIL ON ANY OF THE PAGES IN THIS NEWSPAPER, OR EIC@MIAMISTUDENT.NET

WWW.MIAMISTUDENT.NET

9

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 2016

YOUR AD COULD BE HERE! Contact miamistudent@gmail.com

to design and schedule an ad!

WE ARE LOOKING FOR WRITERS AND PHOTOGRAPHERS! Prospective writers and photographers can get in touch at any of the email addressed listed at the tops of the pages of this newspaper, or at

EIC@MIAMISTUDENT.NET

Harry T. Wilks Global Citizenship Forum Keynote Address

Strengthening Diversity and Inclusion IEW Event Highlights Monday, November 14 in Global Education NationaliTea Tuesday, November 15

Harry T. Wilks Global Citizenship Forum Keynote Address 5–6:30 pm | Shriver Center, Dolibois A&B Global Holiday Party

Amer Ahmed Dr. Amer F. Ahmed is the Director of Intercultural Teaching and Faculty Development at University of Massachusetts Amherst.

Dr. Ahmed received both his B.A. (Miami University) and M.A. (Indiana University) in Anthropology and Black Studies, and his Ed.D. in Adult and Higher Education at the University of South Dakota. Previously, he has served as Associate Director of Multi-Ethnic Student Affairs at the University of Michigan – Ann Arbor and as a Dean of the Sophomore Class at Swarthmore College.

He is a social justice educator who is also engaged in the field of Intercultural Communication with a focus on a developmental approach to intercultural competency.

Thank you to all of our IEW sponsors: Department of Anthropology, Black World Studies, Center for American and World Cultures, College of Arts and Science, College of Creative Arts, Enrollment Management and Student Success, Howe Writing Center, Department of Global and Intercultural Studies, Office of Diversity Affairs, and Miami University Dining Services.

Wednesday, November 16

Harry T. Wilks Global Citizenship Forum Human Rights and Social Justice Film Festival

Thursday, November 17

Cuban Music in a New Global Context Post-Lecture Dinner ft. Cuban Cuisine

Friday, November 18

International Student Forum Global Neighbors Thanksgiving Dinner

Saturday, November 19 Taste of Africa

Exhibitions

Welcome to America | Miami University Art Museum Winter in Jeju-Do | Miami University Art Museum Uncommon Journeys by Julia Cumes | MacMillan Hall See more event details at:

MiamiOH.edu/global/iew

10 SPORTS

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 2016

SPORTS@MIAMISTUDENT.NET

Hockey looks to snap three-game losing streak ICE HOCKEY

BEN BLANCHARD SPORTS EDITOR

ANGELO GELFUSO THE MIAMI STUDENT

Sophomore defensive back Deondre Daniels prepares to defend Western Kentucky’s Nacarius Fant. Daniels has one interception this season, contributing to Miami’s total of 12, the third most of any Mid-American Conference defense.

RED-HOT ‘HAWKS RIDE MACLEADING DEFENSE INTO BUFFALO FOOTBALL

COBURN GILLIES

ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR

Two wins away from its first bowl game appearance since 2010, the Miami University football team looks to turn four victories into five, as the RedHawks face the University of Buffalo on the road Saturday.

Last season, these two programs squared off at Yager Stadium, with Miami falling short, 29-24. This loss was especially painful considering the ‘Hawks had a chance to win on the final play.

Buffalo enters the matchup 2-7 overall and 1-4 in Mid-American Conference play, placing the Bulls fifth in the East Division.

The Red and White comes in riding the momentum of a four-game winning streak, holding a 4-6 record overall and a 4-2 MAC record.

As it stands, the ‘Hawks are one game back from Ohio University and hold sole possession of second place in the East Division. In a tiebreaker scenario for the top spot, the Bobcats would slide ahead of MU, as OU won the matchup earlier this season.

Despite the Bulls’ record, head coach Chuck Martin expects a challenging affair, describing UB as “big, physical, athletic, kind of like they’ve been the past few years.”

MU will look to redshirt sophomore quarterback Gus Ragland — who was awarded MAC East Offensive Player of the Week — to ignite the offense once more. Since taking over the starting role, Ragland is 4-0, with 10 touchdowns and no interceptions. Fellow redshirt sophomore running back Kenny Young also looks to stay hot, as he is coming off of an 89-yard, two touchdown performance.

Look for defensive back De’Andre Montgomery to play a significant role in the action against the Bulls.

The 6-2 sophomore had six tackles, four solo, two unassisted against CMU last weekend.

Tony Reid — who was named College Sports Madness MAC Defensive Player of the Week — was ejected for targeting with 0:29 remaining in the first half of last Friday’s fixture against Central Michigan. Saturday, the junior safety will return to the starting lineup.

MU’s defense is ranked first in the MAC in total defense, red zone defense and interceptions, second in rush defense and third in sacks.

“It’s pretty big for me,” redshirt senior defensive end JT Jones said.

“Being a defensive leader on the team and seeing our hard work pay off — especially in the statistics, since we don’t really have all the wins we would like. So, being the top defense

in the MAC is pretty big for us.”

For Buffalo second-year head coach Lance Leipold’s team, redshirt freshman quarterback Tyree Jackson has led the way this season. On the campaign, the 6-7 signal-caller has thrown for 1,676 yards and nine touchdowns.

“He’s got a rifle,” Martin said. “I’m shocked at how athletic — he’s really athletic, like, the kid is fast. ” Defensively, UB will be anchored by freshman and sophomore linebackers Matt Otwinowski and Ishmael Hargrove. Otwinowski had seven tackles, one solo, six assisted last Thursday night. Hargrove chipped in with six tackles, four solo, two assisted as they fall short against OU 34-10 at home.

For the seniors, this recent run of form for the Red and White has them feeling a sense of satisfaction and pride.

“A lot of adversity. We’re are all stronger, the older guys — seniors, fifth-year senior class — we’re super close, just because of all the adversity we’ve been through,” redshirt senior running back Grant Niemiec said. “To finally put it together is really cool.”

Currently, Buffalo has won four consecutive contests against the ‘Hawks, dating back to 2012.

Kickoff is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. and will be streamed live on ESPN3.

Cross-country travels to NCAA Regionals CROSS-COUNTRY

PATRICK KECK

THE MIAMI STUDENT

The Miami University men’s and women’s cross country teams compete today at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in the 2016 NCAA Division I Great Lakes Regional.

The competition in this race is arguably the best that the ‘Hawks have faced in the 2016 campaign. Both the men and women’s races face four teams ranked in the Nov. 1 USTFCCCA poll, including Mid-American Conference Champions Eastern Michigan University.

Eastern Michigan, ranked 25th in the men’s poll, is joined by No. 14 Wisconsin, No. 18 Michigan State University and No. 29 University of Michigan.

Last year, Miami’s front runner in the race, now-graduate Joe Stewart, qualified for the NCAA Cross Country National Championship with a time of 30 minutes and 27 seconds in the 10-kilometer race.

The team would go on to finish 12th with 313 points in the 30-team field, the third-best team in the MAC behind Eastern Michigan and Akron.

4 DAYS

Eastern Michigan did not earn an atlarge bid to Nationals, as only Michigan and MSU would make it out.

Finishing 72nd was the ‘Hawks fastest returner time, as now-junior Matt Bromley clocked in at 32:29.

Bromley currently holds the team’s fifth-fastest 8K time in 25:32.

The team has maintained a pack mentality throughout this season. In MU’s last race at the MAC Championships, Bromley led the ‘Hawks to a second place finish. Team running was key, as Bromley and the RedHawks fifth runner, senior Stephen Biebelhausen finished only ten seconds apart.

“The team wants to go out and compete as a pack,” Bromley said.

“Based on how we have been running lately, we think we can finish in the top 10. The best way for us to beat some of the upper teams is to run as a pack and try and get our fifth man in front of theirs.”

As for the battle for the individual championship, only two of last year’s top 10 finishers return. Those two, three-time MAC Champion Nick Raymond of EMU and 2016 Big Ten Cross Country Champion Morgan McDonald of Wisconsin, are expect-

ed to battle out front.

The women’s race is headlined by No. 5 Michigan, No. 13 EMU, No. 14 University of Notre Dame and No. 22 MSU. Leading the ‘Hawks to their fourteenth place team finish last year was graduate Laura Bess, who finished fifteenth individually. Miami went on to place fifth among MAC schools, and 1:57 separated the RedHawks’ first and fifth runner.

Junior Maria Scavuzzo returns with the fastest returner time from last year’s race, in which she ran in 22 minutes and 25 seconds. Scavuzzo’s personal record came this season in 21 minutes and 10 seconds, good for a fifth overall at the MAC Championships.

Look for the ‘Hawks to run with passion as they try to erase the memory of a disappointing seventh place finish at the MAC Championships.

“Our goal for Friday is to race as such to put us in the position to be in the top 10, and just to be confident and trust each other and run as one so that we can be top 10 and have great races to finish off the season,” RUNNING »PAGE 8

After suffering a sweep at Western Michigan in last weekend’s opening National Collegiate Hockey Conference series, the Miami University hockey team looks to bounce back in a home series against the University of Nebraska-Omaha this weekend.

The two losses to the Broncos continued a three-game losing streak for the RedHawks, who have been outscored 15-6 over the skid.

The three losses came on the heels of a five-game unbeaten streak, as MU is now 3-4-2 overall and 0-2 in NCHC play.

While consecutive defeats weren’t the desired result for the ‘Hawks, head coach Enrico Blasi believes that his young team is committed to growing and learning from its mistakes.

“As much as everyone wants to see outcomes, the process is what’s important,” Blasi said. “Our plan hasn’t changed, we need to make sure we focus on the things we did well, but also learn from the things we didn’t do well and why we didn’t do them.”

With 14 freshmen and six sophomores on Miami’s 26-man roster, some early trials and tribulations shouldn’t come as a shock.

However, even in defeat, the young RedHawks have continued to show promise. In all three losses, Miami led at one point, and in both games at WMU, entered the second period tied or leading.

“It comes down to our heart,” sophomore forward Kiefer Sherwood said. “We have to find it in our hearts and muster up the will to win, that’s the difference right now. We’ve sat back when we’ve had leads, and you can’t do that in our conference, the competition is too good.”

The Mavericks (4-3-1 overall, 1-1 NCHC) split a pair of home NCHC games with Colorado College last weekend, losing 2-1 and winning 6-4.

“They’re a well-constructed team, they’ve got a bunch of good forwards that can skate well and finish,” Sherwood said. “I think their forwards are maybe the most skilled up front in our league.”

UNO’s senior winger Austin Ortega has sparked the Mavericks’ offensive efforts this season, tallying seven goals and four assists through eight games. Against the ‘Hawks last season, Omaha’s all-time leader in game-winning goals (13) notched two goals and an assist.

Last season, MU went 2-1-1 against Omaha to increase its allHOCKEY »PAGE 8

Volleyball wraps up regular season

BRIANNA NIXON THE MIAMI STUDENT

Sophomore right side hitter Stela Kukoc (4) picks up a dig as junior libero Maeve McDonald (1) looks on. Kukoc has 220 kills, 16 sets and 186 digs this season.

VOLLEYBALL

KYLE STEINER

THE MIAMI STUDENT

After losing its first game in over two months, the Miami University volleyball team looks to rebound this weekend as it ends the regular season against two Mid-American Conference opponents.

While disappointed that its streak finally came to an end, the team believes that there are some silver linings to the loss.

“It might alleviate a little pressure that we’re not undefeated or in the middle of the streak at this point,” head coach Carolyn Condit said.

The RedHawks (21-5 overall, 13-1 MAC) still control their own destiny in attaining the number one seed in the MAC tournament, as a weekend sweep will secure their spot atop the conference standings.

Even if the squad were to drop both games, it could still drop no lower than the number two seed.

Both the number one and two seeds are granted a double bye that places them directly in the tournament semifinal.

Despite this luxury, the ’Hawks are still determined to get back on track and finish the season strong.

“We are definitely hungry for a

win after our loss to Kent State,” junior right side hitter Olivia Rusek said. “Our mentality in practice is to keep getting better every day so we can channel our anger and use it to our advantage.”

MU gets its first chance at starting another run 7 p.m. Friday night against the University of Akron.

The Zips enter the weekend 8-18 overall and 3-11 in the MAC. Miami has not lost to the Akron since the 2012-13 season.

Akron’s back row is led by senior Brenna Mack. The veteran libero leads the team with 382 digs on the season. The Zips also boast one of the conference’s best setters, as senior standout Karley Kusan is averaging 9.82 assists per set on the year.

MU then plays at home again 5 p.m. Saturday night against the University of Buffalo, whom it beat in straight sets October 7. The Bulls (4-23, 3-11) currently have the lowest overall winning percentage of any MAC team.

However, UB does boast one of the conference’s premier players, junior middle hitter Cassio Shado. She leads the league with a .402 attacking percentage, having made only 55 errors on the season.

RUNNING »PAGE 8