ESTABLISHED 1826 – OLDEST COLLEGE NEWSPAPER WEST OF THE ALLEGHENIES
The Miami Student FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2015 WWW.MIAMISTUDENT.NET
VOLUME 144 NO. 9
MIAMI UNIVERSITY OXFORD, OHIO
Compelling charm and contested change on Western Campus STATE ROUTE 73
STATE ROUTE 73
PATTERSON AV ENUE
E RIV ED EG LL CO
E RIV ED EG LL CO
PATTERSON AVEN UE
RN TE ES W
RN TE ES W
N
N
UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY
GOOGLE EARTH
A comparison of Western College in1959 and Western Campus in 2014 shows drastically reduced natural space and heavy amounts of new construction along Western College Drive. WESTERN
ABBEY GINGRAS NEWS EDITOR
When senior Garrett Gust has free time between his classes in Peabody Hall, his favorite place to go is the quiet gazebo by Western Pond. Some of Mackenzie Rice’s fondest memories at Miami are from leisurely strolls taken on Western Campus with her father. These peaceful moments and tucked away spots on Western may soon disappear, as the university contemplates further construction projects on the former women’s college. Looking to the future — across Patterson Avenue Western has already undergone a major makeover in the past three years, trading in open green space and classic Alexander Dining Hall for three new residence halls and state-of-the-art Western Dining Commons. In searching for further solutions to the current housing shortage on campus, the university Board of Trustees sees more opportunity on Western Campus for new construction. In proposed plans, the board aims to renovate Clawson Hall and add on an extension that will include more living space. Also recommended is the destruction of both Mary Lyon and Thompson halls, and the discontinuation of McKee as a residence hall. David Creamer, senior vice president of Finance and Business Services, argued that the potential projects are necessary to the university’s future. “We did an assessment several years ago looking at which structures would be more appropriate to retain and which would be overly costly in terms of renovations,” Creamer said. “We have to consider what’s most affordable. Almost everything can be renovated, but the cost can be pretty prohibitive.” The proposed plan for renovat-
ing both Clawson Hall on Western and Hamilton Hall on Central Quad is estimated to cost $48 million. If the plan is approved by the Board of Trustees, which Creamer said would likely occur between December and February, construction is projected to begin at the end of the 2015-2016 school year. Whether these proposals are passed or not, definitive plans are in the works for the future of Western Campus. Among them, an end to the use of the coal plant for energy by the year 2024 and a new monument to Western College and its history. While Patterson Place was saved from demolition last spring after community outcry, its days may still be numbered. The Western College Alumnae Association only has the building until they are absorbed by Miami in 2024 — when Western’s last graduating class celebrates its 50th anniversary. Although change is unavoidable, some like Western the way it is, and perhaps will always remember it for the way it used to be. Ahead of the times Western’s history dates back nearly as far as Miami’s. The college began as Western Female
MIAMI UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES
An aerial shot looking southeast of Western College in its final decade before it became part of Miami in 1974.
Seminary, chartered in 1853 and opened in 1855. At the time, Western was one of five higher education institutions in the Oxford area. In 1894, it became known as Western: A College and Seminary for Women, and then, in 1904, The Western College for Women. Western remained a private institution, exclusively for women
MIAMI UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES
Western College students gather on the Peabody porch in 1896.Today, students study and socialize there.
NEWS p. 2
NEWS p. 3
MATHEMATICS PROFESSOR DIES
FORMER SEC. OF DEFENSE COMES TO CAMPUS
A STROLL THROUGH THE FARMERS MARKET
Robert Gates discusses his political career during lecture
Writer describes the variety of vendors at Oxford’s weekly farmers market
Beatriz D’Ambrosio died unexpectedly from a brain aneurysm Monday
TODAY IN WESTERN HISTORY
until men were admitted in 1972. Then, it briefly became known as The Western College, until it merged in Miami in 1974. During its existence as a separate entity from Miami, Western was ahead of its time in more ways than one. The school placed a large focus on both attracting international students and encourag-
CULTURE p. 4
GRACE MOODY NEWS EDITOR
ing students to go abroad. In the 1950s, students from The Western College for Women were touring Africa, the Middle East, Latin America and Asia. In 1960, women from the college visiting the Middle East met with King Hussein of Jordan In the 1960s, Western received national attention for hosting volunteers of the civil rights movement who were preparing to travel to Mississippi — during what would be called Freedom Summer in 1964. Throughout its history, Western’s buildings and architecture were designed with the flow of the land. Rather than being laid out in grids or quads, like many universities, Western’s facilities were oriented around the hills, ponds and streams of the campus. Much of this history remains unknown to Miami students, many of whom never step foot on Western Campus during their time in Oxford. However, some residents have been defined by the Western WESTERN »PAGE 8
OPINION p. 6
SPORTS p. 10
GET OUTDOORS IN THE FALL
CHUCK MARTIN RESPONDS TO PETE ROSE COMMENTS
Editorial Board urges students to enjoy the fall foliage in Miami’s surrounding trails and natural areas
The Miami football coach says winning is a process
On Sept. 26, 1940, the Western Round-Up newspaper shared an interview with Olga Burgos on the front page. Burgos traveled to Oxford, Ohio all the way from Santiago, Chile in order to attend Western College. Her trip was done on a boat, and took a total of 18 days to complete.