ESTABLISHED 1826 — OLDEST COLLEGE NEWSPAPER WEST OF THE ALLEGHENIES
TUESDAY, APRIL 4, 2017
Volume 145 №35
Miami University — Oxford, Ohio
DEFINING OUR DRINKING PROBLEM Over the past month and a half, The Student has asked dozens of students, administrators and Oxford residents the same question: “How do you define Miami’s drinking culture?” Over the next few weeks, our coverage, both in print and in the form of a documentary (released on our website April 14) will explore the ways in which alcohol is regarded and consumed by Miami students. Our reporting will address the societal, historical and mental health-related issues that surround drinking in Oxford.
Responsibility for change lies with Miami’s students CEILI DOYLE
ASST. NEWS EDITOR
RYAN TERHUNE PHOTO EDITOR
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s lecture, “Beyond Black and White,” was held on Monday, April 3, at Hall Auditorium. Gerald Yearwood, the senior director emeritus of Diversity Affairs at Miami, moderated.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar talks race, education LECTURE
MITCH HAUSFELD THE MIAMI STUDENT
An audience member asked Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for three pieces of advice he could give to students and athletes. Abdul-Jabbar turned to a full Hall Auditorium and picked one: “Failing to prepare is preparing to fail.” In an hour-and-a-half lecture that delved into contentious subjects such as education, race, religion and politics, Abdul-Jabbar was thoroughly prepared to discuss any topic that was addressed by moderator Gerald Yearwood, the senior director emeritus of Diversity Affairs at Miami, or by a curious audience member.
Abdul-Jabbar, a six-time NBA champion and the alltime NBA scoring leader, visited Miami’s campus on Monday, April 3, to present his lecture “Beyond Black and White” as part of the Miami University Lecture Series. In addition to his accolades on the court, Abdul-Jabbar is a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, has been appointed as a Cultural Ambassador of the United States and has received the Double Helix Medal for his contributions to cancer research. He has also pieced together a respectable career in the arts with multiple New York Times best-selling novels, roles in the movies “Airplane!” and “Game of Death” and appearances in many television series.
Seventh sexual assault of semester reported SEXUAL ASSAULT
JACK EVANS
MANAGING EDITOR
A female student reported last Friday, March 31, that she was sexually assaulted by a known male. This marks the seventh reported sexual assault at Miami University during the spring 2017 semester. One sexual assault was reported in the month of March, as well as one sexual imposition incident. Five sexual assaults were reported during February. The assault occurred at an off-campus residence, according to MUPD incident logs. No suspect description was provided to law enforcement officials, and no other information about the incident was given. Students received a MyMiami announcement about the incident that contained crime reductions tips and a reminder of the resources of the Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Program. No Campus Crime Alert – the text message and email notification sent directly to students’ phones –
was distributed. This is first of the seven reported assaults this semester that was not sent out to students through the Campus Crime Alert system. On Saturday, April 1, MUPD responded to a psychological emergency involving a female student at King Library. While MUPD was assisting the student, she told the officers that she was potentially sexually assaulted by “a known male subject at an off-campus apartment,” according to MUPD incident logs. The emergency was logged as both a psychological emergency and sex offense by MUPD. These assaults come under the shadow of a federal investigation into Miami University’s potential mishandling of sexual assault cases. The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights, which is responsible for enforcing Title IX regulations, is leading the inquiry. The investigation started last November after a student filed a complaint against ASSAULT » PAGE 2
In accordance with its title, Abdul-Jabbar’s lecture centered around the current state of racial affairs in America and the efforts to alleviate burdens created by racial tension. Although he was quick to point out recent tragedies and the ever-widening gap growing between races, Abdul-Jabbar ensured that his lecture should be interpreted as a call to action rather than a call to arms. Throughout his lecture, he spoke of tolerance and acceptance for all members of the human race regardless of the color of their skin and stressed the importance of education. “Poverty is the result of a lack of education and being unable to cope with the struggles that life puts [us] through,” he said.
The seven-foot-two AbdulJabbar spoke in short sentences. He insisted that black Americans understand the importance of a S.T.E.M. education and realize the improbability of a career in sports. Rather than becoming the next LeBron James, Denzel Washington or Beyonce, Abdul-Jabbar stated that he would rather see “black Americans [starting] a revolution where they are known for being the suppliers of engineers.” In regard to sports, the majority of the questions that Abdul-Jabbar addressed were related to former 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick’s recent actions. While Abdul-Jabbar admired the LECTURE » PAGE 8
Many students react defensively to heightened attention to heavy drinking at Miami, claiming the school is no different from any other. In fact, in significant ways, Miami’s drinking problem does seem to be worse than at other campuses. And whether it’s worse or not, the damage done in Oxford has persuaded many students, administrators and residents that drinking by Miami students is both dangerous and unsustainable. To be sure, drinking has run amok at campuses all over the U.S. But it’s clear that Miami has emerged as a virtual case study in all the factors that contribute to dangerous drinking cultures in college towns. “It seems that severity in the way in which drinking happens across campuses has changed to one which emphasizes binge-drinking,” Oxford mayor Kate Rousmaniere said. “The police are overstressed. We hire extra police staff Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights and they are working 80 to 90 percent of their job on those nights dealing with student drinking issues.” Miami students binge-drink more heavily and more frequently than students at other universities. They live in a town monopolized by bars that offer drink specials and themed events every night of the week. They are encouraged by the notion that there is nothing else to do but drink in Oxford. Many students say administrators and student organizations are wrong to call first-year Erica Buschick’s death anything more than an isolated incident, however tragic. In fact, her death is one of six alcohol-related deaths over the last dozen years in Oxford, and several other students have been seriously hurt after drinking too much. READ THE SPECIAL REPORT ON PAGE 4
Flatline in funding hurts libraries’ purchasing power Decline in book purchases affects humanities KIRBY DAVIS
ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR
Miami’s library funding hasn’t been cut since 2010, but it also hasn’t increased. With inflation, this inhibits Miami’s ability to purchase books and, subsequently, can hurt professors and students — especially those in the humanities. Aaron Shrimplin, Associate Dean of Miami Libraries, noted that Miami’s flat budget won’t hold up against skyrocketing prices. “Just to pay that inflation, we always have to cut content,” said Shrimplin. “We’ve been living in that environment
The “cut content,” more often than not, is books. for many years and will continue to live in that environment unless we see our budget increased a bit.” This “cut content” is, more often than not, books. Since 2011, Miami libraries have had around $4.7 million to purchase academic journals, periodicals and books. But Miami continues to edge the latter out of the budget in favor of pricey journals and periodicals, which
DANIELA MUNOZ THE MIAMI STUDENT
are essential to those in S.T.E.M. disciplines. But the humanities — English, history, art, etc. — rely on books. “We aren’t alone in this,” said Shrimplin. “It’s actually part of the whole scholarly communication ecosystem, and it’s fairly complex on many levels. LIBRARIES » PAGE 2
McCarthy-Creber violated sanction JAKE GOLD
ASST. NEWS EDITOR
RYAN TERHUNE PHOTO EDITOR
The McCarthy-Creber campaign violated their Election Committee sanctions by campaigning on March 13-14. According to sources close to the topic, the Election Committee became aware of this infraction on March 30, but denied to act
— voting 5-3 against elevating the violation, which could result in another sanction on campaigning, or even full disqualification. On the afternoon of March 13, the ASG Election Committee was made aware of the McCarthy-Creber ticket’s dissemination of flyers in King Library, resulting in a
24-hour ban on campaigning. Photographic evidence provided by an ASG senator showed that the McCarthyCreber campaign had violated the committee’s restrictions. And the election commitELECTION» PAGE 2
NEWS p. 2
CULTURE p. 6
EDITORIAL p. 12
SPORTS p. 14
DEFINING WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A MAN
JANE DOE NO MORE: 5K FOR AWARENESS
ALCOHOL ISSUES STILL DEMAND ATTENTION
BASKETBALL COACHES ANNOUNCED
VOTE TODAY ON THE HUB!
New gender studies course will explore the meaning of masculinity.
The event, held at Millett, aimed to reduce the stigma around sexual assault.
Without regular confrontation, nothing will change.
Megan Duffy and Jack Owens to be new women’s, men’s coaches.
muhub.collegiatelink.net
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