The Miami Student | January 27, 2022

THURSDAY, JANUARY 27, 2022

Volume 150 No. 4

ESTABLISHED 1826 — OLDEST COLLEGE NEWSPAPER WEST OF THE ALLEGHENIES

“Traditional Movein” with COVID-19 testing required for spring semester COSETTE GUNTER CAMPUS & COMMUNITY EDITOR When Sophia Ogot received an email from Miami University’s Residence Life staff that told her to arrive on campus with COVID-19 test results, she quickly found out there were no available tests in her area in California.

Like Ogot, more than 7,800 other on-campus students were expected to provide a negative COVID-19 test result (PCR or antigen), administered no more than three days before returning to campus this spring.

Ogot, a sophomore political science major, ended up flying in the Friday before classes started and crashing on the couch of an off-campus friend before getting a test in Oxford to fulfill the requirement.

On Sunday, Jan. 23, students checked in for move-in day at a desk in their residence hall, where their testing documentation was reviewed before they moved in.

For Ogot, her CVS PCR test results weren’t ready in time for move-in, but she was able to move into her residence hall before being instructed to visit Harris Hall where a rapid COVID-19 test was performed.

“It wasn’t really that busy,” Ogot said. “It was really convenient, and it only took 15 minutes.”

Ogot said the whole movein process was pretty easy.

Steve Large, assistant vice president for health & wellness, said this semester’s move-in went better than expected.

“From my perspective, move-in this semester went extraordinarily well,” Large said. “From a COVID-19 perspective, we had anticipated and planned for a variety of possibilities, and really, there were no issues that came up throughout moving that we didn’t already anticipate or plan for.”

Large said the staff was prepared to test 300 students on site if they didn’t bring proof of a negative test, but only 81 students needed the service.

Of that 81 tested, three came back positive.

Large reported that 95% of on-campus students were in compliance with the move-in protocols.

The only exception to the arrival testing was students who have tested positive for and recovered from COVID-19 in the last 90 days and provided proof.

“We are still identifying right now who the non-actors are,” Large said. “Non-actors is how I would describe a student that either didn’t provide a negative result or didn’t email their result to COVID-19@miamioh, or didn’t complete the 90-day exemption form. So that’s what we’re doing now is sorting through all of that data to identify who, if any, and how many non-actors there were.”

Large said the main concerns he heard from parents were around the type of COVID-19 tests that would be accepted and the detailed definition of the three-day test window.

Large also noted that this semester’s move-in looked similar to pre-COVID-19 move-in protocols, with the exception of the arrival testing.

“This semester, was a, I would say, a ‘traditional movein,’ where all on-campus students were invited to return back to campus for Sunday, unless they had sought and received permission to return early,” Large said, “which we certainly had a number of students that did return early as well.”

Large said around 500 students returned early to campus. These students were able to move in without providing test results, but were asked to pick up an at-home test from Armstrong and report the results to the COVID-19 email inbox.

Ogot said she preferred the staggered move-in dates from previous semesters to the one day move-in.

“It was actually easier my freshman year because they had testing sites already set CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

Miami university — Oxford, Ohio

Class structure to look much like the fall amid COVID-19 surge

In this issue

REAGAN RUDE ASST. CAMPUS & COMMUNITY EDITOR As the semester drew to a close last fall, low case numbers and high vaccination rates made Miami University students hopeful that the spring semester would look more normal.

Then came omicron.

Now, with cases in Oxford on the rise and McCullough-Hyde Memorial Hospital running out of ICU beds, students and faculty are coming to terms with the prospect of a semester that looks much like the last.

“We are not at this moment changing anything from last semester,” Provost Jason Osborne wrote in an email to The Miami Student. “We are adapting where the CDC has changed guidance, and those updates have been communicated through the COVID task force emails.”

Osborne said about 91% of undergraduate classes will be taught in person this semester, similar to the number for the fall.

George Denman, a visiting faculty member in the marketing department, said he’s glad his marketing class will be held in-person.

“I personally feel that being there live in front of these students provides a much better format, one where students could actually bond much easier than online,” Denman said.

Despite the recent surge in cases, Denman said he feels comfortable teaching face-to-face.

“I’m not really concerned because I’m vaccinated and boosted,” Denman said. “Even if I do get it, I’m in good health at my age, and I think that the symptoms would be minimal at best.”

Denman said he would understand if the omicron variant forced classes to move online, but he hopes that won’t happen.

While the majority of classes this semester are in-person, some professors are keeping at least a portion of their meetings online.

Shanieka Pope, an assistant clinical professor of family science and social work, said the hybrid synchronous format of her FSW312 (Human Behavior in the Social Environment) class had already been determined before it was assigned to her.

Although Pope didn’t personally select the hybrid option, she does have some discretion with holding in-person classes.

CAMPUS & COMMUNITY A Miami Student writer recounts her experience missing the first week back to classes in the midst of the omicron wave.

- page 4 CAMPUS & COMMUNITY Explore an Oxford hidden gem: Oxford Lanes.

- page 7

FOOD Ranking the potatoes of Oxford: Spud or Dud? - page 9

DESIGNER ALESSANDRA MANUKIAN

“Say, for instance, a good amount of my students are out or quarantining, then I do have the discretion to make my class remote,” Pope said. “But that’s only on a week-by-week basis, so I could not shut down in-person class for the entire semester.”

Pope said high numbers of absences last semester almost forced her to go remote, but it never came to that.

She hopes she can keep her meetings in person this semester as well.

“There’s synergy in the room with face-to-face,” Pope said. “Students may bring something to the discussion that resonates with the other students, and you just have that flow of ideas and expressions.”

In addition to the benefits for students, Pope said face-to-face instruction is less tiring.

“When I’m online, I tend to escalate my expressions,” Pope said. “I start to sweat because I feel like I have to make my gestures and my personality bigger just to connect with the students.”

CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

ENTERTAINMENT Tom Holland sticks the landing in "Spider-Man: No Way Home."

- page 8

SPORTS Men's basketball suffers from inconsistent play going into Saturday's match-up vs. Eastern Michigan.

- page 10 OPINION Our columnist took winter break to recenter themselves after a busy semester - page 12

That art is out of this world … literally

SOPHOMORE PRESTON ANDERSON IS ONE OF 76 ARTISTS TO HAVE THEIR ART SENT TO THE MOON. PHOTO BY PRESTON ANDERSON

ABBY BAMMERLIN CAMPUS & COMMUNITY EDITOR When Preston Anderson submitted his painting to an online art show, he didn’t expect for it to be shown in a Chicago contemporary art gallery.

When he found out his painting would be one of a few hung in the gallery, he was overjoyed.

But the next email put him into a state of disbelief.

“I was like, ‘This can’t be real, like this [has] got to be spam or something,” Anderson said. “This is too good to be true.”

Anderson’s painting “Tunnel Vision,” selected for the exhibition, is one of 76 other artists whose art would be sent to the moon.

The pieces are part of The Nova Collection time capsule. The art will be laser-etched on nickel microfiche, which will be placed in a time cap-

"It's really cool to see my hard work paying off and kind of seeing where it might be able to take me in the future."

- Preston Anderson sule on a Nova-C lunar lander for a future launch through SpaceX. “I think it’s so cool that that’s something that creatives can be a part of, let alone myself, like that’s just an incredible opportunity,” Anderson said.

In the summer of 2020, in the midst of pandemic-related lockdowns, Miami University now-sophomore Preston Anderson stumbled upon an online art show, held by 33 Contemporary Gallery in Chicago, that was taking submissions.

“I kind of took a shot in the dark and decided to apply to one of the shows called ‘Shelter,’” Anderson said.

“I just decided, what the heck, may as well just see what can happen here.”

Anderson said the show’s theme was centered around questions like “Where can we go?” and “How can we connect with finding peace within ourselves and within the world?”

While looking back through his work, “Tunnel Vision,” a piece he created in high school, stood out to him.

The painting features a child walking through a forest with a red wagon, head down. In front of him stands a dark tunnel.

“It kind of resembles if we’re not willing to look up and really take in the beauty around us, we’ll only see what we want to see,” Anderson said.

When he found out “Tunnel Vision” had been accepted for the show, he was shocked.

“It was like disbelief,” Anderson said. “I remember I was at a friend’s house and I was like, ‘Is this really true? Like, can you look this up? Can you see if this is actually happening?’”

Grant Gilsdorf, Anderson’s high school art teacher, was the one who told Anderson about the exhibit. The two artists had kept in touch even after Anderson graduated. When Gilsdorf saw the exhibit was taking submissions, he knew Anderson would be perfect for the show. “[Anderson] was creating gallery-level artwork in high school,” Gilsdorf said, “and the only thing that would have prevented him from being on that level would have just been an ignorance of the opportunity.”

Gilsdorf met Anderson his sophomore year of high school and has continued to mentor him into college. He said Anderson’s work ethic made him stand out.

“What endears me to him is what I think endears a lot of teachers to their students, just that he outworks everybody else,” Gilsdorf said. “He’s certainly talented, and talent is great.

But what makes Preston truly special is just, he’s tougher than everybody else.”

As a business major, Anderson said pursuing art in the future may be complicated, but he’s determined to end up in a career field that will allow him to still do art in some way.

“It’s really cool to see my hard work paying off and kind of seeing where it might be able to take me in the future,” Anderson said.

When Anderson created his piece “Tunnel Vision,” the pandemic hadn’t started yet. But now thinking back on what his art could bring to viewers, Anderson said he can see a connection to the current pandemic.

“I think in COVID … it might have been hard for a lot of people to find the better side of things, I suppose,” Anderson said. “So I thought this piece might be able to resonate with some people and kind of emulate that idea of shelter.” @abby_bammerlin bammeraj@miamioh.edu

Coming Up...

2

THURSDAY, JANUARY 27, 2022

Most awarded college newspaper in Ohio at the 2020 Regional Mark of Excellence Awards by the Society of Professional Journalists.

Things to do

TIM CARLIN EDITOR-IN-CHIEF David Kwiatkowski Briah Lumpkins Managing Editors Owen Berg Design Editor Abby Bammerlin Cosette Gunter Madeline Phaby Lexi Whitehead Campus & Community Editors Lukas Nelson Sports Editor Jack Schmelzinger Asst. Sports Editor Rebecca Wolff Opinion Editor Ames Radwan Asst. Opinion Editor Zach Reichman Photo Editor Jake Ruffer Asst. Photo Editor Shr-Hua Moore Maggie Peña Reagan Rude Sean Scott

Sarah Grace Hays Multimedia Editor Sam Cioffi Magazine Editor

Thurs 1/27

Fred Reeder Jr. Faculty Adviser Sacha Bellman Business Adviser

Mon

Aim Media Midwest Printer

1/31

Macey Chamberlin Soren Melbye Asst. Design Editors Erin McGovern Alessandra Manukian Hannah Potts Designers

Advertising information: Send us a letter?

320 Laws Hall

11:00 a.m.

Join a discussion on faculty learning communities (FLCs).

Pre-Architecture + Interior Design Fair Virtual Come hear from recruiters from CR archtects, CSO and RWA architects.

5:30 p.m. 6:30 p.m.

Owen Berg Style Editor Jessica Robinson Humor Editor

Asst. Campus & Community Editors

Proposing & Facilitating an FLC

David Kwiatkowski Entertainment Editor Maggie Peña Sean Scott Asst. Entertainment Editors

Tues

Racial Reconciliation Virtual

Join the university libraries for a talk about bringing light to past racial trauma.

2/1

12:00 p.m.

Megan McConnell Social Media Editor Madeline Phaby Food Editor

carlintm@miamioh.edu eic@miamistudent.net

The Miami Student is published biweekly during the school year by the students of Miami University in Oxford, Ohio.

Wed 2/2

OMEA Preview Hall Auditorium Come listen to a musical preview from the Miami Wind Ensemble and Men’s Glee Club.

7:30 p.m.

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.

“Traditional Move-in” with COVID-19 testing required for spring semester CONTINUED FROM FRONT up, and it was spread out over the weekend which was helpful,” Ogot said. “When you come from out-of-state, sometimes you can’t pick super close [flight] days to when the move-in date is, and [move-in this year] was only on Sunday, so I couldn’t access the dorm before then.”

Large also noted that move-in was a unique collaboration across departments. “[The office of] residence life worked re-

ally closely with our Dean of Students Office and Health Services, and our COVID managers, and we were all in constant communication with each other that day, and kept the wheels turning behind the scenes in a really neat way,” Large said. “So from an overall high level perspective, I would say I think it went very well.”

This semester, Miami University’s COVID-19 dashboard will update every Tuesday and Friday with the most recent statistics, including active cases and a seven-day moving average. The university no longer reports advisory levels for individual residence halls.

On Jan. 24, the university reported 17 new student cases for a seven-day moving average

of 15 cases per day. Employees saw less positive cases, with three new infections and an average of 2.9 per day.

Vaccination rates hold steady at 92% for Oxford students, 91% for Oxford faculty and 86% for Oxford staff. At the regional campuses, 78% of students and 85% of faculty and staff are vaccinated.

Four students are currently in university isolation, with 124 additional beds available if cases rise in the coming weeks.

QUESTION OF THE DAY: Are you concerned about classes potentially going online?

JENNA CALDERÓN STAFF WRITER

REAGAN RUDE ASST. CAMPUS & COMMUNITY EDITOR David Berent, senior computer science major: “I am pretty concerned because if classes go online I feel like I won’t learn very much because when it was online last time I did not like computer science classes.”

Victoria Lopez-Rangel, junior Spanish and speech pathology and audiology major: “I’m not concerned about classes being online. Since I don’t live on campus … I haven’t really heard much about people being in quarantine or cases rising. But if they do go online, I don’t think I’ll mind since I do commute to campus. But I do like

2/4

Mon 2/7

Have Americans Lost Faith in Democracy?

Virtual Join Dr. John Forren for a discussion of recent evidence that Americans are losing confidence in democracy.

12:00 p.m.

Safe Zone Training 101 Virtual Join the CSDI for this course designed to educate on LGBTQ+ experiences.

2:00 p.m.

@cosettegunter guntercr@miamioh.edu

COVID-19 dashboard update STAFF REPORT

Fri

face-to-face better.”

Kat Clubb, senior social work major: “I’m not worried about classes going online because I really don’t think they will, but because we’ve had online classes before, I’m not worried about them going online.”

Samantha Nichols, marketing major: “A little. I don’t really wanna go online. I really like in-person, it’s just easier to learn.”

Christina Auck, zoology and music performance major: “Yes and no. I’m a music major, so it is very difficult to pursue my major online … It was a fear going into the semester, but it seems pretty stable in the sense that we have a lot of access to COVID testing and vaccines and all that, so I’m willing to bet that we’ll stay in-person.”

Class structure to look much like the fall amid COVID-19 surge CONTINUED FROM FRONT Pope said she is cognizant of the risks of becoming infected with COVID-19 when teaching in person but feels that she takes adequate measures to protect herself and others. “[COVID-19] is in the back of my mind, but I feel that I’m engaged in safe practices,” Pope said. “I try to model [social distancing, mask wearing, etc.] for my students.”

Like some faculty, many students also prefer in-person instruction.

Sidra Capriolo, a junior psychology and Spanish double major, has both online and in-person courses this semester. She said she learns better in a face-to-face environment but appreciates the convenience her online classes offer.

“It’s kind of convenient to be online as an off-campus student just because I don’t have to walk all the way to campus and back,” Capriolo said.

Because Capriolo is vaccinated and not immunocompromised, she feels comfortable attending classes in person.

While many students prefer being in-person, views are divided on whether online

courses should be synchronous or asynchronous.

Capriolo said she likes synchronous format better because of the structure it provides.

“I have a lot of responsibilities outside of class,” Capriolo said. “Finding time to not only do homework for my other classes but also learn everything for my asynchronous ones was really hard.”

Sydney Cain, a junior psychology and theater double major, said she enjoys the freedom that asynchronous classes provide.

“It was nice to be able to move at your own pace and do what you needed to do,” Cain said. “And Zoom fatigue is definitely a real thing, so a synchronous setting was really hard for me.”

As Miami students and faculty enter their fifth semester since the onset of COVID-19, many harbor ambivalent feelings of frustration and acceptance.

“I want things to go back to where they were before, but at the same time, I feel I’ve adapted [to it],” Capriolo said.

“I’m so sick of COVID and everything that it has caused, but I’m not sure if it will ever truly go away.” rudere@miamioh.edu

THURSDAY, JANUARY 27, 2022

3

Talawanda community left waiting as employee investigation continues

Student organizations move forward with in-person meetings CLAIRE LORDAN ASST. MAGAZINE EDITOR

THE INVESTIGATION INTO A TALAWANDA MIDDLE SCHOOL STAFF MEMBER ACCUSED OF INAPPROPRIATELY TOUCHING A STUDENT IS ONGOING. PHOTO BY TALAWANDA SCHOOL DISTRICT

REAGAN RUDE ASSISTANT CAMPUS & COMMUNITY EDITOR A month and a half after a female Talawanda Middle School (TMS) student came forward about being inappropriately touched by a staff member, the investigation has brought few updates and no charges have been filed.

The Oxford Police Department (OPD) was called to the school in response to the incident and opened an investigation. OPD Lieutenant Lara Fening said the investigation is still open, so she was unable to comment on its progress.

Dustin Lema, the girl’s father, said he feels that the OPD investigation is being handled poorly.

“It’s almost as if they don’t take the complaint seriously,” Lema said.

“They’re saying ‘Yes, we believe you,’ but at the same time, they’re not willing to go out and do what needs to be done to stop it.”

Lema said although his family has received a lot of support from the community, the process has weighed heavily on his daughter, and she has repeatedly asked to stay home from school due to stress and bullying. “[The bullies] are not doing it in the sense of ac-

tually supporting [the accused teacher],” Lema said.

“They’re doing it just to get under her skin, and I don’t think they realize the severity of what’s going on.”

Despite his frustration with the investigation, Lema appreciates the efforts of the TMS administration.

“Principal Mike Malone has been very supportive,” Lema said. “He’s gone out of his way during the school day to go and check on her.”

Lema also thanked Dennis Malone, the director of Human Resources at Talawanda, who immediately placed the teacher on paid administrative leave following the report.

Holli Morrish, director of communications and public engagement for Talawanda School District, wrote a statement on Dec. 7 informing the community of the ongoing investigation.

“The district takes all allegations seriously,” the statement read. “The safety and well-being of students remains the highest priority of the Talawanda School District.”

Morrish said she and the Talawanda administration are not permitted to comment on open investigations.

Lema said the most im-

portant thing that he wants from the school board is to switch the teacher’s leave from paid to unpaid.

“Since [my daughter] has come out, there have been several other girls to file complaints as well,” Lema said. “With the numbers that there are now, it’s just ridiculous that they can justify him being on paid leave.”

While The Miami Student was unable to find additional police reports against the TMS employee, other members of the Talawanda community spoke out about their similar experiences.

According to Morrish, there is no time limit for how long a teacher may be placed on paid administrative leave, meaning the teacher could potentially remain on it even if the investigation continues for months or years.

Lema also feels that the school district should be responsible for providing counseling services for the girls that have come forward, especially those who cannot afford to pay out of pocket.

“Some of these girls have gone years without speaking with anyone about what had happened,” Lema said. “We’re starting to see firsthand the effect that it has had on them.”

Lema spoke at the Board of Education meeting Monday night to share his grievances and request that the school board comply with his demands.

“Instead of the teacher/coach being punished, the victims were made to feel like they were the ones being punished for telling on him,” Lema said at the meeting. “My question to you is why? Why was this covered up?”

Lema said he will continue to advocate for the victims until all those involved are held accountable.

“These girls deserve justice, and justice is what they will get.”

Reports of bullying/ harassment at Talawanda School District can be made here. Harassment, bullying, and assault of any kind should be reported to a teacher, counselor, or administrator.

Sexual assault survivors who wish to report an incident can contact the Oxford Police Department at 513-523-4321, the Coordinator of Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Program at 513-529-1870 and any athletic coaches, academic or student organization advisor. rudere@miamioh.edu

Student organizations at Miami University are planning to meet in person this semester despite encouragement from the administration to hold virtual meetings when possible.

“If you are part of a student organization or planning an event through an office or department, we encourage you to plan for virtual and hybrid options when possible,” the COVID Response Team wrote in an email on Jan. 12.

While the university has discouraged professors from moving in-person classes to a virtual option, instead promoting masks and social distancing, its stance on extracurriculars differs.

Kimberly Vance, director of Student Life, urged student organizations to consider students not comfortable with in-person meetings.

“What we’ve said is kind of what we said last semester, which is to encourage students to think about the fact that some people may not feel comfortable coming back in person,” Vance said. “If it works to have a virtual option, do it.”

Despite encouragement to provide students with virtual or hybrid meeting options, Vance understands the greater accessibility in-person meetings provide students attempting to join new organizations, citing the decision to hold Mega Fair in person this spring.

“Everybody has signed up and wants to participate in Mega Fair,” Vance said. “And they do not want to do that virtually … but [if] they happen to test positive the night before Mega Fair, we don’t want them to come. So that group needs to be diligent about providing another way.”

Regardless of if student organizations choose to meet virtually or in person, Vance hopes students consider all perspectives when making plans for the spring semester.

“Just be thoughtful,” Vance said. “If you’re sick, don’t participate. Test yourself if you’re concerned, or sign up to get tested.”

Some student organizations cannot modify meetings for a virtual format.

Trent James, a senior biology and premedical studies double major and co-president of the club gymnastics team, has worked to provide members with other socially distanced options.

“There’s not really any way that we can do it,” James said.

“I know a couple people still

use their home gyms and are close enough to commute, but regardless you have to go into a gym either way.”

Though the team worked around past COVID guidelines, the majority of members are itching to continue with business as usual.

“People are a lot happier [meeting in person] especially people that were on the team before,” James said. “They definitely felt that lack of motivation to practice because there was nothing we were practicing for.”

Delaney Ross-Shannon, a senior history major and co-president of the club gymnastics team, hopes that returning to in-person practices will provide the team with a camaraderie missing during the pandemic.

“Everyone’s really excited about being in person,” Ross-Shannon said. “Two years ago, when we were all sent home, it was really hard to be a team…freshmen and sophomores didn’t leave their dorms. I think doing this in person allows people to make other friends.”

Ross-Shannon hopes the university follows suit.

“I think if you can meet in person, that is the best,” Ross-Shannon said. “College is where you make your closest friends, so I think it’s really important to encourage [friendships].”

Sarah Marsh, inclusive special education major and president of Best Buddies, which pairs college students with people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Butler County, knows all too well the limitations of virtual meetings.

“We are a social organization, not a service learning organization or a volunteer organization,” Marsh said. “As the rest of the world knows, it’s incredibly hard to socialize online. Our club really thrives on personal connections, and getting to hug people and talk to people.”

Marsh also urges people to consider the isolation felt by members of vulnerable communities, and the impact of in-person gatherings.

“For us, [COVID] was a really shocking experience that made us think about social connection and what it means to be close to people,” Marsh said.

“But for people with disabilities … a lot of them live their life like that, in social isolation and unable to do the things they want to do without help from others.

Now that that has become a universal experience, it’s really pushed us to advocate for in-person events.” lordance@miamioh.edu

Are you a: • writer • photographer • designer • or illustrator?

Visit miamistudent.net to Join the TMS Team!

Campus and Community

4

THURSDAY, JANUARY 27, 2022

A syllabus week of unfortunate events HANNAH HORSINGTON ASST. MAGAZINE EDITOR Editor’s Note: This story was initially about students who had to delay move-in and/or quarantine for the first week of the semester. In a cruel twist of fate, Hannah found out on Sunday afternoon that she would be the one quarantining for the first week of classes.

To provide a little background, I’ve been in Oxford since Jan. 17, because I wanted to get moved in early. I spent all last semester studying abroad in Luxembourg, and I haven’t been on campus since May, so I wanted to make sure I had time to get adjusted.

I’ve been quarantined while at Miami once before in March. I lived on campus then, so I stayed in the Miami Inn for nine days. I’ve been fully vaccinated since May 1, but I have not gotten the booster yet.

Sunday, Jan. 23 1:09 p.m.

While making lunch and starting my mental list of everything I need to do to prepare for my Monday classes, I get a FaceTime call from one of my housemates.

She tells me that she may have been exposed to COVID and got a test just to be cautious. She tested positive.

We’re not exactly sure what the rest of our housemates will need to do, since this is the first exposure we’ve had while living off-campus. I start to worry.

4:45 p.m.

I get a call from the Butler County Health Department.

I’ve been identified as a close contact of someone who tested positive for COVID. After confirming my name and address, the first thing they ask is whether I am currently taking

classes on a Miami campus.

After saying that yes, I am, they ask if I’ve been vaccinated, when my second dose was and if I’ve received a booster shot.

Yes, I’m vaccinated. My second dose was on May 1. No, I haven’t gotten the booster yet.

And then came the words I had been dreading. I could immediately tell by the tone of the employee’s voice that the news wouldn’t be good.

Because it’s been more than six months since my second dose and I don’t have the booster, I have to quarantine for five days.

5:03 p.m.

I call my parents to let them know what’s going on. They both agree that the situation isn’t ideal, but there’s nothing anyone can do. I just have to wait out my time. At least I can stay in my own house this time instead of trekking across campus to the Miami Inn like last year.

I let myself cry, but not for long. I have to move fast.

5:56 p.m.

I regroup and start emailing my professors. I only have one Canvas site published so far, so I have to get most of their emails off BannerWeb. I explain the situation, apologize and offer to Zoom into class if needed. I feel bad for emailing them after normal working hours – and on a Sunday – so my anxiety starts to skyrocket.

6:35 p.m.

The first professor responds. She offers to put me in touch with a classmate who can help me Zoom in for the first week. She says that she knows it must be frustrating, but she’s grateful that I’m taking the necessary steps to keep everyone safe.

She sends me her COVID-19 FAQ document that

she plans to send out to all her classes, explaining what to do if you test positive. I’m not sure she anticipated having to send it out before the Canvas site was even published, though.

6:57 p.m.

My boyfriend DoorDashes me Taco Bell because he feels bad. A CrunchWrap helps dull the anxiety.

8:03 p.m.

I get a text message from the Butler County Health Department to report any symptoms. I’m required to enter my temperature from this morning, although I didn’t take it, since I wasn’t aware I had been exposed until the afternoon.

I’m not really sure what to do here.

8:10 p.m.

A second professor responds. As with the first professor, she is sympathetic, and tells me that she may send me a Zoom link for class. If not, I just need to read the syllabus.

Easy enough.

No other professors respond tonight (understandably).

Monday, Jan. 24 7:19 a.m.

One of my professors sends out a class announcement asking if anyone is willing to help a quarantined classmate Zoom into class today. I’m extremely grateful for her help, and I think she went about it the best possible way, but I’m also slightly embarrassed. What must my classmates think about this girl who already got herself quarantined?

9:30 a.m.

Even though I haven’t received more information on whether or not I’ll get a Zoom link for my 10:05 a.m. class, I get up and ready just in case.

I could email the professor again and ask, but it’s the first day of classes, and I don’t want to feel like the problem child

already.

When I haven’t received a Zoom by 10:15 a.m., I think it’s safe to assume that I won’t get one and just read the syllabus.

2:21 p.m.

A third professor answers. Once again, she lets me know that she understands the situation, and that everything will be fine.

As long as I complete the assignments on the agenda, I’m good to go.

2:50 p.m.

I Zoom into my ITS 333 class after one of my classmates offers to host the call on her laptop. They set me on a desk so it’s like I’m in my own seat right along with them, and it makes me smile. I get included in class discussions with ease, and it makes me feel immensely better about the situation.

4:49 p.m.

It’s been 24 hours since I was first contacted by the contact tracing department, and I have yet to receive the email with instructions regarding my quarantine, including a letter that I can provide to my professors. I call the department, and get sent to voicemail. The automated message says that the department is open until 8 p.m. and to call back in a few minutes.

5:06 p.m.

I call the contact tracing department again. Still no response.

6:00 p.m.

Another shot at reaching the contact tracing department – no response. Also, there’s no option to leave a voicemail.

As of 6 p.m. on Mon., Jan. 24, I haven’t received any additional information about my quarantine from the Butler County Health Department.

I’m not even positive when exactly it ends. None of my pro-

ASST. DESIGN EDITOR MACEY CHAMBERLIN

fessors have requested proof, although I couldn’t currently provide it even if they asked.

Additionally, I’ve only gotten responses from three out of six professors at this point in time, but I can’t blame them.

It’s the first day of classes, and I’m sure they’ve got a lot of things to handle. It’s nerve wracking, though, not knowing what I’ll have to do for half my classes tomorrow.

My biggest worry, however, is what might happen if a professor doesn’t check their email. If I don’t show up on the first day, will I be dropped from the class?

While all the professors I have heard from are very compassionate and understanding, my anxiety is still at an all-time high.

Wednesday, Jan. 26 4:21 p.m.

I just got off my second, and likely last, Zoom class of the week. Only one professor ended up having me Zoom in, while the rest advised me just to read through the Canvas

site and complete any assignments.

All of my professors responded to my email by Tuesday evening, which was a big relief.

I tried calling the contact tracing department a few more times, and never got a response. I was able to get ahold of someone by calling the general Butler County Health Department number, and she gave me a number to call and ask about getting a letter for my professors. It was the same number I’ve called eight times.

Still no response.

If there was any week to get quarantined, I’m glad it’s this one, since most of my classes haven’t started really diving into the material.

Besides my two quarantines at Miami, I’ve also been quarantined once at home, so I think it’s safe to say that I’ve had my fill of quarantine anxiety. @hannahorsington horsinhp@miamioh.edu

Miami begins changes in residence halls for carbon monoxide safety

DESIGN EDITOR OWEN BERG

MAGGIE PEÑA ASST. CAMPUS & COMMUNITY EDITOR More than two months ago, one Miami University student was hospitalized due to a carbon monoxide leak in Hillcrest Hall.

Now, as students settle into their dorms for the spring semester, they are greeted with a temporary solution — residential, battery-powered monitors — with bigger solutions in the

works.

On Dec. 2, 2021, University Communications sent out an email updating the Miami community on the Hillcrest incident. Working with Prater Engineering, Miami administration determined back in December that “a combination of unrelated factors created a situation in which exhaust from a water heater could be pulled inside the building.”

Cody Powell, associate vice president of Facilities

Planning and Operations, said his team immediately began working to fix this issue both in the moment, to get students back in their rooms as soon and as safely as possible, and in the longterm, implementing permanent solutions over winter break.

In December, Miami installed temporary detectors in Hillcrest, then installed those same monitors in every residence hall. Over J-term, Powell and his team relocat-

ed the exhaust coming from the water heaters at Hillcrest away from the building.

“It looks a little odd the way that we’ve had to bury the pipe and take it out into the yard, but safety is the number one objective here,” Powell said.

Michael Shock, a sophomore marketing and entrepreneurship major, owned the carbon monoxide monitor that alerted students to the leak back in November.

Shock said he came into this semester with an expectation for improvements to have been made, and he’s been relieved to see physical changes.

“I was kind of assuming that the university would be making repairs and everything like that … so it’s been really reassuring to see all the improvements they’ve made,” he said.

Though changes have been made, Shock said he’s still cautious.

“I still have [the home detector] with me,” he said.

“That definitely was a big deal, so we made sure to bring brand new ones with all fresh batteries and everything like that and made sure to talk to my friends about it again as well.”

In an effort to improve

safety on campus, the Associated Student Government (ASG) is planning an air quality audit for all dorms on campus.

Harper Sutton, a dietetics and psychology major and secretary for safety in ASG, said while the organization is willing to collaborate with administration, it’s better for this research to come from students, for students.

“Doing it from a student perspective sort of eliminates some of that behind-thescenes situation where people feel like, ‘Oh, we don’t really know anything,’” Sutton said. “Giving students that opportunity to sort of measure things for themselves and see what the conditions are like where they’re living, I think is really important.”

The audit will measure carbon monoxide levels, formaldehyde, volatile organic compounds, fine air pollutants, dust and humidity in all residence halls. Sutton said her committee has done in-depth research into the efficacy and accuracy of the sensors they will use.

If funding is approved for the audit, ASG will have materials by February 15 and will begin its work that week.

Sutton said they’ll spend a few weeks going through

each hall, potentially going back multiple times for more accurate readings.

The goal is to have a report out by the end of March.

Powell said Miami has hired an engineering firm to remove any water heaters remaining in residence halls, though this project could take years to complete. For now, he hopes students will continue to keep them accountable.

“We encourage students to report things that they’re not sure about or they’re not sure they’re comfortable with, and we’ll follow up every case and review,” he said.

Overall, Powell is looking to the future to improve the living conditions for students across campus.

“It’s always incredibly uncomfortable going through anything where we could have had a bigger problem,” Powell said. “Fortunately, we did not, and so now we’re taking the opportunity to learn from that experience and figure out how we can make the facilities safer.” @maggieloup penaml@miamioh.edu

Miami continuing DEI implimentation this semester ALICE MOMANY STAFF WRITER In June 2020, Miami University President Greg Crawford created a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) task force which compiled a report of 43 recommendations to help create a more welcoming community at Miami. According to the Office of Institutional Diversity and Inclusion (OIDI) Task Force Recommendation Updates page, 22 of those recommendations have been implemented while 20 of them are in progress.

The DEI Task Force organized these recommendations under five pillars: Dialogue and Allyship; Cultural Consciousness; Advocacy and Partnerships; Structural Support and Resources,; and Inclusion and Accountability.

According to Cristina Alcalde, vice president for OIDI, Miami will continue its mis-

sion to advance an inclusive community through policies, initiatives and programming during the spring semester.

“Our DEI efforts remain strong and vital on campus and have been recognized with several national honors,” an email from the University Communications stated.

These honors include the 2021 Excellence in Diversity and Inclusion in International Education award, a 2021 Higher Education Excellence in Diversity award and a 2021 Inspiring Programs in STEM award for the Bridges Program.

“The Presidential DEI Task Force did an amazing job of identifying and recommending areas that continue to move Miami forward on our inclusive excellence path and core commitments to diversity, equity and inclusion,” Alcalde wrote in an email to The Miami Student.

In the fall 2021 semester,

OIDI established an Academic Diversity Officers Leadership Council to embed DEI approaches across committees.

The council addresses Recommendation 5 of the Structural Support and Resources Pillar which ensures shared communication of DEI priorities and initiatives within each academic college and division.

OIDI also created a new religious observances and inclusive scheduling webpage to help avoid scheduling important events, activities and deadlines on observed holidays. The webpage welcomes additions and edits and expands on Recommendation 10 under the Structural Support and Resources Pillar. Recommendation 10 ensures that the University recognizes and acknowledges observed holidays.

The task force examined the use of the land acknowledgement which recognizes the connection between Mi-

ami and the Myaamia people.

They created a land acknowledgement webpage to share its historical significance and added an informational footer to university web pages. This addresses Recommendation 7 under the Structural Support and Resources Pillar which solely focuses on the land acknowledgement.

OIDI expanded their “Behind the Scenes” Town Hall series, which features deans and other guest speakers to provide details on how DEI is incorporated into the practices of each academic division. This falls in line with the Recommendation 3 of the Inclusion and Accountability Pillar.

In February, two new directors will join the OIDI team to expand programming initiatives. OIDI will also welcome undergraduate social media interns and establish a new DEI Student Council to emphasize student perspectives.

This follows Recommenda-

tions 1 and 2 of the Structural Support and Resources Pillar.

OIDI will launch a new DEI Officers Leadership Council for nonacademic units, and in March, a new DEI Module Series Certificate will launch for alumni. The module focuses on DEI knowledge and strategies, and addresses Recommendations 13 and 15 on Structural Support and Resources Pillar as well as Recommendation 4 of the Cultural Consciousness Pillar.

Nikki Lescano, a junior kinesiology and pre-med co-major and president of Alpha Psi Lambda fraternity, appreciates the work OIDI does to increase diversity on campus and its persistence through the pandemic.

“Usually, especially with things like diversity and inclusion, it takes a lot longer to make things happen because there are a lot of different things that come up,” Lescano said.

Lescano enjoys reading the Weekly Three emails from OIDI but hopes to see more partnership between DEI and student organizations in the spring.

“I haven’t seen any collaboration between multicultural and Black Greek life and the DEI task force,’’ Lescano said.

“If there’s not a connection between the two, I think that could be a really great addition.”

Although Alcalde did not say whether OIDI would be partnering with any student organizations, she did say OIDI will continue to build upon its efforts further this semester.

“As we begin the spring semester,” Alcalde wrote, “I continue to be impressed with Miami students, faculty and staff and am even more excited about the possibilities moving forward.” @alicemomany momanyaj@miamioh.edu

THURSDAY, JANUARY 27, 2022

5

Miami to change testing and quarantine guidelines for spring semester

DESIGN EDITOR OWEN BERG, PHOTO BY RAIMOND SPEKKING CC BY-SA 4.0 (VIA WIKIMEDIA COMMONS)

META HOGE THE MIAMI STUDENT In its Jan. 12 email, the Miami University COVID Response Team outlined new guidelines regarding testing and quarantine and isolation going into the spring semester.

According to the email, designated quarantine and isolation spaces on campus are limited and will be prioritized for students living on campus who test positive for COVID-19 and need to isolate.

Any remaining space will be given to students living on campus who have not tested positive and live more than 150 miles from Oxford but need to quarantine due to contact tracing. Those who live within 150 miles from Oxford will be required to quarantine elsewhere, either at home or in a local hotel.

In a press release to The Miami Student sent from Senior Director of News and Communications Jessica Rivinius, Steve Large, Miami’s assistant vice president for Student Life said students should come to campus with a plan for where they would go if they need to isolate.

“Students may want to consider also having a back-up plan in case their first option doesn’t work out,” Large said.

“We empathize with our students for the stress this request brings and are grateful for our students’ ongoing willingness to work together, demonstrate patience and tolerate some temporary ambiguity.”

Changes to testing include a surveillance testing program for asymptomatic students, staff and faculty using saliva samples. These individuals will be randomly selected to participate, and participation

will be free and voluntary. Student Health Services at Harris Hall, in partnership with TriHealth, will continue conducting symptomatic and diagnostic testing.

Rivinius said Miami will continue to follow Center for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines. Close contacts will not be required to test negative before going to classes but should follow the CDC’s recommendations on exposure.

“If you’re exposed but you know you’re boosted or you just recently finished your second vaccination or completed that course, then you need to wear a mask around others for ten days, which shouldn’t be a problem at Miami because we are all required to wear masks, and then test on day five as possible,” Rivinius said.

In the release, Director of Miami’s public health pro-

gram Kendall Leser added that students who test positive need to wear a mask and isolate regardless of vaccination status.

“All students who test positive for COVID need to wear a well-fitted mask for a full 10 days from the time they first experience symptoms or test positive,” Leser said. “Vaccination and booster shot status does not play a role into how long a person needs to isolate if they test positive for the virus.”

In an email to The Student, Rivinius wrote students living on campus who test positive can return to their residence halls before 10 days, provided they have improved symptoms, are fever-free for 24 hours without fever-reducing medications and test negative on an antigen test.

“Negative results must be uploaded to MedProctor and the student must email covidqandi@miamioh.edu for a case manager to verify that the student can return to class and on-campus housing,” Rivinius wrote.

She emphasized in the release that these new guidelines regarding testing and quarantine and isolation may continue to change.

“We continue to follow guidance from the CDC and public health officials and experts at the state, county and campus level,” Rivinius said.

“As with everything in this ongoing pandemic, that guidance can shift, change and evolve with new information and data.”

The COVID Response Team will continue to provide updates by weekly emails and Miami’s COVID-19 website. @meta__hoge hogemh@miamioh.edu

Miami looks to boost mental health services with new fee SEAN SCOTT ASST. CAMPUS & COMMUNITY EDITOR Jayne Brownell remembers a time when Miami University students who reached out to the Student Counseling Service could schedule an intake appointment within one to two business days.

Last semester, though, the Vice President for Student Life saw wait times balloon to seven to 10 days for an initial appointment.

“When we came back last year, we saw more demand than we ever had before,” Brownell said. “But it wasn’t just numbers. It was also people wanting more sessions than they had before. [We saw students with] more complexity of issues that they were bringing than before.”

Since the start of the pandemic, concerns over student depression, anxiety and suicidal thoughts have increased across all ages. At Miami, social isolation and the pandemic lifestyle have manifested in a higher volume of students seeking out mental health services and academic accommodations.

Following a new $50 per semester mental health fee for students passed by the Board of Trustees at its December meeting, though, Miami’s mental health resources could get a boost as early as next fall if the Ohio Chancellor of Education approves it.

The fee, which would not impact current students under Miami’s Tuition Promise, would amount to $425,000 per year per class of students to invest in additional resources within the Student Counseling Service and the Miller Center for Student Disability Services.

To help lower wait times and alleviate stress on current employees, Brownell said a majority of funding would go toward hiring new personnel. The Student Counseling Service currently has a student-to-staff ratio of 1,400 to one, while the Miller Center provides service to 570 students per staff member, nearly four times higher than the recommended ratio of 150 to one.

“The vast majority is

DESIGN EDITOR OWEN BERG

people,” Brownell said.

“Everything we do in student affairs is staff-heavy.

You just need the people to do it.”

Liz Browning, a junior English and professional writing double major, reached out to counseling services for the first time last spring. After her initial consultation, which she says took a couple weeks to schedule, she waited a month for her first appointment.

“For me, it wasn’t a life or death situation, and I was still able to live as close to normal life as possible without that assistance and help,” Browning said.

“But I do remember thinking, ‘I’m sure there’s other people with more severe mental illnesses that might need immediate help.’”

While Browning had a positive experience and continued to book appointments last semester, she said the university doesn’t advertise its mental health resources as well as it could. Between her first consultation and her first appointment, for example, she went to group therapy sessions, an option she said not many students know about.

“Some people are not aware of the specifics of just

what therapy is,” Browning said. “I’d say that it’s kind of 50/50 on that. People know a decent amount [about Student Counseling Services], but not as much as they probably should in order to take advantage of that resource.”

John Ward, director of the Student Counseling Service, said clinicians prioritize high-risk patients so those who need immediate help don’t have to wait weeks to get it.

Still, increasing demand for sessions forced him and his team to restructure their services midway through the fall semester. Clinicians dedicated more time slots to initial consultations than follow-up sessions to meet the large number of students seeking help.

With the proposed fee, his team wouldn’t have to compromise.

“I am excited beyond the Student Counseling Service … that we’re thinking more comprehensively about mental health care for our students,” Ward said.

“What that fee really creates is an opportunity for multiple offices to address mental health care.”

In the first year, Brownell said the new fee could help fund two additional counselors, a disabil-

ity accommodations coordinator, a health educator, a health education coordinator and a care manager to help connect students to outside resources for longterm or complex care.

As more students paid the fee, the care manager position would split into two separate care managers, one in the Dean of Students office and one in the Student Counseling Service.

“There’s the crisis itself, and then it could be weeks and months of follow-up after the crisis,” Brownell said. “The end of crisis doesn’t mean that the student is good to go and fine and having no more problems. They’re through that moment and still need support.”

Students can schedule an in-person initial consultation with the Student Counseling Service by calling 513-524-4634 from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. Counselors also offer teletherapy options for students who prefer to meet virtually or are sick with COVID-19 or other illnesses. Students can also apply for academic accommodations through the Miller Center online. scottsr2@miamioh.edu

McCulloughHyde’s ICU beds at 50% capacity MEGHNA SANTRA STAFF WRITER McCullough-Hyde Memorial Hospital’s intensive care unit (ICU), which contains four beds, is working at 50% capacity, as of Jan. 26, said Michael Everett, president and chief operating officer of TriHealth.

That number has dropped from its previous 100% capacity rate last week.

Currently, there are six active patients with COVID-19 at McCullough-Hyde.

Everett said there is a rolling TriHealth 14-day positivity rate of 37% for Oxford.

Following Everett’s report of COVID-19 statistics on Jan. 4, the Oxford City Council discussed passing the Emergency Face Covering Ordinance, which would require face coverings inside any public space within Oxford, to reduce the spread of COVID-19.

During the meeting, Councilor David Prytherch said the statistics demonstrated the importance of acting on reducing the transmission of COVID-19.

“We’ve got a major wave of infections.

Not only is it disruptive to our hospitals, we’re going to have staffing problems. This is going to be economically really harmful,” Prytherch said. “I see a lot of health safety and general welfare justification for doing something.”

Prytherch believes the Emergency Face Covering Ordinance may help lighten the load of McCullough-Hyde.

“What I heard from McCullough-Hyde is we’re in a situation that is a stress on our medical system right now,” Prytherch said.

“To not act might be to abdicate responsibility, and I want to do anything as a council.

[An emergency face covering ordinance] is an imperfect measure … but if it makes some difference and keeps some people out of McCullough-Hyde, and keeps some people at work, and keeps our kids in school, I think it’s worth it.”

To help combat the overflow of patients, Everett said hospitals in the TriHealth system have been using system calls. These calls help balance the patient loads between hospitals.

“With our affiliations and being part of the TriHealth system,” Everett said, “we’re part of a large health system – that opens up beds if we need them to move patients between the hospitals if one hospital gets to the point where they don’t have the capacity, so we’re never really out of an ICU bed per se right now.”

System calls are typically done on a daily basis, with additional calls being implemented depending on how busy a hospital within the TriHealth system is. During these calls, health officials ask other hospitals if they have open beds available for them to move their patients to.

Due to the present surge in cases, TriHealth hospitals are doing system calls twice a day — one at 6:30 a.m. and another at 6:30 p.m.

Everett noted that most of the hospital bed requests are not from the ICU but rather medical surgery beds.

“It doesn’t necessarily mean that all of the patients need to be hospitalized,” Everett said. “Most times, they are given whatever medications depending on their conditions, they’re given different treatments.”

Besides system calls, TriHealth has opened up their urgent care and made use of drive-through testing for COVID-19 to limit overloading the ICU units within its hospitals. To access a test, residents can go to the front office or the urgent care department of their local TriHealth hospital.

Increased access to COVID-19 tests in Ohio might be possible in the future as Ohio deploys the National Guard to increase COVID-19 testing locations.

Everett said the Ohio National Guard would make the biggest difference by doing so in the most populous surrounding communities. He said he does not believe Oxford needs the National Guard’s assistance yet.

“Between the urgent care and the drivethrough testing and our emergency department, we’ve got a lot of testing set up,” Everett said. “I know we do testing as well in Miami University, so there’s a lot of areas set up for that testing so I don’t really ever foresee us needing them in Oxford to help with testing because that part is wellstaffed.”

However, he said Oxford will need the Ohio National Guard’s assistance if the hospital runs out of resources and can no longer provide testing and care.

Currently, Everett does not know if COVID-19 tests provided through the drivethrough system will be free.

“We’ve not turned anyone away,” Everett said. “Whatever that insurance piece is, I try not to get into that part. We have a whole other cycle for that.”

Overall, Everett wants to be clear that Oxford is capable of handling the spike in cases.

“Given that we’re a part of TriHealth and a large system, and we’ve actively managed this now for the last two years, we’ve got a playbook,” Everett said. “We know what to do, we’ve refined it, and we’ve got good resilience.” santram@miamioh.edu

Campus and Community

6

THURSDAY, JANUARY 27, 2022

Where Miami students can get COVID-19 tests SEAN SCOTT ASST. CAMPUS & COMMUNITY EDITOR As Miami University students flood back to campus and COVID-19 cases average 16,000 a day in Ohio, demand for testing has never been higher.

In Oxford, students and residents have several resources available to get tested. With shifting availability at stores and limited supplies, though, it can be difficult to keep track of where to go for specific testing needs.

With that in mind, The Miami Student has collected some locations in Oxford that currently offer tests. All locations are subject to change as high demand makes it hard for stores to keep testing kits on their shelves.

Walgreens Walgreens stocks at-home COVID-19 test kits, though high demand means the kits may not be available at all times. The store cannot confirm test availability over the phone, so students and residents interested in buying tests have to inquire at the store itself.

CVS Pharmacy - Students and community members can find COVID-19 tests in stores and online at CVS, though day-to-day availability fluctuates due to high demand.

Additionally, CVS offers drivethrough testing to qualified residents who register online.

Drive-through testing is typically free, though customers should verify their health plans ahead of time and make sure their insurance covers testing.

The Oxford location only offers PCR tests at the drive-through.

While more accurate than rapid tests, PCR test results can take one to three days.

Walmart - Students and residents can purchase Abbott BinaxNow tests at Walmart when available. Like other stores,

however, high demand means the tests aren’t always available.

The store currently limits sales to 6 testing kits per customer, whether online or in-person.

Miami University - Miami will continue to offer Abbott BinaxNow tests to students with Miami IDs at three locations this semester: Armstrong Student Center, King Library and the Recreation Center.

Due to high demand, these locations will only offer two tests per person per request. Students do not have to pay for tests from the university.

The university will also use wide-net surveillance testing this semester for asymptomatic students, faculty and staff, though no one is required to participate.

Any student experiencing symptoms should call 513-5293000 to schedule a diagnostic test at the Student Health Center in Harris Hall.

COVIDtests.gov - A new government initiative to supply U.S. citizens with free at-home tests launched last Thursday.

The website offers a one-time shipment of four tests per address which take 7-12 days to ship.

Because the website offers a limited number of tests based on street address, off-campus students should discuss their plans for testing with housemates before ordering any tests. Since the university also offers tests to students for free, on-campus residents who want faster results should make use of campus resources before ordering tests online.

For Oxford residents who need quick access to tests and can’t wait for the website’s stated 7-12 days, the Ohio Department of Health has an online tool to find free testing sites nearby. scottsr2@miamioh.edu DESIGN EDITOR OWEN BERG

Miami students discuss Ohio’s introduced abortion ban

ASST. DESIGN EDITOR MACEY CHAMBERLIN

EMMA WILCOX THE MIAMI STUDENT Roe v. Wade, the landmark decision federally legalizing abortion made almost 50 years ago, has been drawing national attention as discussions swirl about a potential overturning. Many in Ohio are watching their own state legislature as it considers a comprehensive abortion ban.

Just weeks after the Texas “heartbeat” bill passed, Ohio House Republicans proposed the “2363 Act” which would effectively ban abortion in Ohio. Similar to the Texas legislation, the bill allows for civil action to be brought against any person who performs an abortion or aids in the pursuit of the procedure.

Texas banned abortion after the detection of a fetal heartbeat, which typically occurs around six weeks of pregnancy.

The legislation of Ohio House Bill 480, the official name for the bill, states, “No person shall purposely perform or attempt to perform an abortion.” The bill does

not allow any exceptions for rape or incest.

Representative Jena Powell introduced the 2363 Act, named for the number of “children lost to abortion every day in the United States,” according to the bill.

In 2019, the CDC reports there were 629,898 legal induced abortions reported from 49 states.

According to that estimate, there is an average of 1,726 abortions a day.

In a public statement released Nov. 2, Planned Parenthood wrote, “House Bill 480 is clearly unconstitutional and is in direct conflict with the nearly 50 years of Supreme Court jurisprudence since Roe v. Wade that has continuously and systematically upheld the right to abortion.”

The public statement included a statement from Lauren Blauvelt-Copelin, vice president of Government Affairs and Public Advocacy at Planned Parenthood Advocates of Ohio.

“Banning abortion would be catastrophic to communities across Ohio,” Blauvelt-Copelin wrote. “Lawmakers and anti-abor-

tion vigilantes have no business making personal medical decisions for their neighbors.”

Last year, the cities of Lebanon and Mason passed their own abortion bans despite not having any abortion clinics within either city’s limits. Mason’s abortion ban was later repealed in December.

For the Republican legislators who proposed the bill, the passage of Ohio House Bill 480 will be a landmark piece of legislation.

Sidra Capriolo, a junior psychology and Spanish double major, pointed out the unique difficulties college students face when it comes to accessing abortion services or raising a child while in school.

“It’s not like there are scholarships for having children,” Capriolo said. “It’s not like pro-life groups are paying for your medical expenses. That’s just not something that happens. [Those seeking abortions] also might not have a car or a friend or family member who’s able to drive them to a different state.”

Capriolo points out that accessing the medical care necessary to

receive an abortion or carry a child to term poses obstacles for college students. She said students often do not have access to a car, live near an abortion clinic or work part time.

have proven to be more risky.”

Sara Miller, president of Miami University’s chapter of Students for Life, expressed support for the 2363 Act. “There has been a lot of discussion and back-and-forth of what is constitutional and what isn’t,” Miller said, “but I think Texas has set a precedent.”

Several other states have recently introduced or passed legislation restricting access to abortion. Miller cites the Arkansas Unborn Child Protection Act as well as anti-abortion legislation passed in Texas, Alabama, Louisiana and Utah as serving as inspiration for the Ohio lawmakers proposing House Bill 480.

Religious beliefs are often cited as an argument against abortion, but Kaitlin Fisher, junior speech pathology and audiology major, points to the Bible as one of the reasons she is pro-choice.

“There’s only one passage in the Bible that mentions abortion and it gives directions on how to give an abortion,” Fisher said.

“And there’s more passages that say you become a person when you first breathe air. So not until you are born are you human, and that is straight from the Bible.”

Fisher also expressed concern about the varying abortion legislation between the states.

“I just feel like we’re going to get to a point in society where high school graduates and young people looking at grad schools are going to have to look at the reproductive rights of the states when deciding where to go to college,” Fisher said, “because college stu-

“There has been a lot of discussion and back-and-forth of what is constitutional and what isn’t, but I think Texas has set a precedent.”

- Sara Miller Capriolo outlined the risks imposed on women with limited access to reproductive care.

“They don’t really have choices,” Capriolo said. “If they can’t get to a clinic in southwestern Ohio and if they don’t have the time or money or resources to get to a clinic somewhere out of the state they might look for alternatives such as at-home abortions. Things that

dents are of reproductive age and not everyone has the money or the opportunity to travel out of state to get an abortion if they need one.”

House Bill 480 has not yet passed in Ohio and may face legal challenges in court if it does. wilcoxee@miamioh.edu

THURSDAY, JANUARY 27, 2022

7

Shifting gears: Student by day, drag racer by night

tion.

Her family has been in the industry for about 65 years, and she’s a third-generation racer behind her grandfather, dad and uncles.

In the 1960s, her grandfather, Jeg Coughlin, Sr., started JEGS High Performance: a speed shop that sold parts with a garage on the side. Now located in Delaware, OH, they ship highperformance parts worldwide to people looking to restore old muscle cars or upgrade current vehicles.

Coughlin started working there when she was a senior in high school and will continue to do so after graduation.

PAIGE COUGHLIN PERFORMS A DELICATE BALANCING ACT BETWEN BEING A SENIOR IN COLLEGE AND A TRAVELING DRAG RACER. PHOTOS BY REAGAN BRADFORD “It’s been a family-centered business,” she said.

She only needs to focus for an eighth JENNA CALDERÓN But even before then, Coughlin of a mile to get to the finish line.

STAFF WRITER “You know how to win a race, so was involved in the racing world.

“It’s really exciting because you why don’t you go out and do it?” she Paige Coughlin sits behind the can get pretty much almost every wheel of her race car, the engine says to herself. age involved [and both] guys and Coughlin is a senior strategic revving under the hood. Hands on girls,” she said. the wheel, she surveys her array of communication and professional At just 14 years old, she startwriting major at Miami University. buttons and levers. ed racing in the National Hot Rod She’s a member of Phi Sigma Sigma She calls this her “office.”

Association (NHRA) under the Jr. The whole world goes still. She and even showed with the equestriDrag Racing League. By 16, she’d an team for a couple years. hears nothing even as the motor moved up to a bigger and faster car She’s also a drag racer. loudly purrs right in front of her. that she could race nationally but The concept of drag racing is As she waits for the light to turn still stayed mostly in the Midwest. green, she feels the pressure weigh simple. Two cars line up next to Now, she’s raced all across the each other.

The race starts when the on her shoulders: she’s there to country and is ready to move onto represent her sponsors, her family light turns green. Whoever crosses something that nobody in her famthe finish line first, wins. name and herself. ily has done before.

But to Coughlin, racing is more She takes a few deep breaths.

Coughlin decided to leave the than just a sport. It’s a family tradi-

NHRA and dragsters behind and transition to something completely new: no-prep racing.

This means an eighth mile race instead of a quarter mile one. The cars mimic street-legal vehicles, and the race happens on a surface that isn’t prepped with glue or rubber to make it sticky.

This year, she’ll be racing a 1992 Procharged Camaro named Golden Child. In February and March she’ll start testing it out, and the official races will begin around the end of April, which will have her traveling all around the country while she finishes her senior year.

Races run from Friday to Sunday and are nationwide with the potential for back-to-back weekends.

This means she could be traveling across the country with only a week to get to her next destination.

Coughlin’s dad is a three-time world champion in the NHRA, so she’s used to traveling and taking her work on the road with her. Now that she’s in college, juggling school work and racing has proven more difficult, but she’s excited to make it work.

“To me it’s not like a hobby,” she said. “This is my career. I gotta show up.”

In addition to her classes, she needs a lot of time in her car and a lot of media training. Coughlin is working toward getting on the Discovery Channel show “Street Outlaws: No Prep Kings.”

To earn your spot on the show, you need to be good on camera and with social media, and even better in the driver’s seat. But most importantly, you need an offer from one of the teams on the show.

Coming from a long line of well-known racers, Coughlin has received a lot of backlash from people on social media stating that her family name will be enough to make her successful.

She disagrees.

“You have to prove your worth,” she said.

In fact, Coughlin has already received an offer from one of the teams but can’t disclose whether she’ll be accepting it.

For now, she remains in what’s called the “future class,” showing off her skills both on camera and on the track while she attempts to catch the audience’s attention.

“It’s going to take time and baby steps, but I think it’s definitely achievable,” Coughlin said. calderjm@miamioh.edu

Hidden gems of Oxford: Oxford Lanes SHR-HUA MOORE ASST. CAMPUS & COMMUNITY EDITOR Miami University’s campus has plenty of venues for student sports.

For ice skating and hockey, people go to Goggin Ice Center.

For basketball, students use the Rec Center’s spacious gym. Tennis courts are easy to find on campus, and it’s common to see all kinds of sports happening on Cook Field.

But for bowling, on-campus students have nothing.

Luckily, there’s a spot near the outskirts of Oxford that provides that and more.

Oxford Lanes is the only bowling alley in Oxford, located at 4340 Oxford Reily Rd. It offers bowling lanes, food and a bar.

Makenna Linkey is a senior majoring in psychology and social work, and she was previously the vice president and interim president of Club Bowling at Miami. She said the team practiced at Oxford Lanes because of its location and amenities.

“It’s absolutely amazing from a technological standpoint,” Linkey said. “There’s an app called Specto that works with sensors on the lanes to track things like where the ball’s break point is, what board it is hitting and when. There’s so much data that from a practice standpoint [that] it’s amazing to give you so much information on how you’re doing.”

The person responsible for the sensors at the bowling alley is Andrew Nieman, who has been the proprietor of Oxford Lanes since 2004. He’s been involved with the bowling alley since childhood.

“My parents bowled here when I was a kid,” Nieman said.

“They bowled with the guy who trained [the previous owner] on a bunch of machines and mechanical works. So that helped create an intimate connection when I started working here in college.”

In addition to running the

Oxford will once again require masks this semester SEAN SCOTT ASST. CAMPUS & COMMUNITY EDITOR After weeks of discussion and setbacks, Oxford City Council voted to reenact a city-wide mask mandate at its Jan. 18 meeting, effective immediately.

The measure passed as an emergency ordinance, meaning it needed the support of six out of seven councilors to pass but will not need to be revisited at the next meeting.

At the Jan. 4 meeting, Councilor Glenn Ellerbe voiced his dissent for the measure, saying it was not in Council’s power to legislate behavior.

His dissent, along with Councilor Jason Bracken’s absence, was enough to block the ordinance’s passage until the next meeting.

“The only way that you know if you’re safe from this is if you stay home,” Ellerbe said at this week’s meeting.

In addition to the mask mandate, Council passed a resolution recommending that residents get vaccinated and wear masks in public indoor spaces. While the resolution encourages but does not require masks indoors, the emergency ordinance’s requirement of indoor masking applies until March 1.

Ellerbe joined the other councilors in unanimously passing the resolution, a measure he suggested at last week’s meeting.

“I am not against masks or vaccines, in fact it’s the opposite,” Ellerbe said. “I want everybody in this town to be vaccinated.”

While past mask ordinances in Oxford have loosely defined what would fulfill the face covering requirement, the original draft of the Jan. 18 ordinance defined face masks as “three-ply surgical mask[s], KN95 masks or N 95 masks.” Cloth masks, bandanas and gaiters were excluded.

Councilors David Prytherch and Chantel Raghu spoke against the refined definition because of limited access to specific types of masks.

“There’s an equity problem there,” Raghu said. “Not everyone has access to the best mask.”

Prytherch proposed an amendment

“Beacuse we have waited until now to vote on this, it looks like we’re doing this solely beacuse the students are returning, and that is not true.”

- Alex French

OXFORD LANES PROVIDES A SPACE FOR MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY TO BOWL TO THEIR HEARTS’ CONENT. PHOTO EDITOR ZACH REICHMAN

business, Nieman also plays an active role in helping coach players.

“I will happily coach anyone who asks me questions,” Nieman said. “I take a lot of extra classes and courses on bowling coaching, and I try to pick all the good pieces from different programs when I coach people.”

Linkey said that Nieman helps out a lot with the college team as a coach. “[Nieman] is a United States Bowling Congress (USBC) silver certified coach, and he’s technically our coach for the team,” Linkey said. “With his expertise and knowledge from other members on the team, we can combine our knowledge bases and it’s an absolutely wonderful learning experience.”

Nieman coaches more than just Miami’s Club Bowling team.

Owen West Poley is a senior at Talawanda High School and is a member of the Talawanda bowling team, which Nieman also coaches. “[Nieman] puts his whole heart into this,” West Poley said.

“It’s his life, and you can tell by the organization and experience that you have at the lanes.”

The bowling alley isn’t just for bowling teams, however. It welcomes people from all walks of life, hosting multiple recreational leagues, open bowling sessions and an after-school program for middle school students on Wednesday afternoons.

“One of my favorite things about [Oxford Lanes] is the customers,” Nieman said. “We get a variety of people that come through the door — social groups, churches, frats — and even people from around the world.”

Fraternities are one of the more prominent groups that use the Oxford Lanes for fun. Conal Demian is a senior majoring in journalism and entrepreneurship who bowls with Phi Kappa Phi most weeks. He said it was a good way to get off campus and have fun.

“Being a senior, I don’t get out of Oxford a lot and there’s really not much to do here in frat life besides school, friends

and going out,” he said. “Everything’s in a one-mile radius and even just driving 5 minutes to go bowling is good to do something different.”

Demian also said that the people at Oxford Lanes make the experience special.

“The people there are very kind people,” Demian said. “Andrew is super helpful and a really good guy, and you can tell he puts a lot of hard work into making the alley student friendly. It helps that the drinks are really cheap, too.”

Overall, the Oxford Lanes provide excitement and a change of pace for people who know about it.

“Over the summer I’m so excited to be down here so I can use the Oxford Lanes,” Linkey said. “If you ask students on Miami’s campus, a lot of times they won’t know about it and a lot of it is because it’s a far away business — it’s a hidden gem, in a way.”

to extend the definition of face masks, which passed with six votes. Mayor Bill Snavely voted against the change, citing CDC guidance on mask efficacy.

“Am I worried that I’m gonna go to the hospital?” Snavely asked. “No, not really … but I have friends who are. I’m gonna be visiting my 98-year-old father in law, so I’m by God gonna wear this mask every day until I do.”

The ordinance comes just days before Miami University’s 18,000 students are set to return to Oxford.

While Council has been discussing a new mandate since December, Councilors Ellerbe and Alex French said the timing feels targeted.

“I wish we would have just extended the mandate [in December],” French said. “The optics of this are bad. Because we have waited until now to vote on this, it looks like we’re doing this solely because the students are returning, and that is not true.”

Unlike the mask ordinance in August, the requirement doesn’t directly address the return of students. But Ellerbe said the ordinance does represent targeted rule changes when school is in session, like Oxford’s DORA, which allows open consumption of alcohol Uptown when students are away from campus during breaks.

“It’s very obvious that this is a discriminatory act,” Ellerbe said. “It doesn’t matter if the text was stricken from it anyway, it targets [students].”

Despite the optics, the mandate passed with six votes. Ellerbe dissented after suggesting an amendment to exempt vaccinated individuals which failed to pass.

Council will meet again at 7:30 p.m.

Feb 1, in the Oxford Courthouse. Residents who wish to watch the meeting but can’t make it to the location can find a livestream on the city website. scottsr2@miamioh.edu

@hua_shr moorese6@miamioh.edu

8

entertainment

THURSDAY, JANUARY 27, 2022

Sondheim’s legacy lives on through Spielberg’s “West Side Story” LUKE MACY THE MIAMI STUDENT Stephen Sondheim died on Nov. 26, 2021 in his Roxbury, Connecticut home. The acclaimed lyricist was 91 years old.

Sondheim was known for his inventive musicals, such as “Company” and “Sunday in the Park with George,” which touched on social problems through clever lyrics. Throughout his life, he won an Academy Award, eight Grammy Awards and eight Tony Awards, as well as a Pulitzer Prize.

For his first musical, Sondheim teamed with playwright Arthur Laurents and composer Leonard Bernstein to create “West Side Story” in 1957. The story was inspired by William Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet” and depicted two young adults falling in love in the midst of a gang war.

“West Side Story” was well-received, and four years later, a film adaptation was released. With its stunning cinematography and dancing, the 1961 film instantly became a classic.

Now, director Steven Spielberg’s rendition of the stage musical has been released by 20th Century Studios after being pushed from a 2020 release date by COVID-19.

With help from screenwriter Tony Kushner, Spielberg’s new “West Side Story” retains the original story and songs while revamping the musical for a modern audience.

The 2021 film’s greatest strength lies in its sensational choreography.

The dancing, arranged by Justin Peck, fits perfectly with the film’s music. The film’s fights, despite mild violence, incorporate Peck’s choreography to become their own dance numbers.

The updated “West Side Story” also shines in its casting. Unlike the 1961 film, white actors do not play Puerto Rican characters. The film also relies on rising actors rather than stars.

Ansel Elgort plays the main character Tony, who works at a drugstore while he’s on parole. Elgort does well, but his performance isn’t as memorable compared to the other actors.

With the accusations of sexual assault against him, Elgort will likely be forgotten when remembering the movie.

Rachel Zegler stars opposite Elgort as the young Maria and shines as Tony’s love interest. Zegler beat 30,000 people in auditions to gain the role, which is her first movie credit.

Tony’s friend Riff, played by Mark Faist, leads the Jets, a gang of white boys. He and Tony started the group, but Tony has avoided it since his parole. All Riff cares about is the gang war he continuously tries to drag Tony into.

Possessing the spirit of a fighter, Bernardo, played by David Alvarez, leads the opposing Puerto Rican gang, known as the Sharks. He’s also Maria’s older brother and disapproves of her love for Tony.

Ariana DeBose, who rose to prominence through “Hamilton,” plays Bernardo’s girlfriend, Anita. While Bernardo believes America is against Puerto Ricans, Anita has faith in the American Dream.

Rita Moreno, who played Anita in the original movie, plays a character specifically made for this movie. Her character, Valentina, provides a job and place to stay for Tony. Married to Doc, a white character from the original film, Valentina demonstrates a possibility of racial harmony.

The new “West Side Story” also reimagines the character Anybodys. In the film, Anybodys rejects the notion of being a girl. Non-binary actor Iris Menas plays the character who constantly tries to participate in the Jets’ activities.

The Sharks don’t only have to deal with the Jets; the police in the city also give the Sharks a hard time.

Corey Stull plays Lieutenant Schrank who favors the Jets and doesn’t want Puerto Ricans in the city. Brian d’Arcy James plays Officer Krupke who can hardly handle all the rebellious teens.

Spielberg also expands the setting with this new adaptation. The Jets live in a slum in Manhattan that is undergoing renovations while also becoming more diverse. This changing setting fuels the Jets’ rebellion as they vandalize businesses and harass civilians.

With its updates that help it fit better in a modern setting, Spielberg’s “West Side Story” will likely replace the 1961 version as a classic. Despite its low box office earnings, the film has already earned three Golden Globe awards and 11 Critics Choice Awards nominations.

Released exactly two weeks after his death, “West Side Story” remains faithful to Sondheim’s original lyrics.

With this film, his songs will continue to inspire new generations of theater geeks.

Rating: 7/10 @lukejmacy macylj@miamioh.edu

PHOTO FROM WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

Aurora dazzles with ‘The Gods We Can Touch’ SEAN SCOTT ASST. ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR Since Aurora dropped the single “Exist for Love” nearly two years ago, I’ve patiently awaited the Norwegian pop star’s next album.

On Jan. 21, her LP “The Gods We Can Touch” finally arrived after the longest album roll-out ever.

Maybe I’ve been coddled by Taylor Swift and Lana Del Rey, who each release high-quality albums at a break-neck pace, but 20 months from lead single to album seems a bit excessive.

Still, there I was Friday morning, completing my new album ritual and listening to Aurora’s newest offerings on a loop for three hours. Now that we’re on the other side of the process, my favorites playlist has had a bit of a shake-up.

“The Gods We Can Touch” offers everything Aurora has come to represent sonically, dialed up to new heights. An ethereal stage presence reminiscent of

beings from another world, Aurora has married her aesthetic to her sound, with electronic beats, inspired instrumentation and otherworldly melodies with no words.

New this time around, however, are South American influences on “Cure For Me” and a concertina on “Artemis.”

The world tour doesn’t stop there. Icelandic anomaly Björk and Enya, the Queen of Ireland, are both clear influences on the album. While I don’t vibe with Björk (I tend to like listenable music), “Orinoco Flow” by Enya is a bop for the ages, and anything that sounds remotely similar is an immediate yes.

The Enya influence is clearest on “This Could Be A Dream,” a flowing melody over a slow beat with surprisingly tasteful trumpet. Aurora’s vocals shine through best on slow songs like this one.

“Exhale, Inhale,” also sees Aurora at her most vocally impressive, jumping back and forth between a high, airy “exhale” and a low, sonorous “inhale” accompanied only by a harp.

In a frustrating turn of events, though, my favorite songs from the Norwegian artists are those with clear American origins.

Aurora tries her hand at ragtime in “The Innocent,” a song based around a bouncy old piano that makes it impossible not to move to. On “A Temporary High,” she channels an 80s revival à la Miley Cyrus, with driving synths and an almost-shouted chorus.

“Blood In The Wine,” the album’s stand-out song, references Fleetwood Mac’s “The Chain” in both lyrics and construction. It’s a stunning departure from the weightless image and sound Aurora has worked so hard to cultivate, and it works.

“Shout it for the ones who could never say / ‘I won’t feel ashamed, mother,’” Aurora yells with all the anger her tiny frame can muster over the chorus. “Can you break the chains off her?

Shout it louder, not a sinner, she’s a lover.”

Lover.

Just like that, we’ve reached my only problem with this new album.

Aurora has a talent for weaving natural imagery into her songs (see “The Seed,” “Apple Tree,” “Winter Bird,” “Running with the Wolves” … you get it), but here those images take a backseat to her new favorite word: Love.

Listen, I don’t hate songs about love. It would be practically impossible to enjoy music if I did.

But this album is only 15 songs long and manages to feature variations of the literal word “love” 110 times.

For comparison, on Taylor Swift’s “Lover,” variations of the titular word show up 52 times over 18 songs.

Aurora even manages to set an unattainable standard in “Exist for Love,” a gorgeous and ethereal song, to be fair, featuring the chorus “Everything good in life seems to lead back to you / And every single time I run into your arms / I feel like I exist for love.”

Can’t relate.

Rating: 8.5/10 scottsr2@miamioh.edu

“Spider-Man: No Way Home” swings into amazing thrills and twists

PHOTO FROM WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

ABBEY ELIZONDO THE MIAMI STUDENT To quote MJ, “if you expect disappointment, then you can never really be disappointed.” This was my perspective going into “Spider-Man: No Way Home.”

My expectations couldn’t have been further from my experience.

This was my first premiere movie screening since 2019, so I was anxious to see if the atmosphere would be the same as I remembered. The moment the lights dimmed and the movie began, I felt right back at home. There’s nothing like a first premiere surrounded by a crowd of people.

Breaking box office records making $260 million during opening weekend, this movie proved that people are still willing to go to theaters for their favorite films. I know the movie industry was

der-Man: Far From Home.” Mysterio, played by Jake Gyllenhaal, reveals Spider-Man’s identity as Peter Parker. Chaos ensues in “No Way Home” from the whole world knowing Peter’s superhero identity. People didn’t need to see the previous movie, yet Marvel fans could easily recognize the scene from that movie.

Marvel spoilers are top secret, and this movie needs to be experienced without knowing the plot twists that are thrown at viewers. All I can say is I received exactly what I wanted and more from this film. I wasn’t attached to Tom Holland’s Spider-Man before seeing this movie, but now I see him as strong as Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield’s versions of The Web-Slinger.

The trailer for “No Way Home” revealed an intense fight with Doctor Strange and the return of older Spider-Man villains including Doctor Octopus, Green Goblin, Sandman and Electro.

The fight scenes in this film were unique and realistic, keeping my attention and still moving the plot forward in each one. Unlike in “Homecoming” or “Far From Home”, these fights showed sides of Tom Holland’s Spider-Man that fans have not yet seen. I loved every second of it.

Some of the plot points the movie centered around like Peter’s exposed identity and his actions to try to conceal it again I found issue with.

Teenagers are commonly portrayed as making stupid, impulsive decisions, but Peter Parker is one of the smartest students in his high school and an Avenger. He’s not perfect, but his character felt

I wasn’t attached to Tom Holland’s Spider-Man before seeing this movie, but now I see him as strong as Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield’s versions of The Web-Slinger. concerned about the future of movie theaters because of the pandemic. I speak for many other fans of watching movies on the big screen; this movie reminded me why I loved going to the theater before the pandemic.

The movie begins with the final scene of “Spi-

too immature at times.

Other than some minor character issues, I loved the banter between all the characters, showing the close relationships and friendships each of them has. I loved the quick pace of the movie which kept me focused on the next battle or problem to be solved. I loved the emotional moments that built up Peter’s character more than in the last two movies.

I was convinced that this Peter was just Iron Man’s Spider-Man. This movie proved that Tom Holland is truly like the versions of Spider-Man I grew up with.

If you are debating whether or not to see this movie, I would say everyone can enjoy this movie. A bit violent for younger children with strong themes of loss and revenge, but it has sweet moments of friendship and love that can make anyone smile. It’s perfect for both big Marvel fans and people who know nothing about the MCU. This movie will be a good segway into the next movie, “Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness.” I thought from the trailer that Doctor Strange would be a more integral part of the film, but it relates more to his magical abilities and spell-casting.

“Spider-Man: No Way Home” reminded me why I love seeing movies in theaters. There’s nothing like enjoying the action and emotional moments in a film while everyone else is experiencing it with you. I walked out of the theater hurting from laughing, wiping tears from my eyes, and rubbing my sore hands from clapping, tempted to see it again as soon as possible.

I actually saw it the day after the premiere.

Even better the second time.

Rating: 9.75/10 @earlgreyincense elizonar@miamioh.edu

FOOD

9 THURSDAY, JANUARY 27, 2022

Potato, po-tah-to: a ranking of Oxford potatoes AMES RADWAN ASST. OPINION EDITOR Potato, po-tah-to, taters, spuds, murphies — whatever you want to call them, potatoes are easily one of the most versatile and popular ingredients in the country. They’re delicious, so I can definitely understand why people love them so much.

When I say potatoes are well-loved, I mean it. According to the National Potato Council’s 2021 Potato Yearbook (and yes, such a thing does actually exist), almost 18 billion pounds of potatoes were utilized in food service alone in 2021.

Naturally, to live up to the American potato hype, I spent the last two days eating exclusively potatoes in an attempt to rank some of the city’s most signature spuds.

Here were my criteria for which dishes made it into the final ranking: The potato had to be the main ingredient of the dish.

With the exception of Miami, I would only pick one “signature” potato dish from each restaurant.

Finally, the most important thing: no chains allowed.

With that, let’s get into the rankings.

8. Pulley Diner — hash browns A longtime lover of Pulley omelets, I have had these hash browns more times than I can count. So believe me when I say that I didn’t just get a bad batch of them this time — they are pretty much Miami’s worst potato option.

The first bite was warm, but the rest was filled with strange pockets of cold shredded potatoes, which was strange because I had just watched them come off the grill, but is unfortunately pretty much the norm.

One expects crispiness from hash browns, and this is the one category in which Pulley Diner usually delivers — however, this time, the crispy parts were just burned, crunchy and tough.

The parts that weren’t crispy were just soggy and slightly undercooked, and the whole thing just tasted like potatoes with no seasoning whatsoever. (Good thing potatoes taste good.) They got better when I added an entire packet of salt, but that should never be necessary.

Overall, not Miami’s best showing by a long shot.

Ranking: 2/10 7. Patterson’s Café — home fries Let me just preface this by saying that I consider home fries to be cubed potatoes, not shredded, so I was very surprised when I opened the to-go box of Patterson’s home fries to find shredded potatoes. Apparently, that wasn’t a mistake — Patterson’s really does serve shredded home fries.

(The more you know.)

Golden-brown and spotted with little flakes of what I’m pretty sure was pepper, these looked fantastic, if lacking in crispy bits. I assumed they would be very well-seasoned, and I assumed wrong. Much like the hash browns from Pulley Diner, these were very bland and really just tasted like potatoes.

After eating them for a while, though, I found that a nice peppery aftertaste built up as I went on. Plus, they were oodles better when I salted them. So they were seasoned enough, even if I didn’t get that at first.

As for the texture, my first impression was right — these were properly cooked, but not really crunchy or crispy. I feel like they are probably way more delicious when they’re fresh off of the griddle, but all in all, not bad. A decent side.

Ranking: 5/10 6. Pulley Diner — mashed potatoes I love mashed potatoes, personally, and I remember dining hall versions being pretty decent. Pulley Diner’s mash is, however, solidly middle-of-the-road.

For being pretty bland (as Miami food apparently tends to be), the scoop that I got tasted surprisingly good! Maybe that’s just that I’m a mashed potato fan, though.

They were lukewarm — definitely not cold, but could’ve been warmer. The scoop

SPUD OR DUD? A DEFINITIVE OXFORD POTATO RANKING. CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: SKIPPER’S FRIES, PATTERSON’S CAFE HOME FRIES, STEINKELLER POTATO PANCAKES, PULLEY DINER MASHED POTATOES, FRENCH FRIES AND HASH BROWNS. ASST. OPINION EDITOR AMES RADWAN

was decently sized and, as is a trend, was better with salt added.

These were okay, but not awesome.

There’s not much to say other than that.

Ranking: 6/10 5. Fridge & Pantry — truffle fries Fridge & Pantry has been a personal favorite since my roommate introduced me to their truffle fries in the fall of 2020, and as a huge truffle fan, I’ve always treated these as a delicacy that are not to be eaten every week. Because, let’s be real, if I didn’t make that rule for myself, I would eat too many potatoes all the time.

If you’ve never had F&P truffle fries, they are humongous, tossed in cheese and herbs and served in a gigantic portion that usually takes me two days to finish. This time did not disappoint.

My least favorite thing about these fries is that, sometimes, the inside flesh of the fry will somehow escape during the frying process, leaving an empty crispy shell masquerading as a full-bodied fry. The disappointment I felt when I crunched into what looked like a perfect fry, only to discover an impostor, was indescribable.

Some of the fries themselves were sort of soggy — I like squishy fries, but these were almost a little too squishy for me — but they were all piping hot and clearly freshly fried.

Overall, yum.

If you’re not a fan of truffles, though, I would avoid these. I will order something off of a menu just because it has truffles on it, and even I get overwhelmed with the richness of the flavor by the end of a basket of F&P truffle fries. These are seriously truffly.

Ranking: 7/10 4. Pulley Diner — French fries If you’ve ever had French fries at Miami University, you know that the quality of Miami fries varies almost as much as a potato itself can. I personally have had a lot of bad experiences before, especially in dining halls.

The fries I got from Pulley Diner on Tuesday, however, blew me away.

They were delicious, and I don’t use that word lightly. The fries were hot, salty and fresh, with a good combination of crispy and squishy for texture variation. Yes, the crispy ones could have been crispier, but at least I can confidently say that some of them were crunchy goodness.

In fact, these were so flavorful on their own that they were actually worse when I added ketchup. This is not something I ever say. My mother often has to remind me that “ketchup is a condiment, not a food group,” and yet I finished these fries with no ketchup necessary — a Miami first.

In short, not my favorite fries ever, but probably the best I’ve had from Miami.

Ranking: 8/10 3. Skipper’s Pub — waffle fries Skipper’s waffle fries are some of my favorite fries on earth, and the batch I got on Tuesday night showed exactly why. Crispy, crunchy and super fresh — so fresh that I literally watched them come out of the fryer, dump into a to-go box, and get handed to me in the span of maybe twenty seconds — these slapped.

The only issue, in my opinion, was the lack of salt. I think a good sprinkle right as the fries came out of the oil would have made them undeniably top tier. Ketchup helped, in this case.

My favorite part of Skipper’s fries is the little crumbs they leave on your fingers, and, as always, I did in fact get those. They’re like a little snack after the snack. Don’t judge me — these fries are just that good.

All in all, the waffle fries were absolutely delicious, but no trip to Skipper’s will ever live up to the first time trying these delectable criss-cuts.

Ranking: 9/10 2. Steinkeller — potato pancakes Holy. Steins.

When I came into making this list, I did not expect Steinkeller to have such a strong showing. But they came very, very close to topping the ranking with their potato pan-

cakes.

The huge portion of two thick pancakes, crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, was a perfect size considering that it is technically an appetizer. Again, like Skipper’s, the dish was piping hot and clearly fresh.

They were well-seasoned, too, with chives and scallions visibly folded into the pancakes before cooking. Even better, they’re served with applesauce and sour cream, which I grew up eating with potato pancakes, so that transported me back to my childhood.

My only critique was that the outside crust got less crispy as I went on, but that first bite was absolute heaven. There’s no doubt about it. I will be returning for these potato pancakes again and again and again.

Ranking: 9.5/10 1. Dividends — baked potato soup This soup actually inspired me to write this article, simply so I could profess my love for it.

Not only is the Miami dining hall/Dividends baked potato soup my favorite Miami food, but it is also my favorite potato food, ever. This is the only dish that can ever tempt me into a dining hall anymore.

Creamy, but with chunks of potato for fullness; this soup is nothing if not cheesy, salty goodness.

Overcome with love for this soup, I actually wrote to Miami to get the recipe last summer. I made it myself at home, but it will never be the same as Miami’s.

I could write an ode to this soup in my sleep. Everyone around me is tired of hearing about it.

Please, Miami, I beg of you, have this more often at Dividends so I can buy it. Or, better yet, just sell it by the gallon.

Ranking: 10/10 A last, closing side-note: I’m not going to eat another potato for at least a week, but man, these were amazing. I’ll be trying them all again in the future.

Just not all at once. radwanat@miamioh.edu

A cheesy open letter to Dining Services MADELINE PHABY FOOD EDITOR To Whom It May Concern: I try not to eat too much fried food because I want to keep my heart healthy. I try not to eat too much dairy because I’m lactose intolerant.

There’s one food containing both of these elements that I’m powerless against, though – mozzarella sticks.

The contrast between the crunchy breading and the gooey melted cheese in a good mozzarella stick is a truly unrivaled experience. Sure, they’re bad for you (especially when cheese gives you debilitating stomach cramps), but unlike most other foods, they’re worth the calories.

When I first came to Miami, I frequently found myself in need of comfort. Because few things are more comforting than a good meal, I spent much of my freshman year searching

for the best food on campus.

I ordered Pulley Diner’s mozzarella sticks for the first time during my second or third week of classes. I had slept through my first class of the day and couldn’t muster the willpower to attend my second. More than anything, I needed a hug.

The second I bit into the first stick, though, my stress was gone. All I could think about was how utterly perfect that bite was: the breading was crunchy and the cheese-pull was immaculate.

For the next three years, those mozzarella sticks were my go-to temporary cure for stress, sadness, loneliness and all the other emotions that come with being a college student.

My struggles were still present, but the sticks provided the mood boost I needed to confront them.

Toward the very end of last semester, though, something changed.

My boyfriend and I were on one of our many Red Zone runs (he likes to mooch off my declining dollars), and, because I wasn’t especially hungry, I ordered mozzarella sticks and nothing else.

I opened the lid of my to-go container and frowned.

“Why do these look so weird?” I wondered aloud.

My boyfriend picked one up and took a bite. He grimaced.

“Yeah, these are completely different,” he said.

I tried one. Describing them as merely “different” was giving them entirely too much credit.

The breading, which used to be crunchy and breadcrumb-y, was thick and soggy. Instead of being rolled in actual breadcrumbs, these sticks seemed to be covered in a single coating of batter.

My Assistant Editor, Sean, who

also laments the loss of the original mozzarella sticks, remarked that the breading was similar to “the skin of a corn dog, or a condom.” Bizarre as that sounds, I completely agree with him.

Perhaps more importantly, the cheese itself was also subpar. Unlike their predecessors, the cheese in these sticks is barely melted. There’s no cheese pull whatsoever, and the experience is similar to taking a bite of a lukewarm string cheese.

I don’t know about you, but a lukewarm string cheese covered with a condom doesn’t sound all that appetizing to me.

At first, I thought the impostor mozzarella sticks were only present at Red Zone, but sadly, my next visit to Pulley proved me wrong. Neither restaurant carries the original sticks we all knew and loved.

So, what happened?

Did you switch vendors? Possibly, but none of the other Pulley staples seem to have changed. Did you start buying lower-quality mozzarella sticks to cut costs? If so, I promise you that the loss in revenue you’ll experience as a result of that switch will cause you to regret it.

You may think I’m joking, but the number of people I’ve talked to who are personally offended over this switch is shockingly high.

I know I’m just one person, but on behalf of all Miami students, I humbly ask you to bring the old mozzarella sticks back. My life is much darker without the joy and comfort they brought me, and I know I’m not alone in that sentiment.

Respectfully, Madeline @madphabes phabymr@miamioh.edu

sports

10

THURSDAY, JANUARY 27, 2022

Men’s basketball endures inconsistent play to start MAC schedule

RedHawk alumnus Brandon Brooks retires from NFL

SENIOR FORWARD DALONTE BROWN DRIVES TO THE HOOP DURING MIAMI’S DEC. 1 LOSS TO CINCINNATI PHOTOGRAPHER HERSCHEL ALBERT

LUKAS NELSON SPORTS EDITOR After losing a nail-biter to Cincinnati in an early December matchup at Millett Hall, the Miami University men’s basketball team looked like it could have NCAA Tournament aspirations.

Cincinnati’s head coach, Wes Miller, said as much after his team’s victory.

“It wouldn’t surprise me if this team is playing in the NCAA Tournament in March,” Miller said.

After that game, however, the RedHawks dropped three of four games in non-conference play. The team lost to Indiana State on the road, then Clemson, despite competing well with the Tigers. The RedHawks also lost to Bellarmine at home before finishing its non-conference slate with a win against Spalding University, a Division III opponent.

Through seven Mid-American Conference (MAC) games, the team has played well at times but has also endured head-scratching stretches.

It’s hard to predict which Miami team will show up on a game to game basis. Even within games, the team will disappear for a few minutes at a time, forcing them to play catch-up to stay competitive.

The conference schedule started with a 91-81 at Buffalo, a solid team who knocked the RedHawks out of the MAC Tournament last year.

After an overtime loss on the road to an average Bowling Green team, Miami gave first place Toledo everything it could handle before losing by three points in Millett Hall.

The RedHawks beat the worst team in the conference, Western Michigan by only eight points before hosting the Ohio Bobcats, a veteran team who won an NCAA Tournament game last season. The ’Hawks got handled by the Bobcats and lost 86-63.

Miami’s last two games are a per-

fect microcosm of the team’s season.

Last Saturday, the team slept walked through an afternoon contest against Northern Illinois. The RedHawks were down by 15 points in the second half before mounting a comeback and eventually beating the Huskies in overtime.

“Just happy we were able to find a way, because for about 20 or 30 minutes there, we were just treading in quicksand,” Miami head coach Jack Owens said.

On Tuesday, the team traveled to Ball State to square off against the Cardinals, a 7-10 team who had lost its last three games.

A good team would’ve built off the momentum from its previous win and beaten a struggling, inferior team. Instead, Miami endured an 81-64 loss and shot under 40% from the field.

Going forward, the RedHawks will have to take care of business against bad teams and play a full 40 minutes against good teams if they want to have a favorable matchup in the conference tournament.

The team’s next matchup will give them a good opportunity to do so. On Saturday, Miami travels to Ypsilanti, Mich. to face the Eastern Michigan Eagles. The Eagles are 7-11 and 2-5 in the MAC, with the squad’s only conference wins coming against its fellow Michigan teams. The team’s latest contest was a road loss to Bowling Green.

Though you never know what to expect when a team plays on the road, Miami should be able to take care of business in Saturday’s matchup.

Players to watch Junior guard Dae Dae Grant is back at it after being named Third Team-All MAC last season. Grant is averaging 17 points per game and though his 3-point shooting percentage has dipped a little bit, he’s shooting over 45% from the field.

Senior forward Dalonte Brown is having another stellar all-around season. He’s averaging 14.1 points and 6.6 rebounds per game, and is shoot-

ing 38.6% from 3-point range.

Brown was the catalyst for Miami’s comeback win over Northern Illinois, leading the team in scoring with 24 points. His 3-point shot with 10 seconds left in regulation sent the game into overtime, where he made another three to win the game with less than a second to go.

First-year Noah Farrakhan, EMU’s leading scorer, didn’t play in the team’s last contest, so it’s unclear if he’ll play Saturday. If he doesn’t play, look for Monty Scott to step into a bigger role. First-year Colin Golson and junior Bryce McBride could also have a big impact on the game.

SCOUTING REPORT The Game Tipoff: 3 p.m. Saturday at George Gervin GameAbove Center MIAMI REDHAWKS Record: 9-9, 3-4 MAC Offense: 77.2 ppg Defense: 71.3 ppg Projected Lineup Mekhi Lairy (guard, 5’8’’, 14.1 ppg) Dae Dae Grant (guard, 6’2’’, 17 ppg) Myja White (guard, 6’1’’, 42.6 3PT%) Dalonte Brown (forward, 6’7’’, 12.5 ppg) Precious Ayah (forward, 6’6’’, 70.3 fg%) EASTERN MICHIGAN EAGLES Record: 7-11, 2-5 MAC Offense: 71.1 ppg Defense: 74.1 ppg Projected Lineup Bryce McBride (guard, 6’2”, 12.6 ppg) Darion Sprottsville (guard, 6’4”, 4.3 rpg) Monty Scott (guard, 6’5”, 13.6 ppg) Colin Golson Jr. (forward, 6’6”, 9.5 ppg) Mo Njie (center, 6’10”, 4.8 rpg) @LukasTheDream nelso156@miamioh.edu

BRANDON BROOKS SPEAKS AT MIAMI’S 2018 SPRING COMMENCEMENT. PHOTOS BY MIAMI UNIVERSITY

EDWARD ORZECH THE MIAMI STUDENT Miami University alumnus Brandon Brooks announced his retirement from the NFL on Wednesday.

Brooks was drafted by Houston in the 3rd round of the 2012 NFL Draft, and he signed with the Philadelphia Eagles in free agency in 2017. Brooks had battled a torn achilles and torn pectoral muscle that past two seasons before deciding to hang it up.

In his retirement video conference, Brooks expressed his love for the game.

“How do you say goodbye to something you’ve known your whole life?” he said.

During his time as a RedHawk, Brooks garnered attention for his impressive play at guard. He was destined to be a star when he was named RedHawks’ Freshman of the Year in his first season in 2008.

Over the next two seasons, Brooks led the way for a strong Miami offense. The team excelled in the running game with him as their star lineman. He earned second-team All-MAC honors three times from 2009 to 2011.

In the NFL, Brooks was an icon of durability and excellence. From

2013-2019, Brooks played in 106 games, starting all of them. Brooks was right there on the field blocking for Nick Foles to run the Philly Special in Super Bowl LII. His career accomplishments include three consecutive Pro Bowl Selections for Philadelphia and the lone Super Bowl ring in 2018.

Brooks’ true legacy stretches further than his excellent play on the field. Brooks pioneered the idea of opening discussions about the dangers of mental health that can sometimes plague NFL players.

He chose to sit out multiple games in his career because of an anxiety condition.

Brooks remains active with Miami, as he gave the commencement speech for 2018 graduates.

Brooks plans to return to his studies at the University of Pennsylvania with the same rigor and passion that he has become famous for.

It may not be the way that Brooks wanted to leave the game, but his greatest achievements may still be to come. Nobody can express this sentiment better than Brooks himself.

“The best thing about life is that it goes on.” @edward_orzech orzeched@miamioh.edu

Transfer Portal giveth and taketh away for Miami football LUKAS NELSON SPORTS EDITOR Since its inception in Oct. 2018, the transfer portal has completely altered the landscape of college football.

Before the portal, players were forced to sit out a year if they decided to pack their bags and attend another school, unless they qualified as “graduate transfers” or filed for a waiver.

Now, college athletes can enter the portal and immediately play at their desired school.

From the start, it was inevitable that schools like Miami (and other Mid-American Conference teams) would face negative consequences from the portal. Though it’s taken a few years, the end of the 2021 season has seen a sharp rise in football players transferring from the program, including key players at important positions.

On Dec. 24, immediately after Miami’s 28-17 win over North Texas in the Frisco Football Classic,

sophomore linebacker Ivan Pace Jr. announced his decision to enter the transfer portal on Twitter.

Pace Jr., a First Team All-MAC selection and the team’s leading tackler, declared his intentions to attend the University of Cincinnati, where he’ll play alongside his brother, Deshawn Pace.

Soon after Pace Jr.’s announcement, defensive end Lonnie Phelps entered the portal as well. Phelps was the team’s leader in sacks with 9.5 in 2021. He has since enrolled at the University of Kansas.

Though some fans may have thought the bad news was over, they were wrong. On Monday, Jan. 24, defensive end Kameron Butler announced his decision to enter the portal. Since then, he’s received offers from Penn State University and the University of Mississippi, according to his Twitter account.

The departures of Pace Jr, Phelps and Butler hampers a defensive unit that is already losing defensive ends

SOPHOMORE LINEBACKER IVAN PACE JR. HOLDS UP THE TROPHY AFTER MAMI’S 28-17 WIN OVER NORTH TEXAS IN THE FRISCO FOOTBALL CLASSIC. PHOTOGRAPHER JESSICA MONAHAN

Dom Robinson and Ben Kimpler, as well as safety Sterling Weatherford.

This is where the RedHawks can benefit from the (relatively) new transfer rules, however. The team picked up five players from the transfer portal who are already enrolled at Miami, with four of those players on the defensive side of the ball.

Four of the five enrolled players hail from Power Five programs (teams that play in the Big Ten, Big 12, Pacific 12, Southeastern Conference and Atlantic Coast Conference).

Departures LB Ivan Pace Jr. DE Lonnie Phelps DE Kameron Butler QB A.J. Mayer WR James Burns DB Cecil Singleton DB Trevon Booker There’s not much else to say about the top three players on this list. Together, they combined for 22 of Miami’s 38 sacks on the season. The trio also compiled 208 total tackles and 40.5 tackles for loss.

Singleton played in 11 games last season and provided key depth for the RedHawks.

Though the bulk of the departing players are on defense, the offensive side of the ball wasn’t unscathed.

Burns hasn’t played much the last two seasons, but flashed big play potential in 2019 with 506 receiving yards.

The biggest loss on the offensive might be Mayer. Though the redshirt sophomore was sophomore quarterback Brett Gabbert’s understudy, he has appeared in 10 games over the last two seasons.

When Gabbert went down with

an injury against Central Michigan, Mayer stepped in and led two fourth quarter touchdown drives to pick up a 28-17 win. In his last start before Gabbert came back, Mayer completed 70.4% of his passes for 227 yards and 3 touchdowns with a win over Akron.

Though Mayer played well when called upon, Miami head coach Chuck Martin made it clear that Gabbert was the team’s starting quarterback. Mayer could be looking for a school where he can be the undisputed starting quarterback.

Transfers (eligibility in parenthesis) LB Ty Wise (Indiana, 3 years remaining) S Michael Dowell (Michigan State, 2 years remaining) DE Corey Suttle (Iowa State, 3 years remaining) WR Tre’Von Morgan (Kentucky, 3 years remaining) CB Nolan Johnson (East Carolina, 2 years remaining) WR Miles Marshall (Indiana, 2 years remaining) Miami utilized the transfer portal to pick up players at positions where they’ll be losing key players, either to the transfer portal or to graduation.

Wise could step up and take Pace Jr.’s starting spot, but could also provide depth at a position of need. The former Indiana University linebacker spent most of his time on special teams last year, so he could contribute in that area as well.

Though Suttle didn’t play a lot at Iowa State, he has a chance to earn playing time at defensive end with the team’s top four players at the position (Phelps, Butler, Robinson and Kim-

per) all gone.

Safety Michael Dowell is the most experienced player of the new transfers. Dowell started five games for Michigan State last season and has recorded 82 career tackles. He is looking to replace safety Sterling Weatherford.

With Singleton and Booker moving on, the ’Hawks picked up Johnson, who has compiled 42 total tackles in four years at East Carolina University.

The biggest loss for the RedHawks is wide receiver Jack Sorenson, who caught 76 passes for 1,406 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2021 and earned a first team All-MAC spot.

With his departure, Miami added two wide receivers to fill the void.

Morgan, who started at Michigan State and transferred to Kentucky, didn’t play last season due to a hamstring injury. He was the No. 1 wide receiver recruit in the state of Ohio coming into college, according to Rivals and ESPN. The other wide receiver transfer, Marshall, is joining his former Indiana teammate Wise. Marshall started eight games and caught 22 passes for 311 yards for the Hoosiers in 2021.

Marshall was not announced as one of the newcomers who enrolled this semester, so he’ll likely be headed to Oxford in the fall.

With so many players transferring and graduating, Miami used the transfer portal to its advantage and added key pieces to contribute to its team next season. @LukasTheDream nelso156@miamioh.edu

THURSDAY, JANUARY 27, 2022

11

Hockey looks to turn season around after miserable series at St. Cloud

JUNIOR FORWARD JOE CASSETTI REACHES FOR THE PUCK IN MIAMI’S 2-2 TIE VS. BOWLING GREEN. PHOTOGRAPHER CAROLINE BARTOSZEK

JACK SCHMELZINGER ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR When the Atlanta Braves entered this August — the second-to-last month of Major League Baseball’s regular season — with a losing record, no one would have predicted that they’d be World Series Champions come November. But the Braves persisted, and a late July roster reshuffle helped the team go from mediocre to the top of the baseball world.

In life and sports, when things aren’t going well we look for potential turning points.

Lines of demarcation that separate bad from good and old from new. Chances for a new beginning. Sometimes — like in the Braves case — it happens.

Miami hockey has been looking for its own turning point all year. Success on the ice has been inconsistent and fleeting for the RedHawks this season. The team is 1-12-1 in National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC) play, and careening toward a sixth consecutive bottom two NCHC finish.

Sure, there have been good moments: a conference-slate opening win against Omaha, a victory going into the holiday break, a shocking upset of No. 7 Minnesota Duluth earlier this month. All of those events had RedHawk fans dreaming of better days ahead. But so far, the big turning point hasn’t come.

The RedHawks shouldn’t have to look farther than the results of last weekend’s games against No. 6 St. Cloud for their season changing moment (or at least the necessary motivation). Miami got outscored 19-1 in two games against the Huskies. The RedHawks only managed 27 shots to St Cloud’s 67 over 120 minutes of game time.

It was a humiliating weekend for Miami — the worst they’ve lost a series since the NCHC was re-formed before the 2013-14 season.

“We just didn’t put up much of a fight,” Miami head coach Chris Bergeron said after Saturday’s game.

If being handled like that can’t cause these RedHawks to turn it around — at least to some degree — it seems fair to say that there probably isn’t anything that will.

Miami still has time to make this a successful season. All eight teams in the NCHC qualify for the conference’s postseason tournament, so right now it looks like Miami will play a best-of-three series against the number one seed for a chance to advance to the semi-finals. When that series rolls around,

nothing that happened before it will matter.

Miami has five regular season series left.

The gauntlet that is an NCHC schedule continues — four of those series are against current top twenty teams and two feature topfive opponents. If nothing else, it’s the perfect opportunity for the ’Hawks to work on their craft before trying to shock the eventual regular season champ in the playoffs.

Next, Miami plays No. 5 Denver at home.

Puck drops on game one between the RedHawks and the Pioneers at Cady Arena Friday, January 28, at 7:05 p.m. Saturday’s game starts at 5:05 p.m.

SCOUTING REPORT GAME 1 Miami RedHawks vs. Denver Pioneers Faceoff: 7:05 p.m. Friday, January 28, at Cady Arena in Oxford, Ohio MIAMI REDHAWKS Record: 4-18-2 (1-12-1 NCHC) PLAYERS TO WATCH Player (position, class, key stats) PJ Fletcher (forward, sophomore, 24 gp, 5 g, 10 a) Derek Daschke (defenseman, senior, 24 gp, 2 g, 14 a) Red Savage (center, freshman, 23 gp, 4 g, 8 a) Matt Barbolini (forward, freshman, 24 gp, 8 g, 6 a) Matt Barry (forward, senior, 24 gp, 5 g, 6 a) Ludvig Persson (goaltender, sophomore, 2 gp, 1-0-0, .867 save percentage) DENVER PIONEERS Record: 16-5-1 (9-3-0 NCHC) PLAYERS TO WATCH Player (position, class, key stats) Bobby Brink (forward, junior, 22 gp, 8 g, 24 a) Carter Savoie (forward, sophomore, 20 gp, 13 g, 16 a) Sean Behrens (forward, freshman, 20 gp, 2 g, 16 a) Brett Stapely (defenseman, senior, 22 gp, 10 g, 15 a Magnus Chrona (goaltender, junior, 20 gp, 15-4-1, .916 save percentage) GAME 2 Miami RedHawks vs. Denver Pioneers Faceoff: 5:05 p.m. Saturday, January 28, at Cady Arena in Oxford, Ohio

Up next: JANUARY 28

FEBRUARY 5

Hockey Miami vs. Denver 7:05 p.m. @ Goggin Ice Center

Women’s Basketball Miami @ Western Michigan 2 p.m. on ESPN3/ESPN+

JANUARY 29

Men’s Basketball Miami vs. Akron 4 p.m. @ Millett Hall

Women’s Basketball Miami vs. Eastern Michigan 2 p.m. @ Millett Hall Hockey Miami vs. Denver 5:05 p.m. @ Goggin Ice Center Men’s Basketball Miami @ Eastern Michigan 3:00 p.m. on ESPN3/ESPN+

FEBRUARY 1 Men’s Basketball Miami vs. Kent State 7:00 p.m. @ Millett Hall February 2 Women’s Basketball Miami @ Toledo 7:00 p.m. on ESPN3/ESPN+

FEBRUARY 4 Men’s Basketball Miami @ Akron 6:30 p.m. on CBS Sports

FEBRUARY 6

FEBRUARY 7 Women’s Basketball Miami @ Kent State TBA on ESPN3/ESPN+

@jackschmelzinger schmelj2@miamioh.edu

RedHawks hope to end losing streak vs.

Eastern Michigan BAILEY ALTHAUSER THE MIAMI STUDENT The Miami University women’s basketball team has had a few rough years since the team’s last winning season in 2019.

This year’s team started out the season with a 4-3 record, but have now fallen to 6-9. Although it’s still not a winning record, the team has already exceeded its win total from last year’s 4-20 squad.

The fourth win came out of a matchup against Eastern Kentucky.

With only two games left before Mid-American Conference (MAC) play began, the ’Hawks were feeling pretty good.

But following that game the team went on a four game losing streak, including two conference losses to Buffalo and Akron. The RedHawks stepped up their game in the Battle of the Bricks to win against Ohio University, immediately followed by a win against Northern Illinois to put themselves at 2-2 in the MAC. Miami tried to stretch its win streak to three games last Saturday against Western Michigan, but came up short after trailing by 20 points in the first half. The team dropped its next two contests against Ball State and Eastern Michigan.

Head coach DeUnna Hendrix said part of the reason for the team’s woes is the way her squad starts its games.

“The biggest thing is trying to figure out why we’re starting games the way we’re starting them,” Hendrix said after Saturday’s loss to Western Michigan. “The last few games have been a slow start, which is pretty frustrating.”

The team hopes to curb its losing streak against Eastern Michigan on Saturday. The Eagles have a record of 1-6 in the MAC and 4-10 overall. Both teams will be fighting to improve their records and get out of their slumps.

Players to watch Junior guard Peyton Scott has led Miami’s team for most of the season, averaging 18.0 points per game. She also leads in rebounds, averaging 6.1 per game and has put up double-digit scores in 37 of her last 39 games.

First-year Ivy Wolf is also averaging over 10 points per game, and sophomore Edyn Battle is not far behind with 9. Wolf also leads the team in 3-pointers with 26 so far this season.

For the Eagles, senior Areanna Combs leads their team averaging 16.9 points per game, followed by senior Danielle Rainey and sophomore Ce’Nara Skanes averaging 13.6 and 12.0 points respectively.

SCOUTING REPORT The Game Tipoff: 2 p.m. Saturday at Millett Hall MIAMI REDHAWKS Record: 6-10, 2-5 MAC Offense: 66.9 ppg Defense: 68.2 ppg Projected Lineup Peyton Scott (guard, 5’8’’, 18.3 ppg) Ivy Wolf (guard, 5’8’’, 9.9 ppg) Maddi Cluse (guard, 5’10’’, 6.9 ppg) Katy Richardson (forward, 6’1’’, 48.4 fg%) Katie Davidson (guard/forward, 5’10’’, 75.0 ft%) EASTERN MICHIGAN EAGLES Record: 4-11, 1-7 MAC Offense: 69.9 ppg Defense: 71.1 ppg Projected Lineup Danielle Rainey (guard, 5’10’’, 12.8 ppg) Lachelle Austin (guard, 5’7’’, 5.3 ppg) Areanna Combs (guard, 5’10’’, 17.9 ppg) Ce’Nara Skanes (forward, 6’0’’, 12.3 ppg) Juanita Agosto (guard, 5’6’’, 47.5 fg%) @baileyalthauser althaube@miamioh.edu

Miami alum elected Chairman of Western Golf Association JACK SCHMELZINGER ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR Joe Desch, who earned a degree in Marketing from Miami in 1984, was named the Western Golf Association’s (WGA) 69th Chairman last month.

Desch will lead one of the country’s oldest golf organizations. The WGA puts on six tournaments a year — including the BMW Championship, a part of the FedEx Cup Playoffs — and administers the Evans Scholars Program, which last year sent 1070 students to 21 universities (including Miami) for free.

“I’m honored by the opportunity to lead the WGA, an organization that has been a significant part of my family’s life,” Desch

said. “It has not only been transformative in the lives of countless young men and women, but also in the game of golf. Our prestigious championships are bestin-class, and the Evans Scholars Foundation continues to provide life-changing opportunities for thousands of caddies, just as it did for me and my brothers.”

Desch, a Cincinnati native, got his start caddying at Dayton Country Club and attended Miami as an Evans Scholar himself.

He hopes to expand the Program and to get more young people interested in caddying during his two year term. @jackschmelzinger schmelj2@miamioh.edu

Are you a: • writer • photographer • designer • or illustrator?

FEBRUARY 8 Men’s Basketball Miami vs. Western Michigan 7:00 p.m. @ Millett Hall

FEBRUARY 9 Women’s Basketball Miami vs. Toledo 7:00 p.m. @ Millett Hall

Visit miamistudent.net to Join the TMS Team!

12

Opinion

THURSDAY, JANUARY 27, 2022

We wish it would go away, but it’s here to stay ASST. DESIGN EDITOR MACEY CHAMBERLIN

The following reflects the majority opinion of the editorial board.

We are still in a pandemic. We hate to be the ones to say it, but it’s starting to feel like nobody else will.

Students are becoming careless about wearing masks inside campus buildings, most professors are allowing students fewer absences, surveillance testing has become optional and Miami University is set on having a “robust” semester.

But accepting omicron’s presence for what it is means admitting defeat – and if that’s where we’re at as a community, then it feels like we’ve already lost.

Students have a chance to come back from our complacency. The semester can still turn around, but the student body has to act now and push through the relaxed messaging coming from the school.

Why is it that so many students seem to be OK with exposing themselves to COVID-19? We get that some have already had it, don’t think the omicron variant is severe enough to raise concern or they’re just burnt out on it.

All of that might be true, but the reality is this – surrendering to the virus means we will lose people in our community.

So, please, don’t give up yet. What students do at this

stage in the pandemic matters more than we know.

It’s difficult to continue living with this virus as we inch closer to the life we knew before the pandemic started. But even though school seems like it’s back to normal, with bars Uptown looking just like they did in 2019 and so many people telling us “who cares,” students need to find the compassion to continue protecting ourselves and the people around them.

We think it’s a mistake that the university made surveillance testing optional. But, we know that on-campus students were tested before coming back to campus, and the administration is meeting on a daily basis to keep up with omicron’s contagious nature.

The omicron variant is incredibly contagious, and that’s something students need to be thinking about as the semester goes on, and regulations become increasingly relaxed.

But just because students aren’t being forced to opt-into surveillance testing doesn’t mean they shouldn’t. Yes, it can be inconvenient to be summoned into testing, but it’s just the right thing to do.

If it really is a problem for you to commute to campus, a more convenient option would be to pick up free at-home tests from Armstrong, the Rec Center or King Library. But, you’re limited to two tests from the school,

so you might want to get more free tests that can be delivered right to your home by the United States Postal Service.

Get boosted; it’s not a hot take – we know, but we still highly recommend. Miami University has a clinic located in the Armstrong Student Center in Haines, where TriHealth will administer vaccines and boosters on Thursdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. You can make an appointment by calling 513-529-3000.

If you do get your booster shot, remember to report it.

As far as masks go, there is a mandate for wearing masks indoors Uptown. Even though some business owners may not enforce it, you should still keep your mask on indoors anywhere in Oxford – for your safety and for the safety of those around you.

As the school continuously puts more responsibility of controlling the virus on its students, we must all be responsible. If not for ourselves, then for our community.

We wish we were done with the pandemic too, but we’re just not. So, please, keep using defensive measures, protect yourself, test yourself and do what you can to stay healthy.

I didn’t really do anything over J-Term, and that’s okay MEREDITH PERKINS COLUMNIST If you would have told me at the beginning of the fall semester that I would do nothing over J-term, I would have probably had a mini-heart attack.

For as long as I can remember, I’ve always found solace in productivity and — like many students — used productivity as a measure of self-worth. In high school, I was president of multiple clubs, a yearbook editor, a varsity swimmer, a hospital volunteer and an oboist.

I seldom had a day where I wasn’t rushing from after-school activity to after-school activity, trying to balance my overstuffed schedule.

On some level, I knew that I was buying into a “busy is good” philosophy in which I didn’t truly believe. I felt that it was problematic that college admissions rewarded busyness as a mark of being a good student; the Common Application explicitly asks how many hours per week students spend on each extracurricular.

As if having a non-stop, busy schedule is the ideal way to live.

Although I didn’t particularly enjoy being

busy, I didn’t see an alternative; I had to “play the game.” I had to turn my passions into club meetings, projects, internships — tangible, productive things that would make some random person reading my resume go “Wow, she’s incredible.”

Well, I got what I wanted. I’m here.

And after my fall semester — the first academic semester in years where I wasn’t president of some club or editor of some publication — having the chance to slow down my schedule was life-changing.

Instead of forcing myself to be busy, I joined a handful of clubs that felt rewarding and fun rather than stressful and obligatory. I took classes I wanted rather than taking the hardest classes possible to look good on a transcript. I learned more in the past semester than I did in my last two years of high school, and I absolutely loved it.

When it came time for J-term, I felt internal pressure to take classes, do research, study, work on writing projects or find an internship — to do something extraordinarily productive so I could feel good about not wasting an entire month.

However, I challenged myself to do some-

Here’s the buzz with your caffeine addiction

DESIGNER HANNAH POTTS

thing else. I have three future years of J-term to do projects. What if, for once in my life, I committed to doing nothing? To, as cliche as it sounds, focus on myself? To not pressure myself to turn every moment of free time into something wildly useful?

And I did it: I didn’t do research, I didn’t take a class and I didn’t write my magnum opus.

But I did make this insanely good quesadilla recipe that I vow is one of the top 10 things I’ve ever eaten. I wrote story excerpts every night with the goal of having fun, rather than reaching a certain word count. I babysat my favorite kids. I made great memories with my friends in Chicago.

I did things I had been procrastinating for months: organizing my jewelry instead of letting it sit in a horribly-tangled ball in a Ziploc bag, doing a curly hair routine instead of brushing out my curls every day (oops), buying stickers for my laptop and getting my ears double-pierced.

I thought that not being traditionally productive would make me feel unsettled, but I couldn’t have been more wrong.

Having a month-long break gave me a sense of inner peace I haven’t felt in years. I grew in

my religious faith, spent many nights journaling, and focused on establishing routines that added positivity and joy to my day.

I realized that my old idea of self-care — face masks, bubble baths, Starbucks drinks — was superficial, and the self-care I needed was deeper. I needed self-care to be my mindset, not my skincare routine.

I needed to let my life be defined by joy rather than productivity, because although productivity is great, productivity isn’t everything.

I needed to integrate my spiritual life into my day-to-day life. I needed to realize that the best way to make my goals come true is not to worry about padding a resume, but to invest in myself, my passions and the people I care about, and to let the rest fall into place.

So, no, I don’t have any photos of me studying abroad in Luxembourg or any fancy J-term internship to list on my resume. (I’ll save that for future semesters.) For now, I’m perfectly content telling people I did nothing over J-term, because allowing myself to do nothing changed everything.

AVA KALINA

that a dose of caffeine can help you get through those flashcards with a breeze.

Plants have caught on to the caffeine craze; since bees frequent certain flowers for the caffeine content, the flowers lace their nectar with more caffeine. These bees return to the colony, “waggle dance” and tell their fellow foragers to return for more. The study showed that a colony collecting caffeinated resources sends out four times as many new forager bees compared to the control colony not receiving caffeine.

Senior year of high school, my mom told me my coffee dependency was going to start soon.

My grandparents always have a couple cups a day and my parents were obsessed – apparently a coffee addiction runs in the family like blue eyes. It started with the afterschool $2 Dunkin’ Vanilla Iced Lattes (which were quickly abandoned once I was enlightened to the added sugar content). Next was a Keurig in my dorm room, a gift card to Kofenya and Starbucks trips on the seemingly unlimited dining dollars. I’m addicted. And, I felt bad about it.

But we need to give our caffeine guilt a rest.

We’re just college students trying to make it through days filled with lectures, papers, clubs, projects and independence. It’s hard to get through the stress even with coffee, Red Bull, Bang or whatever gives you that extra kick.

Sure, it’s good to have self control and take that caffeine T-Break from time to time, but if it brings you the necessary joy and energy, I say there’s no reason to kick the habit completely. If the bees can have it, then we can too.

So next time you’re on your way to Kofenya for another latte, you’re really just visiting your favorite flower and ready to be more productive, alongside the bees – and I don’t see a single thing wrong with that.

Keep enjoying the little things, even if that means riding a little caffeine buzz.

THE MIAMI STUDENT The morning coffee, the 2 o’clock pick me up, the Diet Coke with dinner and the occasional late-night library Red Bull: most of us can’t function without at least one dose of caffeine a day.

We see the caffeine craze all across campus.

Getting a seat at Kofenya is almost impossible, the mobile orders at the Starbucks Uptown take up an entire pong table, and don’t even think about getting in line at Shriver unless you have an hour to spare.

As college students, it gets us through our classes, our all-nighters, our hangovers; we rely on that caffeine buzz for everything, but we shouldn’t feel bad about it, because bees do too.

Yup. Remember “Bee Movie?” All those little guys who were flying planes, seducing florists, and keeping us alive, were doing it with a shot of nectar espresso.

In 2015, the University of Sussex published a report summarizing the relationship between bees and the caffeine concentration of nectar in flowers. They compared a control group to a group with a caffeinated solution to study the individual and colony level effects of caffeinated nectar on honeybees. Flowers aren’t just a honeybee’s grocery store, they’re also personal baristas.

The study shows that bees are more likely to visit and return to flowers with higher concentrations of caffeine in their nectar. Honeybees with increased doses of caffeine “significantly increase their foraging frequency, waggle dancing probability, and persistency and specificity.”

Essentially, these caffeinated bees are more productive, persistent in their work and start to “waggle dance.”

Honeybees are better at “learning and remembering particular scents’’ when under the influence of caffeine. They’re basically proving

perkin16@miamioh.edu

kalinaae@miamioh.edu