The Miami Student | February 9, 2021

ESTABLISHED 1826

OLDEST COLLEGE NEWSPAPER WEST OF THE ALLEGHENIES

Volume 149 No

Miami university

No vaccines any time soon:

xford,

Ohio

Oxford’s student population down by 25 percent

Miami professors on not getting priority vaccinations

SHR-HUA MOORE STAFF WRITER The production of a successful vaccine tions about distribution and supply, with sible.

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vaccination. The rollout plan is actively beThe distribution plan, however, does not This policy (or rather, the lack thereof) was never directly communicated to proword of mouth. However, some professors included. vaccination.

DESIGN EDITOR OWEN BERG

fessors] were allowed to opt for a web-based -

STUDENT LIFE

wrote in an email to The Miami Student that

TAJ SIMMONS

campus.

For comparison, Miami reported nearly

ASST. CAMPUS & COMMUNITY EDITOR

ion. line for vaccinations, but I think the state

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plan in place for professors,” Dahlman said.

Director of Residence Life Vicka Bell-Robinson

CONTINUED ON PAGE 3

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the start of the pandemic. could see why some would want to stay home.”

That same sentiment was echoed by Brian

ed to study elsewhere this semester. still hold rooms that have not seen students for about a year. Withrow Hall Resident Director

halls this semester – a thousand more than the actual number.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 3

Talawanda School District employees get vaccinated HAILEY QUALLS THE MIAMI STUDENT Hundreds of Talawanda School District the COVID-19 vaccine Feb. 4, in hopes of movtor, spoke to The Miami Student before TSD week.

Morrish said the district is just one of many Since the vaccine came out, the state of ernment website.

Gov. Mike DeWine did not have school employ-

PHOTO EDITOR

Ohio has divided the vaccination process

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workers, EMS responders and residents in nurs-

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back in the classroom, Morrish said the district sues.

But last November, the schools saw an up-

able to receive the vaccine will help move toward a sense of normalcy.

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for the future.

tors who intend to teach in-person.

But due to COVID recovery times, some em-

stayed online until the end of the school year in district decided to continue with remote learn-

school to fully online, but leave our three elementary schools open, with still a remote option

dose.

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As COVID-19 cases and quarantine reports ond half of the school year fully in-person on Jan. 19, except for the students with compro-

Butler Educational System, but some were not -

immunity will lead us to some normalcy, and we can have all of our students back,” Morrish

normal life.” quallshn@miamioh.edu

This Issue CAMPUS & COMMUNITY

Weiner dog's weight loss journey – how fetch!

page 5

OPINION

Looking for love: a futile endeavor page 8

Men's basketball in a national spotlight page 9

Making peace with imperfection page 10

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No vaccines any time soon: Miami professors on not getting priority vaccinations CONTINUED FROM FRONT “It seems indicative of a government that seems hostile to higher education.”

Kaara Peterson, an associate professor of English, also took issue with the state’s vaccination plan.

“I think it would be welcome to consider university professors, if not along the lines of K-12 educators, to at least put us in a future subgroup,” Peterson said. “Because of our public-facing roles as teachers, it would make sense to think about university professors somewhere down the line.”

Dahlman also noted the extreme circumstances for K-12 students and teachers.

“In my opinion, while this is hard for everybody, it’s pretty much impossible for some younger students to learn remotely,” he said.

“Public schools are also de facto childcare, so it’s important to get K-12 educators and students back into the schoolhouse.”

Bridge also acknowledged the trials of remote K-12 education.

“I’ve seen videos of parents of children with complications related to online learning, and I feel for those parents,” she said. “There are many people who have a more legitimate claim to be a priority vaccine group, especially since I can do my job at home much of the time and teach classes virtually.”

In addition to lacking vaccine priority, Miami professors were also lacking a cohesive response from the university about this information. The extent of the university’s communication about

the issue is that they do not yet have information on when the vaccine will be distributed to professors.

Some professors expressed hope for this to change in the future.

“While Miami obviously doesn’t want to promise things that they can’t deliver, it could be helpful if the university served as a central communicator to coordinate vaccinations for students and professors,” Peterson said. “It would be helpful if Miami could partner with a healthcare company to help set up vaccines for everyone in the Miami community, and it would be welcome for them to let us know about partnerships.”

Bridge also agreed the university could do more to give professors information about vaccinations.

“As a university professor, I would like, at some point, to get some more information,” she at all to vaccinate us once vaccines are available, Little Clinic at Kroger when their age group comes up?”

While the attitude toward university professors hasn’t been very transparent at either the state or local level, one thing is clear: Professors recognize and respect the other educators that were placed under priority vaccination, and they will continue to teach, vaccine or not.

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

Oxford’s student population down by 25 percent CONTINUED FROM FRONT A resident assistant (RA) from Western Campus reported their hall as seemingly empty.

“I have heard that we are supposed to be around 80% occupancy this semester,” the Western Campus RA said. “But I find that hard to believe just based on what I’m seeing,” Junior biochemistry and premedical studies major Sun-Wong Kim, an international student who is studying from home, thinks international representation might play a role in the low numbers.

“I mean, I just felt like it was way too risky of a move to come here,” Kim said. “I can’t see other international students coming in either, really.”

Kim, a native of Vancouver, Canada, cited travel, expenses and safety concerns as reasons he chose not to come back this school year.

“Coming from Canada into the United States around [the fall semester] wouldn’t have been that much of an issue, but the politics and the pandemic told me there wasn’t a guarantee I’d be able to go back home after that,” Kim said. “I also just felt

like the United States got hit harder from it all, so to travel into the country, I felt it just wasn’t worth it.”

Many reports suggest that the U.S. was hit a lot harder by COVID-19 than Canada and other places in the world. The New York Times reported as of Feb. 5, the U.S had seen 81,000 positive cases per 1 million people and 456,000 deaths total, while Canada has had only 23,000 cases per 1 million and a little more than 20,000 deaths total.

Kim said by not coming to Oxford, he wouldn’t be paying for housing, parking, meal plans and other university expenses, so it would be cheaper of an option. General fee credit would also be larger for choosing to go remote rather than going in-person.

While there was a lot to gain from going remote, Kim said there was one thing he missed out on.

“I think the only thing that I lose by not coming back is my boys,” Kim said. “The way it’s shaped up right now, I’ll be back next semester, but I definitely miss my roommates and all my Oxford friends. It just sucks I lost all those memories I could have experienced this semester.” @simmons_taj simmontp@miamioh.edu

@hua_shr moorese6@miamioh.ed

Join the TMS Team!

CAMPUS & COMMUNITY 3

LUMPKIBM@MIAMIOH.EDU

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2021

Oxford City Council tackles international sovereignty issue eignty.

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CITY COUNCIL ASST. CAMPUS & COMMUNITY EDITOR -

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in Eastern Europe.

residents voted to become indepenon Independence, as it was called,

done.

Miami University senior Teresa Aniev,

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ASG elects eight new senators prove transparency between administration and

STUDENT GOVERNMENT MADELINE PHABY

resources on campus.

ASST. CAMPUS & COMMUNITY EDITOR Miami University’s Associated Student Government (ASG) elected two on-campus senators-at-large at its Feb. 2 meeting.

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positions.

and inclusion-related initiatives.

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semester.

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demic.

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COP internship gives students onroad law enforcement experience

tions. wasn’t adequately represented on campus.

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p.m. @madphabes phabymr@miamioh.edu

OXFORD POLICE ASST. CAMPUS & COMMUNITY EDITOR

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ty to drive around and patrol using a decommissioned OPD cruiser.

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gram.

ciology and criminology, wrote in a statement largely been driven by student interest.

ticipating in suspicious activity.

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guntercr@miamioh.edu

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CARLINTM@MIAMIOH.EDU

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2021

EVENT LEXI WHITEHEAD ASST. CAMPUS & COMMUNITY EDITOR Peter Bruner. Belinda Church. Ron Harper.

Jannie Kamara.

Who are these people and what do they all have in common?

They are all African Americans who have made history at Miami University.

Bruner was an escaped enslaved person who seum on campus.

Miami from 1982 to 1986, still holds several school records.

Kamara is Miami’s current student body position.

On Tuesday, Feb. 2, Seth Seward, alumnus and assistant director of alumni groups, gave Miami, celebrating African Americans’ accomplishments at the university and recognizing their struggles.

“It’s important for our country and the Mi-

PHOTOS FOR THIS GRAPHIC WERE CONTRIBUTED BY THE MIAMI UNIVERSITY ARCHIVES. ASST. CAMPUS & COMMUNITY EDITOR LEXI WHITEHEAD

here.”

The wide range of topics, achievements and struggles Seward discussed extended beyond now,” Seward said.

events. “The greatest thing about these types of programs is they’re virtual now, and anybody can really be a part of it.”

Alumna Marla Styles heard about the

portive place, Seward suggested that alumni get

people who have made history at Miami from the 19th century all the way to the present day.

He also discussed advancements in resources

cause there were so few social activities for them.

Center that opened in 1976.

ami University Libraries are hosting throughout

there’s a piece of our history with the university

is still available to watch.

“These types of events bring people together from every part of the community: the Miami community, the Oxford community and across the nation,” said Jacquline Johnson, a university archivist who helped organize the month’s

my pride in the university.”

Other program topics throughout the month include protests, the death of Emmett Till, student civic engagement and the relationship between race and advertising.

students have faced at Miami, such as a Ku Klux Klan march in Oxford in 1990. Seward also “There’s a pattern here within 1968 and the early 1970s,” Seward said. “All these advanceagitation from the BSAA and others to get them

the opportunity for people to learn more about African Americans and the contributions they’ve made to society.”

history to a certain extent of when I was there, those things that occurred when I was at the

student organizations. happened here to get a context for what students are going through right now,” he said.

The library’s next event will be held on Monday, Feb. 8 at noon where a panel will discuss the reemergence of marches and protests in America, and on Tuesday, Feb. 9 at 6 p.m., Daty, will discuss the death of Emmett Till. @nwlexi whitehan@miamioh.edu

Deadnaming decreases for trans students while Miami improves tech inclusivity Diplomas also require the use of a legal name.

CHLOE MURDOCK MAGAZINE EDITOR-AT-LARGE have to change his name as a transgender man. His legal name is Indian, so people in the United States wouldn’t register it as a feminine name.

started testosterone hormone therapy one year ago. As a remote student, he’s living address.

anymore. It was a dead name.

Transgender students who change their tecture program, still encounter their dead names regularly in their email inbox and in classes — unless they change their name in Miami’s multitude of systems after being accepted.

Two years ago, students and faculty IT systems out of the larger set of Miami’s systems. As of Feb. 1, it’s now possible to change one’s name in 40 Miami applications out of the 75 applications determined to be high priority. This includes school emails and Canvas.

Five systems are left for a team of emincludes a portion of MyMiami that is accessible to families and requires a student’s

also gave him the new option to add his pronouns, though in some situations, this prompted in classes. said.

Before he changed his name on class rosest. Professors would say his dead name out loud to the class, and he had to gently correct the professor in front of everyone. If he forgot to share his pronouns during partner introductions, his partner would misgender him while introducing him to the rest of the class.

Six months after starting hormone therapy, his facial hair grew in and his voice dropped, but his professors still accidentally misgendered him.

This semester, another student in one of his classes shared pronouns during introductions and the rest of the class followed

MAKE IT MIAMI HAS MOVED ONLINE IN ORDER TO BETTER SERVE POTENTIAL STUDENTS DURING THE PANDEMIC. PHOTOGRAPHER CAROLINE BARTOSZEK

ADMISSIONS SEAN SCOTT ASST. CAMPUS & COMMUNITY EDITOR seniors after being accepted to Miami University was scheduling a visit to campus during a

the new online format for events such as Red ing accepted students’ events more accessible to

day meeting faculty, listening to student panels ing to building before deciding whether or not to commit.

campus regardless of COVID-19.

“There are the students who could always -

with their families through this system. years are going to be organized in a larger tems to better support minority groups on campus, including the disabled community.

TIP, about to start its research and planning phase this spring before implementing solutions this summer, will focus on being mographic data and personal information when it’s sometimes not necessary.

Dean of Students Kimberly Moore said that in particular, the name of use policy, “an alternative to the individual’s legal name as designated by the individual in university systems,” is important for supporting trans students, as well as faculty who get married or divorced and must change their name.

“Somebody ... is negatively impacted by seeing their name that does not represent who they are over and over and over again,” Moore said. “It’s really important that we

themselves as LGBTQ+ to other people in the community through their clothing and Sawade said that professors and peers deadnamed them more often in class before the COVID-19 pandemic began. They can avoid being deadnamed by class rosters But for new trans students, a dead name can still sour milestone moments. High school counselors push students to use legal names on college applications. If a student isn’t out to parents who are helping them have to use their legal name.

When Sawade opened up their acceptance letter two years ago, the congratuthat Sawade had been accepted into Miami

“Welcome to Miami University!” the website Though it isn’t impossible for accepted students to tour campus this spring, it isn’t easy, either.

Andrew Boehm, Miami’s associate director for visits and events, explained that COVID-19 ami impossible, but tours and information sessions are still a go.

“All of our accepted students’ events that are said. “There’s none left in the entire month of as well. People are coming to campus to visit.”

The auditorium where information sessions are held is cleared for up to 38 people to use at once, but Boehm said Miami chose to limit the number of students to 10 per time slot to ac-

to one another so you don’t have to change

their feminine dead name.

Moore said that regarding the name of

systems, a facility and event system for the Recreation Center and Goggin Ice Center,

“It’s about creating ease,” Moore said. ual’s chosen name but — name of use, you

online events.

broader systems that feed our information,

students follow their own pace. Information is sorted into 10 categories, including one for each academic college. Each section has a calendar of live online events students can register for, from student panels to information sessions for spe-

being discontinued.

Seven systems, including those that send legal information to the IRS, are unchanged.

They require the use of a legal name because they are sent to institutions outside Miami.

murdocc3@miamioh.edu

Several live online events are dedicated to diversity, an issue Miami has historically struggled with. Miami’s undergraduate population across all campuses was 75% white as of last October, compared to a national average of 55.2% on college campuses.

numbers low.

With the limited scope of in-person events available and the pandemic far worse than it

and current students in ways that many students would not have had access to in the past if they had to get to campus to experience it.”

The accessibility of online resources is rethe pandemic caused freshman enrollment across the U.S. to decline by 13.1% last fall, Miami has processed about 30,300 applications for next year, a 9.7% increase from this time last year.

Included in the increased applications are 700 more applications from underrepresented students of color and 100 more applications Miami went test-optional this year to account for the pandemic, meaning applicants were not required to submit standardized test to increased applications from students who would have self-selected out in the past, the academic achievement of the Class of 2025 remains high. The average GPA among applicants is 3.8, slightly higher than in years past. from, however, is international students.

“As we see a decline in students from out of the country, particularly in China, applying to in state and from out of the state but in the admitting more students from Ohio and from that we’re seeing internationally.” scottsr2@miamioh.edu

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LUMPKIBM@MIAMIOH.EDU

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2021

Hidden Gems of Oxford:

CONTRIBUTED BY THE OXFORD COFFEE COMPANY

LOCAL BUSINESS SHR-HUA MOORE STAFF WRITER Where can you get fresh, quality roasted coffee beans in Oxford?

Well, you don’t physically have to go anywhere.

The Oxford Coffee Company was once a roastery and coffee shop, but has since closed the physical store due to complications from the global pandemic.

It has never been doing better.

Now, the Oxford Coffee Company is dedicated to purchasing coffee beans from around the world and sharing them not only with Oxford, but with the whole country.

Robert Thurston is a professor emeritus at Miami University and an expert on coffee — he has contributed to coffee magazines and has written two books on the subject.

Thurston is also the founder of the Oxford Coffee Company, a venture that was started in 2012.

“Starting in 2000 or 2001, I taught a course on the history of coffee and how it is produced around the world,” Thurston said. “As I thought more about it I was like, ‘Well gee, I wanna get my hands dirty into the business, so I found some Miami graduates and professors to help start the Oxford Coffee Company with me.”

The company specializes in procuring

and roasting coffee beans from all around the world, with beans from Kenya, Indonesia and Brazil regularly featured as products for prospective coffeemakers. The company also has a diverse clientele. Ever since it transitioned to an online roastery, the Oxford Coffee Company has gotten orders from across the country.

“We’ve picked up customers around the country: people from Texas, New York and Washington D.C.,” he said. “Going forward, we hope to expand that.”

The transition to an online business led to the company’s coffee shop closing, with a reduction in employees from six to two. Today, those two employee’s daily operations consist of roasting coffee beans for customers and working on promoting the company digitally.

Lara Thurston is one of the employees currently working at the company. The daughter of Robert Thurston, she roasts coffee and manages orders as well as the company website and the Facebook page for the business. She recognizes the benefits that came with the closing of the physical location.

“The barista work and managing has been replaced with managing our website which has really been improved,” she said.

“Before, we only served a little bit of coffee online nationally, but now we sell to a dozen states every week.”

Tom Bellany, the other employee at the business, agreed that the move to an online

format had helped overall.

“I now have some more free time instead of always being around the coffee shop in case there were any issues,” Bellany said. “It has liberated us to do some bigger projects with the business.”

Thurston also described the pure financial benefit of moving the company completely online.

“The pandemic is so horrible, but we don’t have to get up at 5:30 [a.m.], we re-

duced employees, we were able to get a rent reduction and we got several government loans and grants from Oxford,” Thurston said. “It was almost as if people were throwing money at us, and it looks like our business is running better this way.”

The Oxford Coffee Company’s products can be purchased through its website, and delivery is free. The roasted coffee can be in full bean or multiple ground forms, and it has more than a dozen varieties of coffee to choose from. The pandemic has also enabled the company to launch new products that appeal to both new and veteran customers alike.

“We now have a coffee of the month club, where customers pay an upfront price to have unique specialty coffee delivered to them each month,” Bellany said. “We’ve had varieties like Vietnamese Lotus, Mexican Finca de Estancia or Brazilian Daterra Peaberry, all delivered to the doorstep of members in the program.”

While the company is doing well in an online format, it has not forgotten about how things used to be. Especially poignant moments that were lost by the online transition include a devoted community of regulars and the live music that played in the shop every Saturday morning.

“I regret the loss of everything that happened in the shop, but we couldn’t proceed as a business,” Thurston said. “If we open again for coffee service, it’ll probably only be on Saturday mornings when we have music as an experiment.”

While the future of the physical Oxford Coffee Company is not set in stone yet, it is very much alive through the internet and still providing quality coffee to customers across the country. So next time you think of making some coffee, the Oxford Coffee Company is only a few clicks away. @hua_shr moorese6@miamioh.edu

“We’ve picked up customers around the country: people from Texas, New York and Washington D.C.” - Robert Thurston

“In light of COVID, it’s the appropriate thing to do”: Students and faculty prepare for ‘wellness days’

ACADEMICS MADELINE PHABY ASST. CAMPUS & COMMUNITY EDITOR Miami University students and faculty must adjust to a different semester format this spring, as the traditional week-long spring break has been replaced with a series of “wellness days.”

These wellness days occur roughly once a month and were implemented to prevent students from traveling to many different locations and bringing COVID-19 back to Oxford. Professors are not allowed to hold classes or assign work on these days.

Junior political science and philosophy major Brendan Myers said he doesn’t mind the wellness days but dislikes the fact that they’re almost all placed on Tuesdays, Wednesdays or Thursdays.

“I think it would be better if they put the wellness days on a Friday or Monday to

sors may use wellness days as an excuse to assign more work.

“I feel like, if there’s a due date [on a wellness day], they’re going to be like, ‘Well, it was on the schedule ahead of time, so I’m not going to change it,’” Kocinski said.

Despite students’ fears, professors are aware they aren’t supposed to give their students work on those days. Libby Gielau, visiting assistant professor of Spanish, said it wasn’t difficult for her to schedule her classes around the wellness days.

“I think the trick is just giving them a CAMPUS & COMMUNITY EDITOR BRIAH LUMPKINS day off when those days hit on the calenmake a long weekend,” Myers said, “but it is dar, and it ends up bewhat it is.” ing the same amount of curriculum as if you Junior bioengineering major Greta had a spring break,” Gielau said, “so, no, it Schwartz agreed that the placement of the really wasn’t difficult.” days is one of her biggest gripes with the Matt Arbuckle, visiting assistant prowellness days. fessor of political science, also said it was “I hate [the wellness days],” Schwartz relatively easy to plan around the days off. said. “I think it’d be better if they were on He did have to alter the due dates of some Fridays so it gives us more of a weekend, but end-of-semester projects, though, since the since they aren’t, I don’t think they’re very usual last day of class, May 7, is a wellness helpful.”

Schwartz also worries her professors may assign work on wellness days, and said she’d most likely end up using the days to catch up on work rather than doing anything fun or relaxing.

Sophomore social work major Taylin Kocinski also expressed worry that her profes-

day.

“Usually, I have my assignments due on the last day [of class], so I had to work that out,” Arbuckle said. “For the first time, I have a couple of my papers due on exam day.”

Unlike many students, Gielau said she actually prefers the wellness days over a spring break.

“Honestly, I think it makes more sense to have weeks with lighter workloads as opposed to having a ton of work and then getting this one week off where you’re really kind of divorced from your school work entirely,” Gielau said. “I think the wellness days kind of keep people in focus, while giving them some time to catch up and regroup.”

History professor Sheldon Anderson, on the other hand, said he feels the wellness days are relatively pointless since students won’t be able to relax much with a single day off in the middle of the week.

“I don’t quite get it,” Anderson said. “To me, it would make more sense to cut a week off [at the end of the semester]. Let’s get through this, get home and get well.”

Arbuckle also said he thinks wellness days are a good approach — at least, for this current semester.

“I’m fine with the wellness days,” Arbuckle said. “It makes sense to do it that way and not let the students dissipate into potentially risky situations and then come back. In light of COVID, it’s the appropriate thing to do.” @madphabes phabymr@miamioh.edu

“I hate [the wellness days]. I think it’d be better if they were on Fridays so it gives us more of a weekend, but since they aren’t, I don’t think they’re very helpful.”

- Greta Schwartz

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KWIATKDM@MIAMIOH.EDU

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2021

She’s not a regular dog, she’s a cool dog

ACADEMICS LEXI WHITEHEAD ASST. CAMPUS AND COMMUNITY EDITOR The phrases “jedi,” “Death Star” and “The Force” are pretty common in our culture, having mon, I’m sure you already know what franchise I am referring to.

The “Star Wars” series has undoubtedly impacted our culture in a major way; new content is still being released more than 40 years after the Now that impact has come to Miami classrooms as well.

Students taking FST 360S — Star Wars: Force, Culture and Science Fiction have the chance to analyze and discuss “Star Wars” and its In the class, students watch and analyze “Star -

GRETCHEN THE WEINER DOG – YES, IT’S A MEAN GIRLS REFERENCE – IS ON A WEIGHT LOSS JOURNEY. CONTRIBUTED BY EMMA ABBOTT

in the class, students will write their own fanmade scripts and then produce some of them

industry,” Pierce said.

Rice enjoys having so many fans in the class because it creates a higher level of enthusiasm and engagement with the content.

“It’s rare that you get students with that level of investment in the content of a class. It’s kind class I’ve ever had because, like, three-quarters of the students were wearing ‘Star Wars’ shirts … and they’re all like sitting up [straight] a little bit.”

This kind of participatory culture, or fandom, that revolves around “Star Wars” was another thing that inspired Rice to create the class. One assignment in the class is to watch “Star Wars “I think that Dr. Rice is really taking it to trytives,” Pierce said. “We’re exploring, through the original and through this fan-made project, what teresting take on it. And a lot of us had never seen ‘Star Wars Uncut’ before so that was an interesting discussion.”

Rice recognizes it may be hard to look at these

hopes that students will enjoy the class and apsomething that you love in a way that maybe you’re like, ‘Oh, I can’t love it as much anymore,’” he said. “So I hope at the end of the day, students can have a greater appreciation of this series and what it has meant for American culture.”

Topics in the class span from what inspired what it meant for fan culture.

Will Hancock, a sophomore history and media and culture major, took the class because he grew up watching “Star Wars” and has enjoyed having Rice as a professor in the past. He is lookwriting. cause of movies like ‘Star Wars’ and ironically, I get to take a class on it now, so it kinda came full circle,” Hancock said. @nwlexi whitehan@miamioh.edu

and media and culture, designed the class during

PETS OF OXFORD that teaching a class about “Star Wars” and the

HANNAH HORSINGTON ASST. MAGAZINE EDITOR When senior Emma Abbott received a message last year asking if she wanted a free dog, she never expected she would meet her new best friend.

She also never expected she’d have to take that new best friend on a unique weight loss journey.

Gretchen, a dachshund who turns 12 years old in March, is also referred to as Gretchen Wieners, after the iconic “Mean Girls” characnitely overweight for a weiner dog. with the grandparents of Abbott’s friend from high school. After the grandfather passed away and the grandmother moved into a new condo where she couldn’t take Gretchen, the search was on for someone willing to take her in.

Abbott and her roommates, who are all dog lovers, jumped at the opportunity to help her out.

“The three of us absolutely fell in love with her,” Abbott said. food from the table. When her owner had a sandwich, Gretchen had a sandwich. Abbott immediately knew she would need to help Gretchen lose weight to ensure she was living her healthiest life.

“We put her on a diet, we walked her, we learned that she loves tennis balls and fetching, so she went from almost 30 pounds to now ... [about] 20 pounds,” Abbott said.

Abbott takes Gretchen for walks around campus and in Hueston Woods and tries to limit the number of treats that she eats. Overall, her weight loss has been a success.

“The vet said we did amazing and for how small she is, and for how much weight she’s lost, she’s at a good point.”

To help document Gretchen’s weight loss journey, Abbott created an Instagram page, @gretchenweinerstheweinerdog. The page, which started in Sept. 2019, has more than 170 followers and includes weight updates and pictures of Gretchen’s progress. Posts feature Gretchen on walks, gazing out a car window and sunbathing in a hammock, among other activities.

Abbott and her roommates decided to create the Instagram page not only as a way to document Gretchen’s progress, but also as a way to bring a little joy and entertainment to family and friends as they follow Gretchen’s journey.

“My roommates last year and I were like,

him.

He was inspired to do so while researching for another class and found out that George Lucas was originally supposed to direct “Apocalypse as a critique of the Vietnam War. “That had never occurred to me, and it wasn’t obvious, and I wondered why,” he said. “And there’s a lot that changed between the moment of thinking about this project and its release in public. And it occurred to me maybe there’s something in that change … that says more about our culture in the last 50 years than most other kinds The class unsurprisingly attracted a lot of avid “Star Wars” fans, like senior theatre and history major Grace Pierce.

“I was a fan of the original trilogy … and I wanted to see how we could approach it from an CONTRIBUTED BY ANDY RICE

Miami University contact tracers hope to reduce COVID-19 spread one call at a time County Health Department, tracers in the program start their work week by receiving a list of the contact information of people in Butler County that have tested positive for COVID-19.

They are then tasked with asking questions over the phone regarding each person’s symptoms, symptomatic. ed person should be in isolation, as well as storing the contact information on any ing exposed to COVID-19 for further use.

Students agreed the combination of real world experience and being able to help those who are COVID positive made the job experience a positive one.

“I thought it was really cool to see the backside of the health department,” said contact tracer and graduate student Megan Kelley.

“How it handles global pandemics, all that goes into it.”

Junior social justice studies and public health major Jazz Bennett was another student who worked for the program.

“It was very interesting for sure, I felt like I got a lot out of it,” Bennett said.

While most people they called were compliant and agreed to talk, some didn’t or even de-

[and] it will be amazing to document it,’ because we were so determined on helping her lose weight.” workout and diets, though. She often accompanies Abbott around Oxford, everywhere from on-campus to uptown spots like Kofenya and Brick Street. Abbott sometimes dresses Gretchen up in costumes, including a hot dog,

“She brings so much joy, not only to my life, but [to] other people.”

- Emma Abbott

a taco or even a shark.

Abbott and Gretchen were also recently featured in a post on Miami’s instagram page, which now has more than 1,400 likes and multiple comments from friends cheering on Gretchen’s newfound fame.

“She brings so much joy, not only to my life, but [to] other people,” Abbott said. be there for the rest, even as their time at Miami comes to a close.

“After graduation, wherever I go, whatever I do, I know that she’s going to follow with me.” @hannahorsington horsinhp@miamioh.edu

DESIGNER SADIE VAN WIE

TAJ SIMMONS ASST. CAMPUS & COMMUNITY EDITOR Since May, a team of less than 100 Miami University public health students, faculty and who tested positive for COVID-19 across Butler County.

The main goal of the program is not only to help those testing positive for COVID-19, but hands-on work and training in the midst of the pandemic.

Last summer, when cases started to pop up rapidly, the Butler County General Health District proposed the program to the univerthey should be quarantining as well as to advise those deemed close contacts.

To help pay student contact tracers, more than $275,000 in government money was granted to Miami by Butler County Health Commissioner Jennifer Bailer.

Bailer described the program as a “win on several fronts” in a press release by the university.

“Having additional people on board to make the many, many, many phone calls that are required in order to do COVID contact tracing allows the health district to quickly isolate and quarantine those who need to stay home,” Bail-

er said in the press release. “[The program is] a great real-world training opportunity for students.”

Kendall Leser, Miami’s public health program director, represents one-half of the contact tracing program’s leadership. After working the outbreak, Leser and her team began the contact tracing program in May. “I think we’re most proud of the fact that we capacity to be able to handle the workload in the county,” Leser said.

Cameron Hay-Rollins, coordinator of Miami’s global health research innovation center, makes up the other half of the program’s leadership and spoke on the success the program has brought to Butler County.

“I think we have been very successful in the sense of limiting the spread of the disease by informing those to quarantine and isolate people,” Hay-Rollins said.

“We’ve contacted a little above 40,000 people over phone calls between the beginning of August and December 31.”

After receiving their training from the Butler

“A few people said they just had a cold or just allergies,” Bennett said. “And really the only thing I could say to that was, ‘Well sir, we do have information that says you tested positive for COVID.” Bennett estimated non-accommodating callers making up around a quarter of the whole, and while sometimes it made the job stressful, other times, calling people was a rewarding experience.

“When I would call someone who was 65 years or older, I could tell they really needed someone to talk to them,” Bennett said. “They really seemed to appreciate someone checking in with them. They knew we cared for them.” @simmons_taj simmontp@miamioh.edu

“I think we’re most proud of the fact that we were able to increase capability to be able to handle the workload in the county.”

- Kendall Leser

CAMPUS & COMMUNITY 7

HEADLEDD@MIAMIOH.EDU

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2021

DIVERSITY & INCLUSION ASST. MAGAZINE EDITOR

on the wall.

He didn’t see it.

knew personally.

-

portantly, how to get them added to the wall.

shocked by how many weren’t there. being heard, and it’s nice to know that I’m

-

legislation together.

In addition, a form was created that now

ly at a time when so many people are remote year to visit friends, made a point to stop by -

ethnic Armenian. I was raised in an Arme-

dated once a year.

Wilson said.

dents feel represented.

She cried. will be able to feel represented sooner than he did with the system he helped create.

-

-

in that area to make everyone feel like they

is especially happy that her sister, who also represented, too.

tage represented, in addition to international

@hannahorsington horsinhp@miamioh.edu

Lights, camera, action: -

really something that always inspired me, and especially

ing the shoot for the recreation ment. that I was, like, really making a

category.

Epstein got involved with the project after working with

FACULTY

-

DAVID KWIATKOWSKI CAMPUS & COMMUNITY EDITOR It is always great to have a professor who is -

-

professor has to miss class to go work on a movie set. ert-Epstein.

adapts as his professional career goes. His posi-

say, like, 85% of the time it works. And then 15%

Genocide.

-

-

-

-

matographer.

Cinematography was not always Epstein’s goal.

ly.

-

years, while cinematographers work with the director to materialize their vision with the camera, tographer’s job is largely done.

Other than doing color sessions in post-pro-

-

rector who is probably going to do one or two -

shortlist for the award.

However, Epstein realized the many compo-

The color scheme and cinematography of -

kwiatkdm@miamioh.edu

Humor.

8 Mandatory POUND cards track sexual activity between COVID-19 tests

Pot Pan sales hit record highs

CHLOE MURDOCK MAGAZINE EDITOR-AT-LARGE Students received Mandatory POUND cards after completing COVID-19 tests upon arrival to the Oxford campus. The controversial new section of Miami’s Healthy Together plan includes a punch card for each student that tracks any and all sexual encounters between their random COVID-19 tests.

Miami faculty members claim than the Arrival Testing Participant Cards, which do nothing, that students also received after testing.

“It seems really rude and invasive to ask for someone’s arrival testing card. It’s a bit too reminiscent of Holocaust IDs,” one professor said.

“But knowing that Miami is tracking students’ sexual activity makes me feel better about teaching my classes in person even without access to the vaccine. There’s a much greater risk of COVID infection from sex than from students being on campus around others.”

POUND cards have two required modes for tracking sexual partners.

After coming in contact with one another, sexual partners punch a hole in the card. They then scan a QR code on the card, adding their names to a list of fellow sexual partbase with a long name shortened to the acronym “POUND.” The location, if public, is also recorded on POUND. POUND is protected by the HIPAA privacy regulations and is only available to Miami’s student contact tracing team and Miami’s Healthy Together Committee.

“I feel a lot more comfortable about taking in-person classes now that Miami is tracking our sexual activity, because who knows where that guy you met at Brick Street has been,” one student said.

One student contact tracer also said that POUND takes some of the guesswork out of their calls, especially when people hang up on tracers who simply want to know the contacts of infected persons.

“It’s a really common problem,” the student contact tracer said.

“We’re just trying to help, but students here really don’t give a fuck.

I mean, some do, but they don’t remember names for all their drunken hookups.”

Meanwhile, the president of the campus Virginity Club said that not having hole punches is a source of pride.

“It proves we’re saving ourselves for God and a future marriage, but also from being infected,” the president said. “I would say it’s even more important to abstain from sex than to wear a mask during the pandemic.”

Students in the Farmer School of version of the punch card to promote students to actively report a Farmer student will receive a job team through Handshake.

One fraternity brother reported that he absolutely dug the punch cards, but in the same breath, also complained about the recent switch to the COVID-19 spit test, where a testee spits in a vial sent to a lab, calling it “so gross.”

Anonymous data on the COVID-19 dashboard indicates that male students may be overreporting sexual partners, while female and nonbinary students are underreporting. A recent “Weekly Three’’ mass email also warned fraternity members to stop adding fake names nity pledge requirements, calling it “irresponsible” and “not representative of what it means to live out the Love and Honor code.”

The Miami Student newspaper will continue to monitor the COVID-19 monitoring dashboard for more POUND card data insights. murdocc3@miamioh.edu

“Meanwhile, the president of the campus Virginity Club said that not having hole punches is a source of pride.”

DESIGNER MACEY CHAMBERLIN

PAUL FILONOWICH THE MIAMI STUDENT The results of collegiate entrepreneurial ingenuity are blazing across Oxford. Cast-iron pans, skillets, dutch ovens and griddles TH-seasoned with rare Colorado oil are the hottest product on the block. While sales hit record highs, demand for these “Pot Pans” consistently outpaces supply, and prospective buyers who have not yet

acquired these good goods are green with envy.

The enigmatic Pot Pan producer, Scooby “Doobie” Doo, and his equally mysterious distributor, Mary Jane, debuted their amateur commodity on the eve of last year’s Super Bowl. Their joint venture hopes to smoke out the local market.

Mr. Doo and Ms. Jane’s distribution pipeline boasts unparalleled convenience: couriers with a stache of Pot Pans roll up a stoner’s throw from

your address at a moment’s notice to no-infused herb order.

Each purchase includes a note recommending that “anything remotely edible ought to be baked at no more (and no less) than 420 degrees Fahrenheit.”

When asked about their experience with the product, the eyes of two local members of the Pi Omega Tau fraternity lit up.

What women really want

A funny thing happened on the way to the cabin KENDALL PATTISON

and solace as we drove back, which vanished when I saw the driveway.

EMMA TODYS

THE MIAMI STUDENT Like many students, I took advantage of Miami’s insanely long winter break by traveling. My friend, Mark, raves about his home state of Minnesota any chance he gets, so visiting him was the obvious choice. The plan up to his family’s cabin in Wisconsin the next day. And before you ask, yes, I wore my hazmat suit the entire time I was traveling.

One of the highlights of my trip occurred before I entered the state.

I get nervous on planes, so once the Cincinnati TSA declared me a non-threatening passenger, I went to the one place I knew would help me relax: the bar.

I found a seat and ordered a glass of neat whiskey to assert my dominance as a lady traveling alone.

Sitting next to me were a group of college-aged guys en route to Vail.

This gaggle was downing rounds of Michelob Ultra and shots of Bulliet bourbon. With such an excruciating combo, they clearly did not want to remember nor enjoy their journey.

Toward the end of their indulging, one of the boys commented, “We have 13 minutes until our gate closes, and it’s kind of far away.” Cashing out as quickly as they could, the gang booked it to the opposite end of the airport... I hope they made it in time.

I picked the perfect time to go to Minnesota: January. I got a text from ing me that they “just got hit by a wet blizzard, so heads up.”

After picking me up from the airport, we stopped to order some lattes was treacherously icy. Despite “pen-

with the black asphalt as slick as a buttered William Howard Taft trying to get out of a bathtub. I couldn’t see a way down that didn’t involve sliding down on my ass and straight through the door.

After 10 minutes of coaxing and convincing from my companion, I held onto him for dear life and tiptoed down the incline using any patch of uncovered driveway I could he didn’t throw me over his shoulder The best part of the trip wasn’t taking in the beautiful scenery, seeing my best friend’s childhood home or — it was the pets I met.

In the St. Paul suburbs resides a cat named Luca. I was told she sleeps 23 out of the 24 hours of the day, and if I left my bedroom door open at night, she’d stop by in search of warmth. I decided to test this theory, and sure enough I had a grey ball of fur laying on me within an hour of Mark and I made plans to try and sneak Luca back to Oxford, but we decided against it, as cats and 12-hour car rides don’t mix.

And in the Wisconsin cabin roams a 5-month old chocolate lab named Fitz, after the lake freighter SS Edmund Fitzgerald. She swam through the air like a shark and had teeth as sharp as one, too.

If you had a hand exposed, she would wiggle over and have it fully engulfed in her mouth within seconds. We joked she had a foot fetish, but only for my friend’s feet, as she constantly nibbled on his toes.

I miss both of them dearly.

“To be blunt, we’d make this purchase again without an ounce of regret,” remarked one brother. “Fried or toasted, every dish is a one-hit wonder.

Ten out of ten dab-worthy.”

The ultimate remedy to midnight munchies, a Pot Pan is the perfect gift for your buds back home. Cough up the cash and get yours today!

THE MIAMI STUDENT Valentine’s Day is quickly approaching, and I’m here to tell you that women are so over the basic, gushy, lovey-dovey crap that goes on every year. As a woman myself (hold the applause), I feel not only inclined, but entitled to give you some tips and tricks for success in the upcoming season of love.

So you want to ask a girl to be your valentine, but you’re not sure

Women are tired of men always asking questions. “Will you be my number on the back of your credit they say: Women are like young children in that they always need your guidance, and they aren’t very good drivers. In the end, it is always better to just assume the woman of interest is already in love with you and does not need to be asked. You’ll pick her up at 8.

So you got a date! Good for you, bud. I knew you had it in you the whole time. My next piece of advice is about dinner. Women like men

who can read their minds. This is why you should never ask a woman how she’s doing. You should already know the answer to this: She’s doing fantastic because you’re in her life.

No need for meaningful conversation. Anyway, back to my point: ordering food at dinner. This isn’t the women’s rights movement — we’re done asking for what we want! This year, make sure you order the food for your date.

Now that you’re done eating, troduce her to the family. Women love when men are real and vulnerable, so what better way to show her In a perfect world, you should really be taking her home to meet everyone, show her your childhood bedroom (but nothing too crazy in there.

That’s more of a St. Patrick’s Day ordishes after dinner to see if she’s wife material. Unfortunately, a FaceTime call will have to do during this pandemic. Although it’s not as exciting, I’m sure Mom can still show all the family photo albums through her iPad camera.

I hope this is enough to give you a Valentine’s Day you’ll never forget.

LOST HEADLINES JESSICA ROBINSON

stopped showering to save the environment

HUMOR EDITOR back, I almost wiped out a number

A letter for love JESSICA ROBINSON HUMOR EDITOR Dear single Miami boys, With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, I feel more lonely than usual. On normal days, I only cry void of sleep, but now I sob midafternoon, too, so that’s great fun.

Loneliness eats my soul like one of those NYC rats munching on expensive, trashy pizza dropped from the hands of an unassuming subway rider. The dark emptiness surrounding my heart threatens to crush it with increasing strength. Happiness continues to evade my grasp, no matter how I claw at it, begging it to remain in my palm.

But, I digress.

I write to inform you all of my wish for a strong man to join me on this journey through life! I am ready for a relationship, so throw yourselves at my feet. But act with haste, for it won’t be long and another man will have snatched me up, impressed with my wit and the shape of my body: I am a gorgeous being. As for more exact physical attributes, well, boys, my

beauty is blinding. In fact, it’s better that you just don’t open your eyes.

I desire a pure relationship. I souls, we should remain physically separated by a minimum distance of six feet. Pretend I have COVID at all times. After four months, you are permitted to shake my hand and, if we continue our courtship through two full seasons, we may wed, and men, then you may hold my hand forevwhich is how you hold hands during the Lord’s Prayer. funds. I know my worth. $5. If you have less than $5 on your person, I regret to inform you that I can no Furthermore, I do not dig for gold. I dig for love. So I cannot entertain the idea of marriage with men who make more money than me. I live on an RA salary. my home phone.

Kisses, Jess

• “The pandemic can’t stop love” says sophomore who kissed 43 students in Hahne Hall • Professor discovered giving online lectures on toilet in Armstrong bathroom • Forty-four students test positive for COVID-19 in one residence hall: How did we get here?

• Miami freshman emails listserv asking for an exemption from class due to “hemorrhoids” • Fraternity caught selling vodka shots as hand sanitizer to unassuming Oxford locals • Pepsi or Coke? Local pastor weighs in • Farmer student lauded as “not a dick” •

and losing all sense of smell, these students

• Vegan student and carnivore professor verbally assault each other during gerontology class •

on Tinder and has the

• Overheard at Pulley Diner: Grant is now single, Grace cheated with Adam • Man claims his “bulky biceps” make it hard to keep hands to himself, biology professor explains the faulty logic • Fraternity brothers bathe in Shitty K for reasons unexplained • Bike tire thief caught outside Pearson “wheeley sorry” • Miami senior asks, “what are we?” to exclusive partner of seven months, gets surprising response • Depression: You have it!

Sports

9

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2021

NELSO156@MIAMIOH.EDU

Women’s basketball hopes to return to win column against Central Michigan

SCOUTING The Game 5:30 p.m. Wednesday at Millett Hall TV: ESPN3/ESPN+ Radio: Miami Radio Network

SCOREBOARD

MIAMI REDHAWKS

TUESDAY Player (position, height, key stat)

MEN’S BASKETBALL

Katie Davidson (guard, 5’10”, 11.5 ppg)

Miami ………..….….......... 68

Tihanna Fulton (forward, 6’0”, 3.8 ppg) Kelly McLaughlin (forward, 6’3”, 10.7 ppg)

Kent State .....................…. 77

WEDNESDAY

CHIPPEWAS

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL Western Michigan ............. 64 Miami …....….………....…. 73

Player (position, height, key stat) SOPHOMORE GUARD PEYTON SCOTT HAS SCORED AT LEAST 30 POINTS IN EACH OF HER LAST TWO GAMES. THE MIAMI STUDENT ZACH REICHMAN

J’NAI KNOX THE MIAMI STUDENT That was the overall record of the Miami RedHawks on Feb. 3 after they secured their second win of the season against Western Micha dominant performance, scoring a career-high 37 points which undoubtedly helped push the RedHawks over the Broncos.

Saturday, however, the win streak of one was snapped.

On the road against Kent State, the RedHawks lost 71-69. Most of the game was close, but the Golden Flashes scored a layup with seconds left to seize the win. Scott yielded another high performance, ending the game with

THURSDAY Maddy Watters (guard, 5’9”, 9.9 ppg)

VOLLEYBALL

win. has Miami seated last in the Mid-American Conference before its next game against Central Michigan on Wednesday.

In their last matchup on Dec. 15, the RedHawks lost on the road, 51-69. Scott led the team, scoring 18 points, with senior forward Kelly McLaughlin and freshman guard Katie Davidson right behind her, recording 13 and 11 points, respectively.

Since then, the RedHawks have grown as a team, adapting to roster issues, overcoming injuries and persistently battling on the court each game.

Miami…………………….... 0

This time at Millett Hall, Miami hopes to bounce back into the win column against the 11-6 Chippewas.

Players to Watch Scott, who is fourth in the MAC in points

Bowling Green.…………… 3

FRIDAY

another impressive performance against Central Michigan. Against Western Michigan, she

HOCKEY

and has back-to-back 30-point games. Freshman center Jada Duckett has been getting more

Miami ..………………...…. 1 Minnesota Duluth……....... 8

against Kent State. knoxj@miamioh.edu

VOLLEYBALL

RedHawks hope to end slide Friday vs. Akron

Miami ….……….....…....... 2 Bowling Green ….……..... 3

The Game

SATURDAY

TV: ESPNU Radio: Miami Radio Network

MEN’S BASKETBALL Miami ...………….…...…. 64

MIAMI REDHAWKS Record: 8-7, 5-5 MAC Defense: 71.7 ppg

HOCKEY Player (position, height, key stat)

Miami ...……………….…. 1 Minnesota Duluth .…......... 3

SOPHOMORE GUARD DAE DAE GRANT (PICTURED, NO. 3) HOPES TO LEAD THE REDHAWKS TO VICTORY ON NATIONAL TELEVISION. THE MIAMI STUDENT ZACH REICHMAN

JACK MUELLER THE MIAMI STUDENT

Luckily for the RedHawks, they battle Akron at Millett Hall, which has become a quasi-fortress

Coach Jack Owens and the Miami men’s basketball team have the chance to end their twogame losing streak against the Akron Zips Friday at Millett Hall. The slide has seen them pick up

record in Oxford.

The RedHawks’ hopes of bouncing back will be at risk due to the strength of the Zips this year.

Akron currently ranks second in the MAC with a

-.500 record in jeopardy.

There are some positives to look at, as the

reside in seventh with an 8-7 record (5-5 MAC).

They also will be tasked with controlling Loren Cristian Jackson, the Zips’ senior point guard

Sophomore guard Dae Dae Grant has beHawks, leading the way by averaging 13.7 points per game for a squad that has been pretty tame in the scoring department this season. Junior guard Mekhi Lairy and senior forward Dalonte Brown both average double-digit point totals, while Lairy leads the team in assists (3.5 per game) and Brown pulls down a team-high 6.7 rebounds.

point. The Chicago native has put the scoring load of the Zips on his back and has been one of the main reasons Akron is competing for a MAC title.

On average, Miami has scored 71.7 points per game this season. Coincidentally, the RedHawks have given up 71.7 points to its opponents, too.

Akron has averaged a margin of victory of 10 points this season.

Elijah McNamara (forward, 6’9”, 3.9 ppg)

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL Miami …………….......…. 69 Defense: 68. 5 ppg

Kent State …..….......…..... 71

Player (position, height, key stat)

TENNIS

ppg)

Miami ……………........…. 5 Cleveland State …..….…. 2

Maishe Dailey (guard, 6’7”, 6.7 ppg) Enrique Freeman (forward, 6’7”, 8.1 ppg)

will play a nationally televised home game. The contest, which was originally scheduled for Saturday, was moved to Friday night so it could air on ESPNU. muelle31@miamioh.edu

Miami loses twice in Minnesota, The Miami RedHawks traveled to Minnesota this weekend looking for retribution again against a Duluth team that beat them twice in Oxford last week.

They didn’t get it.

The RedHawks lost 8-1 Friday night and 3-1 Saturday to a Duluth team that boasts eight National Hockey League (NHL) draft picks and is

Cole Koepke scored a hat trick, notching three of

games against the Bulldogs this year.

minutes later, as Roth buried his second of the game with assists from Bender and Cates. Cates test.

Persson and sophomore backup goaltender

MIAMI HAS LOST FOUR STRAIGHT GAMES — ALL AGAINST MINNESOTA DULUTH. THE MIAMI STUDENT FILE PHOTO

JACK SCHMELZINGER THE MIAMI STUDENT One of the best known adages in sports states that it’s tough to beat the same team three times in a season.

Tell that to the Minnesota Duluth hockey team.

from his linemate, junior forward Jackson Cates.

The Bulldogs struck again less than four minutes later as Cates found a cutting teammate, senior forward Kobe Roth, who put the puck past freshman netminder Ludvig Persson for Duluth’s second goal of the game. fore the end of the second period. Junior forward

Nick Swaney chipped in for the remaining two. into the third period when senior forward Casey Gilling scored on the power play to make it 7-1 Bulldogs. Assists on Gilling’s goal came from junior defenseman Derek Daschke and senior forward Phil Knies.

ing up three goals on seven shots.

Duluth defenseman Matt Anderson’s shot was tipped by Swaney and kicked away by Persson, but

freshman RedHawk defenseman Robby Drazner kicked it in his own net to put the Bulldogs up 1-0.

Miami struck back early in the second period.

Senior defenseman Alec Mahalak’s shot from the point was tipped past Duluth goalie Ryan Fanti by freshman forward Matthew Barbolini. Dylan Moulton, a freshman defenseman, also assisted gle that found the net over Persson’s right shoulder to put Duluth up by one. the game, when Roth walked in on the RedHawks’ empty net and easily buried his third goal of the weekend. impressive Swedish freshman shone on Saturday, stopping 55 Duluth shots including a team record season and their record against Duluth to 0-6-0.

The RedHawks will look to bounce back next weekend against fourth-ranked St. Cloud State at a home-and-home series against Western Michigan. schmelj2@miamioh.edu

Opinion

10

WOLFFRG@MIAMIOH.EDU

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2021

Sisterhood shouldn’t be so stressful KATE STUMPH THE MIAMI STUDENT When I went through informal recruitment, I had no idea what to expect or how my sorority would change me. That was a year and a half ago, and I now hold a position on my sorority’s executive board, and my primary role involves standards, excuses and chapter culture.

I had no idea what this job would entail when I was slated, and though I’m more than grateful for the opportunity, I wasn’t aware of the way it would change my view of certain Greek institutions. One of my primary roles is

to accept recruitment excuses, and it’s my job to decide if the excuse is valid, and if so, the sister is excused.

However, I found myself shocked by the types of excuses I received. Without break-

50% of my sisters’ excuses related to mental health, and almost all of them provided me notes from medical professionals who had reservations about the grueling nature of sorority recruitment. I’ve spoken with my position’s counterparts in other chapters, and they experience the same phenomenon.

This begs the question — why is recruitment so detrimental to our mental health, and moreso, why do we actively participate in it when our goal is to foster positivity and sisterhood?

But at its core, sorority recruitment is its own “Why is recruitment so detrimental to form of hazing. Hazing is our mental health, and moreso, why characterized by institudo we actively participate in it when tional forces and processes meant to bond people and our goal is to foster positivity and create familiar experiencsisterhood?” es. Hence the “sisterhood” aspect of Greek life. And

Perfecting the art of embracing imperfection MADELINE PHABY ASST. CAMPUS & COMMUNITY EDITOR I was an angry kid.

My parents threatened to cut my somewhat-successful softball career short every be triggered by anything from striking out to structive criticism from my coach.

“If you’re gonna get this riled up every time you mess something up, you’re not gonna play anymore,” my dad would snap at me.

So I stopped with the outward displays of anger and began internalizing everything. As I entered my early teenage years, my parents ap-

sought wasn’t physical. It was academic.

While I knew that, logically, perfection was unattainable, the standards I used to (involuntarily) set for myself were extremely close.

For me, anything other than an A might as well have been an F. I continued to obsess over past classes I didn’t receive A’s in and kicked myself as I thought of all the things I could’ve done to boost my grade. Even classes I really enjoyed were forever tainted, simply because my grade was lower than I’d hoped.

I knew I wasn’t alone with the intense pressure I put on myself to excel, but that didn’t I still called my poor mother regularly, fretting and crying over an A-minus in a history class because if my history major GPA got too low, I wouldn’t get into a good grad school and,

“While I knew that, logically, perfection was unattainable, the standards I used to (involuntarily) set for myself were extremely close.”

I still rarely went out and had fun because I felt obligated to spend all my time studying.

I still resented my best friend, who would always get A’s in every class because she is a natural genius and an incredibly hard worker. I tried as hard as I could to stop the jealousy and just be happy for her, but I couldn’t.

Three semesters ago, I time in my college career, and I’ve now made the President’s List three consecutive semesters after “only” making the

Unfortunately, my innocent, childish rage replaced itself with bitterness, jealousy and brutal perfectionism.

During my high school years, I carefully son I’d always wanted to be: a bold, outspoken

of that accomplishment, but not of how much I

and didn’t give a single damn about what the rest of the world thought.

As far as I could tell, it worked. I put on a front of toughness to hide my ever-multiplying insecurities, and many of my classmates would likely tell you that I was kind of a bitch.

I’m no longer proud of that label, but at the

address these issues I’ve dealt with for my entire life, and I’m developing healthier coping mechanisms for my wild emotions. I’m obviously not completely “healed” yet, but I already feel like a whole new person.

Though I’ll likely always hold myself to a high standard and am probably physically in-

and aloof than anxious and weak.

In reality, I was anxious, weak and many other unsavory things that I wanted so badly to hide. More than anything, I hated my million

this the year I let myself have the fun college experience I want and deserve.

This shift may result in a couple A-minuses — or, hell, even a B or two. But hey, that’s OK. Because, despite all my imperfections, I’m pretty fucking dope.

But unlike many of my peers who had been poisoned by the beauty standards set by photoshopped images of models, the perfection I

decided that I’m done. No more bitterness, no more jealousy and no more impossibly high standards.

phabymr@miamioh.edu

I’d be lying if I said that recruitment didn’t help me bond with other members of my sorority, but at what cost?

I recruited last year and spent most nights crying in my dorm room; my feet hurt, my schoolwork was neglected and the looks and constant disappointment of girls dropping took its toll on my mental health.

Asking impressionable and eager freshmen who are barely adults to take part in a process where they repeatedly face personal rejection can be especially traumatic. The long days are arduous, and it’s nearly impossible not to compare yourself to your peers.

And the other side isn’t any easier.

And though fraternity hazing is publicly criticized for its outward displays of toxic masculinity and violence, sorority recruitment acts as an alternative form of hazing plagued by toxic and detrimental female stereotypes.

I don’t want to say the boys are doing it right, because there are issues inherent to their recruitment process as well, but last year, I watched my at-the-time boyfriend go out with his friends, keep up with his schoolwork and casually meet the boys who would

later become his brothers, while I spent 16 hours a day in uncomfortable heels.

You don’t hear about fraternities accepting recruitment excuses for mental health, or really excuses at all. Though this could be chocked up to society’s dismissal of male emotion, I would argue their casual and less rigid attitude is healthier for their members.

We live in a time of drastic and rapid institutional change, and the Greek system is no exception. Greek life serves many purposes, both positive and negative, in the American college experience. But like other institutions, it’s been somewhat resistant to change, especially regarding inherent sexist, racist and elitist practices.

I love my sisters and my sorority and stand by my decision to go Greek. My sorority has taught me the value of adaptability, and I’m indebted to my sisters for supporting me through my own mental health journey. However, I also believe that we as a generation can update this archaic, sexist and ultimately detrimental system, and improve it for the sisters to come. stumphkg@miamioh.edu

Good Morning Miami: Senior spring has arrived EMILY DATTILO MANAGING EDITOR

LinkedIn and Snapchat, and that just made me sad. We’d spent years living in this Oxford bubble, only to be harshly scattered across the country for nearly a year. The shared experiences of the class of 2021 paused in March and were either collecting dust or being shelved entirely.

For instance, my psychology capstone was online in the fall, so the last time I took a class in the psychology building was March of 2020, and that was it. ple — it used to host 30+ people on a busy day.

Good morning Miami. It’s nearing the end of senior year, and I’ve been in a retrospective mood lately, which is probably a relatable, if predictable, sentiment. nior year is supposed to be a lot of things.

Social. Nostalgic. Relaxed.

And more than that, it’s supposed to be something you can count on. Something you can picture before you experience it — a chaotic collage of last semester classes and plenty of time with Monday nights, the newsroom used to be a bustle people you’ve gotten to know for three years.

But the coronavirus, as everyone knows, has of activity and conversation. Now, the music from a Spotify playlist is sometimes the loudest sound made it impossible to count on anything.

Right around this time last year, I’d gotten in the room.

It’s odd to have had to say good-bye to expeback from a journalism winter program in New York City. I was taking upper level classes for my riences so early. It feels premature somehow, but majors, applying for summer internships and all we’ve been asked to do this year is adapt. And preparing to assume the role of managing editor we have, again and again.

We’ve adapted to the point where this is the at the newspaper.

When we got sent home in March, I didn’t re- “new normal,” whether we like it or not, and six alize the vast expanse of time that would pass be- months ago, I promised myself I’d never say that. fore I even realized it. And more than that, I didn’t I didn’t want the world to reach a point where onknow what that expanse of time would mean. Ju- line learning was acceptable and social distancing nior year ended in emails and Zoom links, and seYet, here we are, making the best of what’s in nior year loomed ahead with the promise of the return to in-person classes.

That, as we know, largely didn’t happen. Fall semester “It’s odd to have had to say goodwas a whirlwind of worrying bye to experiences so early. It feels about contracting the virus premature somehow, but all we’ve and even more online classes. been asked to do this year is adapt.

Suddenly, the things I’d And we have, again and again.” looked forward to had become things I was afraid of.

Going to bars uptown felt risky. Hanging out with large groups of friends made me hesitate because I couldn’t be sure if they were taking the virus seriously. In-person classes, despite the mask on my face, made me nervous.

Like many Miami students, I opted to hang know on the sidewalk.

In-person classes. out with a few small groups of friends, keeping in touch with the rest through Snapchat or text messages. And as sporadically as it began, fall class, and I couldn’t help smiling. I wasn’t staring and after a couple of coronavirus exposure scares, at a computer screen trying to pay attention, begging the clock to move faster.

I went home and stayed there for weeks.

I hadn’t clicked a button to join class a minute When I came back to Oxford for spring sebefore it started; instead, I’d taken a 20-minute mester, I didn’t know what to expect. walk to the academic building, backpack on, umto realize something rather cliche. During all this brella in hand, unbothered by the untidy mix of time that my friends had been separated, we’d rain and snow falling from the sky.

I’d chosen a seat, listened to an excellent progrown up — but we didn’t grow up together. We were getting accepted into graduate schools and fessor lecture, watched my classmates raise their hands to answer questions and glimpsed a bit of news wasn’t shared in person. And why? Because the senior year I’ve been waiting to have. it couldn’t be. @emily_dattilo I learned about many of these milestones over dattilec@miamioh.edu

New episode this week!