The Miami Student | November 17, 2023

ESTABLISHED 1826 — OLDEST COLLEGE NEWSPAPER WEST OF THE ALLEGHENIES

Volume 152 No. 7

Miami university — Oxford, Ohio

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2023

‘It’s a crisis’: Oxford Fire Department suffers a major financial deficit OLIVIA PATEL ASST. CAMPUS AND COMMUNITY EDITOR

GRAPHIC BY ERIN MCGOVERN

TAYLOR STUMBAUGH CAMPUS & COMMUNITY EDITOR

LILY WAHL

SENIOR STAFF WRITER In a world of romance novels, reality TV shows and love songs, expectations about college romance are

In this issue

high – only to be met with the dissonance of piles of homework, hook-up culture and Brick Street.

“Miami … Merged” was created out of this imbalance as a chance for Miami University students to meet new people and experience what Oxford has to offer, without the stress of

asking someone out or the confusion of dating apps.

Three couples were matched up out of a pool of applicants based on simple questions such as majors, hobbies and interests, to more indepth prompts like ideal types, if they like to talk during movies and who is

willing to kill bugs. Read about the other dates here and here.

The three dates took place between Gina and Tommy, Katie and Theo and Amanda and Jack. Their love stories may not be long, but each gained different lessons from this experience.

READ ON PAGE 6

The good and the ugly of LGBTQ+ representation in film and television STELLA POWERS STAFF WRITER

CAMPUS & COMMUNITY

Miami University implements excess credit hour fee - page 4

ENTERTAINMENT

Stage Left’s ‘The Addams Family’: One not-sonormal night - page 8

FOOD

Christmas comes early at Starbucks - page 9

GREENHAWKS

Miami to allow deer hunting in the Natural Areas for second consecutive year - page 14

Over the years, LGBTQ+ representation has become increasingly more prominent in television and film. For the most part, this is a great thing, especially when it’s done well.

However, that is not always the case.

A few projects have made poor attempts to incorporate it, leading to bad and occasionally insensitive LGBTQ+ representation.

Here are some examples of when representation works, as well as when it doesn’t.

The good Released in 1998, “Will & Grace” was groundbreaking for LGBTQ+ representation on TV. The show was one of the first successful series to feature openly gay characters, although it did face some criticism and backlash for stereotypical portrayals.

Despite the controversy, the show helped to normalize the presence of gay characters on television in a time where it wasn’t very popular or accepted.

“But I’m a Cheerleader,” a comedy starring Natasha Lyonne as a closeted lesbian cheerleader who gets sent to a conversion camp, was released in 1999. Once again, this film was released before LGBTQ+ characters in entertainment were commonly accepted. Today, it’s regarded as

GRAPHIC BY ERIN MCGOVERN

a lesbian classic and, although some parts of it have not aged too well, it remains one of the most popular queer films.

Based on the Alice Oseman webcomics and graphic novels of the same name, Netflix’s “Heartstopper” follows a cast of primarily LGBTQ+ characters as they face the hardships and heartaches of their teenage years. The series is known for its portrayal of queer characters, as well as the unique art style and design of its source material.

More recently, the brilliant, laugh out loud comedy “Bottoms” follows two lesbian best friends as they form an all-female fight club at their school in order to get closer to

their crushes. The film includes some great LGBTQ+ representation and is a fun watch for anyone looking for a good laugh.

Films such as “I Care a Lot,” “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” and “Carol” are other popular movies known for their queer representation and storylines.

Indirect representation Films and shows don’t have to be entirely centered around LGBTQ+ characters in order to be good representation. Sometimes, a project having gay characters whose main storyline does not surround their sexuality can be even better.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 3

Oxford Fire Department (OFD) struggles under the pressure of serving the townships of Oxford, Hanover and Riley and the more than 16,000 students enrolled at Miami University living in Oxford.

Facing financial deficit and staffing issues, Oxford is now considering where these deficits are coming from. The overwhelming response from Oxford community members is Miami.

“Everybody pays their fair share except for Miami, who uses [OFD] as a free service,” Oxford Mayor William Snavely said.

Dick Keebler, former OFD assistant fire chief retired in 2006, said one of the root causes for the financial crisis affecting OFD is that over 45% of Oxford properties do not pay property taxes. This leaves the burden of paying for these services on permanent Oxford residents and those paying an earnings tax within the city of Oxford, which includes Miami faculty and staff.

Oxford City Council determined early this year that 43% of all fire calls in Oxford are for students on Miami’s campus or within the Mile Square. According to the Journal-News’ report done in February 2023, 57% of those calls were false alarms.

According to Miami University Police Department records, so far during this academic year, OFD has been called to Miami’s campus 196 times, 84 of those calls for medical assistance and 112 for fire alarms.

During the 2022-2023 academic year, OFD was called to Miami’s campus a total of 443 times. Of those calls, 284 were made to the fire department, and 159 calls were made requesting emergency medical assistance.

Robert Abowitz, associate director of Residence Life, said the main causes of these false alarms were primarily in residence halls, where students would burn popcorn or mac and cheese in a microwave or spray an aerosol such as body spray, hair spray or air freshener.

“Generally speaking, I can say that almost all of the alarms are false alarms,” Abowitz wrote in an email to The Miami Student.

Keebler said during his time as fire chief, a main source of calls to the university were intoxicated students who would prompt unnecessary calls.

“It’s ridiculous some of the calls that they send the life squad on,” Keebler said. “In 2006, I had to get out of bed twice to go pick up drunk students. That was the last night I ran.”

The problem is only going to get worse with increasing calls, and something must be done by the university to compensate for the number of calls they produce, Snavely said.

“The firefighters and EMTs have been so overworked because they go to Miami for at least half of their runs, and at least half of those runs are false alarms,” Snavely said.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 3

‘Every swimmer dreams of representing their country’: Miami first-year to compete at 2023 Parapan American Games WES PAYNE THE MIAMI STUDENT Most 3-year-olds spend their time learning colors and shapes, participating in sports their parents placed them in and just learning to count.

When Miami University first-year biochemistry major Carson Bruner was 3 years old, he had to fight for his life.

Bruner was diagnosed with necrotizing fasciitis, a rare bacterial infection that destroys tissue under the skin and travels through the bloodstream, causing necrosis in the muscles. The infection destroyed muscles in Bruner’s legs, resulting in his right foot needing to be amputated.

“I was in rough shape for about three months,” Bruner said. “I was on a ventilator, on dialysis and my kidneys failed. I was in a coma for most of it, and I almost died.”

Defying the odds, Bruner made a full recovery, learning to live with his new disability. Nearly 15 years later, Bruner will represent his country at the 2023 Parapan American Games from Nov. 17 to Nov. 26 in Santiago, Chile, as a member of the U.S. Paralympic Swim Team.

Before Bruner was asked to wear the red, white and blue swim cap, he joined a more local swim team. Chris McKinney, head coach of the Miami University Aquatic Club Makos, never had a para-swimmer on the team before.

“It’s really my first experience of getting into the para side of swimming and the knowledge base of it,” McKinney said. “I’m mostly just trying to keep him on the right track to reach his goals.”

Bruner discovered his love of swimming like many others have: as a member of his local pool’s summer team.

WHEN HE WAS 3 YEARS OLD, CARSON BRUNER WAS FIGHTING FOR HIS LIFE. PHOTO BY KATHERINE HAMILTON

“My sister was already on the team, and I really got into it because of her,” Bruner said. “The next year I started doing club swimming, and it just took off from there.”

Bruner competed year-round with the WTRC Sharks swim team, based out of Centerville, Ohio. When he was 9 years old, he swam his first 500-meter freestyle and discovered

his love for distance swimming. At a meet in Cincinnati, Bruner was introduced to the world of US Paralympics swimming by one of his first coaches, putting him on the radar of national officials.

His swim journey continued into high school, where the “firsts” came in waves.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 13

FYI

2

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2023

Voted Best College Newspaper in 2023 at the Ohio Society of Professional Journalists Awards.

Things to do

SEAN SCOTT EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Luke Macy Digital Managing Editor

Macey Chamberlin Design Editor

Alice Momany Print Managing Editor

Jake Ruffer Photo Editor

Reagan Rude Senior Campus & Community Editor

Reece Hollowell Audio Editor

Taylor Stumbaugh Kasey Turman Campus & Community Editors

Ryann Beaschler Video Editor

Jack Schmelzinger Sports Editor

Claudia Erne Social Media Editor

Devin Ankeney Opinion Editor

Megan McConnell Chloe McKinney Olivia Patel Asst. Campus & Community Editors

Fri

Bright Star

11/17

This musical is a tale of love and redemption set in the American South in the 1920s and ’40s.

Sat

Music at the Museum

Gates-Abegglen Theater

7:30 p.m.

Richard and Carole Cocks Art Museum

1 p.m. 2 p.m.

11/18

This recital by students in the Department of Music is hosted on the third Saturday of each month.

Tue

Omelet Tuesday

Erin McGovern Hannah Potts Asst. Design Editors

11/21

Come to the Western Center on Tuesday mornings and enjoy an omelet, conversation and a friendly atmosphere.

Claire Lordan Magazine Editors

Fred Reeder Jr. Faculty Adviser

Wed

Board Game Afternoons

Devin Ankeney Business Manager

Sacha Bellman Business Adviser

11/22

Come to the Western Center to relax, enjoy good company and play board games, video games or disc golf.

Reece Hollowell Entertainment Editor Kaitlin McDowell Food Editor

Kethan Babu Asst. Sports Editor

Evan Stefanik Style Editor

Chloe Southard Asst. Entertainment Editor

Teddy Johnson Patrick Sullivan Humor Editors

Sam Norton Greenhawks Editor

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Opinions expressed in The Miami Student are not necessarily those of Miami University, its students or staff.

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9 a.m. 10 a.m.

3 p.m. 5 p.m.

Thanksgiving Skate Goggin Ice Center

3 p.m. 5 p.m.

11/22

Grab your friends and loved ones and hit the ice. Admission is $7.50, with free skate rentals.

Tue

RA Interview for Success Workshop Shideler Hall, 152

11/28

This workshop will teach you about interview components, and give you the strategies and techniques you need to impress employers.

3 p.m. 4 p.m.

11/10 PRINT (Kendyl's ver.)

DOWN 1 Sea predator who outlived the dinosaurs 2 Biggest school at Miami Uni. 3 What an eighth grader might send his boo 4 2106, the Roman way 5 Novelist Santha Rama ___ 6 Rapper Juice ___ 7 ___-fest, Germany’s annual day of festivities 8 Sing-a-longs 12 A, in Spanish 13 Afro-Cuban dance 16 Country rock singer Steve 17 Loser’s outcry 18 Can be noble in the periodic table 20 Stick meat 21 GA Bulldog’s uni.

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4 Pitbull’s nickname, “___-wide” 9 Distinguishing feature OR Christmas movie 10 Sun Devil AZ uni.

11 Bacteria growth OR collective way of life 14 Dunkin’s specialty 15 Caffeine addict’s dorm room equipment 19 Impact sounds 20 Biggest Quidditch player

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Visit themiamistudent.net to solve online!

Puzzle by Vivian Dao and Kendyl Gurren 22 Movies where you’ll find Ghostface 26 Fish tank buildup 28 Recently re-voiced artists 30 By way of 32 Athletic sportswear OR Miami University’s Field Hockey team 33 Samurai code of honor 34 Fed. number distributor

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2023

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‘It’s a crisis’: Oxford Fire Department suffers a major financial deficit CONTINUED FROM FRONT Snavely and Keebler both believe Miami should pay for their share of calls made to OFD. “In 1993, we badly needed a new fire truck, and the city went to the university for help and they did,” Keebler said. “And ever since 1993, the university has paid one-third of the price of every ambulance and fire truck that has been purchased since then, even though they don’t have to.”

However, that is not how representatives at Miami see the situation.

David Creamer, senior vice president of finance and business services at Miami, said the number of calls to Miami, while they are numerous, end up being extremely brief.

“There is not really any real activity, which is one of the things I think [the city of Oxford] misrepresented,” Creamer said. “For the most part, they’re not spending significant amounts of time here, and they’re not adding staff to do that.”

Keebler and Creamer both said OFD wouldn’t have the funds to operate if it weren’t for the number of employees who pay the city income tax.

“The university does make the most significant contributions to the fire department,” Creamer said.

“One-quarter percent of the income tax goes towards a special fund that funds the fire department.”

According to Creamer, 52% of all income tax comes from the university, indirectly or directly. This is from professors, faculty, staff, student employees, etc.

For this reason, Creamer said that the students of Miami shouldn’t have to pay for fire and EMS services when Miami is already such a large contributor.

“I don’t see why this should be fully borne by our students,” Creamer said.

GRACE GROVER THE MIAMI STUDENT

OXFORD FIRE DEPARTMENT CONTINUOUSLY RESPONDS TO CALLS ON MIAMI’S CAMPUS. PHOTO BY JAKE RUFFER

The city of Oxford is looking to charge Miami university students, in total, $1 million for their use of fire and EMS services. This would break down to around $60 per student.

However, this fee is not plausible to add mid academic year because of Miami’s tuition guarantee, Creamer said.

Various solutions are being discussed to raise more money for the fire department, including applying for grants, increasing property tax revenue, proposing a levy or pushing Miami to pay for its share of usage. Assistant city manager Jessica Greene said these solutions are far from being officially proposed.

“It would be irresponsible to start talking about solutions before we really understand the full nature of the problem,” Greene said.

She gave no further comments regarding the possible solutions discussed by the mayor.

Greene said Oxford is in the research phase of understanding the

root cause of this financial issue. City council met for an executive session on Nov. 7, where officials explained what they think is the cause of the problem and the level of deficit per year.

Despite no official discussion being had on possible solutions, Snavely believes there is only one true solution to this fiscal problem.

“I just hope that the university makes the right choice because it is a critical situation,” Snavely said. “We are in a crisis and they need to recognize that.”

OFD declined to comment on the current financial deficit and issued an official statement.

“The Local is working in concert with the city administration,” the statement reads, “to identify and implement solutions for the current staffing shortfalls and to meet the future needs of our community.” patelou@miamioh.edu

The good and the ugly of LGBTQ+ representation in film and television CONTINUED FROM FRONT The hit comedy series “Schitt’s Creek” features Dan Levy as David Rose, the pansexual son of Johnny and Moira Rose. Though his sexuality is an important part of his character and storyline, his role within the show is much more than that.

Oftentimes, shows with gay characters make that their entire purpose, and this is certainly not one of those series.

Though not introduced until the second season of the series, “The Morning Show” on Apple TV+ features a sapphic relationship between Reese Witherspoon’s Bradley Jackson and Julianna Margulies’ Laura Peterson. In season two especially, the representation is great. The LGBTQ+ storyline is mixed in with various other plots, showing a lot more depth to the characters than just their sexuality. In season three, the representation isn’t as well executed, and almost feels like more of a tactic to get viewers than to actually tell queer stories.

“Booksmart,” the hit coming of age comedy from Olivia Wilde, also contains some excellent representation without it being the main focus of the film. The movie follows two best friends who realize they never did anything fun in high school as they prepare to graduate, and one

ASG drops legislation following Crawford’s statement on IsraelHamas war

of these friends happens to be gay. It touches on the topic beautifully without making it the center of attention throughout the entire film.

Shows like “Euphoria” and “Sex Education” also prominently feature LGBTQ+ relationships without them being the entire focus of the series.

If you’re looking for some more well-done, queer movies, assistant entertainment editor Chloe Southard has made a list of her favorite LGBTQ+ films on Letterboxd.

The bad “They/Them,” a failed attempt at making an LGBTQ+ slasher film, takes place at a conversion camp.

The depictions of gay characters within the film are incredibly stereotypical and almost laughable, and the ending had some very homophobic undertones. This film is the perfect example of queer representation being executed poorly.

The hit CW show “Riverdale” made an attempt to incorporate LGBTQ+ representation into the series, but it was poorly done. Although the show features a lot of gay characters, they’re portrayed in ways that are stereotypical and, sometimes, problematic. In season one, two heterosexual female characters kiss each other for nothing but shock value. “Riverdale” is one of the worst shows for queer representation, because although there was an attempt,

the execution was awful.

“Pretty Little Liars,” the hit TV series inspired by the novels of the same name, features an LGBTQ+ relationship between Emily Fields, one of the protagonists, and Maya, a side character. The relationship felt a bit forced, and although it’s great that the show had bisexual representation, they also fell victim to the stereotypical trope with queer characters, “bury your gays.” It is interesting that Fields dealt with homophobia from her family, but it was approached very poorly.

Though the show does contain some good representation, “Orange Is the New Black’’ did a poor job when writing the LGBTQ+ storyline for the main protagonist, Piper Chapman. Many consider it to be bisexual erasure as she won’t acknowledge her sexuality, and it is presented in a way that makes it seem like she has to be either gay or straight. In the pilot, she refers to herself as a former lesbian turned straight, which is problematic because it implies there is no in between.

LGBTQ+ representation in TV and film is incredibly important. For the most part, this representation is a great thing, but it can be seriously upsetting when it isn’t done well. powers40@miamioh.edu

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Miami University’s Associated Student Government (ASG) responded to President Greg Crawford’s statement on the Israel-Hamas war, passed legislation regarding Oxford resident and student interaction and updated Senate Standing Rules on Nov. 14 during its weekly meeting.

Senator Nicholas Barry authored proposed legislation regarding an ASG statement on the Israel-Hamas War and its effects felt at Miami.

However, following Crawford’s statement sent out Nov. 14, Barry decided to drop his legislation. He plans on bringing forth new legislation that will support Crawford’s statement at a future meeting.

“I would just like to say thank you President Crawford for standing up for the students of this university,” Barry said. “This statement is a monumental victory for Miami University and affirms that we are truly the school of love and honor.”

ASG passed legislation aimed at strengthening the relationship between Oxford residents and Miami students. Senator Jackson Abram proposed this resolution and said events typically take place in the summer, when many students are not in town.

Once passed, it would encourage the city council to extend events through the school year. It serves as a recommendation for the council, urging for implementation.

“The city is actually listening to us,” said Maryam Nawaz, secretary for off-campus affairs and sponsor of this legislation. “Next year, Oxtoberfest is actually going to be on the weekend and students are going to be here.”

HAWKS Peer Health Educators, a Miami program that allows students to learn health safety from other students, visited ASG for Bystander Intervention Training. Seniors Aidan Schacht and Mark Rick lead the program. They discussed red flags in different scenarios such

as alcohol overdose, relationships and prescription drug usage.

“There are many ways to intervene,” Schacht said. “Even if sounds, space and time don’t seem to be connected, just go with what you’re given and take action.”

ASG approved an amendment to its Senate Standing Rules. Parliamentarian Eli Davies explained revisions and what passing it would mean. Under the newly passed amendment, students outside ASG can co-author legislation, which includes at-large committee members.

Secretary of Academic Affairs Spencer Mandzak said he was happy about the outcome of a recent health policy event, which hundreds of members of the health field attended. The conference lasted three days and attendees discussed legislation that will positively affect current and potential nurses.

“We had people from the Ohio House Health Committee and Ohio Senate Health Committee come to Miami’s campus and listen,” Mandzak said. “Hopefully in the next couple weeks they’ll actually generate these policy ideas which we are really excited about.”

Secretary of Safety and Wellness Shelby Alford gave an update on the future plans of giving out cup covers and other safety devices. ASG gave out 500 Nightcaps last month and plans on hosting a similar event before spring break. The organization will also hand out roofie-test strips.

Between Nov. 11 and Nov. 29, ASG will host the Power of Words campaign at Slant Walk along with dog therapy. ASG will hand out candy and stickers after participants answer prompts relating to spreading kindness to yourself and those around you.

“It’s basically just a way for us to show senators your words matter, and you can use them to either share positivity or to share negativity,” Alford said.

The next ASG meeting will be at 6 p.m. on Nov. 28 in the Joslin Senate Chamber. grovergc@miamioh.edu

OPD responds to fraud and disorderly conduct

GRAPHIC BY MACEY CHAMBERLIN

MEGAN MCCONNELL ASST. CAMPUS & COMMUNITY EDITOR Between Nov. 6-13, Oxford Police Department (OPD) responded to several reports of fraud, assault and theft.

On Nov. 6, a male reported he had sent money to an online shopping site and can no longer access the money in his account.

The next day, an unknown subject wrote four checks for a total of almost $100,000 using the victim’s bank account and routing numbers.

At 6 p.m. on Nov. 6, a child’s bike was stolen by a male while the child was shopping inside Walmart.

Another theft was reported on Nov. 7 when several items were stolen from a woman’s vehicle on the 100-block of E. High St. There are no suspects at this time.

At 1 p.m. on Nov. 8, a woman reported that she was groped at her place of employment. She does not wish to pursue criminal charges.

Around 8:45 p.m. later that night, two Walmart employees were terminated after it was found they had been stealing from the store for several months. Charges are pending additional police investigation.

On Nov. 9, a woman reported a package delivered by USPS had been stolen from the common mail area of her building on the 200-block of N. Poplar St. At 6 p.m. on Nov. 10, police received a report that a subject flat-

tened three tires by letting the air out on the 300-block of S. Locust St. There are currently no suspects.

At 11 p.m. later that night, a female was highly intoxicated and in need of medical attention for a medical condition. She was taken to McCullough-Hyde Memorial Hospital and issued summonses for underage drinking and disorderly conduct.

On Nov. 11, a hate symbol was reported on the exterior wall of an Uptown business on the 20-block of E. High St. Employees were working to get it cleaned off.

In the early morning hours of Nov. 12, around 1 a.m., police transported an intoxicated male who had vomited on himself to McCullough-Hyde Memorial Hospital.

He was issued a citation for disorderly conduct.

At 2 a.m., officers responded to a disorderly subject and issued citations for disorderly conduct.

Just after 5 a.m., officers saw a running vehicle with the driver passed out behind the wheel. The driver refused to identify themselves or cooperate with officers. They were taken into custody for driving under the influence and obstruction.

On the 100-block of E. High St., a male was assaulted by a group of three to four males just before 6 a.m.

The males fled the scene before officers arrived, and the victim was transported to the hospital for his injuries. mcconnmn@miamioh.edu

Campus and Community

4

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2023

How students are staying connected … 20 apps at a time

Student-created Oxford trail maps win awards at the 2023 Ohio GIS Conference

OXFORD HAS BEEN WORKING ON A PAVED NETWORK OF TRAILS. PHOTO BY SEAN SCOTT

SOPHIA MATHUR THE MIAMI STUDENT The new Oxford Area Trails System maps, created using the pre-existing Miami University Natural Area maps and the City of Oxford’s Oxford Area Trails (OATS), won best in the reference map gallery and best of show map across all categories at the 2023 Ohio Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Conference.

The conference, hosted by the County Engineers Association of Ohio, was held in Columbus in September. Zachary Moore, a GIS coordinator and planner for Oxford, presented the new OATS map at the event.

“This was my first GIS conference, and I figured I would toss my hat into the ring and submit the map to various categories at the conference,” Moore said.

Moore worked with Miami’s GIS coordinator Robbyn Abbitt, assistant city manager Jessica Greene and Natural Areas field manager Nancy Feakes to update the kiosks along the Oxford hiking trails by creating the new OATS map.

“I was given the opportunity to participate, and I love maps and making them, so I was happy to jump right in,” Moore said. “Another thing that actually made this map possible was a land cover dataset that we got from a company in Toronto, Canada.”

The dataset from Ecopia AI predated the newest trails in the area, but it facilitated the creation of the custom map. The dataset consists of aerial images that digitize every building footprint, road and sidewalk.

This dataset provided the contextual information that was embedded into the map in addition to the trails.

“That dataset helped bring the map to life because we were able to have waterways with Four Mile Creek being the most substantial one,” Moore said. “The city purchased the dataset a while back for climate action to understand tree cover, but it fit the scope and mission of the project and ultimately helped us create a graphically beautiful and usable map.”

Abbitt oversees data collection and management of the Miami Natural Area trails, which are updated using information collected by students in advanced GIS classes. Abbitt has

had her own team of students collecting GIS data on a regular basis since 2019.

Since 2017, Oxford has been working on a paved network of trails for OATS, which has led to some dirt Natural Area trails being paved.

“Our two trail systems are now linked because they share space, so we had meetings and determined that the city is responsible for the upkeep of the paved trails, but Miami also has a responsibility because the land is still Miami Natural Areas,” Abbitt said.

The final result of these meetings between Miami and the city was the creation of the current network of trails. Previously, Miami and the city each maintained their own maps at trailheads, even though both trails were very similar.

“Now there is collaborative signage that still has distinctions between Miami Natural Areas, the green dotted lines, and OATS map trails, which are the purple lines,” Abbitt said. “For the user, it’s much easier to think about.”

Maria Klocke, a senior geography and urban and regional planning double major, was on the team that updated the Natural Area trail print maps last fall. The creation of Miami Natural Area trail maps included students using GPS units to gather trail data, bringing the data back to the computer lab to clean it up and then placing the data on a cartographic product.

“I think that having that cohesion between the Miami and Oxford maps is really important for users,” Klocke said. “It’s really neat to see something I contributed to win an award.”

Currently, the city is paving trails between Peffer Park and Talawanda High School. The next phases include connecting the high school to Talawanda Middle School and connecting the middle school to the Oxford Community Park. There will also be a public segment on Brookville Road that passes through the upcoming 86-home Owl’s Landing subdivision.

“The Oxford Area Trails System was a great example of the town and gown partnership between Miami and the city,” Moore said. “Everybody seemed pretty thrilled with the end result.” mathurs3@miamioh.edu

GRAPHIC BY ALICE MOMANY

ANASTASIJA MLADENOVSKA THE MIAMI STUDENT For most Miami University students, the main way to stay in touch with professors outside of class is through email. For students of Erikamarie Wick, that’s not the case.

Wick, a professor in the Farmer School of Business, currently teaches business computing to first-year students. She asks them not to send her emails, but instead communicates via Slack.

“It was a personal decision based on my feedback from students stating that my largest issue was communicating in a timely manner,” Wick said. “I’ve had issues with my Miami email for years.”

According to research from New York University, the formality of emails can create a barrier that discourages students from reaching out to professors. In the professional world, 77 out of 100 Fortune companies rely on Slack correspondence, according to Slack statistics, and Inside Higher Ed has described Slack as the “new email.”

When students come to college, they’re greeted with constant reminders from professors, academic departments and student organizations about how important it is to stay on top of communication. With so many different communication channels to choose from, this can quickly become a challenge.

Wick explained that in addition to the functionality and simplicity of Slack, she has seen it foster collaboration between students, especially in online classes.

“I’ve found that it’s also more effective in teaching online courses as well, as a point to get the question, answer and collaboration going between students,” Wick said.

However, not everyone uses Slack. Students who are working or doing an internship may be more likely to communicate on Microsoft Teams or Google Chat.

Mia Gagliano, a sophomore marketing major, said she uses the apps where everyone else is, even if she’s not a fan of them.

“A lot of communication applications are a matter of habit,” Gagliano said. “I personally dislike Snapchat, but that is the only way some people our age can be reached.”

Snapchat is still a popular option among college students, with groups on Miami’s campus like the Class of 2027 group allowing specific communities to stay connected and share a laugh. Instagram is also widely used, with more than 80% of college students on the platform.

Another useful tool a lot of student organizations utilize is Google Drive, which allows them to organize their assignments better. Sometimes, student organizations collect their members’ phone numbers and communicate via iMessage because of the more personal feel of messaging.

Olive Abram, a sophomore sustainability and political science major, has been exposed to both GroupMe and Google Drive during her time in college. While email and Drive work for her to organize her assignments and communications, she dislikes GroupMe because of the inconsistency of notifications.

“The GroupMe search function is also inconsistent,” Abram said. “I feel like every time I try to search for people, it never gives me what I am looking for.”

For social and extracurricular activities, Abram said she prefers Discord, which allows for different voice and text chats in a server of people, connecting people of various interests and locations.

“I’ve been using it for years,” Abram said. “It’s very user-friendly, servers can be highly customized for their purpose, and it’s easily accessible on mobile and desktop.”

Bharat Kapoor, an international student from India, said that although none of his American friends use WhatsApp, he communicates with his friends and family from home with it. WhatsApp allows for international texting for free as long as users are connected to WiFi. “It’s easy to use, and it’s free chat and free calls,” Kapoor said.

Kapoor said he has made some of his American friends install the application as he believes that, with a base of more than 2 billion users, it’s a great platform to meet and connect with people from nearly all over the world.

In the sea of communication apps most students use every day, staying in touch has never been simpler — or more complex, whether it’s using LinkedIn to stay on top of professional networking or getting on Slack to ask when the next assignment’s due. mladena@miamioh.edu

Miami University implements excess credit hour fee SADIE CHILDS THE MIAMI STUDENT

GRAPHIC BY CAITLIN DOMINSKI

Ada Bright, a first-year social work major, wanted to make the most of her time at Miami. When she went to register for classes for the upcoming spring term, though, she learned that she would be charged if she enrolled in more than 18 credit hours.

Bright chose not to register for a lab accompanying one of her classes to avoid paying the fee. This is the predicament that future Miami students face.

Students in the 2027 graduating class and younger will be charged an overload fee if they exceed 18 credit hours when registering for classes. Going forward, this means that for 19 or more credit hours, these students will now have to pay more than $600 per additional hour and $300 for each half-credit hour.

The Board of Trustees voted on this decision over the summer. The fee went into place this fall for the class of 2027 and future students.

Miami Provost Elizabeth Mullenix said this is something that has been discussed over the last three years.

“Miami is the only public university in the state that does not charge for excess credit hours over 18,” Mullenix said. “Ohio University [charges for exceeding] 20 credit hours.”

Mullenix explained that the university’s current budget shortfalls also played a role in this decision.

The significant loss of revenue that

the university experienced during the pandemic and the decreased number of international students at Miami has caused challenges for budgeting.

“Our state subsidy has not changed in 25 years,” Mullenix said. “So the money that we get from the state of Ohio has not kept up with inflation.”

As the university started considering this change, data was looked at over five years of students from the financial years of 2018-22. This data allowed the university to see how many students took advantage of additional credit hours, how many people the fee would have impacted and what kind of additional revenue Miami could see.

Mullenix explained that the data showed that over four years, only 4% of Miami students would be affected by the fee.

“Averaged over four years, if 4% of students took more than 18 credit hours, we would see an additional revenue of $2 million, that was our estimate,” Mullenix said.

This change is one that Rachel Dela Cruz, a first-year majoring in sociology, was unaware of until her roommate mistakenly got charged for the fee.

“Her math class … was supposed to be zero credit hours, but it said in her degree audit that it was the full three,” Dela Cruz said. “So she was at 19 [credit hours], and a $1,000 charge was on her bursar.”

Though Dela Cruz’s roommate was able to get the charge removed, the change was still surprising

to first-year students. Dela Cruz doesn’t recall the fee being emphasized at orientation or during her meetings with her academic adviser.

Mullenix said the fee was discussed at orientation and hopes more students will become aware of the overload fee.

This decision only impacts first-year students due to Miami’s tuition promise, which ensures tuition and fees will be held constant over students’ four years at the university.

Additionally, Pell-Grant-eligible students will be able to apply for help waiving the overload fee.

Over the next four years, Mullenix predicts the university will start to see a change in behavior among Miami students, as the majority of those taking excess hours were seniors.

“We anticipate that behavior will change so that students will sort of take that sixth class spread out through their four years as opposed to just their senior year,” Mullenix said.

Bright said that this decision seemed to have good intentions but took the wrong approach.

“I think there is some logic behind this not wanting students to overload themselves,” Bright said.

“But I think that putting the limit at 18 is too low if that’s what they’re concerned about. It feels like they are more concerned about losing out on money than on their students’ well-being.” childssb@miamioh.edu

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2023

5

Entrepreneurship and you: RedHawk Ventures’ influence on Miami and beyond and former students to fund their companies and build connections.

Faculty adviser for RedHawk Ventures, Tim Holcomb, said the club’s members get to experience “real money, real companies, real decisions and real consequences.”

Holcomb said the program is interdisciplinary and immerses students in learning opportunities.

“They get to see the full lifecycle of investment deals, from evaluating the deal and conducting due diligence to making a decision on investment,” Holcomb said.

Apart from what RedHawk Ventures can offer on campus, its main goal is to provide entrepreneurial alumni and current students the chance they need to start their businesses. Co-managing director Jack Marks said the pitching process RedHawk Ventures employs decides who gets the grants, which are typically $25,000.

“Usually, the pitching process begins with the initial call from the firm that wants to pitch us their business,” Marks said. “We talk that over, then we send out a formal diligence team to decide more about the business depending on things such as the JACK MARKS IS CO-MANAGING DIRECTOR FOR REDHAWK VENTURES. market for their product and PHOTO PROVIDED BY JACK MARKS other things, and from there, we pus, acting as a venture capital fund WILLIAM KWAN decide if they get the funding or for both students and entrepreneur- not.”

THE MIAMI STUDENT ial alumni. The venture fund itself The most important qualities RedHawk Ventures, founded in began as a $500,000 grant from of a good pitch are dedication to 1997, is one of the most involved Procter & Gamble, and the resourc- a cause and a strong solution for a clubs on Miami University’s cam- es of the club have been used every problem, Marks said. He added that year since in helping both current

the evaluation of such pitches benefits student members by giving them face-to-face experience with real businesses.

Michael Markesbery, CEO of OROS Apparel, was one of the recipients of a grant in 2015. OROS apparel is a materials science company specializing in fabric that caters mainly to the military. As an alum, Markesbery is grateful for Redhawk Ventures’ aid.

“I feel that being an alumni was greatly helpful in getting the money from the fund, just the support from the alma mater,” Markesbery said.

“I also think that our business team was able to talk with RedHawk Ventures and really impress them with the significance and passion of what we were doing.”

RedHawk Ventures continues raising money for other venture funds under its name. Only $25,000 remains of the original grant from P&G, and while no other corporate sponsors have donated, co-managing director Katherine McIntosh said the organization is trying to get funding from other sources.

“Miami alumni are definitely great resources to have and people like that will give us that money as a basis to continue our student experiential learning opportunity,” McIntosh said. “We’re also looking at other venture fund grant opportunities.”

Besides high net-worth alumni, RedHawk Ventures also hopes to gain support and possibly another major corporation like P&G. Redhawk Ventures hopes to raise $250,000 annually, and possibly increase the grant amount to $50,000, a doubling of the original amount. kwanwz@miamioh.edu

How Miami faculty are using the newest round of grant funding

GRAPHIC BY KASEY TURMAN

RAQUEL HIRSCH STAFF WRITER Miami University’s October issue of The Wrap Up announced eight new faculty and staff grant projects.

Selected recipients were given externally funded grants to fund their research and projects. The topics of interest ranged from mental health in the social work field, to LGBTQ+ wellness and community outreach for educational support.

Funding can be granted to professors and administrators alike from various outlets. Some of these have even chosen to put their awards back into the community through research.

Opportunities for social work students Miami’s Director of the Office of Student Financial Assistance, Beth Johnson, received more than $750,000 in grant money for “The Great Minds Fellowship.” Since the beginning of the fall 2023 semester, the program has worked directly with the social work department to support undergraduate and graduate students within the major. Johnson serves as the project lead for the university because her office will be distributing funds to select students.

“Students can get up to $10,000 within the last two years of their degree program,” Johnson said. “And they can use it for pretty much any-

thing related to their education or even the cost of their licensure.”

Johnson said social work is currently the only major eligible to receive the funding. Along with being in a specific major, eligible students must also be involved in an internship with one of Ohio’s Community Behavioral Health Centers. The funding for “The Great Minds Fellowship” originates from the Ohio Department of Higher Education, along with pass-through funds from the American Rescue Plan Act and the Department of Health and Human Services.

Johnson said Miami has to use all of the funds up by March 2025, but additional funding may be available in the future.

“The goal really is to get professionals out in the field for mental health counseling,” Johnson said.

Advancing mental health for minorities Zachary Soulliard, an assistant professor of psychology at Miami, has received more than $20,000 from Yale University, along with pass-through funds from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. He will use the funds to continue his research on mental healthcare for sexual and gender minorities in low-resource communities.

While receiving his postdoctoral associate from the Yale School of Public Health, Soulliard served as

a co-investigator under principal investigator John Pachankis. Since 2015, Pachankis has been working to develop mental health treatment and therapy tailored to LGBTQ+ individuals.

“It’s gone through tons of different clinical trial testing and has gotten a lot of support when it comes to reducing symptoms of depression, anxiety, substance abuse [and] other things too among different subgroups of the LGBTQ community,” Souillard said.

After eight years of research, it is time to focus on execution.

The funding from the grant will be distributed across 90 different LGBTQ+ centers throughout the U.S. that will provide treatment to youth, adolescents and adults. Throughout the process, Souillard and his team will be collecting data from before and after the treatment, along with follow-ups a few years later.

Soulliard, who is a licensed clinical psychologist by training, also oversees his own study as the principal investigator of his lab, “Body Image and Stigma among Queer Populations (BISQue).”

“This work is very meaningful to me, too,” Soulliard said. “As a clinician, I want to make sure that LGBTQ people can get access to treatment that has been rigorously tested, and treatment isn’t going to work for everyone. But in terms of

testing it, [there’s] greater hope that it will help certain LGBTQ people.”

Providing writing resources to students without access Beth Rimer, co-director of the Ohio Writing Project at Miami, has received $12,600 from the National Writing Project, along with pass-through funds from the U.S. Department of Education and the American Institutes for Research.

The funding is designated for a project called “2023 National Writing Project Coach. Teach. Write Grant.”

“We work with K-12 teachers to support their effective writing instruction for students and teachers,” Rimer said. “And so what this grant allows us to do is work with teachers that wouldn’t have had the funds otherwise to do so.”

Some of the programs that the National Writing Project offers include workshops, youth writing camps and a master’s program. In addition, funding from the grant allows schools that may not have the resources otherwise to have access to professional development.

Currently, the grant is focused on working with Clinton-Massie Middle School in Clarksville, Ohio, and supporting the middle school students’ and teachers’ development in writing skills. This grant allows for Rimer and her team to reach smaller, rural schools such as Clinton-Massie.

“It works in a cycle,” Rimer said.

“So we provide professional development and coaching, and then teachers will implement writing practices in their classroom, and then we coach again. We talk about what they did, what worked, and then we make adjustments.”

As a result of working with these schools, Rimer and her team are better able to understand how the methods behind the teaching of writing impact students.

The $12,600 funds the project with Clinton-Massie for the next year. Following the completion of the year, a report will be submitted that details the results of Rimer’s work.

Then, additional funding is provided to work with more middle schools for two additional years.

“Providing spaces for young writers to be able to have a voice in their world is something that is good for both mental health, that is good for developing their writing across all kinds of genres, and for them in terms of other benefits about being confident and building their efficacy as writers,” Rimer said. “It focuses on young student writers … and helping them find their voice in the world.” hirschr2@miamioh.edu

Are Miami RAs paid fairly compared to other universities?

ALAINA KAPTURASKY THE MIAMI STUDENT Kylee Pierson became a resident assistant (RA) at Miami University for both the financial benefits and leadership experience. After going through the application process and training, she found out that the job isn’t always what it seems to be.

As a former RA, Pierson was required to go through two weeks of training in the summer, a credit hour course during the semester and many late nights in the residence hall.

According to the Office of Residence Life at Miami, RAs receive a stipend that compensates in the form of 10 installments over the course of 10 months. The pay is based on what residence hall the RA is assigned to and compensation for programming varies on how many residents they oversee.

The Office of Resident Life’s website states, “All RAs are expected to pay their housing costs on the same schedule as other students (typically upfront), and the RA leadership stipend reimburses those costs in monthly installments.”

RAs play an integral role in on-campus living, and for students living far away from home for the first time, RAs are critical. They take on many different responsibilities and are employed by the university to create a positive environment, encourage students to participate in the Miami community and enforce different policies.

Miami falls behind other institutions like Ohio University (OU) and Ohio State University (OSU) that have created a more financially relieving way to become an RA, which is reflected by the experience of their students.

George Getsy, a junior student at OSU, has been an RA for two years now. For him, the experience has been nothing but positive, but OSU’s system for paying RAs differs from Miami’s. Getsy receives free housing as an RA, as well as a bi-weekly stipend of about $160.

OU sets up its RA program in a similar fashion. Jen Maskiell, director of residence life operations, said that OU sets up their RA wages in relation to the time an RA has spent in the program.

“New resident assistants are paid $3,270 annually and returning resident assistants are paid $4,208 annually,” Maskiell said. “The cost of the staff room is covered at 100% while residing on-campus, and RAs are provided with uniforms such as t-shirts and pullovers for special events, at no cost to them.”

RAs also receive free room and board at Miami, with a catch. Students must first pay for their room and board upfront, and then it is reimbursed later in the year. Pierson was an RA at Heritage Commons and was surprised when she first found this out.

“I didn’t realize that either, because you would think they would just make you not pay for the room and board at the beginning of the year,” Pierson said. “But you have to have the money to pay it upfront which can be problematic for some people … so my bill went up two grand, and I just had to be able to pay.”

Sloane Faller, a current RA in Hamilton Hall, outlined what the training is to become an RA at Miami.

“We went through five extensive days of training,” Faller said. “The training consisted of lectures, we sat through a lot of information on how to write incident reports and how to contact, things like that.”

Getsy says the work he does as an RA at OSU is equal to the payment he receives.

“Personally, I feel that the pay from being a resident adviser is fair regarding the work that we do,” Getsy said. “The workload is flexible and our supervisors and co-resident advisers are willing to work with us when we need support.”

This is not reflected in Pierson’s role at Miami, where she felt her experience in Heritage Commons was very different from how the OSU RA described his experience.

“There are only six RAs that cover the entire area … I was overseeing 70 residents, walking up and down six floors while having to be on-duty a lot more than the other RAs on campus,” Pierson said. “On top of that, meal plans are not covered and I never tallied up exactly how many hours I worked, but it never really seemed like enough pay.” kapturar@miamioh.edu

6

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2023

DATE LAB

‘Zero expectations’ TAYLOR STUMBAUGH CAMPUS & COMMUNITY EDITOR

LILY WAHL

SENIOR STAFF WRITER The participants Jack, a junior economics major and business analytics minor who recently transferred from Michigan State University, applied for “Miami … Merged” to get to know Oxford better.

“I’m mainly hoping to get out there in Oxford, meet new people, and get a date under my belt … If it goes somewhere, it goes somewhere,” he said.

“I’m mostly focusing on a genuine connection.”

Amanda, a sophomore marketing major, was also excited to take a chance on something new.

“I’m really not good at picking guys for myself,” Amanda said, “and my roommate sent me the link to it and said, ‘You should do this!’”

In terms of what qualities he was looking for in a partner, Jack prioritized personality.

“I would say intelligence is probably the first option, and then probably kindness and genuine character,” he said.

“Similar senses of humor are pretty important for conversation and interacting with [a date].”

Amanda was on the same page, describing her ideal type as someone funny who she could also have serious conversations with. She also mentioned that she was more attracted to taller guys — Jack is 6-foot-4.

The date At 11 a.m. on a cold, drizzly Saturday morning, Amanda and Jack went on their first date at the Oxford farmers’ market. They spent the morning and early afternoon drinking apple cider and buying stickers and croissants at different booths while walking around.

Jack said when they met, he was initially attracted to Amanda’s fashion sense and blue eyes. Amanda noticed his height and the easy start to their conversation.

“It was kind of funny because I didn’t get to answer or ask some of the

questions I expected to because [the conversation] flowed very naturally, so I didn’t have to come up with questions very often,” Jack said.

After sitting and chatting on a wet bench in Uptown Park about bad movies they both enjoyed and her Halloween costume — Cocaine Bear — for more than 45 minutes, they decided to head to their second spot, Kofenya.

“He’s a really sweet guy,” Amanda said. “Like, overall, he’s so nice. He’s smart. I like that he used big words because I like when [men] have a vocabulary.”

Their time at Kofenya was not long due to the noisy atmosphere, crowded room and the fact that Jack doesn’t like caffeine. From there they decided to extend the date, visiting Future Great Comics, the comic book store across the street.

Amanda said the shop first caught her eye because of the 50% off sign, and Jack agreed to go in because of his love for knick-knacks. They each bought two Funko Pops. He got Scar from “The Lion King” and a red stormtrooper, while Amanda got Patrick Bateman for her friend’s birthday and Jack-Jack from “The Incredibles.” “[That’ll make it] easy for her to remember me,” Jack said.

They finished their date in Graeter’s because she had never been before. Jack liked how she asked for ice cream recommendations from the staff.

Amanda said they had slight differences in spontaneity because he seemed like a play-it-safe type of person. However, she said they had a lot in common, and the date went very well.

“I had zero expectations. Whatever happens, happens,” Amanda said. “And yeah, I think it went as good as I could have imagined.”

Participants rate the date: Jack: 8.5/10 Amanda: 6.5/10

JACK AND AMANDA SPENT THEIR TIME AT THE FARMER’S MARKET LOOKING AT MULTIPLE BOOTHS. PHOTO BY SARAH FROSCH

Amanda and Jack have stayed in touch but have not gone on a second date.

AMANDA LOOKS AT SWEET TREATS AT THE FARMER’S MARKET. PHOTOT BY SARAH FROSCH

AMANDA AND JACK SPENT TIME AWAY FROM THE FARMER’S MARKET BY THEMSELVES. PHOTO BY SARAH FROSCH

JACK AND AMANDA TALKED ABOUT ‘COCAINE BEAR’ WHILE SITTING ON THE BENCH. PHOTO BY SARAH FROSCH

AFTER BUYING APPLE CIDER, JACK AND AMANDA WALKED THROUGH THE LEAVES THAT COVERED THE MARKET. PHOTO BY SARAH FROSCH

‘It’s hard for me to open up my heart’ TAYLOR STUMBAUGH CAMPUS & COMMUNITY EDITOR

LILY WAHL

SENIOR STAFF WRITER

GINA AND TOMMY MET AT MIMIAN FOR THEIR DATE. PHOTO BY SARAH FROSCH

Participants The dating culture at Miami hasn’t been kind to Gina. She decided to sign up for “Miami … Merged” because she hadn’t dated anyone before and wanted to take a chance. “[I thought,] let me take this opportunity that’s given because sometimes it’s hard to find a single guy that aligns with your interests and your passions,” the sophomore finance and accounting major said.

When Gina signed up for the project, she was excited but also on the fence about it, even though she had done something similar with another organization she’s involved in, Cru. She explained that they hosted a matchmaking event for members who wanted to go on double dates.

Unlike Gina, junior computer engineering major Tommy had not done something like this before. He saw the “Miami … Merged” application on Snapchat and was interested in trying something new after recently ending a long-term relationship.

“I’m a person that’s open to a lot of things,” Tommy said. “I have a mindset of just like, try new things all the time, and I either like it or don’t like it. I’ll never know until I try.”

When asked about their ideal types, Gina said she wants someone funny and Christian who doesn’t talk about himself the whole time.

Tommy said he’s very self-sufficient and independent, so having a girl reflect that drive and motivation is important to him. He said he enjoys working out, cooking and taking care of himself.

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2023

7

‘No boring moments’ TAYLOR STUMBAUGH CAMPUS & COMMUNITY EDITOR

LILY WAHL

SENIOR STAFF WRITER

KATIE AND THEO SAT OUTSIDE AT PATTERSON’S FOR THEIR FIRST DATE. PHOTO BY SARAH FROSCH

THEO LIKED KATIE’S GOOD SENSE OF HUMOR. PHOTO BY SARAH FROSCH

KATIE LIKED THEO FOR HIS LISTENING AND CONVERSATION SKILLS. PHOTO BY SARAH FROSCH

KATIE HAD A HOT CHOCOLATE, AVOCADO TOAST AND AN ORDER OF BACON. THEO HAD ‘MIKE’S FAVORITE’ OMELET AND AN ICED COFFEE. PHOTO BY SARAH FROSCH

“I definitely want someone that has a goal or purpose other than the relationship,” Tommy said.

The date Tommy and Gina went on their first date at MImian, a Chinese restaurant Uptown. The couple met outside the restaurant and then went inside for their date.

After he held the door open for her, Gina noticed Tommy’s chivalry and manners.

“He was really polite, really friendly, really approachable ... Going into it I didn’t know if it was going to be awkward or not, but he was very conversational,” Gina said.

Gina also mentioned that Tommy ordered for the couple, pulled out her chair for her and got a box for her food at the end of the date.

For about two hours, they talked about a variety of subjects, including their family and siblings, their Christian faith and their life goals. Gina ordered shrimp chow mein, Tommy ordered a chicken and rice dish, and they shared an order of crab rangoons.

Tommy also had a good impression of Gina. “[She is] very pretty, truly kind. She knows what she wants. She’s driven.

She’s passionate about the things that she talks about,” Tommy said. “She’s family oriented, which is huge for me.”

Gina was glad that she decided to participate in “Miami… Merged.”

“It definitely allowed me to open up more and get out of my shell,” she said.

“I haven’t been on a date in a while, but it was good to get back out there and get vulnerable again … It’s hard for me to open up my heart.”

Similarly, Tommy got more out of the project than he was expecting.

“I came in with an open mind, and I left pretty happy with how everything ended. I’m good. It was a fun experience,” he said.

Participants rate the date: Gina: 7/10 Tommy: 8.5/10

The participants When Katie, a sophomore nursing major, signed up for “Miami …

Merged,” her expectations weren’t high. She just wanted to have fun and meet new people. After not going on a real date since high school, she was ready to get back out there.

“I’m a people person,” Katie said. “[Even if it doesn’t go well], it’s not the end all be all. We can still have a great dinner, make new friends.”

In her application for the project, Katie shared her dating history — nonexistent — and said she wanted someone “with pretty hair, good teeth and a good brain.” When asked about things she considers red flags in a potential partner, she decided not washing their sheets was high on the list.

Theo, a junior international studies major, signed up because his roommate said it would be a good idea. Theo agreed, thinking it sounded like fun.

“I’m always down to try new stuff like this,” Theo said. “And my friends are always trying to get my romantic life kick started — to no avail.”

In the “Miami … Merged’’ application when asked about his type, Theo specified he wanted someone shorter than him and that he didn’t believe in “icks.” “[Icks] tend to just be like moments where people are being themselves from what I’ve seen,” Theo said. “So I don’t think there’s anything someone could do that would make me automatically be turned off.”

The date Katie and Theo met for brunch at Patterson’s Café on a crisp but rainy fall morning and sat in a cozy window booth for about an hour.

Katie had a hot chocolate, avocado toast and an order of bacon. Theo ordered the “Mike’s Favorite” omelet and

an iced coffee.

“It was a little awkward, I think, for the first couple minutes. We both were kind of like, ‘What do we say?’” Theo said afterward.

However, as their food arrived and they started to talk more, Theo seemed to get more comfortable. He and Katie discovered that they both like the Uptown restaurant Fiesta Charra, are extroverts and have older brothers.

“She was very funny. She had a really good sense of humor. Definitely a lot of personality. There were no boring moments … that made it very easy for us to have good conversation,” Theo said.

They exchanged phone numbers while talking outside the restaurant after their meal.

Katie was positive about how well she matched up with Theo.

“If he asked, I’d probably go [on a second date],” she said. “I was surprised by how it went well because obviously it’s a new environment, [and] it’s not really common anymore for blind dates to happen.”

Theo was glad that he had participated in the project because he had an opportunity to work on himself during the experience.

“I need to do a little more listening when I’m talking to new people,” Theo said. “I think my instinct is to kind of take control of the conversation.”

Katie didn’t seem to notice this and commented on his conversation skills and ability to keep the date flowing.

“He was good at active listening, you know, like following up on something I’ve said and vice versa,” she said.

Participants rate the date: Katie: 8/10 Theo: 8/10 Theo and Katie exchanged numbers but have not been in contact.

KATIE AND THEO BOTH ENJOYED THE CONVERSATION THAT LASTED THE WHOLE DATE. PHOTO BY SARAH FROSCH

TOMMY AND GINA BOTH ENJOYED THE DATE AND GOT MORE OUT OF IT THAN THEY THOUGHT. PHOTO BY SARAH FROSCH

Gina and Tommy planned to go on a second date, though it had not occurred by the end of the project.

TOMMY AND GINA SHARED CRAB RANGOONS AND TALKED ABOUT THEIR PASSIONS. PHOTO BY SARAH FROSCH

GINA NOTICED TOMMY’S CHIVALRY THROUGHOUT THE DATE. PHOTO BY SARAH FROSCH

8

entertainment I am cringe, but I am free: Stop caring and go enjoy a delightfully bad movie

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2023

Stage Left’s ‘The Addams Family’: One not-so-normal night

GRAPHIC BY CHLOE SOUTHARD

CHLOE SOUTHARD ASST. ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR I’ll be the first one to say it: I love good “bad” movies.

In a world full of film bros and cinema connoisseurs, enjoying “bad” movies is looked down upon.

If you dare to lower your taste in film, you’re viewed as a simpleton — someone who doesn’t understand the true meaning of cinema.

But I don’t care. Call me dimwitted; dismiss my opinions on any and every film. As someone with a film studies minor, I have no shame in enjoying a bad movie. Yes, I rated “Pitch Perfect” higher than “2001: A Space Odyssey,” “Blade Runner” and “Brazil” on Letterboxd. What about it?

Sometimes I don’t want to commit to an intense, plot-heavy film.

Sometimes I just want something fun, something that will make me laugh and not think too much.

And there’s no better film for that than a Melissa McCarthy film.

The MMCU (Melissa McCarthy Cinematic Universe as I’ve dubbed it) is full of great, “bad” movies that never fail to make me laugh or bring me comfort. Sure, McCarthy essentially plays the same unkempt, obnoxious character in every film — refer to “Tammy,” “Identity Thief,” “Thunder Force” and “The Heat” — but she practically owns that schtick now, and it’s funny every single time.

At one point in time, I refused to subject myself to such “dumb” movies. I didn’t want to be seen as tasteless or unintelligent.

Now that I’ve allowed myself to indulge in whatever kind of movies I want, I’ve realized that I’m neither of those things. I’m simply a person who is enjoying something, and there’s nothing wrong with that.

I love poorly rated movies like “Grown Ups,” “The Nutty Professor” and “Ma.” But I also love critically acclaimed movies like “Do the Right Thing,” “Carol” and “Everything Everywhere All at Once.” The films I enjoy don’t define me or how intelligent I am, and the same goes for you.

Part of the reason why I love bad movies so much is because of their sheer absurdity. It’s not often that you see a cast of cartoon characters escape the TV in an attempt to cheer up a random teenage girl, like in 2004’s “Fat Albert.” And where else can you see Adam Sandler in drag while playing his twin sister besides

2011’s “Jack and Jill?”

The humor in these movies is often lowbrow, raunchy and cheap, but it will always get a chuckle out of me. Comedy doesn’t always have to be elaborate and deep. It can simply take the form of a wedding party getting irritable bowels while dress shopping or a grown man eating glue in a first grade classroom.

Every movie you watch doesn’t have to be something profound. If filmmakers didn’t take risks and venture beyond the norm, we’d just have a bunch of thinkpieces. It’s OK for something to just be silly.

There’s nothing wrong with having fun, and that’s exactly what many of my favorite “bad” movies are: fun.

They have crazy plots, exuberant characters and, oftentimes, amazing soundtracks.

Take 2018’s “The Happytime Murders,” for instance. It follows a messy police officer (McCarthy) and her disgraced, rugged puppet partner (Bill Barretta) as they solve the interconnected murders of famous puppet TV stars. Plus, the soundtrack features several hit songs like “Call Me Maybe” and “Sexy and I Know It.” But because people feel the need for every movie to be a highbrow, cinematic masterpiece, “The Happytime Murders” was met with a plethora of negative reviews.

Not to mention, several “bad” movies are chock-full of campy performances, which is another reason why I love them so much. Camp is all about being unserious and ironic, and I hate to break it to you, but you won’t find camp in something like “Citizen Kane.”

It’s time that we stop taking everything so seriously. Movies were created for people to enjoy and as an entertaining way to pass time.

We already over complicate so many things in our daily lives, so why do we have to do the same to the films we consume?

So go ahead — let yourself shamelessly enjoy a bad movie. Don’t let other people and their superiority complexes scare you from enjoying something. As long as one person is enjoying a film, it’s done what it’s supposed to — “bad” or not.

THE CAST OF STAGE LEFT’S “THE ADDAMS FAMILY” SINGS TOGETHER IN ONE OF THE SHOW’S MUSICAL NUMBERS. PHOTO BY CALLIE MEYER

CALLIE MEYER THE MIAMI STUDENT Performances at Miami University are not only put on by the school itself; student-run organizations have been able to host a myriad of performances as well.

One such group, Stage Left, put on a production of “The Addams Family” from Nov. 9-12 at the Harry T. Wilks Theater in Armstrong Student Center. The organization took advantage of the well-known musical and its large cast size to gather an audience.

“When we picked it, we knew it was going to be a big hit because a lot of high schools do it,” said Abby Sokol, a senior psychology and theatre major and Stage Left’s president. “Someone’s always doing ‘The Addams Family,’ but we never have.

It’s a well known name that excites a lot of people.”

The musical’s cast was made up of Miami students who played members of the Addams family, their undead ancestors and a seemingly normal family from Ohio.

The plot follows a grown-up Wednesday Addams, newly in love, and her father Gomez, who has to keep the secret of Wednesday’s engagement from his wife Morticia. In true “Addams Family” fashion, the dinner organized between the two

families doesn’t go as planned.

Highlights from the show include Gomez and Morticia’s tango, Fester proclaiming his love for the moon and a few digs at Ohioans.

Tensions begin to rise when Lucas, Wednesday’s fiance, and the rest of the Beinekes meet the Addamses.

As Lucas’ parents, Mal and Alice, interact with the family, Morticia grows increasingly aware that a secret is being kept from her.

Fans might have noticed that the musical followed the set list from the U.S. tour of “The Addams Family,” which includes “Fester’s Manifesto,” “Gomez’s Two, Three, and Four Things” and “Secrets.”

The musical succeeded in both dramatic performance and comedy.

The vocal performances in songs like “One Normal Night” and “Trapped” were outstanding and received much applause after long-held final notes.

Much of the cast — especially characters like Lurch and Grandma, played

by Sander Gerzema and Laurel Logemann — excelled in both physical comedy and line delivery.

Fester, played by Caleb Krainman, acted as comedic relief between dramatic moments and kept the audience entertained and informed during interludes between scenes.

He helped Wednesday bring the two families together with the help of their undead ancestors, and then

@_chloebowie_ southacr@miamioh.edu

THE CAST TAKES A BOW AFTER A SUCCESSFUL PERFORMANCE. PHOTO BY CALLIE MEYER

rocketed off into space in an attempt to be with the moon.

The audience was invited to snap along to the “Addams Family” theme and laugh at ad-libs added by cast members. Any missteps that occurred didn’t seem to detract from the audience’s enjoyment. The performance received a standing ovation from much of the audience.

“I had never seen [‘The Addams Family’] before so I was curious to see, but I did really like it,” said Savannah Slater, a sophomore English literature major who saw Stage Left’s first performance.

Bennett Ladowitz, a first year political science major, played Gomez in the production. He said the entire organization made it a positive experience.

“This is my first show with Stage Left … absolutely just the most welcoming group of people that you could ever meet,” Ladowitz said. “It’s such a great environment. They put on great shows, and we just have a great time.”

Nicki Grauel, a sophomore marketing major, was similarly complementary of the organization.

“Everybody is so sweet, and they’re really nice and funny and talented,” Grauel said. “It’s a very welcoming group of people and I’ve never been so happy to be a part of something before. It definitely has taken a lot of the stress out of theater that I have learned through experience.”

Both Ladowitz and Grauel said that their favorite part of being with Stage Left was the people. Sokol also highlighted the importance of community in Stage Left.

“They’re always having fun, which is really awesome. I think that really channels into the strong work that they do, it’s because they feel comfortable with each other,” Sokol said.

“That’s my favorite thing is that I see that the cast is having a good time together because I’m like, ‘this is the environment we want to create.’” meyerca4@miamioh.edu

Despite concerns, some users embrace Spotify’s AI technologies MIA ZURICH THE MIAMI STUDENT From ChatGPT to banking services, AI has taken over.

It’s even spilled into the music industry. Some of the newest advancements are AI features on your favorite streaming platforms to help you find new songs, artists and genres.

In addition to the algorithms used

by Spotify to generate playlists for listeners, such as the daily mixes, some new AI technology that has been added includes the DJ feature, recommendations for enhancing your current playlists and more. Listeners use these features daily and, more often than not, don’t know they’re using AI technology.

In the past, AI in the music industry has faced criticism for reasons such as using it to create songs that mimic famous artists. Spotify’s use of AI is doing the opposite, driving listeners to their platform.

“I love to listen to the daily mixes.

I have around eight of the daily mixes saved to my profile,” said Heather Myers, a first-year architecture major. “It’s crazy how they can zone in the specific genres you like and make whole playlists based around them.

Sometimes you feel one genre, and

these playlists make it easy to find the right music.”

All of these features take users’ past music history and provide them with new song recommendations based on this data. The new songs’ listeners are exposed to open up the opportunity to adjust or expand the subscriber’s overall music taste.

“The new features on Spotify have changed my music taste because they will throw curve balls at you, but I groove with it,” Myers said. “This will also lead me to dive deeper into the artist or the genre, and because of this, I like my music taste a lot better now because I feel that it is so much broader.”

The DJ feature is the newest addition to the plethora of technology that Spotify has introduced, debuting on the platform in February of 2023.

This option allows the listener to have their songs chosen for them by the AI-powered DJ based on their past song selections.

This modern spin on the radio will play a variety of genres that include new songs you haven’t heard before, along with songs you enjoyed years back. You will even find the automated DJ introducing upcoming songs, similar to how a radio show host would.

GRAPHIC BY REECE HOLLOWELL

“I have recently checked out the AI DJ and enjoy not having to pick my music while I walk to class or work out,” said Ryan Perman, a first-year environmental science major. “But at the end of the day, I find myself skipping over songs and still leaning toward the music I am already comfortable with.”

As radio and CDs go unlistened and more technology is introduced, streaming platforms continue to become more advanced. Leaving be-

hind more straightforward but less accessible and interactive ways of listening to our favorite music, we become more drawn to what is new on the market.

Spotify has partnered with AI companies to advance its platform for around a decade. As Spotify continues to build upon its technology, influencing other companies such as Apple Music, AI updates on our music platforms may become our new normal.

“I would definitely find myself more drawn to a platform with more features available for subscribers because I feel like I am always trying to find new music,” Perman said, “and AI-suggested songs are the most efficient way to do that.” zurichme@miamioh.edu

FOOD

9 FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2023

Christmas comes early at Starbucks

AS THE AIR GROWS COLDER, STARBUCKS TURNS WARMER, SWITCHING ITS MENUS TO RED AS IT APPROACHES THE HOLIDAY SEASON. PHOTO BY KAITLIN MCDOWELL

KAITLIN MCDOWELL FOOD EDITOR As the Halloween season winds down and the days get colder, the radio and the grocery stores agree that winter is on its way. While this may

seem dreadful, especially with the looming threat of windchill and snow, it also comes with light at the end of the tunnel — the holidays!

The beginning of this season kicked off Nov. 2 as each Starbucks location at Miami University released

its winter menu and classic red cups.

Regular Starbucks goers saw the Shriver, Withrow, Bell Tower and Uptown locations completely redone with red menu boards and other festive decorations.

The holiday menu means the re-

Fueling your gains: The science of eating for muscle growth and health

KEVIN KAUFMAN TRACKS EVERYTHING HE EATS AS PART OF HIS HEALTH ROUTINE. PHOTO BY JACK SCHMELZINGER

JACK SCHMELZINGER SPORTS EDITOR For senior biology-premedical studies major Brittany Prater, a student at Miami University, going to the gym is a way to relieve stress.

It’s a necessary part of her day.

“I have to come here,” Prater said. “It helps me.”

Prater’s fitness journey has included dietary changes, but she knows what’s most important.

To gain muscle, she eats high protein foods spread throughout her day and stays away from red meats, preferring to stick to foods like salmon and turkey, which have healthier fats. She eats sweet potatoes to get good carbs in.

Senior real estate major Kevin Kaufman has a slightly different philosophy for eating to build muscle, but he agrees that protein is key.

“For me, I track all my food,” Kaufman said.

“Calories in and calories out is what’s going to determine if you’re gaining weight … Hitting one gram of protein to one-and-a-quarter grams of protein per one pound of body weight is going to guarantee that you’re maintaining your muscle and that you’re gaining if you’re in a caloric surplus.”

Professionals in sports nutrition agree that a healthy lifestyle is essential for college students looking to build muscle and stay fit.

Paul Reidy is an assistant professor of kinesiology, nutrition and health. He stressed the importance of speaking to a registered dietitian, the ultimate authority of all things nutrition.

“A registered dietician is who everyone should look to as the ultimate source and authority on nutrition” Reidy said.

Dawn Weatherwax is a registered dietitian who specializes in sports nutrition. She’s also a certified strength and conditioning trainer who founded a business helping athletes eat right for peak performance.

Weatherwax says that college-aged males, whose bodies are still developing, can gain about a half-pound to one pound of lean weight a week if they do nutrition, training and recovery the right way. The female body develops earlier than the male body, but college-aged women can still put on up to a half-pound of lean weight per week.

When trying to build muscle, both Weatherwax and Reidy agreed the most important thing is consuming more calories than you burn.

Muscle building requires a lot of energy, and Reidy recommends at least 500 extra calories per day.

The next important thing is protein. When you eat protein it allows your body to undertake protein synthesis, which is what builds muscle.

“The rule of thumb is … one gram of protein per pound of lean weight,” Weatherwax said.

“Lean weight is everything but fat.”

Both experts stressed that spreading out your protein intake in a day is necessary. After eating protein, there’s only a three or four

hour window where your body can synthesize it. Your body can only synthesize so much protein at a time.

Both Reidy and Weatherwax say the best way to maximize muscle growth is to spread your protein intake out over five “meals” a day, a meal every two to four waking hours. Skipping breakfast, Reidy said, is a missed opportunity to start your day right with some protein synthesis.

Some of the healthiest sources of protein include white-fleshed fish, plain greek yogurt, white meat poultry and lean beef.

Despite its reputation, peanut butter isn’t a great source of protein, but it is a source for healthy fats, which help keep you satiated, Reidy said.

“Make sure they’re heart-healthy fats,” Reidy said. “Like you’d find in nuts and avocados. Limit saturated fats because they can cause health issues.”

Weatherwax said it’s important to fuel your muscles with complex carbohydrates and healthy fats. Fiber is important too, and she recommends athletes aim for five to seven servings of non-starchy vegetables per day, including lettuce, cucumbers mushrooms, not corn, peas and potatoes.

“After a strenuous workout, within 30 to 45 minutes, they want at least 20 grams of protein and 45 to 60 grams of carbs,” Weatherwax said.

Weatherwax is currently sponsoring “The Cheerios Team Challenge,” which encourages athletes to refuel properly after workouts, especially through eating regular Cheerios with milk or other protein options. Weatherwax said regular Cheerios can lower cholesterol and decrease risk for heart disease, as it is made with 100% natural, whole grain oats.

Staying hydrated is important for overall wellness. Water is best, but other non-sugary, calorie-free drinks are OK too. Examples include unsweetened teas, milk or even an occasional diet soda. At least 3,000 milligrams of sodium a day are also necessary to allow your cells to absorb that water correctly.

“Take your weight and cut that number in half,” Weatherwax said. “That’s how many fluid ounces you should be getting per day. Then add 10 to 20 fluid ounces per hour of physical activity … if you’re not carrying a fluid bottle with you everywhere, you’re not properly hydrated.”

Sleep is important too. During sleep is when the body does most of its tissue repair and growth. A minimum of eight hours a night is ideal.

Eating perfectly isn’t possible for most college students, but every meal counts.

“College students I interact with are so busy, so stressed,” Reidy said. “Take more time to eat.

Take more time to prep your food. Enjoy your life. Do less and enjoy more.” @jackschmelznger schmelj2@miamioh.edu

turn of fan favorites as well as a few new releases. Not sure which new drink to try before class? Here’s a breakdown of a few of the menu’s highlights.

Peppermint Mocha This is easily the most popular holiday drink at Starbucks. Made with espresso, steamed milk, mocha sauce and peppermint syrup, who doesn’t want their daily caffeine boost to taste like chocolate and mint? A peppermint mocha is easily Christmas in a cup. For those who don’t enjoy caffeine, a peppermint hot chocolate is a great substitute for this drink.

Gingerbread Oatmilk Chai Latte I was very excited about the return of the gingerbread flavor to the holiday menu after it was so abruptly removed a few years ago. This latte is a perfect mix of spices and has hints of gingerbread while still preserving the sweet chai flavor. The return of the gingerbread syrup also means you can order gingerbread lattes.

Peppermint Cake Pop While this isn’t a drink or even a breakfast item, Starbucks’s cake pops are still an essential part of the menu.

These white-chocolate-covered and peppermint-chocolate-filled cake pops are topped with crushed candy canes to make for a delicious sweet

treat. They have the consistency of a perfectly moist brownie and are a few small bites of heaven.

Gingerbread Loaf Another gingerbread menu item, this bread loaf will pair perfectly with your morning coffee. The spices don’t overpower a latte or tea, but the loaf still has that perfect sweet nutmeg flavor.

Almond Milk Sugar Cookie Latte This is the only coffee-based drink on the menu advertised as made cold, but it’s also served hot for those who don’t enjoy iced coffee in the winter. This drink is made with blonde espresso, sugar cookie syrup and almond milk. The most festive thing about this drink is that it is topped with green and red sprinkles.

A few other notable returning Starbucks holiday drinks are the chestnut praline latte and the caramel brulee latte, both also delicious options.

No matter which holiday drink you choose to order, you won’t be disappointed. All of these drinks are a great way to get excited for the upcoming cold months ahead and kick that seasonal depression to the curb. mcdowekr@miamioh.edu

Mealtime with Meredith: Cauliflower Fried Rice MEREDITH PERKINS COLUMNIST Cooking as a college student can feel like a daunting task.

Time constraints, the rising cost of groceries and limited utensils make it tempting to opt for a pre-made meal, takeout or just another PB&J. While there’s nothing wrong with these options — I love a good late-night Taco Bell run — it’s time to deconstruct the myth that students can’t cook healthy, delicious meals in a reasonable amount of time and spending less money per portion than you would on takeout.

I love cooking because I love good food and learning to cook well with cheap ingredients has not just saved me money from skipping takeout – I have found a new hobby that both challenges me and, well, fits a basic need.

CAULIFLOWER FRIED RICE IS A SIMPLE AND HEALTHY MEAN FOR If you’re looking to eat out less, learn ANY COLLEGE STUDENT. PHOTO BY MEREDITH PERKINS basic cooking techniques and explore inexpensive ways to add some cool dishes into a few minutes, I toss in half a bag of my frozen your diet, this food column is for you. mixed vegetable blend, one teaspoon of sesame When looking for new recipes, I opt for oil and three teaspoons of soy sauce. Then I those that reheat well, have few ingredients or cover my pot to let the vegetables steam and reinexpensive ingredients, do not require fancy ally absorb that sesame and soy umami flavor. tools and — of course — taste delicious.

After five minutes, I add half a bag of my My cauliflower fried rice recipe checks all frozen riced cauliflower. four boxes.

Sometimes, I’ll add a little more butter if As the weather gets colder, nothing makes the rest of it has already been absorbed by the me feel more cozy than curling up on the couch other vegetables. The butter really makes the with a steaming bowl of cauliflower fried rice. vegetables taste rich — it’s an essential part of This recipe is perfect for getting over colds, the recipe, in my opinion. as it is rich with antioxidants and stays good in Next, I cover the pot. While everything can the fridge for up to three days to enjoy as left- be ready to eat within about six minutes, the overs. longer it simmers, the better the sesame, soy, I enjoy using frozen riced cauliflower as garlic and onion flavor gets absorbed by the my ‘rice’ for this recipe because it’s low-carb, rice. low-calorie, easy to store in the freezer, fries I usually give it around 15 minutes and use better than room-temperature riced cauliflow- the cooking time as an opportunity to put away er or rice and — most importantly — tastes ab- dishes and clean up. Given most of us college solutely heavenly when cooked in butter, soy students use communal kitchens, you never and sesame oil. want to make a recipe that leaves a kitchen My version of the recipe here is both glu- looking like a disaster. ten-free and vegetarian, though you can modify Once the rice is thawed and appears a nice it for vegan diets (omitting the egg) or pair it brown color, it is good to serve. If you want with chicken to add extra protein. to bulk your rice with more protein, toss in a To start, I take my frozen riced cauliflower scrambled egg, scrambled egg whites, leftover (frozen does better for fried rice recipes) and chicken, tofu or whatever else you have lying frozen mixed vegetable blend (green beans, around. corn and carrots) out of the refrigerator to parIf you prepare this recipe with a full bag of tially thaw while I prep my other ingredients. frozen cauliflower and a full bag of mixed vegThen, I dice a quarter cup of white onion gies, double the measurements of onion, soy, and mince two cloves of fresh garlic. I’ve also sesame oil and minced garlic to make four memade this recipe using one teaspoon of jarred dium-sized portions. minced garlic, which works perfectly fine.

After plating the rice, it is ready to be enNext, I let butter coat the bottom of a non- joyed, and there you have it: a healthy and stick pot or frying pan and add my diced onion cost-efficient meal any college chef can enjoy and garlic. By beginning my dish with these ar- cooking! omatics in the pan, my vegetables and rice will have a strong flavor. perkin16@miamioh.edu After the onions and garlic have cooked for

YOU CAN COOK CAULIFLOWER FRIED RICE WITH JUST A FEW SIMPLE INGREDIENTS. PHOTO BY MEREDITH PERKINS

style

10

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2023

Stay cozy in the cold

A look back at this year’s best looks

THIS YEAR COMBINED CRAZY, CONCERT-ESQUE STYLE WITH CASUAL, COMFY CLOTHES. PHOTO BY EVAN STEFANIK

EVAN STEFANIK STYLE EDITOR Toward the end of every year, it’s best to check our old laundry, mood boards and closets to remind ourselves of what our fashion means to us.

If you care about perfecting your outfit every day, then standing in front of the mirror reminds you of your most stylish memories this time around — but also of the potential so many of your clothes still have for the next year.

This year showed a spectacular resurgence of pop culture and the entertainment industry. By lifting pandemic restrictions early on, people rushed to spend their money on their favorite things instead of the necessities. The most passionate dressers wanted to attract attention again.

Taylor Swift, Beyoncé and the “Barbie” movie ruled the world this year. Whether attending the concert and/or the movie for any of the three, fans from around the globe loved costuming themselves in lyrical motifs, visual aesthetics and inside jokes.

The color pink dominated all options, from denim overalls like Barbie wore, to sparkly skirts modeled after Swift.

America’s “look” embraced femininity collectively, as many couples celebrated girlhood before, during and after these blockbuster experiences.

Boyfriends in those relationships also saw their style shift throughout the year. More men put on increasingly shorter and more eccentric athletic shorts and plain silver or gold chains, maybe after their eager girlfriends helped them shop.

However, 2023 made plenty of room for the opposite appeal as well. When not feeling fancy for any particular event, young adults encouraged comfortability above all. The masculinity of hoodies, joggers and sneakers appeared in classrooms, out at bars and wherever else they could choose it.

And because trends seem to come and go so much quicker every decade, society tapped into their nostalgia for the ’90s, the 2000s’ Y2K and the colorful social media vibe of the 2010s all at once. People reclaimed their nostalgia, at least externally, this year.

That especially includes Halloween. This year marked one of the best examples of meme renditions, as partygoers and trick-or-treaters went DIY to resemble their most niche Internet references. White T-shirts turned into Salt Bae, jeans became a popular “Keeping Up With The Kardashians” quote and hair-dos hinted at other famous Vines and TikToks.

Somehow, we’re almost another year closer to the next decade already. Our tastes will continue to change, but they never fully die, no matter what the what’s-in-what’s-out lists say.

Items can be reused as Christmas gifts if they lose popularity by then. Donated clothes sold at a discount remodel themselves on new bodies, keeping them warm for the wintertime. Other garments will inspire ideas for 2024.

Whether or not we always know it, to dazzle in the present usually involves reflecting our past. stefanec@miamioh.edu

COLARICH WORE HER MOST STYLISH YET WARM OUTFITS FOR A WEEK. GRAPHIC BY EVAN STEFANIK

GIANNA COLARICH THE MIAMI STUDENT It’s finally time to embrace chilly temperatures as we move from late fall into winter, which begs the question: How do we stay comfortable and warm all while showing off our own personal style?

Fall is my favorite style season because there’s so much room for expression, from layering to fun colors to bold accessories. This week, I documented some of my favorite autumnal staple outfits for some cooler weather fashion inspiration.

Monday I took a page from Meg Ryan’s “When Harry Met Sally” closet with a white sweater and checkered mini skirt.

My H&M sweater has been a staple piece in my wardrobe since last winter, because oversized knit never goes out of style.

It’s perfect for the fall-to-winter transition, especially approaching the holidays. It keeps me cozy and chic on brisk fall days, paired with my mini skirt to

give it an elevated look.

Tuesday This year’s Halloween was a chilly one, so I opted for a black sweater and ruby, velvet flares. If my pants look familiar, it’s because I’m so obsessed with them that I featured them in my last article, too.

I love how they elevate every outfit, even this simple black sweater – and the velvet fabric keeps you warm and comfortable in the cold. Paired with these Steve Madden heels (one of my best investments), it’s an easy way to incorporate understated elegance.

Wednesday I’ve seen Free People overalls all over campus this semester, and when my roommate got a pair, I was hooked. I had to get a pair for myself.

With soft fabric and a baggy cut, it’s one of the comfiest pieces in my rotation right now. I wore it over a long sleeve, but for colder days, try a heavier sweater underneath or throw a jacket over it to stay warm, cozy and stylish.

Thursday Moving later into the week, the

weather seemed to be warming up, so I chose this cropped Aritzia sweater and black jeans. I’ve been loving waffle knit as a transitional style piece this season.

It’s casual, but paired correctly, it’s an effortlessly chic wardrobe staple.

This outfit was perfect to keep me comfy yet presentable throughout my busy day, from my 8:30 a.m. class to an evening study date at Kofenya.

Friday We were pleasantly surprised this day with sunshine and 60-degree temperatures, so I opted for a Brandy Melville skirt and a light button-down sweater. The free-flowing, light fabric of the skirt let me hint toward my warmer weather style, but bring in essences of fall with deep reds and gold accessories.

I’ve been loving seeing all the outfits Oxford, Ohio, has to offer moving into the colder temperatures, and I encourage you to keep experimenting with your wardrobe. I can’t wait to see what this season of campus outfits brings. colarigi@miamioh.edu

The ultimate holiday style guide ALLISON LEE STAFF WRITER With the holiday season here and trends changing ever so quickly, figuring out your look can be stressful.

A picture-perfect holiday can be challenging to achieve, whether that be a small get-together with your closest friends or carrying out your favorite traditions with your family.

No matter the occasion, building holiday outfits can be easy if you have closet staples that will always be classy and timeless.

For the Friendsgiving Being with your friends can make you feel more creative. If you’re wanting to pull all the stops, an outfit consisting of black leather can be daring while still classic.

If you like to dress in a more femi-

LEE CHOOSES DRESSED-UP SOLID COLORS FOR HER HOLIDAY OUTFITS. PHOTO BY ALLISON LEE

nine way, you can achieve this look by wearing a simple black skirt (preferably mini), an eye-catching sweater and a leather jacket. It’s simple, chic and can be done on a college student’s budget.

Mixing metals could make an iconic outfit even more mod. Although silver and gold are typically not mixed, pairing them with an otherwise simple outfit could pull the whole thing together.

Elevate the outfit with statement shoes like leather boots and a little black purse. To make the look more warm and cozy, accessorize with an oversized scarf and brown lipstick — Glossier’s Hot Cocoa Balm Dot Com is a fall staple.

You can make the outfit more masculine by swapping the skirt for black trousers or dark-washed jeans

and trading long boots for chelsea boots.

With the family If you don’t want to go full-glam with your family, you can achieve the same vibe in a more subtle manner.

Use closet basics, like jeans and a neutral turtleneck, to build your base.

Neutral basics are always great to keep in your wardrobe since they never go out of style. You can layer with a fun sweatshirt over the turtleneck or bejewel the neutrals by adding a fun brooch.

Should the affair be dressier, a little black dress is always the way to go.

You can put your own unique touch on it by pairing the dress with bold-colored tights and matching shoes for a semi-monochromatic look. Faux-fur jackets are also a fun garment to play around with — they’re classy and can really elevate your outfit.

A monochromatic pantsuit could be a fun way to spice up your wardrobe game. Add an oversized blazer and matching winter accessories for warmth and style. The boxier silhouette incorporates a level of androgyny and coolness that’ll make you stand out.

Even a classic sports coat can be interesting. A patterned or colorful dress shirt beneath can look chic, especially if you go with jewel tones. If that isn’t your vibe, a fun tie can be a subtle nod to your personal style without being over-the-top.

For the modest dresser Dressing modestly is a real gem that’s often overlooked.

The length of your garments makes for dimensioning that is otherwise not used in more liberal clothing.

Silk maxi skirts are a sophisticated take on the average trouser or mini skirt. It combines the modesty of trousers with the flair and motion of a mini skirt.

The silk material is so easy to LEE POSES IN COMFORTABLE CLOTHES FOR match with as well. Many stores CHRISTMAS. PHOTO BY ALLISON LEE like H&M, Zara and even T.J.

LEE USES A FEW FAVORITE MAKEUP PRODUCTS DURING THE WINTRY SEASON. PHOTO BY ALLISON LEE

DRESS YOUR PLACE UP WITH A THANKSGIVING-LOOKING BLANKET. PHOTO BY EVAN STEFANIK

Maxx offer matching skirt and blouse sets that are en vogue.

Basic knit sweaters can also be worn. They’re also easy to layer with for extra modesty and warmth. A look that would be fun to mess with is a silk maxi skirt paired with a matching turtleneck and a neutral cable-knit sweater on top. The matching colors with the skirt and under-layer offers a more modern look and the sweater on top would offer some contrast within the materials.

Daintier accessories would pair

well with an outfit like this, as to not draw away from the outfit itself. Hair accessories like bows or headbands would provide a maximalist touch without being too overpowering.

No matter your personal style, coming up with a great outfit doesn’t have to be challenging. Looking through your closet and drawing inspiration from new arrivals at your favorite stores can be a fun way to make your holiday look fresh and exciting. leeam8@miamioh.edu

11

sports

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2023

‘You got to like what you do’ How Andy Geshan handles Miami’s hockey equipment TEDDY JOHNSON CO-HUMOR EDITOR For 29 seasons, Andy Geshan has sharpened skates, ordered equipment, taken care of laundry and more for the Miami University’s RedHawks hockey team.

Geshan, and his decades of experience as the team’s equipment manager, have proven to be a valuable asset for Miami hockey, helping them to stay focused on the task at hand, rather than what they’re wearing.

“He’s always making sure that we’re ready to go and don’t miss a shift or two because of some kind of equipment issue,” RedHawk captain Jack Clement said.

Geshan started working in the equipment room for Miami hockey as an undergraduate in the late ’80s before returning as equipment manager in 1995.

“Miami had hired their first ever full-time equipment manager for ice hockey,” Geshan said, “So he was looking for student help. At the same time, I was looking for something.”

After graduating from Miami in 1988, Geshan worked at two Division 3 schools where he served as equipment manager for all their sports.

Then the RedHawks came calling.

“The person that I worked for as a student left the university, and I was offered the job. I turned it down,” Geshan said.

Fortunately for Geshan, Miami called again soon after after parting with the equipment manager they hired in his stead.

“I was told that they’re not going to call me a third time, so if this is what you want to do, then you better take the job,” Geshan said. “I did it thinking I’d be here for two to three years and here I am 29.”

Hockey equipment managers are jacks of all trades, and Geshan is no exception. Setting up locker room stalls, ordering equipment and even providing players red licorice before games are important aspects of Geshan’s job.

In one instance, Geshan was awarded the game puck for helping a player get multiple new sticks mid-game.

“We’re on the powerplay, [former ’Hawks center Matt Davis] breaks a stick,” Geshan said.

“I handed him one of the [back-up sticks]. The power play continued. He broke that stick. I handed him the other one because he was right there, and then he ended up scoring.”

One of the biggest aspects of Geshan’s job is inglorious yet essential to keeping the ’Hawks skating: laundry.

Industrial size washers help Geshan and his student assistants keep the RedHawks, their opponents and the stripes clean and spiffy.

“When a visiting team comes we take care of them,” Geshan said. “After the game we’ll get all the laundry, all the game uniforms, that kind of stuff. We do the laundry for the referees after the first night.”

MIAMI UNIVERSITY HOCKEY HAS THREE SETS OF GAME JERSEYS AND PRACTICE JERSEYS. THEY’RE JUST ONE OF THE MANY THINGS ANDY GESHAN HANDLES FROM THE ORDER SHEET TO THE LAUNDRY BIN. PHOTO BY JESSICA MONAHAN

Even when the season ends, Geshan’s job doesn’t. He spends his summer ordering everything from tape and stick wax to underwear.

Geshan is a workhorse. He fully embraces and loves the grind that comes with his position.

Beyond the work aspect of his job, Geshan also brings a sense of humor to the team.

“He’s a great resource for us,” senior goalie Logan Neaton said. “He’s got some good jokes mixed in there too. He’s a good person, and he takes good care of us.”

For Geshan, that love of the job is essential.

“No matter what you do in life, you got to like what you do,” Geshan said. “Anything you do in life is going to have a grind aspect to it. This certainly does.” john1595@miamioh.edu GESHAN USES THE BLADEMASTER TO SHARPEN THE REDHAWKS’ SKATES. DIFFERENT PLAYERS HAVE DIFFERENT PREFERENCES FOR THEIR BLADES. PHOTO BY JESSICA MONAHAN

ANDY GESHAN’S 1000TH CAREER GAME AS THE EQUIPMENT MANAGER FOR MIAMI HOCKEY WILL BE DEC. 30 AT NIAGARA UNIVERSITY. PHOTO BY JESSICA MONAHAN

GESHAN’S OFFICE AND THE SURROUNDING AREA IS LOADED WITH MIAMI HOCKEY GEAR NEW AND OLD. PHOTO BY JESSICA MONAHAN

GESHAN MAKES AT LEAST ONE FRESH POT OF COFFEE FOR EACH HOME GAME. HIS OFFICE ALSO CONTAINS SNACKS, GUM AND CANDY FOR ANYONE WHO WALKS IN. PHOTO BY JESSICA MONAHAN

GESHAN IS A GENEROUS, PATIENT GUY, BUT HE WILL GET IRRITATED IF THE PLAYERS LEAVE THE LOCKER ROOM TOO MESSY. PHOTO BY JESSICA MONAHAN

EACH YEAR, GESHAN REMOVES THE NAMEPLATES OF DEPARTING PLAYERS FROM THE MIAMI HOCKEY JERSEYS AND REPLACES THEM WITH THOSE IF INCOMING REDHAWKS. PHOTO BY JESSICA MONAHAN

12

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2023

sports

A legacy of leadership: Carolyn Condit’s 40 seasons leading Miami volleyball ANDREW RELVAS THE MIAMI STUDENT

JACK SCHMELZINGER SPORTS EDITOR Carolyn Condit and Miami University volleyball celebrate the 40th season of their union this year, which also happens to be their last.

On Oct. 31, Condit announced her retirement from her position as the head coach of the Miami volleyball team. Her career concludes after 44 years as a Division I head coach.

On Nov. 11, Condit coached her final game at Millett Hall. Miami volleyball alumni gathered to celebrate the legendary RedHawk coach. Following the game, there was a 40-minute ceremony to honor her.

“She’s a person that really wants to know you for who you are,” said Abby Huser, a Miami volleyball alum from the class of 2021. “Whatever is important to you is important to her.

She taught me that whatever I do, I can be the best at it.”

Condit began her coaching career at Xavier University (XU). She spent four years there – from 1980-1984 – and earned 99 victories with the Musketeers.

In 1984, she accepted a head coaching offer from Miami.

“She’s one of the most giving people I’ve ever met,” said Becky Fiessinger, a Miami volleyball alum from the class of 1985. “Think about it. Thirty years ago I graduated, and so many of my teammates are here tonight … Carolyn came in just before my senior year and did such a great job galvanizing the team.”

Condit inherited a program that had won two of the last three Mid-American Conference (MAC) championships.

Condit would expand on this winning culture by earning the first of her 10 MAC tournament titles in 1990. In both 1985 and 1986, the RedHawks finished second in the MAC regular season standings.

Condit has overseen the most wins as a head coach in Miami history for any sport. Her current record at Miami is 682-553. Including four years as the head coach at XU before coming to Miami, Condit has over 750 career wins.

With 376 career MAC wins, Condit is the only volleyball coach ever to eclipse 300.

Throughout the years, Condit has recorded many victories against conference opponents, but she’s enjoyed beating Ohio University the most.

“It’s a great thing to beat Ohio University,” Condit said. “It’s some-

thing I celebrate a lot.”

From 2015-2020, Miami would demonstrate its dominance by winning nine out of 12 games versus the Bobcats, a period which she remembers fondly. The RedHawks notably also earned a MAC Regular Season Championship in 2018 with an emphatic 3-0 win in Athens.

She said the support from the athletic department and working with great athletes are the main reasons why she stayed in Oxford for so long.

“I love the quality of academics, and the quality of the people on campus, from the presidents to the athletic directors and athletes,” Condit said.

Mindy Collins, a Miami volleyball alum from the class of 2000, said that Condit was demanding but forgiving.

“She used to dropkick balls up into the stands when she was upset,” Collins said. “But on the flip side, she’d give you chance after chance to redeem yourself and to prove yourself.”

The RedHawks have struggled since 2020, but Condit has stayed patient with the players in a rebuilding period.

“The fans in Oxford and the university wouldn’t give up on the team in the tough times,” Condit said.

For seniors like Maggie McCrary and Taylor Nomanson, she preaches

CAROLYN CONDIT RETIRES AS THE WINNINGEST HEAD COACH IN MIAMI UNIVERSITY HISTORY IN ANY SPORT. PHOTO BY JAKE RUFFER

about the importance of remembering Miami.

“Make sure you think about Miami and what you put yourself through after your time here,” Condit said. “It builds pride and confidence.”

It will be a long time before another coach leads Miami volleyball to as much success as Condit has. It will take some getting used to seeing a different face behind the Red-

Hawk bench once the 2023 season concludes on Wednesday at Bowling Green State University.

“She was a coach who led with grace and elegance, and who got the best out of every single young woman she coached during her time here,” Collins said. relvasaj@miamioh.edu

Hennessey Luu-Brown is Miami Middletown is defying a steadying presence for expectations with youngest Miami women’s basketball roster in college baseball WILL KEHRES STAFF WRITER

IT HAS BEEN QUITE THE JOURNEY FOR HENNESSEY LUU-BROWN TO MIAMI UNIVERSITY WOMEN’S BASKETBALL. PHOTO CONTRIBUTED BY MIAMI ATHLETICS

NISSO SACHA STAFF WRITER Amid the whirlwind of changes that swept through Miami University’s women’s basketball program during the 2023 offseason, which included the resignation of former coach DeUnna Hendrix, the departure of star players Ivy Wolff and Peyton Scott, and the return of only four players, new head coach Glenn Box has had the momentous task of rebuilding nearly the entire team.

In the midst of this transition, Box was in search of a seasoned guard who would provide the team with leadership and experience. This critical piece of the puzzle was ultimately found in Hennessey Luu-Brown.

Luu-Brown, a senior hailing from Ontario, Canada, has had quite the journey on her way to Miami. It has been one of perseverance and adaptability. She started her college career at Salt Lake Community College in Utah, where she faced the challenges of being a true first-year and learning to assert herself. From there, she transitioned to the University of New Orleans, a place that fostered her extroverted and outgoing side.

“You know, I’m super delighted that she’s here,” Box said. “She’s just a good kid. I think when she’s playing she’s really happy. She’s in a good spot for her and she’s been a great addition for us.”

After last year at the University of New Orleans, Luu-Brown was searching for a program with more intensity and a more diverse culture.

With this goal in mind, she eventually found Miami, where she believes she found a program with a deep-rooted work ethic and unwavering priorities.

“Everyone wants more,” LuuBrown said, “whether it’s for themselves or the team or coaches or just their life goals. Everyone’s just a little more intense and more hard working because of what everyone’s trying to accomplish.”

The departure of Hendrix left the team in need of a dependable leader.

Box’s leadership style emphasizes setting a good example from the top and exhibiting steady habits. It was this commitment to integrity and authenticity that resonated with Luu-

Brown and attracted her to the program.

“There was never a moment where I felt like they were trying to really impress me, they were really just honest about who they were and how everything was going to be and that was a big part of it,” Luu-Brown said. “I didn’t feel any type of worry or doubt about what was expected when I got here.”

In her short time here, LuuBrown has made a large impact on the program. With Box taking the position as head coach for the first time, it was important for him to build a foundation early on. Luu-Brown has made his task easier.

“She’s been pretty steady for us for probably the last month, and that’s what we are, that’s what we’re trying to get to,” Box said. “Having somebody that we can trust with the basketball and can do the things that we ask, and so we’re very proud of what she’s been able to do.”

As the only senior on the team, and one of only four upperclassmen, Luu-Brown is looked up to by the five freshmen and sophomores on her team.

At Miami, Luu-Brown is embracing a new level of intensity and time management. Drawing from her collegiate experience, she is a natural leader on the team.

“I am one of the older ones,” LuuBrown said. “ I’ve just been trying to be confident and keep my other teammates confident as well. To be a vocal leader for us but also off the court so I can have relationships with everyone and just get everyone to really be comfortable in who they are because everyone on our team is good enough to be here.”

Luu-Brown’s journey and embodiment of leadership serves as a testament to the program’s commitment to growth. The collective spirit of learning and unwavering dedication lays the foundation for a promising future for the program.

“We’re all just learning in it together every day,” Luu-Brown said.

“Everyone’s really open minded, everyone really just attacks things every single day.” sachanz@miamioh.edu @NissoSacha

The Miami University Middletown baseball program has put itself on the map.

After not collecting a winning record since 2000 and not even fielding a team for the past three seasons, the ThunderHawks posted a 12-5 record this fall while competing in the United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA) with the youngest roster in college baseball, including 20 first-years and one sophomore.

The team is led by head coach Mark Adams, who had no experience coaching baseball at the collegiate level before taking the position.

Adams coached college basketball for 17 years, 10 of which were at the NCAA Division I level, as an assistant at Idaho State University and Washington State University, and then as a head coach at Central Connecticut State University. He was born and raised in the Cincinnati area and returned in 1996 to start a private consulting business. He’s also been a college basketball analyst for ESPN since 1999. “[After returning to the Cincinnati area], I got involved with baseball, mainly because my son played,” Adams said. “I got involved as a pitching coach as he progressed through.”

The Middletown baseball program shut down after the 2019 season. When the program started to reassemble in preparation for 2023, Adams was not supposed to be the head coach. In fact, he had no desire to take the role.

“The previous head coach had asked me to be his pitching coach,” Adams said. “He was going to be the head coach until June, when he announced that for personal reasons he would not be coaching the team.

At that point, I was asked if I would become the head coach. When they asked me if I would be interested, I said emphatically, ‘No, I have no interest in that.’”

However, Adams had recruited the majority of the Middletown players, and they convinced him to reconsider.

“What I’ll remember most is telling the guys, ‘I don’t think you understand what you’re asking me to do. I will lose you games,’ and they said, ‘That’s OK coach, we’ll lose you games too,’” Adams said.

Going into an inaugural season with the youngest roster in college baseball and a basketball coach at the helm certainly didn’t look like a recipe for success on paper; the ThunderHawks shattered all expectations.

“As soon as we played that first game, I feel like all the pressure was just off us,” Jake Lange, a first-year outfielder, said. “And now I think being the youngest team in the nation has actually kind of helped us in a sense because all the pressure is off us, all the pressure is on them.”

The squad is known for playing “fast break” baseball, an approach that entails very aggressive base running and a rapid pace-of-play. Middletown averaged 3.3 stolen bases per game in the fall, succeeding on over 90% of their attempts. That approach powered their offense, with the team scoring nine or more runs in 10 of their 12 wins.

The team plays an aggressive defensive style as well, throwing lots of strikes and forcing their opponents to put the ball into play.

“I want [the other team] to hit it.

We recruited great defensive players,” Adams said. “I told our pitchers, ‘If they hit a homerun, that’s my fault, that’s not yours. I’m the guy telling you to throw strikes,’ and we threw over 70% first pitch strikes in the fall.”

In addition to their aggressive style, the ThunderHawks take an unconventional approach to many other aspects of the game. For example, while most baseball teams have an elaborate system of signs in place that allows the third base coach to tell a player when to steal a base, Middletown flips the script.

“I don’t give any steal signs,” Adams said. “I started thinking about it and thinking, ‘Why do I know better than my player if they have a pitcher timed up to steal?’ That seems stupid to me. Our baserunners give me a sign when they believe that they

have the pitcher timed up and that they can steal … I want my guys to play. I want them to have fun. I trust them. I believe in them.”

The team got off to a 4-0 start, sweeping their first two series of the fall. They rode that high throughout most of the season, taking a few losses along the way but largely playing like a far more experienced club.

Then, the ThunderHawks had a huge series against Wright State University-Lake, one of the better teams in USCAA baseball. The first game of the doubleheader was a disaster, with the ThunderHawks scoring no runs.

“It was the first time we looked and acted like a bunch of freshmen,” Adams said.

Despite the rough start, the club bounced back in a big way. The team won the second game of the doubleheader 11-5, then beat the Lakers one more time later in the season, 14-9.

The wins were particularly sweet for second baseman Kaden Davidson, the lone sophomore on the squad, who played his first season at Wright State-Lake.

“That’s probably the best feeling, because I’ve never really had the opportunity to go against a team I had just played for,” Davidson said. “And I know they weren’t happy. They were all blowing my phone up texting about how their coach wasn’t happy, which always makes me glad.”

After such a successful fall, the ThunderHawks have substantial expectations moving forward.

“Our goal is to win a national championship,” Brock Vaughn, a first-year outfielder, said. “If we can progress toward that, then I think we will naturally become better. With the way we practice and the way we play and the way our leaders lead, I think that’s a very reasonable goal.”

With national championship aspirations and a team that now has top-to-bottom experience at the collegiate level, the ThunderHawks plan to keep making noise once they return to action this spring. kehreswe@miamioh.edu

“WHAT I’LL REMEMBER MOST IS TELLING THE GUYS, ‘I DON’T THINK YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU’RE ASKING ME TO DO. I WILL LOSE YOUGAMES,’ AND THEY SAID, ‘THAT’S OK COACH, WE’LL LOSE YOU GAMES TOO,’” THUNDERHAWK COACH ADAMS SAID. PHOTO PROVIDED BY MARK ADAMS

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2023

13

‘Every swimmer dreams of representing ‘A leader by example’: their country’: Miami first-year to compete Maggie McCrary reflects at 2023 Parapan American Games on a memorable four FROM FRONT

“With the help of a lot of people on the organizational side, I was the first para-swimmer to compete at the district and state levels,” Bruner said.

“It truly was a blessing and a testament to the people that championed para-swimming at the state level.”

The experiences with U.S. Para-Swimming continued for Bruner.

After making the roster of the organization’s emerging team in high school, the team invited him to their facilities in Colorado Springs, Colorado, in October 2022. In April 2023, Bruner received the news he had been waiting for.

“I got the call that I had been named to the national C-team, and it was a huge honor,” Bruner said. “I went out for national team camp this past summer and it was an amazing experience.”

USA Paralympics operates on a tiered team structure, with the

A-team featuring the best swimmers followed by the B and C-teams. At national team camp, Bruner strived to make his presence felt and show he could bring home medals if given the chance.

His hard work at camp paid off.

This past September, U.S. Paralympic Swimming announced its roster of 33 athletes for the 2023 Parapan American Games, and Bruner had made the cut.

The Parapan American Games have occurred every four years since 1999 and feature a village-like living space for athletes, similar to the Olympics. The trip will mark the first time Bruner has traveled internationally.

“It’s a little nerve-wracking, but it’s gonna be cool,” Bruner said. “I don’t really know what to expect, but I’m really excited to go. Every swimmer dreams of representing their country and repping the flag on their swim cap.”

Looking to the future, Bruner plans on continuing to pursue opportunities with U.S. Paralympics Swimming. In the meantime, he’ll take care of his schoolwork at Miami.

Eventually, he hopes to pursue medical school and become a physician.

McKinney hasn’t known Bruner for long, but he has noticed his intense work ethic.

“He gets in and grinds every day,” McKinney said. “He knows that his goals for the next five years require doing the work today. Coach Dave and coach Evan with the WTRC Sharks really prepared him, they baked the cake so to speak.”

The 2023 Parapan American Games begin on Nov. 17 in Santiago, Chile. Bruner will participate in the 400-meter freestyle, where he hopes to bring home a medal for his country. paynetw@miamioh.edu

The lady RedHawks fell short this season, but together they stand on top Forming habits together in practice, including reinforcing the basics of their technique, helped them understand each other’s strengths and tendencies. While their season ended sooner than anticipated, they walked away stronger and more confident. The last four games showed that they were able to pull together and be the type of team that doesn’t quit when the chips are down.

“We played [Bowling Green State University] and all these teams who are very good, and we would play very well,” Hoffmann said.“… Everyone thought we were going to win, and everyone MIAMI SOCCER WON ITS FINAL FOUR GAMES THIS SEASON, BUT IT WASN’T ENOUGH TO VAULT IN TO was doing so well, and then it just THE MID-AMERICAN CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP. PHOTO BY BRIAN MACK wouldn’t fall our way.” they had many lows, the highs were LAUREN SCHULZE Through these four years, the great, too.

THE MIAMI STUDENT seniors on Miami’s soccer team have “So I think overall, even though been through the COVID-19 panThe women’s soccer season is we didn’t get the results we wanted, demic, coaching changes and many we learned a lot from each other, and other obstacles, but they persevered over at Miami University.

As with the end of every college we’re grateful for that,” Hoffmann and led the team to new heights. This sports season, some of the Red- said. “I learned a lot about myself, has helped set the stage for future Hawks’ long-time players will grad- and I know everyone else has learned members of the RedHawk women’s uate after this year, including mid- a lot about themselves outside of soc- soccer team to achieve new levels of fielder Julia Hoffmann, midfielder cer. We just did it for each other and success.

Camber Hayes, forward Haley An- had fun doing it.”

“Miami soccer as a whole is going The group of seniors had much to in such a good direction,” Anspach spach, defender Kyleigh von Klahr say about the memories they made said. “Not to toot our own horn, but and defender Bronwen Sears.

While those players didn’t win a along the way, not just this season, we were a part of that.”

MAC championship at Miami, it is but also the past four years together.

These seniors exuded gratefulFrom trips to Tennessee and ness and pure pride in Miami and saddening to turn the chapter on a major part of one’s life. It comes with Montana, to winning senior night the honor they have felt to have repand beating Ohio University this year resented their school and contribute wistful nostalgia.

“I think it’s bittersweet,” Anspach under the lights, the high points that to this team. said. “We’ve played with each other resulted from being a truly support“How grateful we are for the expethe past four years and it didn’t end ive team made it all worth it. rience we were able to have,” Hayes “We spend like all day togeth- said. “And me personally, I know [the the way we wanted, but I think that each of us had something that we left er for the most part,” Hayes said, “I other seniors] think the same thing, think that does allow us to know each we are so grateful that we’re here and for the team.”

With a record of 8-10-1 overall other’s little tendencies and habits grateful we can play for a school that and 5-6 in the conference, the Red- and kind of know what each person we love – and that we got the opporHawks unfortunately didn’t return needs to be motivated or how they tunity to do that.” to the MAC tournament this year, de- receive criticism.”

Being on the same page and spite winning each of their last four schulzlc@miamioh.edu games. That was a letdown for the knowing each other so well truly RedHawks, especially the seniors, helped them this season because they but the women remarked how well were able to anticipate each other’s they played this year. Even though moves on the field.

seasons at Miami

MAGGIE MCCRARY HASN’T DECIDED WHETHER SHE WILL RETURN TO MIAMI FOR A FIFTHYEAR. PHOTO BY BRIAN MACK

CAMERON JOHNSON THE MIAMI STUDENT Volleyball season at Miami University is almost at its close, with the RedHawks holding a 5-20 record overall, and a 1-12 mark in conference play. The team’s final home match was against the University of Akron on Nov. 11. Though the season had its ups and downs, the RedHawks were anchored by the play of senior Maggie McCrary.

McCrary’s volleyball career began in middle school, thanks to a little push from her dad.

“One day when we were driving, we saw people playing beach volleyball, and my dad was like, ‘One day I want you to try volleyball,’” McCrary said. “And I was like, ‘Sure.’”

McCrary continued playing volleyball throughout high school, and because of her height, she was thrown into the middle position.

McCrary is listed at 6-foot-1.

“My dad is 6-foot-8, my mom is 5-foot-10, so growing up I was always a tall kid,” McCrary said.

Before arriving in Oxford, McCrary attended high school at Traverse City Central in Michigan. While there, she was a four-year letterwinner and also became the school’s single-season and career leader in kills.

In 2019, she was named Honorable Mention All-State and All-Region, capping off her high school career.

McCrary came to Miami in 2020 as a psychology major, right in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. As a first-year student, confidence was an issue for her.

“I think my freshman year and … going into my sophomore year, I wasn’t really confident in myself,” McCrary said. “I felt like I was behind or that I wasn’t supposed to be here for awhile, just because it takes a while to get used to the system and playing at that level.”

Miami volleyball assistant coach Tania Schatow has worked with McCrary from the beginning and has seen her vast improvement firsthand.

“She has become a much better attacker … and she really has turned into a great swing blocker,” Schatow said. “She is one of the leading blockers on our team, so I think her allaround game has truly improved.”

McCrary played in all 22 matches in 2022, starting in 15. In those 22 matches, she was tied for the team lead in blocks with 52 and had the team’s most block-assists with 46.

Her first year also holds her favorite memory as a RedHawk.

In 2020, Miami wasn’t supposed to make the Mid-American Conference (MAC) tournament. Going into the last weekend of the season with two matches left, both against Central Michigan University, the RedHawks were out of the tournament picture.

In both of those matches, Miami went down two games to none. In both matches, the team swept the final three games to take the victory.

Those two wins vaulted Miami one game ahead of Kent State University for the final spot in the four-team MAC tournament. Miami would get knocked out of the tournament quickly, but the improbable comebacks have stuck with McCrary.

“That was a really cool, awesome moment when we found out,” McCrary said. “I think another team had to lose for us to get in, and they ended up losing, so we made it in.”

McCrary’s sophomore season was when she really started to feel confident and comfortable with her playing abilities.

“I started to feel like I should be there, and that has helped me a lot in my play ever since,” McCary said.

In 2021, McCrary played in 27 matches, starting in 23 of them, and ranked sixth in hitting percentage at .338 for conference matches in the MAC. The next season, she played in 29 matches, making 24 starts as a junior. Off the court, McCrary was Academic All-MAC. This season, McCrary is top-five on Miami’s team in blocks and kills.

“She works hard in the weight room, she’s able to speak up, she is a calming voice, she is not someone who gets overly emotional or angry,” Schatow said. “She is someone who is calm, but everyone in the locker room really respects her. She really has become a major role model for all the younger girls on the team.”

Following this season, McCrary is keeping her options open for the future.

“I am a psychology major with a minor in criminology and family relations, so I am kind of interested in doing something in criminal psychology,” McCrary said. “But I also have a fifth year of eligibility, so I could stay and get my graduate degree after graduation.”

It has been a memorable four years for McCrary playing volleyball at Miami, and her presence on the court and also in the locker room have had a major impact on the program. @c__j30 john1610@miamioh.edu

An underdog story: Hampton Dauparas makes RedHawks’ basketball roster JON SCHOOLEY THE MIAMI STUDENT In life, many encounter dreams left unchased or aspirations unfulfilled. Yet, there’s something universally inspiring about an underdog story — a tale of defying the odds, proving that the impossible is attainable.

As a walk-on, Hampton Dauparas is the embodiment of the underdog narrative.

Miami University men’s basketball associate head coach Rob Summers knew Dauparas was special when he saw him at walk-on tryouts.

“I felt as if Hampton had great size for a walk-on and that he played extremely hard,” Summers said. “One play that stuck out was he had a great defensive stop where he walled up against an offensive player and secured a rebound.”

This fall, Dauparas earned a spot on the Miami men’s basketball team, standing at 6-foot-5 and weighing 225 pounds. His journey, however, begins back in high school, when his family moved to Indiana.

Dauparas’ Midwest journey leads to Miami Dauparas went to Providence Catholic High School in Illinois for his first couple years of prep basketball. Dauparas played in the Under

Armor AAU circuit during his time in Illinois.

Then his family made a significant move that led him to La Lumiere School, a prep school in Springfield Township, Indiana, renowned for its nationally recognized basketball program. Miami sophomore guard Ryan Mabrey is also a La Lumiere alum.

Once Dauparas made the Miami team, having an old teammate there was helpful for him.

“Ryan introduced me to my new teammates,” Dauparas said.

The transition from Illinois to Indiana was more than just geographical; it marked a shift to a faster-paced game and a more demanding practice schedule.

“I was used to being the big guy on my old high school team,” Dauparas said. “When I got to La Lumiere, it was a whole new world of basketball.”

As the high school chapter of Dauparas’s career came to an end, he had to choose where to continue his basketball career. He always knew he’d try to walk-on wherever he decided to go to school, but the decision wasn’t taken lightly. He also considered Indiana University and Butler University.

But the first time he stepped foot on Miami’s campus, it felt like home.

This summer, Dauparas spent hours each day in the gym and the

weight room to prepare for his walkon tryout with Miami.

“In the summer, I would text my old coaches at La Lumiere and ask to open the gym up,” Dauparas said.“The gym would be mine for about three hours everyday to work on my conditioning, ball handling and skill work.”

Becoming a team player Dauparas said he was confident throughout the tryout. He believed he matched up well against the rest of the team and thought his efforts would be noticed.

“I controlled everything I could control,” Dauparas said. “I would say I was a hard worker in the tryout, and I focused on doing what I needed to do. The team I was on for the scrimmage won and throughout the tryout, I felt like I was able to pick up drills quickly.”

Summers was impressed with Dauparas ability to come in and make an impact.

“His ability to provide energy and his play style was very physical,” Summers said. “I also enjoyed his mentality toward the game and his humbleness.”

After the tryouts, Dauparas was told they would let him know in a couple of days whether or not he made the team. Soon, the coaches sent him a text message and asked if he could

HAMPTON DAUPARAS MADE HIS REDHAWK DEBUT LAST SATURDAY AND RECORDED TWO REBOUNDS, A POINT AND A STEAL AGAINST TEXAS STATE. PHOTO BY KETHAN BABU

come in for a meeting.

“I knew it was a good sign when they asked if I could come see them after class,” Dauparas said. “And that’s when they told me I made the team.”

After a few days of hand wringing while waiting for some NCAA paperwork to clear, Dauparas was finally able to practice with his new team.

Now that he’s on the team, Dauparas wants to help Miami win, to play the role of a walk-on.

“My short term goals are to be a great team player,” Dauparas said. “I want to do all the dirty work, setting

screens, box out and rebounding.”

Summers expressed his excitement about Dauparas’s future.

“I’m excited to see Hampton develop not just as a player, but as a young man,” Summers said. “He has a physicality that will help us prepare for opponents throughout the season.

I know he can bring so much to the program and look forward to him embracing his role on our team.” @jschool_22 schoolj2@miamioh.edu

14

GreenHawks

Local voices spread secondhand love

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2023

OPINION: Your trash could power the energy revolution AVA KALINA COLUMNIST

SNAZZY BOUTIQUE SELLS JEWELRY MADE BY STUDENTS. PHOTO BY SARAH KENNEL

SARAH KENNEL THE MIAMI STUDENT The saying “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure” holds true for thrifters and environmentalists alike. The idea that secondhand clothing can combat environmental damage — while keeping creativity and fun alive — is a growing one in Oxford.

Each year, millions of tons of textiles pile up in landfills or get incinerated. Clothing production and incineration also drive up greenhouse gas emissions.

“If we’re going to have any chance of reducing environmental damage, we need to change our fashion practices,” said Ryan Rosu, president of Zero Waste Oxford.

Leading this charge in Oxford are organizations like Thread Up Oxford, Snazzy Boutique and Zero Waste Oxford — and they all have one thing in common: secondhand clothing. Across the board, they’re setting out to change attitudes about how we do fashion.

“It began with my passion for fashion, and caring about not just discarding and throwing things away, but refashioning,” said Virginia Maddocks, founder of Snazzy Boutique.

The idea behind refashioning is to take the clothes one has now, cycle them through new homes and get creative in styling them. These shops make that process easier for Oxford residents and students at Miami University.

Donating old clothing to Thread Up or Zero Waste Oxford is a great, and free, way to start and prevents it from becoming waste. Thread Up’s recycling program even accepts torn and stained textiles, so long as they are clean and free of mold and bugs. Purchasing from any secondhand store, such as Snazzy Boutique, supports the cause while also saving customers money.

Shana Rosenberg, director and founder of Thread Up Oxford, believes her message arrived at a good time. She’s inspired by the effort that the City of Oxford and its residents make to live sustainably.

“There are already people in town interested in sustainability,” Rosenberg said. “I’m just kind of bringing that textile element into, I think, a community that’s already really devoted to sustainability.”

Similarly, Maddocks sees local shopping trending and values the growing community around Snazzy Boutique. She believes that local action is a remedy to this global issue.

On a basic level, buying clothes and textiles locally reduces carbon emissions created during transport, but it also reinvigorates the movement as a whole.

This sentiment is also shared

by Zero Waste Oxford, where Rosu

has seen an increase in membership throughout the past year.

“When you’re locally minded, you’re much more aware of your place in the world, and you’re more likely to take care of it,” Rosu said.

Miami students are a big part of this local mission. Rosenberg says that student involvement has improved for Thread Up over the years.

This includes student customers, part-time employees and organizations volunteering for sorting events.

Likewise, Maddocks believes that her student volunteers and two interns have helped keep the store evolving and creative. She’s inspired by watching them take initiative during events and on social media platforms such as their Instagram, @SnaZZyBoutiqueandGifts.

Oxford’s sustainable fashion community has also become involved with other local social projects. Thread Up provides the Family Resource Center with clothing and household textiles, and recently made bowl koozies for Empty Bowls.

Maddocks and Rosenberg have also collaborated to discuss sustainable fashion and support each other.

Unsold clothes at Snazzy Boutique are often donated to Thread Up. “We see that we’re both working towards the same thing,” Maddocks said.

Changing fashion requires changing behavior – and reducing consumption is key. When buying new, Rosenberg recommends buying something high quality, that will be worn often. The ability to shop guilt-free makes secondhand clothing an appealing choice.

“A lot of people talk about consumption being bad, but if we just keep passing around the secondhand clothing, that’s okay, go ahead,” Rosenberg said.

When Maddocks rescues secondhand pieces for the shop, it brings back the excitement she finds in fashion. She takes joy in helping customers creatively style diverse secondhand pieces. This renewal of joy is key to the mission of secondhand clothing. Rosu also believes that getting people excited to thrift and live sustainably is essential.

Maddocks has experienced this attitude change first-hand. She recalls being a young girl hunkering down in her mother’s car at the thrift store, embarrassed and hoping no one could see her. By the time she got to college, thrifting was cool.

Today, she and a growing number of sustainable fashion leaders in Oxford are fostering this love of secondhand clothing in others.

So, have fun with it. Fighting fast fashion doesn’t mean abandoning the creativity of dressing. It just means changing the way it’s done — a movement long in the making. kennelse@miamioh.edu

THE INSIDE OF UPTOWN THREADS, THREAD UP OXFORD’S STOREFRONT ON CHURCH ST. PHOTO BY SARAH KENNEL

Banana peels and egg shells, tree trimmings and excess mulch, doggie waste and leftovers. All of this household waste has one common characteristic: When Rumpke eventually dumps these scraps into the local landfill, they go through anaerobic decomposition, releasing exorbitant amounts of methane into our atmosphere.

Methane may have less buzz than carbon dioxide, but the greenhouse gas is 25 times more potent than CO2. Landfills constitute 16.9% of U.S. methane emissions, but it soon could be zero.

Composting and food scrap collection is the local answer to reducing landfill methane emissions; less organic matter ending up in landfills leads to less methane production.

Yet, this solution depends on a widespread change in household habits and an uptick in utility costs.

In a previous article, I spoke with Dave Treleaven, the Environmental Coordinator for the City of Oxford, about the possibility of curbside organic waste pickup. Treleaven said the program would add around $20 per month to residents’ utility bills, a price that most residents aren’t willing to pay.

These local efforts for organic waste collection should absolutely be pursued, but to effectively combat methane emissions, there must be a larger-scale response: a national infrastructure of methane capture systems that convert emissions from trash into natural gas.

The use of natural gas has exploded in the last two decades. According to the Alliance for Innovation and Infrastructure, an independent non-profit founded by Miami University research associate Brigham McCown, natural gas generates 40.3% of America’s electricity, the largest share of all energy resources.

Natural gas has been popularized for its clean burning properties and cost-effectiveness, yet most natural

GRAPHIC BY MACEY CHAMBERLIN

gas is acquired through fracking, an exhaustible, non-renewable process.

Fracking exists throughout America, including Ohio and Indiana, but the region could now be known for a new method of natural gas production.

In Medora, Indiana, a small town in our tri-state area, methane emissions from trash at a Rumpke plant are being transformed into Renewable Natural Gas (RNG). This biogas not only improves local air quality and slows emissions, it can power our lives, heating around 13,000 homes per year from landfill waste.

In addition to the Medora plant, there are 532 RNG plants across the United States, but Medora’s, built by BP and designed by Archaea, is a first of its kind. Archaea’s design “allows plants to be built on skids with interchangeable components for faster builds.” BP’s advance into the renewable natural gas sector could exemplify the future of America’s pursuit of clean energy, but states must actively participate.

In 2023, the renewable energy portfolio standard for Ohio requires that only 8.5% of electricity sold must be generated from renewable energy sources by 2026. This meager goal could be accomplished, and raised, by the creation of, and dependence on, renewable natural gas plants.

The American Biogas Council estimates that the buildout of exten-

sive biogas collection infrastructure in Ohio would reduce greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to removing 3.53 million cars from the road.

Additionally, they estimate that a national build-out would create around 25,000 permanent jobs across the country and lead to $1.33 billion in capital investments.

BP is planning to expand its biogas production sixfold by 2030, but states and local governments must increase their policies along with the private sector. Investing in methane capture and providing larger incentives will slow the warming of our planet and continue to power our lives. Ohio needs to raise its renewable electricity requirements and purposefully invest in methane capture systems.

Although the abundance of trash negatively impacts our earth, it is an inevitable part of daily life. Effectively combating greenhouse gas emissions is finding practical solutions that benefit the average household, and renewable natural gas production from methane is an answer.

The willingness of Rumpke to pair with BP is a step forward in reducing GHG emissions and gives a brighter energy future for places like Oxford. kalinaae@miamioh.edu

Miami to allow deer hunting in the Natural Areas for second consecutive year

RESEARCH HAS SHOWN THAT DEER ARE PRESENT IN AN UNHEALTHY AMOUNT IN THE NATURAL AREAS. PHOTO PROVIDED BY ELEA COOPER

SAM NORTON GREENHAWKS EDITOR Beginning on Nov. 18, the Miami Natural Areas will be open to deer hunting, a continuation of the deer management plan first implemented in 2022.

The hunting period will go until Feb. 11, an 11-week season that falls roughly in line with the second half of Ohio’s deer hunting season. The Natural Areas Committee decided in late 2021 that the most effective way to reduce the local deer population was controlled hunting, paving the way for the first hunting season last year.

“There has been some hesitancy before because of potential conflict between other recreationists and the hunters about the safety concern and everything,” said Nancy Feakes, the field manager of the Natural Areas.

“But the biggest source of danger resulting from a hunting season, particularly in archery hunting season, is people falling out of the tree.”

Due to the often high public traffic within the Natural Areas, several safety measures have been implemented.

Miami is only allowing bow hunting, and hunting is only allowed from tree stands, which means that if a hunter misses, their arrow hits the ground and does not continue horizontally. Furthermore, stands are required to be 50 yards from trails, and hunters were required to pass an accuracy test to be selected.

Out of a pool of nearly 100 applicants, 45 hunters were selected to participate. Along with helping reduce the population, hunters are required by Miami to use the deer in some way after the hunt, whether

with meat, hide or antlers.

Each hunter is allowed either three or four weeks to hunt and is limited to a maximum of two deer.

This is down from three last year, as the deer population has been affected, and possibly reduced further, by epizootic hemorrhagic disease.

Despite the presence of hunters, Feakes says that users of the Natural Areas have no reason to hesitate about spending time in the Natural Areas during the hunting season.

She also explained that the season was also selected to occur when Miami goes on winter break and when the trails are generally less crowded.

Moreover, the first season of hunting last year has been considered a success with a harvest count of 15 deer and later studies indicating a reduction in deer density, giving early confidence in the effectiveness of this method.

“Comparison between the western area and the Bachelor-Reinhardt [area] has significantly fewer deer this year,” said Feakes.

Elea Cooper, a fifth-year student in the combined Master of Environ-

mental Science program, leads the research for this program. Cooper previously researched the effects deer have on plant life but is now focusing on studies of deer density for her master’s thesis.

“Deer density went down in plots I studied, so I think hunting had an impact on lowering deer density,” Cooper said.

She also stressed the need to continue to monitor the population of deer after she leaves, in order not to “overdo it” when hunting. The reasons behind wanting to reduce the deer population in the Natural Areas are many but are primarily due to the damaging effects they have on the local ecosystem.

“We have a lot of evidence that there were a lot of negative impacts in the forest in the Natural Areas due to decades of high deer density,” said David Gorchov, a professor of biology and ecology who has been studying the impact of overabundant deer in the Natural Areas since 2010.

Gorchov has seen the detrimental effects that deer have had on the Natural Areas through both his and his students’ research.

“I remember walking in western woods 15, 20, 25 years ago and there were a lot more native wildflowers than there are now,” Gorchov said.

Between the negative effects of a large deer population and the tentatively positive results of the previous season, those involved in managing the Natural Areas hope that this next season will continue to be effective.

Those using the trails in hunting areas during this time are required to stay on trail and leave their dogs at home and are encouraged to wear bright colors. nortonsm@miamioh.edu

TRAIL CAMERAS HAVE BEEN ONE OF THE PRIMARY METHODS OF STUDYING DEER IN THE NATURAL AREAS THE PAST FEW YEARS. PHOTO PROVIDED BY ELEA COOPER

humor

15 FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2023

Do nothing this November CONNOR OVIATT STAFF WRITER I’m sure you’ve heard of No Shave November (I valiantly took on the challenge last year) and some of the … other abstaining challenges for the month. I personally have also had a “no girls will talk to me November.” I’m still not sure if the two are related or not.

Individuals celebrating No Shave November refrain from shaving all month long to support those living with cancer. While it supports a great cause, I believe that there are plenty of other groups that could also use support. So, I came up with these events that I have begun taking part in.

No Class November I made the very difficult decision to not attend any classes this month whatsoever.

I know what you are thinking: I’m a hero.

Not going to class will be extremely challenging, as I typically spend four hours per week in class.

I will still manage to maintain my extremely high GPA of 1.3 despite not going to class. How, you ask? A magician never reveals his secrets.

I still have not informed my professors of my plans, but I doubt they’ll even notice.

I am taking on this challenge in support of those who didn’t get into the asynchronous classes they were hoping to get into.

No Nuts November We should all experience life without the joys of peanut butter.

Your eyes will be opened wide. While difficult, I trust that we can all survive without legumes and cashews for a mere 30 days.

This honestly isn’t too challenging of a task, given that Miami is a nut-free campus.

Plus, I think we can all agree that we have wanted to punch the weird peanut guy in the face for a long time (he had it coming). It may take strong self-control, and make you question your manhood, but this is for a worthwhile cause.

No Nuts November raises awareness for two very important groups: the American Society of Middle-Aged Women Named Karen Against Reese’s Cups (ASMAWNKARC) and the Organization Supporting Little Children Named Johnny with Peanut Allergies (OSLCNJPA).

No Nicotine November I really got you with this one. I see you hitting your vape as you read this article. Put it

GRAPHIC BY MACEY CHAMBERLIN

down, you fiend. Throw away your Zyn canister.

I have successfully completed No Nicotine November for 20 consecutive years, which goes to show you that you can truly accomplish whatever you put your mind to. Of course, I didn’t say anything about a No Sharpie Sniffing November. I like a challenge, not torture.

There is only one rule to this challenge — hitting the vape drunk does not count. You will still be able to continue in the challenge if you

schmack it drunk.

No Narcissism November I’ve already failed this challenge, but I’m sure many of you are still in the running.

Many people attempt this challenge monthly. For us humans, this is a great way to work on “personal development,” whatever that means.

Once you realize that the world doesn’t revolve around you (and rather, around me) the better off your lives will be.

I started this challenge to raise money for the

Stand-up comedy at its finest PATRICK SULLIVAN CO-HUMOR EDITOR You walk into a bar. The bartender says, “What are you doing here?

You look 16.”

No, this isn’t the start of a joke.

It’s the start of every average standup comedy open mic. For all those interested in trying stand-up comedy, I recommend you don’t read this piece. For everyone else who thinks people that do stand-up comedy are weirdos, you might enjoy reading this suffering.

I walk up to the bar and hand him my fake. Every comedian has a fake ID. Some say a 19-year-old is really 21. Some say a 47-year-old is really 35. Some say a 250-pound guy is not a buck over 175.

When I tell the bartender that I am here for the open mic, he points me to a guy slumped over a beer at the end of the bar.

I shake him from his slumber.

He is not pleased and pulls out the grossest notebook I have ever seen and writes my name down before downing the last of his beer and going outside to do enough drugs to kill an elephant.

And then I wait.

And then I wait some more.

The mic was scheduled to start at 9 p.m. Like the idiot newbie I am, I showed up at 8:15 p.m. to get a seat. It is now 9:45 p.m., and I’m about to head for the door. But wait, the gremlin that I awoke to sign up gets on stage and alerts the five unsuspecting individuals in the back that the show will be starting in 15 minutes.

Perfect.

As the bartender dims the lights and silences the TVs, the five unsuspecting individuals are pissed. It’s one thing to go on stage for a crowd that doesn’t pay attention to you, but it’s a completely different thing to go on stage for a crowd that is loathing you for silencing the women’s Division 3 curling championship on ESPN 8.

The gremlin gets on stage and

Connor Oviatt scholarship fund, helping Miami students named Connor Oviatt pay their tuition bills — a truly noble cause. Let me know if you would like to donate.

No Nonsense November And … I failed. You did too, because you just wasted three minutes of your life reading this article. Congratulations.

Unaccompanied men in sorority dorms lead to policy changes TEDDY JOHNSON CO-HUMOR EDITOR

COMEDIAN PATRICK SULLIVAN PUTS ON A BRAVE FACE PRETENDING HE’S NOT BOMBING AT A MIC. PHOTO BY PATRICK SULLIVAN

spends the first 15 minutes talking about his “no-no area.”

No matter where I go, the host will always be talking about that. Has it ever worked, you, the reader, might wonder? No. But, alas, if at first you don’t succeed, try, try, try, try again.

And remember, we silenced women’s Division 3 curling for this.

Alas, a line of comedians appear out of nowhere. Even though I showed up first and signed up first, they can all buy beer. Our little gremlin host takes a bribe, and now I’m at the bottom of the list.

I get to sit there, sober and alone.

I couldn’t drag any of my friends to another open mic (basically a repeat of what is happening now). I watch comedian after comedian get up on stage, eyes full of hope and laughter, only to bomb one joke after another.

Now, it’s my turn.

The host calls me by the wrong

Are you a: • writer • photographer • designer

name and, of course, the $20 mic from Walmart stops working just as I start my jokes. I end up yelling my set, which isn’t hard because there’s five people in the audience, and the curling was silenced.

I get one chuckle from a drunken stupor in the back. That’s enough for me, and I run off the stage, drive back home and roll into the driveway at 1 a.m. But, because I’m addicted to the one sound of laughter I squeezed out of that place, I will be back at the same time next week.

Try comedy, they said. It’ll be fun, they said. You won’t get addicted to trying to get drunk laughs from strangers to keep you going for the week, they said.

You should try it! sulli293@miamioh.edu

oviattcc@miamioh.edu

Reports of unaccompanied men in sorority dorms have led sororities and the Office of Residence Life to enact some policy changes.

Apparently, unaccompanied men in sorority dorms made some people understandably uncomfortable.

When men are left alone, bad things can happen. Remember the Treaty of Versailles? An all male conference deliberated and made this treaty to screw over the Germans after World War I (WWI).

How did this treaty turn out?

Bad. There was a sequel to WWI, which no one asked for.

Now, men visiting a sorority dorm must be escorted everywhere they go, whether that be to take a dump or visit their girlfriends.

Men are not even trusted to go take a piss by themselves anymore which is once again, understandable.

A recent story I heard through the grapevine really set some people off and probably brought these new changes to fruition.

A man, who I will call John, informed me of a humorous instance that took place a few weeks ago. After John went Uptown for a night out with his girlfriend, the pair went home to the girlfriend’s dorm to get some much needed sleep.

If you are anything like me and need four or five piss breaks a night, when nature calls, it CALLS. Unfortunately, nature called, and John’s dazed-self forgot to prop open the door to let himself back in after some much needed relief. To make the situation worse, his girlfriend’s room is directly across from the RA’s room, and he was only clothed in his underwear.

John initially tried knocking on the door. After no response, he resorted to banging it instead. The

noises alerted the RA, who woke up to an underwear-clad college aged boy banging on the door of a sorority girl’s dorm room at 3 in the morning.

Not suspicious at all.

The RA, doing her job, would not let John back in and told him to go home.

But it was 3 a.m., and John had no clothes.

The RA was kind enough to bless John with some booty shorts and a way too tight t-shirt to make the freezing-cold trek home. John trudged his half-drunk ass home in the cold, wearing booty shorts and a way too tight t-shirt.

To make the story even better, the RA, once again doing her job, called the police after John left and his girlfriend awoke to Miami University Police Department officers asking about Captain Underpants banging on her door at 3 a.m.

There are some lessons that can be learned from this event.

For the boys, if you do have to relieve yourself in the middle of the night, make sure you wake up your girlfriend first. Clearly you can’t be trusted to piss on your own.

For the ladies, invest in a tracking device or a kid leash, but make your boyfriend pay for it. If your boyfriend really wants to hang out with you, then these expenses will make only a minor dent in the bank account.

Kid Leashes prevent kids or men from running away unaccompanied or where they are not wanted (read: Sorority Dorms).

They also come in many different sizes and animals so your man can find a new best buddy strapped to his chest.

This issue is ongoing, and The Miami Student will continue to cover the situation. john1595@miamioh.edu

Visit miamistudent.net to Join the TMS Team!

16

Opinion

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2023

So you want a dog at college?

Here’s what I’ve learned from a semester with my beagle dog snuggles, etc. But it’s also a major responsibility that not all college students can commit to.

First, you have to make sure you’re able to provide for the dog. Can you afford to feed it? What about poop bags, treats, collars, harnesses and other necessities? What about potential trips to the vet?

You can’t make frivolous spending decisions when you have a responsibility like a dog. Its needs come before your own. So that means you can no longer casually shop online, constantly buy takeout or make weekly visits to Brick Street Bar. Speaking of Brick, you’ll be going out a lot less. You’ll have another living thing to tend to — GRAPHIC BY ERIN MCGOVERN leaving it alone all the time CHLOE SOUTHARD isn’t fair, especially since you’ll be attending ASST. ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR classes during the week. You may no longer be able to join in on spontaneous plans with If you ever see me around campus, chances friends or stay out late. are I’m being accompanied by the cutest beagle Also, are you willing to provide your dog puppy. with exercise and mental stimulation? Because That puppy would be Trixie, my emotionyour dog will be residing in a small area like a al support animal (ESA). During my first two dorm or apartment, exercise is a must. I take years here at Miami University, my mental Trixie on two or three long walks a day. health was quite a mess. After talking with my Depending on the breed, dogs need various parents, doctor and adviser at Student Disabililevels of stimulation. Trixie is a beagle, a breed ty Services (SDS), I decided an ESA would benthat was initially used to hunt, so she requires efit me immensely. a considerable amount of stimulation. I proI’ve grown up around dogs my entire life, vide this to her through sniff walks, teaching so it was difficult to adjust to the lack of comher new commands and play time both in and panionship and unconditional love that a dog outdoors. provided. I felt extremely alone. I needed someIf you aren’t providing your dog with thing to care for, something that would give me enough stimulation, it will get bored, which a routine. can result in destructive or depressed behavior.

Last fall, I began to research different This means you’ll have to manage your time in breeds of dog that would suit my college lifeorder to provide your dog with the enrichment style. I have a Great Dane at home, but there’s and attention it needs. no way she could ever live in a college apartFinally, don’t forget about travel. If you’re ment. Plus, she’s attached to my family, and an out-of-state student, will you be able to fly or they’re attached to her. drive with your dog? Is it small enough to ride Eventually, I decided on a beagle. I was alin a pet carrier on a plane? ready very familiar with the breed, and due to If you are seriously considering an ESA and its friendly, devoted nature and small size, I feel like you can handle the responsibility that thought it’d be a perfect fit. I searched for repcomes with a dog, don’t let these things scare utable breeders near my hometown so I could you. It’s a lot of work, but it’s worth it. Having get the puppy shortly after I moved home for Trixie at school has helped me more than I can summer break. describe.

After many hurdles and a lot of frustration, It’s important to remember that your dog I finally found a great breeder who was about relies on you too. You’re its entire world. If two hours from me. My best friend and I made you’re willing to put in the work and devotion, the trip and picked up my new puppy. you’ll be rewarded with a loving companion I spent my entire summer training Trixie and a healthy routine that will get you outside. and preparing her for the move to Oxford. We’d spend at least an hour a day working on com@_chloebowie_ mands and basic obedience. southacr@miamioh.edu We’ve been in Oxford since August; it’s been a major adjustment for Trixie, but she’s made so much progress and continues to do so every day. Having her here with me has seriously helped my mental health — but if you want a dog with you on campus, you have to put in the work.

Chloe Southard is a Whenever I take Trixie on a junior English literature walk I almost always hear a passand journalism major erby say to their friends, “I want a with a minor in film dog so bad.” studies from Elkland, I get it. Dogs are the best, and Pennsylvania. She is the most of those comments are simassistant entertainment ply wishful thinking. But to those editor at The Student who actually are considering getand a music director ting an ESA: let me tell you what and radio DJ at WMSR it’s like.

RedHawk Radio.

Obviously, having a dog is fun.

You have a friend all the time, get

Harrison Hall: A beacon of opportunity most students miss ANASTASIJA MLADENOVSKA THE MIAMI STUDENT When I first walked into Harrison Hall, the home of the political science department, I noticed two things.

First, the cozy chairs and couches on the first floor proudly echo the lively conversations between professors and students in the hallways. Second, the gloomy atmosphere compliments a place that has endured history and therefore demands respect.

This aura is bureaucratic, and although nobody likes bureaucracy, the spirit of Harrison Hall is so encompassing that it will crack even the toughest person and make them feel like being a student at Miami University is important and elegant work. If there is one place on campus where Miami feels like a movie, it has to be Harrison Hall.

What makes Harrison Hall so unique is not only the mission it has set for itself — to educate students on politics when times are shaky — but also the people who give it substance.

The moment you set foot on the third floor’s narrow hallway, you will feel the heaviness of the ground below you. The third floor houses three distinct yet interconnected institutions: the Havighurst Center for Russian and Post-Soviet Studies, the Menard Family Center for Democracy and the Center for Public Management and Regional Affairs (CPMRA).

Managed by different faculty and individuals passionate about the student experience, these three centers bridge the global and local aims in teaching and learning. Although students are always welcomed into these spaces, a truly commemorating aspect of the work of these centers is the focus on fostering relations between the university, the surrounding communities and the global world.

Despite serving as a pillar of the community, I was not familiar with the work of the Harrison Hall centers and how it could impact me before heavily leaning on my political science major.

Many students at Miami go their entire time never knowing the impact the hall can have.

Even if you are not in any way part of the political science department, you’ve surely seen posters, flyers and banners about the events these centers put on. The Havighurst Center, for example, constantly brings leaders from around the world to campus. The Menard Center hosts the JANUS forum each semester, bringing together community members to passionately debate opposing views, oftentimes on pressing issues.

The programs administered by the centers make an enormous impact on maintaining the public fabric of Miami as an educational institution. Despite an abundance of on-campus advertising, many students miss out on these rich opportunities which would leave them with knowledge and stories for decades to come.

The CPMRA aims to foster a commitment to our local community by serving townships and their local governments. It is yet another example of a hugely impactful, but often unseen force emanating from Harrison Hall.

GRAPHIC BY ANASTASIJA MLADENOVSKA

Patrick Haney, director of the CPMRA, believes that the beauty in starting locally is that you are given the chance to “make a difference on the ground almost immediately.” Students’ potential to envision themselves as the local leaders of tomorrow is what makes the student experience central to the work of the CPMRA. Students need to take advantage of these programs and offerings both for themselves and for future generations of students, or else we might lose them.

Ever since Miami began considering consolidating or cutting several language and humanities majors, I have been asking myself whether the recent absence of students’ curiosity and willingness to get out of their comfort played a role in this decision.

The existence of such a place as Harrison Hall, unique in its design and offerings, is one of the most important figures a university can have.

The Havighurst Center goes beyond language and, through its programming, brings what is far away close to home and makes the otherness of the other disappear. The Menard Center fosters democratic discourse in a time when democracy feels less than sturdy. The CPMRA works hard to grow local government and make Oxford a better place for us all.

When the fabric of the world as we know it feels like it is being torn apart, knowing that I can wake up every morning and see Harrison Hall through the window of my residence hall brings me joy.

As a student here at Miami, it is not just a few random options in a hall you’ve never been inside. It is your responsibility to grow yourself, taking advantage of all the opportunities we have.

You won’t be able to use these incredible programs once you graduate. So, take advantage of them. You won’t regret it. mladena@miamioh.edu

Anastasija Mladenovska is a second-year political science, finance and Russian, East European & Eurasian studies triple major from Macedonia.

She is involved with the Honors College and Scholar Leaders.

She also volunteers for the League of Women Voters of Oxford.

The First Year Integrated Core attendance policy fosters stress, not learning

GRAPHIC BY ALICE MOMANY

SASHA KAPINOS THE MIAMI STUDENT The First Year Integrated Core (FYIC) is a program for first-year students in Miami University’s Farmer School of Business (FSB). The FYIC mandates four courses that include BUS 101, Foundations of Business and ESP 103, Creativity, Innovation and Entrepreneurial Thinking. Firstyears work through these courses and labs in group settings which end in a cumulative project at the end of the semester.

Classes in the FYIC program have a stringent attendance policy that allows just two unexcused absences in

each class before students receive a 5% deduction from their overall class grade for each following absence.

This policy, while promoting consistent class attendance, does more to hurt students than it benefits them.

Many students are fully aware of the illnesses that accompany their first semester back at Miami. Oftentimes, stress from being in college for the first time can be a catalyst for first-year sicknesses. While sickness is generally an excused absence, professors often require notes or some type of proof that some sick students simply can’t provide. Regardless, this policy places an unreasonable level of restriction on students learning what

college is like for the first time.

Students are given two days, maybe a couple more, from their professors to recuperate. But it isn’t uncommon that sickness can keep students out of class much longer than the two-class grace period.

I already know of two first-year students in the FYIC this year who have suffered from migraines and bronchitis — which hospitalized one of the students. Not to mention fevers, strep and severe colds have been running rampant amongst the Miami first-years.

Another prominent issue is mental health. It’s been proven that mental health issues among college students have been on the rise. A lot of college students have severe anxiety that prohibits them from participating or even going to class. Going hand-in-hand with that, they may face depression that makes it very difficult just to get out of bed, let alone attend classes.

These factors were clearly not calculated when the FYIC was crafted, and they absolutely need to be rethought.

Skipping class for any reason is stressful in itself. Missing class requires a student to attempt to find and learn missed material. Students must get notes from classmates and attend office hours that may or may not conflict with their schedules.

However, this rigid attendance policy only adds additional stress when the student’s grade is being deducted.

My friend and first-year student, Jasmine Youngblood, is a student in the FYIC program at Farmer and has faced issues with the attendance policy. Jasmine has been sick many times throughout this semester, but she chose to push through and still attend class in fear of her grades dropping.

Not only did she go to class with a sore throat, runny nose and a bad cough, she pushed through even on her hardest days.

It may not be codified in the policy, but this is the expectation placed upon students in the FYIC. FSB students shouldn’t have to push through their illness, anxiety or depression just to continue with class.

Jasmine has shared with me that her anxiety can get in the way of many day-to-day activities — one of them being class itself. She says that it’s stressful when she simply can’t take a day off for her mental health.

Jasmine feels that she and the other students in this program aren’t given a choice to prioritize their wellbeing.

Is it worth it for students to come to class, work in close

quarters with their FYIC teams and spread their illnesses? We’re only a few years past the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, yet this policy feels decades old and unrefined.

Students can’t gain any new knowledge when they’re distracted by illnesses. That’s not worth the push many make just to be present in the classroom.

This policy may boost attendance, but a higher attendance rate doesn’t mean higher grades, participation or even understanding of the curriculum for the students.

First-year students deserve an experience that fosters growth and happiness, not a program that weeds out the new and curious students simply trying to get a handle on college in their first months at Miami. kapinoav@miamioh.edu

Sasha Kapinos is a first-year psychology major with a minor in Spanish from Cleveland, Ohio. She is a contributor to the opinion section of The Student.

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2023

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Get Rec’t: Miami’s gym culture is pushing our facilities to the limit

ELIANA RILEY THE MIAMI STUDENT Last week, my family friend from Nashville, Tennessee, texted me: “Have you seen Sam Sulek on campus at all?”

If you don’t know who Sam Sulek is, he’s one of the biggest gym influencers on social media right now, and he may have had a class with you here

Evidently, Miami has become the place to be for gym content creation, but this new media trend also poses some problems for on-campus facilities. Aspiring influencers have begun to film their workouts to follow the trend.

With the abundance of tripods and recording devices, one can only imagine how much more congested and awkward the gym has become. Filming can be intimidating for other gym goers, encroach on their right to exercise privately and result in people using machines longer than usual.

After experiencing the new status quo for gym culture at the Recreation Center, I got a subscription to Planet Fitness and now drive 20 minutes to Hamilton every day. It’s better than waiting for machines to open at the Rec or GRAPHIC BY JOSIE ZIMMERMAN accidentally finding myself in the at Miami University. frame of a tripod setup.

That text I received got me thinkHowever, not all students have ing: why are there so many gym in- the option of traveling to an off-camfluencers at Miami? Is Miami trans- pus gym, forcing them to endure the forming into a school for gym rats? crowded Rec. Most students, specifi“So many people are creating cally first and second-year students, gym content,” sophomore and gym don’t have cars and have to rely on influencer Rohan Rangaraju said. other transportation for an alterna“Seriously, it’s a lot. Its presence at tive exercise space.

[Miami] specifically is the reason we So exercise options at Miami pose have so many [influencers].” some significant challenges: lack of

transportation, crowded gym spaces, intimidating influencers and more.

Unfortunately, Miami can’t cater to the school’s rising gym culture influencers and non-influencers with their current gym arrangements.

To encourage exercise, fulfill the needs of regular gym-goers and influencers alike and attract prospective students, Miami needs to consider the addition of a new recreation center — or at least some major changes to the current one — on campus.

A second Rec would help disperse students across two fully furnished on-campus gyms, decreasing crowds and promoting an open, less intimidating environment for beginners.

But, at the rate we’ve seen construction projects on this campus be completed, it’s unlikely that current Miami students will see a new gym space during their college careers.

So how can we mitigate the issues surrounding gym exercise at Miami today?

As for the overcrowding of the Rec and lack of transportation to other gym facilities, there are few solutions to these problems, as they may be out of the control of students.

However, going to the gym during less busy hours or considering other options for exercise a couple of times a week might help decongest the Rec

at times when it’s most popular.

Additionally, some responsibility falls on the aspiring influencers.

If you’re going to film in the Rec, be conscious of those around you. Don’t spend an inordinate amount of time on one machine, and don’t include students’ faces in your videos without their permission. Practicing respectful gym etiquette will create a welcoming environment for all gym-goers. rileyej4@miamioh.edu

Eliana Riley is a sophomore majoring in integrated language arts education. She has been writing columns for The Student since her first year at Miami and self-publishes in her spare time.

Redefining Miami fun without the hangover HALLE GRANT THE MIAMI STUDENT Do you find yourself going Uptown to drink with friends every week and waking up with a hangover?

I hate to break it to you, but technically speaking, you’re engaging in binge drinking.

According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, binge drinking is defined as a “pattern of drinking alcohol that brings blood-alcohol concentration (BAC) to 0.08% or more.” I can personally attest that this threshold can be easily surpassed during a typical night out. The road to binge drinking often begins innocently enough: a drink or two at the pregame, another couple at the first bar and the cycle continues throughout the night.

Let’s face it; the going out scene at Miami University can be draining. It’s so normalized to consume drink after drink and then be expected to “rally” for the next day’s festivities. Even if you choose to not drink, being out for countless hours and socializing can deplete your social battery like nothing else, not to mention the patience it takes to be around loud crowds spilling drinks on you and shoving you left and right.

With Miami’s drinking culture, it’s challenging to have a good time without feeling pressured to drink more than you’d like, or drink at all. We need to normalize the fact that not everyone enjoys the feeling of downing multiple bottom-shelf vodka sprites three nights a week and the uneasiness of excessive drinking.

The physical and mental health consequences of drinking While college may be the only time when binge drinking is more socially acceptable, that doesn’t make it healthy or remotely safe. College drinking comes with a plethora of serious health concerns and consequences, including an increased risk of assault and even death, according to Stanford Medicine.

While these statistics represent the extreme cases, we cannot naively assume that we won’t be affected when we drink each weekend. It’s essential to maintain control and keep track of your alcohol consumption to ensure a safe experience for everyone.

The physical consequences of weekly excessive drinking are concerning, but arguably the most enduring impact is on mental health.

Not only can alcohol-induced actions give you anxiety and “Sunday Scaries” for the following few days, this can also spill over into your academic performance.

When the “hangxiety” and emotional hangover are really hitting on Sunday, the last thing you’re thinking about is that exam coming up that week or that assignment that is due at 11:59 p.m. College provides the opportunity to be young and somewhat reckless, but when your drinking habits start to interfere with your education and future plans, it’s time to reassess.

The “Scaries” and constant brain fog from the weekend usually last several days for me. When this experience repeats every week, it becomes a vicious loop. However, I have found

it can be easily avoided, or at least toned down, by being more mindful of my alcohol consumption and checking in with myself while I am out.

Subverting Miami’s excessive drinking culture At a university like Miami, where much of the social activity revolves around a plethora of bars, it’s easy to succumb to peer pressure when it comes to drinking.

You might feel lame or different when your friend makes fun of you for not wanting to take shots, but remember, we’re all adults.

If someone ridicules you for not drinking as much or as often as they do, it’s their problem, not yours.

Speaking for myself, staying at Brick Street Bar past 10 p.m. without a drink is challenging due to the chaos of people shoving you as they try to get into the bar. Though it may be tempting to keep drinking in an attempt to drown out the annoying crowds and thoughts of wanting to go home, it’s important to remember that alcohol takes a second to catch up to you. Regularly check in with yourself and ask, “Do I really need another vodka sprite?”

Fun also doesn’t require alcohol.

If you can enjoy a night at Brick sober, you’re ahead of the game. The prevailing norm of getting heavily intoxicated and always having a drink in-hand every time you go out can be detrimental to your physical and

GRAPHIC BY JOSIE ZIMMERMAN

mental health. With the effects of excessive drinking and looming hanxiety, don’t feel guilty about taking a break or enjoying a night out without drinking.

The culture of binge drinking at Miami has been normalized to an unhealthy extent; it’s time to collectively redefine this narrative.

The weekends should be a time to relax and recharge, so if drinking excessively leaves you feeling worse, consider taking a step back. Reduce your al-

cohol consumption to prioritize your physical and mental well-being — you may discover that you can have just as much fun with your friends with a nice night in.

Your future self will thank you for it. granthn@miamioh.edu

Halle Grant is a junior majoring in strategic communication with minors in marketing and journalism. She has been writing columns for The Student for two years and also teaches spinning classes at the recreation center.

We have way, way too many options for texting each other DEVIN ANKENEY OPINION EDITOR Snapchat. Instagram. iMessage.

The app formerly known as Twitter.

Facebook. WhatsApp. Those are just a few of the many apps we use to talk to one another.

Digital communication is the crux of our generation’s social life. We’re constantly active on our phones and

other devices, and many of us spend a quarter or more of each day on our phones.

We don’t need this many options, and the fact that we do is a sign of a broken industry model intent on capitalizing on our every waking moment. Every app has a different gimmick, but they all do the same basic task: texting each other with attachments.

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On Instagram you can share posts and reels. On Snapchat, you can send brief photos that “disappear” after a mere moment. On iMessage, you can send stickers you make yourself in the middle of text chains.

This might seem like a good example of American individualism manifesting itself in product offerings for consumers, but it’s crucial to remember what each of these platforms was once used for.

Each communication app used to be genuinely unique. iMessage was a way to text friends, while Snapchat was better for photos and videos directed to one person and Instagram was great for sharing images with all of your friends and family at once.

Today, the cycle of copy-and-paste capitalism has come to bear a plethora of apps that all do the same thing.

Every app is the everything app, with the companies behind them trying to take all of your time for themselves.

Internet ad revenue is the core tenet of social media. The reason these apps and services can be free is that these companies make money off the time our eyes spend seeing advertisements while doom-scrolling in-app.

Therefore, each company is inclined to copy features consumers use in other apps to make the ultimate experience app — one in which a consumer can do every communication and social interaction they could dream of.

That’s why all of our apps look the same now. That’s also why you see TikTok videos on Instagram Reels and have them shared on X. Everything is converging to become the same exact product.

For college students like us at Miami University, this practice is especially harmful. We spend countless

hours on our phones, and we have a social contract with one another to have and maintain social media accounts. It’s how we interact, even if we don’t want to.

I’d love to get rid of my Instagram account and even my Snapchat account, but I’m scared of missing out on something a friend might send me in that app — especially when it comes to content that is much harder to see without the app (I’m looking at you, Instagram).

Today, the gimmicks that made each communication app we use unique and interesting have become background elements of a slate of monotonous crap that all function the same way. We see this process in real-time as Elon Musk tries to make the once-great Twitter into an “everything app” called X. Maybe back in the early-2010s when students were all getting phones for the first time, these various options offered a multitude of affordances that signified a blossoming industry — the way the industry should grow in a capitalist system.

But now, these “choices” are obsolete.

If you want to communicate and socialize with friends and family, there’s no escaping social media, an industry that has made monopoly normal. That’s especially true for our

generation, the first “digital natives.”

We can’t do much to stop this trend. Sure, we can try to delete some accounts and choose the products and services we enjoy and want to use, but sooner or later we’ll be socially forced to go back to products we didn’t want in the first place.

The best thing we can do now is maintain awareness of the problem: Social media corporations are subverting antitrust laws to make it so that we do not have a choice as to whether we engage with their platforms.

If we stay aware and voice our concerns, one day the social media industry might become again the blossoming arena of choices and affordances that it once was. For now, it remains a bleak all-encompassing mess of practices intent on stealing our eyes for more and more mere moments until all of them have been stolen for a few more cents of ad revenue.

Be aware of the problem. Notice the convergence of features of your formerly favorite apps, and don’t let these monopolistic mega-corporations steal your time simply because we’ve all become so used to using their apps. ankenedw@miamioh.edu

Devin Ankeney is a senior double-majoring in journalism as well as media and communication with a history minor from Scarsdale, New York. They have been with The Student for nearly three years and are currently the Opinion Editor, Business Manager and a multi-section contributor.

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Photo

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2023

Oxford’s oldest Uptown structures JAKE RUFFER PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR Oxford’s deep architectural history includes many buildings close to or more than 200 years old. Places known today as offices or restaurants saw the Civil War.

Here are eight structures designated as “Historic” by Oxford’s Historical and Architectural Preservation Commission (HAPC):

THE HOME OF BRUNO’S PIZZA AND INSOMNIA COOKIES WAS BUILT IN 1840. PHOTO BY JAKE RUFFER

ORIGINALLY CONSTRUCTED IN 1830, THIS BUILDING ON PARK PLACE BECAME HOME TO A VAPE AND TOBACCO BUSINESS AS WELL AS UPTOWN TATTOO. PHOTO BY JAKE RUFFER

THE CITY’S CLOCK WENT UP IN 1880. PHOTO BY JAKE RUFFER

THE STORK BUILDING, SPANNING FROM 16-18 PARK PL., WENT UP IN 1817. PHOTO BY JAKE RUFFER

THE HELEN DOUGLASS HOUSE (LEFT), HAS BECOME A STUDENT RENTAL NAMED “UPTOWN GIRLS” SINCE BEING BUILT IN 1839. THE NEIGHBORING BEAL BUILDING HOLDS OFFICES FOR RITTGERS & RITTGERS ATTORNEYS. PHOTO BY JAKE RUFFER

BENEATH APARTMENTS, BODEGA DOES BUSINESS OUT OF THE CHATTEN-HAYDEN BUILDING, BUILT IN 1867 (LEFT AND ABOVE). PHOTOS BY JAKE RUFFER

ONE OF THE OLDEST STRUCTURES IN OXFORD IS THE MCCULLOUGH BLOCK FROM 20-24 E. HIGH ST. (LEFT). IT’S BEEN AROUND SINCE 1818 AND NOW HOUSES THE RED BRICK LOUNGE AND OFFICES FOR THE OXFORD COMMUNITY FOUNDATION (ABOVE). PHOTOS BY JAKE RUFFER