January 15, 2013 | The Miami Student

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The Miami Student Oldest university newspaper in the United States, established 1826

TUESDay, JANUARY 15, 2013

VOLUME 140 NO. 29

MIAMI UNIVERSITY OXFORD, OHIO

TODAY IN MIAMI HISTORY In 1930, The Miami Student reported on a talk given by Edward Sapir, a University of Chicago professor. His address in Benton Auditorium was called

“The Reality of Marriage.” “The wave of sexual freedom that is sweeping America today is the inevitable result of the persistent teaching that every and all things having to do with sex conduct are vile and unholy,” he said. “Children are brought up under the idea that the subject of sex is one to be tabooed and then are thrust into the institution known as marriage and expected to be fully cognizant of its great responsibilities.”

Risk vs. reward: students discuss drug use By Katie M. Taylor Campus Editor

LAUREN OLSON PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR

Most recent Campus Security Act Reporting shows a 60 percent increase in drug law violations on Miami’s Oxford campus from 2009 to 2011.

Beer and booze, drugs and dancing, partying and passing out—some students view college as an acceptable time to cut loose and experiment before going out into the world. Others address the life-altering consequences of substance use. Recently, the Miami University community was rocked by the worst consequence of drug use-the death of a student. Sgt. Jon Varley of the Oxford Police Department confirmed that the death of 21-year-old Miami University student Andy Supronas in December was the result of a heroin overdose. According to Varley, increased prevalence of the drug is not exclusive to Miami. “Talking with other officers from other agencies, it seems that everybody is seeing an increase in [heroin],” Varley said. “It’s not just here in Oxford at Miami; it seems to be everywhere.” In addition to the recent tragedy, the university was reminded

of students’ substance use in 2011 when The Daily Beast ranked Miami 18 on the list of the country’s 50 “druggiest” college campuses. According to the Campus Security Act Reporting, the number of drug law violations on Miami’s Oxford campus increased from 60 in 2009 to 96 in 2011. Varley said these statistics accurately reflect his observations. “It doesn’t surprise me because it just seems that we’ve been seeing a rise in partying in general, and typically drug use goes along with that,” Varley said. A survey conducted by The Miami Student pooled the responses of 103 Miami students. Of those 103, 84 percent drink alcohol, 63 percent have smoked marijuana, 46 percent have taken prescription drugs without a prescription, and 31 percent have done all three—94 percent of those 32 students who do all three have done so regularly. According to survey responses, students justify the use of certain substances—particularly marijuana and alcohol-- saying it’s common practice in college.

Miami senior *Eric Metcalf agreed. “I feel like college is basically your last hoorah of being young and free before going out into the real world,” Metcalf said. Miami Senior *Wanda Golden agreed. According to her, college has introduced her to many new experiences and exposed her limits. Addressing students who experiment with harder drugs, Varley said even people with years of experience with substance use can’t eliminate the risk of overdosing. “A lot of [students] think that, when it comes to drug use, that they know what they’re doing, that they’re able to handle this or that,” Varley said. “We have people who have years of experience with drug use and still [overdose].” Golden said that students see substance use and experimentation as acceptable during college, but many plan

SUBSTANCE, SEE PAGE 12

DAVID SHRIDER ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF FINANCE

CULTURAL STUDIES

Students participating in the Farmer School of Business 2012-2013 Southeast Asia Winter Break Program. The program included travel to Vietnam, Cambodia and Hong Kong. Left: Students stop in a Cambodian village for a game of volleyball. Middle: Riding an elephant in Siam Reap, Cambodia. Right: Visiting a school in Cambodia.

NEWS WHILE WE WERE GONE David Sayler tabbed as new Miami AD, MU marching band to identifies fundraising as a top priority play in inaugural parade By Tom Downey Sports Editor

David Sayler was named Miami University’s 16th Athletic Director (AD) in early December, replacing Brad Bates, who took the same job at Boston College. Sayler came to Miami after serving as AD at South Dakota State. He also spent time at Rice University, Oregon State University and Bowling Green State University. Miami University President David Hodge introduced Sayler as AD during a December press conference. Hodge said Miami looked for a good business background, the ability to enhance revenue streams as well as the ability to attract and develop coaches during their search for a new AD. “During all of these times that he’s been at these different

places, he’s been developing the qualities that I think will make him a great athletic director,” Hodge said at Sayler’s introductory press conference. Sayler praised the current staff at Miami University, as well as the previous ADs at Miami. He said he thought the groundwork for success had already been laid at Miami. “Nothing here needs to be majorly reworked, we just need to tweak a few things,” Sayler said. “I think we need to pay more attention to the external side of the house. I think we have some great potential and some great building blocks to spring forward.” Saylor said he was attracted to the job because Miami’s athletics were is solid shape. However, there is always room for improvement. “We’ve got to develop the attitude that we are going to win

and we aren’t going to settle for things,” Sayler said. “That’s something I’ll be working with the coaches on.” Sayler thrived at fundraising during his time at South Dakota and hopes to do the same at Miami. While at South Dakota State, Sayler was able to secure a $20 million private donation, the largest in school history. “I think what has happened here at Miami before was that we’ve waited for a donor to kind of come forward and then we pursue something,” Sayler said. “But then the donor losses interest or something changes and it never gets done. Or we wait for a coaching change and the coach wants something different than the last coach and we just change.

SAYLER,

SEE PAGE 12

By Lauren Ceronie Editor in Chief

Miami University’s marching band has been invited to play at the 57th Presidential
Inaugural Parade Jan. 21, 2013. Miami’s marching band was chosen to represent Ohio by
the Presidential Inaugural Committee.

Athletic Band Director Stephen Lytle said he talked to Miami’s administration about
applying to play in the parade in October. Lytle said he decided to apply even though he
believed being chosen was a bit of a “long shot.”

 “Then Tuesday morning I was sitting in my office getting some work done and low and
behold I got a phone call,” Lytle said.

 After checking with Bruce Murray, chair of the Music Department, James Lentini, dean
 of the School of Creative Arts and

the President’s Office, Lytle accepted the offer to play
at the Inaugural Parade.

Lytle said he is not sure what songs the marching band will play at the parade, but he
plans to play Miami’s fight song and one other school song along with one or two other
songs.

 This is the third high profile event Miami music groups have been involved in recently.

Miami’s marching band played in the 2011 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and Miami
 students preformed at Carnegie Hall Oct. 7.

 “I feel really thankful we are in a place that values such experiences and works to make
them happen,” Lytle said. “I’m proud of the work the students do day in and day out.”

Lytle said

Band,

SEE PAGE 12


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