The Miami Student Oldest university newspaper in the United States, established 1826
VOLUME 139 NO. 12
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2011
MIAMI UNIVERSITY OXFORD, OHIO
TODAY IN MIAMI HISTORY In 2005, The Miami Student reported that Miami University would have to pay $27,500 in fines for violations related to the Cleary Act. The Cleary Act
requires universities to inform victims of sexual assault if their attackers are back on campus and Miami was found to have failed to do this six times in five years. Miami was fined for one incident, but if fines had been issued for all six violations, the fines would have totaled over $100,000.
Hodge urges culture of engaging change By Jenni Wiener Campus Editor
“We need to create a culture that embraces change confidently and enthusiastically, a culture that sees change as opportunity rather than necessity, a culture that engages change to pursue excellence relentlessly.” This was the vision Miami University President David Hodge presented to students, faculty and staff at his annual address Thursday afternoon in Hall Auditorium. The president emphasized that not only is this the “Year of the Arts” at Miami, but it is also a time of change that will lead to a future of success. “Tradition provides an enduring base to our identity and it anchors our actions in our common values,” Hodge said in his speech. “On the other hand, this spirit of tradition, if carried too far, can
inhibit progress by generating resistance to needed change. How often, and in so many different circumstances, have we encountered the phrase, ‘We have always done it that way?’” Rapid change is impacting higher education and Hodge stressed that Miami needs to take advantage of the opportunities change can bring to advance the university. “We must act with intention and we must act now to create a culture that is true to our values, yet makes us a more agile, forward-looking university,” Hodge said. “I believe that a powerful way to think about the culture we need is through the lens of entrepreneurial thinking.” A necessity for entrepreneurship does not mean the creation of new businesses, Hodge said, but entrepreneurship as a way of thinking that can be embraced either by an
individual or an institution. One important quality that entrepreneurs share is that they are obsessed with opportunity and seek it everywhere and in everything, a quality and mindset that aligns well with the core educational values of Miami, according to the president. Student Body President Nick Huber said Hodge’s theme of pursuing excellence really resonated with him. “I’m big on encouraging students to take ownership of their Miami experience,” Huber said. “The only way to achieve excellence and entrepreneurship is if students take advantage of the opportunities around them. Hodge articulated his vision for the future of the university well, now it just needs to be translated to make the big dreams a reality.” Hodge went on to speak about the core qualities that distinguish an entrepreneurial
university, stressing the Miami plan for liberal education as a driver of innovation. It gives students the opportunity to “see the world” through different ways of thinking, Hodge said. Studying abroad or in different contexts is
“While our actions and research of today directly impact the world around us, the biggest impact of our actions have been and always will be the development of graduates who are exceptionally well prepared for their
This spirit of tradition, if carried too far, can inhibit progress by generating resistance to needed change.” DAVID HODGE
MIAMI UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT
another way to get a better view of the world and promote innovation. Although innovation has no impact without execution, Hodge said. Execution is the key to tackling “significant issues” in pursuit of Miami’s one very important goal: the creation of the best outcomesbased learning environment in the nation.
careers and lives,” Hodge said. “This goal is at the heart of everything we do and together we will create the very best outcomes-based learning environment imaginable.” To obtain this goal, Hodge said it is important for Miamians to strengthen and develop a culture that will allow the university and its members to thrive.
Miami has already started thinking entrepreneurially in many ways. Hodge highlighted that for the second year, Housing, Dining, Recreation and Business Services has achieved its best financial performance ever, through reinvesting in its residential and dining facilities without students having to pay a higher room and board cost. An example of this is the installation of the electronic door access system using smart card technology. The university has also taken its first steps away from using coal through the use of geothermal heating and cooling in Stoddard and Elliott Halls. This year, however, more attention will be devoted to a new approach of budgeting and the allocation
HODGE, SEE PAGE 7
ASG: students should Michigan, Ohio wage war of words, bypass WBC picket dollars over Ides of March bragging rights By Matt Levy
Senior Staff Writer
Miami University’s Associated Student Government (ASG) had plenty to discuss
during their weekly meeting Tuesday night. Student body president Nick Huber brought up the issue of the Westboro Baptist Church’s announcement that they will come to picket Miami Oct. 25 and asked the senate to consider what course of action it wants to take. “This is an issue because the group is going to be here and they’re going to be saying offensive things to a lot of students,” Huber said. “We could have a positive event to draw in a large crowd away from the protest or we could try to play down this event as much as possible and try not to create a lot of fanfare.” The general consensus within ASG was that the best course of action for the student body would be to not engage the church in debate or rancorous counter-protests, but to go about the day normally and use the opportunity to celebrate Miami’s diversity. “I don’t think bringing any attention to this, whether individually or as representatives of ASG or Miami, is the best approach because organizations like the Westboro Baptist Church thrive on the attention you give them,” Secretary for Diversity Affairs Jonathan Wheeler said. “By having a peaceful protest or a peaceful picket or drawing large crowds of people, anything out of the ordinary course of day-to-day business for the sake of this group only does exactly what they want us to do.” Student Body Vice-President Matt Frazier agreed
and gave warning about the tactics the Westboro Baptist Church employs. “This group thrives on pushing people to the brink of what is legal and what is not legal, and as soon as they get someone to cross that line, they bring in the police,” Frazier said. “They’ll try to incite people to say or do things they would not normally do, so I encourage everyone to think about the group mentality. If they’re on campus and a mob occurs, it’s going to end very badly. It’s going to provide a lot of bad PR and the Westboro Baptist Church will be the only ones who get out scot-free.” The Westboro Baptist Church profits from suing anybody who attacks any of its members, according to Student Senate president Tom Kirkham, and they do not hesitate to file suit if attacked. Huber encouraged senators to educate themselves on the issue by watching documentaries about the church so they know what they are up against. Michael Trivelli, ASG’s Treasurer, suggested ASG and the Diversity Affairs Council should initiate a pledge to be circulated throughout the student body that would have people sign saying they will stay far away from the protest when church members arrive in October. This pledge, according to Trivelli and the senators who supported it, would ensure that church members are “politely ignored” while keeping away other students who might see fit to harass or attack the protestors. Senator Tom Hohman joked that Miami should have its groundskeeping staff out in full force mowing the lawns around the church when they speak. “When you watch [The Westboro Baptist Church], although the language they use is offensive, the protests themselves are laughable,” Huber said. “They try to incorporate pop culture but they just look goofy.” Debate about how to handle the protest will continue in the coming weeks.
By Sarah Sidlow Asst. Community Editor
With the Ides of March debut a week away and the college football rivalry still months in the making, Michigan and Ohio have begun a new competition. The states, both major players in the filming of Ides, are vying for bragging rights and face time on the big screen. George Clooney’s roots in northern Kentucky and Cincinnati appear to give Ohio the early lead. Clooney, who served as director, producer, screenwriter and portrayed Gov. Mike Morris in the film, was born in Augusta, Kentucky, along the Ohio River. His father Nick Clooney had a TV show in Cincinnati and George once made an unsuccessful attempt at the Cincinnati Reds line-up. But even the hometown hero found love for the Great Lakes State.
Michigan’s campaign Paula Czajka, the director of event management at the Dearborn Inn spent two days with the cast and crew while they filmed there. “I heard an interview later on the local news with George Clooney and he said he really enjoyed being in Michigan. He said it was a great location to film in,” Czajka said. The film crew also spent a good deal of time in Ann Arbor on the University of Michigan campus, where they created three separate film locations. “Between takes, Clooney spent a lot of time sitting and chatting with extras at the Arthur Miller Theater,” said Lee Doyle, director of the University of Michigan Film Office. “He joked a lot about U of M and the rivalry. He got the students rallied. He said that he really enjoyed the U of M and U of M sports, and that he had a strong dislike of Ohio State, which got everybody cheering, of course.”
PATRICK GEYSER THE MIAMI STUDENT
University of Michigan student Kate Woolliscroft, a junior screen arts and cultures major, said she appreciated Clooney’s ability to play up the crowd in Ann Arbor. As for her opinion on which state deserved bragging rights, she decided that it might be too dangerous a question to answer. “I am extremely biased with my love for America’s high five,” she said.
The Buckeye state While there is a lot of evidence that may point to Michigan as the favored ground for the Ides cast and crew, there are important things to note about the home state of Ohio. Unlike Miami, the University of Michigan was not branded in the film. In fact, the entire film takes place in Ohio during the Ohio presidential primaries. So while students in Hall Auditorium played attendees to a town hall meeting held at Miami, Michigan students in the Arthur Miller Theater pretended to attend a town hall meeting at Kent State, according to Doyle.
That branding provided great visibility for Miami University and the Farmer School of Business, which is something that Alan Oak, Miami’s assistant dean for external relations, values a great deal. “Although I guess that depends on whether or not it’s a lousy movie,” Oak added jokingly. Oak was also adamant that Miami was the best place for the movie. “I don’t know why [they filmed at other universities]. This is the best place for it. I suppose they needed a variety of locations,” he said. Clooney was also on campus to experience one of Miami’s most celebrated traditions: Green Beer Day. The following day, he talked with the extras about the excitement in Oxford, according to sophomore Katie Fidelholtz, who was an extra in the film. Clooney also spent some time making small talk and jokes with the extras on campus, including references to his two-time victory of People Magazine’s “Sexiest Man Alive” award, according to Fidelholtz.
Buying the vote While the politics played out in front of the camera, some policy decisions were being made behind the scenes as well. At the time of shooting, Michigan had the richest film incentives in the nation, which was a big draw for celebrities like Clooney, according to Lee Doyle, director of the University of Michigan Film Office. The state offered up to a 33 percent return off the location costs of filming, including personnel, and had no spending cap. Michigan Governor Rick Snyder cut this incentive program and capped it at $25 million, and according to Doyle, all of that money for the fiscal year has already been spent. Maybe when the dust has settled on these two battleground states, this sibling rivalry will ultimately have to concede to the parent Midwest. “Maybe that’s why he enjoyed it,” Czajka said. “Maybe he just liked being back in the Midwest. I’m just guessing.” The Ides of March premieres in theaters nationwide Oct. 7.