The Miami Student Oldest university newspaper in the United States, established 1826
VOLUME 137 NO. 48
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
MIAMI UNIVERSITY OXFORD, OHIO
In 1973, The Miami Student reported that university council endorsed an earlier semester calendar, with first semester ending Dec. 30 and second semester ending May 20. Nearly 1,000 universities had already implemented this system.
’Hawks prepare for Frozen Four By Erika Hadley Senior Staff Writer
Love and honor to the Brotherhood. One wellplaced shot by sophomore Alden Hirschfeld late Sunday night was all the No. 1 seeded Miami University hockey team needed to punch its ticket to the Frozen Four. Miami’s double overtime victory in the NCAA Midwest Regional Final marked the first time in program history the Red and White has beaten University of Michigan (UM) in the postseason in addition to the first time the RedHawks won an overtime game in the NCAA Tournament. With the victory, Miami secured its bid to play Boston College in the NCAA Semifinal in Detroit and moved one step closer to competing, again, for a national championship. “It feels like 10 years ago, but it’s hard to believe a year has gone by,” Miami Head Coach Enrico Blasi said, referring to last April’s national championship loss to Boston University. “We’re excited; ff you walk by our locker room you can tell. We’ll get a couple days rest
and then start preparing for Boston College.” Before Sunday’s nail biter, the Red and White had to get over another hurdle in the form of CHA Tournament champion University of Alabama-Huntsville (UAH). The Brotherhood outpaced UAH throughout most of the Midwest Regional Semifinal matchup Saturday. Exercising its signature puck possession style of play, Miami limited the Chargers’ shots on goal (SOG) to the single digits in each of three dominant stanzas and patiently established a controlled lead. The RedHawk defense smothered most of the Chargers’ offensive drives along the boards and protected the puck bin at all costs, making life easy on sophomore goaltender Cody Reichard. The CCHA Player of the Year and Hobey Baker Award Finalist did not face a single SOG until 8:58 of the first frame. The Chargers took several penalties early on in the contest, but UAH’s fifth ranked penalty kill (PK) used good neutral zone positioning to ward off any odd man SCOTT ALLISON The Miami Student
wSee HOCKEY, page 7
Freshman Curtis McKenzie and sophomore Chris Wideman embrace in celebration after Sunday’s victory over The University of Michigan.
CAMPUS
CAMPUS
MU faces $5M more in budget cuts University senate debates
By Garrett Wood For The Miami Student
Miami University will cut $5 million of their budget for the second fiscal year in a row. The key to balancing academic affairs despite the cut is giving out more scholarships and potentially increasing tuition three percent, according to the board of trustees. The board of trustees finance and audit committee will begin discussion of tuition increases in April, according to David Creamer, vice president for finance and business services. At the end of last fiscal year on June 30, 2009, the Ohio
legislature announced its decreasing expenditure for public schools including Miami. Because of the declining contributions from the state of Ohio, Miami established a budget plan and was forced to cut back roughly three percent of their entire budget last June. “Miami’s budget is a partnership between what the state gives and what tuition contributes,” Creamer said. In order to survive these cuts, Miami must recruit and obtain a strong incoming class Creamer said. One may find Miami’s new-tiered merit-based scholarship program paradoxical to the upcoming $5 million cut, beginning in July. Miami
will commit to four year, merit-based scholarships for the incoming class, ranging from $6,500 to $9,000. Indiana University and other schools nearby offer similar merit scholarships, Creamer said. “Keeping up with other options on the market is just one way to cope with the budget cuts,” Creamer said. The university strives to prioritize efficiently so teacher lay-offs are a last resort, according to Creamer. He said Miami works to avoid classes being cut and graduation inhibited due to lack of classes offered. One third of the budget cuts directly affect the areas of business
wSee BUDGET, page 3
transfer credits, hours
By Jessica Sink Senior Staff Writer
On Monday, Miami University senate members were presented with data regarding the increasing numbers of students transferring course credit to Miami University through advanced placement (AP) courses, online courses or courses taken at other institutions. A. John Bailer, chair of the Pathways Committee, offered committee recommendations on how Miami could respond to these increases in transfer credit.
INSIDESCOOP Six award winning journalists to discuss influential work April 7.
CAMPUS, page 2
HAPPILY EVER AFTER
Miami graduate named Cherry Blossom Princess for state of Oklahoma.
CAMPUS, page 3
u
WWW.MIAMISTUDENT.NET
CHARITABLE CHERUBS
A group of students are working in Over-The-Rhine to renovate old buildings.
CAMPUS, page 4
NO KIDDING AROUND HERE
RAINING CATS AND DOGS As the school year winds down some Miami students abandon their animals before heading home.
Wed
73 q 47
MONEY WOES
A 14-year-old Hamilton resident is the young person to be tried as an adult in the county.
A look into the lives of two Miami students affected by unemployment.
COMMUNITY, page 8
Thu
75 q 49 p
HOCKEY HIGHLIGHTS Browse through a slideshow from the epic hockey games this weekend.
COMMUNITY, page 8
FEATURES, page 6
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wSee U SENATE, page 3
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FOURTH ESTATE FOLLOWERS
“As a committee, we were charged with the responsibility of considering the implications of the increasing number of transfer credits and to not only react to them, but be proactive in our response,” Bailer said. “We want to maintain the Miami experience, but also enhance it. Our goal is to provide students opportunities to encourage them to stay here to complete coursework.” According to Bailer, the goal of the committee is to work to
Fri
78 q 52 p
FUNK THE WAR Read a blog and check out photos from Jess Stringfield about a recent war protest in Washington, D.C.
CAN I GRADUATE?
See the proposal from university senate noting changes that could be made in the number of credits required to graduate.
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Campus
Tuesday
March 30, 2010
Editors Courtney Day dayce2@muohio.edu Hope Holmberg holmbehh@muohio.edu Amanda Seitz seitzam2@muohio.edu
News Students aid Over-the-Rhine BRIEFS By Taylor Dolven Senior Staff Writer
fyi Student Health Service allows online scheduling Available to students is a new, online self-scheduling for appointments at the Student Health Services. It’s open to undergraduate and graduate students on all campuses. Students should go to https:// shsportal.muohio.edu/pyramedPortal. Then log in with their unique ID and password and go to appointment scheduling in the top righthand corner. If necessary, the student can select the gender and name they want to see and the system will give them the available times for that practitioner. The student also selects the time they want.
event Tea Day to promote health awareness The 10th annual Green Tea Day will be held March 31 at Miami University to promote lifelong well-being. Free green tea will be provided all day at the Miami University Art Museum and Student Health Service. From 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. tea will also be available at the department of geography in Shideler Hall. In addition, free exercise classes will be given all day with daily pass at the Recreational Sports Center. A panel will present “From 45 to 85: Understanding Global Disparities in Life Expectancy,” at 9 a.m. in the Shriver Center Heritage Room. An Aging and Longevity Fair will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Shriver Center multipurpose rooms. The fair will include information booths, door prizes, foods from around the world and free health screenings, including bone density screens and blood pressure checks. Free drumming and Qi Gong workshops will also take place at this time. A Japanese tea ceremony will be at 4:30 p.m. followed by the Grandparents of the Year recognition ceremony at 5 p.m. in the Shriver Center Heritage Room. The ceremony is cosponsored by The Knolls of Oxford. Miami’s Scripps Gerontology Center and the department of sociology and gerontology sponsor Green Tea Day.
Five Miami University students have teamed up with CR architecture + design, an architecture firm based out of Cincinnati, to renovate a building in Over-the-Rhine, Cincinnati. The Over-the-Rhine neighborhood has been plagued with disinvestment and underdevelopment, according John Blake, on-site coordinator.When Miami first got involved with the region in the 1990s, the university made a big effort to improve the community for the people who live there. The five students will help to renovate the 1405-07 Republic Project building located in Cincinnati’s Over-the-Rhine region. Tom Dutton, an architecture professor, created the Miami University Center for Community Engagements in Over-the-Rhine. Through his ties with the community, students have been able to work with Over-the-Rhine Community Housing for more than 13 years. The group moved through Over-the-Rhine project by project, renovating buildings and creating affordable housing. When they were approached about the five-story building on Republic Street, the students knew they would need a professional collaborator. “At the pace of our former projects, if we approached the building in the same fashion, it would take us another 10 years,” Blake said. “Things
wSee RHINE, page 3
Ohio journalists to discuss successes in field By Ali Arnett For The Miami Student
Six award-winning Ohio journalists will assemble at Miami University to speak about their accomplishments despite daily challenges in the field. The event, “Doing Good Journalism,” will commemorate the third anniversary of the journalism program’s Liberty Tree event. The event celebrates Miami being the first campus to participate in the national effort to bring attention to the five freedoms of the First Amendment guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution. Patricia Gallagher Newberry, lecturer in the journalism program, said that the planning committee wanted this year’s spring event to focus on the good work journalists were producing rather than what is wrong in the journalism industry today. “The reality is it is hard to get a job in journalism, but we owe it to students to tell them there is good work and good work is possible,” Newberry said. “You have to start at the bottom and
develop the skill set.” The speakers will discuss their investigative pieces which cover topics such as an investigation into Ohio’s use of DNA Evidence, an examination of a reporter’s own rape case and an inside look at the Ohio Statehouse. Those among the list of presenters include, Mike Wagner of The Columbus Dispatch, Joanna Connors of the Cleveland Plain Dealer, Greg Korte and Dan Horton of The Cincinnati Enquirer, Bill Cohen of Ohio Public Radio and TV and Hagit Limor of WCPO-TV. Erin Bowen, president of Miami’s Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ), wants students to stay interested and enthusiastic about journalism. “I hope the event will motivate journalism students and remind them they can still find ways to create meaningful journalism or investigate stories that are important to the public even though the economic state may be less than opportunistic right now,” Bowen said. Students outside of the journalism program are also encouraged to attend.
Back to the Frozen Four
“Anyone who is interested in being a wellinformed public or the projects the journalists covered will enjoy this event,” Newberry said. Newberry believes the wide range of topics covered will appeal to students studying a variety of disciplines. Students in pre-law or political science would enjoy hearing about Horn’s work on criminal justice. Similarly, those interested in sexual assault or women’s rights as a topic would be fascinated by Connor’s work on investigating her own rape case. Sophomore Emily Holman, journalism major, is looking forward to the program and believes students outside of the major will also benefit from attending. “Journalism affects almost every single career and has the ability to influence everyone’s lives,” Holman said. “Therefore, the information being presented is relevant for all students.” The event will begin at 4 p.m. April 7 in the Marcum Conference Center. Admission is free and open to the public. A Web site with in depth information about the reporters is available at http://www.tinyurl.com/doinggoodjournalism.
Personal finance class to be available for fall semester
award FSB goes green, earns certificaiton
By Patrick Wolande Senior Staff Writer
The Farmer School of Business (FSB) is the first building on Miami University’s campus to be awarded Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). The FSB has been awarded “Silver” LEED certification. The design, construction and operations of a new facility must meet the USGBC requirements in order to earn LEED certification. Requirements for the award include recycling and reuse of deconstruction and construction materials, preservation of mature trees and green space around the building, use of energy efficient lighting, heating and cooling systems, control of water usage in the building and use of low-emission materials in the construction of the building.
CORRECTION It is the policy of The Miami Student to publish corrections for factual errors found in the newspaper. ➤In the March 26 issue, information about David Bai’s sentencing was incorrect. While Bai faced 3 to 13 years if convicted of all three charges (aggravated robbery, gross sexual imposition and assault of an officer), Bai was only convicted of two. He now faces a maximum of three years in prison and could get probation. Because aggravated robbery was dropped (in relation to Bai’s attempt to grab the officer’s gun), he was acquitted of that charge which would have resulted in 10 years in prison.
needed to happen quicker than that.” It was fate when Blake ran into former Miami schoolmate Graham Kalbli on the Cincinnati sidewalk. Kalbli works at CR architecture + design and proposed the idea of a partnership for the Republic Street project. “He suggested having students come and take up cubicles in his office,” Blake said. “They would have all the expertise and resources of the firm at their disposal.” With that suggestion, students decided to do just that. Through this collaboration, students are drafting the transformation of this abandoned building to provide the community with low-income housing, according to Blake. Without these five Miami students, the renovation may not have been possible. The architectural phase of drafting a renovation of this size is very expensive, according to John Weigand, chair of architecture and interior design. “The project may actually happen because of the students,” Weigand said. According to Blake, this project is providing the community with what would amount to tens of thousands of dollars in architectural fees. Michael Haddy, Kaitlin Beckham, Alex Libengood, Ben Romero and Beth Calvelage are in control of this real-life project.
SCOTT ALLISON The Miami Student
Top: Students decked out in red paint cheer on the RedHawks to a victory in double overtime. Bottom: Hockey players Chris Wideman and Tommy Wingles practice their interviewing skills in preparation for a big weekend.
Six students in Entrepreneurship (ESP) 464 have been consulting for Jeffery Diver, the executive director of Supports to Encourage Low-income Families (SELF), to create a class called Financing Freedom. The class will meet twice in the fall 2010 semester for two hours each time and will not count for any credit. The cost is $299. Future personal financial goals will be discussed and planned. “The goals of Financing Freedom is to get to the students before they have (debt) problems and teach them better money management and how to deal with their money,” said Emilie Bowman, a student in ESP 464 Helping Financing Freedom. The curriculum will focus on personal goal setting and how to get closer to one’s goals and talking more about the psychological issues of people and their money. “It’s teaching people what not to do ... when there’s not enough money,” Bowman said. Bowman said the personal finance course is unique. “(The class) will have a much more personal aspect for you, because clearly not everyone has the same goals, so it will help you get closer to what you want personally,” Bowman said. Sophomore John McMahon, accounting major, heard about the class and said it sounds like a good idea. “The only thing that worries me a little bit is the cost being so steep for someone who is already worried about their own personal financial situation,” McMahon said. Diver talked about the unique financial situation many college students face once they graduate. “A student degree is something you can bank on, but credit card debt can hang over you,” Diver said. “Upperclassmen may need to evaluate job offers with different benefits.” SELF, the nonprofit organization will be using the money it makes from Financing Freedom to aid in supporting itself. SELF has been assisting those suffering from poverty in Hamilton with their financial problems in a number of ways. One program created by SELF, Empower One, helps connect people to a network of services and resources within Hamilton. Some of those resources include a reliable transportation for an interview and the first few weeks of a job, and even clothing ranging from steel toed boots to a uniform. “It really depends on the situation,” Diver said.
THE MIAMI STUDENT
TUESDAY, MARCH 30, 2010 ♦ 3
ADPhi, writing center hosts first-year philanthropic essay contest By Castle Arnold For The Miami Student
A new kind of event has hit campus for first-year students: a literary competition co-hosted by Alpha Delta Phi (ADPhi) fraternity and the Howe Center for Writing Excellence (HCWE). The topic for the competition consists of writing a letter to Susan Mosley-Howard, associate vice president for student affairs and dean of students, and there will be a cash prize for the top three entries. “This contest is particularly interesting because they are writing in a way that can make a change about what happens at the university and they can write about ways the first year experience can be improved,” Paul Anderson, director of the HCWE, said. “This is a chance for students to write and it shows they can use writing powerfully that can make a difference for them and future students.”
According to Matthew Labuda, president of ADPhi, this is the first year ADPhi has done a contest as big as this, and they are hoping it will be a success. They hope it will be even larger in the years to come. “We decided to do it because we were founded in 1832 as a literary fraternity,” Labuda said. “When we were founded, it was on a literary emphasis. Obviously in 200 years since we were founded, we’ve deviated from it (a literary emphasis) but this is kind of a way to rekindle our principles.” After letters are judged, they will be given to Mosley-Howard, so she may see if the ideas can be utilized at the university. “By submitting these to the dean of students, we’re hoping they can see from a first-year perspective what the issues are and what do they want more or less of,” Labuda said. Anderson hopes this contest will emphasize to students the importance of writing. First-year Jacob Westfall was persuaded by his English
teacher to enter the competition. His class had written a longer paper on a similar topic. “I was happy about the award of money, and I had it already written and was proud of it so I figured I’ll send it in,” Westfall said. “Even if I didn’t have it prewritten I would have done it.” In his paper, Westfall discussed the importance of students being able to know exactly where their money is going for tuition. He thinks the eBills should be more descriptive, and show what amount of money is going where. “I wish I could have submitted my whole paper which was six pages, but I had to shorten it down,” Westfall said. The deadline for first-year students to make their submissions is March 31. Essays should be between 500 and 750 words. Labuda said members of the fraternity will judge the essays along with their faculty adviser. They are looking at creativity and writing skills and want to see original ideas for how the first-year are approaching the topic.
Alumna, Miami Tribe member to hold Oklahoma princess position By Jenna Horn For The Miami Student
Miami University graduate Mika Leonard was recently selected as the Cherry Blossom Princess representing the state of Oklahoma beginning April 4. She was appointed the position at The National Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington, D.C. Bobbe Burke, coordinator of the Miami Tribe affairs, said Leonard is just one example of a talented alumna. “It’s wonderful when we have alumni doing interesting things,” Burke said. “She’s (Mika Leonard) really a go getter, looking around her and seeing more ways she can get involved and that’s what we hope you all can do, get more involved and be able to accomplish things. It’s a moment of pride for all of us.” Leonard said she grew up in Oxford with a strong Native American upbringing and graduated from Talawanda High School in 2003. She then went to Miami, earning a
BUDGET
continued from page 1 and finance, the information technology department and the Office of the President. On the other hand, the rest of the cuts affect how many grants are given out aside from the new tiered scholarships. “In an era of declining state support, we are becoming more dependent on tuition, thus we hope the changes in scholarship programs help to make Miami more affordable,” John Skillings, special assistant to the president for enrollment management, said. Skillings noted with a larger first-year class more students would be on campus spending money, thus fewer job positions would be cut. The university is attempting to avoid budget cuts in the future, Creamer said. President David Hodge devised a 19-member Strategic Priorities Task Force, which will work to eliminate noticeable changes on campus despite cuts. Creamer stands assured changes must be made. “The (potential) three percent
Bachelor’s degree in linguistics. Her father Joseph, also a member of the Miami Tribe, taught at Miami. Her mother is of Japanese heritage. Mika said her grandfather was also a long time chief in the Miami Tribe until his death in 2008. The festival commemorates the gift to the city of Washington of 3,000 cherry trees from Mayor Yukio Ozaki of Tokyo, Leonard said. According to an Oklahoma State Society press release, since 1948 young women, also called “Cherry Blossom Princesses,” have been selected from their state societies to share their state’s rich culture, traditions and history with national and international visitors. Leonard said when she was excited when asked to apply for the role “It sounded really cool,” Leonard said. “For a whole week you are doing all these different opportunities … it’s great networking. For my purpose, it’s a great way to talk to people about issues that Native
tuition increase for next year is the smallest it has been in 15 years,” Creamer said. “I have never experienced anything like this (the current recession) before in my lifetime, and as we approach this cautiously, the most challenging part is the unknown.” With an unpredictable economy, many students who may have ventured to out-of-state universities in the past now remain in state, according to Chuck Knepfle, director of student financial assistance. Knepfle said this impact was noticeable with the smaller class of 2013. According to junior Lexi Baltazar, an out-of-state student, money and aid is hard to obtain. “I think right now financial aid or grant money is less available to out-of-state (students) and they tend to give more to Ohio residents,” Baltazar said. “Either way there is less money to go around for everyone.” Students and staff share similar concerns with the implications of the cuts. They could mean one other thing — layoffs. Due to recent layoffs in the grounds department, challenges with upkeep arise. Cody Powell, director of physical facilities, said his department had deep cuts.
Americans face.” According to the Oklahoma press release, every spring a Cherry Blossom Princess from each state travels to the nation’s capitol to commemorate the gift of Japanese cherry trees. Originally designed to enhance the growing friendship between the United States and Japan, the gift also celebrates the continued close relationship between the two peoples. Leonard represents the Japanese heritage that brought the trees to Washington and the Oklahoma state her father’s tribe hails from. “They are really excited because the Cherry Blossom Princess doesn’t have to be Japanese,” Leonard said. “I think it’s cool that they have a Japanese princess. Also Oklahoma didn’t have a lot of Indian representation. I think they are happy the person representing them is also a member of the Miami Tribe.” Princesses participate in education, leadership and cultural activities representing their respective state and the nation. According to Leonard, applicants can
“Custodial staffers were hit pretty hard,” Powell said. Jeff Ross, registered maintenance technician for Housing, Dining and Guest Services, said he feels as if he is spread too thin. Since the budget cuts, he has had to help for two residence halls. Along with realistic goals come emotional challenges. Junior Lauren White resided in Oxford last summer and said, “It was really sad because I got to know the temporary staffers, people who couldn’t be promised full-time jobs, and when school started they were all laid off.” As far as academic building maintenance and keeping the grounds goes, Creamer said he does not want students shortchanged in anything on campus. However the cuts will affect layoffs primarily in custodial areas and not the tenured professors. Hodge’s recent memo looked to the future, despite the budget cuts. “By anticipating and building on the changes that higher education will face, we will position Miami to be a progressive leader in higher education regardless of the circumstances we encounter,” Hodge wrote.
range from ages 16 to 25, and cannot be married or have children. Leonard considered applying for this position when she was informed Oklahoma did not have a representative for the state. Since the Miami Tribe is a federally recognized tribe in the state of Oklahoma, Leonard said it was a great opportunity to represent her heritage. Leonard said the festival is not traditonal. “It is not a beauty pageant, no talents,” Leonard said. “Completely arbitrary, something fun. A really nice festival for the people of D.C. … it’s a feel-good thing.” Leonard currently works at the U.S. Department of Interior, in Washington, D.C. as a program specialist for the Assistant Secretary-Indian Affairs on Economic Development and Education issues. Leonard holds the issues of Indians close to her heart; it was one of her main reasons for applying to be the Cherry Blossom Princess. “It elevates an awareness about the tribe, to get their name known, getting the work out there is a positive thing,” Leonard said.
U SENATE continued from page 1
enhance the quality of a Miami education, promote flexibility for students, identify barriers and consider strategies for removing them. The committee gave recommendations for the senate to consider. One recommendation would increase advising opportunities to students entering Miami with a large amount of hours. This advising would give students more guidance on dual majors, minors and internships. Another committee recommendation would reduce the minimum number of hours required for graduation from 128 to 120. The report produced by Pathways says some degrees and certifications would still require more than the minimum hours, but the reduction of hours would encourage students to continue studies at Miami rather than turn to transfer credits. The committee will also consider increasing the amount of hours undergraduate students can apply towards a master’s degree program from six to 15. Final recommendations proposed would increase required Miami hours from 32 to 45 and eliminate the two-year living requirement. Currently, transfer students can
RHINE
continued from page 2
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actNOW!
•!LAST Senior Portrait Session – This Week! •!Don’t miss your opportunity to be remembered forever in Recensio •!Go to muohio.edu/recensio for portrait appointments and yearbook ordering information Don’t forget – Parents are the #1 purchaser of the yearbook. Let them know!
In this economic climate, architecture students are not getting job opportunities, Blake said. This experience is helping students get academic and professional credit they need to become architects. “I am amazed at the caliber of the students,” Blake said. “All I have to do is make sure they get the right resources and they do the work.” Beckham, who left to study abroad for the semester, wrote on her blog about the friendliness at CR architect + design. “I have never met so many people willing to offer their expertise, insight, and guidance to help propel
graduate with a Miami degree with only 32 direct hours completed at Miami. The change to 45 would reduce the amount of transfer credits students could apply toward a degree. The on-campus living requirement is increasingly being viewed as a discourager for students who want to attend Miami. According to Bailer, there are numerous reasons the requirement was put in place, but now must be re-evaluated. Some senate members met the proposal with apprehension. “Times are changing, and more schools are offering AP and postsecondary credit,” said Rocky Newman, professor and coordinator of supply chain management. “Availability of a Miami education is the biggest factor to be considered.” Junior Adam Clampitt-Dietrich, president of student senate, would like the committee to consider student reactions. “In order to address the issue of transfer credit, the committee needs to explore reasons why students feel the need to get credit elsewhere,” Clampitt-Dietrich said. The senate will continue reviewing the recommendations. No timeline was set for implementation. “Clearly there’s been a response to the perceived cost of higher education and large numbers of students receive credit outside of Miami,” Provost Jeffrey Herbst said.
our beloved 1405-07 Republic project,” Beckham’s blog read. “I have learned a great deal in my short time here, and will forever treasure this experience.” The interaction between Miami students, professional architects and makes this project unique. “It looks like it’s going to be a lot of work, but well worth it once 1405-07 is not only restored to the beauty that she was more than 100 years ago, but able to meet the needs of the people here today,” Libengood’s blog said. By April, the group will have the architectural documents that will allow the owner of the building to get the project funded. “Everybody wins,” Blake said. To access the group’s blog at http://140507republic.wordpress. com/ to follow their journey.
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Tuesday
March 30, 2010
Community
Editors Kelsey Bishop bishopka@muohio.edu Erin Fischesser fischeee@muohio.edu
14-year-old faces adult trial Males crawl under Miami Metro bus At 2:50 a.m. Saturday, officers responded to a report of two males at the intersection of High and Poplar streets who were attempting to board a Miami Metro bus by banging on the side. The driver reportedly told police the subjects crawled under the bus while it was stopped at a red light. When police arrived, the driver reportedly pointed out the subjects on the southwest corner, where one of the men fell down. According to police, both of the men denied having anything to do with the bus, but the officer reportedly detected the odor of an alcoholic beverage on one of them, later identified as Miami University junior Charles Sample, 20. At OPD, Sample reportedly admitted to being drunk. Sample was charged with underage intoxication.
Uptown fight results in charges, injuries At 1:30 a.m. Sunday, officers observed a fight break out in front of Woody’s One Up Bar and called for back up because there were several males punching one another and on the ground. As the officer approached, some of the males left the area, but one male reportedly had his back to the officer and punched another male in the face as he approached. The officer took the subject to the ground, handcuffed him and identified him as Miami University senior John Kelly, 22. Officers then reportedly stopped Tyler Duwel, 19. According to police reports, Duwel had a mark on his forehead and claimed he had been harassed but didn’t know why it happened. The officer reportedly detected the odor of an alcoholic beverage on his breath. Kelly was reportedly taken to OPD where he told officers he was defending his friend and admitted to hitting another male in the scuffle. According to police, the male Kelly described, however, did not match up to Duwel. Kelly was charged with assault and Duwel was charged with underage intoxication.
Student reports assault during walk home At 4 a.m. Friday, officers reportedly met with a Miami University junior at McCullough-Hyde Memorial Hospital regarding an alleged assault. According to police, the victim was being treated for a broken hand, a broken bone near his eye and several cuts and scrapes. The victim reportedly told police he left the bar sometime before closing and was walking alone to his fraternity house when he was tackled from behind. The victim reportedly told police he later woke up and finished walking to his residence where his fraternity brothers forced him to go to the hospital. He reportedly said he was sure he had not been involved in any altercation or argument before leaving the bar. Police are continuing to investigate the incident.
Junior tries to hide alcohol, escape police At 1 a.m. Sunday, officers observed a male on the sidewalk near Skipper’s Pub with an open container of alcohol in his hand. When he saw the officer approach, he reportedly tried to hide the cup between two bystanders. As the officer came near, the male reportedly walked back into the fenced area to hide and placed the cup on the seat of a wooden bench. The subject then reportedly walked west on High Street, where he was stopped and identified as Miami University junior Joshua Dow, 20. Dow reportedly told police a friend had given him the drink and he believed it was a gin and tonic. Dow was charged with underage intoxication and open container.
Teen becomes youngest to receive binding due to severity of crime By Hunter Stenback Senior Staff Writer
Accused of robbing and sexually assaulting an elderly woman, Alex Ramirez, 14, was transferred from juvenile detention to county jail Friday, March 19 after becoming the youngest teen to be tried as an adult in Butler County. According to Butler County Prosecutor Robin Piper, 14 is the minimum age at which a juvenile case can be bound over and tried as an adult. “(Ramirez) is the youngest I am aware of because it is the youngest the law allows,” Piper said. “We’ve bound over 15-year-olds before but I’m not aware of a 14-year-old a judge has ever bound over.” According to Piper, public safety and the violence of the crime were both factors in requesting Ramirez be tried as an adult. “I guess to protect the public we wanted the judge to consider whether he should be tried as an adult,” Piper said. “It was almost a sadistically cruel type of criminal act and it was very unusual in the nature of violence and cruelty that was involved.” Piper also said while age is considered in determining whether or not a case should be bound
over, there are multiple factors that help a judge considers when deciding whether or not the judetermine whether or not a juvenile should be venile should be tried as an adult. Piper said for discretionary bind over the tried as an adult. court considers violence of the offense, age “There isn’t any one factor or any type of of the offender and previous case that determines whether criminal history. there should be a bind over,” “It was almost a “When the court is deciding Piper said. sadistically cruel type to bind someone over, they are According to Juvenile Court trying to determine if the ofAdministrator Rob Clevenger, of criminal act and fender is amenable to juvenile under Ohio Revised Code a it was very unusual rehabilitation,” Piper said. “If bind over can be considered in the nature of they’re not amenable to juveeither mandatory or discretionviolence and cruelty nile rehabilitation, then the court ary depending on the facts of considers binding them over.” the case. that was involved.” Piper also said the more an “The legislature decided offender has been through the there are certain types of ofROBIN PIPER juvenile court system the more fenses that are defined as man- BUTLER COUNTY PROSECUTOR datory bind over and if you are likely they may be tried as charged with a certain offense an adult. with certain fact patterns, the court no longer has “The more criminal history you have in judiscretion in the bind over,” Clevenger said. venile court, the less effect probation and tradiClevenger said the case of Ramirez was clas- tional juvenile treatment may have, the more a sified as a discretionary bind over, and as such court might conclude a person is not amenable,” the prosecutor had to request Ramirez be tried Piper said. “The more violent a person is or the as an adult. older a person is, the more it might be that the According to Piper, in the case of a discretionSee MINOR, page 8 ary bind over there are specific factors a judge
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Census reports increase in county population By Chris Gable
For The Miami Student
The recent increase in population has made Butler County a more attractive location for businesses, as it has generated higher paying jobs and ameliorated tax burdens for residents. According to projections from the U.S. Census Bureau, Butler County’s population was approximately 363,184 people on July 1, 2009, a 0.67 percent increase from 2008. At that time in 2008, the county’s population was about 360,775. Since 2006, however, Butler County’s population is projected to have increased by 2.63 percent. The U.S. Census Bureau also projects the Dayton region’s population has experienced a slight increase in the last year of about 0.21 percent. “A good portion of (the regional growth) is from Butler County,” Mike Juengling, Butler County director of development, said. The U.S. Census Bureau data indicates the growth in Butler County of approximately 2,409 people in the last year offsets the loss of approximately 2,339 people in Montgomery County, the Dayton area’s largest county. Warren County, the area’s third largest, saw an increase of approximately 3,287 people. The data shows the other counties in the region have experienced slight
increases or decreases in population in the last year. Juengling said only the northern part of Butler County is considered part of the Dayton region, but the county’s population as a whole is a chief contributor with Warren County to the region’s growth. Juengling estimated Butler County’s population could reach 385,000 to 390,000 when the 2010 Census data is released. Juengling said companies have come to Butler County to take advantage of both the Cincinnati and Dayton markets. He said it is easy for residents to commute and there are numerous quality school districts surrounding the Interstate 75 corridor. According to Juengling, the county also engages in community planning, attempting to court businesses to come to the area. The increase in population will be a positive force for many county residents. Juengling said businesses increase the tax base, bringing in more money to improve schools, water, sewage treatment and other services. Juengling also said many of the businesses have brought higher paying jobs, increasing the quality of life for residents. He also noted that when more businesses pay taxes, it takes up a portion of the tax burden previously borne by residents. However, Juengling said increased population brings costs,
HANNAH MILLER The Miami Student
Census returns indicate Butler and Warren counties to be the only counties in the Dayton area to experience an increase in population. and one cost is the increasing load placed on schools. He said it’s important for the income to offset the cost of this growth. Oxford, however, has not been a contributor to the county’s rise in population. According to Kathy Dale, Oxford’s city planner, the population of permanent residents has remained stable, while the student population is down. “It could be related to jobs and the economy in general,” Dale said. Dale said interstate access has brought new construction and new jobs to other parts
of the county. “We don’t have that same luxury,” she said. Miami University senior Lexie Anders, an education major, expressed concern for the schools as a result of the county’s growth. She said schools will have to take on more students and will be worried about passing levies for adequate funding. She said teaching jobs are being cut and this is forcing schools to restructure. “This ultimately is going to impact the students who are currently enrolling as well as those already enrolled,” she said.
Harsh economic times lead to decrease in tax collection By Abbie Harper Senior Staff Writer
The economy has already taken its toll on millions of Americans, and now in Butler County the resulting financial struggles are spilling over into the government. Because of many residents’ failure to pay taxes, the treasurer’s office has collected about $400,000 less than it had at this same time in 2009, said Nancy Nix, Butler County treasurer. Nix said the economy is undoubtedly to blame for the late taxes. “We’re at almost 11 percent unemployment in the county, so that’s mostly it,” Nix said. “It would also be the subprime lending. It’s basically the harsh financial times.” Despite harsh times, the government has to get its money somehow and Nix said they almost always find a way.
“We have first lean on the home, Office, said the unpaid taxes haven’t so we go in and foreclose after (the caused any noticeable changes in taxpayer) has been delinquent for the county’s funds quite yet. “So far it hasn’t amounted to two years,” Nix said. “When the enough to really house is sold, affect the budwe are paid first. Because of many get,” Tilton said. The convenresidents’ failure to pay “But it is sometional wisdom taxes, the treasurer’s thing all govis we are always office has collected ernment agenpaid first.” cies, including The fact taxes about $400,000 schools, townaren’t comless than it had at this ships and offices ing in on time same time in 2009. should be keepcould have coning an eye on.” sequences. Nix Nix agreed. She said it’s not said there is a small possibility the the missing $400,000 that’s county budget could suffer. “The lower property values and the problem. the fact that people are struggling “We normally increase (our tax to pay their taxes will have a small revenue) every year,” Nix said. impact on the county’s general “So collecting less than we did a fund, but we’re unsure of the exact year ago even by an insignificant numbers right now,” Nix said. amount … still means we’re not inMike Tilton, representative creasing, we’re not growing.” for the Butler County Auditor’s Miami University sophomore
Abby Stein said she’s not surprised by Butler County’s tax struggle. “I live in Hamilton and it’s been obvious the economy is struggling here, too, and not just nationally,” Stein said. “You’ve got to expect that with all the financial issues, people will eventually stop being able to pay their taxes. And I guess now they have.” Nix said the county understands the financial issues residents are facing and is willing to be flexible with taxpayers. “We’ll give them several chances,” Nix said. “It’s not like we just lower the boom on people. We do want to work with them.” Although Nix is willing to work with struggling taxpayers, she said in order to maintain government services the county must continue taking in money. “Eventually, everyone must pay their taxes,” Nix said.
THE MIAMI STUDENT
TUESDAY, MARCH 30, 2010 ♦ 5
Local food bank partners with Jobs and Family Services By Ellie Gonso
For The Miami Student
The relationship between Butler County’s Department of Jobs and Family Services (JFS) and Shared Harvest Food Bank has cultivated for more than five years through various programs like the “Food Stamp Program” and others that aid residents of Butler County. Once again, Shared Harvest and JFS are working together through the Ohio Benefit Bank Program (OBB), which improves the efficiency and ease with which individuals can apply for tax credits and public benefits. These benefits include health
care coverage, childcare subsidies, Medicaid and food stamps, to name a few. Through this program, outreach workers are provided laptops and wireless cards at food pantries, which enable them to easily file applications and send the information to JFS. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program’s (SNAP) outreach coordinator, Gloria Bateman, is one of the three Shared Harvest employees who travel to the food pantries. “Since the partnership, people can register with us at the pantries, which only takes about 15 to 20 minutes,” Bateman said. Shared Harvest is a food bank that
collects, transports and distributes food to more than 120 soup kitchens, food pantries and shelters across five counties in Ohio. The organization distributes an average of more than 10 million pounds of groceries every year through their food banking programs, according to their Web site, http://www.sharedharvest.org. Some of their programs include Feeding America, the Ohio Food Purchase Program and the Food Bank Market Program. Tina Osso, executive director of Shared Harvest, hopes to file 700 new applications per year. “Last year we filed about 610
Local publications sponsor forum for commissioner candidates By Kelsey Bishop Community Editor
The Hamilton JournalNews and The Middletown Journal will sponsor a forum April 6 which will feature seven candidates running for Butler County commissioner. The event will start at 6 p.m. and will take place at Butler Tech’s Public Safety Education Complex on 5140 Princeton-Glendale Road in Liberty Twp. Edwina Blackwell Clark, publisher of Cox Media Group’s newspapers in Butler and Warren counties, said the forum is free and open to the public. “We encourage everyone in Butler County to please come out because this race is critically important,” Blackwell Clark said. Miami University junior Erica Beekman agreed the forum is a good opportunity for Butler County residents.
“It’s important, especially since politics is so polarized, that people are able to come together and discuss the important issues that are on the candidates’ platforms,” Beekman said. According to Blackwell Clark, six republican candidates will be present at the event. The democratic candidate, Lester Butch Hubble, will be running unopposed and will not be present at the forum. Blackwell Clark said a taped introduction from Hubble will be shown at the event. Republican candidates include county Clerk of Courts Cindy Carpenter, former West Chester Twp. Trustee Jose Alvarez, incumbent Commission President Gregory Jolivette, former Middletown City Councilman Paul Nenni and Hamilton residents Jesse Von Stein and Wes Retherford. “Our job really is to educate voters on the issues and the candidates, and this is just another venue by which we
do that,” Blackwell Clark said. Reporters and editors from The Hamilton JournalNews and Local 12 WKRC Cincinnati will have a chance to ask the candidates questions from the public concerning the May 4 election. The event will also be recorded for the public to view on public access stations. “(The forum) is critical because Butler County, just like other counties in Ohio, is experiencing economical difficulties such as a drop in sales tax and trying to manage with lower budgets,” Blackwell Clark said. However, Blackwell Clark contends Butler County is not experiencing as many economic difficulties as other Ohio regions. “Butler County is in a good location because it is right in the middle between the growth of Cincinnati and Dayton, which presents a great opportunity for the region,” Blackwell Clark said.
applications, which generated about $1.6 million in food stamp benefits,” Osso said. The Butler County JFS works with organizations like Shared Harvest in order to provide support for citizens in need. The department offers benefits, job opportunities, childcare services and other services to benefit the community. Shared Harvest’s outreach workers assist individuals in applying for benefits at the food pantries, rather than having them travel to the JFS office. “It has improved the number of clients applying for food stamps because they feel more
comfortable and don’t have to travel and wait at the JFS office for hours,” Bateman said. SNAP outreach workers offer benefit registration services at pantries such as the Open Door Food Pantry, Oxford Community Center, Lebanon Food Pantry Tri-County Assembly of God and Lighthouse Food Pantry. Miami University sophomore Laura Swan is happy to hear about the efforts between JFS and Shared Harvest. “It’s great to see a program that helps people register for benefits,” she said. “I’m excited to see even more positive effects it will continue to have on the community.”
‘We didn’t start the fire’
SCOTT ALLISON The Miami Student
Representatives from McCullough-Hyde Memorial Hospital and the Miami Valley Care Flight trained Oxford EMTs and paramedics Monday evening at the Oxford firehouse.
6
Tuesday
March 30, 2010
Features
Editor Amelia Carpenter carpenab@muohio.edu
By Amanda Seitz Campus Editor
The Personal Side Miami University’s nickname J. Crew U may not ring true for some students during the recession that has hit families hard the past two years. While some students proudly speed off in their Range Rovers, others are struggling to gather funds for tuition payments, especially when the pressures of an unemployed parent come into play. One student, who asked to remain anonymous, explained after her dad was laid off for a second time in August 2009, she has become accustomed to being financially independent from her parents. “I really don’t expect anything from them,” Jane* said. “From day one of college I’ve had to pay for every expense; tuition, meal plan, laundry, (social) sorority, my educational fraternity, etc.” Jane said she would leave college with $80,000 of debt. Financially hard times are not the only problems Jane and her family have ran into. The economy has affected familial gender roles and relationships. “My mom is the ‘breadwinner,’” Jane said. “Usually in society it’s supposed to be the dad that provides for the family. My mom and dad struggle with that.” They struggled so much with the idea of an unemployed husband, Jane said divorce is in their horizon. “It’s just been a really big power struggle,” Jane said. “It’s put so much stress to provide for our family, they are actually getting a divorce.” But Jane’s situation is not an exception. In February, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) released data regarding national unemployment rates. In the U.S. 14.9 million people are unemployed and 9.7 percent of the working population is unemployed. The rates are higher for men, at 10 percent, while women stand at 8.8 percent, many household dynamics across the country are changing. Ohio is tied with Kentucky for the 12th highest in unemployment at 10.9 percent. But these statistics don’t necessarily reflect all of the unemployed population that truly exists. According to the BLS Web site, numbers could be higher. “The Government uses the number of persons filing claims for unemployment insurance (UI) benefits under State or Federal Government programs,” the site reads. “But some people are still jobless when their benefits run out, and many more are not eligible at all or delay or never apply for benefits. So, quite clearly, UI information cannot be used as a source for complete information on the number of unemployed.” The New York Post reported in January that the unemployment rate was closer to 22 percent, if BLS counted the “hopelessly unemployed.” Riley*, a Miami junior, is also a part of these staggering statistics. Her dad has been laid off since November 2009 and several other times previous to that. He has had to make many personal sacrifices most students could never imagine. “What changed for me was I was doing an internship here at school and I had a job, I wasn’t getting paid for my internship and I had to quit it,” Riley said. Despite the obvious financial strain Riley and her family have faced, another serious problem has arisen for her father. “The most important part, it’s my dad and his emotional state,” Riley said. “Seeing my dad go through depression in general, he’s been struggling with it.” Riley said her dad has resorted to looking for jobs in obscure places, hopeful he will find a place that is hiring. “He’s starting to look overseas, places over in the Middle East,” Riley said. “Business is just so bad, how is he supposed to get one?” Riley already holds one job and is looking for another. “I am hoping to get another or two more jobs because I’m pretty much paying for everything on my own,” Riley said. Riley said with all these factors to consider, it is often hard to dismiss the thought of her dad’s unemployment. “I don’t know how to explain the feeling,” Riley said. “It’s just kind of hanging over your head.”
The Miami Bubble “It makes me a little jealous on the inside of people that don’t really care where (money) goes to,” Jane admits. “They just expect to get stuff.” Jane said dealing with the difference of financial status of many Miami students, who are often noted for the financial stability, could be difficult. “It’s hard,” Jane said. “I’m not that person that goes against the grain. It was kind of hard when everyone was walking around in Ugg boots and North Faces, designer stuff. It’s a very different outlook on life.” Jane said paying for things like gas and group projects, which other students would pay with for ease, is often difficult and frustrating. “It’s not socially acceptable to go around saying I’m poor,” Jane said. “People are quiet about it. They want to fit in. People don’t like to admit when they need help.” Being financially strapped can make a difference in the way some people at Miami treat others, Jane said. “I feel like they would just talk about different things around you,” Jane said. “Maybe admitting you’re in a financial situation it would just kind of change the way people act around you and what they talk about and what they include you in.” Riley feels it is hard for Miami students to sometimes understand why she can’t partake in common entertainment activities. “(I have) to constantly explain why I can’t go out to dinner all of the time, I can’t go to a movie,” Riley said.
Riley said the bar scene is especially difficult to avoid. “Just going to bars in general, I’ve just kind of stopped,” Riley said. “Mainly going out and food in general. It’s cheaper to grocery shop.” While Riley recognized there are Miami students suffering during this fiscally troubling time, she said that many are not. “I definitely think, especially at Miami, there are people struggling financially but there’s a large population that doesn’t understand what it’s like to live in between,” Riley said. Those that know Riley well, like her housemates, understand and appreciate h e r
struggles with finances but still said it is a touchy subject. “I just don’t really talk about it in general, there’s a bit of embarrassment,” Riley said. “I don’t try to use it as an excuse, I can deal with it, and not everyone needs to know.”
Lessons Learned Both Jane and Riley are adamant about their newfound independence because of their vulnerable financial situation. “You become more independent quicker,” Jane said. “From my financial situation, I’ve always been someone who doesn’t put all my money in one place. Now, me and my sister have to cover our expenses that we didn’t have to before.” Jane insists the struggle to stay afloat when faced with the prospect of thousands of dollars of debt is one that is simply part of life. “I think life is a struggle,” Jane said. “If you breeze through life not having to worry about things, you’re not learning things.” Riley, too, has learned to say no to things she cannot afford and to make important things such as health a priority. “I’m pretty much paying for everything on my own,” Riley said. “Our health insurance, I’m on prescriptions that I take and I have to either pay everything without co-pay or insurance.” Although medical expenses are steep, it is expenses like these that Riley claims have helped gain her independence. “I’ve gotten more independent…it hasn’t really affected me much,” Riley said. *Names have been changed.
HANNAH MILLER The Miami Student
THE MIAMI STUDENT
HOCKEY
continued from page 1
rushes by the Red and White. Miami’s coaching staff was heads up about the Royal Blue and White’s tactics, though, and adjusted the RedHawks’ power play attack to a more effective umbrella formation. Miami took the change all the way to the bank when freshman Curtis McKenzie took advantage of UAH’s third trip to the box and netted the Brotherhood’s first goal of the night. One minute into the man-advantage, junior Carter Camper popped the puck out from behind the net right into the crease where McKenzie was waiting to pull the trigger, putting the RedHawks on the board at 10:24. “I was just finding myself in the net where I’m supposed to be,” McKenzie said. “I saw Talbot cheating a bit there and just put it over his pad.” More penalties early on in the middle stanza doomed the Chargers to a two-goal deficit at 6:06. Junior net minder Cameron Talbot stopped sophomore Cameron Schilling’s initial attempt but didn’t cover up. The unattended puck trickled past the goal line for the Brotherhood’s second tally of the game. “What we care about is timely goals,” Blasi said. “Tonight we had two power play goals, and that was the difference in the game.” As the game wore on, Miami’s four lines wore UAH down and the Chargers saw themselves outshot 28-10 in the final two frames. The Chargers 10 penalties over the course of the contest cost them precious energy and resources as well. “We just kept trying to get some momentum going, but as soon as we got that and a little bit of life it was wiped out by the power plays,” UAH Head Coach Danton Cole said. “The whole third period was that way – we kind of shot ourselves in the foot.” It took a six-on-four advantage for the Royal Blue and White to finally break through in the closing moments of regulation. Sophomore Chris Wideman’s holding penalty and an empty net gamble for UAH paid off when senior Brennan Barker
TUESDAY, MARCH 30, 2010 ♦ 7 put a hard shot into the back of the net with 38.3 seconds remaining on the clock, robbing Reichard of what would have been his sixth shutout in 2009-10. “The puck was bouncing around in front of the goal all night,” Barker said. “Finally we got one when desperation set in.” The Chargers played with desperate intensity but it was too little too late and the scoreboard read 2-1 at the final buzzer. With the victory, Miami improved to 25-0-0 when leading after two periods this season. “Congrats to the Miami team,” Cole said. “When we weren’t good out there it was because of them. They have a really good chance to win a national championship. We don’t like losing, but (Miami) did a lot of good things out there, and I’m very impressed with them.” All dreams of winning a national championship aside, the Red and White still had a monumental hurdle to get over in the Regional Final game v. UM. “The last time we played Michigan I don’t think we showed them anything,” Blasi said. “It looked like we were chasing them around.” Both teams knew there was no room for error going into the matchup, and the two teams stuck to each other like glue throughout the duration – forechecking, backchecking, matching lines and battling heatedly along the boards with the weight of their seasons resting on their shoulders. Goaltending played a crucial role as well, as Miami sophomore Connor Knapp and UM junior Shawn Hunwick – both No. 31 – stood heroically tall throughout the contest. Few chances were granted at even strength, but Miami continued to shine on the power play and netted the game’s critical first lamplighter 35 seconds into UM’s first trip to the sin bin. With junior Louie Caporusso out for tripping, junior Pat Cannone managed to tip the puck in from a tough angle off the crossbar over Hunwick’s left shoulder. Entering the contest, the RedHawks were 22-0-3 when netting the first goal of the game. The Red and White’s lead was short lived, however, as UM sophomore David Wohlberg knotted the
action just 1:34 later. The left-winger saw his initial shot from between the circles stonewalled by Knapp, but hustled into the crease unmarked and buried the rebound at 13:42. The tie held up for the remainder of the period with Knapp and Hunwick recording 10 and five saves, respectively. In the middle period, both teams burst forth with renewed energy. Just 38 seconds into the frame, freshman Reilly Smith was whistled for holding. It took the Wolverines just one faceoff win and 11 seconds to capitalize on Miami’s man-disadvantage and put the biscuit in the basket. Working off of a feed from senior Steve Kampfer, junior Chad Langlais sent in a blast from the blue line that gave UM the lead at the 49-second mark. Just 2:29 later, the RedHawks retaliated with a power play tally. Hunwick made an initial save but the puck remained loose. Cannone forced it under the junior net minder’s pads to even things up again. Knapp came up with a huge save to keep the Red and White in the game at 4:09 in the third, twisting around to dive on the puck before it could cross the line. Hunwick was equally as sharp, smothering the puck in the crease after Miami sent a shot in off the post that was close to going in. The RedHawks faced some adversity in the last moments of regulation when senior Brandon Smith was whistled for hooking, but the third stanza ended scorelessly, necessitating an extra session. Miami entered the fourth frame with a 1-2-7 history in overtime this season. Controversy erupted early when a referee blew a high sticking penalty on freshman Joe Hartman just moments before the Wolverines netted the puck. The situation was reviewed and a ‘no goal’ order was issued. “That’s a tough one to swallow,” Michigan Head Coach Red Berenson said. “You can’t win on those calls.” UM redoubled their efforts, outshooting Miami 20-6 in the extra session, but it was Knapp time. The 2009 Buffalo Sabres draft pick tracked the Wolverines’ every move to keep the Brotherhood in the game for the entirety of the extra 20 minutes. “Tonight was Connor’s night, and
SCOTT ALLISON The Miami Student
Preisdent David Hodge jumps for joy at Friday’s hockey game against University of Alabama-Huntsville. we knew he would go in there and do exactly what he did,” Blasi said. When the scoreboard still showed 2-2 at the conclusion of the fourth stanza, Miami encountered uncharted territory. Sunday marked the first multiple overtime game the team has faced in the program’s history. Just 1:54 into the second overtime period, Miami punched its ticket to its second consecutive Frozen Four appearance. After working the puck loose from along the boards down in Miami’s zone, sophomore Alden Hirschfeld brought it up the right side of the ice. Sophomore Trent Vogelhuber freed it from the melee and dished it to Hirschfeld, who let it fly from the top
of the left circle for the game winner, sending the crowd into frenzy. “It was a heck of a battle tonight,” Blasi said. “Obviously it goes into overtime like that and one shot can win it for you. The guy to my left (Hirschfeld) had the good fortune of that happening to him, but its tough when both teams are giving it everything they have. We are very proud of our team and the way they responded to the little bit of adversity.” Miami will now face Boston College in the semifinal round of the Frozen Four April 9. Puck drop is slated for 8:30 p.m. at Ford Field in Detroit. Should the RedHawks advance, the national championship game will take place at 7 p.m. April 10.
THE MIAMI STUDENT
8 ♦ TUESDAY, MARCH 30, 2010
Local authorities discourage summer pet abandonment By Bethany Bruner Staff Writer
When finals end in May and Oxford becomes less populated for the summer, some of our furry friends are going to be in need of new homes. There are some students who adopt pets and then realize they cannot take care of them when they go home for the summer or relocate for a job that leaves them with a problem: What do I do with my pet? Students in this situation have several options for legally relinquishing ownership of their pet, but many students choose the free and illegal option: abandoning or dumping their pets. Dumping pets is illegal in the state of Ohio, according to Animal Control Officer Wayne Phillips. Phillips works with the Oxford Police Department and said some pet owners take their animals outside the city limits and leave them by the side of the road. “I’ve seen them left by the side of the road with a bag of food for them,” Phillips said. “People will do that crap.” Phillips said he has handled pets of all kinds that people no longer want to care for. Some of them had been given to a friend to take care of, but the friend no longer wanted to care for the animal.
“It’s not illegal to give a pet to a friend,” Phillips said. “It’s only illegal if they end up breaking their lease.” Giving a pet to a friend or neighbor is one option for transferring ownership. Some paperwork needs to be filled out, but the process is simple. Other options include trying to sell the pet and taking it to a shelter. Animal Friends Humane Society is an openadmittance shelter located in Hamilton. Meg Stephenson, executive director of the shelter, said the shelter urges students to seriously consider all scenarios when looking to adopt. “We don’t typically adopt to undergrad students because it’s not a stagnant lifestyle,” she said. “It’s a lot of responsibility.” Animal Friends takes dogs and cats at their facility, which is open seven days a week. Stephenson said students looking to relinquish ownership of their dog or cat need to bring the animal in during their operating hours, along with any records. “It’s a $10 fee to relinquish the animal to us — a five to 10 minute process,” Stephenson said. Once the animal is at the shelter, it will be evaluated and then placed up for adoption if it can be adopted — which is dependent on shot records, health of the animal and its temperament.
SCOTT ALLISON The Miami Student
Undergraduate students who leave the Oxford area during the summer sometimes leave pets behind. Some animals have even been found on the side of the road with a bag of food. First-year Jessica Vasquez has a few years before she could adopt a pet, but said she looks forward to it because she likes the companionship. “They’re cute and fun to play with,” she said. “They’re a lot of responsibility, but they’re fun to have around.” Vasquez said she personally would be able to take her pet home during the summer, but if relocating for a job created a problem she would do her best to be responsible and find it a
good home. “I would do my best to find a place where I could keep it, but if I couldn’t I probably would give it to a friend to take care of,” she said. “(Abandoning an animal) is not fair to the animals.” Phillips said students need to practice responsible pet ownership. “If you know you’re going to leave, you need to start today putting ads in the paper,” Phillips said.
Committee discusses new demographic, marketing plan for Oxford By Jenni Wiener Staff Writer
The Oxford Community Improvement Corporation (OCIC) held a board meeting March 26 to discuss the status of the community and how to better it with a new demographic/marketing plan. According to Alan Kyger, executive director of OCIC, the Oxford community has one of the lowest income rates in Butler County. “With a high number of students who make around $3,000 to $5,000 a year, Oxford looks like it has a high number of poverty level people,” Kyger said. “We look bad on paper, but in reality, our value as a community is one of the highest.” Because of the large Miami University student population, the city of Oxford has weak demographic reports that do not show companies the true spending potential of the city. Therefore, companies looking to expand would be less likely to choose Oxford over somewhere with a better demographic, Kyger said. This new demographic/marketing plan is asking firms or
MINOR
continued from page 4 court might conclude the person is not amenable to juvenile treatment.” Bind overs are not necessarily uncommon in Southwestern Ohio, according to Clevenger. “Southwestern Ohio in general
individuals to create proposals on how to show the true retail and restaurant potential for the city. Kyger said the firms must be able to profile not only the buying habits of the full time residents of Oxford, but also the buying habits of the students at Miami to be successful. The proposals will then be evaluated by Kate Currie and Richard Daniels of OCIC and another member from the Oxford Community Developmental Department. These members will choose which proposals are seen by the city council. Proposals must be submitted by March 31. During the OCIC meeting, the board motioned to approve the Revolving Loan Fund Application. By approving the application, the city can lend a restaurant up to 40 percent of the money they need to begin. Kofenya and Patterson’s Café are among the restaurants that have used this loan, and Arabian Nights Authentic Lebanese Cuisine has recently submitted an application for a loan. Also, Mike Davis, the Talawanda representative, said the building of the new high school is expected to start April 5 and hopefully be done by summer 2011. “The big headline is that with the help of the city and a lot of
has a higher number of bind overs than the rest of the state, and I believe Butler County ranked sixth in the state in bind overs last year and we’re eighth in size,” Clevenger said. “To give you an example numberwise, we typically have in the range of 16 and 20 bind overs per year.” According to Piper, while Ramirez is the first 14-year-old to be tried as an adult in Butler County, it is important to look at every component
of the case. “Any time you focus on any one factor, your vision becomes somewhat myopic of the overall picture,” Piper said. “When people talk only about his age, they’re not talking about his cruelty, his violence, whatever history he has or hasn’t had with juvenile court, so you really have to look at the totality of the circumstances before you can really analyze why the judge bound
folks, we finally got our building permits,” Davis said. “As far as the building itself, the brick, mortar and steel, we are pretty much good to go at this point.” Davis went on to say weather is a big factor in beginning to build and could cause delays in the progress of the building. Toward the end of the meeting the board also motioned to endorse a plan of development to accommodate a new hotel in the area. Jim Clawson, vice president of OCIC, said the new hotel would have 74 rooms, which would bring 20 more jobs to the community. “It would be a win-win situation,” Kyger said. “The hotel could bring business, jobs, taxes and occupancy without creating competition for house leasers.” Miami University sophomore Kim Rich agreed with Kyger. “A new hotel in Oxford would definitely benefit the community,” she said. “When my family comes to visit from New York, they always have a problem finding somewhere close to stay. This new development could be a solution to that problem.” Clawson said the hotel is still up for approval by the city. The next OCIC board meeting will be early to mid April.
somebody over.” Piper also noted every individual is unique and some teenagers have a different maturity level than others. “Everybody kind of reacts differently and we have to be careful when we’re focusing just on the age, just like we have to be careful if we’re focusing just on the violence,” Piper said. “You’ve got to look at all those factors and it’s a combination of things.”
Ultimately, Piper believes that while Ramirez is young, trying him as an adult was in the best interest of the public. “His violence, in my opinion, reminds me a lot of Clockwork Orange,” Piper said. “Very violent, very hard to understand and almost bizarre with cruelty and maliciousness, and those are the people who we very much want to protect the public from.”
THE MIAMI STUDENT
TUESDAY, MARCH 30, 2010 ♦ 9
10
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Opinion
Editors Thomasina Johnson johnsota@muohio.edu Sam Kay kaysj@muohio.edu
➤ EDITORIALS
The following pieces, written by the editorial editors, reflect the majority opinion of the editorial board.
Committee report should focus on advising
G
etting proactive advising and managing scheduling can be a major obstacle for many students seeking to graduate on time. Many students take classes at community college over the summer to fulfill requirements and save money. Without proper planning, students find themselves staying at Miami University longer than intended. Other students come to Miami with lots of advanced placement (AP) or post-secondary credit. Without specialized advising, they may quickly lose their edge. While proper planning could have enabled them to pursue multiple majors or internships, confusion about distribution requirements can lead to missed opportunities. The Pathways Committee’s recommendations to university senate attempt to solve these problems by decreasing the number of hours required to graduate from 128 to 120, while increasing the number of hours that must be taken at Miami from 32 to 45, increasing advising and perhaps eliminating the two-year residency requirement in favor of a requirement based on hours. The editorial board of The Miami Student welcomes many of the recommendations. Adjusting the number of hours required for graduation is a common-sense move. Advising is sorely in need of improvement. However, the reason for the inclusion of the two-year residency recommendation in the report is unclear. Irrespective of whether the residency requirement
is a good idea, this board feels one year is not enough time to fully evaluate its effectiveness. In future exploration of the issue, university senate and the Pathways Committee should reconsider the need to alter the residency requirement at this time. Advising, one of the focuses of the committee’s recommendations, must be dealt with both on the university and departmental levels. Advisers need to have more time for students. Many departmental advisers are also department chairs, or occupy other positions of responsibility. While it is good to have experienced faculty filling advising roles, it seems unrealistic to expect department chairs to be able to devote sufficient time or attention to advisees. Advisers’ responsibilities should be decreased in other areas so they can better focus on advising. At the same time, advisers should be more knowledgeable about the Miami plan. Departments could develop lists of Miami plan courses they recommend for their students. The classes students are taking are central to the undergraduate experience. It is absurd so little attention is paid to which specific courses students are taking at any particular time. While students should better familiarize themselves with the Miami plan and their major requirements, guidance from experienced and knowledgeable advisers – advisers who know students’ names – could make the difference between wasting time and graduating on time.
Marijuana proposition must enforce safety
T
his November, Californians will vote on a ballot to legalize marijuana use and tax its sales. California has a $20 billion deficit, and the bill could raise $1.4 billion and save government resources. The bill proposes that California residents 21 and over can posses up to an ounce, smoke and grow marijuana. The bill would make it illegal to smoke marijuana in the presence of minors, posses the drug on school grounds or drive under its influence. The majority of the members of the editorial board of The Miami Student encourage the bill to pass but with reservations. The board believes California provides good testing grounds for this bill because of its history as being the first state to pass Proposition 215, the medical marijuana bill, in 1996. The board foresees other states possibly following California’s lead to legalize marijuana if California can prove legalizing and taxing marijuana is successful, controllable and vigilantly monitored.
The board recommends California use extreme caution when dealing with the effects of marijuana legalizations. The board believes marijuana should be monitored just like alcohol, especially when driving a vehicle is involved. Although testing drivers for evidence of marijuana usage may be more difficult as opposed to the ease of tools that test sobriety, such as a Breathalyzer test, the board encourages the Californian government to be harsh when dealing with matters of Driving Under the Influence of Drugs (DUID). Currently, California law states there is no legal limit when dealing with drivers under the influence of drugs. The authorities must decide if the driver is considered impaired. The board recommends that, like drivers that are under the influence of alcohol, immediate consequences and constant police vigilance for drivers caught while driving under the influence of marijuana are crucial to keeping roads safe.
The Miami Student Oldest university newspaper in the United States, established 1826
ANDREW REYNOLDS The Miami Student
➤ LETTERS
Library vital for families, character of Uptown The library is a great way to get all people out there to read. It’s where I read my first books. The library’s programs were educational and recreational. I know that when the funds were cut, our “library friends” and I were disappointed. We all miss the librarians Miss Vicki, Miss Susan, Miss Cher, etc. The library is one of the most important places in Oxford. The library is an inspiring, wonderful place to learn, read or just meet a friend. All I can say is, all of us out there want the library to go back to normal. Molly A. Monson, age 9
ginghamgirl@fuse.net
Amanda Seitz Campus Editor Kelsey Bishop Community Editor Erin Fischesser Community Editor Katie Giovinale Sports Editor Amelia Carpenter Features Editor Anna Turner Amusement Editor Samantha Ludington Photo Editor Hannah Miller Art Director
Bill Fisher and Kalinde Webb
kalindew@yahoo.com
I am writing to express the sense of urgency with which Oxford citizens should react to the levy on the May 4 ballot to help the Lane Library. As a mother, I was delighted to see the selection of books, books on tape, puzzles, puppets and videos available (even broader with the network of two other branches) at the Lane Library when we first moved to Oxford. I immediately signed up my daughter for story time, and we attended a presentation with live animals from the zoo. Through these well-attended, charming events I was able to connect with other moms who valued the library and what it offered their children. As time passed, I was blessed with three more children and the privilege of sharing with them my love of books via the children’s department at the Lane. The librarians not only knew my kids’ names, but their interests. Friday morning story times became a frequent event on our family calendar. Enrichment activities like book club, art classes, concerts and puppet shows rounded out our family schedule. A rainy day could always be brightened with a visit to the library. With recent budget cuts, all of that has changed. We are rarely able to get to the library due to severely cut hours, specifically the elimination of morning hours. Morning story time is gone. Book club for tweens has been cancelled. The librarians no longer know our names, nor do we know theirs, because the librarians we adored have been let go in staff cuts. If America’s future is our children, we need to offer them an engaging way to learn and explore their interests. The library is free and open to all citizens, yet is becoming less accessible and less enriching due to the lack of funds to even keep its doors open, let alone offer exciting learning opportunities within those doors. I urge the members of the Oxford community to vote for the library on the May 4 ballot to breathe life back into this wonderful institution. Laura L. Smith
reds@mindspring.com
EDITORIAL BOARD Catherine Couretas Editor in Chief Hannah Poturalski News Editor Erin Maher Managing Editor Scott Allison Online Editor Thomasina Johnson Editorial Editor Sam Kay Editorial Editor Courtney Day Campus Editor Hope Holmberg Campus Editor
check out books and DVDs and research online with the computers, all at no charge. With fewer hours of operation, we have had to remove some days from those we used to visit. We would not wish to see further degradation of hours or services. Miami University students benefit from the Lane Libraries in a variety of ways. There is free Wi-Fi available to all who walk in, and the Lane’s proximity to uptown offers a quiet spot for students to work. Miami clearly benefits from having strong community services that attract faculty as well as students to our area. The Lane now needs everyone’s help to avoid degradation of current services. We urge everyone to vote YES May 4!
As parents who have chosen to live in Oxford near the mile square, we are writing to urge all residents to vote YES May 4 for the Lane Libraries Operating Levy. Living near the center of town brings our family many free pleasures, and high on that list has been walking to the Lane Library to enjoy story hours, browse magazines, play with toys,
Hitchens’ speech supports intelligent discussion We, the Secular Students of Miami, feel it is necessary to respond to the misrepresentation of Christopher Hitchens’ speech that appeared in the Friday, March 19 edition of The Miami Student. Daniel Mackenize begins his letter to the editor with an important and critical misquotation. Christopher Hitchens never referred to “people of faith as the enemy,” as Mackenzie claims. Hitchens does, on the other hand, say “faith is the problem,” and there is an important difference here. Hitchens is an attacker of ideas, not people, and no idea should be held so sacred or taboo that it is above criticism. Besides, is there any better forum to question ideas of all sorts besides a national, public university? If we can’t talk about these things here, then where can we? The fact is religion has always been a very sensitive topic, because there are many people who take it so personally. We feel it is almost impossible to criticize religion at all without having those criticisms labeled as attacks by one person or another. In this sense, we understand how some people were offended by Hitchens’ message, and we expected this type of response to a degree. However, we do not feel this is adequate justification for censoring a speaker, as was suggested by some. The assertion that the things Hitchens said during his speech could be labeled as hate speech is a gross misrepresentation. For one, Hitchens never condoned violence of any kind during his lecture, and in fact, spent most of his time deploring the violent (and hateful) acts committed by religious people of the world in the name of their faith. Secondly, Hitchens backed up his statements with logical arguments and again, did not simply “hurl insults,” as suggested by Mr. Mackenzie. You have a right to disagree with the arguments made at the event, and that is where we hope to create a more visible dialogue about religion and non-religion on campus. You do not, on the other hand, have the right to NOT be offended. We understand many on campus are not accustomed to discussing religion in such a candid manner, but that is the entire reason we knew Hitchens’ visit would benefit the university. We applaud the university for giving students the opportunity to see this influential and respected journalist, author and atheist speak, thereby increasing the diversity of thought on this campus. Abigail Zofkie
zokieak@muohio.edu
OpEd Page
THE MIAMI STUDENT
➤ SPILLING THE BEANS
TUESDAY MARCH 30, 2010 ♦ 11
➤ PERSPECTIVE
A look at liberal education: Part V
Sunday must be reclaimed
LibEd teaches vital skills
There are few things more terrifying or panic inducing in the life of a college student than Sunday. As Saturday night approaches, so too comes a sobering realization: the fun is quickly coming to an end. Panic arises on the faces of students up and Abby down High Street, Haglage aware that in a few short hours they will wake up to excruciating anxiety and possibly a hangover worse than Ed Helm’s. It’s all fun and games until Sunday comes around. Sunday’s place of darkness and infamy in our minds is paradoxical, the meaning of the word literally being the “sun’s day.” Derived from the old English word “sunedai,” it is widely recognized as a day of thanks, rest and reflection. Businesses close, church doors open. Although meant to be a great day, I abhorred it when I was a kid. Friday and Saturday I was free to eat endless slices of pizza and watch hours of “Punky Brewster.” Sunday was game over. Perhaps it is the memory of church and homework-filled Sundays from childhood that has permanently attached such a negative connotation to the word. Or maybe to blame are the six nights of revelry that precede it, leaving us literally incapable of accepting the fact that there are things we are required to do that are simply no fun. College students have been fighting back against Sunday’s bullying effects with a vigor that had long remained dormant. Meet Sunday Funday. Urban dictionary defines the term as “the glorious holiday at the end of every week to celebrate the end of a long and tiring 6 days,” a way to keep from “hanging up your party pants” for another day. College students have brought the life back into Sunday the only way they know how, keeping their party pants on. Another advocate changing the face of “Sunday” is Bob Sampson, a principal in the small town of Bellingham, Wash. Sampson’s approach has less to do with hangovers and more with treasuring exactly what the word requests, the sun. As principal of a small Christian school composed of preschoolers to eighth-graders, Sampson has the authority to cancel classes on snowy days. Located just 90 miles outside of Seattle, a large amount of snow is a rarity. Searching the weather forecast any given day in Bellingham you are likely to find a temperature in the 50s and an abundance of rain. This means few days filled with snow, and even fewer with sun. With an unusually warm winter, the unlucky students did not enjoy a single snow day. When the forecast called for 65-degree weather and sunshine this past Wednesday, Principal Sampson did what will undoubtedly make him one of the most revered elementary school principals of all-time, he declared a “sun day.” Posting a picture of himself in the sunshine with thumbs up on the school Web site, he published this message underneath, “Good morning students, parents and staff. Yes, It’s a Sun Day! That’s right, school is CANCELLED today due to good weather! Enjoy!” Although the impromptu day-off occurred on a Wednesday, it gave the students the chance to live the spirit of Sunday and literally worship the sun. A video by the Associated Press shows a group of kids living out the dream of every student plagued with Spring Fever. It is doubtful Sunday will ever be the most popular day of the week, but whatever the reason, the day alone is no excuse to sulk. . If the worst we are forced go through each week is an anxiety ridden, regret-filled Sunday, our lives are something to be envied. Rather than spend an entire day mourning that the fun is over, we should be grateful the fun is even there to begin with.
Liberal education means a lot of things to a lot of people. To some, the Miami Plan is a burden – to others, it is the embodiment of a good education. In an exploration of what liberal education means to those who teach and learn by its precepts, The Miami Student will be printing a series of essays on the subject by students, staff and faculty culminating in an open forum at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 6 in Pearson 218. Liberal Education Council members will be on hand to consider ways the university can improve the substance and implementation of the Miami Plan. We encourage our readers to join in the discourse by sending letters to the editor and attending the forum.
Cathy Bishop-Clark Associate dean Miami Middletown bishopcu@muohio.edu
It was 1986. I was a computer science major and was taking a full load of courses: calculus, linear algebra, assembler programming, data structures and a few extra courses like communication and philosophy. Each semester I had these “extra courses.” These were the annoying courses that had nothing to do with my chosen major. I considered them my filler courses and I took them because the university required me to take them to “round out my education.” I did not see any real value in them. They were not going to help me find a job and certainly would not help me as I worked through my life. As 20 years and two additional degrees went by I learned I could not have been more wrong. My technical courses were very important, and helped me to land my first job as a computer
programmer. But I quickly learned the content I had learned as a computer science student was obsolete almost as soon as I started working. Far more important were the courses and activities that encouraged me to work with other learners, to see the world in different ways, to pause and reflect on my actions, to write clearly and to think critically. There were certain courses – technical and non-technical – which encouraged me to develop those very important skills. I quickly learned my first profession was only partially about developing software. Instead I learned my “job” was to listen carefully, to communicate effectively, to figure out ways around the unanticipated road blocks. It was my responsibility to contribute to my part of the world in the best way that I could. At first my world was
fairly narrow and consisted of largely professional work. As time went on, my world included responsibilities as a parent, a citizen, a volunteer and a leader. The role of a liberally educated person is multi-faceted. Sure, as a liberally educated person part of my role is to contribute to the workplace in an effective way. But it is also to raise my children with an awareness of worlds different from their own so they can pass that on to their children. My role is to vote in ways that serve not just my own interests but also those of my community, my nation and my world. My role is to be able to look at my part of the world through eyes that are different from my own. If all people took on these roles, the world would not only be a better place, but individuals’ fulfillment and participation in that world would grow.
➤ ESSAY
Challenge culture by reaching out “I want your lovin’, I want your revenge, you and me could write a bad romance.” The chorus to one of Lady G a g a ’s hits blasts over the speakers. I see the people on the dance floor shouting along to the words and watch a group of teenagers grind on each other in a style truly perfected in shady little establishments such as Stadium Bar & Grille. And yet, I am not at Stadium, Brick Street Bar, Pachinkos or even a frat party; I’m in the 4th Arrondissement in Paris, known more affectionately as the Le Marais. Why is it I’m listening to Lady Gaga instead of some French pop artist or German rock band? Because, my friends, America is everywhere. I have been studying in Luxembourg for around 10 weeks now, and after countless searches and fruitless attempts, I have given up on finding a place where there isn’t, at least in some form, the stamp of the good ol’ U.S. of A. In Leipzig, Germany, we danced to Beyoncé. In London we drank authentic ale to Chris Brown. In our favorite little pub in Luxembourg City we hear Bob Dylan’s greatest hits every time we go. If I were to name one thing that has been common in all the cities I’ve visited over here, it’s that I’ve heard a Michael Jackson song in every single pub, bar, hostel lobby and street speaker at least once. And it’s not just music. This past weekend I was traveling to Amsterdam with my parents who dropped in for a visit this week (side note: nothing will make dinner with the family more uncomfortable than having walked through the Red Light District of Amsterdam to get to the restaurant … I do not recommend it as a fun family destination). We were talking about shows and movies I’ve missed while abroad, and my dad was trying to remember the name of this show he just started watching. Describing it in very general terms (on CBS, on after “How I Met Your Mother,” two nerds and a hot chick, etc.) we were stumped as to recalling the name of the show. “Big Bang Theory” suddenly springs out in lightly accented English. “Ah, that’s it, thanks” my dad replies to the 19 or 20-year-old Dutch college student sitting across from us on the train. Now, Lady Gaga I guess I understand, but crappy CBS late night TV? I just need a minute to reorient myself here. In my limited time here in Europe, I was hoping to have some truly, well, European experiences. I know I’m living in Europe when everything is closed for two hours in the middle of the day, and the service in every single restaurant is terrible, and I would have a better chance of
coughing up plutonium than getting free refills of any drink, but there is still something so American about everything. I already touched on the language abilities of Europeans, but it really extends beyond simply speaking English. I went to the movies a couple of weekends ago with some friends, and the movie theater not only played only American films (with the exception of two out of 10 movies showing) but played them in English. I was Facebook chatting with a Luxembourgish friend of mine, and he told me he was watching “Two and a Half Men” in German. In Dublin, I had German police cadet (on vacation and absolutely hammered)shouting Dave Chappell quotes in my ear. In every political science class there is discussion of the effects of globalization. I realize Europe and the U.S. are part of the globalized north or Western world or whichever buzz word is popular that day, and therefore it makes sense there ought to be similarities between us and our brethren across the pond, but I can’t help but notice it’s one-sided. I can see countless examples of America creeping into European culture, but am hard-pressed to cite the reverse. I suppose the fashion world owes a lot to Paris, London and Milan but nothing else really comes to mind without some serious digging. I don’t have a solution to this problem I’ve presented, but if there’s anything I would say to my fellow Miamians tucked back in Oxford, I would encourage them to take advantage of the international opportunities Miami University offers. The department of French offers guest lecturers every Wednesday and Alexander Dining Hall has language tables where you can speak to natives in French, German, Spanish and Chinese. I’m a little out of the loop on any current cultural activities going on, but a quick stop by the Study Abroad Office’s bulletin board will present you with enough flyers for events to keep you busy until the end of the semester. I also would recommend at least talking to some of the international students on campus, a lot of times they offer a really different perspective on our little Oxford bubble. America might be a leading global power politically and economically, but that doesn’t mean we need to corner the market culturally as well, and I think it would be beneficial to Miami students to at least take a peek at what else the world has to offer. Karli Kloss
klosskm@muohio.edu
Spring rejuvenates students HOPE HOLMBERG The snow has melted, boots and bulky down jackets have been tucked into the corners of closets and the days are getting longer. Saturday March 20 was the first official day of spring and it seems safe to say that mass amounts of Miami University students celebrated accordingly. Front yards and porches of numerous off-campus houses were filled with students wearing colorful tank tops, jerseys, sunglasses, shorts and sundresses. On smaller lawns, students who were packed together like sardines stayed away from the sidewalk in order to avoid violating the open-container law. A boy and a girl crossing Campus Street at about 1 p.m. was probably the most absurd thing that I saw. The boy was giving the girl a piggyback ride and both individuals were covered in mud from head to toe. With smiles on their faces, students listened to music and socialized outdoors after a long winter of hibernation. These crowded get-togethers were just one of many options for students who are eager to have fun in the sun though. I watched students cruise around on bicycles, rollerblades and even razor scooters. Cook field was also bustling with students playing recreational sports. It was the epitome of an ideal spring day at Miami. Both refreshing and uplifting, spring is all about renewal and life. Graduating seniors will face a renewal as they move on to a new existence after concluding the Miami chapter of their lives in May. Yet, for those of us sticking around, the time to register for classes is upon us once again. For students looking to sign up for very specific or popular classes, this can be very stressful. In the spirit of the spring season, registration can be compared to an Easter egg hunt. Instead of tons of plastic eggs on a lawn waiting to be shoved into a basket, students must confront a large list of classes on a Blackboard page. Even though they seem very accessible before the race begins, one can be certain they will quickly disappear within moments of its commencement. Our competitors are our classmates and peers with whom we share a scheduling time slot. Failing to move fast enough will result in a light basket. Like children who only obtain two eggs because they are not aggressive enough in the hunt, some students complain afterwards that they were only able to sign up for six credit hours. However, students find registration to be a success with new classes, new goals and a fresh routine to look forward to. On the sunny days we have begun to experience students walking to class looking happier., with a fresh dose of energy. As I drove around campus last Friday, it seemed as if an emergency text message had been sent to the student body telling them to drop everything they were doing, put on gym shoes and go for a run. “It’s a beautiful day, don’t let it get away,” is advice Bono of U2 gives listeners in the Grammy-award winning song “Beautiful Day.” This line sums up a serious predicament many students face at this point in the semester. It is one that must be contemplated with their grade point average in mind. Should they hit the books or spend warm days embracing what many say will be the best time of their lives with friends? The reality of what they must do to achieve good grades in their classes presents a dilemma. Enjoying a perfect spring day with friends occasionally is something every student should make time for. As for students who have found themselves in damage-control mode, I hope they can at least get a seat by a window at King Library. Holmberg is campus editor for The Miami Student
FYI Page
Monday
12
March 30, 2010
The Miami Student Oldest university paper in the United States, established in 1826 News 513-529-2257 Editorial 513-529-2259 Business 513-529-2210 Fax 513-529-1893
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Community Good Friday Service Join area churches for a Good Friday community service of scripture readings, music and prayer, from 12:10 to 12:50 at Faith Lutheran Church at 420 S. Campus Ave. Those who wish to walk in a procession to the church with the cross, meet at the uptown park by 11:15. Prayers and a hymn will be offered as we walk from the park through campus to the church. 513-523-6364
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HOUSE FOR RENT - 111 BERN ST 3 Bedroom Available June 1, 2010. Located across from campus. Kitchen, dining room living room and full basement with washer and dryer. 513-867-4747 SINGLES AVAILABLE FOR RENT NEXT YEAR Contact Red Brick at 513.524.9340 for more information. www.redbrickoxford.com
LIVE ABOVE CHIPOTLE! The Lofts at 1 W High have a recent opening for next year. 4 person unit. Be a part of Oxford’s most desirable building. Contact our office today for a tour 513-524-9340. www.redbrickoxford.com
HARD #19
RENOVATED 1bedroom with study $3300. per sem, 2 bedrooms (2 students) $2300. per semester Located on Central Ave, between S. Main and E. Campus Ave., across from the REC Center., group rates, one pet friendly building, off street parking, bus stops, and laundry. Stop by and look around, or Call Carolyn at 513-659-5671. Also thecourtyardsofmiami@yahoo.com
Houses Mile Square Upstairs of Duplex School year ’10-’11. Great location! Bishop and Withrow, 2 large bedrooms, 1 bath, open livng and kitchen area, front porch, off street parking, permit for 4, $2995 per person per semester plus deposit and utilities. 812-350-4357
Roommate Needed Roomate Needed 2010-11 339 W. College (Above CVS) 3 Female students looking for a fourth. $3300/ semester. Fully furnished. For more information contact Shaina at lutzsm@muohio.edu or 330-232-2884 AVAILABLE PROPERTIES LOOKING FOR ROOMMATES 2010-2011: You will have your own bedroom... 17 East Spring Street: Looking for 2 Female for 10-11
Large storage units located in Mile Square. Room to fit a full size SUV and boxes. Cheapest rate in Oxford, $65/mo. w/ 24/7 access! CardinalProps.com
1 W High; Loft #201: Looking for 1 Female for 10-11
Available Uptown Apartment 2010-2011 School Year, 2 Bedroom, 1 Bathroom, all utilities paid. 22-A South Beech St., Next to Stella’s, Very Clean. 513-523-3735
109 Ardmore: Looking for 1 Female for Spring Sem 2011
Hurry! One Room Left! 1 W High Three female students looking for a fourth. Only one more roommate opening for Fall 2010/ Spring 2011 at the new 1 West High Street Apartments. The best location Uptown. Call Mary for a tour! 815-274-0059
324 W Church 5 bedrooms Great house with large patio, 2 baths, laundry, pet considered, free summer rent 513-255-2022 UPTOWN HOUSE FOR RENT for the 2010-2011 school year Great location! Right uptown next to Will’s Pizza on Church Street. Up to 8 people, 4 1/2 bedrooms, 2 full baths, great kitchen and massive porch E-mail Chelsea for more information and a tour lindauce@muohio.edu
112.5 S Main Street: Looking for 1 or 2 Males for 10-11
219 N College: Looking for 1 Female to share Brand new house for 10-11 330 W Church: Looking for 1 Female for 10-11 112 S Main- All Bed No Breakfast: Looking for 1 or 2 Females for 10-11 119 N College - Looking for 1 Female for 10-11 We also have SINGLES available. **FOR MORE INFO CALL 513-524-9340**
One bedroom left
Looking for fun, nice, female housemate; individual bedroom. TWO BATHROOM, four bedroom, laundry, recently built, house. SUPER CLOSE to campus, three other females, cheap utilities. 2010-11 school year. Call Katie 616-502-3315.
LIVE UPTOWN THIS SUMMER: $1000 Per Person. Contact 524.9340 for more info
Excellent Rates for 2010-2011 CALL
THE COURTYARDS OF MIAMI
Apartments apartments available FOR 2010-2011. 108 South Main St. (behind “Pour House”). Permit for 3. $2000/person/semester. Large kitchen & living room. Really close to Uptown & Campus. Off-street Parking. Call Daniel 513-543-4470 www.miamiuniversityrentals.com CAMPUS COMMONS COMING THIS FALL - LOCATED ACROSS FROM THE REC CENTER. EXPERIENCE MODERN LIVING IN SOUTH CAMPUS QUARTER. FOR MORE INFO CALL (513) 523-1647 OR (513) 867-5522.
Roberts Apartments 2010/11. Great Location! Close to Uptown/Campus. Laundry Facilities. Off-Street Parking. Well-Maintained. Pet Friendly Units! www.roberts-apts. com 513-839-1426 or 513-839-0400
The Miami Student is looking for an advertising layout director. E-mail Katie at neltnekj@muohio.edu.
Sports
THE MIAMI STUDENT
TUESDAY, MARCH 30, 2010 ♦ 13
swimming
RedHawk diver competes in NCAA Championships By Michael Solomon Staff Writer
Miami University sophomore diver Cameron Horner competed in the NCAA Championships this past weekend in Columbus, finishing 28th in the one-meter diving event, and 23rd in the three-meter diving event. Horner became the first diver from Miami since 1975 to compete in the NCAA Championships. “I don’t think Cameron was happy with his performance at the conference meet,” senior teammate Michael Carroll said. “He came back to practice and dove and trained hard before the national meet, and I think he represented Miami very well in Columbus.” Although weather altered the schedule of the meet and pushed the prelims back one day, Horner came out ready for action in the one-meter diving event. “Plans went a little haywire this morning when central Ohio was
TRACK
continued from page 14 team from getting fully prepared for their outdoor meets, it looked like they had been practicing outside all winter. By winning 10 of 18 events at Vanderbilt’s Black & Gold Meet, Miami has started off the way they want to - dominating
bombarded with a freak snow shower last night,” Horner said. “Though the weather piece of the puzzle was removed, we reconstructed our plans. With a quick change of schedule, we hit the road and headed for the pool. After the hour long warm up, the competition began. In the blink of an eye, prelims were over. Though there are things I knew I needed to improve on, I was very happy with how I finished overall.” Horner’s score of 299.35 in the onemeter competition Friday was good for 28 out of 35 divers, and his score of 320.75 in the three-meter competition was good for 23 out of 30 participants. “I was overwhelmed with the support from my mini fan base,” Horner said. “Throughout the day, I received many congratulations and comments of encouragement from a bunch of members of the swimming team, as well as other teams from MU. I am so proud to be a piece of the Love and Honor puzzle.”
the competition. Miami had high hopes coming in to this meet and surpassed nearly all of them. Two big surprises came from sophomore John Brockman and junior Michael McCarty. In the javelin event, Brockman got a personal best by throwing 199-06 (60.82 m), 50 feet more than the second place score, putting him fourth all time at Miami in the javelin throw. Not only this, but McCarty won the 110-meter hurdles with
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
Sophomore Cameron Horner was the first Miami diver to compete in the NCAA Championships in 35 years.
a time of 14.47 seconds, putting him eighth all time at Miami. With these personal records and the other strong wins, Miami looks poised as the season is starting to come to a head. The team, despite large junior and freshman classes, is starting to mesh and is finding out what it needs to do to be successful. “Our junior class is a big one and was one of our better recruiting classes in a while, so they are
expected to step up and do well,” Assistant Coach Ceith Creekmur said. “Because of that, the freshmen have looked up to them and have filled all of the rest of the teams needs.” With this unselfish teamwork, the team has started off on the right foot and is ahead of the learning curve. Though the team started out well, this is only the beginning for them, especially now, with the sun starting to come out, giving
them the ability to move their practices outdoors, allowing them to get more reps in events that have previously been limited. Look for the team to continue improving as the competition heats up at their meet Saturday, April 3, which is hosted by the University of Cincinnati. The women’s team will continue their outdoor season April 2 to 3 at the Tiger Track Classic hosted by Auburn University.
Check out our Web site www.miamistudent.net
14
Sports
Tuesday
March 30, 2010
Editor Katie Giovinale giovinkl@muohio.edu
Revenge best served on ice Michael Cohen
Mike’d Up
G
SCOTT ALLISON The Miami Student
Junior infielder Kyle Weldon drives a ball deep into the outfield during Miami’s home opener against Northern Kentucky University March 17.
baseball
Chippewas halt ’Hawks
By Alex Butler Senior Staff Writer
Even with the brawn of the United States Armed forces at their side, the Miami University RedHawk baseball team (10-12, 1-2 Mid-American Conference (MAC)) could not win a home series against the Central Michigan University Chippewas (10-9, 2-1 MAC) this weekend. The players adorned camouflaged caps to honor the military Saturday as they tried to gain back momentum from the Chippewas after losing the opener Friday 5-2 but could only snatch the bridge game 6-3 before conceding in the finale 5-1. “There were some good things and bad things,” Head Coach Dan Simonds said. “I was certainly pleased with our overall pitching Saturday for the double header. Mac Thoreson and Fiala did a good job. Fiala got the win and Thoreson getting a chance to win by really keeping us in the game and giving us an opportunity to win. Overall I liked the way we played but certainly don’t like the results. To start off 1-2 and lose at our place is not something that we expected to do. We are looking forward to getting it right.” Coach Simonds placed pitcher Brooks Fiala on the mound in the RedHawk victory. The right handed freshman stood tall for seven innings and surrendered only three runs while junior Kyle Weldon was the lumber leader. Weldon went 3-4 and
was responsible for two RedHawk runs batted in (RBIs). Chippewa arms overpowered the Red and White effort in the final game of the series. CMU plated a score on a sacrifice fly to left and the Red and White had to fight back. Freshman starter Thoreson regained composure and tossed three innings of one hit baseball. “We felt good,” Weldon said. “We definitely wanted to get the win. The thing about these games is this weekend isn’t going to break us and it’s not going to make us. We really wanted to win and Mac Thoreson threw a hell of a game.” The Red and White threatened in the in the fourth when Weldon went to the box in the fourth frame and knocked in junior Adam Eaton when he treaded a single down the middle. Another sac-fly by the Chippewas made the score 2-1 and the RedHawks would never close the gap. Weldon looked to even the score in the eighth inning but was quickly fanned and the score remained 2-1 heading into the final inning. The Chippewas raked in a trio of runs in the ninth and put the Red and White in desperation mode in the bottom of the inning and the RedHawk bats fell silent, as did the crowd with a lopsided loss. “They pitched it fairly well,” Simonds said. “They are one of the better pitching teams in the conference. They held some of our better
hitters down. They did a good job of changing speeds and Hernandez, who we faced the first night, is probably one of the best pitchers in the MAC. You have to tip the cap to them because they only allowed 15 hits the entire weekend.” Weldon controlled the pace for the RedHawks throughout the weekend going 5-11 with three RBI and a run scored and hitting for a 0.455 clip. “I felt good,” Weldon said. “I cut down my approach a little bit. I had a lot of battles with two strikes that really helped me out. It felt good to hit the ball really well.” The RedHawks face a local rival Wednesday in the University of Dayton (UD) Flyers. “We are definitely going to have to swing it better,” Simonds said. “We played some solid baseball but our hitting has been a little bit inconsistent. We are going to have to get those guys in the middle of the lineup to produce and get our speed on the base paths. We have four or five guys that can really run and if we can get those guys on base it is going to put a lot of pressure on opposing pitchers and defense. We are going to have to do a better job.” The team hopes to improve this weekend when they play Ball State University. For the UD game, the first pitch in Oxford will be thrown at 6 p.m. Wednesday in the contest that wraps up a five game home stand.
men’s and women’s track & field
MU runners excel at Vanderbilt meet By Andrew Tonne and William B. Morin Staff Writers
Miami University’s women’s track and field team had a strong showing at their outdoor season opener. Competing at Vanderbilt’s Black and Gold meet March 25 and 26 the RedHawks, despite strong persistent winds, earned six event victories during the weekend. Junior Kelley Miller made her presence felt Saturday. With a first place finish in the
1500-meter and a time of 4:26.47, she broke teammate Amanda Mirochna’s mark of 4:26.77. Mirochna finished second behind Miller with a time of 4:31.40. The RedHawks also scored a victory in the 4x400-meter relay, with junior Ruth Rasch, sophomore Diona Graves, freshman Maria Holtztrager and sophomore Rachael Cray running a combined time of 3:53.90. Miami also took second in the event and second in the 4x100-meter relay with a time of 47.20.
Miami proved to be especially strong in the field events. The ’Hawks took first and second place in the long jump, with junior Magda Wikar picking up the victory with a personal best 18-9.75 (5.73 m), and senior Nicki Mitchell taking second with a jump of 18-5.75 (5.63 m). Junior Hope Alexander also won first in the triple jump with 38-4.75 (11.70 m). Sophomores Alexandra Roberts and Samantha Gable went 1-2 in the shot put and discus. Roberts claimed first place
in both events with a toss of 45-3.75 (13.81 m) in the shot put, and 139-01 (42.39 m) in the discus. Gable recorded a toss of 44-2 (13.46 m) in the shot put, and 132-6 (40.40 m) in the discus. “It was a great first meet,” Head Coach Kelly Phillips said. “It was really windy but we had nice weather and everyone competed well.” Even though the snow has been holding back the men’s track
wSee TRACK, page 13
oing into the game against Michigan Sunday night, I turned to my WMSR counterparts Patrick Murray and Matt Rust and simply said, “This game is going to go one of three ways. Either Miami University is going to blow out Michigan and make a huge statement. Michigan is going to rout Miami on their way to their tenth National Championship or we’re going to get a classic.” Miami nation, the RedHawks delivered a classic. In what was one of the greatest Miami hockey games of all time, the first time the ’Hawks have ever played in double overtime, Miami exercised the first of their demons, defeating Michigan for the first time in the postseason and returning to the Frozen Four for the second straight year. As soon as Alden Hirschfeld slipped the winning goal past elation ensued. The hundreds if not thousand-plus RedHawk fans that had traveled to Fort Wayne neutralized the Wolverine crowd. The atmosphere as a result was not like the CCHA tournament, which felt like a home game for Michigan. It was an ambience that made it feel as though Miami could not lose. This felt like a Frozen Four game, and for Miami they are getting a chance at one, and if they played the same way as Sunday night, two. Cue another demon. With all the talk about Miami returning to Frozen Four, the realization set it in — the RedHawks are going to have to beat Boston College (BC) to make the National Championship. For three straight years, BC knocked Miami out of the tournament, and without the Eagles in the way, the ’Hawks made it to the National Championship. It seems only right, however, that if the ’Hawks are going to bring home the hardware it is going to happen against the team that has been the thorn in its side. And, at the risk of looking ahead, if the RedHawks can defeat BC, they’ll return to the National Championship for another shot at the biggest trophy in college hockey against either Wisconsin or upstart Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT). If it’s RIT, the Red and White have dashed upstart dreams in the past — see Miami v. Michigan Sunday night. But if it’s Wisconsin, the RedHawks’ NCAA history can come full circle. The first time Miami played in an NCAA tournament, they played Wisconsin in Detroit. The Badgers defeated the Red and White three to one in a game featuring current RedHawk Head Coach Enrico Blasi. Again, looking ahead, at the risk of being too optimistic, the stars seem to be lined up for Miami to exercise every demon it has faced in the history of the program. If one takes a look at this season, they see a RedHawk squad that has dominated the CCHA. But if one looks a little closer, this is a team that finally swept Michigan in Ann Arbor, won the conference well before the season concluded, and didn’t lose a CCHA series if shootouts are not counted. In addition, a team that had always been criticized for having a bad non conference schedule, the RedHawks faced NCAA tournament teams, St. Cloud State University, North Dakota, Bemidji State University and New Hampshire, going 3-1-2. Miami now stands to face two teams, should Wisconsin win as expected (although in this tournament nothing ever goes as expected), the Red and White will have to face two teams it has never beaten in the tournament, and it will be crowned National Champions. If Sunday is any indication, RedHawk fans may have no nails left by the time this season ends, but hopefully as many of them as possible will fill Ford Field and watch Miami exercise their final demon, and win the National Championship for the first time in the history of the university.
Published on Mar 30, 2010
March 30, 2010, Copyright The Miami Student, oldest university newspaper in the United States, established 1826.
