The Miami Student Oldest university newspaper in the United States, established 1826
VOLUME 137 NO. 55
MIAMI UNIVERSITY OXFORD, OHIO
Friday, April 23, 2010
In 1963, The Miami Student reported on a $25 increase in fees for all Miami University students. This increased a semester of in-state tuition to $125 and out-of-state tuition to $200. Summer fees increased to $30 for three credit hours or less.
‘NO HATE ON MY CAMPUS!’
COMMUNITY
Off-campus party raises tensions among groups
By Amanda Seitz Campus Editor
drag show Saturday night. “I was stunned,” Williamson said. “I was really ashamed this would happen in our community.” Brian Rice, who helped organize the event, said the alleged hate bias was a main reason for the rally. “Unfortunately a big reason why this whole thing is put together is because lately there have been a lot of very noticeable incidents of hates on this campus,” Rice said. “First with the naming of Ghetto Fest, which regardless of what the events are, is a very racist term and
The word “ghetto” has different meanings to students, faculty and staff at Miami University. Several students gathered at 5:30 p.m. Thursday in the Shriver Center Heritage Room to discuss the use of the word ghetto for an off-campus party. “The Annual Ghetto Fest” Facebook.com event spurred a town hall meeting to discuss theme parties with degrading names. The Ghetto Fest will take place starting at 1 p.m. on Saturday, April 27. Senior Sam Brewer, one of the organizers of Ghetto Fest, said the party gathers several houses located on the streets of North Campus Avenue and Homestead Avenue. “Ghetto Fest is essentially like any other party on campus,” Brewer said. “It’s supposed to be about community and opening our doors to people.” Brewer said the party name has been in use for several years. “To me Ghetto Fest is a term because it’s been going on for 15 years,” Brewer said. “The meaning of ghetto is supposed to be a lower income, secluded part of town. The houses are notoriously much cheaper down there so it’s been termed ‘the ghetto.’” Sophomore Sierra Hughes, who hosted the town hall meeting, said she is offended by Ghetto Fest. “I’ve been hurt and I don’t feel comfortable on this campus,” Hughes said. According to Ron Scott, interim associate vice president for institutional diversity, the Facebook.com event page had once had a picture of an African American. “You can’t claim innocence when there was a photo up of an African American,” Scott said. Brewer said he was not aware of the alleged picture. “That has never been connected with the events that I made or am hosting,” Brewer said. “The picture on there right now is the picture that has always been on there.” Scott said the party’s name could be especially offensive because the area of North campus and Homestead region was once historically a low-income, African American housing region.
wSee RALLY, page 14
wSee GHETTO FEST, page 14
SAMANTHA LUDINGTON The Miami Student
Members of the Miami University community congregate Thursday evening outside the Shriver Center as part of the No More Hate Rally.
Rally brings attention to discrimination issues at Miami By Amanda Seitz Campus Editor
Thursday, April 22 members of the Miami University community made it clear there’s one thing they do not want to see on campus: hate. Around 7 p.m. approximately 250 students gathered outside of the Shriver Center to rally against recent events that displayed discriminatory actions. Members of Spectrum teamed up with those hosting the town hall meeting to plan a rally following the discussion on themed parties. Wende Nichols, a graduate student,
was happy supporters of the gay community and attendees at the town hall meeting worked together. “I think both groups are oppressed groups in society and Miami University, we go through the same things,” Nichols said. “We need to support each other so we can show, together that we have similar issues that need to be addressed by the university.” The rally was a reaction to recent discrimination acts, including an alleged hate bias assault outside of Stadium Bar & Grille that took place after a Spectrum drag show, Saturday, April 17. Senior Jane Williamson attended the
COMMUNITY
ASG passes resolution against bigotry to students, supports acceptance
By Dylan Tussel Senior Staff Writer
Following last Friday’s drag show, two male Miami University students were assaulted across the street from the Oxford Police Department (OPD). This attack prompted student senate to unanimously pass a resolution Tuesday condemning violence and discriminatory behavior against Miami students. Student Body President-elect Heath Ingram, an author of the resolution, knew the victims personally and felt very strongly about having Associated Student Government (ASG) speak out against this type of aggressive, discriminatory behavior. “On Friday night, a close friend of mine and former roommate was physically attacked outside of Stadium Sports Bar & Grille after the drag show took place,” Ingram said. “He was beaten so badly his cheek bone was fractured, his eyes were swollen shut, he had multiple lacerations on his face and bruises across his body. I spoke with him Saturday, and on Sunday
I immediately took action.” Ingram partnered with Una Hrnjak, outgoing secretary for diversity affairs; Lidija Gnjatic, secretary for diversity affairs-elect and David Morgan, co-president of Spectrum, to author the resolution. “The problem is there is a lack of reporting of this type of incident,” Hrnjak said. “I don’t think this is the first incident, I definitely don’t think it is, but we do have a very strong commitment from the university to support our students.” Gnjatic said she did not expect something like Friday’s assault to happen. “There’s a big difference between a lack of acceptance and actual outward violence,” Gnjatic said. “I was kind of surprised by the severity of this incident … this is not something we want tolerated on our campus.” Although OPD has chosen not to label the incident a hate crime, Morgan felt the attack was fueled by the victims’ sexuality. “I think it was a hate crime,” Morgan said. “I think the instigators attacked the victims because they knew they were gay.”
Go online for video from the ASG meeting. www.miamistudent.net
Hrnjak said the resolution is ASG’s way of showing its support for all students and publicly announcing that ASG will continue to take more steps toward ensuring student safety. “This piece of legislation shows we will not sit in silence to things like this,” Hrnjak said. “In the future we will work together to make sure further legislation is developed off of this resolution. This is really our statement saying this conversation is just starting. It’s an unfortunate set of circumstances, but the passage of this resolution really put this on the agenda for next year.” Ingram agreed, saying he supports every student on Miami’s campus. “It was important for me to make sure this legislation went through because as student body president, I am
wSee ASG, page 14