Apr. 27, 2010 | The Miami Student

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

VOLUME 137 NO. 56

MIAMI UNIVERSITY OXFORD, OHIO

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

In 1911, The Miami Student editorial page contained a piece about litter on campus. The columnist complained about people scattering trash throughout Miami’s grounds and suggested that students who work to keep the campus clean are offended by the behavior.

On-campus job applications go digital

By Jenna Yates

For The Miami Student

This fall, student employment applications will join the digital world.

Instead of trekking across campus to pick up multiple paper applications for jobs, students will be able to apply online to work on-campus.

Kate Stoss, director of compensation, employment and technology, said the application is a combination of job applications compiled from a variety of departments.

According to Stoss, the website will look very similar to the current website for job listings but will be tailored specifically toward student employment.

Stoss said the new website will pull together all employment opportunities for students.

“Some departments do not post cenelectronic, we will be able to use a trally, they post on their own websites,” workflow tailored into banner,” Stoss Tell us your thoughts.

Stoss said. said. “That will save our department a The website will streamline student lot of time.” employment and make it a lot easier for Stoss said there are other universities students to find opportunities as well as that use an electronic system. save the department time on paperwork, “A lot of universities use People AdStoss said. min,” Stoss said.

Comment on this story at “For student employment, it should According to Stoss, People Admin is www.miamistudent.net. save us quite a bit of time,” Stoss said. an online human resources system that “Right now, the system requires us to tracks talent management, application do paperwork. By this new system, we management and performance managewill get all the transactions electronically.” ment. Unlike Miami University’s current system, People According to Stoss, the website will be a much more ef- Admin is also used for staff employment. fective way to communicate with student employees.

“We also hope that making all these transactions See APPLICATIONS, page 13

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CAMPUS

MU lobbying expenses among highest in region

By Taylor Dolven Senior Staff Writer

Miami University has spent more money on lobbying the federal government than any other university in the Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky area.

The word lobbying can come with a negative connotation, but the money Miami University has spent on lobbying has allowed for many positive projects, according to Randi Thomas, director of institutional relations.

Miami spent over $1 million on lobbying over the past 10 years and has received $25 million in federal funding since 2004.

This money funds projects that not only benefit students, but the surrounding community as well, according to Thomas.

“Our projects start with a Miami

wSee LOBBYING, page 13

Miami female reports on-campus rape

Officers met with a Miami University female who said she was sexually assaulted Friday, April 23 on campus by a male she knew who is not a Miami student.

SAMANTHA LUDINGTON The Miami Student

Green Oxford is working to inform students about the need for outdoor recycling on Miami’s campus.

CAMPUS

Student organization proposes outdoor recycling

By Adam Giffi

For The Miami Student

Miami University certainly isn’t lacking in beautiful scenery, but according to Green Oxford, a student-run organization, it is lacking recycling bins throughout the outdoor portions of campus.

Senior Stefan Linder, president of Green Oxford, said the group is currently attempting to inform students about the need for outdoor recycling. The organization conducted a trash sorting event in front of the Shriver Center April 20 designed to help demonstrate this need.

“The purpose of the event was to show the amount of recyclable waste that is simply thrown away on campus,” Linder said. “One of the points of that was to

THE

INSIDESCOOP

HIGH COURT MEETS HIGH STREET

THE POWER OF THE SUN Chemistry students develop a solar powered water heater.

TESTING ZONE

CAMPUS, page 2 Ohio has been selected to pilot a new higher education initiative.

COMMUNITY, page 4

PRICEY PARKING

AN EXCELLENT TRACK RECORD

The Red and White track team performed well at the RedHawk Invitational.

SPORTS, page 16

Gene Foley forms meaningful relationships with Express route riders.

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wSee RECYCLING, page 13

ONLY

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WWW.MIAMISTUDENT.NET Plans for the Bicentennial Student Center include alcohol-free bars.

SUMMER SCHEDULE Take our poll to let us know how you plan to spend your time.

FLICK PICKS

FEATURES, page 6

CAMPUS, page 2

“If you extrapolate that 26 percent (of recyclables) we found and apply it to the total waste Miami has each year, 1,933,775 pounds of recyclable items are going into a landfill instead of being reused.”

Currently, Green Oxford is conducting a petition that they hope will show that students desire the implementation of outdoor recycling bins. They intend to take the petition to Gregory Vaughn, director of building and special services, when they reach 500 signatures.

Vaughn said it is not about the number of students who want bins, but rather the practicality of implementing the bins.

“Even having 500 people who want to have those (bins), the university still needs

DRINKING IN THE BSC?

COMMUNITY, page 8

MORE THAN A BUS DRIVER

Ohio University plans to charge employees more money to park on campus.

Wed

Ohio Supreme Court Chief Justice Eric Brown plans a visit to Oxford on Friday.

CAMPUS, page 3

TOO COOL FOR SCHOOL High school students find their way to Miami’s classrooms.

show that if recycle bins were placed outside, then a lot of plastic and bottles and more could be easily recycled.”

Sophomore Ian Winner, a member of Green Oxford’s board of executives, helped coordinate the demonstration outside Shriver and actively participated in the tasks necessary to make the event possible.

“We dressed up in jumpsuits and dumpster dove and collected 374 pounds of trash,” Winner said. “We sorted through it in front of Shriver and at the end of the day 26 percent of that trash was actually recyclable.”

This statistic may not seem like much, but Winner said it can add up.

“Miami sends 7,456,000 pounds of trash to a landfill each year,” Winner said.

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Check out reviews of “Half Baked,” “Mall Rats” and “The Lovely Bones” on Hannah Poturalski’s blog.

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Campus

Tuesday

April 27, 2010

News BRIEFS

Editors Courtney Day dayce2@muohio.edu Hope Holmberg holmbehh@muohio.edu Amanda Seitz seitzam2@muohio.edu

event Symphony Band, Wind Ensemble to perform The Miami University Symphony Band and Wind Ensemble will join forces for a performance that will be free and open to the public at 8 p.m. Friday, April 30 in Hall Auditorium.

The Wind Ensemble is conducted by Gary A. Speck and will incorporate digital and audio effects. The ensemble will perform Steven Bryant’s “Ecstatic Waters.” They will also perform Eric Whitacre’s “October” and Caroyln Bremmer’s “Early Light.”

The Symphony Band will also perform several pieces, including “First Suite in E Flat” by Gustav Holst and “Suite Dreams” by Steven Bryant. Stephen Lytle conducts the symphony band.

More information can be provided by the department of music at (513) 529-3014.

fyi

SAMANTHA LUDINGTON The Miami Student

Professors, students, faculty and staff at Miami University pay significantly less than faculty at Ohio University for parking passes.

OU to increase parking cost

Business organization seeks new members

By Mandi Cardosi

Founded in the spring of 1996 as a way to provide an extension to what was taught in the business school at Miami University, Miami Business Consulting is a student-run organization that works with “real world” clients.

Members gain project management experience, business contacts, possible internships, experience with software, team building skills, and the opportunity to partake in social events. Split into teams based off of specialization and skill sets, the firm engages in meetings while collaborating their skills and ideas.

They also either provide the solution for clients or follow them as they use outside sources to complete the solution with guidance and suggestions from the team.

They are currently seeking new members for fall 2010. Additional information can be accessed at http://www.fsb.muohio. edu/miamibc/.

A new parking proposal at Ohio University (OU) has attracted attention and concern.

The intentions of the proposal, which is still in discussion, are to start charging OU faculty and staff for parking.

Currently, OU does not charge their professors and staff members to park on campus.

Instead, the university has been getting its revenue from citations and charging students to park.

However, according to OU Associate Vice President for Facilities Harry Wyatt, that amount has not increased enough in the past 10 years. OU simply needs more money to take better care of their facilities.

The buzz about the proposal is mostly aimed at a few select spots that could cost up to $325 to purchase.

According to Wyatt, teachers are usually on a waiting list for these spots because they are the closest to anything on campus.

“Right now these lots are given to senior faculty and staff, Wyatt said. “People sign up on a list and might wait a number of years until they could actually qualify for those permits. Right now they get those for free.

For those people who have waited for years, we would offer them the ability to purchase

Staff Writer

go somewhere farther,” Bennett said. these first.”

Perry Gordon, director of parking and Wyatt also said if those on the waiting list did not wish to purchase a spot “close to the transportation services at Miami University, college green” and the downtown area of said Miami charges $30 for their faculty and Athens, they would not have to and it would staff to obtain a red tag. This means that, of the over 100 parking lots on campus, faculty be opened up to other faculty and staff.

Wyatt said they are offering a variety and staff can pay this low fee to park in any of them. of incentives, including ofAccording to Gordon, fering faculty and staff “People sign up Miami’s revenue is coming five free parking passes on a list and might from a variety of places. a quarter.

Gordon said there are 23 “Another measure, very wait a number of people working for parkunusual, is if a faculty or staff years until they ing services and the money person could find a way to could actually pays their salaries and bennot bring a car to campus and qualify for those efits. He also said there is travels to campus say via a car a fair amount of debt being pool or public transit, that we permits.” paid off for all of the parking would provide five free daily garages and signs are conparking passes per quarter,” HARRY WYATT stantly being changed and Wyatt said.

ASSOCIATE VICE PRESIDENT OHIO UNIVERSITY This option would give redone. Other elements include snow removal, repairfaculty the chance to have a ing equipment, maintaining daily visitor parking pass for five days of the quarter, in case their routine the computers in the office and the handhelds is messed up and their other option to get to used to write tickets.

“Tickets are also decreasing,” Gordon said. campus has fallen through.

Samantha Bennett, a junior at OU, does “If you can believe it, there are actually less not have a car on campus and usually walks tickets being given because of the availability of the parking garages. Students aren’t parkto wherever she needs to go.

“I generally walk to classes, but I might ing illegally just to hurry up and get to class borrow a friend’s car or get a ride if I need to because they can just go park in the garage.”

High school students choose to take classes at MU for credit

By Kristen Grace Senior Staff Writer

It’s not out of the ordinary to see high school students walking around campus.

Most are prospective students getting a peak at what the university has to offer. What you might not realize is that the person sitting next to you in class might also still be in high school and taking classes at Miami University as part of the post secondary program.

Many students at Miami come as a first-year with some kind of college credit already under their belt, be it from AP classes or their own post secondary work. All three of Miami’s campuses provide this opportunity to students who attend local high schools.

Oxford has about 36 post secondary students currently taking classes, mostly from Talawanda High School (THS). Middletown and Hamilton each have a much higher number of students, said Cheryl Young, director of lifelong learning, because of Hamilton’s heavy recruiting for the program and Middletown’s close proximity to Middletown High School.

According to Young, post secondary students tend to take one college level class in addition to their high school classes. The classes they typically take are what are most commonly referred to as Miami Plan classes, which tend to be first- and second-year courses. Young said many students complete their language requirements this way.

“A lot of high schools with budget cuts don’t have Latin or Chinese,” Young said.

Young also said Calculus and English 111 and 112 are also heavily enrolled.

Students who are eligible for this program must go through the same admission standards as first-year students, Young said.

“We don’t want to set the student up for failure,” Young said. “We set up criteria to make sure they will succeed in their college course.”

While students get a taste of the college experience, they don’t get a taste of the cost. According to Young, the program is funded by the state, which even covers

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ERIN KILLINGER The Miami Student

their textbooks. However, they are required to return their books at the end of term.

Ben Rupel, a senior at THS who has been participating in this program for two years, is currently taking Chinese and can see a distinct difference between high school and college classes.

“The classes at Miami are much more focused,” Rupel said. “You go in, the teacher just starts teaching. People aren’t messing around.”

Another advantage for Rupel is the variety of classes offered at the college level.

“I have definitely liked the option of having so many classes that you can take,” Rupel said.

So far he has taken psychology, microbiology, linear algebra and calculus. This is not an unusual schedule for a college freshman.

Because of his opportunity to take classes at Miami, Rupel will already be a step ahead when he attends Georgia Tech in the fall.

Post secondary opportunities are especially beneficial for students at THS because they do not have the option of taking as many AP classes as students at other schools might.

“A lot of schools have a lot more (AP classes) than us, so the having the opportunity to take Miami classes makes up for it,” Rupel said.

Miami junior Josh Wagenknecht is glad he had the opportunity to take a post secondary class when he was in high school because it helped him figure out what he wanted to study.

“Actually seeing what you’re doing with what you’re studying is really valuable knowledge to know if it’s right for you,” Wagenknecht said.

THE MIAMI STUDENT

Campus

TUESDAY, APRIL 27, 2010 ♦ 3

Professors author book on modern presidency, signing powers

By Dylan Tussel Senior Staff Writer

Two Miami University political science faculty members recently published a book analyzing the theory of the unitary executive in the American presidency.

Ryan Barilleaux, political science professor, and Christopher Kelley, political science adjunct assistant professor, co-edited “The Unitary Executive and the Modern Presidency” with contributions from several other constitutional law and presidential politics scholars, including three other Miami faculty: Patrick Haney, political science professor, Melanie Marlowe, political science instructor and Bryan Marshall, associate professor of political science.

“The theory of the unitary executive is based on a clause from the Constitution,” Barilleaux said. “It says that because the Constitution vests executive power in the president, the president should have very broad authority over what happens in the executive branch.”

Barilleaux said this theory allows the president to act without the approval of Congress.

“For example, President Bush argued that the power of the unitary executive gave him the power to set up military tribunals to try terror suspects,” Barilleaux said. “He did set them up, but the Supreme Court shut them down, saying Congress

would have to approve them.”

Barilleaux also explained the president’s use of another executive power, signing statements, as it applies to the unitary executive.

“Signing statements are when the president signs a law, then issues a statement instructing his administration to ignore certain aspects of it that infringe on his unitary executive powers,” Barilleaux said.

“They’ve been around for a long time, but it’s basically been since President Reagan that presidents have made use of them.”

Kelley said he and Barilleaux wanted to convey three main concepts in the book.

First, here is a theory that explains the actions of both Republican and Democrat administrations. Second, the theory’s tenets are perfectly consistent with the Constitution. Third, the second Bush Administration acted in a manner entirely inconsistent with the theory and the Constitution.

“Thus the book is divided into two parts, where part one addresses points one and two and part two addresses point three,” Kelley said via e-mail.

Kelley said the concepts addressed in this book are consistent with work he and other contributing scholars have produced.

“Ryan (Barilleaux) has written extensively on the topic of presidential unilateralism,” Kelley said via e-mail. “I have written a great deal — along with my colleague Bryan Marshall — on the

presidential signing statement, which I of people who radically oversimplify the tied to the unitary executive theory when I issue also make claims that are just not true … it’s something bigger than just George wrote my dissertation back in 2003.”

Barilleaux said he and Kelley’s con- W. Bush, and that’s the point we’re trying clusion does not pass judgment on to make.”

Outgoing Student Body President Jonapresidential power.

“My conclusion about the growth in than McNabb, a political science major, presidential power just describes what it is, said he believes in a strong executive and why it happened and what thinks the power of the the consequences are unitary executive and from the way our governsigning statements are “The Constitution ment works,” Barilleaux vests executive power essential to the presisaid. “Certain aspects carrying out his or in the president, the dent are good, but not all of her duties. president should have it is good.”

“I think it’s all about to Barilleaux thinks the very broad authority what degree (these powconcepts covered in over what happens in ers) are being used to the book are relevant law and to what exthe executive branch” make to students. tent they override the ex“I think students, like press will of Congress,” RYAN BARILLEAUX anyone else, should care McNabb said. “I think POLITICAL SCIENCE PROFESSOR because it affects the (American presidents) way the government they have the right amount live under works,” Barilof power.” leaux said. “It affects how much power the McNabb said he thinks it is important president has and the government affects to learn about the American presidency everyone’s daily lives.” and this book is an important tool for It is especially important that students people to gain a deeper understanding of pay close attention to this because the me- presidential power. dia distorts the controversy surrounding “I think it’s really important to underthe unitary executive, Barilleaux said. stand the American president beyond “The media acts like the notion of a just the basic stuff,” McNabb said. “Stuunitary executive began and ended with dents need to understand the implications George W. Bush,” Barilleaux said. “A lot of the presidency.”

‘Just dance’

Chemistry class creates simple solar water heater

By Patrick Wolande Senior Staff Writer

MICHAEL GRIGGS The Miami Student

Senior Ali Tanker and junior Sarah Marie Simpson dance the night away at the Dance Theatre performance Saturday at Hall Auditorium.

Six Miami University graduate students have been working with Professor Andre Sommer to build an affordable, energyefficient water heater that uses sunlight to create heat.

“It’s just like a big mirror, so it focuses the sunlight onto a proper tube that has water in it and then the sunlight heats the water up,” Sommer said.

This concept has been used for quite some time now in other places.

“The federal government has looked into this technology,” Sommer said. “It’s principally used in the Southwest where they have an abundance of sunlight.”

Sommer teaches Chemistry 672, a molecular spectroscopy course. Sommer said he came up with the idea to build a green water heater on his own.

“I’ve used it to teach a number of concepts in the class,” Sommer said. “The overall project involves thermodynamics, optics, spectroscopy and a variety of different disciplines.”

Sommer wanted to make sure his class could create a green energy source while still keeping the water heater at a feasible price.

“The way I proposed it to “It is really easy my students for the public to was if we come up with use because you can get all the a design, they have to build materials from it with comthe hardware mon materials store.” so that a home owner could JOHN MYERS go out and GRADUATE STUDENT actually put it to use,” Sommer said.

John Myers, one of the graduate students working with Sommer talked about the project.

“Instead of using solar cells, we’re just heating up water by focusing light,” Myers said. “It is really easy for the public to use because you can get all the materials from the hardware store.”

Sophomore biochemistry major Mike Jankowski had his own opinions after looking at a picture of the water heater.

“It would probably be beneficial if the tubing had a greater surface area to increase the temperature of the water, a flatter surface, but I understand that it could be difficult to get at a hardware store,” Jankowski said. “I would have to see all the different variables before I could really critique it, but the idea is definitely there.”

Myers said the class was one of chemists and not engineers.

“As chemists, the main things we’re worrying about is heat transfer to the tube, so all that means is that you’re putting a chemical on a metal that can absorb light so you can deal with polymer or paint, and that’s where we as chemists come in,” Myers said.

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Tuesday

April 27, 2010

Community

Editor Kelsey Bishop bishopka@muohio.edu

Sophomore carries red plastic cup on street At 4:20 p.m. Friday, the police chief reportedly observed a female walking with a red plastic cup in the alley in the 200 block of N. University Ave. The female reportedly told the chief and other officers that she did not have identification, but she was later identified as Miami University sophomore Margaret Christian, 19.

According to police reports, the liquid in the cup smelled like a mixed drink of liquor and soda.

Christian reportedly said the drink was not hers and she had picked it up at a house where she had stopped to use the bathroom. She reportedly told police she had not consumed any of the drink and did not know why she was carrying it or what she was going to do with it.

Christian reportedly agreed with the officer that taking a strange drink was gross because of germs and said she would never do that.

Christian was cited for underage possession of alcohol and open container.

Arrested male asks officer to pull over, vomits At 3 a.m. Saturday, officers on patrol reportedly observed a car parked in front of Brick Street Bar. The driver was sitting in his seat and the passenger side door was reportedly open as the passenger was vomiting in the street.

Police reportedly asked the driver if he was taking care of the reportedly lethargic and very intoxicated passenger and he told them he was a paramedic and had the situation under control. The passenger reportedly told police he was sorry and he had drank too much during the night.

When police came out of the bar after following another call, they reportedly saw the same car with the driver’s side door open and the driver vomiting outside the car.

Officers reportedly told the males to get out of the car and walk back to their residence, but when they exited the vehicle the driver reportedly stumbled and almost fell.

Officers identified the driver as Joel Loiacono, 20, and the passenger as Miami University first-year Nathan Brulport, 18. Both of the males reportedly had bloodshot, glassy eyes and had an odor of an alcoholic beverage on their breath.

Loiacono and Brulport were reportedly placed in the back of a police cruiser where Brulport reportedly nearly fell asleep. Loiacono reportedly asked the officer three times to pull over and open the door so that he could vomit.

Brulport and Loiacono were each charged with underage intoxication and disorderly conduct.

Male repeats public urination offense At 2 a.m. Saturday, officers reportedly observed a male in the alley next to OPD urinating on the side of 119 E. High St. When he saw police, the male reportedly walked away, but police followed him and stopped him at 2 S. Campus Ave. He was identified as Miami University sophomore Daniel Kana, 20.

Kana reportedly had an odor of an alcoholic beverage on his breath and bloodshot, glassy eyes. According to police reports, he seemed agitated that he had been stopped.

Kana reportedly told the officer he had already been cited for the same incident in September and just wanted a break. Kana reportedly said he had learned his lesson and this was the first time he had been in trouble since then.

Kana was cited for underage intoxication and disorderly conduct.

SAMANTHA LUDINGTON The Miami Student

Because of the continued educational success of the Ohio university system, including increasing enrollment and graduation rates, the state has been chosen to test a new program aimed to prepare community college students for universities.

Schools receive recognition Graduation rates to rise

By Melissa Tacchi For The Miami Student

Miami University and Ohio public colleges are predicting an increase in enrollment and graduation rates for the 2010-2011 academic year.

Miami University admission counselors have already received confirmation from 2,380 students for the upcoming fall semester, a 30 percent increase from the number recorded last year at this time, according to Ann Bader, senior admission counselor.

“Last year we were a few hundred short of what we expected,” Bader said.

“Because of the economy and a lack of scholarship and financial aid, the enrollment numbers dropped, but we readjusted financial aid and rewards this year in hopes of building a class of 3,500.”

The Ohio Board of Regents is also crediting financial adjustments for

the recent enrollment and graduation increases across the state.

In the fall of 2009, Gov. Ted Strickland “held a line” on tuition increases in order to “make higher education more affordable in Ohio,” according to the Ohio Board of Regents.

Since then, 44,627 more students have been enrolled in Ohio colleges and universities.

The tuition freeze was only one of the many efforts that contributed to the recent increase in enrollment rates, according to Eric Fingerhut, chancellor of the Ohio Board of Regents.

“We felt it was important to expand the number of transfer credits at every institution to make it easier for students who change schools,” Fingerhut said.

“We are also making efforts to create a common calendar across the Ohio university system for the

wSee GRAD, page 8

State to pilot new program

By Abbie Harper Senior Staff Writer

Because of Ohio’s progress toward improving higher education, the state was chosen as the first to test a new pilot program that employs the same goal.

The Governance Institute for Student Success (GISS) is an effort intended to increase the number of community college students who obtain a college degree.

Ohio Board of Regents Chancellor Eric Fingerhut said he believes Ohio was chosen because of its impressive track record involving college education.

“I think it’s because we already have in place our Strategic Plan for Higher Education and our strategic plan contains very ambitious and concrete goals for student success, which is a fancy way of saying improving our graduation rate,” Fingerhut said.

The GISS will be put in place in Ohio over the next three years by the Association of Community College Trustees and the

Community College Leadership Program, both based at University of Texas at Austin.

Supported by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, this new program is intended to boost the amount of community college students that graduate by improving their overall educational experience.

“That means we have to make sure we’re putting students in the right courses and doing well with advising,” Fingerhut said. “We have to make sure students are prepared for the courses and make sure they get greater support for them to be able to succeed in those courses.”

Although Ohio will be the first state to implement the GISS, Rob Evans, Ohio Board of Regents press secretary, said a second state is going to be announced in the next few months to take on the program as well.

Fingerhut said this initiative will not only benefit students, but will also help the entire state.

wSee GISS, page 8

New hotel plan up for approval by City Council

By Hunter Stenback Senior Staff Writer

A new hotel planned for Stewart Square is headed to City Council for approval after being accepted by the Oxford Planning Commission with a 5-1 vote.

According to Alan Kyger, economic development director, the idea came for a hotel in Stewart Square after developers decided to alter their original plans for a third retail and apartment space.

Kyger said Stewart Square was first approved in the city of Oxford as a Planned Unit Development (PUD). PUDs are used to lay out plans for buildings or developments, which are then approved.

The first phase for Stewart Square was building CVS and Patterson’s Café; the second phase was implementing retail on the first floor where First Financial Bank is and residential units on the upper floors.

“In my opinion, they realized that there seems to be plenty of student housing right now and there is still open retail on the first floor in the open parts of phase one and phase two, so the Stewart Square Developers were looking at alternatives and they came up with the idea of putting a hotel there,” Kyger said.

As a result of changes to the PUD, the developers of Stewart Square were required to ask the Planning Commission for approval of their changed plan.

“Because they were doing something slightly different than what they said they would do, they had to go back to Planning Commission and ask to amend their PUD,” Kyger said. “This building is slightly larger than the one that was originally approved, and in a PUD there is supposed to be a 20-foot setback between a property line and any building, and this hotel will go into that 20-foot area.”

As a result of the changes, the Planning Commission recommended the hotel to City Council with certain conditions attached, including the addition of sidewalks throughout the complex, increased landscaping and a distinguished drop-off area outside the main entrance to the hotel.

Kyger said the planning commission wants developers to provide sidewalks inside the complex and to increase landscaping along College Avenue.

“What they are saying here is that because there will be a little encroachment into that 20-foot property line rule, the Planning Commission wants to see the landscaping beefed up a bit,” he said.

“They also want a different pavement delineation from the drop-off area at the main entrance to the proposed hotel, and I have a feeling that they are just trying to get it so that people know not to park in that area.”

According to Kyger, the developers are hoping that the hotel will bring more tenants to the other

SAMANTHA LUDINGTON The Miami Student

Oxford City Council will vote on the construction of a hotel proposed for Stewart Square. The development will be made in lieu of student housing. empty spaces in Stewart Square’s other buildings.

“Some of the advantages of the hotel are that it’s neither residential housing nor retail in the sense that you then have to find retailers or tenants to take its place,” Kyger said. “When it opens up as a hotel, it will be immediately 100 percent rented. If you put the hotel there, I believe the Stewart Square developers are also hoping that it will attract more tenants for the retail spaces that are currently open.”

As far as economic impact, Kyger said Oxford has much to gain from a new hotel in the city. He said there is a 6 percent bed tax that goes to the city of Oxford for those who stay in hotels, and in 2009, $326,980 were collected in bed tax.

Kyger said the proposed hotel would bring about 15 fulltime or full-time equivalent jobs to Oxford.

Miami University sophomore Cameron Innis said the hotel would be a welcome addition to Oxford,

especially for visiting parents.

“I think a new hotel would do great in Oxford because it seems like my parents can never find a room,” Innis said. “They almost always have to stay at least a half hour away.”

Kyger found similar results when looking at occupancy rates across Oxford hotels.

“If you have a parent that tries to stay here on a weekend, you know what it’s like to get a hotel room here,” Kyger said. “In general, 10 and a half months the weekends are about 95 percent and above occupied, so on the weekends there will be very little cannibalism of other hotels.”

Ultimately, Kyger said the hotel would bring additional business to Oxford.

“If you’re not staying in Oxford, you’re going to spend less time in Oxford, so it’s not only the income from the bed tax but also from them eating here, shopping here and spending here,” Kyger said.

THE MIAMI STUDENT

TUESDAY, APRIL 27, 2010 ♦ 5

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Tuesday

April 27, 2010

Features

Editor Amelia Carpenter carpenab@muohio.edu

S U BBbUudSs s d u b

By Hannah Poturalski For The Miami Student

After 13 years of driving for the Miami Metro, Gene Foley is still one of the friendliest faces on campus.

Gene’s favorite part of the job is the daily interaction with students.

Gene, 68, drove an elementary school bus for 29 years and said his former boss once told him, “Sometimes when students get on the bus you’re the first person they see after maybe having a bad situation. Always say hi.”

Gene always engages students by asking where they are from, what they are studying, how many credit hours they take and what they want to do after graduation.

Gene said he always stresses the importance of education.

“It’s made very interesting conversation,” Gene said. “In all the years, I’ve never met a student with a negative attitude. They are all well-mannered and polite. It’s always been like that.”

Almost by accident After being in the Navy, Gene worked for 42 years as a mail processing mechanic at the Ohio Post Office in Cincinnati. After retiring from that job, Gene worked on things around the house but found himself still wanting something to do.

During fall 1997, Gene took an employment test at Miami and was told he’d be hired at the dish room in the Marcum Conference Center. After weeks of waiting for the call, Gene saw a listing for Miami Metro drivers.

“They hired me on the spot,” Gene said. “I got the Express 1 Route and didn’t know if I’d like it or not. I eventually got to like it.”

Gene finally got a call back from Marcum, but it was too late by then.

When Gene was hired in 1997, the Express 1 Route was four 15-minute rotations in an hour. Now it is three 20-minute routes. Gene’s Express 1 Route begins at 7 a.m. and ends at 1 p.m.

“I have a little bit of an advantage over other routes because I see the same students every day,” Gene said.

Lifelong friendships Erik Moss, class of 2007, considers Gene one of his close friends. As an ROTC student, Moss was consistently at Millett Hall and rode the Express 1 Route all four of his years at Miami University. As a senior, Moss didn’t ride the bus as often.

“He would hop on once in a while his senior year and we got to be good friends,” Gene said.

Moss said he has a lot in common with Gene since they’re both in the military and like to run. That’s why he asked Gene to render his first salute at the end of his senior year.

“When I asked Gene, his eyes lit up,” Moss said. “He worked out to fit in his uniform and it made me feel good inside that I was making his day.”

Gene said Moss is a “super nice person” and it was a pleasure to meet his mother and father.

“I was honored,” Gene said. “It was one of the biggest things of my career.”

Moss shared similar sentiment.

“That commissioning was the most memorable day of my life, due in large part to Gene,” Moss said. “It was an awesome experience.”

Josh Betts, a December 2005 graduate, got to know Gene well from riding his bus for two and a half years.

“I got to know him because we were on the same schedule three to four days a week,” Betts said. “He’s a great guy and was nice to athletes and consistent riders.”

Betts played Miami football and was quarterback after Ben Roethlisberger left. Betts said they would talk a lot of football and Gene would come to the games.

“When he graduated, he gave me a signed football,” Gene said.

Gene meets a lot of student athletes on the Express 1 Route, whether it is football, baseball, basketball, track or softball. Gene tries to go to athletic games as often as he can to cheer on the students he knows.

PHOTOS : SAMANTHA LUDINGTON

Greg Judy, class of 2008, lived far off campus his junior year and started taking the Express 1 Route.

“Gene always drove in the morning and was friendly, even to people he didn’t normally talk to,” Judy said.

Judy said he eventually started to sit up front and talked sports with Gene.

“We’d always shoot the breeze,” Judy said.

When in a service job, Judy said it’s important to have good communication skills.

“When you’re taking kids to class it’s important to have a good relationship, it makes the trip go by faster,” Judy said. “Out of all the bus drivers, Gene was the one that actually tried to connect with students. I thought that was neat.”

Making a best friend Gene was fortunate enough to meet his best friend from his Miami Metro job — Tim Fritzsche, a Miami alumnus and driver — on the Express 2 Route. They met nine years ago when Gene introduced himself on Fritzsche’s first day of work.

“We hit it off,” Gene said. “He’s a good family man.”

Ever since, they’ve been going to the community gym and church together every week.

The two families go on boating and camping trips together.

“Gene has honesty, integrity, sincerity and innocence that is hard to find,” Fritzsche said. “I feel like Gene is a part of my family. He knows all my kids and grandkids.”

The two men even have a special handshake they do twice a week.

Fritzsche said Gene follows the basic premise of treating people how you want to be treated.

“He gets so many accolades from other riders,” Fritzsche said. “He’ll get cards at Christmas time with gift certificates and I wonder, ‘How does he get this stuff?’”

Fritzsche joked that Gene can remember every football player’s name and number of yards but will sometimes forget his glasses or clipboard.

“He’s genuinely interested in people,” Fritzsche said. “He’s a personable individual who takes time to get to know each rider. He has vitality for life.”

Fritzsche said he and Gene enjoy their jobs and it’s the students that make it so enjoyable.

“We know there’s hope for the future because we meet really bright, responsible students who have dreams,” Fritzsche said.

Give a little, get a lot Moss said how successful you are in life depends on how you treat others. He said if you engage people, it makes your job worthwhile. He said students need to be nice to bus drivers as well because it works both ways.

Moss said Gene is like a grandfather figure and always looks out for everyone and waits on them.

“He gets along so well with everyone,” Moss said. “The charisma he has is unreal.”

Moss, who now lives in San Diego and works at a Navy base, said he talks to Gene at least once a month and Gene hopes to take a trip out to California soon.

“I got a lifelong friend out of someone you normally say two words to,” Moss said. “I’m fortunate to have such a good friend. I look up to him and model my life after him. I try to emulate him.”

Betts said in the service field, not everyone enjoys what they’re doing. He said being pleasant makes all the difference. Gene is the only Miami Metro driver Betts remembers and knew on a somewhat personal level.

“That extra effort means a lot to students,” Betts said. “Gene would greet you with a smile and take care of you.”

Gene said he hopes to drive the Express 1 Route for at least another year.

“I’m not getting any younger,” Gene said. “It’ll be tough because I enjoy going there in the morning and talking to students. I wouldn’t want to drive any other route.”

HANNAH MILLER The Miami Student

THE MIAMI STUDENT

TUESDAY, APRIL 27, 2010 ♦ 7

THE MIAMI STUDENT

TUESDAY, APRIL 27, 2010 ♦ 8

Chief Justice Eric Brown to speak at reception uptown

By Kelsey Bishop Community Editor

Chief Justice of the Ohio Supreme Court Eric Brown will be the guest of honor at a reception co-sponsored by Miami University College Democrats, which will take place from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Friday at Kona Bistro.

According to Don Daiker, Butler County Political Action Committee president, this is Brown’s first trip to Butler County since Gov. Ted Strickland appointed him as chief justice, and this is his first trip ever to Oxford.

“I think he was impressed by the fact that the Oxford community is so enthusiastic and so active in support of democratic candidates on both the state and local levels,” Daiker said. “We invited him a month ago and promised there would be a gathering of very active democrats who would be supporting him in the upcoming election.”

Brown said he was happy to accept the invitation and that he takes every opportunity he can to meet with people throughout Ohio and talk with them about the court system.

GRAD

continued from page 4 same reason.”

Graduation rates have also shown promise as they have progressed by a few thousand heads every year, Fingerhut said. However, the results of the enrollment increases are not expected to surface for a few more years.

“The first step in Gov. Strickland’s strategic plan is to increase the number of graduates,” Fingerhut said. “Following such a success, we hope to keep our graduates here while continuously attracting out-of-state graduates to Ohio.”

Some students are concerned that Gov. Strickland’s plan may not be targeted for out-of-state students.

“While I admire Gov. Strickland’s efforts to improve college affordability, I feel that the benefits are mainly geared towards in-state students,” Miami Uni-

“I’m travelling the state all the time and speaking with people about the importance of balance on the Supreme Court and how the justice system can matter to them,” Brown said. “More importantly, I want to listen to people and hear what’s on people’s minds to see what they think about our courts.”

Senior Aaron Bly, president of the College Democrats, encourages students to attend the event.

“This is a really huge event to have a justice potential come and visit us, especially with his credentials,” Bly said.

“It’ll be nice to have him be a reminder that voting is right around the corner and to make people more politicallyminded before the election.”

Both Bly and Daiker said they see Brown’s visit as signaling a change in the political climate of Butler County.

“I see his coming here as a sign of Butler County gradually, but surely, moving from republican to democratic,” Daiker said.

Daiker said Brown is expected to speak around 6:40 p.m.

Other guests include local democratic candidates for the county central committee in the May 4 election.

“I want to make sure that folks know that courts throughout the state are accessible to everyone and that all people who visit courts will be heard,” Brown said. “I also want to encourage students’ future plans and let them know that they can do anything they want to do.”

The Ohio Supreme Court is comprised of seven Republicans, and Brown is the endorsed Democrat on this November’s ballot.

“I’m really excited to meet him and see what he does in the upcoming election,” Bly said.

Tickets for the reception can be purchased at the door for $10. There will also be a cash bar a complimentary appetizers.

“Students have already demonstrated just by being students in a wonderful university like Miami that they are eager to learn and they are curious about the world, so I’m glad I’ll get a chance to be heard by them,” Brown said.

To become a sponsor or host for this event, contact Clyde Brown at ebrown@muohio.edu or 513-523-0883. All sponsors or hosts receive one ticket, acknowledgement at the reception and a photograph with Brown.

GISS

engaged in that process,” Thomas said.

He said the GISS will benefit Miami by better preparing community college students who then transfer to four-year universities.

“We would benefit in the sense that once students have had that work and transfer to four-year universities, they’re that much farther along,” Thomas said. “It allows them to complete the remedial coursework so that they’re really ready to participate at the collegiate level where the work’s more demanding.”

Thomas also said anything increasing the educational attainment of Ohioans is a good thing, even if it’s not directed specifically at Miami.

Some Miami students agree and think it’s important for everyone who has the opportunity to get a college degree to do so.

“I think it’s a good idea,” sophomore Torie Windle said. “I think it’s really important for people to finish school and get their degree. Otherwise, their classes have been a waste of time.”

versity sophomore Michael Gorkin said.

“I am from out-of-state and my tuition has not reached a ceiling.”

The plan has also affected enrollment rates in community colleges. In 2008, the in-state population in these colleges reached 97 percent, according to the Ohio Board of Regents. Because of the number of in-state students, they are often the focus of tuition regulations.

“The line that was placed on tuition increases commonly caters to undergraduate in-state students,” Fingerhut said.

Accompanied by the Ohio Board of Regents, Gov. Strickland intends to continuously implement affordability policies, Fingerhut said.

Successfully increasing enrollment and graduation rates are vital stepping-stones in their efforts to inspire the economy, Fingerhut said.

“We hope to drive economic prosperity in Ohio through the growth of our education system,” he said. “We must develop an educated workforce in order to create business expansion.”

continued from page 4 “The more people that have a college degree, the stronger the work force is,” Fingerhut said. “It’s also about creating a stronger economy for Ohio. It’ll attract more jobs and more companies to our state.”

The GISS initiative is aimed at community colleges, but Fingerhut said Ohio is not limiting its efforts only to these types of schools.

“This particular project is designed for community colleges, but we do have a similar goal for all universities, and that’s to increase the graduation rate,” Fingerhut said.

So far, Miami is doing a great job of fulfilling the goals of Fingerhut’s strategic plan, said Randi Thomas, Miami director of institutional relations.

“Every time we graduate students we’re

THE MIAMI STUDENT

TUESDAY, APRIL 27, 2010 ♌ 9

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Opinion

Tuesday April 27, 2010

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.

Online applications will facilitate employment

S

tarting fall 2010, all Miami University student job applications will be consolidated into one website. Students will be able to create a profile and click on jobs for which they wish to apply.

University officials hope this system will save time for both students and employers, make it easier for students to find and apply for jobs and cut back on paper use.

The editorial board of The Miami Student supports the online format for on-campus jobs. Because searching for an on-campus job can be both overwhelming and confusing, especially for new or first-year students, the board believes that this method of job application will make searching and applying for jobs much easier than looking at long lists of jobs and using traditional paper applications.

The board believes the online student job application process is an example of interdepartmental communication that will facilitate the evaluation of students’ applications.

Because each application will be sent to a reliable, tested online human resources system, each student can be certain that his or her request will be sent to and reviewed by the correct departmental employer.

The board supports the paperless application process and believes this new program will help Miami become more environmentally sustainable and use less paper resources. The board also believes the consolidation of applications will help the campus save valuable time and money.

Because this application process is much easier than the paper system, the board foresees a flood of applications. To prevent an overload of responses to listed jobs, the board recommends that employers for more specialized jobs require additional material or prerequisites to ensure the best candidates get the jobs. The board also suggests this new job application system be communicated to each student, especially new and first-year students.

Miami needs outdoor recycling for sustainability

T

his past year, Miami Univer- outside the Shriver Center, King Cafe sity placed 289th out of 346 and Bell Tower Place. Installation of colleges participating in Re- the remaining receptacles can take cycleMania, a recycling competition place whenever old trashcans need started in 2001 between Miami and replacement. In this manner, cost can Ohio University. Unlike many of the be minimized and distributed over a other campuses participating, Miami period of time. This editorial board is lacks outdoor recycling facilities. not suggesting Miami make a huge It is embarrassing for Miami to capital investment in the middle of have fallen so far behind in our re- a budget crisis. It just seems Miami cycling efforts after showing such is all too eager not to spend on outleadership only a dedoor recycling and cade ago. The April has worked hard 20 demonstration to find reasons not In addition to the vast to make the inoutside of the Shriver Center by Green potential for long-term vestment instead Oxford showed just of finding ways to cost savings, how many potential make it possible. increasing recycling recyclables are beAt the same and reducing waste is time, Miami should ing sent to Rumpke’s landfill from Miami take steps to reduce simply the right each day. Donning the use of disposthing to do. jumpsuits and gloves, able items — esGreen Oxford found pecially packaging over one-quarter of — in dining halls the waste in the trash and carryout locacans right outside Shriver could have tions. The effort to reduce plastic bag been recycled. use by selling reusable bags showed The university has dismissed calls promise but has had limited results. for outdoor recycling bins due to the At the same time, dining halls are costs of installation and maintenance. stocked with hundreds of paper cofMiami has also claimed students fee cups when many students own should simply carry recyclables to the reusable mugs but have been disnearest indoor bin. Given that most couraged from using them. Reducing buildings are closed at night, this is the use of disposable materials will a half-solution at best. The editorial save Miami the cost of constantly reboard of The Miami Student believes plenishing them and sending them to it is time for Miami to make good on the landfill after they have been used its many green promises. just once.

It is not vital for 300 bins — the In addition to the vast potential for number Miami has claimed would long-term cost savings, increasing be necessary for effective collection recycling and reducing waste is sim— to be immediately installed all ply the right thing to do. Miami must over campus. Miami should start by stop living the delusional fantasy that installing combination recycling and resources are infinitely replenishable trash receptacles in high traffic areas and landfills infinitely expandable.

The Miami Student

HANNAH MILLER The Miami Student

➤ LETTERS

“Big Ben” should take responsibility for his actions The news about Ben Roethlisberger is both sad and disappointing, but surprising it is not.

Narcissism in our celebrity culture and the God-complex it creates is all-pervasive. Stories like Roethlisberger’s are naturally becoming more commonplace. The news may come as a surprise, however, to the countless number of Miami University administrators and marketers who have been placing Ben on the highest possible pedestal since he first stepped on campus.

Miami has featured “Big Ben” on more university pamphlets and posters than Benjamin Harrison, William Holmes McGuffey and Rita Dove combined. The fever pitch surrounding Ben reached its pinnacle when he won a Super Bowl championship, the highest “honor” bestowed upon an individual in modern American society.

In my own graduation ceremony at Miami, I recall his name being cited by nearly every speaker. According to them, he was an example of an alumnus who achieved the type of greatness towards which we all need to strive.

We love our pedestals here in the U.S., and universities are not innocent of creating them.

And exhibiting them for public display. Winners up! Losers down! To be sure, all of us are guilty of occasional hero worship, but unfortunate occurrences like these have a way of humbling us back to reality.

Ben is responsible for his own actions, and so are we. Perhaps this tragic episode will make us reflect on our own values and redirect our recognition to those who actually deserve it. I have in mind someone like a struggling walkon player who plays out of sacrifice, enjoyment and dedication — and actually embodies Miami’s motto: Prodesse Quam Conspici.

Miraj Desai

desaimu@gmail.com

Library resources need to be supported by community Lane Library is one of the few places that I visit at least once each week throughout the

year. It started when I was taking my baby girl (now 23) to story time after I first moved to Oxford. It continued through the years when my kids were looking up books for the school RAH (reading at home) program and when I was picking up scouts from meetings held in the library meeting rooms. Over the years, the library has provided the opportunity for me to discover new authors (check out the Serge Storms adventures of Tim Dorsey or anything

by Christopher Moore or Neil Gaiman) and to keep up with the work of favorites (check out the mysteries of A. C. Baantjer or Stuart Kaminsky). It now provides a source of audiobooks for chauffeuring trips with kids, books for evening reading and DVDs for viewing at the end of a busy day or week.

The recent financial challenges have hurt many organizations, including our gem of a local library. I was sorry to see the impact on the library staff and the restriction on hours of operation. I can’t imagine the even greater disruption if more funds are cut from our library’s operating budget. That is why I am asking you to join me in supporting the levy for Lane Library. Our community enjoys a special resource, a resource that I believe is well worth preserving. Please join me in voting yes for our local libraries.

John Bailer

baileraj@muohio.edu

Write TMS Letters must be signed with first and last names to be printed.

Please send letters via e-mail to: miamistudent@muohio.edu or mail to: 17 MacMillan Hall Oxford, Ohio 45056

➤ WORLD AT A GLANCE Warsaw – The twin brother of Poland’s recently deceased president will run in the summer presidential elections.

Oldest university newspaper in the United States, established 1826

EDITORIAL BOARD Catherine Couretas Editor in Chief Erin Fischesser 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

Amanda Seitz Campus Editor Kelsey Bishop Community Editor Katie Giovinale Sports Editor Amelia Carpenter Features Editor Anna Turner Amusement Editor Samantha Ludington Photo Editor Hannah Miller Art Director

San’a, Yemen – The British ambassador in Yemen escaped a suicide attack by a man who lit his explosives belt near the ambassador’s car. The attack may be seen as a threat to the United States-sponsored campaign against al-Qaeda.

THOMASINA JOHNSON, SAM KAY The Miami Student

OpEd Page

THE MIAMI STUDENT

TUESDAY APRIL 27, 2010 ♦ 11

➤ ESSAY

➤ PERSPECTIVE

More printing creates more problems Some of you will know exactly what I am about to describe and PowerPoint slides just to walk into class truly prepared. Students some of you will wonder how you missed the crazy phenomenon are buying printers at reasonable prices, but to keep enough ink and that swept through Oxford two weeks ago. For two days on cam- paper for the constant demand of how many documents are needed pus, King Library and some of the other printing sources on cam- for 15 credit hours of study is extremely costly. Just a black ink pus had free printing. cartridge from HP alone, not even the color cartridge, costs at least Let me just say that it was amazingly satisfying to hit that print $15, with prices going up to even $35. button, walk to one of the printers and click on my 10 page docuSo here’s the bottom line: teachers are requiring students to print ment with swipe card ready in hand and have the computer read out more documents and students have to spend more of their own $0.00 next to my unique ID. money to do so. The result is that students are not I should have felt bad I was killing trees as I printed bringing documents to class because, let’s face it, anything I desired for free. However, the fact that we if a teacher wants you to bring in a document that already pay 10 cents per sheet to print with printers Let’s face it, we all is 30 pages it’s much easier to just “forget.” There that have already been paid for with bulk quantities of is a way to solve this problem. paper and ink Miami provides for those printers some- love the word free, Each year we have various fees tacked onto our but free printing? tuition, like the Miami Metro bus fee. A way to how justified, in my frugal college mind, these few sheets of papers I was freely printing.

I never thought I solve the printing frustration is to have a small For a small period, even the color printer at King fee included in tuition at the beginning of the year Library was available to print documents for free. I would see so many which would allow students to print a maximum students excited laughed as I saw students going back and forth from of 5 pages a day. Anything more than that, Miami their computers, printing what looked like endless could charge the 10 cents per sheet to make revover this. documents of materials. enue. If students are charged $80 at the beginning The ironic part of all of this was that no one said of the year, this would mean that they could print anything about the free printing. It was as if it was our out 5 pages daily without having to worry about little secret and we were all too nervous to speak out loud the sweet cutting corners and not being prepared for class. If you want to words, “Printing is free,” all for the fear it would stop being true. condense PowerPoint notes onto five pages, then you can. If you I laughed over this whole scenario with friends and even some need to print out a four page paper, you can. staff, but the real question is: why was I so excited to print for Many people might not want to have extra fees added to their free? I know that anything labeled “free” that is catered to college tuition, but in the end it would help with students being prepared students makes us giddy. Free food; we all flock towards that res- for their classes. Not everyone got to partake in the printing scandal taurant. Let’s face it, we all love the word free, but free printing? I that flowed across our campus, but our school and every student never thought I would see so many students excited over this. One can learn from the unique experience. of the core reasons for this is that professors have been told to cut back on the amount they are allowed to print and photocopy for Kelly Dawes Smith smithkd3@muohio.edu students. Thus, students now have to print out articles, journals and

➤ THE MIAMI PLAN

Miami’s rank should be taken seriously Miami’s rank in publications like the Princeton Review and the US News and World Report does matter.

It is understandable that the university normally embraces positive rankings and tries to explain away poor ones by objecting to their validity or methodology. Despite the unfairness of these rankings — the inability to Brett capture the Miami experiSchneider ence in just a number — they remain instrumental to the college search process, especially for first generation college students, so the university needs to play the game. We need to posture, manipulate and window dress in order to advance our rank, especially in the two aforementioned lists. Better to feed the beast than to be swallowed by it.

Whether they judge us positively or negatively, none of the ranks that boil down multiple components to produce a single number score are legitimate. In the US News and World Report, Miami ranked 62nd in 2005, 66th in 2006 and 2009 and this year we’ve fallen to 77th. Last year, the US News and World Report considered Miami to be a better school than Worcester Polytechnic Institute, but this year the company believes Worcester Polytechnic Institute to be the better institution. So for any sophomores who had narrowed their

college search down to WPI and Miami, it is not too late to transfer, but remember that doing so will hurt us in the ranks. Although, maybe you have been reading the Princeton Review, where Miami’s overall score improved this year, and you are willing to stay.

To be clear, these rankings are all inaccurate. Should the university ignore them, refusing to acknowledge any sort of rank that these self-serving lists provide us? Or should we continue to let each list’s treatment of us determine our treatment of it?

That is, read a titillated university president’s remarks on the positive movement in the Princeton Review and contrast them with his disgruntled comments on the US News and World Report following a rankings drop. Or, we could be proactive, taking steps to tweak our rank by manipulating the metrics. For example, if we could solicit a flood of applications from wholly unqualified students and then reject them all, we would increase our measured selectivity

Simultaneously, we need to improve those components that are legitimate benefits to Miami students.

and improve our rank. We could also always cap classes at 19 and 49 so that we capitalize in the class size scores, but the professors would need to teach more sections and would probably prefer not to do so. It is not right, but it might prove effective.

The best thing for the university is to strive to be like Iowa, which has a rank similar to ours but also excels tremendously in particular programs (first in creative writing). The best strategy, then, is to focus on pushing programs, one at a time, into their respective top tens with excessive resources and attention. Getting recognized for more top programs rather than an overall general good regard for the school would positively affect peer assessments, which are a huge component of these rankings.

Simultaneously, we need to improve those components that are legitimate benefits to Miami students. Namely, our graduation rate, which is one of the highest in the nation among public schools, could be pushed even higher. Next, the university has to find more funding for research. President Hodge noted that the US News and World Report measures input more than output and a major component of input is funding for research, so this goal dually improves our rank and benefits undergraduate students.

Truly, nothing that is good for the school will drop us in the rankings, so perhaps President Hodge’s job performance should be judged by our movement in ranks as well as by improvement in college affordability.

➤ GUEST ESSAY

Upham Hall must be more accessible Students walk past Upham Hall everyday recognizing the building as one of Miami’s trademarks. It could be argued as the most romantic area on campus due to the superstitions that surround the arch and the record number of couples who renewed their wedding vows beneath it last June.

However, its picturesque image and romantic appeal quickly evaporate once inside the building. With halls that are difficult to navigate, randomly situated steps and recent construction, finding a classroom in Upham can be a difficult task. What most students do not realize, however, is that navigating these halls with a disability that affects mobility is far more difficult.

This is often referred to as “able bodied privilege,” meaning that those who are without a mobility disability do not recognize the boundaries faced by those with them. For example, if you are late to class and take a short cut down a path with stairs, you do not stop to think that someone with a mobility disability would be unable to take this shortcut. The same goes for Upham Hall. When walking to class, one does not even consider the three random steps that block the middle of the hall. These steps come in awkward places and are only occasionally located next to a ramp. Where

the mini stairways are not accompanied by a ramp, as in places on the third floor, a person with a mobility disability is forced to backtrack, take an elevator to the second floor, cross the hallways on the second floor and then take another elevator back to the third floor.

However, one would need to locate an accessible entrance into the building in order to know this in the first place. As one such entrance is currently located near construction, it is difficult to find. A second entrance near the greenhouse outside Upham claims to be an accessible entrance. However, there is no button to push to automatically open the doors and therefore, despite an available ramp, it is difficult to get into the building.

Fortunately, another accessible entrance will be revealed once the current construction on Upham is completed, according to the February 19, 2010 Miami Student article “Upham Hall transforms to changing academic needs.” Until then, however, students should be mindful of the inaccessible maze that is Upham Hall.

The Miami Student is looking for essayists.

E-mail Jessica at sinkjk@muohio.edu.

Sarah Kipp

kippsj@muohio.edu

“Big Ben” support is hypocritical On Sunday, April 25 the Hamilton Journal-News ran an article entitled “Miami still big on Ben.” Miami University officials expressed in the article the university did not intend to downsize on its support and the presence of Ben Roethlisberger at the university.

Several quotes in the article cited Roethlisberger’s upstanding character and “spit and polish young man” qualities.

This support of a man who has been accused of rape twice now is hypocritical and embarrassing for the university.

Following an alleged hate bias crime incident and controversy over the name of an annual offcampus party, Ghetto Fest, the university released this statement: “Let me be very clear, the administration does not condone any language or action that is hateful, discriminatory, sexist, racist, homophobic or that in anyway alienates anyone from this community.”

Although he has yet to be proven guilty, the allegations against Roethlisberger are the epitome of hateful, discriminatory and sexist acts and the university should in no way be expressing support of such alleged actions by commenting on Roethlisberger’s “great character.” No one has yet to be charged in the hate bias crime on Saturday, April 17 yet the university supported stands against the actions, but when asked about supporting Roethlisberger, Board of Trustee member Don Crain replied, “…I believe in the Constitution and people being innocent until proven guilty.”

Roethlisberger’s alleged actions have even been punished by the National Football League (NFL), yet the university still chooses to side with Roethlisberger and come close to dismissing the allegations made by a 20-year-old female student who claimed to be raped by the football star. “…The reports in the media are completely inconsistent with the Ben Roethlisberger I know,” Athletic Director Brad Bates said to the Hamilton Journal-News.

This statement inadvertently debases the claims of the alleged victim, a problem that is so prevalent in society that it should not be tolerated on Miami’s campus, where rape is not uncommon.

When any woman is brave enough to talk about one of the worst sexual experiences of her life, the university should be in support of this difficult decision, not question it.

Miami has a history of faltering on sexual assault reports and support of victims. The school was fined in May 2005 for failure to follow guidelines in the Clery Act regarding notifying victims of university charges against sexual assault assailants.

This article proves that Miami is once again not taking a serious enough stance on sexual assaults.

Is there a reason that the university is in such support of an alleged serial rapist, one that did not even graduate from the university?

Multiple other outlets have condemned Roethlisberger’s actions even though he has not been found guilty. There is no reason that the university should not follow in these steps of condemnation.

It is a sad day when the NFL punishes alleged rape and sexual assaults more than a university which just recently took steps to improve acceptance and intolerance of hate on campus.

At the end of the day, Miami needs to ask itself what famous Benjamin it would like it’s students to resemble, the 23rd president Benjamin Harrison who advocated for civil rights and equality or Benjamin Roethlisberger, the superb athlete who has been accused of rape multiple times?

Amanda seitz campus editor

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THE MIAMI STUDENT

TUESDAY, APRIL 27, 2010 ♦ 13

LOBBYING continued from page 1

focus, but we strive to go beyond the confines of the university,” Thomas said.

Lobbying efforts were able to secure money to fund the improvement of dangerous intersections with high crash ratings on Routes 27 and 73. These improvements benefit students, residents, and travelers who use these intersections every day.

Cory Brown, a sophomore involved in the new political living learning community run by Thomas, said Miami has benefited greatly from the lobbying work.

“Without lobbying you are missing out on the opportunity of free money,” Brown said. “It really gives us a leg up.”

Lobbying helped provide funding for the university libraries to get equipment that helps preserve valuable documents. The university owns many one-of-a-kind documents, such as Nazi propaganda and the

RECYCLING continued from page 1

to fund that,” Vaughn said. “Of course, in the current economic times, coming up with funding for projects is difficult.”

Vaughn has a different approach for being environmentally conscious on campus.

“Overall, recycling requires a change

McGuffey readers.

“There are a number of materials that once they are lost, they are not just lost to Miami but to anyone who would want to use them,” Thomas said.

Federal funding has allowed the preservation of these documents so they can be viewed by the public. Funding has also supported the digitization of these valuable documents.

“Not only are we preserving them for Miami students, but for the rest of the population,” Thomas said.

Federal funding also supported the creation of the Center of Structural Biology and Metabonomics led by eminent scholar and professor Michael Kennedy. The center has partnered with children’s hospitals around the state to do metabonomics research and work toward preventing childhood diseases.

“We try to get dollars for things that will impact the student experience, but we also try to look more globally at how we can submit projects that will benefit the region, the state of Ohio and hopefully the nation

in attitude to truly embrace sustainability and go from what’s easy to what’s best for the university and community we live in,” Vaughn said. “If we can get people to embrace the idea of being conscious enough to carry recyclables to the nearest (indoor) recycling container, we don’t have the carbon footprint of creating additional containers, the cost of implementing new containers that would last in Ohio weather and the cost of maintaining these containers.”

Senior Jeff Finley isn’t convinced that

and beyond,” Thomas said.

When lobbying in Washington, Thomas said these projects are supported because of the way they benefit those inside and outside the university.

“We try to leverage the great things that our faculty and staff are doing here for students and the greater community to try to get them additional funding to be able to do those sort of things,” Thomas said.

In addition to these partnership projects, the money spent on lobbying is used to monitor legislation at the state and federal level that is going to have an impact on Miami.

With the state of the economy, major cuts are coming to funding, Thomas said.

Lobbying money goes toward making sure these cuts are not directed toward the university.

“We advocate to have more state funding put into higher education,” Thomas said.

Without lobbying, the money needed to fund many of these special projects would not be accessible.

“It brings home the bacon,” Brown said.

Vaughn’s plan is entirely reasonable and has noticed the lack of recycling options on campus.

“It wouldn’t be that much harder for me to stick an empty bottle in a pocket in my backpack and bring it to where I had a recycle bin in my dorm or even in the dining halls, but it would be much more convenient if they had recycling bins outside,” Finley said. “It’s kind of strange that they have trash cans on nearly every street corner, but little to no recycling bins outside.”

APPLICATIONS continued from page 1

According to Pat Brown, a sophomore at University of Kentucky, his school already uses this system.

Brown said students can fill out an online application and wait to see if they are placed in a position.

“It is a good idea, but you rarely get feedback,” Brown said.

Matt Hopp, a junior at Miami, said a common application would make things much easier and believes that finding a job on Miami’s campus is relatively easy.

“If you look hard enough, I think you can find a job on this campus,” Hopp said.

Stoss said the departments would be able to utilize this tool for all student employment.

“We are going to have all the departments use this website,” Stoss said. “They’ll be able to send all their requests for student employment.”

Stoss said this website will be up and running in the fall.

“Right now, we are in the testing phase,” Stoss said.

According to Stoss, the university is trying to finalize the process, but the website will be up and running by the time fall employment application starts.

9,000 ... The number of Miami Student readers who will see

ShareFest 2010 May 6 - May 13, 2010

Move Out Week

Donate good-quality furniture, Don’t Throw It Out! appliances, housewares, clothing, and non-perishable food!

Make It Count!

Needed Donations

• Nonperishable food • Clothing • Unused toiletries • Sofas, beds, tables, chairs • Small appliances Ki • Kitchenware • School supplies • Cleaning supplies & tools

How to Donate

• Place in designated residence hall locations • Schedule a pickup and volunteers will come to your house or apartment D • Drop off items at 550 South Locust Street

Tax Deduction Forms Are Available For more information about donating and volunteering, visit

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THE MIAMI STUDENT

14 ♦ TUESDAY, APRIL 27, 2010

Apple Tax Free Day

One Day Only!

April 30 Come to the Miami University Bookstore

Apple’s One-Day-Only Sale Friday April 30, 2010 We pay your sales tax on all Apple Computers and iPod purchases.

Enjoy the incredible savings!* *Available to Miami University faculty, staff and students only at the Miami University Bookstore.

Visit the Miami University Bookstore on April 30, 2010 to purchase your Mac or iPod -- Tax Free!

Phillip R. Shriver Center 513-529-2634

Sports

THE MIAMI STUDENT

baseball

’Hawks dismantle Zips 16-5

By Alex Butler Senior Staff Writer

This weekend the Miami University RedHawk baseball team had an opportunity to make a splash — that is, if they could find a dry day to get onto the diamond.

The sun peaked out of the clouds just long enough and with a series sweep of the University of Akron Zips (16-22, 2-13 MAC). Head Coach Dan Simonds’ squad evened up their record while climbing the ladder in the Mid-American Conference.

But the weather wasn’t the only drama.

“The most important thing right now is the MAC wins,” Simonds said. “We want to be above .500, but well above .500, but right now it’s just really chipping away. Playing good baseball in the MAC — our theme all season long has been ‘get better.’ Keep getting better — hopefully we will continue to do that.”

Friday, the RedHawks (20-20,7-8 MAC) played a dozen innings of baseball. Sophomore Jordan Jankowski pitched three scoreless innings but will only be remembered for his walk-off base knock in the 12th inning after the Zips tied the contest up 5-5 in the eighth frame.

Jankowski’s RedHawk teammates flocked to the plate in elation as first baseman Kyle Weldon came in for the winning run and a 6-5 RedHawk victory.

“It was the first pitch,” Jankowski said. “It was a pretty good situation with guys on base so it just needed to come to me and I saw the pitch to hit and I got on it and that’s it. It was a big win for us.”

Saturday the Red and White crammed the same drama into regulation. This time, Weldon provided the final swing with a three run blast over the center field fence in the bottom of the ninth inning for a 7-4 triumph.

“It’s certainly a big win,” Simonds said. “What’s most impressive is that we made a couple mistakes, which we’ve done here recently to beat ourselves. We didn’t panic, we just kept playing the game.”

Sunday, the Red and White left it all on the field and used a 10 run fourth inning to coast to a 16-5 dismantling of the Zips. Weldon crushed another round tripper while junior Adam Eaton bolstered his case by raking four hits and coming a triple shy of the cycle.

Weekend lumber leaders for the Red and White were Eaton (7-16, two homeruns, six RBI), Weldon (four RBI, two homeruns), Jankowski (5-11, homerun, four RBI) and Kevin Bower (four RBI, homerun).

“The ball hasn’t been bouncing our way lately,” Jankowski said. “We had to enjoy the win and it’s a good feeling with your teammates.”

The Red and White will take a five-day break until they head to Bowling Green State University Friday.

The RedHawks and Falcons will battle at 3 p.m.

golf

MU irons out ninth place finish

By Hannah R. Miller Staff Writer

In their final tournament before the MAC Championships, the Miami University golf team did not play as well as they hoped at last weekend’s Boilermaker Invitational, finishing tied for ninth place out of 12 teams. The disappointing results were paired with a rain delay during play Saturday, making for a less than desirable weekend.

“These final results are a little deceptive because we were in good shape after two rounds,” Head Coach Casey Lubahn said.

“Today with the combination of the weather and weak attitudes, we fell pretty far back. We were knocking on the door all week, so the finish is a little disappointing.”

Junior Nathan Sutherland agreed with Lubahn’s disappointment, but kept a positive outlook.

“We’re not beating ourselves up too much,” Sutherland said. “We have some things to work on if we want to be a top notch program,

but we just need to think of what we can improve on.”

From here, the RedHawks look to get back into the pattern of success they found in previous tournaments, hoping to put together a victorious combination for the MAC Championships.

“We know we have a team that’s capable of being there Sunday afternoon,” Lubahn said. “It’s just a matter of being positive and sticking to a game plan.”

In each of the first two rounds, the team shot a 294, six over par each day. With the postponement of Saturday’s second round, delayed by rain, the RedHawks completed the second round Sunday morning before playing the third round. In the third round on a wet course, the ’Hawks shot a 312, finishing the round 24 over par, leaving them at 36 over par for the weekend. The University of Illinois won the tournament, shooting 10 under par over the course of three rounds.

“It wasn’t the best timing (for the rain delay),” Lubahn said.

“We were playing pretty well and we had a little momentum, but we have to be tougher than that.

We need to step up and say ‘hey, no matter what we’re going to get this done.’”

The bright spot in the tournament was the play of Sutherland, finishing in 10th place overall, and arriving at his fifth top 10 finish of the season. He completed the invitational with a personal score of 219, three shots over par. Even with the poor weather and challenging course conditions, Nathan’s play emerged as a highlight for the ’Hawks.

In order to prepare for the MAC Championships, Lubahn sees it as mostly a mental hurdle.

“We need to come together as unit, stop making excuses and start getting each others’ backs,” Lubahn said. “Lastly, we need to believe that the process will get us the results that we want.”

The ’Hawks look to get back on track next weekend at the MAC Championships in Nashport, Ohio April 30 to May 2.

THURSDAY APRIL 27, 2010 ♦ 15

HITCHCOCK continued from page 16

on the league. But the 2007 playoffs proved even worse for Nowitzki and his team. The Golden State Warriors, coached by Don Nelson executing “Nellieball,” were able to shock the NBA with an unfathomable upset of Dallas, making it the first time an eighth seed had beaten a number one in a seven game series. After his shortcomings in the NBA Finals and an inexcusable “choke” the next year to a team led by the unstable Stephen Jackson, Nowitzki was battered and bruised by the talking heads on ESPN. Partly due to his international (German) background and to the sports media’s penchant for kicking a high profile athlete when he is down (see: Tiger Woods), Nowitzki had a fall from relevancy as LeBron reached new heights and Kobe learned to embrace a team game.

Dallas lost in the first round in 2008 and in the second round in 2009. It seemed Nowitzki’s stint as a premiere super duper star was over. But this season things seemed different. Teammate Jason Kidd was in sync, Jason Terry was deadly from the arc, Caron Butler was a significant impact player after being snatched at the trade deadline and it seemed that perhaps the Lakers would break a sweat on their way to the NBA Finals.

Nevertheless, the San Antonio Spurs, led by a power forward with too many miles on his legs to be effective anymore (Tim Duncan), a point guard who is arguably

past his prime (Tony Parker) and a shooting guard with a massive receding hairline and a broken nose (Manu Ginobili), have pushed the Mavericks to the brink, taking a 3-1 lead as of Sunday night. With the series going back to Dallas for game five, Nowitzki will need to show major determination and patience to prove that he is not a regular season star who cannot come through when it really matters (a la Karl Malone, Vince Carter and Amare Stoudemire).

Things seem grim when you recognize that a veteran, battle tested team like the Spurs are in the driver’s seat of a playoff series and may be unstoppable. However, NBA fans should not count out the feisty German; a recurring theme for the past couple of years in sports has been that of sports figures squashing their critics and doubters while reaching the pinnacle of their professions (Alex Rodriguez, Kobe Bryant and Peyton Manning).

Nowitzki’s true character will be showcased in the next week.

If disappointment presents itself, one can only hope he will work that much harder and get that much fitter and dangerous in the post. At the age of 31 and factoring in his height, even someone who takes as good care of himself as Nowitzki will break down physically eventually. With LeBron crushing every foe in his path and Kobe still at his peak, a cynic would say Nowitzki’s chances of stealing a title past his prime are bleak. But the rub is that cynics probably said the same thing about Kevin Garnett and David Robinson. The lesson: the future is unpredictable. Just ask fellow European Pau Gasol.

16

Sports

Tuesday

April 27, 2010

SCOTT ALLISON The Miami Student

Junior Justinn Eddie wins the 200m dash with a time of 22.01.

baseball and golf, page 15 Editor Katie Giovinale giovinkl@muohio.edu

Redshirt freshman Katie Scannell competes in the 400m hurdles. Scannell won the event with a season-best 1:03:37.

track

Miami dominates in RedHawk Invitational

By Andrew Tonne and William Morin Staff Writers

Lucas Ferguson qualifies for the U.S. Junior Nationals Meet with his throw.

Dirk’s days as an NBA player unpredictable Sam Hitchcock

That’s Debatable

I

n Dirk Nowitzki’s defense, he probably got robbed in the 2006 NBA playoffs by atrocious reffing. In a sport where in one season you can completely redefine your legacy, poor Nowitzki is falling into a familiar trend - shrinking in crucial moments when his team needs a big play. Nowitzki, of the Dallas Mavericks, probably pictured the 2010 playoffs, now marching full steam ahead, playing out differently. He had another phenomenal year, finishing the season with 25 points per game, 7.7 rebounds per game and averaging 38 minutes a night. The guy has been a force; a 7-foot center possessing the uncanny ability to have guard like skills. Tenacious and gritty, he even has a sneer, which oozes “competitor!” to his opponents - by all means the guy should be a superstar.

But ever since game three of the NBA Finals in 2006, where the Mavericks were up 2-0 on the Miami Heat and then proceeded to lose four straight to Dwayne Wade and Shaquille O’Neal, it has been a struggle to stay in the upper echelon for Nowitzki. In 2007, he won the MVP and as the first seed, Dallas was poised to finally make its mark

wSee HITCHCOCK, page 15

In their second and final home meet of the outdoor season, the Miami University women’s track and field team, scoring 11 event victories including seven out of the eight field events, won the meet with 255 points.

Sophomore Samantha Gable highlighted the field events for the ’Hawks this past weekend. Her first place toss in the shot put of 45-5.75 (13.86 meters) was a personal best and placed her sixth all-time at Miami in the event. Gable also took first in the hammer throw with another personal best of 177-2 (44.29 meters), which places her third all-time at Miami.

On April 22 to 23, eleven members of the women’s track and field team traveled to the University of Pennsylvania (Penn) in Philadelphia to compete in the prestigious Penn Relays. This the largest meet any of the RedHawks had run this season.

“With over 100,000 spectators, it was quite an experience for the athletes,” Head Coach Kelly Phillips said.

The big stage seemed to bring out the best of the ’Hawks. The distance medley relay team of Amanda Mirochna, Kelley Miller, Katie Lenahan and Rachael Clay shattered the previous school record of 11:43.18 with a time of 11:31.48 on their way to a fourth place finish. Mirochna, Miller, Lenahan and redshirt freshman Jillian Dickman helped break the 4x1500m relay school record with a time of 18:44.66 while finishing 12 in the event.

“We were solid at Penn Relays,” Phillips said. “Any time you go to a meet that large, sometimes your athletes really blow up. They handled it well and got

some great experience.”

The RedHawks will be back in action next weekend in Columbus, Ohio at the Jesse Owens Classic.

In the men’s track team’s second and final home meet of the season, Miami had one of their best yet, winning seven events and capturing multiple personal bests for the athletes.

A major highlight of the meet came from freshman Lucas Ferguson, who tossed the 12-pound hammer 194-8 (59.33) meters, qualifying him for the U.S. Junior Nationals Meet in June. Ferguson also placed second in the discus with a throw of 156-11 (47.84) meters, falling close behind John Gausmann with a personal best throw of 164-6 (60.14) meters.

Another personal best came in the form of Matt Rudin in the pole vault, successfully vaulting 15-9 feet, winning him the event. Also, junior Michael Perry won the 1500-meter run with a personal best of 3:58.39.

Junior Justin Eddie won the 200m dash in 22.01, and junior Jesse Whitman won the 110m hurdles with a time of 15.92. In the 400m dash, freshman Alieu Sillah placed second with a time of 48.75.

Head Coach Warren Mandrell attributed the overall and individual successes of this meet to being at home.

“The throwers are used to the consistency of the field and the runners are familiar with tracks, which in the end will give them lots of momentum for next week’s high level meet against numerous Big Ten teams,” Mandrell said.

The Jesse Owens Classic will be held April 30 to May 1 at The Ohio State University, where the teams hope to continue improving and gaining momentum for the final stretch.

softball

RedHawks strengthen record at home

By Nick Bonaventura Staff Writer

Miami University’s softball team continued to excel at home over the weekend, winning three of four games in Oxford.

The ’Hawks split a Friday doubleheader with the University of Toledo before sweeping Bowling Green State University with wins Saturday and Sunday.

Miami’s record stands at 23-20 overall and 8-6 in the Mid-American Conference (MAC). The Red and White have a record of 11-5 at home and a 12-15 record in road or neutral site games.

“I think it’s just the atmosphere,” sophomore pitcher Jessica Simpson said. “We’ve been able to get a pretty good amount of fans at our home games. It’s just fun to be able to play in front of our friends and families.”

In the first game of Friday’s doubleheader, Toledo took the early lead with a solo home run in the top of the second. Miami responded quickly with three runs in the bottom of the inning highlighted by sophomore third baseman Daniela Torres’ fourth home run of the season.

The RedHawks would tack on six more runs in the bottom of the third, which was plenty of scoring to earn a victory for senior pitcher Meredith Linch as the ’Hawks won 10-1 in five innings.

In the nightcap, Miami jumped out to a 3-0 lead before Simpson gave up a three-run homer to Toledo in the fourth inning that tied the game.

The Rockets would essentially win the game in the sixth with eight runs, due to two Miami errors that kept the inning alive.

The RedHawks fell 11-6.

MICHAEL GRIGGS The Miami Student

Senior shortstop Sarah Billstrom snatches up a ball in Saturday’s game v. Bowling Green.

In Saturday’s game against the Falcons, Miami used another strong outing from Linch and timely hitting to win 6-3.

The RedHawks led 3-2 entering the bottom of the sixth, and were able to add three runs to secure a victory, highlighted by senior shortstop Sarah Billstrom’s single that drove in two runs.

In the weekend’s finale, both teams battled wet conditions, but Miami won 3-2. Simpson fought through the weather en route to a complete game victory, giving up one earned run on seven hits while striking out seven. “(The weather) wasn’t too much of a problem, I just had to make sure I got a new ball every time it got wet and I was fine,” Simpson said. “Luckily it wasn’t raining ridiculously hard.”

Simpson gave up an unearned run in the first inning and then was able to settle down and shut out the Falcons until a solo home run in the top of the seventh finished

their scoring.

“I had faith in my team that we would eventually score,” Simpson said. “I just had to shake that inning off and know that I would pitch better and we would play better defense the rest of the game.”

As the ’Hawks get closer to the MAC Tournament, Head Coach Kelly Kovach Schoenly stressed the importance of finishing the regular season strong as they look to repeat as tournament champions.

“I am a firm believer of teams gaining momentum heading into the tournament,” Schoenly said. “So, in our next 10 games, we have to continue to gain confidence in our offense and work to shut teams down defensively. The team has been putting the work in at practice to feel that confidence so I expect they will be ready when the time comes.”

The Red and White play next in a doubleheader at Western Michigan University April 30.