(67$%/,6+(' — OLDEST COLLEGE NEWSPAPER WEST OF THE ALLEGHENIES
Volume 156 No. 1
BACK TO SCHOOL EDITION
Miami university — Oxford, Ohio
From first-year to fifth-year: Advice from a graduating student
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$11$ 5(,(5 OXFORD EDITOR When Josh Elkotiwz imagined starting school at Miami University, he did not envision online classes and EHLQJ FRQ¿QHG WR D GRUP URRP
In this issue
(ONRZLW] D ¿IWK \HDU VWXGHQW studying engineering management with a specialty in manufacturing, started classes at Miami during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. For him, Miami was only as big as President’s Hall (now Marcum Hall).
SEAN WIESEMANN
The relationship between protests and American universities - page 5
OXFORD SECTION
What to do in Oxford: Food and drink - page 6
because of COVID, but in general, it is something people need to focus PRUH RQ HVSHFLDOO\ DW ¿UVW ,W¶V QLFH WR be good friends with your roommate, but if that doesn’t work out, then you must go outside of your comfort zone.”
The games of the semester: 4 RedHawks games to watch THE MIAMI STUDENT
CAMPUS & COMMUNITY
1RZ DV KH ZUDSV XS KLV ¿QDO VHmester, he has some advice for the next generation of Miami graduates. “For me, the hardest thing when I came to Miami was getting out of the dorms and doing things other than school,” Elkowitz said. “It was hard
The fall semester is here, which means it is nearly time for another year of excitement at Miami UniverVLW\ VSHFL¿FDOO\ IRU WKH 5HG+DZNV With a combination of old faces and new, including four new head coaches, this is an athletic department that is trending in the right direction. YV &LQFLQQDWL 6HSW )RRWEDOO The importance of the Battle for WKH 9LFWRU\ %HOO KDV VLJQL¿FDQWO\ LQFUHDVHG DV WKH 5HG+DZNV WDNH RQ a University of Cincinnati Bearcat squad with 47 new players on their roster, including former Indiana University Hoosier quarterback Brendan 6RUHVE\ 7KH 5HG+DZNV FRPLQJ R̆ an improbable 31-24 overtime victory in the 2023 edition of this series, KRSH IRU WKHLU ¿UVW UHSHDW YLFWRU\ LQ this series since 2002-03. Additionally, this year’s game will be played at Yager Stadium for the ¿UVW WLPH VLQFH PDNLQJ WKLV DQ
especially meaningful home game for Miami. For second-year head coach Scott 6DWWHU¿HOG DQG KLV %HDUFDWV WKLV game will be an early non-conference WHVW WKDW FRXOG EH WKH GL̆HUHQFH EHtween a bowl game and a shortend season. What makes this game even more important is the announcement that this series, the oldest non-conference rivalry in all of college football, will end in 2026 at Paycor Stadium. With the series tied at 60-60-7, which team will take home the Victory Bell IRU WKH ¿QDO RQ FDPSXV JDPH FXUrently scheduled? YV &HQWUDO 0LFKLJDQ 6HSW 9ROOH\EDOO After a month of regional invitationals for Miami, new head volleyEDOO FRDFK 'DQ *ZLWW ZLOO ¿QDOO\ JHW D FKDQFH WR FRDFK KLV ¿UVW JDPH LQ front of the Oxford faithful. +H ZLOO KDYH WKH GL̇FXOW WDVN RI replacing legendary coach Carolyn Condit, who won over 700 career games and 10 Mid-American Confer-
ence championships in her 40 years ZLWK WKH 5HG DQG :KLWH The Central Michigan University Chippewas will be the opponent for *ZLWW¶V ¿UVW KRPH JDPH 7KH &KLSpewas, led by ninth-year head coach 0LNH *DZOLN KDQGHG WKH 5HG+DZNV a 3-0 defeat last season in their 15-15 campaign. While Central Michigan beat Miami their last three matchups, the 5HG+DZNV KROG DQ RYHUDOO VHULHV OHDG of 40-28. YV $ODVND $QFKRUDJH 2FW +RFNH\ First-year head coach Anthony Noreen will get his chance to log his ¿UVW FDUHHU ZLQ DW *RJJLQ DJDLQVW WKH Alaska-Anchorage SeaWolves. The 5HG+DZNV KDYH RQO\ IDFHG WKHP three times, with the last matchup HQGLQJ LQ DQ YLFWRU\ IRU WKH 5HG and White in 1987. Alaska-Anchorage has struggled in recent years with zero double-digit win seasons between the 20142015 season and 2022-2023 season. CONTINUED ON PAGE 2
‘It was awful’: Miami University and the 20242025 FAFSA GREENHAWKS SECTION
Miami breaks ground on geothermal wells, advances 2040 carbon neutrality pledge - page 12
AUSTIN SMITH ASST. CAMPUS & COMMUNITY EDITOR
SPORTS SECTION
Coach Puzo and the RedHawks strive for a deep postseason push this field hockey season - page 8
Many delays and errors plagued the 2024-2025 FAFSA form for incoming students. The initial release date was pushed back from the usual Oct. 1 date to late December 2023, leaving colleges unable to access FAF-
stacles for prospective college students nationwide and at Miami, D̆HFWLQJ WKHLU DELOLW\ WR ¿QDQFLDOO\ plan for their education. “It was awful, to put it bluntly, for students and families this spring,” said Bethany Perkins, director of admissions at Miami. ³,W SXW D VHULRXV VWUDLQ RQ ṘFHV OLNH WKH 2̇FH RI 6WXGHQW )LQDQFLDO Assistance … and, of course, the 2̇FH RI $GPLVVLRQ ZRUNLQJ ZLWK students and families.” 7KH )$)6$ 6LPSOL¿FDWLRQ $FW passed by Congress in December 2020, brought many changes to the application process this year. *5$3+,& %< (5,1 0&*29(51 It aimed to expand federal Pell 6$ GDWD XQWLO 0DUFK ² ZKHQ DLG R̆HUV Grant eligibility by linking eligibility to family size and the federal poverty are typically sent out. Students and families were in the level. The bill changed the Expected dark about their tuition bills until afFamily Contribution (EFC) to the Stuter the May 1 enrollment deadline at many universities, including Miami dent Aid Index (SAI), contributing to University, complicating the college D VLJQL¿FDQWO\ ORZHU PLQLPXP IDPLO\ contribution than before. The bill also decision-making process. )$)6$ GL̇FXOWLHV IRU WKH rewrote the form, intending to simplify and speed up the process. FODVV RI Issues surrounding the 2024-2025 )$)6$ IRUP FUHDWHG VLJQL¿FDQW RE-
CONTINUED ON PAGE 2
2OLYLD $GDPV DQ LQFRPLQJ ¿UVW year marketing major, will start at 0LDPL XQGHU D GL̆HUHQW VHW RI FLUcumstances. While she won’t have to worry about quarantine or virtual classes, she said she’s still concerned about college life. “The thing I am the most nervous about when I get to Miami is meeting new people and adapting to this new way of life,” Adams said. “I’m moving into a dorm that will be a very GL̆HUHQW VW\OH RI OLYLQJ WKDQ ZKDW I am used to; learning to live with a roommate in a small space is my main concern right now.” To combat this, Lielyn Mercer, a senior chemical engineering major, recommends staying as friendly as possible with your roommate. “Even if you aren’t the best of friends, you have to live together,” Mercer said. “Even if it gets hard, just don’t make things weird.” Another bit of advice Elkotiwz gave was how to structure the academic day, because that was one of his main struggles when arriving at Miami. “College is a big change from high school,” Elkowitz said. “In high school, everything is laid out for you. You must be there by this time and do this and that. There is more free time in college. You have to be on your own schedule.” Similarly, Adams’ biggest concern relates to managing her time and schedule. “I’m worried about procrastinating and getting my work done,” Adams said. “I want to use my free time productively instead of staying on my phone or swiping on TikTok.” From a seasoned professional, Elkowitz suggests students utilize GL̆HUHQW VWXG\ VSRWV RQ FDPSXV “Go to the library … go anywhere other than your dorm,” Elkowitz said. CONTINUED ON PAGE 3
Touch grass after class by exploring Miami’s natural areas SOPHIE KWIATKOWSKI STAFF WRITER There is so much more to Miami University than its red brick exteriRU ² VSHFL¿FDOO\ WKH KLGGHQ JHPV RI its natural areas. After a long day of classes, you can satisfy your craving to get more in tune with nature by hiking, leisurely walking and more LQ WKHVH DUHDV )URP WKH ZLOGÀRZHUV of Silvoor Biological Sanctuary to the swinging bridge along Bachelor Loop, there is an abundance of nature to explore. If you’re thinking – “Where should I start?” – refer to the map below displaying Miami’s trails which interconnect and contain plenty of natural areas. On these maps, users can pinpoint where each trail is located and what unique DVSHFWV WKH\ R̆HU )RU H[DPSOH LI you want to walk along a paved trail ZLWK KLVWRULFDO VLJQL¿FDQFH DQG RSportunities for birdwatching, the Bonham Dewitt trail is for you. Olivia Herron, a Miami alumna and director of sustainability at Miami, has some insights on where students should begin their explorations. “Students should start exploring at the trailhead closest to their residence hall,” Herron said. “I think that this is a great way to create a routine around exploring the natural areas, especially if you don’t have a lot of time to go spend outside but still want to decompress after class.” The trails certainly are close to students, sometimes right in the backyard of residence halls. Herron also elaborated on how accessible Miami’s natural areas are no matter where you’re located. “When students hear that Miami has 17 miles of trails, they think that they’re going to have to get in a car and drive somewhere to access them,” Herron said. CONTINUED ON PAGE 3