ESTABLISHED 1826 — OLDEST COLLEGE NEWSPAPER WEST OF THE ALLEGHENIES
Volume 149 No. 5
Miami university — Oxford, Ohio
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2020
Miami slow to isolate sick students
Redskins, blackface and Ghetto Fest: Cultural appropriation throughout Miami’s history MADELINE PHABY ASST. NEWS EDITOR Every year around Halloween, a similar conversation takes place across all social media platforms: what costumes are and aren’t considered “cultural appropriation?” Put simply, cultural appropriation is when a person adopts an
DESIGN EDITOR OWEN BERG
JAKE RUFFER THE MIAMI STUDENT One month after Miami students moved onto campus in September, the process of dealing with COVID-19 remains uncomfortable and unfamiliar, and for many, it hasn’t gotten any easier. On-campus students have reported waiting up to two days to be contacted by the university and moved have tested positive for COVID-19,
leaving them unsure of how to proceed in the time left between. First-year Sanika Marwah and her roommate were moved into isolation at the Miami Inn on Oct. 12 her positive result on Oct. 11 and her roommate the day before. structing them to log into a patient portal for their results, and they initiated phone contact with the university themselves. “No one gave us any phone call or any information about our results
until my roommate actually called the school,” Marwah said. They spent the following days self-isolating in their room and trying to avoid others in the bathroom. “They didn’t tell us what to do, so
experience this isolation limbo shortly after moving into their dorms.
our rooms,” Marwah said. “But then we went to the dining hall one time and we wore two masks, and we just grabbed our food and left as fast as we could.” First-years Jackie Cameron and
with symptoms outside of isolation. Reagan learned she was positive Sept. 22 and waited two days to move into the Inn on Sept. 24. The two report self-isolating under the same fears that Marwah
21, then again on Sept. 25 after comtive the same day and moved into iso-
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they aren’t a part of. The cases of this phenomenon that most people are familiar with are those in which a member of a dominant culture – generally a white person – appropriates an aspect of a marginalized culture. Nowadays, the more blatant forms of cultural appropriation — namely, costumes that explicitly mock people of other races and ethnicities — are generally viewed as inappropriate. But that wasn’t the case until relatively recently, as a quick look into Miami’s history demonstrates. One of the most notable examples of Miami’s history of cultural insensitivity is its former mascot, the Redskins. For years, Miami’s athletic teams were informally referred to as the “Big Reds.” In 1928, though, a sports writer for The Miami Student referred to the football team as the “Big Red-Skinned Warriors,” and by the early 1930s, the “Redskins” Despite “redskins” being used as a derogatory term against Native Americans since early colonization, the use of the mascot was generally accepted for decades. In 1972, the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma even expressed support for the university’s use of the mascot. In 1996, though, the Tribe rescinded its support, which was a CONTINUED ON PAGE 2
Conrad Formal Gardens neglected due to pandemic TAJ SIMMONS STAFF WRITER On the corner of North Patterson Avenue and East Withrow Street, across from The Miami Inn lie the the Conrad Formal Gardens. But this year, it’s anything but blossoming. “I used to walk on the Formal Gardens for exercise, but now that they have fallen into dilapidation and total abandonment, I’m afraid to walk there,” local resident Carol Burke said. Students who are used to walking in the gardens have observed the absence of plants as well. “I used to love taking in the natural scenery at the gardens, but this year, it’s just so sad to see it gone,” said Claire Schoenfeld, a junior professional writing/media and culture double major. Cody Powell is the associate vice president of facilities planning and operations of the physical facilities at Miami. He explained the reasoning behind the barren garden, simply saying there was no one to maintain it. “Last March, the decision was made to go remote, which is when we plant in the gardens,” Powell said. “If we don’t have any students, we aren’t going to have any workers. It came down to the simple fact them.” Kirsten Ann Conrad, a horticulturalist and the eldest granddaughter of Arthur F. Conrad, the namesake of the garden, took notice, too.
“The Formal Gardens are a huge treasure, not only to the university, but to the surrounding community as well,” Conrad said. “It’s a unique campus environment.” Although she said she understood the decision to not maintain the garden, that didn’t stop the disappointment she felt. “They named the garden after a man who dedicated his whole life to it,” Conrad said. “To see it empty is very disheartening.” Conrad said she was interviewed to be a horticulturist for the gardens and the campus two years ago, a position her grandfather held long her the job. If she had been hired, Conrad said she had many ideas for the garden, including a transition to being self-reliant and hosting various fundraisers. “I spent a lot of the interview talking about how the garden could such as tree donations, where individuals or companies can sponsor a tree on campus or in the gardens,” Conrad said. “I suggested brick donations, where for a certain amount of money, people can have their names in them. Think of how many bricks there are in that garden.” Finally, Conrad thought the gardens could bring a slice of home to international students on campus. “I understand that Miami has a large international community, so why not plant things that are originally from their hometowns in the gardens?” Conrad said. “I feel like there’s so many ideas that could be taken advantage of.”
This Issue NEWS
CULTURE
MACtion is back, but are masks a part of the training program?
What is Miami's wizarding world's take on J.K. Rowling?
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ALONGSIDE PLANTS IN THE CONRAD FORMAL GARDENS, THE SPIRITS OF THE OXFORD COMMUNITY HAVE ALSO WILTED. PHOTO EDITOR BO BRUECK
Although this season there are is optimistic on the near future of the gardens. “Hopefully we can return to normal functioning next semester,” Powell said.
Conrad said she, too, is hopeful for a restoration of the beauty of the gardens soon. “I can’t wait for the return of plants to the area,” Conrad said. “I think it’s such low-hanging fruit for
producing good vibes for students and others.” @simmons_taj simmontp@miamioh.edu
OPINION
It ain't easy being the #1 sibling
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Hockey's back, baby page 9
Halloween is coming. Don't costume. page 10