Student body president and vice president candidates debate before election
ANNA
The candidates for Associated Student Government president and vice president debated key campus issues, including the arena project on Cook Field and the potential impacts of Senate Bill 1 (S.B. 1), in the Fritz Pavillion in Armstrong Student Center on March 11.
On the ballot is Daniel Martin, running for president alongside Kirsten Osteboe, and Gracie Grady, running for president alongside Nya Hodge.
Grady, a junior political science major and American studies minor, said she is running because she doesn’t want “fake promises and surface-level claims.”
“Students want commitment,” she said. “They want leaders to stay committed to the cause of bettering the university … even when it’s hard or unpopular.”
The candidates frst discussed their slogans. Grady, and her running mate Hodge, a junior creative writing and history double major, are running on the platform of “Committed to Miami, Committed to You,” while Martin, a junior diplomacy and global politics major, and Osteboe, a
junior diplomacy and global politics major and French and economics minor, focused their campaign on the slogan “Your Voice, Our Mission.”
During the Q&A portion of the debate, the candidates were asked if they thought student body presidents and vice presidents should respond to controversial issues, including state legislation.
“First, I’d like to say that the things inside of S.B. 1 should not be considered inherently controversial,” Hodge said. “Diversity, equity and inclusion are what make this school great. Gracie and I believe that the student body president and vice pres-
ident have the right to speak on behalf of [our] constituents.” Martin answered the question by referring to his and Osteboe’s outof-ofce hours, one of their key campaign initiatives. “When it comes to something like this … we want to make sure we have the student body behind us,” Martin said. “We want to make sure we are getting every opinion possible … we’ll be doing that through our out-of-offce hours. Everyone within the student body should have a voice and a say in what our stances are.”
CONTINUED ON PAGE 4
Senate Bill 1 disrupts Miami’s academics and culture
KETHAN BABU SPORTS EDITOR
Miami University’s academics may be changed after Senate Bill 1 (S.B. 1) goes through the Ohio House of Representatives. The bill was approved by the Ohio Senate last month, and awaits approval from the House Workforce and Higher Education Committee before it’s sent to the Ohio House of Representatives foor for a vote.
Ohio Senator Jerry Cirino introduced S.B. 1 as the “Enact Advance Ohio Higher Education Act” to the Senate on Jan. 29. The bill covers a wide range of topics, such as prohibiting diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs at universities and forbidding discussions in classrooms about “controversial topics.” Cirino previously presented Senate Bill 83 (S.B. 83), the “Enact Ohio Higher Education Enhancement Act,” to the Senate on March 13,
PARKER GREEN
ASST. CAMPUS AND COMMUNITY EDITOR
In an uncontested election, Managing Editor Olivia (Livi) Patel, a junior journalism and political science major, was elected editor-in-chief on Sunday, March 9. Patel stressed her resume and experience during her campaign speech, highlighting her roles as managing editor, assistant campus and community editor and her various journalistic internships.
2023. The bill passed the Senate before stalling in the House at the start of 2024.
Despite the modifcations to S.B. 83, Cirino reintroduced S.B. 1 as the base version of the bill.
For Kevin Reuning, an associate professor of political science at Miami, he said S.B. 1 went further than the original bill.
“S.B. 83 was amended down a fair amount,” Reuning said, “and then S.B. 1 came in as sort of the original version of S.B. 83 with some other stuf added in.”
The Inter-University Council of Ohio, which includes all 14 public universities in Ohio, responded to S.B. 83 on May 18, 2023 with a letter praising certain aspects of the bill, such as supporting the “free exchange of ideas and debate” in classrooms, but also raising concerns about the vagueness of the bill and the prohibition of DEI training.
“DEI is for students with disabilities, veterans with PTSD, minority
students and students who are new Americans who may need extra help due to language or cultural barriers,” the letter stated. “DEI helps more students achieve the American dream of success via a college education.”
The timeline for S.B. 83 spanned 10 months, from its introduction in the Senate on March 14, 2023, to its stopping point in the House on Jan. 3, 2024, when three Senate Republicans voted against the bill.
However, Ohio Senators passed S.B. 1 on Feb. 12, three weeks after its introduction.
S.B. 1 mandates universities to allow students to “reach their own conclusions about all controversial beliefs or policies.” The bill defnes “controversial beliefs” as any topic that can be considered politically controversial, citing climate policies, immigration and abortion as examples.
KETHAN BABU SPORTS EDITOR
She also unveiled her goals for the future of The Miami Student (TMS).
“I [want] to increase our viewership by reaching students better,” Patel said. “I think the landscape of journalism has changed, and The Miami Student must change with it.”
Other goals of hers include expanding TMS’s presence on social media platforms, implementing more rigorous fact-checking and reworking some sections’ internal structure.
Overall, Patel intends to maintain the standard set by editor-in-chiefs before her.
“I’m excited to just continue the values we have here,” Patel said. “We have a tradition of excellence … and I want to continue that.”
Kasey Turman, the outgoing editor-in-chief, said he is optimistic about Patel’s ascension.
“I think [Patel] will do a really good job,” Turman said. “I think she has good plans that will provide the paper with a good opportunity to be very successful in the next year.”
But Turman isn’t the only one who worked closely with Patel.
Fred Reeder Jr., a journalism professor and faculty advisor to TMS, met with Patel weekly as part of her role as managing editor. Additionally, she served as an undergraduate assistant in his Intro to Journalism class.
“[Patel’s] a splendid student journalist,” Reeder said. “She’s a thoughtful student and no-nonsense leader.” He said he’s also appreciative of Patel’s choice for managing editor, Anna Reier. Reier would take on a more “administrative role,” a departure from the current editorial-focused position.
“That’s a great decision,” Reeder said. “We need [TMS] leaders to be in constant communication with our writers, editors, graphics … we need someone who can just help our student journalists.” Patel and Reier began their tenure on March 12. greenpt@miamioh.edu
The Miami University men’s and women’s basketball teams combined for 42 wins during the 2024-25 regular season, setting a record for the program.
Starting on March 13, the men’s team will have a chance to take its frst postseason wins under thirdyear head coach Travis Steele. The men’s team (23-8, 14-4 in conference play) enters Rocket Mortgage Arena for its frst game of the tournament against the No. 7 Eastern Michigan University Eagles (16-15, 9-9 in conference play).
The RedHawks wrapped up a historic 2024-25 campaign with their 15th-straight home win on March 7 against the Ball State University Cardinals, setting a program record for consecutive home wins.
Under Steele, Miami had its best regular-season record since 199899, when the RedHawks fnished 24-8 and reached the Sweet 16 of the NCAA tournament.
“It’s Christmas for any basketball fans or players or coaches,” Steele said. “I told our guys that we put ourselves in a good position, now we got to take advantage of the advantage that we’ve created.”
The RedHawks enter the postseason boasting eight players who average at least six points per game. Junior guard Peter Suder and redshirt sophomore wing Kam Craft lead the way averaging 13.3 and 13.2 points, respectively.
New Mexican restaurant, Calendula, offers an upscale — yet bland — dining experience Men’s basketball looks to continue historic 202425 campaign at MAC tournament
SYDNEY MULFORD
MIAMI STUDENT
THE
A few weeks ago, everyone started talking about Calendula, the newest restaurant in Uptown Oxford. Being new to campus, I had friends telling me this was a huge deal.
After a busy week of events, I headed to Calendula on a Friday evening and was met with an hour to an hour-and-a-half wait. It seemed the rest of Oxford was as excited to try the newest restaurant in town as I was. Unfortunately, I was too hungry to wait and went elsewhere for dinner.
The next day, my friend and I went back to Calendula for lunch. We were met with a much more relaxed and casual atmosphere and, luckily, a lot more open tables. The service was great — all the waiters and hosts approached me with a friendly smile and kind words.
When we started reading the menus, we found them short, but they still had a reasonable variety. While I did not order from the drinks menu as I am underage, I thought it was adorable because it had diferent cocktails drawn throughout. If I was 21, this alone could have persuaded me to order something. The food arrived quickly, only 10-15 minutes after we ordered.
I ordered El Verde: chicken, corn, tomatoes and cilantro on a corn tortilla. I received two tacos on a well-presented plate. The presentation made it feel more upscale — something I think Calendula was aiming for.
When I dug in, the tortilla tasted really dry and chewy, which did not complement the rest of the taco well. However, I did enjoy the crunch and freshness of the tomatoes, corn and cilantro on top. But even with all the decorative toppings, they could not hide the fact the taco did not have a lot of favor. When I did get a hint of favor, it was really good — just not very noticeable.
REIER ASST. CAMPUS AND COMMUNITY EDITOR
GRACIE GRADY ANSWERS QUESTIONS ABOUT HER PLATFORM IN ARMSTRONG STUDENT CENTER ON MARCH 11. PHOTO BY SARAH FROSCH
Voted Best College Newspaper in 2023 at the Ohio Society of Professional Journalists Awards.
KASEY TURMAN
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
MADELINE BUECKER
OLIVIA PATEL
MANAGING EDITOR
TAYLOR STUMBAUGH
SENIOR CAMPUS & COMMUNITY EDITOR
CHLOE MCKINNEY
CAMPUS & COMMUNITY
EDITOR
KETHAN BABU
SPORTS EDITOR
SAM NORTON
OPINION EDITOR
CHLOE SOUTHARD
CULTURE EDITOR
TEDDY JOHNSON
HUMOR EDITOR
SAM NORTON
GREENHAWKS EDITOR
OLIVIA MICHELSEN
DESIGN EDITOR
SARAH FROSCH
DIGITAL MEDIA EDITOR
KISER YOUNG
SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR
ADAM SMITH
BUSINESS MANAGER
ASST. DESIGN EDITOR
JESSICA MONAHAN
PHOTO EDITOR
STELLA POWERS
ANNA REIER
AUSTIN SMITH
SHANNON MAHONEY
PARKER GREEN
ASST. CAMPUS & COMMUNITY EDITORS
STELLA POWERS
ASST. CULTURE EDITOR
JEFFREY MIDDLETON
ASST. SPORTS EDITOR
TAYLOR POWERS
ASST. OPINION EDITOR
SARAH KENNEL
ASST. GREENHAWKS EDITOR
FRED REEDER JR.
FACULTY ADVISER
SACHA BELLMAN
BUSINESS ADVISER
AIM MEDIA MIDWEST PRINTER
Awards
2023 and 2024 Corbin Gwaltney Award Best AllAround Student Newspaper in the large school category
2023 Ohio Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) Best Journalism Contest — First Place in the Best College Newspaper category
2024 Ohio Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) Best Journalism Contest — Second Place in the Best College Newspaper category
2024 Ohio News Media Association Awards – First Place in Collegiate Opinion Writing
2024 Ohio News Media Association Awards – First Place in Collegiate Sports Coverage in the large school category
University Senate clarifies Honors College requirements, workload changes
SHANNON MAHONEY
ASST. CAMPUS AND COMMUNITY EDITOR
Miami University’s Senate met and heard proposals on changes to the Honors College and Farmer School of Business faculty policy at its meeting on March 10. Additionally, Provost Elizabeth Mullenix addressed the senate regarding changes to the workload policy set to be implemented this fall.
Zeb Baker, dean of the Honors
College, proposed changes to requirements within the college because much of the language is left over from the honors program.
“Now, we have an Honors College with an entirely diferent set of graduation requirements,” Baker said. “It aligns policy with practice, which is necessary.”
Baker also proposed lowering the GPA requirement to receive an honors transcript notation from 3.5 to 3.25. Currently, Honors College students must maintain a minimum
3.25 GPA to remain in the college; however, they must maintain a 3.5 GPA to receive the university honors on their diploma.
Baker said the current system isn’t fair because some students can remain in the Honors College and complete all the requirements, but will not receive acknowledgment on their diploma.
“Of the students that graduated having done everything the Honors College asked them to do last May [11.45%] didn’t earn anything,” Baker
said. “So why did they even bother to complete the program?”
However, Baker said the average GPA of Honors College students is 3.74.
This proposal was met with mixed reactions. Some senators questioned the phrasing of the new policy, which did not make it clear if Honors College students were required to maintain the minimum GPA for their cumulative hours or their required hours.
If students are required to maintain the GPA for cumulative hours, it would include extracurricular classes students take for fun. If the GPA requirement only exists for required hours, this is only the hours required for students to graduate.
Jack (John) Greneir outlined a proposal for a new policy change involving the number of teaching clinical professors and lecturers (TCPLs) that can be hired in the Farmer School of Business. Greneir said the proposed policy would help to protect tenure and tenure-track faculty, therefore protecting the teacher-scholar model.
“We saw no reason to cap the number of TCPLs as long as we are protecting the tenure and tenure-track lines,” Greneir said.
Many senators agreed with Greneir that Miami’s current TCPL policy needs reform; however, they were confused by some of the wording and said the policy needed to state what its intended purpose was to avoid misinterpretation.
“I just think you should look at the policy in context of the other ones,” one senator said. “I’m just afraid this is going to confuse people in the future … because it puts one policy on
all the colleges and then has a diferent policy for FSB embedded in that overall policy.”
Senators also said they felt uneasy about a hard cap on the number of visiting assistant professors (VAPs) they could hire, citing a need for fexibility in hiring practices to be able to teach all necessary courses.
“It scares me a little bit that there would be hard caps on VAPs,” a senator said. “You could have a situation where you had some leaves or illness or something like that, you just really need a VAP in a year, and then you couldn’t get it.”
Mullenix addressed the senate about the workload requirements for the coming fall semester. She said the decision to update the workload policy came because this past fscal year was the last year the university could use reserves to balance the Academic Afairs Budget.
“I do expect that there will be discussion and tweaks as we work to get this right,” Mullenix said.
The new system to assign workload was based on the systems currently used by Kent State University and Ohio University.
Mullenix also clarifed what would be considered “workload” and said publishing books would count towards calculations.
The discussion over workload will continue at the next meeting.
The senate is slated to vote on policy revisions to the Honors College and TCPL hiring practices at its next meeting at 3:30 p.m., March 31 in 111 Harrison Hall.
mahones5@miamioh.edu
PROVOST MULLENIX ADDRESSES
2025. PHOTO BY SHANNON MAHONEY
Cars stolen and damaged in Oxford Men’s basketball looks to continue historic 2024-25 campaign at MAC tournament
Between March 3 and March 10, Oxford police responded to 13 different incidents, according to Oxford Police Department reports.
On March 5, at 4:45 a.m., in the 700 block of S. College Ave., ofcers responded to a domestic dispute. They arrested a male suspect on charges of strangulation and domestic violence.
At 10:43 p.m. that same night, in the 800 block of S. Elm St., a subject contacted OPD to report that a Ring camera had been missing for a month, and they were still receiving
notifcations of attempted logins.
On March 6, at 10:20 a.m., in the 100 block of S. Locust St., two individuals trespassed on property where they had been warned not to be. They were subsequently issued a summons for criminal trespassing.
Later that afternoon, at 3:25 p.m., in the 5000 block of College Corner Pike, a local business called the police for a shoplifting incident. The ofcer located the suspects and approached their vehicle at a gas station. The male suspect was taken into custody, and the female fed the scene on foot. She was later located and gave false information to the offcer concerning her identity.
tempts (23.1%), Miami’s third-lowest single-game percentage of the season.
On March 8 at 4 a.m., in the 0 block of S. Campus Ave., ofcers conducted a trafc stop on a vehicle. The driver was found to be 18 and he had consumed alcohol. An OVI investigation was conducted and led to the arrest of the driver. He was charged with underage drinking, prohibitions and an open container.
At 5:35 p.m., in the 70 block of S. Main St., a highly intoxicated male was found on the bathroom foor of a local business. He was under the age of 21 and in possession of a fake ID. Medics transported him to the emergency room for care.
smith646@miamioh.edu
Student senators listen to student concerns and updates from committee members
Miami University’s Associated Student Government (ASG) heard student concerns about Plan B, parking and Wi-Fi during its March 11 meeting. Senators and secretaries presented updates on the work their committees accomplished and what is next.
Senator Kiser Young committed, or assigned, a student concern about gaps in Wi-Fi in North Quad to the On-Campus Afairs Committee. He said he could not connect to Wi-Fi in the area surrounding the Marcum Hotel parking lot and the formal gardens in North Quad.
Senator Katherine Allison committed a concern about Miami not carrying Plan B in vending machines to the Safety and Wellness Committee.
Senator Quin Ahler, a member of the On-Campus Afairs Committee, spoke about student concerns regarding the new basketball arena moving to Cook Field. He said the issue was brought to the committee’s attention, but since Miami’s Board of Trustees has already voted, there is not much ASG can do.
Senator Charles Li said the crosswalk on East Withrow Street near the psychology building and parking garage needs to be fxed. He said cars parked around the area create blind spots and potential hazards for stu-
dents. The concern was committed to the Safety and Wellness Committee. There were no responses back from previously submitted student concerns.
Committee representatives and secretaries gave ASG updates on what their committees have worked on.
Senator Charles Merrill from the Infrastructure and Sustainability Committee said the Ofce of the President has agreed to match ASG’s contribution to biodegradable confetti for graduation. The committee is also working on legislation with the Ofce of Sustainability to increase signage about sustainability and recycling information.
Secretary of the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Committee, Riley Crabtree, said her committee is partnering with the Academic Affairs Committee to increase awareness about student disabilities. She said her committee is gathering testimonials from students to publish.
Secretary of the Safety and Wellness Committee Jack Isphording said his committee raised more than $6,000 towards suicide prevention through various fundraisers. He also said his committee will be hosting self-defense classes with the Miami Police Department in April.
Senator Kennedy Cook said the Governmental Relations Committee will be sending out a survey gather-
ing data on how students use Miami and ASG resources regarding voting.
Senator Ryan Jeansonne said the On-Campus Afairs Committee has worked on addressing student concerns and are fnding a solution for students to charge the e-scooters outside.
Senator Wade Warren said the Of-Campus Afairs Committee members will distribute door hangers, printed with information about renters’ rights, to of-campus students.
Young and Senator Aubrey Crish said the Communications and Media Relations Committee is working on creating a Miami yearbook and running campaign materials for the upcoming student body presidential election.
Senator Ife Araba said the average request was $4,000 per student organization. Eighty-nine student organizations requested funds.
Student Body Vice President Babs Dwyer said she and Student Body President Will Brinley are continuing work on the accessibility map. The Outstanding Professor Awards nomination form closes on March 14. Students must be seniors graduating this year to fll it out.
ASG’s next meeting is at 6 p.m. on March 18 in the Joslin Senate Chamber.
grovergc@miamioh.edu
The transfers and new RedHawks on the team made their impact known all season, but especially in MAC play. Eight players on the roster never played at Miami before this season, but Steele and his coaching staf worked to create what he calls the “deepest team in the league.”
“It’s strength in numbers for us,” Steele said. “It’s diferent guys, different nights. Luke Skaljac can go for 20, Brant Byers can go for 20, Reece Potter can go for 20, Evan Ipsaro can go for 20. You’ve got all these guys, [and] I think that makes it really hard to prepare for [us].”
Brant Byers, in particular, evolved into one of Miami’s best scorers of the bench. After starting the season with two double-digit performances, the redshirt frst-year wing scored 10 or more points in 11 games against conference opponents, including a season-high 22 points against the Northern Illinois University Huskies on Feb. 25. Byers averages 8.7 points, the fourth-highest on the team, but he also recorded 71 defensive rebounds, 18 steals and 10 blocks in the regular season.
“He impacts the game in a lot of ways,” Steele said. “A lot of people talk about his shooting – as they should, he’s one of the best shooters, in my opinion, in the country – but he cuts, he rebounds [and] he’s tough. He does a lot of diferent things out there.”
The RedHawks split two games with the Eagles, taking the frst matchup 89-80 but dropping the last one 76-66.
In their loss on Feb. 18, the RedHawks allowed senior forward Da’Sean Nelson and senior guard Jalen Terry to put up 25 and 24 points, respectively. Both players average over 16 points per game and rank top fve in the MAC.
Miami stood out for all the wrong reasons in that game. The team that currently ranks seventh in the NCAA for 3-point percentage (39.4%) only sank six shots from deep on 26 at-
The RedHawks will need to emulate their frst performance against the Eagles in this third matchup. When Miami welcomed Eastern Michigan to Millett Hall on Jan. 28, six RedHawks scored at least 10 points. Junior forward Antwone Woolfolk contributed a season-high 21 points.
A win against the Eagles will hand Steele his frst postseason victory with the RedHawks. The team made the MAC tournament in his frst two years, but the RedHawks exited in the frst round against Toledo in 2023 and the University of Akron Zips in 2024.
While Steele has experience at the tournament, Miami holds one of the youngest rosters in college basketball with three frst years and eight sophomores. Combined with four transfers who have never played in the MAC, Steele understands that Cleveland will be a new experience but says the team is still excited.
“They don’t know what they don’t know,” Steele said. “They’re excited. Their excitement level is extremely high, which I think that is maybe the most important thing at this time of the year. That frst game [against] Eastern Michigan is our absolute Super Bowl. We got to go all in on it.”
If the RedHawks progress to the second round, they will face either the No. 3 Golden Flashes or the No. 6 Broncos. Miami went 1-1 against Western Michigan this season, and a memorable overtime victory against Kent State on Feb. 21 secured the RedHawks’ spot in Cleveland.
As for the other teams in the bracket, Miami’s toughest opponent lies in the No. 1 Zips. Akron fnished the regular season with just one loss in MAC play, and the Zips snapped Miami’s eight-game winning streak in January with a 27-point win.
But before anything else, the RedHawks will need to defeat the Eagles, whom they hold a 56-30 record against. Tipof is scheduled for approximately 4:30 p.m. on March 13. babukc2@miamioh.edu
GRACE GROVER STAFF WRITER
ADAM SMITH BUSINESS MANAGER
GRAPHIC BY MACY CHAMBERLIN
International Women’s Day panelists offer inspiring advice
SYDNEY MULFORD
THE MIAMI STUDENT
Miami University celebrated International Women’s Day by hosting a panel of three female deans who shared their experiences as women in leadership roles, with Renate Crawford, Miami’s ambassador, as the moderator.
Amity Noltemeyer, dean of the College of Education, Health, and Society; Renée Baernstein, dean of the College of Arts and Science and Beena Sukumaran, dean of the College of Engineering and Computing, took part in a panel on Friday, March 7. Jenny Darroch, dean of the Farmer School of Business, was unable to attend.
Global Initiatives, International Student and Scholar Services and the Ofce of Transformational and Inclusive Excellence sponsored the event titled, “Elevating Women’s Leadership: Global Perspectives, Local Impact.”
The panelists took turns answering questions from Crawford and members of the audience. They each ofered diferent perspectives, as each panelist had a diferent background before taking on the role of dean in
their respective college.
Sukumaran said she fell into the role of department chair “accidentally.” She felt it was her obligation and duty to step up and take on the role of department chair. As an introvert herself, Sukumaran said she struggled to understand how introverts can be leaders; but now, she embraces doing things she’s uncomfortable with.
“I have also evolved,” Sukumaran said. “I was a very black-and-white kind of person, you know, right and wrong. Now I see shades of grey.”
Baernstein said she also embraced the idea of evolving in her leadership.
“Every new role requires you to learn a whole new skill set and a whole new set of information and people and abilities and networks, and so on,” Baernstein said, “and you have to love that. You have to love learning new stuf in order to be successful at that next level.”
Baernstein stressed the idea of coming into a leadership role with a beginner and humble mindset. She said that no matter how hard the job, especially for women in particular, it is important for them to stay at the table and not give up.
Similar to Baernstein, Noltemeyer
Oxford’s inaugural Pride Prom coming this month
munity as they prepare to celebrate their pride and authenticity.
The Oxford Community Arts Center (OCAC) will host its frst-ever Pride Prom, named “Out & Shining Hollywood Prom,” on Saturday, March 29. The event will take place in the historic ballroom at the OCAC from 7 to 11 p.m.
The night will entail an old-Hollywood style red carpet, where each guest can strike a pose. There will be drag performances by P.H. Dee and Roxie D. Mocracy, with musical guest DJ Renee. In addition to local talent performances, there will be exclusive ofers from Uptown Threads, including a 15% discount at the Uptown store if the Pride Prom ticket is shown. Additionally, Kiki the Barber and Style with Gina have ofered promotions to prom goers. Presale tickets are now available for $7. If purchased after March 16, tickets will be $10. The night of Hollywood glamour is designed to highlight and showcase the beauty of pride. All members of the LGBTQIA+ community, as well as allies, ages 18 and older, are invited.
Marina Young, an employee of Enjoy Oxford, said this night is significant for the Oxford LGBTQIA+ com-
“Pride means that you are unapologetic for who you are, and you’re not going to let other people’s perspective change that,” Young said. Throughout the planning of this event, the OCAC has tried to exemplify the meaning of pride through the diferent nuances of this occasion. Young shared that Oxford is a “closeknit” community that is passionate about celebrating one another.
Young also said that the idea of a Pride Prom came from the Graduate Student Pride Association, who aim to create a prom for older generations who missed their chance to attend a prom as their true, authentic selves.
While showing support for the Oxford LGBTQIA+ community, the OCAC’s night of Hollywood glamour acknowledges and “wanted to recognize the devastation of L.A.,” and the victims of the wildfres.
In addition to attending Pride Prom, there are other ways to support the event.
The Out & Shining Hollywood Prom aims to create a welcoming space for the LGBTQIA+ community, and the OCAC looks forward to Oxford’s participation. mereneak@miamioh.edu
also knows the importance of learn-
ing how to adapt in a role. Noltemeyer gained experience working as editor-in-chief of an international journal. She said through this experience, she learned global perspectives and how to navigate diferent communication styles, priorities and cultures. Throughout all this, she always makes sure to develop an inclusive approach where all voices are heard.
“When I started as department chair, assistant dean or dean, I always do some sort of listening tour and go around and listen as much as I can just to understand what’s working, what’s not working, what are the goals, what are the challenges and what are the resources that are available,” Noltemeyer said.
All three deans also talked about what it meant to be women in their respective felds. When Sukumaran moved to the United States after studying in India, she said she noticed how much more male-dominated the engineering feld was. She also noticed how there were only 29 female faculty members when she started her career in civil engineering. Those 29 women quickly developed a close relationship.
“I always say, ‘I stand on their
shoulders, and I celebrate their successes as much as they celebrate,’” Sukumaran said.
But throughout their careers, all three women said they have noticed a change in the representation of women. Baernstein mentioned the ambition of college-aged girls now.
“Nowadays, I see a lot of young women, college-aged women, who are just killing it,” Baernstein said. “They are achieving like crazy, they’re ambitious, they’re driven, they’re doing the work, and that’s wonderful to see.”
However, the ratio of women in higher leadership positions has thinned out.
Noltemeyer said she had a colleague who, when in a room full of men, would get her ideas shut down. But when a man in the room brought up the idea later on, they would applaud it. Baernstein said she noticed a similar pattern when observing small groups in a classroom. Oftentimes, men would be the dominant voices in groups, but when it came time to present, everyone would back away, leaving the women to speak.
“I [needed] to set careful parameters,” Baernstein said. “I [needed] to set rules on those groups, I [needed]
to do whatever I [needed] to do to make sure that that doesn’t happen.”
All throughout the session, each panelist ofered advice to everyone in the audience – no matter what age.
“Don’t let them intimidate you – stay at the table,” Baernstein said. “Stay at the table, and then eventually you will learn they will come to respect you.”
The event celebrated women in leadership positions and the hardships and lessons learned along the way. However, the event also covered diferent cultures and stereotypical understandings that are important in being a leader.
Joriana Gibbens-Egolf, a frst year studying International Studies, was in the audience. She is interested in women’s leadership and is thinking about adding organizational leadership to her studies. She came to the event in hopes of getting more perspective on the two.
“I think it’s really interesting that Women’s Day isn’t something that’s super big in the U.S., and so being able to have this event on campus is really important,” Gibbens-Egolf said.
mulforsj@miaimoh.edu
VENEZIA MCHENRY THE MIAMI STUDENT
Graduation season is right around the corner, which means it is time to say goodbye to Miami University. Seniors will have their last exam, last dinner with their friends and last class with their favorite professor. They’ll walk across the stage to receive their diploma.
It can be overwhelming to remember all the things that need to be done in this hectic time, so here are six things you should do before graduation.
Apply for graduation
First things frst, apply for graduation through BannerWeb before completing any of these steps. Follow directions at the One Stop website for detailed instructions and important deadlines. Visit Brick and Ivy
It may be obvious, but make sure to visit the Brick and Ivy Campus Store to order and pick up your cap and gown for $29.95. You can also purchase your tassels, stoles, cords and medallions to represent your
time as a student at Miami. There’s also an optional purchase of a diploma frame from the campus store to display your diploma and tassel with pride for years to come. Take senior photos
Hire a photographer or get a friend to take photos of you around academic buildings, the Conrad Formal Gardens or Uptown. Anywhere on Miami’s campus can make for a beautiful photo, especially as spring arrives. Take solo shots or pose with your best friends, but remember to be yourself and take photos that represent your experience at Miami. Buying props and red and white confetti can elevate your grad photos and make
and family to enjoy your favorite Oxford foods and
celebrate your amazing accomplishments over great mac and cheese bites and bagels. Jump on the seal
After you fnish all your exams, make sure to head to the one thing everyone else at Miami treats like the plague ... the seal! You can
ANNA KATE MERENESS THE MIAMI STUDENT
MIAMI’S AMBASSADOR RENATE CRAWFORD MODERATES A PANEL ON INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY CONSISTING OF AMITY
RENEE BAERNSTEIN AND BEENA SUKUMARAN. PHOTO BY TAYLOR STUMBAUGH MIAMI’S
CAMPUS & COMMUNITY
‘How much more are we gonna have to tolerate?’: Miami reacts
TAYLOR STUMBAUGH
SENIOR CAMPUS AND COMMUNITY EDITOR
Two sources are anonymous, and one uses a pseudonym, Julia, for their safety.
The efects of Senate Bill 104 (S.B. 104), which requires people at Ohio K-12 schools and universities to use the restroom that aligns with their gender assigned at birth, have reached Miami University.
The law took efect 90 days after Governor Mike DeWine signed the bill. On Feb. 25, Miami installed paper male and female signs over the four multi-use gender neutral bathroom signs in the residence hall housing the Love. Honor. Pride. (LHP) Living Learning Community (LLC), as well as the ones in Stoddard and Elliott Halls.
LHP is an LLC “dedicated to creating a gender inclusive space for LGBTQIA+ students and their allies during their residential experience at Miami,” according to the Residence Life page on gender-inclusive housing.
The bill, mainly focused on college credit plus, would not prohibit a school from having single-occupancy facilities, only multi-occupancy facilities designated as non-gendered, multi-gendered or open to all genders, according to the Ohio Legislature. However, the law would not apply to someone helping a person with a disability or a child younger than 10 years old, being assisted by a parent, guardian or family member, or in cases of emergency.
“This is not a change that’s happening across campus,” wrote Seth Bauguess, senior director of communications, in an email statement to The Miami Student. “Miami is committed to providing a welcoming, supportive community where all stu-
dents thrive.”
Student reactions
Almost immediately after they were put up, students in the dorm ripped the signs of.
Sofa Kise, a sophomore sociology and criminology major who is part of the LHP LLC, said she noticed that where the signs were supposed to be, only blue tape was left behind.
“The signs were ripped of because this was a promised safe space,” Kise said. “… [And now it’s] not inclusive, and not what it used to be.”
Another sophomore who lives in the LHP and is part of the queer community said it hasn’t changed their day-to-day activities a whole lot, but that’s mainly because a “town hall” was held weeks ago in the residence hall about which bathrooms would change to what.
People from the Center for Student Diversity and Inclusion attended the meeting. Robert Abowitz, the director of residence life, also joined, as well as mental health professionals.
“Even though there’s a lot of anger going around right now, a lot of us are trying to make it through our dayto-day lives,” the sophomore said. “There’s also just an understanding here that no matter what bathroom you use, you are always going to be viewed as your gender and as yourself. The bathroom situation is not going to change how people look at you in this building, and you’re still going to be respected no matter what.”
Two of the sophomores commented that they’ve noticed Miami workers patrolling the bathrooms. One of them, an organizational leadership major, said there were times at 2 a.m. when someone from Miami walked up to talk to them.
“I just want to brush my teeth,” he said. “Like, I don’t feel super safe in my own residence hall anymore.”
He added that he thinks every-
Student body president and vice president candidates debate ahead of election
Candidates were then asked about the next phases of the Cook Field project, and how they would ensure that student voices are heard in the planning process.
Osteboe answered frst, saying, “Everything with Cook Field happened before students were aware of it … before students were really able to voice their minds.”
She said one way to promote student voices was by implementing student suggestions into the arena, including incorporating sustainable eforts to aid in Miami’s goal of being carbon-neutral by 2040.
Hodge then spoke for her ticket, saying that she understands why students were so frustrated, and she is excited to incorporate students into the next phases of the process.
“I’m looking forward to getting student input involved in the next phase of the planning process,” Hodge said. “It would be a privilege and an honor to help navigate what comes next.”
The debate foor then opened up
to audience questions. One audience member asked about the constitutional amendment up for a student body vote, in which ASG would be required to “act in a non-partisan manner at all times.”
“While I will be voting no, we are living in a time when partisanship has been confated with people’s civil rights,” Hodge said. “For the most part, being nonpartisan is to the betterment of ASG.”
Osteboe said that no matter what happens, she and Martin will continue to emphasize the importance of student voices.
“We want to take it in stride,” she said. “Should the bill pass, it’s really important that you guys, students and senators, are playing a big role in these conversations.”
Students can vote on the amendment and the presidential decision from March 17-19 on The Hub and in-person in the Armstrong Student Center from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. reieram@miamioh.edu
to Senate Bill 104
one’s mental health sufered after the signs were changed, and it’s a constant battle.
“A lot of it has just been tolerance,” he said. “This is something you just have to deal with now, and that kind of scares me because I’m like, ‘How much worse are things gonna get? How much more [are] we just gonna have to tolerate?’”
Julia, a sophomore majoring in psychology and neuroscience, said she has her own way of peacefully protesting the signs by drawing “silly little doodles” on the paper when she sees them. She added that sometimes she doesn’t get the chance to even grab her markers before they’re torn down.
“For most people, it’s obviously bad [and] they just feel like, why is this even happening in the frst place?” Julia said. “It’s not even necessarily changing anything other than just feeling like no one’s on our side, and we have to do everything ourselves.”
Miami’s response Abowitz said he met with the community before the law went into efect and informed them that the university was taking a two-prong approach.
One is complying with the law, and the other is supporting students in any way possible. He added that there’s an online map showing people where the single-use bathrooms are on campus.
“I think the language on [the signs] used to be gender neutral, but now it’s single use,” Abowitz said. “As far as I’m concerned, it’s the same thing, but we’re trying to match the language that raises the least attention.”
He said Miami is in the process of getting permanent signs.
“Everybody should have that same safe experience,” Abowitz said. “But now transgender students all around campus have to make the sys-
tem work for them, and that’s challenging.”
In Bauguess’s statement, he wrote that Miami is required to follow the law and, as it does in all cases, will follow it on this matter.
The university’s facilities are in compliance as there are multi-occupancy restrooms that are designated for women or men and single-occupancy restrooms for all individuals to use throughout campus.
Other university responses
Miami’s neighbor to the south, the University of Cincinnati, took a different approach to the new law. According to reporting from Cincinnati WCPO, some bathrooms on Cincinnati’s campus had been changed to say “biological men.”
Since then, the university has apologized and said the new signs will be replaced. A senior psychology major and student leader at Cincinnati said she saw the reaction coming. She said she understands the university was put in a hard position, but she also acknowledged that they’ve been listening to
student voices.
Similar to Miami, she said students at Cincinnati also took down signs, but they went a step further and protested as well.
“It’s really pretty beautiful to see how much students have come together and are fghting back,” she said.
Wright State University renamed its gender-neutral and multi-user restrooms to gender-specifc use, according to reporting from the Dayton Daily News. Also, all single-occupancy restrooms were relabeled as family restrooms.
“I think the main thing that people need to know is this is not just like a queer people issue. This is an everyone issue,” the organizational leadership major said. “... And so I think it needs to not just be on the queer community to stand up and say, like, ‘Hey, this stuf’s kind of screwed up,’ it needs to be on other people to make people feel safe in bathrooms.”
stumbata@miamioh.edu
Senior political science major
Patrick Houlihan, the president of the College Democrats of Ohio, said the vagueness behind “controversial beliefs” opens the door for further censorship.
“The bigger question is, ‘How do you defne politically controversial?’” Houlihan said. “It’s really hard to defne that. When you build a term into a bill, into legislation, that is undefned and really broad, that is a tool to shut down speech in the classroom because you’re not going to want to approach that line.”
According to the bill, it doesn’t aim to prevent classroom discussions or debates. Instead, it wants to allow students to “express intellectual diversity.”
Senior public administration major Spencer Mandzak, the state chairman for the Ohio College Republican Federation, expressed support for this clarifcation.
“It’s not that they want to end the political debates in the classroom,” Mandzak said. “It’s that there shouldn’t be a required side to take.”
S.B. 1 also requires universities to publish their syllabi publicly for every undergraduate course and mandates an American civics literacy course to graduate.
Mandzak said additions like these are benefcial for students, but they are being eclipsed by partisan debates.
“It’s important to split those two diferent parts of the bill,” Mandzak said. “DEI is its own section because that’s just a disagreement among party lines, and then there’s actual student life benefts that are going to come from this bill that I think are being overshadowed by the actual partisan subject.”
Outside the classroom, S.B. 1 prohibits collective bargaining for faculty workload policies, faculty evaluation policies, post-tenure review policies and policies on tenure. Additionally, it bans full-time faculty members from striking.
Cathy Wagner, an English professor and member of the Faculty Alliance of Miami University (FAM), said these restrictions are an infringement on the faculty’s ability to speak out against unfair treatment.
“[That’s] a last resort,” Wagner said. “Nobody wants to strike, but every worker should have the option to strike if they’re being treated so badly that they deem it necessary. We shouldn’t take away that right from people no matter what kind of worker they are.” Wagner also disagrees with the bill’s stance on publicizing syllabi, as she claims it would require faculty
members to publicize their contact information and course schedule as well.
While the university responded to S.B. 83 two years ago, Miami has remained silent on S.B. 1 so far. For Houlihan, the lack of a response raises concerns about how the university will handle policy changes if the bill does get signed into law.
“It’s really disappointing to see the Miami administration not condemn this bill and not try to get the legislature to listen,” Houlihan said. “They have more power than we do as students. They’re the ones that can go to the state house and talk to these people.”
The House Workforce and Higher Education Committee received S.B. 1 after it passed the Senate with a 21-11 vote. When the committee deems it ready, the bill will enter the House foor, where a majority of the 99 members will need to vote “Yes” to send it to Governor Mike DeWine. Republicans hold a 65-34 advantage in the House. Until the House is ready to vote on it, Reuning recommended that everyone voice their support or opposition to S.B. 1 by contacting their representatives in the House as well as DeWine. babukc2@miamioh.edu
THE GENDER-NEUTRAL DESIGNATION WAS REMOVED FROM A SINGLE-USE RESTROOM IN ARMSTRONG. PHOTO BY JESSICA MONAHAN
S.B. 1 HAS THE POTENTIAL TO CHANGE PROGRAMS AT MIAMI AND INFLUENCE DISCUSSIONS IN CLASSROOMS.
PHOTO BY JESSICA MONAHAN
GRACIE GRADY (LEFT), KIRSTEN OSTEBOE (MIDDLE)
Jorge Merlos found his calling interpreting for the Cincinnati Reds
guage skills have helped him in his career, interpreting for high-profle players like Elly De La Cruz and Alexis Diaz.
More than a quarter of all Major League Baseball (MLB) players arrive in the United States from Spanish-speaking countries.
Imagine coming to America to play a professional sport with minimal experience speaking the English language. You are expected to understand every meeting, practice and event you attend.
The Cincinnati Reds’ interpreter Jorge Merlos works with the team’s three Spanish-speaking players on its active roster to help these players communicate at practice and press conferences.
Merlos grew up in New York and lived with his grandmother, who refused to speak to him in English, requiring him to become bilingual at an early age. He translated for his family at doctor’s appointments and grocery stores.
After graduating from Ithaca College with a degree in sports media in 2015, he accepted an outreach internship with the Reds Community Fund. While working on the nonproft side of the organization, he was promoted to translator.
Today, Merlos travels like any regular player, staying in hotels with the team and attending every event where he might be needed. He describes this as one of the hardest parts of his job.
“This job is defnitely a grind with 162 games a year,” Merlos said. “Being in hotels just for half the year is difcult, but it’s a privilege to do that because not everyone is able to.”
He said player relationships are one of the biggest aspects of his job, and he looks to build trust with every player he translates for.
“I don’t try to treat them any differently,” Merlos said. “You’re there to help them out, not just with the translating, but to make them be as close as they can be, to normalcy.”
The Miami University Spanish department hosted Merlos as part of a lecture series for one of its classes on Feb. 4. He spoke in Spanish to more than one hundred Miami students and discussed how his lan-
De La Cruz is one of the most famous players Merlos has worked with. The shortstop from the Dominican Republic signed with the Reds as a free agent at the age of 17.
In 2023, he played in his frst MLB game, making his rookie debut at 21. De La Cruz is the youngest player ever to complete a cycle, doing so just under three weeks into his professional career.
High-profle players are just another part of the job for MLB translators, but they can also present unique challenges and opportunities. Merlos discussed this perception and what it’s like to work with the most famous players.
“Obviously, there are a lot of people who want to talk with those high level players, like the Elly De La Cruzes of the world,” Merlos said. “For them, I try to keep it as normal as they are. They’re just all baseball players, and they’re all humans as well.”
One of Merlos’ biggest challenges as an interpreter has been understanding the cultural and linguistic diferences among players from diferent backgrounds. He keeps a large spreadsheet detailing diferent slang terms and which countries or regions tend to use them.
He stays up to date with the terms his players use, which helps him build relationships with players and keep interviews as transparent and honest as possible.
“It’s really listening to them attentively and asking them questions afterwards,” Merlos said. “I think because these guys are coming from diferent places, from the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, I’ve had to learn over time that some words don’t mean the same thing.”
Merlos prepares for his ffth year with the Reds as a translator ahead of the season-opener on March 27. In a league where one in four players speak Spanish as their frst language, the importance of translator’s in the MLB continues to grow.
rosente2@miamioh.edu
Ella
GRAHAM YOUNG, THE MIAMI STUDENT
Running and jumping at the Division-I level is one thing. Doing it exceptionally well and earning a place in the Miami University record books is another.
Ella Scally, a junior sprints and jumps athlete on Miami’s track and feld team, is of the charts.
Scally established a new program record with her 6.27 meter long jump at the Gem City Invitational on Feb. 8. She beat her previous personal record by .02 meters and out jumped Lashonda Davis’ mark of 6.20 in 2006.
The indoor track and feld AllMid American Conference (MAC) First Team athlete also made a name for herself last year, competing at the 2024 NCAA East First Round.
Despite Scally’s accolades, a large part of her track and feld career comes from what is unseen.
She began her athletic career at age 11 when she became interested in jumping from gymnastics.
“The only sport I did before track was gymnastics,” Scally said. “I was familiar with the runway from vaulting, and I knew I wanted to jump in some way.”
Scally set records at Fishers High School in the 400 meter sprint, long jump and for most points scored in a season. When she committed to Miami, she said she remembered the inspiration she felt from head coach Russ Peterson.
“I met coach Peterson, and he reminded me a lot of my high school coach,” Scally said. “I knew we’d get along well.”
The two have developed a strong
chemistry since her frst year. This bond goes a long way with success and growth, and Peterson shared that he can be “very matter-of-fact with her.”
According to her teammates, Scally is also a leader in the locker room. If what they say is true about laughter being the best medicine, then Scally is a team medic.
“She laughs more than she talks,” said Elle Miller, a senior long and high jump teammate. “She’s super positive, and everybody loves to be around her.”
Miller has one year of experience over Scally, but in her time here, she has seen how Scally has grown as an athlete with the time she puts into her event.
“Everyone has a limit to what they can do without practice,” Miller said. “Someone who is 6-foot-2-inches will naturally be able to jump high, but by putting in the time and work, you will see a progression further than someone who hasn’t put in that time.”
The team practices for two hours every weekday, with lifts three times a week and spontaneous weekend meets that include traveling out of state. The team is together at all times during the weekends, so the time commitment from the team is imperative to personal progress and growth.
This doesn’t stop Scally from chasing her goals.
“She’s driven,” Miller said. “You can see that drive in her eyes at practice. She’s always seeking advice from coaches about how to be better. It’s awesome to see that as a teammate because I want someone that wants as much as I do, and it’s very admirable.”
Peterson also shared a common view on Scally’s work ethic. After three years coaching her, frst as an assistant head coach and now as the director of cross country and track and feld, he recognized her impressive progression but acknowledged that she isn’t done yet.
“It’s been positive and progressive to coach her,” Peterson said. “There’s a lot of learning and a lot of doing, but ultimately, this story is not even half told yet.”
Scally’s fun-loving personality makes it easy for others to enjoy her as a teammate, but it’s also a great pair with her attitude.
The season still isn’t over, as the RedHawks now begin outdoor competition on March 21. Miami has two more months in the spring season, giving Scally enough time to strive for more personal records.
The future is bright for Scally as she nears the end of her junior year with Miami. Her accomplishments and character traits have impacted the track and feld program in a way that brings more attention to the sport.
Scally’s takeaway from the season so far is a testament to her personal growth, success and hard work.
“You’re never going to be perfect at it,” Scally said. “You’re never going to get the technique right. There’s so much to learn and there’s always room for improvement. And still, be proud of what you’ve accomplished.”
Scally is an example of the “wind beneath the wings” for the RedHawks. Long jump can be scary and intimidating at frst glance, but for her, that’s what pushes her to keep going. All it takes is a leap of faith.
younggm7@miamioh.edu
Cincinnati Reds looking to move up NL Central ranks in 2025
SEAN WIESEMANN, THE MIAMI STUDENT
The Cincinnati Reds entered last season coming of an 82-80 campaign in 2023, including a 12game winning streak. A resurgence of youth, including adding Jeimer Candelario and Nick Martinez, set the Reds up to surpass their preseason projected total of 81 wins in 2024. However, injuries to Matt McLain, who accumulated 3.7 Wins Above Replacement (WAR) in just 89 games, and projected starting frst baseman Christian Encarnacion-Strand quickly depleted the depth the Reds had accumulated with season-ending injuries. Projected starting centerfelder TJ Friedl, who accumulated 3.8 WAR in 2024, played only 85 games after breaking his wrist in spring training and became largely inefective. Additionally, projected starting third baseman Noelvi Marte was suspended for 80 games for using performance-enhancing drugs and struggled mightily when he returned. With a starting rotation marred by injury, things fell apart. Losing this much talent to ineffciency, injury and suspension depleted the roster. Despite a season where shortstop Elly De La Cruz put up just the ffth 20-homer and
60 stolen base season in history, the Reds fnished 77-85, leading to the fring of manager David Bell. The biggest holes on the roster coming into the ofseason were the outfeld and designated hitter, despite the attrition in the infeld they experienced last season. Collectively, the Reds were the third-worst outfeld by cumulative WAR, with Will Benson having the worst batting average in the sport with a paltry .187. Additionally, the Reds were last in WAR from the designated hitter slot, with primarily bench players like Nick Martini and Mike Ford getting hundreds of plate appearances. Due to these defciencies in the
outfeld, the Reds signed outfelder Austin Hays, a 2023 All-Star with the Baltimore Orioles, to a one-year deal. Hays’ 2024 was marred by a kidney infection, but he looks to return to his previous form and resemble the player who slugged 54 home runs from 2021 to 2023. Another bounceback candidate Cincinnati is hoping to capitalize on is Gavin Lux. The former Los Angeles Dodger became a staple in the middle infeld for the World Series champs. However, after signing two middle infelders this ofseason, Lux was deemed expendable and traded.
Lux struggled in the frst half of his 2024 campaign coming of a torn ACL, but hit over .300 after the All-Star break, signaling a potential re-emergence of a key cog in the Dodgers’ extended period of success. The fnal major player added for the Reds was former Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Brady Singer. In the same way Lux was made expendable because of his role, second baseman Jonathan India had the same fate.
India, a former Reds frst-round pick and Rookie of the Year, was a leader in the clubhouse because of his relative experience compared to the roster’s youth. However, after seeing just three pitchers throw over 115 innings, the Reds needed durable starting pitching. Singer has averaged 164 innings a season over the last three years. Because he threw at a reasonable 4.15 ERA during that stretch, he was traded for India.
Cincinnati’s front ofce made several other minor additions, including trading reliever Fernando Cruz, who made 127 appearances
over the last two seasons, for catcher and former Yankee Jose Trevino. Replacing Cruz, reliever Scott Barlow was brought in on a one-year contract. Equally as durable, he had averaged 67 appearances a season since 2021 with a 3.21 ERA in the span. In addition to the pitching additions, Martinez surprisingly accepted his one-year, $21 million qualifying ofer to return to the Reds. This gives the team a pitcher who can pitch from the bullpen and as a starter at a very high level. The largest addition of the ofseason for a small-market ballclub. Luring Terry Francona, the former Cleveland Guardians manager and two-time World Series champion with the Boston Red Sox, out of retirement as manager was a signifcant move. His baseball and championship acumen and vast experience as a manager make the Reds a massive asset in the clubhouse.
When I wrote this preview last ofseason, I was very optimistic. I saw a team that overachieved, flled to the brim with youth and fgured their veteran additions would elevate them to the next level. However, my optimism failed to account for the injuries and regression that plagued this team.
This time, however, I see a clear path for the Reds to compete for a National League Central title and a trip to the playofs. With a higher foor and better ceiling, the Reds have a chance to be one of the premier small-market teams and make some noise in a division without a clear alpha.
wiesemsm@miamioh.edu
ELISA ROSENTHAL, THE MIAMI STUDENT
THE CINCINNATI REDS OFFER MUCH TO BE EXCITED FOR IN THE 2025 SEASON. PHOTO FROM WIKICOMMONS
JORGE MERLOS TAKES A PHOTO WITH MIAMI SPANISH MAJORS ON FEB. 4. PHOTO PROVIDED BY KELLY FERGUSON
KETHAN BABU, SPORTS EDITOR
The Miami University men’s and women’s basketball teams combined for 42 wins during the 2024-25 regular season, setting a record for the program.
Starting on March 12, the women’s team will fght to bring home Miami’s frst Mid-American Conference (MAC) championship since the 2007-08 season.
The women’s team (19-10, 11-7 in conference play) starts tournament play against the No. 4 Kent State University Golden Flashes (20-11, 12-6), marking the third matchup between the two this season.
Within one year, head coach Glenn Box transformed the RedHawks from a team that couldn’t win double-digit games last season to one that nearly won 20 games for the frst time since 2018-19.
HAYLEY LUBY, STAFF WRITER
Dustin Woods, former Miami University football player and graduate in the class of 2009, has become yet another alumnus to work for a Super Bowl-winning team.
As the interpersonal performance director and associate strength and conditioning coach for the Philadelphia Eagles, Woods worked closely with Super Bowl LIX champion and MVP quarterback Jalen Hurts for this year’s Lombardi Trophy.
A Cincinnati native, Woods attended Purcell Marian High School, where he played just two years of high school football before continuing his athletic career at Miami.
As a younger athlete, only 17 at the time, Woods had the opportunity to catch up with the rest of his class. Shortly after arriving in Oxford, he met Sean McVay, the Los Angeles Rams’ head coach, who provided extensive guidance and support to Woods, a less experienced player at the time.
“When I came in January, I didn’t really know the game of football, and we were both competing to get on the feld,” Woods said. “I knew how to run and catch, but he was humble enough and confdent enough to teach me the game of football just as he is doing now even though we were competing to get on the feld. He did not hold back; he taught me how to understand the game and everything I needed to know. I really respected that.”
Woods described himself as in-
For his frst trip to Cleveland with Miami, Box brings a roster of six returners, three transfers and fve frst years.
The RedHawks began MAC play at 7-3, but they struggled early on in the conference slate. After dropping its frst matchup against the Ball State University Cardinals, Miami matched four wins with four losses to sit one win below .500.
However, the RedHawks embarked on a fve-game winning streak starting with a dominant victory over the Ohio University Bobcats on Feb. 1. That stretch of wins included Miami’s second defeat of a Sun Belt Conference school as well as three more wins against MAC teams, including a two-point contest over Kent State.
The University of Bufalo Bulls ended Miami’s run, but the RedHawks fnished the season with three wins in their last four games to take
troverted of the feld. He joined Athletes in Action, an organization that promotes a relationship with God for athletes. He often led Bible studies for team members looking to grow their faith and was also a part of the RedHawk Council, a student athlete advisory council.
Beyond being on the football feld and remaining dedicated to his religion, Woods found himself spending time with friends in the dorms, and recalled one of his fondest memories at Miami being at Goggin Ice Center.
“I went to one hockey game, and even that was a stretch for me,” Woods said. “I thought it was one of the greatest experiences in the sports world, and it was right here in Miami. I had never been to a hockey game before, but it was an environment that I never knew about.”
In addition to that, Woods remained serious about his physical health and sports career, majoring in kinesiology and health. Woods spent much of his remaining free time visiting his now wife and participating in a church band at home playing the drums.
After graduating, the four-year letter winner took his degree back home, where he found work in strength and conditioning with his brother. He also worked at Ignition Athletic Performance Group, a company that hosted NFL combine training for local and national athletes.
In 2011, he left to work for the Chinese Olympic Skating Association as a short track head strength and conditioning coach. During this time, he attended two Olympics, the frst
JEFFREY MIDDLETON,
SPORTS EDITOR
ASST.
When Drew Davis and Greg Waddell gear up for a weekend of action with the Miami University hockey team, they aren’t in the locker room tying skates, pulling on a chest protector or strapping their helmets. Instead, they’re in the rafters of a National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC) rink, putting on their most important piece of equipment: a radio headset. They complete the look with black and blue suits and button-down shirts.
The two men have been side-by-side in the broadcast booth calling hockey games since 2011, but arrived from slightly diferent paths.
Waddell began his broadcasting career as a student at Bowling Green State University from 1983 to 1987. He called hockey games during his frst year when the Falcons won a national championship. However, the team faltered slightly
the No. 5 spot in the MAC.
“We had some setbacks this year with being a new team and a young team, but it hasn’t stopped [our] resilient nature,” Box said. “They have fought every bit of the way … We walked into this year, we anticipated that we were going to win. That’s a good feeling.”
Miami’s frst game will decide early on if it deserves to play in Cleveland or not. The RedHawks went 1-1 in the regular season against Kent State, last year’s MAC champions. In the frst matchup, the RedHawks allowed four Golden Flashes to score in the double-fgures, including 19 points from senior guard Jenna Batsch. They ultimately dropped the game 77-63. Kent State shot 2853 (52.8%) from the feld compared to Miami’s 22-57 (38.6%).
The teams rematched less than a month later. The RedHawks trailed by fve at half, but a 24-8 scoring run in the third quarter and free throws from sophomore guard Enjulina Gonzalez and graduate student guard Maya Chandler allowed Miami to take the game by two points, 64-62. Gonzalez and Chandler brought in 18 points each towards Miami’s win. Despite both playing in their frst seasons with the Red and White, the duo quickly bought into the team’s
in Russia at the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics and then South Korea at the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympics.
Woods returned to the US as a strength and conditioning coach at Xavier University from 2014-16 before he returned to the skating association.
Following his time in China, Woods received an ofer from McVay to work in Los Angeles as the Rams’ assistant strength and conditioning coach. While he never had his eye set on the NFL, the opportunity came at the right time.
“The experience working with [McVay] was exactly what I said it was: the standard,” Woods said. “It was a great entry to learn how to run an organization and be a very elite coach, handle day to day tasks and learn relational intelligence. It was really infuential for me and great for my career.”
During his time with the Rams, Woods saw the team make the playofs each year from 2018 to 2020. The coaching experience with McVay was invaluable to Woods, but a new opportunity lay ahead.
With three children, Woods wanted to relocate closer to Cinicinnati after spending 10 years away from home. An opportunity with the Eagles made this possible.
In February of 2021, Woods took on a new role as associate strength and conditioning coach. After two seasons, he was promoted to his current position with the help of Hurts.
“Jalen is very in tune with his interpersonal self, and we connected on that level,” Woods said. “We see a
culture and put the RedHawks in position to win the MAC championship for the frst time in 17 years.
“That’s what we came here to do,” Gonzalez said. “I came to win, so did Maya … everybody in this program believes that we can do it. It’ll be surreal to do it because nobody believes we’ll do it.”
While the team celebrates its accomplishments so far this season, Box and the players understand that the job isn’t fnished.
For Miami to take its frst postseason win under the second-year coaching staf, the RedHawks need to continue their excellence, including standout performances from Gonzalez, Chandler and sophomore forward Amber Tretter. Gonzalez (16.9), Chandler (11.0) and Tretter (11.0) all average double-fgure points each game, with Gonzalez ranking fourth in the conference for scoring and being named First-Team All-MAC. Two more players – frst-year guard Tamar Singer and frst-year forward Ilse de Vries – also average at least fve points a game.
“That’s expected of us,” Gonzalez said. “To win, we gotta do what we have to do. It’s even better when you have teammates that can help you. That relieves so much pressure of
everybody else … Anybody can step up and do what they got to do.”
Box trusts what the team has done all season, and he says the key to winning the tournament is staying true to what the RedHawks have been doing.
“If we just stay together, and we simply do what we’re supposed to do, we’ll win, and I mean win it all,” Box said. “That includes the staf: The staf has to do their job. But the kids know what to do, the staf knows what to do … we gotta stay true to us.”
A win against Kent State would mark Miami’s frst postseason win since March 13, 2019, when the RedHawks defeated the University of Toledo Rockets in the quarter fnals. They lost to the Ohio University Bobcats two days later in Miami head coach Megan Dufy’s penultimate game with the team.
The RedHawks’ next matchup if they win will be against either the No. 8 Western Michigan University Broncos or the No. 1 Cardinals. Miami took one loss against the Broncos, as well as its frst conference loss against Ball State.
Tipof for Miami’s frst postseason matchup is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. on March 12.
babukc2@miamioh.edu
lot of things the same, and we enjoy having the same conversations so he wanted me to be with him all year round and during the of season.”
Following this request, the Eagles organization allowed Woods to travel with Hurts, assisting in all of his training, outside of working with the team as a whole.
“This past season I was with him all day everyday, he was my priority in the building,” Woods said. “While I did have other responsibilities, I made myself available to him as much as he needed.”
The two, sharing a passion for spiritual development and interpersonal connections, grew a connection quickly. Their hard work paid of with a Super Bowl ring, Hurts’ frst.
“I am not the one playing, but I am on the journey,” Woods said. “I see everything [Hurts] goes through that people don’t know, and the strength he has to have in the face of adversity
and knowing how his mind works is great. Seeing the success that he had at the right time for me was great, and I am more excited to see how he handles the success and what kind of man he can become, and that is really encouraging for me.”
Woods said he hopes the team can respond well to the success next season. For now, he prioritizes time with family as his kids are growing up and are beginning to understand the game of football.
Looking back on his time at Miami, Woods shows his gratitude and respect for the university, as well as the values he learned as a student athlete.
“Miami is flled with potential success all around you,” Woods said. “I would always encourage students at any age to take of their headphones and walk with their eyes up.”
lubyhj@miamioh.edu
in his sophomore and junior years before placing frst again in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association his senior year. His start in the college hockey world came from a desire for any opportunities a frst-year student could take advantage of.
“When I was an undergrad, it was all the upperclassmen that were doing the football and basketball games,” Waddell said. “So, if I wanted to get on the air, I had to do it with the hockey team.”
Waddell moved his way up the ranks, working with a variety of minor league teams like the Saginaw Monarchs of the International Hockey League – a league that had not existed since its collapse in the 2000-01 season.
He also covered the Dayton Bombers of the ECHL and the Cincinnati Mighty Ducks of the American Hockey League team at the historic Cincinnati Gardens. He worked with multiple radio stations, including the fagship station of Miami sports under the Clear Channel Broadcasting umbrella (now iHeart Media) – WLW and 1316 Homer.
Waddell began working in the studio for Miami football games on the channel before Steve Baker asked him to switch to hockey full-time in the fall of 2006.
He called games when the new Goggin Ice Center opened, but had broadcasted before at the old arena, giving him and Davis, who sat in the student section at the fnal game, a special connection.
Davis attended Miami from 2003 to 2008, receiving degrees in journalism and sports studies. He swam with the RedHawks, but his passion for hockey started at a young age. When his pool time dwindled, he turned to an internship that blossomed into his partnership with Waddell.
“I ended up taking an internship, and that became a full-time assistant job in both broadcasting and sports information on telecommunications here at Miami after graduating,” Davis said. “ I was under Steve Baker and made friends through that time with Greg and expressed my desire to be on the air for hockey games.”
The two appeared on the air together in a diferent setup than today. After Davis’ exhausting persistence to have his shot on a Miami hockey broadcast, Waddell joked about it happening, and Davis took the joke seriously.
In October 2010, Davis and Waddell stepped into the booth for the frst time together. However, they did so without
Baker’s permission. Baker didn’t believe Davis was ready for the job and was unaware of the one-game setup.
Davis did not see the inside of the hockey broadcast booth for the rest of the season but after working hard in other sports, he was given the color commentator and analyst role in 2011 and has not looked back.
The two have traveled far and wide to broadcast Miami hockey games, arriving at their destinations using the team bus, plane and sometimes even rental cars.
However, as the play-by-play man, Waddell fnds himself at every Miami hockey game, home or away, while Davis can’t always make it. And it’s because of this that Waddell has made an impact on younger broadcasters outside of the Miami community, including Bridgette Proulx.
Proulx started her broadcasting work with Greg, anchoring Miami hockey games on IMG Radio in her frst job. She eventually moved from North Carolina, where her IMG Radio job was located, to Massachusetts, her home state. She wanted to work in hockey broadcasting, and Waddell gave her the opportunity to be a color commentator on Miami hockey broadcasts when the RedHawks traveled to play Providence College and the University of New Hampshire. Because of this experience, she met her future boss at Providence.
“I probably wouldn’t be where I am
today without Greg, believe it or not,” Proulx said. “I was doing Boston, college football, basketball, hockey, and then I was with Greg, doing Miami hockey, but it was such a big diference working with Greg because I’m used to the Boston working situation where it’s always like, ‘Oh, I need you to do this, I need you to do that.’”
Proulx said one of her fondest memories of Waddell’s easy-going nature in the booth was a Miami Vice-themed night at New Hampshire, when the two wore neon sunglasses together for an entire broadcast.
Greg Waddell (left) and Bridgette Proulx (right) in the Miami Vice theme during one of Proulx’s favorite broadcasting nights at the University of New Hampshire Waddell and Davis’ road to this point in their
CULTURE
CONTINUED FROM FRONT
My friend ordered Al Pastor, which came with pork and other decorative add-ons. She also noticed similar themes — the corn tortilla was a little too chewy, and the taco itself lacked favor. Each entree also only came with two tacos. While I was not starving at the time, it would not have been enough food for dinner. It also seemed a little overpriced to get only two tacos for $12. If I had to wait an hour for food at dinner time, I would be ready to run down the street elsewhere for a larger serving size.
All in all, Calendula was a pleasant experience and a good lunch stop. It ofers an upscale dining experience Uptown. And, if you ever stop in late on a Friday night, Calendula has its own bar and seating area next door to wait at. While I do not know if I would go back on a Friday night, I would recommend it for a light lunch.
Rating: 6/10
mulforsj@miaimoh.edu
Lady Gaga returns to dance pop with ‘MAYHEM,’ and suddenly everything feels
CHLOE SOUTHARD CULTURE EDITOR
I have been a Lady Gaga stan since the ripe age of 7 years old.
When I tell you that seeing the “Paparazzi” music video for the frst time on MTV changed the trajectory of my entire life, I mean it. Gaga was my frst favorite singer; she is the reason why I became so consumed by pop culture.
And like any loyal Little Monster, I have been seated for every single thing Mother Monster has released. Even throughout her country era with “Joanne” and jazz era with “Cheek to Cheek,” I was there in the trenches, defending her artistic decisions.
People began to say that Gaga went too mainstream, that she wasn’t weird anymore. She reeled her pop music crowd back in with “Chromatica” in 2020, but returned to jazz with “Love for Sale” in 2021 and “Harlequin” in 2024.
But I knew that the Gaga we all know and love was still there. It would only be a matter of time before she returned to us with her one of a kind pop sound. Plus, Gaga’s jazz eras were delightful. While we all missed her pop music, if you call yourself a Little Monster and hate on the jazz records, grow up. You are not one of us.
That aside, pop Gaga came back in full force on March 7 with the release of her seventh album, “MAYHEM.” And let me tell you, it’s everything I’ve been wanting and missing from Gaga
for the past fve years.
The record opens with lead single “Disease.” It was released in October of last year, and since it dropped, it’s been a constant in my rotation.
“Disease” borrows from an EDM, rock-esque sound. As soon as I listened to it for the frst time, I knew that Gaga was 100% back. It’s an insane showcase of her vocal abilities, right of the bat.
Following “Disease” is “Abracadabra,” the album’s second single. Its release was a surprise, as it debuted through a Capital One commercial that aired during the Grammys. Gaga stans on X (formerly known as Twitter) went crazy for this song, and so did I.
“Garden of Eden” is one of my favorite tracks. Somehow, it sounds like 2000s Gaga and modern day Gaga at the same time. It reminds me a bit of her older songs “Money Honey,” “Boys Boys Boys” and “I Like it Rough.”
The pre-chorus and chorus itself are simply perfection, and this song has been stuck in my head since my frst listen.
“Perfect Celebrity” is more of a rock-sounding song, and I’m obsessed. I need to hear this in an arena ASAP. On this track, Gaga sings about her experience with fame and what it’s like to live a double life.
“So rip of my face in this photograph / You make me money, I’ll make you laugh / Show me your pretty, I’ll show you minе / You love to hate me,” Gaga sings in a way that scratches my brain.
“Vanish Into You” is a beautiful
love song that truly puts Gaga’s vocals on display. It’s a track about wanting to disappear into the person she loves — presumably her fance, Michael Polansky — and it gives me chills every listen.
A funky and danceable track, “Killah” features Gesafelstein. It’s a bit of an unexpected sound, especially after the stunning run that is the frst fve songs on “MAYHEM,” but this one has defnitely grown on me.
“Zombieboy” and “LoveDrug” are both very 2000s-sounding and fll me with nostalgia. It makes me so happy to hear Gaga giving a nod to her old sound, the sound that caused us all to fall in love with her in the frst place.
Some people claim that Gaga reheated Taylor Swift’s nachos on “How
Bad Do U Want Me.” This statement annoys me to no end. Why would Gaga ever need to copy Swift when she is literally thee Lady Gaga?
Gaga was doing pop music long before Swift. I hate to break it to Swifties, but Swift didn’t invent pop music with “1989.” Enough with the disrespect — Gaga is the ultimate pop star of our generation, and she’s on her own level.
“Don’t Call Tonight” and “Shadow of a Man” are both excellent, danceable tracks, especially the latter. It’s the kind of song that needs to be played in the club.
“The Beast” is more toned down, but the writing is phenomenal and Gaga’s vocals are unreal. “Blade of Grass” is another love song that’s
What to watch this spring break
STELLA POWERS
ASST. CULTURE AND ASST.
CAMPUS & COMMUNITY EDITOR
Spring break is rapidly approaching, and the long-awaited week of often brings with it tropical vacations and fun getaways. However, not everyone has that to look forward to. So, what should people do with this week of? My answer: movies.
Here are some of my favorite
loosely spring break (or more so getaway) flms to help you escape on a fun vacation right from your couch.
‘Barb & Star Go to Vista Del Mar’ (2021)
Anyone who has had any sort of conversation with me knows that this is, by far, my favorite flm ever. However, the brilliant comedy from Kristen Wiig and Annie Mumolo also fts perfectly in the spring break theme. Two best friends, Barb and Star, embark on the tropical vacation adventure of a lifetime, and it’s nothing short of pure excitement and fun.
‘Bodies Bodies Bodies’ (2022)
This one may be a bit darker, but the hurricane party setting makes for
a fun, hilarious mystery that you don’t want to miss. This A24 horror comedy follows a group of friends having the house party of a lifetime, that just so happens to be in the middle of a hurricane. Not only that, but it turns into a bloody, fun murder mystery.
‘We’re the Millers’ (2013) OK, maybe it’s not a real family vacation to Mexico, but it’s an absolute blast nonetheless. Starring Jennifer Aniston, Jason Sudeikis, Emma Roberts and Will Poulter, the flm follows David Clark (Sudeikis) on his journey to smuggle marijuana from Mexico. In the process, he forms a fake family
to go on this “vacation,” running into fun side characters played by Kathryn Hahn and Nick Oferman along the way.
‘Barbie’ (2023)
Who wouldn’t want to take a spring break trip to Barbieland? Starring Margot Robbie, Greta Gerwig’s “Barbie” follows Barbie as she goes on a journey to the real world. It’s a fun, heartfelt adventure, featuring the seemingly perfect and wonderful Barbieland, and some real world beaches, too. “Barbie” is the perfect flm for a fun, wild stay-at-home vacation this spring break.
‘Saltburn’ (2023)
While it’s technically about a summer vacation, “Saltburn” may not be for everyone, but for anyone who isn’t afraid to be a bit uncomfortable, it’s the perfect watch for spring break. The flm follows Oliver (Barry Keoghan) and Felix (Jacob Elordi) as they spend their summer holiday at Felix’s family home. What at frst seems like a fun trip quickly turns into a twisted summer to remember forever.
‘Infnity Pool’ (2023)
Another vacation gone wrong, “Infnity Pool” stars Mia Goth and Alexander Skarsgård and follows a married couple as they embark on an island vacation where they make the potentially fatal mistake of leaving their resort. Things grow weirder and weirder as time progresses, until they eventually realize that something is wrong and they are far from safe.
‘Murder Mystery’ (& the sequel) (2019, 2023)
Starring Jennifer Aniston and Adam Sandler, “Murder Mystery” follows a couple on their trip to Eu-
very reminiscent of 2016’s “Joanne,” and I absolutely love it. This is a personal track on which Gaga shares an intimate moment between her and Polansky.
Finally, the record closes out with “Die With a Smile” featuring Bruno Mars. What is there to say that hasn’t already been said about this collaboration? It’s stunning, and it defnitely deserved the Grammy it won for best pop duo/group performance. Now it’s time for Gaga to bring home Album of the Year for 2025 with “MAYHEM.”
Rating: 10/10
southacr@miamioh.edu
rope that gets them tangled up in a murder mystery of their own. It’s fun and involves a yacht, what more would you want out of spring break?
“Murder Mystery 2” follows the same characters, Nick and Audrey, after the events of the frst flm. This adventure lands them in Paris, as they once again get caught up in a whodunnit.
‘Palm Springs’ (2020)
Think “Groundhog Day,” but vacation-style. “Palm Springs” stars Andy Samberg as a guest at a wedding, fttingly located in Palm Springs. He and Sarah (Cristin Milioti) fall in love, but fnd themselves trapped in a time loop, stuck repeating the same day. It’s fun, tropical and the beach setting makes it the perfect escape this spring break.
‘Mamma Mia!’ (& the sequel) (2008, 2018)
Who doesn’t dream of escaping to Greece on their spring break? “Mamma Mia!” features an all-star cast, including Meryl Streep, Pierce Brosnan, Amanda Seyfried, Julie Walters, Christine Baranski and more as they venture to Kalokairi, a Greek Island, for the wedding of Sophie (Seyfried). The fun, musical adventure features hits from ABBA as Sophie works to solve the mystery of who her dad is. The sequel features a lot of the same hits, but it stars Lily James as young Donna (originally played by Streep), as she and her friends, Rosie and Tanya, form their band. Both are so unbelievably fun that watching them just feels like a tropical, Greek island vacation party. Who needs a real vacation this spring break when you can see the world through these flms instead? powers40@miamioh.edu
PHOTO BY INTERSCOPE RECORDS.
CALENDULA OFFERS TACOS ON ITS MENU, BUT MULFORD FINDS THEM BLAND.
PHOTO BY SYDNEY MULFORD.
MIAMI STUDENTS TRYING THE NEW RESTAURANT, CALENDULA.
PHOTO BY SYDNEY MULFORD,
GRAPHIC BY STELLA POWERS.
STELLA POWERS
ASST. CULTURE AND ASST. CAMPUS & COMMUNITY EDITOR
“Anora” has been all the buzz this awards season, sweeping the Oscars and taking home a total of fve awards, including best picture and best actress for star Mikey Madison.
But what is “Anora,” and why is everyone talking about it?
The Neon flm frst premiered at the 77th Cannes Film Festival on May 21, 2024, and had its theatrical release on Oct. 18. At Cannes, the flm won the top prize, the Palme d’Or.
Director Sean Baker may be known for his work on “The Florida Project,” but “Anora” took the box ofce by storm, becoming his highest grossing flm. After the Oscars, the flm was re-released into theaters due to its success.
“Anora” follows Ani (Madison), a sex worker from Brooklyn, as she meets the son of a Russian oligarch and eventually gets married. As Ani speaks Russian, she is asked to meet with Ivan, the son, when he visits her work. He then hires her to pretend to be his girlfriend, and the two grow close and eventually fall in love. On a trip to Las Vegas, the couple impulsively decides to marry, which does not go over well with Ivan’s family.
The love story quickly turns from a fairytale into a complete mess in-
volving kidnapping, bribery and a marriage annulment.
Madison, who was previously known for her work in “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” and “Scream” (2022), delivered the performance of a lifetime in the flm, having spent an unbelievable amount of time on research and preparation.
Prior to the flm, Madison didn’t know how to speak Russian or pole dance, both of which ended up being prominent within the flm. To prepare, Madison moved to Brighton Beach and installed a pole in her new apartment to practice.
She also spent a lot of time in actual strip clubs, getting to know women in sex work and learn how they carry themselves, interact with clients, decorate their nails and dance. Madison said this research was the most important thing she did for the flm.
The time, research and dedication she put into the role paid of, winning her an Oscar and the praise of flm lovers everywhere. Prior to “Anora,”
Madison had never stepped foot in a strip club. Now, she has a newfound love and respect for the women in the sex work community and the work they do, noting that it takes a ridiculous amount of stamina and skill.
During her speech at the Oscars, Madison shared how important getting to know these women was for her, and how the experience ultimate-
ly changed her life. “I also just want to again recognize and honor the sex worker communi-
ty,” Madison said. “I will continue to support and be an ally. All of the incredible people, the women that I’ve
had the privilege of meeting from that community has been one of the highlights of this entire incredible experience.”
Despite the praise the flm received this awards season, the flm and Madison herself have faced controversy online for seemingly “glorifying” the sex work industry, which is historically known to exploit women. However, Madison said that her goal in this process was to accurately portray these women and give them the representation they deserve.
To Madison, the movie was made for sex workers, and one of the things she really wanted to do the most was host a screening just for them. According to Variety, Madison did just that, where she was joined by Baker and the cast to present the flm to the sex worker community.
Madison said that the best part of it all was seeing the women click their heels to give the flm applause.
“Anora” is nothing short of a brilliant, cinematically stunning flm masterpiece fooded with a ridiculously talented cast and unbelievable performances, earning it fve Oscars. The representation this flm gives the women of the sex work community is something seldom explored in flm, and for it to do that and take home the top prize is beautiful. powers40@miamioh.edu
In the editor’s rotation: My public humiliation ritual
CHLOE SOUTHARD
CULTURE EDITOR
This is my last playlist as culture editor.
Don’t worry, my devoted handful of readers, I’m not going to leave you high and dry. The playlists will continue, but not from the culture editor.
Think of it more as a grandmother of The Miami Student dropping in and telling you what she’s listening to. Now that I’ve prepared you for what’s to come, I’ve got a bit of a doozy this week. Lately, I’ve been listening to music that is embarrassing, to say the least.
I’m going to be very vulnerable with you here, so please be nice to me.
‘Disassociative’ and ‘Angel
With the Scabbed Wings’ — Marilyn Manson I told you I’m being vulnerable and I meant it.
Listen, I hate Manson as much as the next guy, but I’ve been listening to his music since high school before the allegations against him surfaced.
By no means do I support him as a
person, and I know it’s embarrassing to even admit that I listen to his music, but I can’t hold it in any longer. If people can listen to Kanye West and separate art from the artist, I can do the same with Manson.
‘All The Same’ — SICK PUPPIES
This is one of the frst songs I remember having on my frst generation iPod touch. It was synced with the rest of my family’s music, and I have no clue who was listening to this, but I 0we them a thank you.
‘Disenchanted’ and ‘Sleep’ — My Chemical Romance
My Chemical Romance was my favorite band in middle school. I ran its music into the ground, and I genuinely couldn’t listen to anything from the group for years.
For the frst time in forever, I’ve been dipping my toes back into MCR, and I won’t lie, the music still hits. Maybe it’s the nostalgia talking, but these two songs in particular hold a special place in my heart.
‘Backstabber’ — The Dresden Dolls
You aren’t going to see me sit here and try to defend Amanda Palmer, just as I refuse to defend Manson. But I would be lying if I said the Dresden Dolls don’t make bangers. There’s just something about the duo’s cabaret, punky sound that has had a grip on me since middle school.
‘Fire Water Burn’ — Bloodhound Gang
This song is so stupid, but it goes crazy. I couldn’t name another song by Bloodhound Gang, to be quite honest, but could anyone?
‘Big Bottom’ — Spinal Tap
The most embarrassing thing about this song is playing it for other people and gauging their reaction as they listen to the lyrics. Some people just get it, but others look at me like I’ve just slapped their mother.
I don’t care, though. You can thank my mother for introducing me to this song.
‘Delilah’ — Tom Jones
This is probably the most out of place song on this playlist. I don’t know what makes it so embarrassing to listen to, but I absolutely refuse to play it when I’m on aux. Come to think of it, I think I’ve only ever listened to this song when I was alone.
‘Creep’ — Radiohead I love Radiohead, and that alone is embarrassing to admit after incels and male manipulators have placed their grubby hands on the band. But “Creep” is probably the most humiliating you can get when it comes to Radiohead, especially because I’ve been listening to it unironically since middle school.
‘TRRST’ ft. ZillaKami and ‘This World is Sick’ — IC3PEAK IC3PEAK is a Russian duo that blew up on TikTok in 2020, during the “AltTok” craze of the pandemic. Once that craze was over, I heard little to nothing about the duo, but I continued to listen to its music. I can’t understand a word they’re saying, but that doesn’t stop the mu-
sic from hitting every time.
‘Jam (Turn It Up)’ — Kim Kardashian Yes, Kardashian once tried to dabble into music, and yes, she called it one of her biggest regrets. But this song is fre; it should have been huge in the 2000s. The vocals are mediocre, but the beat itself is just too good.
‘She’s Got All the Friends That Money Can Buy’ — Chumbawamba I have yet to meet another person that has listened to anything Chumbawamba has released besides its one hit wonder “Tubthumping.” Fellow Chumbawamba listeners, please reach out. I think we need a support group.
‘The A Team’ — Ed Sheeran Don’t talk to me.
southacr@miamioh.edu
GRAPHIC BY STELLA POWERS.
GRAPHIC BY CHLOE SOUTHARD.
Something,
KASEY TURMAN, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
When I walk across the stage in May, clad in red that sits on my shoulders and falls past my knees, I’ll fnally have the piece of paper I’ve been working towards for the past four years. But that’s not what I’ll be most proud of.
I’ll be more proud of all the time I spent as a member of The Miami Student.
I’ll have spent more than half of my time at Miami University as a proud member of The Student, and
SAM NORTON, GREENHAWKS AND OPINION EDITOR
I was scared when I frst walked into the newsroom as a frst year, fnally attending my frst in-person opinion meeting. Scared to meet new people and scared I wouldn’t ft in.
A year and a half later, I was scared when I frst walked into the newsroom as editor of the brand new GreenHawks section. Scared I wouldn’t succeed in this role, scared my lack of journalism experience would hold the paper back. Now, as I walk out of the newsroom and pass on my editor roles, I laugh at these fears. I laugh because I remember all the laughs I’ve had in Armstrong 3018. I laugh thinking how two years later, those new faces are some of my best friends. I laugh remembering all the serious stories I oversaw, all the mistakes, all the hard moments and all the times I questioned myself, knowing now that I wouldn’t trade those moments for anything.
Walking into this newsroom was the best decision of my college career.
Saying that it helped me grow both personally and professionally is cliche (sorry, Fred), but my fellow editors can attest it’s true. But my time at The Student has not been about me, it’s been about the people this organization draws in, the people who have changed my life.
To my frst two opinion editors, Rebecca Wolf and Ames Radwan, thank you for embracing my unorthodox story ideas and constantly encouraging me to keep writing. Without you, I may have never come back to this wonderful organization.
that’s been the best time I’ve had –but not for the reasons you may think.
I don’t care about how many bylines I have, how many front pages my name graced or how many awards I’ve won. I care about all the people I’ve met and every great thing we did.
But mostly, I’ll remember all the fun I had.
The fun at productions, parties or really any time in the newsroom. The productions where no one wanted to do their best bird call, even though I really wanted to hear them. The parties where I learned the most absurd fact about someone I’ve sat next to for
To retired professor Annie Laurie-Blair and Morgan Schneider, who planted the idea of creating the GreenHawks section in TMS, thank you. You are the reason I’ve had the joy of being an editor.
To Sean Scott and Luke Macy, thank you for accepting GreenHawks and making sure I felt welcome every step of the way. Your patience and encouragement gave me more confdence than you’ll ever know.
To Devin Ankeney, thank you for making me your assistant opinion editor. Your friendship and guidance were invaluable. Leading such an important and thoughtful section has been both my biggest challenge and greatest reward at Miami, and I could not have done it without you.
To Taylor Powers and Sarah Kennel, thank you for being my assistants. You have both helped me so much, and my sections would not have been the same without you. I could not be more proud of who I am leaving to run them, and I will always cheer for you from afar.
To Livi Patel, Anna Reier and Taylor Stumbaugh, can you believe the seniors are leaving? The newsroom will be so much more boring, I just know it. But I also know you all are probably the smartest, brightest journalists I know. Go kill it next year, I know you will.
To all the new and returning editors: Sarah Frosch, Kethan Babu, Jef Middleton, Stella Powers, Austin Smith, Olivia Michelsen, Kiser Young, Shannon Mahoney and Parker Green, I’m so excited for you. You all have already left such an impression on my life, make sure that TMS continues to do that for new students.
To Adam Smith, I’ll miss the
a year. The times in the newsroom when I learned new card games or played hangman.
Every single person I’ve spent time with because of The Student has infuenced me to work harder, have more fun or care more about it.
When I joined, everyone older than me made the newsroom feel like home. They’re the ones that taught me how to play Egyptian ratscrew, but more importantly, they taught me how to be a better journalist.
They were the frst real editors who interacted with me and explained why every edit they made was
important.
Luke Macy taught me how to write a lede that wasn’t just technically good, but actually fun to read. Alice Momany helped me understand what being an editor is really about, and how I could be a better writer because of it. Devin Ankeney, well, Devin taught me how to be chill in the newsroom when everything got stressful.
Similarly, every journalism professor I’ve had has impacted the journalist and person I am today.
Professor Fred Reeder is the reason why I’m even writing this. I took his JRN 101 class as a frst-year student when I transferred to Miami. It was the second classroom I had stepped into on campus, but more impactful than any other that year.
Reeder made it fun to learn journalism while also enforcing that anyone could be a writer, and I bought into it. I still remember how excited he was when I told him I added a journalism major because of his class. Who would’ve thought it would take me this far.
Professor Annie-Laurie Blair taught me how to interview and report. She had the perfect class to follow up Reeder’s 101 and 102 classes. I still use things she said to do when I interview someone and defnitely still remember the AP Style mistakes I made in her class.
Professor Joe Sampson was one of the frst professors who made my writing closer to what it is today. Sampson’s class was hard, but rewarding. I’m not built to write for broadcast. I’m bad at it. But, through
a lot of trial and mostly error, my writing became cleaner and better.
Professor Rosemary Pennington pushed me to create one of the best stories I’ve written so far. She understood what I wanted to do and helped me at every turn.
I’ve had the pleasure of working with Professor Stephen Sif as an intern and student. Both instances were fun learning experiences. Sif allowed me to be a reporter with free range with the Oxford Observer. Through that, I met incredible people with amazing stories. Oh, and I went fshing with Governor Mike Dewine for a day. At the same time, I learned that I had to do less work if I just did everything right the frst time.
Professor James Tobin completely changed the way I looked at writing. I’ve taken three of his classes now, and I’ve seen my writing improve after every course. I tried to use everything he taught me in one article earlier this year, and it quickly became one of my proudest bylines.
Through all of these professors
I’ve learned about myself and improved with every class.
I can’t thank the students and professors who have helped me in the past four years enough, but I hope my work at The Student is something that you and I can be proud of because of how you’ve helped me.
turmankd@miamioh.edu
jokes in our corner of the newsroom. You are such a fun friend, and I know that will never change. Can’t wait to see you again after Wednesday night.
To Teddy Johnson, thanks for asking me to go camping with you one random day in the newsroom. We’ve bonded over so many things in such little time, it’s kind of crazy to think about. You’ve made my time at Miami so much more entertaining. Everest next?
To Kasey Turman, what a journey we’ve had. To think the random curly blond I sat next to
from what I was used to, and it fipped my world upside down. The next semester I realized that to get the most out of my college experience, I needed to be more than a student athlete. I wanted to get involved on campus, so I scrolled through the list of clubs, eventually landing on one called The Miami Student. I saw they had a business manager and reached out to see if they were looking for an assistant. Luckily they were, and I became the new assistant business man-
a complete 180
sophomore year would become my editor-in-chief is crazy enough. I couldn’t imagine how close we’d become. Thank you for your friendship, I can’t wait for it to follow us wherever our lives lead.
To my fellow seniors, Adam, Kasey, Teddy, Jessica Monahan, Chloe Southard and Chloe McKinney, I’m so proud of us. We’ve created a special culture, and I know the paper is better of because of us. You are all so talented, and I can’t wait to see what we accomplish out in this crazy world.
To my writers, I extend my big
gest thank you. Among so many of you, every story has been a privilege. It was a privilege to lead, and you have given me such joy these last two years. I’m getting close to the word count, but that’s fne. My time at this paper goes beyond the words I’ve written on these pages. I love everyone I’ve ever met through TMS, and I’ll carry these bonds with me the rest of my life. These words just helped me through the door. Thank you.
nortonsm@miamioh.edu
can be in college and life.
ager. Little did I know that would be the start of some of the best friendships I would fnd in college. I want to say a special thank you to my dear friends and fellow seniors Sam Norton and Kasey Turman. Without the two of them, I don’t know what I would do in the newsroom when I get bored. We have had some great memories these past three years. I also want to thank Taylor Stumbaugh and Livi Patel for putting up with me and the guys. TMS wouldn’t be the same without you guys and I know the paper is in good hands next year. Saving the best for last, I couldn’t talk about my experience in college and TMS without mentioning Devin Ankeney. If you know Devin, you know they are the most kindhearted, generous and talented person you will ever meet. Devin was the business manager before me and they showed me how much more there
We spent hours obsessing over the best show ever made, “West Wing,” discussed the records we had collected and hoped to get in the future and marveled at the wondrous things that Shohei Ohtani has done for the sport of baseball. Thank you for being by my side in the newsroom and the infeld of the softball team. The world hasn’t seen a SS and 3B duo like us since Jeter and A-Rod. I will always cherish these moments and I will always think of Devin when I think of the good parts of college. To any future members of TMS reading this, I hope you have as much fun with the paper as I did. Instead of just being a student athlete, The Miami Student allowed me to be so much more. TMS is the best student newspaper in the nation and I know it will continue to be.
ADAM SMITH, BUSINESS MANAGER
KASEY TURMAN POINTS AT HIS TWO BIGGEST DISTRACTIONS IN THE NEWSROOM, SAM NORTON AND ADAM SMITH. PHOTO BY SARAH FROSCH
SAM NORTON EXITS HIS WRITING CAVE, POINTING AT HIS FELLOW BUDDIES IN THE CORNER, KASEY TURMAN AND ADAM SMITH. PHOTO BY SARAH FROSCH
ADAM SMITH LOOKS AT HIS NEWSROOM CORNER BUDDIES, SAM NORTON AND KASEY TURMAN. PHOTO BY SARAH FROSCH
TEDDY JOHNSON, HUMOR EDITOR
In the past three years as humor editor, I have had so much to be grateful for. I’m sad my time is nearing its end, but I want to end my tenure by spreading some gratitude to those who have made my time with The Miami Student what it is.
I’m grateful for having the opportunity to be a part of this organization for all four years. I don’t think I would have stayed all four years at Miami University if it weren’t for this silly little paper.
I’m grateful for this last year with Kasey Turman at the helm of The Student – it’s been the best one yet.
I’m grateful for TMS merging with GreenHawks, introducing me to my lifelong hiking buddy, Sam Norton.
I’m grateful for my TMS trips
to New York City and Washington, D.C., which were some of the most memorable experiences of my life.
I’m grateful for former Co-Humor Editor Patrick Sullivan for being the perfect partner-in-crime and running the humor section with me for two years.
I’m grateful for the friends from TMS I’ve made along the way. The parties, the trips and the hours stuck in the newsroom are all memories I wouldn’t trade for the world.
I’m grateful for Shannon Mahoney, Michael Pattee and Connor Oviatt for writing for the humor section so often!
I’m grateful that the newspaper is in the more-than-capable hands of Anna Reier and Livi Patel. There is no one better suited to run The Miami Student than these two.
john1595@miamioh.edu
JESSICA MONAHAN, PHOTO EDITOR
It was Sunday, Aug. 29, 2021, and I had just fnished my frst ever week of college classes. I had “Mega Fair” in my Apple Calendar and decided it would be a good idea to go and see what kinds of clubs and activities are on campus.
Since I took photography classes in high school and found enough passion for it to buy my own camera, I was drawn to a tent with fyers about photography for The Miami Student. Having never been interested in writing, I was apprehensive about joining a newspaper and feeling like I might be out of place.
I quickly found that being on the sidelines taking photos of the action
was my passion. Whether that be football, basketball, hockey or softball, I loved capturing the action. With this, of course, the newspaper was not only going to cover sports, and I reached out of my comfort zone to photograph people on campus and around Oxford. The Miami Student gave me such incredible opportunities that I will never forget. From the road trips to Detroit, The University of Notre Dame, Cleveland and Cincinnati, they will all be so special to me. Nothing will beat the exhilaration of being on the sideline of Nippert Stadium when the Miami RedHawks and the Cincinnati Bearcats were tied, went to overtime and Miami pulled through for the win to take back the Victory Bell for
the frst time since 2005. Getting to photograph on two NFL felds for the Battle for the Victory Bell at Paycor Stadium and two MAC Championships at Ford Field were such incredible experiences, and I hope to one day collect more. Thank you to everyone for helping me expand my knowledge about photojournalism and learn some AP Style rules here and there. I loved photographing our beautiful
monahaja@miamioh.edu
CHLOE SOUTHARD, CULTURE EDITOR
I came to Miami University under the impression I would graduate as a zoology major.
That’s strange to think of now, especially considering the adoration I’ve come to foster for journalism. But four years ago, I had no intention of making a career out of writing. It was simply a hobby.
Sure, English may have been my best subject in high school, but I wanted to work with animals. That desire was quickly crushed by my frst-year biology class. Once I realized that the science feld wasn’t going to work out for me, I fell back on what I do best: writing.
I decided to ditch zoology and take on a journalism and English literature double major in the spring of my frst year. Easy enough, I thought. I’d be like Rory Gilmore or something — minus the whole dropping out of college and homewrecking thing.
I had no clear idea of what I wanted to do. I wanted to pursue a career in journalism, yes, but that was quite a vague ambition. What kind of journalism did I want to do?
In my JRN 102 class with Professor James Tobin, my UA, Maggie Peña, gave a presentation on why we should consider writing for Miami’s student-run newspaper, The Miami Student. My interest was instantly piqued when
she mentioned the entertainment section.
I’ve always loved music, movies and all things pop culture, so the fact that I could write about those was exciting to me.
I emailed the editor-in-chief at the time and immediately wrote up a story about a book I’d recently read: Patricia Highsmith’s “The Price of Salt.” The title of this article is a quote pulled from the flm adaptation of “The Price of Salt,” titled “Carol.” It feels ftting.
The story needed reworking, but the entertainment editors, Maggie and Sean Scott, helped me angle it diferently. It was technically the frst story I wrote for TMS, although my review of Mitski’s “Laurel Hell” was my frst published piece.
I felt so welcomed and supported by Maggie and Sean, which made me want to get to know the rest of the staf. I was pretty uninvolved during the frst half of my frst year, and it felt good fnding a space where I naturally ft in.
I developed an immediate devotion to the paper. I quickly made my way up the ladder from staf writer to senior staf writer to assistant entertainment editor to entertainment editor and, fnally, culture editor. And I could not be more grateful for the experience this has been.
My entire TMS career, I was surrounded by a wonderful group
of people, but our current staf holds a special place in my heart. Few things come as close to the joy I get from walking into the newsroom and being greeted by them.
I’ve spent nearly every Wednesday night for the past two years with these people. During the hustle and bustle of production, we’ve gotten to know each other, form inside jokes and watch each other grow and fourish, not only as journalists, but as people.
Hell, they even got to know my dog (and I’m 99% sure they like her more than me, which is completely valid). I owe Kasey and the rest of the staf my eternal gratitude for allowing me to bring Trixie to work every week.
Somewhere in Trixie’s brain are fond memories of begging Livi for pizza and scaring her by licking her leg, along with the attention she soaked up from Sarah, Jessica and Stella (and the attention she was terrifed of from Teddy, Jef and Kasey).
I know I’m never going to fnd a space like our newsroom again.
I’m not going to be able to spend time on the clock talking about stuf only chronically online people would understand with colleagues like Stella and Sarah. I won’t be able to make of the cuf quips about my managing editor like I do at Livi. There will be no space that comes close to the one we’ve created together, but to me, that’s OK.
things. Chloe McKinney, editor-in-chief (EIC). I could see the byline as clear as day. Life had other plans for me.
Tuition and medical bills stacked up in my inbox. I worked 20 hours a week for $14 an hour as a barista, saving nearly every spare penny. Once everything was paid of, if I was lucky, I would have around $60 left to my name until the next check came two weeks later.
I took stories sporadically when the stress I was carrying felt a little less heavy. It wasn’t what I wanted, but most days, I hardly had the energy to get out of bed, let alone write stories.
I was falling behind my peers.
Eventually, in January 2023, I became an assistant C&C editor. I remember our C&C editor at the time, Sean Scott, asked if I was ready for the responsibility.
I wasn’t. I struggled and watched as my friends were promoted to higher positions, and I stayed behind.
I knew I needed to step up. I had ambitions, too.
I thought my day would never come until Taylor Stumbaugh took a chance on me. She asked if I would help her run C&C in the spring of my junior year, and I was beyond thrilled. Because of her, I had the opportunity
I’d like the newsroom and my time at TMS to stay unique, to remain something I will always look back on fondly. It’s where I fgured out what I want to do with my life. It’s where I’ve made friends and learned stuf I couldn’t from just journalism classes.
This has been my college experience. Our paper was at the center of everything I’ve done for the past four years. One of the frst things I tell someone when I meet them is that I’m the culture editor for this paper, and it’s been a damn good thing to call myself. TMS, thank you for everything. southacr@miamioh.edu
to grow not only in our section but as a person. For the last year, Taylor has been by my side, answering all my frantically whispered questions, saving me from embarrassment. Laughing, joking, stressing, worrying and picking up each other’s slack, we did it all together. I could not be more grateful to her for being my frst friend in TMS. Stella Powers, Austin Smith and Anna Reier, our original girl-boss line up (sorry, Austin). Stella, thanks for talking my ear of every production about whatever was on your mind. Austin, thank you for always asking how I’m doing and giving me a hard time. Anna, thank you for your positive attitude and forcing the room to do yoga every production. Although you are all moving to different positions in TMS, don’t forget each other. Keep talking, keep laughing and joking; it’s your chance to shine and make TMS a better community.
Kasey Turman (hey, I spelled your name right this time), thanks for bringing the fun back to TMS. All the parties and the production night icebreakers really brought us together. You made TMS feel less like work and more like home.
Livi Patel, Ms. future EIC, I don’t have any more fun lore to drop on you but I do have all my best wishes to give you. You are going to be an amazing EIC. Take it seriously, be grateful for the opportunity,
but don’t forget to have fun.
Shannon Mahoney and Parker Green, our new assistants, you both have shown so much promise already. Never doubt that the work you are doing is meaningful. You are both so strong and smart and I’m proud of how far you have come. I expect great things from you both.
Sarah Frosch,
FAHY STAFF WRITER
When I was four, I was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia on my father’s birthday. Fortunately, thanks to the excellent treatment I received at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, I have been cancer-free for over 15 years.
Ever since then, I’ve had the unique experience of participating in cancer awareness events as a survivor of the disease. However, as I grew older and started discussing my cancer experience, I realized that despite all these cancer events, there is one type of cancer that is consistently overlooked: childhood cancer.
Most people probably could not say what color is associated with childhood cancer (it’s yellow) or what month is designated for its awareness (September).
The lack of knowledge surrounding childhood cancer is astonishing. For something that impacts our future generations, childhood cancer often goes unnoticed compared to other cancers, such as breast, liver or lymphoma.
This trickles down into funding as well.
In 2022, The National Institutes of Health (NIH) invested about $6.8 billion annually in cancer research. Breast cancer research received $580 million, lung cancer received $477 million and all forms of leukemia received $287 million. All told, childhood cancer research received roughly $272 million, which is only 4% of the NIH budget (this amount is then split amongst research projects for 12 main types and 100 subtypes of pediatric cancer).
Despite this funding discrepancy, there have been miraculous breakthroughs in pediatric cancer research: the fve-year survival rate has grown from 58% in the 1970s to 85% in 2025. While that is incredible, more well-funded cancers, such as
breast, have over a 90% survival rate in 2025.
Childhood cancer faces another problem due to a lack of funding: 60% of childhood cancer patients tend to sufer additional health problems and experience severe complications in their adulthood. It is part of the reason why my doctors require me to have an echocardiogram of my heart done every fve years. With more funding, researchers could better understand the efects of cancer and treatments on children as they grow into adulthood. These statistics make the need to fund more childhood cancer research clearer than ever.
However, on Dec. 21, 2024, the U.S. Congress passed a late federal spending bill to avoid a government shutdown. At the urging of then-President-elect Donald Trump and Elon Musk, Congress removed funding and programs designed to aid childhood cancer research, further stretching an already thin budget.
Additionally, once President Trump was sworn into ofce, he signed several executive orders that would cut the funding to the NIH by 15%, which have been temporarily blocked. Yet, if passed, it would signifcantly impact the amount of money allocated to cancer research, causing even more issues for children diagnosed with cancer.
It is a shame, as a nation, that we have not provided enough funding for childhood cancer research. It is the leading cause of death by disease after infancy among children, and we have barely done enough to help it.
Critics argue that increasing spending for childhood cancer research would be a waste of money since most childhood cancers are considered “rare.” While that is true, only a slight increase in funding could provide for better research and better treatments for children diagnosed with under-researched forms of pediatric cancers, such as Ewing Sarcoma,
Neuroblastoma or Osteosarcoma.
There are some easy ways to increase the funding for pediatric cancer. Shaving of part of the multi-billion Space Force, or NASA, budget would be more than enough money to close the funding gap without impacting most Americans’ lives. (Less than 1% of any of these budgets!) Alternatively, the NIH could re-distribute the cancer budget so that the historically more funded cancers with better survival rates lose a small portion of their budget, $1 or 2 million dollars maximum. This would still ensure they could continue their fundamental research, but would help ensure that our children can fght for a healthier and brighter future.
I understand that government funding must be cut down somewhere, and that no solution is perfect. However, we can’t just sit by and lose the advancements we’ve made with pediatric cancer research.
The fact that I am alive to write this is a testament to it.
Without the research that had been done, I and many other pediatric cancer survivors would be dead. If we want future generations of children diagnosed with cancer to have a fghting chance, we need to fund pediatric cancer research – not cut it. fahymm@miamioh.edu
KETHAN CHODAVARAPU BABU SPORTS EDITOR
“My name’s Kethan, it’s spelt like ‘Ethan’ with a K, but sounds like ‘Nathan’ with a K.”
I didn’t give a second thought to how I introduced myself at our frst The Miami Student meeting in August. I’ve always given the same spiel of how my name looks like one name with an additional letter, but sounds like a diferent name with the same letter.
However, a few people looked shocked and told me afterwards that it was a “cool” way to explain my name. I’ll take “cool,” but that’s not the word I would use to describe saying the same thing every frst day of school since I was 5.
From kindergarten to now, I can count one time a teacher or professor got my name right on the frst try: Professor Kara Riesing in Principles of Macroeconomics during my sophomore year at Miami University.
In every other instance, I listen for some botched pronunciation.
The usual suspect is “K-Ethan,” but I’ve heard “Keith-Ann” and “KethIn” frequently as well.
Truthfully, I don’t mind people getting my name wrong on the frst attempt. It’s not exactly an easy one to nail without already knowing what it sounds like, and I’ve mispronounced people’s names before: How am I supposed to know how “Guinevere” sounds without hearing it before?
But it cannot possibly be that difcult to learn someone’s pronunciation after the third, fourth or ffth time.
After I give the spiel, I tend to forgive people less and less each time they mispronounce my name. If I tell someone how it’s pronounced multiple times and they continue to botch it, it’s no longer a mistake or an accident: It’s more disrespectful than anything else.
High school especially taught me that for some people, it’s not that they can’t say it right, but that they don’t care enough to fx it. My sophomore year history teacher called me “K-Ethan” for the
entire fall semester, but he never called my name in class, and I could put up with it once a day for roll call. On the frst day of the spring semester, that same teacher switched things up and asked if “Kenneth” was in attendance. I realized he meant me, and I tried to correct him.
“Don’t worry,” he said, “I’ll just call you Ken.”
Indeed, the man called me Ken for the rest of the year. I generally forgive teachers for that, but I won’t lie: that one still confuses me.
The faculty dropped the ball a few times in high school. The announcer at my junior year National Honor Society induction goofed my name as “Keith-Ayn,” which was a new one. The next year, he announced names at another event, so I left a note in his ofce explaining how it’s pronounced beforehand.
The note worked, and I walked across the gymnasium as Kethan … “Bab oo.” The last name is a whole other story.
It’s usually easier to give a diferent name at places where they just need it for a second. The workers at Bagel & Deli call out for Nate when I’m there, and any Starbucks I’ve been to writes Nate or Nathan on my order.
Some days, I just let people call me the wrong name. If a professor keeps mispronouncing it three or four weeks into the semester, I accept that that’s what I’m going to get called for the next few months.
I don’t blame other people for it, but at the same time, there’s something to be said about people showing a minimal amount of respect by refusing to learn someone’s name. Someone mispronouncing my name is a minor annoyance. Someone not taking the time to get it right is ignorant.
babukc2@miamioh.edu
KASEY TURMAN EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Fifteen print editions, hundreds of stories and countless photos. That’s what we’ve produced in the past year. And, more importantly, that’s what you’ve been reading.
My time as editor-in-chief has ended, but what you, the readers, have done for us in the past year will be felt well into the next group’s time in control of The Miami Student, and hopefully past that. The Student is run by just that –students. We go to class, live our lives and cover the community as well as we can in between. You make it all worth it. When we see how many people have read our stories online or see people picking up our print editions of the newsstands, it makes it all worth it. We spend our free time reporting, photographing and designing everything you see – and when you take it in, we love it even more. When readers click on the stories they fnd interesting, that helps us fgure out what
MOLLY
OPINION
KATHLEEN ZIEN GUEST COLUMNIST
I’ve worked with four Millett Hall special events managers throughout my university career.
Millett still faithfully and efciently fulflls its original intent as a multi-purpose facility. The building hosts athletic events, ROTC, concerts, speakers, the President’s Ball, graduation and more. At last count, capacity was 9,135. Basketball attendance averages 2,200. Simon & Garfunkel, James Taylor and the Queen’s Black Watch came close to flling Millett. Basketball games? Rarely! It’ll take winning records to draw crowds and increase tourism. Arena seats have seldom been flled in the four decades I’ve lived in Oxford. The basketball coach wants fans close to the foor. That’s been done before with portable bleachers at the north end.
An unnecessary arena, costing millions, underscores the folly of Miami University demolishing another valuable building. Preservation and maintaining existing campus buildings should be foremost. Millett represents a substantial investment in energy and resources, costing $7.5 million when it was constructed in
1967-68. Structural trusses were cast in England! Solid, polished terrazzo foors surround the concourse with imported Italian glass wall tiles — proof of 57 years of care. It is a remarkable, solidly built structure and architectural keystone at the north end of campus. Compared to university expenditures, the costs to maintain Millett are dollars well spent. If the university can bulldoze for the business school, rationalize the destruction of serviceable buildings for a $46 million student center, justify cost overruns for the ice rink and spend thousands to upgrade Lewis Place, it can aford to rehab Millett, as needed. A Millett upgrade is tens of millions less than the $200 million estimate for an unnecessary new arena on Cook Field.
Ofering a millionaire’s name on a new building should never justify an old building’s destruction, nor should the university cater to one whining sport.
CONCERNED FACULTY AND STAFF AT MIAMI UNIVERSITY
Back in the spring of 2022, more than 250 Miami University faculty, staf and graduate students signed on to a Letter to the Editor to The Miami Student titled: “In Standing With our LGBTQ Community, Anti-LGBTQ Legislation Has No Place Here.”
Three years later, we are again speaking out to let all of our students – especially those with LGBTQ+, racially minoritized and otherwise historically marginalized identities – know that we continue to stand with them.
Recently enacted and proposed legislation and directives at the state and federal levels, including Ohio’s Senate Bill 1 (S.B. 1) and the U.S. Department of Education’s “Dear Colleague” letter, threaten to undermine our eforts to serve and support all of our students to the best of our abilities.
Both S.B. 1 and the Department of Education’s directive would drag us backward and do harm by prohibiting universities from promoting diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) on campus and by penalizing institutions that aim to provide specifc support for groups of students that historically have faced barriers to equitable college access and inclusion.
We will do everything in our power to continue to embrace, live out and advocate for our values of diversity, equity and inclusion as articulated in Miami’s Inclusive Excellence Statement. We remain dedicated to the knowledge that “a diverse academic community is among an institution’s greatest strengths” and that “a diverse and inclusive campus enhances the living, learning, and working environment for every student, staf, and faculty member.”
S.B. 1 passed the Ohio Senate on Feb. 12; its companion bill, H.B. 6, is expected to come up for a vote in the State House shortly. The U.S. Department of Education’s “Dear Colleague” letter was sent on Feb. 14 and gave institutions 14 days to meet its directives. Both threaten to withhold funding from institutions that don’t comply.
These state and federal mandates aim to attack Miami’s values of inclusive excellence. For example, both seek to “ban” diversity-related programming and scholarships that provide opportunities for historically underrepresented students.
They could imperil student diversity-related initiatives on campus,
STEVEN CONN, W. E. SMITH PROFESSOR OF HISTORY
Attention Miami University students!
When you were recruited to Miami, or when you came as a prospective student, you heard about Miami’s “teacher-scholar” model. Remember that? Vaguely? Well, now is the time to think about it again. The teacher-scholar model means that you are taught by faculty who are both devoted to teaching and pursuing research that makes them leading fgures in their felds. This balance is simply not found at most other universities. I should know. I spent 20 years at The Ohio State University where research is really all that matters, and undergraduate education is mostly an afterthought. Our model has served generations of Miami students and faculty very well. It has made the Miami experience singular and it creates the cachet of your degree.
And now the university is proposing to wreck this model.
The university wants to impose a new bean-counting system that will make the teacher-scholar model virtually impossible for most of
such as the Horizon Graduation Celebration and Lavender Graduation, even though both activities are free and open to all students at Miami. Indeed, these and other DEI-initiatives, as Shaun Harper said, “are not the racist, divisive, discriminatory, and anti-American activities that obstructionists erroneously claim.”
In response to the “Dear Colleague Letter” and a recently blocked federal executive order, legal and education scholar, Liliana Garces, advised colleges and universities to “pause … and limit any reaction.” In a recent memorandum, more than 35 law professors with expertise in areas such as anti-discrimination law, constitutional law and civil rights, urged university leaders “not to sacrifce essential and legally defensible DEI initiatives that help universities fulfll their most basic mission to pursue truth and knowledge for the common good.”
S.B. 1, however, may be the greater threat to Ohio institutions of higher education. Importantly, S.B. 1 is not yet law. But time is running out for students, faculty and staf to voice their opinions about the proposed anti-DEI and anti-union state legislation.
We urge members of Miami’s community to take action. As FAM, Miami’s union for faculty and librarians, recently stated: “We know that our strength comes from our solidarity, our commitment to one another, and our willingness to fght for what we deserve.”
To learn more about how to speak out about S.B. 1/H.B. 6, check out the
us to achieve. This new bean-counter is a one-size-fts-all instrument that does not recognize the diferences in scholarly work between speech pathology and history; between fnance and physics. It betrays a fundamental misunderstanding of how research gets done and instead treats it like line-production in a factory, or burger fipping at Wendy’s. If faculty fail to meet their annual burger quotas, then they will be assigned more and more students to teach – and this is where things will get worse for you.
More students every semester means I can’t spend as much time with any one of you – I won’t be able to work with you on your skills or direct you to interesting opportunities. I won’t have the time.
The new system does not count things like independent study, oneon-one mentorship, honors extensions and letters of recommendation at all. It treats these things instead as “volunteer work,” in the words of administrators. Sort of like serving in a soup kitchen I suppose. Nice, but not really a part of our job description anymore.
resources and information provided by NASW Ohio, a comprehensive resource utilized by students, faculty and staf in the Department of Family Science and Social Work.
We also stand in solidarity with student-led eforts at Miami – and other Ohio institutions of higher education such as the University of Cincinnati and The Ohio State University – to make their voices heard about these state and federal directives that directly impact and threaten their college experiences.
To learn more about relevant actions being planned by Miami students and student organizations, such as Ohio Student Association, Phi Alpha Social Work Honor Society and Humanities Student Collective, follow this link. The above statement is shared on behalf of more than 280 concerned faculty and staf at Miami University. The views shared in this statement are those of the listed individuals and do not represent the views of their departments or Miami University. For a full list of sign ons, please visit our website.
In other words, the very things you were promised when you considered coming to Miami, and which faculty love about working here, are under threat.
You might think that in contemplating changes to the teacher-scholar model so dramatic and potentially damaging, the university would consult the faculty – you know, the people who actually do the teaching and the scholarship. But you would be wrong.
Instead, the university bought the bean-counter from Bain Consulting and paid them handsomely for it. They paid $5 million in fact – enough money to send 35 of you to Miami for four years for free. And for the record, none of the men and women from Bain will be doing any teaching or research here or anywhere else. They went straight to the bank to cash their $5 million check, giggling all the way.
Miami faculty are genuinely perplexed by these proposals. We were not consulted and thus far have heard no explanation for them. No one has answered the question: what is the problem with the teacher-scholar model for which the “Bain Bean Counter” (registered trademark?) is the solution?
If this doesn’t sound like the Miami you want to attend, now is the time to make your voice heard. conns@miamioh.edu
GREENHAWKS
Miami strives to fit new arena in 2040 neutrality
SARAH KENNEL ASST. GREENHAWKS EDITOR
Miami University’s Board of Trustees approved Cook Field as the site for a potential new arena to replace Millett Hall, which could bring vast change to Miami’s campus – both in appearance and functionality. This decision also raises questions about how Miami can execute these changes while staying committed to sustainability, specifcally to its 2040 carbon neutrality goal.
Miami staf plan to ft the project into the 2040 commitment and incorporate sustainability into arena designs, but specifc strategies are subject to change as the project goes through further planning.
Powering the arena
Cody Powell, associate vice president of facilities planning and operations, said the new arena would comply with Miami’s transition of carbon-intensive steam power. He said new renovations and construction on campus expect a 20% reduction in energy consumption at minimum, and that they are looking to put the arena onto one of Miami’s geothermal systems.
“We will be looking to have a pretty substantial energy reduction,” Powell said.
This would replace an earlier plan to change Millett’s infrastructure and move it to geothermal energy from the well feld being constructed nearby. Miami’s buildings are also designed to meet a minimum of
LEED silver, which sets guidelines for sustainable construction and operation. Powell said the new arena will most likely exceed these guidelines.
David Creamer, senior vice president for fnance and business services and treasurer, said the new arena project could explore other forms of renewable energy.
“There’s obviously a very large roof structure that will overlay this building, we could, during the process, evaluate whether solar is an option to take advantage of that,” Creamer said.
However, Creamer also said that at this point in time it is too early to know where exactly the new arena will pull power from and that more planning will bring more certainty. Gray areas of carbon neutrality
Miami breaks down its emissions tracking into three scopes: emissions produced on campus, purchased electricity and commuting and university air travel. As it stands now, Powell said construction and demolition emissions would not be evaluated in the new arena project.
“One of the things carbon neutrality looks at – you defne bounds around what you’re considering trackable versus what you don’t,” Powell said. “We have often not considered construction waste in those calculations.”
However, he echoed Creamer in that he is not certain what the future holds for this scope of emissions.
Moreover, the development of a hotel remains a possibility for the new Cook Field site. Creamer said
Miami is looking at the possibility of a private developer. Similar to the third party emissions of construction and demolition, the private hotel emissions may not be considered in Miami’s net zero calculations.
“We would be leasing ground to the developer,” Powell said. “That wouldn’t be considered part of the university’s public production. Again, it’s one of those things that can change over time, depending on what the expectations are, but that’s typically how that’s handled.”
However, Powell said that if this plan is executed, he believes the developer will be mindful of the university’s goals and have an interest in creating a sustainable facility. Creamer said these emissions will remain a part of the conversation.
A waiting game
Plans for the arena, including its sustainability considerations, are an ongoing conversation. Powell said several groups with diferent objectives work on monitoring the progress of the 2040 goal and will be engaged as these conversations arise.
“It is important to remember that we don’t have fnal approval on the project,” Creamer said. “I think that gets confused. The board is continuing to have us do more work to get them more information.”
Creamer said there is still more information to be gathered, and a fnal approval from the Board of Trustees is expected towards the end of 2025 or early 2026.
kennelse@miamioh.edu
Miami’s hidden environmental impacts: A Google-based campus and other tech systems
SAM NORTON
GREENHAWKS AND OPINION EDITOR
Miami University has set lofty goals to reach carbon neutrality by 2040, including funding renewable energy projects and constructing more environmentally-friendly buildings. These do well to reduce carbon use on campus, but lurking beyond the brick buildings and tree-lined paths are emissions that students are forced into from the second they step on campus, and which neither they nor Miami have full control over.
Miami is a Google-based campus, as all students and faculty are given an “@miamioh.edu” email, which is actually just a Gmail account. Beyond Google, Miami uses the Amazon-owned Canvas platform for classes and has started ofering AI features to anyone with Miami credentials. What these companies, along with AI technology, have in common is their use of enormous data centers, which are extremely energy and water intensive.
Dustin Edwards, a 2016 Miami graduate who now teaches at San Diego State University, specializes in researching and writing about the environmental damages of today’s digital infrastructure and hopes more people, including universities, become aware of the issue.
Edwards said that environmental impacts from these programs aren’t on many universities’ minds.
“I think while it has slipped under the radar in the past, I hope that
universities can take a deeper look and maybe disclose their relationship [with technology] and the kind of environmental impacts it has,” Edwards said.
Despite the intense emissions from these centers, students and faculty alike are brought into this system and are unable to leave during their time at Miami. While the university releases data about most environmental impacts, the emissions that arise from Miami’s cloud-based third-party services are not tracked.
Miami’s director of sustainability, Olivia Herron, said that’s because it’s impossible and unnecessary.
“As far as I know, Google doesn’t really disclose [the emissions] Miami takes up,” Herron said. “... That sort of information isn’t publicly disclosed for all sorts of reasons. Google probably doesn’t want to tell anyone.”
Moreover, tracking these emissions falls outside of the third-party framework that Miami follows for its sustainability plans, so Herron explained that even if they could track
these emissions, they don’t have to.
Therefore, students and faculty are either unaware or unable to change these “cloud-based” emissions inherent to the Miami experience. Despite multiple data centers from Google and Amazon based in central Ohio, understanding Miami’s role in their emissions is a world away, although Herron said she imagines Miami takes “way less than 1%” of their energy use.
“We’re a Canvas and Google campus, you can’t really avoid not doing
your homework because we’ve chosen that as our main provider,” said Will Sayner, a junior botany major and environmental science co-major. “But I defnitely feel the frst step would be educating people about it.”
However, Miami does not delegate all of its internet trafc to of-campus data centers. There is on-campus IT infrastructure, that houses user fles and some trafc from Miami’s website. These data servers are housed in Hoyt Hall on Western Campus.
Herron said these require cooling 365 days a year, no matter the temperature outside. The specifc energy usage from the data centers is not tracked. However, Hoyt Hall is powered by renewable geothermal energy and is included in Miami’s total building emission tracking.
Even though Miami students fnd themselves unable to change their ways when it comes to digital emissions on campus, Edwards does not think that should be the goal. He said that bringing up the subject to bigger audiences and getting people engaged is the key, which can lead to legislation and energy efciency, curbing data center impacts.
“There’s a lot of ways that you can’t opt out of it, but I do think having more honest conversations about the environmental material impact of digital infrastructure is going to be increasingly important,” Edwards said. nortonsm@miamioh.edu
‘A gateway to the community’: New Chestnut Street transit station coming to Oxford this fall
SOPHIE KWIATKOWSKI STAFF WRITER
Nestled by SDS Pizza and the Chestnut Fields parking lot, the Butler County Regional Transit Authority (BCRTA) is currently laying the groundwork for a new transit hub aiming to ease travel within Oxford and beyond. The Chestnut Street Multimodal Station is set to open in September 2025. With features like passenger waiting areas and a future connection with Amtrak, BCRTA hopes this new station will provide a wealth of benefts to the Oxford and Miami University communities alike. Why Chestnut?
Beyond ofering the space needed to build the 57,000 square foot station, the Chestnut Street location has long been deemed an apt location for expanding transportation infrastructure. As noted in Oxford’s 2023 Oxford Tomorrow Comprehensive Plan, Chestnut Street holds the potential for transformative transit-oriented development, according to Zachary Moore, Oxford’s city planner and geographic information system coordinator.
“The comprehensive plan identifes this region of Oxford as a focus area, which means it’s special,” Moore said. “There is a signifcant
opportunity that exists around this region to accommodate change with new forms of development and new forms of growth. This station can create a node of activity that can be capitalized on.”
Additionally, the Chestnut location allows for BCRTA to have a homebase in Oxford.
“We don’t really have a home in Oxford today,” Matt Dutkevicz, BCRTA’s executive director, said. “This will be the frst time that we have our own ofce and our own maintenance facility in Oxford.”
Prepping for the new station
“Everything in Oxford right now is very loopy,” Dutkevicz said. “We know, by and large, people don’t like loopy routes. People generally prefer inbound-outbound routes because they ensure that your stops are on the same sides of the street and that you always hit the same places.”
The new multimodal station will help alleviate this “loopiness” by rerouting some of the current bus lines. These proposed changes were discussed during an Oxford City Council meeting last month.
To ensure that the re-designed bus routes ft ridership needs, BCRTA is seeking feedback from the local community via a survey. The survey will be open through March 21, 2025, and participants have the chance to win a $25 gift card upon completion of the survey.
In addition to the survey, BCRTA is marketing the station’s public transit benefts by speaking with members of Oxford’s City Council and members of the Miami community.
“I think the station is going to bring so much attention just to public transit in general, which our community needs,” said Shawn Cowan, BCRTA’s director of customer care and public engagement. “Anytime we can bring awareness to and overcome people’s perceptions and stereotypes of what public transit is will bring a lot of good.”
Multimodal implications of the station True to its name, the Chestnut Street Multimodal Station will provide and connect multiple modes of transportation in the Oxford area.
“We see the multi-modal center as being truly multi-modal,” Moore said. “Connecting bicycles, pedestrians, passengers and a future Amtrak station – talk about being truly multi-modal.”
Since the station will align with a portion of the Oxford Area Trail System, community members can more easily navigate to Miami’s natural areas. Additionally, for any fans of Jungle Jim’s International Market, the R3 route will pick up passengers at the Chestnut Station and drop them of right in front of the Jungle Jim’s location in Fairfeld. From connecting riders to more
seamless routes on Miami’s campus to more comprehensive routes in Southwest Ohio, the new station will truly be multi-modal. It hopes to increase the use of public and alternative modes of transportation, especially with a student community that heavily utilizes personal modes of transport. “We’re working really hard to make sure that the station’s a gateway to the community,” Dutkevicz said.
kwiatksk@miamioh.edu
GRAPHIC BY OLIVIA MICHELSEN
MICHAEL PATEE STAFF WRITER
’Tis the season of Shamrock Shakes, the Irish and ginger appreciation, and of course leprechauns. Now, you might think that leprechauns aren’t real, but I’d like to direct your attention to exhibit a – a lucky charms box. So yeah, checkmate.
If your favorite childhood sugary, solidifed wheat packaging isn’t indisputable evidence, then I think there’s a nice warm place in the afterlife for you, along with that “moon landing is fake” guy who stands outside Armstrong Student Center. So now that we’ve established the existence of leprechauns, you should know that they have pot. Lots and lots of pot. Pots of gold, if that wasn’t obvious. Not those nasty gold-foiled chocolate coins your second-grade teacher stored in the back cupboard. No, these are gen-u-ine pieces of precious metal. So, if you have the good fortune to fnd one of these pots, here’s what I recommend doing with it.
Develop a superiority complex
Let’s face it, fnding this gold basically makes you the most amazing, intelligent, qualifed and skilled person in the world. So, the frst thing you need to do is develop a superior-
ity complex.
Step 1. Start a podcast. Call it something like “Golden Insights.”
Step 2. Rent out Brick Street. There’s no better way to establish dominance than to rent out the entirety of Will Weisman’s fne establishment. People want to come in?
Fine, only if they bow to you before entering.
Step 3. Buy a brand new, customized pickup truck, sports car, Jeep or motorcycle, but make sure you remove the mufer, blast music and yell out random people out the window. Then all you have to do is drive it down High Street. Doing this will ensure that people know you’re defnitely *not* compensating for anything at all. Go to Vegas
Think about it, you’ve just hit it big. You’ve won the lottery! It feels like you hit a 16-leg parley. So what should you do? Capitalize on your luck before it goes away! Go to Las Vegas and put everything on red. I mean one pot o’ gold is pretty great, but imagine what you could do with two!
But if you prefer to stay in Oxvegas (which is very understandable), then you can accomplish the same thing by going to the poker ring Uptown and taking some nerd’s lunch money by
calling their bluf. Just make sure to avoid Skipper’s if you have the gold on you, because they might accuse you of stealing their booty, as pirates do.
Buy your 5-foot-6-inch male friend some shoe inserts
This serves as a form of philanthropy. Think about it – your friend will fnally get to experience “the weather up there.” What a treat! Plus, as an added perk, you’re paying homage to the leprechaun whose retirement fund you just stole! That tiny redhead’s dream in life was just to dunk on little kids’ basketball hoops. Now, your friend might just be able to touch the net on the big boy hoop. But don’t worry, their newfound height won’t test your superiority complex – after all, your friend still doesn’t have any game.
Pull an unforgettable prank
Last but not least, you could pull a prank that the university would never forget. Think wrapping Pulley Tower in pink polka-dot duct tape, putting saran wrap over every university door, or even getting President Crawford to wear a toupee without knowing! patteemj@miamioh.edu
Top
for underclassmen on Green Beer Day
CONNOR OVIATT HUMOR EDITOR
If you are an unfortunate soul under the age of 21, who will be trapped on campus during Green Beer Day (GBD), the FOMO can be hard to fend of. If you didn’t unlock the GBD cheat code I did last year (going somewhere you can legally partake in the festivities) you may feel as though you’re out of luck. However, as someone who survived (barely) a GBD without the fuid, I do consider myself an expert in getting through this tough time. So, sit back, relax and enjoy my incredible advice on what to do during GBD. Go to class
In perhaps the most revolutionary idea that will grace this list, you could just go to the class that you (or father and mother) paid quite a good deal for you to attend. This would be a great opportunity to meet your professor, as you two will be the only people in the room. If you’re lucky, your professor will give you a bit of extra credit.
If you’re not, you’ll just end up with a very awkward conversation (and perhaps a pop quiz or exam). Going to class is an extremely safe and intelligent decision to make. Staying productive is easy, even when your competition is out sleeping drinking (although let’s be honest, that dork will also be in class).
Sit in your dorm and cry
I would say this is the most popular choice for underclassmen. While you could go to class, this option allows you to sit and rot in your room (just like every other day). But, this
day would be a little more special.
Yes, you will doom scroll on TikTok for hours on end, but this time, you will feel the most intense FOMO of your life.
Because, as we all know, the only important thing in life is the ability to drink green beer on a random Thursday in March. The existential dread you feel may be indescribable, but at least you won’t be getting arrested uptown.
Do a fun activity with your friends
On paper, this is by far the best activity. You could work out, go for a hike, go shopping or do any hobby you have. Wait… do you mean to tell me you also don’t have any hobbies or a personality outside of day drinking? Well, I don’t know what to tell you then. On to the next thing. Go home for spring break early
My recommendation for you freshmen – go home. Traveling home allows you to beat the trafc, potentially save money on fights and make it appear to your family as if you aren’t a horrible degenerate. Plus, if you live in a place that is far cooler than the middle of nowhere Ohio, you can brag to all of your upperclassmen friends about how cool your home is! Overall, a very solid option. While not ideal, there are a couple of avenues for underclassmen to have a safe and enjoyable Green Beer Day. Regardless of which path you believe is best for you, please take one of my recommendations. The Oxford crime report has already been too long as is this semester.
oviattcc@miamioh.edu
