An array of learning: New solar field powers campus and education
SARAH
KENNEL GREENHAWKS EDITOR
Nestled behind Hillcrest Hall on Miami University’s Western campus lies Miami’s newest energy initiative: a 2.26 acre solar array.
After a $5 million donation from Miami alumni passionate about sustainability, and nearly a year of instal-
lation work, the project is in its fnal phase of installation and is expected to be providing power to Miami starting this October.
Director of sustainability Olivia Herron said the project, along with the Millett geothermal felds currently under construction, will reduce Miami’s emissions by nearly 10% and
push it further toward its 2040 carbon neutrality goal.
The array sits atop the existing western geothermal wellfeld, putting the existing land to use in supporting two kinds of energy production.
“We would never be able to build or do anything on top of this feld, so this is the perfect opportunity to utilize this land for its peak value,”
said Joel Fellman, electrical engineer project manager. Herron said the project is special because it will power on-campus learning initiatives and physical facilities. While it is common for solar panel sites to be blocked of, Miami will open the park to the public.
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Preview: Miami football welcomes UNLV to Yager for home-opener
KETHAN BABU SPORTS EDITOR
The Miami University RedHawks football team will host its home-opener game at Yager Stadium on Sept. 20 for a noon kickof against the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) Rebels. Before their bye week, the RedHawks took their second loss against the Rutgers University Scarlet Knights. Miami’s ofense outperformed its week-one counterpart, but dominating second and fourth quarters from Rutgers saw the Big Ten opponent win 45-17 on Sept. 6. Sixth-year quarterback Dequan Finn threw for 251 yards and one pick against Rutgers while netting 85 rushing yards. Finn and redshirt frst-year running back D’Shawntae Jones rushed for one touchdown each, keeping the score within seven
early in the third quarter before Rutgers ofcially took command of the game.
With one additional week without a matchup to prepare for this weekend, head coach Chuck Martin said the RedHawks worked especially hard on improving their consistency over the past two weeks.
“It’s diferent,” Martin said. “We get two more practice weeks, and I think an experienced team like last year was kind of like, ‘It’s too early, you could use it later in the year when you have more bumps and bruises’ … But for us, can we spend two weeks [getting] more consistent? How much more consistent can we try to play our systems the way we want to play our systems against UNLV and force them to physically beat us.”
After their back-to-back Big Ten road matchups, Miami returns to Oxford hoping to continue its home winning streak from last season. The
RedHawks successfully defended their home turf fve times in 2024 and haven’t lost at Yager since last year’s Battle for the Victory Bell on Sept. 14. Miami is 12-5 at home in the last three years.
The Rebels and the RedHawks will meet for the frst time in either program’s history. UNLV became the only undefeated team left in the Mountain West Conference following its 30-23 win over the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Bruins on Sept. 6. The Rebels are 3-0 and one of 39 teams in the nation that haven’t lost yet. Junior quarterback Anthony Colandrea played an efcient game against UCLA, throwing for 203 yards, three touchdowns and zero interceptions.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 7
Heavier workloads push faculty to reconsider study away programs
SOLOMON BOWSER THE MIAMI STUDENT
Katie Caleodis spent her J-term in Hollywood. The senior media and communication major joined other students on a trip to the home of the silver screen as part of Inside Hollywood, one of Miami University’s study away programs. Over the course of three weeks, Caleodis and the other students toured studios for major production companies and interacted with media professionals and Miami alums in the feld. Even though Caleodis is still considering her career options, she said she’s grateful for the connections she’s made with industry insiders.
“Knowing that I have some really high-up people in certain companies that would vouch for me, and I know
that I could contact if I needed anything,” she said. “It makes all the difference.”
Study away programs have provided opportunities to engage with professional industries for more than fve years in cities all over the country, but changes to Miami’s teaching infrastructure have tested the only lifeline these programs have: faculty. As of the 2025 fall semester, Miami implemented new course load requirements, increasing the number of courses most professors are required to teach. Andy Rice, a professor of flm studies and communications, led Inside Hollywood for three years until his fnal trip during this past J-term. He said his time spent working has slowly added up over the past few years, which meant spending less time on his work as a flmmaker. Now
he’s at a point where trying to balance personal projects and teaching a study away program has become impossible, primarily because the program is a huge amount of responsibility.
“Well, it doesn't make sense for me to do Inside Hollywood anymore,” Rice said. “I mean, there’s no space for that.”
Inside Hollywood will continue with Kerry Hegarty, an associate professor of flm studies, as its new faculty leader.
These programs are usually run by a single faculty member, with exceptions made for larger student groups. As program leaders are the only faculty assigned to the trip, they also take on the full responsibility of planning it.
CAITLIN O’BRIEN THE MIAMI STUDENT
Every year, Miami University Alumni Association recognizes exceptional alums with the “18 of the Last 9 Award.” Inspired by the school’s founding year of 1809, the award is presented to 18 remarkable alumni who graduated within the last nine years, who are oftentimes nominated by faculty.
The journalism department was proud to have graduated two lucky recipients chosen this year: Madeline Mitchell and Reis Thebault.
“I'm not surprised that they're receiving this honor,” said Joe Sampson, head of the journalism department. “They were deeply involved in their undergraduate experience … They're both very deserving recipients of this award.”
Mitchell, who graduated in 2019, started her frst year as an honors student with a double major in theater and interactive media studies. After some encouragement from friends she met abroad, she decided to join The Miami Student and fll the open writer spot. It was there she discovered her passion for journalism.
That next fall semester, she added a journalism major and fell in love. In addition to her academics, she was extremely involved in extracurriculars.
During her four years, she was the president of The Walking Theatre Project, a member of the MUDEC student executive board, a staf writer for The Student and a participant in the Geofrion Fellowship and Undergraduate Summer Scholars programs. Mitchell packed her schedule tight to get the most out of college, and the experience paid of.
After a successful internship at The Cincinnati Enquirer her senior year, Mitchell was ofered a fulltime position right after graduation, where she started on the education beat.
In February, she was promoted to the women and caregiver economy reporter for USA Today. In addition to her work in the journalism feld, she continues to use her theater education to write and produce her own plays.
“I made great friends and connections at Miami,” Mitchell said. “I feel like I had opportunities to be creative, to try diferent things. I would not be where I am now if it was not for Miami University, that’s for sure.”
Thebault, a 2016 graduate, came to Miami with journalism and individualized studies majors. Similar to Mitchell, he was very involved on campus: he served as editor-in-chief of The Student, worked on RedHawk Radio, The Miami Public Radio Project and was a member of CAS Student Ambassadors.
After his time interning at The Boston Globe and The Columbus Dispatch, he is now the West Coast correspondent for The Washington Post. He has covered a wide range of topics, including the L.A. fres, school shootings and a plethora of political stories. He said his countless hours writing for The Student aided him the most in getting to where he is today.
“When journalists are good at their job, when they care about the work they're doing, when they think of it really as a public service – that's refected in the work that they produce,” said Rosemary Pennington, chair of the department of media, journalism and flm. “I think you see that in the work of both Reis and Maddie.”
While the list goes on for both alumni’s favorite professors, the two who stood out were Pennington and Sampson. They both witnessed students in their classrooms become award-winning journalists.
“The most gratifying thing is that I know how good our journalism legacy is, how good our professors and our graduates are and how good The Student is,” Thebault said. “So it feels great to be able to represent that.”
Along with the 16 other alums, Mitchell and Thebault will visit Sept. 26 for the 18 of the Last 9 networking lunch to celebrate their accomplishments and connect with current students as well as their old friends still at the university.
“They represent the best of our program and we're happy to welcome them back and celebrate their early career success,” Sampson said. obrie175@miamioh.edu
THE MIAMI STUDENT STAFF
OLIVIA PATEL EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
MADELINE BUECKER
ANNA REIER
MANAGING EDITOR
TAYLOR STUMBAUGH
SENIOR CAMPUS & COMMUNITY EDITOR
KETHAN BABU
SPORTS EDITOR
TAYLOR POWERS
OPINION EDITOR
STELLA POWERS
CULTURE EDITOR
CONNOR OVIATT
HUMOR EDITOR
SARAH KENNEL
GREENHAWKS EDITOR
OLIVIA MICHELSEN
DESIGN EDITOR
SARAH FROSCH
DIGITAL MEDIA EDITOR
KISER YOUNG
SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR
ASST. DESIGN EDITOR
LAUREN AURIANA
PHOTO EDITOR
SHANNON MAHONEY
PARKER GREEN
ASST. CAMPUS & COMMUNITY EDITORS
ALYA PEDEN
ASST. CULTURE EDITOR
JEFFREY MIDDLETON
ASST. SPORTS EDITOR
AUSTIN SMITH
BUSINESS MANAGER
FRED REEDER JR.
FACULTY ADVISER
SACHA BELLMAN
BUSINESS ADVISER
AIM MEDIA MIDWEST PRINTER
POLICY
The Miami Student is committed to providing the Miami University community with the most accurate information possible. Corrections may be submitted up to seven calendar days after publication.
Our Awards
2024 and 2025 Corbin Gwaltney Award for Best All-Around Student Newspaper in the large school category, beating out every student paper at a university over 10,000 students in Ohio, Michigan, West Virginia and Western Pennsylvania
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Who is the Dean of Students?
SYDNEY MULFORD
STAFF WRITER
SOFIE TERLESKY
THE MIAMI STUDENT
Students may have seen Dean of Students BaShaun Smith’s four kids running around Western dining hall, or heard about his extensive Cleveland Browns collection in the Dean of Students’ Ofce, but what does the den of students actually do?
As the dean of students, BaShaun Smith supervises the Ofce of Residence Life, the Miller Center for Student Disability Services, the Rinella Learning Center and the Dean of Students Ofce.
On Mondays, he communicates with Jayne Brownell, the senior vice president for student afairs and her assistant vice presidents regarding student concerns and upcoming events.
“A day in the life is very random, depending on what is happening in the larger community,” Smith said.
One thing that stays consistent throughout the school year is
his weekly event, Break Bread with Bashaun. Smith and other members of his team connect with students every Tuesday from noon to 1 p.m.
“We have lunch with student organizations in our ofce suite where we buy them Chipotle,” Smith said. “Tell me about your organization; tell us how the Dean of Students’ Ofce can be supportive. How can we assist? How can we advocate for you? They are some really good conversations.”
During Break Bread with BaShaun, Smith has helped student organizations with anything they might need. For example, some organizations have experienced issues with funding programs and other events, so he connected them with the Special Events Fund in the Dean of Students’ Ofce. Smith has also introduced students to Scott Walter, the assistant vice president for student life, regarding Associate Student Government funding issues.
In addition to connecting and learning about student organizations, the dean of students will meet with organizations when there is rising
tension in hopes of resolving the confict and fnding a common ground.
“In my mind, think of a Thanksgiving table: you’re sitting down, you are more vulnerable, you’re catching up, you’re actually listening because you’re eating and the other person’s talking,” Smith said. “You’re more inclined to listen to what the other person has to say.”
While Smith enjoys connecting with students, that connection does not always start of on a positive note. Most cases of discipline go to the Offce of Community Standards. However, more extreme cases, especially when suspension is involved, will move up to him.
“When it comes to me, it’s unfortunately really bad,” Smith said. “You have allegedly done something so bad that it is a threat to the larger community. My job as a dean of students is to keep our campus safe, and we do that in a partnership with the [Miami University Police Department].”
Even though Smith has many strong connections to organizations, students often don’t know what his actual role is on campus.
“I mean, sure, I’d like to know what [his job] is, more than anything,” sophomore and fnance major Japveer Singh said.
Based on the name “dean of students,” sophomore biology major Stephanie Karoutsos said she thinks about someone who interacts and oversees students as a whole.
“When I think about [the dean of students], I think of somebody who looks over the students that go [to Miami] and helps them academically,” Karoutsos said. “That is kind of about all I know.”
With all of these responsibilities wrapped together, the dean of students provides care, advocacy and support for the campus community.
“I get to hopefully interact and impact 4,000 plus students,” Smith said, “and that’s something that I don’t take for granted.” mulforsj@miamioh.edu
Multiple
fake IDs confiscated in Oxford this week
SMITH BUSINESS MANAGER
Between Sept. 8 and Sept. 15, offcers responded to 19 diferent incidents, according to Oxford Police Department reports.
On Sept. 8 at 1:13 p.m., in the 300 block of S. Locust St., police responded to a threat of physical violence at a grocery store over a parking spot. A report was taken, but no charges have been pressed at this time.
Later that day, at 6:40 p.m., in the 600 block of S. Locust St., ofcers were called to investigate a runaway spotted in the area. Ofcers located the individual and another teen who was also found to be a runaway. One was released to their parent, while the other had warrants and was transported to the Juvenile Detention Center.
On Sept. 9 at 4:43 p.m., in the 5200 block of College Corner Pike, ofcers spotted a vehicle with a stolen plate. After stopping the suspect, ofcers confrmed the license plate had been stolen. The man was arrested for receiving stolen property and transported to Butler County Jail.
On Sept. 11 at 2:35 p.m., in the 300 block of Tallawanda Road, ofcers responded to a report of two fraternities engaging in disorderly conduct, resulting in a shattered window. A report was taken.
On Sept. 12 at 9:55 p.m., at the intersection of East High Street and South Poplar Street, ofcers observed
two males walking with open alcohol containers. After stopping the men, the ofcers discovered they were underage and in possession of multiple fake IDs. The men were cited and released.
Later that day, at 11:55 p.m., ofcers responded to McCullough-Hyde Memorial Hospital to report an assault that had occurred earlier that night in the 30 block of E. High St. The investigation is ongoing.
On Sept. 13 at 1:56 a.m., at the intersection of North Poplar Street and East Church Street, ofcers observed a male urinating on a church. After ofcers approached the male, he fed from the scene and ofcers pursued him on foot. After stopping him, offcers found him to be underage and in possession of two fake IDs. Ofcers transported him to Butler County Jail.
That same day, at 10:47 p.m., in the 300 block of S. Locust St., ofcers responded to a shoplifting in progress. Ofcers located and arrested the suspect, who had an active warrant. After securing his car, ofcers observed drug paraphernalia and cited him accordingly. The suspect was transported to Butler County Jail.
Later that day, at 11:37 p.m., in the 600 block of S. Main St., ofcers and EMS responded to a male passed out in someone’s yard. He woke up during the medical evaluation and was transported to the hospital.
smith854@miamioh.edu
GRAPHIC BY SYDNEY MULFORD
COLUMBUS
AUSTIN
GRAPHIC BY MACY CHAMBERLIN
The Miami Student Games
City council considers elderly services levy, passes previouslydebated ordinances
KIERNAN PFENNIG THE MIAMI STUDENT
Oxford City Council discussed city spending and passed ordinances regarding emergency cold shelters, rezoning and indoor golf simulators at its Sept. 16 meeting.
Elderly Services Program seeks levy renewal
Jennifer Heston-Mullins from the Butler County Elderly Services Program (ESP) Advisory Council presented the program’s increased need for funds as Oxford’s elderly population continues to rise.
The ESP supports Oxford’s elderly population by helping with in-house care and transportation to doctor’s visits, as well as providing home safety modifcations.
The levy has been active since 1996 and requires renewal by Butler County voters this November. The ESP seeks to increase the levy from $1.3 million to $2 million, costing taxpayers roughly $4 a month.
ASG begins the 202526 governance cycle
SHANNON MAHONEY ASST. CAMPUS AND COMMUNITY EDITOR
The Associated Student Government (ASG) convened for its frst full body meeting on Sept. 16. During the meeting, ASG elected a new deputy secretary of the treasury, addressed student concerns, appointed new members to the Steering Committee and passed ASG’s internal operating budget (IOB).
ASG elected Senator Wade Warren, a senior social work major, as deputy secretary of the treasury. Warren said he wanted to focus on accountability, transparency and communication.
“Working with the IRB last year was honestly a lot of fun,” Warren said. “The idea of getting to work with the IOB a little more [and] trying out a position that I’m quasi-familiar with, but also something that gives me a lot of learning, and I just like to be with challenging people.” ASG also appointed Senators Nicholas Barry and Charlie Merrill to the Steering Committee.
The senators heard several concerns submitted by students. Senator
Bill Kwan committed a motion to follow up on the closing of King Cafe and investigate possible uses for the space.
“I’ve had some people come to me ask about King Cafe … asking if they’re going to take down the signs or any of the gear in there, because it’s kind of being left to rot,” Kwan said.
Senator Quinten Ahler committed a motion to look into getting a cofee dispenser for Bell Tower dining.
“Every single dining hall where you can use a meal swipe has a cofee dispenser, and all of the other ghost kitchen options from McCracken to Martin also have a basic Rooted Grounds cofee dispenser next to the soda machine,” Ahler said, explaining his rationale for the motion.
Senator Barry and Secretary Hunter Rode presented an amendment for clarifcation to the Funding Committee standing rules. The amendment passed unanimously.
ASG will meet again on Tuesday, Sept. 23, at 6 p.m. in the Joslin Senate Chambers. mahones5@miamioh.edu
The grant will supplement funds raised by local faith-based organizations to establish an emergency cold shelter for homeless people in the Oxford area.
Ann Fuehrer, a board member for Oxford Area Solutions for Housing, said the funds would be used to provide social services, and unused funds would be returned to the city.
“Half of that $70,000 would go to hiring professionally-qualifed staf, who will assure the security of our guests, volunteers and staf,” Fuehrer said.
Ordinances passed for zoning of single and two-family homes
Two ordinances were passed to amend the zoning map of Oxford to allow for the construction of 34 one and two-family homes. These ordinances received criticism from members of the public who believe the area would be better used as apartment complexes that could provide homes for more families or for businesses that would cultivate a more walkable environment.
“If the levy fails, ESP ends and there’s no continuation funding …” Heston-Mullins said. Council members pass resolution for an emergency cold shelter A resolution to authorize a $70,000 grant to the Oxford Vineyard Church was unanimously approved.
Mayor William Snavely considered the rezoning “unwise,” as the new map only partially rezones the area. He expressed doubts that investors would want to build homes in an environment so close to potentially rowdy student apartments.
Oxford to welcome new in-
door golf simulator facility
City council approved the use of 10 N. Beech St., previously the home of the Princess Theater, for an indoor golf simulator. The city council shared its support of local business investing in the Oxford area.
Council member David Prytherch thanked the Miami alumni applicants.
“We have Kofenya thanks to alums and because we have Kofenya then Bodega was saved from becoming something else…” Prytherch said.
Snavely concluded the meeting by condemning political violence, mentioning how the assassination of right-wing political activist Charlie Kirk is just the latest of a series of political attacks.
Council will meet again on Tuesday, Oct. 7, at 7:30 p.m. at the Oxford Courthouse.
pfennikp@miamioh.edu
CAMPUS & COMMUNITY
Swiping left or right: The gender gap in Miami’s dating scene
PARKER GREEN
ASST. CAMPUS AND COMMUNITY EDITOR
CARLEY RAPP
THE MIAMI STUDENT
When Maddy Jones, a frst-year kinesiology major, started to disagree with the boy she was interested in over politics, she ghosted him.
“He said something I didn’t agree with, and I was like, ‘Wait, hold on,’” Jones said. Jones identifes with a more liberal ideology, while the boy she was talking to tended to lean more conservative. She said she would be open to date someone who holds conservative values, but it’s not what she’s explicitly seeking out.
Her story is refective of a larger trend in the Gen Z political climate: growing gender gaps.
According to the Public Religion Research Institute, women aged 1829 are more likely to identify as liberal than men aged 18-29, and less likely to identify as conservative (37% to 28% and 22% to 29%, respectively).
Anne Whitesell, a professor in Miami’s political science department, said that while a gender gap has existed for a long time, it’s been exacerbated by other issues like polarization.
“There’s been a gender gap since at least the ’80s,” Whitesell said.
“Typically, the trends have been that women are often more politically liberal, and then men are more conservative than women; but because just as a whole, we’re moving further apart, then the gender gap would also be [moving] further apart.”
This growing gap can make dating across the aisle more difcult.
Pew Research Center found that 71% of single people who identify as or lean toward Democrats probably or defnitely would not date someone who voted for Trump in the 2016 election.
Riley Clary, a frst-year supply chain and operations management major, said dating within your ideology allows you to make a connection on issues that are important to you.
“It feels like you’re understood more on your beliefs when [people
you want to date] believe the same things as you, because then you feel like you can have an open conversation about how you feel,” Clary said. “Politics are really important, especially in today’s society.”
Clary identifes as left-leaning and said the 2024 election was “eye-opening,” especially because she didn’t talk about politics in high school.
Drew Belcher, chairman of College Republicans at Miami and a senior political science major, identifes as a “traditional conservative.”
He said that agreeing on faith and morals is more important than agreeing on politics, but that unifed views help.
“If you don’t agree on the most fundamental values, I don’t think you can have a strong household,” Belcher said.
He said he’s more concerned about how the gender gap and polarization in politics will afect the traditional family unit.
“I think [the gender divide] is a very bad thing for the country,” Belcher said. “I think it’s going to
Reported fights Uptown stay consistent with years prior
SHANNON MAHONEY
ASST. CAMPUS AND COMMUNITY EDITOR
It starts as something small: an insult, a slight shove or even a dispute over a parking spot. But, these small interactions can quickly snowball into a full-blown fght.
Police Lt. Adam Price has served with the Oxford Police Department (OPD) for 19 years. He said that although there has been a slight increase in the number of fghts last year, the most surprising thing is that the fghts are not restricted to a specifc demographic.
“It’s a mix of everything,” Price said. “Some of them are involving people that are above 21 … some of them are above 18, involved with a juvenile. They’re varying ages. There’s no rhyme or reason.” Alex Patneaude, a senior cyber security major who worked as a shift lead at Brick Street Bar up until Sept. 5, said fghts broke out between both Miami University students and non-Miami students.
“Sometimes it’s people visiting from a diferent college,” Patneaude said. “We’ve had fghts about people getting [so] worked up that they can’t
get into the bar … Sometimes it’s just people who are locals from the town.”
According to OPD records, there is a small uptick in the number of fghts compared to last year. In 2024, there were nine assaults reported from Aug. 19 to Sept 16. In 2025, there were 12 assaults reported over the same time frame.
“We’ve increased some patrols, and we’ve looked at some other things that might lead to some of these fghts,” Price said. “I think alcohol probably has a good play in a lot of those, and we’ve done some diferent things with our alcohol enforcement to try to address some of these issues.”
Price also said most fghts occur in the Mile Square area between midnight and 3 a.m. on weekends. The reasons for the fghts are varied, but multiple fghts have been instigated by verbal insults.
Jason, who is using a pseudonym to protect his job at Brick Street, said he thinks the amount of fghts has been similar to past years, but agreed that weekends were the most common days for fghts.
“Some weekends it’s bad, some weekends it’s good,” Jason said. “I don’t think every weekend there’s a
fght.” Price said the true number of fghts that have occurred this year is unknown because people can be hesitant to report an assault. OPD sometimes receives reports from the hospital rather than the victims themselves. Delays in reporting also make it difcult for OPD to investigate incidents and hold the responsible parties accountable.
“A lot of these reports that we’ve had don’t end up in charges because people change their minds, or they don’t follow through,” Price said. “Some of them we get where the assault occurs, and they don’t report it … They don’t know who did it, or they don’t want to tell us who did it.”
Price said bystanders are often the ones to call in an assault, and many people will record something if they see it, but added that it is rare for someone to try to step in to stop a fght.
“Take care of your friends and have situational awareness,” Price said. “It only takes one knucklehead to ruin everybody else’s night or ruin their weekend.”
mahones5@miamioh.edu
have some huge efects on dating life and the culture around that. I’m a little scared there might be a crisis where people aren’t dating, people aren’t having kids, and there’s a number of factors that go into that, but one of them is the gender gap.”
Whitesell said polarization suggests we are moving farther apart, which makes it harder to compromise.
“What we also fnd is that there becomes an us-versus-them mentality,” Whitesell said. “Like this team versus my team, and that then has spillover efects when you’re talking about social relationships.”
The “spillover” can even be seen in pop culture. In Netfix’s Love Is Blind, two contestants broke it of due to political diferences. In both cases, the gender gap assumptions were true.
Of course, for every time the gender gap holds up, there are cases in which it doesn’t.
Rachael Hawley, a frst-year speech pathology and audiology major, said she identifes as right-leaning and is looking for a conservative
partner.
Elise VanHimbergen, a frst-year majoring in business analytics, also identifed as conservative, but said that politics don’t matter to her “as long as it doesn’t cause any conficts.” Whitesell said that while the growing gender gap is an overall trend, seeing it play out is much more nuanced.
“The important thing to remember, though, is for both men and women, you really need to break it down further than that,” Whitesell said. “So you need to look at things like race or age or class, because there’s a lot of variation within that when you’re looking at how people vote.”
Beyond the gender gap, there are some students who just don’t care. Out of 13 people interviewed, fve simply said they don’t know enough about politics to comment, and that it mattered zero percent what afliation their partners were.
greenpt@miamioh.edu
rappcr2@miamioh.edu
Heavier workloads push faculty to reconsider study away programs
away programs. She said if they are already having trouble during the semester teaching classes, then it will be even more difcult to prepare for something outside of the semester.
This includes selecting which students can go on the trip, training in CPR, organizing housing contracts and group transportation, connecting with alums and planning diferent activities. Rice said fnding faculty to run these programs can be difcult, not because the necessary qualifcations are so high, but because so few professors want to apply.
“You have to be willing, that’s the requirement,” he said.
But even after leaving the program, Rice isn’t the only one feeling the pressure.
“I specifcally said I cannot do Inside Chicago unless it’s in J-term because there’s no way I can work on it in the second semester,” said Christe McKittrick, an associate clinical professor of strategic communication.
McKittrick developed Inside Chicago and has led it on six trips. She said she isn’t bitter about the increased workload, but more concerned with its impact on professors’ ability to teach and lead study
“I think the workload is going to keep people from being excited about trying those new opportunities,” she said.
Despite her worries, McKittrick isn’t ready to let go of Inside Chicago. She said she’s going to stick with it regardless of the amount of work because of how rewarding the work is for her and the students. McKittrick added that one of her favorite parts of the whole trip is the reception they have with Miami alums. She described study away as a kind of return to the fold, a mingling of old and new generations starting the cycle over again.
“We’ve had students walk right out of this into internships and jobs, I don’t know how you can want anything more than that,” she said. “And then 10 years later, they’re coming back saying ‘this program was so great for me,’ and building back into the students of today.” bowsers2@miamioh.edu
GRAPHIC BY SYDNEY MULFORD
OXFORD
CAMPUS & COMMUNITY
Suicide Prevention Week provides ways to destress, learn about mental health
SHANNON MAHONEY
ASST. CAMPUS AND COMMUNITY EDITOR
Miami University’s annual Suicide Prevention Week will be held Sept. 28 to Oct. 3. Here are some events to give students a strong, healthy start to the semester.
Out of Darkness Sui-
cide Prevention Walk
Sept. 28, 1 p.m. — Uptown Park
Stop by the mental health resource tables Uptown to learn how to join a walk team and get involved in the 2K, which helps raise money for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.
Messages of hope
Sept. 30-Oct. 2, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Clinical Health Sciences building, room 2002
Drop in at the wellness studio to write notes of positivity to give to friends or leave them behind for someone who might need it.
Dog therapy
Sept. 29, 2-3 p.m. — Clinical Health Sciences building, room 2002
Sept. 30, 1-2 p.m. — Clinical Health Sciences building, room 2002
De-stress by petting some puppies!
Rock painting Sept. 30, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. — Armstrong atrium Get creative with the Ofce of Student Wellness by painting rocks with messages of kindness on them. Supplies will be provided.
Mental health resource fair
Oct. 1, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. — Academic quad
Stop by the seal to learn more about promoting mental health at interactive booths with fun prizes and giveaways. The rain location for this event is the Shriver Center Heritage room.
Mental health workshop
Oct. 1, 4-5 p.m. — Clinical Health Sciences building, room 2002
Take a moment to relax and refect with festive pumpkin painting. This workshop will also teach everyday mindfulness practices to help reduce stress.
Suicide prevention training for students
Oct. 1, 6-7:30 p.m. — Clinical
Health Sciences building, room 2002
Learn about Question, Persuade,
Miami’s director of student wellness awarded the Rachel Hutzel Prevention Partner Award
Refer suicide prevention training so you can be equipped to help others who may be struggling. This event is ofered by Miami Hope.
DIY de-stress with the Miller Center
Oct. 2, 2-4 p.m. — the Shriver Center, room 304
Take a break from classes and school stress by making crafts with other students and members of the community. All materials will be provided.
What grounds you?
Oct. 2, 6-7:30 p.m. — Harrison Hall, room 210 Spend time with other students at this mental health mixer that includes free food and fall-themed activities. This event is ofered by Active Minds.
Drop-in horse therapy
Oct. 3, 4–5 p.m. — Equestrian Center
Head down to the Equestrian Center to pet, feed and hang out with horses! Student counseling services will be sharing self-care tips and passing out free swag.
mahones5@miamioh.edu
JACLYN WENHOLD THE MIAMI STUDENT
When it comes to wellness, Rebecca Young believes no one can do it alone. That philosophy of collaboration recently earned Miami University’s director of student wellness one of Ohio’s top community-based behavioral health risk prevention awards.
The Rachel Hutzel Prevention Partner Award, presented by PreventionFIRST! and acknowledged by the Ohio Senate, honors leaders who strengthen community-based prevention and advance public health through collaboration. PreventionFIRST! is a nonproft organization that uses strategic data analysis to reduce behavioral health risks.
For Young, the recognition is both humbling and motivating.
“Working alongside community members, colleagues and leaders on topics regarding mental health has strengthened my perspective that we all have a part to play,” Young said.
The Rachel Hutzel Award is named after the late Warren County prosecutor and PreventionFirst! board member who championed community health and prevention initiatives.
Presented annually by PreventionFIRST!, the award recognizes people who embody Hutzel’s values of collaboration, advocacy and dedication to prevention. Recipients are chosen for creating sustainable, community-driven programs that improve access to care and reduce health risks.
Christi Valentini-Lackner, chief program ofcer at PreventionFIRST!, said Young exemplifes these values perfectly.
“Rebecca has a long history of
‘I can’t wait to come back next year’: Students and community members celebrate Oxtoberfest
OWEN MARTIN THE MIAMI STUDENT
Oxtoberfest took place on a rainy Saturday afternoon, but looking around, a passerby wouldn’t be able to tell. Turnout remained high at Oxford’s annual festival, where a crowd of hundreds of college students, Oxford residents and their children gathered Uptown to celebrate German heritage.
The festivities were diverse. A closed High Street hosted dozens of diferent vendors, with items ranging from handmade crafts to children’s games. A crowd favorite was the Oxford ‘Beer Academy,’ where attendees could sit in a booth and learn about the various types of German beer available at the festival.
“It really is a great way to spend a Saturday,” said Nathan Adkins, a senior fnance major at Miami. “All the events are so much fun, and I might even come back next year after I graduate.”
The great atmosphere was echoed by many, and even drew the attention of Robert Bacon, an operations and supply chain management major playing football at the University of Dayton, who made the trek down to Oxford for the festivities.
advocating for prevention in the higher ed sector,” Valentini-Lackner said. “She has a curiosity that leads to continuous learning, collaboration and openness to feedback. She is persistent and determined.” Young has spearheaded workshops and initiatives normalizing conversations around mental health, equipping students with skills to support their peers and ensuring resources are accessible when and where students need them most.
Hannah Treadway, operations and health education compliance coordinator, highlighted Young’s leadership within the ofce.
“Rebecca is an empathetic leader who inspires confdence and empowers us to do more and be our best,” Treadway said. “Her recognition motivates the entire wellness team by showing us what’s possible when leadership is grounded in empathy, vision and collaboration.”
Treadway said she’s noticed a signifcant culture shift around wellness topics since her time as a Miami student in 2019.
“Leaders like Rebecca help create meaningful programming that positively impacts students’ daily lives,” she said.
The recognition also shines a light on the growing partnership between PreventionFIRST! and Miami. Valentini-Lackner said under Young’s leadership, workshops and events have focused on mental wellness, which is a regular part of the student experience at Miami.
One example of this is the Health Advocates for Wellness, Knowledge and Skills, which is a group of 45 student peer health educators who have provided decades of health and wellness education, encouraging students to make free and healthy decisions.
“I just love German music,” Bacon said. “The chicken song is a favorite of mine.”
With three bands playing throughout the course of the 9-hour festival, there was plenty of German music to enjoy.
Other than the music and beverages, there was also a wide selection of foods available to eat at the festival. A fan favorite was local bar Steinkeller, which drew long lines to its booth selling bratwurst to a sea of hungry visitors. The $9 brats came with a pretzel bun and a heaping portion of sauerkraut, and many students raved about the dish.
“The brats were so favorful,” said Alec Martin, an integrated social studies education major. “I am not even a fan of sauerkraut, but I really enjoyed it.”
As the sun set, and the dozens of vendors began to pack up, Carter Cofey, a frst-year economics major and one of the last patrons, said how much he enjoyed this year’s festivities.
“This festival really was a success,” Cofey said. “The town of Oxford really put on a great show. I can’t wait to come back next year.”
martino9@miamioh.edu
Valentini-Lackner said these types of prevention eforts on college campuses can be directly correlated to students’ academic achievements.
“Prevention on college campuses is vital for student success and well-being,” she said. “When students know how to access resources and feel their needs are being met, they can focus on their studies. Campuses with strong behavioral health and wellness initiatives are safer, more welcoming and support higher engagement and retention.”
She also noted that one of the most pressing challenges is funding. Limited state resources and shifting legislation can make it difcult for institutions to sustain prevention initiatives, even as the demand for mental health and wellness support continues to grow.
Still, Valentini-Lackner said awards like this play a crucial role in spotlighting the impact of prevention leaders, who she says are not thanked enough.
“Most folks in the feld of prevention do the work because they are called to make a diference,” she said. “Awards like this are needed because this work can be a thankless job and those that do it well, like Rebecca, deserve to be recognized.”
With the Rachel Hutzel Award, Young’s work has not only been recognized, but elevated as a model of what prevention can achieve when dedication, innovation and collaboration come together.
Young said she continues to remain focused on the students who motivate her work every day and the people who collaborate to make the Ofce of Student Wellness at Miami and the Oxford community what it is today.
wenholje@miamioh.edu
GRAPHIC BY THE MIAMI STUDENT
Middleton’s Musings: Miami football is back home, and students should show up
JEFFREY MIDDLETON ASST. SPORTS EDITOR
Welcome to Middleton’s Musings, a new weekly sports column on all things Miami sports from Assistant Sports Editor Jef Middleton. We’ll talk about all the current goings-on within the Miami sports universe, and we (may) have some disagreements along the way, both in print and online!
The dog days of summer, where the only sports on television are baseball and whatever niche sport ESPN8: The Ocho is showing, like wifeball and professional bubble hockey, are over. Football is back to gracing our screens throughout the week, with the National Football League and college football covering Sundays, Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.
With college football ramping back up again, the Miami University RedHawks are set for their 2025 campaign. After falling in the Mid-American Conference (MAC) championship last season to Ohio University, head coach Chuck Martin and his staf did yeoman’s work to try to put themselves back on top this year.
Miami fans have seen their team play on the road in its frst two games. Now, the RedHawks return to Oxford and will play at Yager Stadium for the frst time this season against the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) Rebels.
For the frst home game since last November, Miami students should be there.
One of the major talking points of every athletic season here is football attendance. The average game brings in fewer than 15,000 fans per game in a stadium that holds 25,000 people.
Last season, according to Miami’s ofcial statistics, attendance was at its highest at the fnal Battle for the Victory Bell against the University of Cincinnati. There were 24,717 attendants in the bleachers. On the other side of the spectrum, Yager welcomed as few as 5,328 fans in Miami’s matchup with Kent State University on Nov. 13.
The RedHawks had two other matchups with sub-10,000 fans, bringing the average for regular-season home games to 12,193 fans.
Student attendance at Yager is a complicated phenomenon to describe, especially as a student at this university. If there was a full com-
BRYAN MILLER STAFF WRITER
It’s no secret that Miami University is known for its coaches.
Across a variety of sports, the Cradle of Coaches features legendary coaches throughout Miami’s history. While each of these coaches shares a Miami connection, many of them share another: They traded in their jersey for a whistle after spending their playing days in Oxford.
For the men’s basketball team, Dan Luers is currently making that transition ahead of the 2025-26 season. Luers began his collegiate career at Defance College, where he averaged 16.4 points per game in his only year with the Yellow Jackets. He then transferred to Eastern Illinois University, spending three seasons with the Panthers and appearing in all 32 games in his last season.
For his ffth and fnal season as a college basketball player, Luers played in 12 games with Miami and
mitment to attend football games, there’s no doubt that Yager would be packed every home weekend. We’ve seen it before. It’s not a question of whether or not RedHawks fans can do it. It’s just a matter of the alternatives.
Instead of making the walk to Yager, students can stop by one of the many bars with Saturday drink specials and watch the game with hundreds of other people in an environment that is just as, if not more, exhilarating and energetic. The college football environment that students crave from SEC and Big-Ten schools feels more prevalent with a pitcher of beer in hand at Beat the Clock than it does in the hot sun (or, by the winter months, the freezing cold) at Yager.
Another factor that doesn’t help is the quality of competition. The MAC is a respectable conference, of course, but the question of, “Would you rather watch the University of Tennessee play the University of Georgia or Miami play Central Michigan University?” is fundamental to a college football Saturday in Oxford and the attendance issues.
Regardless, seeing as it’s the frst home weekend of a new college football season, students should be in attendance to watch the RedHawks, and there are incentives to arrive before the noon kickof.
As is the case with most Miami football games, tailgating will be in full force, but not just by fans in the Millett parking lot. Tailgates were also announced by the Miami Interfraternity Council (IFC), with 25 diferent fraternities joining forces to try to bring fans out. There will be a live DJ, food and, of course, drinks starting at 9 a.m.
For those who are there for more than the drinking and tailgating, the football team is sporting new names that have only been on their television screen to this point.
Saturday will be the frst time fans can see sixth-year quarterback Dequan Finn with their own eyes as a veteran leader of a relatively young ofensive group. The defense, despite giving up an undesired number of points against Rutgers, remains as stout as years prior.
Miami football’s attendance conundrum is multifaceted, but in the frst week, unless the game is sold out, it’s hard to fnd reasons why students shouldn’t make their way to Yager to support the RedHawks. middleje@miamioh.edu
Miami releases the women’s basketball schedule
KETHAN BABU SPORTS EDITOR
The Miami University RedHawks women’s basketball team laid dormant for several years. Following a 23-9 season in 2018-19 – head coach Megan Dufy’s last year in Oxford –the RedHawks posted fve-straight years with records under .500 and went through two coaching changes.
Last season, Miami snapped this streak and posted its best record in six years, going 19-12 and reaching the Mid-American Conference (MAC) tournament.
Head coach Glenn Box, who now enters his third year at Miami, said the team accomplished plenty in 2024-25, but it left more on the table. The RedHawks fell in the frst round of the MAC tournament 68-61 to the Kent State University Golden Flashes, a team they had faced twice in the regular season.
“We took another big step forward with our program,” Box said. “We didn’t accomplish all of our goals, however. I felt like there was defnitely more left in the tank … Moving forward into this year, I think we’ve taken a step in regards to recruiting. I feel as though we have some really solid kids that are going to continue to move this program forward.”
Five players entered the transfer portal last season, and an additional three graduated. Notably, the team will be without Enjulina Gonzalez, a now-University of Georgia Bulldog and the RedHawks’ leading scorer in 2024-25.
Despite the holes on the roster, Miami’s coaching staf utilized the transfer portal to bring in fve players. Box said their previous collegiate experience will prove benefcial to the RedHawks, especially once conference play begins.
“Right now, I feel as though we hit a home run out of the portal,” Box said. “The kids that we have brought in, they all have done it and have scored and have contributed [with] their previous team. They bring in a lot of experience. For them, it’s a new situation … It’s an opportunity for them to be a part of something that’s pretty special.”
One transfer player, redshirt junior forward Brooke Blumenfeld, has experience in both collegiate basketball as a whole and with the MAC specifcally. Blumenfeld arrived in Oxford after playing three seasons with the Northern Illinois University Huskies. She averaged 9.1 points and 2.6 rebounds per game last season.
Redshirt junior guard Macie Taylor transferred in from a local program. The former Wright State University Raider averaged 7.8 points and shot .329 on 3-pointers in 202425. The RedHawks landed a significant ofensive weapon in senior guard Amber Scalia, who averaged 14.8 points at the University of St. Thomas last season, good for second on the roster. Scalia also led the team with 56 triples made on 154 shots (.364).
The new faces on the team, including freshmen guards Anna Hurst and Mio Sakano, will shake up Miami’s roster ahead of the season opener in early November. Junior guard Núria Jurjo said she appreciates the work that the new players have done in the preseason so far.
“The new players help us a lot,” Jurjo said. “Nowadays [with] the transfer portal, everyone is leaving. Trying to build a culture is probably more difcult, but I think we’re doing a great job. The new teammates we have, I think they’re really good, and I really enjoy being with them … We’re friends, we’re not only teammates.”
The RedHawks open their 202526 campaign on the road against Coastal Carolina University on Nov. 3. Later that week, Miami will play its frst game at Millett Hall and welcome Cedarville University on Nov.
7.
Miami’s early schedule includes a trip to Purdue University, whom the RedHawks lost 67-51 last year. At the end of November, the RedHawks will compete in the Paradise Jam, a tournament in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands.
Those who are missing their Battle for the Victory Bell can take a trip to the University of Cincinnati on Dec. 3 for the women’s basketball team’s frst matchup against the Bearcats since 2019.
Following their fnal non-conference matchup, the RedHawks will close out the year with their fourth matchup against Kent State in 2025 on Dec. 31.
The MAC slate doesn’t get any easier; Miami next faces the University of Toledo Rockets, who fnished at No. 3 in the conference, on Jan. 3. Junior forward Amber Tretter said the team hopes to fnd success in the non-conference slate to prepare for the tough MAC matchups early in the new year.
“Our non-conference schedule prepares us the most for that,” Tretter said. “We’re playing a lot of good
‘He’s a one-of-one man’: Inside Dan Luers’ transition from player to coach
averaged 5.2 points per game. His two highest scoring performances came in notable moments, including a season-high 20 points against his former school, Defance, and 18 points on senior night against Ball State University. His most signifcant impact, though, was what wasn’t seen by fans every game.
“Dan Luers was a huge key to the success that we had as a team last year,” head coach Travis Steele said.
“He’s an energy giver. He was the same guy every day. He was all about the team.”
Much of Luers’ energy came during practice. He was often tasked with guarding senior guard Peter Suder throughout practice, a difcult task for many of the best players in the Mid-American Conference (MAC). But Luers more than held his own.
Suder ended the season as Mi-
ami’s leading scorer, averaging 13.7 points per game, good for top 20 in the MAC. Suder was also named to First-Team All-MAC, the frst Red-
Hawk with that distinction since Julian Mavunga in 2012, and was recently named the Blue Ribbon MAC Preseason Player of the Year.
The battles between Luers and Suder had a lasting impact on the rest of the team.
“I think it was really important for us,” junior guard Evan Ipsaro said. “He and Peter fghting every day in practice, bringing the energy, I think other people fed of that.”
That type of impact was enough for the coaching staf to begin to ask Luers if he would be interested in a Graduate Assistant (GA) position for next season.
After a few weeks of further conversation and thought, Luers agreed to the new position.
That meant that in just over a year, Luers went from a new transfer in the program to one of the most trusted voices in it. That also meant that he will be coaching many of the players that he called teammates just a few months before.
“It’s defnitely interesting playing with them [compared] to now, coach-
ing them and trying to hold them to our standard,” Luers said. “But it’s really not that weird because our guys are right. I already had great relationships with them, so they understand the transition that I’ve made, they make it easy.”
The transition from player to coach, from student to teacher, can be quite an adjustment. In any industry, many would look towards their closest mentors for advice.
For Luers, becoming a coach is no diferent. He said that since he took the GA position, he has talked to some of his former coaches including Marty Simmons at Eastern Illinois and his high school coach, Kelvin Moss, who is currently the head coach at Lakota West High School. However, much of the advice that Luers has received has come from inside the walls of Millett Hall.
“I think we got one of the best stafs in the country,” Luers said. “I try to model it after the guys here, and our coaching staf really tries to empower the players. I think that they kind of give me a good example of
teams within our non-conference, and I think that will help us prepare to get a head start going into the conference, especially starting of with some of those teams. But I also think the MAC has kind of opened up a lot this year … Almost every team is going to be diferent, but I’m excited to go into those.”
The January schedule includes back-to-back games against the toptwo teams in the MAC. The RedHawks frst welcome the No. 2 University of Bufalo Bulls to Millett on Jan. 21. Three days later, they travel to the No. 1 Ball State University Cardinals, who won the conference championship over Toledo.
The Ohio University Bobcats will visit Oxford for a Battle of the Bricks matchup on Jan. 31. Millett will also witness the second game of the season against Ball State on Feb. 21, as well as another matchup with Kent State on March 4. Box said that he takes the season individually, focusing solely on the team’s upcoming matchup. However, he said if the RedHawks want to make it back to Cleveland in March, they need to continue building a strong foundation of the court.
“From a culture standpoint, [we need] to continue to bring in solid kids,” Box said. “Kids that are secure in who they are as people, kids who have a tremendous amount of gratitude for where we are and the opportunity that this presents and kids who have tremendous buy-in. When you have those three things, you’re usually gonna have a good chance.”
Miami made its frst appearance since 2018-19 at the MAC tournament last season. As Box enters his third year at the helm, he said he wants to improve the team one week at a time enroute to his ultimate goal: winning the MAC championship for the frst time in program history.
Until then, the RedHawks are counting down the days until the 2025-26 ofcially begins at Coastal Carolina on Nov. 3.
“I can’t look super far ahead because you don’t know what your team’s gonna look like three months from now,” Box said. “There’s just so many factors that come into play. Some kids tap out, some kids have injuries. There’s so many things. I do think each day brings about a new experience that will take these kids into the future … I’m trying to win each game. I’m trying to be better every day.”
babukc2@miamioh.edu
what great coaching is. And then I’m just gonna try to take pieces from that and develop my own method for it.” Luers added that he wants to include the best qualities and attributes that he sees in the current coaching staf. But coaching is also about going through the peaks and valleys of the season. For every positive during the year, there’s a setback that brings a teachable moment.
It takes a certain kind of person to perfect that balance. And while it’s still very early, the results for Luers have been overwhelmingly positive.
“He’s a born leader,” Suder said. “He’s one of the most hard working guys I’ve ever played with. He pushes you in every single aspect of life.” Luers will begin his coaching career later this year, when Miami men’s basketball opens the season Nov. 3 against Old Dominion in the MAC-SBC Challenge.
mill2361@miamioh.edu
THE MIAMI FOOTBALL TEAM PRACTICES DURING THE 2024 SEASON AT YAGER STADIUM. PHOTO BY SARAH FROSCH
GRAPHIC BY TEAGAN FARMER
Miami to Miami: Hayden Cuthbertson’s draft to The Show
KETHAN BABU SPORTS EDITOR
ELISA ROSENTHAL PHOTO EDITOR
After winning the Mid-American Conference (MAC) championship with the Miami University baseball team, pitcher Hayden Cuthbertson was drafted to the Miami Marlins in round 18 of the 2025 Major League Baseball Draft as the 528th overall pick.
Cuthbertson grew up as the youngest of four children, and with three older siblings who played sports, he felt the push to be great from a young age. He played baseball his whole life and always had the goal in mind to continue playing at higher levels.
“They’d always make fun of me, saying they were better when they were my age,” Cuthbertson said.
“That drove me to be better and try to be a better athlete than all of them.”
Cuthbertson is a left-handed pitcher from Delta, British Columbia, in Canada. After fnishing high
school, Hayden was recruited to play at Three Rivers College, a junior college (JUCO) in Missouri, where he stayed for two seasons.
Playing at a JUCO was a stepping stone to get to a Division I program for Cuthbertson, an opportunity to gain experience and be able to compete at a more competitive level. At Miami, he did the same, utilizing practices and coaches to improve his pitching.
“He’s like a sponge with everything,” head coach Brian Smiley said.
“He went from a guy that was just kind of throwing baseballs up there, not necessarily knowing how to pitch, to a guy that ended up being able to fll whatever role we wanted him to fll. He’s just really, really competitive.”
Smiley and pitching coach Larry Scully frst heard about Cuthbertson from an online video during his Three Rivers days. The left-hander displayed an uncanny throwing form that Scully had to see in-person. Scully traveled north to watch the young pitcher in action. It only took a handful of pitches for him to realize
the RedHawks potentially had a special recruit on their hands.
“You do this long enough, and you get to a point where when you see something that you know you like, it doesn’t take very long,” Scully said. “He actually threw about three or four pitches, and I was really impressed.”
Cuthbertson checked all the boxes from a pitching standpoint. Smiley highlighted Cuthbertson’s ability to stay grounded when he’s on the mound, keeping his mindset directed at the batter instead of a previous mistake he made or worrying about the next hitter.
“Every time he took the ball, whether it was good or bad, you never doubted that he was out there fghting the opponent,” Smiley said. “He wasn’t fghting himself. He never was in his own head. He was just trying to fght the opponent, which you always appreciated.”
During the regular season, Cuthbertson earned a chance to prove himself as a true starter against the University of Toledo Rockets. He pitched six-straight innings, allowing three hits and giving up no runs.
4 takeaways from Miami football before the 2025 home opener transition from player to coach
consistently.
The Miami University RedHawks football team lost its second game of the season against Rutgers University on Sept. 6. Miami’s two losses, both on the road against Big Ten teams, come before the RedHawks’ home opener against the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) on Sept. 20. The RedHawks’ performance so far reveals four main takeaways to note going into their next matchup. Miami needs to stop shooting itself in the foot
The RedHawks kept their game against Rutgers close, trailing by seven halfway through the third quarter. The Scarlet Knights ran away with the game, but Miami didn’t do itself any favors, making multiple mistakes in the second half. Throughout the game, Miami gave up 10 penalties for 94 yards. In comparison, Rutgers gave up two for 14 yards. The RedHawks’ errors came during crucial moments in the game, including a defensive holding on a third down in the red zone.
The team also gave up four defensive pass interference calls, which made it more difcult to get stops
COOPER MENEGHETTI THE MIAMI STUDENT
On June 6, in Oakland, California, the battle over $2.8 billion fnally came to a conclusion. Colleges can now ofcially pay their athletes directly. Over 2,000 miles away at the Mid-American Conference (MAC) headquarters, change was not something anyone saw on the horizon. Although the House v. NCAA settlement did not target the MAC, its results will be felt throughout the college athletics world. Athletes from the MAC have made a signifcant impact on their respective games. Players like Antonio Brown and J.J. Watt both got their start in the MAC, beginning their careers as walk-on players. Similarly, Heisman Trophy-winner Baker Mayfeld, Cy Young Award-winner Shane Bieber and six-time NBA champion Scotty Pippen got their start walking on to their university’s athletic teams. On June 6, however, the fate of the walk-on was put in jeopardy. Prior to 2025, the NCAA model for athletics allowed for a certain number of scholarships per sport with an unlimited number of non-scholarship walk-ons. The $2.8 billion settlement will cap the size of team rosters. Any walk-ons part of the program before
A costly ofensive pass interference call in the third quarter rendered a big gain worthless, leading to a Miami punt. Head coach Chuck Martin said these moments are small in a vacuum, but to be able to win games, these mistakes cannot pile up. Giving up nearly 100 yards for free puts the team in difcult situations in the long term.
Defensive struggles Unlike last week, when the Redhawks held Wisconsin to 17, Miami’s defense gave up 45 points to Rutgers.
Scarlet Knights quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis threw 26 completions on 36 attempts for 295 yards and four touchdowns. Kaliakmanis’ connection with Rutgers’ two top receivers, Ian Strong and KJ Duf, was unstoppable, as the duo put up a combined 189 receiving yards and three touchdowns.
Throughout the game, the defense struggled to guard the receivers, which initially started as an issue of placement. The team played over-the-top soft-man coverage, giving a 10-plus-yard cushion at certain points of the game, allowing the Scarlet Knights to run quick outs and hook routes along the numbers with little resistance. As the game progressed, the
RedHawks transitioned to a more aggressive press defense, which showed better results but led to the aforementioned defensive penalties. The corners were out-muscled against the bigger Big Ten receivers.
The ofense continues to fnd its legs
The RedHawks’ ofense played more comfortably compared to its week-one counterpart. Miami scored two touchdowns, had three big plays and averaged eight yards per play.
Two receivers – redshirt sophomore Keith Reynolds and redshirt junior Kam Perry – both had more than 100 yards in the air. It was the frst time in six years that two Miami receivers had 100 yards or more in a game: Jalen Walker and Jack Sorenson did so against the University of Bufalo in 2019.
The ofensive line gave sixth-year quarterback DeQuan Finn time in the pocket, allowing him to read the defense and allowing routes to develop further. If Miami becomes more consistent during practice, the RedHawks can showcase a strong ofensive front against the Rebels on Sept. 20.
arizzijm@miamioh.edu
The thing that set Cuthbertson apart from other players and pitchers was his unique arm slot and his left-handedness, an important attribute against the Toledo lineup that featured multiple left-handed hitters.
The RedHawks would meet Toledo two more times in game one and game three of the MAC tournament. Given the importance of the postseason matchup and thinking about the tournament as a whole, Smiley decided to give Cuthbertson another starting opportunity against the Rockets in game one.
The coaching staf proved to be correct in their choice, as he pitched six innings with fve strikeouts and four runs enroute to a 10-4 Miami win.
“You can look real smart, or you can look really bad if it doesn’t work,” Scully said. “We went back and forth, and at the end, [Smiley] had the confdence, I had the confdence, that Hayden can do this for us. He can start game one … He went out and really dominated, and because of that, it set up the rest of the pitching rotation in the tournament that favored us.”
Miami would go on to win the MAC championship, once again over Toledo, bringing the conference title to Oxford for the frst time since 2005.
Cuthbertson and his coaches knew that his talent was on full display during the 2025 season. Smiley said the team didn’t necessarily have expectations, but everyone knew it was a matter of time before an MLB team would be reaching out. Over the summer, after taking time of to rest, Cuthbertson was pleasantly surprised to receive the call that he was being drafted to the Marlins. It was the culmination of a lifetime goal, and he knew he had to take the opportunity to fulfll his childhood dream to play professionally.
“This is what I’ve always wanted,” Cuthbertson said. “I’ve been very grateful for it, but at the same time, I’m ready for it now. I’m trying to work on getting better and trying to move up.”
babukc2@miamioh.edu rosente2@miamioh.edu
Colandrea threw a touchdown each to redshirt senior tight end Var’Keyes Gumms, redshirt senior receiver Troy Omeire and redshirt senior tight end Nick Elksnis.
Six receivers have caught a touchdown this season. Senior receiver Jaden Bradley leads the roster with 13 receptions and 262 yards.
On the ground, junior running back Jai’Den Thomas has carried the Rebels with four touchdowns and 273 net rushing yards. Last year, Thomas fnished with 918 rushing yards and seven touchdowns, good for seventh in the same conference that included current Las Vegas Raider Ashton Jeanty, who led the nation with 2,601 yards and 29 touchdowns in 2024.
Defensively, the Rebels will rely on senior defensive backs Aamaris Brown and Laterrance Welch in the secondary. The duo has fve com-
bined interceptions through their frst three games. Brown also leads the roster with two sacks.
UNLV has found success so far in head coach Dan Mullen’s frst season with the Rebels. Mullen previously coached at the University of Florida and Mississippi State University. For Miami to defend Yager, the RedHawks will need to recuperate from their ofensive mistakes against the University of Wisconsin and Rutgers to face the Rebels’ formidable defense. Miami improved on offense against Rutgers with 168 more passing yards and 83 more rushing yards compared to Wisconsin. However, both sides of the ball need to play four consistent quarters against a UNLV squad looking to keep its undefeated status.
Kickof is scheduled for noon at Yager on Sept. 20. The game will be broadcast on ESPNU.
babukc2@miamioh.edu
the 2026 season are allowed to keep their places for the next four years as well.
This settlement will forever afect the trajectory of college athletics and roster construction, as well as keep potentially game-changing athletes from continuing their athletic careers.
Not every walk-on story is Rudy Ruettiger’s, a career immortalized by a major motion picture; instead, it may lead to a college career highlighted by signifcant contributions to the team.
Away from the lights and cameras of Hollywood, Miami University’s own Silas Walters is paving his own path. Although Walters received all-conference honors his senior year of high school at Lakota West, he did not receive any ofers from Division I programs.
“It was always something I thought about,” Walters said. “I always wanted to play [football] at the highest level.”
Joining Miami as a walk-on in 2021, Walters didn’t make his debut until the following season. He played in 13 games for the RedHawks, receiving the John Scherz “Most Valuable Walk-On” Award.
Walters has continued to adapt his football skills for whatever the RedHawks ask of him, transitioning from a player who featured prominently on
special teams to one of the marquee talents on the Miami defense.
“Starting from the very bottom has taught me a lot of real moral and life lessons, particularly hard work, dedication and consistency,” Walters said.
These lessons have served the thousands of walk-ons, like Walters, not just in football but through the rest of their lives.
Walters argued on behalf of the walk-on and the position’s impact.
“We’ve seen throughout history, plenty of walk-ons [who] have turned out to be incredible players,” Walters said. “Baker Mayfeld was a walkon who won the Heisman Trophy … There will always be those kids that went under the radar in high school who peak in the college game, and that is something people don’t pay attention to.”
The NCAA’s rule changes will limit the number of student athletes who get a chance to demonstrate their skills at the highest level. Current walk-on defensive lineman Donovan Davis received ofers from FCS schools, but yet chose Miami as an academic institution frst, and as a football program second.”
Miami men’s basketball walk-on Blake Anderson echoed Davis’ sentiments.
“[Miami basketball] has allowed me to participate in Division I athlet-
ics and be involved with a school like Miami,” Anderson said. “So I thought it was the best of everything that I wanted out of my college experience.”
Davis and Anderson get an opportunity to prove themselves as a walkon while prioritizing their education.
Although the NCAA settlement does allow for players with limited recognition to utilize Division II and III, as well as the transfer portal, this does restrict the players’ comfort in an academic environment, making the player choose between education and their sport.
Davis argues that in a game where players chase money, there are guys willing to come play football for free – so why get rid of it?
“It doesn’t hurt anyone, so there is no value lost,” Davis said. Although intramural sports have always been part of the college experience, the walk-on experience allows for players to compete at a regimented high level, ultimately with a chance to beneft a university athletic team at the varsity level.
At a Power Four institution, the football program will have the money as well as the interest to recruit and maintain 105 scholarship players on its roster, which will virtually eliminate the walk-on.
At a Group of Five school, such as Miami, although the roster limits 105 athletes, coaches can fll any empty
spots on the roster with walk-ons. As head coach Chuck Martin noted, Miami could have a roster of 90 scholarship athletes and 15 walk-ons, which is considered legal by the NCAA’s restrictions.
Men’s basketball head coach Travis Steele has a similar position to Martin.
“In the past, we’ve been allowed 13 scholarships,” Steele said. “Now it’s 15, but you can’t keep 15 guys happy. Shoot, you can’t keep 13 guys happy. Everyone wants to play, so at Miami, walk-ons will still have a huge role.” Steele still maintains an appreciation for the NCAA to ensure that walkons who were already established on the team are grandfathered in for the remainder of their eligibility.
“It’s not their fault that the rules changed,” Steele said, “It’s like you’re driving in a 55 and all of a sudden it changes to a 40. I’m still going 55 – I can’t get pulled over for that.” Ultimately, the fallout of the June 6 ruling will take years to assess fully, but starting next year, the entire NCAA will begin to feel the ripples. At Miami, it looks like the walk-on won’t entirely disappear; however, only time will tell the true efects on the game.
meneghcj@miamioh.edu
JOEY ARIZZI THE MIAMI STUDENT
MIAMI’S DEFENSE LINES UP AGAINST WISCONSIN AT CAMP RANDALL STADIUM ON AUG. 28. PHOTO BY KETHAN BABU
THE REDHAWKS RUN OUT AT YAGER DURING THE CINCINNATI GAME IN 2024. PHOTO BY JESSICA MONAHAN
CULTURE
PHOTO EDITOR
Disclaimer: This column contains spoilers for season 2.
My “Addams Family” credentials include the following: an obsession with the original movie, a longing for a romance like Morticia and Gomez and, obviously, my position as the smart, eldest daughter in my family with a fervently protective watch over my slightly idiotic younger brother.
I loved season one of “Wednesday,” even watching it twice; so naturally, I binged all of season two in one sitting once it was released.
However, this season’s plot was full of holes and missed opportunities. The setup of both seasons is relatively the same: seven episodes of random minor story lines and side quests, and one fnale episode that somehow manages to weakly connect all the random plot points yet still include some loose clifhanger that keeps us wanting another season.
In season one, Wednesday arrives at Nevermore Academy while a monster terrorizes the nearby town of Jericho. She travels to Jericho chasing answers about a psychic premonition she had, in which she was behind the
destruction of the school.
In the end, Wednesday manages to avoid the fate of her vision, uncovering secrets from her parents’ time at the academy and exposing the truth that a Nevermore staf member has been plotting against the students all along.
Wednesday makes several enemies for herself in the process: she lands on the bad side of a group of Jericho bullies, Principal Weems and fellow student Bianca Barclay. All of these hateful relationships seemingly vanish in the brief summer hiatus that is said to have happened between seasons.
At the end of the fnale, Xavier, Wednesday’s friend and fellow Nevermore student, who we never see again without explanation, gives Wednesday a phone. She receives a looming text that says “I’m watching you” with an eerie image of her being killed. While season two reveals a stalker with no intent to kill her, we never get a direct explanation of who was watching her with such murderous intent.
In season two, Wednesday arrives at Nevermore while a murder of crows is beginning to terrorize the nearby town of Jericho. She travels to Jericho chasing answers about a psychic premonition she had in which she is at fault for Enid’s death.
STELLA POWERS CULTURE
EDITOR
COLUMN
The 2025 Emmy Awards took place on Sept. 14, with many winners making history — “The Studio” took home more Emmys than any comedy series has in a single year, a donation counter kept speeches short and a star from “Adolescence” became the youngest male to ever win an Emmy for acting. The event was full of memorable moments and frsts.
Instead of a traditional monologue, the show opened with a sketch about the future of television featuring host Nate Bargatze and “Saturday Night Live” cast members James Austin Johnson, Bowen Yang and Mikey Day, setting the tone for the unusual awards show evening.
Bargatze also informed the attendees of a looming threat for if they went over time in their speeches: every time someone went over in their speech, he would subtract from a $100,000 donation to the Boys & Girls Club. This efort kept some stars brief, with others saying they’d pay the diference. In the end, $350,000
was donated to the Boys & Girls Club, despite numerous award winners going over in their speeches and the initial donation only being set at $100,000. Hannah Einbinder took home the award for outstanding actor in a comedy series for her performance in “Hacks,” using her speech to take a stance on important issues in the world. She began her speech with the usual thanks, then went on to say she would pay the diference on the donation for going over time. She concluded her speech with arguably one of the most memorable moments of the evening: “Go Birds, f*** ICE and free Palestine.”
Stephen Colbert won the award for best talk series, and the crowd greeted him with a standing ovation. This recognition comes not long after the decision to cancel his show, “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.” Colbert reminisced on how he’s loved doing the show and how much he is going to miss it.
The Emmy stage transformed into Lorelai and Rory’s front porch for the much-anticipated “Gilmore Girls” reunion, led by Alexis Bledel and Lauren Graham. The duo introduced the
category for outstanding writing for a comedy series. They began with a bit about how they were a small show, they were hungry and all they had were scripts.
“Gilmore Girls” wasn’t the only show celebrating an anniversary, though. “The Golden Girls” received a musical tribute from Reba McEntire and Little Big Town, who sang the theme song in celebration of the show’s 40th anniversary. Owen Cooper, 15-year-old star of “Adolescence,” also made history that evening, becoming the youngest male to win an Emmy for acting.
Apple TV’s “The Studio” took home the most awards of the night, though, winning 13 of the 23 awards it was nominated for. It was a very successful evening for Seth Rogen, making history as both the most awarded new comedy series and the most awarded comedy series in one year. For those who missed the live broadcast, the Emmys can be streamed on Paramount+.
powers40@miamioh.edu
In the end, Wednesday again manages to avoid the fate of her vision, uncovering secrets from her parents’ time at the academy once more and exposing the truth that another Nevermore staf member has been plotting against the students all along.
Sound repetitive? It is. Let me set this straight — I did really enjoy watching the new season. It was incredibly binge-worthy and very entertaining in the moment. But the more I think about it, the more boring
I realize it really was.
As someone who values a good plot twist, I wasn’t entirely shocked by most – if any – of the things revealed throughout the season. They made all the deaths and betrayals pretty obvious from the get-go. Even the fnal clifhanger felt predictable.
Some plot lines, like the stalker piece, got revealed too early and never got explained, and others got brought up too late and also never really got explained. I felt as though I was left with more questions than
answers at the end, and not in a suspenseful way that left me excited for the next season.
Overall, while entertaining, season two of “Wednesday” was largely a disappointment, and though I’ll absolutely be tuning in for season three, my hopes for a unique, shocking storyline are long gone, like alpha Enid, who disappeared into the wind.
Rating: 6/10
rosente2@miamioh.edu
‘Emotion:’ 10 years of a market failure and a cult success
LOGAN DENNEY THE MIAMI STUDENT COLUMN
After coming of the blowout success of the smash single “Call Me Maybe,” Carly Rae Jepsen released her third studio album, “Emotion,” on Aug. 21, 2015. This year, the album is celebrating its 10th anniversary.
The lead single of this album, “I Really Like You,” was released with a lackluster performance, only peaking at #39 on the Billboard Hot 100, a ranked list of albums by sales and radio play. While the single worked its way into the public consciousness, it failed to break the mold like “Call Me Maybe” and, to a lesser extent, her collaboration with Owl City, “Good Time.”
While Jepsen’s previous album “Kiss” peaked at #6 on the Billboard 200, “Emotion” only reached #16, selling only 36,000 units in total. This dramatic failure surely would spell the end of Jepsen’s career as a main pop infuence, but somehow it was only the beginning.
Cosmopolitan magazine named “Emotion” the best album of 2015, and People magazine lauded it as the second best album of 2015, only be-
hind the monumental “25” by Adele. Time magazine had this album at #4 on their top 10 albums of the year. Despite the album’s commercial failure, it reached a critical success that only few pop albums are able to achieve.
On decade-end lists, Paste Magazine called the album the best pop album of the 2010s. Pitchfork named “Emotion” the 47th best album of the 2010s. Truly, there was something monumental about this album, but what?
The album opens up with “Run Away With Me,” a Shellback-produced pop banger that opens with a saxophone. Jepsen and Shellback are able to create a melody that worms its way through your mind and becomes unforgettable. This song describes Jepsen fantasizing about running away with a lover and the music video takes us through a tour of three major cities: Paris, New York and, most importantly, Tokyo.
“Your Type” is the eighth track on the album and another standout for many. This song was the third and fnal single of the album, and, as expected, did not perform well. However, this song became incredibly popular in online spaces, having 46 million streams on Spotify, the third highest of any of the songs on the album.
The track cultivates a narrative of yearning for a love that will never work out. Jepsen realizes this through the songs, pining for this person who she realizes doesn’t want her the way that she wants. The album closes with the anthemic “When I Needed You,” a song about moving on from someone who wasn’t there when it really mattered. It was produced by Ariel Rechtshaid and Daniel Nigro, the latter of whom would see incredible success later with Olivia Rodrigo and Chappell Roan’s smash hits in the early 2020s. A perfect ending to the standard addition of the album, “When I Needed You,” rounds out this monumental album with one more infectious pop melody that leaves the listener wanting more.
In celebration of this album turning 10 years old, Carly Rae Jepsen hosted a one night only show in Los Angeles in a venue that only ft 500 people. At the show, she announced a special edition of the “Emotion” album featuring three new songs and two remixes. This 10-year anniversary edition is set to release on Oct. 17, 2025.
denneyl2@miamioh.edu
ELISA ROSENTHAL
COLUMN
GRAPHIC BY AYLA PEDEN
GRAPHIC BY STELLA POWERS
PHOTO COURTESY OF NETFLIX
In the editor’s rotation: Still a lot of showtunes… some Halloween?
STELLA POWERS CULTURE EDITOR
COLUMN
If you survived my frst “In the editor’s rotation” column, welcome back! If this is your frst time reading about the music I listen to… good luck. Unfortunately, it’s still mostly showtunes. I am ever so slightly (majorly) reentering my Broadway phase from seventh grade, and since my last column, it has only gotten worse. But don’t let that scare you away — I’m hoping at least one song on this list is tolerable enough to make it onto one person’s playlist.
‘Rainbow High’ — Rachel Zegler, ‘Evita’ Rachel Zegler’s version of “Rainbow High” from “Evita” is fnally
available to stream, and it was so worth the wait. Her vocals are exceptional (not that I expected anything less), and her performance translates perfectly through just audio. There is literally nothing she can’t do.
‘No Cure’ — Megan Hilty
This may come as a shock, but I have not gotten over my Megan Hilty obsession since my last column. I may or may not be secretly hoping that if I mention her enough, someone reading this will be inclined to look her up.
But seriously, Hilty’s 2013 album “It Happens All the Time” is full of incredible tracks, and “No Cure” is no exception. I actually just purchased the album on CD — I don’t own a CD player, but I needed to have a physical copy of this album just for the vibes.
‘For the Gaze’ — Megan Hilty, ‘Death Becomes Her’ I know I mentioned this one last
time, but I listened to this specifc song so much in the past two weeks that it deserves its own shoutout. Look, I won’t make you sit through the entire “Death Becomes Her” original Broadway cast recording, but if you have a spare few minutes, look up Hilty’s performance of “For the Gaze” for “The Tonight Show” on YouTube — you won’t be disappointed.
‘Paparazzi’ — Jessica Vosk
As much as I love Lady Gaga and will always stay true to the original “Paparazzi,” I recently discovered this cover and am obsessed. I love pretty much anything if it’s performed by Jessica Vosk, and that certainly includes this cover. Her style and this song blend brilliantly.
‘Which Witch’ — Florence & the Machine Halloween is right around the corner, so spooky tunes are slowly begin-
Love Greek life? Try Greek mythology
AYLA PEDEN
ASST. CULTURE EDITOR COLUMN
If there is one thing that you should know about me, it’s that I was a Greek mythology addict as a kid and, quite frankly, I still am.
I would spend countless hours watching YouTube videos that ranged from the gods’ family tree to the most niche stories about random demigods and their adventures. However, once that obsession had started, it couldn’t be stopped, and I quickly ran out of things to watch. That was until I heard about the many books that recount new as well as classic myths.
So, I give you some of my favorite books based on Greek mythology.
‘Circe’ – Madeline Miller
This book is such a gem. The story follows Circe, the daughter of the sun god Helios. While Circe cannot control the sun like her father, she can produce spells and other witchcraft that often get her into trouble.
While Circe spends most of her life banished on a remote island, her story intersects with other famous myths like the Minotaur, Medea, Daedalus and his son, Icarus. Each interaction brings friendship, as well as the loss of those friendships that
inevitably take a toll on the goddess.
Miller is an expert at exploring human (and non-human) connections. Even while immortal, Circe observes the human experience and understands the importance of mortality as a key part of making life worth living. I could not recommend this book enough.
‘Ariadne’ – Jennifer Saint
“Ariadne” tells the story of a young girl who is often taken advantage of by the men around her. Ariadne is the daughter of King Minos of Crete and Pasiphaë (who, fun fact, is the sister of Circe), but, most importantly, she is the sister of the Minotaur. Throughout her life, older men used her for their own gain and left her after their plan was fnished. She is not the only one to face this — her mother is used as a pawn in the games of the gods living atop Olympus. Saint shines a spotlight on the women who are so often pushed to the side, and she tells it in such an interesting way.
‘Pandora’s Jar: Women in the Greek Myths’ – Natalie Haynes
Much like “Circe” and “Ariadne,”
Haynes looks at the stories of the women found in popular myths. However, unlike the prior stories, Haynes observes the stories of multi-
ple women and how their perceptions have changed over time.
This book ofers a refreshing perspective on the other stories of mythology, delving deeper into the subtext of what these myths were intended to convey about Greek society, as well as how the changes made to the stories refect the ideals of modern society.
“Aphrodite” – Phoenicia Rogerson
While I haven’t read this book yet, I eagerly await the day I can. “Aphrodite” is set to release on Nov. 25, 2025, and it follows the life of – you guessed it – Aphrodite, the goddess of love.
According to a review by Becca on Goodreads, this retelling is much less dense than some other books of the same genre. As a matter of fact, she goes on to say that it is like the “Real Housewives of Olympus” with all the drama the gods bring to the table.
Stories of Greek mythology intrigue me in ways that hardly any other story can, and that is what makes them so interesting. All of these authors must share the same sentiment, because they have all written other books in this genre. I highly recommend checking them out.
pedenae@miamioh.edu
ning to infltrate my Spotify streams. I do listen to this specifc track yearround, but there’s something special about streaming anything Florence & the Machine in the fall.
‘Marian the Librarian’ — Hugh Jackman, ‘The Music Man’ I got to see this production of “The Music Man” on Broadway for a high school feld trip, and ever since, it infltrates my rotation every few months — specifcally, Hugh Jackman’s songs. “The Music Man” was a hit for a reason — the songs are very fun and catchy, and Jackman’s performance adds so much to them.
‘THE GREATEST’ — Billie Eilish
I’ve been a fan of Billie Eilish since her debut album, so, not to be dramatic, but the release of “Hit Me Hard and Soft” changed my life. There’s something about the build on “THE GREATEST” that gives me chills ev-
Bingo
ery time I listen to it. I fear I may never get over this particular track. ‘How Did It End?’ — Taylor Swift Apologies to the Taylor Swift antis, some (a lot) of her music hits. My favorite Swift album by far is “The Tortured Poets Department,” which is flled with heartbreaking ballads and a few upbeat, fun surprises. “How Did It End?” is absolutely devastating, and it also fts well for pretty much any angsty ship edit on TikTok you could imagine.
‘Both Ways’ — Tom Galantich & Kerry Butler, ‘Clinton the Musical’ Kerry Butler’s vocals as Hillary Clinton are mind-blowing. Need I say more? powers40@miamioh.edu
and bar food: Left Field Tavern review
Tucked away on Park Place in Oxford, Left Field Tavern is a classic college sports bar. Their menu is flled with bar favorites — wings, burgers and plenty of shareable fried appetizers that pair great with a beer and a sports game.
On Wednesday, I stopped in for their weekly Wingo Bingo night, where they have discounted wings and multiple rounds of bingo.
To start, I shared a platter of the loaded potato skins and onion petals with some friends. The loaded potato skins were stufed with crispy bacon, green onions, cheddar cheese and a side of sour cream, priced at $12.99. They were solid — classic and hard to mess up — but the $12.99 price was a little steep compared to some of the other appetizers on the menu. The onion petals intrigued me when I frst saw them on the menu, and they arrived as a basket of small, fried onion pieces. These were crispy and not too greasy, and the cajun mayo paired well with them. The price of $10.99 is still a little steep, but manageable for a
shared appetizer. Next, I had fve boneless wings tossed in their mild sauce with a side of ranch – only $5 thanks to the Wednesday wing deal! They weren’t anything special, but the sauce was good, the chicken was tender and they defnitely got the job done. I also got a side of the trufe fries. These were the biggest disappointment – they barely tasted like trufe and were heavily overseasoned in some sort of salt mixture that no one at the table enjoyed. At nearly $10, they’re an easy skip. The service at Left Field Tavern was great. Our waiter was attentive and checked back at our table numerous times. Their weekly bingo is also a great mid-week break to enjoy drinks, cheap wings and a friendly game of bingo with friends.
Left Field Tavern is a great spot to gather with friends and have a fun night with casual bar food, drinks and maybe even a round of bingo. While their food does not necessarily stand out, it’s a Miami University classic and a reliable place to have a good night.
Rating: 7/10
craverhj@miamioh.edu
GRAPHIC BY STELLA POWERS
GRAPHIC BY AYLA PEDEN
HAILEY CRAVER FOOD COLUMNIST COLUMN
COLUMNIST HAILEY CRAVER VISITED LEFT FIELD TAVERN. PHOTOS BY HAILEY CRAVER
OPINION
Why we should be worried about the end of DEI
On the second foor of Armstrong Student Center, tucked under the pavilion stairs, sits a nondescript room engraved with the words: “Center for Student Engagement.” The lights are usually of, and the door is closed.
Just a year ago, if you were to walk into this room – formerly the Ofce of Student Diversity and Inclusion – you might have been met with the welcoming sight of students convened around the sitting areas, candy bowls on every surface and colorful signs loudly advocating for LGBTQ+ and minority rights.
Now, it’s all gone.
This phenomenon is not exclusive to Miami University. Public institutions across the state have been forced to dismantle their diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) ofces under Senate Bill 1 (S.B. 1).
S.B.1 is a policy that attempts to “stabilize” higher education by defunding DEI and liberal arts programs, imposing harsh restrictions on what material professors are allowed to cover in class and even instating a mandatory American civics course (while, of course, cutting programs that cover African-American, Native American and women’s history).
While S.B. 1 might seem harmless on the surface, it’s merely one of many measures taken by the Republican Party to suppress opposition and push right-wing rhetoric on younger generations. When paired with a series of ultranationalist executive orders, President Donald Trump’s war against DEI becomes more than just an attempt to “reform” higher education – it’s a targeted attack on minority groups all across the United States.
This includes a mass deportation of immigrants, many of which are “under [legal] temporary protected status,” according to the Ohio Capital Journal; unconstitutional protest crackdowns of pro-Palestinian university students – a number of whom
then have their visas revoked at universities like Ohio State University; and the deployment of military personnel to major U.S. cities, which PBS ironically notes are actually facing a decrease in crime.
To many of us, DEI might seem “woke” or “frivolous.” However, it’s important to consider that, according to a census conducted by College Factual, more than 70% of Miami’s student body identifes as white/ Caucasian, making it a predominantly-white institution. This means that in nearly every classroom or program provided by Miami, non-white students make up an incredibly slim minority. Whether or not they experience outright discrimination, this can be an incredibly lonely experience.
But why should the school be forced to allocate funds to create a space for minority students while excluding the majority of Miami’s student body? This is the line of reasoning voters use to support S.B. 1. They fail to consider, however, the perspective of minority students on a predominantly-white campus. Having a space specifcally designed to accommodate minority students goes deeper than simply giving them a safe place to relax and meet new people; it actively says, “You’re welcome here.”
The dismantling of Miami’s DEI ofce, when coupled with major political trends in our country, sends a troubling message. According to the Ohio Capital Journal, international students at a number of neighboring public institutions have had their visas revoked without warning, such as Ohio State, University of Cincinnati and Kent State University. The Trump Administration has also released a number of executive orders targeting LGBTQ+ students, including the installation of new signs at the University of Cincinnati that divide public restrooms into “biological men” and “biological women” halves – adding unnecessary stress to a transgender student body already facing a 72% increase in suicide rates since dozen of states passed laws af-
fecting transgender youth over the past few years.
While these executive orders may be signed fve hundred miles away, in Washington, D.C., they have wide-reaching efects that reach all the way to Ohio, impacting our classmates and loved ones. Amidst all this, the least we can do is give these groups a safe place to simply exist and discuss their fears. Unfortunately, with the passage of S.B. 1, even this isn’t guaranteed.
DEI isn’t some terrifying force tearing our country apart; neither are immigrants, transgender people or racial minorities. These are communities simply being scapegoated by politicians in order to unite a voting body against a vague “other.” The thing that’s really tearing our country apart is hatred.
In the end, what should we actively be fghting against: free condoms and candy bowls, or charlatan politicians who vow to make us “great” again by turning us against our own neighbors?
abboudk@miamioh.edu
Karma Abboud is a sophomore studying international studies and professional writing, as well as Spanish and Arabic. She is an opinion writer for The Miami Student, a mentor in the English Language Program and president of Miami’s Arab Student Association.
LAYLA NORRIS
THE MIAMI STUDENT
Our phones are the killers of conversation. They distract us from being present in the moment, decrease our ability to connect emotionally and destroy our creative and critical thinking. The rise of social media, artifcial intelligence (AI) and overall technology use has hindered our generation’s ability to converse and maintain social interaction.
During my time on campus this
year, I have noticed how conversations hardly ever surpass surface level. They all consist of: “What’s your name, major, year, hall?” and then fzzle out into awkward silence and thoughts of escape. You glance at the other person awkwardly, maybe make a feeble attempt at asking what clubs they are in, and then silence ensues and you go your separate ways. It takes a special, fated connection for conversations to lead to real friendship. The frst semester on campus is supposed to be the time of making
Miami students react to Ohio State’s encouraged use of AI in the classroom
EMILY BURNS THE MIAMI STUDENT
Over the summer, Ravi Bellamkonda, the vice president and provost of Ohio State University, announced in a controversial briefng that beginning this fall semester, every Ohio State student will be allowed, encouraged and required to use artifcial intelligence (AI) in their coursework to create what the university calls “AI Fluency.”
This change comes amidst a nationwide conversation about AI’s place in academia, if there is one at all. According to Ohio State’s Ofce of Academic Afairs, achieving AI fuency includes encouraging faculty from all departments to implement AI into their courses, whether it be to draft a lesson plan or summarize a text.
The initiative’s rollout has prompted conversations as to the benefts and downsides of using AI in the classroom, especially within higher education.
This past week, I had the opportunity to interview four Miami students from diverse academic backgrounds to gain a deeper understanding of how real-world students perceive AI in their respective felds, and its potential implementation at the college level.
Maddox Jung, a senior majoring in biology and pre-health, said requiring students to use AI is excessive, but exposing them to it is benefcial. Jung also thinks AI is good for brainstorming and inspiration.
“Encouragement, I think, is actually pretty smart just because it’s so ingrained in what we do today,” Jung said.
Junior Alli Bumby, a studio art and art therapy major, said he recalled an anecdote from a class when considering the relationship between art and AI.
“If you sit down with your own thoughts for 10 minutes, you’ll probably formulate a unique idea,” Bumby said. “I had a student in my printmaking class who used AI … to come up with her designs and I felt as though the art just lacked personality.”
Bumby isn’t the only one with qualms about the use of AI in every major. Her perspective was echoed by Audrey Reed, a junior in Miami’s nursing program. While acknowledging the upsides AI in the classroom can have, she said she has reservations on its usage within her own program.
“It scares me to think that future healthcare professionals would be relying on AI to get them through nursing school, because we’re going to be providing life-saving care to patients one day,” Reed said. “There’s care with nursing that you can’t get from a robot. That one-on-one connection with a patient – you can’t get that from AI.”
Junior Mia Siegenthaler, an environmental earth science major, said she would be very surprised if any Miami professor encouraged AI. Due to the wide variety of majors and minors at Miami, Siegenthaler said she thinks a more tailored approach should be taken.
“Obviously for things like computer science ... they should probably learn about AI but I don’t think it should ever be encouraged,” Siegenthaler said.
While it remains to be seen whether or not Ohio State’s AI Fluency initiative will yield the results the school is hoping for, Miami’s AI policies seem to be holding steadfast, with the use of AI to write papers or complete assignments still a major violation of the university’s academic dishonesty policy.
And although the opinions of the four students I spoke to aren’t indicative of every Miami student’s perspective, one unifying truth binds us all together: the knowledge that it’s better to be a RedHawk than a Buckeye.
burnsen@miamioh.edu
Shortcuts such as this inhibit our ability to hold true face-to-face conversations.
The presence of smart phones in human conversations altogether ruins emotional capacity and value of the interaction. According to a study done by Berkeley, the presence of a cell phone in a social interaction does two things: it lowers the value of what you discuss, because you do not want to interrupt important conversations with the chance of being on your phone, and it “decreases empathetic connection.”
Conversations are less genuine and hold less connection, leading to them having no value.
Texting is not the only issue — the alarming rise of AI is also harming social interaction. As people talk with AI, they begin to form emotional connections to it. Platforms such as character.ai or other chatbots stimulate real-world interactions and start to replace the actual face-to-face interactions.
friends and fnding your place. However, cell phones and AI have reduced our ability to make creative eforts at conversation. When texting, one does not have to be present in the conversation. They can take however much time they need in order to craft a worthy response. In person conversations require immediate replies and real human interaction. As we get increasingly used to just “hearting” a message over text whenever we have nothing else to say, we forget how to actually end a real conversation.
Studies from OpenAI itself have shown those who have conversations with artifcial intelligence for extended periods of time report higher levels of loneliness. AI also makes online conversations easier because there are automated, expected responses. Yet in real life, we can’t exactly expect what the real person in front of us is going to say.
Social media can create common factors between people and conversations can originate from shared love for media or other internet relations. However, our conversations should not center around technology, be-
cause as the aforementioned study stated, they remove the chance of a true emotional connection. There are numerous other ways to spark human connection: shared hobbies, history, hair color and more. If the only shared factor between two people is the same internet interests, then there is not much basis for true emotional connection.
As time and technology have advanced, we have let the internet control our lives. It’s no longer an accompanying tool, but a necessity we seem unable to live without. This has become a hindrance to our everyday lives, especially social interaction.
As our generation grows, moves further into college, and eventually into the career world, the online world will only weaken our skills in the real world. Real conversations can be challenging, but if we don’t challenge ourselves, genuine conversations and true friendship will become a lost art.
norrisl3@miamioh.edu
PHOTO BY SARAH FROSCH KARMA ABBOUD
STUDENTS IN HUGHES HALL STARE AT THEIR PHONES BEFORE CLASS BEGINS. PHOTO BY JAKE RUFFER
AN AERIAL VIEW OF OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY’S CAMPUS. PHOTO BY JAY JESSEE
About Emily Burns
Emily Burns is a junior opinion writer for The Miami Student who is majoring in environmental earth science. She also competes in ice dance for the Miami University Figure Skating team.
About Karma Abboud
JAMIE GOWANS STAFF WRITER
As a frst-year Miami University student, I was constantly told to get involved, and that the best place to do that was The Hub. The website is supposed to be an easy way for students to learn about student organizations they might be interested in without attending meetings. However, from a student’s perspective, The Hub is very unorganized and confusing.
First and foremost, it is almost impossible to fnd clubs or organizations on The Hub without knowing the exact name of the organization. When searching keywords, the results rarely include any of the actual clubs or organizations that should follow the search. For example, when I search for book clubs, the frst results are from the International Community and religious organizations. These organizations and posts barely have any connection to the search terms I provided. This could also be a result of the fact that not all of Miami’s organizations are consistently updated on The Hub. For example, one of my organizations still has last year’s executive team posted. How are new members supposed to join the organization without access to the proper contact information?
At Miami, the best way to truly get a sense of any of the student organizations is to attend Mega Fair. At this event, student organizations always have QR codes leading to their Hub page and GroupMe (if they have one), as well as a way to join their email list. This past Mega Fair, I realized that most students prefer to join GroupMe chats and email lists instead of joining the organization on The Hub.
This year, I am now a part of the leadership for the Table Tennis club I joined last year. I have been on The Hub website more this month than
ANTHONY CAPRARA
THE MIAMI STUDENT
A quick Google search will tell you that Miami University is often stereotyped as white, preppy, rich and snobby. When I realized Miami was evidently my top choice after seeing its scholarship ofer to me, I had a strong fear that this would defne my next four years and make it difcult to make lasting friendships.
I grew up in a nearly all white town, with a population less diverse than Miami’s campus. My hometown in Northwest Ohio maintains a small number of residents, totaling only about 2,600, with 94% being white. As a multiracial student, my high school experience unfortunately consisted of many uncomfortable moments between me and my peers.
By comparison, Miami’s student
I have my entire time at Miami. As a member of the executive team, I still fnd it very difcult to understand The Hub. I thought that being a part of leadership would help the website make more organizational sense, but I had no such luck. It is still complete and utter chaos.
The others on my organization’s leadership team have worked with this website before. Yet, it still took all of us working together for two hours to teach ourselves how to reorganize our organization’s profle on The Hub.
In order for frst years at Miami to have a more seamless transition to college life, The Hub needs to be reorganized. The website needs a better browsing experience that is automatically listed in the way the clubs are sorted during the Mega Fair.
Miami is proud when it comes to our student-led organizations; The Hub should be a way to express that pride.
gowansj@miamioh.edu
body is 77.9% white, as of fall 2024 – still mostly white, but signifcantly more diverse than my hometown. That diference mattered. Here, I’ve met people who share my background and people from many others, something statistics only partly capture.
In high school, the lack of diversity in my town made an impact on my experiences. I was called slurs, made the subject of jokes and sometimes excluded from groups because of my diferences. I tried to be forgiving, but racism grew exhausting, shaping my life in school and beyond. When I read online about Miami’s reputation, I feared that I was doomed to repeat my experiences from back home.
None of this is said to bash my town or my peers; many people accepted and appreciated me. I loved growing up where I did and would not have changed my upbringing if I could. But what I endured shaped
MAUREEN WILSON THE MIAMI STUDENT
The phrase “frst-year junior” may seem like a contradiction, but it’s a reality for some Miami University students this fall semester. Dual enrollment has become a popular path for high schoolers over the last few years, especially with the introduction of programs such as Early College Academy (for Miami Regionals) and the heightened awareness of College Credit Plus (CCP). According to data from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System, nearly 2.5 million high school students took at least one dual enrollment course from a college or university in the 2022-23 academic year.
According to Ohio’s Department of Higher Education, statistics for CCP include 14 participating universities, 24 branch campuses, 23 community colleges and at least a dozen early college high schools within the state.
I happen to be one of those students.
For two years, I traded my junior and senior years of high school for a full-time education at Miami’s Middletown regional campus. I learned about the program early in my sophomore year after seeing an email from my counselor. To me, it represented the fast-paced academic environment I had craved for a long time.
It wasn’t a hard choice either; I kept my close friends and extracurriculars, and I still participated in major events. I was plenty happy to
ditch high school politics and excess amounts of study halls, and though I never disliked my district, I was running out of options that ft my future. There was a limited selection of Advanced Placement classes to take, and I didn’t see many programs that matched my interests at our local career-technical school, either.
I graduated last spring from the Early College Academy, where I had been accepted in 2023 as part of its second successful cohort. Some attended the ceremony, but not all, as the day happened to be the same as some districts’ high school graduations. My own was a week after I walked for Miami, a situational irony that was not lost on my friends and me.
It was an amazing opportunity, but it did make my choice to enroll at Miami atypical. I applied to other schools, surely, but I knew that it didn’t really matter in the end. I made my choice two years ago, and it was common sense to simply follow through with what I started.
Now, it’s simultaneously my frst and third year at Miami. I don’t know where anything is since both regional campuses are tiny in comparison. Hamilton has fve academic buildings, but for Middletown, there are only three. Just to conceptualize how condensed everything was, all three of my in-person classes were in the same building and on the same foor last semester.
The jump from attending those to powerwalking every other day from Williams to Pearson Hall with-
what I now value most in my college experience.
Despite many of the stereotypes that circulate about Miami and its students, my experience has been the opposite of what I feared. I’ve found acceptance, respect, joy and even the ability to express my political opinions, which is something I didn’t feel exactly safe doing in my hometown.
Being here has changed my perspective on Miami. Living on campus has not refected the numbers and stories I read before arriving here. Through countless encounters, my fears of racism have been unraveled, replaced by friendliness and inclusion from peers.
I have joined clubs, built friendships and found fulfllment in everyday interactions. Where I once feared mockery, I now feel seen. I can step out into the world and be myself without a sense of dread looming over me.
Never did I think I could sit in a common area while studying and laughing with people I met four weeks ago, or that I could walk into a meeting for an organization and be tasked with something on the frst day with no prior experience.
One of the most exemplary moments of this feeling of unconditional acceptance and recognition at Miami I have felt was on the frst night after moving in. My roommate and I sat on our beds, crestfallen at our parents leaving and the realization that this was what would become our lives.
Determined to change our attitudes, we headed downstairs and immediately began fnding people who gave us a change of heart about things. I remember walking around campus in a group of about 10 people, feeling united by the novelty of all our experiences within the past 12 hours, laughing and talking more than I had
in a 15-minute timeframe is far from smooth. But then again, that means I don’t share many classes with other frst-year students.
I skipped out on UNV 101 completely, and so did many of my friends, because the academic workload and balance were not new concepts. The social aspect and exposure to so many diferent people at the same time defnitely was, though.
I’m still navigating those challenges the same way people my age are, but without the opportunity to relate in the curriculum. Organizations, jobs, internships and research opportunities aren’t the same, either. I don’t have the background of a typical junior, but I’m still expected to graduate in two or three years regardless, entering the workforce a bit out of my wits.
It makes me think: is it worth making connections or new friendships, knowing that it won’t be long until I graduate again? Do I have enough time?
I can only imagine this is what my peers might be thinking whenever I wave them out in a crowd or lecture hall. But the anxiety doesn’t last too long. I’m still joining clubs, attending events and having fun. For myself, I’ve been able to get an on-campus job and participate in volunteer work while making new friends. The path may look a little diferent and steep, but I’ve been here, and that has never stopped me before.
wilsonmv@miamioh.edu
with people in months. We ended the night with a friendly poker match (don’t ask me if I won).
Those people are still my best friends here today.
I write all of this as a testament that if I could come from a town of less than 3,000 people, struggled with racism growing up and fret about the various stereotypes about Miami yet simultaneously fnd my people and success at the same time, I believe anyone can. No matter where you go, college is a daunting place flled with changes, and letting what’s online about Miami get to your head helps with none of the stresses. Relax, go out, get involved and your tribe will follow. Everyone is in the same boat. The most beautiful thing of it all is that, for the frst time in a while, I can sit in a room and simply belong, and that peace is something I never take for granted. I am confdent that despite what is out there about Miami, everyone can feel welcome here and ft right in. There is a space here for everybody, even me. capraras@miamioh.edu
An array of learning: New solar field powers campus and education
CONTINUED FROM FRONT
The future “Sharon and Graham Mitchell Sustainability Park” will include amenities such a path circling the area, entrance gates and educational signage. The park is named for Sharon and Graham Mitchell, Miami mergers and alums whose donation made the park possible.
“I’m really excited about the park elements of the solar project,” Herron said. “I think that’s really unique to what Miami is doing.”
Associate teaching professor George Ricco said he looks forward to using the site as an educational resource. Energy Systems and Sustainability (ECE 291) involves 10 weeks of site visits. In the past, he has taken students to visit of-campus sites, but he said Miami’s site will ofer several new learning opportunities for his students.
Ricco said the size and capacity of the 2-megawatt facility compared to nearby sites is one of its advantages. He is also excited for students to meet local professionals involved in the energy production process and gain a better understanding of where their energy comes from. The site will provide hands-on opportunities for students to practice calculations.
“I think it’s just an honor and privilege to see this in the feld,” Ricco said.
Fellman said the solar project is also benefcial in allowing Miami to be more energy independent. Once the fnal step of feeder wires being connected to alternating current (AC) combiner boxes is completed, solar energy harvested by the panels will travel to Miami’s substation, where it will be distributed as needed around campus.
Because Miami has its own distribution grid, the university can go “island mode” in the event of a serious power outage in the Duke
grid, allowing one half to one third of the campus to remain independently powered.
“We have a very reliable, durable infrastructure in the grid,” Fellman said.
The project plans to create educational opportunities beyond class visits, as well. Herron said the educational signage, once installed, will aim to inform park visitors on how the solar feld works. Diferent facets such as panels, combiner boxes and more will each have their own sign explaining their role in the energy production process.
“We’re really trying to utilize this for its educational value,” Herron said.
Herron said she also hopes to efectively inform the public about how much energy the new solar array is producing. One way this will be done is by updating the sustainability wall in the Armstrong Student Center to show data visualizations of energy production. Because the energy produced will be difused around campus, Herron said she hopes to communicate the amount in a uniquely-Miami way by drawing comparisons between the amount of energy produced and the amount of energy used by diferent buildings on campus.
Students involved in data analytics will be learning through this process of informing the public by working with Herron to create data visualizations and infographics based on production data.
“We thought it would be a neat, Miami-specifc student project,” Herron said. The park aspect of the project will be going out for bid in the coming weeks, with the expectation that students will be able to use the park before they leave next semester.
kennelse@miamioh.edu
‘Struck Gold’: Institute of Environment and Sustainability welcomes new director
DR. J.D. WULFHORST TAKES ON THE ROLE
VENEZIA MCHENRY STAFF WRITER JULIA HALL THE MIAMI STUDENT
Before becoming Miami University’s new director of the Institute of Environment and Sustainability (IES), J.D. Wulfhorst was often found roasting green chilis, playing the resonator guitar in a bluegrass band and riding his motorcycle around Idaho. But at his core, Wulfhorst has dedicated his life to a passion for the environment and how humans impact it. Wulfhorst worked as a professor of rural sociology and environmental science at the University of Idaho for 25 years, but he decided to put himself on the job market again. He received an ofer from Miami to be the director of IES and started this new position on Aug. 18. His focus on the environment and sustainability began in the late 1980s, when he started receiving mail from organizations such as the Sierra Club and Greenpeace during their push for greater environmental awareness. It was this material that got Wulfhorst interested in pursuing environmental studies in college.
“The people-environment interface has always fascinated me,” Wulfhorst said. “We abuse our environment so much, we argue about it a lot and most people enjoy it in ways that bring amazing things to their life.”
He went on to receive his Bachelor of Arts in interdisciplinary studies from Appalachian State University, his master’s degree in sociology at the University of Kentucky and his doctor of philosophy in rural and community sociology at Utah State University.
Although he has spent much of his time in western states, Wulfhorst said he has a long family history in Cincinnati and Dayton. He spent time in the region during summer and Christmas vacations, and he said he is glad to be back in the area with his new role.
“It’s like a homecoming,” Wulfhorst said. “Even though I never got to live here as a kid, I got to come here a lot. My dad, my aunt and my uncle are all [Miami] alums. So there was this legacy institution that I never thought I’d
HOMECOMING Weekend
SEPT. 25–28
It’s the biggest RedHawk weekend of the year — four days packed with spirit, traditions, and nonstop fun. Grab your friends and be part of it all!
• Homecoming Parade — Thursday, 6 p.m.
Uptown Madness — Friday, 10:30
get to connect to.”
Wulfhorst oversees the four undergraduate co-majors, including energy, environmental science, food systems and food studies, and sustainability. He will also be teaching classes in the Department of Geography starting in the spring.
Amanda Bentley Brymer is the assistant director of IES and has worked with Wulforst in every role. She started as his student at the University of Idaho, designed research together post-grad and helped him with administrative work at Miami.
“He’s such an engaged, active listener and truly cares about advocating for students and their needs,” Brymer said. “He also cares deeply about building and maintaining the relationships and the hard work required to pull of interdisciplinarity.”
Wulfhorst said he knows he has started this job in a time where stress is high and there are a lot of changes happening that are directly affecting students, such as Senate Bill 1.
“It feels like a huge privilege to have been able to start here right in the middle of all this,” Wulfhorst said. “I took it because I could have said, ‘No, I’ll just stay in Idaho,’ and I could have just ridden it out and things would have been a lot easier, but not very challenging.”
Elise Kokenge worked with Wulfhorst at the University of Idaho, where she is currently an assistant research professor in the Department of Natural Resources and Society and the College of Natural Resources Program Director of Graduate Studies.
She said she is sad to see him go, but she knows that he will thrive in his new position.
“I think your institution has gained an amazing human,” Kokenge said. “Wherever this individual is there will be creativity, energy, engagement. You guys have a gem and I’m really sad for the University of Idaho. I’m mourning our own loss, but everybody’s got to go to grow and your institution has just struck gold with J.D. Wulfhorst.” mchenrvg@miamioh.edu halljp3@miamioh.edu
Don’t just hear about it — be there. MiamiAlum.org/Homecoming
A day in the life of the only student who speaks in class
SHANNON MAHONEY
ASST. CAMPUS AND COMMUNITY EDITOR
A professor asks a question. A sea of glazed stares looks back at him. There’s silence. Out of the despair, a hero emerges: a kid who will actually answer the freaking question. Here’s a day in the life of me, the girl who saves your sorry a**.
8 a.m. I wake up, roll out of bed and immediately change into a sweatshirt and some comfy pants. If I’m going to be saving the day in all of my classes, I might as well be comfy.
8:07 a.m.
I make cofee number one of the day.
8:14 a.m.
Then, I say my afrmations in the mirror. “You are strong. You can get through this. Other people will answer questions. The world isn’t full of bots.”
8:30 a.m.
I am forced to confront disappointment when everyone is, in fact, a bot. My Spanish teacher looks at me with dead eyes. I am the only student who is actually responding in Spanish. We both ignore this fact.
10 a.m.
I take cleansing breaths and blast some Nicki Minaj to psych myself up for absolutely carrying another class. I imagine this is how gym bros feel while they lift heavy circles (weights).
11:50 a.m.
I am forced to play both sides of an argument (awkward). The guy to my left, who has been losing badly for the last 15 minutes in a game of online poker gives me a weird look (not my fault you just lost your rent).
Noon I take a lunch break at Bell Tower.
The perfunctory little “thank you” of the Grubhub robots boosts my morale and convinces me at least something on campus is speaking.
12:36 p.m.
I lock in at Armstrong so I can actually answer questions about the material. I listen to the song “Crashing out” on repeat—not an inaccurate representation of my mental status.
1:30 p.m. I make cofee number two of the day.
2:50 p.m.
I go to my fnal class of the day. My poor professor looks concerned about the continued zombifcation of his students.
2:57 p.m.
Assistant editor Parker Green and I feld the professor’s questions. We sit directly next to each other, so we look like a very strange bloc of engaged students. She gives me hope for humanity.
4:45 p.m.
I go back to my dorm and make cofee number three of the day. I am vibrating with cafeine shakes intensity, but I am not thinking about classes, so I call it a win.
5:50 p.m. I take a dinner break and eat some soup to heal my throat from all my yapping. I’m shocked by the volume in the dining hall. Where do these people go during the day?
7:18 p.m.
I take a break from reading and have a debrief of my day with my roommate (the only time I’ll be using my voice outside of class or clubs).
11:45 p.m. I cry into my pillow while I contemplate repeating the day tomorrow. mahones5@miamioh.edu
How to
play it cool when you forget someone’s name
CONNOR OVIATT HUMOR EDITOR
As we get settled into the semester, my fears have shifted. Coming back, I was afraid of the typical senior spookies: how challenging my classes would be, waking up after a wild Wednesday night and the creepy noises coming from the top foor of my house. But now that I’ve established a bit of routine, I’ve unlocked a new stressor - forgetting people’s names. This isn’t as big of a problem as a senior, as I now have my one (and only one) friend in each class that I sit next to. However, I remember the days of being a freshman and forgetting the names of everyone who wasn’t my class crush. Luckily, I’m the smoothest person around, and you can be too if you follow these tips. Scenario 1: The person you sit next to in class
This happens to the best of us. Heck, I’ve even forgotten people’s names in classes where we have name tags. My go-to talking point will depend on what class we are in for the
week. If it’s the frst class, I’ll ask the person how many standard drinks and Skyline coneys they consumed that weekend. If it’s the second class of the week, I will ask them what they got on the homework before loudly proclaiming that I got a 67.69% on the homework (which is what I was trying to do).
Then, if it’s a dude, I’ll ask them why they forgot to put deodorant on this morning; if it’s the huzz, then I’ll ask what uh um ah… and then run away.
Well, that would be true if I ever had the courage to sit next to a beautiful woman… which we know I don’t. And then, mercifully, the professor will inevitably pull up the presentation for the day, at which point I realize I’m in the wrong class (I haven’t fgured out a trick for when you forget room numbers yet).
Scenario 2: You forget your professor’s name I take pride in the fact that I have only remembered three or four of my professor’s names. Why? Because calling them doctor as a default is such a great idea. If they have a doc-
torate, then that is the correct title, and they’ll want you to think they’re important. If they aren’t a doctor, then they will be fattered that you think they are smart and determined enough to get a doctorate. It’s a winwin. However, if your professor insists on you calling them by their frst name, this gets a little challenging. I don’t care that once we get our $100,000 piece of paper, we will have the right to call everyone by their frst names. We don’t have that paper now. Don’t make me remember your name, GREG! Some people might say I’m being disrespectful; however, it’s more disrespectful to assume I care to actually learn something from my professor, particularly their name.
Scenario 3: You’re RA on a Friday Night I don’t know why you expected to give you an out here - if you forget your RA’s name after a looonngggg (wink wink) night out, you deserve to get in some sort of trouble. But, at least you aren’t getting in trouble for that fake ID you have hiding in your back pocket!
What it means to be a pre-med student
CARLEY RAPP THE MIAMI STUDENT
You’re probably wondering: Carley, how did you fnd time to write this on top of your 50 homework assignments due tonight? And to answer that question, I’d say that I have twice as much time in a day as the average person. Actually, I don’t. But boy, wouldn’t that be nice? In order to be successful as a pre-med student, I have some tips to help you embark on your lifelong journey through schooling.
Preparation
First things frst: you’re going to want to make sure you have a Keurig that can make enough cofee to fll a swimming pool. If you don’t decide to drink the cofee, the pool could be useful to drown yourself in after
chem lab. The fact that I’m considering such a thing after three weeks tells you how challenging it is to get through (the frst) four years. As a personal tip, I love telling people I’m a biology major on the pre-med track to make it seem like I’m smarter than I really am. It usually helps distract them from asking me if I have any idea what I’m doing. I don’t. Just be sure to have pre-med written on your forehead so that you always remember why you have no will to live.
Work later, play frst
Don’t forget that textbooks cost hundreds — so if you only have 50 bucks, just spend it at Brick Street... If you’re really in the trenches, you can always count on the business majors to be at Brick, even if it’s a Tuesday at 6 p.m. Just meet them there! Honestly, you’ll learn more about how the body processes alcohol from a trip Uptown than from those lanky textbooks anyway.
Workload
Being a student on the pre-med track means you have to be willing to give up any hobbies you have—like breathing or sleeping (actually, check that on sleeping). Don’t fret if you run
out of time to hit the gym because crying over your lab report should be enough cardio for the day. Expect FOMO to be your worst enemy. It’s hard when your friends ask you to join them somewhere, but you can’t because you need to spend time fguring out how to cure cancer. Most students go Uptown on Fridays, but my only plans are to go UP to the second foor of Pearson Hall. Are we the losers, or are they? (Don’t answer that.)
Second-guessing yourself
Most importantly, make sure you have a backup major in mind. After you take your frst organic chemistry exam, you might need to start introducing yourself as a dropout instead of a pre-med student.
If you don’t understand a topic from lecture, you can always count on someone to hit you with the “Don’t worry, that class is a weedout. It’s meant to be hard.” It’s always great to know you’re taking classes that are literally designed for you to fail. Eventually, you’ll get to the point where you text a friend and ask for their tips on how to actually weed out. It’ll be worth it
Just remember, you’re really only doing this so that you can prepare for your future career as a professional people-poker.
rappcr2@miamioh.edu
GRAPHIC BY SYDNEY MULFORD
GRAPHIC BY JULIA KINDEL
GRAPHIC BY HAYDEN JARVIS
GRAPHIC
