ESTABLISHED 1826 — OLDEST COLLEGE NEWSPAPER WEST OF THE ALLEGHENIES
Volume 149 No. 9
Miami university — Oxford, Ohio
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2020
'I’m at a loss; I’m not quite sure':
Confusion over responsibilities leads to lack of COVID policy enforcement
Less professors, more students: demographics ABBY BAMMERLIN ASST. NEWS EDITOR Once, not too long ago, a walk uptown could mean running into
“[Freshmen] kind of came in unsure,” Gates said. “They looked at the upperclassmen and the upperclassmen were kind of playing it fast and loose with the regulations, and the freshmen said ‘Hey, this is OK.’”
down next to a faculty member at Mac and Joe’s. But the appeal of city life and gainful employment for their spouses has pulled faculty away from living in the college town. As professors move away from Oxford, the community has shifted to a more student-focused economy and culture. According to census data given to The Miami Student by Alan Kyger, retired Oxford economic director, populations for the past 30 years in the age ranges of 30 to 34, 35 to 44 and 45 to 54 have steadily decreased. Kyger attributes this to professors and other Miami employees choosing to live in communities outside of Oxford, like West Chester or Mason. “The 30-50 year olds,” Kyger said, “they’re shrinking.” The adults are not the only age group shrinking. The under 5, 5 to 9 and 10 to 14 ranges have also decreased. Kyger said with less adults in Oxford, the population of children is also going down. David Prytherch, a Miami University professor of geography and Oxford city councilor, settled in Oxford after discovering its small-town appeal. “Oxford is an incredibly vibrant town that had the ingredients to be a really good place to live,” Prytherch said. But he’s noticed the change in the make-up of Oxford residents.
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ABBY BAMMERLIN MADELINE PHABY ASST. NEWS EDITORS Miami University has reported 2,320 cases of COVID-19 since the start of classes on Aug. 17. This is the second-highest case total among universities in Ohio – about 1,500 behind Ohio State University, which enrolls about 45,000 more students. The spread of COVID-19 on Miami’s campus can be attributed to a number of factors, but the city’s lax enforcement of two key ordinances – the mass gathering ban and the mask mandate – has not helped curb the virus’ spread throughout the Oxford community. As of Nov. 17, the Oxford Police Department (OPD) had issued 15 citations for the mass gathering ban. City the mask mandate – largely because of confusion surrounding who should be enforcing it. Mass Gathering Ban First-year Evan Gates was scrolling through Instagram when he
AS THE SEMESTER ENDS, CONFUSION CONTINUES TO MOUNT AMONG CITY OFFICALS ABOUT THE ENFORCEMENT OF COVID-19 GUIDELINES. PHOTO EDITOR BO BRUECK
came across two images that he said the photos, posted Nov. 8, crowds of people were waiting outside Uptown businesses Fiesta Charra and Bagel and Deli. “I’m just really disappointed,” that I’m seeing really strong with the
freshman class as a whole. They just kind of throw their hands up in the air and [don’t] really care what’s going on.” es his class violating restrictions more than others. However, he believes havior of upperclassmen.
A new twist on an old tradition GRACE KILLIAN STAFF WRITER November is a month of giving thanks and being grateful — grateful for fall leaves, grateful that the elecespecially grateful for friends at Miami. Thanksgiving is, of course, the biggest example of being grateful. While spending the holiday with family is traditional, many people also have a small Friendsgiving dinner. With social distancing restrictions, these gatherings may be even smaller this year. On Nov. 13, one group of housemates hosted their own Friendsgiving. Recovery Room, the house that nine of the girls live in, is split into four units. Seniors Emma Baumgartner and Sarah Seatter hosted the Friendsgiving in the living room of their unit. The unit across the hall, where Bivolcic live, was used to lay out the food, which made grabbing seconds even easier. The units upstairs, home and empty for the meal. The girls all sat around three dining room tables pushed together, covered in a white tablecloth. The 13 friends, nine who live together and a few others, have been friends since freshman year when they all joined the same sorority, Gamma Phi Beta. Soft music plays as the girls gather around the table. Most notably, the room is washed in a warm glow
THANKSGIVING ISN'T JUST A TIME TO BE GRATEFUL FOR FAMILY, GIVING THANKS FOR FRIENDS IS IMPORTANT TOO. STAFF WRITER GRACE KILLIAN
from the string lights that decorate the room. At the table, each seat has a place setting with a plate, napkin, utensils, name tag and a candy cane. In the center are candles and empty wine room, all of the food waits to be eaten. An Excel sheet had been sent out, and ent dish. Before starting dinner, they go around and each say what they are
thankful for. Many say they’re thankful for their friends or for overcoming the struggles of a senior year in a pandemic. Each toast is followed by a shout of thanks and a raising of their glasses. One of their roommates, senior biology major Savina Bivolcic, is in Time to share what she is thankful for. “I’m thankful for family that understands the need to be with
friends,” Bivolcic said. “I’m thankful for friends that understand the need to be with family. And I’m especially thankful for you guys.” their plates. With 13 dishes to choose from, including everything from mashed potatoes to pumpkin cookies, most girls acknowledge they will need to go back for seconds. They all as they start eating. The only talking
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is to compliment each other for the dishes that were made. Soon their voices rise again, and they begin catching up and laughing at inside jokes. Although most of the girls live together, they will often go days without seeing one another. This Friendsgiving is only the fourth time they have all been able to sit down and have dinner together this semester. Senior independent studies major Gilly Arnold likes to
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OPINION
The Battle of the
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Put the "enforce" in law enforcement
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