ESTABLISHED 1826 — OLDEST COLLEGE NEWSPAPER WEST OF THE ALLEGHENIES
Volume 152 No. 13
Miami university — Oxford, Ohio
FRIDAY, APRIL 5, 2024
"Total OPD concludes external report Eclipse of the from November incident; finds Parks": How Oxford is no evidence of excessive force preparing to
celebrate a historic solar spectacle RAQUEL HIRSCH OXFORD EDITOR
POLICE CHIEF JONES SAID OPD WILL UNDERGO NEW TRAINING IN THE FUTURE TO FOCUS ON DE-ESCALATION. PHOTO PROVIDED BY BRICK STREET BAR
OLIVIA PATEL MANAGING EDITOR AND RAQUEL HIRSCH, OXFORD EDITOR The Oxford Police Department (OPD) has announced the conclusion of its external investigation of the incident between 2̇FHU 0DWWKHZ %ODXYHOW DQG 0LDPL University student Devin Johnson. According to a statement released on April 3, the team conducting the investigation determined that Blauvelt was compliant with department protocol and did not use
In this issue
excessive force against Johnson. Following the social media footage of Blauvelt physically detaining Johnson outside of Brick Street Bar on Nov. 18, the Butler County Prosecutor stated that Blauvelt did not use excessive force against Johnson. OPD agreed to conduct an external investigation of the events at an open forum held by Oxford’s Police Community Relations and Review Commission in February after new angles were released from body camera footage.
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ENTERTAINMENT
Olivia Rodrigo spills her ‘GUTS’ on tour - page 8
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Miami Hockey announces Anthony Noreen as new head coach SENIOR STAFF WRITER
Katey Nyquist skates into new role as head coach for Miami synchronized skating
tigation] also took into account facts that you can’t get from a video.” However, some members of the FRPPXQLW\ UHPDLQ XQVDWLV¿HG )UDQ Jackson, president of Oxford’s National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) chapter, is not entirely content with the results of the investigation, questioning why Blauvelt’s audio is muted in the body camera video released by the police department.
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JEFFREY MIDDLETON
SPORTS
After nearly two months, the external investigation has come to a close. Police Chief John Jones said that KH LV VDWLV¿HG ZLWK WKH GHFLVLRQ PDGH in the external investigation and looks forward to moving on from this situation with knowledge of how to better handle situations like this one. “There was no big surprise from [the result] for me,” Jones said. “I WKLQN LW VKRZHG WKDW RXU ṘFHUV XVHG the appropriate level of force, and WKH\ KDYH D GL̇FXOW MRE >7KH LQYHV-
Miami University has announced Anthony Noreen as the hockey program's new head coach following the release of Chris Bergeron. He is the seventh head coach in team history. Noreen, 41, brings a wealth of experience to the role. He served in many roles for the Tri-City Storm of the United States Hockey League (USHL), including head coach, general manager and president of hockey operations. He held the titles of head coach and president of hockey operations simultaneously before being hired by Miami. "I am honored and humbled to be the next head hockey coach at Miami University," Noreen said. "I would like to thank David Sayler and Brad
Okel for their belief in me and the alumni of this storied program for creating something special to build upon. I look forward to being a part of the next chapter of Miami Hockey and establishing a standard that all our supporters can be proud of." Noreen was hired in 2017 as the Storm’s eighth head coach and promptly led the team back to the postseason in his ¿UVW \HDU EHKLQG WKH EHQFK Following that season, the program saw its best regular season performance, with a record of 45-12-3-2, a total of 95 points and the most wins in the team’s history. CONTINUED ON PAGE 3
MOLLY FAHY
ANTHONY NOREEN WILL BE THE SEVENTH HEAD COACH IN REDHAWK HOCKEY HISTORY. PHOTO PROVIDED BY ELDON HOLMES
Renée Baernstein is appointed new CAS Dean
STYLE
‘The most universal medium’: Using fashion as an outlet for political expression - page 9
OPINION
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RENÉE BAERNSTEIN IS SLOTTED TO START HER NEW POSITION IN JULY. PHOTO PROVIDED BY RENÉE BAERNSTIEN
Meet the girls behind your favorite cookies THE MIAMI STUDENT
TAYLOR STUMBAUGH
Why I call The Miami Student home
As the community gears up for a historic solar eclipse on April 8, the City of Oxford is sponsoring a series of events entitled “Total Eclipse of the Parks” to learn about, celebrate and observe this astronomical feat. The eclipse is said to arrive at 1:53 p.m. and will enter totality at 3:08 p.m. for 2 minutes and 51 seconds. While many lectures and activities already occurred in March, eclipse weekend celebrations will begin April 5 and last through Monday when the eclipse occurs. The Imminent Solar Eclipse On Thursday, April 4 from 4 p.m. to 5:15 p.m., the Institute for Learning in Retirement and the Richard and Carole Cocks Art Museum will be hosting a lecture by physics professor Stephen Alexander entitled “The Imminent Solar Eclipse.” Alexander will discuss the upcoming eclipse and how viewers can best experience the solar exhibition. The event will take place in the auditorium of the museum located at 801 S. Patterson Ave. An online RSWLRQ LV DOVR R̆HUHG DQG UHJLVWUDtion is required to participate in either format. Students and community members who are interested can reserve a free ticket. 2001: A Space Odyssey movie screening The Richard and Carole Cocks Art Museum will be hosting a screening of “2001: A Space Odyssey” on Friday, April 5 at 2 p.m.
SENIOR CAMPUS AND COMMUNITY EDITOR For months, Miami University has been searching, interviewing and holding forums for the new College of Arts and Science (CAS) dean. On March 2, The Board of Trustees and assigned committees chose Renée Baernstein, the current senior associate dean of CAS, to hold the position. “When this position opened, [it] seemed like a good way for me to give back to the institution that supported me and to help others have a good experience here both the students and faculty,” Baernstein said. “We have a great school-
with a great tradition and a long history behind us, and I want to help keep that strong.” %DHUQVWHLQ ṘFLDOO\ WUDQVLWLRQV into her new position in July 2024. 6KH VDLG KHU ¿UVW VWHSV ZLOO EH YLVLWLQJ WKH GL̆HUHQW JURXSV ZLWKLQ WKH FROlege to hear their concerns, interests, goals and projects in order to start FROODERUDWLRQ H̆RUWV She said CAS is currently working on a new interdisciplinary curriculum, and in recent years, the college has created a bachelor’s degree in data analytics, organizational leadership and public health. She said as the college moves forward, it will see more interdisciplinary degrees, cerWL¿FDWHV DQG PLFUR FUHGHQWLDOV
With Girl Scout cookie season coming to a close, several of Oxford’s Girl Scout troops are starting to relax after this year’s successful season. Katie Wilson, the leader of Troop 42058, thought the cookie season was long but a success overall. “We had a really good cookie season,” Wilson said. “I will say it started out really fast and the tail end of it took a while.” The troop sold 3,600 cookies, amounting to an average of 230 boxers per troop member. For Zoe Long, a sixth grade student at Talawanda Middle School and member of Troop 42058, selling all those cookies has helped her beFRPH PRUH FRQ¿GHQW RYHUDOO “Girls Scouts has made me more compassionate and connected,” Zoe said. “It also helped me with entrepreneurship with the cookie and nut [sales].” However, some troops in Oxford decided not to participate in the cookie season at all this year. Jessica Greene, the leader of Girl Scout Troop 41988, said that her girls have been focusing on earning their Gold Award, which is where Girl Scouts in high school put together a sustainable service project to help their community.
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JOHN SABRAW: RECLAMATION OF ACID MINE DRAINAGE AS A MEDIUM FOR CHANGE THE WORLD IN WHICH WE LIVE ARTIST TALK & RECEPTION
WED, APR 10 | 5-7 PM
ART MUSEUM
Join artist, activist and professor John Sabraw for this engaging talk about his work featured in the current exhibition - The World in Which We Live.
tinyurl.com/ rccamevents